Episode 5: My Little Brother Is Strange (3)
Since there was still plenty of time until evening, I decided to visit the Korean Hunter Association first.
It's probably better to just get an F-rank.
I intended to reveal only my basic skills and keep my title and its bonus skills hidden.
It might have been different if I had an L-rank, or at least an S-rank, defensive skill. For someone with F-rank stats, L- to S-rank support skills were beyond excessive—they were poison.
Especially if the owner of skills usable outside the dungeon—like my little one or my sprout—lacked the ability to defend themselves, it was no different than putting up a billboard saying, "Come eat me."
I could just kidnap them and use their skills through threats and torture.
If it were a support skill that had to be used during combat, there was a possibility they would resort to a "kill or be killed" attitude, so it was better to just form a normal party.
However, if it was a support skill usable outside the dungeon and unrelated to combat, I could simply capture them and treat them like a slave without spending any money.
In fact, there had been countless victims of that.
That's why I hid the "Guardian" title, too.
I could have raised my Hunter rank immediately if I had revealed it to the Association, but I was too scared to do so.
Back then, I believed I was at odds with my younger brother, so I thought I wouldn't be protected.
What should I do this time?
Wouldn't it be better to confess everything to Yuhyeon and help with guild affairs using my skills while being protected?
I'll leave out Dragon Slayer since it's hard to explain, and just mention "Perfect Guardian."
Even if he's just a promising sprout, he could certainly play the role of an older brother.
If I recruit talented rookies one after another, the guild won't kick me out this time; they'll just hand me a spot.
Lost in pleasant daydreams, I opened the door.
And our eyes met.
"Uh…"
A man of towering height, easily over 190 cm, and a burly build leaned against the hallway wall in front of the door, staring at me with a stoic expression.
Kim Seong-han, an A-Class Awakener.
One of the loyal henchmen of Han Yuhyeon, the Guild Master of Haeyeon, he is a combat hunter specialized in defense.
Because of his high loyalty to Yuhyeon, he used to regard me as a thorn in his side.
…Judging by his expression, it seems he's still like that.
But why is he here?
It's hard to believe he was just passing by, considering he's standing right with his back to me.
"Um… hello?"
Kim Seong-han completely ignored my greeting.
What is this? It's never been like this before.
He used to get annoyed by Yuhyeon, yell at me to mind my own business, and storm out, saying he'd handle it himself.
I was about to walk past him, saying, "I have something to attend to in a moment. Goodbye."
But then, a deep, heavy voice blocked my path.
It didn't just end with the voice; he grabbed my arm tightly.
"The Guild Master ordered you to keep him from leaving."
"…What?"
Wait, why?
Did he think I was going to go find the Awakening Broker again?
You don't trust me?
…Well, I wouldn't trust you either, though.
"I have no intention of causing trouble. I'm just going out for a moment and will be right back. It'll only take an hour."
It's a ten-minute taxi ride from here to the Hunter Association, and since it's a weekday, there won't be many people around, so I should be able to complete my Hunter registration within an hour.
However, the hand gripping my arm didn't budge.
"Please enter the room obediently."
"No, really, just a moment… if…"
As I met his increasingly fierce gaze, my voice naturally trailed off.
Just then—
[Intimidation nullified!]
The Fear Resistance skill activated.
But what's the use of a skill? If I act cocky and pretend I'm not scared, I'm just going to get beaten up anyway.
Seriously, it's useless.
"Understood. Go in, go in."
I shook off Kim Seong-han's hand and turned away.
Against an A-Class opponent, I'm just a flea no matter how hard I try, and he isn't flexible enough to reason with.
Oh, right. Should I try using a skill?
As I turned around again, Kim Seong-han's eyes furrowed.
What, you jerk? Glaring won't work.
I used the skill "Promising Sapling," and the status window popped up.
[Awakener – Kim Seong-han Current Stat Grade: A Awakenable Stat Grade: A–S Optimized Initial Skills: Indomitable Body (S) — Acquisition Failed, Regeneration (S) — Acquisition Failed, Earth Shield (A) — Acquired]
What a waste!
I almost shouted out loud without thinking.
The awakening potential stats were up to S-rank, and there were even two obtainable S-rank skills!
As far as I remember, Kim Seong-han's initial skills were Earth Shield and Stomp. Stomp was A-rank, but it seemed it wasn't the optimal skill.
Wow, what a waste. Can't someone who's already awakened re-awaken? Optimal Awakening for Kim Seong-han!
[The target's Keyword Inspiration is incomplete.]
Ah, keywords.
[Optimal Awakening is not possible for a target that has completed awakening.]
Message windows popped up one after another.
As expected, it doesn't work.
I guess I can't help it…
[By applying Growth Focus to the 'My Little One Is the Best (L)' single skill, you can acquire a new skill, including the failed Optimal Skill.]
Gasp!
You could apply Growth Focus to a single skill?
Anyway, this damn system is ridiculously lacking in explanations.
There weren't just one or two hidden effects discovered belatedly like this. There were even skills that didn't pop up a message window, making you think, It seems like there's some kind of bonus effect…?
Anyway, the fact that I can obtain a failed S-rank skill…
Amazing… amazing…
…It is true, but…
Damn it, keywords.
I looked up at Kim Seong-han.
A rugged man was giving me a look that asked, "What are you doing not going inside?"
He was at least twenty centimeters taller than me, a man with a physique that would make even a seasoned gangster automatically call him "Big Brother."
Yeah, I can't.
Absolutely not.
I smiled as if it were nothing and went into the room.
And I screamed inwardly:
Change the keywords!!
Can't I reset?
I want to go back in time one more time. Just for one day.
No, just for one hour.
I turned away, saying I wouldn't do it, but it's such a waste, such a waste, such a damn waste!
It would be a huge help if the guild had one more S-Class member. Right, I should explain it to Yuhyeon first and ask for his cooperation…
I stopped muttering, feeling like I was missing something.
…What if I explain about the keywords?
What if I spill the beans about the skills?
An ominous prediction hit me hard in the back of the head.
Let's calmly sort out the situation.
Right now, I am…
…I'm being held captive.
Trapped.
It is none other than a Class A Awakened One standing guard at the door.
It is far too excessive to simply be blocking me out of fear that I might go out to cause trouble. A Class C, no, even a Class D would be enough to stop me.
Yuhyun, you…
What are you thinking?
You never went this far before the regression.
I paced around the room for a moment before sitting down on the bed.
What if this situation is meant to protect me?
I recalled Yuhyeon saying he would make me delete the broker's contact information immediately and prevent me from receiving calls.
Something had been off since then.
No matter how ridiculously weak I am compared to him, I am his older brother. I am already an adult, and as long as I don't obsess over being a hunter, I can live perfectly well on my own.
Besides, unlike before the regression, we communicate well now, so there was absolutely no need to lock me up like this.
Besides, that bastard Yuhyeon doesn't have the right or justification to lock me up in the first place, does he?
I racked my brain and pulled out my phone.
I'll just ask him directly.
After a short ring, Yuhyeon answered.
"Uh, it's nothing else. I was trying to go out for a bit, but Mr. Kim Seong-han is blocking me. You said it was your order, right?"
[Where are you going?]
The Hunter Association… I suppose it's better not to say anything right now.
"Just to the house."
[Why to the house?]
"Do I need a reason to go to my own house? I'll go and come back in the evening."
The voice on the other end of the phone cut off for a moment, then came back in, much lower.
[That's a bit different from what Kim Seong-han said.]
"Uh, huh?"
[You said you'd be back within an hour.]
"No, that's because they blocked me. I just meant I wasn't going anywhere in particular."
Why is he acting so sensitive?
The anxiety settling in my chest grew a little stronger.
[If you don't have anything specific to do, just stay here. As for the house… while you're at it, you should join the guild too.]
"What?"
[There's no real need to live separately. It's not like the world is safe these days. There aren't any dungeons near your house, but you never know when or where one might pop up, and what if one explodes?]
No, it'll be safe for the next five years, though.
[I'll get the moving preparations done right away.]
"Moving? Hey!"
[I have to go out, so I won't be able to reach you until evening. If you need anything, let Kim Seong-han know.]
"Wait, wait! Yuhyeon!"
The call was disconnected.
I stared at my phone, feeling both despondency and disbelief at the same time.
Is this perhaps another side effect of returning to the past?
My younger brother's personality seems to have changed a bit.
What's wrong with this guy?
Is the "Perfect Guardian" title something I shouldn't reveal?
Even now, knowing they think I'm unawakened, I'm in this state. If I reveal that I possess such a useful support skill, I might not be able to take a single step out of this room.
…Though I am stuck right now.
Damn it, I should keep it a secret for now and gauge the situation.
If that bastard Yuhyeon keeps acting weird, I'll build my own faction.
It's possible as long as I have the "Perfect Guardian" title.
First, I'll find future A- to S-Class hunters and awaken them.
It would be better if they were young.
I'll persuade the kids and lure them in by promising to make them awakened…
…This is totally a scammer or a human trafficker.
B-but still, I don't take money and I actually awaken them!
To ensure the awakened ones don't betray me, I need to draw up a contract.
Something like "They won't reveal the secret of their awakening and will protect me as my affiliated hunters for one year" should suffice.
If I could, I'd want them to protect me for life!
That is what I would like to say, but there was no contract item that could keep an S-Class Awakener bound for a long time.
The longest one was ten years.
If I sweep up A- to S-Class members like that and use growth skills as bait to keep them around, a massive guild will be formed in no time.
Or, merging with the Haeyeon Guild in the meantime would be fine.
If I bring in several A- to S-Class members, Yuhyeon will acknowledge me, too.
Surely he wouldn't try to imprison me again?
Since I have people protecting me, I wouldn't let myself be captured easily.
Alright, then who is the first Awakener to hook?
Park Yerim, the Ice Witch who will become an A-Class Awakener in three years—she would be good.
Since she stood out quickly even among the A-Class, she might be capable of S-Class awakening.
She definitely lived in Seoul. I saw an interview where she said she lost her parents to Dungeon Shock and was living with a relative who ran a barbecue restaurant near Myeongdong Station. Her age now is… fifteen?
…She's a middle school girl.
A middle school girl with keywords…
I swear to God, I have absolutely no ill intentions toward a kid who is only half my age!
If a bastard in his thirties had any strange thoughts about a minor, he should be biting a knife and falling over right now!
This is merely groundwork for her awakening!