## Chapter 254 – 254. S-Class (2)
#254. S-Class (2)
Unlike A-Class hunters, who can rise in rank by accumulating achievements and reputation even with some skill deficiencies, S-Class hunters need only one thing.
Overwhelming power.
Only strength that no one dares ignore is the symbol of an S-Class hunter.
If you were to pick representative S-Class hunters in Korea, there’s Han La-el, the Master of the Gray Magic Tower, and Kang Cheol-ho, the branch manager of the Hunter Association.
And the middle-aged man before me was emitting an aura similar to theirs.
‘I thought I’d seen that face somewhere…’
The deep scar across his face, his towering physique well over two meters, and his fiery red eyes.
No doubt about it.
The British S-Class hunter who saved hundreds of lives during the A-Class gate break in London and single-handedly tore off the boss’s head.
“How dare you lay a hand on my granddaughter…”
Henry Abercromby, Duke of Rutland.
It was definitely him.
‘Why is the Duke of Rutland, the pillar of England, here…?’
A thought flashed through my mind.
The Duke of Rutland clearly said “my granddaughter.”
And there’s only one person here who could be considered his granddaughter: Choi Hye-na.
Does that mean Choi Hye-na is the Duke of Rutland’s granddaughter?
No, that’s impossible.
As far as I know, the Duke of Rutland is unmarried.
Many have questioned the Duke of Rutland’s choice not to marry, even in his seventies, but he has always remained silent on the matter.
If the fact that he’d become the adopted son-in-law of the Seongbuk Choi family were to spread, it wouldn’t be strange for massive demonstrations to erupt in England.
But what if he deliberately hid his marriage because of that?
Moreover, the maid said the mansion was noisy because Choi Hye-na’s grandfather had returned.
Clearly, all the circumstantial evidence pointed to the Duke of Rutland being Choi Hye-na’s grandfather, but it was hard to believe.
“Grandfather?!”
Ah, so she is his granddaughter.
I always felt there was something vaguely mixed-race about Choi Hye-na, but to think she was part British.
“Hye-na! Get away from that filthy guy right now!”
“Who are you calling filthy?”
*Thwack!*
“Cough?!”
With a clean kick, the Duke of Rutland went flying sideways.
It was Grandma Choi Young-ok.
“If you’re back home after half a year, you should wash your hands first and do some work. How dare you try to ruin your granddaughter’s romance?”
“Romance! Hye-na is still 10 years too young for-“
“10 years, my foot. Did some guy chase me around for six months and propose when I was 25?”
“Ahem, ahem…”
The Duke of Rutland sweated and turned his head away.
Was this the same person who was glaring at me like he wanted to kill me just now? He looked so pathetic.
It was clear who held the reins in their marriage.
‘Sigh, a man being bossed around by his wife.’
I took a small sip of my tea, vowing not to become like that.
The memories of running away from Noel last night and comforting Jeon Seo-ha were long gone.
***
Afterward, the situation was resolved amicably thanks to Grandma Choi Young-ok’s mediation.
“I’m sorry.”
The Duke of Rutland bowed his head to me.
I never imagined that a duke would apologize so readily to someone so much younger than him at his wife’s word.
‘Is he a devoted husband?’
I vaguely understood why the Duke of England had even hidden his marriage and entered a family in another country as an adopted son-in-law.
Of course, the Duke of Rutland’s murderous aura still made my skin tingle, as he clearly still didn’t like me.
There was a reason he was called a monstrous force disguised as a nobleman in Asia.
“It’s alright.”
“What do you mean it’s alright!”
Choi Hye-na, who had been watching from the side, shouted at the Duke of Rutland.
“When did you ever introduce me to decent guys? And now you’re trying to chase away the guy I actually brought?!”
“D-Decent guys? They’re from distinguished noble families…”
“What’s with all the noble talk! This isn’t England!”
I turned my head away from the heartwarming intergenerational relationship.
There was no point in an outsider like me getting involved; it would only lower the Duke of Rutland’s favorability towards me.
Of course, I didn’t care about an old man’s favorability, but if it was Choi Hye-na’s grandfather, that was a different story.
Even if I couldn’t form a good relationship, it was best to be careful not to become enemies.
“Both of you, quiet.”
The Duke of Rutland instantly became mute at Grandma Choi Young-ok’s timely intervention.
Is he really a duke?
“Hmph.”
Choi Hye-na also just made a dissatisfied expression and didn’t say anything more.
“Hyun-woo.”
“Yes?”
I raised my head at the sound of my name.
At that moment, I felt a hot mana, like a fiercely burning flame. It was Grandma Choi Young-ok’s mana.
Thanks to reaching the 5th Circle, I could now get a glimpse of her capabilities, which I couldn’t even fathom before.
And I realized that if the gap between the 4th and 5th Circles was a small mountain range, the gap between the 5th and 6th Circles was a vast mountain range with fierce blizzards.
The destination I had to reach was there.
“It seems you’ve taken another step forward.”
A smile spread across Grandma Choi Young-ok’s lips.
She was pretending to be calm, but her eyes were flashing with various emotions: bewilderment, surprise, astonishment, and more.
“I was lucky.”
I guess I couldn’t hide it in front of a 6th Circle mage.
“A 5th Circle mage at the age of 21… It’s not an unprecedented record, but considering when you started learning magic, it’s an achievement that would astonish even the first Master of the Magic Tower.”
The 5th Circle in less than a year.
Even I thought it was crazy fast.
“W-What are you talking about? The 5th Circle?”
Choi Hye-na, who had been listening from the side, urgently pulled on my arm.
Her eyes, urging me to explain, were filled with anxiety and impatience.
I understood Choi Hye-na’s reaction.
As I said before, magic is a field where talent overwhelms effort.
Some people spend their entire lives without even creating a mana circle, while others raise their level as easily as eating a meal. Like me and Han La-el, the Master of the Magic Tower.
Choi Hye-na’s level was the 3rd Circle, which was by no means low considering her age. Moreover, I’d heard that she was now looking towards the 4th Circle.
Normally, Choi Hye-na would be considered a genius. A diamond spoon with an overwhelming background.
If nothing had happened, she would have smoothly raised her level and become an outstanding mage.
But then I appeared before her.
An irregular existence, hardly even worthy of being called a genius.
At first, it might have been motivating, but it must have become more and more intense.
This was a matter of reason and emotion.
She probably thought it was right to congratulate me, but would her pride as a mage allow it?
I watched Choi Hye-na’s eyes, which were constantly shaking, and held her hand. I sent her a telepathic message so that no one else would notice.
-Do you trust me?
The most important thing between lovers is trust.
I trust Choi Hye-na. Even if she stabs me in the back.
And it seemed that Choi Hye-na felt the same way.
After hearing the telepathic message, Choi Hye-na moved her lips for a moment, then slowly nodded.
The eyes that had been trembling with anxiety were gone.
Instead, a faint blush spread across her pale cheeks. Choi Hye-na embraced my arm with a small smile and quietly closed her eyes.
“Oh my, oh my! Our Hye-na is being so docile…!”
Grandma Choi Young-ok’s eyes welled up with tears, as if she was deeply moved by the sight.
“That bastard…!”
On the other hand, the Duke of Rutland’s face twisted savagely.
If Grandma Choi Young-ok wasn’t next to him, he would have charged at me long ago.
Regardless, I enjoyed the sensation of her chest embracing my arm and carefully watched Choi Hye-na.
She was now one wall away from the 4th Circle.
And the thickness of the wall was up to the mage themselves.
I wasn’t sure until I came to the mansion, but now I was certain.
I could break that wall for her.
Although it was just my prediction, even the Master of the Magic Tower, who had reached the 7th Circle, wouldn’t be able to break someone else’s wall.
If that were possible, mages would have conquered the world long ago.
Perhaps it was a feat that only I, who had mastered both magic and martial arts, could perform, especially since I had mastered the Unbreakable Vajra Body.
But I couldn’t do it right now.
I needed to move to a place where I wouldn’t be disturbed by others, so I needed to change locations.
“Um, I have something to talk about with Hye-na…”
“Hyun-woo.”
Just as I was about to leave with Choi Hye-na, Grandma Choi Young-ok called me.
“If you don’t mind, why don’t you learn a thing or two from this old man?”
“…Yes?”
She pointed to the Duke of Rutland.
“What?! Why would I teach that kind of thief…”
“Be quiet if you don’t want to be kicked out of the house.”
“…”
The sight of her ordering around an S-Class hunter with a single word was amazing no matter how many times I saw it.
“Um, what do you mean by ‘learn a thing or two’?”
“Don’t think too hard about it.”
*Clink.*
Grandma Choi Young-ok smiled lightly and put down her teacup.
“To be honest, I wasn’t happy when I found out you were learning martial arts. I’m a mage after all.”
Mages basically look down on mages learning martial arts.
For a mage, magic is the honor they have built up, and for a mage to abandon magic and learn martial arts is like denying their own honor head-on.
“But at this point, I can’t pretend I don’t see it. Your talent is beyond anything I can judge. Besides, this old man is quite surprised by your achievements, even if he doesn’t show it?”
“When did I-“
*Thwack!*
Grandma Choi Young-ok’s fist landed in the Duke of Rutland’s abdomen.
“He was rude at first because he loves Hye-na so much, so please understand.”
“I’ve already forgotten about it.”
“Thank you.”
I didn’t have the luxury to remember such things.
The offer I had just heard was too tempting.
“He’s a grumpy old man, but his fist skills are pretty good, so I think it would be a good opportunity for you… What do you think?”
Until now, I had been learning martial arts without a teacher.
Of course, I had learned knowledge about martial arts from Chun Yeo-hwa, and basic swordsmanship and how to imbue will into sword energy from Jeon Seo-ha, but that wasn’t enough.
I wondered if I would have reached the pinnacle long ago if I had learned directly from Geumgang Shinseung.
I was already frustrated because I couldn’t see the path to the pinnacle, and now I had the opportunity to learn from an S-Class hunter in this situation.
“I’ll do it.”
There was no reason to refuse.
***
When I arrived at the training room in the mansion, I couldn’t help but gape at its enormous size.
I expected it, but not to this extent.
The training room I went to yesterday seemed outdated compared to this one.
It was almost the size of a soccer field, and the walls, floor, and ceiling were covered with various protective magic.
It was usually used for demonstrating magic, but there wasn’t a single scorch mark on the walls. It seemed like it also had automatic recovery magic.
‘Should I build something like this too?’
It wasn’t certain yet, but I was planning to move soon.
Of course, it hadn’t been long since we moved, but the house was a bit small for the three of us.
Besides, the current house didn’t have a proper training ground or workshop.
There was a house next door, but I would have to completely renovate it from the beginning to make a workshop. It would be better to build a new one.
I was considering a location on the outskirts of Seoul.
The land was cheap, and it was hard to find proper land in Seoul.
The problem was the Triads…
If they invaded after I moved, there would be fewer ways to get help on the outskirts of Seoul.
No matter how strong our forces were, the opponent was a criminal organization known to dominate China.
I couldn’t rule out the possibility of unexpected forces intervening.
Perhaps I would move after I reached the pinnacle. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about an attack.
“Take the sword.”
*Clang.*
The steel sword that the Duke of Rutland threw landed on the floor.
“…Aren’t you going to use a wooden sword?”
“A wooden sword? You’re not a baby. How long do you think it will take to get stronger if you train with a wooden sword?”
This old man is crazy.
It looks like he wants to slice me up with a real sword.
“But aren’t you going to take a sword, Duke?”
“Don’t call me Duke. When I’m in the family, I’m not the Duke of Rutland.”
“Then Great-Grandfather?”
As soon as I finished speaking, the Duke of Rutland’s face twisted savagely.
His murderous aura seemed to take shape.
“I have no intention of being called by that kind of title by you.”
“Well, you never know.”
“…Arrogant bastard.”
I took the sword and charged at the Duke of Rutland.
It was an opportunity to test how far I could go against an S-Class hunter.
