abcnovels
Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Chapter 16 – Ability User Cultivation School (1)
“Aaaargh! You damn bastard!”
Kang Hyeon got up from the bed and let out a loud scream.
“You damn bastard. Calm down a bit! Because of you, I’m about to get kicked out!”
Kang A-hyun opened the door and shouted, but the now immune Kang Hyeon didn’t care at all.
“Ah. Sorry. I really won’t do it again.”
Kang Hyeon apologized with a face that didn’t show a single ounce of sincerity.
“Forget it. I won’t say anything… So, did you die again today?”
“What do you take me for, sister? I beat him with one strike!”
“Tsk, congratulations.”
Kang A-hyun clicked her tongue once and closed the door.
“Was that her wishing for her brother to die or what?”
Kang Hyeon, who had been glancing at the spot where Kang A-hyun had left, let out a sigh.
“Ah, well. It’s over, so it’s done. Then shall I go now?”
Kang Hyeon began rubbing his hands with anticipation.
“Status window!”
?Name: Kang Hyeon
?Titles: One Who Does Not Hold Back, 1 more
?Level: 28
?Detailed Stats:
Strength 21 (+2)
Agility 19 (+2)
Vitality 20 (+2)
Mana 20 (+2)
Additional Stats: –
?Unique Ability: Resurrection
?Skills: Intermediate Swordsmanship(D), Lower-grade Shield Mastery(E), Lowest-grade Crossbow(F)
?Skills: Roar of the Enraged Lion(C), Intermediate Bodily Regeneration(B), Bisection(E), Giant’s Strength(B)
“Done!”
Kang Hyeon, who used the status window for the first time in reality, was filled with excitement.
“The tutorial is truly over now.”
It was an incredible progress. His level had risen from 15 to 28, and his swordsmanship had advanced from basic to intermediate. The Roar of the Enraged Lion had also risen one step to grade C. Giant’s Strength, which he had acquired at the 5th stage, provided a 12 stat increase in strength for 10 minutes as a reward. He had also gained additional skills, and had received B-grade weapons and armor sets for clearing the 6th and 7th stages.
“Is the title applied simultaneously?”
[Only the selected 1 title has full effects, all other effects are reduced by 50%]
After checking the help, Kang Hyeon changed his title from ‘One Who Does Not Hold Back’ to ‘Tutorial Graduate’.
The +2 next to each stat then changed to +2.5.
“Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
Finally, Kang Hyeon nodded his head in satisfaction.
“Alright, now let’s try applying?”
Kang Hyeon decided to enroll in the Ability User Cultivation School.
To legally enter a dungeon, a graduate certificate and an ability user license are required.
-Click, click
After a few mouse clicks, the homepage of the Ability User Cultivation School appeared on the monitor.
By applying for enrollment here and receiving a week of training, one could legally enter a dungeon.
“Hmm…? What’s this?”
Kang Hyeon hesitated while applying for the Training.
“…100,000?”
The number of people waiting for the training had exceeded 100,000.
“It should be possible for those who have cleared the 2nd stage to apply, right?”
The estimated waiting time was written as over 6 months.
“Those reckless idiots who don’t care about their lives have exceeded 100,000.”
This was simply Kang Hyeon’s perspective.
“Sigh… How long do I have to wait for this.”
Just as he was sighing in disappointment,
Kang Hyeon, on a whim, clicked the training application.
There, he found a field asking about the tutorial stage he had cleared.
“What? This smells fishy.”
Kang Hyeon changed the tutorial stage from 2nd to 8th.
-Estimated Waiting Time: 1 day
*Please note that if you falsely write the tutorial stage, you may be punished.
“Huh… One day? Really.”
As he continued adjusting the stages, he realized he could adjust the training dates for each stage.
7th stage – 1 day
6th stage – 1 day
5th stage – 1 day
4th stage – 10 days
3rd stage – 1 month
2nd stage – 6 months
Looking at the stage-specific durations, Kang Hyeon pondered whether he should honestly state that he was a tutorial graduate.
“Is there really a need to do that?”
Clearly, if he said he had graduated the tutorial, he would instantly become a celebrity.
He had even jokingly told Kang A-hyun that he would be as famous as a celebrity.
However, lately he couldn’t help but wonder if that was truly a good thing.
“It’s just a troublesome position with nothing to gain.”
People’s demands on ability users were increasing more and more.
This had even escalated to the point of violent conflicts, crossing the line of just power struggles.
“Just look at the high-level clearers now, the answer is clear.”
They were being dragged around by people who mistakenly thought that service was their right.
In the end, Kang Hyeon completed the application as a 5th stage passer.
Even if he got caught, he figured the stated stage would be lower than his actual level, so there wouldn’t be much of a problem.
“What? A call already?”
3 minutes after completing the application, Kang Hyeon’s phone rang.
“Hello.”
-Is this Kang Hyeon?
“Yes.”
A kind female voice came through the phone.
-This is Ahn Mi-young from the central administration office of the Ability User Cultivation School. You applied as a 5th stage passer, is that correct?
“Yes.”
-Be aware that if you falsely apply with inflated stages to receive faster training, it will result in expulsion, a 1-year ban on reapplying, and a fine.
“Yes, yes.”
Kang Hyeon answered mechanically with an indifferent tone.
-Then, when would you like the training to be scheduled? 5th stage graduates receive free training, and can choose the date and location as desired.
“As close to home as possible.”
-Okay, understood. When would you like the education date?
“What’s the earliest available?”
-The next education is scheduled 5 days from now.
“Set it for that then.”
-Alright.
After ending the call, Kang Hyeon laughed dejectedly.
“To think I’d get this kind of treatment in my life.”
Kang Hyeon truly felt that the world had changed drastically in a short amount of time.
***
Ippotranslation
***
Unexpected 5 days of freedom.
Kang Hyeon decided to rest comfortably without doing anything for a really long time.
Until then, when he opened his eyes, he thought about exercise and tutorials. When he fell asleep, he fought bloody battles within the tutorials.
He had been running like that for over 3 months without resting even for a moment.
“It should be okay to rest a little bit.”
He wasn’t physically fatigued, but he had become too mentally exhausted.
“First, let’s watch some YouTube. Let’s also watch some dramas and movies.”
Kang Hyeon is determined to enjoy his own cultural life that he couldn’t do before.
“…”
But that determination didn’t last even a day.
“It’s boring…”
Sitting still and just staring at the monitor, his whole body felt itchy and aching.
“How did I used to sit all day long before?”
In just 3 months, Kang Hyeon had changed too much.
Even playing games was no fun.
Watching movies was boring.
He didn’t have any friends to begin with.
“Kim Tae-soo… I’m sorry.”
Recalling his childhood friend Kim Tae-soo, the only one who played with him, Kang Hyeon sincerely apologized.
“Fuck… Let’s just exercise.”
In the end, Kang Hyeon spent the 5 days exercising.
On the day of admission to the Cultivation center.
Kang Hyeon moved early in the morning to go to the Cultivation center, which was a 1-hour drive from his home.
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yeah, I have to take the subway now.”
“Have a good trip. Don’t cause any accidents.”
“When have I ever caused an accident?”
He doesn’t think of himself as a good person. But he prided himself on at least maintaining the minimum decency in his life.
“You know you’ve been acting reckless lately, right?”
“I feel perfectly comfortable.”
“Ugh… It looks like you’re half-crazy just by looking at your eyes… Be careful not to get into any trouble.”
“This sister doesn’t hold back on what she says to her brother! If you’re going to say unnecessary things, I’m leaving.”
“Okay, have a good trip.”
Kang A-hyun waved Kang Hyeon off, but the worry never left her eyes.
Kang Hyeon’s admission process was bumpy from the start.
“Mr. Kang Hyeon… Is that you?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“The attached photo is too different… Could I check your ID card once?”
The employee smiled awkwardly while looking at the documents in her hand. In the documents, there was a ID photo of Kang Hyeon taken 2 years ago for his job application.
‘No matter how I look at it, it’s not him…’
The man in the photo had a very skinny face and a hazy gaze.
When she raised her head and their eyes met, Kang Hyeon’s eyes met hers.
“Eek!”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, nothing!”
‘What kind of scary-looking eyes does he have…’
Making eye contact felt like facing a ferocious beast. Even the senior workers would automatically bow down when facing such a gaze.
Moreover, with his fairly tall stature and bulky build, it was impossible to imagine him as the man in the photo.
“Here you go.”
Kang Hyeon took out his ID card from his wallet and handed it over.
The ID card was made about 8 years ago, when he entered university.
The employee had a sad expression on her face, as the gap had grown even larger than now.
“Umm… No matter how I look at it, this is not you…”
“Huh?”
Kang Hyeon’s expression darkened as he heard the employee’s words.
It was not intentional, but the employee gradually began to sniffle, overwhelmed by the great threat.
“I’m sorry… But if I let someone in who is not the actual person, I’ll get scolded. Waaah…”
She deeply regretted becoming a civil servant just 2 weeks into the job.
The faces of her parents, who had proudly spread the news that their daughter became a civil servant, came to mind.
‘Sorry, mom. I can’t do this…’
“Hey, don’t cry. It is really me, so you can just let me go in.”
As the employee was crying bitterly, the gazes of the people around started to gather.
“Why is that employee crying?”
“Look at that man’s expression. Did he threaten her or something?”
Kang Hyeon’s head slowly turned towards the direction of the voices.
“…”
The moment Kang Hyeon’s face was met, the whispering people also slowly turned their heads elsewhere.
“Since this is me, just let me in. It’s because I accidentally gained the wrong skill in the tutorial.”
In the end, Kang Hyeon decided to go in by adding a little lie.
“Okay…”
After the ups and downs, Kang Hyeon finished submitting the enrollment documents and followed the guide to the next location.
There was a temporary building in front of a huge auditorium.
As he entered, he saw a man in his mid-30s, dressed in a suit, exuding an elite aura.
“Hmm, are you Kang Hyeon?”
The man said while adjusting his glasses.
“Yes, that’s right…”
Kang Hyeon was gradually getting annoyed by the continuous questioning from the reception.
“Ah, my apologies. You look quite different from the photo. I’m Kim Yi-hyeon, who will be in charge of this training. Due to the lack of personnel, I’m also conducting the ability test.”
Kim Yi-hyeon was flipping through the documents at an incredible speed.
‘Is he really reading them properly?’
The time spent on each page was less than 2 seconds.
Kang Hyeon had doubts, but he didn’t bother asking.
“Here, we’ll perform a simple ability test for you, Kang Hyeon. First, do you have any items in your inventory, like a sword?”
“Yes.”
“Then, please take it out and show it to me.”
At the man’s words, Kang Hyeon was about to take out Bilgein’s long sword, but he hesitated.
‘If I take this out now, it won’t be good.’
Bilgein’s long sword was a B-grade sword he received after clearing the 6th stage, and Kang Hyeon was using it effectively.
Kang Hyeon took out a regular long sword instead.
“This is the sword you get after passing the 2nd stage. Okay, next, please tell me your level and unique ability.”
Kang Hyeon spewed out a bright-red lie.
“My level is 12, and my unique ability is Man’s Strength.”
“Did you illegally venture into a dungeon after completing the tutorial? Your level is quite high.”
“I had some experience going in before the rules changed in the beginning.”
“Hmm, I see…”
“Yes. And while roaming around, I ended up killing the monsters that were out during a dungeon breach.”
“Understood.”
Kang Hyeon’s lies flowed smoothly from his mouth.
At first, Kim Yi-hyeon had a suspicious expression, but soon he seemed to be convinced and nodded his head.
“What kind of ability is this Man’s Strength you mentioned as your unique ability?”
“It temporarily doubles my strength.”
Kim Yi-hyeon nodded and scribbled something in the document folder.
“This is the last one. Talented individuals receive skills at stage 3, accessories at stage 4, and skills again at stage 5. Please show them one by one.”
‘Tch, so needlessly meticulous.’
Grumbling inwardly, Kang Hyeon first showed the Ring of Strong Spirit. Then he lifted the long sword and cut his own arm.
Kim Yi-hyeon seemed momentarily taken aback, but quickly understood as Kang Hyeon’s arm healed quickly.
“The last one is a skill that lets you scream and instill fear in the surrounding enemies. Can I use it here?”
“Yes, you can just go ahead and use it.”
Kim Yi-hyeon answered nonchalantly.
Feeling somewhat ignored, Kang Hyeon grinned mischievously.
“Yaaaa-!”
[Roar of the Enraged Lion is activated]
[The morale and abilities of all enemies have decreased]
[The enemies are gripped by fear]
As Kang Hyeon’s shout erupted, the temporary building trembled. At the same time, the people near Kim Yi-hyeon collapsed to the ground.
“Ah, aaaaah.”
Kim Yi-hyeon was opening and closing his ears with his hands, checking if he could still hear.
“Thank you. Please follow the path and enter the auditorium.”
While the other people were struggling to get up, only Kim Yi-hyeon moved calmly, as if nothing had happened.
‘Not bad.’
Seeing this, Kang Hyeon nodded with an interested expression.
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