I Got an Ex-Class Omnipotent System - Chapter 53
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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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Chapter 53
Chapter 53: The Steel Guardian, Han Muyeol
The process of advancing ranks was actually quite straightforward.
Once the Stone Tablet displayed the next grade level, I would simply think of entering the Black Gate visible in the distance, and upon advancing, I would naturally exit the current Zone and move to the next.
That was what advancement meant.
In other words, as long as I continued to grow, I could advance whenever I reached the threshold.
However, the time required to progress from F-Grade to E-Grade was far shorter than from E-Grade to D-Grade.
Unlike Dohyun’s Analysis, which provided real-time data, the Stone Tablet only displayed grades in rough terms, so the only true way to gauge one’s actual stats was through direct experience—making growth itself a difficult endeavor.
Yet Dohyun’s Party progressed at an abnormally rapid pace, which led Han Muyeol to frequently wonder how long it would take this time.
Since Han Muyeol was still handling administrative duties in the Association President’s Office, he checked the date.
It had already been five days since Dohyun’s Party entered E-Grade.
Han Muyeol observed this and thought to himself.
‘They’ll advance on their next entry.’
F-Grade was manageable since Dohyun had been evaluated as surpassing F-Grade standards even back at the Training Facility, so clearing it in less than half a day was reasonable—but E-Grade would be the true test.
So he had roughly anticipated they would advance on their next entry.
While he was comfortably attending to his duties, Han Muyeol felt something irritating.
He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and was momentarily puzzled.
He always set his phone to do-not-disturb mode during work, so it shouldn’t ring unless it was an emergency. Yet when Han Muyeol checked it, his expression crumpled as if he’d seen a ghost.
Had anyone witnessed Han Muyeol at that moment, they would have been terrified by his expression—as frightening as a malevolent spirit—but he quickly composed himself and answered the call, his voice bright and cheerful.
-Hello? Dwarf, I mean, Association President. It’s Dohyun. I’ve come out.
“…Already?”
-Huh? Ah, well, that’s how it turned out.
He advanced through E-Grade in just five days and that’s his impression upon exiting?
What in the world.
Han Muyeol, struck by cognitive dissonance, shook his head in disbelief.
At first he thought it was a prank call, but there were only a few people who could maintain such a cheerful tone in his presence—his wife, his daughters, and that guy.
Han Muyeol set aside the work he’d been attending to.
It seemed today wasn’t the right time to continue working.
“I’ll be right there.”
-Okay~ See you soon~.
Still unnecessarily cheerful.
Upon hearing Dohyun’s voice, Han Muyeol rose from his seat.
So far, no one within the Association had noticed how remarkable Dohyun’s Party truly was, but it was only a matter of time.
If they entered D-Grade soon, it might become difficult to contain.
‘But I must do everything I can to suppress it.’
Dohyun still lacked the strength to protect himself.
That’s why Han Muyeol resolved to move busily to shield Dohyun from external pressure as much as possible.
Chuckling wryly at what kind of fortune this was to deal with so late in his career before retirement, Han Muyeol headed toward where Dohyun was waiting with that cheerful voice.
* * *
Following Han Muyeol’s instruction to call upon exiting, Dohyun waited in the Waiting Room after making the call, while Hanalin and Jiyuchan watched him with expressions of disbelief.
They were at a loss for words, their expressions showing clear signs of contemplation.
Yet it felt equally awkward to say anything at all, which only deepened their uncertainty.
“…Dohyun, that was the Association President, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, he told me to contact him last time.”
“…Shouldn’t you perhaps speak a bit more formally to him?”
“Huh? Really? But he said to be comfortable with it, so isn’t this fine?”
“….”
“….”
Hanalin and Jiyuchan couldn’t find any counterargument to that, so they had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Han Muyeol was someone to whom the word “hero” suited far better than titles like “Association President” or “A-Grade Hunter,” and while many respected and revered him, he was undoubtedly a difficult person to approach.
So while they wondered if it was right to treat him casually like Dohyun did, if Han Muyeol didn’t mind, what good would it do for Hanalin or Jiyuchan to step in and caution him?
They could simply be respectful themselves.
‘Besides, it’s not like he’s being disrespectful.’
‘Dohyun has his own unique atmosphere about him.’
Dohyun had never been particularly concerned about it in the first place.
Even before becoming a Hunter, people had called him carefree, but he’d never been criticized for it.
Certainly, Dohyun’s peculiar atmosphere had a way of putting people at ease. Sometimes it was infuriatingly annoying and made you want to punch him, but that very quality created a comfortable atmosphere.
So both of them said nothing more and simply waited, and before long, Han Muyeol arrived.
Dohyun, who had been waiting quietly until now, finally broke into a bright smile the moment Han Muyeol appeared, as if he’d been anticipating this.
Then.
[The level difference is too great—『Analysis』 has partially failed.]
『Han Muyeol』
『Trait: ??? ???[A]』
▶Growth has reached its limit.
『Skills』
▶「???」
▶Analysis has failed.
▶2500AP is required for detailed analysis.
‘Wow.’
If only 500 points had been deducted, it was proof that the gap was still extreme.
But that was fine now. I had more than enough points—so many that they were practically overflowing.
With that thought, I opened my status window without hesitation, spending the points without reservation.
And.
『Han Muyeol』
『Trait: Steel Guardian[A]』
『Skills』
▶「Steel Conviction[A]」
▶「Guardian’s Body[A]」
▶「Swordsmanship[A]」
▶「Shield Mastery[A]」
▶「Steel Maul[A]」
…(Show More)
『Stats』
▶「Strength: 199」
▶「Agility: 150」
▶「Endurance: 199」
▶「Mana: 90」
※The stat gap makes it difficult to acquire skills with complete power.
※This is a Hunter who has grown to their limit.
※Can only acquire a single skill.
‘Ah.’
My impression upon viewing Han Muyeol’s status window was nothing short of awe. Or rather, reverence welled up unbidden.
I had pressed “Show More” to examine his skills, but each time I looked, I found myself thinking: how could one person possess such an abundance of stats and abilities?
Every skill he had acquired had risen to A-Grade, and seeing the notation that his stats could rise no further, I felt as though I had glimpsed a fragment of how Han Muyeol had lived his life.
He was someone who had spared nothing, dedicating himself entirely to pursuing excellence.
Though I had merely glimpsed his status window, having seen these fragments of his existence, I finally understood why Han Muyeol commanded such respect.
Even I, possessing Analysis, had deliberately chosen not to develop certain skills, yet Han Muyeol—without Analysis—had filled every capacity he possessed to the brim.
‘How is such a thing possible?’
They say humans either fear or revere that which transcends their understanding.
And I was no exception.
After seeing Han Muyeol’s status window, I began to regard him differently.
Thus, when Analysis revealed that Han Muyeol could only obtain a single skill, I harbored no complaint or grievance.
‘To think I can obtain even one.’
This would be one of the skills that Han Muyeol—that remarkable man—had achieved through absolute dedication and sacrifice.
Believing its value to be immeasurable, I first raised the proficiency of all identical skills.
[Simultaneously analyzing superior skills, the proficiency of skills 「Mana Control[D]」, 「Ambush[D]」, 「Concealment[D]」, 「Swordsmanship[D]」, 「Tracking[E]」, 「Detection[E]」, 「Pathfinding[E]」 each increases by 1.]
[No stat increase occurs from skill analysis.]
[The proficiency of skills 「Tracking[E]」, 「Detection[E]」, 「Pathfinding[E]」 has reached maximum.]
[The proficiency of skill 「Mana Control[E]」 has reached maximum.]
[Grade increases.]
[「Tracking[E]」▶「Tracking[D]」]
[「Detection[E]」▶「Detection[D]」]
[「Pathfinding[E]」▶「Pathfinding[D]」]
[Due to grade increase, Agility and Mana permanently increase by +3.]
[AP consumption to 『Analyze』 status window succeeded; no AP acquired.]
My stats had increased, but I paid it little mind.
What mattered now was which of Han Muyeol’s skills I would obtain.
At first, I had considered choosing Steel Maul, the strongest and most offensive-oriented skill, but I shook my head.
I already possessed far too many offensive means.
Magic alone was so abundant I could scarcely enumerate all my offensive skills, yet facing the Blind Guide previously, I had recalled what I truly lacked.
‘I need to acquire the skills I’m lacking.’
With that thought, the choice became simple.
I selected a skill that Dohyun had never possessed—one of Han Muyeol’s abilities.
[You consume 5000 AP to acquire Han Muyeol’s skill 「Guardian’s Body [A]」.]
[This skill exceeds your current stats.]
[Your stats will increase slightly beyond their original levels.]
[Your maximum health permanently increases by +7 due to the acquired skill.]
[You cannot use this skill at its original power.]
I had lost a staggering 5000 AP.
If I included the 2500 AP spent checking my status window, I had consumed a total of 7500 AP, yet I regretted nothing.
Guardian’s Body was not a skill that hardened the flesh like steel.
It was an ability that enhanced self-regeneration, not one that made the body impervious or eliminated pain—so pain would seep through completely even while defending. That was why Steel Conviction was necessary.
Steel Conviction, a will as unyielding as iron itself, was a skill that dulled the pain and allowed one to endure even when struggling. Only together could they form a true Steel Guardian.
With only Guardian’s Body, Dohyun would become a Guardian who suffered pain while repeatedly healing wounds—a Guardian of scars alone. Yet Dohyun welcomed it instead.
‘Pain is something I can bear.’
Perhaps inheriting Han Muyeol’s resolve, when Dohyun acquired the skill, his bright and easygoing demeanor didn’t change, yet within it bloomed a new emotion—respect. Han Muyeol sensed it too, tilting his head in puzzlement as he regarded Dohyun.
“Hmm?”
He noticed something had shifted, but Han Muyeol couldn’t quite grasp what had changed, so he held back his question.
Besides, that wasn’t what mattered right now.
“Congratulations on your promotion to D-Grade.”
“Thank you.”
“Rising to D-Grade this quickly hasn’t happened since the chaotic period fifteen years ago.”
At Han Muyeol’s words, Hanalin and Jiyuchan felt an inexplicable surge of pride and joy, and Han Muyeol himself spoke not merely to commend them, but with genuine sincerity for their sake.
“So be careful. You can suffer a setback if you become intoxicated by growth.”
At those words, all three felt a chill run through them.
“Reality is what you must be cautious of.”
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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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