“Ismuar.”

At Myungwoo’s call, the fire spirit approached. A wave of heat spread over my skin.

“This engraving, it’s the basic mana circuit setup, right?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

Basic setup? I had no idea what that meant, but Myungwoo spoke in a voice barely suppressing his anger.

“It’s not that it can’t be applied to a person.”

“Uh, could you explain a bit…?”

“Was it forced, or did you choose it?”

The question stabbed colder than steel. I couldn’t answer right away. I just rolled my eyes around in silence, and a heavy sigh poured down on my back. Then came—

SMAK!

“Ow! That hurts!”

“It hurts? You’ve got the nerve to say it hurts? Looking like this?”

“Wait, ack! Grace!”

– Beep!

Grace flew over in front of my face, tilting her head like she was asking why I was calling her.

Tell your dad to calm down! I thought of using Grace, but that would probably just make him angrier. It was my fault anyway, but still!

“Everyone in that place was doing it!”

I wasn’t the only one, so why blame the engraving itself? I was told it was commonly done and safe.

“I mean, yeah, I physically entered the dungeon and all, but everyone was doing it. It wasn’t reckless! We even used proper anesthesia, and I only died once—ack!”

“You think that makes it better?!”

“Still, after getting a mana engraving, you can control mana better, and—wait, hold on, you raised your hand again, hold on!”

“If you overload the mana circuit relative to your grade, do you know what that makes you? A consumable item! Breaks after a few uses!”

Oh, so that’s how they make consumables.

“I know it’s a strain, that’s why I locked it down. Even the Elder who made the sword scolded me!”

“Erase it.”

Myungwoo said firmly. I wanted to leap up at his words, but I still couldn’t move.

“Wait, wait! That’s such a waste! I can’t do it again! I was going to slowly adjust and use a regulating item! That’s why I came to ask you to make it! And besides, erasing it probably isn’t that easy either!”

“Paralyzing the circuit isn’t hard.”

“No! Come on, isn’t having it better than nothing? I’ll use it safely! I swear!”

“How am I supposed to trust that?”

Yeah… not exactly trustworthy.

“Even if you say you’ll use it safely, I can already see you pushing past the limits when things get rough.”

“But Myungwoo, if I don’t push it, I might die right away. Isn’t it better to have at least one more option? Our situation’s just… like that.”

As long as I had something to hold on to, I could at least keep struggling. Even if it was reckless, not doing it would’ve already gotten me killed three times. My pleading voice was met with yet another sigh from Myungwoo.

“…Seriously, why did it have to be you, Yujin.”

“I just want to start my day saying I don’t wanna go to work too.”

Maybe someday I’ll get there. Or just become a rich bum. The hand pressing my neck finally let go. As I sat up, Myungwoo gestured toward the workbench.

“You said you need a regulating item. Get up there.”

I quickly lay down on the workbench. When I turned my head slightly to the side and glanced at him, Myungwoo’s face was still stiff. Even with fear resistance, I didn’t know why being in front of Myungwoo made me so nervous.

“I’m going to take a mold, so don’t move.”

“Okay, but…”

“Don’t even talk.”

I quietly shut my mouth. Without being told, Ismuar melted down some unknown liquid and brought it over. Then Myungwoo pulled out a thin plate and held it above my upper back. I couldn’t see clearly, but judging by the lack of sensation on my back, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) it seemed he was pouring the liquid over the plate.

A moment later, Myungwoo peeled off a thin wax-like sheet from the plate. The mana engraving glowed faintly blue.

“I’ll install a safety lock. Don’t disable it unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’ll make it so I can tell if you do.”

“Okay.”

“You can get up now.”

I sat up on the workbench, and Ismuar brought over my clothes. As I put my shirt back on, I asked,

“Hey, do you think you could give others a mana engraving too? Just within a safe range.”

“Not possible right now. Items are forged using mana heat, but a human body isn’t. So you have to create an environment filled with massive amounts of mana, and we don’t have a way to draw that much all at once.”

“The place I got the engraving from had a mana hole, a location overflowing with mana. Isn’t that something Grace could handle? Grace got the Fountain of Young Mana thanks to the mana hole.”

“That only works for you. Even being able to erase it is because of Grace. If a mana hole like that appeared in our world, then maybe we could do engravings on others too. If you stay within proper levels based on rank, it’d be useful. But you.”

The sharp look in his eyes stung. Too bad. Grace, can’t you make an exception? Just for Yuhyun and Yerim, since they’re family. Families are supposed to share stuff like this anyway.

“Your brother’s gotten soft lately too. He used to act like he’d lock you up if needed.”

“You can’t lock people up.”

“You can.”

I do have human rights, you know.

“Same goes for everyone else. He’s too soft for someone who cares so much about you. Not that I don’t understand. Everyone needs you.”

“Sounds like you’re saying you don’t.”

“Because I’m the one who needs you. No reason to hold back.”

“Wise words.”

Sure, I helped Myungwoo get his skill, but he’d paid me back more than enough. Grace alone was more than enough. Plus, unlike others, he didn’t even need my ability. Other Hunters gained things like monster mounts, growth buffs, a connection with Myungwoo, stamina potions, and all sorts of intel from me, but Myungwoo didn’t. If we ever split, I’d be the one with regrets.

“Maybe that’s why I feel so small in front of you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“You never know with people. I never imagined I’d be apart from my brother for so long. I thought the most we’d be separated was for military service.”

“I said I’m not.”

As if to say stop talking nonsense, Myungwoo offered me a snack.

“But snacks are a little different from before?”

“They told me not to give sweets before meals since you weren’t eating properly. And not to give you too much. That’s your last one.”

It was still tasty despite being plain… Kids these days.

“Ah, do you want to meet the Elder? He’s been teaching Yuhyun swordsmanship, apparently.”

“Teaching him?”

“Yeah. In that dungeon with the newbie. About once a week.”

At my words, Myungwoo looked intrigued.

“Then I wonder if I could learn too?”

“Huh? You mean, you using a sword?”

“No. From the newbie.”

The newbie… I looked at him with slightly surprised eyes.

“You mean, about the system?”

“Not exactly the system. More about production overall. You saw how the newbie created a dungeon himself. I may be a blacksmith, but the act of creating isn’t limited to one thing. Look.”

Myungwoo gestured toward his forge, toward the greenery outside the window.

“This space too, and the little world—it was all created by that blacksmith Sharlos. There’s no reason I can’t do it too.”

A breeze blew in. It was a small space. But it was a dungeon-like, fully independent space.

“Crafting items is fun, but seeing the newbie’s dungeon made me want more. Even if I’m the best in this world, I want to go further. And if I learn more about dungeons and the system, it’ll help you too.”

“Well, of course. Definitely!”

My heart beat a little faster for some reason.

“I’ll talk to the newbie nicely. He’s kind, so he’ll probably say yes. I should bring something to eat next time we visit… though he probably can’t eat it since he’s a volleyball.”

Maybe I should bring some leather polish as a gift.

“But no tentacles.”

“Huh?”

“They’re convenient, but still.”

Tentacles seem to be trending lately, which is a little concerning. I’d better tell the newbie not to give Myungwoo any strange ideas too.

Back at the hospital room, after seeing Myungwoo off, I took out the two mana stones. Placed next to the SS-grade stone, Black’s stone looked small and unimpressive. Still, Black would be the main part.

‘Where should I put it this time?’

There were already marks front and back on my torso. Waist? Abdomen? Maybe a shoulder or limb? As I pondered, my gaze fell on my palm. He used to love when I petted him.

‘Should I go with the palm?’

If I cut it carefully, it might not even be that noticeable.

As I entered the bathroom, Peace followed. Even when I told him to wait outside, he didn’t listen this time.

“Then don’t get scared, okay? Daddy’s just using a skill.”

– Kyawng.

“I’m making you a little sibling.”

Peace didn’t like it when new monsters were added.

As I drew the dagger, Peace stood up from where he was sitting. To ease his worry, I hid my hand inside the sink where he couldn’t see it. It was only a tiny cut, but at the scent of blood, he began to whimper. I quickly inserted both mana stones and then showed Peace the wound.

“See? It’s fine, right?”

– Kkang.

Peace stuck out his tongue and licked the small remaining wound. Black would probably be born faster than Changeling. I was already curious about what kind of form he would take. …What am I going to do about Changeling’s name? Should I go to a naming center or something?

“You should’ve rested a bit more.”

“Yeah, hyung. Just three more days. Better yet, how about another week? A month would be fine too, or even a year of long-term care sounds great.”

“That’s right, Mister. Guildmaster, how about setting up a care facility under Haeyeon while you’re at it? With nuclear families and an aging society, the future outlook is great.”

“Hey now, I’m still in my twenties.”

Listening to them, you’d think they were talking about caring for an elderly parent. Yuhyun and Yerim were worried, but I was discharged as planned. My physical condition had improved, and my vision was nearly fully restored—there was no reason to keep lying in bed.

“I’ll take care of my health and work at a relaxed pace, so don’t worry. I’m going to hire staff, too.”

“You said you were going to visit in person? Why take on more work? Just let Haeyeon handle it. Or at least make them come for interviews.”

It wasn’t something I had to do, but I wanted to go in person. Rather than in a stiff interview setting, I wanted to greet them myself.

“It’s just for a bit of a walk. I’ve been stuck at home or the hospital this whole time. Anyway, Yerim, you’re leaving tomorrow morning, right?”

“Yes. This time it’s an A-rank dungeon, so it should be over quickly. If I get assigned to an S-rank, it might take a bit longer though.”

She even said she was bringing Blue to help with the environment around the large lake, so at most it would take a couple of days.

“Blue’s super fast, so I might be back the next day.”

Since the purpose was to show Haeyeon’s ability to manage dungeons, Yerim would be going in alone and aiming to clear it as fast as possible. The plan was to emphasize overwhelming clearing speed and avoid any complaints. Of course, adult team members would also accompany her to Japan.

“There’ll be a bunch of foreign Hunters visiting the lab, so be careful while I’m gone. When hiring new staff, make sure an S-class Hunter and Peace go with you. Han Yuhyun, take care of things.”

“Don’t worry.”

Just like Hyunah said, Yerim had become my guardian. I wondered if that was okay, but if it made her feel more at ease, then so be it. In fact, she was now enjoying nagging at both me and Yuhyun, looking for anything else to scold us about.

The next day, after seeing Yerim off, I left home with the contact list Do Hamin had given me.

“I’m counting on you, Noah.”

The person who would be protecting me was none other than Noah. Lately, he’d been avoiding me a bit, and since the building and lab had started seeing more visitors, I was thinking of asking Yuhyun or Seonghan, but he had offered to come with me first. Maybe Myungwoo had given him some advice.

Anyway, I was glad it worked out.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep