Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Internet Broadcast (2)
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“Uh... Huh?!! S-Seo... Seo Ar??”
“Looks like this is the place. Why are the roads around here so damn complicated...”
What the hell? Am I dreaming?
I never imagined she'd actually show up after saying she would, but those coaching comments were really from an S-Rank Hunter?
I hadn't even seen her fight once, but I could tell.
No proof needed.
S-Ranks are monsters who transcend humanity starting from their mana reserves alone.
Monsters who could solo-clear an A-Rank Gate treated as a natural disaster.
There were only 30—no, 31 of them worldwide.
'One of those monsters is standing right in front of me?'
My brain couldn't keep up with the flood of information before my eyes.
I didn't even dare check the chat window, which I usually monitored every second even during intense training.
“Th-that... Um...”
“Speak properly. I came all this way.”
In that instant, the exchanges I'd had via replies and emails with that S-Rank Hunter flashed through my mind.
[Ridiculous coaching...]
[You bastard...]
'Am I dead?'
I recalled the recent news about a Chinese S-Rank Hunter who'd killed someone just for pissing him off.
And how, in China that preached Awakener supremacy, he'd faced no punishment at all.
Sure, things would be different in Korea, but my body moved before my brain could catch up.
“I'm sorry!!!”
I bent at a perfect ninety degrees, bowing my head to the floor.
A pair of adorably tiny feet entered my view.
'Please spare me...'
Beyond those feet, I could see my long-deceased grandfather waving from the afterlife.
'Hmm... She's more polite than I expected.'
Her posture truly showed respect for a teacher.
The apology was probably for not coming herself despite seeking a master, forcing me to visit instead.
Those hostile words earlier must've just been embarrassment.
“Ahem— That's enough. Stand up.”
I gave a small nod of forgiveness, and the hunter with the orange bobbed hair cautiously lifted her head.
Delicate features, a bit taller than me. She looked even better in person than in videos.
“Th-thank you...!”
“No need. It didn't bother me that much to begin with.”
I'd been a little annoyed circling the same streets three or four times to find the building, but I decided to let it go.
I glanced around So-yeon's training room for a moment, and she fiddled with her phone as if remembering something.
“Ah...! Right, the stream... Sorry everyone, but I think I have to go now...”
“You were doing a YouTube shoot?”
“N-not shooting exactly, just a live stream for a bit... Ar-nim's face isn't showing...!”
“Hmm... It's fine, keep it on. Logging off abruptly would be rude.”
Back in my hero days, even simple sparring matches with maps would draw crowds.
I took it as something similar.
“Really? Thank you so much...!!”
“Yes. Is this the phone you're filming with?”
“Yes! Would it be okay if your face shows...?”
I nodded at So-yeon, and Seo-yoon sidled up beside me, turning the phone screen.
The screen showed Seo-yoon and me, our heads a clear difference in size, with the chat flooding rapidly on the side.
“Hmm... Fascinating.”
I leaned closer to the screen, and the chat sped up even more.
'No way lol' messages got deleted at light speed now and then, but I didn't pay it much mind.
“Viewer count is... Switching chat to 3-month mode.”
So-yeon alternated between the chat and my face before fiddling with a button on screen.
The chat visibly slowed.
It was intriguing, but I'd come here for training, not a broadcast, so I stepped back and called So-yeon over.
“Anyway, let's get started.”
“Y-yes...? What do you mean...?”
She started trembling the moment I called her.
“Training, of course. Take your stance.”
“Ah...! It wasn't just for show... I mean, yes!”
So-yeon muttered something while frozen, then propped up her phone nearby and stood before the sandbag, assuming position.
“Have you been checking my comments?”
“I-I did check them...”
“Plenty lacking. First, throw a punch like you normally do.”
As soon as I finished, So-yeon thrust her fist straight at the sandbag.
I had no idea why she was breaking out in cold sweat despite saying she'd checked.
Pang—
The sandbag shook hard with a crisp impact.
“Your mana flow control is definitely sloppy.”
If she'd just followed my advice exactly, her skills would've improved fast.
Maybe she was the type who needed hands-on teaching, like Jeong-woo.
“Did you train in martial arts before awakening?”
“Yes... A bit of boxing in high school.”
“Ah, that explains it. Hold that punch steady.”
I pointed at the sandbag in front of So-yeon.
She looked puzzled for a second but soon lightly pressed her fist against it as instructed.
“Focus on the flow.”
As I spoke, I placed my palm on her back, guiding mana to concentrate in her fist.
And detonated it.
Bwooom—
Mana and air exploded in a burst.
The sandbag shook violently, nearly flying off.
“Huh...?”
“Remember that feeling? Everyday gym work and mana combat are completely different. Like I just showed, gather mana in your fist and release it on impact.”
I signaled with my eyes for dazed So-yeon to try it herself.
“O-okay... Gather mana...”
She muttered, thrusting again.
A faint mana burst, and the sandbag shook decently.
“Not bad. Keep practicing steadily.”
“Whoa...! Holy crap!!”
So-yeon blanked out for a moment, then bounced over to her phone excitedly.
“Everyone! Did you see?! Just now... the mana went boom—!”
I followed and peeked at the screen; the chat was flying by.
“Hmm... Why do they call me 'whitey'?”
“Huh? Oh... Uh... 'Cause you're cute... maybe?”
I'd prefer a more dignified nickname...
I'd felt the same back in Elantara; I couldn't control what people called me, so I let it slide.
“Anyway, enough playing. Come back here. Plenty more to teach.”
“More? Thank you so much...!”
First impression wasn't great, but her earnestness was endearing.
I smiled faintly and began correcting the issues I'd spotted in her videos one by one.
“Um... Is it really okay to learn all this for free...?”
After teaching fist grips, attacks, defenses, and a few mana applications, So-yeon asked timidly.
“It's nothing. Just the basics. I'd been commenting on other hunters' videos too, but they all got deleted at some point.”
“Probably blocked... Ahem— No, thank you so much for teaching me!”
This should be enough for now.
I considered teaching mana cultivation too, but remembered the White Wolf trio asking me not to.
Everyone having mana would chaos society too much still.
I'd heard Hyun-woo was discussing it with the government.
'Someday I'll teach it.'
She was so cute trying hard to mimic every lesson that I'd grown a bit fond.
“Then, for the finale, let's spar once.”
“Me? Against an S-Rank??”
“I'll seal my mana to match yours, so no need to fear.”
“Is that... possible?”
I nodded and took So-yeon's hand, placing it on my stomach.
“Eh? Whoa... It's so soft...”
She poked my sore spot; I nearly bristled but held back maturely.
So-yeon let out an 'oops' and probed my mana.
“For real...? How...”
“It's a bit advanced for you. Anyway, confirmed? Let's go.”
So-yeon nodded and climbed onto the central boxing ring first.