Episode 163 1st Mentoring End
As a result of kicking Kwak Ji-cheol around for a week and harassing Ogre with one-point explosions.
[The rank of ‘One-Point Explosion’ increases. (D->C)]
I was able to raise my rank to C.
Two of the three prerequisite skills for Spiral Explosion are ready.
In addition, other wind-type skills have also been ranked fairly well.
[Skill]
▷Windforce (C+)
▷Inferno Fist (B)
▷Amplification (C)
▷Twister (C+)
▷One-point explosion (C)
▷Copy-Skill [2/2]
1. Thief’s Step (B+)
2. Overheat (D)
It remains mostly in the stagnant C rank, and there are no immediately noticeable changes in its numbers.
However, if you steadily build up your skills, you will eventually reach B rank one by one.
Let’s make the most of this mentoring event until the very end.
The first mentoring session, which lasted for a month, also seemed to be coming to an end.
As expected, the Hong Yeon-hwa-Song Cheon-hye duo maintained 100% stamina against Ogre and had a perfect game.
Kwak Ji-cheol also suffered some damage, but cleared the game with a decent score.
So, Dang Gyu-yeong looked at the four of us with a satisfied expression.
“You’ve all worked hard for the past month. You’ve all followed along well without anyone falling behind.”
In fact, Dang Gyu-young set the difficulty level of arbitrary rules higher than other mentors.
For example, in the Sticker Battle, only Hong Yeon-hwa was able to get one because Dang Gyu-yeong was not considerate, and in this Crystal Battle, there were no restrictions on the Ogre other than [Weakness].
Despite this, they did not give up and not only finished the race, they also achieved respectable results.
“But since this is just the beginning, you have to keep going. Let’s keep this farewell short. Get some rest this weekend, and do well on your midterms next week.”
“Thank you for your hard work, senior.”
“thank you.”
The crew bowed their heads in gratitude and left one by one.
Dang Gyu-yeong stared silently at their backs as they walked away for a long time.
I asked.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I just thought that this is what it would feel like to have a disciple. It’s a feeling of relief, pride, and regret.”
“It seems that you surprisingly fit the role.”
“Yeah, surprisingly.”
Dang Gyu-young originally had no intention of going near mentoring.
However, due to the trespassing in the temporary storage facility, various disciplinary actions had piled up for several weeks, and the leadership side said they would forgive them, so they took on the responsibility semi-forcibly.
So, it could be expected that he would just pretend to do it half-heartedly, but Dang Gyu-young took responsibility for the mentoring until the end.
And it seems that he had many feelings while watching his mentees grow.
‘That’s the fun of raising them.’
It was with that sense of pride that I raised 1,000 S-class heroes.
Soon, when the crew members were out of sight, Dang Gyu-yeong looked away and stretched.
“Oh my—but you’re not going?”
“I have to go. I just want to hear what you’re going to do tomorrow.”
“That’s right, you said you’d help me out too.”
The black market opens tomorrow, starting this weekend.
And in return for securing the banned items in advance, I have promised to help out a little.
Dang Gyu-yeong smiled playfully.
“I remembered that. Isn’t this completely becoming a member? Let’s just fill out the application while we’re at it.”
“I will decline.”
“Tch.”
When I cut him off firmly, Dang Gyu-yeong clicked his tongue briefly and answered the previous question.
“The opening will be at noon, but you don’t have to come then. I’ll just be checking it out in the beginning.”
The buildings that the Thieves’ Club will use as black market exchanges are A through F.
However, they plan to first open only Exchanges A and B and then watch the trend.
How many guests come in and how does the front desk react?
If there are two exchanges, there is no need to worry about running out of manpower to manage them, so there is no need to ask for help from me, who is not even a member of the club.
“Then what time should I go?”
“Around five or six o’clock in the evening? Let’s have dinner together then.”
“All right.”
“Try walking around the market during the day.”
“That’s what I’m going to do.”
* * *
Where there is shade, there is also sunshine.
If you are dealing with banned items on the black market,
Of course, there is also a marketplace where general items are traded.
‘Actually, this is the mainstream.’
The mentoring is over, and the graduates are expected to leave Dungeon Island within a few days.
Before that, you want to clear out as many unnecessary items as possible from your inventory, so the downtown market opens in full swing and a large number of items are put up for sale.
“Therefore, tomorrow we will all walk around the downtown area together.”
I made that declaration while sitting in front of Koh Hyun-woo and Seo Ye-in.
Go Hyun-woo nodded his head.
“Indeed, I guess it would be a good idea to go there while I have the chance.”
Go Hyun-woo, a living training machine who devotes all his time other than sleeping and eating to training.
But he was also a person and a student, so he seemed to have been curious about what kind of place the downtown area was like.
Since there was a good excuse for a market to open, I made up my mind to definitely participate.
“But what kind of items are released in the downtown area?”
“You’ll have to go there to find out.”
It’s hard to say exactly what you should aim for.
Not only graduates, but also second and third year students take out a lot of unused items and sell them, so the amount of items available is huge and the variety is also very diverse.
“Of course, an ‘unused item’ isn’t always a ‘bad item’.”
“That’s right. If you’re lucky, you might find a pearl in the mud.”
“Yeah, if you’re lucky.”
Go Hyun-woo and I turned our heads at the same time and looked at one place.
Because the luckiest lucky bastard in Yongsal Academy was lying there.
I asked the calligrapher.
“Miss, how is your schedule?”
“prong.”
The calligrapher’s eyelids were half-drooped before I spoke, but as soon as she heard the word ‘downtown’, her eyes suddenly sparkled as if she had completely woken up from sleep.
I guess the last trip to downtown was quite fun.
“Going to the game center again?”
“For now, there’s nothing on my schedule for tomorrow.”
“Gunslinger Adventures.”
Gray eyes stare at me intently.
This is totally hilarious in a flash.
I looked at the calligrapher and burst out laughing, then turned my gaze to Koh Hyun-woo and asked him.
“Should we go a little early? Tomorrow.”
“I’m always happy. I was also interested in that game center, so this is even better.”
“Okay, then let’s leave in the morning.”
It’s not a bad idea to go early and take a look around, and then stop by the game center during your remaining time.
Because there might be some good items on the prize list.
Then the calligrapher nodded briefly and got up from her seat.
“Are you going?”
“Yeah, I’ll go and sleep… … .”
Although it wasn’t even dinner time yet, we sent the calligrapher away without bothering to point out the point.
Go Hyun-woo said what he guessed.
“I guess you’re planning to save up your stamina in advance.”
“maybe?”
“That sounds like a good idea. I should probably do some exercise first. I won’t be back until evening tomorrow.”
“Or so.”
So, let’s clean up the place and leave, even with Go Hyun-woo.
An Jeong-mi, who had been watching from afar, approached me.
And bow politely.
“Thanks to Mr. Kim Ho, I was able to successfully complete the mentoring. I sincerely thank you again.”
For the past three weeks, I have encouraged Seo Ye-in to listen carefully to Ahn Jung-mi and follow her training, and I have also played a crucial role in raising her motivation.
This week’s Crystal Battle was no different.
After we score together,
– But I never caught the ogre. What a pity.
– You know this is also part of the midterm exam, right? Ogres are coming back too.
– Practice a lot in advance.
By dropping a hint, the calligrapher’s motivation was aroused.
Thanks to that, I got a good score, but I kept practicing hard until today.
If it weren’t for me, An Jeong-mi wouldn’t have been able to teach even half of what she had prepared as a mentor, so she thanks me over and over again whenever she sees me like this.
Then, An Jeong-mi handed over a business card.
“I think I can trust and leave the young lady to Mr. Kim Ho. If it’s okay with you, I would like to keep in close contact with you in the future.”
Since An Jeong-mi is only here for a short time as a mentor for the graduates, she must leave Dungeon Island like the other graduates.
It’s not possible to leave the position of Future Strategy Office Team Leader vacant forever.
That’s why you hand out business cards, your direct contact information.
So that I can keep hearing updates from the person closest to me, the calligrapher.
“If you can help the young lady, Hyesung Group will also promise to give you the best support possible.”
“I will do my best.”
An Jeong-mi and I looked at each other and smiled softly.
Soon I hardened my face and opened my mouth to speak.
“It may be early, but I have a favor to ask of you, Team Leader.”
“… … !”
Because my expression was serious and I used the word ‘team leader’ instead of ‘butler’, Ahn Jeong-mi seemed to sense something unusual.
“Go ahead.”
“I hope you keep an eye on this place tomorrow.”
I handed An Jeong-mi a piece of paper with the time and place written on it.
A code found on a wall in a busy area during a preliminary survey of the Black Market.
That is the exact time and place it was referring to.
I cleverly modified the ciphertext so that both sides would get confused.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that they noticed and changed their promise, but that’s not the case.
“… … At least one of them will show up there.”
“That’s how I see it.”
An Jeong-mi asked with a serious expression on her face.
“Wouldn’t it be better to notify the academic affairs office?”
“I also have a lot to hide.”
From An Jung-mi’s perspective, she only heard from me the time and place, and the fact that an unidentified person would appear there.
I’m claiming they’re bad guys, but if not, then they could catch some random guy.
Likewise, even if you inform the bachelor’s side, it is difficult for them to take action with only this information.
In order to prove that the unidentified person is a threat to Yongsal Academy, I too must reveal my hidden secrets and take the risk of attracting the attention of the academy.
As a result, the range of motion is greatly limited, so it is a handshake.
So, if you want to ask for help, you have no choice but to ask An Jeong-mi personally.
“So, please watch the situation and help us if necessary.”
In short, it was a kind of insurance.
An Jeong-mi accepted my request without much thought.
“If what Mr. Kim Ho said is truly true, then I have to step forward without being asked. Let’s watch.”