Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: First Class (4)
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The training room was quiet and empty. As Kim Yu-jeong pushed open the glass door, she explained why. On the first day for new students, they restricted existing students from using the training rooms to make orientation easier for the freshmen. Only students acting as mentors, escorting newbies like me, were allowed in.
The training room consisted of a total of fifteen individual chambers, each about the size of a small theater stage in Daehangno. They weren't huge, but calling them cramped wouldn't be quite right either. I scanned the interior with an ambiguous expression on my face. Catching the meaning behind my gaze, Yu-jeong senior asked,
"Think it's small?"
"Yeah... On TV, S-Rank and A-Rank Hunters always train in these massive gymnasiums."
"This is plenty for people like us."
With that, Yu-jeong senior casually flashed her Hunter license. D-Rank. The lowest grade officially recognized by society as a Hunter. F-Rank was just for those freshly awakened. After completing the mandatory training at the academy, you got E-Rank. And only those who flawlessly carried out the academy's basic missions as E-Rank Hunters and earned a teacher's certification as a full-fledged Hunter could claim D-Rank.
To society, D-Rank might seem insignificant.
But to me—somewhere between an F-Rank Hunter wannabe and a regular person—that license looked incredibly weighty. It was like how, as a clueless elementary kid, military ranks from games seemed ridiculous—even a colonel was a joke—but once you enlisted, just seeing a superior made your stomach knot.
Yu-jeong senior pocketed her license and activated the training room's control panel. It had a bunch of menus, but according to her, most were irrelevant for me.
"The only things Su-hyeon needs to know are [Practical Test] and [Striking Test]. The rest? You'll never use them. Let's start with the practical test?"
She pressed the button. The moment she did, a mechanical dummy dropped from the air with a thud. It generated its own magnetic field, clenched its fist, and assumed a combat stance.
Yu-jeong senior kicked off her shoes and stepped one foot forward. She gestured for me to move aside. I hurriedly retreated to the corner of the training area. She circled her arm through the air, took a deep breath, and lowered her stance dramatically.
Her short skirt rode up precariously along her thighs from the motion. I had to try my hardest not to look.
The dummy twisted its body and swung at her. Yu-jeong senior held her breath, pulled back her fist, and...
Thung!
...unleashed a punch loaded with heavy impact. The dummy's limbs flailed as it flew back, tumbling about three meters. Yu-jeong senior straightened up, gazing at it. I was genuinely impressed by her skill.
From my eyes, her power didn't seem far off from the Hunters on TV.
"That's amazing, senior."
"This is the practical test—it brings out a dummy to hone basic combat sense. Hit the button, and it fights like this. Fun, right?"
"Yeah."
I nodded. Her heaving chest and ragged breaths felt sensual, but I forced down any weird thoughts, keeping my expression neutral. She hit the end button, and the dummy vanished into the air.
"Next up: striking test."
She pressed another button, and this time, a taunting scarecrow rose from the floor. Its face stuck out its tongue mockingly, arms spread wide like it was begging to be hit. Yu-jeong senior said,
"Wanna give it a try?"
"Oh, sure."
Freshly awakened Awakeners weren't much stronger than normals yet—their stats hadn't grown properly. As I stood before the scarecrow, Yu-jeong senior cheered with claps and whoops.
"Su-hyeon looks cool!"
Her words pumped me up. Gritting my teeth, I swung at the scarecrow's face with everything I had.
Pang!
Compared to her heavy blow earlier, it sounded like swatting a mosquito. The dangling, wobbling head looked even more infuriating. Yu-jeong senior, seeing me freeze with my arm extended, waved it off.
"Everyone's like this right after awakening. Stats haven't kicked in fully, and lots of folks have never thrown a punch. Excuse me."
She stepped behind me and gently adjusted my arm. Correcting my form.
"Your hips are twisting too much. The motion's quick, but no weight behind it. Fist angle's off, and your foot—step like this instead..."
Her soft hand brushed my forearm. Her chest grazed the back of my neck. I took deep breaths to calm my stirring lower half. Her scent was floral—probably her usual perfume.
"You listening?"
"Yes! Totally!"
Yu-jeong senior laughed like she was watching a slapstick comedy, reacting to every little thing I did. She left me in the pose she'd fixed, then dragged the scarecrow over to adjust its position.
"Try again?"
I gritted my teeth and swung once more. Just a slight form tweak, but I felt more power in my arm this time.
Pang!
The head that had mockingly bobbed before now flopped wildly from the force. Feeling refreshed, I shook out my limbs and reset my stance. Yu-jeong senior's lively voice rang out.
"Su-hyeon, you're doing great!"
I beamed at her, chest swelling with pride. She grabbed my hand and said,
"You're a natural! You'll hit D-Rank in no time!"
She bounced around holding my hand, then realized how tightly she was gripping it and let go with an awkward laugh. But that was more than enough for me. Clasping her hands behind her back, she glanced at the door.
"S-So, shall we head out?"
"Yeah."
After that, we toured the various facilities with her personally guiding me. The infirmary was a surprisingly sophisticated and systematic clinic, and the cafeteria felt like a clean buffet joint. Once the full tour wrapped up, we sat in the first-floor café, chatting idly.
"Ah, that was fun."
She took a sip of her iced Americano and sighed contentedly, like she'd just come back from enjoying rides at an amusement park. I nodded too, sounding like someone thrilled by a great date.
"Yeah, I had a blast too, senior."
"Starting tomorrow, you'll train with a trainer suited to your talents—light sessions."
"Will you be there too, senior?"
She shook her head. I couldn't hide my disappointment from that alone. It would've been awesome training with her, but apparently mentors didn't stick around for F-Rank stat training.
"Usually about a week of pure stat training. Once your body's tuned up systematically, that's when you dive into your first Gate raid."
"G-Gate raid?"
I tensed up instantly at those words. Spotting my flustered reaction, she laughed again. Every little thing I did seemed like entertaining eye candy to her.
"Not like those legendary dungeons from TV with mythical beasts breathing down your neck, or hunting Omnipotent Being fragments. Super safe Gates. Just goblins and such. Mentors come along too."
Her explanation sparked one question in my mind.
"Uh, what's the Omnipotent Being?"
She blinked wide-eyed, as if surprised I didn't know.
"Whoa, you don't know about the Omnipotent Being? It pops up online sometimes these days. They decoded records found inside Gates—it's this 'great existence' from the world beyond the Gates. Super powerful and terrifying. Got shattered and sealed into fragments over there. Hunters hunt those pieces 'cause they grant insane power."
I just nodded. Whatever the Omnipotent Being was, it was someone else's problem. Yu-jeong senior said,
"See ya later. Had fun today."
"Oh, yeah."
She stood first. Her ringing phone suggested another appointment. She grabbed it, packed her bag, and held out her hand to me. I awkwardly wiggled my fingers at her. Tilting her head at me, she laughed again.
"Phone number. Don't need your mentor's?"
"Oh, uh, yeah! Super useful! No, I mean, I won't use it much, like..."
"Hahahahaha!"
She seemed to love my flailing. Bursting into laughter, she punched her number into my phone. I called her, and mine popped up on hers. She said,
"Easy number to remember. Lucky."
"Thank you."
Suddenly getting her number—a beautiful senior's—left me dazed. I nodded blankly and hurriedly saved it as 'Yu-jeong Senior'. Then I told her,
"Take care going back, senior!"
"Yeah. Stay healthy till next time, junior."
She placed her hand on my shoulder and added,
"Don't get too down, okay? Everyone messes up. You can do this, junior."
She was right. It was just the start—I'd do better from here. I clenched my fist, vowing to live boldly.
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"Yes! Thanks for the 50 balloons, bros! That's 50 reactions incoming! Single lady! Hey!"
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"Ah, thanks bros. Lots of you say my streams feel more passionate lately—yep. I've been grinding harder. 'Cause my buddy just became a Hunter. Planning to invite him on sometime, but getting invited by mega-corp streamer [Alley Boss Jun-seok] versus small-time streamer [Alley Boss Jun-seok]? Totally different vibes.
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