Chapter 41-42: Group Training (1/2)

Chapter 41-42: Group Training

Exactly one week after the audition.

The day after the results were announced, I ordered Devil Hunters to convene.

‘There is a wide assortment in the group.’

I looked at Krasla and the six people gathered in front of the guild house early in the morning and nodded.

Four of them were new. They were new hires who passed the recruitment.

There was a reason I gathered them so quickly after the successful candidates were announced. It was possible due to the work I did in advance.

All four of the Awakened were on the verge of failing until I gave them high scores It was natural for them to follow me into Devil Hunters. Although it was only temporary.

This wasn’t a bad thing for them either.

“Captain-nim. Yoo Eun-hye and Lee Ji-hye…ah, no, what should I call you?”

One of the four temporary members said. He was Kim Chun-won.

A bard with a title regarding cursing.

Now he was in his mid-twenties but his mouth couldn’t stop cursing.

“Come.”

But I didn’t answer and shook my head.

Along with Yoo Eun-hye and Lee Ji-hye, I had the required tournament criteria of8 people.

I would win the championship with an assortment of people.

Furthermore, the tournament had a significant scale according to Kim Yong-woo. It was the introduction of the first ever rankings and each Awakened had a chance to earn some merits.

If so, I needed to be on top. It would be easier to obtain good Awakened if I was known as the strongest in South Korea.

Victory was quite important but I couldn’t reveal everything. There needed to be an emphasis on human capabilities. I needed to obtain the title of the strongest but I couldn’t move in a manner impossible for humans.

“Captain-nim!”

As expected, it took less than 3 minutes for two women to talk to him.

Yoo Eun-hye and Lee Ji-hye.

At the same time, the four new member swallowed their saliva. Yoo Eun-hye had a youthful cuteness while Lee Ji-hye was an intellectual beauty.

It was no wonder why the men gazed at the rare beauties.

Yoo Eun-hye ran over and lightly hugged me with tears in her eyes.

Jjirak! Jjirak!

I could feel electric currents. Yoo Eun-hye’s passive was triggered.

Now it didn’t even tickle me. I had the Lightning God Technique. Although Lightning God was sleeping, the power was still dwelling inside my body.

Yoo Eun-hye’s passive output wasn’t higher than the power in my blood.

“I knew you were alive!”

Yoo Eun-hye wiped her eyes on my suit.

I had gone back and forth to the dungeon with Yoo Eun-hye many times. Maybe it was because I wasn’t affected by her passive but she carelessly revealed her emotions.

“Welcome back.”

Lee Ji-hye also made a welcome expression. It seemed like she hadn’t slept as her makeup hid dark circles.

“How have you been doing?”

“Well.”

“First let’s move to a different place.”

The eight people needed to gather power.

I forcibly removed Yoo Eun-hye and led them to a pre-reserved cafe.

***

A luxurious cafe located on the 2nd floor of a building.

There was a large table in the centre where eight people were sitting. On the table were cups of coffee or drinks and homemade cakes.

He had reserved it for the whole day so including the owner of the cafe, there were only nine people present.

Except for the owner, the other people were the members of Devil Hunters.

“Ya, as expected of Captain-nim! You are really different!”

Kim Chun-won quivered and made a fuss.

In contrast, Yoo Eun-hye, Lee Ji-hye and Krasla’s reactions were calm. It was only renting the cafe.

After the turmoil subsided, I said coldly.

“I think there will be many questions. But first, you guys have joined due to the ranking competition. And of course, I don’t expect a lot from you.”

Yoo Eun-hye had been trained by entering the dungeon but this time there were four new members. They were tools to fill the insufficient numbers……

What could I expect from those that would be used once and then thrown away?

Of course, their potential was higher than average or they had special skills or titles. If the Devil Hunters were needed for an emergency raid then they would join. They could also fill in the numbers for regular raids.

After watching for a bit, I would decide based on the result whether to temporarily include them or not. Even after the competition was over, there would be a variety of people I could use for temporary work.

The excellent ones could be formally adopted as members but I honestly had no great expectations.

One of the new hires frowned like he was chewing shit.

“Captain-nim. Aren’t your words too severe?”

“You will regret it. We each have our own rhythm as Awakened.”

Complaints poured out from the new hires.

Yoo Eun-hye and Lee Ji-hye knew my skills to some extent so they kept their mouths shut.

“You would have already been dropped if it wasn’t for me.”

“……”

The new hires stared dumbly.

I talked with a cold smile.

“However, you can’t just participate using the name of Devil Hunters. You should have basic skills. Starting from tomorrow, I will train you for 3 weeks. This is a confirmed issue and can’t be avoided.”

The inside of the cafe was quiet.

“It won’t be that.”

I sipped an Americano while enjoying the aroma.

They had decided to participate but there was no hurry.

It was enough if only Krasla and I participated. Both of our skills would be acknowledged but the entire group Devil Hunters needed to be recognized. It was necessary to make sure the rest of the members were moderately trained.

I put down my cup.

Then Lee Ji-hye who had been looking at me asked.

“Captain-nim. Can you roughly describe the ranking competition?”

It wasn’t a big deal if I told them so I opened up.

“The ranking competition itself is simple. Eight people in a raid group are gathered to fight the opponent. Depending on the results, we will be given a ranking. But this ranking competition isn’t just limited to Heaven’s Will. Famous guilds will be participated so this will have an influence on the future rating of the Awakened in South Korea.”

Gulp!

The expressions of the new recruits changed. It was the first time they heard about the ranking competition involving other famous guilds.

“…We will unconditionally win.”

Lee Ji-hye determined the contents of my words and said with a sigh.

“By the way, who is the person next to Captain-nim?”

Yoo Eun-hye who had been watching quietly asked about Krasla. They wondered about the man with black skin.

“Krasla will train you. His primary weapon is a spear but he can use other battle techniques.”

“It is good to meet you. I am Krasla.”

Krasla spoke for the first time.

The eyes of the members widened. It was surprising to hear Korean spoken in that voice. Dark elves often had a beautiful voice and Krasla did as well.

“Wah! You have an amazing voice!”

Yoo Eun-hye spoke her honest opinion.

“Are you sure of his skills? He seems to be lacking spirit!”

But voice didn’t have anything to do with capabilities.

Kim Chun-won shrugged.

Krasla seemed quite thin. This was also the nature of the dark elves. Even if they exercised, they wouldn’t gain muscles. Krasla didn’t budge. He continued sitting silently like a stone statue.

I just laughed.

“You will see tomorrow.”

He wouldn’t be able to say such words after a day.

One million copies of Kim Chun-won couldn’t even compare to one Krasla.

I had time to relax after that statement. The atmosphere quickly became harmonious with occasional laughter.

But my ears could already hear their screams.

***

A pension in Ganwong-do, Chuncheon.

Behind the blue mountains and rippling river existed a well-appointed open air training ground for Devil Hunters.

Everyone cried out ‘Wow!’ from the clean air and vast nature as they slept overnight. But that good time passed quickly.

The moment they changed into comfortable clothes, their hell began.

Krasla greeted the new members while holding a red spear!

He said with no expression.

“Bring out your weapons.”

“What did you say?”

Kim Chun-won was a bard but he had a dagger at his waist and the other members also brought out their weapons.

“First I will see your skills. And any person that manages to hurt me will be excluded from training in the future!”

“You! What a ridiculous guy.”

Kim Chun-won licked his dagger with his tongue. He was feigning an evil impression. The action was meant to intimidate.

Of course, Krasla was still expressionless.

“Don’t get excited. As Captain-nim pointed out, your capabilities are insignificant. First of all, I’ll check the magic……”

Lee Ji-hye calmly analyzed the situation. Then all of a sudden, Kim Chun-won took off his jacket and rushed forward with madness in his eyes.

“You cocky bastard! I will kill you, you fucker!”

He sliced all around the upper body!

Kim Chun-won used the momentum.

His first performance of licking the dagger seemed to have failed. But he couldn’t see the body anymore. He hadn’t expected it after rushing with the dagger.

However, he didn’t know about Krasla’s strength.

Ppak!

“Keheok!”

Kim Chun-won spun 360 degrees and fell to the floor. Krasla had struck him hard in the legs.

“Don’t get excited……”

Lee Ji-hye sighed.

Krasla moved fiercely like a hurricane.

“Get ready everyone! Water Sphere!”

Chwahak!

Her occupation was a water magician.

Water flew from Lee Ji-hye’s staff and smashed into Krasla.

The remaining three members attacked with their weapons but it was already one step too late.

Ppak! Ppak! Ppak!

The sound of popping occurred three times until only Krasla and Lee Ji-hye were standing.

It happened in the blink of an eye! An overwhelmingly ridiculous situation.

Lee Ji-hye had a bemused expression before she laughed and lay down her staff.

“I surrender.”

At the same time, there was one person missing.

‘She is needed. Where has she gone?’

The captain had gone somewhere separately with Yoo Eun-hye. At this moment, Lee Ji-hye felt envious.

Then Krasla looked at Lee Ji-hye and clicked his tongue.

“You can’t do that!”

***

At the same time.

I was at the foot of a valley with Yoo Eun-hye.

“The water is clear. Captain-nim, take a look at this.”

Yoo Eun-hye enthusiastically watched the water bubbling in the water.

She would receive training with the members but something needed to be done first.

Right now she couldn’t control the passive skill ‘Electric Current (N)’. I wondered if it was possible with the Lightning God Technique.

Additionally, the valley was very rich in lightning attribute.

Usually more than 3 sides of the valley were blocked so there were many cases of the energy emitted from a lightning storm being trapped. There was a high probability that I could find the answer here.

The residual lightning energy in the valley would have a synergy effect.

“Yoo Eun-hye. We didn’t come here to play.”

“Hik! I understand! But why did you only take me?”

Yoo Eun-hye smiled and playfully asked.

There were multiple occasions of hunting in the dungeon but there was no sign of that this time.

I spoke like it wasn’t a big deal.

“From now on, you will see your passive skill Electric Current.”

“I have a passive skill?”

Yoo Eun-hye asked with confusion.

There was nothing to hide so I spoke the truth.

“Recently I mastered a lightning skill. I should be able to match the wavelength of that skill with Electric Current. If it works then the trigger of your passive will disappear.”

“Really? So now you are a lightning skill user! Ah, it is like that. What are you going to do Captain-nim? Will you hold my wrist like in martial arts novels? No. Then there would be no need for you to take me to a place like this.”

Yoo Eun-hye spat out words quickly.

I stared at Yoo Eun-hye’s face.

“First of all, take it off.”

“Oh, so I need to take it off. Take off……”

Yoo Eun-hye suddenly retreated with surprise. She hid her breasts with both hands and glared at me.

“I’m disappointed, you’ve been so bad Captain-nim!”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. I’m not interested in your body.”

In fact, it was as I said.

Yoo Eun-hye was a beautiful human but she was incomparable to Chrisley. It was the same for her body as well. Chrisley had a superior body.