Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: 031. Yeongcheon-ryu
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"Sis. You said you'd support me, right? How exactly are you going to support me?"
I'd love it if she supported me with that killer body of hers. I swallowed the rest of that thought.
"Wait here a sec."
Against my hopes, Jin Se-young stepped out of the training room. A minute later, she returned.
She approached me carrying a long box in both hands.
"The support comes in five forms. First, free membership fees. Second, a private training room. Third, personal training... you know, one-on-one coaching. I promise to teach you with all my heart. Fourth, backup in real combat. And fifth, weapon support. I'll give you this sword I'm holding. What do you think?"
From my perspective, these were perfect terms.
I had no intention of joining a guild right now, so that was off the table. My goal was to get stronger, not to join a guild and work like a dog.
"Sounds good. But what's this sword you're supporting me with?"
My eyes went to the long box she was holding. That must be where the sword was.
Jin Se-young carefully set the box on the floor and took out a key to unlock the padlock.
Inside the box lay a red-tinged sword wrapped in fine cloth.
The blade had a slanted tip with no guard, and the hilt was a luxurious black, contrasting the red blade.
A black scabbard like a rod lay beside it, but my eyes were fixed only on the red sword.
I stared at it blankly. Even without an appraiser's eye for weapons, the aura it gave off screamed that it was no ordinary blade.
Compared to it, the iron sword I had was nothing but trash.
"The sword's name is Hwaryeonbido—the Flame Refinement Blade. It's a changpo sword."
"Changpo sword? It's a sword, though?"
"In Yeongcheon-ryu, there's no distinction between swords and blades. 'Geom' in Yeongcheon-ryu just means any long-edged weapon. We don't bother splitting hairs between swords and katanas. Plus, due to Yeongcheon-ryu's style, we prefer shortswords or lightweight blades. Our combat techniques favor quick kills over prolonged clashes. That's why changpo swords are ideal."
"Ah."
Thinking about it, Yeongcheon-ryu's basics were all premised on one-handed swords. There were even moves where you gripped it in reverse. It definitely wasn't a style for facing off head-on.
To freely wield the sword as Yeongcheon-ryu demanded, no guard was better.
For a style emphasizing speed and stealth, lighter blades were preferable—greatswords would just get in the way.
"If you don't like it, I can prepare something else."
"No. No. No way! I love it!"
"Good. Glad to hear it."
I reached out tentatively and ran my finger along the blade. Despite its red glow, it felt cool to the touch, not hot at all.
"The Hwaryeonbido was forged by the Shijeokjang in Gangwon Province."
Shijeokjang!
I'd heard of that legendary smithy. Their skill was top-tier in Korea and renowned abroad.
"The blade is made from dark iron and fire dragon scales, and the hilt from processed fire dragon bone."
"Gasp. Fire dragon!"
The SS-rank monster that turned Korea upside down ten years ago. SS-rank meant immeasurable.
Thankfully, before it could exit the dungeon, all ten major guilds teamed up to slay the Fire Dragon.
"Don't freak out. This is a failed product. That's why 'bi'—tragic—is in the name. They aimed for a blade that could wield flames, but it didn't work out. Aside from superior durability and an edge that never dulls without maintenance, it's just a regular sword."
"Th-that's more than enough! How much would this sell for?"
"Not much. Around 300 million won? Performance-wise, even 100 million is steep, but the fire dragon scale materials jack up the price."
"You're really... giving this to me?"
Jin Se-young nodded without hesitation.
"Yu-jin. If you keep your end of the deal."
I met her eyes squarely and said seriously,
"Sis. Get the contract here quick. I'm in a hurry."
I was completely smitten with the Hwaryeonbido.
???
Real combat.
That's the biggest worry for newbie hunters.
Hunters enter dungeons to hunt monsters. The problem? Dungeons are isolated spaces cut off from Earth except at the entrance. Crimes happen frequently inside.
That's why hastily formed parties via the association avoid high-rank dungeons, and guilds exist largely to combat hunter crimes.
Untrustworthy allies. Backstabbers. Companions turning bandit.
Rookie hunters with no backing can only join association pickup parties, so they hesitate on real fights.
I'd had the same worry. But not anymore. By my side was a reliable ally and bodyguard: Jin Se-young.
She was a B-rank hunter, and this F-rank dungeon, 'Ratman Habitat,' was no threat. Even if nearby hunters turned bandit and attacked, she'd handle them in under three minutes.
"First real fight, but don't worry. Ratmen are no match for your skills."
Jin Se-young said, clad in comfortable leather armor.
"If you say so, Sis."
I gripped the hilt of the Hwaryeonbido at my waist and replied.
I wore leather armor like her, but with guards on shoulders and chest. I'd wanted heavy armor for protection, but Yeongcheon-ryu's emphasis on mobility forced light gear.
The armor wasn't bought—it was borrowed from her temporarily.
'Ugh... I'm so damn nervous.'
This wasn't my first dungeon. I'd entered one for training and fought a goblin one-on-one.
But that was different. Back then, I was surrounded by people, and goblins were the weakest monsters—even civilians could handle them with a weapon.
I'd called it 'real combat' out of bravado, but it was just practice. This was my true first fight.
"You're too tense. Deep breaths."
"Hoo~ Hoo~."
While breathing, I touched my smartphone instead of the hilt. It calmed me more than the sword.
Once relaxed, I placed my hand back on the Hwaryeonbido.
"Reminds me of my first time. I was nervous too."
"How'd you shake it off, Sis?"
"After one fight, it eased up. You'll be the same. A few more, and you'll see hunting's no big deal."
The F-rank 'Ratman Habitat' was a swamp dungeon. Muddy ground, dense trees, and bogs everywhere.
Ratmen here were bipedal rats that roamed swamps freely. 150cm tall, they attacked with claws and teeth. Claws fetched 10,000 won each on average, magic stones about 80,000 won.
We walked deeper, chatting.
We avoided other hunters. Being an open dungeon, anyone could enter—we had to watch their positions.
"Yu-jin. Look over there. Ratman."
I turned where she pointed. About 30 meters away, a black-furred ratman lurked.
Even from afar, it was huge. Way bigger than goblins. The saying three goblins couldn't take one ratman seemed true.
"I'll demo again."
Jin Se-young advanced on it. The ratman bristled, claws out, in combat stance. Most monsters attacked humans on sight—no matter the skill gap, they rarely fled.
"Kyaaak!"
She didn't stop as it charged, slashing sideways as she passed. The head flew, splattering red blood on the ground.
It looked like the ratman just ran into death.
'Yeongcheon-ryu's combat art, Byeokgye. I'm not at that level yet. Sis's mastery is insane.'
From afar, it seemed casual, but to the ratman, she must've appeared distant.
Byeokgye distorted distance perception with unique footwork.
"Magic stones are usually near the heart, or head if not."
She neatly pocketed the stone and claws in her waist pouch.
One ratman yielded a stone and six claws: 140,000 won.
Ten would be 1.4 million, but minus 30% tax, gear upkeep, and entry fees—barely 500,000 won usable.
'No wonder hunters resent the association and government taking taxes.'
Hunters usually partied up in fives. Thirty ratmen a day? 300,000 won split.
'Still high income. 3 million in ten days. Plus skill gains, and higher ranks mean millions daily easy.'
No wonder hunters were envied. But to me with Playful Life app? Pocket change.
If I really grinded it, 100 million would be nothing.
"Yu-jin. Ratman over there. Your turn."
"...Got it."
I drew my sword and approached. My body trembled slightly with tension. I'd killed in the game world, but this was reality.
"Kyaaak!"
It screeched and charged. Recalling her moves from ten minutes ago, I used Byeokgye.
With the footwork, its eyes wavered, glancing behind me. Success. Distance distorted—it thought I was meters back.
'A bit shaky compared to Sis.'
Still, it worked.
I passed it, slashing. The blade cleanly severed its neck. My strength was subpar for a hunter, but the sword's sharpness compensated.
"N-not a big deal."
I muttered at the corpse. No bluff—this time for real. My voice shook from excitement at landing a combat art in real life.
"See? Piece of cake."
"Yeah. Ratmen will be easy from now on. Sis, at my level, how far can I go?"
"Low E-rank monsters, maybe. Anything higher's tough. Your Yeongcheon-ryu is solid, but your physicals hold you back."
Physicals.
Strength, stamina, agility—lagging behind other hunters.
I knew it, so I nodded readily. Her words implied: with better stats, E-ranks would be easy.
I harvested the stone and claws, saying,
"Alright. Let's keep hunting. I've got the feel now, Sis."
"Yeah. Might as well make it worth the trip."
I killed ratmen on sight now. No need for arts—basics sufficed.
Five hours.
Time to kill 24 ratmen.
Nearly five per hour, but finding them took longer than fighting.
"Only 24..."
"Can't help it. Open dungeons have tons of competition. Key rule: don't steal monsters. 80% of hunter fights are over ownership."
"I know. Closed dungeons are riskier, though... Huh? Why'd you stop?"
"Shh. Ambush ahead."
We were heading back after hunting, loaded with loot.
"...Bandits?"
Hunter bandits.
Scum who robbed hunters. I peeked: three guys leaning on a big tree, chatting.
"Probably. We could detour, but that'd just endanger others. Let's take them out."
Jin Se-young stepped forward; I followed.
I wasn't worried.
F-rank dungeon, and she was B-rank. Bandits here were small fry.