Chapter 42
Chapter 42
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The End of Incompetence (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cha Su-ho's gaze fixed on the swaying tree with grim determination. It seemed like he could fight a monster right now, but with Jin Seong-hyeok there, he wasn't scared.
'Do you remember how you killed that monster last time?'
At Jin Seong-hyeok's words, Cha Su-ho flipped his palm skyward. He focused his mind, and sparks crackled from the center of his palm with a sharp pzzt.
'With an Energy Ball, right?'
'Yeah. Let's deal with that first.'
No sooner had Jin Seong-hyeok finished speaking than something emerged from the dense underbrush. Its red body was covered in teeth, resembling a Mawder, but it was much smaller than the one he'd faced before, and it didn't have as many mouths.
'Jin... Seong-hyeok, isn't that a Mawder? If it's a Mawder, then... a boss-grade mutated...'
'No need to worry. It only counts as boss-grade once it matures. This one's just a hatchling—about your level.'
About your level. That meant he could take it. True or not, Cha Su-ho dropped into a combat stance at Jin Seong-hyeok's words.
The Mawder twisted its mouths this way and that before turning toward Cha Su-ho. Thick, viscous saliva dripped from its eerie maws with wet plops.
'Cha Su-ho.'
'Got it.'
Cha Su-ho's eyes shifted to his palm.
Pzzt-zzzt.
Sparks swirled, slowly forming a circle. Had all that secret practice paid off? In an instant, an Energy Ball the size of his face appeared above his palm.
'You've definitely improved.'
Even as Jin Seong-hyeok muttered, Cha Su-ho kept his gaze locked on the Mawder ahead.
One of the mouths on its face writhed like a worm. The mouths on its red body followed suit, squirming up and down.
Having faced an adult Mawder before, Cha Su-ho knew just how deadly those mouths were. Even a hatchling was still boss-grade, so he couldn't let his guard down.
The writhing mouths began popping out one by one. They stretched toward the air, shimmering like heat haze.
Pzzt.
The Energy Ball still spun in Cha Su-ho's hand, spitting sparks.
He had to wait. Until all the mouths lunged at him at once. As Cha Su-ho held his breath and stared down the Mawder...
The mouths quivered in the air and then gaped wide. Suddenly, the grotesque maws charged straight at him.
Seeing them rush into view in an instant, Cha Su-ho hurled the prepared Energy Ball.
A sharp tingle raced through him as the Energy Ball left his palm and engulfed the Mawder's mouths.
Kieeeek-!
The mouths didn't just scorch—they charred to black ash and vanished. In the blink of an eye, the Mawder thrashed wildly, emitting bizarre shrieks after losing its mouths.
'Now!'
At Jin Seong-hyeok's shout, Cha Su-ho leaped forward on instinct. As he charged the convulsing Mawder, he formed another Energy Ball in his right hand.
The staggering Mawder spotted him and opened its mouths again. Tendrils writhed inside, starting to emerge.
But Cha Su-ho's right hand was faster. The Energy Ball shot from his palm and slammed into the Mawder's belly.
A blue flash gradually turned red before exploding with a loud boom.
"Hah... hah."
Cha Su-ho panted heavily, wiping the Mawder's blood from his face.
Even a hatchling, but he'd killed a Mawder with his own hands. He stared at his palm, where faint sparks still danced. Jin Seong-hyeok spoke up.
'You've still got a long way to go. You're not planning to fight with just Energy Ball, are you?'
Energy Ball was only useful in one-on-one scenarios. And even then, only against foes he could close in on—like this hatchling instead of an adult.
He needed other techniques. Not one, but two, three— as many as possible.
'Don't worry.'
As if reading his mind, Jin Seong-hyeok replied.
'You think I only have one trick?'
Arrogant words, but coming from Jin Seong-hyeok, they fit.
'You've gotten good at making Energy Balls, so now try drawing it out.'
Drawing it out?
'You mean pull it out like an aura instead of an Energy Ball?'
Jin Seong-hyeok answered casually at Cha Su-ho's question.
'Yeah. It'll be tough at first, so think of it as extending from your fingertips instead of your palm. Remember this: you're not forming an Energy Ball—you're drawing it out. Long.'
Drawing it out long.
Cha Su-ho raised his right hand and focused all his senses on his index finger.
The tingling in his palm shifted to his fingertip. It stung, then blue sparks erupted.
'Jin Seong-hyeok!'
'Yes. Focus more.'
The harder he concentrated, the more it felt like needles stabbing his fingertip. Gritting his teeth, Cha Su-ho endured and refocused.
Then, a blue flame extended long from his index finger. The spark stretched like a whip, crackling and rippling with a pzzt.
'Is this it?! Did I do it?!'
Excitement made Cha Su-ho twitch, and the current-laced blue whip lashed out with a whoosh.
"Whoa."
He nearly hit himself with the whipping end and yelped. Jin Seong-hyeok clicked his tongue.
'Focus. Imagine controlling it all the way to the tip. Like it's part of your body.'
Part of your body. Cha Su-ho's expression turned serious again.
Pzzt. The whip, now longer than before, moved in sync with his finger.
'Looks like you've got basic control. Now slice those trees in front.'
No telling if it'd work, but Jin Seong-hyeok said to try, so he did. Staring at the tree ahead, Cha Su-ho took a short breath and swung his finger with focus.
The long whip arced through the air, following his motion downward in a flash.
Boom! Boom!
With successive explosions, the fresh green tree blackened. Leaves incinerated instantly, leaving only the thick branches.
A thrill surged through him. A new power. His eyes burned with fervor—he had to make it fully his own. That's how he'd grow stronger.
'Keep going until you can swing it freely.'
At Jin Seong-hyeok's command, Cha Su-ho kept moving his finger. Focusing all his mind on it drained him fast. He wasn't even running, but sweat already soaked his hair.
"Hoo..."
Even as he gasped, Jin Seong-hyeok pushed him harder.
How long had he been whipping away? His entire right hand went numb. All around lay charred trees.
Drenched in sweat like he'd showered, Cha Su-ho finally collapsed. Only then did Jin Seong-hyeok relent.
'...This is brutal.'
'Can't complain at this level.'
'...You apply your standards to everyone else too much, Jin Seong-hyeok.'
'Not everyone—you. You said you wanted to be a Hunter like me.'
He had. And his resolve hadn't changed.
'Then quit whining and learn one more.'
Jin Seong-hyeok's words struck his competitive spirit and pride.
'Whining? Who said that?'
He sprang up and focused on his index finger again—
'Your finger's wrecked.'
Cha Su-ho looked at his hand, puzzled.
'Whoa...'
He hadn't noticed without sensation. His right palm was charred black, and his index finger was flayed to the bone, white gleaming through.
'It'll regenerate soon anyway. Time to learn something else.'
Learn something else instead of resting? Cha Su-ho despaired just as he thought he could finally stop.
His watch alarm beeped.
[I heard you skipped afternoon training. Everything okay?]
Checking Min Gi-uk's message, Cha Su-ho glanced at the time.
Already 9 PM. He'd arrived after lunch, so over seven hours in the field.
'Jin Seong-hyeok, we should head back.'
'Yeah, gotta eat dinner—can't lose muscle.'
Muscle loss, of all things. Chuckling dryly, Cha Su-ho messaged Min Gi-uk.
[Did a light workout in the Helper room today—tired. Sorry, but please prepare dinner.]
'Already healed, huh.'
Checking his hand at Jin Seong-hyeok's words, Cha Su-ho marveled. It was perfectly regenerated, as if never injured.
As he flexed his palm in wonder, Jin Seong-hyeok spoke.
'It's still there.'
The black swirling gate remained open—the one from the tub.
'...Gonna get soaked again.'
'You've sweated it out—better, right?'
'Yeah, sure. Oh, Jin Seong-hyeok. Does the gate vanish when we leave?'
'Drain the tub water.'
Amazed at the simple fix, Cha Su-ho stepped into the gate.
It swallowed him instantly. Eyes squeezed shut in pitch black, he opened them to water flooding his nose and mouth.
"Gah...!"
Coughing, he surfaced in the tub. The water, once full, was half gone.
He wiped his face and climbed out.
'Ha, Jin Seong-hyeok. Every field trip like this?'
'You'll get used to it. Be grateful you can go at all.'
'I know. Just curious if there's another way.'
Training in the field was a huge privilege. No complaints. Just hated emerging like a drowned rat every time.
Already soaked, he showered fully and headed to the common living room.
Dinner from Min Gi-uk was on the table—Jin Seong-hyeok's favorites, as expected.
Three ribeye steaks, duck salad, boiled sweet potatoes, and Hunter protein shake.
He craved kimchi stew with pork and rice, but held back. Guzzling the shake while dreaming of stew...
Jin Seong-hyeok spoke up.
'Eat moderately. Train again after, then eat more.'
Wait—train again later?
As Cha Su-ho swallowed fast to respond, Jin Seong-hyeok continued in an oddly playful tone.
'After dinner, back to the field.'