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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: One-on-One Combat Training (3)
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Kang Dohui watched Jin Yuha's sparring session, her gaze steady as she folded her arms.
'As expected, Jin Yuha has quickly gotten used to the sword.'
Unlike before, when he seemed heavily reliant on skills, he now appeared to be wielding his own sword.
Kang Dohui was almost the only one among the party members, who were universally praising him, who evaluated him dispassionately.
As a fellow damage dealer in the same class, and possessing an exceptional combat sense, she was able to view his abilities more objectively.
'But his growth rate is excessively fast.'
Of course, this was because Jin Yuha possessed S-rank Sword Mastery, but Kang Dohui had no way of knowing that.
'Jin Yuha said he first held a sword during his spar with Instructor Baek Seolhui. And he said that was also the first time he'd used his body in combat.'
Honestly, comparing his fundamental training to now, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a complete metamorphosis.
She had never seen anyone grow stronger so quickly in her life.
No, she did know one person.
That was 'Kang Dohui' herself.
Now, she understood.
How Jin Yuha could become so strong with a man's body.
She had to understand.
Because Jin Yuha and she were alike.
Just as he lost his parents to a monster attack,
Kang Dohui also lost her parents to monsters when the Gate incidents first erupted in Korea.
The hatred for the monsters that stole her life. That must be what compulsively drove Jin Yuha, just as it had driven her.
Why else would she have rushed into a Gate as soon as she awakened her Status Window?
The thought that she could finally hunt monsters with her own hands consumed her, blinding her to everything else.
Revenge against the monsters who took her parents.
She couldn't think of anything else.
However, at the same time, he was different from her.
Before she was completely swallowed by hatred, she met a benefactor and a pillar of support in that first Gate.
Parandis Guild Master, Choi Hyesuh.
But for Jin Yuha?
There was no one.
What if she, too, hadn't had such a pillar of support?
Needless to say,
she would surely be walking the same path as Jin Yuha now.
A life ruined after losing parents to monsters.
That must have forged an unquenchable hatred within Jin Yuha.
Because of it, he didn't know how to invest in himself, or even how to cultivate hobbies,
and his sense of taste was completely ruined.
He compulsively looked after those around him, obsessing over their safety.
He wanted to form precious bonds, but even his methods were utterly clumsy.
She suddenly recalled something Jin Yuha had said when she watched his video (which she still occasionally rewatched).
— It's only natural to save your party when they're in danger.
At the time, watching that, she had thought of Choi Hyesuh, but now the meaning struck her quite differently.
'He must be thinking of his parents, whom he couldn't save before.'
Look at him even now.
He had begun to wield his own sword, but even that was so precarious.
Even if he had grown strong quickly, he hadn't been holding a sword for long, so he wasn't yet at a truly threatening level.
However, Kang Dohui could instinctively feel it. The horrific murderous intent sought by the destination of each sword trajectory he swung.
'There's an intent to completely kill his opponent.'
Kang Dohui then scrutinized Jin Yuha's face.
And she unwittingly bit her lip.
Expressionless.
It was a terribly blank expression, as if indifference itself had been transferred onto him.
This was a sword that took a life as if it were a routine task, immediately seeking out the next quarry.
Perhaps this was Jin Yuha's true nature.
The strange guy who always told absurd jokes that didn't even warrant a forced laugh.
Or cooked dishes with a messed-up palate, then looked at you with genuine expectation.
All of that must be a defense mechanism to hide this coldly burning hatred.
'But it can be changed.'
Hadn't she herself changed through the Parandis Guild Master?
Trying to stop Jin Yuha from wielding such a cruel sword would be counterproductive.
He could maintain that sword,
but it might be possible to add one powerful emotion to revive his humanity.
Fighting spirit.
A positive emotion, somewhat akin to hatred, yet capable of becoming a driving force in life.
Kang Dohui herself had overcome it that way.
The effect was already verified.
'Hah, I feel absolutely terrible for trashing his cooking without knowing the full story. But I just can't bring myself to stammer out an apology or say anything cringey.'
Ultimately, she decided to help Jin Yuha in the way she could.
'He's such a high-maintenance party leader.'
Kang Dohui let out a small chuckle and approached him.
* * *
*Thwack!*
"Kyaah! St-stop it already!"
While I was busy giving Lee Minyoung a noogie.
"Mutt."
"Huh?"
"Let's have a go."
Kang Dohui approached and said.
"What…? You want to spar? You and me?"
"Yeah."
I looked at her with a bewildered expression.
'Kang Dohui wants to fight me?'
In truth, there was no particular reason for Kang Dohui and me to spar in this class.
After all, since we were both A-rank, exchanging ranks would be pointless, and we might get exhausted after a fight and lose to other students.
Even if she could reclaim her rank, it would be a significant risk to her reputation for the 'Fighting Dog' to lose to a regular student.
'Hmm, and I'd probably lose, wouldn't I…?'
It was still early in the semester, and the difference between a 4-star and a 5-star was too vast to overcome.
And there was no way Kang Dohui didn't know that.
That's why I had to think for a moment.
I didn't exactly have a hobby of jumping into fights I was guaranteed to lose.
No matter how many simulations I ran in my head, the only outcome was me losing.
Whether it was group combat or one-on-one.
A ridiculously overpowered character, like a perfectly filled hexagon.
The real deal with unmatched footwork.
Velvet's mutt.
'At least if I could use my skills… No, wait, she uses Berserk too, doesn't she?'
What's more, it wasn't like before, where there was a magic restriction. Now, there were no such limits.
Honestly, think about it.
Even if Baek Seolhui wasn't serious,
how utterly insane it was that a freshly enrolled student went toe-to-toe with an instructor bare-handed and even managed a draw.
'I should probably refuse here…'
Just as I was about to decline her challenge,
Kang Dohui suddenly tilted her head back and gave me a disdainful look.
"Hey, scared?"
"…What?"
"Are you scared?"
My face twisted in an instant.
'Whoa, hold on. She's saying that here?'
That forbidden word, guaranteed to sting any gamer, any man, slipped from her lips.
And my pride, just provoked. Her gaze, looking down on me with contempt.
All of this felt familiar.
A stinging like salt poured on a wound that hadn't even scabbed over yet.
'Right, you were the one who disrespected my cooking, weren't you…?'
She'd even sent me recipes for basic dishes via private message, rubbing it in and taunting me thoroughly.
If a man ran away after hearing that, he should just cut off his balls.
'Kang Dohui's weakness, weakness…'
I bit my lip.
As I continued to ponder, a thought flashed through my mind.
'Oh, right. Now that I think about it. Kang Dohui hasn't learned how to counter that yet, has she?'
Honestly, it felt a bit like I'd be relying on luck, which isn't ideal, but if it works out, I might actually win…?
And if I win this one and then never fight her again, wouldn't that count as a lifelong victory?
It's a petty thought, but so what?
A taunt must be repaid with a taunt.
I glared at Kang Dohui and said,
"Hey, Kang Dohui, don't you dare regret this."
"Regret? Are you talking about what I felt after eating your cooking?"
She snorted, returning my provocation in kind.
"...!"
'You're dead, Kang Dohui. You are truly dead.'
And so, the second match, the spar between Kang Dohui and me, was set.
*
"Just so you know. It'll be quite different from before. There's no magic restriction this time."
Kang Dohui stretched her arms upwards as she spoke.
"How can I be scared of a mutt who can't even use Berserk?"
I didn't back down either, returning her jab.
"Mutt? I have no history of letting anyone who called me that live."
"I'm walking out of here in one piece. I'm even going to donate blood afterward."
"Hah. Your lines are as terribly boring as your pineapple kimchi stew."
*Gritting his teeth*
Just then, Instructor Hong Jinah, who had been watching the tension between us, spoke.
"Skill usage is prohibited. And if either of you declares defeat, it will be treated as an immediate loss."
She glared at me as she spoke.
It seemed she was a little displeased that I'd kept pummeling Lee Minyoung, who had surrendered just a moment ago.
"Ah, yes, understood."
I gave a slight bow, indicating my agreement.
It'd be a problem if she didn't stop us midway anyway.
"Then, let the spar begin!"
With the instructor's signal to start.
*Thud!*
Kang Dohui and I shoved off the ground and charged at each other.