NOVEL NEXT Chapter 68
Chapter 68. Joint Training
The green gem that Fran Fager brought was not an ordinary gem but a magic crystal capable of cultivating spirits.
It was twice the size of the magic crystals bought from the Open Market or the ones Yoon Do-ha gifted.
Additionally, it sparkled brilliantly, reflecting sunlight and lighting—truly a treasure worthy of a dwarf who loved collecting!
Yoo Ji-han swallowed hard.
“Is the box you’re holding in your other hand the same thing?”
“It’s a bit smaller, but yes, it’s the same.”
Inside the box held in Fran’s left hand was a blue magic crystal.
It was smaller than the green one he had seen first.
‘That storage box seems to block magic power as well…’
While examining the magic crystal, Yoo Ji-han looked at Fran’s face and asked.
“Did you say your name is Fran?”
“Yes! I am Fran Fager!”
“Where on earth did you get that?”
“I brought it from my original world, Caarlem!”
“You’re from Caarlem.”
“Do you know about Caarlem?”
“I’ve looked up some materials online.”
Fran Fager was a dwarf who came from the world called Caarlem.
Yoo Ji-han remembered hearing that name a few times.
“Can I ask something?”
“Ask away!”
“Is such a gem common there?”
“This gem was a gift from my father, who was a miner, on my tenth birthday! He secretly smuggled it out while working, so it’s not that common even in Caarlem.”
“It came from a mine then.”
“It did in Caarlem.”
At least in Caarlem, it seemed that magic crystals were mined from the ground.
And naturally, it was impossible to find magic crystals from mines on Earth.
Fran looked at Yoo Ji-han and asked.
“Do you happen to know what this is?”
“I know a bit. I need it for personal reasons.”
“That’s great! Here, take it!”
Fran held out the two gems to Yoo Ji-han.
Unconsciously extending his hand forward, Yoo Ji-han paused for a moment.
The item capable of rapidly growing his spirit was right in front of him.
But that wasn’t an easily obtainable gem, even if he offered money.
“It looks like it’s quite an important item for you…”
“It’s one of my treasures!”
“Right. A gift and treasure from your father.”
Yoo Ji-han guessed that Fran’s father, who belonged to the Sky Shelter, was not on Earth.
And this magic crystal was a gift from such a father.
Receiving an item with such a background felt somewhat uneasy.
“Are you really okay giving me your treasure?”
“Of course! I worry this might not be enough for the one who saved my little brother.”
“It’s more than enough.”
“Then please take it!”
Fran insisted, pushing the magic crystals forward.
Yoo Ji-han pretended to be reluctant but secretly felt pleased as he accepted the gems.
Thump-thump.
The magic crystals, looking exquisite just by size!
Just holding them made his heart race.
‘The Sylph is going to go wild.’
I never expected to obtain this at this very moment when it was so desperately needed.
Yoo Ji-han was very curious about how the Sylph would react when summoned.
“My friend wants to treat you two to some snacks!”
After that, Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu were treated to refreshments in the dining hall.
The snacks, made by a child interested in cooking, were incredibly sweet and delicious.
“Have you really fought a monster before?”
“Do you fight as well as the people on TV?”
“I want to try holding a sword!”
The two were bombarded with questions from children fascinated by heroes.
It seemed it was their first time talking directly to a hero, as most of the inquiries revolved around hero-related topics.
About 30 minutes later.
It was the moment when the two finished their business and were about to leave the shelter.
“I will definitely become a hero like you someday.”
With those words, Fran bowed his head toward Kim Si-hu.
He, who was responsible for the eldest brother role at the Sky Shelter, was a prospective hero attending some hero academy.
So, that’s why he spoke about becoming a hero.
“Don’t get too down no matter what anyone says. Stay strong.”
“Yes!”
Kim Si-hu lightly patted Fran on one shoulder.
As someone who had already graduated from a hero academy as a different race, he understood better than anyone the treatment Fran was currently receiving.
Moreover, having exchanged contact information, he told Fran he could reach out when he needed help.
Yoo Ji-han lastly spoke to Jung Eun-young.
“I’m not sure what impact our activities will have on the shelter, but I’ll definitely show you a better side of us.”
“I look forward to it.”
Jung Eun-young smiled, anticipating the contributions of the two moving forward.
*
Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu returned to the office with unexpected gains.
As soon as they entered the office, Kim Si-hu looked at Yoo Ji-han with sparkling eyes.
“Are you going to use the magic crystal now?”
“No point in delaying it.”
After setting down his luggage, Yoo Ji-han immediately took out the box containing the magic crystal from his pocket.
Two boxes were placed on the table.
“But this time we need some training.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see.”
Yoo Ji-han summoned the Sylph.
Ploing!
As soon as the Sylph was summoned into the air, it flew straight to Yoo Ji-han’s arms.
Because he had kept putting the little one in his pocket or arms every time it was summoned recently, the Sylph had learned not to be seen by others.
However, Yoo Ji-han pulled out the little one hidden in his arms and said,
“You can stay out in the office.”
Whirling—
The Sylph floated back into the air and spun a few times.
It was asking if it was real.
“It is real.”
After Yoo Ji-han reassured it verbally, the Sylph floated above his head.
Kim Si-hu, who was closely watching their interaction, thought,
‘Communication is almost seamless now.’
In its current state, the Sylph was just as capable of understanding human speech as it was when Erna Hass was its contract partner.
It was something Kim Si-hu had felt several times before, but it was becoming more apparent over time.
Whether it was thanks to the previous contractor or because Yoo Ji-han was a special contractor, he didn’t know.
Kim Si-hu only felt relief that the Sylph was showing consistent stability.
“Sylph, look at this.”
Yoo Ji-han opened the lid of one of the boxes.
At the same time, the Sylph dashed toward the magic crystal inside, emitting a bright green light.
“Stop.”
However, Yoo Ji-han blocked the approaching Sylph with his palm.
The Sylph struggled to escape through his hand, but it was no match for his grip.
Whirrrrr!
Eventually, the Sylph quickly vibrated upward toward the office ceiling.
It was angry that Yoo Ji-han wouldn’t grant it the delicious magic crystal.
“Hey, you! Remember how you acted when you went to the Dice Guild? Do you know how embarrassed I was then?”
Whirrrrr!
Whirrrrr!
No matter what Yoo Ji-han said, the Sylph continued to rattle in protest.
Looking up at the little one, Yoo Ji-han squinted his eyes and said,
“If you keep this up, I won’t give it to you.”
Holding the green magic crystal in his hand and shaking it slightly, to his surprise, the Sylph stopped vibrating.
“Eye level.”
At the command “eye level,” the Sylph descended to Yoo Ji-han’s eye level.
It was a very precise height—not higher or lower than his eyes.
“This is…”
Kim Si-hu then grasped Yoo Ji-han’s intentions.
He was using the magic crystal as bait to train the Sylph.
Just like training a puppy with treats.
“Turn clockwise.”
Whirling—
The Sylph actually spun in the direction commanded.
“Perform three jumps.”
Bounce! Bounce! Bounce!
It even jumped in midair!
Watching Yoo Ji-han manage the spirit so effortlessly, Kim Si-hu’s jaw dropped.
As far as he remembered, the previous contractor Erna Hass had never treated the Sylph this roughly.
She regarded the spirit as a life companion, or a precious friend.
‘Did it meet the wrong master?’
The Sylph was performing a circus act all alone in the air to receive the magic crystal.
Kim Si-hu felt sympathy for its plight.
However, looking at it from a broader perspective, the Sylph’s cooperative attitude was indeed beneficial to the party.
Moreover, it was oddly entertaining to watch…
That’s why Kim Si-hu was simply admiring the Sylph’s performance beside Yoo Ji-han.
*
A few days later.
Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu visited the main headquarters of the Dice rather than a public training center or MA.
“It seems the construction, which was expected to take months, is already finished.”
“Of course, it’s Yoon Do-ha helping, not just any hero…”
The protective walls of the tall building had already been dismantled.
The extension work for the underground training center was already complete.
‘Impressive as expected.’
Earth spirits were always welcome on construction sites.
Especially Yoon Do-ha’s Mumu, which was among the top spirits worldwide.
In fact, Mumu could have managed the building construction entirely on its own.
However, there were legal violations involved, so they hired a construction company.
“Come on in, you two.”
“Hello.”
“Nice to see you again.”
Park Jae-kyung, who was a party member of Yoon Do-ha and guided them during their last visit, welcomed them in the first-floor lobby.
By rank, she absolutely shouldn’t be doing the guiding, but it seemed it was a special directive from Yoon Do-ha.
‘It’s my first time coming to another guild’s training center.’
The reason for the two’s visit today.
It was because Yoon Do-ha had invited Yoo Ji-han’s party to the Dice’s training center.
“I’m not sure if we’re supposed to be here since the training center hasn’t even been properly opened yet.”
The newly built Dice training center had yet to be publicly revealed in the media, not even in photos.
Yoo Ji-han’s party had been invited to such a place.
Park Jae-kyung smiled gently and said,
“It’s fine. The Guild Master himself invited you.”
An invitation from no less than the Guild Master himself.
No one in the guild would challenge that.
“Follow me.”
Park Jae-kyung led the two down to the basement.
To prevent shock during training, tightly sealed automated doors with layers of magic coating opened wide.
And the new Dice training center was revealed to outsiders for the first time.
“Oh….”
Yoo Ji-han began to look around with a bit of anticipation.
The training center was already filled with Dice heroes intensely focused on their training.
‘Hmm?’
But then, he cocked his head in confusion.
Though clean and spacious, its structure felt oddly familiar.
“It’s strangely similar to the public training center.”
“That’s right. We actually received help from the people managing the public training center.”
“I see.”
The machines used for training appeared to have been freshly purchased and were pristine.
However, many of the machine models were ones that had existed before.
From that, Yoo Ji-han could catch a glimpse of Yoon Do-ha’s preferences.
“Hey!”
Yoon Do-ha, who was already at the training center, approached the two.
Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu greeted him lightly.
“I was waiting for you.”
“You were waiting for us?”
Though pleased to be invited to the training center…
To think that a Rank 1 hero was actually waiting for them.
“Would you like to spar with our Rank 4 members?”
“Uh?”
He proposed a sparring session to Yoo Ji-han’s party.
While Yoo Ji-han hesitated to respond to the somewhat sudden proposal,
The people behind Yoon Do-ha lightly teased him.
“Hey, Guild Master! Don’t scare the guests!”
“If we’re the same rank, there’s no way we’d lose.”
Confident Dice heroes were sure of their victory before even starting.
Maybe it was because Guild Master Yoon Do-ha was in front of them; everyone looked incredibly self-assured.
Yoo Ji-han looked at those heroes and said,
“Sparring sounds good, but are you sure it’s okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“If we win here, wouldn’t it be embarrassing for your side…?”
“Wahaha! Of course, it’s fine! It’s a matter of their skill, what can they do?”
At Yoo Ji-han’s words, Yoon Do-ha burst out laughing.
In contrast, the Dice heroes mostly stiffened their expressions.