While the bustling crowd filled the training center, Jake and Kim Da-Sol continued waiting for their other teammates. Da-Sol, clearly taking initiative, shouted, "Team 4, over here! Please come here!" He repeated it several times, his voice rising above the din. "If only we had a banner or something to represent our team number. It would greatly help a lot to find them with all these people here. Sorry, unnie, it looks like we'll be waiting here for a while."
Jake winced slightly at the continued use of "Unnie," but he couldn't help but admire Da-Sol's efforts. He's really trying hard... maybe I should help out too, Jake thought. "A banner, huh?" he mused aloud, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
Then, with a quiet mutter, making sure no one would hear him, Jake whispered, "Nature's Embrace." He conjured a small orb of green energy—initially subtle but glowing brighter as he willed it into form.
Da-Sol watched with wide-eyed amazement, covering his mouth. He had only ever known Joo-Hee as a healer, not someone capable of anything like this. Unnie's got more tricks up her sleeve than I thought!
Wow... today's my lucky day, Da-Sol thought, his excitement evident as a sparkle appeared in his eyes. I can't believe I'm grouped with someone this skilled. Unnie's definitely grown since two years ago... I've got to step up my game! The determination on his face was almost comical to Jake, who smiled slightly. He's acting like a big golden retriever, Jake chuckled to himself.
Returning his focus to the task, Jake began shaping three lines of glowing green energy, forming them into a tangible, number 4 while levitating in his palms.
He could've used Verdant Growth to make it even more elaborate, but he didn't want to draw too much attention—he had to stay low-key, especially after how the Association started eyeing Jin-Woo after his miraculous survival and testing him for a possibility of him undergoing a second awakening. For now, Jake decided to just pretend he had practiced barrier magic to help in battle.
Within seconds, the number 4 floated above them, softly glowing with a vivid green hue. It immediately drew attention. Whispers spread through the crowd, some admiring the impressive display, while others muttered under their breath, accusing Jake of showing off.
Kang Ho, who was overseeing the event from a distance, narrowed his eyes as he caught sight of the floating number. So... Joo-Hee has this kind of potential? he mused, his brow furrowing in thought. To create tangible constructs out of mana like that... it requires quite the exceptional control and practice. He glanced at the energy again, noting how stable it was. Why did she waste time practicing with the sword when she could've been honing her talents to be a mage or even becoming a support mage since she already learned the healing arts? He sighed inwardly, somewhat disappointed that such skill had been overlooked.
Meanwhile, Jake felt the weight of all those gazes as he gulped. Crap... I really didn't want this much attention, he thought, trying not to meet anyone's eyes. He could feel people staring and whispering, which only made him more self-conscious. His plan to remain low-key had completely backfired.
Kim Da-Sol, however, didn't seem to share the same sentiment. He was still clapping, looking up at the glowing number with stars in his eyes. "That's so cool, unnie! I didn't know you could do that! You're amazing! I mean, a healer with barrier magic—how cool is that?"" he said, clearly impressed.
Jake smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks... but, uh, let's keep it down a bit," he said, hoping to deflect the attention. This is the exact opposite of staying low-key! Okay, calm down, Jake. Just play it cool, he thought, taking a deep breath while feeling sweat building in her nape.
As the two figures approached, Jake's eyes darted to the two new arrivals as they neared. The tall, lanky man with glasses seemed reserved, his humble posture giving away that he was Ryu Min-Soo, their porter. The moment he glanced up at the floating number 4, a flicker of disbelief crossed his face, but he quickly composed himself.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Ryu Min-Soo. I'll be your porter for this dive," he said with a respectful bow.
Jake nodded, feeling the awkwardness that always came with new team introductions. "I'm Lee Joo-Hee, a healer. Thanks for being here," he responded, carefully omitting his rank to avoid any special or unusual treatment from the others. He did his best to sound casual, though the tension in his chest was hard to shake.
Min-Soo gave a respectful bow, his voice soft and humble. "It's an honor, Miss Joo-Hee. I'll do my best to not be a nuisance to everyone."
Jake felt a twinge of sympathy at the self-deprecating tone. Is this how porters always feel? He gave Min-Soo a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about that. We're all in this together. Just do your part, and we'll be fine."
Min-Soo blinked in surprise before nodding, clearly grateful for Jake's kind words. "Thank you. I'll give it my all."
Next to Min-Soo was Ha Yoon-Ji, the archer. Her sharp eyes scanned Jake with a piercing gaze, but it wasn't hostility—more like a subtle scrutiny. Her expression stayed neutral, though Jake could sense she was calculating something. Maybe it was because of the unexpected display of mana with the floating number 4.
"I'm Ha Yoon-Ji, a D-minus rank archer," she said, her voice quiet but confident. "You're really... a healer?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if sizing Jake up.
"Yeah, that's right," Jake replied, forcing a smile. "Nice to meet you."
There was a brief pause, and Jake could feel their silent curiosity about the number 4 and the unusual use of mana. I probably overdid it..., Jake thought, biting the inside of his cheek.
Before the moment could get too awkward, Kim Da-Sol spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension like a bright light. "You guys don't need to worry; Unnie's skills are the real deal! Let's just wait for the other two. Oh, I forget, I'm Kim Da-Sol, a C-minus rank swordsman." His enthusiasm was infectious, even if a bit overwhelming.
After hearing Da-Sol's remarks, Jake bit his tongue in embarrassment. Joo-Hee... what on earth happened in the past? How come this person is overestimating you like you're some kind of saint? He sighed internally. Now I really have to step up my game.
Trying to shake off the awkwardness, Jake clapped his hands once, breaking the overwhelming atmosphere. "Let's just wait for Park Jae-Sung and Choi Eun-Bi for now. In the meantime, you can prepare your equipment and other stuff," he said, keeping his tone light.
But before Da-Sol could respond, someone else did the same loud clap, only this time, it was followed by a number forming above them—7. It was a guy from Team 7, and from the looks of it, he was trying to draw attention.
The crowd's heads turned, and Jake couldn't help but notice the guy's intense gaze locked onto him. There was something unsettling about the way he looked at Jake—arrogant, almost hostile, like he was issuing a silent challenge.
What's with this guy? Jake thought, perplexed. How can he be showing hostility when I don't even know him? The glare felt completely unwarranted, but Jake brushed it off, knowing he couldn't afford to get distracted.
"Wow," Da-Sol muttered, clearly impressed by the flashy display. "To think there are talented people joining today's event. I thought this was more for beginners or hunters recovering from injuries."
Jake nodded, half-listening as he kept his eyes on Team 7's guy, still puzzled by the sudden tension. But he quickly refocused when Kang Ho's voice boomed over the crowd, reminding everyone to finalize their groups.
"At exactly 9 sharp, we'll head to Gangwon, where the practice dungeon is," Kang Ho announced.
A bulky man with a smug look arrived, his gaze fixed intently on Joo-Hee. Jake immediately felt a twinge of irritation; he knew that his team had a jerk he'd have to tolerate. "And you are...?" Jake began politely, but before he could finish, the man cut him off.
"You're really cute for a mage. I'm Park Jae-Sung, D-rank swordsman," he said, flashing a grin that seemed more arrogant than friendly. He attempted to drape his arm over Jake's shoulder, but Jake quickly stepped back, feeling uncomfortable.
Before Jae-Sung could make things worse, Da-Sol intervened, putting his arm on Jae-Sung's shoulder. "Easy there, man. Let's not overwhelm our healer, alright?" Da-Sol shot Jake a reassuring glance, sensing the sour look on his face.
Thank you, Da-Sol, Jake thought, feeling grateful for the support but also burning with anger. How dare this jerk act so smug and disgusting?
Jae-Sung smirked at Da-Sol. "Your eyes must be quite blind, my friend. If she's a healer, then I should be a swordmaster myself!" He made a theatrical gesture, pointing at the number 4 floating above Jake's head. "Do you really think a healer can pull off this stunt?"
Jake sighed inwardly, rolling his eyes without letting anyone see. Typical jerk move, he thought. He took a moment to compose himself and forced a smile. "I'm indeed a healer, Mr. Park," he replied, keeping his tone light. "I'm just practicing magic as a hobby."
With that, he closed his mouth, focusing inward as he silently recited his skill. "Healing Touch", and soon a greenish-yellow glow enveloped his hands.
The transformation was immediate; his teammates gaped in astonishment. Jae-Sung's eyes widened in disbelief, and even the usually unbothered Yoon-Ji raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Whoa," Min-Soo exclaimed, breaking his awkward demeanor. "I didn't know you could actually do that!"
Jae-Sung's smug expression faltered as he stared at the glowing aura. "Wait, you're serious?" he stammered, clearly taken aback.
Just then, the last member of their group arrived. She was a mage, clearly—dressed in an old cloak and carrying a wand topped with a small, dark and light blue gradient mana stone. Yet, she seemed meek, her gaze lowered as if she wished to disappear.
"I... I'm Choi Eun-Bi, an E-plus rank wind mage," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know three spells as of now."
Jake felt a pang of sympathy. I see, that's why she's so timid. With her low mana pool, it makes sense. He recalled that in Korea, rankings largely depended on mana capacity and practical tests, as Joo-Hee's memories had shown him.
Jake nodded encouragingly. "Nice to meet you, Eun-Bi. I'm Lee Joo-Hee. We're lucky to have you on the team." He tried to sound upbeat, hoping to lift her spirits.
Eun-Bi looked up, her cheeks flushing slightly at the compliment. "T-Thanks... I'll do my best!"
With the team finally assembled, Jake couldn't help but wonder how they would manage together, especially with a smug jerk like Jae-Sung on board. But he shook off his doubts; they had a dungeon to conquer, and he was determined to make the most of it.
_______________________
Final Lineup:
- Lee Joo-Hee (B-Rank) - Healer
- Kim Da-Sol (C-minus Rank) - Swordsman
- Park Jae-Sung (D-Rank) - Swordsman
- Ha Yoon-Ji (D-minus Rank) - Archer
- Choi Eun-Bi (E-plus Rank) - Wind Mage
- Ryu Min-Soo (E-Rank) - Porter
_______________________