Chapter 314

〈Chapter 314〉 Part 1, Chapter 14, Section 4

After successfully completing the Kinna-ra raid…

We gathered in the briefing room to hold a debriefing session on the Kinna-ra raid.

“You all did well. It’s natural to be tense at first, but quickly switching to offense and fulfilling your roles afterward was truly impressive. The phrase ‘remarkable growth’ comes to mind.”

I handed out feedback written on papers for each individual, and everyone froze with their mouths agape at the overwhelmingly positive praise. Honestly, I was more flustered by their reaction than anything.

“Why? If you did well, I’m just giving proper praise.”

“What about today’s score…?”

Baek Hee-a asked on behalf of the group. They seemed quite curious, so I thought about any potential deductions.

“Minus one point because of Lee Seung-hyeong, leaving us at 15 points.”

“Huh?”

The heroes glared at Lee Seung-hyeong. Even if they don’t know the exact reason, having the score reduced because of one person must feel disappointing.

“But did I make some kind of mistake…?”

Lee Seung-hyeong looked between the heroes and me nervously. When others don’t have significant deductions but he does, it’s natural for him to feel self-conscious.

“It’s nothing major – you shouted too loudly when delivering the final blow. Minus one point for noise pollution.”

“……I can’t accept that!”

Lee Seung-hyeong stood up abruptly, rejecting my feedback. His posture was extremely confident, as if he had done absolutely nothing wrong.

“A hero’s finishing move becomes stronger through powerful shouting!”

“Who says that?”

“I felt that way! Chang-”

“I’ll obliterate you if you say the technique name one more time, so cut it out.”

Does this guy have no sense of shame? I quickly scanned the other heroes to see if they shared similar feelings.

“…..Hmm.”

“Even so, doing this here is a bit much.”

Two monsters. Though they’re pretending not to, they’re clearly embarrassed by Lee Seung-hyeong. I feel the same way.

“Points to note for the next raid…”

Unsah didn’t seem particularly interested.

“Be cautious of attacks coming from the left… Hmm, is this a warning against being stabbed in the heart?”

She was quietly focusing on her own feedback, muttering to herself. While Unsah would shout her technique name if it made her attack stronger, she’s not the type to unnecessarily yell it out for style.

“…Hmph.”

Pungbaek was fiddling with his beard when our eyes met.

“Isn’t it fine? If you don’t do this when you’re young, you won’t be able to later. Hohoho!”

As someone who cares about appearances, he personally avoids shouting but excuses Lee Seung-hyeong’s behavior as youthful vigor. He’d probably drunkenly unleash all sorts of imagined techniques if he somehow achieved SS Rank and reversed his aging.

“If shouting technique names is in the heroes’ manual?”

Usa pointed at her smartwatch while questioning me.

“According to Director Yoo Yinghuo’s instructions, heroes shout their technique names so allies can hear and avoid accidents. It’s dangerous if you use a skill silently and accidentally harm your allies. Isn’t coordinating like this the reason? Knowing each other’s skills and fighting without affecting each other’s lines of fire.”

Usa countered using the manual left by Director Yoo Yinghuo.

But does he know?

That the manual wasn’t made for heroes’ safety but filled with weird excuses because Yoo Yinghuo wanted heroes to shout technique names at all costs.

“Changyeom Revival, huh? Pfft. Pathetic.”

Tempest Lady snorted. Both me and Lee Seung-hyeong bristled at her insult to Changyeom, but she wasn’t criticizing the act of shouting technique names.

“Swinging flaming fists? How about ‘Flame Fist Finish!’ or ‘Rising Flame Strike!’, or mixing in some English like ‘Aiolite Flame!’? Pfft, what even is Changyeom Revival?”

“…….”

Tempest Lady will definitely not participate in the next expedition. Even if she wants to join, I’ll make sure she doesn’t.

I can tolerate insults toward myself, but insults toward Changyeom are unacceptable. The Changyeom within me agrees right now that we should eliminate this lady.

“……Hmph.”

But I decided to show broad-mindedness and understand Tempest Lady’s jealousy.

“I agree about changing an unfitting name. After all, you can’t stay a lady forever, can you? Pfft.”

“What the hell…?”

Tempest Lady tried to curse but stopped herself. Knowing future information, I understood she could never gain the upper hand against me.

“You may look young, but in reality you’re actually older than-”

“Hey! Stop talking nonsense!”

Tempest Lady’s face turned red as she stuttered angrily. Everyone’s gaze toward her became subtly different.

“No wonder, Choonja isn’t a name that fits someone of that age. Hohoho! My apologies, how should I address you properly?”

“I’M NOT THAT OLD! Dammit, how much do you know about me?!”

Tempest Lady’s eyes watered realizing I knew information she kept hidden even from her future husband.

“Hmm…”

Though making a woman cry softened my heart a bit, I still needed to be harsh with someone who blasphemed against a technique bearing Changyeom’s name.

“Seems like I pretty much know everything. Not just you, but everyone here.”

Talented individuals with special abilities aren’t something I’d forget, and thanks to Changyeom’s brain, all their information is stored in mine. Including every little background detail.

“Anyway, if you don’t want to be more embarrassed here, kneel facing the sun at noon today and repent sincerely. Next.”

My gaze turned to Baek Hee-a. She nervously fidgeted with her fingers on her thigh while checking my expression.

“…Do you think technique names are important, Cheongnyeon?”

“That’s not a question from Baek Hee-a but from Commander Executioner.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Your opinion?”

Shouting technique names always presents a great dilemma for commanders. Doing so reveals to enemies what technique a hero is using.

“…As both Commander Execution Officer and Baek Hee-a, I think shouting technique names isn’t bad. If it boosts the hero’s morale.”

“Ah, then go ahead.”

Both Director Yoo Yinghuo and Commander Execution Officer Baek Hee-a excel at packaging their true intentions convincingly.

Commanders generally have positive or praising views about the spirit sensitivity of their officers.

No wonder Dark Legion’s officers chanting caused an event where Azidahaka stormed into the association in anger. While names or technique names are important, I think everyone should exercise some restraint.

“Hey, why are you such a hypocrite? You were enthusiastically shouting before.”

“Eep.”

I was relieved Jo Deokbae was in core form, but Gaeul sharply criticized me. The other heroes began whispering among themselves.

“Come to think of it, didn’t you shout ‘Changyeom Revival’ in the plaza when summoning the Black Flame Dragon?”

“In today’s battle alone, I saw you trying to shout your technique name-”

“Yes!”

I clapped my hands and continued. Lee Seung-hyeong shrunk back like a child caught stealing.

“I never gave permission to shout my technique name. Why are you using it without asking?”

“T-that’s…!”

Lee Seung-hyeong frantically looked around for support. But seeing me pressing the issue, the heroes shook their heads and distanced themselves.

“What? You didn’t get permission? Then it’s your fault, Hwakwon. Kneeling and begging wouldn’t be enough.”

“Tsk. Didn’t see it that way before. Too much. This guy must’ve spent a long time thinking about ‘Changyeom Revival’. And now you’re using it like it’s yours? What a fool I am.”

“Cheongnyeon, is that true? If someone used another’s technique name without permission, we can’t overlook that as fellow heroes.”

Three people cut ties.

“Lee Seung-hyeong, either get permission next time or change the technique name. How about ‘Flame Blast’?”

“Thinking about it, isn’t that name not originally yours either…? Even if it was named by the director, wasn’t Hwakwon originally Kim Chul-soo’s name?”

Supportive fire came from Tempest Lady and the Execution Officer. Lee Seung-hyeong was completely cornered.

“S-so I already said I’d get permission, didn’t I?!”

Lee Seung-hyeong roared while pounding his chest.

“Teacher, you must be ashamed to have a student shouting your technique-”

“Ah, seriously.”

Should I just turn this guy into a monster and shut him up?

“Teacher?”

“Student?”

“A-ah, no, it’s…”

Lee Seung-hyeong froze, sweating cold sweat, and my head started hurting automatically. Who looks like a DLC protagonist, constantly carrying verbal slip-ups?

“……It happened.”

At that moment, everyone was spending their own time.

Hwakwon and I spent the night training separately, and Hwakwon finally officially earned the title of disciple after arduous efforts.

“How…?”

Baek Hee-a was shocked in her own ship cabin, not knowing something had happened. To calm Baek Hee-a down, I placed my palm on her cheek and spun it around.

“Calm down. I put up barriers so as not to disturb your sleep.”

“But I didn’t feel anything…”

“Don’t worry too much, there’s trickery involved.”

Baek Hee-a glared at me with her eyes. How could she not care when she figured it out?

But it’s better not to care. Everything that happens in her blind spots has always been the usual antics in the original work anyway.

“When the time comes, I’ll tell you, but let’s talk about this issue now. Hwakwon Lee Seung-hyeong, I’ve decided to officially take him as a disciple. I plan to train him to SS Rank.”

“Insane…”

Usa wrinkled her nose and vented her anger.

“Are you favoring him because he’s fire attribute? What, are people of other attributes going to be miserable?”

“Yes, naturally. Go argue with Seok Harang if you want to argue. Seok Harang gave you exactly 10,000.”

“What are you talking about?”

I revealed my plan to make water attribute specials S Rank through Seok Harang, and Usa pulled her hair out over Seok Harang’s failure.

“Seok Harang failed at water control, so you didn’t become S Rank.”

“AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!”

Thanks, but it’s definitely an infuriating moment. And I raised my thumb to console her.

“If you had come on this expedition after leveling up to 90, you might have awakened to S Rank in this battle.”

“Isn’t that adding fuel to the fire instead of comforting me?”

“Once you return to Korea and go straight to Busan, you just need to add 1 more to break through S Rank.”

Usa was silently screaming about missing S Rank by a hair.

“Anyway, I’m a fire spirit, so I can only directly take care of fire attributes. It’s just coincidental that this guy is fire attribute; I wouldn’t have given him a second glance if he were another attribute. What disciple?”

He’s exceptionally talented in fire attribute, so I accepted him as a disciple.

“Teacher.”

“You got caught saying it, so I won’t hide it anymore. What is it?”

“Teacher, are you ashamed of ‘Changyeom Revival’?”

“Huh. What nonsense is this?”

Why would I have a reason to be ashamed of spreading Changyeom’s name far and wide?

“…?? Are you not nitpicking about shouting technique names because it’s embarrassing?”

“It’s embarrassing. The real ‘Changyeom Revival’ isn’t the weak punch Hwakwon throws.”

I clenched my fist and placed it in front of my face.

“How can it not be embarrassing for an S Rank to enthusiastically shout an SS Rank technique? Don’t people misunderstand that ‘Changyeom Revival’ is just a technique that burns Kinna-ra’s body?”

“……Then how strong is it originally?”

Lee Seung-hyeong asked seriously. I replied seriously to my disciple.

“If it’s maximum output of SS Rank… enough to burn half of America?”

That’s what happened in the original work. Blazing Phoenix burned half of America with blue flames, and I only learned that ‘Changyeom Revival’ was that technique after breaking three barriers.

“……Insane.”

The heroes’ eyes widened in shock, and Lee Seung-hyeong quietly bowed his head.

“……I will train harder.”

“Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t claim it now. I like your attitude of effort instead of taking it away, good. I’ll permit it, I will.”

Lee Seung-hyeong’s face brightened. Later, Changyeum might scold me, but since Changyeum also cherishes talented fire attributes, they’ll understand.

Lee Seung-hyeong’s deduction of 1 point was settled, and the time was approaching noon.

“Then let’s head back to New Delhi. Shall we eat lunch and rest?”

“Just a moment.”

Baek Hee-a raised her hand.

“Yesterday’s feedback was out of 17 points, right? If Hwakwon deducted 1 point, shouldn’t that be 16 points?”

Following Baek Hee-a’s reasoning, 1 point was unaccounted for. I grabbed my left earring – Jo Deokbae’s core – and grinned widely.

“It wasn’t a perfect fight. It means strive for improvement in the future, so don’t worry too much about it.”

Reason for the 1-point deduction.

That damn Flame Giant punched first before I could shout ‘Changyeom Revival’, leaving me stuttering and unable to finish shouting my technique name.

‘Jo Deokbae, you bastard-‘

That was the most embarrassing part.