Shinyoung’s Center (4)

Just as the second semester changed the focus to on-the-job training for third years, so too did things change for the first years. In the first semester, it had been a lot more note-taking than practical skills. Entering the second semester, the number of practical subjects increased as well as the various situational training to be conducted.

“Situation C, situation C! Transmit the location of civilians and protect them from the targets!”

“Oh, it’s right in front of the gate!” Practical training was conducted by generating holograms and training targets throughout the gym. It was a training exercise that assumed various situations that students would experience as official superhumans in the future.

“Wow, they’re totally different.”

“Those are the special forces, it can’t be helped.”

During the previous training, the four members under Shin Eunah’s guidance had reunited as a team. It was only natural that as soon as Kang Shin-hyuk and Baek In-ha were placed with another team, their team members’ meaning would disappear. It was only Karen and Woojin who could match their level. They would be bound by that composition until the end of their first year.

“Aren’t all of us going to France next week?”

“Ah, The World Superhuman Conference.”

“All three of us, except for our helper.”

“Except for the helper.”

“Ah…” Do Woojin gave them a rough look as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Baek laughed.

“Don’t worry too much, Do Woojin. I’ll buy you an Eiffel Tower keychain as a souvenir.”

“I’ll send you a postcard. You, who remains alone in Seoul…”

“I’ll kill you.”

“A duel would be good.” Eventually, after completing the practice with the highest score, it was possible to proceed with personal battles. However, Kang Shin-hyuk was surprised this time as Do Woojin could now become a giant in less than two seconds, unlike before.

-I heard that he had learned a few things, but he really has grown a lot.

‘A few things…’ Kang Shin-hyuk admired the sight of Do Woojin, who rushed him after quickly becoming enormous. The giant sword in his hand wasn’t just big; it contained something special.

“Die!”

“But, his yelling hasn’t changed.” Kang Shin-hyuk overpowered Do Woojin with a tinge of sadness. The wooden spear he wielded deflected the giant sword as he darted through Do Woojin’s legs to offset his balance. But even there, Do Woojin had some surprises. It had been an unexpected blow but hitting Do Woojin felt like hitting an unshakably giant tree.

“Is this the power of a monster?”

“I guess it’s probably the power of a giant.” Do Woojin regained his senses and fought back. Kang Shin-hyuk, roughly grasping his opponent’s strength, made him step back with a shoulder charge before knocking him down with the wooden spear. It almost looked like a battle straight out of a portrait. The problem was that the only people in the class who could properly recognize it were Baek and Karen.

“It hurts…!”

“It’s not just your size that has grown.” Kang Shin-hyuk helped Do Woojin up after he admitted defeat. He was astonished at Do Woojin’s dramatic growth. He himself had grown immensely over the vacation, but Do Woojin hadn’t been slacking off.

‘I can’t let it go.’

-There aren’t many people who have the chance to evolve their traits as you did, but it’s definitely a notable change. That’s why humans are so fun.

‘Please stop talking like a reaper, administrator…’ Do Woojin may have lost the battle, but he defended his honor. The special forces continued to perform well after that, achieving the best grades in every group training session. In the blink of an eye, the day of the World Superhuman Conference approached them, and the three members of the team (excluding Woojin Do) were exempted from classes to leave for Paris, France. Three teachers, including Siara Bertrand, and the principal, Shin Yoon-hak, joined them.

Of course, it was natural for high-rankers like Claire and Shin Eunah also to participate.

***

[Another country…]

The day before leaving for France, Kang Shin-hyuk stopped by Mirotoz to talk to Halo about the conference.

[So, humans have such a concept?]

“I didn’t think there would be that big of a difference in perception.”

[Look down on this perished land. It has been a long time since the division of countries has disappeared from this world.]

“But your body is in a different world, right?”

[Well, yes…]

Halo seemed to hesitate before continuing.

[In the first place, I’m not too fond of the work of humans to draw lines and sort land. Disputes arise as soon as you start to differentiate. And when there is a conflict, red blood flows through the land. Fighting against enemies for survival is daunting enough; I can’t understand why the same species hurt each other.]

“Oh…”

[But maybe that’s the fate of most in this world…yes, grinding and rolling on.]

“What?”

[No matter. For Anvil, it is creation and destruction.]

“You’re being philosophical.”

[Sooner or later, you will also realize. Now, rather than that, shackles. Shackles.]

Yes, no matter what Kang Shin-hyuk was going through on Earth, there was the only thing he needed to do in this world. That was to form Halo’s roots into shackles to bind the giant’s feet.

“Anvil! It starts soon!” At that time, he heard several elves cry out loud from below. Kang Shin-hyuk roughly waved at them and started on his work. The earth vibrated dully, reaching him all the way up on the top of Halo.

“I’m glad there’s not much of a shock up here.”

[It’s not a place allowed for anyone. Thank me, my friend.]

“This is also for you, you know.” Kang Shin-hyuk was working on top of the giant tree that was Halo. It was the top he had reached by converting the blue cow into a magic bike. After he had recovered the sickle sealed there, space had turned into something that looked like a meadow.

“A little more…”

[You’re working faster.]

“I have been repeating the same task…” He needed no more materials than Halo’s roots to make the shackles. Rather, the giant couldn’t be bound with any other materials. However, wouldn’t it be possible to complete the production by simply tying the roots together into rings? Therefore, Kang Shin-hyuk made a unique attempt to reproduce his desired object in the roots by analyzing its traits with his spiritual power. Shackles, a tool aimed to capture and restrain enemies. Each time Kang Shin-hyuk lifted his hammer and chisel to shape the roots, his spiritual power penetrated into them to fundamentally change them. If there was anything he wished to add to that, it was the gigantification ability he analyzed from Do Woojin.

“Just this much today!”

[Now I think it’s almost 30% finished.]

“I still have a long way to go to catch up with my previous life…!” He stood up, gazing at Halo, stretching out his branches to recover his work. It was a far drop down, but with A- rank Wind Mastery, it was possible to land softly.

“Master Anvil!”

“You came down!”

“Yes, yes, as promised.”

“Cool…!” The elves were waiting for him, but he deftly avoided them as they approached.

“Let’s go to the field.”

“Yeah!” The earth where life would not grow. Thanks to Halo’s ability, however, work was steadily being conducted to make it habitable. After collecting both sickles he had made previously, Kang Shin-hyuk could help them.

“I wish I could hand over ownership.”

“There is no one who could handle it but Master Anvil, so it can’t be helped.” Kang Shin-hyuk produced the two scythes from his inventory while the elves watched. They were nearly identical, except that one was pure white and the other black.

[Falling Scythe]

[SS-rank]

[Special ability: Harvesting, Fall Harvest, Earth communication]

* Harvesting: The chance of a critical hit is extremely high when harvesting a target. With each repetition, the weapon’s performance and effectiveness are permanently amplified.

*Fall Harvest: Movement speed and attack speed are increased by 30% when holding this weapon—the effect doubles in autumn.

* Earth communication: It is possible to share energy with the earth. This effect strengthens when you are stepping on the ground.

[It was originally a simple farming tool, but the work of harvesting human necks instead of crops caused it to deteriorate. After returning to its master’s hand, it has stabilized a little.]

That was the dark side of the pair, acquired from the naga priest. However, its third ability was particularly important as it could be used to revitalize the earth’s vitality. That was left was the scythe he acquired from Halo.

[Growing Scythe]

[SS+Rank]

[Special Abilities: Growth, Amplification, Capture, Split]

*Growth: Speeds up the growth of crops. All abilities increase by 30%.

*Amplification: Increases the yield of crops. All abilities increase by 30%.

*Capture: Never misses the target it has set.

*Split: Can divide into several pieces to increase work efficiency.

[A piece of farm equipment that has been sealed for a long time.]

It could not only speed up the growth of crops but also increase how large the yield was. It still felt vague, like it was made for battle, but unfortunately, he didn’t know what Anvil had thought when he made it.

Only

“Master Anvil is using both of them!”

“Start!” Elves gathered around to witness the moment they had been waiting for. Kang Shin-hyuk tried to turn away from their gaze but was unable to. Eventually, he gave up and lifted the scythes.

“Oooh!”

“Be quiet!” His only salvation was that Claire wasn’t around. He swung the two scythes and activated their special abilities.

“The energy of life is imbuing the field!”

“Master Anvil is moving so passionately!”

“… I’m sorry, but can’t everyone be quiet?”

The day before his trip to Paris, the debut of the twilight harvest, a man wielding two scythes, took place in Mirotoz.