Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
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"They're really here."
I had posted the joint training schedule with Taesan Guild on Justice Guild's Stargram account yesterday, announcing it for today.
It was just a what-if thought.
Yet here they were, actually showing up at Taesan Guild's doorstep.
I hadn't expected it at all, so the surprise hit even harder.
Thanks to these four precious people, our guild members' morale soared.
Especially the three teens who got the dolls as gifts.
"Is this... Maeng-i?"
Im Cheong-su tilted his head, clutching a squirrel doll that looked just like him.
"This is me."
"Are your eyes crooked? Obviously, this one's me!"
The twins were bickering over which jaguar doll was prettier—claiming it was them, of course.
"Nothing's changed here. That's the training ground over there."
Jang Su-ho stopped walking and pointed straight ahead.
The large space, like a gymnasium, had both doors wide open, and quite a crowd had gathered inside.
"Oh..."
Nothing special?
Everyone else seemed to think the same, as the twins whispered from beside me.
"Looks like Taesan doesn't have simulation training grounds like ours."
"Yeah, Taesan really isn't anything special."
They sure got along at times like this.
We slowly made our way into the training ground.
"Feels like a basketball court."
I nodded at Han Ji-seong's words.
It really did—minus the huge basketball hoop, with spectator seating along both sides.
"Taesan's already warming up."
Taesan's raid team, who had arrived first, was doing light stretches in front of the opposite entrance.
But their outfits were pretty unique.
Training clothes topped with leather jackets.
They clashed so badly that I stared, and Im Cheong-su scurried over to explain.
"Sis, those leather jackets they're wearing are B-rank items."
"Oh, really?"
I pulled up the info window to verify Im Cheong-su's words.
...Looks like Taesan made some cash doing guerrilla work under Sama Guild all this time.
But unlike Justice Guild's uniforms, no temperature control.
No wonder they insisted on wearing them despite the still-strong sun in early autumn daytime.
Clearly new ones tailored just to show off to us today.
And sure enough, Gwak Ho-young—decked out in his B-rank item—approached with his usual sleazy smile, announcing like it was a decree.
"Let's just do a quick warm-up and dive right into practice."
"Sounds good."
Kang Han agreed.
"Restrooms and break room are over there... Ah, with Jang Su-ho Hunter here, no need to guide you."
Gwak Ho-young shot Jang Su-ho a final glance, like he was looking at something inferior to himself.
Jang Su-ho didn't even notice, though.
I walked up to Jang Su-ho as he set down his bag and asked.
"Jang Su-ho, what're you thinking right now?"
"Hm."
At my question, Jang Su-ho scanned Taesan's training ground, then rested hands on his hips and grinned.
"That if I do well today, Nayeo-ju will praise me?"
He smiled like always, even though it couldn't not bother him.
"Yeah. Good thinking."
At my praise, he came over and ruffled my hair with his big hand.
Then he shrugged off his hoodie zip-up, revealing an even more solid back than before.
"Yawn."
Boring. So boring.
I covered my mouth politely and peered down from the spectator seats.
"To think this is what joint training is like."
No wonder Jang Su-ho hated it.
There was good reason.
"Without a simulation training ground, it just feels like war games."
Im Cheong-su yawned contagiously after me.
Couldn't agree more.
"What if golem-type monsters show up?"
"In that case..."
Gwak Ho-young and Kang Han's voices droned on like a lullaby.
I'd thought "training" meant sparring and lots of movement.
But it was just projecting hologram mana stone simulations and debating formations.
Thirty minutes ago, I'd been down there too.
But as a healer—always top priority for protection—I had nothing to do but sit in the center, so I came up to the seats.
Taesan's healer had even zoned out like me, then left for the dorms saying they needed a break.
"Sis, don't other guilds have bigger simulation training facilities than ours?"
Im Cheong-su whispered right in my ear.
"The big guilds do. Shows just how wide the gap between guilds is."
Not surprising, recalling when I first arrived at Justice Guild—with a few gym machines they called a training ground.
Seong Yo-na joining was such a stroke of luck.
"Gotta be nicer to A-ri sis."
Im Cheong-su murmured blankly, watching the raid hunters swarm around changing formations.
Then the ground floor got noisy.
"In that case, our shielder takes the front."
"Can't agree. Jang Su-ho Hunter, being pure defense, is more suited."
Seemed like they were arguing over prime spots for racking up achievements—who from which guild gets it.
I quietly descended and joined our guild folks.
Just to grasp the conversation better.
That was all.
"We can't trust Jang Su-ho Hunter with the front."
Until Gwak Ho-young crossed the line.
"Especially not us from Taesan, who've already lost to him before. You'll understand."
Understand my ass.
Taesan surely knew how much Jang Su-ho had grown by now.
Yet he spouts that crap?
Don't stop me.
I'm gonna rip that mouth off.
I lunged at Gwak Ho-young, but Kang Han grabbed my shoulder.
"Then let's have Jang Su-ho Hunter and your Kim Han-kwon Hunter spar to see who's stronger."
"...Hyung?"
Jang Su-ho called out in surprise, but no reply came.
Kang Han just stared calmly at Gwak Ho-young.
"...Fine."
Gwak Ho-young agreed in the end.
Suddenly, Justice Guild vs. Taesan Guild shielders—one-on-one match set.
Kim Han-kwon was Taesan Guild's vice guild master.
He'd been with Taesan as long as Gwak Ho-young.
Meaning, long history with Jang Su-ho.
At the incident back then, he'd stuck by Gwak Ho-young and pushed Jang Su-ho out more sincerely than anyone.
"Hey, even if you lose, don't charge at me saying you'll kill me, got it?"
Kim Han-kwon sneered at Jang Su-ho.
Preemptive trash talk to rattle him before the match.
But Jang Su-ho, who would've snapped and charged in the past, just smirked back.
"Oh, scared?"
"You little—?"
Kim Han-kwon lost his cool first.
Jang Su-ho ignored the huffing and went to his spot, pulling a shield from his sub-space.
An old D-rank one, dented and scratched everywhere.
"What a pathetic item."
Kim Han-kwon openly mocked him, drawing his own gear.
A B-rank shield and one-handed sword.
Shielders mainly fell into two types.
Like Jang Su-ho, shield-only defense specialists.
Or like Kim Han-kwon, offense hybrids.
"Han-kwon."
Taesan Guild advisor Yu Jin-rok approached with advice.
"Watch closely how Su-ho uses his shield..."
"I got this."
Kim Han-kwon brushed off Yu Jin-rok irritably.
No respect at all for the former Taesan Guild master.
"...Don't push too hard."
Yu Jin-rok could only leave worried words behind.
Kim Han-kwon clicked his tongue at the retreating back.
As Gwak Ho-young said, an indecisive leader like that was the problem.
Sometimes, reckless aggression was needed.
Otherwise, guilds get weeded out.
Kim Han-kwon gripped his sword tighter, thinking that.
Yu Jin-rok refereed the sudden match.
"Begin."
Short call, and it started.
The two shielders facing off charged simultaneously.
Boom!
Shields clashed, echoing through the training ground.
In the next frontal collision, Kim Han-kwon panicked.
'What the hell strength...!'
He knew Jang Su-ho was strong.
But the guy always played passive, fearing berserk mode.
'Damn it.'
It was like no person behind the shield—a mountain stood there.
Kim Han-kwon pushed with sword hand too.
But the shields didn't budge.
Initiative shifted to Jang Su-ho.
"Hup."
Jang Su-ho inhaled deep, powering his legs to shove Kim Han-kwon back.
'I'm being pushed!'
Jang Su-ho panicked inwardly.
Kim Han-kwon was once an untouchable senior.
But now, beyond the shield, he looked so weak.
'Can it really be this easy?'
Compared to spars with Kang Han or Lee Yu-eul, full of holes.
Jang Su-ho powered arms and shoved—thud—sending Kim Han-kwon reeling.
The tight clash opened a gap.
Jang Su-ho stepped back half-pace, gauging carefully.
Kim Han-kwon had no such luxury.
"Don't dodge—come at me, you punk!"
Furious, Kim Han-kwon roared and charged.
Grinding teeth for max speed—but too slow.
To Jang Su-ho's eyes, at least.
The sword arc was crystal clear.
Jang Su-ho sidestepped slightly, smacking the blade's side with his shield.
Clang!
Loud ring, sword bounced, Kim Han-kwon staggered wildly.
'Too easy.'
Like Kim Han-kwon was pranking him.
'Guess I have to go serious.'
Jang Su-ho lunged forward from low stance, center of gravity pouring ahead.
Too fast for awakener eyes.
Kim Han-kwon yanked shield up in panic—too late.
"Guh!"
Full-body hammer blow—Kim Han-kwon reeled back.
Before regaining guard, it ended.
No fancy moves.
Clang!
Jang Su-ho just nudged the shield from his low stance.
Thud!
Kim Han-kwon sprawled on the floor.
Silence blanketed the gym.
Taesan side especially—stunned that Jang Su-ho won.
Yu Jin-rok, watching from back, declared lowly.
"...Justice Guild, Jang Su-ho. Victory."
"Hoo."
Jang Su-ho finally dropped guard, catching breath.
Gazed at his shield hand, thinking.
'I've gotten stronger.'
Without anyone—even himself—noticing.
He scanned Taesan's familiar training ground once more.
Once so vast, now just an old eggshell he'd long outgrown.