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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Hunting (2)
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'Ugh… How can I refuse…? How *can* I refuse…?'
Sophia's eyes, staring down from the high ground, were dead black.
She had no choice but to grant Jin Yu-ha's request.
Having been tormented by Jin Yu-ha this time, Sophia had already experienced countless worries and failures to the point of exhaustion.
How often had she repeated it to herself?
That when he asked for training that seemed impossible to complete, or made requests that seemed unreasonable, she would flat-out refuse.
To become a woman who could coldly and firmly say 'NO!'—that what wasn't right wasn't right, and what she didn't like, she didn't like!
But the results, predictably, were all failures.
Unlike in the past, when a solid wall called the Academy stood between them,
she now had the grace of living right next to Jin Yu-ha, making her a truly blessed fan among fans.
Before she actually encountered him,
'Wow—a man with such looks actually exists.'
she could maintain a certain distance, knowing he wasn't someone she'd be involved with.
But now that she had actually seen him…
His looks were truly unfair.
Always new and thrilling.
Living together 24/7 on a deserted island without the conveniences of civilization, one would normally get used to a face,
and eventually see unsightly aspects that would shatter the illusion.
Yet, as time passed, only she grew disheveled.
Jin Yu-ha's looks didn't fade even amidst the harsh deserted island life,
and every moment of his ruthlessly pounded her heart.
When he woke up, he was as cute as a fluffy kitten.
His focused face during training exuded a serious aura, like a noble wolf.
And when he told trivial, unfunny jokes, it wasn't his words, but his face that made her let out silly, helpless laughs.
And then.
When he made unreasonable demands and outrageous requests, like just now,
a fatal charm, cuteness, and the decadent aura of a bad boy all mixed together, grabbing Sophia's heart by the scruff and beating it senseless.
Haaah…
Sophia, drooling and falling for his looks every single time.
It was truly a regret for a thousand years that she didn't have a camera.
'My heart can't take this. He's an incubus, isn't he? What else could he be…?'
This time, too, pushed by his face, Sophia found herself taking on the significant responsibility of 'Midterm Evaluation 3rd Place.'
'…Me, 3rd place? Can I do it?'
Of course, Yu-ha, our incredibly capable man, would do most of it, but the fact that he specifically asked her meant her help was essential.
'Alright, I'll just give it a try.'
*Click.*
Sophia, who had just captured Jin Yu-ha's pleading face deep in her heart, nodded firmly.
She stepped forward, raised her bow, and pulled the string taut.
There was no arrow nocked on the bow.
However, as her gaze deepened,
*Whoosh—*
Brilliant golden mana, like her own blonde hair, gathered at her fingertips.
The mana condensed, transforming into the shape of an arrow.
*Thwip—*
As she released the bowstring,
*Whoosh!*
The golden arrow shot forward in a straight trajectory.
* * *
"Hmm, she's doing well."
I chuckled, watching Sophia, who had started shooting arrows from atop that hill.
'Well, since Sophia has started, maybe I should get moving too.'
*Waaaaaah—!!!*
The deafening shouts and the hot, blood-stirring fervor filled the scene.
This situation was perfect for me.
Because I could blend into the chaos and rampage without distinguishing between friend and foe.
'Stealth Walk.'
I suppressed my presence and blended in among the students engaged in combat.
"Die!!! You lackeys of civilization!!!"
"Tch, you damn beasts…!!"
"Hwaaaah—!!!!"
These individuals desperately continued to fight as if engaged in a real tribal war.
As they focused on fighting each other,
I pushed off the ground silently.
*Whoosh—*
*Slice.*
*Slice.*
"Gah!?"
"Ugh!?"
The swung sword effortlessly slit the throats of two students.
One student in primitive attire and one in modern attire collapsed on the spot.
*Shimmer—*
Their bodies blurred as they were summoned to the airship.
They did turn their heads towards me belatedly, looking bewildered.
Well.
'This is all to save you guys. So just understand.'
And since I'm taking the coins as a service fee, you won't feel wronged, right?
Next, I began swinging my sword, indiscriminately targeting both Lee Yu-ri's team and Shin Se-hee's team.
With each flash of my sword, a primitive or modern student was cut down.
And so, I stepped into this chaotic battle.
*
Meanwhile,
"…Kill them! Yes, kill them completely!"
Go Eun-jeong, a freckle-faced healer, screamed from behind, dressed in primitive attire.
"Is it her time of the month today? Why's she acting up?"
A damage dealer, who had just finished off a student with a group attack, frowned.
"She's the one who supposedly 'taught Jin Yu-ha a lesson.' That's why she's been acting like the boss ever since."
A tank next to him whispered to her.
"…What? *She* did Jin Yu-ha?"
When the disbelieving damage dealer asked again, the tank nodded.
"They apparently met in the shop, and when she asked Jin Yu-ha if he wasn't looking for a healer, he supposedly said he didn't need a healer, calling them freeloaders who just ate up resources."
"What…!? Jin Yu-ha said that?"
"Yeah, and then she supposedly threatened Jin Yu-ha, saying they'd see what happens when student-on-student combat was allowed."
"Oh…"
"The 'we'll see' part is probably a lie, but you have to admit she's got guts."
The damage dealer erased his previous displeased look and regarded Go Eun-jeong with renewed eyes.
Meanwhile, Go Eun-jeong was secretly celebrating.
'Hehehe, it was a good thing I spoke up then. As expected, when you deal with a celebrity, fame follows, doesn't it!?'
Of course, Go Eun-jeong had merely spoken to him, taking advantage of the fact that student-on-student combat wasn't allowed at the time and that other students were watching.
Everyone present at that spot had been a supporter or a healer.
Jin Yu-ha's remark that he had found a healer superior to 'the likes of them' was enough to wound their pride.
As a result, public opinion had somehow shifted to Go Eun-jeong having confronted an arrogant Jin Yu-ha, and Jin Yu-ha having tucked his tail and run.
This was different from the truth, but who cared!
'Anyway, he won't come looking for me in this chaotic mess.'
At first, she had felt resistant to wearing such a crude outfit, but not anymore.
After all, the shame was only temporary.
The fame remained.
It was clear that her standing would rise significantly once this midterm evaluation was over.
'If he comes looking for me later and says anything, I can just say it was a misunderstanding, that other people were just talking.'
After the exam, a damage dealer like him wouldn't be able to specifically seek out a healer like her to threaten her.
Just then.
*Boom!*
A pillar of fire erupted a short distance away.
Followed by a torrential downpour of relentless fire from the sky.
*Rumble-rumble-rumble—!!!!*
'Ack, it's Shin Se-hee!? Q-quickly, let's get out of the way.'
If they got caught by a monster like her, they wouldn't even be able to pick up their bones.
"Everyone, next, that way! Let's target that side!!!"
Go Eun-jeong shouted.
The group of primitives, centered around her, turned to the right.
However, she didn't know.
That where they went to avoid the monster Shin Se-hee, an even greater monster was waiting, jaws agape.
*Drip.*
*Drip.*
A sword, dripping with blood.
There were bloodstains all around him, indicating how many he had taken down.
Everyone cut by his sword had seemingly been summoned away, leaving no one around him.
'…J-Jin Yu-ha!? W-Why is he here!!!?'
Before she could quickly pull back, he slowly raised his head.
And his indifferent gaze locked onto her.
"You guys are the next opponents… Huh? What is it… You, I've seen you somewhere?"
Jin Yu-ha said, frowning.
At that, those who had been startled by his appearance immediately turned their heads to look at Go Eun-jeong.
Go Eun-jeong's face instantly turned pale.
"Uh, umm…"
Just as she stammered, unable to find anything to say,
Jin Yu-ha snapped his fingers, as if remembering.
"Ah, right! You! The one who disrespected our Sophia!"
"…M-Me, disrespected whom!? I-I never disrespected anyone?"
Who was Sophia, and when had she ever disrespected her!?
Honestly, she didn't understand what he meant, but she knew the current situation was utterly screwed.
*Gulp.*
Go Eun-jeong swallowed dryly.
'Should I bow my head here and now?'
As a healer, she likely wouldn't be able to withstand even a single strike from him. No, she definitely wouldn't.
'No! I'm going to 'die' either way. And it's not like I'm actually dying.'
In that case, it would be better to directly confront him and leave a deep impression on the other students.
Having made her decision in an instant, she bit her lip firmly and raised her voice.
"Y-You're the one who disrespected healers!!!"
"…What? I disrespected healers?"
"Y-Yes! You said you didn't need the likes of us! You said you could do well, perfectly fine, on your own!"
She could feel the gazes of those around her subtly changing.
'Yes, I'll do this now, and later I can just explain it was a misunderstanding! It'll all be over if I just endure a moment of pain anyway!'
"No, what nonsense are you spouting? I never disrespected healers. I merely said I already had my healer. Weren't you the one being unreasonable?"
At that, the surrounding people began to murmur.
Feeling the situation turning unfavorable, Go Eun-jeong bit her lip hard.
She needed a clever move.
A clever move to turn the tables.
Go Eun-jeong's eyes, scanning his surroundings, sparkled.
"…Ha! So, where is that healer!? You're the only one here right now! You said that, but in the end, it's just like you said you didn't need a healer at all!"
Got him.
Honestly, it would have been a disaster if the healer Jin Yu-ha spoke of had been by his side.
But right now, there was no one around him.
"That healer. If they're real, why don't you show us?"
Having regained her composure, Go Eun-jeong said to him with a triumphant smile.
At that.
*Thwack—*
Jin Yu-ha, his eyes calm, pushed off the ground from where he stood.
"Crazy! Jin Yu-ha is attacking!!! S-Stop him! Attack!!!!!"
Go Eun-jeong squeezed her eyes shut and shrieked spasmodically.
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
At that moment, hearing the horrifying sounds of flesh being pierced, she squinted her eyes open.
And she gaped, unable to believe what was happening before her eyes.
"Huh…?"
Because, Jin Yu-ha.
The swords and spears the students had thrust out in a daze were impaled all over his body.
"…"
Jin Yu-ha, with weapons impaled all over him, was as still as a corpse.
"W-What, what is this! Did I really take down Jin Yu-ha…!? Really!?"
"Jin Yu-ha talked a big game, but he's n-nothing special!"
"W-We actually took down Jin Yu-ha!!!"
Those around them freaked out.
"Ah, ha… Ahahaha!!! So Jin Yu-ha was n-nothing special after all!? As expected, one person against many…!"
Go Eun-jeong also cheered, her face filled with ecstasy.
To think she'd take down *that* Jin Yu-ha right here!
It was probably because he let his guard down, falling for her provocation.
This was an achievement that even calling it a miracle wouldn't suffice!
However.
"…Ha. Seriously, it's really hard to get hit on purpose."
Jin Yu-ha slowly raised his head and said in a low voice.
"Sophia. Heal."
*Whoosh!*
A golden arrow, flying from somewhere, embedded itself in him.
*Thump.*
*Thump.*
*Thump.*
Then, his muscles pushed out the spears impaled in his abdomen.
The wounds from the weapons instantly healed.
"Alright, then, who among you can do a heal like this?"
To him, speaking with a bright smile,
they could only stare blankly, speechless.