Aftermath and Awakening

“Woohyuk! This is too much! That’s not an opponent I can handle!”

“It’s enough now!”

The moment I chose the dimensional stone, I rushed toward the Minotaur.

Did he realize I had a plan?

Yang Jihwan poured mana into his sword and blocked the Minotaur’s attack.

Even with everything a physical-type awakener could muster, his blade cracked under the strain.

“Thanks!”

The opening he created—

I used that brief moment to dive deep into the Minotaur’s range.

[The power of the dimensional stone flows into your body.]

-No matter how many points you spent, it will only last a few seconds. You won’t even be able to draw out its full power.

“That’s enough!”

The power of a hero surged through my body.

An overwhelming force, as if it would explode out of me.

If I didn’t release it immediately, it felt like I would break instead.

I stared at the Minotaur, ready to strike—

Crack—

Its fist slammed into my body.

“Guh!”

I jolted awake.

Cold sweat soaked my body.

Instinctively, I touched my chest—

no injuries.

‘…A dream?’

That final moment.

Using the dimensional shop—

and the Minotaur’s counterattack.

It had dropped its axe and attacked me directly.

Thankfully, the dimensional stone’s power had already elevated my body beyond normal hunters.

I barely dodged—

and landed a counterpunch on its head.

If I had been even slightly slower—

I would’ve died before striking.

‘The difference in power…’

The Minotaur was overwhelming.

Even my strongest attack couldn’t pierce its skin.

‘I got arrogant because my stats increased.’

Even with safety personnel nearby,

that situation had been truly dangerous.

“You’re awake?”

“…Yang Jihwan?”

Turning my head slightly, I saw him sitting beside me.

It seemed he had been watching over me the whole time.

Following me during the exam made sense—

but this?

“Where am I?”

“The infirmary. Your muscles were severely damaged, and your bones had multiple fractures.”

“…That bad?”

It sounded worse than expected.

Now that I focused, pain spread through my body.

‘That last dimensional stone…’

The power of Theseus.

Even after spending all my points, I could only use it for a few seconds.

And those seconds left my body in ruins.

Still—

the power had been overwhelming.

I dodged the attack.

And defeated the Minotaur in one strike.

“The exam ended two days ago.”

“I was unconscious for two days?”

“Yeah. Didn’t even move once.”

“…You stayed here the whole time?”

“……”

Two days.

He had stayed by my side the entire time.

“……I owed you.”

“Owed me?”

“Because of you, I scored high. Without you, it would’ve been impossible.”

“Oh right. We got first place, right?”

“Of course. First in both written and practical. I heard Won Jonghyo went to protest immediately.”

“That sounds like him.”

Even though I ended up like this—

I still achieved my goal.

‘Right… the points.’

I checked the system messages.

[Hidden Quest ‘Tonight’s Dinner is Ox Head Soup!’ completed.]

[Reward: 1,000,000 points acquired.]

[Quest ‘Mom’s Friend’s Son’ completed.]

[Reward: 200,000 points acquired.]

“…1.2 million?”

“What?”

“Nothing. Anyway… thanks.”

“Same here.”

1.2 million points.

An absurd amount.

The hidden quest had given far more than expected.

[Quest ‘Tonight’s Dinner is Ox Head Soup!’]

-Defeat the boss monster, Minotaur. Alone (team assistance allowed).

Alone.

If others had arrived earlier,

I might never have triggered it.

And that wasn’t all.

[The power of ‘Arden Junior’ has faded.]

[Agility +5 due to nimble movement.]

[Skill ‘Sense Mastery’ acquired.]

[Sense Mastery Lv.1 (Olfaction Specialized)]

-Enhances all five senses.

-Can temporarily sharpen senses using mana.

-Overall sensory efficiency +10%

-Olfaction bonus +30%

The hunting dog ability.

I hadn’t expected much—

but the reward was excellent.

A stat increase and a skill.

It didn’t feel huge now,

but it would grow stronger over time.

As I reviewed everything—

Yang Jihwan spoke again.

“…And I’m sorry.”

“Hm?”

“For looking down on you.”

“It’s fine. I already got my payback.”

Was he always like this?

Either way—

I had no reason to hold a grudge anymore.

“Now that I’m awake, go get some rest.”

“No, I still—”

“I said it’s fine.”

“…Alright. Rest well.”

The chair slid back.

He stood up and left.

Watching him,

he felt like a well-trained dog.

Thud.

The door closed.

I tried to get up—

“Ugh!”

Pain shot through my body.

Just as he said—

my body was wrecked.

The pain only got worse with time.

But—

‘I can’t waste time.’

I lay back down.

And focused inward.

My mana stirred.

“Haven’t practiced in a while.”

Mana began circulating through my body.

“I’ll train my mana refinement while I recover.”

The infirmary’s mana fluctuated.

Bang!

“This makes no sense! He awakened less than a month ago and got perfect scores?!”

A loud voice echoed through the faculty office.

Won Jonghyo.

Former second rank.

He had rushed in to protest.

The professor sighed.

“Calm down.”

“There must’ve been a leak! The written test, the maze—someone—!”

“Won Jonghyo!”

Professor Han Taesoo raised his voice.

Silence fell instantly.

“You realize what you’re implying?”

“I’m just saying it’s possible—”

“That’s enough.”

“….”

“To throw a tantrum over losing second place… disappointing.”

Jonghyo lowered his head.

He knew pushing further would only hurt him.

“…Understood.”

He turned and left.

Click.

Grit—

His teeth clenched.

“Jung Woohyuk… I don’t know what you did, but I’ll crush you.”

“Incredible recovery speed.”

The doctor stared in shock.

Just two days—

and I was fully healed.

Bruised skin restored.

Cracked bones completely repaired.

Even stronger than before.

‘Mana refinement…’

For two days,

I constantly circulated mana.

And raised its level.

As it flowed through my body,

it accelerated healing.

“I think you can be discharged. Just avoid overexertion.”

“Thank you.”

“I wish I could do more. A proper healer would’ve done better.”

True healers were rare.

Most worked in large guilds for huge salaries.

No academy could afford to keep one full-time.

Knock, knock—

A sound came from the door.

It opened.

“Professor Han?”

“Woohyuk.”

Han Taesoo stood there.

The professor who led the practical exam.

“Can we talk for a moment?”