[ Q&A(2) ]
Droplet: Sorry about that. Those guys may be crude, but they sure are skilled.
Tree: It’s like water that’s been stagnant for too long—it’s starting to spoil. We don’t do water changes here, you know~. (TL Note: Stagnant Water is what people who play a game for way too long are called.)
Droplet: The second reason is that it’s ultimately just a beginner’s support system.
Honey: Beginner’s?
Droplet: Yes. In your world, think about it—what if one day you suddenly gained the ability to fly? How would you even realize it? It’s not like most people would just think, “Ah, I should try flying now!”
That’s true. Unless they’re children, an ordinary adult attempting to fly with their bare body would probably end up in a mental hospital.
Droplet: That’s why we applied a system most suitable for people in your world—the status window. It’s a game-like system that displays levels, stats, skills, and rewards in a neat little box.
Tree: But since it’s just for beginners, it’ll eventually disappear.
Droplet: We’ll monitor the adaptation level and gradually phase it out over roughly ten years, starting with those who’ve already awakened, beginning with the skill windows.
Honey: Do you really have to get rid of it? Without the status window, it’ll be difficult for future awakeners to even realize they’ve awakened.
The system is convenient in many ways.
Droplet: Don’t worry about that. Right now, people aren’t fully in tune with their abilities because they haven’t adapted yet. Even if they get a sense of it, they might be confused whether it’s real or just their imagination.
Tree: Even now, S-classes can slightly detect the abilities of others. When the system disappears, that sense will become even sharper. Some particularly sensitive people might even detect the stats of non-awakened individuals. That’s why Honey’s Promising Talent skill is rated lower than its actual usefulness.
I had already suspected that the Promising Talent skill was too good for an S-class. If the ability to confirm the awakening status window becomes common, only the optimized awakening effect once a month will remain, making it just about right for S-class.
Tree: Also, while the beginner system provides a comfortable guide, it’s also a limitation that sets boundaries.
Droplet: It’s similar to how in a game, you can only operate within the system’s framework. Having clear grades and skills may feel convenient at first, but once they’re set, it’s hard to break free from them.
Tree: An F-class awakener can never become an S-class. The system sets the growth limit for F-class, and no matter how hard they try, B-class is the highest they can reach. In fact, during the system’s early days, a kind of safety mechanism was in place, making it difficult for F-classes to grow their skills or stats unless they were an exceptional case. However, in a world without a system, it’s not impossible for an ordinary person to grow into the strongest in the world.
Droplet: People continue to change. Nothing is set in stone—not even stats or skills.
Tree: Plus, we, the system, aren’t perfect. Especially these days, the accuracy has dropped a bit because of Honey.
…Because of me?
Newbie: That’s right! Could you maybe reduce the frequency of using the Promising Talent skill? Even by just 20%? I feel like I’m going to die from overwork! (ㅠ◇ㅠ)
Tree: Every time you use the Promising Talent skill on a new person, we have to check and assign the expected rank and skills. We try to manage our time accordingly, but it’s still tough. We don’t have unlimited time in a day.
Honey: …I’m sorry.
I didn’t realize it was being done manually in real-time.
Honey: I’ll cut it down to about half.
Droplet: Please do. If the accuracy drops too much, it’ll be a problem for you too, Honey.
Of course. I don’t want to end up wrestling with the wrong skills.
Honey: Is there any way to give skills more intuitive names?
Droplet: For new skills, it’s possible, but for skills already stored in the system, it’s difficult. We can only tweak a few. Besides, completely new skills are extremely rare.
Tree: In fact, they’re almost nonexistent.
Almost nonexistent, huh? Considering the current number of awakeners isn’t that high, the rarity of new skills must mean there’s another world, after all.
Like the place where the former owner of the Golden Forge lived.
Honey: Speaking of which, the Golden Forge Master skill has an unusually detailed description. It even came with an item.
Tree: Ah, that’s because the previous skill owner put in extra effort. A price had to be paid, and there was a sacrifice. It was done for the future of others.
Droplet: He was a good Mister. Like all excellent blacksmiths, he was also a great cook.
Tree: I miss him. Good people leave too soon.
The price must have been his life. Considering it was passed on as an item, the skill’s special nature probably played a role.
Tree: I can’t give you detailed explanations, but it’s an extremely rare case. It’s impossible for most abilities.
Droplet: And it’s a one-time thing, so the next skill holder will be ordinary.
Myungwoo really lucked out.
Droplet: We can write detailed skill descriptions too, but like I said earlier, the Perfect Nurturer title is the first of its kind. We don’t have any information on it.
Tree: Even the regular Nurturer title is extremely rare for its rank.
Newbie: That’s right! It’s the first time I’ve seen a Nurturer title too!
A Nurturer? That’s surprising.
Honey: Don’t you just need to be the guardian of an S-class awakener?
S-classes are rare, but there aren’t that few of them, and many still have living parents. So I thought there’d be more people with the Nurturer title, even if they didn’t reveal it like me.
Tree: It’s a bit different. To explain this, I’ll have to tell you about higher-rank awakeners. Do you have time?
Droplet: Yeah. It’s information Honey should know.
Tree: The Nurturer title can only be obtained if a natural S-class awakener considers you their nurturer.
Honey: Natural?
Tree: When you use the Promising Talent skill, the expected awakening stat grade appears, right? If it’s an S, not an A or A~S, then that’s a natural S-class. There are only five of them among the current awakeners… and you’ve met three of them.
The ones I’ve confirmed are Yuhyun and Liette. The other one must be Seong Hyunjae. So, all the other S-classes I’ve met had an expected stat grade of A~S?
Droplet: It’s true that people aren’t born with equal abilities. Even before awakeners appeared in your world, there were many exceptionally talented people. Among those naturally gifted, the expected stat grade S is an irregularity. In the system, grade S is the limit for the primary species of that world. While skills can exceed that, as they often transcend physical limitations, stats cannot. It’s not impossible to surpass that limit through effort, but it’s difficult and takes a long time—at least a decade.
Indeed, the maximum stat grade was S. That’s why there were no SS-grade hunters even five years later.
Droplet: And the expected awakening stat grade is only the grade of a newly awakened individual with potential for growth. The Promising Talent skill only optimizes the awakening, not reaching the maximum or limit. So, A~S is the maximum awakening stat grade for that species.
Tree: In other words, a natural S-class is an outlier. Considering how large Honey’s world population is, it’s surprising there are already five of them. Usually, there are only two or three in a generation. These extremely rare outliers don’t mix well with their own kind.
Droplet: Even A~S grades tend to look down on those with lower abilities. But S-classes can go to the extreme of not even considering others of their kind. At the same time, other people, especially ordinary ones, instinctively find S-classes unsettling. They might feel intimidated, uncomfortable interacting with them, and that small difference can be quite significant.
Tree: It’s hard to be a proper parent if you’re intimidated by your own child.
As I read the words on the screen, I recalled my childhood. Yuhyun was cute. I don’t remember feeling unsettled.
Tree: That’s why the Nurturer title is rare. Moreover, those with the title tend to have short lifespans.
Honey: What?
Droplet: It’s not for any other reason—it’s just that they’re more likely to be murdered. People can’t touch an S-class, so they target their families instead. Many S-classes have a bit of a tyrant personality. Honey’s world is stable in that regard, so that’s a relief.
A tyrant, huh. They don’t seem much different from other guild leaders. Not just Yuhyun, but the other two didn’t seem particularly unusual either.
Honey: You said I’ve met three natural S-classes, but I didn’t feel like they were that different. I do have fear resistance, but they all seemed fine attitude-wise.
Yuhyun goes without saying, and Liette was overly clingy with her kindness. Liette’s behavior seemed largely due to her Dragon Slayer title, but Seong Hyunjae, who didn’t have that, was still quite gentle.
Tree: Well, that’s because it’s you.
Droplet: Your stats are low, so you’re not a threat, but your special skills are high. Higher-rank combat-oriented awakeners like that. If it’s an S-class, they’d sense it even more. There’s also someone else like that besides you.
Yu Myungwoo? Or is he talking about the Saintess? Come to think of it, the Saintess was quite popular among the top hunters. She was practically the matriarch of the hunter community.
Tree: Just imagining it is so cute. I used to have those kinds of kids □□□□□□□□□□□□. Ah, whoops. Sorry.
Droplet: Newbie, thanks for the quick cut-off.
Newbie: No problem!
Those □s are probably for excessive information blocking. The Deer and the Wolf have a slightly different vibe, though.
Tree: Our story is pointless information. Just got a bit nostalgic.
Droplet: Be careful now. There’s not much time left. Still, Honey, be careful with higher-rank awakeners. They’ll generally have goodwill towards you, but the power gap is so vast that their goodwill could easily turn into violence. Many of them are also rather selfish and reckless, making them even more dangerous. We hope you’ll gather S-classes safely.
Tree: Yeah. Safety first. Even if it takes a bit longer, that’s okay. About five years, maybe? Originally, you had about ten years of leeway, but as you know, five years have disappeared.
Droplet: You wouldn’t have found another solution in time anyway, so don’t worry about losing five years.
Honey: Okay.
Five years is plenty of time. Once Peace finishes growing, there’ll be three of them, and another top-class baby monster is due to arrive soon. I could probably get one from Sesung too. Including Liette, her brother, and the Breaker guild leader, that’s already eight. If Kim Seonghan grows safely, that’ll make nine.
I might be able to gather them all within two or three years, even if I take my time.
Honey: Do monsters count among the 50?
I asked just in case. If it’s limited to humans, it could be tougher.
Droplet: As long as they meet the keyword criteria, it’s fine.
Then that’s easy. One less thing to worry about.
Tree: Any other questions?
Hmm, what else is there?
I’ve roughly figured out why they’re interested in me. They didn’t go into detail, but they said I just need to gather 50 S-classes. And I’ve got enough information about the system. Skills, awakeners… oh, dungeons.
Honey: Are dungeon generation rules the same as before? I’m currently investigating them.
Newbie: They’re the same! The only difference is that the speed has increased. Sometimes a dungeon set to appear five years from now pops up, but we’re doing our best to handle those right away!
I just need to adjust for the speed then.
Honey: Is it difficult to get information about monsters or dungeons?
Tree: It’s too closely related to the core, so it’s dangerous. You’ll find out sooner or later, whether you like it or not.
Droplet: That’s right. Honey will eventually learn everything. When the time comes.
……I’d rather not know. Their ominous words are making me uneasy.
Is there really nothing else? If I ask about those people, they’ll probably say no. They’ve already blocked out information once. I think I’ve gotten everything important.
Honey: Just one last thing. Can I talk to my younger brother about the system? He’s been really anxious, and I’d like to have someone I can confide in. Since we’re in the dungeon together, it’d be great if you could send him a message window too.
If he receives a message from the system, he’ll believe it right away.
Tree: Your brother? Wait a second. Spreading information is risky, so not too much… just letting him know that we’re helping would be fine. When I give the signal, we’ll send a simple message. How about something like “ㅅㅅㅌ”?
Honey: Yes, thank you very much.
I hope this will calm Yuhyun down.
Newbie: You really care about your brother! It’s nice to see such close siblings˘▽˘ (TL Note: He uses the word 남매, which refers to a brother and sister)
No, it’s a younger brother.
Deer: My love!! Don’t just look after your brother, call me “Eonni” too!♡ε♡
Wolf: I want to be “Oppa”!!
Newbie: Both of you are shameless. I’m the real older brother here! (TL Note: In Korea, women call older women Eonni and older men Oppa. A.k.a. Older Sister and Older Brother. Men call them Noona and Hyung)
……What are they talking about?
Honey: I’m male.
The chat window fell silent for a moment. And then.
Droplet: Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!!!!! I won! Newbie, bring the saw! Time to chop off that deer’s antlers! Woohoo!!
Excuse me, but it seems your character just changed.
Droplet: A thousand-year-old grudge has finally been lifted!
If it’s been a thousand years, a change is understandable.
Newbie: Are we really going to cut them off?
Droplet: If we made a bet, we have to follow through! What did the wolf wager? Why so quiet? Did both of them run off? Ah, sorry, Honey. Of course, you’re a guy. I thought so too. Sorry for the bet. Those jerks were just so insistent, it got to me.
Honey: It’s fine.
Tree: If you don’t have any more questions, shall we send you back? We’d love to chat more, though.
Honey: Yes, it hasn’t been too long, right?
Tree: Probably?
“Probably” isn’t reassuring. Hopefully, it hasn’t been days. That would be a disaster. I’m already a bit anxious.
Newbie: It hasn’t been long! I’m not certain, but at most, 30 minutes?
…That’s longer than I expected.
Honey: Is there any way to shorten the time?
Newbie: It’s difficult since the connection is already established. Shall I send you back right away?
Honey: Yes.
Still, 30 minutes should be okay. Now I can explain the system.
The light that formed the chat window and keyboard began to disperse, and the surrounding darkness gradually cleared. The scenery before me shifted.
Into a wasteland.
There had been a forest between the beach earlier, but now it’s all gone. The sea is fully visible.
‘Was everything… burned?’
The ashes drifting in the wind are slightly unsettling.
-Kraargh!
Suddenly, I heard a beast’s roar. Reflexively turning around, I saw a creature larger than a typical lion, with fur in shades of red and gold, charging toward me. Instinctively, I took a step back and activated the Promising Talent skill.
[Second-class Unicorn Variant — Flame Horned Lion (Adolescent) Peace
Current Stat Grade: B
Potential Growth Stat Grade: A~S
Optimized Initial Skills
Flame Breath (S) Acquired after Growth
Blazing Charge (A) Acquired after Growth
Gigantification (A) Acquired after Growth
Fire Resistance (A) Acquired
※Growth impossible without assistance from an adult.]
……Is that you, Peace?
–TL Notes–
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