Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Training Ground Showdown
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The incident started like this.
After Kang Han left for his office, the harassment from the other hunters got even worse.
But what made it all the more petty was that most of it was aimed at the twins.
Thud.
"What the hell, acting like you own the place when you're just C-ranks."
They'd barge past Justice Guild members who were just minding their own business, shoving their shoulders for no reason.
"Oops, my bad. Forgot you existed—you C-ranks have no presence."
Or pretend to take a sip of water only to spill it because their mouths apparently had holes in them.
But since we didn't react much, their bullying grew more blatant by the minute.
They stopped exercising and started huddling together, whispering crap about Justice Guild.
"Already short on equipment, and these idiots are in the way."
"Don't they get it? What do C-ranks even think they're doing?"
"They get it—they're just that desperate."
"Pfft, hahaha. Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"Did I say anything wrong?"
"Nah, you're right."
"Heh heh heh."
These guys, seriously.
What, do they think they're refined ladies from some romance novel high society?
They could've just come at us straight with a punch—instead, they're playing these dirty, underhanded games.
To me, it was just petty enough to piss me off a little, but the hellhounds were different.
Maybe because they'd taken so much shit and bottled up so much rage, Jang Su-ho started growling under his breath, Lee Yu-chan's mistakes piled up more and more,
and Lee Yu-eul straight-up stepped out from her training machine to glare at them.
Of course, that just gave them an excuse to turn on her.
"What're you gonna do, stare us down?"
"C-rank acting all high and mighty."
And that's when things hit the breaking point.
They swaggered over, sneering at us.
"Hey, why don't you losers get lost?"
The leader made a menacing face, but it just made him look uglier instead of scarier.
"No amount of training's gonna improve you worthless shits—why're you cluttering up the place?"
"Let the real hunters use the equipment."
"You think we wanna suffer losses because of trash like you?"
Even the ones hanging back in the rear started chiming in.
As their hellhound protector, I fired back.
"Why? We're hunters too, and we pay our guild dues to the Association every year. No reason we can't use this place."
They burst out laughing like that was the dumbest thing they'd ever heard.
And exchanging those knowing glances among themselves? Even dumber.
"You joking? You think the taxes we pay are anywhere near what you scraps cough up? You don't even raid dungeons—what taxes? Hilarious."
"Least we don't shit from our mouths like you."
"What'd you say? You think you can talk like that?"
"This training ground's only got your guild and us using it anyway. If it's such a hassle and we're bothering you, just go use another one. Ever heard the saying, 'If you hate the temple, leave like a monk'? Oh, right—your brains are all muscle, huh?"
Whether they actually didn't know or their skulls were packed solid with muscle, the guy's growling got even fiercer.
Agh, they stink.
"You keep yapping about ranks, but you don't look that impressive yourselves."
"Ha, acting cocky 'cause you're an A-rank healer? You don't even know who we are?"
I was about to snort with laughter.
How long did I have to put up with this childish banter?
I deliberately looked them up and down before saying,
"You're not even in uniform—how am I supposed to know?"
Then I turned to Lee Yu-chan beside me.
"You know their guild name?"
"Titan Guild."
"Ah."
I pretended to recognize it, but honestly, no clue.
It rang a vague bell as a guild name, but no specifics came to mind.
In other words, they weren't big players in the [Sejong Wall].
All I could think was, Well, the name fits—they're all huge and buff.
I crossed my arms and pulled up their status windows.
Kim Do-ran (B), Lee Yeon-gu (B), Park Dae-gang (B)...
What names. And all B-rank physical enhancers to boot.
Decent enough among regular awakeners, but just average among hunters.
And these guys thought they could pull rank?
"Here I thought you were bragging about ranks 'cause you were at least A baseline."
Sure enough, their ranks were a sore spot—the apparent guild leader blew up, raising his voice.
"You saying B-rank is a joke?"
"Don't cry—speak up. I can't hear you."
I dug in my ear with my pinky and said,
"By your logic, rank is law here, but looks like you think A-rank's a joke?"
Yeah, nothing to say to that, huh?
Lee Yu-eul and Lee Yu-chan might be C-ranks, but I'm A, and so is Jang Su-ho.
By rank rules, they shouldn't even peep at us.
But they had a brainiac after all—they switched targets.
"You think you can handle it if Jang Su-ho loses it mid-training and goes berserk?"
From how he'd been picking on Lee Yu-chan earlier, the archer-looking one clicked his tongue at us.
That hit a nerve.
As much as it pissed me off, it wasn't entirely wrong.
Jang Su-ho had been kicked from his old guild after losing control during a dungeon raid and attacking his own teammates.
But ever since joining Justice Guild, he'd been working his ass off.
Venting stress through intense workouts with Kang Han, meditation, counseling—finding every way to stay in control.
Proof? Right now, he was deep-breathing and quietly stepping back.
But even that was just fodder for their mockery.
"Wow, the mad dog learned to hold back?"
Mad Dog.
The nickname Jang Su-ho had earned—meek as a lamb normally, but a beast in combat.
"What, scared he'll bite?"
Our dog's got teeth.
"Ugh, enough."
Finally, Titan's guild leader raised a threatening hand toward me.
"If you hate it so much, hit me."
And that's how it went down.
Honestly, I might've poked the bear a little on purpose.
Justice Guild couldn't keep being the neighborhood punching bag.
We needed to plant the idea: Mess with us, and it bites back.
I kept my eyes locked on Titan's guild leader and quietly called Jang Su-ho.
"Jang Su-ho."
"...Yeah."
Hard to hold back? His low voice sounded like a beast growling.
"Go take a walk outside."
Jang Su-ho didn't answer.
Instead, he shot Titan's leader a warning glare before turning and leaving the training ground.
Good, first hurdle cleared.
If he'd snapped here and drawn blood, we'd lose the PR war.
Justice Guild's reputation, just starting to climb from rock bottom, would tank.
Anyway, with Jang Su-ho gone, I could cut loose.
"Quit yapping and fight for real."
I baited Titan's guild leader, Kim Do-ran.
He grinned like he'd been waiting.
"Not suicidal enough to take me on yourself, huh? So, a match?"
"Wanna dogfight? Call back Jang Su-ho. But you couldn't handle that."
"Fine by me. I'll crush you in the match. You've got that archer-ish kid, so 500m archery, then hand-to-hand. Deal?"
Kang Han and Jang Su-ho were out, and I wasn't combat.
He was targeting the twins.
"Two matches decide it."
"Hold up."
Ugh, trying to screw us over.
"You're all B-ranks? Fair to pit 'em against C-rank minors with no handicaps? Nah, don't think—I'll tell you. That's called cowardly, you muscle-brained idiots."
"Fine, what then?"
"Win one of two, we win overall."
"Where do they do th—?!"
"Not confident?"
Predictably, simple-minded Titan took the bait easy.
They'd strutted on their B-rank egos so long, no whining about fairness now.
"You're on."
And just like that, Justice Guild vs. Titan Guild showdown was on.
Not an official arena, just a quick match in the training ground, so rules were simple.
First up: Lee Yu-chan vs. Titan's B-rank archer, Lee Yeon-gu.
Ten shots at the max-range 500m target—highest score wins.
But an unexpected wrinkle.
Word spread somehow, and hunters from other training areas started trickling into Hall 1.
Suddenly, about thirty spectators, and Lee Yu-chan's face went whiter than the wall.
The more nervous he got, the cockier Titan's meatheads looked.
Like this was their golden chance to smash us in front of everyone.
"Alright, let's get started."
With Titan's leader's words, Lee Yu-chan's trembling hands raised the bow toward the target.