Chapter 135
Chapter 135. Secret Weapon (2)
Nirochi asked urgently.
“Yoo Ji-han, right? When did you… No, when did you get your Unique Skill?”
“I remember it was in my mid-teens.”
Unique Skill.
Since the first hero appeared in this world, it is an ability either born with magical power or usually awakened before turning 20.
Yoo Ji-han was part of the latter group.
He was born with magical power, but he awakened his unique ability called Sampling during his teenage years.
“Is something wrong?”
“…….”
In response to Yoo Ji-han’s question, Nirochi lowered her gaze to the floor and fell silent.
She was organizing her complicated thoughts after sensing the Unique Skill.
After a moment, she looked at Yoo Ji-han and said briefly.
“Sampling.”
“……!”
When the word Sampling popped out of someone else’s mouth, Yoo Ji-han gasped.
Before sensing the Unique Skill, he had informed her of the skill’s effect but deliberately withheld the name.
If sensing really were possible, she would know without being told.
‘So this is real.’
Yoo Ji-han’s expression grew serious.
Nirochi mentioned the name of a Unique Skill that no one knew about.
The ability she possessed wasn’t fake; it was real.
“You said this skill allows you to assess probabilities, right?”
“That’s right.”
“How do you usually use it?”
“I might check for spoiled food in the refrigerator… Most often, I use it to review the probability of my next action in battle.”
“Can you be a bit more specific?”
“Like, ‘If I twist my waist to the left, what’s the probability of dodging the opponent’s attack?’”
“……Hmm?”
Kazimir, who had been quietly listening, tilted his head and spoke.
“You act like that in every battle?”
“That’s right.”
“There must be countless scenarios, so how do you review them all?”
“I narrow down my options before acting and choose the one with the highest probability. Also, I’m pretty quick at thinking.”
“Still….”
How fast must one’s brain work to use abilities like that?
Kazimir made a flabbergasted expression.
But then, with a very serious expression, Nirochi said.
“How many times do you use your skill in a day?”
“Probably at least a thousand times.”
Yoo Ji-han often unconsciously used Sampling.
If considering the count in daily life, it would amount to a thousand times.
“Not good.”
“What?”
“You can’t use this skill that way! I’m serious. You might not have faced a big problem until now, but it’s way too dangerous. To me, it wouldn’t be strange at all if your brain exploded right now.”
Nirochi said Yoo Ji-han’s way of using Sampling was far too risky.
Her tone and manner were so serious compared to how she had been joking with Kazimir just moments ago.
Yoo Ji-han waited for her further explanation.
“Simply assessing probabilities? This is no trivial matter. Your power touches upon the truth!”
“Truth?”
“Crazy, insane! Why does something like this even exist? Damnit, like a god!”
Nirochi suddenly became so excited that her face flushed.
Yoo Ji-han observed her condition and said.
“Maybe it’s better to calm down….”
“Goddammit! You bastard!”
With a child-like appearance, Nirochi spat out curses freely.
Soon, it seemed she was feeling a headache as she gently pressed her temples with her hand.
“Hmm…! I know the word Sampling well since I’ve crossed over to earth. But don’t you think the effect and name of the skill you described are very mismatched?”
Upon questioning the skill’s name, Yoo Ji-han immediately agreed.
It was a relatable opinion.
“Every Unique Skill’s name represents the effect of that skill itself. Although it might vary depending on the field, Sampling originally means to extract values from a certain set of data.”
“Right.”
“Think about the meaning of that word. If we assume the ‘value’ you obtain through your skill is a probability, then to extract that value, you need a standard set of ‘data.’ But what is that?”
At Nirochi’s question, Yoo Ji-han fell into thought.
But he couldn’t come up with a suitable answer.
For him, Nirochi said.
“All the truths of the world.”
At that answer, Kazimir’s eyes widened.
He understood what she was saying.
“What a ridiculous ability.”
“Strictly speaking, it’s a guess based on the information I sensed, but it’s almost certain.”
“If that’s the case, then why does the result of using the skill only come out as probabilities?”
“I don’t know either. But rather, I see it as a good thing.”
“A good thing…?”
“Yeah, think positively. It’s a relief that such a power belongs to a goof like you. If it were in the hands of capable villains, the world of earth might already be in chaos.”
While leaving the main culprit, Yoo Ji-han, aside, the two engaged in a serious conversation.
Yoo Ji-han silently observed them.
He summoned a Sylph into the air.
Boing!
Suddenly, the green sphere that appeared drew the attention of Nirochi and Kazimir.
“Is that a spirit?”
“Yoo Ji-han! You’re not a Spirit Master, are you?”
“That’s right.”
“Having a spirit along with a Unique Skill… You’re definitely not an ordinary hero. But why are you revealing this here?”
“Perhaps the reason the spirit contracted with me is related to the Unique Skill.”
Since he had revealed the existence of the Unique Skill.
Yoo Ji-han intended to find out all the useful information he could get here.
Nirochi looked up at the Sylph that floated above her head.
“You’re right. High-level beings like spirits can recognize your power.”
Spirits made up of magical power, exceeding the limits of living beings.
It wouldn’t be a stretch for them to recognize Yoo Ji-han’s Unique Skill.
“If there are high-level beings, are there others like spirits?”
“There must be! The world is vast enough that something ridiculous like you exists.”
To Nirochi, Yoo Ji-han had become ‘ridiculous.’
“There have been instances when my skill didn’t yield any probabilities.”
“Some guesses come to mind.”
“Which ones?”
“When the conditions you set are either 0% or 100% plausible.”
“……!”
“My guess is that not triggering the skill falls under those two cases.”
Yoo Ji-han frowned.
This was something he had once suspected in the past.
But he had buried it away because it seemed too unreasonable.
“Thinking back, that seems correct.”
“Either way, don’t use it from now on! Completely seal it away.”
“Even so, it would be a loss to not use it.”
“No matter how much you lament, follow my words. It’s the proper way to use your Unique Skill.”
“What?”
“Since you got Sampling, have you ever gone a day without using it?”
“Probably not.”
Even when selecting food from the refrigerator.
Even during intense battles with enemies.
Until just before falling asleep, Yoo Ji-han had always lived with Sampling.
There hadn’t been a single day he completely refrained from using the skill.
“There are two types of abilities defined as skills by humans on earth.”
Active Skills and Passive Skills.
One that is directly used and another that automatically applies without much awareness.
The moment a hero with magical power appeared in a world thrown into chaos by the emergence of monsters.
Things named based on terms from games emerged, seemingly popping right out of a game.
“My sensing revealed that Sampling is a Unique Skill that doesn’t need to be used directly.”
“It’s a Passive Skill?”
“More precisely, it can be considered under both Active and Passive conditions. Even though it’s a tad embarrassing, I can’t pinpoint what effect it has… But anyway, using it directly is far too dangerous.”
Nirochi insisted once more that he shouldn’t use Sampling like before.
To this, Yoo Ji-han had no choice but to nod.
If his life could be at risk, he would accept her advice, even if it felt unsettling.
‘Looking back, I was too bound by probabilities.’
The reason why Yoo Ji-han endured years in Keroes, despite facing unfair treatment.
It was due to his attachment to the party and the probabilities provided by Sampling.
He had been unable to make the right decisions, getting so caught up in seemingly high numbers.
Conversely, that’s how he ended up in Sweet Fun.
“Thinking fast in daily life is probably influenced by the Unique Skill. But that effect probably isn’t just that. Let’s stop using the ability directly for now and keep an eye on it.”
Following that, Nirochi requested for Yoo Ji-han to meet periodically.
Due to the peculiarity of the ability, it was due to potential changes that might occur in the future.
“Kazimir! Make sure the information about the Unique Skill we discussed today doesn’t leak out. If anyone finds out, it’ll be a real nuisance.”
“Got it.”
“Ugh… Although I’ve been hiding it for a long time, I didn’t expect it to be like this. Using so much power to sense it has thrown my calculations out the window!”
“Didn’t I promise to buy you a meal?”
“Just treating me for a month isn’t enough. I need at least six months of meals!”
“Six months? Unfortunately, my salary can’t cover your appetite.”
“You don’t want to buy me a meal?! If I ask, you’ll buy it!”
Whap! Whap!
Nirochi grabbed Kazimir’s legs and hit him with her fists.
Kazimir, who was expressionless while getting hit by her, spoke to Yoo Ji-han.
“Before sealing Sampling, I want to check one probability, would that be possible?”
“What is it?”
“I want to know the probability of me getting married someday.”
“……?!”
Kazimir suddenly expressed his wish to know the probability of his marriage.
Nirochi became furious and shouted.
“Brother! Didn’t I say I can’t use it!”
“Just this one last time should be okay.”
“How could this be…!”
Whap! Whap! Whap!
Nirochi hit Kazimir harder.
To wrap up the funny situation, Yoo Ji-han used Sampling.
<— Probability of Kazimir getting married someday>
Whether it was something to regret or rejoice about, the probability of him getting married didn’t come up.
“It looks like the probability isn’t showing.”
“Hm. Then it must be 100%.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I want to start a family on earth.”
Kazimir was, oddly enough, satisfied that no probability showed up.
*
The Poison Butterfly organization, mainly operating underground in Korea and China.
Among them, their main base located in Korea.
There, a group of heroes burst in.
“Ahhh!”
“Watch out!”
On the third floor of the building.
A massive flame engulfed the members of the Poison Butterfly organization in a chaotic office.
Some of the members possessed magical powers, but they couldn’t withstand the magic of a Rank 2 Mage and collapsed one by one.
“Those guys are the end.”
“Understood!”
A plan organized by the Hero Department after receiving the information.
Among the heroes who stormed the building, one of the leading figures was Yoon Do-ha.
As a Spirit Master of the earth, he was sucking the important items that the Poison Butterfly had stored underground so they wouldn’t be damaged by other heroes.
Upon realizing the heroes’ intrusion, the Poison Butterfly members, who were trying to sneak essential items away, turned pale with shock.
“Jae-kyung, wait a sec.”
Just before the sword of Park Jae-kyung, a party member of Yoon Do-ha, pierced a man’s heart.
Yoon Do-ha stopped her and asked.
“Who’s the highest-ranking person here?”
“It’s that person!”
The organization members, scared out of their wits, didn’t even think to hide any information.
Yoon Do-ha casually slipped a hand into his pocket.
He approached the member who held the highest rank here.
“Hey.”
“…….”
“Give me your mobile phone.”
“Y-yes, here it is.”
“Is this all you use?”
“Yes….”
“What’s the password?”
Yoon Do-ha unlocked the seized mobile phone using the password given.
Then he fixed his gaze on the phone and spoke.
“Do you know the hero named Yoo Ji-han?”
“……!”
The man, kneeling down, widened his eyes.
It was the name of the hero who had ordered them to bury it where the monsters emerged.
“Unbelievably, you dared to touch my disciple.”
“Y-Your disciple…?”
The hero named Yoo Ji-han was merely a Rank 4 Hero belonging to a newly established guild.
But to think he had ties with a Rank 1 Hero!
They had chosen the wrong person to mess with, indeed.
“I’m sorry!”
“If you know you did wrong, then you should be punished.”
“Y-Yes?”
Yoon Do-ha lightly waved his hand.
Rumble…!
The man’s knee was sucked into the earth.
“Gahhhhh!”
With a huge scream, the man’s body slowly sank into the ground.
The remaining remnants of the Poison Butterfly were trembling in fear.
Meanwhile, while operating the mobile phone, Yoon Do-ha discovered unexpected information.
“What’s this?”
A closed messenger system where data is not stored on the server.
In the chat list of that messenger was a contact saved under the name IUPC.
“……Oh.”
As Yoon Do-ha slowly scanned through the chat history, a smile slowly crept onto his face.
Buying eggs of monsters that have yet to be born from IUPC.
Conversely, selling living humans to IUPC for money.
Thanks to suspicious conversation logs being caught.
Even included were pictures of the trade locations and items between the two organizations.
“Ji-han is providing help in this kind of way.”
The moment he had a solid reason to pressure IUPC.
