Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Screams from the Laundry Basket
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127
Screams erupted from the Extreme Situation Generator, which hunters called the laundry basket.
“Gahhhh!”
“Mommy!”
“I don’t wanna be a hunter anymore!”
“I’m sorry!”
The hunters up next trembled at the sounds coming from the monitor.
“Hunters with poor performance will go into the laundry basket! Improve your skills on your own! If you don’t, I’ll make you improve!”
Unable to use mental attacks like on criminals, he motivated them with carrots and sticks to build enthusiasm for training.
Now, they pushed themselves to the limit without him kicking them from behind or throwing balls at them.
* * *
Rose, a Battle Mage who combined bare-handed martial arts with magic, had much to learn from Hongryong, so she continued one-on-one lessons even after emerging from the laundry basket.
Jiseok was the type who fought with brute force, making Hongryong far better for learning technique. Rose’s father, Hunter Jeong Mingi, specialized in swords and wasn’t great at training his daughter. That’s why he’d sent her to Jiseok before.
“Miss Rose. Your fists aren’t the only weapons. Use your whole body. Elbows, knees, shoulders, back—the human body can turn anywhere into a lethal weapon.”
“That’s... easier said than done?!”
To Rose, who had only ever cast magic with her hands, Hongryong’s advice was harder than being told to use chopsticks with her feet.
“Attacking in straight lines like that makes it too easy to dodge. Add variation, flow smoothly.”
Hongryong spoke leisurely as he demonstrated the stance.
Rose was too busy dodging to keep up with Hongryong’s fluid, water-like combo attacks.
His words were gentle, but his fists were not. Knowing her shield was sturdy and that a healer and Jiseok had her back, Hongryong pounded on Rose like a chef tenderizing tonkatsu.
As the charging Hongryong closed in, Rose thrust both hands forward to unleash flames.
Before the fire could pour out, Hongryong lightly pushed her arm upward with one hand.
The hand that deflected her arm now swung toward her face.
Knowing Hongryong’s ruthless strikes, she could tell even through her shield that her nose would break if it connected.
Matching his attacks to her speed was Hongryong’s consideration, but she’d rather take it without knowing.
The face is too much, right? I’m a woman in my twenties?
“No!”
With Rose’s shout, flames burst from her entire body.
Hongryong took a step back.
“That’s it. Discard the notion that your energy only comes from your hands.”
“Hunter Hongryong! Thank you.”
Rose looked down at her body in wonder as the flames poured out. As the fire faded, she discovered her clothes had burned away, leaving her naked.
“Kyaa!”
Rose covered herself and crouched down. Without armor, the fire had consumed her outfit. Even with armor, it might have been vaporized.
“Ahem.”
Hongryong closed his eyes, turned his head, and handed her some clothes.
* * *
“Good work. The five who reached A-Rank will participate in the seat tournament.”
With one week left until the matches, the main five had barely scraped into A-Rank. Yesul and Changhui had been close already, and he’d planned to swap in other hunters if Hyeongbin and Jinwoo couldn’t keep up, but their solid teamwork and drive had everyone, including Rose, hit level 41.
Seeing results from the World Tree Academy made him happy beyond the tournament. Training hunters like this brought the world one step closer to safety.
“Good. The minimum requirement is met. Now, take your items.”
Through training with Hongryong, Rose could now fire magic from her hands as well as every part of her body. After burning dozens of outfits, Jeong Jangmi realized clothes were a no-go and donned revealing mithril armor with magic reinforcement items on her wrists and ankles. This boosted her shield’s power even more.
“Ooh! It looks so cool!”
“Ah... no! A single woman who’s not even married!”
Rose beamed with joy. But Jeong Mingi blocked her view of the revealing armor.
“Dad, so it’s okay if I wear this after I get married?”
“What?! Married? To who?!”
“Leave the father-daughter stuff for later. Everyone else, grab your items.”
Everyone received new gear. Attack and defense both rose a level.
“This... isn’t it expensive? We don’t have the money...”
Hyeongbin said, touching his item. It was top-grade gear fit for A-Rank Hunters. The price could make the whole group faint.
“We’ll call it a loan for now—use it freely. But if you lose...”
“We’ll do our best!”
“The first round is in three days. Get used to your new weapons individually. And the starting five aren’t fixed. Anyone showing better skills can replace you anytime, so stay sharp.”
* * *
No changes to the main lineup over three days, and the opening ceremony finally arrived.
He’d planned a quiet seat tournament at first, but concerns about hurt feelings from intense fights led to adopting a sports-like format.
Treating it as a sport would prevent excessive fervor among hunters.
Thus, the World Tree League was born.
Eight nations participated: Korea, the US, UK, India, Italy, France, Germany, and Canada.
China and Japan couldn’t spare many due to internal issues and sent few academy hunters, ultimately sitting it out as they saw no win chance.
Mexico forfeited, lacking depth in hunters.
No other nations had thick hunter rosters.
“The hunters of each nation, please give your all to showcase your training results. Through the World Tree League, let us strengthen bonds between nations’ hunters and build the power to overcome future crises together.”
Bureau Chief Baek Youngshin finished his opening address.
[And now, the first match begins! Korea vs. Germany! Let me explain the rules!]
The screen changed at the announcer’s words.
[The game is simple. Destroy the 1-meter orb in the enemy base to win. It’s a specially made item that breaks after sustained damage past a threshold.]
A 1-meter spherical orb appeared on screen. Jaein had made it.
[In other words, no one-shotting it, no matter the impact.]
[So, even an S-Rank Hunter like Hunter Lee Jiseok couldn’t break it in one hit?]
The co-announcer asked.
[Who knows? We could add an exhibition game later to test that.]
The announcer continued.
[Players wear judgment gear on their chests called damage counters. They act like shields, absorbing damage up to a point. If fully destroyed or taking excess damage, the player is out. This protects participants’ lives.]
[No injuries expected. Now, terrain: Baekdu Mountain center, Korea orb north, Germany south.]
Rose, prepped at the start, waved at the screen.
[Korea’s rep team features Jeong Jangmi, daughter of Hunter Jeong Mingi. Ooh, bold item design!]
Old-fashioned Hunter Jeong Mingi buried his face in his hands, embarrassed by his daughter’s outfit on screen.
A drone at Baekdu’s peak fired a signal flare.
Bang!
Fireworks bloomed in the sky.
[The game starts!]
“Guard here!”
“Huh?! Rose?! Jinwoo, follow her!”
As Rose dashed out, startled Hyeongbin followed Jinwoo.
The German team, with a tight strategy, moved in unison. Two guarded base, three pushed through the woods.
“Cross the mountain right flank, draw eyes. I’ll circle back and smash their orb while distracted.”
At team leader Norman’s order, the two attackers nodded and split.
“There!”
Rose spotted two moving in the leafless forest.
“Huff... huff...”
Without waiting for breathless Jinwoo, Rose charged the two German hunters alone. No tactics in sight.
“Tch... Hit them sooner than expected...”
“Good. Clean up the kid, we win.”
[First clash! These two Germans aren’t rookies. Veterans with over five years experience. Let’s see the battle!]
As the announcer said, the vets closed in to handle the charging Rose without panic.
“Charge!”
Already fast with acceleration skills, Rose blasted flames from her soles for a boost.
“What... the?!”
German hunter Wendell raised his shield in shock.
Rose blasted flames mid-air again, soaring higher to rain fire on Wendell below.
“Argh?!”
Blinded by flames, Wendell took a short jab to his chest damage counter as Rose landed behind. The flame from her fist turned the counter’s green light red.
Beep!
[German player Wendell out.]
A mechanical voice boomed from the drone.
“Da... damn it. That easy?”
[Wow! Rose is fast! Veteran down in seconds!]
The German couldn’t believe it. Five-plus years as a hunter, leveled up here too, yet taken out so easily by this young girl!
“Wendell!”
Remaining German Laura attacked Wendell’s spot, swinging her sword horizontally at Rose’s unguarded back.
Rose bent backward flexibly, dodging, then kicked a leg skyward. Flames erupted in the kick’s path.
“Kyaa!”
Flames engulfed Laura, her counter flashing red rapidly.
Jinwoo’s eagle then struck Laura’s damage counter.
Beep!
[German player Laura out.]
“Damn... Too quick. But we’ll still win.”
With ace Norman at their base among the five, they trusted he’d handle it.
Boom!
A cannon-like roar echoed across Baekdu, less gunshot.
[German player Norman eliminated.]
“The leader?! Impossible!”
Wendell and Norman’s faces showed shock on broadcast. Stronger and cautious Norman, down so fast?
“...Korea’s team has grown a lot.”
The German coach said to Jiseok.
Once far ahead of Korea, Germany fell too easily. With ace out and two left, no hope.
“Germany forfeits.”
[Germany forfeits! Match over! Korea advances to quarters with overwhelming skill gap!]
“Ow!”
Back in the lounge, Rose got smacked on the head by Jiseok.
“Why?!”
“Who told you to rush? What if they were strong? Don’t you know teamwork?”
“I read profiles pre-match. Both melee warriors, slow speed—doable.”
Rose rubbed her head.
“...Not entirely thoughtless.”
As expected of Hunter Jeong Mingi’s daughter. Irresponsible, but her combat sense and talent crushed the competition.
While Jiseok scolded Rose, other teams’ matches began outside.