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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: No Limits to Customization (3)
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Puhahaha!
Park Chunduk's booming laughter filled the director's office.
Kim Gunja frowned as he looked at him.
"You find this funny right now? Your little brother got humiliated by some fresh-faced kid?"
"So what? Should I cry like you? I'm laughing because it's ridiculous."
The word "cry" made Kim Gunja's shoulders twitch.
*Damn, why do they keep bringing up the past? That's low.*
"Anyway, Yeji said that? She's not one to care about other people's business. That's unexpected."
"Unexpected my ass. I nearly threw a punch, but held back because I saw your face, bro."
Park Chunduk smirked at Kim Gunja's words.
"Why didn't you just swing? You wouldn't have landed it anyway."
"Huh?"
"She's a genius. Not some half-baked weirdo like you—a real natural-born one."
"With that attitude?"
Park Chunduk scratched his chin, looking puzzled.
"Attitude... She's not usually like that. I have no idea what got into her. But she exceeded A-rank standards right after awakening, so that says it all."
"Whoa, A-rank?"
It meant the average of her physical and mana levels was over 5.
*Damn, she really held back.*
He'd almost added another black mark to his history two days in a row.
"Actually, I call her a genius more because of her unique trait and how she uses it than her levels."
"What is it?"
"Demon Eye. An eye that observes mana. She remembers the source of an opponent's ability perfectly after seeing it once."
"...Wait. Remembers means..."
"Yeah. She copies it exactly, like a photocopier. I showed her my Iron Armor once, and she mimicked it right away... Ha... I nearly passed out the first time."
"That's insane..."
"It is. It's not perfect, though. She can't copy abilities beyond her limits or can only use parts of them, but even that's a huge advantage in versatility."
"Definitely..."
Assuming most Awakeners had only one unique trait, it was an incredible ability.
Only then did Kim Gunja understand why Yeji had said that the moment she saw him.
Her eyes could see it.
The imbalance in his body and mana caused by his right arm.
Suddenly, a thought struck him, and Kim Gunja tilted his head.
"Bro."
"Yeah?"
"But why's a girl like that here? She should've been scouted by some big guild or association ages ago. This backwater academy... no, I mean, an academy run by a cool uncle like you is great too. Yeah."
He realized his slip too late and tried to backpedal, but it was already too much.
Park Chunduk's eyebrow twitched.
"Your pivot game's on Udyr level?"
With narrowed eyes, Park Chunduk let out a shallow sigh instead of getting angry.
"...You're right. She could've been scouted ages ago. Embarrassing to admit, but... it's because of me. That's why Yeji's here."
"Because of you?"
"Yeah. She wants to help. It's a Hunter License-only academy, even if it's small. If a student passes the exam with top scores, that's great marketing."
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"She said she wants to help me since she's taking the test anyway. Such a good kid."
"Ah, so that's why..."
"Yeah. She's waiting for the Hunter License exam in three months. She can decide on a guild after that."
Unlike her poor first impression, she had real depth.
"Anyway, I'll talk to her for you, so don't worry. Oh, right—did you try what I told you yesterday?"
He was asking if he'd tried moving his mana.
"Yeah. Just like you said. Everything except my right arm feels blocked. I can't move the mana freely."
"Yeah. You're in a pretty abnormal state right now. That swordsmanship too. Insane power for your level... but if you collapse after one swing, what's the point? Perfect way to die."
If it were any ordinary Awakener, Park Chunduk would've told them to give up on becoming a Hunter without hesitation.
But Kim Gunja was different.
After a moment's thought, Park Chunduk spoke again.
"Do you know the most important training for an Awakener to get stronger?"
"Hmm? Building basic stamina or learning mana control first, like you said last time?"
Park Chunduk nodded.
"Not wrong. Basics are always key. But there's something more important: accurately understanding your unique trait."
"Your unique trait?"
"Yeah. You have to know its limits and range to use it properly. Training methods change accordingly. But..."
Park Chunduk's face darkened, as if it wasn't easy.
"It's a boring process that requires tons of real combat and trial-and-error. Even I went through a lot to activate Iron Armor efficiently. Depending on mana operation, the speed, strength, and duration varied wildly."
In other words, the system gave the unique trait, but how to use it was entirely up to the Awakener.
Park Chunduk paused and gave Kim Gunja a meaningful look.
"Usually, you do it alongside basic training. But you..."
"Don't need that trial-and-error, right?"
Kim Gunja grinned and cut him off.
He'd already guessed it.
Park Chunduk smacked his lips as he watched him.
*Ugh, my gut's starting to ache again.*
He grumbled on.
"Yeah, kid. For you..."
#
Mana Training Room.
Kim Gunja sat cross-legged, while Park Chunduk watched with a fascinated expression beside him.
*Accumulating external mana in the body? Is that even possible?*
The mana an Awakener could use was limited.
Mana flowing through the circuits imprinted in the body upon awakening.
That was it.
The amount varied wildly per person, and ways to increase it were extremely limited.
Only through magic stones from monsters, artifacts from special dungeons, or re-awakening.
That was common sense.
*And he says it's possible. But it's not easy, and efficiency sucks.*
But Kim Gunja's cultivation method supposedly allowed accumulating external mana just by sitting like that.
Did that even make sense?
*...Let's watch. He's been defying common sense from the start.*
Though skeptical,
Park Chunduk had provided the best setup.
A C-rank magic stone-powered mana activator hummed in one corner.
It boosted mana density using the stone's mana.
Thanks to it, the room's mana concentration was over three times higher than outside.
*Costs a fortune, but the effect's solid.*
It was one of the best training methods for beginners to boost mana perception and affinity.
Suuuup— Haaaaah—.
Kim Gunja, deep in meditation, exhaled a long breath.
Observing and feeling the mana flowing through his circuits was easier than expected.
*Mana and internal energy. Different words, similar effects.*
A small shift in mindset made Ma Ilcheon's knowledge serve as perfect navigation.
Plus the dense mana and synergy from yesterday's spar.
Ideal conditions.
Following the Heaven-Shattering Divine Art's formula, Kim Gunja began drawing in external mana.
And tried settling it in his dantian, below the navel.
Of course, it didn't go well at first.
But,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Sync Rate has increased.]
he adapted unbelievably fast.
As if a kindly master was guiding him step by step.
Suuuup— Fuuuuu—.
Very slowly.
He gently coaxed the mana trying to slip away like a loach.
*It's dangerous out there.*
*This is your safe home.*
How much time passed?
Wuuuuuung—.
Finally.
He succeeded in storing external mana in his dantian.
It was a mere speck, but its meaning was monumental.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ [The foundation of Heaven-Shattering Divine Art has been established!][Heaven-Shattering Divine Art has reached 1st Star Realm!] ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Heaven-Shattering Divine Art (1st Star)
A thrilling resonance hit, and Kim Gunja's eyes snapped half-open.
A flicker of blue and red light danced in his gaze before vanishing.
"H-How'd it go?"
Park Chunduk asked as Kim Gunja opened his eyes.
Kim Gunja grinned.
"Success."
Park Chunduk gasped. He actually did it.
Wait.
Did that mean Gunja could increase his mana just by breathing now?
What kind of nonsense—!
His gut started aching again.
"Wanna try it, bro?"
"M-Me? Me too?"
"Yeah. I'll teach you."
"I-Is that okay?"
Park Chunduk, uncharacteristically, kept stammering. At Kim Gunja casually offering something huge.
"Why not? The stronger my side gets, the better, right?"
True, he nodded, but he started wondering if he should just accept it like this.
"Come sit here."
"O-Okay."
Kim Gunja kindly explained what he knew, and Park Chunduk, a 10-year veteran, followed along well.
But,
"Ugh..."
He soon grimaced and broke his posture.
"Nah, doesn't work for me. Tried shoving mana into this 'dantian' like you said, but it kept leaking out. Even gentle coaxing failed, so I gripped it hard and thought my gut was gonna rip open. Thought I was dying for real."
Shaken, he wiped sweat from his face.
"Too bad. But if you keep trying in your spare time..."
"Hell no. Who you trying to send to the afterlife?"
Park Chunduk shook his head like he'd given up.
As Kim Gunja looked disappointed, Park Chunduk chuckled.
*This is rich. Who's helping who here?*
"Hey, isn't it about time?"
"Oh? Now that you mention it..."
Checking his status window at Park Chunduk's words,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [00 : 00 : 01]
Tick.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Customizing Room entry is now available!]
Perfect timing—the cooldown had ended.
Kim Gunja took a light deep breath.
Customizing Room.
It'd only been a day, but it felt like ages since his last visit.
That meant the day since had been profoundly meaningful to him.
"Right on time. I'll head in."
"Got it. I'll time it here, so when you come back, I'll drill you till you miss recruit days."
He meant the time ratio between Customizing Room and reality.
Kim Gunja grinned at Park Chunduk's words.
"Music to my ears."
Fwaaah!
With a burst of light, Kim Gunja's body vanished from the room. Without a trace.
#
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [You have entered the Customizing Room.] [Customizing Room can be entered once per day.]
He opened his eyes to see the familiar silhouette of a woman standing there.
Seeing her brought back Chunduk's words.
— *You have... something we don't, right?*
The reason he needed no trial-and-error.
The one who knew the Customizing Room better than anyone was right in front of him.
Customizing Room guide, Austin.
Like her trademark.
Austin, impeccably dressed in a black tuxedo and red shirt, gracefully folded her arm in greeting.
"Welcome to your second visit, Master."
Kim Gunja returned her beaming smile with one of his own.
"Austin, was it?"
"Yes, call me that, Master."
"Mind if I ask one favor?"
"Of course."
"Tell me."
Curiosity sparkled in her near-crimson eyes, like her shirt.
Kim Gunja met her gaze steadily and conveyed his will clearly.
"Everything about the Customizing Room."
What could make her so happy?
Her eyes curved into seductive crescent moons.
Austin bowed her head, her voice thrilled.
"If that's what Master desires... gladly."
As if she'd waited eons for this moment.