Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
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The eyes of the crowd surrounding the archery training ground were filled with curiosity.
The Hunter Center had been dreadfully boring lately with no major incidents or accidents, so this was a rare and entertaining event.
"Hey, who do you think will win?"
"What’s there to say? Obviously Titan."
"But that Justice Guild guy used to be pretty famous back in the day. Something like a rising star."
Hunters who had wandered over from Training Ground 3 gossiped among themselves.
"That was ages ago. They hyped him up with all that S-rank potential talk, but he ended up C-rank. That Titan guy's B-rank."
"Yeah, guess so."
"I don't think it's that straightforward, though."
Someone chimed in on their conversation.
"Oh, Yang Hwa-yeon, long time no see."
It was Yang Hwa-yeon, the guild master of Magma Guild.
An A-rank flame and physical enhancement hunter, she was known for her clear boundaries between public and private life, earning her a solid reputation across the board.
"What're you talking about? 'Not that straightforward'? Isn't it obvious Titan wins?"
"Well, if you're just looking at ranks, sure."
Yang Hwa-yeon brushed back her hair as she focused on Lee Yu-chan.
"But hunters aren't just about ranks, right? Like, their actual archery skills, for instance."
At that exact moment, Lee Yu-chan released the bowstring.
Thwack!
A heavy thud echoed, and everyone's eyes locked onto the screen magnifying the target.
"See that? The kid's been famous since his youth for his killer archery skills."
At Yang Hwa-yeon's words, the attitudes of the surrounding hunters shifted to a more cautious watchfulness.
If even Yang Hwa-yeon, who wasn't one to hand out praise lightly, said that much, it might actually turn into a match worth watching.
Soon after, Lee Yeon-gu from Titan Guild fired his shot.
Thwack!
The impact was just as heavy and solid, but the arrow lodged slightly off-center.
They had only each fired their first shot so far, but the atmosphere in the arena had already changed.
The faces of those who had come looking for a light diversion upon hearing that Justice Guild was challenging another guild to a match in the training ground turned serious.
Titan Guild, the rising guild steadily gaining momentum, versus Justice Guild, everyone's favorite punching bag.
But expectations were building that this matchup between the two wouldn't end up as a boring cold game.
Lee Yu-chan nocked his arrow.
Unlike the first shot, he took full advantage of the allotted time this round, aiming with careful precision.
Whoosh!
A sharp whistle cut through the air, and the score appeared on the screen.
His fingertips had trembled just a bit at the moment of release.
He'd thought it would still land within the 10-point zone.
Yu-chan looked up, sensing the wind had shifted direction in the interim.
To create the most realistic training environment possible, gusts of wind blew through the archery range.
Changing direction and strength without any warning, just like in real life.
From the side, he heard Lee Yeon-gu click his tongue softly.
A sign of irritation at the shifting wind.
And perhaps because of that...
Lee Yeon-gu's arrow strayed even farther from the center.
Still, Yu-chan tried not to let his opponent's mistake distract him.
The most important thing when handling a bow and arrow was an unshakable mind—a steady heart.
Yu-chan's third arrow left the string without much delay.
Nocking, drawing, arcing his hand in a smooth release—everything flowed naturally like water.
But the wind shifted direction mid-flight again, leaving the arrow teetering on the boundary between 9 and 10 points. The training system made the call.
"Ahh."
"So close."
Sighs rippled through the watching hunters outside the arena.
No matter who they were rooting for, it was a disappointing ruling.
And the faces of Titan Guild grew dark.
Lee Yeon-gu, who shot next, failed to recover from his previous low score.
His expression soured more than any of his Titan Guildmates.
Ranks were absolute among hunters.
Unless you hit the jackpot with a re-awakening, they didn't change.
Yet this kid next to him was trying to beat him while ignoring that rank gap entirely.
'Who does he think he is?'
Lee Yeon-gu smirked slyly and activated his skill.
It had a short duration, and using a skill against a C-rank bruised his pride a bit.
But there was no rule against using skills in the match.
Conveniently, the set changed, making it his turn to lead off.
Unlike before, Lee Yeon-gu fired his arrow with a confident expression.
As expected.
Confirming his score, Lee Yeon-gu glanced at his guildmates beyond the glass window.
Fortunately, they were smiling again now that he'd hit 10 points.
And Lee Yu-chan faltered.
He already knew his opponent had started using a skill.
So Yu-chan tried activating his own without hesitation.
But the response was the same cold rejection from the system as always.
'Damn it, how the hell do you do that?!'
But the system offered no answer.
It just repeated the restriction message endlessly, without explaining how to lift it.
In the meantime, Lee Yeon-gu fired another shot.
No issue with skill activation, but the sudden wind shift affected this one too.
A bit regrettable, but Lee Yeon-gu didn't lose his composure.
Lee Yu-chan was starting to crack, and it was showing in the scores.
"Of course."
That's the difference a rank makes.
After five shots total, the scores stood at Lee Yu-chan 43 points, Lee Yeon-gu 44 points.
Despite his slump in the first set, he'd pulled ahead, so riding this momentum would seal it.
That was Lee Yeon-gu's read as he lined up his sixth arrow.
Not a 10, but Lee Yeon-gu, already envisioning his victory, just shrugged it off.
In contrast, Lee Yu-chan was taking longer and longer to release each shot.
His mind was racing.
'Wind's picking up, direction northeast, so adjust like this...'
It was closer to the bullseye this time.
His sharpened senses, dulled by frustration over the unusable skill, began to awaken.
Before raising his bow, Yu-chan instinctively sought out Yu-eul.
Born the same day, same hour, sharing the same trials—yet unlike him, she had grown strong.
His other half, whom he both resented for the comparisons and admired.
Yu-eul watched him back with the same steady gaze as always, tense but unshaken.
The system notified him, but Yu-chan focused solely on the distant target.
His opponent beside him, the dozens of gazes from outside, even Yu-eul—all vanished from his mind.
Feeling the wind through his hair and skin, he drew back the string and released.
"Haa."
Yu-chan let out a long breath he'd been holding.
The thrilling sensation that had brushed his fingertips at release lingered vividly.
'What is this feeling?'
He'd fired thousands of arrows before, but this was a first.
Now it was Lee Yeon-gu growing anxious.
His skill's duration was nearly up.
All because that Justice Guild punk had dragged out every shot unnecessarily.
Thankfully, the arrow he squeezed off just before the effect wore off hit 9 points.
But Lee Yeon-gu fell into despair.
'What now?'
Without the skill, it'd repeat the first set's pattern.
In the end, Lee Yeon-gu opened his mouth.
"Not bad for an orphan brat."
But he got no reaction from Lee Yu-chan.
The kid just stared blankly at the tip of his right hand.
'Not even this works?'
Everyone knew the Achilles' heel of the Lee Yu-chan and Yu-eul twins was their parents.
Especially Yu-chan, who always lost his cool and flared up whenever they were mentioned.
Yet he simply prepared for his next shot in silence.
Thwack!
It was ruled 9 points, but it clung right to the edge of the 10-point line.
Meanwhile, Lee Yeon-gu, who had taken deep breaths to steady himself before shooting, managed only another 8 points, same as before.
The spectators buzzed.
With one shot left, Lee Yu-chan and Lee Yeon-gu were tied at 70 points.
The entire training ground fell as silent as a graveyard while Lee Yu-chan drew back for his final arrow.