The Genius Hana Rin (Part 2)
The mornings at the Hunter Training Center always started fast.
Today, just like every other day for technique and magic classes, that was no different.
Since training sessions required physical conditioning, the students kicked off the day with morning workouts in the training field from the early hours.
The endurance drills that began at dawn were exhausting, but after only two days, most students showed signs of getting used to it.
Hunters' bodies were truly extraordinary. Influenced by mana, they adapted faster than ordinary people and saw their physical abilities grow at a much quicker pace.
Of course, that didn't mean the workouts were easy.
“Hoo-ahk, huh, hek.”
“Kku-eung, hekhek.”
“Ueohah.”
“Kkoe-ahk, kkoe-ah….”
Most of the students in Squad 2 were barely managing to hang on while training endurance.
“Huuu.”
“Huu, hu. I can do it.”
“Kku-a-aa!”
“Let’s go—!”
Squad 1 had a bit more breathing room, thanks to what Do-hyeon had drilled into them during yesterday’s field exercise.
They were still struggling, but not to the point of death.
Among them, there was one student who stood out even more.
Do-hyeon of Squad 1 and Ji Yu-chan of Squad 2.
They had an easier time than the others, but of course Do-hyeon was far ahead of Ji Yu-chan.
“……”
Watching him, Ji Yu-chan’s expression was one of “still not there yet,” yet his burning determination was unchanged.
His eyes showed he would master it soon.
Choi Pil nodded at Ji Yu-chan.
‘He’s growing steadily.’
What he saw last time was not the hot-blooded passion born from inferiority, but one fueled by growth. Choi Pil was quite satisfied as he watched the boy.
If this kept up, it would be more than enough to break Hwang Ha-na’s records.
But.
‘I can’t figure that Lee Do-hyeon student out at all.’
Hwang Ha-na’s records and Hana Rin’s were world-class, the kind that belonged at the absolute top even on a global scale.
Yet watching Do-hyeon try to surpass them, Choi Pil felt an inexplicable sense of wonder. His body looked at least twice as strong as yesterday’s.
No matter how fast a Hunter’s body grew, Do-hyeon’s was far beyond comprehension. And it kept getting stronger.
It was Do-hyeon who best fit the phrase “growing stronger every single day.”
Just then, Choi Pil’s private radio crackled.
A voice came through.
-Chick— Emergency announcement. A mage dispatched from the Mage Association will arrive shortly.
“……”
How could this be an emergency?
Confused, Choi Pil reached for his radio, but another message came in.
-Chick— The mage dispatched is Hana Rin.
“Ah!?”
That changed everything.
Hana Rin?
She had only been an awakened hunter for three months and had left the training center two months ago.
Yet the country’s greatest treasure, the genius mage Hana Rin, had been sent here as a guest instructor?
‘What on earth were the Mage Association thinking…’
Choi Pil started to blame them, then remembered two months ago and nodded.
Back then he had already been a trainer here and knew Hana Rin’s personality well, so he finally understood why she had contacted him.
And.
‘She said she’d come.’
Hana Rin would do something like that.
The reason was simple. Probably because of Hwang Ha-na.
‘She was already so competitive even when she was a student here.’
Sending a high-grade magic instructor just two months after she graduated was strange.
Seeing the clock, it was almost eight o’clock, so Choi Pil shouted urgently while looking at the students.
“Training ends here today! Well done, everyone! Go wash up and get ready for breakfast!”
As he rushed off, most students groaned in delight and collapsed onto the ground.
Sweaty students lay staring at the sky when Ji Yu-chan sat nearby to rest. Do-hyeon stood quietly watching Choi Pil hurry away.
“……”
Something felt off, so he stared. Why was Choi Pil moving so strangely?
Was it because a mage was arriving?
After all, an announcement about a magic instructor arriving could explain the fuss.
‘Magic is good, but first I want to learn Hwang Ha-na’s Extinction and Severing Dark King’s Speed….’
He already knew magic was hard, yet the basics were still only D-rank. Compared to those, Hwang Ha-na’s Extinction and Severing Dark King’s Speed were unique skills of the Severing Dark King. ++
Far beyond basic magic, so Do-hyeon’s focus stayed entirely on those two.
A magic instructor sent as a guest should not be S-rank like Hwang Ha-na or Ji Yu-chan. ++
But that wasn’t likely. ++
‘No way three S-ranks gather in one training center.’ ++
He set the impossible thought aside. He wondered if Hwang Ha-na would actually show her unique skills in a demonstration, but better to stay hopeful. ++
With eager expectation, Do-hyeon headed back to the dormitory, washed the sweat off his body, and went to eat breakfast. ++
He was looking forward to the upcoming technique and magic lesson as he left the dormitory building toward the dining hall. ++
Then he ran into Choi Pil. ++
“Choi Pil Instructor?” ++
And a cold, beautiful woman stood there with him. ++
* * *
Eight o’clock in the morning. ++
Most people were either at work or just boarding the subway from their homes. It was still early. ++
From a sleek black luxury sedan, a cold, beautiful woman stepped out. She looked at the building ahead, recalled something, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. ++
It wasn’t a real smile, but the icy expression made it look sharper. It was hard to approach her. ++
Hana Rin muttered while staring at the Hunter Training Center building. ++
“I never thought I’d come back after two months.” ++
She probably wouldn’t have if not for Hwang Ha-na. It was oddly funny that she had come anyway. ++
The previous record holder, the hunter who reached B-rank in the shortest time, had come despite the hassle. ++
The only reason was pure competitive spirit. ++
No one here at the training center could even reach her toes. ++
For her, who loved competition, Hwang Ha-na was a new stimulus. Korea had few worthy rivals, so it was only natural. ++
Hana Rin finished her pointless thoughts and looked over at a tall, burly man standing nearby. She gave him a small smile. ++
“Long time no see, Instructor Choi Pil.” ++
“Huu, still the same.” ++
“Of course. People don’t change that easily.” ++
Choi Pil shook his head at her relaxed tone. ++
He was Hana Rin, after all. ++
Then he said to her, “I’ll show you to the instructor building. You can carry your own luggage, right?” ++
“Of course. I didn’t come expecting special treatment.” ++
As soon as she finished, her luggage floated up of its own accord. Mana transformed into physical force, allowing her to touch objects. It was a high-difficulty non-elemental magic, of course. ++
Choi Pil watched it and shook his head. ++
‘…Still a monster-level mana control.’ ++
Even though he was a hunter and healer, he felt it more keenly than anyone. ++
The floating carriers weren’t just being lifted with physical force; she was delicately shaping mana into intangible spirit to make them hover. ++
With just a little less skill control. ++
‘Those carriers would break.’ ++
Yet she could do it without chants or actions, purely with will. It proved how much of an outsider genius she was. ++
But why? ++
Choi Pil couldn’t help but smile at her. She was amazing. ++
But that was all. It wasn’t enough to give up understanding. ++
He decided there was probably no connection to Do-hyeon, whom Hwang Ha-na had mentioned might learn magic. ++
It was only natural to think that. ++
Just as he started toward the instructor building, someone called Choi Pil. ++
“Choi Pil Instructor?” ++
The voice made Choi Pil’s mouth twist in amusement. Hana Rin tilted her head at his expression. ++
A man stood there, looking warm and friendly. ++
He wore the training uniform for morning meal, so it made sense. ++
Hana Rin had only been a student not long ago herself. ++
Yet even facing just a trainee, she felt something strange. ++
The entire world seemed to revolve around that young man, as if the Earth itself spun around the Sun. Hana Rin trembled as if struck by lightning. ++
‘……What is this….’ ++
The moment something from the trainee reached her, she widened her eyes and quickly cast magic. ++
Carriers rolled across the floor from the sudden shift. Mana surged. ++
Kung, kwoong. ++
Kwaaaaah— ++
Transforming the raging mana into physical force, Choi Pil tried to stop her in panic. It wasn’t an attack. ++
At the same time, a solid physical barrier formed from mana barrier and transformed mana. Choi Pil looked at her in confusion. Hana Rin looked at the trainee in confusion. ++
They both felt something flying toward them, yet neither barrier stopped it. ++
The thing passed right through without effect. Hana Rin stared blankly at the trainee. The trainee stared back, surprised, eyes wide. ++
“S-rank?” ++
“……” ++
The trainee muttered something unknown. ++
Watching each other, Choi Pil spoke. ++
“Huu, let me introduce you. This is Hana Rin, the magic instructor dispatched from the Mage Association. And this is the new trainee, Lee Do-hyeon.” ++
Hana Rin guarded herself as she looked at Do-hyeon. Do-hyeon, meanwhile. ++
‘Wow.’ ++
He was checking Hana Rin’s status window. ++
『Hana Rin』
『Traits: Sorceress Supreme [S]』
『Skills』
▶ 「Aether Heart [S]」
▶ 「Empress’s Majesty [A]」
▶ 「Intermediate Elemental Magic [D]」
▶ 「Intermediate General Magic [D]」
……(More)
『Stats』
▶ 「Strength: 10」
▶ 「Agility: 15」
▶ 「Vitality: 11」
▶ 「Mana: 32」
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