IEOS 05

Chapter 05

Episode 5: Rival? (1)

While Ji Yuchan was still confused by Hwang Hana’s indifferent gaze, expression, and even Dohyun’s strange reaction, Hwang Hana spoke to the newly admitted trainees as if the evaluation had already ended.

“Get guidance from the trainees who entered earlier.
Starting today, all facilities are available.
However, harsh training begins tomorrow, so I recommend you rest as much as possible.
That is all.”

It was already close to 9 p.m., so she said that, but with so many people gathered like this, how could anyone just go to sleep?

It wasn’t their usual bedtime anyway, so the other trainees stepped forward, saying they would show the new trainees around the building.

At first, the new trainees thought things might turn competitive, but the warm welcome from the existing trainees softened them, and since they were all around the same age, they quickly became friendly.

Everyone except Park Dongwook was in their twenties.

Park Dongwook himself was only in his early thirties, so the age gap wasn’t big, and everyone got along easily.

They all gathered in the lounge, bought drinks and snacks from the convenience store inside the hunter training center, and chatted together.

They honestly wanted to drink alcohol, but there wasn’t any inside the training center, and since training started tomorrow, they decided to hold back and stick with drinks.

While they were talking—

“Oppa Yuchan, are you the quiet type?”
“He might just still feel awkward.”
“Right, right.”

Ji Yuchan was receiving a lot of attention from the women, but his expression wasn’t very good.

Ever since entering the Seoul Hunter Training Center, he had unintentionally suffered a humiliation.

Because of Hwang Hana’s mana pressure, his pride had taken quite a hit.

People from the Hunter Association had said he was a talent comparable to Hwang Hana, so he believed it himself, but when he actually came here, he was completely overwhelmed by her.
It was only natural that his pride would be hurt.

Maybe because of that mood—

“Ahem. Yuchan, looks like you’re not in a good mood~.”

The oldest, Park Dongwook, casually changed the topic.

“By the way, wasn’t Instructor Hwang Hana’s thing seriously amazing?”
“Yeah… I thought I couldn’t breathe.”
“Exactly. It felt like my chest got crushed.
Were the people who came earlier the same?”

When the later trainees asked, the earlier trainees nodded and answered.

“Yeah, we got hit hard too.”
“I finally understood what ‘can’t breathe’ really means.”
“Seriously.”

While they were talking, one of the existing trainees, Park Yesul, clapped her hands.

“Oh right! But Dohyun oppa was totally fine during that!?”

When she mentioned Dohyun, the only one who stayed calm under Hwang Hana’s mana pressure, Ji Yuchan immediately turned his head.

“…Is that true?”

Even though Yesul was the one talking, Yuchan’s eyes were on Dohyun.
Dohyun scratched his head awkwardly.

He looked a little uncomfortable being the center of attention, so he answered casually.

“Rather than fine… I was just pretending to be fine.”
“Wow. I couldn’t even pretend. That’s impressive, Dohyun.”
“Seriously. I almost passed out…”
“I think Yuchan hyung staggered a bit too…”

Someone said that while carefully watching Ji Yuchan’s reaction.

Ji Yuchan didn’t say anything, but he clearly looked at Dohyun with a competitive spark in his eyes.

He himself had been shaken by that mana pressure, yet this guy acted like he was fine?
Was he bluffing because he came earlier?

That could be the case, but Ji Yuchan didn’t act rashly.
He simply stood up.

“I’ll head in first.”

“Oh! It’s already 11. Let’s wrap up too.
Training starts tomorrow, so we should sleep well to be in good condition, right?”
“Sounds good. Let’s end it here.”

When Ji Yuchan stood up, the mood naturally shifted to ending the gathering.

Everyone helped clean up, and in no time, they finished and returned to their rooms.

While that was happening, Ji Yuchan watched until Dohyun went inside, burning with determination.

Others didn’t notice, but Dohyun definitely felt different.

Everyone else looked slightly tense while talking, but Dohyun showed none of that.
Not pretending — he genuinely wasn’t nervous.

Thinking that Dohyun might become his rival, Ji Yuchan went into his room.

Meanwhile, the moment Dohyun entered his room, he thought of the message window he had checked earlier.

Unfortunately, the other four had F-grade traits, but one big catch made up for it.

It was none other than Ji Yuchan’s status window.

I can’t believe I could see it…

Hwang Hana also had an S-grade trait, but he failed to analyze her.

This time, however, he succeeded.

He guessed the reason was simple:
With Hwang Hana, the difference in level was too big, but with Ji Yuchan, the gap was small enough to allow analysis.

Because of that, he could clearly see the characteristics of an S-grade trait.

An S-grade trait, plus two A-grade skills.
As expected, S-grade was on a different level.

This is insane…

Jung Minwoo, who had an E-grade trait, only had an F-grade dagger skill.
So it was natural for an S-grade to have A-grade skills…
But two of them?

Well—

S-grade having two skills makes sense.

Dohyun looked at the rewards he obtained and slowly smiled.

He reopened the message he had closed earlier.

Then—

It was a long message, but Dohyun already knew the contents.

Because Ji Yuchan was still weak, analysis succeeded.
He gained 500 AP, and with that, he could learn one skill.

Of course he hesitated.

A-grade Swordsmanship
A-grade Sword King’s Intuition

He read both descriptions.

Swordsmanship is a weapon skill like Dagger Technique…
Sword King’s Intuition is a passive.

He thought for a moment, but for Dohyun, the answer was obvious.

He played plenty of games after all.

So he chose immediately.

“…Wow.”

It felt almost unfair, but he already got it, so what could he do?
It didn’t harm Ji Yuchan anyway.
Win-win, right?

…Or not.

Anyway, Dohyun opened his status window.

“…Wow.”

In less than half a day, his stats and skills had changed completely.

His physical abilities had risen a lot too.

Compared to Ji Yuchan, his mana, strength, and stamina were lower, but except for him, Dohyun’s stats were the best.

Not even a full day had passed, yet he had grown this much.

Looking at the window, he shook his head.

“Even I’m scared of my own growth.
Yuchan, thanks.”

Thinking nonsense, he felt grateful toward Ji Yuchan, who was the same age as him.

Thanks to him, he got an absurd advantage.

“Though… Yuchan doesn’t seem to like me much.
Well, whatever.”

He decided that if he ever got the chance, he’d help him back.

With that light thought, Dohyun lay down on his bed.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s training,
thinking that with new instructors he’d grow even stronger,
he fell asleep with a satisfied smile.

* * *

5:30 a.m.

Normally, everyone would be asleep at this time.

But not at the Seoul Hunter Training Center.

WEEEEEEN—

A siren rang through the entire dormitory, and the trainees jolted awake.

Anyone would react like that to a sudden siren.

Then a familiar voice came through the speaker.

—All trainees, wake up.
Assemble at the outdoor training ground within 30 minutes.

The microphone cut, and the siren sounded again.

Only then did the trainees realize where they were.

Modern people weren’t used to waking at 5:30 a.m., so everyone staggered around half-asleep.

But Dohyun moved quickly, finished showering, changed into the training uniform he received yesterday, and went outside.

It wasn’t because he finished military service.

If that were the reason, most of the men would be out too.

Dohyun was just fast.

When he arrived at the outdoor field, Ji Yuchan came out shortly after.

Seeing Dohyun already there, Ji Yuchan frowned slightly.

But Dohyun didn’t care.

He’s competitive, huh.

That’s all he thought.

Soon, just like yesterday, Instructor Hwang Hana stood on the platform.

Exactly at 6:00, all trainees had gathered without a single one missing.

Seeing that, Hwang Hana smirked.

“Good. No one is late.”

Then she shouted.

“If you’re late often, I’ll introduce you to another instructor!”

At her words, another instructor climbed onto the platform.

The trainees’ faces turned pale.

The man looked like he came from a different world—
his uniform stretched tight over his massive muscles,
his face itself looked made of muscle.

He shouted.

“Nice to meet you, trainees!
I am Instructor Choi Pil, in charge of physical training.
From now on, I will reform your minds!”

Everyone trembled under the overwhelming pressure.

Dohyun swallowed as he looked at him.