Kang Do-hee stared at Jin Yuha’s back as he walked ahead, recalling a memory from her early days as a hunter.

It was right after she had awakened her status window and become a rookie hunter.

Back then, she had been full of herself.

It was only natural.

She was born different from others.

A high specialization grade.

Initially decent stats.

A special skill called ‘Berserk’.

Everything recorded in her status window told her, ‘You are special.’

It was enough to make the young her proud.

Right after her awakening, she had confidently ventured into a C-grade gate to test her strength.

There, she had almost lost her life.

The bodies of two-legged wolf monsters, Lycan, were strewn around, and even more of them surrounded her.

–Grrrrrr…

They were pack hunters.

No matter how strong her awakened power was, it was still potential. She lacked basic knowledge about hunters and gates, and these monsters were not as easy as they seemed.

-Grrrrr─!!!

The largest of the pack charged at Kang Do-hee in a life-or-death moment.

Clang─!

A person appeared.

Choi Hye-seo, the guild master of Paradice.

She had happened to be passing by and casually sliced through a Lycan, then approached Kang Do-hee.

-Did you just awaken your status window? Impressive that you’ve hunted this much on your own.

If it hadn’t been for that encounter, she wouldn’t be here now.

-Why are you so tense? Huhuhu, I’ll help you, so relax.

Choi Hye-seo ruffled her stiff hair and smiled.

-Tsk… Let’s just finish off these guys and go back to rest. I’m tired.

She said, without hesitation, and walked ahead.

-Come on, rookie! I’ll protect you, so go wild!

A confident command.

For some reason, Jin Yuha’s back overlapped with Choi Hye-seo’s.

Jin Yuha charged at the demon and swung his blue sword.

Clang─!

The swords clashed, creating a sharp sound.

“Kang Do-hee! I’ll hold them off, so use [Berserk]!”

Jin Yuha’s command overlapped with Choi Hye-seo’s voice in her mind.

‘…… [Berserk]?’

It wasn’t a skill she used often.

When she used [Berserk], her rationality faded, and everything in front of her disappeared. It was not a pleasant experience to lose herself.

The only time she used it was when Choi Hye-seo was by her side, someone she could trust to keep her in check.

After Choi Hye-seo retired, she hadn’t used [Berserk] even once.

‘How does he know about [Berserk]…?’

The thought briefly crossed her mind, but Kang Do-hee found herself stepping forward towards the demon illusion.

Thump─

Thump─

Her heart began to race, and her blood flowed vigorously throughout her body, heating her up as if her temperature was rising. Her head felt numb and dizzy, and her vision flickered.

Clang─!!!

Jin Yuha lowered his sword as if he was certain she would come.

-Rookie! Now’s your chance! Take him out!

Her instincts told her in her hazy consciousness.

Now, right now.

Taah─!

Kang Do-hee leaped into the air.

Then, she spun her body in midair.

“Haaaaaaaa!!”

A downward strike using centrifugal force.

Whoosh─!

Her heel sliced through the air, aiming for the demon’s head.

With her magic mostly restricted, her body was as slow as it had been when she first used [Berserk].

But,

For some reason, she felt no worry.

Kwaak─!

Her heel landed on the demon’s head, and for a moment, the demon’s movements stopped.

Clang─!

Jin Yuha smoothly sliced through the demon’s neck.

Soon, the demon’s illusion faded away, and Kang Do-hee turned her gaze.

There,

Jin Yuha nodded as if he had trusted her.

“You’re amazing, Kang Do-hee.”
─ Hey, rookie, you’re really something else!?

.

.

–

Kang Do-hee’s [Berserk] brought the joint training to an end.

Kang Do-hee stared at me with her breath still heavy, either because she was still feeling the aftermath of the battle or because she was unhappy about having her command taken away and following my orders.

“You, you did well?”

Her expression was scary for some reason.

“……”

Instructor Baek Seol-hee approached with a stiff expression and put her hand to her ear, clicking her tongue.

“Tsk, didn’t I tell you he wasn’t one?”

Then, with an annoyed look, she drew her sword.

Sliiiing─!

Her sword stopped near my neck, and its coldness touched my skin.

I was taken aback.

‘What’s going on all of a sudden?’

“Jin Yuha.”
“……Yes?”

She looked at me with an expressionless face.

“First of all, let me say that this is not my intention.”
“What…?”

She took a diabetes testing kit-like machine from her pocket.

‘A demon detector? Isn’t that something that’s supposed to be handled by the Hunter Management Bureau in the game?’

‘Who is this person, really?’

“Jin Yuha, can I have a drop of your blood?”
“Ah, yes.”

I reluctantly nodded and brought my finger to my neck, near the sword’s edge.

Prick.

The blood from my fingertip stained her sword.

When she applied the blood to the machine, it glowed with a yellow light.

Beep─!

Beep─!

Beep─!

Ring─♪

The yellow light turned green, and the machine emitted a mechanical sound.

[It’s not a demon.]

“As I thought, he’s not a demon… I’m sorry for suspecting you, Jin Yuha.”

Instructor Baek Seol-hee bowed her head, seemingly ashamed.

An unprecedented event where an instructor bows to a student who hasn’t even enrolled yet. But, in a way, it was very much like her.

“Ah, no. You didn’t suspect me anyway, Instructor.”
“Even so, being suspected of being a demon is not just an unpleasant experience. It could have put your life in danger.”
“Cough─!!”

Kang Do-hee suddenly coughed behind me.

“If there’s something you want, speak up. If it’s within my power, I’ll do my best to grant it.”

When the game becomes reality, even being suspected of being a demon is not just an annoying event.

‘Actually, this isn’t really an unpleasant thing.’

Instructor Baek Seol-hee looked at me with a blank expression. I took a moment to gather my thoughts.

‘Instructor Baek Seol-hee… I don’t know much about her, but maybe that’s why it’s worth trying…’

While receiving training from her, I had already figured out that her swordsmanship was S-grade or higher.

Considering that there were no S-grade classes for new students, if I could continue learning swordsmanship from her after enrollment, it would definitely be a big help later on.

“Then… can you teach me swordsmanship after I enroll?”

Instructor Baek Seol-hee shook her head vigorously.

“Hah, that’s not possible. Jin Yuha.”

What? Is it not possible?

Doesn’t she teach classes?

“Your major has already been set to my swordsmanship class.”
“……What?”
“……When did that happen?”

“So, ask for something else. If you want an apology, I can make that person apologize. If you want money, I can get you compensation. Suspecting someone of being a demon without proper evidence is unacceptable. It could have put your life in danger.”

‘She’s really an annoying bit*h.’ Instructor Baek Seol-hee clicked her tongue.

“Ugh─!”

And for some reason, Kang Do-hee coughed again behind me.

‘Hmm… Maybe this is possible too?’

I looked at Instructor Baek Seol-hee and opened my mouth.

“Instructor, can you give me the authority to form a party right after enrollment?”