Each One's Worries
At the Hunter Union Training Facility, watching Lee Chang-hyun coach left Jo Yeon-hwa with a complicated mix of emotions.
In truth, even when she'd read articles about him or seen Ryu Jae-jun's reaction, it hadn't hit her this hard.
'That much is understandable... but...'
Seeing him apply his insight to someone else's skill—not even his own—and map out a perfect path forward was enough to shake anyone. It was impossible not to wonder if he might offer her some special advice too.
With that mindset creeping in, Jo Yeon-hwa found herself unconsciously digging into his past matches one by one.
From the Hunters – The Next Generation audition games to everything after he joined PER.
It was a futile hope that there might be some clue hidden there.
He definitely showed something special. He saw things others missed, his tactical prowess stood out. But even reviewing the footage, she couldn't glimpse that insight from yesterday—the ability to pinpoint someone else's path so precisely.
It wasn't the kind of thing you could verify from match replays.
All it left her with was frustration and a sigh.
"If only I could learn a bit more about his coaching style..."
Of course, she wasn't saying she'd actually take coaching from him. But if he had that kind of unique eye, his teaching methods or whatever should reveal themselves, giving her some hint.
Talking to her dad, Jo Jun-ho, would make arranging a meeting or chat easy, but her pride wouldn't allow it.
After all, they'd basically cut ties first—she wasn't thick-skinned enough to go crawling back.
'Oh... come to think of it, Unni Min-sol mentioned some hilarious guy in the third division last time. That sounded like Lee Chang-hyun...'
Uses guns, director and owner, coaches his players personally... Yeah, it had to be him.
She fired off a message to Lee Min-sol right away.
Not long after, Lee Min-sol sent over Jin Kyung-tae's contact info.
'A national team player like Hunter Jin Kyung-tae knows Lee Chang-hyun... Does that mean he beat Takumi?'
No. Unnie's reaction was way too lukewarm for that... If he'd really won, Lee Min-sol would've been hyping it up to her first—she's the type. No sign of that, just calling him a "funny guy."
Whatever. That wasn't important right now. What mattered was how that guy coached his players.
Pushing aside her tangled thoughts, Jo Yeon-hwa punched in Jin Kyung-tae's number and sent a message.
Yoo Hye-ju was glued to PER's recent matches.
She'd hammered out strategies, but they were no pushovers.
One by one, especially Lee Chang-hyun and the four new PER members. Kim Do-jun, Han Ji-su, Lee Chang-hyun, Yoon Han-gyeol—these four needed prepped counters.
Lee Chang-hyun's guns hit hard, but unless they nailed vitals, they wouldn't one-shot. Her Holy Ground skill's regen and healing could cover it. Just dodge the mana bomber rounds he rarely mixed in.
Kim Do-jun. That ridiculous glowing sword—if the whole enemy team rocked sunglasses, problem solved...
Yoon Han-gyeol. Tricky one. No clue why, but his flying swords shredded melee dealers like leaves in the wind...
'He wasn't this good at the academy...'
Private sword lessons or something? He'd gotten way stronger.
'No matter how strong Holy Ground's healing is, it can't regrow a severed arm...'
Basically a combat withdrawal. But his real threat was those three swords. If seven of them formed a defensive circle, they could block it. Mobility drop was a sacrifice they'd make.
'Gravity ability... Not that threatening yet. Just so-so at the academy.'
She put Han Ji-su on hold.
Looking it over, a new thought hit.
'Wait... This setup? We can totally counter it.'
Analyzing piece by piece, cracks appeared in Yoo Hye-ju's eyes. Not small ones—a massive fissure that could shatter PER entirely.
And RIX had the perfect tools to pry it open. A hidden strategy Lee Chang-hyun, new to PER this season, wouldn't know.
'...Perfect.'
She caught herself smirking without realizing.
Strategy session over. Folding away her worries, netizen reactions to PER caught her eye.
'The character appeal and popularity are incredible for a third-division team...'
Especially that Kim Do-jun guy. Never heard this crap during Hunters – The Next Generation or Seoul City Academy days, but now? Total weirdo.
'Brain damage? Whatever, good for us.'
Truth was, their melee trio's poor sync was a godsend. RIX prided itself on killer close-range dealers.
"How's this, Coach?"
Yoo Hye-ju handed her scribbled strategies and counters to RIX coach Kim Jong-woon.
"Oh..."
Kim Jong-woon skimmed it, a sly smile creeping in.
"Yeah. Next match, PER game—we go with this."
Holy Ground's insane regen—top-tier even in upper leagues. Wrap it in a tanky close-range shield wall of dealers and mana shields.
Plus... layer in RIX's "main tactic from last season," one Lee Chang-hyun wouldn't know.
No way his PER withstands it. He didn't seem the type to pore over old footage anyway.
PER crumbles with no counter. RIX coach Kim Jong-woon couldn't help but grin meaningfully at the plan.
In a bed at the PER Team Home, Kim Do-jun lay stewing over the last match's frustrations.
The UQQ game had been a total disaster overall.
'Thought it was my shot...'
PER had stuck to bomber comps, leaving no room for him to shine or stamp his mark on viewers.
So when Chang-hyun hyung switched to melee dealer focus, he'd been thrilled... but results? Reactions? Meh. Or worse.
He craved attention, sure—but not this kind.
Ditching the glowing sword? Nah, it was his identity now. And it wasn't useless—just overshadowed by bomber impact. Against other teams' melee, it gave edge.
Most shocking? Teammates' reactions. Braced for backlash, but... nothing. Chang-hyun hyung focused on Yoon Han-gyeol's swordplay feedback. Others just exchanged glances like, 'What'd you expect?'
Scolding would've been better—this indifference stung.
'Ganged up on, what could I do...'
Couldn't multi-sword like Yoon Han-gyeol or contribute via skills like Yi Gil-han. His fast-sword 1v1 strengths flopped in group fights—bailing was inevitable. Blinded allies didn't help support either.
'All excuses though...'
He needed a fix. Team growing, but he was stagnating in ranks and league—no standout moments. No criticism, but felt wrong to stall.
Calmly, he dissected the match's flaws.
'Overused the glow?'
No. It was a solid unique weapon. Explosive thrusts, fast strikes, surprise synergy—special.
'Sunglasses then?'
Yeah, tricky. Glow ambush tactic countered hard.
'Obvious counter someday—should've prepped for it.'
Exactly. Predictable? Plan around it.
Brainstorm kicked in: Neutralize shades? Or exploit them tactically?
'Wear all black... invisible through shades?'
Dumb. Just harder to spot, not impossible.
Trial-and-error later, Kim Do-jun spotted something.
Realized it.
A way to force them to ditch the shades.
Of course, to others it'd sound like nonsense worth waving off—but still.