He isn’t an assassin. K expected a cynical retort from Cheonsal Nosu to follow.
However, after a long silence, Cheonsal Nosu’s first words were different from what K had anticipated.
“A mutant disguised as an assassin. Can I truly accept someone who isn’t a pure assassin purely?”
“Hyung-nim, but…”
“Wait. I’m not finished speaking.”
If there was one thing K wanted to say, it was that Cheonsal Nosu himself wasn’t a 100% pure assassin either.
He had quite a few skills that differed from those of an assassin, which were part of his identity as well.
K knew that Cheonsal Nosu’s remarks about purity stemmed from his peculiar inferiority complex.
An ironic situation where someone who preached purity wasn’t born pure themselves.
But since he understood the hidden wounds behind it, K didn’t let it show.In any case, Cheonsal Nosu’s twisted obsession with purity made him dislike Kim Shin-ryeong.
Her ability to modify items and alter their original properties wasn’t something he could ever appreciate.
Cheonsal Nosu continued speaking.
“I can’t teach him for no reason. He must at least prove that he’s qualified to receive my teaching.”
“Of course, Hyung-nim.”
“And I make all the decisions. Am I becoming a mentor for his sake? No. He’s becoming my student for my sake.”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
K played along.
Even though he spoke that way, K was already convinced that Cheonsal Nosu had an interest in Kang-hoo.
It was evident from the distinctive way he spoke, something K had learned from observing him for a long time.
The more Cheonsal Nosu raised his pride, paradoxically, the more it indicated he was drawn to the other person.
Although he would deny it himself, people are rarely objective when it comes to their own feelings.
If Kang-hoo could just pass Cheonsal Nosu’s test, everything would likely work out.
Of course, K needed to give Kang-hoo a heads-up to prevent him from being caught off guard by the sudden test.
K immediately sent Kang-hoo a message, asking him to contact him as soon as he returned to the country.
Since no one knew how long Cheonsal Nosu would stay in the country, the sooner they met, the better.
After finishing the mission, Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae followed the “Park Dong-jae Routine” and had a can of beer.
Around the Oslo Cathedral, there were plenty of benches, so they could comfortably sit anywhere.
It was a popular tourist spot, so many visitors came to take photos as well.
Taking a refreshing gulp of beer, Kang-hoo asked Park Dong-jae.
“Dong-jae.”
“Yeah?”
“When are you going to tell me? You must have gotten something inside. I think you mentioned a skill.”
Since Park Dong-jae didn’t have any hidden skills, he wouldn’t have received a notification about Kang-hoo acquiring one.
So Kang-hoo had only told him he’d obtained a decent offensive skill.
Eventually, the existence of the hidden skill would be revealed, but there was no need to hasten it unnecessarily.
“Oh, right! Honestly, I was so out of it that I didn’t even think to tell you.”
“No wonder it felt odd that you didn’t say anything until we got out.”
A chuckle escaped.
So this was what it felt like when someone became so ecstatic that they lost their senses and words.
Park Dong-jae’s gaze was fixed somewhere in the void, probably examining the skill he had acquired.
“I got a debuff skill.”
“Oh?”
That was unexpected.
The distinction between buffers and debuffers usually extended to their specialized skills.
Their basic skill trees were different. Buffers typically continued to acquire buff skills that added positive effects.
Kang-hoo had always thought that Park Dong-jae was pretty well-rounded in the buff category and still progressing.
But now he’d gained a debuff skill too? That significantly increased his versatility and utility.
“And the skill mastery is MAX from the start. It’s insane. Absolutely insane!”
Park Dong-jae’s trembling hands and his expression, somewhere between a laugh and tears, said it all.
He was so thrilled he didn’t know what to do, yet it was touching at the same time.
For Kang-hoo, who benefited from the Dimension Plunderer’s effects, max mastery was standard, but…
For most hunters, achieving max mastery for even one skill was incredibly difficult.
It required relentless, prolonged, and consistent effort, often taking years to master just one skill.
But to acquire a skill at max mastery from the start? No wonder Park Dong-jae was questioning reality.
“What kind of skill is it?”
“Defeatism.”
“The name alone is something else.”
It was an intriguing name.
“Once you designate a target, you can continuously weaken their defense, up to 50%.”
“That’s crazy.”
Even Kang-hoo couldn’t help but exclaim.
Among debuff skills, those that reduced defense—known as “defense break” or “def-break” skills—were the most valuable.
The reason was simple.
The stronger the opponent, the higher their defense or defensive skills, and the more significant the reduction effect.
This meant that attacks that would only deal 1 damage due to high defense could now deal 2 damage.
Similarly, protective shields and barriers would break faster due to the reduction effects.
“If you don’t designate a target, it works as an area effect. In this case, all enemies in the range are weakened by up to 25%. The skill consumes mana first, and if mana runs out, it draws on stamina.”
“This is the pinnacle of defense breaks.”
“…I can’t believe it, hyung. This is all thanks to you. I hit the jackpot just by following you, didn’t I? My hands are shaking, my whole body is trembling… I think everything’s just shaking…”
Just as Park Dong-jae had said, he was trembling uncontrollably, unsure of what to do.
As Kang-hoo pointed out, obtaining the ultimate debuff skill for reducing an enemy’s defense was no small feat.
Normally, a 10% or 15% defense reduction would already be considered amazing—debuffers who could do that were highly sought after.
But Park Dong-jae had acquired a skill with an area effect of 25% and a single-target effect of 50%.
“Congratulations. You really did well.”
It wasn’t labeled a hidden skill, but calling it one wouldn’t have been strange—it was just that powerful.
“Hyung, I mean it. This skill… I’ll only use it for you—”
“Cut the nonsense.”
Kang-hoo preemptively stopped Park Dong-jae’s rambling.
In any case, the acquisition of this debuff skill was excellent news for Kang-hoo as well.
From now on, teaming up with Park Dong-jae in dungeons wouldn’t just be a 1+1=2 situation. It could easily become 1+1=3.
“Really, thank you, hyung. If nothing else, getting this skill is entirely because of you. Thank you so much.”
“Practice a lot. I’m going to make you use that debuff so much that it drains you dry.”
“I’ll practice until I can use it with my eyes closed. Wow… I probably won’t be able to sleep for the next few days.”
Seeing Park Dong-jae overwhelmed with joy beyond what he could handle filled Kang-hoo with pride.
Building the Wall of Perfection.
Weakening monsters or enemies with Park Dong-jae’s debuff and cutting them down with ease.
Even imagining it brought a smile to Kang-hoo’s face—a clean and perfect picture.
Later.
Kang-hoo immediately returned to Korea.
The flight, arranged through the Groo Guild’s courtesy, was first class, just like his trip to Norway.
This time, Kang-hoo slept throughout the journey to conserve his stamina, not even touching the in-flight meal.
And so, he arrived at Incheon Airport.
He parted ways with Park Dong-jae, agreeing to meet again when the Groo Guild requested their help with another dungeon.
After watching Park Dong-jae leave in a limousine, Kang-hoo called K.
-“You’re here?”
“Yes, I just landed. How did it go?”
-“It went well. It looks like we’ll arrange the meeting at my villa. When can you come?”
“I’ll head out directly from the airport. It might take some time with the traffic, but I’ll get there today.”
-“The meeting won’t be easy. It seems he wants to test you in some way.”
“I’ve prepared for that much. It’s nothing new.”
-“True. When you met Shin-ryeong, it was the same, wasn’t it? You had to go through all those traps just to meet her.”
“Yes. Anyway, since this is a meeting with an elder, I’ll be as respectful and careful as possible.”
-“You know his personality well, don’t you?”
“Well, it’s also a common trait of people his age.”
Kang-hoo knew Cheonsal Nosu’s personality better than anyone, having shaped it himself in the original work.
He was the type to grumble and complain but teach everything thoroughly and show care even while pretending to dislike someone.
When dealing with Cheonsal Nosu, flowery words and meaningless flattery were unnecessary.
The only way to gain his approval was simple: prove yourself with your skills. That was it.
-“Just come to Seoul Station. I’ll arrange a secure limousine to take you to Yuri Land from there.”
“Thank you.”
-“See you soon.”
Who would’ve thought Kang-hoo would meet Cheonsal Nosu like this?
In the past, Kang-hoo had even considered him a potential target for skill replication due to his expertise as an assassin.
Not only was he good for copying skills, but his value as a mentor was exceptionally high.
Even in the original story, Jang Si-hwan had commented, “If I were an assassin, I would’ve sought out Cheonsal Nosu for guidance.”
For Kang-hoo, born an assassin, the chance to learn from someone like Cheonsal Nosu was more than welcome.
“This should be interesting.”
Kang-hoo’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Still, knowing there would be a “test,” he had to stay sharp.
Cheonsal Nosu wouldn’t try to kill him during the test, but one mistake could sever their connection entirely.
Kang-hoo’s steps quickened.
He couldn’t wait to meet him.
Meanwhile.
A man observing Kang-hoo’s arrival was diligently writing something in a notebook.
Though he was quite far from Kang-hoo in the airport, identifying him was easy.
The man’s eyesight was specialized for reconnaissance, allowing him to zoom in and out as needed.
His name was Kim Hee-woon.
A direct subordinate of Chae Gwanhyeong, he was sent to watch over Kang-hoo at the request of Gong Yu-seok and Go Ju-hee.
Primarily a black mage like Jang Si-hwan, Kim Hee-woon was also uniquely skilled in surveillance and reconnaissance.
“Is there any point in tailing like a thief? Just killing him would save the trouble of tracking.”
True to being Chae Gwanhyeong’s subordinate, Kim Hee-woon’s thoughts were just as extreme.
It was no wonder he was annoyed at being tasked with tracking someone who seemed so insignificant.
“Damn it. Orders are orders.”
Muttering curses, Kim Hee-woon began tailing Kang-hoo from a distance.
From this range, Kang-hoo would never suspect he was being followed. Kim Hee-woon was confident he wouldn’t be caught.