Chapter 51
Hoon-gyo finally realized why Resonance Magic Power was called magic power.
‘This is incredible pain.’
It was the process of forcing something impossible, using his innate energy and life force as collateral. Naturally, pain was inevitable.
- Ughhhh!
The Flame Dragon, wearing the full set of万能 Runes, combined her four hours of accumulated firepower with the Yin energy from the Nine-Syllable Vein, breaking and bursting Hoon-gyo’s body.
Normally, he would have been recalled immediately. But…
The secret of Resonance Magic Power kept his body forcibly intact, converting the two massive forces into a controlled energy.
‘Focus!’
Hoon-gyo gritted his teeth.
Of course, he wanted to save the girl and help his master…
But he had an even greater desire.
‘I… want to become stronger too.’
Like the Flame Dragon, like Aso.
He was leading now, but he knew he could be surpassed someday.
He was a training instructor, specialized in teaching others.
‘But…’
If he absorbed this enormous energy?
He could become the main power too!
Not just teaching, but fighting alongside his master with strength!
He could even tackle the 100th floor of the Trial Tower in the future!
‘Just kill me already.’
Kwagagagaga!
Hoon-gyo released all restraint.
He opened both channels and drew in energy freely.
The Yin-Yang energy inside him went wild, like a rampaging bull.
Poof!
His veins seemed to burst, turning his whole body bluish.
But that wasn’t all.
Blood poured from every opening—eyes, nose, mouth, pores.
- I-Is he going to be okay?
The Flame Dragon panted, looking horrified.
“…….”
Baek Jin-woo watched Hoon-gyo silently, feeling sorry for him.
This wasn’t forced—it was his own choice. Respect was due.
‘Still…’
Glancing briefly, the girl’s intermittent groans gradually eased.
“Haa… haa…”
The Yin energy was being drawn out—Hoon-gyo’s method truly worked!
He was enduring the pain meant for the girl, taking it upon himself.
Some time passed.
Hoon-gyo eventually closed his eyes and shut his mouth.
- Huuuu…
Even in pain, he didn’t scream. He endured it.
- Jin-woo-nim, I’m done.
Thud!
When he removed the staff, Hoon-gyo’s arms fell weakly.
Slowly, he let go of the girl’s arms he had been holding tightly.
- All the flame (炎) energy has gone to her side.
That meant…
The girl was fine too.
Her groans stopped, and her complexion improved.
The Yin energy of the Nine-Syllable Vein was completely gone, and the frozen blood flow had returned to normal!
‘The treatment is perfectly done.’
The problem now was Hoon-gyo.
- ……
Thump!
He collapsed, eyes closed.
Since he wasn’t recalled, he wasn’t dead.
But Baek Jin-woo knew.
He was about to die.
This was the process of absorbing as much internal energy into his dantian before death.
‘You’ve worked hard.’
Truly a grateful summon.
Honestly, what benefit would there be in becoming stronger himself?
‘The good goes to me.’
The summon’s combat power would grow even stronger.
Hoon-gyo was enduring all this pain purely for Baek Jin-woo.
“Thanks, buddy.”
Baek Jin-woo murmured quietly.
Even in pain, Hoon-gyo’s lips curled slightly into a smile.
Whoosh!
Finally, Hoon-gyo was recalled.
His HP had dropped to 0.
What happened to him… was curious, but to summon him again would take five hours.
Baek Jin-woo reset the summon times for Lamba, the Flame Dragon, and Dol-Dol, and started stacking again.
After that…
Clunk!
The door opened, and he stepped out.
The room, filled with heat from Hoon-gyo, was replaced by a cool breeze.
In front of the door was Jasim, looking worried.
“I-Is it… over?”
How worried must he have been.
For five hours, he had resisted opening the door despite hearing noises inside, showing in his expression the effort he had made.
“Yes, it’s over.”
Baek Jin-woo smiled at Jasim.
Ah.
Was this how a surgeon feels after a successful operation?
Though Hoon-gyo had suffered, something welled up in his chest.
“The treatment was successful, and your daughter is safe.”
“Ku… kuhuh!”
Thud!
Jasim collapsed, kneeling, and grasped Baek Jin-woo’s hands tightly with both.
No words were needed.
Jasim could be certain.
This was the happiest moment of his life.
“R-Really? Really? Thank you! Ughhh!”
“Don’t stay here. Go inside and check.”
“Oh, okay!”
Jasim hurried back into the room, eager to see.
Sleepy, the girl slowly opened her eyes.
“…Dad?”
It was the first time.
Her voice came without any groans.
And that wasn’t all.
The coldness from before was gone. Her face was full of life, not pale.
“My daughter! Are you really okay?”
“Dad, I… don’t hurt anymore. Not at all. Not cold either.”
“Ugh… hhhh!”
Jasim hugged his daughter and cried.
Baek Jin-woo watched silently, turning away to give them privacy for their emotional reunion.
A short while later.
“There’s nothing much prepared, but please eat.”
Before Baek Jin-woo was a lavish meal he had never seen before.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have…”
“You and my daughter are our benefactors. How can we repay this? First, here are the five top-grade万能 Runes I promised.”
Jasim offered them, placing the runes.
These were indisputably top-grade万能 Runes.
“Thank you.”
Baek Jin-woo smiled and accepted.
Finally, all 18万能 Runes were collected.
“And please take this as well.”
Another item appeared in the trade window—a rare summon.
Interpreter Bird (B-rank).
A limited summon obtainable only from Trial Tower rewards.
When perched on your shoulder, it allows communication among all humans within range.
“I hope you don’t refuse this. You said five万能 Runes are enough, but my heart says otherwise. Please don’t see this as a burden—it’s just a gift from a grateful person.”
“…Then, I’ll take it.”
As before, Baek Jin-woo didn’t want to exploit Jasim’s love for his daughter for gain.
But… he wasn’t so greedy as to refuse a useful gift.
Especially this bird…
It seemed quite useful.
“Hahaha, thank you! Now, you must be hungry—shall we eat first?”
“No, I appreciate it, but I think I’ll rest a bit first.”
“Oh, I see.”
He was actually hungry but had no appetite. Until he confirmed Hoon-gyo’s condition, he couldn’t eat.
‘…A frugal person.’
Jasim was touched looking at Baek Jin-woo.
So many scammers had sought him out.
Claiming his daughter was cursed, demanding fortune.
Some even demanded immense wealth in exchange for treatment.
‘Money spent on this person is not wasted.’
Jasim? He had money.
Yearly oil production sold worldwide accumulated more wealth no matter how much he spent.
‘The White of Korea,’ he thought.
He resolved internally.
Every year, he would find rare items useful to players and send them anonymously to Baek Jin-woo.
Korea, Player Zone.
“Waaah!”
A ranker clenched both fists and shouted.
“Hey, you crazy guy! What are you doing out there? Can’t you be quiet?”
“I’m thirsty! I’m dying of thirst!”
People whispered as they watched two rankers running between buildings shouting.
“……Those are…”
“Carpe Diem?”
“Gijaehyuk and Kang Jiho, right?”
Two famous high school rankers.
They had just been selected for the national team, and their fame was soaring.
“Everyone sees you. Be quiet.”
“Haa… sorry, bro.”
A year younger, Kang Jiho shook his head.
In fact, they had been waiting only for the day they could learn from Baek Jin-woo.
‘But…’
Due to his personal reasons, the schedule was canceled.
Frustrated, they shouted.
They still wandered around the arena, sighing deeply.
Then suddenly…
“Huh? What are you two doing?”
Someone recognized them.
“Ah, Ari nuna!”
Gijaehyuk immediately recognized her.
Impossible not to.
Hong Ari, rank 3 in Korea and master of the Ari-rang guild.
More famous than the president as a player.
“Nuna, did you miss Jin-woo too?”
“W-What are you talking about?”
“Then why are you wandering around the arena?”
“….”
Hong Ari flinched, hit directly by the truth.
Her last 10 hours of training had been a revelation.
Afterward, she had revamped the entire Ari-rang education system.
She had been waiting for the national team call, but when the schedule was suddenly canceled, instinctively, she came to the arena.
“So… why are you here?”
“We honestly said it—we miss Jin-woo.”
“Ha, yeah! But really, how can a sudden cancellation happen? Why even take 1 trillion won of national funds?”
Hong Ari finally admitted, grumbling.
“Nuna.”
Gijaehyuk’s eyes shone.
“Yeah?”
“Actually, we had a thought.”
“What?”
“What if we just go to the Yubaek headquarters directly?”
“Huh?”
Hong Ari frowned.
Wasn’t that rude?
Going there just because the class was canceled?
She hated obsessive fans, so this felt worse.
“Isn’t that crossing the line?”
Even as she said it, she also wanted to go.
She wanted to ask why the schedule was canceled.
And questions about the week of blocked lessons.
“Didn’t you notice? When he teaches, Jin-woo doesn’t actually go easy.”
“Huh? What do you mean? It’s very helpful.”
“No, 100%. He teaches roughly, giving only what we need. We think it’s helpful only because our level is far below his.”
Gijaehyuk felt it.
Baek Jin-woo’s gaze was like looking at kindergartners—not teaching gifted students, but lower-level players.
“Honestly, think about it. If the country pays, he doesn’t need to sincerely teach anyone, right?”
“…Even if it’s 1 trillion won?”
“1 trillion is 1 trillion. Teaching someone from another guild as if they were a real disciple is different.”
“So what do you want to do?”
“We said it—we want to go to Yubaek and learn properly.”
“Go and ask?”
“To teach us right. We’ll do anything. He said it himself: the thirsty digs the well.”
“….”
Hong Ari read the sincerity in Gijaehyuk’s eyes.
‘True.’
No mistake there.
Baek Jin-woo’s skills were world-class.
Compared to them? They were just Korean rankers.
Worldwide, considered low-level.
Simply, frogs in a well.
‘Becoming Baek Jin-woo’s disciple to aim for world rankers?’
Hong Ari clenched her fists.
No reason not to go.
She was even impatient.
If he allowed these two to learn properly, even her rank 3 spot could be taken by them.
“…When do we go?”
“Since we’re talking about it, why not now? We can check the famous Yubaek headquarters too.”
“C-Can Seonyeong join?”
Orang (Five Wolves), Oh Seonyeong.
After last time, she had become a big fan of Baek Jin-woo.
Gijaehyuk chuckled at Hong Ari’s question.
“Why ask us? If you want to go, just go.”
Even if turned away or disliked, it was their choice.
