"Congratulations on becoming an E-Rank Hunter."
Jin Se-young greeted with a smile as I entered the Yeongcheon Sword Hall. Her black ponytail and form-fitting leggings were her usual attire. She always wore leggings. Yesterday, I had beco an E-Rank Hunter. The promotion test wasn't anything special. It involved hunting in an F-Rank dungeon with an association employee. After observing my skills, the employee passed within an hour.
"Thanks, noona."
I responded to Jin Se-young and moved closer to her. Naturally, I reached out and wrapped my arm around her waist. She leaned into as if she had been waiting, and our lips t. Our tongues intertwined, exchanging saliva. My hands naturally moved toward her buttocks and chest. Jin Se-young took a step back, creating so distance.
"Mmm... Not today. Rember what I said on the phone earlier?"
"Too bad. Sex is sothing we should do every day."
A mont later, Jin Se-young and I faced each other, swords drawn. It was our usual sparring session. Normally, we sparred naked, but today we were fully clothed.
Glance.
I looked at the man standing in the center of the training room. He was a robust man in his early forties, watching us with his arms crossed. He had tanned skin, wore hiking clothes, and had an eyepatch over his left eye. Jin Woo-sung.
The head of the Yeongcheon Sword Hall and Jin Se-young's father. According to Jin Se-young, he was an executive of the Jaun Guild and an A-Rank Hunter with the nickna "Poisonous Beast."
I had known about him before, but today was the first ti we t. Jin Woo-sung probably knew about too. I had indirectly received his help when I sold gold bars to Manager Hwang Min-joon.
"Begin."
Surprisingly, his voice was soft, unlike his rough appearance.
Yeongcheon Style Practical Technique: Flying Tiger.
I charged at Jin Se-young with all my might from the front.
I didn't feel any danger. Jin Se-young was soone I couldn't even graze, even if I went all out. I had never won a single sparring match against her.
Jin Se-young easily parried my sword.
She was a B-Rank Hunter. I, who had just beco an E-Rank Hunter, was no match for her physically.
However, Jin Se-young always adjusted her level to match mine during sparring.
'This ti, I'll go for her back.'
I stepped to Jin Se-young's back using footwork. Jin Se-young deliberately let , even though she could have stopped .
But if I extended my sword here, she would block it without fail. Her sword stabbed toward .
'This is Shadow Snake. I need to dodge.'
If I blocked with my sword, it would bend like a snake. I imdiately stepped back.
Since we both knew each other's practical techniques, it was hard to fully utilize the hidden aspects of the Yeongcheon Style.
'Today's even tougher. Is it because the head is here?'
As the sparring continued, I grew increasingly tired. On the other hand, Jin Se-young was perfectly fine. It was a familiar situation.
'There's an opening.'
I saw an opening in Jin Se-young's stance. Of course, it was deliberately left open.
'The question is whether it's a valid opening or not.'
The openings Jin Se-young showed were divided into two types.
Valid openings or traps.
Valid openings were ones where she wouldn't properly counter if I struck. Traps were, well, traps. Jin Se-young always forced this choice during sparring. It was training to properly identify openings.
'...Damn it. I'm too tired to make a proper judgnt.'
When a person is physically or ntally exhausted, their judgnt becos clouded. And this is when you need to be most careful.
'What practical techniques can counter that stance? All-Knowing? Empty Night?'
Just the number of practical techniques that ca to mind exceeded five. I couldn't make a decision. So I gave up on targeting the opening.
When judgnt is difficult, it's better to give up cleanly and wait for the next opportunity. It's one of the things I learned from Jin Se-young.
'Here she cos.'
Jin Se-young moved. She approached , holding her sword in reverse grip, hiding the blade behind her back. I clicked my tongue.
'She's planning to end the sparring. It's Dawn technique.'
Jin Se-young often chose Dawn, the fastest strike, in decisive situations. It was a kind of habit. I prepared to block Dawn.
'If I wait to see the sword, it'll be too late. Watch the movent of her shoulder and arm...'
Jin Se-young's sword moved. I raised my sword as if I had been waiting. But it wasn't Dawn.
Her blade slowly passed by my sword. At least, that's how it looked to .
'Was it Empty Night?'
The sword stopped in front of my neck. I lowered the sword in my hand.
"I lost."
Jin Se-young lowered her sword at my words and smiled.
"Good job. The decision to give up on the opening earlier was good."
"..."
I looked at Jin Se-young with a heated gaze. Jin Se-young smiled awkwardly and slightly shook her head.
Originally, we would imdiately start having sex after sparring. It was a way to release the frustration of losing through my manhood. She would inevitably end up gasping under .
If only her father weren't here.
"Good job. Se-young, as you said, Eugene definitely has talent in the Yeongcheon Style."
Jin Woo-sung lightly patted my shoulder and smiled. I awkwardly smiled back at him.
"Dad, why don't you spar with Eugene yourself?"
"You know I'm not good at holding back."
"You're an A-Rank."
"Daughter. What's my nickna?"
"..."
Jin Se-young closed her mouth.
Jin Woo-sung's nickna was "Poisonous Beast." A vicious beast. That nickna wasn't given without reason.
.
"But sothing's a bit strange."
Jin Woo-sung looked at . His gaze had changed. The kind uncle-like eyes now had a sharp glint.
"Huh?"
I asked back. What's strange? Looking back, I hadn't made any mistakes.
"Your skills. Your Yeongcheon Style techniques are perfect. But everything else is too lacking. Normally, skills don't grow disproportionately in just one area. It's impossible. But you, even if you're lacking in other areas, your Yeongcheon Style is undeniable."
I realized what Jin Woo-sung was saying. He had noticed. That I had nothing but the Yeongcheon Style.
"Is that not allowed?"
"It's not that it's not allowed. Your talent in the Yeongcheon Style is genuine. But swordsmanship is just swordsmanship."
"...I've heard that before."
"Oh? From whom? Se-young isn't at that level yet."
"Not from a close friend."
"Is that so?"
It was Baek Sang-gi.
Baek Sang-gi had said that to .
I had told Jin Se-young about Baek Sang-gi not long ago. Of course, I didn't go into detail and spoke vaguely. And Jin Se-young told this.
Baek Sang-gi was the first wall I had faced. The emotion I felt from Baek Sang-gi was frustration.
'No way. That guy can't be my wall.'
I didn't accept Jin Se-young's words. That guy was soone I could easily beat if I just had the physical abilities of a D-Rank Hunter.
"Anyway. Eugene, your Yeongcheon Style is causing a dissonance. You need to do sothing about it."
"...Is the Yeongcheon Style alone not enough?"
"It's not enough."
Jin Woo-sung cut straight to the point.
"I told you. Swordsmanship is just swordsmanship. If you fight soone of equal skill... you'll lose 100% because of that dissonance."
"100%..."
Jin Woo-sung was judging solely based on my Yeongcheon Style. He wasn't considering other skills like acceleration or complete recovery. But hearing him say it with such certainty was a bit shocking.
"What should I do?"
"This is the first ti I've heard of such a case... so I can't be sure. But I think there are three thods."
"Three? That's a lot."
I felt relieved. It didn't seem like a hopeless situation where nothing could be done.
"The first is to put the Yeongcheon Style aside for a while. Step away from the Yeongcheon Style and live as a regular swordsman to improve your skills. The downside is that it will take a long ti."
Stop using the Yeongcheon Style now?
No way.
How many points have I invested in the Yeongcheon Style?
"What's the second?"
"Real combat. Real combat. This is the most certain thod. Accumulating experience in real combat will naturally resolve the dissonance. The downside is that it's dangerous."
"If that's the case, I regularly go to dungeons."
"That's not enough. And you need to fight enemies of similar skill. And preferably, not just monsters but also people."
"..."
I thought of the Play Life app.
Among the creations I've seen, there are worlds similar to reality. There, I can safely experience real combat. Even if I die carelessly, the real won't die.
"What's the third?"
"Mana awakening. The Yeongcheon Style's practical techniques are the real deal, and the advanced techniques are on a whole different level. Above all, if you have the power of mana, your skills will naturally improve."
My face didn't brighten.
Mana awakening isn't sothing just anyone can do. Most hunters naturally awaken their mana, but there are also hunters who don't.
'Professor Park said it before. 20% of D-Rank Hunters retire without awakening their mana.'
I know myself well.
Talent for mana? No way. If I had that, the potential potion would have worked properly last ti.
'But it's too early to give up. I have the Play Life app. If I look through the creations, there must be a way.'
In the end, the Play Life app is the answer.
I relaxed my serious expression. My ability isn't the Yeongcheon Style; it's the Play Life app. The Yeongcheon Style is just a byproduct I gained through the app.
"But what exactly are the advanced techniques?"
"Huh? Didn't Se-young teach you?"
"No."
All I know is that after the practical techniques, there are advanced techniques that use mana. I don't know the details. Jin Se-young said it was too early and didn't teach .
Jin Woo-sung looked at Jin Se-young.
"It's too early for Eugene. If I teach him the advanced techniques, he might get ahead of himself. If Eugene is ant to awaken mana, I planned to teach him then."
"It's true that you can't use them without mana awakening. But you shouldn't not teach him at all. He should know what the Yeongcheon Style he's learning is. Se-young, that's disqualification as a teacher."
"What are you talking about? Dad has no interest in the Yeongcheon Sword Hall."
"Ahem..."
Jin Woo-sung cleared his throat. Jin Woo-sung owned the Yeongcheon Sword Hall, but it was Jin Se-young who actually built it. If it weren't for , he probably wouldn't have co to the Yeongcheon Sword Hall today.
Having run out of things to say, Jin Woo-sung looked at and spoke solemnly.
"If you awaken mana, you'll learn Yeongcheon Ki Gong. Yeongcheon Ki Gong is a thod to handle mana in a way suitable for the Yeongcheon Style. If you can handle mana through Yeongcheon Ki Gong... you'll probably have to choose one of two options based on your talent."
"Options?"
"Yes. Thunder Light and Dark Shadow. No matter how much I explain the theory now, you won't understand without mana awakening. Just know that it's a realm you'll reach soday. Seeing is believing, so I'll show you. Se-young, give a sword."
"Dad, please keep it in check. Don't go breaking walls!"
"I'll try."
Jin Woo-sung took the sword.
"This is Thunder Light."
Crackle!
White lightning enveloped the sword Jin Woo-sung was holding.
"Actually, the advanced techniques are just Thunder Light and Dark Shadow. The practical techniques are upgraded through Thunder Light and Dark Shadow."
Jin Woo-sung took the stance for Dawn.
"Thunder Light is fast. Se-young has talent in Thunder Light."
Jin Woo-sung swung the sword. A lightning slash flew through the air and hit the wall. With a loud noise, the wall crumbled. Electric currents flickered on the collapsed wall.
I slightly opened my mouth.
I couldn't see how Jin Woo-sung's sword was swung at all. All I saw was a lightning-wrapped slash flying.
'...Crazy. Is this the power of mana?'
The saying that hunters only beco real from C-Rank, when they awaken mana, really hits ho.
"Dark Shadow is subtle. Among all the Yeongcheon Style disciples, few have had talent in Dark Shadow."
A dark, sticky shadow ford on the blade.
When Jin Woo-sung swung the sword, a black slash flew toward the wall. The wall didn't shatter. Instead, the slash cut through the wall and continued flying into the sky before disappearing.
"Actually, this isn't how Dark Shadow is used. Rember that."
"The wall is broken! I told you to keep it in check!"
Jin Se-young shouted. Jin Woo-sung awkwardly smiled and started running outside.
"Se-young, Dad has an important appointnt."
"Since when?!"
I left the father-daughter conversation behind and looked at the collapsed and split wall.
'Mana. Mana. Mana. I need to awaken mana!'
Whirr!
The happiness circuit started spinning, and I began imagining my future self.
-Hey, hey. Don't touch that woman. Unless you want to die.
-...Is that so? In the end, I have no choice but to draw my sword...
-Cry! Hwaryeonbido!
-Lightning... I cut it!
-The final Dark Shadow... is becoming the Dark Shadow myself!
"Kuuuh...!"
An exclamation escaped my lips without realizing.
I took out my smartphone.
I imdiately checked creations related to mana. There were a few, but none that would help awaken mana in reality.
"...When I reach level 30, new creations will appear. I'll just have to pin my hopes on that."
***
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