1. Name: Kim Soo-hyun (Year 3)

[Strength 96(+2)] [Endurance 94(+2)] [Agility 98] [Stamina 100(+2)] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)]

(Remaining stat points: 0)

Sitting cross-legged in the center of the training hall, I calmly reviewed my status.

If stats were a house, stamina would be the foundation. If they were a tree, stamina would be the roots. If they were a car, stamina would be the frame. In other words, stamina supports the other stats, allowing them to perform at their best.

I briefly recalled the days when my stamina was at 70 points. Those were tough times. My low stamina left me exhausted quickly. Despite having high stats, I could count on one hand the number of times I fought to my full potential. Using Hwa-jeong? It felt like risking my life every time.

But now, things were different. Currently, stamina was the highest among my six stats. What once was a burden had transformed into a reliable ally over the past three years.

Now, it was time to test it out.

I stood up, removed the earring from my ear, and with a flash of white light, Victoria’s Glory appeared in my right hand. After taking a moment to steady my breath, I began the test by swinging the sword horizontally.

Whoosh!

The sword sliced effortlessly through the air. It was empty space, yet I felt as if I had cut through something. The soft glow emanating from the sword seeped into the invisible rift, leaving a faint afterimage.

As a beautiful silver arc formed before my eyes, I couldn’t help but smile. Just one swing, and I could feel a weightiness that was different from before. The speed had also increased, a testament to my stamina’s support.

How much output could I achieve with magic amplification? I immediately channeled my magic.

As the magic coursed through my circuits, the air around me began to stir. I intentionally slowed the sword’s speed, but even so, the magic trail left behind was intense. The air bubbled like boiling water.

I gradually increased the magic, letting the sword dance as I moved it freely. A chill emanated from the sword’s tip, gaining momentum with each swing. Soon, the atmosphere shifted, and sharp energy began to slice and pierce the surroundings. I slid my foot lightly.

With a step, I slashed horizontally, spun to strike vertically, moved sideways for a powerful cut, and leaped forward to slash diagonally.

Swish, swish, swish, swish!

The sound of the sword tearing through the air was loud and clear. It felt light. No, it was light yet heavy…?

No, that’s not it.

What once felt like a heavy blow now seemed effortless. At 70 points, I had to swing with all my might using both hands to achieve the same power that now came easily with a single swing at 100 points.

Flap!

Victoria’s Glory fluttered belatedly, and as it settled, I raised it high and exhaled quietly.

How long did that take? One second? Maybe two?

I tilted my head, then pushed off the ground with all my strength. With a short shout, I swung the sword at the empty air.

“Hup!”

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

With one shout, four consecutive strikes followed. My feet touched the ground. As soon as they did, I leaped again, swinging the sword at the lingering afterimages in the air.

“Ha!”

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

This time, six explosive sounds echoed through the training hall. The impact was so strong that it felt like a minor earthquake, though there was no need to worry. The underground training hall was designed to withstand such shocks.

As my feet touched the ground again, I calmed my breathing. I felt a refreshing clarity in my mind. Not just my mind, but my body felt light and invigorated.

Though the movements were simple, the more I moved, the more energy I felt. No, it was real.

I finally allowed myself a satisfied smile. While I needed more practice to be sure, I had a good sense of things.

In my first run, I had two combat styles.

Either I unleashed all my power from the start, relentlessly attacking, or I defended and waited for an opening, then struck with everything I had. It was a double-edged sword with no room for error.

This approach carried over into my second run. Even as my stamina increased to 90 points, I always moved with the fear of depleting it too quickly.

But now, that fear was gone. I no longer had to fight cautiously.

Stamina not only supported my other stats but also allowed them to exceed their usual limits. This meant my combat options had expanded significantly.

I could finally let go of the regret of not raising my other stats to 101 or 102. Whether in terms of user information or using Hwa-jeong, increasing my stamina was undoubtedly the best choice.

Yes. By securing stability, I had become undeniably stronger. I felt confident enough to take on even Gong Chan-ho in his prime.

“Ah, now that I’ve checked my stamina… I just need to confirm Hwa-jeong’s awakening.”

I muttered to myself, feeling quite pleased. Then, suddenly reminded of the second awakening, I tried reaching out to Hwa-jeong.

‘Hwa-jeong?’

I waited, but there was no response. Despite saying we’d talk tomorrow because she was tired, it seemed she still hadn’t woken up.

I pondered for a moment and decided to leave the training hall. After the second awakening yesterday, I was reminded of the need to be cautious with Hwa-jeong’s power. This isn’t something I can wield recklessly. Rather than risk fainting by testing it on my own, it would be wiser to proceed safely under Hwa-jeong’s guidance.

With that thought, I crossed the training hall in a rare good mood. The prospect of growing stronger always excites a person, a user.

As I opened the door and looked at the stairs, I paused. Someone was waiting for me at the bottom. Long hair with a deep purple hue. Leaning against the wall with one leg bent, it was none other than Heo Jun-young.

A pair of eyes, the same color as the hair, glanced at me.

“Your eye color is back to normal. The red eyes suited you yesterday.”

Instinctively, I touched my eyes. Realizing I still held Victoria’s Glory, I transformed it back into an earring and put it on.

“Have you been waiting for me?”

Heo Jun-young nodded quietly. Then, stepping away from the wall, he walked over and met my gaze.

“I’d like to hear your answer to my proposal from yesterday.”

”…You want to learn the ability?”

Last night, Heo Jun-young proposed a deal. In exchange for the results from Pandora’s Box, he wanted me to teach him one of my abilities.

“Yes. Specifically, the ability you named ‘Ihyeonghwanwi.’”

“Hmm.”

I stroked my chin thoughtfully. While I appreciated Heo Jun-young’s straightforwardness, this proposal was a heavy one. Ihyeonghwanwi was one of my most valuable abilities, far beyond the typical sword aura.

Sensing my hesitation, Heo Jun-young spoke with an uncharacteristically fervent tone.

“If Anima Oratio isn’t enough… I’m willing to offer other results as well. I thought it over all night.”

“Other results?”

“Yes. If necessary, I’m prepared to give them all.”

“All of them.”

I chuckled softly.

“Heh. You really want to learn Ihyeonghwanwi that badly?”

Heo Jun-young didn’t answer, but the intense desire in his eyes told me everything. His eyes were practically shouting that he wanted to become stronger.

I pondered deeply. While the offer to give up all the results was surprising, I could understand Heo Jun-young’s reasoning.

The results from this time were indeed impressive, but for Heo Jun-young personally, only one or two would be truly beneficial.

Of course, the Anima Oratio could be a means to grow stronger. However, since there was no way to predict what abilities might awaken, Heo Jun-young decided to forgo all potential achievements and choose a path that guaranteed strength.

This meant that Heo Jun-young was confident that learning the Ihyeong Hwanwi would lead to his development. I agreed with him. Mastering the Ihyeong Hwanwi would undoubtedly yield immense benefits.

The offer to hand over all achievements was tempting, even for me. Last night, during the festival, I reviewed the information on achievements I hadn’t seen before, and they were all incredibly useful.

『Memoria Stone.』

(Description: A now-lost Memoria Stone, impossible to find anywhere. Generally classified as a magical material, it is more widely known as a crucial component for constructing warp gates. A saying highlights its importance: “Even if you have everything else, you can’t build a warp gate without a Memoria Stone. But with a Memoria Stone, you can build one even if you lack everything else.”)

『Cordelia.』

(Description: The jewel of the sea, Cordelia. In the unexplored northern seas, there exists a shellfish called Evgenia that resides only in the deep ocean. Evgenia seeks out the purest places and feeds solely on a seaweed known as Rossio, the treasure of the sea. After ten years, if an Evgenia survives, it produces a clear sea-colored gem. This gem is Cordelia.

When consumed, it purifies the body of toxins and enhances the flow of magical energy. It also provides a constant feeling of refreshment and clarity, with significant aesthetic benefits like clearer skin.)

『Vagus’s Stigma.』

(Description: The mark of Humphrey Vagus, the mercenary king who led the liberation of slave gladiators in ancient Hall Plain. It appears like a brand seared into the skin, but only when the mark is applied does its true power reveal itself.)

After contemplating these achievements, I quietly observed Heo Jun-young. His eyes still burned with a desire for strength.

I wasn’t entirely opposed to teaching the Ihyeong Hwanwi. However, my original plan was to teach it to Ahn Hyun and Yoo Jeong. They were already following me, and since I had invested in them, I intended to make full use of their potential.

That said, Heo Jun-young wasn’t necessarily less promising than the other two. (In fact, if there was a problem, it was more with those two.) Outwardly, Heo Jun-young seemed cold and calculating, but inside, he harbored a warmth.

Yet, there was another dimension to consider: I still didn’t fully understand what Heo Jun-young was thinking or what kind of user he truly was. The information I had gathered over a year had its limits.

I must have been lost in thought for too long. I scratched my head vigorously, smacked my lips a few times, and then walked past Heo Jun-young.

“Let’s head out. It’s too dark in here.”

“Kim Su-hyun?”

“Let’s go to the garden. I have a few tests to run there.”

“Tests…? Then!”

Heo Jun-young quickly followed behind. I sighed and shook my head.

“Phew. I haven’t given a definite answer yet. I’ll decide after I see.”

“So if I pass, you’ll teach me?”

“Maybe. But if you learn this, you’ll have to dedicate yourself to the Mercenary. Are you okay with that?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. I know my place, and I joined the Mercenary because of you in the first place.”

It was a half-joking, half-serious remark, but Heo Jun-young answered quite earnestly. I shrugged and headed up the stairs.

“What do you mean, because of me? People might get the wrong idea.”

I chuckled wryly as I opened the door leading to the first floor.

Creak.

As the door opened, the fresh air from outside rushed in.

But before I could take a step, I stopped in my tracks. I wrinkled my nose and took a deep breath.

“This smell…”

It was faint, but the metallic scent of blood tickled my senses.

---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=

Ah, I was reading the comments yesterday and couldn’t stop laughing. I almost lost my breath. Hahaha.

First stage awakening: “Command with the force of the ancients.”

Second stage awakening: “The eternal flame burns.”

Yes, that’s all well and good.

But then.

Third stage awakening.

“I am Kim Su-hyun’s wife!”

Hahaha. Hahaha. Hahaha.

Seriously, where does this come from? Ending with “I am Kim Su-hyun’s wife”—is this a forced marriage? Hahaha.

Oh dear.

Let’s see. Once this part ends, the rest period will be over. Then we’ll move into the preparation phase. I’m sure readers know what we’re preparing for. Around the next couple of chapters, Seraph will appear in the later content, and that’s when the real preparation begins. It’s about time to introduce the first-round characters, right? :)