Chapter 11
The Grand Law of Supreme Clarity and Perfect Materialization (太淸工材萬成大法)
Skill (술)
It's a term referring to the talent or method needed to perform something.
I couldn't understand.
Even if the old man was a Master of Thousand thing.
How could he turn someone like me, an ordinary person, into a genius?
"Hehehe, it seems to have turned out quite well. It was a skill I created but never tried it."
The old man checked various parts of my body with a sinister expression.
"If we pierce through the blocked vital energy, um... the bones are very fragile too. Tsk, it might improve after about 300 days of massage... However, it would be quite painful. But still, from what I saw last time, there seems to be a bit of tenacity in this wretched physique. I wonder if it'll be okay..."
"Excuse me...?"
I was perplexed.
The owner of the body is me, so why is this old man enthusiastically giving estimates?
It felt like a plastic surgeon looking at someone's appearance, shaking their head in dismay, and drawing lines on their face here and there.
And the bigger problem is.
'it hurts you say?'
In a world where necromancers are revered because they dislike pain.
What with this sudden, oddly timed pain?
"Old man? I don't think I'm mentally prepared yet."
"Quiet, you rascal! Do you know how many people in my previous world wanted to receive this Grand Law? It's called the Grand Law of Supreme Clarity and Perfect Materialization. It's a skill I painstakingly created in my later years."
What is Supreme Clarity and Perfect Materialization?.
I'm not particularly curious.
"Huh?"
Come to think of it, I have a question.
If such a law exists, you could have used it right away, couldn't you?
It's a supernatural ability that can turn trash into a genius!
"Tsk tsk, your thoughts are written all over your face. Listen, this skill unfolds with my life force as collateral. What's the use of changing a disciple's aptitude and talents! If The moment I use it, my whole body will melt away."
"Ah, I see."
Well, if you just enhance abilities and then die.
you can't pass your teaching, making it a useless skill in the end.
"So, what about now?"
"Well, I'm already deceased, so it doesn't matter."
"...Haha, you have a remarkably relaxed way of thinking."
I sighed.
"Then let me ask one more thing. There were people who challenged you back then, right? Before I challenged."
"Ah, those fierce women and a few unimpressive guys who came before them?"
"Yes, in our world, we call them Hunters. Could you have used the skill on them after all you were already deceased?"
"Huh, look at this guy?"
Thunk!
"Ack!"
Tears welled up in my eyes.
"Why did you hit me?"
"Just Because i'm a deceased. There's something you can't say in front of the dead."
"Damn."
So, should we call the dead "deceased" or something else?
As I grumbled, the old man shook his head.
"Furthermore, you clearly show that even if one thing is taught, another thing is left unlearned."
"Excuse me?"
"Didn't I just say? This law turns trash into geniuses. If it's not trash, it's meaningless. It has to be on the level of rotten, discarded food waste to be useful."
"...Huh?"
I looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.
This, sir... No, this old man.
Is he really criticizing me right now, right to my face?
"They can't use the law. They've already ruined their bodies through other energies."
The old man's expression became somewhat serious.
"Compared to them, your body is clean. Truly a weak body. Although you have the ability to summon the deceased, it hasn't caused any deformities in your body, has it?"
"Huh?"
"Furthermore, this is just an alternative method. a naturally gifted person is more astonishing than one created. Originally, I was looking for someone with exceptional potential other than you. However, i was fell nu what you said, so now you have to take responsibility for it, don't you?"
"...i, i see."
I nodded with my mouth agape.
It's a bit bitter to hear, but it's a good thing after all.
For me, who wants to become a Ranker, an opportunity to become stronger has come.
The Skeletons will also become stronger too.
So, If I can become stronger as well?
'It's a win-win situation!'
I decided not to overthink it.
There's a famous saying from a world-renowned figure skater, isn't there?
- 'What are you thinking... Just do it.'
Just like my training for three years.
It's was simply about persevering and moving forward with determination.
"Now, are you ready?"
Swoosh.
The old man's form approached me.
"Can I really become stronger if I do as you instruct?"
In response to my question, the old man smiled knowingly.
"Of course, you'll become much stronger than you think."
***
Thud thud thud!
"Aaaaaaagghhhh!"
My scream echoed loudly across the courtyard.
Damn, I overlooked it.
I should have realized it hurt from the beginning.
"Why are you making such a fuss? We haven't even started yet."
"Ugh, it hurts. It hurts! Oh, my saliva's coming out."
The old man's massage was like a taste of death.
He pounded and prodded my body to the point where it was barely visible.
There was no way to avoid it, even if I wanted to.
Thud thud thud!
No, it was more like bang bang bang!
"Ughhh."
With my entire body vibrating from the violence, I finally turned my eyes upside down.
Crunch.
At the same time, I bit down on my teeth.
Endure it. I have to endure it.
To become a Ranker, I need to be patient.
"Of course, it's a bit chilling to think this hasn't even started yet."
If the pain I'm enduring now can make me shine brightly on my future, isn't it alright?
Seeing me in this state, the old man chuckled.
"As expected, you've got some backbone. Good."
The beating continued.
With every explosive punch, my heart surged, and my blood boiled.
The level of pain was beyond what one would want to imagine.
About thirty minutes passed like that.
[Skill acquired: 'Pain Resistance' (Grade C).]
[This skill has room for further growth.]
"The Grand Law ends here. You held up well."
"...."
I immediately slumped to the ground.
I immediately sank to the ground. Tears streamed down, snot and saliva dripped steadily.
It hurt.
It hurt so much.
"You may be trash, but you has some talent of your own. As long as you has the desire to become stronger, along with the mental strength and perseverance to endure it, even in such a hopeless situation, there will be a way."
The old man muttered something or other.
but I didn't have the energy to respond, Whatever it was.
For now, I just wanted to lie down and rest.
I wanted to sleep.
"Hey, you still have 30 minutes left. What are you doing? Get up quickly. Is it enough for you to just get a massage? Aren't those skeleton waiting too?"
"Huh?"
The training session lasted a total of one hour. The old man's time was not over yet.
***
The old man devoted himself passionately to teaching the skeleton.
"The foundation of every profession is physical fitness. Strangely enough, these guy seem capable of growing their physical without muscles. First, have them take a stance."
"This is the horseback riding posture I mainly used in my lifetime."
"Since human muscles are concentrated in the lower body, wouldn't you need to build a solid base from the bottom up to construct a tall tower?"
His expertise shone through, as if education itself were a form of skill.
However, the unfortunate thing was...
"Ughh."
I also participated in that physical endurance training.
Basic stamina training with five piles of bone.
On top of that, trying to carry my throbbing body, I couldn't withstand it in my right mind.
"Huff, huff..."
Damn, it's tough. It's really tough.
I glanced briefly to my side.
Creak!
From bone 1 to bone 3.
Their expressions seemed calm.
They were flawlessly digesting every demand of the old man!
'Are they really on the same level as me?'
They were D-grade monsters, to say the least.
Moreover, they had a record of training for a long time.
Did they sense my injustice?
The stern-faced old man approached me.
"I'll say it again, you don't have talent. If I had to find one thing, it's just your tenacity."
The old man's reprimand pounded my weakened mental state, making it even stronger.
"Furthermore, you are the master who controls someone. Even if they're just skeleton."
"Would it be good for the summoner to be weaker than the summoned?"
"Huff, huff... Yes, that's why I'm enduring it, sir."
"You need to make your vessel sturdy. The Spirits understand spirits. Your vessel is too weak to control them all yet."
He must be talking about bone 6 to 10.
Just as Bone 4 and Bone 5 awakened when I grew from E-grade to D-grade, the rest will probably be unlocked one by one when I become stronger.
"Ugh..."
The lower body training continued.
When my strength gave out and I fell, the old man's cane flew without fail.
Without a few seconds of rest, he relentlessly pushed me again.
'Is this training or torture?'
My muscles were already torn and not even recovering, so what was the point of this training?
Around the tenth time I collapsed, perhaps?
"Alright, let's finish here for today."
"Hah, hah! Really?"
Finally, the hellish time came to an end.
"Alright, kid. From now on, you'll do this kind of consistent stamina training every morning. If not, don't even think about calling me."
The old man said bluntly.
[Skill, 'Teaching of Perfect Technique' (Grade S) duration has ended.]
['Master of Perfect Technique' summoning is deactivated.]
[This skill will be available for reuse after 24 hours.]
Then he disappeared like smoke.
"...Haa, haa."
I stretched out on the ground like a plank.
Sweat was flowing down my entire body, and I didn't even have the strength to get up.
Thud! Thud!
Bone five were looking at me, offering their support.
Yes, I was sorry.
While you guys were training, I was pushing myself just as hard.
"Bone 1."
I called my eldest (?) summon, Bone 1.
Creak?
He tilted his head inquisitively.
"I'm sorry, but I can't go home alone. Can you give me a lift?"
Passersby will definitely find this strange, but there's no helping it.
I simply didn't have the energy left to make it home.
Besides, it's as important to recover as it is to train.
You need to consume enough food and sleep comfortably.
After dismissing all the skeletons except for Bone 1, I headed home.
Thud!
As soon as I lay down on the mattress, I picked up my phone.
[Account Details]
[Account Holder: Joo Dong hoon]
[Hunter preferential Account E-grade]
[Deposit: 3,600,000 won (Resolver)]
"Oh."
Sure enough, Parang kept his promise.
He multiplied the original porter fee of 200,000 won by 20, giving me 4,000,000 won.
After deducting a 10% commission for the Mercenary Guild "Resolver," he handed it over to me.
As a freelancer running my own business, I'll have to pay the 3.3% income tax later.
Still, it was surprising.
Honestly, in the situation where I intercepted the dungeon, there was nothing to say even if he hadn't sent it.
"Anyway, it's good."
Even after paying the rent, I had enough money for food. This led to some contemplation.
"Should I continue working for the Mercenary Guild?"
Honestly, I have my limits in terms of stamina.
The old man's training was so intense that it was difficult to fit in other schedules.
"I need to earn more money."
However, I didn't have enough saved up to quit my job entirely.
The best option would be to receive sponsorship from a large or promising guild, but with my D-grade skills, that was out of the question.
Plus, sponsorship comes with its own set of constraints.
Sometimes you have to participate in missions you'd rather avoid, or spend all day with a boss with a strange personality.
"Well, it looks like I'll have to continue with mercenary work."
After all, the old man's training only takes up an hour a day.
A person can't just survive on training alone.
It's better to combine it with work.
Besides, who knows? Another Opportunity might come looking for me like last time.
Instead of my usual instant ramen, I treated myself to a hamburger as a reward and stretched out.
The next morning, after finishing the stamina training the old man assigned, I went to work.
"Hey, Dong hoon! You're here now? Come over here!"
The mission team leader, Kim Jun seo, greeted me warmly. By his side were five other hunters.
"Do you happen to know these folks? They were part of the team that survived the dungeon last time."
"Huh?"
Their faces were quite familiar.
They were clearly part of the group that survived the dungeon with me last time.
But why were they here?
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