The veins on Ji-Han's neck bulged. 

It was because of the two people, a man and a woman, blatantly ignoring him while conversing right in front of him.

"I was just going to say hello and leave, but why are you acting out like this, huh?"

Who’s silencing whom?

Ji-Han’s lips trembled as he narrowed his eyes.

"For your information, I’m a Hunter who could easily be promoted to B-rank any day now."

"...So what?"

Si-Hyun intentionally ignored him. Unable to control his temper, Ji-Han shouted.

"Are you insane, seriously?"

"If you're almost B-rank, then I guess you'd be fine going one-on-two against us, right? An E-rank and a D-rank. Two people."

"Huh?"

Ji-Han looked back and forth between Si-Hyun and Han-Gyeol, completely dumbfounded. From the way she spoke, this woman was clearly a Hunter as well. E-rank, it seemed.

Where on earth was this confidence coming from?

Ji-Han was sure he could take down ten E-rank Hunters without even breaking a sweat.

A D-rank and an E-rank? Just two? 

It was beyond absurd.

"Miss, you're really going to get hurt if you keep this up, you know?"

"Scared?"

"Shit, seriously."

Ji-Han cursed, his expression twisting in frustration. The fact that she could remain so expressionless while taunting him made his anger boil even hotter.

He felt truly disrespected.

It seemed he’d have to show them what the Hunter world was really like.

"Fine! If you’re so eager for it, let’s do it. I’m not responsible if you get hurt. Right, Han-Gyeol? You're in, right?"

"Uh..."

Han-Gyeol grimaced.

He could tell that Si-Hyun was deliberately provoking Ji-Han.

The problem was that once Ji-Han flipped his switch, he wouldn’t hold back, seeing nothing but his target.

He knew Si-Hyun was strong. There was no way she belonged at E-rank.

But just how strong?

Han-Gyeol didn’t know the answer to that. He could only think of her as someone extraordinary.

With a nervous gaze, he looked over at Si-Hyun.

"Can the two of us actually beat Ji-Han?"

That was the thought he’d just had but couldn’t bring himself to say out loud.

Si-Hyun smiled, a pure, childlike smile.

In that moment, a small, quiet courage that had been lying dormant within Han-Gyeol started to stir.

"We can do this."

Si-Hyun murmured softly.

It was a short sentence, but it was like a magic spell.

Confidence filled Han-Gyeol’s chest.

He stood up slowly.

"...I’ll grab training swords from the storage room. Let’s meet at the open lot beside the building."

"Heh, I’m telling you, I won’t hold back."

Ji-Han emphasized his warning with a sly smile, his mind already concocting fantasies of how he’d handle these two who dared to disrespect him.

The three gathered in the open lot behind the building.

Han-Gyeol handed Ji-Han a sturdy but blunt practice sword. He then approached Si-Hyun.

Just then, Si-Hyun leaned against a nearby lamppost.

As if to say, "I won’t be joining this fight."

Han-Gyeol froze like a statue, stammering as he looked at Si-Hyun.

"S-S-Si-Hyun...?"

"Hmm?"

"Why are you leaning against the lamppost...?"

"...?"

In a trembling voice, Han-Gyeol questioned her actions.

Si-Hyun blinked a few times, not understanding why he’d asked.

"I wanted to watch comfortably?"

"...Aren’t you... joining the fight?"

"...Oh."

Realizing the meaning of his question, Si-Hyun finally understood.

"I’ll use a Paladin skill on you. Make sure he quiets down for us, okay?"

"....."

Han-Gyeol fell silent.

The courage he’d mustered up just moments ago started to slip back into the cold earth.

He rubbed his face with his free hand.

This was a disaster.

He was definitely about to get beaten to a pulp. Ji-Han was the type who’d hold nothing back, not even for family. He’d beat him senseless.

As Han-Gyeol lowered his head, silently lamenting his fate, Ji-Han approached, grinning wickedly.

"Why don’t you both just come at me together?"

"..."

Han-Gyeol raised his head with a gloomy expression.

Si-Hyun let out a cute yawn. She tossed the empty milk carton to the side, shaking it slightly as if disappointed it was finished.

Watching her behavior, Han-Gyeol couldn’t help but feel that, to her, the amount of milk left was more important than the fight.

‘Whatever, I don’t care anymore.’

It was already happening, so he steeled himself.

At the very least, he’d try to look as composed as possible.

"...Let’s get started."

"Heh, I’ll go easy on you."

Han-Gyeol took his stance, while Ji-Han maintained his lazy posture.

Snap!

Suddenly, the sound of a finger snap echoed.

In that moment, Han-Gyeol felt a surge of energy flow through his body.

Yes, this was the feeling.

Vitality filled his muscles, his fear evaporated, and his focus sharpened.

He felt like he could accomplish anything right now.

Calmly, he faced his opponent.

Meanwhile, Ji-Han started to feel... odd.

Since that crazy woman snapped her fingers, his body felt strangely weakened.

A faint discomfort tingled through him.

‘Is it my imagination?’

Today didn’t seem to be his day, but there was no way he could lose to mere D and E-rank Hunters.

Ji-Han gripped his sword with both hands and kicked off the ground.

He swung his sword down toward Han-Gyeol’s head.

After all, they were both Awakened, and with blunt swords, it would just end up "incredibly painful" rather than anything severe.

He attacked without hesitation.

"...Huh?"

"Hm."

He had expected a scream of pain.

Or at least the sound of someone barely managing to block.

But Han-Gyeol easily dodged Ji-Han's sword.

Ji-Han couldn’t believe his eyes.

Apparently, Han-Gyeol had been training hard in dungeons lately. His skills seemed to have improved a bit.

Ji-Han swung his sword again.

Once, twice.

Han-Gyeol evaded every strike.

"Haah!"

"..."

Frustrated, Ji-Han unleashed a sudden combat skill.

He swung horizontally at Han-Gyeol’s waist with even greater speed, leaving a long trajectory in his wake.

‘This one will land!’

Ji-Han grinned, satisfied.

But...

Han-Gyeol raised his sword vertically, blocking it.

He winced slightly but held his ground.

"...What’s going on? This isn’t right."

Ji-Han muttered to himself, baffled.

A D-rank Hunter like Han-Gyeol shouldn’t be able to fight like this.

While he was clearly doing most of the attacking, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t really in control.

Ji-Han took a deep breath and stepped back, the air feeling stifling around him.

Something felt like it was gnawing at him, pressing down on him.

There was a strong sense of déjà vu, but he couldn’t pinpoint why.

Suddenly, he glanced at the woman a few steps away.

Her words from earlier ran through his mind.

[If you’re almost B-rank, then you should be fine going one-on-two. E-rank, D-rank. Two.]

One-on-two.

Could it be...?

"...A magic-class Hunter?"

Magic-class Hunters had such varied skills that you could never predict what they’d do without experiencing it firsthand.

Ji-Han's brow furrowed.

He felt like he was being played by some sneaky trick.

But he couldn’t dwell on it any longer.

Han-Gyeol had started his counterattack.

He adapted quickly to his buffed state, shifting from a defensive stance to an offensive one.

Han-Gyeol closed the distance in an instant, swinging his sword with intensity.

The dynamic of the fight shifted.

The counterattack had begun.

"Argh...!"

Blocking Han-Gyeol’s strike, Ji-Han’s eyes widened.

The timing had been too close. If he’d been any slower, his shoulder would have taken the hit.

His hand, clutching the sword, throbbed painfully.

Was this guy really just D-rank?

Was he secretly C-rank all along?

Even if he were at full strength, winning wouldn’t have been easy.

Could it really be the effect of a mere E-rank magic Hunter?

Ji-Han's thoughts spiraled chaotically.

But he couldn’t afford to get lost in them.

Han-Gyeol pressed forward relentlessly, not letting up for a second.

Each swing of his sword forced Ji-Han back.

As Ji-Han’s expression grew more twisted, a bright grin spread across Han-Gyeol’s face.

He could win!

He was actually holding his own against the guild’s ace!

Han-Gyeol knew it was thanks to Si-Hyun’s buff, but it felt like he was getting a glimpse of his future potential.

‘Wow, Paladin skills are amazing!’

His heart pounded with excitement.

A wave of exhilaration and euphoria started in his chest and spread through his entire body.

"Aagh!"

"Hahaha...!"

Han-Gyeol

’s sword finally struck Ji-Han’s neck.

With a cry of pain, Ji-Han stumbled backward, clutching his neck.

As Ji-Han clutched his bruised neck, Han-Gyeol glanced over at Si-Hyun.

Meeting his gaze, she flashed him a small, victorious smile and waved.

It was like being blessed by a goddess of victory.

Han-Gyeol turned back to face Ji-Han.

Si-Hyun was undoubtedly destined to rise high.

She was someone he couldn’t reach, a flower on a distant cliff.

But... maybe it was okay just to watch her from afar?

To follow her path, even if at his own pace.

Even if he was slow, he’d grow steadily, becoming someone worthy.

With renewed determination, Han-Gyeol charged at Ji-Han again.

"Hah..."

"Argh! Ouch!"

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes.

He pounded Ji-Han without hesitation.

Recently, Ji-Han had been getting too full of himself and even ruder than before.

The stress relief was exhilarating.

Despite the relentless beating, Ji-Han’s pride wouldn’t let him surrender.

Which only encouraged Han-Gyeol to hit him harder.

Thwack! Thwack!

The more he hit, the more enjoyable it was.

Some people really did need a good beating.

There had never been a more satisfying moment.

"P-Please, stop! I’m s-sorry!"

"Oh, you’re sorry now?"

"I... I apologize!"

With a smack to his forehead, Ji-Han collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.

Seeing it was about over, Si-Hyun leisurely walked over to Han-Gyeol.

"Han-Gyeol."

"Yes?"

"You seemed to be enjoying yourself. Why not give him a little more... education?"

"Should I?"

With Si-Hyun’s playful tone, Han-Gyeol grinned.

But just then...

"Uh, what are you guys doing...?"

Da-Young appeared beside the building, her eyes widening at the sight before her.

Ji-Han, sprawled on the ground, noticed Da-Young’s presence.