Chapter 576

〈 Chapter 576 〉 Part 2, Chapter 1, 06

<Mission Success!> I survived for 10 minutes with Yuinah without a scratch!

Mission Reward: Command Experience +100.

<Notice> Experience from monsters hunted during the tutorial will not be counted.

<Notice> Cores from monsters hunted during the tutorial will not be counted.

Yuna and I survived. Not just survived, but took down monsters while doing so.

E-Rank Hellchiwas—five of them.

“Uh, how…?”

“It’s possible if you’ve got the technique.”

For an Academy trainee, it was quite the impressive record—but taking down five monsters without a single scratch by a long-range mage-type ability? That was jaw-dropping. Yuna herself still couldn’t believe she had done it.

“Enemy health exceeds 200. Damage dealt is at least 1. So what’s the correct answer?”

“Huh, request support?”

“Bzzt. Just hit it 200 times.”

Why run when we can deal damage? Yuna looked up at me with a baffled expression as I lightly patted her hand and stepped back.

“…Ah!”

It was only then that Yuna realized I hadn’t let go of my bear hug from start to finish. My coat now smelled like her, and Yuna’s face turned bright red as she bowed deeply.

“Sorry, Senior…”

“Senior? Well, there’s a problem with that—I’m powerless.”

“Huh?”

Another shock. Watching Yuna’s utterly adorable reaction made me smile involuntarily. Her every surprised response was amusing.

“Hem hem… Let me introduce myself properly. This is who I am.”

In a serious tone, I pulled out a business card from my wallet. The magic-infused card caught Yuna’s attention, and she alternated her gaze between me and the card.

“<Oracle Studio>…?”

“I’ve been assigned as the local supervisor. I arrived just in time for this situation—it’s a bit overwhelming.”

I gestured around. Once the designated 10 minutes were over, the rampaging monsters across the airport were swiftly exterminated by arriving heroes, and the small dimensional gate quickly closed.

“Bring the luggage here! There are people trapped!”

“Healer, where’s the healer?! Damn it!”

“Airport security! We have casualties here! Hurry this way!”

The chaos in the airport began to subside enough for Yuna and me to have a quiet conversation. After defeating the Hellchiwas, we’d moved to hide near the restroom to avoid further trouble.

“Thanks to the hero, we managed to survive. Thank you.”

“No, no! It was thanks to you, Xian! As a trainee, I wouldn’t have made it without your help…”

“Hehe, no need to be humble. If Yuna hadn’t wielded that staff, we wouldn’t have taken down all five monsters. …By the way.”

I deliberately stiffened my expression. In front of us, workers in coveralls appeared with core extraction equipment aimed at the five Hellchiwas we’d defeated.

“Why are they taking what isn’t theirs-”

“Wait a moment.”

Yuna grabbed my wrist. Even though I wasn’t planning to resist, her grip was stronger than any non-powered person should have.

“That belongs to the state.”

“What? That’s ridiculous. Didn’t ‘we’ defeat them?”

“According to Korean law, any monsters hunted by unregistered heroes or hunters become state property. As a trainee, I don’t belong anywhere.”

“What nonsense.”

Yuna’s face was filled with deep sadness.

“This country makes survival too difficult without proper certification.”

<Mission Success!> Gained valuable information!

Mission Reward: Command Experience +100.

I dismissed the annoying popup window. To console the despondent Yuna, I firmly grasped her hand.

“Isn’t it unfair, Yuna?”

“…Even if it’s unfair, what can I do? It’s because I lack talent and effort.”

You’ll eventually reach 100 levels of divine power. I truly pitied those around her who couldn’t see her potential.

“Awakening to magic alone proves sufficient. That means Yuna has talent.”

“But…my growth stopped at E-Rank.”

“That’s…”

There was no need to continue this conversation. The tutorial was almost over, and there was no point in keeping Yuna tied down here unnecessarily.

But…

“If I follow the original story, I won’t be myself.”

The original? Long dead. Lifting Yuna’s wrist, I aligned it with my magical gear.

“…I came here for a purpose.”

The hologram visible only to Yuna clearly displayed information about “Commander Xian.”

Official Assignment Letter.

March 1st, 2025.

<Formal Appointment> Commander Xian.w.Hibiscus officially dispatched to the Korea branch of the International Hero Association.

“Arrived two months early to adapt locally…but…tsk tsk.”

“Sorry for being late!!”

I pointed to the hero bowing deeply to the crowd. His unwashed hair and tracksuit didn’t make him look very heroic.

“Sorry for not arriving sooner!”

People grumbled at him, though ironically, he wasn’t responsible for the airport—he probably managed nearby Gadeok Island at this point.

The actual airport hero hadn’t even shown up yet. Those whose families were injured or killed glared bitterly at the hero.

“Tsk tsk.”

As I clicked my tongue toward the citizens, Yuna’s eyes wavered after fully reading the official document sent through the Korean Hero Association. Already struggling with a shortage of talent, Korea must feel this way:

– Ugh, is this the taste of Kimchi hell? Too disgusting to bear. I’ll return to Europe.

Yuna seemed to guess my thoughts with that look. Frowning, I shrugged.

“Watching this makes me want to leave immediately—right now—”

“Don’t go back to America!”

Of course. Yuna grabbed my hand and screamed. Her eyes were full of desperation.

“This, this is just an accident! Don’t judge everything based on one side, right?! Not all Koreans are like this! You might be disappointed, but Korea really needs you!”

“Excuse me, Yuna. You’re exaggerating too much. What I mean is… I want to include you in my squad.”

“Huh?”

Yuna’s eyes widened in confusion. I shook her hand gently.

“You seem like someone worth cultivating. Despite appearances, I’m actually pretty awesome. The Round Table members practically beg to be under my command.”

“Y-Yes…”

No lie there.

“Well…if you don’t want me to, it’s fine. I’ll have to stay in Korea until the airport recovers anyway.”

“Th-That means…?”

“There’s a condition.”

I pushed Yuna against the wall and made an offer she couldn’t refuse.

“Prove to me why I should stay here, Yuna.”

* * *

<Recruitment Attempt> Initiating recruitment of Yuinah!

# Recruitment Probability: 90%

[Yuinah]

Name: Yuinah


Gender: Female


Age: 21 years old


Nationality: South Korea


Occupation: First-year student at the Korean Hero Academy


Combat Power: E (10/99)


Magic Power: E (Lightning Attribute 10/10)

‘This is it.’

Cheongnyeon stared in shock at the screen before him. No one could have predicted skipping the tutorial’s fixed events or attempting to recruit Yuinah before leaving the airport.

Why did you become such an easy girl, Yuna? 😭

Originally an easy girl (love at first sight).

Recruitment probability at 90%? That’s impossible. More like 3%.

“This feels like a mobile game gacha.”

Statistically, 3% is more likely than 90%. But the mere 10% failure chance does weigh on my mind.

“100% success.”

[If you recruit Yuinah before the tutorial, I’ll subscribe. Haha, never gonna happen.]

“This is basically a romance visual novel.”

I smiled as Cheongnyeon leaned closer with the camera.

“Increase the 10% to make it 100%, simple.”

Having successfully recruited over a hundred Yuinahs, surely this shouldn’t be hard.

[Why are you being so kind to me…]

Yuna blushed deeply, looking up earnestly at Cheongnyeon with gratitude but also suspicion—a clear test.

“Yuna isn’t…”

[Huh, why so kind?]

In front of the bathroom entrance, away from prying eyes, Cheongnyeon leaned close to Yuna.

[Because you’re my type.]

[Ah…]

“Recruiting her was this easy.”

<Recruitment Success> Successfully recruited ‘Yuinah’!

A blond Western man charmed an innocent 21-year-old female college student within an hour of meeting her.

* * *

Before finishing the tutorial, I formally recruited a teammate.

However, since the teammate system hasn’t officially opened yet, I can’t check Yuna’s information.

‘I already know it well enough mentally.’

Anyone who understands that ’10’ in lightning attribute knows its significance—not just lightning but also the latent magic power inside Yuna waiting to awaken.

“What should I do next?”

“For now, contact your parents to let them know you’re safe?”

“Ah!”

After apologizing, Yuna hurriedly tapped her magical gear. Meanwhile, I rechecked her information.

‘Lightning attribute 10. Definitely worth cultivating.’

Once it hits 100, D-Rank status unlocks temporary hero qualifications, but Yuna’s growth cap—game-wise—is known to stop at 10. I know a method to help her grow.

“Did you get in touch? Xian…?”

“Call me Producer going forward.”

“Huh?”

“To avoid leaking classified info, ‘commander’ doesn’t work, and we’re not forming a guild yet. So, for the next two months, I’ve created a temporary title. I’m the producer, and Yuna is the special ability actor recruited by Oracle Studio.”

I waved the business card I showed Yuna earlier. Of course, it wasn’t fake—it was a disguise identity set up to make my activities in Korea easier.

“Why would an American come to Korea? Everyone suspects and monitors such actions. But what if I say I’m here to scout actors?”

“Hmm…To find Korean actors?”

“Correct. Especially when it’s a former Round Table hero from Oracle Studio scouting talent, no one would suspect a thing.”

“Scouting special ability actors means we can recruit special ability users without issues!”

In public, a contract between producer and actor; privately, a commander recruiting special ability users.

By March 1st, the official start of Chapter 2, I need to meet and recruit as many allies as possible. Before confronting Dark Legion’s henchmen, Chapters 0–1 focus on gathering and nurturing allies.

“So, Yuna, consider this fate—you met me at the airport and joined Oracle Studio. During breaks, you can work part-time, right? It’s not like joining a guild—it’s like enrolling in an acting school.”

“Yes, yes…there’s really no need to explain further.”

“Exactly. Within two months, everyone will be shocked by Yuna’s rapid growth. Of course, Yuna will need to put in a lot of effort. And that effort…”

I sat beside Yuna, putting an arm around her shoulder. She shrank back, swallowing nervously.

“It depends on how hard Yuna works. Do you remember why commanders are called ‘commanders’?”

“…It stems from their special ability.”

<Commander>. Someone with awakened unique abilities who cannot use personal magic.

“Right. So what is that ability?”

“…It increases the magic power of sexual partners.”

Yuna closed her eyes tightly after saying that. I reached out and stroked her cheek.

“Hehe, exactly. Some take shortcuts using sweat and tears, but to maximize efficiency, this is the best approach.”

Gulp.

Yuna’s swallowing sound echoed in my ears. Her half-lidded eyes flickered downward.

“Yuna, how do you think we can increase your magic power?”

“…”

“Can’t answer due to embarrassment? Let me tell you then.”

I whispered into Yuna’s ear.

“From now on, you’ll have sex with me.”

Immediately after resolving the airport incident,

I rushed with Yuna to a hotel near Gimhae International Airport.