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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The sudden system maintenance initially alarmed him, but he let out a sigh of relief upon seeing the message that basic system functions would still be available.
Although item appraisal, status window, and skill confirmation were impossible, he thought he could manage for a day if he could still use the inventory and cheats.
He wondered what problem had occurred to necessitate such a sudden maintenance.
Surely they hadn’t spilled tteokbokki on the server?
‘…That’s impossible,’ he thought.
Since this was reality and not a game, the entire world itself must be the server for the developer.
If that were the case, tteokbokki would have to rain down from space.
The whole world would become sticky with red sauce and everyone would be overwhelmed by the spiciness…
Yu-jin chuckled and shook his head at this absurd imagination.
‘By the way, Developer hyung, can I keep using the system?’ he wondered.
He worried it might suddenly disappear.
He had become dependent on it and couldn’t live without it now.
But his concern was short-lived.
Ding.
As if it couldn’t just watch his anxiety, the system sent him a message.
Reassured by its promise to always be with him, Yu-jin’s unease and worry subsided.
Since the system normally didn’t respond even when spoken to, he figured he could trust this assurance.
With a more relaxed mind, Yu-jin sat on a bench in the training ground and operated his smartwatch.
[Me]
– Lee Seo-yeon.
– Can you come to the training ground now?
[Lee Seo-yeon]
– I’ll be right there.
Her prompt reply came as soon as he sent the message. Yu-jin smiled at her swift response and checked the time on his smartwatch.
“Hmm…, she should be in class at this time.”
Unlike Yu-jin and Seo-yeon who could skip two days of classes due to experiencing the other world, Asuka had to attend classes.
So he decided to give it to Asuka tomorrow.
Yu-jin took out the two boxes he had received from Baek Yu-hwa from his inventory and opened them.
“Oh……”
As soon as he opened the box, a refreshing and crisp scent wafted out.
It was as if he was in the middle of a forest.
Yu-jin let out an exclamation of admiration, but his admiration was short-lived.
He frowned as he picked up a white pill.
“I know this is the Spirit Energy Pill, but it’s really inconvenient not being able to check its information…”
It looked exactly like the model he had seen in the game, so it must be the Spirit Energy Pill, but due to the system maintenance, he couldn’t check the item information, which made him wonder if this was really the Spirit Energy Pill.
With that thought, Yu-jin let out a deep sigh.
“…I guess I relied on the system more than I thought.”
To doubt his knowledge as a veteran player just because he couldn’t check the item information.
Yu-jin, you’ve been corrupted by the convenience of the system!
He mentally berated himself, but when he actually checked the information displayed in the inventory.
[42][???(A)][9999+]
[43][???(A)][9999+]
“……”
He found himself wishing the system maintenance would end quickly.
‘So much for veteran knowledge.’
System convenience was the best.
“Should I take the Spirit Energy Pill before Seo-yeon arrives?”
He took out the Spirit Energy Pill he had put in his inventory.
[(Copy)???(A)]
The Spirit Energy Pill had the ‘Copy’ prefix attached, but apart from the prefix, it emitted the same scent and energy as the genuine article.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Yu-jin popped the pill into his mouth.
“Hmm……”
The elixir melted instantly upon entering his mouth.
At the same time, a very refreshing scent filled his mouth.
But the feeling of his vessel expanding from the elixir’s effect… didn’t come?
“…What’s going on?”
He was sure he had taken the Spirit Energy Pill, but why didn’t he feel anything?
In the game, when a character took the Spirit Energy Pill, they would say things like,
‘I can feel my soul getting stronger.’
‘I can feel my soul’s wounds healing.’
But he felt absolutely nothing.
Just… his mouth felt refreshed, as if he had used mouthwash.
“Is my soul that insignificant?”
…Well, if that was the case, there was nothing he could do about it.
With a disappointed feeling, Yu-jin took out another Spirit Energy Pill (Copy) and popped it into his mouth.
Hmm, refreshing.
“This is my new mouthwash from now on.”
He decided to eat one whenever his mouth felt stuffy.
As he was about to put another Spirit Energy Pill in his mouth with that thought, he saw Lee Seo-yeon entering the training ground.
“Seo-yeon, over here!”
At his call, Seo-yeon quickly walked over.
“…Have you already found a solution?”
Usually, if someone called so soon after saying they would find a solution, one would feel anxious about why, but whether due to her firm trust in him, Seo-yeon’s face was flushed with expectation.
If that was the case, it was only right to live up to that trust.
Yu-jin took out a Spirit Energy Pill from his inventory and placed it in Seo-yeon’s hand.
“…What’s this?”
“It’s an elixir called the Spirit Energy Pill.”
“Spirit Energy Pill? You don’t mean the one I know about, do you?”
Unlike her usual self, Seo-yeon looked down at the pill in her hand with an astonished face.
Yu-jin smiled at her reaction and continued speaking.
“It’s probably what you’re thinking of. Anyway, if you just take that, you’ll be able to control your talent.”
“…Is it really okay for me to receive something this precious?”
Seo-yeon looked at Yu-jin with trembling eyes.
Judging by how her hand was shaking, she seemed afraid of breaking it if she gripped it too tightly.
Well, even for the daughter of the Sword Star and leader of Korea’s large guild Mirinae, the Spirit Energy Pill was not something easily obtainable.
“It’s fine, you can have it.”
Yu-jin said this as he took out another Spirit Energy Pill to show her.
Then, as if tossing a peanut into his mouth, he casually popped the Spirit Energy Pill in.
“……!”
Seo-yeon’s eyes widened in shock as she watched him consume such a precious elixir as if it were a common snack.
To the astonished Seo-yeon, Yu-jin took out yet another Spirit Energy Pill and said,
“I have tons of these, so don’t feel burdened and just take it.”
“……”
Despite his words, Seo-yeon only stared at the pill in her hand without consuming it.
She was still hesitating about whether she should really take it.
Seeing this, Yu-jin decided to personally dispel her hesitation.
So what he did was…
Rumble……
He poured Spirit Energy Pills onto the floor.
“Wh-what!”
Seo-yeon was startled to see numerous Spirit Energy Pills piling up on the floor as if a granary had been opened.
It was an emotion and stuttering Yu-jin had never seen from Seo-yeon before.
He felt immense satisfaction at her reaction.
Of course, he had revealed his cheat ability, but it wasn’t a big problem.
This world, being a modern fantasy, was full of all sorts of extraordinary abilities.
And even if the cheat was discovered, it didn’t matter.
Seo-yeon, no, the main characters, were trustworthy enough that he could tell them about the cheat, but he had no intention of telling them voluntarily.
There were villains and Fallen who could read minds like Arthur’s ‘Fairy Eye’.
“Y-Yu-jin, put them away quickly! Someone might see!”
Seo-yeon looked around anxiously with an urgent expression.
After a moment, realizing they were the only two in the training ground, she let out a deep sigh of relief.
Yu-jin burst out laughing at her behavior.
“Ugh……”
Seo-yeon’s face reddened as she avoided Yu-jin’s gaze.
Eventually, as if her embarrassment reached its peak, she sat down on the floor, hugging her knees and burying her face.
Like a mouse hiding in its hole.
But did she know?
That this very action made her look even cuter, making Yu-jin want to laugh more.
However, Yu-jin held back his laughter and put the spilled Spirit Energy Pills back into his inventory.
Then he approached Seo-yeon, crouched down in front of her, and said,
“Miss Seo-yeon, you’re not sleeping, are you?”
“……”
“If you fall asleep here, rumors will spread.”
“……”
“The noble Ice Princess Lee Seo-yeon, fell asleep in the training grou-”
“…Stop teasing me.”
Seo-yeon raised her head slightly with a somewhat sulky face.
“Should I?”
Yu-jin flashed a grin at Seo-yeon as he stood up.
Then he extended his hand.
“Come on, get up.”
“……”
Seo-yeon stared at Yu-jin blankly with transparent eyes that made it impossible to guess what she was thinking.
But only for a moment.
She took Yu-jin’s hand and stood up.
Then, giving him a gentle smile, she said,
“Thank you.”
“……”
Yu-jin couldn’t respond to her gratitude.
No, he couldn’t open his mouth.
Because she was so beautiful that he was mesmerized.
But thanks to the effect of ‘Tenacious Mind’, he barely managed to regain his senses.
‘…Indeed, S-rank Charm.’
Just a smile was enough to captivate someone.
“…It’s nothing, I’m just helping a friend.”
He couldn’t say he was helping because of the Ending Quest, so he chose words she could understand.
“Friend……”
Seo-yeon stared at Yu-jin with a blank expression.
Then, as if she had made some decision, she nodded and put the Spirit Energy Pill she had been holding into her mouth.
And after a moment.
Whoosh!
Magic energy surged around Seo-yeon’s body.
Unlike Yu-jin who felt no effect no matter how many he ate, it was clearly working for her.
Seeing this, Yu-jin kicked off the ground to create distance before getting caught in her magic energy.
Or rather, he tried to.
If only Seo-yeon’s magic energy hadn’t enveloped his body.
“…Huh?”
Although he could see and sense Seo-yeon’s magic energy swirling like a storm, the energy wrapping around his body wasn’t fierce at all, but very gentle.
Like a soft breeze.
‘…It smells really nice.’
Perhaps due to the effect of the Spirit Energy Pill, her magic energy had a refreshing scent like a forest, and there was also a floral scent that seemed to be her own fragrance.
Whooosh……
Had she digested the elixir?
The magic energy storm gradually began to subside.
Soon after, like the wind dying down, the magic energy emanating from Seo-yeon’s body abruptly stopped.
“Phew……”
A long breath escaped from Seo-yeon’s mouth., and a refreshing scent brushed past Yu-jin’s nose.
Flash.
Seo-yeon opened her eyes that had been closed.
At the same time, a bright light flashed in her eyes.
Yu-jin knew her spirit vessel had been restored.
“Seo-yeon, how do you feel?”
Since Yu-jin hadn’t felt any effect from the Spirit Energy Pill at all, he didn’t know what it felt like for one’s soul to become stronger.
So he asked about that feeling, but…
“……”
Seo-yeon just stared at Yu-jin silently.
Then she suddenly approached and hugged him.
“Yu-jin, thank you so much.”
“……”
Ah, damn.
Yu-jin felt his mind going strange from the warmth and scent emanating from her.
As if his mind was melting…
….
“Wow.”
Only after ‘Mental Focus’ forcibly put him into sage mode did Yu-jin escape from Seo-yeon’s Charm (S).
No, was it really just S-rank? To be captivated so helplessly, it must be S+ rank or higher?
Thinking this, Yu-jin quickly pulled away from her embrace.
Then, before the effect of Mental Focus wore off, he distanced himself far from Seo-yeon.
“…You can control your talent now, right?”
“Yes.”
Seo-yeon nodded, still maintaining her bright smile in response to Yu-jin’s question.
“Is that so? Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Why? You have to spar with me.”
“…Tomorrow, let’s spar tomorrow. I’m tired today.”
“I need to check if I can control my talent, where are you going?”
What are you saying?
You just said you could control it a moment ago.
For some unknown reason, Seo-yeon kept trying to keep Yu-jin there.
Her behavior made him feel like something big would happen if he stayed.
So he slowly backed away towards the training ground entrance.
And the moment he reached the entrance.
His sage mode terminated.
At the same time, Yu-jin left the training ground.
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“See you tomorrow then!!”
Yu-jin hastily exited the training ground.
Left alone, Seo-yeon sighed with a regretful expression.
Then she murmured softly.
[The talent “Sword-Gun Prodigy (S+)” says it’s really a shame.]
“…Yeah, it is a shame.”
But still.
“There will be other chances next time, right?”
[The talent “Sword-Gun Prodigy (S+)” says it agrees.]
“Then shall we go back now too?”
[The talent “Sword-Gun Prodigy (S+)” says that sounds good.]
With those final words, Seo-yeon left the training ground.
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c-c-crazy now there are two of them gunning for mc
Also surprising to see actual appreciation towards the system.
He needs to buy SSS+ or EX grade mental talent to withstand her charm