Tutorial Battle Vibes
………… It felt kind of like a tutorial fight...
………… The bat came flying toward my head. A metal bat swung in a wide arc, carrying the clear intent to split open the skull of some worthless punk. I sidestepped horizontally with boxing footwork, and the bat sliced through empty air.
THUD!! The bat smashed into the asphalt where I'd been standing. The black road shattered, fragments spraying everywhere.
If that hits, I'm dead.
This guy had crumpled a stadium bus like it was an origami crane with just that one metal bat. Even my body, enhanced by the augmentation serum, wouldn't survive a direct hit. A blow to the head would cave in my skull for an instant kill. Guarding with an arm or leg wouldn't work either—those limbs would shatter.
Is the enhancement full-body, or just the right arm?
That was the key. If his entire body was reinforced to the same grotesque level as that swollen right arm, he'd be top-tier C-rank, not D-rank. But the agency's assessment said D-rank. So his whole body probably wasn't enhanced to that degree. Most likely.
Not absolutely, though.
From what I could see, his overall muscle strength was probably just a bit above average human levels at best.
"Die—!!"
The Baseball Hooligan yanked the bat back up and swung again. This time horizontally. I backstepped to evade.
I can't subdue him at range anyway. If it's gotta be close quarters...
A bullet to the head would end it in one shot. But he hadn't killed anyone yet. That would be excessive force. And firing a gun downtown? Nobody likes that—not the big shots upstairs, not the civilians.
The Baseball Hooligan raised the bat again. Third swing incoming.
Now!
My body moved on instinct. Han Kang's muscles were etched with 18 years of repetitive training. It reacted faster than my thoughts. I dropped low, knees nearly brushing the ground. As he swung and the bat whistled over my head—
I charged his left leg. Grabbed just above the ankle. Low single-leg takedown.
"Wha—!?"
The Baseball Hooligan yelped in surprise and toppled backward.
Right arm's coming.
Even as he fell, he swung that right arm. The bat was already out of his hand, but that fist alone was plenty dangerous.
"Urgh—!!"
His superhuman right fist rocketed toward my face. But I'd seen it coming. I twisted quickly, slipping behind him. Wrapped my legs around his waist. Left arm hooked his neck. Back mount. The most dominant position in grappling.
Plastered tight to the opponent's back, legs clamped around the waist. No matter how strong they are, they can't generate the leverage. But if they're overwhelmingly stronger, can't they power out? Maybe. But even powerlifters benching 600kg get mopped by wrestlers half their weight if they don't know grappling.
And this villain was probably lighter than me. So he's pinned from behind by someone heavier. For a guy whose only real strength is that right arm, this was the worst-case scenario imaginable.
You're done, you weak-ass fanboy.
Daring to cheer for that team and rage-quitting over their record? They should be grateful just to avoid relegation to the minors.
"Y-You bastard—!!"
The Baseball Hooligan thrashed. Poured strength into his whole body, trying to stand.
...Huh?
And shockingly, he did. With 95kg of me—pressing down with all my might—riding his back.
Damn. Full-body enhancement after all.
Not as extreme as the right arm, but way beyond normal human strength. If he had any mobility, he'd easily hit C-rank threat level.
But—
Too late.
The position was locked in. No matter how hard he tried to stand, my legs had his waist in a vice. Even pros just survive until the round ends in this setup.
I clenched my right fist. And—
THWACK!
Smashed his temple.
"Guhk—!!"
His body staggered. I didn't stop.
THWACK! THWACK! Temple strikes in rapid succession. Three in a row. Right on the temple. Han Kang's fist, boosted by the augmentation serum, hit harder than a heavyweight fighter from my old world. Beyond human limits. And those punches hammered home relentlessly. From an inescapable back position.
THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! Left, right, left, right. The Baseball Hooligan's face collapsed in seconds. Nose crushed, lips split. Brow torn open.
"Grgh... ugh...."
His groans faded. The purplish hue of his face slowly normalized. His awakening power was breaking.
Sunbae! Villain's heart rate dropping! 250... 170...
"Got it."
THWACK—! One final blow. The Baseball Hooligan's resistance ceased completely. Face a bloody pulp, bloodshot eyes unfocused.
Consciousness levels plummeting! Near blackout! On the verge of passing out!
"Yeah. That should do it."
I stopped my fists. Any more would be excessive. 18 years hunting villains had honed that instinct. Stopping now leaves him badly hurt but alive.
I dismounted. The Baseball Hooligan lay motionless on the ground. Face a mess, eyes vacant. Full grogginess. Semi-unconscious. Still breathing. Not dead.
"...Nngh."
My right knee throbbed. Pushed too hard on the tackle. But tolerable.
"Lee Jin-ah."
Yes, sunbae!
"Call the cops. Ambulance too. Villain subdued."
Got it. Requesting now!
Lee Jin-ah replied brightly. Pretty brutal scene for a twenty-something girl, but she had years on the job—used to it.
No, 'girl'? I'm starting to think like Han Kang.
Lee Jin-ah was close to my age from the old world. But I couldn't help seeing her almost like a daughter. Blame Han Kang being a fortysomething bachelor.
I sighed. Cops were approaching cautiously in the distance.
It's over.
Just another routine from 18 years of this. Same old day.
………… Afternoon duties wrapped up. Marksmanship training, close-quarters combat drills, physical conditioning. Han Kang's routine never changed. Arrive in the morning, deploy on incidents, train, handle paperwork sometimes, go home. 18 years of repetition.
That's why today felt uneventful too.
Aside from taking down one D-rank villain.
I grabbed my personal items from the desk drawer. Wallet, phone.
Time to head home.
Han Kang's post-work life was simple. Hit the convenience store for a lunchbox and a couple bottles of soju, go home, drink alone with the lunchbox as a side. Pass out drunk. Yesterday, today, tomorrow—same pattern. Every day.
I started to stand—
"Sunbae!"
I looked up. Lee Jin-ah was there.
"Heading home?"
"Yeah."
"And you'll drink alone at home again today."
"...Yeah."
I answered honestly. No reason to hide it.
Lee Jin-ah's brow furrowed slightly.
"You drink every day! Your liver must be shot."
"Well..."
Try being abandoned by family at this age and living alone.
...Can't say that.
"How about dinner with me instead! Eat something proper and get home late—no room for booze then."
Dinner, huh.
Lee Jin-ah was a good junior. Worrying about a middle-aged loner wrecking his health with booze. Even offering to eat together. A godsend for a solitary guy like Han Kang.
But—
A fortysomething dude dining one-on-one with a twenty-something employee...
Bad optics. Really bad. Especially these days. She meant well, pure concern for my health. But to onlookers? Age gap of twenty years.
My daughter would be around her age.
Han Sol was about the same age difference. Felt like a real daughter.
"Appreciate it, but no need to worry. I prefer eating alone."
"But..."
Her expression shifted. Eyes drooping, head down—like anyone could see the blatant "I'm disappointed."
Uh...
Didn't know Lee Jin-ah wore her emotions so openly.
Something was wrong.
Did I misspeak?
A middle-aged guy like Han Kang could screw up with one wrong word. Extra careful with young female subordinates. Did I hurt her feelings? Was "prefer eating alone" too curt?
Dunno... kids these days.
But her face was definitely down. Eyes trembling like she'd cry if poked wrong.
So—
"Uh, dinner might be a bit much, but..."
I stammered.
"Lunch sometime soon. My treat."
"Really!?"
Her face lit up instantly. The gloom vanished like it'd been washed away.
"...Yeah."
"Promise! No forgetting!"
Lee Jin-ah hugged my arm. My muscled limb sank into two incredibly soft, spherical objects.
Oh crud.
Panicked. Tried to pull away, but she clung tight. Super awkward. What if someone sees? Feels like instant dismissal looming.
Get fired... open a chicken joint? Nah, post-retirement startups are the worst move these days...
"When? Tomorrow? Day after?"
"Soon."
"Be specific! You'll forget again otherwise. You always say it after supplies are fully depleted!"
Oof.
Had Han Kang only mentioned it after running out before? Not my fault—past Han Kang's doing—but can't claim that.
"...Th-this week."
"Great! Friday too?"
"Sure."
She beamed. Pure, innocent smile.
...Damn.
Felt like I'd fallen into a trap. Did she fake that face just to score a free meal? Makes sense—young working stiff, money tight. Senior treating gets a solid meal.
That's why she asked.
Obvious. Cute though.
Not a bad feeling. Treating her to one meal's no big deal. She looks out for me usually—fair trade.
Then—
Vrrrrm.
My pocket phone buzzed. Messenger notification.
I glanced at the screen.
...What?
The sender's name jumped out.
Han Sol.
Han Kang's... my daughter. Not biological, but a daughter all the same.
A message from her after a full year.