Thud!
Ji-han’s neck sprang with veins.
It was due to the two men and women in front of him, who were disrespectfully chatting as if he wasn’t even there.
“I just wanted to say hello and leave, why do you have to act all tough? Huh?”
Who said they could silence anyone?
Ji-han’s cheeks trembled slightly as the tip of his nose flared.
“I might look like this, but I’m a Hunter who could upgrade to B-rank anytime, okay?”
“…So what?”
Si-hyun intentionally ignored Ji-han.
Unable to contain his temper, Ji-han shouted.
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Oh, if you’re about to be B-rank, we’re gonna have a fun time here! E-rank, D-rank. Just two of you.”
“Huh?”
Ji-han looked between Si-hyun and Han-gyeol in disbelief.
From the way she spoke, that woman also seemed to be a Hunter—an E-rank Hunter.
What kind of confidence did she have?
Even if ten E-rank Hunters swarmed him, Ji-han was confident he’d just scratch his nose and come out on top.
Two of them? A D-rank and an E-rank? Simply absurd.
“Hey, lady, you might get hurt badly like this!”
“And what if I do?”
“Seriously, damn it!”
Grumble grumble.
Ji-han scrunched his face and spat out curses.
Hearing such words spoken with a straight face made his anger boil over.
He really felt ignored.
It seemed it was time to teach them what the world of Hunters was like.
“Ah! Fine! Let’s have a go at it. If you get hurt badly, I won’t care. Right, bro?”
“Um…”
Han-gyeol wore a hesitant expression at Ji-han’s call.
He understood that Si-hyun was trying to provoke Ji-han on purpose.
The problem was that once that guy’s eyes went wild, there was no stopping him.
Si-hyun was strong, there was no doubt about it.
He couldn’t possibly be an E-rank Hunter.
But when asked, ‘just how strong?’ he had no clue.
He could only think of him as someone ridiculously powerful.
With trembling eyes, Han-gyeol gazed at Si-hyun.
Can the two of us really defeat Ji-han?
These were the thoughts that had just crossed Han-gyeol’s mind.
But he couldn’t bring those thoughts to his lips.
With a bright grin, a child-like pure smile was directed at him.
The moment he saw that face…
A small courage that had quietly held its breath inside Han-gyeol.
Slowly wriggled and peeked its head out.
“We can do it.”
Si-hyun murmured softly.
It was a short phrase, but as if it were a magic spell,
Confidence filled Han-gyeol’s chest.
He slowly stood up.
“…I’ll grab a training sword from the storage, so wait in the open space next to the building.”
“Hehehe, if you get hurt, I really won’t care.”
Ji-han emphasized what he had just said with a wicked grin.
In his mind, an imaginary world unfolded as he thought of how to deal with the two who were ignoring him.
The three gathered in the empty space behind the building.
Han-gyeol handed Ji-han a sturdy but blunted sword.
Next, he approached Si-hyun.
Right then…
Si-hyun leaned against a nearby street lamp post.
It looked as if he were saying, ‘I won’t get involved in this fight.’
Han-gyeol’s body froze like ice.
He stuttered, glancing at Si-hyun.
“Si, Si-Si-hyun…?”
“Yes?”
“Why are you leaning on the lamp post…?”
“…?”
Han-gyeol, his voice trembling, questioned Si-hyun’s actions.
Si-hyun blinked for a moment.
He didn’t understand why such a question was asked.
“I wanted to watch in a comfortable posture?”
“…Weren’t we fighting together?”
“…Ah.”
Thanks to Han-gyeol’s earnest tone, Si-hyun finally understood the meaning of the other’s words.
“I’ll use my Paladin skill. So make sure he gets quiet.”
“…”
Han-gyeol closed his mouth.
The small courage that had sprouted after a long time.
Had quietly retreated back into the cold earth.
He rubbed his face with a hand that wasn’t holding a sword.
What a pity.
It was clear he was about to get brutally beaten.
That guy wouldn’t hold back any mercy in his hands.
He’d probably just beat him like a dog, brother or not.
As Han-gyeol silently wept in his heart, Ji-han approached him with a grin.
“Why not both rush him at the same time?”
“…”
Han-gyeol raised his head with a dark expression.
Si-hyun was cutely yawning.
After dusting off his palm, he sipped his milk again.
He waved a milk carton, showing an expression of disappointment.
It seemed he was out of milk.
From Han-gyeol’s perspective, it seemed that the amount of milk was more important to her than the fight.
His heart sank all of a sudden.
Forget it.
It was already happening.
Han-gyeol steadied himself.
Let’s at least try our best.
Let’s show as little embarrassment as possible.
“……Let’s start.”
“Hehehe, I’ll take it easy on you.”
Han-gyeol took his stance.
Ji-han maintained his slouchy posture.
Snap!
The sudden sound of fingers snapping resonated.
In that moment, Han-gyeol felt the strength surging through his body.
Yes, this was the feeling.
Vitality surged in his body as fear dissipated.
He felt like his concentration had heightened as well.
Right now, it felt like he could accomplish anything.
Han-gyeol calmly gazed at his opponent.
Meanwhile, Ji-han felt a strange sensation.
Ever since that pretty but crazy girl snapped her fingers,
He felt like his strength was somehow fading away.
A peculiar discomfort pricked at his body.
Is it a delusion?
Something felt off; it was clearly not a good day for him.
But he couldn’t possibly lose to mere D-rank and E-rank Hunters.
Ji-han gripped his sword tightly with both hands and slammed it down.
He rapidly swung the sword that was pointed upward.
His target was Han-gyeol’s head.
Since they were both Awakened and with a blunted sword, it would only end up “really painful.”
Without hesitation, he attacked.
“…Huh?”
“Hmm.”
There should definitely have been painful screams at this point.
If not that, then grunting noises somehow struggling to defend.
But Han-gyeol smoothly twisted his body and dodged Ji-han’s sword.
Ji-han doubted his own eyes.
Hadn’t he heard that Han-gyeol’s been tackling dungeons lately?
Has he gotten a bit stronger?
Ji-han swung his sword again.
Once, twice.
Han-gyeol dodged every attack effortlessly.
“Huah!”
“……”
In the end, Ji-han resorted to using the combat skills of a swordsman.
He swung his sword laterally towards Han-gyeol’s waist.
It was faster than before.
A long arc trailed the path of the sword.
This one will hit!
Ji-han spat out a yucky grin.
But just like that…
Han-gyeol held the sword vertically and blocked it.
His expression scrunched slightly, but that was it.
“…What’s going on? Something’s off here.”
Ji-han murmured unintentionally.
There was no way a D-rank Hunter like Han-gyeol could fight with someone like him.
Sure, he was the one actively attacking…
But could it really be that he was the one more advantageous and stronger?
Ji-han panted heavily as he stepped back.
The air around him felt heavy as if it was stifling him.
Something seemed to gnaw at and press down on him.
A strong sense of déjà vu lingered, but he couldn’t pinpoint its source.
Suddenly, Ji-han glanced at the girl standing a little further away.
Today’s conversation echoed in his mind.
[If I’m about to become B-rank, I could fight at this level. E-rank, D-rank. Two of you.]
At this level, I’ll be fighting?
Could it be…?
“…Is she a Mage Hunter?”
Mage Hunters have such a variety of skills that unless you experience them first-hand, you might not know what to expect.
Ji-han furrowed his brow tightly.
He felt like he was being toyed with by some sneaky trick.
But he couldn’t keep dwelling on it.
Han-gyeol’s counterattack had begun.
Han-gyeol adapted to his buffed state.
He shifted his defensive posture to an offensive one.
Closing the distance between him and Ji-han in an instant, he swung his sword in all directions.
The tide of battle shifted.
The counterattack had begun.
“Ugh…!”
Ji-han widened his eyes as he blocked Han-gyeol’s attack.
It was a close call.
If he had been a moment slower, he would have gotten struck on the shoulder.
His palm, gripping the sword, felt numb.
Is this really D-rank?
Could it be that he concealed his rank by remaining at C-rank?
Even at full condition, it would have been hard to win…
Could it really be that just having the support of an E-rank Mage Hunter would make this much of a difference?
Ji-han felt cheated.
His thoughts were getting tangled and overwhelming.
Yet there wasn’t time to think deeply.
Because Han-gyeol immediately followed up with another attack.
Once he gained the upper hand, he didn’t let it go.
Without giving Ji-han a moment to breathe, he pressed him hard.
Every time Han-gyeol swung his sword, Ji-han’s body retreated.
Ji-han’s expression began to twist.
On the other hand, Han-gyeol’s face began to beam with joy.
I can do this!
I can win!
Me, the underdog, is putting pressure on the ace of the guild!
Han-gyeol was fully aware that this was all thanks to Si-hyun’s buff.
However, it felt like he was experiencing a glimpse into the future.
Wow, the Paladin skill is amazing!
His heart raced.
The ecstasy and joy that began in his chest spread to his extremities, wrapping around his whole body.
“Gahhh—!”
“Hahaha…!”
In the end, Han-gyeol’s sword struck Ji-han’s neck.
As Ji-han staggered back with a pained scream, clutching his neck…
Han-gyeol subtly turned to glance at Si-hyun.
As their eyes met, Si-hyun flashed a small smile and waved.
It felt like the goddess of victory was watching over them.
Han-gyeol once again faced forward.
Si-hyun was definitely someone destined to rise to great heights.
She would ascend to some lofty place he could never reach.
He already knew that she was the flower on a cliff.
But was it really okay to just watch the flower?
Would it be alright to follow her journey, however slowly?
To grow steadily without embarrassment.
Han-gyeol dashed back towards Ji-han.
“Hehehe….”
“Ah! Ugh!”
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes.
Han-gyeol cheerfully rained down blows on Ji-han.
That guy had been so arrogant and rude lately.
Beating him up felt like an exhilarating stress relief!
Did that guy have any self-respect? Even while being pummeled, he didn’t give up.
Thanks to that, Han-gyeol hit Ji-han even merrier.
Thump! Thump!
No matter how many times he hit him, it was entertaining.
Indeed, arrogant jerks needed to get a few smacks!
Bang!
There hadn’t been such refreshing soda in the world.
“Hah, haaa! Stop! I-I’ll behave!”
“Look at your tone?”
“…I’m sorry, argh!”
After getting hit on the forehead by Han-gyeol, Ji-han collapsed to the ground.
He let out a painful groan.
It seemed like it was finally over.
Si-hyun leisurely approached Han-gyeol.
“Han-gyeol.”
“Yes?”
“You seem to be in a good mood. Why not give him a bit more education?”
“Ah, should I?”
With Si-hyun’s playful tone, Han-gyeol couldn’t help but smile.
And at that moment…
“Hey, what’s going on here…?”
Da-young appeared from beside the building.
Her eyes went wide at the scene unfolding before her.
