A fist flies toward my face.
I immediately used Instant.
Eun Sang-min recently became a C-rank Hunter. Even if he didn't imbue his fist with mana, there's no denying that his physical abilities are higher than mine.
On top of that, I never expected Eun Sang-min to throw a punch right here. If not for Instant, I wouldn't have been able to dodge this fist.
'…Should I just let him hit me once?'
Thinking about the aftermath, that might be easier. I could at least claim he threw the first punch.
'But why the hell should I take a hit from this bastard? Screw that.'
No matter how convenient it might be for later, my pride won't allow it.
I clenched my fist and dodged Eun Sang-min's attack. Then, I channeled lightning and mana into my fist and swung at his face.
BOOM!
Eun Sang-min goes flying. The café's glass wall shatters as his body crashes outside, rolling several times on the ground.
"Y-You crazy bastard… Are you seriously trying to fight me?!"
Eun Sang-min trembled as he got up. One side of his face was red and swollen, and blood dripped from his mouth.
'He's still standing after that? C-rank isn't just for show.'
Maybe because he can also manipulate mana, my lightning didn't electrocute him.
If my physical abilities weren't inferior to his, that punch would've knocked him out already.
"You threw the first punch. I just defended myself, you piece of shit."
I walked toward the broken glass wall, ignoring the surroundings. This café was in a quiet area anyway, with barely any customers.
"Yeah, you bastard. Let's settle this today."
Eun Sang-min clenched both fists. Sharp spikes began protruding from them.
His ability. He can grow spikes on his body or objects, even creating and throwing them midair.
This guy boasts about his ability so much that everyone in the department knows about it. And I've seen it myself before.
"Wipe the blood dripping from your mouth. You already look like shit, but now people might mistake you for a zombie."
Crackle!
Lightning coiled around my right fist.
Even if his physical abilities are superior, I don't feel like I'll lose.
Eun Sang-min, still unsteady, swung his fist at me. Stone spikes formed in the air and shot toward me. I dodged them with footwork and closed the distance.
'Even without a sword, I can still use the Yeongcheon Style's footwork.'
Eun Sang-min and I engaged in close combat. He showed some martial arts skill befitting a C-rank Hunter, but from what I could see, it was sloppy. Clearly, he wasn't used to fistfighting.
Using the Yeongcheon Style's footwork, I evaded his punches and kicks, countering with one-sided attacks.
"Aaaaaaah!"
Eun Sang-min roared in rage. I noticed the ground trembling slightly around us.
I instantly activated Instant.
The ground transformed into spikes, rising toward me in slow motion. I jumped over them and kicked Eun Sang-min midair.
"Guhk!"
Eun Sang-min collapsed to the ground. It was the perfect moment to mount him, but if he turned his whole body into spikes like a porcupine, I'd be screwed. So I held back.
"You call yourself a C-rank Hunter? Why are you so bad at fighting? Are you even a real C-rank? Did you bribe your way in?"
"You bastard!"
Eun Sang-min was getting up again when—
"STOP!!"
Han Ha-rin activated her ability to intervene.
Gravity Field.
A stronger gravitational force weighed down on both of us. But it wasn't nearly enough to stop us.
Just as mana granted resistance against my lightning, it also resisted Han Ha-rin's gravity. Her ability couldn't suppress us—it only slowed us down slightly.
A long spike extended from Eun Sang-min's grip. He swung it like a sword, showing far more skill than his awkward punches.
'This bastard… crossed the line.'
Bare hands and a weapon—the weight behind those words is entirely different.
I used Instant to create distance first.
[Used Instant. Remaining stacks: 2]
I didn't draw a weapon. I wanted to keep my Inventory a secret, and with Instant, I figured bare hands were enough.
'I've beaten him enough. I'll just knock him out and end this.'
He couldn't react to my Instant. A proper C-rank would've, but he was just a fresh, mediocre C-rank.
I closed the distance again with footwork, targeting his slowed movements.
Eun Sang-min's eyes locked onto mine.
The moment I saw his pupils filled with hostility, an old memory surfaced. It was a conversation I overheard while passing through the university hallway.
"Ugh, what kind of ability is "body elongation"? It only stretches 30 cm—where the hell am I supposed to use that? My life is a joke. Should I just quit being a Hunter?"
"Hey, at least it's better than nothing. You can still be a Hunter. Look at Seong Eugene. He hasn't even awakened, yet he keeps dragging himself to class. Honestly, saying he has potential is a straight-up lie."
"Heh. Still, it's better to have some ability than none at all, like him."
I knew they pretended to be considerate but mocked me behind my back.
The subtle disdain in their eyes, the ridicule when I wasn't around—I knew, but I couldn't do anything. I had no power.
I even considered quitting the Hunter path multiple times, thinking maybe I should just live as a normal person.
"Hey, aren't you that Hunter aspirant in our department? It's been a year, and you still haven't awakened? Why is a normie even in the Hunter program?"
"Sang-min, you're drunk. Calm down."
"Oh, come on. Did I say anything wrong? Huh? If you're talentless, you should just admit it and leave. Why the hell are you still here, polluting the department? I'm embarrassed to have someone like you as a junior. Seriously."
"Eugene, ignore him. He's just drunk."
"Hey, this is what real ability looks like. Scared? Why are you shaking? I barely even touched you. A Hunter wannabe trembling over this? Pathetic. Hunters have to be ready to face death. You can't be a coward like you."
"Eun Sang-min! What the hell are you doing?! He's still a normal person who hasn't awakened! Are you insane?!"
"Ugh… It's a joke. A joke. Why are you overreacting…?"
CRACK!
Eun Sang-min's arm bent in an impossible direction and snapped.
"GAAAAAAAH!"
Listening to his scream, I relaxed my left hand and raised my right. Dark demonic energy swirled around it.
I smirked at him. His body trembled as he collapsed, looking up at me with pure fear in his eyes.
"A C-rank Hunter trembling over this…? Weren't you the one who said Hunters have to be ready to face death?"
I used Heavenly Demonic Qi to kill Eun Sang-min. It's a hand technique from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. He should consider it an honor to die by it.
"Die… Huh?"
Suddenly, my vision widened. My mind had been filled with the urge to kill him, but those thoughts vanished, and clarity returned.
It felt like chugging ice-cold water on a scorching summer day—refreshing and sobering.
I stared at the Heavenly Demonic Qi in my hand, eyes wide.
'W-what the hell? Demonic qi? Why now?'
The black energy around my right hand gradually faded until it disappeared without a trace.
'No, more importantly… I wasn't planning to kill him!'
It's true that Eun Sang-min is annoying. And yeah, I've got a grudge against him.
But not enough to kill him.
If this were the play world, I wouldn't hesitate. But this is reality. If I killed him here, the aftermath would be impossible to handle.
The only reason I picked a fight was because I knew I could manage the consequences.
'Why did I try to kill him…?'
The question was cut short as someone suddenly grabbed me from behind, restraining both arms in an instant.
"Ghk!?"
"Don't move! Hunter Association!"
I reflexively tried to resist but stopped at those words. Resisting would be pointless—they have legal authority and can execute Hunters on the spot if necessary.
"Fighting in broad daylight? You guys are insane, huh?"
"..."
"Stand up! If you use your ability or move mana, we'll kill you right here. Get in the car quietly!"
***
I was locked up in the Seoul Southern Branch's detention cell. My current location: an iron cage specifically designed for Hunters. After being questioned by Association staff, I was left waiting in the cell.
I glanced at the opposite cell. Eun Sang-min, my opponent in the fight, was also locked up. His body was perfectly fine—a healing-type Hunter must've treated him.
'This'll probably just end with a fine.'
Despite the outcome being the opposite, Eun Sang-min is a C-rank, and I'm an E-rank. Under Hunter law, the higher rank is at a bigger disadvantage—even if he got his ass kicked.
Han Ha-rin left after giving her witness statement. Judging by her demeanor, it wasn't her who reported us but the café owner.
Eun Sang-min and I will settle this privately. Hunter law is strict—whether you're the aggressor or victim, fighting outside dungeons is punishable. Basically, mutual fault is assumed.
The best outcome is mutual agreement and paying a fine to the Association to sweep this under the rug.
Leaning against the cell wall, I sank into thought.
'Putting aside the fact that I tried to kill Eun Sang-min… I used Heavenly Demon Divine Art in reality.'
I unconsciously activated the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
That makes no sense. Aside from that moment, I've never successfully used it in reality before.
Yet, in the middle of combat, I subconsciously pulled it off? Given my talent, that should be impossible.
'This doesn't happen for no reason.'
This is serious. There's no guarantee it won't happen again.
'The only suspect… is the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.'
Nothing else fits. In most fiction, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art is inherently demonic.
I lost control and tried to kill Eun Sang-min using it—something I'd never done before.
'The Heavenly Demon Divine Art was given to me by the Demon King. And that guy… is probably a demon. His actions scream it.'**
My conclusion? The Demon King tampered with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Think of it like a computer.
I'm a high-end PC. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art is a top-tier virus. The problem?
The virus is infecting my system.
'I once had to replace my PC because of a virus. Got chewed out by Mom, but at least I got an upgrade.'
That's not an option here. I can't replace myself with another me.
'Even Complete Recovery can't remove the virus.'
The virus's source is the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Unless I discard it, the virus will keep coming back.
'…Viruses need antivirus.'
And I happen to have one trait that fits:
Mental Resistance.
'I can't be sure, but… it might help a little.'
Raising its level isn't possible right now—I don't have the points.
'I also need to visit the Gods of Atlantis world and research the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. That damn Demon King… I knew he couldn't be trusted.'
As I mentally cursed the Demon King, a man approached my cell.
He looked to be in his mid-30s, with a sharp jawline and round glasses—a handsome face.
Wearing a sleek, high-end black suit, he didn't look like Association staff. I met his gaze without flinching.
"Brother-in-law! Over here!"
Eun Sang-min called out. I immediately recognized the man's identity. There's only one person Eun Sang-min would call "brother-in-law."
Han Soo-ri.
Master of the Han Soo-ri Guild, an A-rank Hunter and a mage.
Ignoring his brother-in-law's call, he spoke to me first.
"I apologize. My brother-in-law has caused you trouble."
***
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