Beginning of Summer (3)

The first piece of loot had resulted in Kang Shin-hyuk acquiring an S-rank skill, but there were still two pieces left. One of which was the stinger he pulled directly from the queen wasp. It was a fairly large object, around 1.2 meters in length, and conical in shape. It almost reminded him of the heavy lances used by knights, if only it had a handle. His appraisal informed him that it was A+ rank and highly toxic. Unfortunately, it was almost too big.

‘A giant would need to wield it… a giant?’ Wasn’t there someone who came to mind? That was Do Woojin. Compared to how large his body became when he activated his trait, it would work out perfectly.

‘It’s worth asking.’ As it was, it couldn’t be properly used. Kang Shin-hyuk trimmed it before putting it away. Now it was time for the final object he had been looking for, the Queen Wasp’s Wing Bracelet that had been the clear gate reward. It was an impressive looking object with translucent wings protruding from both sides around a golden jewel. There was a time Kang Shin-hyuk longed to be a superhuman who found artifacts from gates. Now that he could create his own, that desire had diminished a bit, but it was still exciting for him to finally reach that goal.

“Let’s see…”

[Queen Wasp’s Wing Bracelet]

[S-rank]

[Special ability: Queen Wasp’s Flight]

*Queen Wasp’s Flight: Summons wind around the desired target and reinforces wind.

‘What?’ He couldn’t help but think that the ability was a bit shabby for compensation from an S-rank boss. Perhaps he just couldn’t read it properly given his lack of ability, but he found no indication of such as he examined the bracelet. However, he finally realized what was going on as he extended his spiritual power out to it.

“It’s the power of the Queen Wasp.” S-rank but only one ability. The fact that it reinforced wind couldn’t be overlooked. Perhaps this winged bracelet enhanced the cruel storm ability? If so, the result would be vicious, which meant that Kang Shin-hyuk, who now had that ability as well as Wind Mastery, could properly handle this artifact. It was a perfect fit for him.

‘I’ll have to get used to it. Surely natural artifacts have different personalities than those artificially made.’ He slid the bracelet on over his left wrist. He had to master this artifact, especially if he wanted to grow his Wind Mastery skill even further.

“Then…” He still had a bit of time. He sent Do Woojin a message, and a reply came immediately, telling him to head over to Blackwood Training Center’s 2nd hall. Kang Shin-hyuk couldn’t help but sigh at it, but he might as well get it over with.

“Applaud our youngest member Kanga Shin-hyuk, who won the grand prize at the Creator Contest!”

“Congratulations!”

“You look cool!”

“Make me a weapon like that too!”

“Rather than that, what’s your relationship with Lee Na-hee?”

“I knew it.” Thankfully, he had skipped lunch, as the vice-captain’s (or rather, now the captain’s) faction had prepared a party for him. He couldn’t help but wonder if these people liked to play too much.

“Drink!”

“… Isn’t this alcohol?”

“No way!” Karen’s cheeks were flushed as she approached him with a drink in hand. When Kang Shin-hyuk responded suspiciously, she let out a laugh and leaned in close.

“It’ll be okay.”

“Police?!”

“I’m joking, it’s non-alcoholic.” In fact, it was really non-alcoholic. Then why was Karen so excited? As he stared at her, she smiled.

“In fact, I have someone I like.”

“Oh, yes. Okay. Do your best.”

“Ask me who it is!” Kang Shin-hyuk felt something ominous awaiting him. He tried to flee, but everyone around them looked away.

“You were there yesterday too, the contest awards ceremony.”

“Huh.” That oppressive feeling of doom amplified.

“I met the man of my destiny there! He’s my perfect ideal in terms of ability, appearance, and even the way he talks! Aren’t you curious who it is?”

“No.”

“There’s a picture of him in the newspaper! Shin Eun-hyuk, from the Superhuman Association Special Task Force! Do you not know about him? Please! Shin-hyuk, you’re close to Shin Eunah! Please introduce me somehow!” Only then did Kang Shin-hyuk realize why Karen had approached him. He pushed her away, saying he knew nothing. Eleanor was looking at him strangely.

“Senior Eleanor, don’t look that way. Please help me.”

“It’s cause and effect, I think.”

“…?!” Did she notice? No, for sure, Eleanor, who had been devoted to martial arts for as long as she was, would be able to recognize the moves on an opponent she had confronted several times. Even if he did cover his face and change up his tactics a bit. Eleanor smiled at the range of emotions warring on Kang Shin-hyuk’s face, her eyes conveying one silent message to him.

‘I know.’

He nodded back to her, and she finally approached with a satisfied look to pull Karen away from him.

“Stop bullying, Shin-hyuk doesn’t seem to know.”

“You don’t have time to relax either! Didn’t you see Shin-hyuk with Na-hee yesterday? Yeah? Now the captain is being a bit more active now.”

“Stop, bullying.”

“Hey, hey, hey, hey!” Who the hell was bullying whom? Eleanor was firmly holding Karen down with cold eyes. Kang Shin-hyuk turned away from the two and retreated, evading the other seniors who came to bug him until he finally found Do Woojin.

“You, finally.”

“What did you want to ask?”

“I want you to show me your gigantification power, you have time?”

“…You’re not trying some bullshit to learn about individual traits, right?”

“Of course not. I was wondering if it could be applied to making a weapon.”

“Weapon…” Do Woojin blankly nodded at his words.

“You?”

“You were there when I repaired the saddle, remember?”

“Ah, I forgot because so much happened.” Do Woojin mumbled blankly before closing his eyes to think. Before long, he finally nodded.

“Follow me.”

“Oh, good.” Shin-hyuk had a negotiation card up his sleeve, but maybe it wouldn’t be necessary. The two of them headed straight away into the training room and shut the door.

“Without the help of artifacts, it’s a bit unstable. Keep that in mind.”

“Okay.”

“…Then.” Do Woojin stood still, closing his eyes to concentrate. Kang Shin-hyuk reached out to him with a thread of spiritual power, but Do Woojin didn’t notice it.

“Whoo…!” Before long, a change started to take place. Do Woojin’s internal mana began to activate and rotate around his body at high speed. It was a momentary and incomprehensible change that could only be called the power of a trait. The mana was slowly inflating his body as it rotated, drawing a certain magic circle with his body as the paper.

“It’s done.”

“Ooh.” Do Woojin was now large enough to reach the ceiling. The sense of overbearing pressure he emitted was no joke. He’d be pretty reliable at the front of a party.

“If you held a weapon in that state, would the weapon also become huge?”

“It’s possible. However, unless the weapon is made exclusively for it, it would take time.”

“Could you show me?”

“Sure.” Do Woojin nodded and grabbed a nearby training sword. The sword underwent a similar process, slowly growing in size as well.

“Ooh…” It was a great ability, after all.

“There, that’s all I can do.”

“Could you keep it as it is?”

“That would be difficult.”

“Aren’t you being too conscious of it? It seems to be triggering naturally right now. It doesn’t seem to be something you need to control too much.”

“What? You…” Do Woojin let go of his ability, shrinking back to normal size as he glanced at Shin-hyuk.

“I think I learned something.”

“This isn’t some kung-fu movie. You aren’t going to evolve just because of that.”

“It’s not that, I just roughly know how to try what I’m going to do…” Do Woojin let out a sigh and scratched at his head.

Only

“Damn, I wanted to erase my debt, but why is it like this?”

“Debt?”

“I can’t tell you. I’m leaving.”

“What?” Kang Shin-hyuk felt a bit refreshed as he watched Do Woojin left. At the beginning of the semester, he was a youth with a rather large ego. But now it felt like he had matured a bit. Was it because he met Shin-hyuk? He didn’t know, but he supposed it didn’t really matter either. He had achieved his purpose in meeting with him, and now he was convinced he could create a giant artifact.

“But first, materials.”

-Don’t you have an appointment before that?”

“Ah.” Kang Shin-hyuk began to move urgently at the administrator’s words. No doubt Lee Na-hee was already waiting in the club room.

…How could he have known the Thunder Empress was as well?