I Became a Transcendent-Level Genius Trainer - Chapter 136

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Transcendent Genius Trainer – Chapter 136

The Geumgang Kim Family was one of South Korea’s most prestigious clans—yet for those who belonged to it, it was a living hell.
Blacksmiths there were treated as nothing but components.
Cogs in the vast machinery that was the Kim Family.

They created exclusive Artifacts for the family, worked with proprietary materials, and lived for the Kim name alone.
Few enough had the privilege to actually enjoy the prestige of being a family member, and still fewer had the right to claim it.

The Geumgang Kim blacksmiths never rested.
If they failed to meet the family’s standards, they were trapped in endless training.
And if they did succeed?
Then they simply began a new chapter as components, cogs turning the family’s great machine.

Kim Sang-hun yearned daily to escape the Geumgang Kim—yet he understood, bone-deep, that escape was impossible.
Then Yujun’s words changed everything.
A double agent.
The opportunity to exact revenge on the family from within—it had finally arrived.

“You needn’t be excessive about it.”

Yujun harbored no intention of making enemies of the Geumgang Kim.

“Go and tell them this: I believe I could accept a commission or two.”

The Geumgang Kim was an insular place.
Kim Sang-hun’s reaction made it clear—their Awakened ones were being ground down by the family’s management philosophy.
Yet despite that, what they had built remained intact.

‘There’s something intriguing here.’

Awakened ones trained through incorrect methods.
And if he restored that prestigious clan to its proper foundation?

‘That would be fascinating. Truly.’

Even as Yujun trained Kim Sang-hun, he found himself genuinely engaged.
Could a person deteriorate to this extent?
Could someone collapsed this far truly be restored?

‘Raising his Mana Purity from that abysmally low level to normal took considerable effort.’

But having overcome that difficulty, the technique for raising Mana Purity had become quite second nature to him.

‘I could probably do it even for someone worse.’

Surely the main Geumgang Kim compound housed someone with even lower Mana Purity.

‘Some of them may have Mana Roads already severed entirely.’

He found himself curious.
What condition were the Geumgang Kim’s legendary blacksmiths truly in?

“You intend to accept a commission? The Geumgang Kim is…….”
“You wouldn’t be abandoning the family, would you?”
“……!”

Kim Sang-hun’s eyes lit up at Yujun’s words.

He was right.
It was the ‘elders’ at the top who made the Geumgang Kim unbearable.
Those same elders had ground down countless blacksmiths just as they had him.
Whatever else they were, they remained his relatives.
Betraying them would leave a bitter taste he couldn’t escape.

“I have no intention of destroying the Geumgang Kim Family. If that were my goal, there’d be no need for subterfuge.”
“So that’s why Gyu-cheol follows you so faithfully.”

Kim Sang-hun whistled softly in admiration.
The tension in his shoulders eased, and he nodded with renewed conviction.

“Understood. I’ll work to strengthen my influence within the family and bring you a commission. Let me repay you for this training.”

Landing a commission from Kang Yu-jun would itself be an extraordinary achievement.

‘Clever.’

He spoke as though he understood precisely what Yujun wanted.

“I’m counting on you.”

***

-Is Trainer Kang Yu-jun’s team member part of the Geumgang Kim Family?
-Kim Gyu-cheol of the Geumgang Kim! The blacksmith who trained alongside Trainer Kang Yu-jun in the dragon training…….

Rumors about Kim Gyu-cheol began to spread.
It was the Geumgang Kim itself that had leaked the information.

“That’s correct. We do have a connection to the family.”

It was purely a media play to recruit Kang Yu-jun.
Though not entirely dishonest—
Since Kim Gyu-cheol was indeed part of Yujun’s team, the connection was real enough.

“Then is Trainer Kang Yu-jun joining the Geumgang Kim Family?”
“Not yet. The details remain unclear for now.”

The Geumgang Kim genuinely desired to recruit Yujun.

“So what’s the status?”

Jongno, Geumgang Hall.
This was the Geumgang Kim Family’s true seat of power.
A sprawling traditional mansion.
In the conference room sat Kim Hwa-cheon, the current head of the Geumgang Kim Family.

Before him knelt Kim Sang-hun.
Kim Sang-hun handed the family head a smart tablet.

“Hmm.”

The tablet contained an intriguing report.

“A refusal. And unmeasurable?”
“Yes.”

Kim Sang-hun bowed his head.

“Trainer Kang Yu-jun cannot be evaluated at this time.”
“Have you witnessed his ability?”
“Yes. He elevated Gyu-cheol to S-rank. His power is extraordinary.”
“Hmm!”

The family head’s expression grew even more covetous.
That he could transform Kim Gyu-cheol—cast out as worthless—into an S-rank.

“Training an Awakened specialized in crafting is no trivial matter. I want him.”

Yet paradoxically, desire alone might make recruitment difficult.
Others would want him too, and his demands would be commensurate with his value.

“We’ll need to apply pressure.”

Ultimately, applying pressure through the Association was the only way to lower Kang Yu-jun’s perceived value.

“I will convince him personally.”

Kim Sang-hun spoke at that moment.
The cloudiness that had once defined his eyes was gone now.

“I may not be able to bring him into the fold immediately, but I’ll secure a commission at the very least.”
“You sound confident.”
“I am. So for now, trust me and let me handle this.”

Kim Sang-hun bowed, a faint smile playing at his lips.

‘I’ve succeeded.’

This would stop the family’s pathetic machinations against Yujun.

“Good. Give it a try then.”
“Thank you. I’ll bring you good news soon.”

As Kim Sang-hun left the conference room, a smile crossed his face.
He had become a devoted follower of Yujun.

“First, I’ll secure some Unpolished Stones…….”

He discreetly gathered the family’s Artifacts and exclusive materials.

“Since he agreed to train me once more.”

The Geumgang Kim had been his prison, his shackles.
Bound like a chain.

“I want to create things too…… things I choose to make.”

He didn’t want to forge swords, shields, and armor.

“I want to make accessories.”

His own accessories, born from his own will.

***

“Our guest today is a Trainer raising the Dream Guild to new heights! A Trainer approaching legend—Trainer Han Gyu-jin!”
“Hello. I’m Han Gyu-jin.”

His hair swept back neatly.
His youthful appearance belied his thirty-seven years.
Han Gyu-jin, the S-rank Trainer who had recently shaken the domestic training world and was aiming for the top, greeted the audience.

“Trainer Han Gyu-jin! Welcome…….”
“Thank you for having me.”
“No, thank you for coming. I was shocked by many things while studying overseas. I wanted to share some of those thoughts.”

Han Gyu-jin was exceptionally busy.
The Dream Guild’s ascent had scheduled numerous Tower conquests, bringing with it planned training sessions for the guild’s top raid teams.
Yet he had accepted this interview for a reason.

Kang Yu-jun.
Because he had succeeded in dragon training overseas.
It was a victory over renowned foreign trainers, yet most people failed to grasp its true magnitude.

Han Gyu-jin wanted to speak to that gap.
The disparity between overseas and domestic standards.
And how Kang Yu-jun’s successful training represented an almost incomprehensible achievement.

Han Gyu-jin answered several questions with measured composure.
Then the MC spoke carefully.

“Thank you for your thoughtful answers. This next question may be delicate…….”
“It’s fine. I came here to speak openly.”

Han Gyu-jin nodded readily.

“Then I’ll ask: Could Hero Baek Hyun-jin possibly be trained at this point?”

The studio went cold.
The moment he heard the question, Han Gyu-jin’s aura exploded outward with a sharp bang.

“…….”
“I-I’m sorry. That was too sensitive a question. Let’s move on to the next…….”

The MC broke into a cold sweat, trying to salvage the broadcast.
Being live, the chat was erupting.

-That’s crossing a line, isn’t it?
-Yeah, that’s too much.
-Why? His stock’s soaring right now. It’s natural to be curious.
-Honestly, don’t we all want to know? Could Han Gyu-jin restore the Hero to his former glory?
-Training impossible. There’s no way.

Han Gyu-jin exhaled softly and raised his hand.
Signaling that they should continue.
But his mouth didn’t open immediately.

Ten seconds. Twenty. Thirty…….
His silence stretched longer than expected.

-He’s thinking.
-This is broadcast chaos.
-The silence is going too long.

The MC simply waited, unwilling to interrupt.
You didn’t just bulldoze past when someone was responding like this.
Nearly five minutes passed before Han Gyu-jin finally spoke.

“It’s not possible.”

***

Ilsan New City.
Once brimming with youth, the new city had grown quiet with the passage of time.
A Hero lived in this quiet place.

Café: Pureun.
Originally, his wife had run this small café.
Baek Hyun-jin had taken it over and continued its operations.

Ting.

“Not that impressive, really.”
“So this is the Hero, huh?”

Television and the internet called Baek Hyun-jin a Hero.
But as generations aged into peace, reverence for him had evaporated entirely.
Curious onlookers showed up with increasing frequency.
It was understandable.
Perfectly natural.

“He’s got money, doesn’t he? Why’s he running a café?”
“He lost his powers, right? Gave up his Awakening. Just a normal person now. Probably just a hobby with all his money.”
“Must be nice. Rich enough to play around with a café like this.”

He heard every mocking word clearly.

“Young. So young.”

Youth naturally harbored a spirit of rebellion against the world.
Perhaps they wanted to test themselves.
How strong was a Hero, really?
Could they beat a candle burnt down to its last flicker?

That’s all their mockery amounted to.
So Baek Hyun-jin felt little anger.

“They’re not entirely wrong.”

Their words held truth.
Powerless.
And yes, he had earned substantial wealth.
But separate from the money, he had his reasons for running this café.

“How could I abandon the café Pureun left behind?”

The café bore his wife’s name.
She had perished in the Catastrophe, but this café—the first space she had created with her own hands—had been her greatest joy.
She had said she wanted to run it forever, filled with the aroma of coffee brewed by her own effort.

So he had preserved it.
And would until death, wealth or not.

“Dad!”

Ting.
A small child burst through the door with a bright smile.
His youngest son, Jaehyeon.

“Why does your face look like that?”

Baek Hyun-jin brightened to greet his son, then froze.

“Oh…… It’s nothing. I just fell while playing!”

No. That wasn’t a fall.
That was a blow.
A lifetime of striking and being struck had taught him to recognize it instantly.

“Dad knows. You know I fought really well.”

Jaehyeon wavered under his gaze, then finally spoke.

“Kids were teasing me. Saying Dad wasn’t really a Hero—just a café owner who lies. I got mad, so I fought back. I held back a few times, but…… I’m sorry, Dad. This time I just fought.”

A flash of rage kindled in Baek Hyun-jin’s eyes.

“It’s okay, Dad. I understand. And it doesn’t bother me. You’re the coolest. Your coffee is delicious too…….”
“I’m sorry.”

Baek Hyun-jin clenched his jaw, then released it with effort.
He was sorry.
His own pride being crushed—he could live with that.
He’d grown accustomed to whispers of a fallen Hero. He was content running his café.
But his young son growing up too fast—that was different.

If only his son would cry when he came home.
If only he’d asked his father to make it right.
But instead, he’d matured.
Grown old too quickly.

“……Tell Dad if things get hard, okay? I have good friends. I could ask them to…….”
“It’s okay!”

Jaehyeon answered brightly.

“I’ll help with the dishes!”

He scampered inside to change, leaving Baek Hyun-jin with a sigh of regret.

Yet he could never be a hero to his own son.
What kind of hero was that?

Recently, more and more people had come seeking confirmation of the Hero’s decline, turning it into content.
Some uploaded to video sites without permission; others tried to snag interviews.
He’d gently turned them away each time, but this time something in him surged.

“I’m Kang Yu-jun.”

Kang Yu-jun smiled softly, meeting his eyes.

“I work as a Trainer. I thought I might be able to help you.”
“……Help me?”

A Trainer.
And the name Kang Yu-jun.
Instantly, Baek Hyun-jin’s mind connected the two.

The Trainer who had trained a dragon.
The person who became an S-rank Trainer in record time, and the youngest to achieve that rank.

“You’ve done quite a lot of training work recently…….”

Baek Hyun-jin spoke carefully, and Yujun nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. I’ve been conducting several training sessions lately. You recognize me.”
“I couldn’t not. Your track record is quite impressive.”

Kang Yu-jun was a dazzling rising star.
His successful Martial Beast training and dragon training—feats no one else in the nation had accomplished—made headlines. He’d also stopped the Insect Tower rampage in Cheongdam, training the Management Bureau’s combat unit, Strengths, to handle it.

“Your achievements keep appearing on television. There are special programs. Radio too. I listen to the radio often—old habits die hard.”

Radio had dramatically amplified reports about Kang Yu-jun.
The interesting part was that the amplification wasn’t exaggeration.

“You’re even more impressive in person.”
“Thank you for the compliment. That’s why I came—to see if I might be able to help you, Awakener Baek Hyun-jin.”
“……?”

Help, help, help.
What exactly did he mean by helping?
Baek Hyun-jin’s brow twitched.

“When you say you’d help me…… do you mean you’d rehabilitate me?”

Shaaaa—.
Baek Hyun-jin tensed his entire body.
If this Trainer had genuine skill, he would sense it.
Nothing remained of him now.
Only ash.

“No.”

Yujun smiled.

“Then what kind of help…….”

Baek Hyun-jin trailed off.
His condition couldn’t be resolved through rehabilitation.
Do Kang-myeong, Yeon Da-seul, Baek Do-gyun—countless S-rank Trainers.
Even Ryu Jeong-hwan, the South Korean Trainer Association chairman himself.
Every prominent Trainer and healer in South Korea had attempted his case, and all had failed.
It was naturally impossible.

“Would you wish to return as an Awakened one if such a thing were possible?”
“……What?”

Baek Hyun-jin was bewildered.
He was already past fifty.
Yet.

“Yes.”

His heart remained unchanged.
He wanted to return as an Awakened one.
Not to reclaim the glory of Hero or any such thing.
Simply to be a cool father to his son.

-Do you know why I fell for you? When we came down from the Tower, everyone was gasping for breath. But you alone were fine. And you came to ask if I was okay. That was so cool. How can someone look so pure outside and so amazing inside the Tower? You were the most amazing in there.

Just as his wife had once said.
He wanted to be amazing.

“If it were possible, I would go back to those days in a heartbeat.”

Yujun chuckled.

‘Good.’

The part that had concerned him most was resolved.
That desire to return as an Awakened one.

“What I offer is not something as loose as rehabilitation.”

Yujun spoke.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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