Chapter 10….
I Became a Transcendent-Level Genius Trainer
The news was hard for the scouts to believe.
They had heard that the Promise Guild had released Kang Yoo-jun, but they never imagined he would become a trainer.
Kang Yoo-jun’s release had long been considered a matter of time.
Awakening failure.
The Promise Guild had waited a long time for Kang Yoo-jun to awaken because he had significant potential. Even without awakening, his physical abilities were remarkable, and his knowledge, judgment, and insight were exceptional.
But without awakening, he could not handle the Tower’s monsters.
That’s why most insiders and scouts had predicted his release was inevitable.
“Actually, he lasted longer than expected,” they said.
Kang Yoo-jun’s growth potential was 0 percent. Not close to zero—just zero. Yet the Promise Guild had given him opportunities for a long time.
Some even called the Promise Guild “benevolent.”
But the world doesn’t operate on kindness. The guild was merely unable to escape its sunk costs and wanted to extract profit from him by any means.
“Wait, that Kang Yoo-jun is now an Awakener trainer at Sky Guild?”
“Did Kang Yoo-jun even have a history of training?”
Anyone could become an Awakener trainer, but not everyone could succeed. Anyone could teach, but the real challenge was that the training had to be effectively imparted to awakeners, and results had to follow.
That was why scouts couldn’t believe that Kang Yoo-jun, formerly a youth at Promise Guild, had become an Awakener trainer.
“The current head of the Sky Guild trainer team is probably Kim Do-hoon. He’s been training Woo-hana for a long time, hasn’t he?”
“Kim Do-hoon’s been a trainer for five years, right? He must have produced quite a few awakeners.”
Several of the awakeners in Sky Guild’s Sales Team 1 had been trained directly by Kim Do-hoon. Yet Woo-hana was someone even he couldn’t improve.
And now Kang Yoo-jun had trained Woo-hana and transformed her in such a short time?
This was a major issue—on a completely different level than his release.
“We should confirm if it really is Kang Yoo-jun.”
If it was indeed him…
“Kang Yoo-jun’s talent just belonged elsewhere!”
Ding!
While the scouts were arguing about Kang Yoo-jun, Yoo-jun received a call.
He had met a few trainers while at Promise Guild. Among them, only a handful had liked him. No matter how much they trained him, he wouldn’t change. In fact, his progress threatened their careers, so disliking him was natural.
But there was one trainer who had a good relationship with Yoo-jun, who had looked out for him for over a year.
“Teacher, it’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has. I heard the news.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t live up to expectations.”
“What’s there to apologize for? You were amazing when I trained you. Talent is just like that—don’t be too disheartened.”
Kim Hyung-gu had trained Yoo-jun when he first started as a youth at Promise Guild and was now working as a scout.
“I have something to ask.”
“Ask anything.”
Yoo-jun answered cheerfully. The happiest time at Promise Guild had been the very beginning.
To Yoo-jun, Kim Hyung-gu was more than an Awakener trainer; he was a life mentor who had taught him wisdom for living.
“Are you… currently working as a trainer?”
“Yes. You’ve heard about Woo-hana, haven’t you?”
“No way…”
“Yes.”
Yoo-jun answered plainly. There was no reason to hide it.
“I trained her myself.”
“I knew it! Congratulations, Yoo-jun!”
Kim Hyung-gu was delighted as if it were his own achievement.
“Thank you, teacher.”
Yoo-jun felt glad he had said it.
‘Whether sooner or later, this would’ve been known.’
It was better to share it openly through someone trustworthy.
“I’ve decided to live as a trainer now. A bit late, though.”
“That’s fine. Life isn’t one path. But it’s a tough road. You know that, right?”
“I’m fine. I’m used to hardship, so it feels comfortable.”
Failure once was enough. Kim Hyung-gu could sense his confidence and smiled.
“Alright, let’s have a drink sometime. Now that my student walks the same path, I want to play my teacher role.”
“Yes, teacher. I’ll contact you later!”
The news that Kang Yoo-jun had transitioned to a trainer began to spread quickly.
The beginner class consisted of youth trainees. All Sky Guild youth were in this class, receiving instruction from three trainers. Yoo-jun joined, making four trainers in total. Being freelance, his position was slightly different from the others.
Normally, Yoo-jun would have joined the trainer team as part of the four-person group. But he had formed his own team.
‘I’m the only member.’
So, effectively, Sky Guild now had two trainer groups: the original three trainers and Yoo-jun’s solo team.
The beginner class was receiving training under both teams.
‘The three have specialized fields. Running as a unit is efficient.’
Yoo-jun didn’t need a unit.
‘I can handle training alone.’
“Trainer Kang Yoo-jun?”
Kim Do-hoon, head of the original Sky Guild trainers, approached. Short-haired, tall, and a former elite Awakener, he had reached A-rank.
Yoo-jun turned to him, expecting him.
‘Because I trained the student Kim Do-hoon failed to improve.’
It was a blow to any trainer’s pride.
“Yes, Team Leader Kim.”
“Training Woo-hana was impressive.”
But Kim Do-hoon praised Yoo-jun.
“Thanks. I’ve had similar experiences, so I considered those lessons while training her. She isn’t untalented like I was.”
Kim Do-hoon blinked. Yoo-jun had once been a promising youth at a guild—though infamous in a bad way.
“Ah, I forgot for a moment.”
He looked apologetic. He wasn’t being manipulative; he genuinely had forgotten.
To Kim, Kang Yoo-jun was now a promising trainer, not a failed youth.
“I thought Kang Trainer was a proper trainer. Your work with Woo-hana was impressive. My mistake.”
A proper trainer—those words pleased Yoo-jun.
‘That’s how I feel too.’
Having trained for years, he initially thought he wouldn’t adapt.
But it was the opposite. He fit better as a trainer than as a youth.
‘Past experience helped, but still… this fits perfectly.’
It felt seamless.
“Thank you.”
“Now that Kang Trainer officially handles the beginner class, I’ll share the curriculum. By the way… you asked about trainee Kim Gyo-jun with the guild master?”
“Yes. During my introduction, I briefly trained Kim Gyo-jun.”
Kim Do-hoon knew because he had seen it. Yoo-jun had taught Kim briefly to explain who he was and his training style.
“May I ask why you picked Kim Gyo-jun specifically?”
“Because he’s the worst.”
According to the Awakener trainer system, Kim Gyo-jun was at the bottom among Sky Guild youth.
“The worst… but why?”
“I saw potential.”
Yoo-jun answered vaguely. Woo-hana was high-potential; Kim Gyo-jun was slated for release.
“He’ll be released next month.”
Kim Do-hoon handed over the detailed file Yoo-jun requested.
“I tried to train him, but it didn’t work. Despite his effort, results were poor.”
Kim Gyo-jun had a complex skill: Weapon Enhancement. It could strengthen, soften, stretch, or imbue weapons with new power. Yet he couldn’t use it properly.
“Damn it… why won’t it work?”
He recalled the first day with Kang Yoo-jun. Back then, it had felt perfect.
Now, he couldn’t replicate it.
He glanced at the message he received days ago:
-[Release Notification]
“Hello, trainee Kim Gyo-jun. This is Sky Guild… you are on the release list…”
He had felt it coming, but seeing it confirmed shocked him.
“Lack of skill and weak physique.”
Either alone might’ve been okay. But he had both deficits.
“Trainer Kang Yoo-jun.”
Startled, Kim turned. Yoo-jun was there.
“Since when have you been watching…?”
He felt embarrassed, but Yoo-jun didn’t say anything. Kim made a lame excuse.
“I was training alone to improve weaknesses.”
Yoo-jun already knew about him. He had transformed Woo-hana, thanks to her talent. Kim Gyo-jun had nothing comparable.
“From the beginning.”
“I embarrassed myself. It’s fine; it’s all over anyway. Anything more would be a waste of time.”
“Do you think you lack talent? I don’t.”
Kim’s eyes widened. Yoo-jun saw potential in him? It was the first time since joining Sky Guild.
“Talent… for me?”
“Yes.”
Yoo-jun nodded confidently.
“If you think otherwise, that’s fine. But I see it. Your potential, Kim Gyo-jun.”
Ding!
–Awakener training begins!
