Chapter 17 - Chapter 17

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 17

Chapter Title: Real Combat Training

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"...Have you ever tried real combat training?"

"Pardon?"

"It's training between hunters. We do it about once a month."

Cha Do-yun Hunter turned toward the elevator leading to the training room, glancing back over his shoulder to add,

"If you've got time, why don't we do it now?"

It took exactly three seconds for the words to burst from my mouth. One second to realize his polite phrasing was just a fancy way of saying let's get out of here, one second to mull over my options, and one second to make up my mind.

"Sure, let's go."

I'm past the age where scrapping it out levels me up.

Still, it'd be a prime chance to get a better read on Cha Do-yun Hunter's fighting style and personality. Flashing a bright smile, I fell in step behind him and rode the elevator down.

Cha Do-yun Hunter stared straight ahead, as if just waiting for the doors to open. I snuck a finger up and scanned him with my ability.

That weapon inscription bugs me a little.

Don't seek salvation? What salvation is Cha Do-yun Hunter hoping for, and where's he looking for it that his weapon would say something like that?

*Ding.*

Stepping out of the elevator, a smiling human staffer greeted us instead of a robot and led us to the sign reading "Real Combat Training Room."

The training room held more hunters than I'd expected. Explosions and crashes echoed from every corner, but the glass walls—coated with some dungeon byproduct, no doubt—remained pristine without a single scratch. The staffer ushered us into a room, then glanced between Cha Do-yun Hunter and me.

"Just a quick rundown of the precautions. Since this is a training facility, weapons are strictly prohibited, and for safety reasons, no attack-oriented skills either. Please stick to bare-handed strikes for offense."

"Skills for other purposes are fine. It'll run for seven minutes, or speak up if your stamina gives out sooner,"

Cha Do-yun Hunter added, earning a nod from the staffer, who promptly left. So, punches bare-handed, but defensive or mobility skills okay.

I tossed my bag in a corner and squared off against Cha Do-yun Hunter at a safe distance.

Don't psych yourself out. Just go for it.

"I'll hit the button, then."

"Okay."

*Beep.* A timer appeared on the wall screen, counting down from three.

Three... two... one.

Thud!!

"Guh!"

Cha Do-yun Hunter rocketed toward me like a bullet, swinging a fist. I voiced a vibration through the air, forming a wave-shield around myself.

Vrrrrmmm.

Bracing with force, cracks spiderwebbed across the wave shield.

Whoosh.

I deflected his fist aside, unbalancing him just a touch.

Wham!

My punch slammed into his forward-leaning shoulder with full force, drawing a faint groan as a cold gust shoved me back. I rolled, regained my footing, and wrapped my whole body in a shield against follow-ups.

"Your punches pack a real wallop."

"Something like that."

Wind swirled around Cha Do-yun Hunter, tossing his golden hair. Then he shot upward before hurtling at me with the same blistering speed.

Boom!!

I barely dodged, but his strikes came like lightning, leaving me scrambling with Word Without Feet just to evade. Voicing each time drained me, and tracking with my eyes hit its limit.

"No finesse, though."

"Huh? Whoaaa!"

Suddenly, my body tilted back, and I crashed butt-first, losing balance. Before I could yelp in pain, his foot arced toward me—I threw up a shield first.

"Can't even handle your skills properly, so what the hell?"

"Hey, watch that loose tongue of yours!"

"I don't get why the chairman's pinning his hopes on you!"

*Crackle.*

Inferiority complex, huh.

Chewing over Cha Do-yun Hunter's words, I pieced together why he was snapping at me.

"Why'd an SS-Rank have to show up...!"

He thinks I've stolen the chairman's affection.

You're older than me—grow up.

A bit childish, sure, but magnanimous me can overlook it. Save his life proper, block the apocalypse safe, then maybe rib him a little.

*Crackkk.*

My shield shattered, and his fist smashed my arm. Heavy pain throbbed up it, but I gritted my teeth, clamping his wrist tight. He swung his other hand—I grabbed that too.

"Cool your head!!"

Yelling at the floor, I leaped, launching us both skyward. Seizing his fluster, I yanked both wrists toward me and drove my knee into his gut.

Thud!

I released like hurling trash, and he hit the ground with a massive crash. I landed steady, but my struck left arm and shield-straining wrist still throbbed.

A solid, valid hit.

Cha Do-yun Hunter's mind shattered from the combo.

"S-Rank or SS-Rank, who cares? We're all hunters protecting people with one heart and mind."

Huh?

The eloquence function tied to my ego suddenly triggered. Odd timing, but perfect chance to plant a word-seed.

"Let's get along, yeah?"

"..."

"We might even have to join forces someday."

Okay, almost there.

Forcing a smile, I extended a hand toward Cha Do-yun Hunter.

"Forget the ranks—let's be proper colleagues."

Yes. Just a bit more...!

Whoosh-boom!!

"Gah!"

Fierce winds tore through the entire training room. Clouds gathered indoors, darkness falling like an instant storm. Felt like the eye of a hurricane. Shielding head to toe barely held; I still got shoved toward the wall. Forcing my eyes open against the gale, I saw Cha Do-yun Hunter rising slowly, advancing on me.

Why?!

What was wrong with my words?! Where's the pathetic part?

*Step.*

Cha Do-yun Hunter pierced the storm, closing in on my face. Unsteady eyes, bitten lips drawing blood, ashen skin—every feature screamed rage and sorrow.

"Words like that from you don't comfort me."

"...Ah."

"The chairman's interest has already shifted to you. I'm forgotten."

It's me that's the problem.

Even good words from someone stoking his inferiority spark rejection. Eager to buddy up, I overlooked his feelings.

...Selfish of me.

Whoooosh-crash!

"Nngh...!"

Winds raged fiercer. Legs buckled now, my straining shield on the verge of shattering.

"Drop the skill first! Let's ta..."

Thud!

"Huh?"

Cha Do-yun Hunter pitched forward. A black hand from his shadow gripped him firm, unrelenting, and the winds died moments later.

Stunned by the sudden turn, I stared blankly as my own legs gave out, slumping to the floor.

"Directly using attack skills on your opponent during training is prohibited, Cha Do-yun Hunter."

"Urk!"

"Se-bin!"

No door opening, no footsteps. From sky or earth, Se-bin stood between us, glaring down.

Overwhelming power gap.

Same S-Rank, yet hers felt untouchable. I'd glimpsed her insane skill in the dungeon, but against a person, its might loomed larger.

Se-bin swept back her hair with one hand, revealing a furrowed brow between sharp ridges.

"I know you've never once volunteered for real combat training. Any special reason you wanted to spar with Shin Ji-ui Hunter?"

"..."

"By the rules, that's grounds for discipline. Don't let it happen again."

The black hand sank back into his shadow. Freedom hit, and a pained groan escaped Cha Do-yun Hunter. His gripped nape bore a vivid red handprint.

"Ji-ui, you okay?"

"Y-yeah..."

Se-bin reverted to her familiar self. As she checked me over, I dazedly watched Cha Do-yun Hunter's unsteady retreat.

"The chairman's interest has already shifted to you. I'm forgotten."

His trembling voice echoed in my ears. To befriend him, I needed to dig into what the chairman meant to him first.

Cha Do-yun Hunter slipped from the room, vanishing into the crowd.

Come to think of it, plenty of onlookers around the training room stared our way.

Had they gathered to watch an S-Rank and SS-Rank spar, or sensed the off vibe?

Either way, their gazes itched uncomfortably.

"Pretty shaken, huh?"

"Nah, just... How'd you even get in?"

Se-bin shrugged, eyes crinkling in a beaming smile.

"You tried to brush it off, again."

Hard to believe that sunny grin subdued an S-Rank Hunter with a single shadow.

What's really eating Do-yun?

That night, before sleep, my ego muttered out of nowhere.

...Seems he thinks I'm hogging the chairman's attention.

Yeah, Do-yun's been like that before.

No sycophant vibes, though. What's the deal between those two?

I pulled the covers up, exhaling long.

*Rustle.*

"Wha-what?!"

The status window popping up startled me bolt upright in bed.

Huh? What the—why'd it go up?!

My ego freaked too, manifesting before me. Only one reason for Mission 'Wolf's Companion' to react out of nowhere.

"Nokdu's shown up somewhere."

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