Hunter Center Trouble 04: "Are You Strong?"
"Are you strong?" Yeonwoo blurted out.
"Pardon?"
"Huh?"
Jeong Eunhye and the man reacted at the same time. It was an unexpected response.
In Jeong Eunhye's case, she was lost in thought, wondering what on earth this meant. But the man was different. He reacted instantly to the short remark.
"Ha. Haha. Strong? I'm a Gold tier hunter, miss."
"I wouldn't know."
Yeonwoo shrugged dramatically, as if to say she meant it.
"Haha! Oh man, what do I do? I can't show you right here and now. Wait, no—if we head to a nearby gate, I could show you today. Heh heh."
"That's enough, Hunter Nade Man."
"Why not, Team Leader? She's curious about me."
The man, Nade Man, grinned and thumped his chest with a thud-thud. Even as he spoke to Jeong Eunhye, his eyes never left Yeonwoo.
Tch.
Yeonwoo inwardly clicked her tongue at him.
So simple and straightforward.
Having been a man herself once, she knew the type well. Twisting the egos of guys who lived off their own hype was child's play. Just poke a little doubt, and they'd scramble to prove themselves.
Easy. Too easy.
Yeonwoo was basking in her veteran savvy, but Nade Man's thoughts were a bit different.
A Gold tier hunter like him was lost in fantasy.
How should I show her?
The beauty before him—a dazzling newbie hunter whose looks outshone even the most filtered SNS idols—was showing him curiosity? No way he could let that slide.
Who would pass this up? Unless they were a eunuch without a pulse.
"Conveniently, there's something perfect. Why not show her directly?"
Yeonwoo, the subject in question, threw out the idea.
There was a handy practice wooden sword right there.
She shook the one she held, making her intent clear: Let's see what you've got.
"Heh. Bold one."
Nade Man clicked his tongue. But why did her blunt banmal only make him like her more? Her lack of pretense was a pass. And skipping straight to the point? Another pass. Appearance, personality—everything felt like his ideal type straight out of a dream.
In the end, it all boiled down to her looks. Pride, testing him—none of that mattered. Her beauty did all the heavy lifting.
"Hold on—what are you two even talking about?!"
Jeong Eunhye was beyond baffled, verging on incredulous. This wasn't some playground spat—what was this flow?
Of course, she'd seen Yeonwoo's skills during the support program, and they were impressive. No other Bronze tier could match her, she was sure.
But Nade Man was Gold tier. His Tier itself was higher, so the physical gap was obvious from the start.
Even with wooden swords, if something went wrong and she got hurt...
"You don't trust me?"
Yeonwoo spoke with inexplicable confidence, as if losing wasn't even on the table.
"No, it's not that at all, but..."
Jeong Eunhye trailed off. It was ridiculous—they'd just met today, so what was there to distrust?
But it showed how much instinctive fondness she already felt for Yeonwoo.
"Just fighting's no fun. Let's make a bet in front of everyone."
Yeonwoo nodded toward the waiting area. She meant it literally: a match right out in the open.
"Heh, hehehe. Wow. No holds barred, huh? Totally my type. Bet it is. So, Hunter Yeonwoo—what do you wanna stake?"
Fuck.
Yeonwoo barely swallowed the curse rising to her throat. This was why she hated dragging out conversations.
"That sword."
"Good eye. So what do I get? Hmm?"
Nade Man didn't doubt victory for a second. It was natural. Hell, he could interpret her interest as a win already—his shoulders squared with pride.
"Whatever you want."
Yeonwoo gave a vague answer, unable to stomach his sleazy grin any longer.
Ughhh.
It was driving her mad. The primal male courtship aimed at her. Experiencing it raw from the female side, no filter—it was nauseating.
The ticklish thrill was the polar opposite now. Something slimy crawling inside her, scraping her skin.
She had to live as a woman now, but day one was already hell.
How to describe this? The unwanted self-loathing from others' imposition. It grated her nerves like an empathy meter maxed out.
Was this how women always felt? Or was it because she was too beautiful?
Hah.
Just beat him quick and be done. That was the only way.
"No takebacks on that! Team Leader heard it too, right? Wait up—I'll grab a wooden sword right now!"
Nade Man flashed a creepy smirk, then bolted into the center without permission. No chance for Jeong Eunhye to stop him.
Definitely Gold tier—fast as hell.
"You okay? Why agree to such a reckless bet..."
"I'm fine. In front of everyone, he won't have excuses if he loses."
"...Pardon?"
Their perspectives clashed. Jeong Eunhye fretted over the bet's unfairness.
But Yeonwoo was preempting the fallout from winning.
She didn't entertain losing at all. To her, it was obvious.
You're using a wooden sword.
She'd be swinging an iron greatsword disguised as one.
And so, a surprise duel erupted smack in the middle of the Hunter Center.
They even shoved the central waiting seats aside to clear space, but no one complained.
"Bout time—beats being bored."
"Can I borrow a charger during this?"
"Gonna be fun to watch."
"Fun my ass. Gold versus Bronze? That thug's got no shame."
"Wasn't talking about him."
The long wait times made the impromptu event a welcome distraction.
Plus, one fighter was Yeonwoo—the stunning hunter who'd drawn eyes from the start, in every sense.
Just watching was enough. Chances to ogle a beauty like that didn't come often.
Too many stares...
The blatant gazes prickled her skin, even fully covered.
End it fast.
But decisively. First up: scouting.
Yeonwoo was a battle-hardened vet. Even with the wooden sword disguise, no room for slacking.
Opponent was Gold tier. Her new body's talent was top-notch, but physical gaps existed—she needed his attack range.
"Come at me first."
"...Me?"
Yeonwoo's bold call left Nade Man stunned. Gold vs. Bronze was clear-cut—yet she wanted him to strike first?
"Whoa, gutsy."
"Only hot to me?"
"She's got character."
"Watching her is the fun part."
Onlookers were impressed, tongues wagging.
But not everyone agreed.
"Hoh."
From the second-floor railing—rarely visible from the waiting area—a hulking man leaned against the corner walkway, stroking his chin at Yeonwoo.
His gaze wasn't Nade Man's lechery. Sharp, analytical—posture, grip, everything.
"Even against a thug, isn't that too reckless?"
"Looks that way to amateur eyes."
"Pardon?"
The man beside the giant—a female hunter—tilted her head. They were national hunters based at the center: Special Mobile Team.
"I like wuxia novels too, but real fights are different."
"Wuxia? Like masters yielding opening moves to scrubs?"
"Haha, yeah. Shouting 'Here I come!' before attacking. Announces the strike, gives prep time. Look at her eyes—not Bronze level."
"Ah, got it. Captain really loves his wuxia."
"Your side."
The captain shook his head and turned back to the first floor.
"Come on."
Yeonwoo urged again. Just like the captain said—she was gauging him.
Key was his movement. Same as monsters in gates: dodge or block?
Simple, vital.
"Scared?"
"Ha, hahaha! The more I see, the crazier you get, miss. Can't say no now!"
Nade Man finally moved.
"Ooooh."
"Not even a man."
"Rip that off, punk!"
Jeers rained, but he was committed. Gold-tier speed—impressive.
But predictable.
Guy who gathers for a downward chop.
Yeonwoo smirked and stepped forward.
Arm angle. Hand position. Trajectory clear.
Horizontal. Wide sweep.
She slipped into his range calmly.
"Eek!"
Gasps of shock and worry rippled, but she ignored them.
She tilted her head and arched her back—fluid, limber. Limbo-like.
Whoosh—
Right on prediction. The wooden sword grazed past her delicate chin.
This much clearance—plenty of roo—
Her thought cut short.
Snap.
No—it should have passed. Plenty of room.
But it touched.
Why? Where?
"Hngh...!"
A sharp jolt escaped her lips.
Men's and women's bodies differed. As her waist stretched taut, the symbol of softness surged upward.
Collarbone level with chin—the tension launched it higher, ruining balance.
The sword skimmed her heaving chest perilously.
First-time explosive friction. The stinging, electric shock raced her spine—Yeonwoo lost footing and crumpled.
"Ahh."
A sweet voice slipped from her flushed face. Hands clutched her chest instinctively.
Even a dogged vet's mind bowed to the body's instincts.
At least she kept her grip on the sword. Impressive.
"..."
"Uh, uhp..."
"...Gulp."
Moans echoed everywhere. Nade Man froze, sword still raised.
A. Aaaaaah.
Sanity snapped back late.
Too late.
I'll kill him. Beat him dead.
Yeonwoo ground her teeth, face erupting.