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999,999 hours…. The impossibly high number left Jiho in a stupor. 

There’s no way it’s actually 999,999 hours, right?

Yet the open system window is proof that Jiho didn’t see wrong.

Or maybe it’s an error in the system?

Even still, isn’t this too high of a number?

Actually, the day after the last raid, Jiho had asked his older sister if he could try [Blessing of the Star] on her. Jihye easily agreed, so when Jiho used it on her….

The skill’s duration on Shin Jihye was 47 hours. 

Since his sister is one of the people who treasures Jiho the most in this world, Jiho thought she’d be close to the limit, which means that [Blessing of the Star]’s max duration would be 48 hours, but….

At that moment, a system window opened. 

Information

Blessing of the Star (Lv.1)
Rank	EX
Description	A sacred blessing passed through the mana of the purest soul.  Increases all stats of the receiver.  As the skill’s level increases, the skill’s effects increase as well. Stats increase as much as the mana imbued in it. However, there are differences based on characteristics of the receiver. In theory, there is no limit to how much one can be buffed.  The skill’s duration depends on the receiver’s attitude towards the user. The minimum is 3 hours, the maximum is 48 hours.  However, the skill cannot be used on yourself.

A system window explaining [Blessing of the Star]. 

But it had been updated, as if responding to Jiho’s observations. 

And the description clearly says that the max duration is 48 hours. 

Then why does it last such an unusually long time of 999,999 hours on Joo Yiwon?

“Honey, are you dizzy? Why did you use so much mana? Should I fill you up with my mana, Honey?”

Joo Yiwon whispered in Jiho’s ear before sliding his arm around Jiho’s waist and pulling him close. When Yiwon passed to Jiho, who was still dazed, mana, Jiho’s drained MP was quickly replenished. 

“You… do you not feel anything different?”

“Hm, I definitely feel stronger?”

“…”

But his reaction’s too halfhearted for that. 

[Blessing of the Star].

Jiho threw his replenished mana at Yiwon again.

[You have used 3000 MP on Blessing of the Star for ‘Joo Yiwon.’]

[The duration of the skill’s effect on ‘Joo Yiwon’ is 999,999 hours.]

“Wow.”

Yiwon’s eyes sparkled as if he found Jiho impressive. But something’s lacking. Not only has Jiho seen other people’s ecstatic faces when they receive [Blessing of the Star], but he’s also good at reading Yiwon’s expressions. This bastard’s just pretending to be impressed right now. 

A sudden competitive spirit shot up in Jiho.

[The First Baptism].

[Absorption of the Celestial Sphere].

“Jiho. Wait….”

[Blessing of the Star].

“Stop.”

[You have used 6000 MP on Blessing of the Star for ‘Joo Yiwon.’]

[The duration of the skill’s effect on ‘Joo Yiwon’ is 999,999 hours.]

The amount of mana Jiho threw at Joo Yiwon is 12,000 MP in total. 

Even though that’s nearly eight times the amount of mana Jiho uses on A-rank hunters, all Yiwon looks is bewildered–there’s no further reaction from him as there was with the others.

“Stop here.”

Yiwon quickly used his hand to cover Jiho’s mouth before Jiho could use another skill. Jiho glared at Yiwon suspiciously before licking Yiwon’s hand. Yiwon instantly jerked his hand back.

“Wh-what are you….”

“How strong are you really?”

Yiwon’s pupils shook at Jiho’s question.

“Just, enough to protect Honey?”

“…”

He’s probably strong enough to protect the whole world, much less just Shin Jiho. Of course, he’s already doing that right now.

Joo Yiwon’s original stats probably well-exceed 12,000 MP. That’s why not much changed despite how much mana Jiho used on him. Naturally, however, since what Jiho used isn’t a small amount, Yiwon must’ve gotten stronger….

“Ah.”

Now that he thinks about it, Jiho… just made Joo Yiwon a lot stronger than before.

Of course, it might not be a lot compared to Yiwon’s total stats, but Jiho stuffed an equivalent of three S-rank hunters’ worth of mana in Yiwon all at once.

Unlike others, which the skill lasts 48 hours max on, the skill lasts 999,999 hours on Joo Yiwon. Roughly calculated, that’s over 100 years….

In conclusion, Jiho just gave his rival a life-long buff with his own two hands.

“ACK!”

“Wh-what’s the matter?”

Yiwon asked, flustered by Jiho pulling at his own hair, but Jiho wasn’t in a state to answer him.

‘Am I crazy; I must’ve been crazy!’

That guy’s strong enough as he is, what’d he go and make him even stronger for….

…Or wait, maybe it’s a good thing since Yiwon came back hurt from somewhere.

In Jiho’s mind, the side that wants to win and the side that cares about Yiwon as a friend played tug-of-war against each other. And in the end, the side that won was the latter.

‘Yeah, it’s better than Joo Yiwon dying.’

Joo Yiwon has to be alive for Jiho to beat him. Though he doesn’t know how he’s supposed to beat a bastard that 12,000 MP did nothing to.

“Honey, have you calmed down now?”

“Ha.”

Hearing that “Honey” made Jiho’s anger boil again, but he pressed it down.

“Yeah. But you, do you have a skill that extends the duration of someone else’s buff?”

“I do, but…. I didn’t use it this time.”

“How long can you extend it for?”

“One or two days? But I didn’t use a skill. Why would I use it when I asked Honey to use his skill on me?”

Yiwon looked wronged. He’s right though. They’ve been together since the morning, yet Yiwon never showed signs of using a skill. 

On top of that, one or two days is nothing compared to 999,999 hours. Even if Yiwon used a skill secretly, it wouldn’t have had much effect on the total duration.

Just why is it only on Joo Yiwon that the skill lasts so long past the limit?

Contrary to Jiho, who was deep in thought, Yiwon looked quite pleased by Jiho’s confusion.

“Why, does it say I like Jiho too much? Was it like 100 hours at a time?”

About 10,000 times that.

“No.”

“Then how long? 150? 200?”

Why does it keep increasing?

Joo Yiwon’s expression was filled with certainty as he kept counting up.

“…19 hours.”

Jiho lied. Jiho originally thought the skill’s duration on Yiwon would be 20-30 hours. Even if it was the max of 48 hours, Jiho would’ve been surprised, but he would’ve still accepted it….

Isn’t 999,999 hours an error?

Yiwon frowned at Jiho’s words.

“Honey, just because you’re a little stronger, you’ve even started lying.”

“You want to die?”

Jiho hit Yiwon, who was treating him like a child.

Yiwon kept pestering Jiho to tell him how many hours it was, but Jiho didn’t plan to tell him the truth.

Thanks to their bickering, the words Yiwon said to him just a few minutes ago faded from Jiho’s memory.

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Jiho spent a few days being pestered to tell the truth by Yiwon. Thankfully, Joo Yiwon is an extremely busy person, so he can’t be stuck to Jiho all the time.

Joo Yiwon should be getting ready for a raid in India right now. But he must be free because he keeps sending Jiho messages.

Jiho ruthlessly silenced the notifications for Joo Yiwon’s messages. Usually, he would’ve given them a read at least, but he has no time for that right now.

That’s because today is the day he will be joining Heaven Guild’s raid.

Since Heaven Guild didn’t leave a lot of spots on their combat team as Chungram did, there’s only three guildmembers from No Name participating in the raid today: Shin Jiho, Lim Seung Joo, and Sung Moon Young.

Befitting of her past as a health trainer, Hunter Sung Moon Young, who joined recently, has a really good body. Even though she’s wearing a custom coat right now, her arms still appear thick.

Although she looks like she’d be a hunter who uses physical attacks, Moon Young is actually a B-rank mage. Because Heaven Guild specifically asked for Shin Jiho as well as one combat hunter that uses physical attacks and one combat hunter that uses magic, he chose hunters that fit those requirements. 

Unlike Chungram, Heaven Guild didn’t give them much information on the members that would be participating in today’s raid. Though they told him not to worry since, as an S-rank guild, they’d send out the best-suited members….

‘Who would’ve thought that both Chun Hui Lim and Chun Hui Seong would come.’

Heaven Guild’s guildmaster and vice-guildmaster came together.

Chun Hui Seong is an illegitimate child of Heaven Group. Of course, that’s something Heaven Group kept secret from the public. He wasn’t acknowledged at first, but after awakening as a B-rank, he was put in charge of Heaven Guild. 

Although Chun Hui Seong’s current image is that of a treasured son, he had received no attention prior to his awakening. But for someone who was neglected and received no prior training, he’s good at management.

When Heaven Guild first started, Chun Hui Seong was only vice-guildmaster in name; the guild was actually run by someone else. But within three years, Chun Hui Seong proved himself and completely took charge of the guild. 

The guildmaster is an even more complicated individual….

Though he’s known as Chun Hui Lim, that’s not his real name. He’s not even of Korean nationality. A refugee, after he awakened, Heaven paid a hefty price to bring Chun Hui Lim over.

In order to sit Chun Hui Lim in the position of guildmaster, they even considered adopting him, but… internally, they decided against it, and so he’s a foreigner with the name of Chun Hui Lim.

There was a time that people were excited about another S-rank hunter in Korea, but as of right now, the general opinion is that Chun Hui Lim will leave for another country once his contract with Heaven ends.

And according to the rumors, Chun Hui Seong and Chun Hui Lim don’t get along. That’s why Jiho didn’t expect to see the two of them here. 

It seems that Heaven Guild’s guildmembers didn’t expect them either, as they were all on high-alert to avoid their guildmaster and vice-guildmaster.

For some reason, Jiho has a bad feeling that this raid won’t go smoothly.

“Hello, Hunter Shin Jiho. I have heard a lot about you.”

“Yes, hello. Please take care of me today.”

Unlike Chun Hui Seong who greeted him politely, Chun Hui Lim just nodded his head. Since Jiho’s heard that Chun Hui Lim doesn’t have a good personality, he wasn’t surprised.

‘What a killer atmosphere for today’s raid.’

Not only is there a warring guildmaster and vice-guildmaster, but there’s also the nervous Heaven guildmembers stuck between them.

There’s no way No Name, as outsiders, can be comfortable in a raid where the team’s internal atmosphere is so bad.

‘But raids don’t always go smoothly.’

Though Jiho’s only been on peaceful raids up until now, it’s common for fights to break out inside dungeons. There’s even examples where guilds that liked each other fell apart due to a fight they had inside a dungeon. 

Well maybe it’s a good thing both of them came. Since they won’t have time to pick a fight with Jiho.

While it might be uncomfortable, he’ll do his best. Right when Jiho was thinking this.

“Hello, Guildmaster Shin Jiho-nim! I’ve always wanted to meet you. We meet like this.”

A voice too bright for the current atmosphere called out to Jiho.

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LaZ Bird Corner

Who?

This doesn’t look like it’s going to be a fun raid…. But it was fun seeing Yiwon flustered.

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