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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: [No Spoilers]
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"Please check the training menu on the Hunter Intranet! You'll be using Training Room B! For safety reasons, weapon use is prohibited!"
The association staffer guided me to the training room before heading back to the desk.
They're pretty serious about this training stuff.
No matter their physical grade, every Hunter in Korea had to log their training hours—and it left me feeling like I was back in my track-and-field days.
I pressed my finger to the recognizer at the training room door, and it slid open. Cool air rushed out, carrying the sight of weight machines and treadmills. There was also another room filled with machines of unknown purpose.
I set my bag of spare clothes on a chair and stretched, dredging up memories from four years ago. My joints popped with satisfying cracks.
I wonder if Coach is doing okay.
He'd been the most heartbroken when I told him I had to quit track because of the training costs—even offered to cover them himself. But I've never been good at owing people favors, so I ended up graduating just like that. A bit lost in nostalgia, I stepped onto the treadmill.
"Huff... haa... haa..."
I wrapped up basic fitness with a 10K run. The second that torture device of a treadmill ground to a halt, I collapsed flat on the floor.
Never again am I saying I got any exercise. Ever.
Too wiped to even grab water, I rolled around for a while before looking up at the wall clock. Somehow, it was already well past noon. Thinking I should grab something quick to eat, I rinsed off in the showers, snagged my phone, and headed out of the training room.
The sandwich shop inside the association building was packed. I squeezed through the crowd of office workers and barely made it to the fridge. I grabbed a chicken sandwich, paid, and luckily snagged a window seat just as it opened up.
"Oh."
That's when I spotted Choi Min Hunter through the glass. Her usual emotionless face was unchanged as she walked by in casual clothes, occasionally chewing her lip.
Ah, time to test Fake Authority.
This was the perfect chance to peek at Choi Min Hunter. I cupped my hands into a circle and peered through like a telescope.
Choi Min (??) S-Rank
🔥 Fire Attribute
Air Raid Shelter—seeing the description made it sound even more absurd.
The biggest downside was not knowing the outside situation, but as long as you stayed inside that skill, you were in a state of perfect safety. The attack skill looked plenty useful too.
Just one thing bugged me...
Her age isn't showing.
Those 10 years asleep in the bunker must've affected even her age display. Once Choi Min Hunter passed out of sight, the text vanished, leaving me with a nagging feeling as I lowered my hands.
—Hello, Shin Ji-ui-nim. I am Naru, the AI skill training assistant. I will now explain the skill training guide.
The moment I entered the skill training room inside the main area, a friendly voice emanated from the large machine in the center. It looked like some industrial fridge, but having a name like "Naru" felt oddly out of place.
Naru projected an illustration straight out of a textbook onto the white wall.
—Skill training consists of evasion, attack, and defense sections. Which would you like to start with?
"Evasion."
—Evasion training helps you flexibly dodge monster attacks in dungeons. Use your skill to evade attacks from hologram monsters. They recognize your skill and calculate evasion scores for each. Aim for an average score of 70+ over 7 minutes. Say 'Start Training' to begin.
Basically, dodge somehow without weapons.
I'd dodged monster attacks so far on pure body memory and tumbling skills, but it was time for an upgrade. I took a deep breath and spoke.
"Start training."
—Training begins. 7-minute timer starts.
Bzzz.
A translucent holographic bear lumbered toward me. I dodged to the side, but its massive frame kept me in striking range. Its paw soon passed right through my head. No sensation since it was a holo, but in real combat, my neck would've been gone.
[Average Evasion Score: 2]
"Not even zero, but 2? That's weirdly infuriating!"
Whoosh.
"Gah!"
A poppy tentacle slammed down out of nowhere, and my scream vibrated the air, shoving my body backward.
[Average Evasion Score: 46]
The score shot up.
The scream's acting like an engine?
Boom.
"Eeeek!!"
It looked ridiculous, but another scream sent me dodging to the opposite side of the holo monster.
[Average Evasion Score: 89]
[Average Evasion Score: 91]
Screaming toward incoming attacks and leaping the opposite way let me evade faster. I had to vocalize every dodge and pinpoint attack directions accurately, but it was still a damn clean method.
Ding.
—Training complete. Shin Ji-ui-nim's average evasion score: 90.12.
The bell rang out, and text suddenly floated before my eyes.
C-Rank Movement Skill 'Word Without Feet'
Uses the user's voice to move short distances at high speed.
"Whoa, it actually unlocked."
Refining my unique skill really could spawn others. The rank was way below my unique one, but a new skill opening was too novel—I stared blankly at my status window for a good while.
The name's kinda ridiculous, though.
The goofy name killed my sentimental moment quick.
Attack and defense training were easier than evasion. Thanks to my unique skill's insane destructive power, a few screams kept my average attack score locked at 100—the holos disintegrated like dry leaves.
In defense, neutralizing attacks with my voice pushed me past 80 easily.
I chugged water and pounded my throbbing muscles. Just the final defense set left; I had to muster every last ounce of strength.
Tank It
📍 Objective: Block the attacks. No matter the form.
🎁 Reward: 'Command Like a Mountain' defense increase
Perfect timing—it was even pitching in on my growth.
—Commencing final defense set.
"Yup~"
I hauled myself off the bench, got into position, and barked a short shout at the holographic spider charging me. A white shockwave bloomed like a shield, blocking my front—the spider ricocheted off.
[Average Defense Score: 92]
Seeing the score climb steadily boosted my confidence. For the remaining two minutes, I churned out shouts nonstop.
Tank It
Reward: 'Command Like a Mountain' defense increased
By the time I finished showering, it was already five. My stomach was rumbling for a real meal.
Come to think of it, just that one sandwich and water all day.
Mulling dinner options as I reached the first-floor lobby, I spotted a blond man standing at the info desk.
"Ah."
"Ah, hello."
"Hi."
Cha Do-yun Hunter. He was dressed formally—white shirt, dress shoes—like he'd just come from some official event.
Huh, someone's behind him.
"Oh, Shin Ji-ui Hunter's here too."
"Hello."
The person behind Cha Do-yun Hunter was the Chairman. Caught off guard, I bowed hastily. He laughed heartily and clapped my shoulder.
"Here for training?"
"Yes. Just finished—heading home now."
"I see. Oh, right—have you two been introduced?"
"We greeted last week."
Cha Do-yun Hunter gave a slight smile to the Chairman, then turned and bowed lightly my way.
Is this his real personality?
What was wrong with this timeline? Why was he only rude to me?
"Speaking of, Shin Ji-ui Hunter—your WHDB listing has quite the nickname."
"Ah, haha..."
"Savior, right?"
Cha Do-yun Hunter glanced down at me, then smirked with one corner of his mouth.
"They say they're valuing dungeon survival over DF rankings now."
Inferiority complex, too...
I ground my molars and forced a smile, keeping my eyes fixed on the Chairman without sparing Cha a glance.
"Anyway, I've got high expectations for you, Shin Ji-ui Hunter."
I wasn't sure if it was just polite talk, but the Chairman showered me with praise. As I nodded my thanks, I snuck a side-eye at Cha Do-yun Hunter—his expression was priceless. His forced smirk was trembling, and his eyes hadn't smiled in ages.
"Well, I'll be off. Have a good evening."
"Yes, see you next time."
The second the Chairman climbed into the waiting limo at the entrance, Cha Do-yun Hunter's face twisted. It'd be great if I could befriend him, plant a word-seed, and bloom it into a real ally. But right now, we were on the verge of becoming outright enemies.
"Don't get too full of yourself."
"...Pardon?"
"The Chairman says that to everyone. No need to get excited."
He wasn't even pretending to be polite anymore. Cha Do-yun Hunter spoke in a cold tone, and I let out a loud sigh right in his face, staring him down directly.
"What's your problem?"
"..."
I'd bought this ring thinking he died isolated, and this was the thanks I got? My late sis would be spinning in her grave.
Cha Do-yun Hunter glared down coldly, pinched the bridge of his nose, then slowly opened his mouth.
"...Have you ever done field training?"
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