## Chapter 76 – 076. E-Rank Hunter
076. E-Rank Hunter
“Congratulations on becoming an E-Rank Hunter.”
Jin Seyoung greeted me with a smile as I entered the Yeongcheon Sword Hall.
With her black ponytail and form-fitting leggings, Jin Seyoung always wore leggings.
Yesterday, I became an E-Rank Hunter.
The E-Rank promotion test was nothing special. It involved hunting in an F-Rank dungeon with an association employee. The employee watched my skills and passed me in an hour.
“Thanks, Sis.”
I replied to Jin Seyoung and moved closer. I naturally reached out and wrapped my arm around her waist. As if she had been waiting, she hugged me back and kissed me. Our tongues intertwined, and we exchanged saliva.
My hands naturally moved towards Jin Seyoung’s buttocks and chest.
Jin Seyoung took a step back, creating some distance.
“Hmm. Not today. You remember what I said on the phone, right?”
“That’s a shame. We should have sex every day.”
A little later, Jin Seyoung and I stood facing each other, swords drawn.
It was our usual sparring session. However, while we usually sparred completely naked, today we were properly dressed.
Glance.
I looked at the man in the center of the training room.
A sturdy man in his early forties stood with his arms crossed, watching us. He had tanned skin and wore an eye patch over his left eye. He was dressed in hiking clothes.
Jin Woosung.
He was the director of the Yeongcheon Sword Hall and Jin Seyoung’s father.
According to Jin Seyoung, he was an executive of the Jaun Guild and an A-Rank Hunter with the nickname “Venomous Beast.”
I had known about him for a while, but this was the first time I had met him. Jin Woosung probably knew about me too.
I had unknowingly received his help when I sold gold bars to Manager Hwang Minjoon before.
“Begin.”
His voice was surprisingly soft, unlike his rough appearance.
Yeongcheon Style Practical Technique, Flying Tiger.
I charged straight ahead with all my might.
I didn’t feel any sense of danger. Jin Seyoung was someone I couldn’t even touch a hair on, even if I gave it my all. I had never won against Jin Seyoung in sparring before.
Jin Seyoung easily parried my sword.
She was a B-Rank Hunter. As someone who had just become an E-Rank Hunter, I was no match for her physically.
However, Jin Seyoung always matched my level during sparring.
‘This time, I’ll get behind her.’
I used footwork to get behind Jin Seyoung. Jin Seyoung deliberately allowed it, even though she could have stopped me.
But if I extended my sword here, she would block it without fail. Her sword thrust towards me.
‘That’s Shadow Snake. I have to dodge it.’
If I blocked it with my sword, it would bend like a snake. I immediately retreated.
Since we both knew about the Yeongcheon Style’s practical techniques, we couldn’t properly utilize the Yeongcheon Style’s concealment.
‘It’s even tougher today. Is it because the director is here?’
As the sparring continued, I grew more and more tired. On the other hand, Jin Seyoung was fine. It was a familiar situation for me.
‘An opening.’
I saw an opening in Jin Seyoung’s stance. Of course, it was an opening she had deliberately created.
‘The question is whether that’s a valid hit or not.’
The openings Jin Seyoung showed were divided into two types.
Valid hits or invalid hits.
With a valid hit, she wouldn’t properly react when the opening was exploited. An invalid hit was a trap. Jin Seyoung forced this kind of either-or choice during sparring. It was training to properly identify an opponent’s openings.
‘…Damn it. I’m too tired to make a proper judgment.’
People’s judgment becomes clouded when they are physically or mentally exhausted. And that’s when you have to be most careful.
‘What practical techniques can she use to counter from that stance? Omniscience? Empty Night?’
Just the number of practical techniques that came to mind was over five.
I couldn’t make a decision.
I gave up on exploiting the opening.
When it’s hard to make a decision, it’s best to just give up cleanly and wait for the next opportunity. That was one of the things I learned from Jin Seyoung.
‘She’s coming.’
Jin Seyoung moved. As she approached me, she held her sword in reverse, hiding the blade behind her back. I clicked my tongue.
‘Sis is planning to end the sparring. It’s Dawn Light.’
In decisive situations, Jin Seyoung mostly chose Dawn Light, which could be considered the fastest strike. It was a kind of habit. I prepared to block Dawn Light.
‘If I look at the sword and block, it’ll be too late. I have to watch her shoulder and forearm movements….’
Jin Seyoung’s sword moved. As if I had been waiting, I raised my sword. It wasn’t Dawn Light.
Her blade slowly passed by my sword. That’s how it looked to my eyes.
‘Was it Empty Night?’
The sword stopped in front of my neck. I lowered the sword in my hand.
“I lost.”
Jin Seyoung lowered her sword at my words and smiled.
“Good job. Your decision to give up on the opening earlier was good.”
“……”
I looked at Jin Seyoung with a gaze full of heat. Jin Seyoung smiled awkwardly and shook her head slightly.
Usually, we would start having sex right after sparring. I would use my dick to release the feeling of defeat I felt from losing the spar. It was a given that she would end up panting beneath my dick.
If her father hadn’t been here, that is.
“Good job. As Seyoung said, Yujin definitely has talent for the Yeongcheon Style.”
Jin Woosung patted my shoulder lightly and smiled. I smiled awkwardly back at him.
“Why don’t you spar with Yujin yourself, Dad?”
“You know I’m bad at controlling my strength.”
“You’re A-Rank.”
“Daughter. What’s my nickname?”
“……”
Jin Seyoung closed her mouth.
Jin Woosung’s nickname was Venomous Beast. It wasn’t a nickname given without reason.
“But something’s a bit strange.”
Jin Woosung looked at me. His gaze had changed. The kind eyes of a middle-aged man now held a sharp glint.
“Huh?”
I asked back. What was strange? Looking back at my memories, I hadn’t made any mistakes.
“Your skills, I mean. Your Yeongcheon Style techniques are perfect. But the other parts are too lacking. Generally, skills don’t grow exceptionally in just one area. It’s impossible. But you, at least when it comes to the Yeongcheon Style, have undeniable skill.”
I realized what Jin Woosung was saying. He had seen through it. That I had nothing but the Yeongcheon Style.
“Is that not okay?”
“It’s not that it’s not okay. Your talent for the Yeongcheon Style is real. It’s just that swordsmanship is just swordsmanship.”
“……I’ve heard those words before.”
“Oh? From whom? Seyoung isn’t at that level yet.”
“It wasn’t from a close friend.”
“Is that so?”
It was Baek Sanggi.
Baek Sanggi had said that to me.
I had told Jin Seyoung about Baek Sanggi a while ago. Of course, I didn’t go into detail and spoke indirectly. And Jin Seyoung had said this to me.
That Baek Sanggi was the first wall I had faced. That the feeling I had gotten from Baek Sanggi was frustration.
‘No. There’s no way that guy is my wall.’
I didn’t accept Jin Seyoung’s words. I could easily beat that guy if I just had the physique of a D-Rank Hunter.
“Anyway. Yujin, your Yeongcheon Style is creating a disharmony. You need to do something about it.”
“……Can’t I just stick with the Yeongcheon Style?”
“No.”
Jin Woosung said firmly.
“I told you, swordsmanship is just swordsmanship. If you were to fight an opponent of equal skill… you would 100% lose because of that disharmony.”
“100%….”
Jin Woosung was judging based solely on my Yeongcheon Style. He didn’t consider other skills like Acceleration or Full Recovery. But it was a bit shocking to hear him say it so confidently and openly.
“What should I do?”
“This is the first time I’ve heard of such a case… so I can’t be sure. However, I think there are three possible solutions.”
“Three? That’s a lot.”
I was relieved. It seemed like it wasn’t a hopeless situation where I couldn’t do anything.
“The first is to temporarily put aside the Yeongcheon Style. Step away from the Yeongcheon Style and live as a regular swordsman, improving your skills. The disadvantage is that it would take a considerable amount of time.”
Stop using the Yeongcheon Style now?
No way.
How many points did I invest in the Yeongcheon Style?
“What’s the second?”
“Real combat. Real combat. That’s the most reliable method. If you accumulate experience in real combat, the disharmony will naturally disappear. The disadvantage of this method is that it’s dangerous.”
“I go to dungeons regularly.”
“That’s not enough. And you need to fight opponents of at least similar skill. And you should fight not only monsters but also people in real combat.”
“……”
I thought of the Play Life app.
Among the creations I had seen, there were worlds similar to reality. I could safely experience real combat there. Even if I died fighting, the real me wouldn’t die.
“What’s the third? What’s the third?”
“Mana Awakening. The Yeongcheon Style’s true power starts with the practical techniques, and it’s on a different level with the advanced techniques. Above all, if you have the power of mana, your skills will also improve.”
My face didn’t brighten.
Mana Awakening wasn’t something anyone could do. Most Hunters naturally awakened their mana, but there were also Hunters who weren’t part of that majority.
‘Professor Park said before that 20% of D-Rank Hunters can’t awaken their mana and retire at D-Rank.’
I knew myself well.
Talent for mana? There was no way. If I had such talent, the Potential Potion would have worked properly before.
‘But it’s too early to give up. I have the Play Life app. If I look for creations, there might be a way.’
In the end, the Play Life app was the answer.
I relaxed my serious expression. In the first place, my ability wasn’t the Yeongcheon Style, but the Play Life app. The Yeongcheon Style was just a byproduct of the Play Life app.
“But what exactly are the advanced techniques?”
“Huh? Didn’t Seyoung teach you?”
“No.”
All I knew was that there were advanced techniques that used mana after the practical techniques. I didn’t know the details. Jin Seyoung hadn’t taught me yet, saying it was too early.
Jin Woosung looked at Jin Seyoung.
“It’s too early for Yujin. What if I teach him the advanced techniques and just get his hopes up? Since Yujin will naturally awaken his mana anyway, I was planning to teach him then.”
“It’s true that you can’t use them if you haven’t awakened your mana. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t teach him at all. He needs to know what kind of Yeongcheon Style he’s learning. Seyoung, you’re disqualified as an instructor.”
“Whatever. You’re not even interested in the Yeongcheon Sword Hall, Dad.”
“Ahem.”
Jin Woosung coughed. Jin Woosung was the owner of the Yeongcheon Sword Hall, but Jin Seyoung was the one who actually established it. If I hadn’t been here, he probably wouldn’t have come to the Yeongcheon Sword Hall today.
Jin Woosung, who had nothing to say, looked at me and said solemnly.
“If you awaken your mana, you’ll learn the Yeongcheon Qi Gong. Yeongcheon Qi Gong is the method of handling mana appropriately for the Yeongcheon Style. If you can handle mana through Yeongcheon Qi Gong… you’ll probably have to choose between two things depending on your talent.”
“Choose?”
“Yes. Lightning Flash and Shadow Darkness. No matter how much I talk about the theory now, you won’t understand since you haven’t awakened your mana. Just know that it’s a realm you’ll reach someday. Seeing is believing, I’ll show you. Seyoung, give me a sword.”
“Dad. Please, do it moderately. Don’t go breaking walls!”
“I’ll try.”
Jin Woosung took the sword.
“This is Lightning Flash.”
Crack!
White lightning crackled on the sword Jin Woosung was holding.
“Actually, the advanced techniques are just Lightning Flash and Shadow Darkness. The practical techniques are upgraded by Lightning Flash and Shadow Darkness.”
Jin Woosung took the stance for Dawn Light.
“Lightning Flash is speed. Seyoung has a talent for Lightning Flash.”
Jin Woosung swung his sword. A lightning slash flew through the air and hit the wall. With a loud crash, the wall collapsed. Electricity pulsed on the collapsed wall.
I opened my mouth slightly.
I hadn’t seen how Jin Woosung’s sword had been swung at all. I had only seen the slash wrapped in lightning flying.
‘…Crazy. Is this the power of mana?’
It really hit home that Hunters who had awakened their mana from C-Rank were the real deal.
“Shadow Darkness is concealment. Among the disciples of the Yeongcheon Style, there haven’t been many who had a talent for Shadow Darkness.”
A dark, sticky shadow appeared on the blade.
When Jin Woosung swung his sword, a black slash flew towards the wall. The wall didn’t break. Instead, the slash cut through the wall and continued to fly towards the sky before disappearing.
“Actually, that’s not how you use Shadow Darkness. Remember that.”
“The wall broke! I told you to do it moderately?!”
Jin Seyoung shouted. Jin Woosung smiled awkwardly and started running away.
“Seyoung. I have an important appointment.”
“What are you talking about?! Get back here!”
I left the father and daughter’s cozy conversation behind and looked at the collapsed wall and the cracked wall.
‘Mana. Mana. Mana. I have to awaken my mana!’
Whirr.
My happy circuits started turning, and I began imagining my future self.
-Hey, hey. Don’t touch that woman. Unless you want to die.
-…I see. So, I have no choice but to draw my sword….
-Cry! Hwaryeon Flying Blades!
-Lightning Cut! I… cut the lightning!
-The final Shadow Darkness is… me becoming Shadow Darkness itself!
“Kuh…!”
I unconsciously let out an exclamation.
I took out my smartphone.
I immediately looked for creations related to mana. There were a few, but they weren’t things that would make the real me awaken mana.
“…When I reach level 30, new creations will come out. I have no choice but to rely on that.”
