The Only Enhancer - Chapter 120

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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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Episode 120
120 – Reinforce Guild’s Welcome Reception (1)
0.
Min-jun wasn’t the only one busy within the Reinforce Guild.
Everyone was managing quite demanding schedules to welcome the new guild members.
Jung Ji-hwan was the same, and Isabella was equally occupied thanks to Woo-jin’s training.
While everyone was handling their respective duties.
There was only one person outside.
Of course, even that would end today.
A massive banner hung at the headquarters of the Korean Awakener Association.
(Congratulations) First-Generation Association President Ma Hyun-seok’s Retirement! (Celebration)
At the entrance, everyone offered congratulations, and some even shed tears.
Ma Hyun-seok gazed at the banner with a bittersweet expression as he took in the sight.
Finally, retirement.
Of course, it wasn’t complete retirement—I was heading to the Reinforce Guild instead, but what a place that was.
Even as team leader, all the miscellaneous duties would be handled by Jung Ji-hwan and others, or so I’d been told.
My only responsibility would be command.
Well, that was easy enough.
I no longer wanted to wrestle with paperwork.
The Reinforce Guild was not just suitable for that—it was perfect.
“Congratulations, President. I mean it sincerely.”
“My congratulations as well.”
Lee Hee-bin, the Saint, and Go Ji-woo, the Blue Swordsman, offered their congratulations with smiles, and Ma Hyun-seok nodded in response.
“Thank you. Just help that fellow manage things properly.”
“Of course. Just trust us.”
“…I’m not so sure about that.”
Lee Hee-bin said this while striking his chest, and Go Ji-woo shook his head.
Well, I hadn’t expected much from Go Ji-woo anyway.
Ma Hyun-seok nodded, accepting it as it was.
As I tried to leave, my feet wouldn’t move easily.
I’d grown quite attached to this place.
I never thought I’d actually retire like this.
Before Min-jun appeared, I often thought retirement was something I’d never see until death itself, yet here I was, actually retiring.
Just as something warm and tender began to bloom deep in my heart.
I could see someone running toward us from a distance, shouting.
“Nooo! Take it back! What is this! What is this!!!”
A face consumed by complaint and panic.
It was Won Eun-seong, who had just assumed the position of second-generation association president.
Though the inauguration ceremony hadn’t happened yet, it would be soon.
We’d already completed the full handover, yet he was asking to take it back.
What an arrogant bastard.
Watching this, Ma Hyun-seok smiled faintly and spoke.
“I’m counting on you to keep that guy in line.”
With those words, Ma Hyun-seok wiped away his contemplative expression in an instant and vanished.
No one could perceive the movements of someone who had reached Level 7, and Won Eun-seong could only hang his head as he stared blankly at the space where Ma Hyun-seok had disappeared.
“Sigh… How am I supposed to be the association chairman? Who else would do it if not the old master?”
“What can we do? He wants to step back now, so we should let him go.”
“You’re right. I’m counting on you, Chairman Won.”
“Argh!”
Won Eun-seong cried out like that, but it was merely words.
Deep down, he didn’t want Ma Hyun-seok to leave.
Of course, there was also the matter of having so much work to do.
1.
When a guild accepts new recruits, it’s customary to hold a welcome ceremony.
The Reinforce Guild was no exception.
Min-jun had ordered preparations for a welcome ceremony, and the existing guild members were handling the arrangements.
The world’s greatest guild welcome ceremony was not particularly lavish.
In fact, it was quite the opposite.
Those preparing it had their doubts about whether this was right, but after hearing how the welcome ceremony would proceed, they understood and prepared accordingly.
If they were anyone else, they would have laughed and told him not to joke, but there wasn’t a single member of the Reinforce Guild who would do that.
They knew well that if Min-jun said he would do something, he would do it.
The location itself was unusual from the start.
Whoooosh! Whoooosh!
A place where the wind blew fiercely.
Normally, a guild welcome ceremony would be held by renting a guild building or hotel, but the Reinforce Guild was different.
A vast prairie stretching out endlessly.
There were no tables or various foods and drinks typically seen at welcome ceremonies anywhere to be found.
They had only set up a banner and temporary structures saying “Gathering with the prairie,” confirming that this was the right place to assemble, and had prepared nothing else beyond that.
Naturally, the new recruits who heard about the location were bewildered.
The sight of the vast prairie stretching out was quite impressive.
The prairie between Paju and Kaesong was truly magnificent to behold.
But everyone couldn’t help but be confused as they looked at it.
“Wasn’t this supposed to be a welcome ceremony?”
“What is this…?”
“Huh huh huh…”
Among the new recruits were naturally hunters with considerable experience, so their bewilderment was understandable.
What kind of welcome ceremony in the world would be like this?
It was strange enough that it was being held in such a vast prairie.
It was also strange that they had even mobilized a helicopter to bring people here.
Did anyone normally hold a welcome ceremony in a place like this?
As such thoughts filled my mind, the newcomers began gathering one by one.
Since the call had been directed at the newcomers, it was only natural that Andrew, Mary, and Henry—the three who had been accepted as executives—were mixed among them.
The three of them were equally bewildered, having received no prior notice.
As they gradually assembled and all the newcomers finally gathered together.
Naturally, they regarded one another with wariness and suspicion.
They seemed to view each other as competitors rather than people with whom they would need to cooperate.
This was despite the fact that the interviews had already concluded and formal contracts had been signed.
‘Hmm, isn’t that McQuire, a Level 5 from the Finland Guild?’
‘None of them are pushovers.’
‘There are some greenhorns, but there are plenty of formidable ones too.’
As the newcomers eyed one another warily.
People began gathering one by one from a distance away.
Those who appeared in simple, comfortable attire were all existing guild members.
“What’s this?”
“Wasn’t this supposed to be a welcome reception?”
“Why did everyone dress so casually?”
“Hmm, we’ll understand once we see what happens.”
The hunters with some seniority showed signs of discomfort, but they didn’t express it openly.
It was only natural that they were newcomers here, regardless of the experience they’d accumulated elsewhere.
But that didn’t mean they weren’t uncomfortable.
Wasn’t this treatment a bit much for people with some reputation?
And look at what the senior members were wearing.
Compared to their own carefully chosen outfits, the seniors had come in comfortable training clothes, which felt off.
If there had been a dress code, it would have been natural to mention it beforehand.
So they remained somewhat uncomfortable.
The senior guild members approached and spoke first.
“Would you like to borrow some comfortable clothes?”
“Yes, we’ve brought plenty.”
“We brought various sizes, so there shouldn’t be any problem finding something that fits.”
They spoke kindly and offered to lend clothes.
What was this?
Was something actually happening?
Everyone looked at them with puzzled expressions.
As if they desperately wanted an explanation.
But the response was the same.
They merely regarded them with pitying eyes, as if to say they would understand once they found themselves in the same situation.
“Ahem!”
“What on earth is going on?”
“Is something about to happen?”
That was when.
“It looks like everyone’s here.”
A man standing at the center, positioned before all the existing guild members, spoke—though no one had sensed when he’d arrived.
They all recognized him instantly.
They’d seen him during the interviews, and besides, there wasn’t a single hunter who didn’t know his face.
Kim Min-jun—the master of Reinforce Guild, the world’s greatest guild, and the world’s strongest—the moment he opened his mouth, everyone else fell silent.
The awkwardness from just moments before?
What was that compared to this?
All they could do was close their mouths and stand at attention, their nervous gazes fixed forward.
As they all tensed, Min-jun observed them and spoke.
“Well, since we didn’t mention it beforehand, the welcome ceremony will be kept brief.”
At Min-jun’s words, every existing guild member’s body flinched.
And even Ma Hyun-seok, the largest among them, shook his head as if somewhat displeased.
What could possibly make them all so reluctant?
Just as an ominous dread began to creep in—
Min-jun spoke first, taking the lead.
“I’ve given considerable thought to how our Reinforce Guild’s welcome ceremony should proceed. Honestly, we could’ve done it normally, but that felt like it would be a shame. Besides, I noticed everyone seemed disappointed about being selected without demonstrating their abilities during the interviews.”
As Min-jun said this, he grinned wickedly.
At that smile, all the existing guild members squeezed their eyes shut.
And what followed from Min-jun was remarkably simple.
“A welcome ceremony combined with sparring matches, you might say?”
“Sparring?”
“Surely not…?”
While the existing guild members squeezed their eyes shut, the new recruits visibly brightened.
Well, of course they would.
If they could demonstrate their abilities, it would be an excellent opportunity to make a strong impression.
Though they wondered if it would actually happen, everyone focused intently on Min-jun’s words.
“It won’t be sparring among the new recruits—it’ll be between Team 1 and Team 2. All members of Team 1 are Level 5, but those below that level can also showcase their abilities through sparring.”
As everyone concentrated on Min-jun’s explanation—
He provided a simple breakdown of the rules.
Everyone burned with enthusiasm upon hearing it.
An opportunity to spar with the existing guild members.
A hierarchy battle, one might call it.
They’d all been waiting for such a chance, yet he was offering it so openly.
A golden opportunity.
“You can designate someone from Team 1 to spar with and proceed. We’ll naturally provide weapons and armor. Don’t worry about injuries—if it looks like you might get hurt, I’m prepared to cast healing magic.”
The moment they heard this, their eyes gleamed as they looked at the existing guild members.
Each began mentally selecting their desired opponents and planning to make a strong impression.
In that moment, a large man raised his hand first.
“Yes, McQuire?”
“May I challenge first?”
A challenging demeanor.
But if his words hadn’t finished yet, wasn’t this precisely the kind of timing that could be taken as offensive?
That’s why so many hesitated.
To challenge first, no less!
Whether it was reckless or courageous remained to be seen.
Everyone watched Min-jun’s reaction to McQuire’s question.
“Oh, I like the confidence. So, whom will you choose as your opponent?”
“I’ll take on Mr. Jung.”
At those words, everyone turned to McQuire with expressions of surprise.
To think he’d select Jung Ji-hwan, who had a reputation for suppressing Level 5 hunters even at Level 4.
They spoke of his courage with admiration.
Indeed, judging by his massive frame and rippling muscles, he seemed aggressive by nature.
But it was quite the opposite.
Jung Ji-hwan was genuinely the top combatant among Team 1’s guild members, excluding those above Level 6.
If he could put up even a modest fight against such an opponent?
It could actually generate a favorable impression.
‘This is strategy, you greenhorns.’
McQuire stepped forward confidently with a bitter smile playing at his lips, while Jung Ji-hwan emerged with an expression devoid of emotion as he regarded his opponent.
As a curse caster, he would begin by applying debuffs from the start.
To counter that, McQuire intended to move first and put up whatever resistance he could manage.
However, McQuire was laboring under a slight misunderstanding.
“Begin.”
The moment Min-jun’s voice rang out, McQuire shot forward attempting to seize the initiative, but Jung Ji-hwan moved with a speed that surpassed even that.
A debuff already?
No—there were no traces of stat reduction or curse affliction whatsoever.
In other words, that movement was purely Jung Ji-hwan’s own speed.
Boom! Crash!
McQuire was sent flying backward even faster than he’d been launched forward by the single blow.
“Cough—hack!”
He’d clearly been thinking of the Jung Ji-hwan from too long ago.
As Min-jun watched with that understanding, he turned to the other new recruits and asked.
“Well then, who’s next?”

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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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