Chapter 32 – Starting from Day One (1)

“Coach, no, Team Leader now. I really think fate exists. You trained me, and now we get to be on the same team.”

Kim Tae-yang chattered excitedly beside me.

Im Jae-joon had brought Kim Tae-yang over from the Hwarang Guild, just as I requested.

Kim Tae-yang was a promising rookie, but his relationships with his teammates at the Hwarang Guild had been poor.

Thinking back to when I first met him, it wasn’t hard to see why.

He’d cause a scene demanding to spar right away, openly disrespecting and challenging people.

Unless you handle people like Kim Tae-yang with firm kindness and gentleness like I do, they just push back.

“To think I’d end up on the same team as that idiot, Tae-yang.”

Kim In-ho muttered quietly and sighed.

Kim In-ho had been steadily building his reputation. Depending on his future performance, he could have been named this year’s top rookie Hunter.

In this business, picking the top rookie Hunter isn’t always like winning the lottery.

Some have the skill but not the right temperament, while others are too fearful to fight.

It would have been difficult, but I personally stepped in and arranged a trade with Tushin to bring Kim In-ho over.

‘This must sting a bit for them.’

The person who approved the trade was the one in charge of personnel at Tushin. Kim Shin.

It was a tangled fate we seemed to have, but well, this time it brought me a great benefit.

“Are these people my juniors? It’s nice to meet you. Let’s get along.”

“Oh, Seo Hyun-ji? You’re Seo Hyun-ji from Fo’Girl, right?”

Kim Tae-yang recognized Seo Hyun-ji, his mouth stretching into a wide grin.

“The fourth S-rank, Seo Hyun-ji—I mean, our senior—is on our team.”

Kim Tae-yang looked thrilled, as if joining my team was the best decision he’d ever made.

Seo Hyun-ji arrogantly lifted her chin and looked my way.

So what?

“But Hunter Seo Hyun-ji. Didn’t you just awaken? Didn’t Tae-yang and In-ho debut earlier?”

“No. Fo’Girl was a girl group made up of Hunters.”

“Is that so?”

I spent eleven years in another world, so I really don’t know anything about idol singers or celebrities. As a result, I have no interest.

But if Seo Hyun-ji has been a Hunter all this time, why is her basic stamina so low?

On a whim, I asked Seo Hyun-ji.

“Hunter Seo Hyun-ji. What’s your level?”

“It’s 1.”

“…”

I was speechless.

I only awakened as a Hunter a month ago, and my level is 16.

Kim In-ho and Kim Tae-yang are level 10 and 7, respectively.

No matter that she was juggling being a Hunter and a girl group member, level 1 was just too pathetic.

“No wonder you seemed so powerless.”

“Back then, the concept was just an ‘awakened girl group,’ you know?”

“And now?”

“Now it’s girl crush?”

Girl crush, my ass.

What good is outstanding talent if she can only maintain her ability for a measly five seconds?

That makes it completely meaningless.

“Since it’s the first day, Tae-yang and In-ho, go say hello to the management team.”

I glared at Seo Hyun-ji and said through clenched teeth.

“As for you, we’re redoing your training curriculum starting now.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“We’ll focus on training your stamina and mental fortitude.”

“Can’t you just take me into a dungeon once? My level will go up quickly then, won’t it?”

“Where did you learn such bad habits… Is this a game to you?”

She was asking me to power-level her like in some online game. I was at a loss for words.

I’m sure some guilds actually use that method. But I don’t.

“From now on, Hunter Seo Hyun-ji, you will only run on the treadmill.”

“Until when?”

Until you die.

Seo Hyun-ji pouted, but she did as she was told.

Perhaps because of her girl group activities, she didn’t seem to find running on the treadmill difficult.

Team 3’s training facility still lacks proper equipment.

The previous Team 3 probably didn’t train at all, I suppose.

There’s a gym for employees in the building, but what I want is training fit for a Hunter.

Without basic stamina, it doesn’t matter how skilled you are with a sword or how powerful your magic is.

The one silver lining is that I’ve already requested an upgrade for Team 3’s training facility equipment.

Once the proper training gear arrives, things should get a little better.

In my spare time, I thrashed my muscles with bench presses and squats.

I was in the middle of an enjoyable training session when Seo Hyun-ji stopped running and came over to me.

“Don’t tell me I’m just going to be running forever?”

“As I said before, your basic stamina is too low.”

“But I can’t just do this every day. Isn’t there any proper training?”

I checked the clock; she’d been running for thirty minutes.

Beads of sweat had formed on Seo Hyun-ji’s brow. She might be grumbling, but it seemed she’d do as she was told.

“Follow me.”

After telling her to follow, I led the way.

Seo Hyun-ji hesitated when I entered the shower room.

“Come in.”

“Wh-why would I go in there with you?”

“You said you wanted to do a different kind of training.”

I filled the bathtub in the shower room. When it was full, I beckoned to Seo Hyun-ji, who was lingering uncertainly at the entrance.

“From now on, you’ll only run until your stamina builds up. And besides running, you’ll do this until your mental fortitude improves.”

I sliced through the water in the tub with the side of my hand.

Then I looked up at Seo Hyun-ji and said.

“Understand?”

“No, I don’t get it. What are you doing?”

Seo Hyun-ji looked at me with suspicious eyes.

“You just have to part the water. Like this. And this.”

“Until when?”

“Until the water parts in two.”

“Are you kidding me? Am I Moses or something?”

Judging by her expression, she was dumbfounded. She looked a little angry, too.

No, but this isn’t to torment her; I’m being serious.

I searched for a video on my phone and showed it to Seo Hyun-ji.

– Amanda Lisse (27): Aqua Roller Demonstration.

The world-famous spirit summoner is an American woman named Amanda.

Like the miracle of Moses, she parted a swimming pool in two. She then performed by walking down the path revealed on the pool floor.

“I-isn’t this fake?”

“It’s not fake.”

If you can erect and maintain a thin barrier of mana before the water returns, you can perform this kind of technique.

It literally requires a large amount of mana and a high degree of concentration.

At Seo Hyun-ji’s current level, it’s impossible.

“Amanda Lisse’s initial rank was A. For someone like you, Seo Hyun-ji, who started as an S-rank, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Hmph, I just have to do it, then.”

Seo Hyun-ji crouched down in the bathroom and stared at the tub. She glanced up at me.

I shrugged.

Seo Hyun-ji carefully sliced through the water with the side of her hand.

A small splashing sound could be heard. Seo Hyun-ji looked at her wet hand, then back at me.

“Just keep doing it until it works.”

* * *

“I’m not doing it!”

Seo Hyun-ji snapped at me.

Still, she lasted longer than I thought. A full ten minutes?

“I’m an S-rank Hunter!”

“Yes, I know.”

At my calm reply, Seo Hyun-ji glared at me with narrowed, sullen eyes.

“Shouldn’t you treat me with a little more respect?”

“What kind of respect?”

A Villain, through and through.

“I’m Seo Hyun-ji!”

“Yes, I haven’t forgotten your name.”

“You don’t even know my songs, you don’t even know who I am!”

Watching Seo Hyun-ji grumble, I let out a short sigh.

“I’ve heard them.”

“You have?”

“Yes.”

Seo Hyun-ji’s expression softened slightly.

She’d looked so sulky before.

Truthfully, I didn’t listen by choice. Katrinne saw the CD and excitedly played it.

So I had no choice but to listen, whether I wanted to or not.

“What did you think?”

“They were good.”

Her face grew a little gentler.

“With your talent, Hunter Seo Hyun-ji, I thought you could easily surpass even Amanda, the world’s greatest spirit summoner.”

“I’m still just a beginner.”

“Just think about it. With your beautiful looks, Hunter Seo Hyun-ji.”

“…”

“When your outstanding talent blossoms, won’t not just South Korea, but the entire world take notice?”

I could practically see her ears perking up.

“I don’t ask the impossible of people. I’m not the type to tell a bald man to wear a ponytail.”

“…Hmph. Whatever. I’m going home.”

Seo Hyun-ji gathered her things.

“I’m busy with a commercial shoot, so I won’t be practicing at home either. I’ll come back when my schedule clears up.”

After saying that awkwardly, Seo Hyun-ji was leaving the training facility when she turned and asked me.

“By the way, how old are you?”

“I’m thirty.”

“How are you older than me with that face?”

What am I supposed to do about it?

With that parting shot, Seo Hyun-ji left the training room.

Come to think of it, how old was Seo Hyun-ji?

I looked it up on the spot. She’s twenty-four.

Only a six-year difference.

When I was a high school senior, she would have been in sixth grade.

This old man is sorry.

“Wow, Team Leader. It’s crazy out there.”

Just then, Kim Tae-yang and Kim In-ho entered the training room.

“Outside?”

Through the window, various pieces of exercise equipment were being delivered. Punching bags, gym machines, sparring gear, and so on.

“They’re really bringing in a ton of equipment. Wow, are we opening a gym or something?”

“We have to.”

When I replied with a smile, Kim Tae-yang looked at me.

“Uh, I don’t know who it is, but they’re so screwed. Looks like they’ll have to spar with you, Team Leader. Haha.”

“Hahaha. Why do you say that like it has nothing to do with you?”

At my words, Kim Tae-yang’s pupils began to tremble.

“Uh, no, right?”

“Come on now. Don’t be an amateur.”

Kim Tae-yang backed away. Then he suddenly pulled something from his pocket.

The kid shook his head. As if in disbelief.

“Team Leader. You’re the one who made me do this…!”

Kim Tae-yang tore up the contract in front of me. As if trying to escape.

I pulled a contract from my own pocket and showed it to Kim Tae-yang.

Seeing it, Kim Tae-yang’s pupils dilated, and he lunged at me.

After snatching the contract from my hand, Kim Tae-yang let out a low, “Hehe,” and smiled.

“You let your guard down, Team Leader.”

Sorry to rain on your parade, but take a look at this.

I show another piece of paper to Kim Tae-yang, who is busy tearing up the contract.

It’s a contract.

“I made a few copies in advance, and I also scanned it and saved it to an external hard drive and the cloud.”

Hearing my words, Kim Tae-yang’s face went pale. Only Kim In-ho, who knew nothing, tilted his head in confusion.

“Our Hunter Tae-yang seems to have lost his touch.”

I said with a bright smile.

“The future is going to be so much fun.”

* * *

At first, they didn’t have a good impression of each other. But there were two people who became close due to a sense of kinship—they debuted on the same day, were the same age, and had both survived a crisis.

One was a highly anticipated rookie of the year, and the other was a rookie whose potential was top-tier but hadn’t yet been revealed.

Despite that, the two got along well. Like rivals, they motivated each other to become stronger.

“But aren’t you being a little too scared?”

Kim In-ho said to Kim Tae-yang.

Kim Tae-yang was a resolute and tough guy. But he showed an unusually weak side to Team Leader Lee Hyunbin. He was like a mouse before a cat.

Just yesterday, he’d been caught by Team Leader Lee Hyunbin trying to secretly dispose of the training equipment being delivered to Team 3’s facility.

After that, Kim Tae-yang became even more anxious.

“Tae-yang, I used to spar as a basic part of my training too.”

Being a Hunter is a job that requires real combat. You have to train harder than a martial artist and study more than you would for any certification.

A Hunter who’s afraid of sparring.

That’s ridiculous.

Kim In-ho knew that Kim Tae-yang possessed talent superior to his own. He didn’t want to see that talent go to waste like this.

“We wear full protective gear anyway, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“…”

“When we go to the training room today, I’ll show you me sparring. You can watch me and build up some courage.”

“…”

Kim In-ho saw that no matter what he said, Kim Tae-yang’s eyes remained dead. It was frustrating, but it was hard to expect him to get better in a single day. This was trauma.

Kim In-ho had to drag Kim Tae-yang, who was reluctant to enter the training room.

How had he managed to get into Hanul Guild?

Tushin Guild has great conditions in many ways. They have famous Hunters, a large number of members, and all sorts of popular stars.

Despite all that, the reason Kim In-ho chose Hanul Guild was because Lee Hyunbin was the team leader.

He believed that man could help him solve his own chronic problem.

“Good morning, Team Leader.”

“Oh, Hunter In-ho, you’re here. I didn’t think Hunter Tae-yang would show up today. Well, well.”

Lee Hyunbin said with smiling eyes. He seemed to be in a very good mood.

But at that sight, Kim Tae-yang flinched.

Kim In-ho let out a quiet sigh. Then he said confidently.

“Team Leader. The sparring room is ready.”

“Ah, I saw it was all finished last night. Especially since someone kept trying to sa. bo. tage. it.”

Lee Hyunbin smiled, his gaze shifting toward Kim Tae-yang.

As if referring to how he’d secretly tried to get rid of the training equipment yesterday.

“We can finally train properly starting today. Wow, all the equipment they installed is top-notch.”

“That’s right. Starting today.”

Lee Hyunbin beamed at Kim Tae-yang and Kim In-ho.