You Will Be Blessed If You Do Good Deeds¿

And a week passed.

...It would have been nice if time could just skip ahead with the same description.

“Huff, huff...”

I had finally collapsed onto the cold floor.

Normally, I could never imagine lying on such a filthy floor, but my arms and legs had completely given out, and I had no other choice.

The stench of sweat was nauseating, so I cast a spell to create a slight breeze.

It was despairing that only five hours had passed since I started training.

‘...Damn.’

But the most despairing thing was...

‘It looks like it might actually work.’

After experiencing it firsthand, I thought that Han Jae-young might have something to brag about with this program.

For mages, magic has great power, but it takes a long time to cast, so a tank to buy time is essential.

However, this is so obvious that most opponents target the mage's weaknesses, which are usually in the back.

Even without a direct confrontation, high-intelligence monsters have an instinct to strike the weakest points of the enemy first.

Therefore, mages also need to be prepared with minimal defenses for such ambushes... This was the essence of the training.

And the VR-based training program developed by the HP Guild was designed for this purpose.

The basic scenario was to avoid attacks from virtual monsters while casting magic.

The monsters available for training were extremely varied.

‘It’s one thing to prepare low-level monsters, but I didn’t expect them to prepare up to A-rank.’

Although I thought I should avoid them with my mind, my body often failed to respond, which seemed to be the purpose of this training.

In fact, if you do this kind of evasion training frequently, the chances of success in sudden situations increase.

And when the evasion rate exceeds 70%, the program includes a follow-up action that allows you to physically strike the monster.

Of course, since it involves magic use, the goal wasn’t to deliver a critical hit but to buy time and space.

After all, the most important thing for a mage is to gain enough time to cast spells.

Since this was a VR program, and I was made to face various monsters in a highly realistic setting... it could be said that even without thinking, my body was forced to adapt to the movements.

At first, my movements were clumsy, but I could definitely feel my evasion rate improving.

-(Temporary) Guild Member: Jeong Da-on

-You have been inducted into the Hall of Fame!

Thanks to that, I achieved meaningful results in the VR program.

‘Since I was reborn as Jeong Da-on, I’ve never really used my body.’

In my past life, swordsmanship was like a compulsory subject I had to learn, even though I hated it.

And since I was naturally smart, I knew how to efficiently improve my skills.

With that experience, it was no surprise that I adapted to the training quickly.

However, no matter how efficient it was...

I stared at the ceiling.

‘I still prefer magic...’

Magical research only requires sitting still and thinking, so why do I have to physically move my body for physical training?

After all, there's a system... Shouldn't they just raise my stats like a game so that my body moves faster naturally...?

-The system provides optimal guides for the user's survival.

So the guide is just a guide, huh.

No matter how good my physical condition, if I don’t know how to use it, it’s worthless.

Damn it.

-Whoosh!

At that moment, the phone I had placed on the table vibrated.

It was a call from Jeong Da-jeong. I could hear a flustered voice through the speaker.

“I’m done with work now. Where are you? Leo is growling!”

“Leave him be.”

For the record, Leo wasn’t at home; he had been hovering around Jeong Da-jeong all day, following my orders.

Now that we were home, he was finally free from his bodyguard duty, but seeing Jeong Da-jeong, who had worked him hard all day, probably made him frustrated.

“And I’m at the HP Guild. Didn’t I send you a message?”

“Oh, I guess I missed it because I was busy. What’s going on at the guild?”

“Physical training.”

As soon as I said that, Jeong Da-jeong’s voice brightened.

“That’s a good idea. Da-on, you need to exercise. You always skip PE class at school. A healthy body means a healthy mind...”

“You’re a draft dodger. Shut up.”

“Hmm, so, is it late? What about dinner?”

“I’ll eat here. The company cafeteria is free.”

Since I had spent almost all the contract money Han Jae-young gave me on defensive magic for the house, saving on food costs was still an important matter.

“Oh, should I take care of Leo’s meal? What should I give him?”

“He doesn’t need to eat.”

“Alright, Da-on. I think Leo is getting more worked up hearing your voice. Should I... should I hang up? I’ll hang up!”

Saying that, Jeong Da-jeong hurriedly ended the call.

I guessed that Leo, getting excited after hearing my voice, was probably jumping around trying to snatch the phone from Da-jeong.

I was a bit curious as to why Leo hated him so much. The problem was that Leo was in animal form and couldn't express his feelings properly.

“Phew...”@@novelbin@@

With the call ended, I realized that my break time was over.

Do I have to train again?

‘This is hopeless...’

For normal people, taking a rest after exercise to allow for muscle growth is appropriate, but for hunters, it’s different.

By taking a small recovery potion, their body can quickly recover, so they can exercise for much longer and still get results.

...At least that’s what the training program said.

-Shortest time, maximum efficiency!

-After all, you have to suffer hard to increase your magic research time!

It wasn’t wrong.

If it’s something that needs to be done anyway, it’s better to get it over with all at once.

Okay, let’s suffer through just this week.

When I resolved myself to that and tried to get up again...

“Oh.”

My legs wobbled.

It was probably from the training I had done for hours...

“Ugh.”

Before I could fall forward, someone grabbed me from behind with strong force.

Startled, I raised my elbow, trying to strike whoever was holding me, but...

“It’s me, it’s me.”

As soon as the hand that was supporting my shoulder let go, the distance between us widened. My elbow missed, striking only air.

Turning around, I saw a familiar face.

But it was also an unexpected face.

“Yoo Han-ul? Why are you here?”

“Hahaha.”

Yoo Han-ul quickly backed off, scratching his cheek in embarrassment.

“I think I came at the wrong time. Why are you suddenly trying to engage in close combat?”

After hours of combat training in the VR program, my reflexes had automatically kicked in, and I struck out first.

Though this was the essence of the training program... it was still embarrassing as a mage, so I cleared my throat.

However, Yoo Han-ul’s sudden appearance was truly unexpected.

“Did Han Jae-young call you?”

“Yeah, I was talking to him about work, and he mentioned that you were struggling with physical training. Since I was passing by, I thought I’d come help.”

“Are you really that free?”

Of course, I couldn’t brush off the fact that I might be a potential S-rank, but objectively speaking, I didn’t need Han-ul’s help with such basic physical training.

Yoo Han-ul was the best swordsman in Korea, after all.

We often got tangled up, but normally, someone like him wasn’t someone you could meet so easily.

“Actually, I do have some free time. I have about three hours with no schedule.”

“Isn’t that what you’d call free time?”

I furrowed my brows.

When we went to the Central Administrative Office together last time, I thought Han-ul was just being humane toward a minor. But now, the more he came out like this, the more suspicious I felt, even if I didn’t want to.

“Do you have some personal interest in me? If so, I’ll decline it in advance.”

“Hmm, it’s been a while since I’ve heard that kind of accusation.”

Yoo Han-ul replied jokingly and shrugged.

“I know you’re not interested in me, though.”

“Alright, enough with the awkward talk. What’s the reason for you to be here, then?”

“To be honest, I’m a little suspicious of you.”

I froze for a moment.

I didn’t expect him to throw a direct pitch like that.

It wasn’t strange for Yoo Han-ul to be suspicious of me.

He had been given the quest to find “the enemy of mankind.”

And then, a mage who used incantation magic appeared right after awakening.

Moreover, if dungeon breaks kept happening around this mage, anyone would assume I was a likely candidate for the “enemy of mankind.”

And on top of that, the trace of my magical power left in my unconscious mind...

So it made sense for Yoo Han-ul to suddenly visit me that late night.

But what puzzled me was his directness in saying that I seemed suspicious.

“What exactly are you suspicious about?”

I cautiously opened my mouth.

“You’re telling me you’re suspicious of me, but why are you telling me this?”

“About Choi Mi-yeon, the survivor of the True Light Church incident. I heard something about you today.”

...After a whole day of training, I ended up getting this news.

What exactly did she say?

I didn’t think Mi-yeon would have opened up to Han-ul...

“What did she say?”

“She said you saved her.”

I furrowed my brows.

“So?”

“Well, honestly, using incantation magic right after awakening, staying calm the first time you encountered monsters... It all seemed suspicious.”

Everything was a valid reason to be suspicious.

“And I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

That’s probably because the system kept triggering Yoo Han-ul’s memory.

“But now, I’m not suspicious anymore.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t think you’re evil enough to destroy the world.”

I fell silent for a moment, then sighed.

The system was in for a shock.

“Are you stupid?”

“Well, I do hear that a lot... but I have my reasons. Do you want to hear them?”

“I don’t want to.”

“People’s instincts come out in times of crisis, right? But I’ve already seen you do it three times. You prioritize other people’s lives over your own.”

“......”

He still says it even when I said I didn’t want to hear it.

The first time was at the Eunpyeong-gu dungeon break, when I saved the president and reporters. Then in Gwanghwamun at the Central Administrative Office when I saved the kids. Finally, during the True Light Church incident, as testified by Choi Mi-yeon.

From my perspective, none of these actions were done out of goodwill, but... did Han-ul interpret them like that?

Am I really a good person?

If I could clear myself of his suspicions, it wouldn’t be a bad thing, but...

“So, while I’m apologizing for doubting you, I also have some time to help.”

Seeing Han-ul smile made me feel irritated.

‘What a pathetic guy.’

He’s still the same, our hero.

How can he believe so easily and say something like that, without realizing how difficult it is to truly understand someone’s intentions?

To gain the hero’s trust, he’s willing to risk his life three times?

If he were a real villain, that wouldn’t be a difficult thing to do.

As a former Demon King, I shouldn’t be saying this, but...

-The system requests assistance for the “SAVE THE WORLD” quest.

Is this a request to help the easily deceived hero instead of providing direct help?

“Of course, there are things you’re hiding from me, but everyone has secrets.”

Han-ul was talking freely without knowing about the system’s intentions.

I really wanted to slap him.

The hero I’m supposed to use as my shield shouldn’t be so easily deceived.

With a feeling of discomfort, I asked.

“Then, Han-ul, do you trust Han Jae-young?”

“Hmm?”

“I thought you two weren’t on good terms, but now I see you’re getting along well enough to enter the guild.”

“Hmm, are we close? We’ve cleared dungeons together the most out of all the S-ranks... But when you sign a contract with Han Jae-young Hunter, you should think about it long and hard. He’s very cunning.”

That’s something I already know. Han-ul’s eyes quickly filled with worry.

“But didn’t you already sign a contract with him? Are you consulting a lawyer? Do you want me to connect you with someone I know?”

“If you’re asking like that, then you don’t trust him, do you?”

“Hmm.”

Yoo Han-ul awkwardly smiled.

“But he’s not a bad guy, either.”

...I can’t help it.

My plan to keep a certain distance from Yoo Han-ul remains unchanged.

But I need to thoroughly investigate this guy named Han Jae-young.