Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Black Dragon Clan Training Ground (2)
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👹 Hooligan 👹 ⚡ Rank: E-Rank Monsters with the strength of a teenager. Their bodies are extremely frail and their intelligence low, so even an ordinary person can take them down with a weapon. There have been multiple attempts to raise them as pets or livestock, but all have failed. I checked the codex entry and looked back at the hooligan. Its yellow body had no muscle to speak of, and though it strained against the iron bars, it just flapped around like a flag hanging off them.
Yu-jeong senior signed the record sheet the man handed her and watched as he opened the cage.
"Kieeeek!"
The hooligan let out a bizarre screech as it burst out of the cage. Yu-jeong senior grabbed its ankle just as it tried to flee and hoisted it into the air.
"Kieeeek!"
"This is a hooligan. What do you think? Pretty cute, right?"
Maniacally cute would have been more fitting. It gave off the vibe of a scrawny stray cat—somehow creepy, especially that smooth, hairless skin. And yet, those big sparkling eyes and its adorably flailing limbs made it oddly charming in their own way.
"They're super easy to catch, so capture requests outnumber hunt requests by a lot. The mana stones they drop aren't worth much, and even regular folks can beat them with an air gun or just a baseball bat."
"Even regular people can beat them?"
I'd had a hard time believing it even while reading the codex. A jungle cat, another E-rank, could seriously injure an apprentice hunter if they got careless. Was there really this much difference between E-ranks?
Yu-jeong senior grinned at my question and set the hooligan down. True to its name, it was fiercely aggressive— the moment it hit the ground, it clenched its fists and charged at her. Ichie and I jumped in surprise, ready to rush in, but Yu-jeong senior just stuck out her foot a bit and watched us.
The hooligan's forehead pressed flat against her foot, arms outstretched as it flailed. When she lifted her foot, it flopped to the floor, limbs twitching. Ichie said,
"It's cute."
"Right? Super cute. But you can't keep them as pets. They're way too violent and don't even recognize their owners."
"Then I don't like it."
Ichie said flatly. Yu-jeong senior grabbed the hooligan again and tossed it into the open space between the cages. It was a decently wide empty area, surrounded by high fences and locked doors—this had to be the fighting training ground. Yu-jeong senior asked Ichie,
"Wanna give it a try?"
"Yes."
Ichie nodded and started loosening up. She cracked her knuckles and shook out her body side to side, her smooth waist peeking through the hem of her shirt. Yu-jeong senior glanced at it and said,
"Ichie. I've got a favor to ask."
"A favor? What is it?"
"Could you show me your sword skills? You always carry it around, but I've never seen it in action. I'm curious."
"This? You want to see?"
"Yeah."
Ichie glanced at me. Honestly, I was curious too. Everyone wants to see a Japanese person wield a sword at least once, samurai romanticism or not. Stereotypes like that exist—Koreans and taekwondo, Chinese and kung fu, Japanese and iaijutsu.
"I wanna see too, Ichie. Just once?"
Ichie nodded at my words and knocked on the cage door. Yu-jeong senior opened it for her. She said,
"Normally I'd go in to handle any accidents... but it's unarmed, and you've got a blade, so I'll leave you two alone."
I nodded. Even as she said it, Yu-jeong senior gripped the cage door, ready to jump in anytime. I stepped aside to give her a clear path and watched the open space. Ichie eyed the hooligan warily as she drew her sword. She lowered her stance and began circling slowly.
The hooligan's eyes flashed as it shrieked at her.
"Kieeeek!"
What an unpleasant voice. Like boiling a crow and beating its belly to make a cat scream. Ichie just twitched an eyebrow, showing no fear or intimidation. When she stepped forward, the hooligan actually backed up, trembling. Ichie's eyes were glowing red.
Her awakening ability made her sword heavier with each enemy she cut. Was there more to it? Her eyes burned quietly like Christmas lights on a tree. Yu-jeong senior leaned against the cage in a ready stance, fully focused on the fight.
Ichie's drawn sword dragged along the ground. The hooligan cowered in the corner, shrieking nonstop.
"Kyaaak! Keeeek! Kieeek!"
It kicked at the bars in panic, then finally spread its arms and charged at Ichie. Leaping with fists raised high, it looked just like a jungle ape.
Ichie didn't dodge the flying fists. She reached out with her left hand and grabbed both. Trapped like in a snare, the monster shrieked and thrashed again. Ichie hoisted it up to head height.
"Kieeeek!"
The yellow monster flinched and raised its foot. Just as it swung toward her face, her sharp blade plunged precisely into its side.
"Guh...!"
The hooligan staggered in agony, legs going limp like a marionette with cut strings. Ichie twisted her wrist and yanked the sword free. Green blood splattered the ground. She gave it no time to recover, gripping the hilt again and stabbing its side once more.
"Kreuk!"
Like revving an engine, Ichie paused briefly before driving the blade deeper.
"Kreuk...! Krrk...! Kiiik...! Guh... Kreuk...!"
The hooligan wailed brutally. But drained of strength, it could barely move. Ichie twisted the blade buried to the hilt, then sliced horizontally across its belly as she pulled it out.
"Krrk... Guh...!"
The frail monster exhaled its last breath and died. It looked like a half-eaten can of tuna, split right down the middle. Green blood soaked the ground. Ichie's eyes flickered red like torches for a moment. She let out a light breath and looked at Yu-jeong senior.
"This is how I kill them."
"...Monsters?"
"Yes."
I almost felt sorry for the hooligan. Ichie pointed to a towel hanging on the fence.
"Can I use this?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
Ichie bowed politely and wiped her sword clean. I said,
"Where'd you learn that? It's not what I imagined."
"Imagined? What'd you picture?"
"Y'know, like in manga. You toss the monster in the air, slash slash! And it's in pieces."
I mimed swinging at the air. Ichie nodded like she got it.
"Ah, yeah, I get it. But I didn't learn that. That way, not much blood sticks."
Not much blood sticks? I glanced at the floor. The man from earlier came in, clucking his tongue as he started cleaning up the corpse.
"Not much blood sticks?"
"For small ones, I grab 'em like this to get it really bloody. More blood makes the sword heavier, which is good. Then I use that on bigger ones. Gotta coat it well, just in case."
Her ability made the sword heavier per cut, but there was clearly more to it—something tied closely to her flickering eyes.
[Bam-bam-pam pam-pam]
The man's phone rang while he mopped. It was the opening theme from a popular variety show lately. He tossed the mop aside, checked the caller irritably, then froze.
"Ah... Oh no?"
Suddenly snapping to attention, he shouted into the phone.
"Yes! Thunder Sword hyung! What's up? Oh, those kids are here using the facilities, so we're cleaning up!"
At "Thunder Sword," Kim Yu-jeong scowled and looked up. Ichie started to say something, but Yu-jeong senior waved her to be quiet.
"Ah! Yes! They're blown away by the Black Dragon Clan training ground's majesty—too bad you can't see it yourself! If you'd shown off your sword skills, it would've been chaos! Oh, yeah! Nothing else special! Yes! Yes?"
The man's tone shifted abruptly. The air in the training ground grew tense. Ichie tilted her head, sensing something off. The man glanced at us nervously before asking,
"Th-the Clan Leader's coming here right now?"
We all jumped and exchanged looks. Ichie scowled at the mention of the Clan Leader. Yu-jeong senior whipped her gaze around in exaggerated panic. The man nodded and said,
"Ah, yes! Got it! Hanging up! Yes! Take care! Hey! Yu-jeong! Get your robe on quick!"
He pointed to his own robe. Yu-jeong senior replied awkwardly,
"I didn't bring mine!"
"Damn... Hey, check the break room—there should be spares. Throw one on and hurry!"
"Got it!"
Yu-jeong senior bolted to the kitchenette, leaving us. The man, scrubbing the floor like he was painting, said to us,
"Kids! Help me out! We gotta clean this up fast. Wrap that body in this bin and move it to the back!"
We got swept up in the mood and followed his lead. Around us, other staff were wiping windows and clearing trash, everyone bustling. We stashed the body bin aside and returned to the open space. Another staffer asked the man,
"Hyung! When's he coming?"
"Probably soon!"
Then, from afar, we heard a door creak open. The rusty lobby door.
The Black Dragon Clan Leader was coming.