Awkward Family Ties and the Hunter Test
Slurp...
An awkward atmosphere hung in the air.
The only sound was Park Hayul—Park Hana's daughter—sipping her drink.
Park Hayul was Park Hana's daughter, but not her biological one.
Adopted. More precisely, she had been her niece.
Park Hana was one of three sisters.
The eldest, Park Gayeong; the second, Park Hana; the youngest, Park Ayun.
Park Hayul was the daughter of the eldest, Park Gayeong.
But Park Gayeong had died when Hayul was just a baby.
"I'll raise her."
Determined not to let Hayul grow up without a mother, Park Hana had taken her in and adopted her.
'That's why the age gap between Hana-noona and Hayul isn't that big.'
Hayul was 20 now, so with noona... a 15-year difference.
Not much for calling someone "mom."
Anyway.
'How do I fix this awkward situation...'
Caught by her daughter, noona wore an embarrassed look, staring at the floor.
"Haa—"
Park Hayul let out a sigh.
Noona flinched at the sound.
"Mom."
"Yes, honey...?"
Hayul stared straight into noona's eyes.
"It's fine to have a boyfriend."
"Really?!"
Noona's face lit up at the unexpected response, totally different from her expression.
"But you have to think about the age difference. Him... how old are you? You look about my age."
Hayul asked my age.
"Twenty-two."
"Haa... you're only two years older than me."
Hayul sighed again upon hearing my age.
"H-ha, but... age gaps like this are pretty common in the entertainment industry."
Noona tried to make excuses.
But they fell on deaf ears.
"That's for single celebrities. Mom's situation is special."
Park Hana had a daughter around my age.
Hayul was saying a relationship with me was bound to stir controversy.
"... "
Noona couldn't respond.
Her face crumpled in distress.
Seeing that, Hayul's expression softened a bit.
Her resolve was wavering.
"As long as you don't get caught, it should be fine..."
"Yes! I'll be careful!"
In the end, noona got her daughter's permission.
'What about my opinion?'
The mother-daughter chat proceeded without a thought for me.
'Now I know how much Hana-noona likes me, so maybe I can let it slide.'
With someone like her, she'd understand if I saw other women, so dating seemed fine.
The issue settled for now, and Hayul stepped out briefly.
"So, what's the reason you wanted to meet today?"
Only now, deep in her sex haze, did noona ask my purpose.
"I wanted to test my abilities before the Hunter exam."
Two things I needed to check.
My current power level and grade.
And the performance of Combat Growth.
"Ah! You're in the right place then. We have a training room in the basement!"
As expected of a house owned by an active Hunter.
Good call coming to noona.
She motioned for me to follow.
"Mom hasn't been active in years."
Hayul, back already, chimed in from behind.
Leave all Hunter matters to her, she said.
And so, noona, me, and Hayul headed to the basement.
"Whoa..."
A state-of-the-art Hunter training facility unfolded before us.
All sorts of equipment, plus what looked like a sparring room.
"Shall we start with physical tests? Uh... what should I call you?"
Hayul asked about my title cautiously.
Her mom's lover, after all.
"Just call me oppa."
Two years older—oppa it is.
"Yeah, oppa fits. Not quite 'ajusshi' territory with that age gap, right?"
Noona chimed in.
Glare—!
Hayul shot her a look.
Noona shut up and sulked again.
Ignoring her.
"Okay then, oppa. Start with this."
Under Hayul's guidance, the physical tests began.
"Hoo... hoo..."
The physical tests ended.
Hayul checked the results.
"This puts you at upper D-grade, I'd say."
Hunter grades ran S, A, B, C, D, E.
E-grade Hunters were treated like trash.
Among Hunters, they were called "trash who don't value their lives."
Most E-grades were useless in a pinch and trolled, endangering everyone—hence the rep.
D-grade was beginner level.
Fail to climb out in a year, and you're basically E-grade.
'Starting at upper D-grade isn't bad.'
But it felt lacking somehow.
After rolling through two dimensions, just upper D?
"Next is sparring. You up for it?"
Hayul offered to be my opponent.
"Of course."
"Gutsy. I like it."
"Use whatever weapon you want here."
A drawer full of wooden training weapons.
I picked a wooden sword.
"I won't go beyond C-grade power."
Hayul gripped her wooden sword and took stance.
I adjusted mine and matched her.
Beep—! Beep—! Beep—!
Three signal beeps, and we charged simultaneously.
Her ponytail swayed with her movements.
She moved like her hair was a tail.
Clang—!
Wooden swords clashed.
I lost the power struggle, so I angled mine to deflect her strike.
Hayul looked surprised.
Her attack grazed past me.
Thud—!
I kicked off and dove into her guard.
Hayul recovered and leaped back.
'She's faster retreating than I am closing in!'
Then!
I drew Gram.
The glowing wooden sword.
My body enhanced.
I caught up to Hayul's speed.
Whoosh—!
Holy Sword Gram aimed at her throat.
Hayul's panicked face twisted into a grin.
Clang—!
Swords met again.
Unlike before, mana cloaked both blades.
Scraaaape—!
Raw power clash head-on.
"Tch!"
I retreated first.
'Prolonged fights favor her.'
Holy Sword Gram guzzled mana.
Best not to drag it out.
"This is fun."
Hayul still grinning.
She raised her sword high; mana surged into the blade.
'That's Hayul's ability!'
'Twin Longswords'
Her ability extended the blade, mimicking Joseon twin swords.
Similar to my Holy Sword Gram, in a way.
'No— that's a B-grade rated skill!'
C-grade, my ass!
Definitely C-grade!
Distance remained, but the extended blade brought me into range.
Downward slash at my head.
I used Gram to evade back swiftly.
Dropped Gram, and Hayul closed in.
Upward slash from below.
I thrust forward reflexively.
Blocked, but the recoil flung my arm wide, exposing me.
Hayul brought her raised blade down.
Whoosh—!
Falling sword.
'Gram—!'
The second fruit of training with Choi Rin.
Opposite of the mana conservation technique for premature ejaculation.
A technique dumping all power into one strike.
Gram blazed brighter than before.
"Urk—!"
True to its solar nature, Gram radiated heat.
Hayul hesitated for a split second.
I used the recoil spin into a slash.
Twin Longswords vs. Holy Sword Gram.
The power outcome was obvious.
Mana scattered.
Hayul's wooden sword shattered.
Sparring winner: me.
"Hah... hah..."
I was the victor, but I'd poured everything out and collapsed.
Hayul stood dazed.
Your body grows one step stronger.
Mana increased, body less fatigued than before.
The reward signaling spar's end.
Hayul looked plenty fresh stamina-wise.
"I lost."
She admitted defeat plainly.
Slide...
I looked up at her neck, and her top sliced clean, sliding off.
Exposed pale skin.
Her bra split in half too...
"Ahem!"
I coughed and turned away.
Of course, not forgetting to sneak a peek at her bare chest.
Small breasts.
'Still bigger than Nabi's.'
Hers were modest, but milky pale and perfectly shaped.
Teardrop form—tempting to touch.
I wanted more, but lingering gaze would seem suspicious.
So I looked away.
Noona rushed over from behind with cover.
Draped it over Hayul quickly.
"Haha, been a while since something like this."
Hayul spoke without a hint of shame.
Heard dungeons led to exposures like this often.
Rumor confirmed.
"Sorry."
Hayul bowed deeply in apology.
"Meant to cap at C-grade, but got excited and went B-grade."
Clearly her fault.
Deep down, life-risking even.
"Then treat me to a meal later."
To ease her guilt, I asked for food.
No plans to seduce her.
Not on Hana-noona's level.
Just wanted Hunter connections.
"Sure, I'll treat you to something delicious."
Harmonious vibe.
Noona, jealous maybe, asked slyly.
"So, what's Kiyong's final grade?"
Asking for test results including spar.
"Low B-grade at least."
Jumped two grades from D to B.
"Weird. Usually sparring's the weak point, physicals strong..."
Hayul puzzled at my reverse.
Riiiing—!
Her phone rang; she had an appointment, showered, and left.
'Wanted to hit a dungeon too. Shame.'
With her, entry would've been easy; now gone.
Dungeon for later.
Alone again, noona pressed against me.
"You looked so cool earlier~?"
Scratching my back seductively.
Aroused from watching me fight.
"Shall we... pick up where we left off~?"
Asking my opinion, but answer predetermined.
We devoured each other until Hayul might return.