A Small, Precious Friend

+++

World Tree’s Outdoor Training Grounds.

Kwang-! Kwang!

There, sounds reminiscent of shells piercing thick steel plates rang out consecutively.

Kwang, Kwang-!

After a brief flurry of strikes, Doyun extended his elbow fully, launching a direct straight punch.

As that fist, infused with his core’s rotational force, landed squarely on the guard,

Kwaaang–!!

“Huworrrr!!”

An immense impacting boom accompanied Rosinante’s agonized scream.

“Ugh, Hworr! Uworrrr!!”

“Don’t put on airs!”

Kwang-!

Doyun’s merciless barrage resumed.

Although Rosinante continuously wailed as if his soul was departing, Doyun knew better. With his sturdy guard and bulging muscles, the damage Rosinante sustained amounted to mere bruises at best.

Even without Hecleus’s Style, Doyun – a master martial artist who had perfected the supreme art – wielded razor-sharp fists.

Yet against Rosinante’s impregnable defense, even Doyun could only inflict bruises.

“Uworrrr!!”

His wails were merely bravado now.

On the third day of training,

And just yesterday, Rosinante’s Endurance stat had soared to Level 6, rendering his physique truly formidable.

A student had achieved Stat Level 6 before even graduating the Cradle.

Of course, this resulted from his accumulated Level 5 growth, Doyun’s guidance, and growth buffs combined. But even so, it was an astounding rate of progress.

‘As expected, this one is a genius!’

Moreover, while guarding, he subtly twisted his body to deflect Doyun’s fists from vital areas.

An innate movement Doyun had never taught – born from his timid nature and instinct for self-preservation. In other words, talent.

Possessing the [Tempered] trait that grows harder with each strike, Doyun assailed Rosinante fiercely, intoxicated by his talent.

Kwang-!

“Aahhhh!! Bones! Bones!!”

Observing this, Elroar and Sophie stuck out their tongues.

“Wow, woww…”

“…Truly intense.”

Although not utilizing Hecleus’s Style directly, Doyun naturally incorporated its principles into all martial arts.

Hence, his strikes were indeed ferocious and uncompromising, evoking pity in the observers towards Rosinante.

Soon, the training session ended, and Doyun wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Huff… Take a break.”

Thud.

At those words, the 4-meter tan muscular giant collapsed to the ground. No, he intentionally lay down.

His heaving back indicated he remained conscious.

However, Rosinante’s pitiful state – sprawled on the floor with his long tongue lolling out as he panted – was quite a sight.

[The ‘Martial Arts’ skill level has increased! Current Level: 2]

Doyun dismissed the system message that appeared before him.

‘Even a training dummy will burst if struck repeatedly, but with this one around, it’s rather satisfying to keep hitting.’

From now on, he could occasionally train the ‘Martial Arts’ skill with Hecleus’s Style as a sub-skill.

Tia scurried over to the prone Rosinante, extending her tiny hands to generate a white magic circle.

“Hurt?”

“Heck…! Heck…! Heckk…!”

“I’ll make it not hurt!”

“Frrrruuurr…! Heckk…!”

Tia, set to assume both the mage and healer roles in the team, tended to Rosinante.

Despite only recently hatching, she had already awoken countless magics.

Dragons, known as the sovereigns of magic. Moreover, she was a child of Load.

She naturally acquired various magics that others would take months or years of diligent practice to learn, akin to a child learning language.

Furthermore, her appearance which had resembled a 7-year-old was already maturing to around 10 years old.

After watching Tia with satisfaction, Doyun accepted the cold towel Sophia handed him.

“Here.”

“Thanks.”

Yet through Doyun’s perspiring face as he wiped himself, Sophia sensed a subtle undertone of concern beyond his refreshment and pride.

Not just today. He had seemed that way frequently of late.

“…Is something troubling you, perhaps?”

“Hm?”

“Your expression seems off…”

Doyun flinched, unaware his demeanor had become that apparent.

“…It’s nothing. Thank you for your concern, Sophia.”

“I see…”

Although clearly preoccupied, Sophia did not pry further, knowing Doyun would never divulge it.

Doyun had always shouldered all hardships and adversities alone.

All she could do was diligently strive to remain by his side, as always.

Meanwhile, aware of his concerns, Elroar gazed at Doyun with a troubled expression, recalling their conversation.

‘A journey?’

‘Yes. My request to use that facility has been accepted, but it will take time to process. It is an exceptional case, after all.’

‘…Are you worried about the Fiends, causing this journey?’

‘…’

After a lengthy silence, Doyun replied.

‘…I am afraid.’

Enoch had never feared the Dark Lord.

To him, the Dark Lord was not an object of fear, but a calling he must eventually reach. A target for subjugation. An objective. All of that.

But the Fiends were different.

His first and fifteenth deaths had left considerable trauma on Enoch.

The most overwhelming deaths. Even at the moment of death as the Alliance’s supreme force, he had failed to realize he was dying, even after death.

After overcoming the Warlords, the final bastion – just as he had set his sights on the Dark Lord, it had been a truly sudden, fresh shock.

Moreover, Enoch had ultimately never managed to kill a single Fiend across all cycles. They had always fled, evading his pursuit.

To Doyun, the ‘Fiends’ had always been his greatest terror.

Furthermore, vastly weakened from his prime and unable to even cross blades with them, their presence now felt all the more monumental.

Of course, this exploration offered no guarantee of uncovering the Fiends’ whereabouts.

However, in the worst case, he might encounter a Fiend.

Hence, Doyun had sought to embark on a journey until the facility’s permit was issued, to collect his troubled thoughts.

‘Will it take long?’

‘No more than a few days. I’ll only make one stop before returning. But with the remaining time… I should prepare for participation in the Underground Grand Auction. It’s time to properly outfit the team’s equipment.’

‘I see…’

‘It’s been a while since I went shopping.’

Doyun had replied nonchalantly.

Finished reminiscing, Elroar watched Doyun’s back as he entered the building. He would likely depart immediately after preparations.

Elroar wondered about his undisclosed destination.

‘The place the Hero seeks to collect his thoughts…’

Having never seen him this unsettled before, she could not even begin to guess where.

Shortly after, Doyun boarded a prepared carriage.

“It is an honor to accompany you.”

“Let’s go.”

Doyun departed for his destination with only a coachman in tow.

Gazing out the passing window, he strove to calm his troubled heart.

And he contemplated his current heading and what awaited him there.

‘…I’m visiting far too late.’

A place he had been too preoccupied to visit since returning here.

‘Hopefully, they are well…’

It was time to meet the most precious and sole existence who had accompanied Doyun through 17 regressions – his little friend.

+++

Summoned by Millaine, Rosinante received an ornate parchment, tilting his head quizzically.

“What is this?”

His slightly unfocused, somewhat dimwitted-looking eyes.

Stifling a laugh at those perplexed eyes, Millaine explained.

“It’s the catalog for the upcoming Underground Grand Auction.”

“Underground… Grand Auction?”

“The largest auction held once a year on the continent. It’s a black market, essentially.”

Rosinante unfolded the parchment as Millaine pointed out a few sections.

“See the highlighted items? Those are tank-exclusive items. Apostle Han Doyun instructed you to pick out anything you like until he returns. Your team leader’s first order.”

“Items? But I have no money…”

“Of course Apostle Doyun will sponsor you. For a student like Rosinante, those are exorbitantly priced items you could never dream of.”

“But there are no prices listed…?”

“Isn’t it better not knowing the prices?”

Millaine smiled meaningfully.

“The continent’s tycoons will be stirring once more.”

Doyun’s immense fortune lying dormant in his vault.

It would soon make an appearance in the underground market.

“Oh… I understand.”

Despite his still dimwitted-looking eyes, Rosinante nodded, acknowledging his team leader’s order.

“You can seek assistance from other guild members too. Now, work hard.”

“Yep.”

After exiting the Master’s office, Rosinante headed towards the bustling guild cafeteria, as he always grew hungry after training.

While awaiting his ordered food, Rosinante spread the parchment on the table, arms crossed as he pondered it.

“Frrrruuurr…”

Utterly clueless. Naturally so – what would a student know of the Grand Auction’s treasures?

Before long, a team of guild members approached him.

“Rosinante. Here for lunch?”

“Ah, seniors.”

Contrary to his menacing build, his uniquely dimwitted face and gentle, kind nature made him adored by his seniors.

Moreover, his status as the designated tank for Apostle Han Doyun’s team – World Tree’s most promising – drew envy and admiration.

“Why the grim look over your meal? Hm? What’s this?”

“I received it from Lady Millaine. The Underground Grand Auction catalog.”

“Why did she give that to you?”

“The Team Leader said he would outfit me with equipment.”

“…Insane. Outfitting a student who hasn’t even graduated with Underground Grand Auction gear?”

“Whoa… Rosinante… I’m, I’m jealous…”

“Is it that significant? I can’t really grasp it.”

“Just think that from the very start, your world is different from ours.”

While aware of Doyun’s prowess, Rosinante remained oblivious to his immense wealth.

Unaware that he would one day bear thousands of gold coins on his person, he could only tilt his head in confusion.

The news swiftly spread, and soon guild members crowded around to peruse his catalog.

“Hah, look at the underlined items.”

“Only the highest tier among the auction listings. Two pieces could buy a whole castle, no?”

“Wow… Apostle Doyun really is loaded…”

“I, I too… want a wealthy team leader who outfits me…”

Amidst the crowd, Rosinante strangely felt emboldened.

“Frrrruuurr-!”

He whinnied spiritedly, puffing out his chest.

“How does it feel to have a Hero-grade Team Leader?”

“…Quite painful.”

“Huh? Painful?”

The guild member failed to understand, tilting his head quizzically.

“I suppose someone like Apostle Doyun would excel at teaching too?”

“Yes! Thanks to our Instructor… no, Team Leader, my status window changes daily!”

His chest muscles swelling with passion, Rosinante proudly boasted about his team leader.

“I suppose with such a person selecting your talent and directly instructing you… your progress would be truly rapid.”

“The training, lessons, environment, buffs! All superb! Each day is blissful!”

“We envy you… Huh? But buffs? Stats don’t increase from doping during training, right?”

Amidst the guild members endearingly watching the exuberant Rosinante, someone tilted their head and asked.

“Ah, not doping – I mean the 10% growth speed buff. I initially thought it was an insignificant figure… but the effect is truly palpable!”

“Huh? 10% of what?”

“What are you talking about?”

The bustling cafeteria fell silent.

Doyun did, after all, scout talents solely through a 100% system. And since they would never leave for another guild, there was no need to advertise his traits to inflate his value.

Naturally, everyone present was hearing of Doyun’s trait for the first time.

However, unaware of the weight it carried, and oblivious to the cafeteria’s abruptly changed atmosphere, the elated Rosinante continued boasting about their formidable Team Leader.

“And the 10% potential buff, although I haven’t felt its effect yet…”

The eyes and mouths of those listening grew increasingly wide with shock.

The current Alliance’s top prospect, Han Doyun’s team. One mage. One tank. One vanguard. One support.

“According to Sister Sophia, it’s as if a wall’s thickness has thinned…”

Currently comprising a total of 4 members.

With a few remaining slots yet to be filled.