Chapter 52
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Vacation (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hoo... Hoo..."
5 AM sharp.
The moment he woke up, he dropped for 100 push-ups.
For him, morning exercise was easier than splashing water on his face.
Then 100 sit-ups.
Basic training to boost his defense and endurance.
Tae-hyun never skipped it, not even for a day.
It wasn't just about building stamina—it was to keep his abilities sharp.
Stats tied to physical fitness would drop if you didn't train them consistently.
"Hoo..."
Sit-ups done.
Time to get up.
"...You're really something else."
"No need to make a big deal out of it."
Ah-young, who had come to pick him up, said it around a mouthful of toast.
Today was the day they headed to the Yoon Family estate.
They shared a simple breakfast together, as she'd promised to swing by.
In just a few days, the academy grounds had transformed.
Normally, cadets would flood the streets on weekend mornings.
Even if it was just for training or a breather, they'd be out and about.
But a vacation was a vacation.
The quiet streets were visible through the window, plain as day.
Ah-young lifted her mug and asked,
"You ready?"
"Yeah. What is there to prepare? Just some spare clothes."
And the Switch Weapon.
Finally, Irina's gold card.
With those, he was set.
Ah-young swirled the cocoa in her mug and said,
"...Me too. It's been forever since I went back home. Kinda nervous..."
"How many years?"
"Let's see... Three years since the apprenticeship program. Pretty long time."
"Hmm... Yeah?"
Tae-hyun shoveled the rest of his veggies and chicken breast into his mouth.
He stood, placed his plate in the sink.
The auto dishwasher handled the cleaning and drying.
"No time to dawdle. Let's head out?"
"Y-yeah. Sure."
For Tae-hyun, the Yoon Family's main estate—20th House or not—was something he'd only seen in papers or photos.
This would be his first time going for real.
Honestly, his heart was racing a bit.
A place dubbed the holy land of magic.
For someone like Tae-hyun, who craved magic, it was paradise itself.
Getting invited by Yoon Soo-ah was a stroke of luck.
"I already sent my stuff ahead. Just need to show up."
"Got it. Let's go."
The next month was vacation time.
He wouldn't be back here for exactly one month.
Tae-hyun slung his bag—packed with just a change of clothes—over his shoulder and stood.
The warp zone was packed, even on the second day of vacation.
Seeing the long line, Ah-young let out a deep sigh.
"Haa... Looks like hours of waiting..."
Heh heh heh.
I chuckled, and Ah-young shot me a weird look.
Not just cadets—professors on break and even some Hunter Army folks were queued up.
Warp travel time had shrunk dramatically, but wait times had ballooned.
Sure, transportation had advanced over the years, but only a few really benefited.
The premium warp zone had barely any line.
But it cost a fortune.
And I had Irina's card.
An S-grade item that rivaled the Switch Weapon in sheer utility.
"Wha—hey? Tae-hyun, I don't have that kinda cash..."
Ah-young panicked as I headed for the premium lane.
"Don't sweat it."
I pulled out Irina's gold card.
"Oh... Okay?"
I strode straight into the premium warp zone.
The golden eagle insignia.
It marked a commander at the Hunter Academy.
Light gleamed from the eagle badge on Tae-hyun's left chest.
Arriving at the Seoul warp zone, Tae-hyun and Ah-young drew every eye.
"Whoa..."
"Eagle insignia... Must be a commander cadet."
Exclamations rippled through the Seoul warp zone.
Most aspiring hunters transferred to Hunter Military Academy.
Which fed into NCO school, so they trained with mana-bullet firearms.
That made hunters excelling in magic and swordplay rare gems.
To get into Hunter Officer Academy, you had to pass rigorous exams with a select group.
Thus, the 550 freshmen there were celebrities worldwide.
And among those top elites, class presidents and elites got special treatment.
Clap clap clap clap—
As Tae-hyun and Ah-young, in crisp uniforms, passed through the warp zone, civilians stood and applauded one after another.
A natural, unanimous gesture.
Honor for humanity's heroes.
The noble profession that staked lives for others.
That was the modern hunter.
The cheers lasted until they vanished from sight.
"Hoo... Embarrassing... Feels nice, but I don't deserve it..."
In the taxi, Ah-young took off her peaked cap and said.
"...Can't be helped. Cadets have to wear uniforms when out."
They headed to Gwanak-gu, Seoul, where the Yoon Family estate stood.
The magic main house, right beside Korea's top university, Seoul National University.
Fitting its grandeur, the grounds were massive.
Magic ingredient shops, magic weapon stores, spellbook bookstores—shops catering to mages lined the streets.
True to its holy land status, mages bustled about.
Plus, with the tournament tomorrow, the streets buzzed like a festival.
Kids in mage hats lined up to gawk.
The central avenue of hanok buildings.
At its end lay the Yoon Family estate.
The 20 Houses generally got state backing.
Honoring heroes by raising their heirs.
Hunter Army troops guarded the main gate.
Yoon Family protectors.
One aimed his rifle.
"Halt. Restricted area. Authorized personnel only."
The Hunter Army kept their guns on Yoon Ah-young.
Mages could alter appearances.
Even her, without the contract scroll, couldn't enter.
"...Contract."
Ah-young murmured, and a scorched-red scroll floated up.
The soldier lowered his weapon upon seeing it.
"Welcome, young lady. And the companion?"
"A guest. Invited by the family head herself."
"...Understood. Permission granted."
Rumble...!
The iron gate creaked open slowly.
Immense scale.
Worthy of the world's top mage family.
The vast garden was dotted with flowers everywhere.
Fountains, sculptures of every kind.
Among them, a statue preserving Yoon Ji-yeon's living likeness.
Yoon Ji-yeon battling an ice dragon.
'...Pfft. Hilarious.'
Tae-hyun stifled a laugh inside.
Knowing she'd commissioned it herself made it even funnier.
Gardeners tended flowers and trees diligently.
They bowed to Ah-young as she passed.
Finally, the mansion came into view.
A quintessentially Korean estate, tiled roofs and all.
And waiting to greet them? None other than Yoon Seo-hyun.
Arms crossed, she said,
"...You made it."
"Yeah."
Ah-young answered cautiously.
Yoon Seo-hyun had come to the gate herself.
Impeccably dressed.
Servants attending her were visible too.
"...Come in. You too, Oppa."
"Sure."
Tae-hyun and Ah-young followed Seo-hyun to the reception room.
An awkward meal dragged on.
Yoon Seo-hyun ate silently; Ah-young was no different.
Tae-hyun alone devoured his food with gusto.
'Ugh... Say something, Oppa...'
Seo-hyun thought, picking at japchae.
'...This sucks... Tae-hyun's just eating...'
Ah-young poked her rice with chopsticks, thinking.
Sandwiched between them, Tae-hyun felt zero awkwardness.
He even ate noisily; the room echoed with his chomping.
Tap tap.
Tae-hyun nudged the rib dish and said,
"Could I get more of this?"
"Yes, right away."
"Thanks."
Ten minutes of dead silence already.
Tae-hyun didn't care.
He even ordered seconds.
Finally, fed up, Seo-hyun spoke.
"Oppa, you eat like some old uncle. You sure you're not a 40-year-old in disguise?"
"Wha—pfft—cough, hack, cough cough."
Tae-hyun choked, thumping his chest.
Ah-young passed him water; he gulped it down.
"...Why so flustered...?"
"Haha... Just a joke."
Tae-hyun wiped sweat, grinning sheepishly.
Gnawing a drumstick, he thought,
'...Should I act my age? Old habits die hard.'
Yoon Family cuisine rivaled Irina's mansion.
All traditional Korean—meats tender, veggies fresh.
Tae-hyun polished off three bowls of rice before leaning back, full.
He glanced around.
Several butlers overseeing the meal.
Reception room brimming with priceless decor.
His home for the next month.
"Anyway. Yoon Ah-young. Didn't expect you entering the tournament."
Seo-hyun smirked at Ah-young.
"...Why? Can't I?"
Seo-hyun chuckled oddly.
"No, no. Just figured you wanna embarrass yourself again..."
"..."
Ah-young's face darkened.
"You've never beaten me once in a matchup. Not ever... everrrr..."
"..."
Two years her junior.
But the resentment lingered.
Ah-young gripped the tablecloth tight.
"Whatever. Do your best. Honestly, when you quit the Yoon Family during Rio training? Total idiot move."
Scrape—
Seo-hyun stood.
"...But seeing my 'sister' quit the Yoon Family like that. Mid-training. How embarrassing."
"...Hey. That's too much."
Tae-hyun cut in, but Seo-hyun pressed on.
"Actually, perfect timing. Get crushed at the magic tournament and quit then. In that sense, great comeback. Yoon Ah-young."
"..."
"Anyway, Oppa. Welcome to the Yoon Family. Rest up while you're here."
To Tae-hyun, unlike Ah-young, she flashed a sweet smile.
She turned to leave the reception room.
Bang!
Then, a loud slam—Yoon Ah-young shot up.
'Whoa, startled me.'
First time seeing her this mad.
Tae-hyun shrank back, watching.
Expressionless, Ah-young said,
"I came to prove it."
"..."
Seo-hyun paused, hand on the doorknob, listening.
"...I'll prove it to the whole world. That I'm not a 'failure'."
Her voice trembled, but rang with conviction.
Quitting the Yoon Family? Still on.
Probably her final goodbye.
And she'd prove her strength without tarnishing the family name.
"...Do well, then."
Seo-hyun said, still gripping the knob.
Creak—
The door opened; she stepped out.
There, someone waited.
'...That's...'
Tae-hyun knew her instantly.
The woman in the wheelchair was smiling.
"Fighting again?"
She grinned cheekily, taking Seo-hyun's hand.
Ah-young said, voice shaking,
"...Fourth Sis?"
Yoon Family's fourth daughter.
Yoon Jung-yeon.
Former A-rank hunter, lost both legs in a dungeon.
Now living ordinarily.
Wheelchair-bound, but her presence was overwhelming.
"...Ah-young, long time no see. You doing okay?"
She asked with a smile.
(To be continued next time)