*
Choi Tae-soo admired the crimson Yeti inwardly. A mutant with incredible size and speed-how many Hunters could face such a monster?
Drawing its attention against such a monster wasn't easy. No matter how many abilities one might possess, how many could actually put them into action?
In that sense, Kim Si-woo's attempt to face that enormous monster alone to prevent casualties was worthy of being called heroic.
Hunters have a duty to protect ordinary people, but how many could do so when their own lives are at risk?
Moreover, to calmly face a mutant species with absolutely no information like that surpassed the level of most active Hunters.
'Actually, even among active Hunters, I wonder how many could face that guy.'
He had confirmed his talent during the observation class, but he hadn't imagined he would grow this much in such a short time.
He was a cadet who seemed more attractive the more you knew him.
'Well, now is not the time to be thinking about this.'
The shield that had been emitting bright light was now on the verge of breaking. The wings that had shown tremendous momentum earlier were also becoming increasingly shabby.
"It's alright, drop the barrier."
Choi Tae-soo said with a worried voice, as Jeong Soo-ah was already straining herself and even bleeding.
Even if she might be lacking compared to Kim Si-woo, being able to use a barrier of this level meant she had tremendous potential.
Considering they were both still cadets, he was looking forward to seeing how far they could grow.
"Hehe, I told you I'm fine."
Choi Tae-soo's voice was filled with strength. Feeling reassured just by hearing his voice, Jeong Soo-ah stopped maintaining the shield.
The crimson Yeti's foot, which seemed about to fall at any moment, stopped in mid-air as if blocked by something.
"Keu-ooooooo!!!!"
"Hehe, that fellow has quite the strength."
Only then feeling relieved, Jeong Soo-ah, who had exhausted her strength, staggered and collapsed.
Kim Si-woo, who was next to her, caught her, and Jia Unnie, who had been guarding the side, took out a luxurious-looking bottle.
"I can provide first aid."
"Th..thank you.."
Half-embraced in Kim Si-woo's arms, Jeong Soo-ah didn't react much and accepted the potion from Jia Unnie, drinking it down.
Even though tremendous shockwaves were generated each time it slammed its foot down, Choi Tae-soo maintained a calm expression and opened his mouth.
"Jia Unnie, could you take them to a safe place?"
"Yes, I understand."
It was quite a strange experience to hear it so clearly in his ears even though she didn't speak loudly.
"Then, excuse me."
Jia Unnie lifted Jeong Soo-ah and Kim Si-woo, each with one arm.
"Um, I'm alright..."
"Please, don't refuse."
A black, sword-like mark flickered in the air, and Jia Unnie and the two disappeared. Confirming their departure, Choi Tae-soo turned his neck and began to loosen his body.
"Hehe, this seems like a stronger one than I thought."
Choi Tae-soo muttered, watching the Yeti continuously strike down on the barrier he had created. He had simply thought it was fast, but its power was considerable.
"Keu-oooo!!!!"
"I wonder how its durability is."
The moment Choi Tae-soo tried to leap, a giant scythe rapidly spun through the air and flew towards it.
The scythe, moving with tremendous force, grazed the Yeti's ankle.
"Keu..keu-ooooooo?!!!!!!"
The crimson Yeti, flustered by the sudden attack, howled, but that was just the beginning. Two giant scythes danced through the air, beginning to attack the Yeti.
No matter how much of a Yeti it was, it couldn't ignore the size of the scythes, and it hesitated, trying to evade, but the two scythes showed exquisite movements, attacking the Yeti so it couldn't escape.
Centered around a black hood that concealed the inside, the giant scythes moved with a ferocious aura, appearing worthy of being called a Grim Reaper.
Each time the scythes danced, large amounts of red blood began to spread in all directions.
If it were a normal monster, its neck would have been severed by that attack, but it seemed its hide was indeed tough, leaving only lacerations without any parts being cut off.
"Hmm.."
Choi Tae-soo clicked his tongue in disappointment, having been robbed of the chance to strike first. He wanted to exchange blows and fight, but if he fought such a giant monster in the middle of the city like that, the surroundings would surely be devastated.
Yoon Seung-ah was also deliberately keeping the Yeti in one place to reduce damage, so he had no choice but to endure.
"Arin is late."
The moment he felt an itch to fight right away, dozens of magic circles appeared in the air, and a new anomaly appeared along with them.
A woman dressed in luxurious-looking silk, wearing a dress that a noble from the Middle Ages might wear, exuded a dignified aura as she sat leisurely on a thin broom.
The woman with sky-blue hair cascading down to her waist sipped from a teacup with a relaxed expression.
Confirming her appearance, Yoon Seung-ah shouted as if angry.
"Why are you so late!! You old hag!"
"Your lack of manners is still the same."
In the eyes of the woman with a seemingly indifferent face, circles that looked like magic circles were rapidly rotating.
"Or are you getting old and finding it difficult now?"
"You're doing this on purpose!!"
Choi Arin, one of the top five S-Rank Hunters in South Korea, was known as one who had seen the end of magic.
In general, magic had good versatility, but it required complex and delicate Mana control abilities.
To increase the power of magic or expand its range, incredibly complex calculations and delicate Mana allocation had to be performed simultaneously, so the larger the scale, the longer the time it took, but that was a different story for her.
Her unique ability was Multiple Thinking; magic that would be overwhelming for several other Hunters to cast simultaneously was possible for her alone.
Thanks to her unique ability, she could simultaneously perform various complex formulas and Mana controls as if a computer were calculating.
"Hold on tight."
"Shut up!"
Dozens of magic circles began to form around Choi Arin. Formulas that looked complex at a glance began to interlock with each other, and a giant barrier was created in that short amount of time.
Looking at the size of the barrier, which seemed to protect the city, it was hard to believe that it was used by just one Hunter, given its size and sturdiness.
"Finish it off yourself."
"Don't worry!"
Confirming the appearance of the barrier, Choi Tae-soo sprang up from the ground like a spring. At the end of Choi Tae-soo's fist, who was running as if there were stairs in the air, an enormous amount of Mana was gathered.
A monster boasting a toughness that could withstand Yoon Seung-ah's attacks.
If the outside was strong, then he just needed to attack the inside.
Choi Tae-soo's fist was emitting a bright light, like the sun. It wasn't just to emit light, but a phenomenon that occurred because an enormous amount of Mana was condensed.
Without any hesitation, Choi Tae-soo plunged his fist into the crimson Yeti's abdomen.
After that, the heavens and earth shook with a tremendous roar.
*
After the heart-bursting roar ended, the sight of the Yeti collapsing into a pulp came into view.
"Indeed, S-Rank Hunters are different."
A seemingly carefree voice was heard from the side. The incident she had just experienced still felt unreal, but was Kim Si-woo next to her really alright?
She couldn't understand at all how he had defended earlier, or what courage he had to jump in there.
Whether it was the aftereffects of using up all her strength, her whole body felt heavy and she had no strength to move. If it weren't for the potion that the scary Hunter-nim had given her earlier, she probably wouldn't even be able to move like this.
Perhaps because of the near-death experience, her heart still hadn't calmed down. Along with the exhaustion from using up all her strength, those giant footprints flickered before her eyes.
In a situation where it felt difficult to even breathe, she unknowingly turned her head.
A face that seemed both full of wildness and somehow fragile at the same time, a strange face.
Eyes, nose, mouth-each one, when looked at separately, was a perfect face that seemed to lack nothing.
"Why? Is there something you want to say?"
Had she been staring too obviously? Kim Si-woo, sensing her gaze, turned his head.
"... It's nothing."
"How bland."
Kim Si-woo muttered that and turned his head back towards the monster.
It was so scary, her heart was beating like it would explode, but hearing Kim Si-woo's voice made her feel unknowingly calm.
Just like when Choi Tae-soo Hunter-nim had appeared earlier, she felt protected, and her heart gradually began to calm down.
He's a trashy guy who only knows himself, so why does she feel so at ease?
He's just a trashy bastard who threatens her and violates her body, so why does she feel like this?
"Why do you keep looking like that?"
She knew he was a trashy guy, but she wanted to ask this.
What was he thinking when he tried to face such a monster? She wanted to know that much.
"What were you thinking when you fought..?"
"About what?"
"You could have died, so why did you do that!!!"
She was unknowingly angry at his reckless behavior. It was so dangerous, yet he was so carefree-did that make any sense?
"A kid was crying alone."
Hearing a serious voice that she didn't usually hear, she unknowingly closed her mouth.
"She was crying so sadly, probably because she lost her parents."
"..."
"I know too well what it feels like to be alone."
"..."
Kim Si-woo's hair fluttered in the wind that blew at that moment. Stained with dry blood and sweat, and covered in dust, he looked shabby.
__Dugeun
He looked shabby, but why did he look so different?
"How could I ignore it?"
__Dugeun dugeun
"..."
Her heart began to pound like crazy. The moments when she was embraced in Kim Si-woo's arms flashed through her mind.
That feeling and that warmth.
"Are you alright?"
"D..don't talk to me!!"
It seemed she needed more time for her heart to calm down.