Chapter 40: Attention (1)

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.

"Both of you enter your capsules."

Instead of announcing the start, the woman pointed to the capsules placed on opposite sides of the ring.

* * *

The method I chose to battle against Park Hyun-seok was 'virtual reality'. It was a practical tool that people use for training without putting their lives at risk.

Through this, Park Hyun-seok would be able to show off his skills without worrying about his injury.

-Can we afford it? But it would be too expensive...

-Hush.

Han Yeon-soo accepted my request without hesitation. Thanks to her, the tremendous cost of using brand-new technology was solved.

-Aside from second-class hunters, can you also invite celebrities and famous hunters?

-Jeong Si-woo, the conditions that I said that time... Okay. It's not that difficult.

It was Kim Hyun-soo of Sabangshin who gathered the numerous hunters in the stadium. He was skeptical, but he did a great job of arranging it. The stadium was filled with the great connections of Sabangshin.

He was sitting in the front row. He was looking at me with his arms folded, and his brows furrowed. Probably, he also wanted this chance to clearly understand my skills.

I could hear the buzzing of the crowd as I took my place.

"He's the most noticeable cadet these days..."

"I heard that he passed the hunter exam before he even graduated. Topped it, mind you."

I ignored those voices and slowly placed myself inside the capsule.

Inside, my consciousness gradually faded away.

[Reading the 'body information'...]

[Creating an avatar based on the read information...]

A body that resembles me is created, and my consciousness is united with that body. Even if it was just a virtual copy of my body, it felt real enough. I held my hand in front of my face and clenched it into a fist. I felt the same strength and tension. The movement of every muscle was reproduced perfectly.

[Reading 'mana info'...]

[Reading 'characteristic'...]

[Reading 'skills'...]

.

.

.

[Detailed information cannot be retrieved.]

[Please fill in the information manually.]

However, even state-of-the-art technology could not read the Akashic Records, and an error message came up. I manually keyed in the abilities of the beings that I thought I would need for this battle.

[Input is complete.]

[Avatar creation is complete.]

[Synchronization is complete.]

Done. Now, I could feel mana flowing throughout my body, completely the same as in reality. With this, my abilities outside and my abilities here will be the same.

"Amazing... I've heard of virtual reality, but it's my first time using it."

Park Hyun-seok was standing in front of me, moving his body back and forth.

"If you haven't used your skills for a long time, would that mean that you won't be able to use them properly this time?"

"Hahaha! Does someone forget how to breathe? Don't worry. Even after another ten years, my senses won't die."

He tapped his leg on the ground, his face noticeably brighter than before.

-Have you both adapted to your avatar?

The woman's voice seemed to be coming from the sky.

"Yes."

-Then, is it okay to start soon?

"Yeah. Let's do it."

-As previously explained, you will be ruled as defeated if you are judged to die or to be incapacitated. Pain perception is set to ten percent. Abilities will remain the same.

"Okay!"

-Then, the battle starts after 10 seconds.

A large timer floated above our heads. It felt like we were in a game.

"Thank you. This is a good experience. I feel like I was brought back in the old days."

"So, if I win, does that mean that I have beaten the famous second-class hunter of the old days?"

"Hahaha! You think you're that good?"

Park Hyun-seok stared at me, while thick mana wrapped around his body. Perhaps, it was his characteristic—steel skin.

-10... 9... 8...

I also raised my mana in preparation. The arcane Orc magic increased my strength, and I felt powerful mana flowing within me.

It's amazing that magic could also be reproduced in virtual reality. I didn't expect technology to be this excellent.

-7... 6... 5...

The power that boils all over my body caused my muscles to swell as if they were bursting. On the contrary, Park Hyun-seok's muscles seemed to compress a little. The density of those muscles, however, looked tougher and heavier.

-4... 3...

"Cadet Jeong Si-woo, I will teach you a lesson through sparring this time."

"I won't lose."

"There is a lot to learn from defeat."

-2...

"You've been retired for a long time... I think the instructor is nervous."

"Hahahaha! Nervous?"

-One...

"You said you wanted to feel the second-class wall?"

"..."

"I've reached the first-class wall. I was almost over it."

"...!"

"I am someone who met that wall, so try harder. I can't be compared to an average second-class hunter."

Our eyes met. At the same time, neither moved.

And-

-Let the battle begin!

Tuwoong-!

"... ... ?"

On that note, I found myself flying. It wasn't because I jumped or flew. I looked down and saw Park Hyun-seok beneath me. At the same time, there was a throbbing pain in my side. It was a clear and intense sensation that I doubted if the pain perception was really set at ten percent.

What?!

We were at opposite ends of the stadium.

Did he attack me in a blink of an eye?

Park Hyun-seok was a tank. What crazy speed is this?

While in the air, I could faintly hear the comments from the crowd.

-A rookie, huh? No chance he would match a second-class hunter, and he even chose the Iron Man. He's too much for him.

-It looks like a fight between a goblin and a dragon.

[He's coming for you again. Avoid him!]

But how could I avoid him in the air?

[Can't you move in the air? It shouldn't be too hard with mana...]

No, I...

Bang-!

Another blow crushed my side once more. This time, the impact threw me to the ground, and I rolled all the way to the opposite wall, crashing against it with a thud.

Pain crawled from head to toe. I felt like I was being electrocuted.

-It looks like he's not going to last 10 seconds.

-Nah, he's a rookie. The Iron Man probably won't go all-in until the last 20 seconds.

I forced myself to endure the pain and lifted myself up. When I raised my head, Park Hyun-seok was already in front of me, his leg approaching my head at a terrifying momentum.

If it hits me, the game is over.

<Link>

Mana filled my heart.

[Activates the entered 'Talent'.]

[Type: Possession]

-Even a monster would get knocked out with that one.

-Here it comes!

Only

I feel dizzy. I could feel the wind pressure on my cheeks coming from his powerful kick. But instead of avoiding, I stretched both arms towards the incoming leg.

[Viper]

[The story of a courageous hero begins to dwell in your soul.]

『Grab, twist.』

"... ... !"

Both my arms wrapped around Park Hyun-seok's leg, and changed its direction, using his own momentum to break his own knee. No matter how tough his skin might be, his joints could not have been iron.

Crunch-!

Shock filled Park Hyun-seok's face as he heard the sound of his knee breaking.