Chapter 86: A Man Growing Too Fast (3)

A Man Growing Too Fast (3)

-As a log-in bonus for today, you've received a buff to status increases! For two days, the growth rate of all stats is increased by 40%!

[Kang Shin-hyuk: A rank]

[Characteristic]

Golden-eyed Dragon (S)

[Physical ability]

Power: A

Agility: A+

Health: A

[Special ability]

Spiritual power: A

Regeneration: B+

[Skills]

Dragon's Fan Dance (S+): A

Wind Mastery (A-): C

Metallurgy: A-

Emotion: A-

[Resistances]

Resist Poison (SS+): A-

Resist Fire (S): A

"Hmm." After his two months in another world, Kang Shin-hyuk had managed to grow his status once more.

'It's almost too strong.' When he had been over there, it was hard for him to notice his own growth because he was with Shin Eunah, who was outside the category of human, and Claire, who was a high-ranker in the top 500 in the world. However, when he considered it calmly after returning to Earth, his condition was by no means normal, now that all of his stats aside from regeneration had surpassed A-rank. The problem was the time he had taken, however.

'It's fast for two months of growth, but as far as everyone else is concerned, just a weekend has passed.' He tried to think about it for a while before giving up on it. Unless he stopped doing dimensional quests, this would continue to happen in the future. It would be too difficult to try and hide his growth every time.

'The status growth is incredible, but so was the skill growth.' His Wind Mastery now made it possible for him to make a swift wind blade or even to use it to strengthen the power of his sword. However, the Resist Fire skill had grown even faster than that. It was a high-level at the start, but it had easily broken through the rank barrier. It made sense, given how close he had been to the forge for most of his time over there. It wasn't just him who had benefited, however.

"We'll leave now. Thanks to my juniors, I was able to rest for two months...my ability has also gotten stronger."

"It was really fun. Don't forget you have a shift tonight!"

"Yes, yes. Please go." It was early Monday morning now. Of course, Shin Eunah and Claire were currently in his room because they had stayed in Gromas until the last minute. After spending two months together, Kang Shin-hyuk's attitude towards them was a bit more hesitant. The strangely embarrassed atmosphere between him and Claire had completely vanished, at least on the surface.

"I still feel sorry...Eunah, should we go eat? You know, Shinyoung's royal class restaurant has some delicious food."

"I know."

"Also, we could go in with Shin-hyuk!"

"Please reconsider." Bringing outside guests into the restaurant would be one thing, but the whole school would be overturned when they discovered the guests were the Thunder Empress and the Alchemist. Kang Shin-hyuk was genuinely frightened as Claire let out a laugh and tapped his shoulder.

"I like Shin-hyuk because his reactions are always great."

"Claire, you can't seduce my junior."

"Eunah, it seems to be the time you graduate from elementary school when it comes to relationships." Kang Shin-hyuk saw the two off with a bitter smile.

"I'll go to the bar tonight."

"Alright, then please properly finish your work." Shin Eunah hesitated a bit, but in the end, she and Claire used magic to vanish from the room, leaving behind only a faint scent. It felt odd for Shin-hyuk to see them leave after being stuck together with them for two months.

"..."

-Myu...

Onyx looked up at Kang Shin-hyuk and let out a small cry. The thorns on his back were normal once more, but during his stay, they had been drills for most of the time, so it felt a bit unfamiliar.

"It would've been difficult if it weren't for Claire's special potion."

-Myu?

Kang Shin-hyuk decided to check if the little guy's status was any different.

[Onyx: C+ rank]

[Physical ability]

Power: D+

Agility: B+

Health: C-

[Special ability]

Gold Magic: B

[Skills]

Iron Predation (S+): C

Implementation (SS): C+

Defense Position: C+

Stealth (A): B-

[Loyalty]

Subordinate to Kang Shin-hyuk: Loyalty 74

"All your stats and magic have increased tremendously..." It made sense, as most of what Kang Shin-hyuk did in those two months was metallurgy. Most of his work wasn't good enough to post on the Hero Universe, so Onyx ended up eating them. There were also the materials Onyx consumed when digging with the moles. Even so, B-rank was absurd. It was a level that surpassed even active superhumans.

-I understand.

As Kang Shin-hyuk was contemplating how it could've happened, the administrator sent him a message.

-It seems like he experienced the effect of the status amplification buff thanks to your relationship. This is my first time seeing such a thing.

"He received the effect of my potion?"

-Myuuu!

Kang Shin-hyuk patted Onyx and praised him honestly.

"You struggled to take care of those spoiled people for two months."

-Myuuu.

The Golden Hidden Mole tribe couldn't do anything unless they had a trusted representative. Onyx had been able to lay down the groundwork for them to return back to their lives underground after eating the king's claws (although whether that was his plan from the start was a mystery). They had cried out and tried to keep Onyx when they learned he would be returning to Earth, but fortunately, they had taken the news better than when their king died. They would be able to survive again now that things had stabilized.

-Quest rewards were sent directly to My Room, so please check them later.

"Thank you, administrator." Kang Shin-hyuk changed into his school uniform and took off, leaving Onyx in the room.

"Oh, Shin-hyuk. Why didn't you come to the restaurant today? The vice-captain was waiting for you...huh?" The moment he entered his classroom, Karen happily waved to him before tilting her head in confusion. He didn't have the time to eat after seeing Shin Eunah and Claire off.

"Shin-hyuk, did you grow taller?"

"Hm?" In fact, he was about 1cm taller, but he couldn't tell her, so he deflected the question.

"Why do you think something has changed?"

"You feel more mature..." Karen's eyes narrowed sharply as she regarded Shin-hyuk.

"Are you ignoring my nervous system enhancing properties?! Obviously, there's been a change!"

"Does that actually have anything to do with your trait?"

"Woman. It was a woman! That's the only thing that can change a boy so suddenly!"

"...It was a woman."

"Hah." Karen burst into laughter at his honest answer. Shin-hyuk was quick to pinch her cheeks in punishment.

"Mercy...mercy..."

"You shouldn't laugh at a broken heart."

"No, it's not because of that..." Karen patted her cheeks and continued.

"Your stock price is breaking through the roof. Your personality is good, and your face is handsome enough...what? You don't believe me?"

"Not really."

"It's true! So, who is it?"

"Do you think I'd tell you?"

"No way..." She shook her head, mumbling in thought for a moment.

"It's the Empress!"

"Never." Kang Shin-hyuk asserted in a cold voice, and Karen nodded embarrassed.

"I felt she cared about you..."

"As I said before, it's a normal relationship between a senior and a junior."

"Who then? Is it Na-hee? Did you even have any contact with her in the first place?"

"That's..." Kang Shin-hyuk hesitated at Lee Na-hee's name appearing, and Karen opened her mouth in surprise.

"You do."

"We're in the same club."

"So it really is her." Karen's eyes changed strangely as she said it was meaningless to hide the truth.

"Don't listen to rumors. And it's not her."

"Then who the hell is it? Is it an outsider?"

"Yeah."

"Ooh...anyway, I'm glad..." Kang Shin-hyuk turned away from her, and Karen puffed her cheeks out.

"I wasn't laughing, by the way! I just thought it would be better if you dated someone from Shinyoung! Like our vice-captain!"

"I hate the thought of it."

"You are really ruthless." He knew that Karen was trying to match him with Eleanor, but for at least now, there was no time for him to like anyone else other than Claire.

"Besides, Eleanor doesn't have the time to be leisurely meeting with a man." Kang Shin-hyuk let out a sigh. She was from the British royal family, and she had just been inaugurated as the captain of the Wyvern Knights. She wouldn't have enough space mentally to entertain the notion of a relationship. However, Karen thought differently.

"I rather think that at a time like this, it would be better to have someone capable and caring like Shin-hyuk."

"Isn't that just nonsense?"

"Huh!" Kang Shin-hyuk decided to punish her by continuing to pinch her cheeks.

***

After school, Kang Shin-hyuk got away from Baek In-ha, who was clinging to him to go to the superhuman shopping mall, he went to his club room.

"A woman, huh?"

"How the hell do you know about it?!"

"I heard from Ellie." Kang Shin-hyuk soon realized that Ellie was Lee Na-hee's nickname for Eleanor, which meant that the two were close. No, before that, Karen had told Eleanor about it.

"There's no one in this world I can trust."

Only

"I've never seen Ellie care about a boy. I was worried about her, especially after you joined..." She was a kind person who was concerned about her friend.

"My mentality's not that strong, so please go easy on me."

"I will, I'm sorry. The expression you're making is too funny, though." Kang Shin-hyuk put his bag down and sat down, looking at what Lee Na-hee was doing. She was dropping sugar cubes into a cup of black coffee.

"So, who is it?"

"Is it common to ask that even when you know you won't get an answer?" Kang Shin-hyuk removed his summer jacket and put on a work apron, looking over at Lee Na-hee, who was smiling at him. "Rather than that, work with me."

"Work? On what? We already submitted to the Artifact Contest."

"I want to make something regardless of that." His eyes sparkled.

"Maybe we can make something better."