Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Hunter (7)
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Whoosh. The sting on his cheek came with the sound of wind. Cha Su-ho raised his hand to touch it. Red blood smeared across the back of his hand.
"I couldn't control my strength. My apologies."
"No, it's fine. It'll regenerate in no time."
The scrape from the sword had already healed.
"Then, let's continue."
The blade came flying in. Reading Lee Eun-woo's movements was impossible. All Cha Su-ho could do was dodge quickly while searching for a way to restrain him.
A way to bind him.
A flash of insight crossed Cha Su-ho's mind.
"Lee Eun-woo Hunter, sorry about this."
Sparks began jumping from Cha Su-ho's fingertips, stretching out long. Threads extended from all ten fingers, instantly tightening around Eun-woo's body.
Crackle—
Being threads of electricity, they should have blackened and scorched his clothes on contact, but Cha Su-ho was suppressing them with his mental power, so it would only sting.
He had to squeeze Eun-woo while holding back the current's power. Sweat beaded on Cha Su-ho's forehead.
"Hoo... How's this now?"
"This one's pretty tough to shake off. However,"
Eun-woo flicked at the crackling threads with his finger and continued.
"this level of electricity won't cut it."
"Ah... I'm controlling it."
At the words "controlling it," Eun-woo tilted his head slightly.
"Controlling it?"
"Yes. I didn't want to hurt you, Lee Eun-woo Hunter..."
It was true, but it could also sound like he was going easy on her, so Cha Su-ho hurried to add,
"So..."
"Impressive. To think you can adjust the output of your ability mid-use."
Eun-woo continued with a puzzled expression.
"Physical Hunters are born with tough bodies. That's why our regeneration isn't that strong—we don't get hurt easily, no matter the impact. So no need to worry. Let it rip."
"The electricity, you mean?"
"Yes. How else will I know for sure?"
He was worried, but if something went wrong, he could stop immediately.
"Alright, just for about 10 seconds, then."
The moment he released the suppressed power, the threads binding Eun-woo began crackling fiercely.
"Kuh..."
Eun-woo grimaced in pain, and Airin, watching from afar, shot to her feet.
"Eu-Eun-woo!!"
As Cha Su-ho moved to suppress the power again at Airin's cry, Eun-woo spoke up.
"I'm fine... Is that all you've got?"
This much?
"Ugh, this isn't enough. I've never fought one myself, but if it's a Deadrock, it'll need to be stronger."
Crackle— Eun-woo's clothes began blackening and tearing.
"This is pain I can endure right now."
Eun-woo gritted his teeth and twisted his body. Crackle— The sparking threads burst with a pop.
Eun-woo was catching his ragged breath. Airin had rushed over but was blocked by the massive glass wall, looking at him with worried eyes.
"You okay?"
Cha Su-ho asked in a concerned tone as well, but Eun-woo casually sat up as if it were nothing.
His clothes were scorched and torn where the threads had touched, and the skin beneath was red and swollen. Blood was visible, so it looked pretty serious.
"No, we have to stop. To the treatment room...!"
"I'm fine."
Eun-woo calmly stripped off his torn T-shirt, wiped the blood with it roughly, and tossed it to the floor.
"One more time."
Cha Su-ho hesitated at the sight of Eun-woo gripping his sword and assuming position again, then nodded seriously.
It wasn't really a spar—it was more like Eun-woo teaching and Cha Su-ho absorbing everything. They kept at it until Airin grew tired and dozed off in her chair.
Confirming Airin was asleep, Eun-woo lowered his sword.
"That's enough for today."
Eun-woo's muscular body was covered in red bruises from Cha Su-ho's attacks, but he didn't seem to care.
As Eun-woo turned toward Airin, Cha Su-ho panted,
"Ha... Thank you... so much today. Huff."
It had been tough for Cha Su-ho too. He'd practiced dodging the sword, tried to read movements, and experimented with fully binding a moving target.
Having poured out all his mental power, he was on the verge of collapse.
Eun-woo, who never seemed to tire, quietly scooped up the sleeping Airin and nodded to Cha Su-ho.
"Good session."
Cha Su-ho watched them go, then collapsed onto the floor.
'You did well. You're starting to read movements decently now.'
'Still a long way to go. But ha... that was brutal.'
Jin Seong-hyeok spoke to Cha Su-ho as he heaved his shoulders with each breath.
'If he weren't crazy about his girlfriend, he'd be a solid guy.'
'His girlfriend's Airin the Helper.'
'...Airin is cute, yeah.'
'Did you just call her cute?!'
'What, she's cute. And my type's more glamorous anyway.'
A hollow laugh escaped Cha Su-ho's lips.
'You're something else.'
'So, how was sparring with a sword user?'
'Couldn't see a thing.'
He couldn't even predict where Eun-woo's blade would go. He'd twist right thinking it was coming from the right, only to find Eun-woo already on the left.
'Movements, sword—nothing.'
'Physical types are born agile, but sword users like Masa or Eun-woo stand out.'
'Are all sword Hunters like that...?'
'Dunno. There's one in another branch who uses a big sword—not as nimble, maybe because of the size.'
Cha Su-ho's expression turned serious. If he struggled this much against Eun-woo, no chance against a Deadrock.
'Good call sparring a sword user. No matter how overwhelmingly strong you are, if you haven't faced it...'
Jin Seong-hyeok chuckled.
'Cha Su-ho.'
'Yeah?'
'If your power is overwhelmingly strong.'
He'd forgotten.
'None of that matters. Just crush them.'
The opponent was Jin Seong-hyeok. Confidence from pride and skill.
'Wipe them out before they move.'
That sparked curiosity. How had Jin Seong-hyeok fought the Deadrock?
'How'd you do it?'
'Who, the Deadrock?'
'Yeah, how'd you fight it? I'm curious.'
Jin Seong-hyeok clicked his tongue.
'Told you.'
'...Huh? When...?'
'Wipe them out before they move.'
No way.
'It swung its sword at me.'
'...Swung?'
'So I blew it up.'
Blew up the Deadrock?
Ha. A hollow laugh escaped. Just how strong was Jin Seong-hyeok?
'No offense, but seriously.'
'You're full of questions today.'
'So, has there ever been a monster that gave you trouble while fighting?'
He expected an obvious "no," but Jin Seong-hyeok went quiet.
'Hyung?'
'Yeah. Mental ones, physical ones, even ones that were both.'
Such monsters existed. And more than one.
'Where are they...?'
'Last Zone.'
Last Zone. The final origin, the primordial one.
'So you can't whine about Dead Zone stuff. Even boss-grade monsters are nothing compared to Last Zone.'
For a moment, fear gripped him. How insane must one be to dismiss Dead Zone bosses like that? But it faded quickly. If Jin Seong-hyeok could face it, so could Cha Su-ho—he'd inherited that power.
'Gotta train harder.'
'No need to state the obvious.'
'You should praise me now.'
'Told you, I don't praise guys.'
Cha Su-ho shook his head and started to stand.
"Cha Su-ho Helper."
Trevor's voice made him turn. Anxiety flickered on Trevor's usually expressionless face.
"Mind if we talk for a moment?"
The test results must be out. Even with Jin Seong-hyeok's power, he couldn't use it properly yet—no way it was SSS-grade. Maybe S, at best SS. Cha Su-ho spoke.
"Test results came in?"
Trevor pushed up his glasses at the question.
"Yes."
"What rank Hunter?"
"Cha Su-ho Helper's Hunter rank is..."
Seeing Trevor's stiff face, Cha Su-ho tensed too.
"SSS-grade."
What?
"Ah, you mean SS-grade?"
"No. You heard right. SSS-grade Hunter."
SSS-grade.
While Cha Su-ho was stunned, Jin Seong-hyeok laughed like it was natural.
'With my power in you, of course it's SSS.'
Ignoring the smug mutter, Cha Su-ho asked,
"...You sure?"
"We ran it several more times. Same result."
Trevor's gaze through his glasses bored into Cha Su-ho.
"Cha Su-ho Helper's Hunter rank is SSS-grade."
"Ha... haha."
Laughter burst out involuntarily. It was the laugh of facing utter unreality.
"However, while Jin Seong-hyeok Hunter was deemed SSS using all abilities, Cha Su-ho Helper cannot yet. Potential is SSS, but actual Hunter ability is around SS-grade."
Cha Su-ho accepted it easily. He wasn't mastering Jin Seong-hyeok's power perfectly, and his techniques were limited.
"Got it."
"And one more thing, Cha Su-ho Helper."
"...Yes?"
"You need to come with me to the Association now."
To the Association?
'What nonsense is this.'
Jin Seong-hyeok reacted first.
'Reporting your SSS result and snatching you first. Follow, and they'll sweet-talk you endlessly.'
'Then I should go even more.'
'What?'
It was expected. If he got strong, branches and Association would move.
Jin Seong-hyeok ignored them out of annoyance, but not Cha Su-ho. He didn't want to live in their hamster wheel either.
Time to establish superiority.
Reading his thoughts, Jin Seong-hyeok chuckled.
'Well, when setting terms, strike first.'
'Gotta make it clear. I won't join anywhere.'
'Outright might be risky.'
'They can't turn me into an enemy easily. You were the only one who could clear Last Zone. Without you,'
'I'm the only SSS.'
SSS-grade Hunter.
Something hot surged in his chest.
'Of course, the road to clearing Last Zone is long.'
'You'll help, right?'
'Prepare for more than now.'
'Obviously.'
Cha Su-ho smiled lightly and turned to Trevor.
"Alright, let's go."
"To the Association?"
"Yes, the Association."