Attention (1)
-Among the second-class hunters… is there someone famous that you know well?
I remembered the conversation I had with Han Yeon-soo before I came here.
-I know many people. But why? Would you like to meet someone?
-Well… I need to meet a second-class hunter known for his skills and has the time to spare these days.
Han Yeon-soo thought about it for a moment.
-Do you really need to find someone from afar? Because there’s someone very close to you who meets all of those conditions.
Because he wasn’t from my generation, he skipped my mind.
However, among the second-class hunters from the previous generation, he was recognized as a veteran and is still quite well-known.
-He was the top among second-class hunter tanks. If it wasn’t for a leg injury, he would still have been in the front lines these days… you’ll recognize him immediately after hearing his nickname. Iron Man.
Had it not been for a tragic injury, he might have been promoted to a first-class hunter.
-Park Hyun-seok. Your instructor at Hwayeon Choin Academy. Go and speak to him.
A famous person was hiding in an unexpected place.
* * *
“Cadet Jeong Si-woo? You said you had something to ask, are you going to keep staring?”
“Ah, sorry.”
His eyes are sharper than the other instructors.
“As you know, my ability… there are many times when my mind goes to a different place.”
It’s been a while since his retirement, but he still had strong muscles on his body. His physique looked as if he was ready to return the hunting industry anytime.
“It’s okay. What are you asking for?”
However, there was a flaw. The movement of his left leg was too unnatural. The injury seemed to be of a pretty serious kind.
If he was a rear player, he might still be active even after that, but for a front player, it was a big blow to be injured.
Injuries were common for hunters, and there were countless numbers of hunters forced to retire as a result. There were a few promising ones like Park Hyun-seok, who were derailed by injuries.
I stopped thinking about it for a while and focused on answering Instructor Park Hyun-seok’s question.
“I would like to ask you for sparring.”
“…What?”
He tilted his head as if he heard it wrong and wanted me to clarify.
“Sparring. Me and you, Instructor Park Hyun-seok.”
I couldn’t have made it clearer.
* * *
The simplest way to gain recognition from hunters is to join a raid with them.
The process of attacking the crack is not easy, and in the process, members of the raid can quickly get to know each other’s skills.
However, it was unreasonable for me, who just received a third-class hunter license, to join a raid with second-class hunters within a week.
Besides, even if I could join their raid, I wouldn’t have been assigned a central position where I could show all my skills.
Then, the only option I have is to spar.
I can clearly show off my abilities in a one-on-one battle.
“This is the first time as an Academy instructor to receive such an offer… hahaha!”
Park Hyun-seok burst into laughter.
“Are you asking me because the other cadets don’t match your skills? Do you want to experience higher-level sparring?”
“Yes, exactly. Since I easily passed the third-class hunter exam, I was curious about how far I am from the second-class.”
“Ah, the wall between the third- and the second-class. Yes, it definitely exists.”
His face then had a bitter expression.
“Probably, it will be a good experience for you to fight an awakener who is on a higher level than yourself. Among the monsters that you would face inside the cracks, there are many humanoid races…”
“…”
“But, unfortunately, I cannot help you.”
“What?!”
I unconsciously raised my voice out of shock. Instructor Park Hyun-seok refuses to fight?
I immediately asked why.
Park Hyun-seok responded in a soft tone.
“What you want is win against someone who’s on a higher level than you are…”
“…”
“But if you fight against me, you will not be able to achieve the desired results.”
“Why?”
Park Hyun-seok leaned over and rolled up the hem of his pants.
“In my current state, I will not be able to deal with you,” he said, as he revealed his ankles.
It was full of ugly, bulging scars and was constantly trembling.
“Fortunately, thanks to my inherent characteristics, I avoided a worse degree of disability, but… I have shamefully degenerated from being a ‘second-class hunter’.”
Park Hyun-seok’s face was noticeably darkened. It was the face of someone whose dreams collapsed.
“…”
I activated Excellent Insight as I stared at him. Indeed, with the power of seeing through his essence, the instructor’s injury looked even more devastating.
However, I didn’t stop there. I used Akashic Records.
[‘View Information’ is activated.]
[Name: Park Hyun-seok]
[A front-position hunter who was called ‘Iron Man’. Suffered a major injury on one leg while helping a civilian to evacuate in <The Great Crack in Chungbuk>. The mana nerve on the leg is damaged, so it was impossible to activate his skills and characteristics on his body.>
Akashic Records could also not provide a solution.
“If you want, I’ll find you an opponent among the other second-class hunters that I know.”
Park Hyun-seok’s voice was filled with regret. When I heard that, I felt a strong urge. I want to fight him. I want to fight him and be recognized by him.
-Jeong Si-woo, analysis is your job. You do not suit being a hunter.
I will be able to get recognition for my skills even if I face a different second-class hunter that Instructor Park Hyun-seok will get me. It will be faster and more efficient. But…
“Alright.”
From time immemorial, I am a stubborn person. I do what I want to do, whatever it takes.
“I want to fight you, Instructor Park Hyun-seok.”
When everyone said no, I pushed alone. I led all kinds of victory after being told to stay in the corner as an analyst. My stubbornness has always led me to those achievements.
I saw my appearance reflected in Park Hyun-seok’s eyes.
“With this injury, how will I…”
It was not the voice of a confident instructor, but the voice of a fallen hunter.
“You can,” my voice resonated clearly within the room.
“Your leg will not be a problem.”
* * *
Three days passed after I spoke to him so confidently.
Instructor Park Hyun-seok wore a suit instead of his usual training clothes. He was still limping, but his face was bright.
“Hahahaha!”
He bursts out laughing from time to time.
“You have really great connections, Cadet Jeong Si-woo!”
He had already said that for more than five times.
I laughed a little and nodded.
“Yeah, my network is a little extreme.”
“It seems like yesterday when I asked the Academy to support you in getting a training sword… Wow. I didn’t expect you could do this!”
“Well, it wasn’t all me.”
Without Han Yeon-soo, it would have been impossible to create such an event. Even now, I am amazed at how we had created this in just three days.
Beep-!
Someone opened the door of the waiting room where we were staying.
“Hunter Park Hyun-seok, Hunter Jeong Si-woo. It’s time.”
Not an instructor and a cadet. We were both called hunters.
“It’s been a long time since I was called a hunter…”
“It’s my first time.”
He laughed. A woman led our way outside, and at the end of the hallway, we were brought into a large stadium.
[Whoa, is this what you were talking about the other day?]
Yeah.
[This is a really weak dimension, but your technology has developed so much…]
This is a new technology even for us, so many civilians are still unaware of it.
The stadium was filled with people. Many of them were hunters beyond a certain level; some of them are promising ones starting to make their names known.
“Are you both ready?” the woman asked.
Park Hyun-seok and I nodded at the same time.
“Then…”
She held her breath as if she was going to announce the start of the battle.
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