Chapter 65

As I turned my head, Josia, who had been wandering around, caught my eye and casually raised her hand in a wave.

Matching her gesture, I waved back, and Lee Soo-ho’s gaze followed.

“Who are you waving at?”

“Not telling.”

“Wow, this guy’s got a nasty attitude!”

Josia had already turned away before Soo-ho could look back, so I retracted my waving hand and gave him a nonchalant look.

“So, I have to train with you? No thanks.”

“I hate it more, you brat!”

“Why is it so noisy over here?”

An instructor pointed out, and Soo-ho quickly shut his mouth with a guilty expression.

Ever since he got beaten up by Seo-ho, he’s been cautious around instructors.

“Everyone, pair up properly. We’ll start the training session now.”

Meanwhile, the instructors began the class.

The class format involved pairs stepping forward in front of the instructors to spar one-on-one.

The goal was to identify areas for improvement and learn how to subdue opponents based on their abilities.

Even those without offensive or defensive abilities could practice techniques like takedowns, which relied solely on physical skills.

It was a good training session, as long as there was no bad blood between the participants.

“Just so you know, you’re dead.”

Since it was a sparring match, the rule was that the first to successfully subdue the opponent would win.

With prizes on the line for those who performed well, everyone was eager to participate, and emotions were running high.

In this situation, Soo-ho decided to provoke me.

Is this guy an idiot?

‘Ah, well.’

To him, I’m just an F-class Hunter.

No wonder he’s so smug.

“Soo-ho and Ha-chan, please come forward.”

Just as the previous pair finished, we were called up.

Following the call, we stepped forward, where an instructor stood waiting.

With a stern face and glasses, she tapped on her tablet before addressing us.

“Stand in front and get ready. If things get out of hand, the instructor will intervene immediately, so keep that in mind.”

She spoke indifferently, clearly tired from Academy work.

“Ah, Soo-ho oppa! You can do it!”

Suddenly, a cheer rang out.

Turning my head, I saw his girlfriend enthusiastically cheering for him.

Soo-ho glanced at her, then at me, flashing a smug, victorious smile.

A second wave of irritation bubbled up after Gwak Sa-yeon.

But honestly, his cocky face just annoyed me; I wasn’t particularly envious of his girlfriend.

Maybe I’ve been around too many beauties lately, dulling my sense of attraction.

‘This is dangerous.’

I think my standards have gotten too high.

As I rubbed my temples, I spotted Seo-ho in the distance.

He frowned at the girl cheering for Soo-ho, then turned to me and clenched his fist.

Yeah, what’s the big deal about a girl cheering?

I have Seollsan Iri cheering for me.

Meanwhile, the instructor began tapping on her tablet again.

“3.”

A countdown sounded from the tablet.

“2.”

“Don’t cry when you get hit.”

As Soo-ho swung his arms, Baeksan, floating in the air, commented.

“1.”

“Just wreck him.”

Got it.

As soon as the countdown ended, Soo-ho charged at me like the wind.

He seemed to be a wind-type ability user, his body as light as a feather.

Watching him, I remembered the training I received from Baeksan.

Baeksan had drilled me daily on basic training, but there was one thing he emphasized more than anything else.

Reflex training.

Baeksan’s attacks, while in his ghost state, couldn’t physically harm me, but I could clearly see them.

At the same time, I could distinctly feel the aura he emitted.

“In this state, I can’t harm you, but I’ll make sure you can sense my presence. Practice dodging my attacks.”

True to his word, the moment Baeksan used his aura, I instinctively stepped back.

The once faint presence of Baeksan became overwhelmingly palpable.

Thanks to that, I had to roll on the ground daily to dodge his attacks, which felt as real as anything.

Having practiced dodging attacks from a Returner, straight-line attacks were child’s play to me.

“Huh?!”

I stepped back, dodging Soo-ho’s attack, and wrapped my arms around his legs.

‘0.1%.’

As the aura flowing through my body strengthened me, I pivoted on my left foot, spinning my body.

Before Soo-ho could even scream, I released my grip on his legs.

Whoosh! Crash!

“Argh!”

The sound of Soo-ho tumbling across the floor echoed.

If he were a skilled wind-type user, he might have stopped mid-air, but he was just a rookie who had recently awakened his ability.

Having only been at the Hunter Training Academy for a few days, his combat skills were, frankly, pathetic.

“Oppa!”

His girlfriend’s delayed scream rang out.

I dusted off my hands indifferently.

“You looked down on me for being F-class, but what was that?”

Having faced life-and-death situations among the Returners, Soo-ho’s attack seemed almost cute.

“You bastard!”

Soo-ho, enraged, jumped up and spread his arms wide.

At that moment, blade-like winds began swirling around his wrists.

That looks a bit dangerous.

But since the instructor hadn’t intervened yet, it seemed manageable.

“You’re dead!”

Soo-ho charged at me again.

Watching him, I steadied my stance and faced him directly.

He seemed like he’d been in a few street fights, but his posture was sloppy.

Having been forced to learn muscle control and application from Baeksan, his movements were transparent to me.

His left leg lifted, and his right shoulder pulled back.

A straight punch coming right at me.

I accurately read his move and tilted my head to dodge.

Whoosh!

The following gust of wind pushed me back, leaving a slight cut on my cheek.

Definitely a wind blade; a direct hit would’ve hurt.

“Where do you think you’re dodging to!”

Emboldened, Soo-ho swung another punch.

Not wanting to take more hits, I kicked his ankle.

Thud!

“Ah!”

Caught off guard, he lost his balance and staggered.

Seizing the moment, I channeled aura into another kick to his ankle.

“Argh!”

Hitting the same spot twice.

As he clutched his ankle and rolled on the ground, I leaped and pinned his arms with my knees.

In an instant, I had mounted Soo-ho, who looked up at me dumbfounded. I smirked.

“What are you looking at? You’re done.”

Crack!

A spark flew as his face turned pale, and my fist slammed into his jaw.

“Ah!”

Oops, a bit off.

“Guh!”

Seeing him tremble like he’d been tased, I apologized and hit him again.

He passed out, and as I stood up, the instructor approached.

“Ha-chan, have you trained in martial arts before?”

“Well, you could say that.”

I learned from a Returner, but that still counts, right?

She nodded understandingly and checked Soo-ho’s eyelids.

“He seems fine. As a Hunter, he’ll recover soon. Move him to the side.”

Should’ve thought twice before knocking him out.

I clicked my tongue and carried Soo-ho away.

“Oppa!”

His girlfriend rushed over, glaring at me with fiery eyes.

“How could you hit someone like that!”

“Well, he didn’t seem human.”

“What?!”

She furrowed her brow, glaring at me before taking Soo-ho away.

“What a sight. Really.”

It was becoming a habit.

“Lately, I’ve been thinking. I think I know why Gwak Sa-yeon cursed you.”

“Why?”

“You say whatever you want to people who oppose you. You probably did the same to that bitch.”

Did I?

After some thought, I shrugged.

“I’m not the type to be nice to people who are hostile to me.”

“Right, better to kill them than be ignored.”

Surprisingly, Baeksan and I might have some common ground.

“By the way, how was I? Pretty good, right? Like something out of a manga.”

I threw a punch in the air as I spoke.

“Bullshit, it was so sloppy I almost died of frustration. If that guy wasn’t a total newbie, you’d be dead when he wrapped wind around his arms.”

Harsh.

But it was undeniable, so I scratched my cheek.

These days, Hunter combat videos are all over YouTube.

Plus, I’ve seen the training of Hunters from Rodri Company, including Ji-eun and Si-ho.

A properly trained, skilled Hunter wouldn’t be this easy to beat.

I only won because Soo-ho was weak.

“Tch, still, not bad for a first spar. For a first spar.”

What a tsundere.

Chuckling, I returned to my seat.

Meanwhile, the training sessions were wrapping up.

Is Eun-namu still in a meeting?

As I passed the time, I saw Soo-ho suddenly sit up.

He groaned, holding his jaw, then noticed his worried girlfriend and changed his expression.

His attempt to act tough was nauseating, but he started making excuses to his girlfriend.

After a while, he glanced at me with a fiery glare.

He didn’t get hit enough.

But he acted like the winner, casually putting his arm around his girlfriend’s waist and flashing a smug look.

I need to hit him more.

“Domi oppa, what are you looking at?”

As I was about to get up, Ayu’s voice called from beside me.

There she was, in the same Academy training uniform, yet her appearance shone brightly.

“Ah, oppa, your cheek’s hurt. Who did that?”

“Just sparring. It’s nothing.”

“What if it scars?”

Ayu worriedly touched my cheek.

Thinking I should visit the infirmary later, I locked eyes with Soo-ho again.

He was staring at Ayu, mouth agape, looking back and forth between us in disbelief.

Ah, I see.

A good idea came to mind.