Chapter 57
The day he was supposed to face Bluebird.
The place he was guided to was none other than the Korean Hunter Association.
From the association’s perspective, they wanted the sparring to take place within their premises to ensure domestic hunters’ protection, and Bluebird accepted him.
“By the way, why is everyone here?”
“Heh heh.”
It was understandable for even the association president to be here.
The two who trained daily didn’t mind, since they had brought him themselves.
Yena, having visited the bakery frequently, naturally brought up the wager with Bluebird and insisted on watching.
Even at this point, there were already plenty of spectators.
And on top of that, even more people were waiting for him in the sparring arena.
“This floor is so small, isn’t it?”
Boisterous laughter came from Hunter Park Hanseong.
He lightly crossed his arms, got up, and approached Juhyeok.
“Our country’s top prospect is going up against Bluebird—how could I stay still?”
“….”
Top prospect of the country.
Hearing that title again, some tickling sensation stirred somewhere deep in his chest.
“Of course you made that wager because you intend to win, right?”
“So the details of the wager have spread too, huh?”
“Of course. We made arrangements so that Juhyeok Hunter couldn’t back out.”
The fact that the association had already caught wind of the wager and directly approached them showed just how much effort Bluebird was putting into it.
‘Anyone would feel the same if they could get an A-rank at a bargain.’
You could call it a thief’s mindset, but for a company, it’s only natural to pursue profit.
No matter what methods they used, he didn’t feel anything particular toward that.
“So you really intend to win?”
“I sometimes fight for pride, but that’s not today.”
“Haha! Excellent!”
Hunter Park Hanseong laughed heartily, for some reason.
To him, it must have seemed amusing that a rookie hunter was causing all sorts of incidents everywhere.
“The opponent will arrive soon too, so go ahead and warm up first.”
“Yes, understood.”
Juhyeok headed down first.
As he began descending the stairs, the door he had just entered opened again.
Through that door appeared Bluebird’s scout and the bodyguard he had subdued.
And…
“What, all spectators?”
A muscular bald man wearing jet-black sunglasses.
Having learned conversational English during his academy days, Juhyeok could roughly understand what he said.
“Maybe I should have brought my wife and daughter too.”
“Who wants to see their dad hitting and fighting?”
“I wanted to show them something cool for once.”
The group chatted among themselves, noticing the association president.
Bluebird’s scout approached the president first and politely greeted him in Korean.
“Hello, thank you for letting us use the sparring arena today.”
“No, we are the ones who suggested it first. We should be the ones thanking you.”
The contrast to his attitude toward Juhyeok was noticeable.
Hyunsu, observing from behind, frowned at the scene.
It made sense—Juhyeok had seen how polite this person was before.
“I hope today ends with minimal injuries.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure to tell Kyron as well.”
The scout nodded toward Kyron, who smiled and greeted the president.
Even if they were just low-tiered individuals elsewhere, they showed proper etiquette to the head of a nation’s hunter association.
‘So that’s why they acted so recklessly in front of such a powerful person.’
Looking back at his past behavior, it suddenly seemed reckless to have barged into the president’s office so casually.
“So, where’s the opponent?”
Kyron looked around.
Juhyeok walked up first and introduced himself.
“Nice to meet you. I’m F-rank hunter Jung Juhyeok.”
“Oh, nice to meet you.”
Kyron extended his hand with a wide smile, shaking lightly.
“S-rank hunter Kyron Green.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
He really brought an S-rank along.
No matter how he managed to bring such a valuable resource, it was typical of Bluebird.
To bring an S-rank just to spar with a single prospect showed their execution and manpower were exceptional.
Kyron lowered his hand and leaned closer, speaking softly.
“Just to be clear… would you consider making a normal contract, even now?”
“Haha…”
He quietly asked after revealing he was S-rank, ensuring others couldn’t hear—a sign of respect.
“If you want, I could talk and get the proper procedures restarted…”
He thought he was being considerate.
Of course, if an S-rank veteran fought an F-rank irregular with the potential of A-S rank, the outcome was predictable.
He was just giving advice as someone confident he would win.
‘I don’t like it.’
Juhyeok didn’t like that look in Kyron’s eyes.
The arrogant gaze of someone absolutely convinced of their victory—accompanied by seemingly considerate behavior—made Juhyeok tighten his lips.
‘Kyron Green… I’ve heard of him.’
He had checked all the S-rank hunters in Bluebird.
Kyron was an S-rank vanguard hunter with over ten years of experience.
In real combat, he would have far more battle experience than Juhyeok.
‘But in terms of training, I’m not losing.’
Among S-ranks, Kyron was middle-lower tier.
He was one of the hunters Juhyeok had considered “possible opponents.”
‘If only my magical power could be quantified.’
Unlike other hunters whose strength was mostly measurable by magical power, Juhyeok’s strength was unique.
Thus, he could only estimate, not guarantee, the outcome of a fight.
“I’ll go down first.”
This implied he couldn’t openly say he would lose.
Juhyeok would do his best, as always, and show the result.
“…Understood.”
He went down to the arena first.
Hunter Park Hanseong, who had been watching quietly, stood and greeted Kyron.
“Nice to meet you. S-rank Hunter Park Hanseong.”
“Ah, nice to meet you. Kyron, also S-rank.”
They shook hands lightly.
Park Hanseong looked out the window at Juhyeok.
“That kid feels… nothing, huh?”
“…Yes, truly F-rank.”
Although he was told Juhyeok was F-rank, seeing him in person was even more shocking.
A barely perceptible magical aura compared to ordinary humans.
Judging by the calluses on his hands, he must have honed himself through grueling effort to become someone Bluebird desired.
But that was all.
How well could an F-rank irregular with nearly no magic actually fight?
Even if he entered an A-rank gate unusually, Park Hanseong couldn’t see Juhyeok losing.
“Room… no, never mind.”
“Yes?”
He stopped mid-sentence, then smiled lightly and continued.
“Just… don’t get too injured.”
“Haha… understood.”
Kyron smiled awkwardly and went down to prepare for the sparring.
The scout sat down, then stepped out to take a phone call.
Only those who had come to support Juhyeok remained.
In the quiet arena, the president asked Park Hanseong.
“Do you think Juhyeok will lose?”
“Pardon?”
“From your tone, it sounds like you expect him to lose.”
Juhyeok was warming up beyond the arena.
Noticing where the president’s gaze landed, Park Hanseong looked and replied.
“…It will be tough.”
Even handling an A-rank gate alone was basic for an S-rank hunter.
Could an F-rank hunter beat an S-rank? That was the question everyone had.
“Still, Juhyeok Hunter has always shown unbelievable growth speed.”
Despite everything, Park Hanseong felt a small sense of expectation.
“Maybe he’ll show something unexpected again this time.”
Juhyeok always defied expectations.
It was natural to have hope for him even in a seemingly impossible spar.
After all, the Juhyeok he knew didn’t pick fights he would lose.
Even if he lost, it wouldn’t be easy.
“He sounded like he was asking to be easy on him.”
“Even this small thing helps Juhyeok Hunter.”
“….”
The president paused, observing Park Hanseong.
Then he laughed heartily.
“Heh heh, truly cowardly.”
“In the hunter world, cowardice doesn’t matter.”
Every time they entered a gate, their lives were at stake.
To win against monsters, one must use every tactic without hesitation.
“If he falls for it, it just shows his level.”
“That’s true.”
The two laughed, looking at the arena.
“What are they talking about…?”
“Exactly.”
Everyone else was left puzzled, except the two who seemed to share an understanding.
“Shall we start?”
“Let’s.”
The two stood in the arena.
Without a referee, they spaced themselves about twenty paces apart on the wide dirt floor.
“I’ll yield the first strike.”
Kyron carried a wooden sword over his shoulder, appearing relaxed.
He confidently yielded the first strike to the rookie.
“I won’t refuse.”
Juhyeok assumed his stance.
The sheer discipline evident in his posture matched the callused hands he had felt earlier.
‘Still, no sense of intimidation.’
Despite being an irregular, his stance was conventional, unremarkable.
Tap—!
A light footstep.
The form was agile, undoubtedly A-rank level, but beyond that, it was hard to tell.
‘A shame.’
He intended to fight seriously but without unnecessary injury.
As he charged, one of his steps twisted mid-run, slowing him down.
‘Nervous?’
His speed decreased significantly.
For a moment, his stance seemed precarious, almost ready to fall, then…
Thud—!
He stomped the ground firmly.
Using the misstep, he spun sideways once, quickly rushing toward Kyron.
“What the….”
The relaxed tension suddenly became a warning.
Kyron instinctively raised his wooden sword to block the sudden sideways strike.
Clack—!
The wooden swords collided.
The force was far beyond what an F-rank could muster.
Whether it was a rushed block or the opponent’s raw power, his wrist tingled.
Pushing Juhyeok back, he finally gained some distance.
“Hah, that was tough.”
Juhyeok clicked his tongue, revealing a predatory gaze that erased his earlier clumsiness.
It was as if he had transformed into a different human.
Kyron felt chills like he hadn’t in a long time.
“Here we go again.”
