Chapter 21: Talented person

“Honestly, this is ridiculous…”

Shin-woo arrived 30 minutes after we’d started eating.

A mere friend, not even directly involved, and it took him that long? I’d made the right call.

‘If I’d stayed, it would have taken at least three times longer.’

I couldn’t say that to him, though, so I opted for a different greeting.

“You made it?”

“Made it…? Is that all you have to say? You left me there all alone!”

My earlier eye contact hadn’t been a mistake.

“Hey, I’ll teach you a Hero-grade movement technique to make up for it.”

I felt bad for leaving him stranded without any movement skills. I’d teach him a decent, easy-to-learn technique from another world.

Most movement skills also incorporated elements of speed enhancement.

While not as powerful as dedicated speed techniques like the Cloud Dragon Eightfold Steps, it would be more than enough to escape situations like the one earlier.

“Seriously? A Hero-grade movement skill?”

Shin-woo looked surprised.

Hero-grade was top 10%; his reaction was understandable.

Unique-grade was top 1%, Legendary-grade was top 0.01%.

Even large guilds only provided Rare-grade skills and above to established members, giving new recruits High-grade or lower.

I knew several Unique and Legendary-grade movement techniques, but they were difficult to teach, and considering Shin-woo’s aptitude, it would take over a week.

A Hero-grade skill, effective and teachable within a day, was the best compromise.

“Have I ever lied about giving you something?”

“No… I’ll let it slide this time.”

Shin-woo was the one who’d crafted the concealment equipment for my unauthorized Gate raids last year.

I’d been meaning to repay him, and now that my reincarnator status was out, teaching him a skill seemed like a fitting reward.

With Shin-woo’s arrival, I ordered more dishes he liked and began recounting my past lives, erecting a sound barrier to prevent eavesdropping.

“I lived for 30 years before awakening the ‘Five Lives’ trait.”

This kind of story was best told over drinks, which was a shame.

Academy students were treated as semi-adults and could order alcohol with their student IDs, but we hadn’t even gotten our uniforms yet, let alone IDs.

Still, with delicious food, the joy of passing the exam, good company, and the added spice of my past life stories, we were all in high spirits.

“My first life was in a martial arts world. A world where most people trained in martial arts, and conflict was constant. Ha-yeon was the strongest there.”

In the current martial world, only Ha-yeon had reached the Transcendent Realm.

If she’d united the Demonic sects and launched an all-out attack, the Central Plains would have fallen under her control.

“Yu-won, you were a s*ave.”

Ha-yeon, familiar with the story, added her comments.

“Yeah… It was incredibly difficult. I never thought I’d end up shoveling human… I couldn’t take it anymore, so I went straight to Ha-yeon and begged her to take me in.”

Learn martial arts or die trying. I’d gambled everything on my persuasive skills.

“I heard someone shouting from beyond the walls of the Heavenly Demon Palace, far enough that even the guards couldn’t hear. I was the only one who could hear from that distance, so I went out there, thinking it might be calling me.”

Looking back, it was an insane plan.

A lowly s*ave confronting a being who could crush him with a finger, complaining about life in the Demonic sect?

“If Ha-yeon had killed me then, things would have turned out very differently.”

I would have moved on to the fantasy world, learned some aura cultivation technique, and maybe reached S-rank Hunter level in a future life.

That would probably have been my limit.

“I would never kill a helpless commoner. Even if you hadn’t convinced me, I would have simply sent you away, not killed you.”

Having witnessed her decapitate dozens of Demonic sect and righteous sect members who’d crossed her, her words lacked some credibility, but I’d never seen her harm an innocent person.

“Anyway, despite my lack of talent, I was able to reach the Transcendent Realm…”

“What?”

“What?!”

“What did you say?”

All three wives looked at me in surprise. I wasn’t sure what surprised them. Reaching the Transcendent Realm?

“Yu-won, don’t tell me… you still believe what I said back then…?”

“Back then…? Oh! You mean when you told me I had no talent and would have to train relentlessly to keep up? I never skipped a day of training after that.”

It was all a nostalgic memory now.

Entering the Demonic Arts Academy as the top student due to my martial arts, the kind friends and instructors, the days of pushing myself to the limit.

The most fulfilling moments of my life.

“Yu-won… The truth is…”

“Yes…?”

“You possess talent that’s among the best in the world.”

‘?’

This was absurd.

“Even I, born with the Heavenly Demon Physique, which grants exceptional talent in demonic arts, took ten days to master the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. You, with no special physique, mastered the even more complex Ink Lightning Divine Art in just 15 days. How could you possibly lack talent?”

“Seriously…? Is this a hidden camera prank?”

The words I’d believed for 130 years were a lie? My strength wasn’t due to the martial art itself but my own talent?

“Of course, you trained relentlessly, and I sparred with you directly, but reaching the Transformation Realm at 16 wasn’t because of the technique. It was because of you.”

The revelation of the truth behind my strength left me dejected.

‘I thought I was a genius of hard work…’

I thought I’d overcome insurmountable obstacles through effort and opportunity.

Turns out, I’d just accelerated the process of overcoming obstacles I was already capable of overcoming.

“Oppa… Are you an idiot…? It’s impossible for someone without talent to become that strong.”

Estelle’s words pierced my heart.

“Honey, you’re a dummy.”

Liera’s whisper twisted the knife. My heart ached.

“Reaching the Transcendent Realm is remarkable. That power shouldn’t carry over after reincarnation… So you reached it within 30 years?”

“That’s right.”

A 30-year Transcendent Realm speedrun, thanks to the Lightning God’s Body trait.

The enlightenment gained from fighting the Demon King blossomed in my next life, allowing me to reach the Transcendent Realm.

“Yu-won.”

Shin-woo, enjoying his meal, spoke to me.

“Yeah?”

“What’s the Transcendent Realm…?”

It was understandable he wouldn’t know if he wasn’t interested in martial arts.

I explained it in terms he’d understand.

“Think of it as the equivalent of a Grandmaster or Archmage in martial arts terms.”

The realm beyond Master and Archmage.

The realm of those who’d established their own domain. Level 300 on Earth.

“Uh… You’re saying you were over level 300?! On par with the rank 1?”

Shin-woo’s jaw dropped.

Unlike martial artists and those from fantasy worlds, Awakened individuals had status windows, allowing for rapid growth.

Even considering enlightenment, Earth had a disproportionately high number of S-rank individuals compared to other worlds.

Jin Baek-ryong had reached S-rank at 17. I’d reached it at 16, thanks to Ha-yeon’s training.

But the realm was different. Even with the system’s assistance, Awakened couldn’t be boosted into establishing their domain.

Only those with exceptional innate talent could surpass level 300.

On Earth, only the rank 1 was officially recognized as being above 300.

The S-rank above all S-ranks. The man commonly called SS-rank.

[First].

One of the first-generation Hunters, known as the “First Hunter.” He was still alive.

Reaching the Transcendent Realm extended lifespan by centuries, so his continued existence wasn’t surprising.

My 30-year lifespan was due to my trait.

Ha-yeon, having undergone rejuvenation, would also live a very long time.

“I was level 341 when I died, so he might be even stronger.”

Shrouded in mystery, it was impossible to know his true strength, but I believed I could hold my own against him, especially in my prime.

“You’re unbelievable… Kim Yu-won. I’m proud of you, bro.”

I finished my story about Ha-yeon, then moved on to Estelle and Liera, sharing my experiences with everyone.

It was a time for understanding, a chance for them to learn more about each other.

Shin-woo cried throughout the tales of my three wives.

“That’s so sad… You’re a terrible person, Kim Yu-won…”

I couldn’t deny it. The others seemed to regard each other with less animosity now.

We needed this time to share our stories and clear the air.

I hoped every day from now on would be as peaceful and comfortable as this moment.