Chapter 10


    After Kim Do-Jin left, Choi Yu-Seong smiled goofily for the remainder of the time.


    Hed only watched sixty or so applicants demonstrate their abilities, until the time Do-Jin visited, and only copied the skills that he thought were useful and didnt ovep with others.


    He used Fusion cautiously. Although he was in a good condition, he could face the consequences of mana shortage, as Jin Yu-Ri warned him.


    It would have been nice if he could see how much mana he had, like in a game, but reality didn''t work that way. There were many cases where yers actually passed out or even died because they used too much mana, without knowing how much they had. So it couldn''t hurt to be careful.


    In the end, Yu-Seong learned one skill from the mornings demonstrations.


    General Skill, Spark E


    Can be used with Fusion.


    Attacks targets within two meters with a strong electric attack. Its strength increases the closer the target is to the user.


    Fused from two F-rank skills, Friction and sh, Spark was worth taking up one of Yu-Seongs five additional skill slots. It was extremely efficient because of its long range of two meters, and befitting its electric nature, it could temporarily paralyze the target even if it failed to damage it.


    In the end, however, it failed to ovee the innate limitations an attack skill had. Yu-Seong required skills that were useful for surviving rather than attacking, like skills that enabled users to dodge instantly or protected the mind. Even if they were low-ranked, these kinds of skills were highly valued by yers.


    That was why nobody showed skills like these to Yu-Seong. After all, Yu-Seong lived in a world where it was normal for a yer to always have a trump card hidden up their sleeve just in case.


    But the skill that Do-Jin demonstrated in annoyance, as if it was nothing special, was exactly the type of skill.


    General Skill, Insight E


    Can be used with Fusion.


    Once activated, the yer is no longer affected by illusions cast by a skill of a lower rank.


    Once activated, the yers tension is resolved.


    Once activated, the yer''s concentration is enhanced.


    Once activated, the yer can use this skill to see a fraction of the target yers information if the target is of a lower rank than the yer. The range of information varies ording to skill rank. However, it may be blocked by other types of mind barrier skills the target possesses.


    A penalty is imposed as it is a copied skill.


    Usage count: 8


    This skill can only resist illusions cast by a skill lower than E-rank.


    The effect of tension resolution and concentration enhancement decreases to 70 percent.


    There will be limitations to viewing the target''s yer information.


    What was there to say? This skill was simply superbpared to any other E-rank skill, as expected of a main characters skill. Although the penalties lessened its effects, it was still so good on its own that Yu-Seong didn''t want to fuse it with another skill.


    <em>''It''s pointless to hide that I''m a yer when Kim Do-Jin already has this skill.''</em>


    Insight was the skill Do-Jin often used in the original novel [Modern Master Returns]. Using this, Do-Jin could determine if his opponent was a yer. If he wasnt able to see yer information, then it meant that the opponent had a mind barrier skill, which would make him a yer.


    If Do-Jin wanted to figure out if Yu-Seong actually became a yer, then he could''ve done it whenever he wanted. yers who used this skill stood out, as they would appear to have a fire inside their eyes once it was activated.


    Do-Jin was able to notice that Yu-Seong was a yer without using Insight. He probably didn''t want Yu-Seong to be hostile toward him for using it.


    When Yu-Seong asked him to demonstrate a skill, he activated Insight as it was a chance for Do-Jin to confirm Yu-Seong''s yer information.


    <em>''It was Kim Do-Jin''s way of figuring out what types of abilities I had.''</em>


    He was the shrewd returner who was determined to not leave empty-handed. In other words, Do-Jin eventually learned a fraction of Yu-Seong''s abilities as a yer.


    <em>''How much did he see? He wouldn''t have seen everything, since the skill rank is low, but...''</em>


    Anyways, it wasn''t great that a dangerous figure like Do-Jin was able to learn information about him.


    <em>''I wouldn''t have been able to copy Insight if it wasn''t for him using it. I guess I did what I had to do in order to get the skill from Kim Do-Jin.''</em>


    It was a shame that Insight was an active skill and not an inactive, passive skill but from the start, Yu-Seong could only copy skills like this with the Eye of Replication. In addition, Insight was very useful despite the penalties.


    <em>''I can fuse Insight when I acquire a skill that''s equally valuableter.''</em>


    Rather than having it lose value by fusing it with a lesser skill, he would wait until the right time.


    <em>''If the effects of Insight develop by fusing it advantageously...''</em>


    Yu-Seong couldn''t imagine how great the skill would possibly be. Making it better was a pretty high bar to cross. After all, considering that Insight was copied from the main character of the novel, it was an astounding ability even as it was now.


    Then again, people said that one should dream big, didnt they?


    Thanks to Do-Jins sudden visit, Yu-Seong had obtained an incredible skill packed with amazing abilities, including a mind barrier. And when he ws able to decide what to fill his third skill slot with an hourter, he couldnt stop smiling.


    <em>''At this rate, I might fill all five slots with extremely satisfying skills.''</em>


    He was on the verge of acquiring the five necessary skills for his leveling n in just a day.


    He hadnt even expected anything like this to happen, but as he was making progress throughout the afternoon, Yu-Seong naturally started bing hopeful.


    However, as always, the world was more than ready to remind those who wanted too much how cruel it could be. It was five in the evening, with only three applicants left, when Yu-Seong looked downcastpared to his hopeful behavior at the beginning of the afternoon session. He no longer smiled as his expectations were dashed.


    <em>''It was too much to ask from the start.''</em>


    After all, he considered it to be sessful today if he attained three skills, and since he had even obtained Do-Jin''s Insight skill, it was definitely a sess. Yu-Seong decided to take it easy and called in all three applicants together.


    The three were from different groups: a man in his fifties with a belly so big that it was hard to believe he was a yer, a young girl whose sses and hair covered half of her face, and a young man that wore a shirt and a tie as if he was applying for somepany interview.


    Yu-Seong had the slightest hope, but in the end nothing caught his eye.


    The man in his fifties demonstrated an F-rank skill called Gluttony that made it somewhat harder to be full from eating, the girl who he couldn''t even recall her face properly also showed an F-rank skill called Sweat nd Contraction, and the business-like young man boasted his E-rank skill Sanitation Maintenance.


    <em>''That man could be a legendary food fighter if he upgrades his Gluttony skill. Sweat nd Contraction and Sanitation Maintenance seem simr but they are slightly different... They are not the kind of skill I''d use.''</em>


    Although the end was quite disappointing, Yu-Seong still thanked the applicants with a smile and spread his notes out where he recorded the skills and names of the applicants that came today.


    He might have missed something now, but think of a great skillbinationter. Since it didn''t matter whether he visited the person or paid them more toe to him, Yu-Seong had written down all the skills and names just in case.


    "You did great today, oppa."


    "You really did, young master."


    Looking at Yu-Seong scanning through his notebook, Jin Yu-Ri and Jin Do-Yoon spoke.


    "You two also did great, starting from early this morning."


    As he turned away from the notebook, replying to the Jin siblings in a bright tone, something unbelievable suddenly shed across Yu-Seongs eyes.


    "Chae Ye-Ryeong?"


    "I beg your pardon?"


    Having no time to answer Do-Yoons question, Yu-Seong quickly scanned his notebook. After rapidly going through the name in his notebook, Yu-Seongs index finger stopped at thest line.


    <em>E-rank skill Sweat nd Contraction, Chae Ye-Ryeong.</em>


    There was no mistake. She was the yer that had an ordinary skill, covered half of her face as if she was shy, and wasnt particrly noteworthy.


    Oh my god.


    Because of the tiring interview, his concentration had dropped and Yu-Seong had overlooked her. That was a major miss on his part.


    <em>The Sorceress of the Flood, Chae Ye-Ryeong!</em>


    It was a peculiar name that he had only seen once in the original novel, but her episode was not insignificant. Chae Ye-Ryeong, a somewhat ipetent yer, experienced a second Awakening for some reason and became a powerful cmity that threatened the world a few yearster.


    The rest of the story was simple. Do-Jin and his party fought the Sorceress of the Flood to save the world and eventually killed her. As always, even the strongest viin couldnt beat the main characters mighty party.


    Since Ye-Ryeong was described to be one of the strongest viins in the novel, she appeared towards the end of the novel. The original novel hadn''t mentioned what Ye-Ryeong was doing in this current period of time in the novel, but now, she appeared in front of Yu-Seong.


    Of course, since the world wasrge and there were a lot of people in it, she could just have the same name as Chae Ye-Ryeong, but what if she was <em>the </em>Ye-Ryeong?


    <em>I would be a fool to let her go.</em>


    Ye-Ryeong, in the novel, was described as a character that was corrupted. Despite difficult circumstances, she raised her siblings on her own with a kind heart. The original novel only exined briefly why she became that way.


    <em>I can stop it.</em>


    The incident that corrupted her might not happen if Yu-Seong interfered. Therefore, there was only one thing that mattered to Yu-Seong right now.


    <em>Its that Chae Ye-Ryeong is still a good person.</em>


    She was a precious treasure that couldnt bepared to the simple skill that he was looking at now. Could he just simply watch while Kim Do-Jin got rid of her because shed turn out to be a threat in the future? Nonsense.


    <em>I can convince her to join me.</em>


    The Choi Yu-Seong now wasnt the Choi Yu-Seong in the novel. This meant he could alter the story.


    How long ago did thest three applicants leave?


    Wearing his jacket, Yu-Seong stood up and asked the Jin siblings.


    About five minutes ago. Why do you ask, sir?


    I need to find them.


    What? You mean right now?


    Understood.


    Although Yu-Ri asked again as she was surprised, Do-Yoon immediately headed out to fulfill Yu-Seongs orders.


    <em>They couldnt have gotten far away.</em>


    Yu-Seong shouted at the bewildered Yu-Ri as he headed out.


    If you find them, call me right away!


    Before Yu-Ri could respond to him, Yu-Seong hurriedly left the room.


    <em>I mean you could just call them.</em>


    Alone in the room, Yu-Ri calmed down and picked up the phone.


    * * *


    Yu-Seong ran through the streets; He only thought about Ye-Ryeong and meeting her.


    <em>I shouldve known immediately when I saw her name</em>


    Of the three paths diverging from the streets under the hill-side road leading to his house, he picked the road on his right. Fortunately, he soon encountered a young girl walking in his direction with half her face covered.


    <em>Chae Ye-Ryeong!</em>


    Almost shouting out her name, Yu-Seong suppressed his emotions and approached her.


    Oh!


    Eyes widened with surprise, Ye-Ryeong spoke out loud as she noticed Yu-Seong.


    I received your call. I was on my way back.


    Yu-Seong looked like he couldnt understand what she said.


    It was true he was searching for her, but he did not recall ever calling her. As if Ye-Ryeong read his mind, she smiled and exined the situation.


    I received a call that you were looking for me, sir. The voice seemed to be the unnie [1] that sat next to you.


    I always make things more difficult.


    Although Yu-Seong always considered himself to be thoroughly prepared and strategic before he woke up in the novel, he sometimes made these sorts of mistakes. It was a sloppy part of himself that he admitted to having.


    Reaching out to Ye-Ryeong would have been extremely easy. She was a yer that came to Yu-Seongs house to demonstrate her skill. Yu-Seong had her contact information just in case. If he just thought about it for a second, he wouldve done the same thing as Yu-Ri.


    Anyways, what is it that you wanted to see me for? She tilted her head as she asked in a clear voice.


    She was very short, maybe about 160cm tall? Although he initially thought that she wasnt confident because she covered half her face, that seemed to be a mistake.


    Yu-Seong paused shortly to find the right answer to Ye-Ryeongs question.


    <em>Should I tell her that I came to ask her to join me?</em>


    No. There was something that had to be done before that. He needed to first confirm whether she was actually the Sorceress of the Flood in the novel. But how?


    Um Well


    Flustered, Yu-Seong thought rapidly. Then, it dawned on him that he could use one of the skills he had learned today.


    <em>Insight!</em>


    He activated the skill right away, originally possessed by Do-Jin, the main character of [Modern Master Returns].


    A blue me shimmered inside his eyes. Quivering shortly, Ye-Ryeong stepped back as if she was scared by his sudden change, but Yu-Seong didnt have the time to deal with that.


    Name: ???


    Age: ??


    Personality: ??


    Condition: ??


    Skills: ??


    This yer possesses an unidentifiable powerful potential skill.


    Information is limited due to skill rank.


    A powerful potential skill that is unidentifiable.


    That was the only sentence that Yu-Seong could actually confirm, but it was more than enough. Considering Insight had the ability to see through the essence of the world, it almost never used descriptions like powerful in the yer information it disyed, much less use such words for a mere F-rank yer.


    <em>Im positive. This girlis the Sorceress of the Flood.</em>


    1. Unnie is a term used in Korea for calling an older sister in a friendly way