TL: SHW
It’s not exactly a surprising statent, but I don’t understand fighting. Hunting monsters is unavoidable, if you don’t kill them, people die. So, you have to kill them.
What I don’t understand is fights between people. From petty drunken brawls to sparring between athletes or Hunters, whether trivial or in a more structured setting.
Of course, fighting while drunk is obviously wrong, but I’m not saying sparring in competitive sports is bad. It’s just a simple matter.
Why should I spend my ti on sothing like that?
My labor is expensive.
Should I really waste my valuable effort on re fighting? And what do I even gain from it?
Of course, if I were paid accordingly, that’d be different. The reason I didn’t complain too much while working at Pilot High School was that there was a reward. Not because I enjoyed making the students suffer. Well, I can’t say that had no influence at all… but still. …And it wasn’t for the asly salary either. That’s practically nonexistent.
Why did I end up working at Pilot High School in the first place? I was suddenly dragged into the past and got caught by Hong Seok-young. By offering just a bit of my labor, I could secure a proper identity and a place to stay. Information about Ark was a bonus. Honestly, the salary wasn’t that important. As I said, Hong Seok-young personally took care of my lodging and als, and I didn’t have much to spend money on anyway.
Anyway, I don’t understand why people fight. More precisely, I hate labor that doesn’t co with compensation. If the twenty-eight-year-old Han Tae-kyung standing in front of were a rookie Hunter from the Ability Managent Agency, I’d be nagging Yoo Ji-eun about how they train newcors these days. And I would have enjoyed watching her get annoyed.
“Euhuhu.”
Han Tae-kyung let out a weird sound as he picked up a wooden sword. I hesitated for a mont before taking the wooden sword that Kim Chae-min handed .
Even though it was work hours, I didn’t like being reduced to re entertainnt like this.
But on the other hand… another thought crossed my mind.
Maybe this was an opportunity.
If I completely crush Han Tae-kyung here, wouldn’t this bastard finally calm down a bit?
I don’t expect that crazy head of his to actually improve, but at the very least, maybe he’d start pretending to listen to .
Even his father failed to ta Han Tae-kyung, but at least he sowhat listened to his father’s words. That level would be good enough.
“Ah, well, swordsmanship isn’t my specialty… But isn’t it customary for the stronger side to give the weaker side an advantage? It’s like Go, since black stones have an advantage, the weaker player gets to use them.”
It’s not completely wrong, but… calling that an accurate explanation feels a bit off.
“From now on, call the Man in Black, Han Tae-kyung!”
“……”
“You idiot. That just ans you’re the weaker one.”
Han Eun-young buried her face in her hands as she spoke.
“Oh. Does it?”
Han Tae-kyung, completely unfazed by his sister’s embarrassnt, quickly corrected himself.
“Then, the Man in White, Han Tae-kyung!”
Han Eun-young’s shoulders shook, her face still buried in her hands.
…She’s not crying, right?
I understand how she feels, though. Hmm. This school seems to have so kind of curse where just saying you want to drop out makes you cry.
I did hear a sniffle, but when Han Eun-young finally looked up, her face was as dry as could be. So dry, in fact, that her eyes were practically stabbing her brother to death. No real need to worry about her, then.
Shifting my gaze away from Han Eun-young, I spotted Hong Seok-young, practically vibrating with excitent. Well, considering how much he loves fights, so much that he’ll jump into any brawl he can, I get it. Look at how he gathered everyone the mont I accepted Han Tae-kyung’s challenge.
“Kids, you won’t get to see a sparring match like this often, so keep your eyes wide open and watch carefully. This will be a valuable learning experience….”
Who said they could watch?
If it were Han Tae-kyung from twenty years in the future, he’d be out of my league.
But the Han Tae-kyung standing in front of now…
"You said swordsmanship isn't your specialty."
"I heard you use a sword."
"Well...."
“There should be at least so handicap. If one side completely dominates, what’s the point?”
First, should I knock off those annoying sunglasses?
"You're absolutely right."
I smiled kindly at Han Tae-kyung.
"I'm not a swordsman either."
I swung my wooden sword.
***
From left to right.
Then from right to left. Maintaining that force, I spun my body once and launched another attack. The wooden swords clashed. I pushed forward with sheer strength, then shifted my weight backward. As I took half a step back, I pulled him toward and deflected his attack.
Creak.
Mana usage was prohibited.
Even though the wooden sword was made sturdy for Awakened users, it was difficult for it to withstand such movents. I had barely swung it a few tis, and it was already making unsettling noises.
"Tch!"
Clicking his tongue, Han Tae-kyung changed his stance, abandoning his defensive posture. He crouched low and attempted to sweep my legs, then flipped backward into the air to retreat.
…Did he glue those damn sunglasses to his nose or sothing? How do they stay on even when he moves like that? I should have knocked them off with my first attack.
"What's wrong? Tired already?"
I whispered with a small smile.
"Aren't you the Man in White? Are you going to wave a white flag instead?"
Of course, I didn’t actually give him the ti to surrender. I closed the distance between us again and aid for his nape with the hilt of my sword.
"In my dictionary, white doesn’t exist!"
Your car is white, though.
Still, the promising Hunter seedling ranked second after Father is different. Though he struggled to keep up with my speed at first, he quickly adapted and blocked my attacks.
Han Tae-kyung’s true potential wouldn’t bloom until his mid-thirties. Even now, he was called a promising talent, but his actual skills were only just enough to justify that label. A promising talent- nothing more, nothing less.
Han Tae-kyung widened the distance between us again. I let him be instead of chasing after him. He gripped his sword tightly and stared at .
Or at least, I assu he was staring. I couldn't see his eyes through those sunglasses.
…Or maybe not? His mouth, visible below the lenses, was curling into a creepy grin. Instead of glaring, he seed…
"You're pretty skilled!"
"You're a lot worse than I expected."
"Ahahaha! I told you, I’m not a swordsman! Didn’t you say the sa? Then why do you even carry a sword? What do you actually fight with?"
I barely stopped myself from glancing toward Hong Seok-young.
I couldn’t say spear.
"Just… a bit of everything."
"Interesting. I use a bit of everything too."
"Are you just going to keep talking?"
"Well, no."
Han Tae-kyung scratched his head roughly, montarily loosening his stance.
"If I get any more serious, the kids might get hurt…."
So he does think that far?
And yet, when he was the headmaster of the Academy, he fought students?
I really didn’t need this kind of proof that humans could regress over ti.
"That’s not a problem."
I moved toward Han Tae-kyung.
The person who had the most influence on my fighting style was, of course, my father. He was the one who taught . But if I had to pick the second biggest influence, it would be Han Tae-kyung.
I hate doing work that isn’t mine. I hate labor without compensation. Entering dungeons wasn’t even part of my job, and clearing them didn’t benefit much.
But every ti Han Tae-kyung caused trouble, I had to step in to clean up the ss. Later on, my father spared from it since I hated it so much, but for the most part, it was my responsibility.
So people eat their favorite foods first, leaving the ones they dislike for later. I was the type to eat the stuff I hated first. No point putting it off if I had to do it anyway. Might as well get the pain over with.
I had to go into the dungeon anyway.
So I’d clear it as quickly as possible and get out. That was my mindset at the ti.
And to clear a dungeon quickly?
You have to destroy the dungeon core as fast as possible.
To destroy the dungeon core quickly?
You have to kill the monsters in your way—fast.
'Chief, didn’t you break the record for the shortest raid ti again?'
'Every dungeon has a different structure. What's the point of records?'
'But Team 1 said you cleared it insanely fast…!'
'If you have ti to wonder about that, go write another report.'
That's how my spear was perfected.
Even if the thing in my hand right now was just a crude wooden sword.
"Could it be that Han Tae-kyung-ssi lacks skill?"
Han Tae-kyung blocked my sword as it aid for his throat.
I stepped back briefly before increasing my speed and lunging at him again. This ti, I targeted his side.
"Hah! What nonsense!"
Again, Han Tae-kyung blocked my attack. I didn’t force the assault and instead retreated. His sword sliced through empty air.
I picked up the pace.
Attack, if Han Tae-kyung blocked, I withdrew, increased my speed, and attacked again.
Just how much of my attacks could Han Tae-kyung handle right now?
When he blocked my strike to his head, I didn’t retreat this ti. Instead, I used our locked swords as a support to leap over him and land behind his back. His reaction was slow. He was about to swing his sword when I lifted my foot and kicked him square in the back.
"Ah. My mistake."
Bang!!
"I put in too much strength. Are you okay, Man in White?"
"I'm completely fine!"
Through the scattered grass, Han Tae-kyung stuck out his thumb. If I broke that finger, would he stop?
"Is that so? Then let’s continue."
Han Tae-kyung tensed up completely.
An hour ago, this arrogant bastard was calling a D-rank Hunter, saying he didn’t want to treat soone weaker than him as a senior.
Looks like I really do need to raise his rank, just as Hong Seok-young suggested.
Rank isn’t everything, but every now and then, idiots like him co along and forget that.
The pattern repeated itself.
Han Tae-kyung was starting to miss my attacks more frequently. At this speed, the other students probably couldn't even see what was happening.
Head.
Chest. Neck.
Arm. Solar plexus. Again, neck. Waist. Knee. Back.
Again, neck. Head.
“…Can you see anything?"
"Nope."
"Hyun-wook, what about you?"
"……."
"If you’re not answering, that ans you can’t see either. Just admit it already, it’s obvious."
The students murmured among themselves.
See that? Your teacher is this amazing,
……
Sohow, calling myself a Hunter feels weirdly humiliating. It’s like I just lost to Hong Seok-young. I never planned on becoming a Hunter!
"Excuse ."
Amidst the students’ chatter, a young voice called out.
"Mister."
"Hmm?"
"My brother is really good at fighting, isn’t he?"
Woo I-rok. Mini-.
Why was a kid who never left the room area suddenly here?
Mini- was crouched next to Hong Seok-young, looking at . Could he actually see ? He couldn't even perceive mana yet, what was he pretending to watch?
"Yeah. He’s really good. He might even be stronger than ."
"Right?! My brother is the strongest!"
Hong Seok-young smiled at Mini-. I saw him slowly reach out his hand toward him.
Mini- stared at Hong Seok-young.
As Mini- didn’t move away, Hong Seok-young’s hesitant hand carefully landed on his head.
At first, it was just a soft touch, barely grazing the tips of his hair. Then, gradually, the touch grew firr as he began gently stroking his head. When his hand ruffled Mini-’s hair playfully, and the boy frowned in annoyance, Hong Seok-young burst into laughter and finally withdrew his hand.
A fleeting warmth.
If Mini- looked up, their gazes would et.
Gentle eyes, filled with warmth.
Father.
Kwaaaang!!!!
"Oh."
Crack.
The wooden sword shattered.
I stared blankly at the broken pieces before coming back to my senses.
Han Tae-kyung had been sent flying, he was nowhere in sight.
Instead, a pile of broken landscape stones lay before .
And sticking out from the rubble was one lone leg.
***
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