Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Hoping We Get Close
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‘Looking at her like this, she’s no joke either.’
During Party Practice, she’d been decked out in full armor, so I hadn’t noticed at all. Swinging around a lance like that while clad head to toe in metal plating, I’d figured her body couldn’t be ordinary.
You’d think I’d be used to it after staring at Im Yu-ha’s ripped physique for a whole week, but Sin Ju-yeon gave off a whole different vibe.
Unlike Im Yu-ha, whose muscles were evenly developed all over with especially prominent arms and legs, Sin Ju-yeon’s arms were surprisingly slim.
Instead, her abs were sharply defined and compressed, her lats spread wide enough to see even while sitting, and those thighs—packed so tight I worried they’d split her jeans right open—were on another level compared to Im Yu-ha’s.
Not a scrap of fat anywhere, with muscles carved into her obliques. Her erector spinae had to be insane too. The absolute pinnacle of core strength, you could say.
‘The difference between a lancer and a brawler, huh.’
And even that attention-grabbing chest of hers seemed like it was made of pure muscle. Bet it’d bounce your hand right back if you poked it.
“Coffee? I already had one.”
“Want another? My treat.”
“Then iced.”
I returned with two coffees, one for each of us, and Sin Ju-yeon was pulling a tablet out of her bag.
“So, what’s the deal? I was pretty surprised when I heard you were my mentor. I thought about texting you ahead of time, but I didn’t have your number.”
“I considered that too, but this seemed more fun.”
She’s got a surprisingly playful side? We’d chatted some during Party Practice, but thinking back, it was mostly just the essentials.
“Anyway, what’ve you been up to lately? Your body looks different.”
“Think so?”
“Yeah. It’s not just workout gains—it’s got that hunter vibe now, y’know?”
If even Sin Ju-yeon was saying that, the special training must’ve paid off. Though how the hell Im Yu-ha turned me into this in just a week was beyond me.
“Let’s get the important stuff out of the way first. The practice run’ll be next week—pick a day. It depends on the candidate site, though.”
“Aren’t you busy? B-ranks get a ton of requests.”
“Menting pays well. Prep time counts toward requests, so it adds up.”
“How’d I end up with you as my mentor? I heard it was random.”
“Oh, I applied for you.”
“Huh?”
What was that now? I knew mentees could apply, but mentors too?
“Hunters from Party Practice get priority. Easier with someone you’ve run with before. Guild folks all do it.”
“So for me?”
“Hmm… Like I mentioned last time, you’re my first same-age hunter?”
That’s it? She slurped her coffee through the straw, picking up on my confusion.
“You might not realize it, but meeting peers isn’t easy. Especially exact same age.”
“Why’s that?”
“Half coincidence, probably. The other half… awakening timing or the industry system?”
Neither clicked right away. You can’t control when you awaken, and I didn’t know much about the system yet.
“Guilds usually snag D-ranks right after awakening. Supporters especially.”
“Never got a single call.”
Jeong Se-hee had called me a ‘rare find’ too. Yet no business cards, nothing.
“Maybe a glitch, or some other reason?”
“Other reason?”
“No clue. Point is, awakenings at our age are rare. It’s mostly teens or late twenties and up. Kinda extreme, right?”
“So you awakened early too?”
“C-rank going into high school. Didn’t go official till after graduation.”
Minors can’t get a full hunter license, even if they awaken. Prevents reckless challenges and exploitation.
Guild joins and training are fine, but dungeon raids require rank-matched gates, limited runs, and B-rank-plus escorts.
“We can talk this stuff anytime, so back to business.”
“Sorry.”
I listened quietly as Sin Ju-yeon explained the dungeons we’d hit.
Four candidates: two E-grades, one D, one C.
E and D in Gyeonggi outskirts; C meant trekking to Gangwon.
“I recommend the D-grade. Might be tough, but I’ll be there—no big issues.”
“The others?”
“E-grade’s too easy for your specs now. Even as support, you could brute-force it. C-grade shifts focus to assisting me, less direct combat.”
“These are all mapped out, right?”
“Yeah, but mining dungeons aren’t for slacking. No is ever 100%.”
B-plus gates close after a few mining runs for safety.
Heard B’s max five, A’s one or two.
S-grade? Emergencies on sight. One slip and a city’s gone.
C-minus can handle breaks, so repeated clears. Hunters are basically miners.
“If I pushed for C now, reckless?”
“Not totally, but risky. Even I’d struggle solo.”
Full buffs put me at low C. But that’s copying my own status.
‘Copy hers, and strength plus agility tops 300. Solid C tail-end.’
Doable calc. She’d drunk my drink at Party Practice—no prep issues.
“Let’s do C.”
“You sure?”
“With you? What could go wrong? Worst case, I support like you said.”
“True, but…”
“What, don’t trust me?”
“Not that.”
She looked a bit sulky; I dipped my head apologetically.
Probably weighing risks. Mentors aim for safe clears.
“Fine, if that’s what you want. I can solo it anyway—just prep thoroughly.”
“Need anything?”
“Extra armor if you can afford it. Weapon plans? You used a lance before.”
“Gonna shop anyway. Gear up on armor and weapons worth using.”
“Cool. Want help picking?”
“Huh?”
Didn’t see that coming. Reading my surprise, she added:
“Mentor duty includes prep. Maximize your budget.”
“Not today, right?”
“When’re you free?”
“Weekend-ish?”
“Sunday afternoon work?”
“Yeah. Lunch first.”
Training with Im Yu-ha ends Saturday; evening with Yu-ra Noona. Perfect.
“More questions?”
“Not specifics… just newbie-useful info?”
Vague ask, but she spun tales smoothly. Casual friend chat, not gossipy.
‘Real curiosities go to Im Yu-ha or Guidebook skill.’
An hour later, we parted. Dinner together? Too awkward yet; she had plans.
‘Timing’s off.’
Just shy of 6 p.m. Too early for gym return? Im Yu-ha said dinner out’s fine.
No curfew—just don’t miss morning training.
One contact left.
[Oh, Seong-han.]
“Hey, Noona. Busy?”
[Heading out soon. Training going well?]
“I’m in Jongno now.”
[Jongno? What’s up?]
“Met my dungeon practice mentor, just split. Dinner if you’re free?”
[Perfect! Thought weekend only! Meet halfway!]
Her thrilled voice warmed me. This the girlfriend vibe?
‘…Not official, though.’
Come to think, Yu-ra Noona, Jeong Se-hee—wild sex, no normal relationship.
Hung up, headed to her spot in Sinchon. Twenty minutes, tops.
Bitter taste aside, face reality. Focus on fun with Noona now.
“Bottom line: exceeding expectations.”
Three more days of hellish training wrapped; Saturday.
Post-morning conditioning, Im Yu-ha and I watched footage on the big screen.
“When’d you film and edit all this?”
“Division has dedicated analysts. No leak worries.”
“Wasn’t concerned about that.”
Jeong Se-hee’s parachute connections. They’d handle it to stay in good graces.
Huge machines during spars—cameras, apparently. Pro edits made it YouTube-slick.
“Day one, slow-mo?”
…Fucking hell. Mortifying.
Focused during, but outsider view? Pure slapstick.
Not fighting—a clown show. Flailing feet, those wild air punches—what?
“Zero balance, muscles wasted, strikes off-target. Gaze like a sleepwalker.”
“…Did I piss you off big time, Yu-ha?”
“No way. I’d have snapped something if so.”
True—she’d have wrecked a limb clean, no side effects.
“But as you see, your movements evolve per spar.”
No exaggeration. First vs. last? Even I questioned if same guy.
Stable base, powered strikes aiming true. No wasted motion.
“Pure proof of your effort. I’d show new guildies this as training material, with permission.”
“My fighting that improved?”
Expected praise, but she eyed me blankly, like nonsense.
“For motivation and grit. Learn perseverance—not technique.”
…Her deadpan critique stung worse, damn it.
“Anyway, a congratulatory gift.”