Episode 24
-Ding!
-You have drunk the Magic Spring Water.
-Your stats have increased by a certain amount.
-The moment you witness the spring water's efficacy, the water turns into ordinary water.
Jonghyeon was dumbfounded.
Magic Spring Water?
In that instant, Jonghyeon distinctly felt the changes in his body. Ever since learning the secret manual, he had been able to clearly feel the ki gathered in his dantian, and he could definitely sense that his ki had increased.
Jonghyeon was overjoyed beyond control. After all, he was alone here, and he thought it was fine to show his delight.
"Heh heh heh..."
Jonghyeon even let out a somewhat foolish laugh.
Even so, he continued thinking about the watch's capabilities.
'If it gives even these kinds of hidden rewards, just what happens when you really become an Awakened?'
The watch's abilities alone were incredible.
A training dungeon, skills, and even these hidden rewards—he had never heard of anything like it anywhere.
Of course, since it was a bound item, it wasn't something he could sell, but Jonghyeon now truly wanted to grow stronger.
And he believed this watch would be what turned that thought into reality.
At the same time, he was curious.
'What could have been in the item room?'
Thinking he should get some sleep since he had entered the cave anyway, Jonghyeon first went outside.
He intended to chop down some trees and block the entrance entirely.
'No, rather, if the orcs just don't discover this place, I could endure the remaining two days here.'
Cutting trees with the small knife was a bit awkward, so Jonghyeon materialized and drew the sword from his key ring.
*Slash—*
The moment he cut the tree, Jonghyeon couldn't help but be surprised once more.
Because he was only now realizing that his body, separate from the increase in ki, had changed considerably.
He felt lightness and strength simultaneously.
'Just what was that spring water...?'
What would have happened if he had cleared this dungeon without finding that spring?
Jonghyeon couldn't guarantee whether it would have taken him months, if not years, to develop to his current level if he hadn't drunk the spring water.
Even as he grew stronger like this, Jonghyeon continuously thought about the Red Rose Guild.
The Red Rose Guild's forces were at a level considered stronger than a single nation.
It was clear they had A-rankers, and B-rank or C-rank hunters would be stationed in no small number.
Their numbers were roughly estimated at over a hundred.
He might be able to cut down ten thousand orcs alone, but he couldn't guarantee victory in a fight against the Red Rose Guild.
Moreover, just as he was growing, they would be growing too.
'In that sense, the significance of this training dungeon is extraordinary. It's safe to say I've moved ahead of them by at least several months, if not several years.'
Jonghyeon had actually harbored doubts all along.
Could he wipe out that guild alone?
Was it possible in this lifetime?
Should he establish a guild of his own?
Endless questions cropped up, and there were no answers.
Perhaps it might be something he couldn't accomplish even if he spent his entire lifetime—no, even if he died and came back to life.
But he possessed an ability different from others.
And depending on how it was used, that ability held infinite value, and it grew stronger alongside him.
'That alone is enough.'
He believed his value depended entirely on his own will.
It would be a lie to say he had never resented being born an orphan, but now, such things didn't matter at all.
He had a path to grow even stronger, and he had gained revenge as a challenge objective.
And if he continued to grow like this, his revenge would clearly proceed more quickly and successfully.
Jonghyeon believed in himself.
He stacked the trees he had cut down at the entrance.
Having perfectly blocked the entrance with the wooden barricade he had made, Jonghyeon slowly drifted off to sleep dreaming of revenge.
The next day.
Having suddenly gained tremendous power, Jonghyeon was not surprised even when orcs broke through the barricade and entered around lunchtime.
No, rather, he welcomed them as post-meal exercise.
"Hello, orcs?"
"Kweh?"
The orcs didn't know why a human would welcome them like this.
Because they had brought one of the orcs' Great Warriors with them.
Of course, it was visible to Jonghyeon's eyes as well. He had realized from the moment they broke the barricade that it wasn't an ordinary orc.
'Is it because of the orb that they know the location?'
He couldn't think of anything else. It was simply the point where such things no longer mattered.
The orcs' Great Warrior was strong.
No, it looked strong at a glance.
It was 1.5 times larger than a normal orc, and its muscles and physique were incomparable.
*Slash—*
However, Jonghyeon cut down the Orc Great Warrior without exerting himself and in barely a few exchanges.
He was no longer inferior in strength from the start. Yesterday's Jonghyeon and today's Jonghyeon were incomparable.
'Even though I infused the sword with the same amount of power as yesterday, the destructive power has doubled.'
Discovering the Magic Spring Water could be called a stroke of heavenly luck, in a way.
Thus, Jonghyeon settled down right in the cave.
Seeing the orcs continuously come in fixed numbers knowing his location, he thought this was the dungeon's pattern.
'Rather, it's reassuring that the dungeon has a pattern.'
The cave entrance was blocked not by the wooden barricade, but by orc corpses.
On the final day, Orc Shamans, Orc Mages, Orc Great Warriors, and all orc-related classes appeared, but—
"Kweeeek—!"
*Puk—*
They all met their deaths at Jonghyeon's hands, and thus, with the final night as the turning point, Jonghyeon cleared the 5th Stage.
-Ding!
-Congratulations. You have passed the 5th Stage.
-You have met the qualifications for an Awakened Challenger.
-As a reward, all wounds are healed.
-You have acquired the Orb of the Orcs.
Hm? The Orb of the Orcs?
Jonghyeon immediately brought the Orb of the Orcs close to his watch.
Then, a hologram appeared after a long time, and an explanation was displayed on it.
[Orb of the Orcs.
An orb symbolizing the orcs' toughness. If bound, you can permanently use the orcs' bravery and strength.
Method of use...]
Following the instructions, Jonghyeon lightly cut his index finger and dropped blood onto the Orb of the Orcs.
Then, the Orb of the Orcs shone brilliantly.
Huh?
Before Jonghyeon could even react, the shining Orb of the Orcs scattered into a cluster of light and entered his body.
And as that cluster of light seeped in, Jonghyeon knew an immense power had entered his body—greater than when he had drunk the spring water.
And he could tell without anyone explaining.
That his intuition and physical strength had risen significantly.
★ ★ ★
But is it really okay for me to get this strong in such a short time?
A question that continuously rose in Jonghyeon's mind.
If he were to compare himself now to before he had the watch.
If his previous self had been something like a rather large tank, his current self was at the level of a fighter jet.
That was the extent of the difference.
He didn't need to conduct any particular experiments; he could tell well enough from feeling alone.
Jonghyeon, having returned to his room, threw away all the leftover dried pork.
"Ptooey. How did I even eat that?"
The smell had been getting strange, and it had already been uncomfortable just holding onto it.
Then, he quickly finished showering and ordered food.
But this time, not the maid, but Butler Kim arrived with two chefs.
"You went somewhere with your phone turned off as well. The Chairman has been looking for you for quite some time."
At Butler Kim's stern warning, Jonghyeon put on an apologetic expression.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I had some personal matters. What did he want to see me for?"
"I only heard it was related to Miss Bori. Please keep this in mind, Jonghyeon. You are directly under Chairman Lee. If this happens again, it won't be me saying this, but Chairman Lee himself."
In short, you're Chairman Lee's personal henchman, so don't disappear again.
If he had known this would happen, he should have said he was going on a trip for three days.
Even while thinking this, Jonghyeon ate his meal first.
He felt he couldn't do anything without satisfying his hunger.
"I'll go see him right after I finish eating, so please don't worry. I'm sorry for causing concern."
Butler Kim had an expression of dissatisfaction, but at Jonghyeon's continuous apologies, he left the room without saying anything more.
"Did you find him?"
"Ah, yes. Where on earth have you been?"
"There were some circumstances."
Jonghyeon had considered making up an excuse, but vaguely closed his mouth.
"Yes, at least tell me next time. Anyway, that's not what's important."
"What on earth is the matter that you would go this far..."
"Bori is going on an MT."
M...T?
Jonghyeon tilted his head as if he didn't know what that meant.
Jonghyeon hadn't even graduated high school, let alone attended university.
Since he didn't have a single decent friend, it was only natural he had never heard about college life.
"You don't know what an MT is? Hmm. It's a trip that university students take together."
"Th... that is a problem?"
At Jonghyeon's expression that showed he couldn't understand at all, Chairman Lee spoke as if frustrated.
"An MT is a place of accidents. You never know what might happen!"
"So what you're saying now, Chairman... is that you're telling me to follow along on that trip?"
At Jonghyeon's dazed question, Chairman Lee continued with an expression that seemed to say he finally understood.
"It's not something where I can attach bodyguards to Bori, who wants to live no differently from ordinary children. Couldn't you help me out just this once?"
Chairman Lee's reputation on the outside was that of a cold, colossal giant.
He had heard that the Chairman possessed a charisma beyond that of an entrepreneur.
An iron-blooded old man whom even ghosts couldn't drag away.
A giant whose power, through his academy business, could not be ignored.
That was the reputation he held, spanning across guilds and the world's nations.
But whenever Chairman Lee pleaded like this regarding his daughter, Jonghyeon thought the Chairman was as innocent as a child.
'Just where in this is the so-called iron-blooded old man?'
"Well. Understood. You don't need to feel burdened when asking me to do these things. It's not even difficult."
It wasn't killing people, just simple bodyguard work.
There was nothing remotely difficult about it for Jonghyeon.
"Oh, thank you. The image of you in my head is... never mind. Anyway, please take care of it. I'll send the schedule through Butler Kim. Ah, and the departure date is tomorrow."
Suddenly, upon hearing those words, Jonghyeon became curious about the image Chairman Lee had of him.
Until now, Jonghyeon had never cared about other people's gazes.
Rather, since he was in a position where he shouldn't receive attention, he had always hidden himself.
But it wasn't yet time to emerge into the world.
Jonghyeon had been thinking to some extent about when he would step out into the world.
At the same time, he had never once thought about what kind of reaction there would be when he did.
However, seeing himself feel such thoughts at Chairman Lee's single word, "image," he merely felt that he had changed a lot.
But Chairman Lee, who seemed capable of answering that, had already left the reception room.
Setting aside the questions welling up within him, Jonghyeon arrived at his room.
Butler Kim was standing at the entrance to his room.
Having apparently received the details regarding the MT from Chairman Lee, he handed over the documents with the schedule along with the details and disappeared.
'Jeju Island.'
Having received the two-night, three-day MT trip itinerary, Jonghyeon quietly packed his bags and immersed himself in training again.