Chapter 8
There is a legend at the monster hunter training camp.
In the past, there was a hunter who captured countless monsters—so many that he was said to rival even a mage.
Time passed, and although he retired, he was still regarded as a legendary monster hunter.
After retiring, he returned to his hometown and established a training camp.
Naturally, the camp attracted a massive number of hunters and became the largest training facility in the kingdom.
Having such a place in my hometown is a great stroke of luck.
Unlike other hunters who gather from across the kingdom, it’s right in front of me.
Well… that is, as long as you’re not kicked out for being unqualified.
And so, after going in circles, I returned to the training camp once again.
Now that I’ve taken down several mid-sized monsters, my level has risen.
I figured I should at least be able to receive proper training now.
“A challenge, huh? Something interesting just showed up.”
“Wow, these rising rookies sure have guts these days!”
Sorry, but I’m not a rookie.
I’ve been a monster hunter for five years.
Still, that doesn’t compare to the instructors here.
They were all once hunters themselves before retiring and taking up positions at the camp.
To them, I probably still look like a hatchling.
A sigh slipped out of my mouth.
How did things escalate this much?
I even tried to correct them—it’s not a challenge—but no one listened.
The atmosphere was already too heated.
At least listen to the person involved.
“The headmaster is coming.”
All the instructors gathered in one place.
Then the head of the training camp stepped forward.
It was my first time seeing him in person.
Everyone described his appearance differently.
Some said he looked like a tiger, others claimed he was a giant.
All the stories conflicted.
As for me, I’d never had a reason to come here before, so I’d never had the chance to see him.
The headmaster, Draegan.
I waited with a slight sense of anticipation to finally meet him.
Soon, the door opened and he walked out.
And I blinked.
I wasn’t sure if what I saw was real.
Standing there… was a small boy.
His hair was pure white, like that of an old man.
But his face was unmistakably that of a child.
His gaze slowly turned toward me.
“Hmmm.”
He looked me up and down.
“You took down mid-sized monsters on your own?”
“Yes, his name is Haren.”
An instructor bowed as he answered.
So that really is the legendary headmaster, Draegan?
The boy narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke.
“Are you a mage?”
Mage.
The moment I heard that, I froze.
It was the first time I’d met someone who spoke of mages so casually.
Most people revered them.
“No.”
“Then why do I sense mana from your body?”
So this really is Draegan.
I don’t know why he looks like that, but his perception is sharp.
“After being attacked by a monster, mana started flowing through my body. As a result, I suffer from mana stone sclerosis.”
“So you’re on borrowed time.”
Clicking his tongue, he walked toward me.
“But for someone with that condition, you look surprisingly fine.”
“I have my ways.”
“Fair enough. If you want to survive as a hunter, you need at least one hidden trick.”
Draegan stood at the center of the training ground, hands behind his back.
Then he gestured with his chin.
“Come at me. Let’s see what these so-called rookies can do.”
“…You might be disappointed.”
I’ve never had proper training.
The only thing I’m confident in is my monster-hunting experience.
When I answered honestly, Draegan scoffed.
“Everyone looks disappointing to me. Makes no difference.”
If you say so.
“What weapon do you use?”
Weapon.
My strongest weapon is my bare hands.
When I quietly raised them, he reacted in disbelief.
“You fight monsters barehanded? You’re asking to die.”
“Well, I’m dying anyway.”
“Good spirit. Those close to death fear nothing. Show me that spirit.”
Draegan stomped the ground.
That was the signal.
I slammed my left foot down and drew strength into my legs.
At the same time, my body shot forward like a cannonball.
“Fast.”
“Oh?”
Ignoring the instructors’ voices, I closed the distance.
Even then, Draegan stood still with his hands behind his back.
He looked completely full of openings.
Is he going easy on me?
Then I won’t hesitate—attack.
Just as I was about to throw a punch at his face—
A chill ran down my spine.
A bad feeling.
I pulled my fist back.
Draegan’s eyebrow twitched.
That was the right call.
If I had attacked, I would’ve been the one hit.
Keeping my stance, I aimed for his leg instead.
Thud!
I felt a heavy impact.
Looking up, I saw Draegan standing on top of my foot.
Still with his hands behind his back.
As I quickly pulled my leg back, he flipped through the air and landed.
“Good instincts. Nice reflexes. You’re one of the better ones I’ve seen lately.”
“…Thank you.”
I didn’t expect praise.
“But your movements are too linear. It’s like you don’t understand your own level.”
That’s true.
I don’t know how strong I’ve become.
Every time I absorb a mid-sized monster, my level increases.
“Keep going.”
At his signal, I moved again.
Punches, kicks.
I trusted my instincts, but held back when something felt wrong.
Draegan avoided or blocked everything.
It started to feel like I was punching an immovable wall.
“Not bad for a rookie.”
“Push him harder!”
“Land just one hit!”
The instructors cheered excitedly.
It felt like a festival, even though their headmaster was being attacked.
Their evaluation… wasn’t something I’d ever experienced before.
Watching Draegan evade effortlessly, I changed my thinking.
No matter how much I’ve grown, the gap between us is overwhelming.
This isn’t something I can bridge by absorbing a few monsters.
It felt like facing a mage.
Draegan was that strong.
And he still hadn’t attacked even once.
He was clearly trying to exhaust me.
I understood his intention.
And I was certain—he wouldn’t attack.
So I changed my approach.
Instant-death magic.
To use it, I only need one moment of contact.
Of course, I won’t actually use it on Draegan.
But I’ll fight as if everything depends on landing that one move.
Just once.
I only need to touch him once.
That’s enough.
My eyes sharpened as I increased the speed of my attacks.
I pushed past my limits.
My arms trembled.
But the space my punches occupied became tighter and tighter.
A barrage of strikes formed a tightening net.
Draegan’s movement gradually decreased.
Now he was dodging with minimal steps and slight head movements.
If it reaches this point—
Thud!
I can force it with size.
I stepped forward and threw my entire body into him.
A pure body slam.
I’m much bigger than him.
To avoid it, Draegan had to leap back.
Just as expected, he lifted into the air.
Thud!
The moment I saw it, I thrust both arms forward.
Like a snake striking, my arms shot out to grab him.
Just before I reached him, his hands moved.
He grabbed my wrists.
Then his knee shot upward.
Small, but incredibly powerful.
If it hit my chin, I’d lose consciousness instantly.
Even then, I poured all my strength into my hands.
I pulled hard.
His arms were dragged, and his knee struck my abdomen instead.
A massive shock shook my entire body.
But I endured it.
Draegan’s eyes widened slightly.
My last chance.
I slammed my head into him.
Crack!
A sharp sound rang out.
“Gah!”
His fist had already struck my forehead.
Damn it… I thought he wouldn’t attack until the end.
I didn’t even see it.
My reflexes didn’t react.
It came from a completely different level.
My mind scattered.
Even though it was just my head, it felt like being hit by a monster.
“Oof.”
“That was a direct hit.”
The instructors shook their heads.
I collapsed onto the ground.
Everything spun.
My sense of balance was gone.
“It really feels like fighting a monster. You don’t know how to hold back. I was trying to tire you out, but my hand moved on its own.”
Draegan’s voice came closer.
He looked down at me.
“Don’t encourage rookies to challenge like this again.”
The instructors coughed awkwardly.
So they pushed this on purpose.
Great.
“Now you—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Because my hand was gripping his ankle.
I’d used everything I had.
The gap between us was too great.
So I chose the best option I had—even if it was underhanded.
A faint smile formed on my lips.
Draegan looked at me for a moment, then chuckled.
“Looks like you had something up your sleeve. Did I get caught in something?”
I can’t tell him.
Instant-death magic is my trump card.
If it becomes known, it loses its advantage.
“Come back when you can stand.”
My consciousness began to fade.
This… is my limit.
I could feel my forehead swelling.
I’ll need medicine for a while.
“It’s been a while since I’ve found an interesting one to train.”
With those words—
My consciousness went dark.
