* * *
Suddenly, flames burst from Ye Ilhu’s hand, threatening to engulf me.
I had good reflexes, so I quickly rolled half a turn to avoid the flames.
āTsk.ā
Did he just click his tongue? This bastard?!
Even though I knew it was a hologram, it was too realistically implemented, sending chills down my spine. I almost had my cheek burnt to a crisp.
With just three long strides, he was already close. I crouched low to the ground and unleashed my ability.
The time limit was three minutes. Just enough time to wait for a cup of ramen. I had to finish him within that time.
As I struck the hologram floor, not the actual training room floor, dust rose, and the ground cracked in four directions.
As the ground started to crumble, Ye Ilhu, who was approaching me with a flaming fist, jumped back. Despite his massive build, he was fast, which was infuriating.
āAttacking the ground, huh?ā
āDidn’t you see yesterday? This is my technique.ā
As long as I didn’t throw dirt in his eyes, it wasn’t cowardly in a fight.
I charged forward to slam Ye Ilhu into the ground.
Realizing the threat, Ye Ilhu exploded flames towards my reaching hand. Red sparks flew from his fingertips.
When I instinctively flinched, he chuckled.
āA fatal flaw.ā
āWhat?ā
āYou canāt do anything if you canāt make physical contact.ā
His sharp observation made me grit my teeth.
It was a tough match from the start. With fire as his main attack, Ye Ilhu wasnāt much restricted by distance, but I was different.
My super strength required close combat.
Yet, seeing his smug face made me determined not to admit defeat.
Close combat?
I could manage that. I picked up a piece of shattered stone and hurled it with all my strength.
With a whoosh, the stone flew towards Ye Ilhu, who reflexively raised his arm to shield his face.
The stone hit his forearm with a thud and bounced off.
āIs this close combat? Or long-range?ā
I grinned as I asked, seeing a cold gleam in Ye Ilhu’s eyes through his raised arm.
Oops. Did I provoke him too much?
At that moment, Ye Ilhu kicked off the ground. He was closing in at an alarming speed.
Realizing it was too late to dodge, my hunter watch started beeping obnoxiously.
Just as Ye Ilhu’s fist was about to land on my face, he stopped.
Throwing away all my pride, I quickly shouted.
āThree minutes!ā
ā…ā
āThree minutes are up! If you hit me now, itās assault! Iām just a civilian right now! I canāt use any abilities! So, put that fist away!ā
At that moment, Ye Ilhu, who had approached so close, moved his fist away from my face and stepped back. He let out a deep sigh. His dark blue hair shimmered.
ā…So annoying.ā
āDid you say everything you wanted to say? You asked me to spar with you, and I did. Instead of thanking me, you say itās annoying?ā
āIt was too short.ā
Ye Ilhu clicked his tongue in frustration, feeling like it was just a tease.
So what?
If I could extend the limit time as I pleased, I would have already stretched it to 100 minutes, even 500 minutes.
I shrugged as I took off my goggles and protective gear and put them back in their place.
āSo what.ā
Even with my gruff response, Ye Ilhu was too engrossed in something to react. His extremely handsome face made even his absent-minded expression seem filled with melancholy.
I opened the door of the training room while stretching my arms. Suddenly, a strong arm shot out from behind and grabbed my wrist.
I turned my head towards Ye Ilhu, who had been looking straight ahead.
āLetās go again.ā
āWhat?ā
āLetās do it again. Iām not satisfied with this.ā
āWhat nonsense is thisā¦ā
āWeāre not done yet. We couldnāt finish.ā
Thatās your problem, not mine. What kind of unreasonable demand is this?
Moreover, the way he spoke was somehow weird.
Put āsparringā in front of that sentence, you idiot. Otherwise, itās just asking for misunderstandings…
āHuh?ā
Just then, I felt intense gazes from somewhere and turned my head.
āGaspā¦ā
What I saw next was countless eyes staring at us.
Not only Jeong Yeonji and Heo Taekgyun, but also Chae Goya and Ryu Min, along with a bunch of hunters gathered behind them.
They all had blank expressions.
āWhat are you all doing here?ā
Why is the medical team here too? I tried to console Jeong Yeonji, whose eyes were brimming with tears, not knowing what was going on. But Ye Ilhu grabbed me even tighter.
āHey, arenāt you going to let go?ā
āYou havenāt answered yet.ā
āAnswered what!ā
āLetās go again, with me!ā
This ridiculous and absurd persistence was something Iād only seen from a five-year-old when I worked as a kindergarten assistant.
Even though I had been living like a hermit since coming to this world, for some reason, I snapped at his persistence and pushed back equally hard.
āNo, I donāt want to! You donāt hold back and attack me so harshly! Itās tiring, I donāt want to!ā
Hearing my words, Heo Taekgyun asked with a trembling voice like a quivering aspen.
āBa-Baram, you did come from sparring, right?ā
āHuh?ā
Whatās with him now?
As I looked back with a puzzled expression, the hunters gathered were whispering to each other, adding their own comments.
āDidnāt they say that usually when you go into the training room with Hunter Ye Ilhu, you come out half-dead?ā
What?
āBut that D-rank looks completely fine?ā
Well, we only fought for three minutes…
āHe just seems to be sweating a bit, other than that…ā
Well, anyone would sweat when sparring with someone who controls flames…
āHis neck is a bit red too. Is that a kiss mark?ā
What the hell, where did that come from?
āHey, no matter how soundproof the hologram training room is, surely not…ā
This is getting out of hand…!
āArgh! What nonsense are you all spouting!ā
I couldnāt hold it in anymore and shouted. Seriously, theyāre saying anything just because Iām quiet! Are they implying I did something indecent with him in there…
The crowd fell silent at my fiery outburst. The absurd misunderstanding was so overwhelming that it felt like it cured my nonexistent low blood pressure.
Sigh, forget it… Thinking back, these people live in a huge BL (Boysā Love) universe.
Just last year, they witnessed a bloody love triangle involving the main characters and the supporting characters up close. Itās no wonder their thoughts were off track.
āBy the way, why did you all gather here?ā
I asked Ryu Min, who seemed the most normal. He watched Ye Ilhu and me with a hand on his chin, then let out a light hum.
āWe came to… watch, I mean, out of concern.ā
It sounded like I heard his true feelings just now.
āOur Hunter Ye Ilhu doesnāt usually go easy on others. We thought you entered to die voluntarily.ā
ā…ā
āBut you seem surprisingly fine.ā
Although he spoke in a gentle tone with a kind expression, Ryu Min always had a chilling edge to him whenever we met.
Look at his face now. Who would think that expression shows concern?
As I glared at him, Ryu Min, seemingly unfazed, asked with a slight smile.
āWhat was your name again?ā
ā…Itās Kang Baram.ā
āYes, Hunter Kang Baram. Iāll remember that. You did well sparring with Hunter Ye Ilhu today. But since itās dangerous, next time…ā
Ryu Min was speaking in his usual kindly manner, but Ye Ilhu pulled me closer again. This time, he wrapped his arms around my chest. I ended up half-leaning into his embrace.
āI wonāt kill you, so letās do it again.ā
At that, Chae Goya, who had been hesitating, suddenly stepped forward. He cautiously grabbed my hand and tried to pull me forward. But since Ye Ilhu was holding firm, only my arm moved slightly.
āLet go, let him go. He doesnāt like this.ā
ā…Oh, Chae Goya, youāve grown bold?ā
āGuys, Iām still talking here.ā
With voices coming from all directions, huntersā murmurs, and the strange gazes from Jeong Yeonji and Heo Taekgyun, I felt my spirit slipping away.
I was being swung back and forth like a balloon between Ye Ilhu and Chae Goya.
āLet me go, you jerks…ā
I had been drifting around the guild for weeks, but I never wished for such chaos.
A foreboding feeling crept over me like a dark cloud. I had a hunch that the rest of Kang Baramās life would never be peaceful again.
* * *
*Summary page is only available for login users. Non-users can view the chapters on the chapter list.*
no peace
It’s only the beginning
Peace was never an optionš
The tug of war start
Lyk the cover