Rising
Following in Elena’s footsteps, several people took part in the simulated monster battle.
Yuryeon and Seolhwi had both demonstrated their abilities once, and now Cheonghwa had stepped forward to take on a Grade B monster.
-Squeeze, squeeze.
“Haaah…”
I was watching that whilst fondling Elena’s breasts.
“What do you think of my magic pouch?”
“Mmm... Holy Mother...”
It felt as though my fingers were being sucked in deeper the more I tightened my grip. Every time I squeezed firmly, that firm, supple sensation enveloped my entire palm.
“Hey, hey. What on earth are you doing!”
“Master. Um… perhaps we should avoid doing that out in the open? People might start staring.”
“I’m quite confident in my breasts too…”
From Yuryeon to Jin-yul. Their reactions were all uniquely distinctive.
Of course, I showed no reaction whatsoever and just kept moving my hands.
-Soft.
“Elena, what rank should I aim for?” "
‘Hmm... In your case, Master, D-rank would be the safest bet. Judging by how you and Jin-yul took down that Frostlain sub-form at the Gate, you could probably handle C-rank too, but...’
‘Me? C-rank?’
Ever since Elena had taken down a B-rank Alpha specimen rivalling an A-rank, the members of our sub-class had generally preferred standard B-rank beasts.
There were those who occasionally chose C-rank beasts, but if the fight didn’t end within five seconds, sniggers would erupt from all around.
Yet I was currently at least one step behind that level. I’d have to give it my all just to take down a C-rank.
“If you go all out with that sword technique of yours right from the start, it might be over sooner than you think.”
“That’s precisely the problem—I can’t do that.”
I still couldn’t use it completely at will. Even to use the only form I could manage, ‘Jecheon’, I needed the process of awakening my body through repeated combat.
“Recall the sensation you felt when you activated it. Ultimately, you must be able to wield it exactly as you wish.”
Seol Hwi, my sword technique master, offered advice from beside me.
“The sensation, you say… I still don’t quite get it.”
“It’s all down to a lack of training…”
“…No. I’ve remembered. I remember it clearly.”
“Tsk. From now on, I’ll drill it into you until it pops into your head even in your sleep.”
Eek! What a terrifying thing to say!
“It’s entirely possible even in your current state. Provided you have a body that moves as you think, ki that you can control at will, and the will to strike.”
“Hmm.”
To be honest, if I went out now and requested a D-rank demon beast—not even a C-rank—it would look rather odd. While C-ranks are occasionally requested by others, no one in our sub-class has ever requested a D-rank.
“Last but not least, Hwan I-hyeon.”
I’m screwed. I had a feeling my turn was coming… and sure enough, I’ve been called out.
“I’ll be back.”
“Ah…”
As I withdrew my hand from Elena’s breast, which I’d been fondling until just now, she let out a sigh of regret.
“My lord, do your best and come back safely!”
“Go for it, Lee-hyun!”
“Master. Do well and come back.”
“…You too…”
I stepped forward, hearing the cheers of the four of them. I could vaguely sense the envious glances of the other male students, but… I decided to just ignore them.
From the direction I was walking, Cheong-hwa was walking towards me, brushing her hands off.
“Did you enjoy the Saintess’s breasts?”
“Ah.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t see? I was watching the whole time. You didn’t spare me a single glance, focusing solely on her vulgar breasts.”
“...”
“I trust you’ll do well. If you were so distracted, you must have some confidence in your abilities.”
She’s sulking. She’s definitely sulking right now.
“Um…”
-Whoosh!
I tried to speak to her, but Cheonghwa just walked off without a second glance.
“You there. Aren’t you coming?”
It was only after the instructor in charge of the equipment called out that I managed to get into position at the waiting area.
“Cut the womanising out. Blimey, stuck doing this instructor lark, I can’t even get a date...”
The instructor’s protruding belly and thinning hair made it clear his profession wasn’t the issue, but I decided not to point it out.
After all, there’s no chance of a pretty saintly lady letting him grope her breasts in his lifetime.
“Tell me the grade you want.”
“Grade C.”
“What? Just Grade C? How on earth did you manage to snag a saint with skills like that?”
It seemed this instructor’s mind was thoroughly twisted. Was this the bitterness of a single man who’d spent nearly ten years—four years as an undergraduate, plus his master’s and PhD—locked away in a study, doing nothing but research?
“She threw herself at me—how was I supposed to know?”
“The way this bastard talks—”
-Woo-oo-oon...
The device began to operate. Naturally, the instructor’s words were cut short.
The form created by the swarm of light was...
[Encountering the Flame Lizard Slugger (Replica)!]
Slagger. It resembled the salamander from ancient Western folklore, though it differed slightly from its legendary counterpart, starting with its size.
This lizard-like monster, with its burning flesh, breathed flames instead of air, and oil flowed from it like blood. It was a so-called ‘suicide-type’ monster; if you struck it carelessly with a blade, the hot oil spurting from the cut surface would fry your entire body.
=Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss How did I do it when I was about to use Jecheon?’
My consciousness sinks to the very depths.
My heart beats distinctly, and I feel something rising and falling along my spine.
A force that seeks to lift me up, even without me moving.
...If only I could channel this into my sword. If only I could perform the movements I’ve instinctively drawn upon until now, guided by my own free will.
=Kieee!!
Flames poured from the beast’s mouth, and it felt as though everything before my eyes was burning away.
In that instant, I lowered my body slightly. Raising the sword to waist height, I focused all my concentration on a single point.
‘Zetsuten... I must finish this in a single strike.’
From the tips of my toes, through my legs, waist, shoulders, to the tips of my fingers.
The energy of my entire body merged into one.
A stillness as if my breath had stopped, a sensation connected by a single line.
“...Now.”
-Whoosh!
[Hwangguk Sword Technique, Form 1: Jeolcheon.]
As the sword passed, I heard the sound of the air splitting.
Even the flames around me seemed to lose their way for that moment, scattering.
The Slugger’s torso was cleanly split in two, sending red oil and balls of fire flying.
A short but decisive strike. It was exactly the sword I had hoped for.
‘...It’s done. I drew it out just as I wanted.’
My heart pounded fiercely.
Just as Seol-hwi had said, I had managed to do it.
But there was no time for relief.
-Sssshhh!
Hot oil gushed out like a waterfall from the severed surface.
It was obvious that if I were hit even for a moment, my entire body would be swallowed by the flames.
Everything before my eyes turned white.
‘My body can’t dodge it. Then I must block it...!’
Instinctively, I reached out.
The energy within me—the power capable of blocking the heat bearing down on me.
Not a force surging like flames, but one that sinks in cold stillness.
For a moment, it felt as though my heart had frozen, and a wave-like current surged from my body.
-Boom!
A wave, like a transparent wall, unfolded before my eyes.
Body fluids struck it, sizzling and evaporating.
My body, which should have been swallowed by the flames, wasn’t touched by even a single drop of heat.
“Haa, haa...”
I knelt down, gasping for breath. It had been a brief moment, but because I’d pushed my concentration to the limit, cold sweat was pouring from my entire body.
‘...Tsk. Just this much...’
I could faintly hear the instructor muttering to himself, but I ignored it. After all, I hadn’t been disqualified, and Instructor Wi Seo-yeon would handle the evaluation anyway.
“Well done, Master. By acting consciously, as you did just now, rather than swinging the sword mindlessly as you usually do, your understanding of the sword’s principles and techniques is gradually deepening.”
“Thank you, Seol-hwi.”
“My lord, you did well.”
“Well done, my Lee Hyun?”
To be honest, a C-rank is a monster that’s normally difficult to handle given my current stats. Earlier, Elena had also said that D-rank was the safe zone.
In the end, isn’t the Hwangguk Sword Technique simply a sword technique that delivers insane efficiency? If even a mere E-rank skill can produce this level of efficiency—
[Ding!
Your understanding of the skill has surpassed a certain level.
Minimum stat requirements met.
Hwangguk Sword Technique (E) has been upgraded to Hwangguk Sword Technique (D).]
‘Yay!’
It was an unexpected bonus. If continuing to use it as my main skill leads to this kind of growth, I’m certainly grateful.
‘Status Window.’
----------
[Status System]
Name: Hwan I-hyeon
Age: 20
Stats:
Stamina: 16
Strength: 14
Agility: 15
Intelligence: 14
Resistance: 13
Spiritual Power: 17
Skills:
Senses(?)
Hwan-guk Sword Technique (D)
Wood Element(?)
Fire Element(?)
Metal Element(?)
Water Element(?)
----------
My stats are steadily rising. My skills are increasing as well, and the rank of the Hwangguk Sword Technique is gradually climbing.
If this growth continues, I might even become an S-rank Hunter like my aunt one day, and at the very least, I won’t be a hindrance to the others. If I’m even luckier—
—Drip, drip.
“Huh?”
“Master. You’re bleeding from your nose. Are you all right?”
“…I’m fine. I’ve probably just used my energy more intensely than usual—”
Could it be that using the Water energy at the very end was the problem? I had certainly been told not to use it, but I couldn’t just stand there and let the boiling oil hit me.
Moments later, excruciating pain surged through my body.
‘Gguhhh...!’
‘What’s wrong? What’s the matter?! Is something wrong...’
‘Get out of the way, Yu Cheong-hwa! I’ll try to handle this myself for now!’
Yu-ryeon had clung to me, transmitting a faint portion of the Phoenix’s healing power, but that wasn’t the issue right now.
[Skill: The energies of Wood (?), Fire (?), Metal (?), and Water (?) are colliding!]
“Aaargh…! Never mind that, hurry to the Chancellor’s office…!! I have to get to Aunt Yeo-ryeong…! Ugh!!!”
To resolve this situation, I had no choice but to absorb the earthenware quickly.