Kindergarten Opening! Director Kim Han? (2)

“Pfft!”

The laughter that pulled me back to reality came as I was cursing Mors while pressing down on my throbbing head.

Next to me, Lee Hyo-ju was trying hard to suppress her laughter, her face turning red.

But it seemed difficult to hold back, as she kept making hissing sounds and her face grew even redder.

“Just laugh.”

“Ho, hohoho. Cough! Hohohoho. It’s just, cough! Hohoho. Cough!”

Trying to stifle her laughter, she ended up in a fit of rough coughing.

Even then, she couldn’t stop laughing, alternating between coughing and giggling until her face turned beet red.

“What’s so funny?”

“Pardon? Hohoho, well, it’s just… it seems like Mr. Kim Han’s natural enemy has appeared.”

“Natural enemy?”

“Naruan.”

“Ugh…”

I couldn’t bring myself to argue about that.

If only she were a bit clueless or had some vanity in her head, I would have told her off and asked her to leave, but with the Gnome race’s unique cheerfulness and straightforward nature, that little one just wants to get stronger.

That’s why she wants to be by my side, who is far stronger than her. She wants to emulate me.

I don’t know what Mors, the God of Death and her patron God, told her in my previous life, but considering how she used to challenge every strong person she met, it makes sense.

She was rude and never apologized, which drew public anger, but she lived her past life with consistent behavior.

“Anyway, Lee Hyo-ju, you have two registration cards, right?”

“Yes. Do you need them?”

“…I have more than you. Have you thought about what you want to learn with them?”

At my question, Lee Hyo-ju’s expression turned serious.

After pondering for a moment, she quickly shared her opinion, as if she had already thought it through.

“I was thinking of learning throwing techniques to make full use of the ‘Transporatio’ given by Mr. Kim Han. As for the other one… I’m still considering.”

Throwing techniques, huh? Still, it’s a relief that she’s thought about it.

If I were to ask Arun the same question, wouldn’t he just say, “I don’t know?”

“Go on, tell me.”

“It’s either learning techniques to accumulate divine spirit power or something related to strategy or tactics. I don’t have information on either…”

Lee Hyo-ju had made significant progress in a short time. No, rather than progress, yes, she adapted. Unlike the still clueless Arun or the fledgling three representatives.

Whether it’s thanks to my advice, or because she watched me handle tasks like a secretary, or for some other reason, she’s gradually starting to give off the scent of a representative.

“Still, it’s the best option. Good. I’m just making a recommendation. It’s merely a suggestion, so think of it as providing the information you mentioned you lacked. The decision is yours, and so is the responsibility that comes with it.”

“Understood.”

“Alright. First, I recommend learning stealth techniques over throwing techniques. Throwing and stealth techniques. They seem similar, but they’re not. The ‘Transporatio’ I created is indeed a throwing weapon. But why do you think I made the ‘Transporatio’ in the form of an estoc?”

“…I thought it was to increase penetration power, but from your question, it seems there’s another intention.”

That’s right. There is another intention. And that’s why throwing techniques and stealth techniques are completely different.

“…I don’t know.”

“Indeed, Lee Hyo-ju, you were always quick to grasp things through experience and learning, weren’t you? It’s a disguise.”

“A disguise… you say?”

“Yes. Look at yourself now. A seemingly impressive red leather armor set. And you’ve got a sword that narrows towards the tip. What do you think it looks like?”

“Huh?”

A rare, dumbfounded exclamation slipped from Lee Hyo-ju.

“Your appearance is that of a typical speed-type swordsman, one who focuses on thrusting. So… yes, like a fencing athlete on Earth.”

“Ah… I see!”

“Right. Your main weapon isn’t the ‘Transporatio’ I made. It’s the power of time. The ‘Transporatio’ merely amplifies that power several times over. But your weapon is large. Obviously, when using time stop, which would be less burdensome, a long estoc or a small dagger?”

“A dagger.”

“Exactly. It’s just a recommendation, so think it over and decide.”

“No, I’ll learn dagger skills.”

Lee Hyo-ju, seemingly convinced, firmly declared her intention to learn dagger skills.

In fact, she regretted not learning dagger skills in her previous life, so I didn’t offer much further explanation on her decision.

Instead, I carefully brought up the next topic after some thought.

“This is a real recommendation. Make the decision you think is best after careful consideration. When I first asked if you’d join the legion, I mentioned how I’d use you as a representative. Do you remember?”

“Yes.”

“Right. So you must have mentioned strategy and tactics. I think you should consider learning information analysis. This isn’t Earth. No, even on Earth, it would be the same. The channels to gain the immense power of information are limited and not abundant. In such an environment, the skill to collect and analyze information is a tremendous ability.”

“…Yes.”

“Alright, think about it.”

With those words, I tried to send Lee Hyo-ju off.

The skills learned, or rather ‘transferred,’ through the registration card require careful consideration. If you haphazardly go to places like the magic tower, temples, or warrior and mercenary guilds to learn, you’ll regret it for a long time.

So, even though there are two cards, using one registration card should be done with caution.

“Think it over…”

“I will learn information analysis.”

I wondered if Lee Hyo-ju was just following my words, so I observed her. In that brief moment, traces of her deep contemplation were evident.

Her lower lip was bitten hard enough to draw blood, and the callus on her right middle finger, formed from always holding a pen, was torn by her nail.

“You can think about it more, you know?”

“Didn’t you say before? If you’re going to learn any skill, it’s important to learn it as soon as possible and become as familiar with it as you can. That’s why.”

That’s right. I did say something like that.

To be precise, it wasn’t to Lee Hyo-ju but to Arun, when I was advising him as he was slacking off, chatting with the newly appointed representatives.

“That’s right. First, listen. There’s a shop selling handmade wooden ornaments next to the florist Halatus, which I just explained to Naruan. I can’t remember the name. Anyway, go into that shop and look for the owner. Then someone claiming to be the owner will appear. Unlike Halatus, that is. Tell him you want to buy a ‘wingless bird statue.’ Then he’ll guide you to the ‘real’ owner.”

“A wingless bird statue… Got it.”

“Tell her you want to ‘inherit’ the ‘Song of Light.’ Of course, while presenting your registration card.”

“Song of Light, is this information analysis?”

“No, it’s a secret technique. And an incredible one at that.”

The Song of Light. It’s truly an incredible secret technique. Among the hundred or so transcendent beings, it’s the secret technique of a top ten powerhouse.

Moreover, the owner of the secret technique is a woman who uses spirit, just like Lee Hyo-ju.

The reason the secret technique is called the ‘Song of Light,’ despite its unfitting name, is because her secret weapon, when flying through the sky and reflecting sunlight, looks like light is singing, hence the nickname.

A song never ends on a single note. In other words, the ‘Song of Light’ is a secret technique that continuously launches secret weapons, making it a terrifying technique despite its beautiful name.

In fact, in the ‘Battlefield of the Gods,’ where magical armor dominates, secret techniques can’t really stand out.

So, there are very few who even know about or use the weapon called the secret.

However, a secret weapon is still a type of weapon, and if a weapon is crafted well enough, it can pierce armor.

Add to that an incredible secret technique, and if the time-stopping power granted exclusively to her is unleashed, the enemy will find their name on the day of remembrance without even realizing it.

“…Is it a secret technique?”

“Yes. It’s at an incredible level. If you can learn it, you could handle ten of the current Arun.”

At those words, Lee Hyo-ju’s eyes sparkled. It had been a long time since I’d seen her eyes gleam with such anticipation.

She had that look when we planned to explore ruins or annihilate enemies before.

“As for the information analysis… I’m not entirely sure about this either… but if it works, it’s truly amazing, so it’s worth a try. You’ve seen the gardener who guards the Garden of Gods, right?”

“Pardon? Yes. I became familiar with them around the time of the Three Gods’ Manifestation.”

“Right. Go to the gardener and show them your registration card.”

“…What?”

I don’t know the details, but I’ve heard that a representative who was very close to the gardener learned a skill from them, and after mastering it, they surrendered and established an information guild on the continent of the Battlefield of the Gods, living well ever since.

Later, I confirmed that the skill list opened in his status window included ‘Gwanum,’ meaning ‘seeing sound.’

In my previous life, when Lee Hyo-ju was renowned for her strange voice, among the various information guilds she sought to collaborate with, there was one established by that representative.

Given the importance of the matter, the guild master personally greeted us, and there we could verify the information about the representative who had switched to being the information guild master through ‘confirmation.’

The category of skills is a power reserved only for me, the gamer, but there are times when the skill category opens for other representatives as well.

The skill category, which doesn’t appear when taught by a transcendent, guild, or extraordinary being, opens up.

So, it means that representatives who haven’t sold or lost their registration card will have their skill category opened.

“Present your registration card to the gardener and say you want to learn ‘Gwanum.’”

“Gwanum? Do you mean the Gwanum like in Avalokiteshvara?”

“Huh? Was Gwanum the same as Avalokiteshvara? The one the monks talk about?”

“Yes…”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know that. Anyway, it’s that Gwanum. Gwanum, the avatar of Buddha, no, that’s not it.”

Lee Hyo-ju, as if wondering how I could not know, gave me a sidelong glance. I patted her shoulder a couple of times, offering encouragement.

Whether she was surprised by my actions or reminded of some unpleasant memory, Lee Hyo-ju’s face turned a deep red as I spoke to her in a serious tone, as if entrusting her with a monumental task.

“I appoint you as the one-day teacher for the two chicks. Your mission is to ensure they learn the skills I mentioned without any incidents. Can you do it?”

For a very brief moment, Lee Hyo-ju’s eyes looked at me the way she looked at Arun. It was truly, sincerely, just for a moment.

Click-clack, click-clack.

A man was walking. The sound of shoes tapping on a hard surface followed him.

In a normal situation, it wouldn’t be strange. However, there was nothing beneath the man’s feet.

There was something, though. Far below, clouds drifted leisurely. The void.

Looking around the man as he moved, there was nothing but the blue sky and the clouds flowing far below, with no structure in sight.

Yet, the clicking sound continued to follow the man’s steps.

Srrrng, srrrng.

Though there was clearly nothing, the sound of something opening and closing could be heard.

Soon, the man stopped his hurried steps, as if he had reached his intended destination.

The man, looking around, rubbed his fingers together. With a ‘snap,’ the surroundings began to change.

The space around the man, which had been empty, became opaque and soon revealed a well-decorated laboratory.

Even with just a simple gesture, it was implied that the man was no ordinary being.

With short teal hair, a tall stature, a slender build, and glasses, he looked like a typical scholar.

However, his sharp and irritable eyes made him seem anything but scholarly. Moreover, as he stared endlessly into the void, he appeared more like a sinister schemer than an academic.

“How did the representative of this Caelum end up doing such foolish things in such a foolish manner?”

Indeed, he was Caelum, a lesser God of the Sky.

Alongside Ludiker, the god in charge of Unos, he was one of the youngest gods, and Aitas was eagerly waiting for the “Battlefield of the Gods” to end.

For reasons unknown, Kim Han was grinding his teeth and burning with resentment towards this Caelum.

“With Aitas already being suspicious, that fool should have done whatever it took to win and clean up the mess. Damn it! It’s more annoying than when I participated as the representative in the ‘Battlefield of the Gods.’”

What could this mean? Was he once a representative?

It’s a mystery.

Caelum, who had been pacing around the laboratory-like place, suddenly stopped. He then stared at an image floating in the air again.

A man, tied up with strange ropes, alternated between screaming, laughing, and groaning.

At that moment, the face of the man who appeared before him entered Caelum’s view.

*—*You’ve been through a lot. But what can you do? There’s still a long way to go before a month is up. Endure a bit more.

*—*Uuuugh, uuuuuugh!!

Caelum’s gaze was piercingly cold as he looked at Unos, who couldn’t speak because his tongue had been cut out.

It was as if Unos was about to bring up the love story of Caelum and Aitas to Lee Hyo-ju and the others at the beginning of the “Battlefield of the Gods.”

His eyes glimmered like a predator eyeing its prey.

“Phew… not yet. The time to use this is…”

The item Caelum held and carefully fiddled with was a scroll emitting a strange white light.