Chapter 10 - Bloodline is Everything

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Episode 10: Curious About the Bloodline (1)

From the very next day, Hanul’s intensive training within the Hyukcheon Family officially began.

As expected from the Hyukcheon Group, a global corporation and the ruler of East Asia, their training methods were far from ordinary.

A team of over twenty trainers and medical professionals was assembled solely for Hanul’s sake.

Some of the figures present were recognizable even from the media.

By integrating cutting-edge scientific technology, they analyzed every aspect of his physique and devised the most optimal training regimen.

After each training session, a dedicated team of sports massage therapists would tend to his fatigued muscles, applying rare and expensive medicinal herbs to aid in recovery through a meticulously structured plan.

‘This kind of treatment is usually reserved for high-ranking Hunters.’

Elite Hunters, the core members of major guilds, received similar care—though in terms of both quality and quantity, Hanul’s treatment was far superior.

Of course, such an extravagant program must have cost a fortune, but the Hyukcheon Group wasn’t one to be stingy over something like this.

‘There’s a reason Hunters are willing to pay a fortune for this.’

Having a specialized team dedicated entirely to himself was an even greater privilege than he had imagined.

Hanul’s abilities were improving at an astonishing rate. On top of that, with the effects of Healthy Bloodline and Wishstone, his progress accelerated even further.

In fact, he had to consciously suppress his abilities to avoid drawing too much attention.

‘There’s no advantage to revealing Healthy Bloodline.’

Healthy Bloodline was his trump card—one that had to remain hidden until the very end.

Once physical training was done, he would always stop by Dragon Sage Training Hall, where he would strike wooden dummies to increase his proficiency in Black Dragon Ascension Arts.

‘Skill mastery is measured in Stars.’

From One-Star to Ten-Star.

Beyond that lay the Extreme Star, a level regarded as a transcendental stage.

‘To take my debut trial in a Platinum-grade dungeon, I must master Black Dragon Ascension Arts up to Seven-Star.’

Hanul devoted even more time and effort to this skill than to his physical training.

While his body could improve rapidly thanks to Healthy Bloodline and Wishstone, there was no shortcut to mastering a skill—only relentless practice.

‘At least I have the title effect from Dragon Sage Training Hall.’

This title increased his skill proficiency growth rate by up to 50% within the training hall.

Thanks to this, Hanul was able to enhance his mastery at an exceptional pace.

He was so busy that he barely had time to breathe.

It was during this hectic period that—

“Hanul, starting today, you’ll begin formal lessons,”Joo Hayun informed him.

Hanul, puzzled, asked, “Lessons? Haven’t I been training enough already?”

“You’ve sufficiently honed your body. Now it’s time to refine your mind.”

“My… mind?”

Joo Hayun nodded before continuing,

“As a member of the Hyukcheon bloodline, you must possess the appropriate dignity and intellect.”

A shiver ran down Hanul’s spine. He looked at Joo Hayun with a face full of dread.

“From today onward, you’ll be studying etiquette, culture, languages, and humanities.”

…Good grief.

Hanul’s face turned pale.

It was an obvious fact, but Hanul had never been one for academics.

He had received only the bare minimum education required by law and spent the rest of his life as a Hunter.

A Hunter needed to know how to kill monsters, not memorize English vocabulary.

And now, all of a sudden, he was expected to study?

No wonder he felt a deep sense of unease.

‘Just when I thought nothing else could surprise me… Becoming part of the Hyukcheon bloodline really isn’t easy.’

Wait… but this?

Once he actually started, he found it surprisingly manageable.

“Hanul, your memory is quite exceptional.”

No, to say it was merely manageable was an understatement.

“...You’ve already memorized everything?”

Joo Hayun was astonished. Hanul absorbed everything like a sponge, answering every test question perfectly.

He mastered complex dining etiquette and different forms of greetings from various cultures after seeing them just once.

It wasn’t just rote memorization—he grasped even the most complex concepts that required application.

Thinking back, he had never struggled with memory or comprehension his entire life.

Perhaps Hanul’s greatest talent wasn’t his physical prowess, but his intellect.

“If you weren’t a Hunter, I believe you would have excelled in another field as well, Hanul.”

Even as a compliment, it was embarrassing to hear. Taking a sip from the teacup Joo Hayun had handed him, Hanul replied, “It must be because the tea is beneficial.”

As he drank, a familiar system message appeared.

The tea was made from the fresh sprouts of the World Tree sapling, roasted to perfection.

Hanul had been drinking this tea regularly.

Not just the tea—he had also requested the mansion’s chef to prepare only detoxifying foods.

All of this was in preparation for consuming the Imoogi’s Core.

‘Right now, my Detoxification Resistance is 5, and my Poison Resistance is 6.’

But exactly how high did these stats need to be before he could safely consume the core?

Even Hanul didn’t have a definitive answer to that.

He could only sense it.

His True Black Dragon Blood was warning him that he wasn’t ready yet.

Still, Hanul wasn’t impatient. It was only a matter of time.

“Hanul, you have an incoming call.”

“Let me guess… it’s Kwon Jiseok, isn’t it?”

“Correct.”

Hanul wasn’t particularly fond of dealing with that man, but curiosity got the better of him.

Besides, there was something he needed to confirm.

“Put him through.”

Joo Hayun handed him the wireless phone. The moment he answered, Kwon Jiseok’s voice came roaring through the receiver.

“HEY! What took you so long to pick up?!”

“I was debating whether to ignore you. You should be grateful I answered.”

“W-What?! You little—how dare you talk back to me…!”

“More importantly, shouldn’t you be congratulating me?”

“The hell are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Kwon Hanul spoke to the bewildered Kwon Jiseok.

“Did you not hear me? I’ve mastered all twelve forms of the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques at Dragon Sage Martial Archive.”

Silence fell on the other end of the call.

Kwon Hanul smirked. Just as expected.

There was no way Kwon Jiseok hadn’t heard.

The rumor that Kwon Hanul had mastered all twelve forms of the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques and completely dominated the mixed-blood challengers had already spread throughout the entire Hyukcheon family.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Did the call get disconnected?”

“………”

“Well, I suppose the esteemed second son of Vice Chairman Kwon Hyuk wouldn’t be at a loss for words.”

Joo Hayun, who had been listening nearby, looked visibly flustered. Her expression seemed to ask, ‘Was your personality always this sharp?’

“W-What? Acting all high and mighty over nothing!”

“Oh, so this is ‘nothing’ to you? Then you must have mastered all the secret techniques too?”

Another heavy silence followed.

Kwon Hanul could keep teasing him all day, but that wouldn’t get the conversation anywhere, so he decided to move on.

“So, what do you want?”

“You! You got the Imoogi’s Core from Grandfather, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did. What about it?”

“Sell it to me.”

“No.”

Kwon Hanul flatly refused.

Some things in this world couldn’t be bought with money, no matter how much one had.

The Imoogi’s Core was one of those things.

Selling it for cash would be the act of an absolute fool.

“Think carefully. The Imoogi’s Core is highly toxic and needs to be purified. But neutralizing that level of poison is no easy feat.”

“And do you have a way to detoxify it?”

“Of course I do! That’s why I’m telling you to sell it to me!”

Kwon Jiseok sounded absolutely certain.

Kwon Hanul was mildly impressed.

As expected, even a rotten branch of the Hyukcheon bloodline still had some strength left in it.

“Still, I have no intention of selling it.”

“What?! Are you out of your mind?!”

“I’m perfectly sane, which is exactly why I’m not selling it.”

“You little—!”

Kwon Jiseok finally lost his temper.

“That’s something I’ve been after for years! I went through hell just to find a way to purify it, and then you snatched it up!”

“You should’ve worked faster then.”

“And listen here! That Core was originally found by our Hyukcheon Group! It’s not something a nobody like you should have!”

Irritation flickered in Kwon Hanul’s eyes.

Even after awakening the True Black Dragon’s Blood and mastering the secret techniques, Kwon Jiseok still treated him like an outsider.

“Shut up and give me your account number. Or else—”

“Kwon Jiseok, that last remark was quite unpleasant.”

A new voice cut in.

Joo Hayun.

She turned her gaze toward the phone and spoke in a firm tone.

“You just referred to him as ‘a nobody.’ But let’s be clear—Kwon Hanul has every right to that Core. Wasn’t it his father, Kwon Cheon, who slayed the Imoogi and obtained it?”

“H-Hayun? How dare you raise your voice at me…?!”

Kwon Jiseok sounded shaken.

But his shock was nothing compared to what Kwon Hanul felt.

“S-Sure, that traitor might’ve found it, but… he gave it to Grandfather as a tribute! So it’s no longer his concern!”

Kwon Jiseok tried to argue, completely unaware of how pathetic he sounded.

“A-Anyway, just hand it over! It’s not like you can consume it, right? It should go to someone who actually can!”

Kwon Hanul’s patience was running thin.

He needed to ask about Kwon Cheon, not waste time dealing with Kwon Jiseok.

“What will you do if I consume the Core?”

“Stop talking nonsense and just give it to me!”

“Now that I think about it, you said something similar before. That I wouldn’t be able to master the secret techniques at Dragon Sage Martial Archive.”

A third silence fell.

This time, it was shorter.

“Y-You bastard! Are you mocking me?!”

Kwon Jiseok erupted in fury.

“If you’re so confident, then go ahead and eat it! Let’s see what happens!”

“What will you do if I succeed?”

“Ha! If you actually pull it off, I’ll grant you any request you want! Not that it matters, since you’ll be dead before you even digest it!”

“Don’t be so vague. Let’s make it official. If I successfully absorb the Imoogi’s Core, you have to grant me one favor. No matter what it is.”

“Fine! Whatever you want! But only if you actually survive!”

Click!

The call ended with a loud slam.

Kwon Hanul handed the phone back to Joo Hayun and asked, “So my father was the one who obtained the Imoogi’s Core?”

Joo Hayun let out a long sigh, as if realizing she’d made a mistake.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Why was that kept secret?”

“It was the Chairman’s order.” She added, “Do you remember when I mentioned that some of Hyukcheon’s bloodline members make their debut in Platinum-ranked dungeons?”

Kwon Hanul nodded.

“Well, one of those people was Kwon Cheon. And the monster he faced in his debut dungeon was an Imoogi.”

Kwon Hanul was stunned.

‘…My father cleared a Platinum-ranked dungeon alone?’

Solo-clearing a Platinum dungeon was a feat rarely accomplished, even within the Hyukcheon Group.

And yet, his father had done it.

‘What kind of person was my father?’

For the first time since arriving at Hyukcheon, Kwon Hanul felt genuinely curious about his father.

After a long moment of contemplation, he murmured to himself.

“Now… what should I ask Kwon Jiseok for?”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]