Feeling Left Behind (1)
I'd hoped to share the joy of finally ranking up to B-rank hunter with Cha Yuri, but unfortunately, she didn't seem to have the leisure for it right now. She was in the thick of battling a Stone Golem, unleashing her magic without a moment's pause.
Worried she might get overwhelmed by a B-rank monster, I watched closely, but thankfully, that didn't seem to be a concern.
"Watch out, Cha Yuri!"
"This thing's not dangerous at all!!"
The Stone Golem's attack came flying at a decent speed, but the updraft swirling at her feet let her dodge it effortlessly. Even mid-air, Cha Yuri cast her next spell at the monster.
"Screw Tornado!!"
Unlike before, this 5-circle wind spell was unleashed from closer range. The wind tendril shooting from her staff scattered into strands of mana the moment it hit the Stone Golem's head.
Well, that was to be expected. Stone Golems had magic resistance that was pure poison to magic hunters—practically impenetrable. No matter how powerful the spell, it wouldn't land on them. They were fundamentally different from Woodrellos, so Cha Yuri's magic had zero effect.
The only way to deal damage was to use magic to create physical impact... but unlike with Black Slimes, even sharp bursts of air wouldn't leave so much as a scratch.
"Air Bomb!!"
This spell exploded compressed air to deliver a shockwave. The Stone Golem twitched slightly on impact, but it was just a minor delay at best. Even that seemingly critical hit hadn't dented its rocky body.
Staying here longer wouldn't change the outcome. From the Stone Golem's perspective, it probably felt like swatting an annoying mosquito. Cha Yuri's power could harass a magic-resistant rock golem, but victory was impossible.
This wasn't me downplaying her—it was an objective assessment. deeming further engagement pointless, I slipped between her and the Stone Golem.
"That's enough now."
"Ah, no! I can win!!"
"You're struggling against a single Stone Golem, and you say that?"
My greatsword sliced through the B-rank monster that had just been giving Cha Yuri hell, splitting it in two. It crumpled to the floor of the Golem Temple.
"Everyone has monsters that are a pain to fight. No one thinks you're weak just because of that."
"……."
"Of course, I don't have any monsters that give me trouble."
"……Tch."
Objectively, Cha Yuri was strong. No one could deny that. She'd reached A-rank before even meeting me, and with her potential, she'd only get stronger.
If she kept venting her lust with me and honing her skills, reaching the rare heights of an S-rank magic hunter was entirely possible.
Of course, that didn't mean she was stronger than me now.
"Don't get too down about it—the opponent was me, after all."
"…I'm not down."
"It was unofficial, but we can call the hunting contest my win, right?"
"…Do whatever."
Cha Yuri, who always insisted she was stronger than me and only half-heartedly submitted in bed, had finally acknowledged a proper defeat.
After safely completing the third Hunter Association promotion exam, the three of us returned to the association guild lobby.
I was beaming from my fresh B-rank promotion, while Cha Yuri sulked, realizing she was weaker than me. The association staff seemed unsure how to act amid the awkward tension.
Despite the odd disturbance, I'd successfully raised my hunter rank to B.
"……."
Whether the defeat as a hunter hit her that hard, Cha Yuri still looked down even after leaving the guild. Her personality and tendencies were the total opposite of Do Sihee's.
"That upsetting?"
Her slumped back twitched at my words.
"Upsetting? About what."
"Losing to me as a hunter. You've been low-energy since the Golem Temple."
"I don't think that way. I don't know if you're stronger overall, but you were more useful as a hunter this time—that's fact."
"Then why do you look so bummed?"
"…Just am."
"'Just' doesn't tell me anything."
"……."
Cha Yuri pondered my words, then spat out her bitterness.
"…I can't fall behind."
"Huh?"
"Unlike you or the others, if I'm not a hunter, I'm nothing."
"……."
"My place in Sky Blue Shield, the affection you're showing me now—it's all because I'm a hunter. The moment my skills falter, it'll vanish like an illusion."
"…Is that really how you see it?"
"Yeah. So I can't get weak. Otherwise, I won't have a place."
That explained why she'd denied being weaker than me so stubbornly, her constant self-denial and obsession with strength.
I finally understood where it came from.
"You're not getting weaker, Cha Yuri. I'm just getting stronger."
"I know, but how do I stop feeling anxious?"
"Anxious about what?"
"Me standing still while everyone else powers up—it's basically the same as me weakening. Right now it's just you barely ahead, but who knows if it'll be a hundred, a thousand?"
"That's a huge leap, Cha Yuri."
"You wouldn't get it—you're new to hunting. How jittery this feels."
She probably couldn't imagine it, but I'd felt this far earlier, far more intensely. Being overtaken by those who'd started behind me? I'd lived it.
"Sorry for killing your promotion vibe. Jealousy like that isn't fair to a newbie B-rank."
"Cha Yuri."
"Yeah?"
"Buy me a meal to celebrate the rank-up."
"……Huh?"
"We still have that promise from the day we met, right?"
"…Fine, whatever."
An hour after leaving the guild, we finally entered a restaurant for lunch. The delay was mostly Cha Yuri's fault.
Asking her—someone who'd never planned a lunch date—to pick a spot was a tall order. Watching her fluster was entertaining.
Half of it was me teasing to see that side of her.
"S-So, where do you wanna go?"
"I said anywhere's fine."
"Wh-Where's 'anywhere'…! Huh?!"
"Whatever you wanna eat, Cha Yuri."
"Aargh, seriously…!"
In my old world, "anywhere" was the answer that stumped guys asking girls out. Here, with genders flipped, it worked the same. Cha Yuri stomped in frustration—fun to watch.
For me, it was genuine; I'd nod to cheonggukjang or silk worm soup without complaint.
The issue? She couldn't even say "anywhere."
"…Guys like tteokbokki, right? But tteokbokki on a first date feels too cheap…. Pasta? Nah, Sungcheol works out, might hate flour. Steak's safe…? But steak's for dinner dates…."
Her book-learned dating dilemmas were obvious as she muttered. I pretended not to hear, watching her agonize.
After an eternity, she dragged me to a chicken joint.
"Y-You said anywhere's fine, right? No complaints now?"
"Got it, just go in."
I half-pushed the still-doubtful Cha Yuri inside.
"Chicken needs beer. You okay with daytime drinks, Cha Yuri?"
"…Doesn't matter. No afternoon plans without you anyway."
We chatted idly until the food arrived, then clinked glasses, eyes meeting.
"Cheers~."
"……Cheers."
Downing half our beers, I met her gaze again.
"Cha Yuri."
"Yeah."
"You said earlier I wouldn't know what it's like to be overtaken by others."
"…And?"
"I do. Everyone passing me by, me alone, lagging behind."
"Huh? But you've been hunting less than a year…."
"True, less than a year as a hunter."
She tilted her head, curious. I confessed my past flatly.
"I got my awakening and became a hunter less than a year ago, but I spent a long time as an aspiring hunter."
The feeling of everyone else surging ahead while I stood still?
I was far more of an expert than the girl in front of me.