DEB 35

[Would you like to use the new guide?]

It was the same notification window as the last time. 

“Is it possible to decline the guide?” 

The golden system window responded.

[The choice is up to Mr. Huiyun. However, if you use the new guide, you can receive more direct help from the system!]

“Help from the system?”

Until now, the system has never been helpful, has it?

[Mr. Huiyun!]

Oops.

Reflexively, Huiyun answered too honestly. But the answer itself wasn’t wrong.

Although he had been in trouble with the system before, there hadn’t been many moments where he actually received help. Rather than listening to the vehement opposition from the system, Huiyun chose to ask himself whether he needed the new guide.

Do I need the new guide?

Honestly, he was torn. On one hand, he just wanted to ignore it in case it led to more suspicious situations, but on the other hand, since the system was so confident, he also wanted to try it out in case something was different this time. Amidst his contemplation, the resentful gaze of Jiwook came to mind, which made Huiyun suddenly lean towards accepting the guide.

Whether he accepted the new guide or not, his three disciples already regarded him as a Yasha, so widening his options through the system might make the situation less unjustifiable, since no deception would pass by them now. 

“Yeah, might as well prepare for the worst.”

As he made his decision and pressed the accept button, the previously golden window changed to a green response state and rushed towards Huiyun with a bright light. Instinctively, Huiyun raised his arms to protect himself from the light and closed his eyes. 

How long had he been shielding himself from the light, waiting for something to happen? 

When he cautiously opened his eyes, nothing had happened.

“Yip yip.”

A strange sound came from his knees.

Memories of his encounter with Moot flashed back, and an ominous feeling arose. He slowly lowered his head, and there, on his knees, was a silver fox emitting a bright and transparent blue light.

“Ah!”

Startled, Huiyun threw the fox, causing it to crash to the wall.

“Yipppp!”

The fox, which had been flying in the air, twisted its body and soon landed on the bed in a smooth motion. From its flexible movements and casual responses, it was clear that this was no ordinary fox. From the fact that it emitted light alone, it was disqualified as an ordinary fox.

“Why… a fox?”

He had asked for a new guide, but a fox descended from the sky, or rather, from the system window.

Could this be the guide?

It was an absurd thought, but there was nothing else to speculate about its identity. As Huiyun wondered silently, the fox, which had been stroking its face with its forepaws, looked straight at Huiyun and let out a soft cry.

“Yip!”

[Update complete! “Disciple Education Book for Reincarnator” is starting!]

[Disciple Education Book for Reincarnator]

Registered Disciples

Ash (Hong Juan) Respect 13%

Vina (Kwon Jiwook) Respect 3%

Moot (Nameless) Respect 8%

Educational Commands: Punishment, Praise

Relationships and Status

Ash (Hong Juan) Affection 30%

Looking forward to the future with Master ^ ^ | Joy, Excitement, Concern

Bina (Kwon Ji-wook) Affection -10%

Angry at the master who abandoned himㅡㅡ^ | Excitement, Anger, Irritation

Moot (Nameless) Affection 0%

Recalling the teachings of the Master ㅇㅅㅇ | Interest, Doubt, Contemplation

[Warning! There are 3 disciples who are not registered. Complete the registration of the remaining disciples by remembering them.]

Without a moment to prepare, Huiyun quietly scanned the lengthy notification window.

It seemed that filling up this thing called “respect” was the goal of this guide, but why are the values so low?

It was more dismal than Huiyun had thought. Not even one person had a respect value exceeding 20%. Even Ash, whom he trusted, didn’t have such a high value.

“Do they only suspect me as a Yasha and nothing else?”

Didn’t “respect” imply more than just its literal meaning? Or did Yasha’s disciples didn’t follow their master as they should?

As Huiyun was perplexed, the system offered some helpful information.

[The Disciple Education Book is a project guide designed to rejuvenate the unruly disciples encountered by the master after ten thousands years! It combines parts of the previous project, ‘Aftercare Services for Saviors,’ and cannot be replaced until a new guide is discovered.]

[All disciples registered in the ‘Guidebook for Reincarnators’ Disciples’ are Yasha’s disciples, and only those who have currently declined in respect are registered. The Disciple Education Book will end when all disciples’ respect reaches 100%!]

[With the help of the ‘guide,’ clear quests and gain progress and respect!]

“Yipp!”

The light-hearted yet somewhat wretched system window blinked lightly at Huiyun as if sympathizing. Understanding the situation, Huiyun let out a sigh and pointed at the fox with his fingertips.

“You’re the guide?”

” Yipp!”

As if affirming, the fox nodded its head. Huiyun, who had been somewhat doubtful, decided to inquire further.

“Could you be the administrator?”

“Yi-yippp?”

The cry was different from before. With suspicion at the strange response, Huiyun narrowed his eyes, and the fox gestured forward.

<Mysterious Youkai, Silver Fox(?)>

<Sent under the protection of the system to assist the reincarnator ‘Huiyun’ and entrusted with the Disciple Education Book project! Get to know the fox and befriend it through the quests.>

“You’re the administrator, isn’it?”

“YIP YIP!”

The floating window with a blue light felt oddly familiar. His instinct was rarely wrong, so when Huiyun lifted the fox, the youkai resisted by kicking its legs. Huiyun was amazed. Dealing with just the system window was troublesome enough, but now there was direct intervention from the side. Holding the fox by its nape, Huiyun glanced back and forth between the system window and the fox before rubbing his forehead.

Could the administrator have transformed into a fox?

Having obtained such a poorly made thing using the Manuscript of the Persian Ducal Family, Huiyun criticized it with his eyes, and the silver fox looked aggrieved. As he sighed, the fox raised a new notification.

[Give a name to the Mysterious Youkai, Silver Fox. If you acquire the Silver Fox as a partner, you can receive various assistance!]

“Not a fox, but the system, I suppose.”

“Yipp!”

No matter how much the fox cried out as if to deny it, Huiyun was already convinced. Placing his hand on his waist, Huiyun spoke up.

“Siho.”

“Khing?”

“Let’s go with Siho for your name.”

Surprised, the fox looked at Huiyun as if to say, “Really?” then soon wagged its tail happily.

[The Silver Fox, ‘Siho,’ likes the name.]

[You have been linked with your partner. You can check Siho’s status window.]

“…Wait, is it really a youkai?”

Huiyun was surprised to see his chosen name registered in the status window.

Unaware that it was a genuine youkai, he had named it after a slang term for the system.

If it was indeed a youkai, then he felt sorry for it. Whether it sensed his inner turmoil or was shocked, Siho, with a surprised expression, sniffled.

Feeling guilty, Huiyun absentmindedly stroked Siho’s head and decided to check the status window, just in case the administrator was using sympathy as a ploy.

He found himself looking at Siho’s status window.

Name: Siho

Species: Silver Fox (Mysterious Youkai)

Level: 1 (Potential to Grow)

Abilities: Gate Detection (E), Misfortune Detection (E), Partner Protection (E), Purification (E), Curse of the Youkai (E)

Special: Guide Qualification (S Rank Fixed)

“…It’s really a youkai.”

Now he felt guilty. Huiyun humbly received Siho’s resentful gaze, who was already linked as his partner, and began examining each ability listed on the status window.

First was Gate Detection. It was an ability to detect Gates with a 50% chance, regardless of whether they were undiscovered or registered, and the number and probability of detectable Gates would increase with level.

Somehow, it felt like the system’s firm intention not to be messed with anymore was reflected in this ability.

“Well, that’s a shame.”

For now, it seemed more efficient to manipulate the system than to rely on Siho’s abilities. However, now that Siho was here, Huiyun doubted the system would provide further assistance in detecting Gates. He then confirmed the Misfortune Detection ability, which was similar to Gate Detection but detected minor misfortunes in daily life.

“This one might be useful in labyrinth-like places as the level increases.”

Perhaps with skill, one could explore labyrinth-style Gates without the need for a Guide Hunter.

Next was Partner Protection.

<Partner Protection (E)>

Contracted youkai are obligated to protect the lives of their partners. When with the youkai, a shield is activated that blocks all attacks of E rank or below. Destroyed shields regenerate after 24 hours.

The fourth ability was Purification.

<Purification (E)>

With the youkai’s mysterious ability, areas tainted by demonic energy can be purified. The purification range varies depending on the grade. Please verify directly!

Lastly, there was Curse of the Youkai.

<Curse of the Youkai (E)>

Once every 14 days, a specific target can be cursed by the youkai. The recipient of the youkai’s curse will have their Luck stat fixed at E rank for 14 days. As the grade increases, the effectiveness and range of the debuff increase.

Although the grades were low, all the abilities seemed useful. Huiyun then clicked on the most important bonus.

<Guide Qualification (S Rank Fixed)>

Assumes the role of the guide for Disciple Education Book, Siho can survive all attacks that lead to death once a day. Additionally, Siho, as a qualified guide, receives partial authority from the responsible administrator to manage the system and quests.

In other words, it was like having a living, breathing system. 

Ding!

[The administrator is alive and well, you know!]

As expected, the system window, always quick to respond to self-deprecation, sent another message through the golden window. Finally relieved of suspicion, Huiyun, who had been petting Siho, rechecked the notification.

“So, when all the respect is filled, my disciples won’t trouble me anymore?”

“Yippp!”

“I’m not thrilled, but well, let’s give it a try.”

With the acceptance of the new guide, the existing “Aftercare Services for Saviors” merged into the Disciple Education Book’. To proceed with mana sensitivity treatment, Huiyun, who had decided to accept the youkai offered as a bribe by the system, placed the silver fox on his shoulder.

That evening, upon returning home, Huigang fainted upon hearing the news that Huiyun had been tied to three S-rank hunter like a tragic drama’s mother-in-law.