Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Chapter 129 : Conceptualization Technique (2)

Conceptualization Technique (2)

The reason for having them learn the Conceptualization Technique in advance was to prepare for the possibility that a dangerous enemy might appear at the Relic Fiesta.

If the opponent was A-rank, it would be easy to gain the upper hand with the Conceptualization Technique, and even with an S-rank opponent, the technique made things easier.

After all, martial strength itself varies depending on how well one understands oneself.

The Conceptualization Technique, which manifests that as a phenomenon, was originally the very first stage one should have achieved.

However, in Soo-ah's case, due to her battle with Hojun, her talent awakened all at once, and she immediately reached S-rank without forming a Conceptualization Technique.

On the other hand, Alencia's situation was similar to Shin Ah-yeon's.

Just as Shin Ah-yeon could not use her own Conceptualization Technique due to her lack of magic power, the same was true for Alencia.

'In the footage, it is clear she had completed her Conceptualization Technique.'

Shin Ah-yeon frowned as she looked at Alencia, who was sitting in front of her with a blank face.

Judging by this, Alencia probably didn't intend it, but clearly used it instinctively during her battle with Titan.

'In other words, it means that mentally, she has already completed it.'

If the form or effect was uncertain, it could simply be corrected, but unfortunately, Alencia's situation was just like Shin Ah-yeon's.

Simply put, she lacked the power needed to use the Conceptualization Technique.

While Shin Ah-yeon couldn't use it due to insufficient magic power, Alencia lacked electricity.

The reason was probably that Alencia's Conceptualization Technique was used when she was in a "fully charged" state.

'Well, in that case, if I can just grasp the mechanism of power, maybe there's a way.'

The Saintess, a proof of an uncertain divinity that no longer exists in the modern age.

The power Alencia was born with—the authority of electricity—originates from her Stigmata.

According to Park Jung-woo, Alencia could use the Conceptualization Technique too, so it would be best to assume that the Stigmata is influenced by Alencia's mental image.

'If we consider the Stigmata a medium for power, maybe correction won't be so difficult.'

Normally, once a Conceptualization Technique is formed, correcting it is nearly impossible.

If it were easy, Shin Ah-yeon would already have been able to use hers.

Because the body itself transforms into the optimal form for the Conceptualization Technique one has built, modifying it is difficult.

A typical solution—like what Baek Hojun did—is to break through a wall and have the Conceptualization Technique evolve once again...

'If she's using her power through her Stigmata, then there isn't any penalty in the first place. Isn't it just a matter of her mindset, then?'

Shin Ah-yeon decided to go in that direction first and teach Alencia how to control her Conceptualization Technique properly.

However, there was one thing that bothered her.

"No matter how I look at it, her mental state doesn't seem that good, so how did she complete her Conceptualization Technique?"

"Huh? What?"

"... Never mind, forget it."

She didn't even particularly feel like asking.

It was obvious—Park Jung-woo must have done something.

Even though she thought it was impressive, some unknown frustration lingered.

'Haaa, what's the point of thinking about this?'

Worrying about this sort of thing was not in her nature to begin with.

In any case, with time, it would all work out one way or another.

With that thought, Shin Ah-yeon focused on correcting Alencia's Conceptualization Technique.

"I don't get it."

Unlike Alencia, whose problems were mostly solved through simple corrections, for Soo-ah, things were deadlocked from the very start.

"I have no idea where or how I'm even supposed to start. Swordsmanship? Or attacks that use magic power?"

Blue flames would flare up from Soo-ah's sword, only to die down again and again.

Because she was loved by magic power, her emotions clearly caused her magic power to surge and subside.

"Normally, a Conceptualization Technique is a gateway one passes through to reach S-rank. Usually, it's something you achieve through your own efforts—or something you strove for. Those things usually manifest in a single form. Typically, you break the barrier and become S-rank only after you realize that..."

Even for Hojun, Soo-ah's case was a first.

Most people formed it naturally, so he'd never had to worry about "how to make one" in the first place.

"When you fought me back then, Soo-ah-ssi, what were you thinking?"

"Pardon?"

"At that time, you broke your limits and fully awakened your talent."

So, what did you overcome yourself for, Soo-ah-ssi?

That was the question in Hojun's eyes.

"That was..."

She closed her eyes briefly and recalled what had happened then.

There had been only one thing on her mind.

"I didn't want to disappoint him."

Park Jung-woo, who had always believed that Soo-ah could do it.

And—

"The one person who ever truly believed in me."

Upon hearing Soo-ah's answer, Hojun finally seemed to understand.

The reason she couldn't use her Conceptualization Technique.

***

"That's... definitely not good."

I had left Shin Ah-yeon and Hojun to take care of Alencia and Soo-ah, respectively, and come outside.

Staying in there would have only gotten in the way, and I had other matters to attend to.

"I think her dependence on Manager Park is just too strong. Of course, it's not entirely a bad thing, wanting not to disappoint you and being able to do it because someone believed in her..."

"So, it's a problem for creating a Conceptualization Technique."

"That's right."

I heard Hojun's voice through my phone, tinged with worry.

Wanting to become stronger for someone isn't bad in itself.

However, because her desire comes from such a strong dependence, she isn't able to properly establish her own mental image.

What is it she wants to do—or needs to do?

Thinking about it, Soo-ah never really had such a goal.

Just having become an S-rank Hunter was enough for her, and she wanted nothing more.

"This is a problem..."

After ending the call with Hojun, I let out a soft sigh.

I already knew that Soo-ah relied on me a lot.

But I never thought it was actually harming her.

'So what do I do?'

You can't just implant a goal in someone else. It's something they have to decide for themselves.

"For now, the best I can hope is that she figures something out before Relic Fiesta."

I was still worried, but I trusted that Soo-ah would manage.

I had wanted her to learn the Conceptualization Technique before Relic Fiesta, but even if she didn't, it wouldn't cause an immediate problem.

If a truly dangerous enemy did appear, I could step in myself.

I decided to take my time dealing with the Conceptualization Technique issue.

"Oh my, did something serious happen?"

Lost in thought, I heard a languid voice from downstairs.

When I looked down, there was Yeon-ji, with a long horn growing out of the middle of her forehead.

"Whatever it is, isn't my situation more serious?"

"..."

I couldn't bring myself to deny it.

I never expected a horn to grow out of Yeon-ji's head.

"Well, at least no one else saw it."

"That doesn't exactly make me feel any better, you know?"

Yeon-ji grumbled as she flopped onto her bed.

This was at Shin Ah-yeon's house, where Yeon-ji had been ever since returning from America.

After acting strange, she'd been bedridden, and only woke up today.

I hadn't told the others yet, but they'd be shocked if they saw this.

"Is there a way to deal with this? You seem to know a lot about demons."

"I've beaten up a lot of demons, but I haven't talked to many..."

"You know all about dark magic, but not this?"

The dark magic was knowledge I picked up incidentally while raiding the demons' headquarters.

Besides, I had demon blood(魔血) flowing in my veins, so if I could master the technique, I thought it would be quite helpful.

"As far as I know, there is a way to hide it, you know? But having a horn means you've officially become an adult as a demon, but your body hasn't changed much?"

"That's good, then. It'd be even better if the horn went away too."

She must have been worried about suddenly reverting to Ji Yeon-hwa's age, so she looked genuinely relieved.

Well, after finally becoming younger, who'd want to get old again?

"I already asked Inspector Shim Hyuk-soo to track demon activity for me. If I catch one, I'll be sure to ask them."

"Really? Then I'll just practice magic here until then. Honestly, after being bedridden for so long, there's no part of me that doesn't ache. Because of someone, you know."

"..."

At that, I couldn't help but avert my gaze.

I, too, felt like I'd dragged Yeon-ji through too much lately.

"Anyway, don't worry. I'll find out as soon as I can."

"Yeah, and could you let the others know so they won't be shocked?"

Yeon-ji yawned, closed her eyes, and soon fell asleep.

She'd managed to wake up for a bit, but clearly her body hadn't fully recovered yet.

'Or maybe her demon form is undergoing changes as it matures into adulthood.'

Though there were no signs of her growing any more, her heartbeat was unusual, and the mahyeol running through her veins felt activated.

Especially, the magic stone embedded in her forehead felt twice as powerful.

'I really have put her through too much.'

I looked down at the sleeping Yeon-ji and briefly touched the gem on her forehead.

Her body flinched for a moment, but she didn't wake.

'There really doesn't seem to be any particular problem.'

Feeling the subtle resonance in my own heart, I could tell that the demon heart at Yeon-ji's core was nothing like a regular demon's.

"Get plenty of rest."

After checking on Yeon-ji one last time and removing my hand from her forehead, I quietly left the room, closing the door behind me.

It seemed best to let Yeon-ji be until I figured out a way to deal with her horn.

Thud.

"..."

Park Jung-woo had shut the door and left the darkened room.

Yeon-ji slowly opened her eyes, checking if the door was fully closed.

After confirming she was alone, she released a deep sigh.

"... I can't go on like this."

She muttered, stroking the jewel on her forehead.

With plenty already on her mind, she wished he wouldn't make things even more complicated.

'If you're tired, you should rest yourself.'

Though she never said it, the night before they left America for Korea, Yeon-ji had once again seen Park Jung-woo cough up a considerable amount of blood.

She didn't know for sure, but every time Park Jung-woo used a powerful ability, he showed similar symptoms.

'Is he trying to hide it—or does he just not care?'

She didn't understand why she was always the one to see it.

Did he think just because she was under a contract she'd never tell the others?

"... Might as well get some sleep."

With that, she closed her eyes.

Even though her body was heavy with fatigue, it took her dozens of minutes to finally drift off.

***

With Unique's recent rapid rise, the big management agencies were in turmoil.

Grand Nova and Unique were the only ones to have three S-rank Hunters.

Of course, from the competitors' perspective, Unique had to be put in its place no matter what.

"So... you want me to do something about Park Jung-woo?"

"I mean, wouldn't it benefit Grand Nova too? I heard the Relic Fiesta got messed up because of him..."

Pd Heo Sung-man tried his best to raise his voice as he spoke to the massive man in front of him.

Jin Su-hyuk, president of Grand Nova.

He had demanded priority rights to the A-rank dungeon during the Relic Fiesta, only to be flatly refused.

Upon learning that Park Jung-woo was responsible for this, PD Heo Seong-man had come straight to Grand Nova.

He thought that with such a shared enemy as Unique, Jin Su-hyuk would surely help.

'If it's not someone like Grand Nova, I can't handle this mess. I have to get Jin Su-hyuk on my side somehow.'

An S-rank Hunter could only be stopped by another S-rank Hunter.

Grand Nova, with its own three S-rank Hunters, was the only deterrent to Unique.

"I'm sorry, PD Heo, but I'm afraid I can't help you personally."

"... What?"

Jin Su-hyuk's answer was calm.

He showed neither displeasure nor even the slightest agitation.

It was as if Unique didn't concern him at all.

"But, I can offer you two options."

"... Options?"

Pd Heo, dumbfounded, repeated his words back to him, and Jin Su-hyuk smiled lightly.

"Yes. I've made a lot of interesting new friends lately, you see."

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

I feel like Jin Su-hyuk made contact with the demons.

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