Why Won't You Acknowledge Me?
“Wh-what the hell was that?”
On the way home, Lee Hye-ri bit her lip, replaying what Kim Siu had done to her earlier. Telling her to strip for some bullshit shame test, then groping her like a pervert the second she did. It was all so incomprehensible.
Did Ara go through this too?
If she really had...
That's sexual harassment.
Making a woman strip on a whim.
I chose to do it... but he told me to.
And then he groped her freely. Even stripped off what little underwear she had left and toyed with her body.
Of course, it hadn't gone all the way to actual sex. He acted like he had zero interest in that.
“Ridiculous.”
And that scratched at her pride. She'd always been confident in her figure and looks, but the fact that he hadn't laid a hand on her in that situation left a weird bad taste.
Then he had the nerve to give her serious advice afterward.
“Was that really his method?”
He'd raised Yoo Ara, so he clearly had some skill. But admitting it was hard.
It was only natural. After forcing her to strip and doing all sorts of things.
“Ugh... don't get fooled. That guy's a total mess.”
Yeah. Raising Yoo Ara was probably luck. Maybe their wavelengths just matched or something.
“Right. That's it.”
But still.
"I've seen the potential in you that even your oppa hasn't. Take it if you want. I'm not forcing you to learn. No need for that."
Those words Kim Siu had said before she left his place kept echoing in her head.
Potential even my oppa hasn't seen...
Was he really right? Did she have what it took to be a tank?
Everyone had screamed at her to be a dealer. With her S-rank dealing skill and dealer stats, why insist on tanking?
Yeah, her S-rank Mobility Strike wasn't ordinary. But she'd dreamed of it for ages.
Becoming a tank like her oppa.
She remembered that sturdy shield—the only thing protecting her in the hellish swarm of monsters that killed their parents. That massive shield had burrowed deep into her heart, changing her life.
She wanted to ease her oppa's burden, the one who endured pain for others.
"You're suited to be a dealer. Don't walk a hard path for no reason."
Her oppa, Lee Kang-san, thirteen years her senior. He'd said that after conquering an S-rank gate.
He knew her will, but insisted tanking wasn't for her.
"Only I recognized it. Your potential."
His voice flickered in her ears again.
“No...”
Her oppa would recognize her too. She'd taken first in the finals.
She was top of the semester overall.
He'd see it. That she had talent as a tank.
Lee Hye-ri pulled out her smartphone and dialed Lee Kang-san overseas.
Ring ring ring.
It didn't take long for the signal to connect.
“H-hey, Hye-ri. What's up?”
Her pillar, her shield—Lee Kang-san's deep, hearty voice eased her heart.
“Oppa.”
“Heard break started. Coming to the US for a bit?”
“Not that... I have something to ask.”
“What?”
“You heard I got first, right?”
“Yeah. As expected from my sister. Knew you'd take first.”
Lee Kang-san's approval made her lips twitch up.
“Yeah. I got first as a tank, like you said.”
“...What?”
“You said last time—if I got first as a tank, you'd think about it.”
“You still haven't let go of that obsession?”
His voice turned icy.
“Hye-ri. I've told you a million times. You're a dealer, not a tank. Your stats...”
Stubborn oppa. Once he decided something, he never budged—like an iron wall.
Lee Hye-ri bit her lip at his words.
First place. She'd beaten everyone as a tank.
Why wouldn't he acknowledge her?
“Oppa, I got first as a tank. I have talent too...”
“No, you're a dealer pretending to tank with a spear.”
“What?”
“I saw your second exam. Teaming with Baek Han-beom and that girl I'd never seen.”
“You saw it and still say that?”
“That's why I'm saying it. You couldn't protect the rear from the villain. If that girl hadn't dodged, your team would've been wiped by Harold.”
“Oppa, I-I...”
“To me, that's not a tank. Pseudo-tank. Dealer.”
“How can you say that? You don't know how hard I worked.”
“Effort alone doesn't change it. That's the hunter world.”
Lee Hye-ri clenched her fist hard. Nails dug into her palm, drawing deep wounds. Blood trickled.
But no pain. It didn't hurt.
His words hurt more.
She hated her gruff oppa who wouldn't acknowledge her achievements. For the first time, she thought he was hateful.
“I hate you, oppa.”
“Hye-ri, face reality now...”
“Shut up. You don't know anything.”
She hung up. Didn't want to hear more.
Why? Why wouldn't he acknowledge her?
She'd worked hard and done it all.
"Only I recognized it. Your potential."
Of all people, his voice rang in her ears.
“Whatever.”
Lee Hye-ri stormed home, face full of fury.
“Hoo.”
“Oh, Kang-san Li, what's up?”
Lee Kang-san eyed his teammate Marcson Porter trying to speak awkward Korean.
Marcson Porter, brother of Mr. America Jackson Porter. Blonde hair, blue eyes, over two meters tall with massive muscles. The poster boy for a Western muscle man.
Unlike his looks, he was a hunter who sliced enemies with sharp dual swords.
“Speak English. Don't bother with Korean.”
Marcson shrugged at Lee Kang-san's fluent English.
“That sister who sang your praises every day?”
“Yeah.”
“Long time since you talked, but you sound bummed? She bragged a ton. Thought you were a siscon, Kang-san Li.”
“Where'd you pick up that word? I'm not.”
“Oh, sorry. You only boasted about her, so I figured. What happened? Boyfriend?”
“If it was, I'd fly to Korea now. Not that.”
“Then?”
Lee Kang-san sighed deeply.
“Still wants to tank.”
“Still?”
“Yeah. Thought she'd given up, but no.”
“But in the exam vid, she moved like a total dealer?”
“She thinks that's tank movement.”
“Serious... She'd die in a week in real combat.”
“Probably.”
If Lee Hye-ri tanked now, she'd be dead in a week like Marcson said. Of course, he'd stop her... but he couldn't shield her forever. She had to realize it herself.
“Hmm, want me to talk to her?”
“If she folded that easy, I'd have done it already.”
“True. You and your sis both stubborn as hell.”
“Shut it.”
Frustrating. His sister not understanding his heart.
She took after him—too damn stubborn. It worried him.
“So, heading to Korea?”
“Nah. She'll figure it out at the academy. That she has no tank talent.”
“But she got first anyway.”
“Yeah. First as a dealer.”
“You won't acknowledge it at all.”
“If that's tanking, half the dealers in the world could tank too.”
“Fair. Must worry you sick.”
Lee Kang-san nodded. He'd wait till she realized.
That was the lesson he could give as oppa.
If not...
Guess I'll have to go show her myself.
Hoping it wouldn't come to that, he gazed at the still-open S-rank gate.
The massive gate in California. Korea's top guild Daesung and America's Saint united to raid it.
As Saint's core member, Lee Kang-san sighed watching Daesung guildies swarm toward the gate.
“Here come the morons. Time to work.”
“Kuhaha! Damn right!”
Why's controlling my sister harder than this fucking gate?
“What?”
“...I told you.”
“What?”
“I'm sorry.”
“Is that how a sorry person acts?”
I eyed Lee Hye-ri, back at my place in under three hours.
Thought her boldness meant days, but here she was in hours.
Quick to act? Or weak-willed?
I looked at her standing before me.
“Th-then what do I do?”
“A proper apology. And promise never to defy your teacher again. Might change my mind.”
“...But making me strip...”
“I said secret technique. Keep nitpicking, we're done here.”
“...Fine.”
Lee Hye-ri bowed awkwardly. Her loose dress neckline dipped with the motion, revealing deep cleavage from her huge breasts.
“S-sorry. For not trusting you, Teacher.”
“Good. I feel the sincerity. Obey me from now on. You'll train in your sleep.”
“Yes. Got it.”
She pouted as she straightened, grumbling.
“Why do I have to apologize?”
I ignored her mutter. Teachers need mercy sometimes.
“First class tomorrow, same time. 4 PM—two hours, then dinner. Sound good?”
“Sure.”
“Tomorrow we dive in. For now, orientation and curriculum.”
“Now?”
“Or tomorrow?”
“No, now.”
“Alright.”
I handed her the A4 sheet with the simple curriculum.
“Read slowly. What you'll learn.”
S-Rank Tank Studies Introduction
Endurance 1
Endurance 2
Endurance 3
...
Endurance 12
Tenacity Training 1
...
Tenacity Training 12
Lee Hye-ri's brows furrowed.
“Wh-what is this? For real?”
“Yup. We'll do everything listed. Methods, subjects, punishments—all.”
“Punishments! That's outdated!”
She yelled.
Simple curriculum for her.
Tanks need stamina, endurance, toughness.
We'll build hers together.
Evasion tank—why endurance? Agility's maxed. Academy handles skill use.
I'll do what I can. Most effective for her.
Status said lower dependence on Lee Kang-san.
She expects too much from oppa, hence the message.
One way to lower it: Make her feel unneeded without him.
Show time with me helps more.
New poison to drive out the old.
Stings, but necessary.
I smiled at the punishment list below.
Punishment List: Dual Training/Punishments
Strike Resistance Training/Punishment
Burn Resistance Training/Punishment
Laceration Resistance Training/Punishment
Weak Point Resistance Training/Punishment
“What kinda punishments! At least detail them...”
“More fun not knowing, right?”
She stared like I was insane.
I'll change that look.