Thumbs Up, Level Up

Chapter 71

The chat was begging Ji-Cheok to stay, but Ji-Cheok had to turn off his stream. He still had to have a meeting with his teammates and distribute the rewards from the dungeon—not the rewards from the System for clearing the dungeon, but what they had gotten from the monster corpses. In the mushroom dungeon, Ji-Cheok and the team couldn’t get many items due to the Dungeon Expansion, but they still got a lot of money from the dead Shrooms. Ji-Cheok also had to discuss releasing the video he had taken in the dungeon of [He_who_denies_death].

“I will see you guys next time! Thank you for watching today’s stream. Please like and subscribe~”

Ji-Cheok said goodbye and ended the stream.

?You did well, Master.?

“Whew. I can never get used to streaming. Always making me tense…”

?Understandable, Master. It is a live stream, so you cannot make any mistakes. However, I would never think of Master making such a mistake…?

“No way, I’m still human. By the way, I need to try these skills and the item that I got today.”

?Do you want information about Soul Telekinesis, Indestructible Toy Summon, and Fragment of Illusion??

“Yes, please.”

?Soul Telekinesis is a combination of telekinetic power and soul power. In addition to physical power, spiritual power can also be applied, which means that the power you can use is limitless. Also, the most special thing about this skill is that it can create spiritual matter.?

“Spiritual matter?”

?On Earth, I think it is called ectoplasm. According to the records, the term was coined by the French physiologist C. R. Richet (1913 Nobel Prize winner). How he observed this material is unknown, though.?

Cheok-Liang’s eyes turned blue.

?According to information on Earth’s Internet, it is defined as a mysterious substance created when a person with spiritual power uses said power in such a way as to communicate with ghosts. It is now more common than in the past. There are Awakened who use this as a skill. However, we still do not know the full efficacy and effectiveness of this matter.?

‘I guess I can find out after I actually learn the skill.’

Ji-Cheok knew that once he learned the skills, he would understand the ability at once. Also, even if he ended up filming a demonstration video later, he didn’t want to show the viewers everything. For that reason, he had exchanged the skill coupons, but he hadn’t actually learned the skills on live stream.

?In the case of Indestructible Toy Summon, it is a summoning skill, as the name suggests. However, it seems that you can choose the size and type of the toy.?

“That’s interesting.”

?Yes. In the end, I think you should try these skills later. But first, you need to learn them.?

“Got it.”

These were skills that belonged to Ji-Cheok anyway and could not be sold. Ji-Cheok learned the two skills, and the knowledge about their characteristics and use was instantly imprinted onto his brain.

‘So… I guess this is how you use Soul Telekinesis. And the Indestructible Toy Summon… It’s really just summoning toys. I have to use it myself to know the actual power, but…”

?How is it, Master??

“Soul Telekinesis seems really powerful, but I think I need to train with it to reach its full potential. For now, I think it would be difficult to use it with my cultivation skills.”

?I see. It will also be helpful for your training sessions.?

“I agree.”

Ji-Cheok checked his watch.

‘Come to think of it, wasn’t this watch also indestructible?’

Ji-Cheok wondered if the watch was made by the same person who created the [Indestructible Toy Summon]. With that in mind, Ji-Cheok grabbed his room key and went outside. It was time to take Mu-Cheok to breakfast.

* * *

“Hyung, how was your stream?” Mu-Cheok asked.

“It was alright,” Ji-Cheok replied.

“If you upload the recorded one, it will be a huge hit.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Ji-Cheok took Mu-Cheok, who was exercising, from the gym. Ji-Cheok could see that his brother was working out hard from the sweat and the smell.

“Hey, hold on,” Ji-Cheok said.

Ji-Cheok activated [Class 1 Lifestyle Magic Spellbook—Clean], and Mu-Cheok’s body was cleaned and refreshed in an instant.

“Hyung, have you also learned this kind of skill?”

“Yupp.”

“I thought you only learned combat and crafting skills?”

“Do you think Hunters only fight? Do they not eat? Do they not clean themselves?”

“I’m just saying… Your skills are amazing…”

[Hunter Um Mu-Cheok was very impressed with your lifestyle skills.]

[You have received 1 Like.]

‘I guess he was really surprised. Thanks for the Likes.’

Since Mu-Cheok knew about his brother’s secrets, he didn’t give Likes as much as other people. Maybe it was because he was self-conscious about Ji-Cheok’s abilities. Given that problem, it was even more surprising for Ji-Cheok to receive a Like from Mu-Cheok for a skill like that.

“This skill is amazing for streaming,” Mu-Cheok said as he wiped himself with a towel.

“Yupp. Now I can always show my fresh side to the viewers.”

That was one of the biggest problems with Hunters who live-streamed. In the end, all the Hunters had to roll around on dirty floors and get covered in monster blood and flesh.

Normal people would ask why that mattered, considering the Hunters were even risking their lives. This was certainly true, but the Hunters weren’t the only ones risking their lives on live stream, and they wanted to be seen as handsome and clean at all times, if possible. Even if they did get dirty, they wanted to stay fashionably?dirty, like those models on television. They wanted to look tough, but not disgusting.

‘What is the world becoming… This crazy world…’

Had Ji-Cheok’s grandfather been alive, he would have been furious about this. When Ji-Cheok’s grandfather was on his deathbed, the world was already able to watch the Hunters fight online. The AI quickly cut off the transmission right before a Hunter died, but anyone could guess what happened next. Ji-Cheok’s grandfather cried and cursed at people who bet on these Hunters who were risking their lives. He was a very emotional person.

The problem was that the gap between the rich and the poor was getting bigger day by day, and the house prices in Korean cities were also increasing. Except for the capital and big cities, security was getting worse and worse. There was also a chance of a Gate opening and people dying from it. The food price also continued to rise, even though it was drones that did most of the work instead of people. The drones didn’t have unions or severance pay and they were run on solar power, but that didn’t stop the food prices from increasing.

People needed something to distract themselves from their miserable life. Instead of making a wish to the falling stars, people would rather put one hundred won on a Hunter whose life was on the line.

“Well, popularity is important to Hunters~” Ji-Cheok said.

Ji-Cheok was okay with this because he was still healthy and ready to live in a world like that. On that note, the [Class 1 Lifestyle Magic Spellbook—Cleaning] would continue to earn Likes for Ji-Cheok.

Trying to stay positive, Ji-Cheok went to have breakfast with Mu-Cheok. He wondered how great a luxury hotel breakfast would be.

“I just want to eat meat patties,” Mu-Cheok grumbled.

Ji-Cheok very much doubted that the hotel offered that cheap-ass fake deli made of starch.

“Wow…”

Just as he had expected, a variety of foods was on display and Ji-Cheok’s teammates were already eating. Ji-Byeok and Ha-Na were sitting down and having their meal. Ji-Byeok was devouring a pile of meat on her plate, and Ha-Na was sipping coffee, looking as if she had finished eating already.

“How did you sleep?”

“How are you feeling?”

The brothers greeted them both and approached them. They sat at the long table across from Ji-Byeok and Ha-Na.

“I did, thank you. Did you sleep well?”

“Ji-Byeok and I are both fine~ You know how amazing Seong Kwang’s skills are. I don’t feel tired at all.”

The two greeted Ji-Cheok and Mu-Cheok warmly. Ji-Cheok realized that Ji-Byeok and Ha-Na were getting along really well.

‘Weren’t they at each other’s throats not so long ago?’

Just as he thought, a team had to face death in order to get closer to each other. No matter how much teammates disliked each other, if they fought together and risked their lives, comradery would be born among them.

Ji-Cheok just nodded and started eating as well.

“That’s a matter of stamina recovery. Isn’t mana recovery harder? You guys look so lively,” Ji-Cheok said.

At his question, Ji-Byeok and Ha-Na look at each other and burst into laughter. Mana exhaustion was very different from physical exhaustion. This was why, no matter how strong the Hunters were, they would only go to one dungeon a week. Hunters need mana to activate their skills Mana was not restored by eating, and mana potions and other related items were very expensive.

“Well, we’re used to it. But you and Mu-Cheok don’t seem like you’ve actually exhausted your mana. Am I right?” Ji-Byeok said.

Ji-Cheok was a little embarrassed by her question.

“Um…I think it’s because of my cultivation skills. After meditation, the mana fatigue goes away quite a bit,” Ji-Cheok said.

It wasn’t just meditation—his [Spontaneous Absorption] and [Heaven and Earth Chaotic Divine Art] skills helped out a lot. His teammates didn't need to know that part, though, so Ji-Cheok kept his mouth shut.

“How about you, Mu-Cheok?”

“I’ve used a lot of stamina, but I didn’t use that much mana, so it’s okay,” Mu-Cheok replied.

Ji-Byeok looked at his trapezius and deltoid muscles.

“Mu-Cheok has the qualities to be a tank. Those muscles are telling me just that,” Ji-Byeok said.

Then, she took three pieces of her bacon and put them on Mu-Cheok’s plate.

Ji-Cheok knew they both had strong muscles. Of course, it would be difficult to have stronger muscles than Ji-Byeok, a born-to-be-tank, but still, Mu-Cheok was not losing by much. He looked like a steel gate when he walked around.

Ha-Na looked at Ji-Cheok with her bright eyes.

“I…I feel a bit regretful about not learning cultivation skills, like Mr. Um Ji-Cheok. I didn’t know mana would recover that quickly. Well… Since my Awakened job is not in that field, there was no chance for me to receive a cultivation skill anyway…” Ha-Na said.

[Hunter Byul Ha-Na admires your recovery speed.]

[You have received 1 Like.]

‘Ooh, another Like.’

However, Ji-Cheok felt sorry for giving them a false image of cultivation.

“No, I think Ji-Cheok is just special. Cultivation-type Hunters also need at least a week to fully recover,” Ji-Byeok said.

Ji-Cheok thought she was as sharp as a knife, knowing this much about cultivation. But there was no need to answer her. He didn’t feel like he had to give out information about himself except for when it was necessary for cooperation.

“I restore my mana by eating,” Ji-Byeok said.

This surprised Ji-Cheok. She had opened up, just like that?

“Excuse me?” Ji-Cheok said.

“I can’t say it’s effective. But still, it’s best to save mana recovery potions and elixirs for battles, right?”

“I see your point,” Ji-Cheok said.

Ji-Byeok smiled at his reply.

“Besides, maintaining muscle is very important for her.”

It was Ji-Han. His voice could be heard well from a distance. It was a low-pitched voice, clear and resonant. Ji-Cheok wondered if he had a skill related to his voice.

Beside Ji-Han, it was Seong Kwang. He yawned, as if he was still tired. Priests used the highest amount of mana among all Hunter jobs. He always had to burn his own mana to save his teammates, so he would squeeze it to the limit. No matter how much recovery ability a priest had, it was still hard for them.

“Hello, everyone,” Seong Kwang said.

His meal consisted of a bit of soup and an egg omelet. Ji-Cheok was curious how he could survive eating that little. Ji-Han put his plate down and started talking.

“Now that everyone is present, let’s talk about work while having breakfast. First, please bring your meal.”

Seong Kwang grumbled—he clearly did not fancy talking about work in the morning. There were two types of people who were always sleep-deprived: healers and teenagers. Since Seong Kwang was both, the sleep deprivation synergy was just out of this world.

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