Chapter 3: Age of the Hunter (2)

Blondie settled herself on the sit-up machine again and began moving.

After about forty reps, it was clear her stomach was aching terribly as she kept twisting her body.

“You were doing push-ups earlier with that wave motion too. Forcing yourself through tests isn’t good. Even if you get ranked low, you can just keep it a secret, so don’t worry about it. Shouldn’t you just pick the difficulty that suits you? Right?”

“Ah, when I get tired, shut your mouth!”

I wasn’t exactly holding a grudge or thinking about revenge against Blondie. Really, I wasn’t.

When you first awaken your power, you tend to think you’re special. I thought so too when I first came to this world.

But such thinking is like a worm eating away at your life.

I only work hard for the sake of my clients’ safety, to help fulfill their dream of extending their lives.

The reason I became a trainer was simple.

Ordinary people can’t enter a Dungeon Gate. Entry is strictly controlled and regulated.

When you awaken, a Magic Essence Stone appears on the Hunter’s body, reacting to mana just like monsters.

In other words, once a core made of mana is formed, power awakens.

It’s an open secret that the more mana-rich a Gate is, the higher the chance for an ordinary person to awaken.

That’s because it stimulates them more easily.

If you’re lucky, you awaken and a core forms in your body; if unlucky, mutations occur.

Trainers sometimes enter dungeons with new Hunters.

Usually, we play the role of porters or sherpas—helping mine magic stones, preparing meals, or supporting so the Hunter can hunt comfortably.

Sometimes, Awakened Hunters with weak combat skills join as porters.

Of course, since they don’t fight directly, their pay is lower.

I go into the dungeon simply because I want to regain my power.

‘I’ve already challenged multiple times but haven’t awakened yet.’

Awakening sounds grand, but it means the senses that can link with the System.

After the Gate Incident, humanity learned about the System.

When you connect to the System, you generate stats and gain abilities.

‘I thought it would be easier since I’ve done it before.’

I was granted authority by the System in this other world and learned how to use my power.

So I was quietly hopeful, but no news at all.

Maybe if I joined a Guild and got support, something might be possible.

But at thirty years old with only a high school diploma, no one wants to hire me.

‘If I awaken, all those Guilds that rejected me will regret it.’

I recalled the people who mocked me until now.

Many scoffed, telling me to just summon a Holy Sword or called me delusional.

If I just awakened and formed a core in my body, I’m confident I could become the strongest immediately.

In the other world, I became a Hero and fought the Demon King’s Army within just a year.

Even the top-ranked Rankers here in Korea looked like mere greenhouse flowers to me.

‘The more chances I have, the better. The more exposure, the higher the affinity, and the higher the chance of core formation.’

“Phew, whew! Done!”

I was momentarily lost in thought when Blondie shouted, drenched in sweat.

Oh, how many did you do?

If I said to start over because I didn’t count, I felt like she might charge at me.

I decided to let it slide for now.

There are still many ways to push her.

“Good job. Wow, you really live up to being a promising Hunter of the Hwarang Guild, huh?”

Blondie didn’t seem offended by my praise; her lips twitched slightly. But the smile didn’t last long.

“Your body’s warmed up now, so we’ll move on to full-on strength training.”

“…What?”

“Now that you’ve rested, come over here. Ever tried bench presses?”

“Why build muscles? Didn’t you say this was survival training?”

I smiled like a salesman.

“What do you think is the most important thing in battle?”

“To be strong.”

“To be strong, you need—”

“You have to be born with talent like me, and back that talent with proper training, right?”

At Blondie’s words, I smiled brightly.

“No, no. The most important thing is muscle.”

“…?”

“To properly strike an enemy, elastic muscles are essential.”

“…Well…that’s true.”

“When really strong monsters appear, retreating is one way to survive. You don’t have to fight recklessly. For that, you need well-trained legs, right? Because you have to run a lot.”

“That’s…”

“Come on, get into position here! We’ll do three courses. Let’s start light.”

Hyunbin’s words caused Blondie’s pupils to flicker.

As expected, the training began, tearing at her muscles.

“One more time. Wow, nice! Good. Just one more! Hey, don’t lose strength. More, more, more!”

“Why is it always just one more!”

“Now, really, the last one.”

Being a trainer isn’t hard.

Even when I first became a Hero in the other world, I received all kinds of training.

Though hated by the trainee, this torment, no, training, increases survival chances later.

I know because I went through it.

Come to think of it, my relationship with the trainer who pushed me in that world was bad.

What does it matter? I’m trying to save people! If I’m hated a little but save a life, so be it!

With that sense of mission, I started pushing her.

Soon, Blondie finished the set course.

“Good job. You’ve worked hard!”

“pant pant!”

Blondie collapsed flat, gasping for breath.

Though full of complaints, she looked too exhausted to speak properly.

“Hunters put their lives on the line, don’t they? If your basic training is lacking, it shows in actual combat. New Hunters usually spend two weeks in the dungeon, four weeks if longer. So hang in there.”

“Fuck off… You can’t even become a Hunter yourself…”

Blondie spat angrily.

There are Hunters who haven’t awakened, of course.

But such Hunters are treated as mere accessories everywhere.

Talent means everything in this field. Not awakening means failure.

Being unawakened at thirty means impossibility.

“Truth is truth; can’t argue with that.”

“Do you get five thousand won an hour? New Hunters can easily make ten million won a month if they work hard.”

Blondie’s words weren’t empty boasting.

Making ten million won a month working a normal part-time or company job is almost impossible.

But Hunters are different.

Even selling low-grade Magic Essence Stones can fetch fifty to a hundred thousand won each.

That means killing just ten weak monsters nets about a million won daily.

They earn well and are popular.

Moreover, they’re seen as defenders of the nation’s interests.

Looking at elementary school kids’ dream jobs, Hunters have become the undisputed number one, surpassing streamers and celebrities.

“You won’t be kicking ten million or a hundred million a month if you die. First, train well and grow properly, right?”

At my words, Blondie scoffed.

“Well then, shall we move to the next course?”

“Fuck off.”

“Ah, Hunter, why do you keep telling me to ‘fuck off’?”

“Enough. Change my trainer.”

After pushing her a bit, she got really annoyed.

Our Blondie was asserting that she was the customer, the boss—though she wasn’t even the one paying.

“The head of the Hwarang Guild’s HR specifically appointed me. You can’t just change trainers as you please.”

Blondie frowned deeply.

She must know she’s not allowed to change me.

She’s just sulking because I’m pushing her around.

I sighed deeply and asked her.

“It’s only the first day. What kind of training do you want?”

“Combat.”

“Combat?”

“Skills that are actually useful.”

Blondie said arrogantly with a smirk.

“Oh, our Hunter wants that kind of thing from day one.”

I laughed with her.

“Then let’s start with light sparring. Oh, but not like before, meaning fighting seriously. Now that you’re a formal Hunter, you need to consider public perception.”

“Shut up. Who do I fight with?”

“With me, of course.”

“Hey, you’re the first one who’s said something I like.”

I watched Blondie smile pleasantly.

It’s strange.

I’ve given my all in training, but all the trainees I’ve trained so far have always thought I was annoying.

It stings.

Since it stings, I’ll split it in half.

“Put on your headgear. Mouthpiece too. No injuries, right?”

“You’re the one who’s gonna get hurt.”

Once on the ring, Blondie looked fierce, loosening her arms and neck.

I smiled wryly watching her full of fighting spirit.

Maybe I’m better suited as a trainer than a Hunter.

There was a time when Katrinne’s Rania Territory prepared for war.

In war, many soldiers die.

So Katrinne asked the one called the strongest—to train her knights.

Knights are tactical weapons that can change the course of war.

For them, I helped train so many could survive as possible.

At first, knights considered it an honor to be trained by me, a Hero.

But at some point, they started avoiding me.

‘Oh right. The mock battles always made things worse.’

Thinking suddenly made me feel a little sad.

They’re people I can no longer meet, so it’s a shame.

I have no choice but to vent everything on Blondie before me.

“Well then, Hunter. Ready? I hope I’m not pushing you too hard on the first day.”

“But aren’t you wearing headgear?”

Blondie pointed out that I wasn’t wearing any.

“Oh, it’s fine. You’re not even going to hit me.”

I smiled innocently.

“Ha, this bastard.”

Blondie gritted her teeth, hurt pride burning in her eyes as she charged at me.

Her agility was incredible, unbelievable after such tough training.

‘Good punches.’

I lightly dodged Blondie’s fist.

She flinched when she saw her punch didn’t even graze me.

But she probably thought it was just a coincidence.

She threw a straight punch at my face again.

‘So honest. Who would get hit by that?’

I lightly twisted my jaw away.

Looking into Blondie’s eyes, she seemed a bit angry.

‘Doesn’t matter. She’s regeneration-type anyway.’

Blondie’s ability is Regeneration.

Whether stamina or wounds, she recovers rapidly.

What I’m about to do isn’t petty revenge. It’s training to survive in the dungeon.

Tough love. Yeah, that sounds good.

Whack!

A sound like air popping echoed.

Blondie didn’t even realize what just brushed past her nose. Her body froze instantly.

“You can’t just throw punches relying on brute strength. You need technique. When facing an opponent, feints are important. What you just saw was a jab, and now this.”

Smack!

“This is a hook. Now I’ll show you the straight punch you’ve been recklessly throwing… Oh, is that blood? Are you okay?”

Ah, I messed up.

“Hello, Hunter Kim Taeyang. Today’s training will be three sets with sparring.”

I smiled brightly as I greeted her.

It had already been a week since I started training Blondie.

Kim Taeyang is Blondie’s real name.

“Since you learned, shall we try kicks today? Oh, of course, the method is the same as now—hit, punch. It’s just faster to learn that way.”

I also learned this way during Hero lessons in the other world.

You get better by getting hit and hitting.

The body is honest.

My mentors in that world were passionate about education.

Training always left me half-dead.

Sometimes, I even suspected my trainers might be from the Demon King’s Army.

Once, while I was using the restroom, someone poured water on me. I asked if that wasn’t too much.

They said you have to avoid all irregular attacks.

Thanks to that, I carried an umbrella for a while.

Now that I think about it, maybe they just hated me.

“Normally, the jab is used for feints. High kicks are good, but they expose big openings. That’s risky. So let’s try low kicks.”

Smack!

“Ah, you think your leg’s broken?”

I laughed awkwardly at Blondie’s whining.

“Is a human leg a chopstick? I hit above the guard… Oh, wait. I’ll call a Healer right away. Don’t move. Don’t jump out the window! That’s the third floor!”