Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Cha Eunseong and Instructor Kim Sangeung.

The fight between the two was truly a bloody close contest.

CLAAANG, CLAAANG!

CLAAAAANG!

The axe and dagger collided without pause.

Nor was it merely a matter of their weapons clashing.

WHOOSH, WHOOOSH!

SWIIISH!

The probes they exchanged, or perhaps feint-like attacks and defenses, tore through the air.

“Th-This is insane.”

“Is this really what a fight between masters looks like?”

“They are so fast!”

The members of Bravo Team could not hide their astonishment as they watched Cha Eunseong and Instructor Kim Sangeung fight.

The battle between the two, no, their life-or-death duel, was on an entirely different level for the fledglings.

If they were to face Eunseong or Instructor Kim Sangeung, it was clear they would not last even three seconds.

That was how tremendously high Eunseong and Instructor Kim Sangeung’s level of knife fighting had reached.

For those who had only just Awakened and were now learning the essential knowledge and skills required as Hunters, it was a level they could not even dare imagine.

Meanwhile, Ra Sihyeon felt so chilled as she watched the duel that she thought she might go mad.

The more she learned about Eunseong, the more terrifying he became.

He had been terrifying when he crushed Oh Taegwon and the Alpha Team Leader, but he was even more terrifying when facing monsters.

That distinctive indifference of his, and his attitude as if he feared neither battle nor even death, sent even deeper chills down her spine.

It was as though he might kill a person without so much as changing expression at any moment, then simply go on his way.

But when she saw him fighting Instructor Kim Sangeung, her fear and respect toward Eunseong deepened even further.

It was an emotion close to awe.

‘I was a puppy who did not know to fear the tiger. How insignificant and ridiculous must I have looked, acting arrogant just because I was a Mage…….’

Ra Sihyeon bitterly regretted and repented for her mistake.

Not only had she snapped at such a monster, but she had also acted rudely, to put it vulgarly. If she could go back to the past, she wanted to beat herself up.

‘I must never get on his bad side again. Never.’

Ra Sihyeon firmly resolved this and took out her Spirit Sword.

It was an undeniable fact that Eunseong was a monster.

Entering the Special Force Training Center meant that he was a Rookie Hunter who had not Awakened long ago.

The very fact that such an Eunseong could cross blades with Instructor Kim Sangeung was remarkable in itself, and it was proof that he was a genius.

However, because his opponent was who he was, Ra Sihyeon intended to help Eunseong.

That was not only Ra Sihyeon’s thought.

Oh Taegwon, Kim Seunghye, and Park Seokho had also taken out their respective Spirit Swords and were watching closely for an opportunity to help Eunseong.

However…….

Slowly.

Ra Sihyeon lowered her Spirit Sword.

“Everyone, do not do it.”

“What do you mean? Are you saying we should not help Mr. Eunseong?”

“Yeah.”

When Kim Seunghye asked as though she did not understand what Ra Sihyeon meant, Ra Sihyeon answered shortly in a hard voice.

“Do not do it.”

“You still have not come to your senses.”

Kim Seunghye glared at Ra Sihyeon as if she truly could not stand it.

“Are you telling us to leave Mr. Eunseong to die? Because of your petty grudge?”

“That is not it.”

“What do you mean it is not?”

“A grudge? Hmph! What a joke. Even if I held a grudge against someone like that, what could I possibly do? I would be the only one who suffered.”

Ra Sihyeon acknowledged reality in a cold voice.

“Then why are you saying we should not help Big Brother?”

“That is right.”

Oh Taegwon and Park Seokho spoke as if they could not understand at all.

“Haa.”

Ra Sihyeon let out a deep sigh, then answered in a tone that seemed to say this was why she could not get along with them.

“Look at Big Brother Eunseong’s expression.”

“……?”

“How does that look like the expression of someone in danger?”

The gazes of Bravo Team’s members all turned toward Eunseong’s face at once.

“Huh?”

Kim Seunghye flinched in surprise.

“Big Brother……?”

“H-How……?”

Oh Taegwon and Park Seokho were just as shocked.

Grin!

Eunseong…….

Eunseong was smiling.

Even though he had been cut and stabbed by the dagger Instructor Kim Sangeung swung, and blood was pouring from various parts of his body, he was swinging his axe with a broad smile, as if something about this was terribly enjoyable.

“That big brother is enjoying this. I do not know how that is possible, though.”

Ra Sihyeon shook her head as if she could not understand it at all.

Because she could not even guess why Eunseong could smile.

“How about we stop interfering and just watch the surroundings?”

“…….”

The members of Bravo Team hesitated for a while, unable to understand either Ra Sihyeon’s words or Eunseong’s smile.

“Do as you like. I am not going to interfere. Not until Big Brother Eunseong asks for help.”

After saying that, Ra Sihyeon picked up her rifle and watched the surroundings.

The members of Bravo Team pondered for a moment, then followed Ra Sihyeon’s example and picked up their own firearms.

They were not convinced, but judging by Eunseong’s expression alone, he really did look as though he was enjoying a game…….

***

This was fun.

So fun that I felt as though I might go mad.

I could almost feel dopamine and adrenaline bursting explosively in my brain.

‘As expected of Uncle Sangeung.’

Even though I knew better than anyone that idle thoughts were forbidden during a life-or-death duel, I could not stop such thoughts from surfacing in my mind.

It was clearly like walking on thin ice, like walking atop a blade, and yet a chuckle kept slipping out of me.

Even though a single mistake would sever my aorta or pierce a vital point…….

“You bastard, who the hell are you laughing in front of?”

Instructor Kim Sangeung hurled a stream of curses and pressed his attack even harder.

CLANG, CLAANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLAAANG!

THUNK!

Five exchanges came and went in the blink of an eye.

‘Ugh.’

My left forearm had been cut, but this much was no more than a light scratch.

‘This is purely a difference in weight class, not a difference in skill.’

I could be certain.

In pure skill, I held the advantage.

It was only that Instructor Kim Sangeung had more Ether than I did, and since his grade was higher, there was a difference in physical ability.

Once I confirmed that, I felt a sense of accomplishment, and old emotions slowly began to wash away.

In truth, this was not simply a life-or-death duel.

This was an outlet for the resentment of my old self.

In other words, the resentment I had been forced to feel as a Supporter.

Before I returned to the past.

I hated being a Supporter.

It was not that there was anything wrong with Supporters.

It simply did not suit my disposition…….

Some people took pride in their Role Category as Supporters and silently carried out their duties.

But I was not one of them.

I wanted to fight.

I wanted to face enemies directly, defeat them, and cut off their breath.

But reality had not been like that.

A Supporter was not someone who fought enemies directly, so I always had to take care of my comrades from behind.

That was why I trained desperately.

So that even without powerful attack skills or a weapon-form Spirit Sword, I could deal with enemies and monsters.

I fought countless times until my body broke, rolled across the ground, got beaten, and rose again.

That was why I had heard the joke, [The strongest among the Non-Awakened.]

No matter how hard I tried, I could not overcome the limits of being a Supporter, so the efforts I made ultimately felt empty.

But today.

I confirmed that the efforts that had seemed meaningless were never in vain.

Because the axe I was swinging now was proving those efforts!

CLAAAAAAAANG!

The axe and dagger collided loudly and violently.

‘I can win.’

No, I had already won.

WHOOSH!

My axe moved a quarter beat faster.

CLANG, CLAANG, CLANGCLANG, CLANGCLANG, CLAAANG!

Several exchanges came and went.

“……!”

Instructor Kim Sangeung’s eyes trembled subtly.

It was clear that he could not adapt to my axe, which had become a quarter beat faster, and was beginning to reveal openings.

‘Now!’

With the [Full Moon] card in my left hand, I summoned a disc and sent it flying.

WHOOOSH!

The disc flew toward Instructor Kim Sangeung’s face.

“Hah!”

The moment the startled Instructor Kim Sangeung hurriedly changed his stance.

STAB!

My axe struck down into Instructor Kim Sangeung’s left knee.

I did not stop.

SWIIISH!

At the same time as I pulled the axe out of his knee, I dodged Instructor Kim Sangeung’s counterattack and launched my own.

SLASH!

Instructor Kim Sangeung’s left arm flew off.

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

Just as a monstrous shriek burst from Instructor Kim Sangeung’s mouth, sticky-looking dark-red Ether flowed out from his body and rushed toward me.

I knew instinctively.

That Instructor Kim Sangeung’s unique ability, the one called Blood Energy, would bind or slow the opponent.

‘As if I would let it hit me.’

I quickly retreated to create distance and hurled the axe in my hand with all my strength.

Throwing one’s main weapon at an enemy was an action where the disadvantages overwhelmingly outweighed the benefits.

If it missed, I would only lose my main weapon, and even if it hit, if I failed to incapacitate the enemy, I would ultimately be the one at a disadvantage.

Even though I knew that, there was one reason I threw the axe.

It was a judgment I made because I was confident I could hit him with absolute certainty.

WHIRRRRRR!

SLASH!

The axe spun fiercely and cleaved through Instructor Kim Sangeung’s remaining right arm.

Instructor Kim Sangeung’s right arm, which held his Spirit Sword, dropped to the ground.

THUD!

Instructor Kim Sangeung could no longer hold on and collapsed to his knees.

The Blood Energy that had been flowing out had already vanished without a trace.

‘I won.’

But I could not rejoice in victory.

“Uncle!”

I urgently ran toward him.

Because it was not too late yet…….

***

By the time the distance between Instructor Kim Sangeung and me was about five meters.

“Kyaaaaaak!”

A palm-sized insect burst out of Instructor Kim Sangeung’s mouth and flew toward my face.

A Tongue Parasite.

It was a monster resembling a parasite called [Cymothoa exigua], which parasitized the tongues of fish.

It seemed that once the life of its host, Instructor Kim Sangeung, became critical, it tried to switch over to me…… but did it really think that would work?

I quickly pulled out the double-barreled sawed-off shotgun on my left hip.

CLACK, BANG!

“Kiiiiiieeee!”

The Tongue Parasite exploded into pieces.

For a monster that had been controlling Instructor Kim Sangeung, a 4-Star Hunter, its durability was so poor that it felt almost absurd.

“Cough, cough cough!”

Instructor Kim Sangeung was on the verge of death.

“Cough!”

Every time he coughed, blood surged from his mouth in thick gushes.

Blood was also pouring from the severed ends of both arms, so at this rate, he would clearly die of hemorrhagic shock from excessive bleeding within one minute.

‘As if I would let you die.’

I took out the [Healing] card and summoned Undina.

“This is urgent. Quickly.”

“Yes, Master.”

WHEEEE!

Without asking or arguing about anything, Undina followed my command and became a healing wind that wrapped around Instructor Kim Sangeung.

‘Bring them.’

When I used the [Looting] card, the weasels’ bodies stretched out and brought over Instructor Kim Sangeung’s arms that had fallen to the ground, then wrapped around the severed surfaces like bandages.

“A c-cigarette…… cough!”

“Please endure it for a moment. Right now…….”

“Just…… give me one. Please. Ngh!”

I took a cigarette and lighter from Instructor Kim Sangeung’s Plate Carrier pouch, placed the cigarette in his mouth, and lit it for him.

After the Transference Crisis fifteen years ago, the smoking rate had exploded.

The saying that alcohol and cigarettes were used like currency during war or an apocalypse was true.

A world where death had become everyday life.

People were bound to look for something that would let them catch their breath, even if only for a moment, and that something was cigarettes.

“Fuuuuuuu.”

Instructor Kim Sangeung exhaled a long stream of cigarette smoke.

Then he looked back at me and spoke.

“Eunseong.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“Do not.”

“Pardon……?”

“Just leave it.”

“……?”

“Let me go.”

Instructor Kim Sangeung quietly closed both eyes.

As if he were trying to accept death.