episode_0019

In the car heading to Seoul.

I slowly slowed down to match the car in front and glanced at Jin Seo-won sitting next to me.

“… … .”

She had been holding the bankbook tightly since earlier and was looking at the details carefully.

My bank account, which had only 1.5 million won in it, suddenly had 100 million won in it, so it was worth it.

‘Grandma must have cared for it quite a bit.’

It is said that the bankbook she is holding was made by her grandmother for her granddaughter when she was alive.

The cafe’s female owner, Yoon In-kyung, said that right before she passed away, she had been saving her living expenses and giving it to her.

Although Jin Seo-won did not show it outwardly, he seemed to have quite a deep attachment to his grandmother.

‘That’s too bad.’

I thought it was natural for Jinseowon to become Cheonma.

I lost both my parents at a time when the love and attention I was receiving wasn’t enough, and I lived alone with my grandmother.

Even though his family was not wealthy, he grew up in a poor environment, and as soon as he became an adult, his grandmother, who was his only family member, passed away.

Fortunately, I had Yoon In-kyung, who took care of me like a real sister, so I had a little something to rely on… .

Since he even lost Yoon In-kyung in a sudden accident, it was surprising that he didn’t hate the world.

‘At this level, the world is being unreasonable.’

Of course, it is unlikely that Jin Seo-won would have become a psychopath who calmly tears people down because of this.

There must have been a backstory that only the author knew about.

However, it was clear that Yun In-kyung’s death was an opportunity to awaken as a Heavenly Demon.

‘I have to stop it somehow… .’

I changed lanes and increased my speed again, driving smoothly along the open road and thinking about the second incident that was about to happen.

The second incident takes place across the country about three weeks later.

The largest gate will be opened in Seoul, and gates will be opened in several cities, including Chuncheon… .

The problem is that we do not know the locations of gates that open in cities other than Seoul.

‘Fuck you, you piece of trash… .’

I cursed at the author of ‘The Strongest Master’ for skimping on the description and thought carefully about the method.

First of all, the method using measuring instruments cannot be used as before.

If you use it recklessly, you may be delayed in responding when you really need it.

‘Should I bring another S-class hunter?’

The reason the gate caused so much damage in the first place was because we couldn’t quickly subdue it.

The gate that opens in Chuncheon is not as big and low-level as Seoul, so a high-level hunter will probably be able to handle it quickly.

Unless there are unexpected variables.

‘The Demon King’s army should come out in the same way… .’

The demon lord of the other world that appears in the original novel was depicted close to what is commonly referred to as a ‘cliche’.

They invaded another dimension with the intention of conquering it, and sent troops in stages, thinking how strong humans could be… .

Of course, as the situation has changed from the original novel, we cannot overlook the possibility that a different trend may suddenly appear.

If we look at the original novel from the current point of view, it is around the time when Seol Joo-hee, who has achieved Grade D, is immersed in training.

However, unlike the original, she has already reached Ex level, and the Demon Lord’s first plan did not achieve much success.

I can’t guarantee that things will go as I predicted.

‘Please just do what you said… .’

As I ran, praying to the devil in my mind, I arrived at Seoul City Hall.

“Hello. This is Gyu-ri Han, who is in charge of the administration of Team Seoul City Hall.”

“Nice to meet you. This is Junhyung Kim, who is in charge of the team.”

Seowon Jin nodded and accepted the greeting from the two people who greeted him.

“This is Jinseowon.”

Thanks to the brief information about this and that, neither of them said anything else.

After quickly completing the contract and team member registration, I left Jin Seo-won in the care of Han Gyu-ri and had a brief conversation with Kim Jun-hyung.

“Is this correct?”

“What.”

Kim Jun-hyung glanced at Jin Seo-won through the transparent window and spoke with a worried expression.

“Didn’t you bring him here with the intention of recruiting him?”

“Yes.”

“… Can I recruit you?”

“I brought it because I could. Don’t you trust me?”

“I believe it… . I believe it! No, shouldn’t we just pretend to train with harsh words?!”

He was concerned that Jin Seo-won was lagging behind the other two team members.

Currently, Jin Seowon is at F level.

He is two ranks different from other D-level team members.

Although they are of the same lower rank, D rank, which knows how to manipulate magic power, and F rank, which can only feel magic power, belong to completely different dimensions.

“This is the kid you brought in, so of course he has talent! But I don’t know if it’s okay to leave it alone for a month.”

Even if we start training as soon as possible to improve teamwork, it won’t be enough, but since training can only start in a month, I’m worried inside.

I fully understood his feelings and nodded slowly to show that I understood.

“Everyone has their own thoughts, so don’t worry. just… , When the time comes, just react properly.”

“… Reaction?”

After finishing the conversation with Kim Junhyung.

While Han Gyu-ri and Kim Jun-hyung left for the training ground after finishing their errands… .

I, who remained in the office with Jin Seo-won, briefly asked Jin Seo-won his thoughts.

“How about the office? Is it okay?”

“… Yes.”

“As I said before, there are only three staff members, including me. Oh, Junhyung is my high school classmate. As a friend, I have a good personality, so if you need anything, you can talk to me comfortably at any time.”

“… Yes.”

“Gyu-ri is also a good person. You have deep affection for your team. If Junhyung or I are uncomfortable, it’s okay to talk to Gyuri.”

Jin Seo-won kept nodding his head and showing a faint reaction as if he wasn’t particularly interested, and I, who had finished appealing to the team, quietly looked around the office and opened my mouth, pretending that I had nothing to talk about.

“Hmm… . You’ve come all the way to Seoul. Is there anything you want to do?”

OK.

“… No.”

Jin Seo-won came out with a sharp answer as if he didn’t think anything of it.

I raised the corner of my mouth at the answer I had been expecting, and made a suggestion as if I had been waiting.

“Then… . Would you like to watch our team train?”

“… ?”

For a moment, she made a puzzled expression and slowly pulled her body back.

It was as if he had subtly realized my intention to involve him in the team.

‘I have a good feeling.’

“In-kyung said that. After dinner, take me home. It’s lunch now, but isn’t it a bit awkward to sit here until dinner?”

“… that… .”

“Or, is there something else you want to do?”

Jin Seo-won did not respond as readily as I expected.

You probably didn’t know what to do with your time.

“Fact… . I also have some business to attend to at the training ground. Originally, I had to personally watch the training of my team members… , I couldn’t watch it because I was away for a week. I don’t know if I’m doing well… .”

I looked at Jin Seowon secretly and guided her to answer.

Although it was a bit of a cruel way to deal with her lack of social skills… .

That’s how desperate I was.

“… Mr. Seowon. If you don’t mind, could you come with me? There are many famous teams there, so it will probably be a good experience.”

“… … .”

Jin Seo-won looked at me, pursed his lips, as if he had something to say.

and… .

“… Okay.”

In the end, my request was granted.

*

“Producer! Are you coming back now!?”

“Long time no see. Producer!”

“It’s been a while for both of you. Nothing much happened while I was gone, right?”

“Yes! I trained hard!”

When we arrived at the training ground, we met Bang Han-na and Kim Na-rae, who were taking a break, and exchanged greetings.

“This is Jin Seo-won, our new team member ‘candidate’. I came today to observe, so please take care of me.”

“Candidate… ?”

“Ah… !”

I did not explain the details in detail to the two people, but fortunately, they responded as if they understood the situation.

“Hello! This is Bang Hanna! Please take care of me!”

“This is Na-rae Kim. Please take care of me.”

“… This is Jinseowon.”

I took a moment to quietly introduce Jin Seo-won to the two people.

“Guys! Let’s start training!”

Just then, Gyu-ri Han announced the resumption of training.

“Ah, I’ll go first! Have a great time!”

“Okay, see you later.”

“I’ll look at it right away, so you guys are working hard.”

“Yes… !”

I left Jin Seowon in the care of Han Gyu-ri and Kim Jun-hyung, and decided to watch over Bang Han-na and Kim Na-rae’s training as I had announced.

“Garat… !”

The first place I stopped by was Na-rae Kim’s booth.

When she gave the command, the fire spirit shot a fireball at the dummy robot.

Fuuuk───! Paang—!

Although the power was not great, the firework exploded clearly.

Unlike last week, when it collapsed helplessly, the magic power was well gathered inside the flame.

‘You’re doing great.’

I nodded slowly at the sight of Na-rae Kim achieving meaningful results and gave instructions into the microphone leading into the booth.

“Narae. Let’s add a little more horsepower this time. It’s okay if the size becomes smaller, so just focus on the destructive power.”

“Yes!”

After watching Na-rae Kim’s training and leaving feedback, I next stopped by Han-na Bang’s booth.

Kuuu!! Kuuuung────!!!

Without fail, Bang Han-na was dealing with a training robot that was one level higher than her.

Cooung───!! Kuuuung───!!

The robot attacked Bang Han-na in various patterns, but she received all the attacks without much trouble.

‘You’re doing great.’

The center of gravity was well established, and the shock absorption rate was quite high, as if the previous feedback had been properly accepted.

I felt like I could slowly move on to the next step.

“Hannah. Let’s block it by moving little by little.”

I instructed Hannah Bang on a new method.

Rather than standing still and defending, it was a method of defending by moving from place to place.

“Yes… !”

Hannah Bang immediately followed the instructions and moved her position little by little to take the robot’s attack.

Kuung──! Cooung──!!

It may have been difficult to maintain its center of gravity due to the continuous attacks, and it began to shake slightly.

“Qu… !”

“You’re doing great! Give your body more strength! Concentrate on avoiding attacks!”

“Yes… !”

I watched Bang Hanna train until she got used to it.

It was slow, but until I was able to take one step at a time steadily.

After completing the feedback, I approached Jin Seowon, who was quietly observing while sitting on a bench.

“Is it worth seeing?”

Jin Seo-won nodded, his eyes sparkling strangely.

Apparently, it was fun to watch the training.

“Thank goodness.”

I quietly took a seat next to Jin Seo-won, pretending to look at the booth, glanced at her and made a hint.

“Aren’t you bored?”

“… It’s okay.”

“Then, would you like to train?”

“… ?”

Jin Seo-won looked at me blankly as if he sensed something was strange and slowly distanced himself from me.

Seeing her like that, I inadvertently smiled and handed her the items I had packed ahead of time.

“Do you want to try this?”

It was a necklace with an S-class magic stone.

“This is also a type of training, training that involves putting in magical power and revealing it like this. If you look over there, you see that glowing thing on Narae’s neck, right? It’s the same as this.”

“… … .”

Jin Seowon stared at the sparkling magic stone in my hand.

And then… .

“… !”

As if he belatedly realized something was strange, he suddenly turned his head and began to distance himself again.

‘cute.’

I raised the corners of my mouth at the child-like appearance of acting as if I had no interest, and then forcibly held the magic stone in my hand and said.

“This isn’t something that only hunters do, it’s something all talented people do.”

“… Are you talented?”

“It’s true. Perhaps Seowon’s parents did the same?”

Seowon Jin stared at the magic stone in his hand, and I subtly encouraged him to just reveal it.

“… … .”

Jin Seo-won, who was lost in thought for a moment, frowned and began to squeeze the magic stone as if he was squeezing out magic power… .

Naturally, the magic stone could not be revealed.

“Is it not working well?”

I pretended not to know anything and grabbed her hand.

OK.

I flinch!

She made eye contact with her eyes wide open, as if she was startled.

“You can just follow along. Got it?”

Ignoring her gaze, I slowly poured magical energy into her clenched hands.

Hua Ahhh ──── !!!!

A beam of light comes out through clenched fists.

Jin Seo-won, who was trembling, began to carefully open his fist and look at the magic stone as if he had never done so.

It was like a child seeing magic for the first time.

“Now, this is how we do it.”

I immediately pulled my hand away and gave her another chance.

“… … .”

Jin Seo-won seemed to have forgotten that he was being trained and gave me a quick look, and then he started to frown slightly as he stared at the magic stone in his palm.

And after a while.

Hua Ahhh!

The magic stone reacted to the magic power and began to emit intense light.

“Seo, Seowon! I did it!”

“… ?”

Jin Seo-won looked at the magic stone and me in confusion, as if he didn’t really know he could do it.

“What is this! oh my god… . You did this in one go!?”

Before we knew it, Kim Jun-hyung showed off his awkward acting and started pouring out praise along with him.

“Awesome! Seowon, you might have talent!”

“… . A true genius, a genius!”

“… Uh, uh… .”

Jin Seo-won seemed embarrassed by the sudden situation and turned off the light of the magic stone… .

“How did such a talented person get an F rank? Isn’t there a problem at the measuring station?”

“That’s right! The measuring station was the problem!”

Kim Jun-hyung and I never stopped praising him. Seowon Jin quietly expressed his gratitude with a slightly flushed face, as if he was embarrassed but in a good mood.

“… Okay, thank you… .”

It was as planned.

*

‘I can’t do it…’ !’

Bang Han-na, who stopped training midway, left the booth to find Do Ji-hyuk because she wanted to ask about a confusing part.

‘Because you told me to ask you any time if you have any questions… . ‘You’ll be okay, right?’

She didn’t realize it, but in fact, she had a much bigger reason to want to talk a little more with Do Ji-hyuk, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Ah, Producer… !”

That was the moment when Bang Han-na found Do Ji-hyuk and approached him.

Hwaaah!!!

A bright light began to emanate from the hand of Jin Seo-won, who was sitting next to Do Ji-hyuk.

‘… That… !’

It was the light of the magic stone.

“… ! Seowon, you were a true genius!”

“Mr. Seowon. You really have talent… !”

Kim Jun-hyung and Do Ji-hyuk praised Jin Seo-won so much that their mouths were dry.

Jin Seowon blushed as if she was embarrassed and brightly lit the magic stone.

“… … .”

Bang Han-na, who was staring blankly at the scene, looked at the magic stone in Jin Seo-won’s hand,

Sigh─

I shifted my gaze and looked down at the magic stone hanging on my chest.

“… … .”

His magic stone, which did not emit any light… .