Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Heroine Saves the World
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Thud!
Lee Yu-chan hung his head.
There was disappointment from barely scoring 7 points on the final shot, but there was a bigger reason.
His right hand, which had been fine just moments ago, was trembling uncontrollably.
It wasn't from tension.
It was because of that special sensation that had started creeping in along with the system's message about his skill restriction loosening.
At first, it was just a slight prickling, but by the ninth arrow, it had turned into a dull ache, growing steadily worse.
By the end, it hurt so much that physiological tears welled up in his eyes.
As a result, that low score of 7 points had flown wide.
And Lee Yeon-gu's final arrow...
A moment later, the final match results filled the screen.
Lee Yeon-gu won by a single point.
"Argh, one point!"
"So close."
"Why'd you blow the last shot like that?"
The crowd around them tore at their hair as if it were their own match.
"Ah, Lee Yu-chan doesn't usually make mistakes like that."
Lee Yu-eul, watching from the side, felt the same.
But I was satisfied enough.
"Not a bad result."
Losing by one point was regrettable, of course, but there was a change in Lee Yu-chan's status window.
The first skill, 'Hit,' which had always been deactivated, had changed to 'Activatable.'
I could guess why he'd messed up the final shot.
'His body couldn't hold up.'
Lee Yu-chan was C-rank.
So he had a C-rank body.
But the now-reawakenable 'Hit' skill was A-rank.
His body was bound to overload.
'I need to get him a full reawakening soon.'
Full reawakenings were rare even across the entire [Sejong Curtain].
The prime example was Sama Young reawakening from A to S-rank.
Lee Yu-chan and Lee Yu-eul counted too, of course.
'There are ways.'
The only downside was that it required various preparations, so I couldn't do it right now.
Even before reawakening, if he could just toughen up that easily crumbling mentality, Lee Yu-chan was sure to grow tremendously.
"Lee Yu-chan!"
Sure enough, as he was walking out of the arena, Lee Yu-chan staggered like he might collapse.
If Lee Yu-eul hadn't rushed over to support him, he probably would've face-planted.
Normally, seeing Lee Yu-chan like that would've drawn mocking laughter like "Puhaha."
But no one was laughing.
Instead, most people were looking at Lee Yu-chan—who'd given his all against a B-rank and lost by just one point—with interest, fondness, and encouragement.
"Don't waste time on useless crap. Hurry up and start the next match."
Titan Guild leader Kim Do-ran approached with a fierce glare, urging me on.
"Whatever."
If you wish that hard for your humiliation.
I shot a resentful glance at Lee Yu-eul supporting Lee Yu-chan, then moved to my seat.
The martial arts match was set to take place on a hexagonal boxing ring.
It was where combat classes who didn't normally use weapons trained and sparred.
It resembled a standard boxing ring in structure, but instead of being open around the edges, it was enclosed by a translucent barrier.
No one could interfere from outside until the match ended, and escaping from inside was impossible too.
"It's a death match or what."
It felt uneasy shoving a still-young girl like Lee Yu-eul in there, but as a hunter, she couldn't get blanket protection just for being a minor like a regular person.
She had to face monsters that could kill in one hit, let alone fights with other people.
Then the Titan Guild leader came over with an announcement.
"Park Dae-gang's going in for us."
Lee Yu-eul was matched against Park Dae-gang, the B-rank physical enhancer.
At least the guild leader had the sense not to face an 18-year-old himself.
"No skill use."
Without protective gear and using skills, it'd turn into a real death match.
Every hunter was a precious asset to their guild.
"...Fine."
I waved him off with one hand, signaling he could leave now that he'd said his piece, and scanned the surroundings.
"Bigger crowd now."
More spectators than during the archery match.
But Jang Su-ho and Kang Han still weren't in sight.
"That association chairman's being real persistent."
Time to lop off that bald bastard's head.
As I muttered to myself, I spotted the twins.
Lee Yu-eul, uncharacteristically quiet, was gently stroking the head of a weary Lee Yu-chan slumped in his chair.
Her ever-smiling face was dark now.
I could guess what she was thinking.
"Lee Yu-eul, time to get ready to go up."
"...Okay."
She gave her brother one last worried glance before trudging over.
No gloves since it wasn't boxing.
But some minimal joint protection was necessary.
I called out to Lee Yu-eul, who was sloppily taping her fingers and knuckles with slumped shoulders.
"Lee Yu-eul."
"Yes, sis?"
"Lose and you're dead."
"Uh-huh."
Her response lacked conviction.
"Don't overthink it."
Her cat-like eyes, glued to her brother until now, finally turned to me.
"Going easy and losing isn't doing him any favors."
I said it extra firmly on purpose.
"Remember your brother gave it his all until he was wiped out."
Lee Yu-eul must have thought:
Yu-chan lost, so if I win, won't it hurt his pride?
Won't he feel bad?
They were twins who'd shared a womb.
She couldn't be unaware of the subtle inferiority complex Lee Yu-chan harbored toward her.
She seemed thoughtless, but Lee Yu-eul always watched Lee Yu-chan's mood.
She'd call him for help even when she could handle it alone, step back even when she could step up.
It was obvious even to me, who'd just joined Justice Guild.
But not today.
"Got it? Fight like your brother's got your back. Just don't be the first one downed."
In [Sejong Curtain], Lee Yu-eul had successfully reawakened a skill in a similar situation.
That's why I'd deliberately provoked Titan Guild more to create this chance.
I'd set up the gamble, staking Justice Guild's reputation.
Lee Yu-eul's eyes changed.
After a final glance at Lee Yu-chan drinking water handed to him by the red-haired woman, she climbed onto the ring with resolve.
"Yeah, that's my Yu-eul."
Moments later, the barrier activated, and the martial match began.
"Ah, even if I win this, it's barely breaking even."
Park Dae-gang let out a sigh-mixed chuckle.
"Can't even brag about beating a tiny girl like this."
"You were the uncle who dumped water on my little brother."
"What?"
"Made me wanna kill you."
"You little shit...!"
As Park Dae-gang spewed vulgar curses, Lee Yu-eul's fist shot toward his mouth at blinding speed.
It packed enough force to whip up a gust of wind.
"Gah!"
Caught off-guard, a startled Park Dae-gang jerked his upper body back, barely dodging.
And he instinctively knew.
Underestimating her meant defeat.
No skills allowed, so he had to end it quick to save face.
Gritting his teeth, Park Dae-gang swung his right arm wide, launching a punch.
But Lee Yu-eul didn't dodge.
Crack!
She raised her left arm, blocking the heavy punch.
Despite the pain from the difference in build and rank, she didn't even flinch.
Instead, she drove a deep hook into the opening Park Dae-gang exposed.
"Guhk!"
The first clean hit landed.
The punch sank perfectly into his gut and side.
But Park Dae-gang, seasoned from battling monsters and hunters, didn't buckle easily.
He yanked Lee Yu-eul's left arm—that had blocked his right—and kneed upward.
"Urk!"
No time to retreat; she tensed her abs to minimize the knee strike's impact, but agony like her guts twisting followed.
Staggering back half a step, Lee Yu-eul faced Park Dae-gang's immediate follow-up.
He dropped his center low, aiming a kick at her knee.
Taking it would shatter her knee and calf.
Lee Yu-eul chose evasion over clash.
She rolled swiftly across the mat, repositioning behind him in an instant.
Even after they switched places, the breathless close-quarters brawl continued, second by split second.
Thud! Smack! Thwack!
It was an even fight that boiled the crowd's blood.
Just as the deadlock seemed to hold, Park Dae-gang moved first.
"Hup!"
Closing distance in a flash, he thrust his massive hands at Lee Yu-eul.
Intending to grab her collar, immobilize her, and slam her down.
"Like hell you will!"
But Park Dae-gang's attempt fizzled.
Lee Yu-eul countered his iron grip with equal strength, leaping back like a spring.
Her top tore halfway, but it was a small price compared to losing.
As he recalculated his next move, Lee Yu-eul's gaze flicked momentarily to Lee Yu-chan.
To check her brother's condition.
But before she could fully look, a hulking body blocked her path.
Park Dae-gang's ploy to shake her mentally.
No one could predict what it would unleash.
Lee Yu-eul's impudent eyes narrowed sharper.
'Blocking my way?'
The moment she registered her path obstructed, fury surged from deep within.
She wanted to shove this thing aside.
Topple the bear.
And press forward.
At that instant, text appeared before Lee Yu-eul's eyes.