The Shadow Heaven Sword Hall was located in a neighborhood a 40-minute bus ride from my apartment.
Situated in a relatively quiet area, the Shadow Heaven Sword Hall was a much larger building than I had imagined. It occupied an entire four-story building spanning over 150 pyeong (approximately 5,400 square feet).
The first floor housed the reception desk and parking area.
The second floor was a fitness club exclusively for Hunters.
The third floor contained saunas, locker rooms, and combat training halls.
The fourth floor featured individual combat training rooms.
With a building like this... it wouldn't be strange to call it a top-tier Hunter Academy. Even though it's in a remote location, it's easily accessible by car, so people would definitely come here.
I figured Oh Junhyeok was just teasing me to scare me for fun. Looking at the building, it seemed like they would offer professional and high-quality training.
"Hello! Are you here to register?"
The woman behind the counter gave me a professional smile and said, "She's pretty, but not quite celebrity material... Ah, she's just a staff member, not a trainer."
Come to think of it, there was no reason for a trainer to be manning the counter.
"I'm not here to register," I said. "I just wanted to learn more about the Youngcheon Style and try it out."
"Ah, then could I see your Hunter's License?"
I handed her my brand-new Hunter's License, which had been issued just two days earlier.
She examined the license, typed something into the computer, and returned it to me.
"Okay, verified. Our Shadow Heaven Sword Hall offers a free one-day trial. T
o become a member, you'll need to formally begin learning the Youngcheon Style, and the monthly membership fee is 3 million won.
We're currently running a promotion: if you sign up now, you'll get free personal training and access to a private training room for a month."
The female employee kindly explained everything to me.
While the event was appealing, I was more shocked by the price: 3 million won per month. Regular Hunter Academies typically charge over 5 million won per month.
Renowned academies that train famous Hunters can even charge over 10 million won per month.
She handed me basic workout clothes and sneakers. They were a bit old-fashioned, but not unwearable. I planned to get new workout gear once I officially enrolled.
No matter how well they'd been laundered, I didn't want to wear clothes that some sweaty stranger had worn before me.
"Change in the locker room and head to the combat training hall. A trainer will be waiting for you there."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. The Youngcheon Style is an excellent swordsmanship technique. I'm sure you'll love it."
"...Yes. Yes."
Feeling an inexplicable unease at her words, I headed to the locker room.
The men's locker room was impeccably clean. There wasn't a trace of old furniture, and it was clear the place was cleaned daily.
But why is no one here?
It was eerily deserted. Not a single person, not even an ant, was in sight.
The time was 5 PM. Hunters don't have fixed working hours, so they aren't bound by time. There should have been at least one or two people around.
Fuck. Something's definitely wrong.
Anxiety surged through me. Oh Junhyeok's words echoed in my mind:
It's fucking brutal.
I swallowed hard and quickly changed my clothes.
If it's bullshit, I'm out of here.
As I entered the combat training room, I gasped.
In the center of the dojo-like space stood a stunning woman with waist-length hair tied up in a tight bun.
Her skin was as white as snow, and her figure was flawlessly sculpted, without a trace of excess fat. She wore gray leggings and a sports tank top that revealed her toned, defined abs.
C-cup breasts! Her face looks fierce yet pure! And that perfectly lifted butt is a work of art!
Feeling grateful to Oh Junhyeok for recommending this place, I approached her.
"Mr. Sung Yujin?"
"Yes, I'm Sung Yujin."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Jin Seyoung, the acting director and Hunter trainer."
"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you too."
We shook hands. I was surprised by the calluses that covered her hands, which I had expected to be soft and delicate.
Before I realized it, I had activated my sensitivity detection ability.
Jin Seyoung's sensitive areas: inner thighs, left ear.
"I heard you haven't been a Hunter for very long," I said.
"...Yes. As a graduate of the National Heaven Hunter Department, I have a basic understanding of Hunters."
"At Shadow Heaven Sword Hall, your experience as a Hunter isn't particularly important. What truly matters is your aptitude for the Youngcheon Style.
If we don't believe you possess the necessary talent... I'm afraid we won't be able to grant you admission."
"...Oh, oh. Is that so?"
I was taken aback. With such stringent requirements, it was no wonder the place was deserted.
Weren't Hunter Academies supposed to be about making money?
"I know it sounds strange. But my goal isn't to make money; it's to promote the Youngcheon Style. To do that, we need talented individuals."
"...Wouldn't it be more effective for you, Ms. Seyoung, to become famous yourself and promote it that way?"
"That's true. But I want to make the Youngcheon Style popular...
Unfortunately, the foundational techniques haven't been properly established yet, so we have to assess talent.
Accepting talented individuals is partly to gather more data on the Youngcheon Style."
"How will you determine whether I have talent for the Youngcheon Style?"
"One month. I'll personally teach you for a month and assess your aptitude. ...This is only possible if you pay the monthly membership fee."
"...Ah. I see."
I forced a bitter smile. Even if I managed to endure for a month, I'd still be kicked out if I didn't meet her standards.
I lacked the confidence to earn her recognition for my talent. Throughout my life, I had never once been told I possessed any particular talent.
The same went for swordsmanship. Most Hunters used swords, and I had chosen the weapon simply because it looked cool.
"Hold on a moment. May I examine your physique?"
"Ah, yes. Go ahead."
I spread my arms wide, as if daring her to look. If she wanted, I'd even strip naked right there.
Jin Seyoung stepped closer to me.
Whether she had been exercising before I arrived or not, her faint scent of sweat drifted into my nostrils. It wasn't repulsive; rather, it was a fragrant aroma that stirred my lust.
No, it was more like pheromones, a scent that seduced me.
"...Hmm. Your body isn't particularly well-trained."
"I... I came here to train."
"Perhaps this is for the best. If you were only partially trained, it would have been difficult to correct your form to match the Youngcheon Style."
She moved away, leaving me feeling a pang of regret. If this were a game world instead of reality, I might have pounced on her immediately.
"Today, I'll teach you the fundamentals of the Youngcheon Style and how to use the training equipment. Follow me."
"...Yes."
My eyes drifted to her hips. Wrapped in gray leggings, they swayed slightly with each step.
What truly aroused me was the inverted triangular space between her thighs, just below her crotch.
I want to...
"Mr. Yoo Jin? Come over here and pick up a wooden sword."
"Ah. Yes!"
I hurried toward her, finding it difficult to concentrate because she was so damn attractive. Even though I was clearly satisfying my sexual urges almost daily in the world of "Vampire Detective."
"Here. I'll teach you the basic stance of the Youngcheon Style. Watch me and follow along."
I faced her with a wooden sword in hand. Jin Seyoung held her sword in her right hand, the tip angled slightly downward a subtle difference from the standard kendo stance.
Despite her appearance, she was still a Hunter. Mimicking the stance proved surprisingly easy.
"Actually, once you reach a certain level, the basic stance of the Youngcheon Style becomes less important.
The core principle of the style lies in wielding the sword from any posture. So, once you're familiar with the fundamentals, the basic stance loses its significance."
"...From any posture?"
"Yes, to be precise, it's about wielding the sword in any location and any posture. But this is just the foundation.
The true purpose of the Youngcheon Style is to kill your opponent faster than they can kill you."
"A brutal swordsmanship, then."
"The Youngcheon Style is designed for practical combat. I assure you, it's by no means inferior to any other swordsmanship. So, please work hard."
Jin Seyoung swung her sword slowly, considerate of my pace. I mimicked her posture and movements, then tilted my head in confusion.
I was clearly doing the same thing, but something felt different.
"Your posture is a bit off. This is a matter of strength. Don't worry, just keep following me for now."
I focused intently on the training. But my concentration lasted less than three minutes.
"Wow, look at her chest getting squished."
As Jin Seyoung swung her sword, her firm C-cup breasts pressed against her forearm, distorting their shape. The flesh spilled slightly over the edge of her sports tank top before retracting.
"This stance is for swinging from a high position..."
I half-listened to her explanation while mimicking her movements. My eyes were fixed on her, but my gaze wandered between her chest, waist, and hips. I stole glances at her body whenever I could.
That firm ass... I really want to give it a good smack.
When she spread her legs, I noticed the bulge of her pubic mound. It looked plump and fleshy.
No. No. Focus. Focus. I'm here to learn swordsmanship.
About thirty minutes passed.
The eye-torturing... no, the swordsmanship lesson that felt like torture to me had finally ended.
"Do you think you're starting to get the hang of it?"
"Ah, well... it's a bit difficult."
"You'll naturally pick up the basics as you practice. Now, let's head downstairs to work on your physical conditioning. I'll also show you how to use the Hunter's Training Equipment."
The Hunter's Training Equipment wasn't anything particularly special.
It was essentially the same exercise equipment you'd find in a regular gym, just made more intense for Hunters. The usage methods were similar.
"One of the best exercises is the squat. Any lower body workout is crucial, and few exercises can train your lower body as effectively as squats. Now, follow me."
I mimicked her squat stance, spreading my legs and pushing my hips back.
"Watch your knees. One."
In front of the large mirror, she and I did squats. As a man, I couldn't help but let my gaze drift to Jin Seyoung's hips.
Jin Seyoung meticulously taught me how to use the training equipment, never letting even the slightest flaw in my form slide.
"This exercise targets your chest, not your arms."
"For a Hunter, your physique is rather weak. But don't worry, a Hunter's body grows stronger with training."
"Straighten your back more."
"This isn't called Hunter's Training Equipment for nothing. You'll get seriously injured if you're not careful."
Sometimes, Jin Seyoung didn't just explain verbally; she would physically adjust my posture, touching my body to correct my form. I even deliberately made mistakes just to feel her touch.
"Good work~"
"Y-you too, Ms. Se Young."
Completely exhausted, I forced a smile as I replied.
My body was already drenched in sweat, every muscle screaming in protest. I wondered if I'd even be able to get out of bed tomorrow without a massage.
I think I finally understand what "intense" really means. How does she know my limits so precisely?
I had tried to feign exhaustion and beg for a break, but it was no use. Jin Seyoung simply smiled sweetly and ordered me to do three more reps, insisting I could handle it.
"Today was just a free trial, so we kept it light. Tomorrow, we'll start training more seriously. About four hours, give or take?"
"...Do you usually train that long?"
"No, but as you can see, we're short-staffed, so I have extra time. I'll make sure to help you properly, Mr. Yoo Jin. You're going to join, right?"
"...'Enrollment'? Does that mean we can't leave whenever we want?"
"Of course you're free to join or leave as you please. We're not some mafia or martial arts sect from a wuxia novel.
However, as I mentioned earlier, if you don't show aptitude for the Youngcheon Style, I'm afraid we'll have to expel you immediately."
Jin Seyoung stared intently at me, a silent pressure radiating from her gaze. She was asking, without words, whether I would join right then and there.
"...I'll... no, I'll enroll."
She was a B-Rank Hunter, meaning her skills were undeniable. Training here would be grueling, but it would undoubtedly make me stronger.
More importantly, I liked Jin Seyoung.
"That's wonderful! I'll be waiting for you!"
Jin Seyoung beamed.
Why was it that her beautiful face reminded me of a devil's face, grinning wickedly?