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ᴀ𝙬𝚎𝔟𝐬𝘵𝙤𝙧𝚒𝐞𝚜.ċ̇𝙤ᴍ
So, I followed Baek So-yul to a nearby Baek family-owned training ground that was located separately.
“What kind of favor requires us to come to a place like this. . . .”
To be honest, I had a rough idea. What else could we do in a training ground?
“Hehe. I’ve been feeling a bit restless lately. Seo-ha won’t meet me because he’s tired, and there aren’t any other satisfying opponents.”
Baek So-yul continued to explain as I feigned ignorance.
“Eun-seo told me that you’re quite skilled. She said that you fight differently from ordinary people.”
“. . . .Did you already know who I was?”
If she did, she could have let me in earlier. She really is a nasty character.
Unfazed by my reaction, Baek So-yul picked up a wooden training sword with an expectant look on her face.
Whoosh.
Swish!
Swish.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard her praise someone else so highly. I couldn’t help but be intrigued.”
In any case, I understood the general gist of the situation. It was simple enough, so it wasn’t a bad situation for me.
“. . . .I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”
And as expected, I was soundly defeated in the several matches that followed.
Swish.
Clang.
“Why is this?. . . .Your movements aren’t bad, but is this all you’ve got?”
It can’t be helped.
I held back a bit because I didn’t want to attract Baek So-yul’s attention, but our fundamental compatibility is just too poor.
Baek So-yul is a traditional martial artist who faithfully follows the Baek family’s style.
The stat adjustments from my Occupation and the counter skill Breaking are meaningless to her.
In fact, all I can do is spam various spells, but with such an overwhelming difference in specs, there’s no way that would work.
「𝘼𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚.」
It wasn’t for nothing that I refused to fight Baek Eun-seo in the previous comprehensive combat training assessment.
Of course, there were ways to improve over time, but the reality was that there was nothing I could do right now.
I got up from the ground and slowly brushed off the dust.
“I think that’s enough. As you can see, I still have a long way to go.”
I was a little upset from getting beaten up so badly, but if I could completely sever Baek So-yul’s interest and meet up with Yoo Ha-on and her party, it wouldn’t be a bad outcome.
However, as expected of the Shining One, Baek So-yul had something else in mind.
“. . . .If we end it like this, I’ll be a little disappointed.”
There was a hint of madness in her eyes that had been absent just a moment ago.
“I see. I heard that you recently subdued a B-rank yokai, so I guess this isn’t exciting enough for you. Hehe. Don’t worry, I’ve been feeling the same way.”
She even knows about what happened at the Defense Corps. It seems she’s been investigating me behind my back.
And this is a dangerous development. The Baek So-yul I know is someone who does what she says, no matter what.
“I gave it my all. Please calm down and keep your promise. . . .”
“Oh my, you don’t seem to have any sense of crisis at all.”
Baek So-yul drew her sword diagonally, channeling her spiritual power as if she were swinging a spear.
Clang!
Rumble.
Boom!
Boom!
I watched as several trees behind her were mercilessly cut down, and I hardened my expression and channeled my spiritual power.
Whoosh.
“Yes. Now you’re finally showing some sincerity. Were you holding back just now? How annoying. . . .”
Even though I held back, I was only considering the gap between training and real combat. I swallowed the rising resentment within me.
In that tense situation, Baek Eun-seo suddenly appeared and saved me.
“Sister So-yul! What are you doing? The elders are calling for you right now.”
“. . . .Phew, it was just getting good.”
Although she couldn’t ignore the elders’ call, Baek So-yul sheathed her sword and suppressed her spiritual power.
Then, she turned to me and smiled faintly as she spoke.
“Let’s continue what we started next time, shall we?”
“. . . . . . .”
Either way, I was finally able to join up with Yoo Ha-on and her party.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
𝔞𝕨ė̇𝙗𝙨𝔱𝘰ṙ̇i̇̇𝕖𝕤.𝐜𝘰𝘮
“An errand?”
After parting ways with Baek So-yul, I met with Yoo Ha-on’s master, Baek Seo-ha, who was helping them with their training.
And there, Baek Seo-ha gave Yoo Ha-on and the group the same request as in the original.
“Yes. He’s an elder who has always helped us with medicinal herbs, but we haven’t been able to contact him since the day before yesterday. If possible, could you meet him and bring back the items?”
“That’s no problem at all. What is it? I’ll be back soon.”
Baek Eun-seo accepted it with a smile, and soon Yoo Ha-on and her party decided to take a break and head together to the nearby village where the elder lived.
“Phew, I thought I was going to die of boredom training all day. Now I can finally live a little.”
“Aren’t you tired since we just got here? Oppa, you can stay here if you want.”
“It’s not a difficult task.”
“No. I’ll go with you since I want to look around the area too.”
Right there and then, Yoo Ha-on and her party encountered Sori-soe, who had devoured an entire village, while helping the exorcists dispatched by the Association. Of course, I couldn’t not go.
I couldn’t stop thinking about how Sori-soe would be different in Hell difficulty, or if some unexpected obstacle would suddenly appear. And so, I finally took my first step into the introduction of Chapter 2 of the story.
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