I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 16

16.

Seo-ah scratched below her chin and said,

“Umm, don’t you think the Guild Leader is being a bit overprotective?”

“Heh, to be honest, a little? But there must be a reason.”

Well, I knew from our last conversation that I was important to Yoo Ji-an in some way, but it felt strange to hear it from someone other than Baek Eun-hee.

“Ah, and now the Association will be aware of Hunter Park Seo-ah’s existence, so they can’t just let you go.”

“The Association… Still, wouldn’t it be okay if I didn’t go? I’ll keep my promise with the Taeyang Guild.”

“I would be grateful if you would.”

Han Seok-hyun nodded, keeping his head forward but glancing sideways.

“Actually, I don’t know much about why Hunter Park Seo-ah is so important to Ji-an and the other S-class Hunters, other than that you are. They didn’t really tell me.”

That was a bit unexpected. They seemed quite close.

“Could you tell me even a little bit? That way, we can design a training plan for you.”

“Ah, yes. Before that…”

“Yes, please speak.”

“How much will the training cost? Is it very expensive?”

“Pardon?”

Han Seok-hyun turned to Seo-ah with a completely clueless expression.

“You can deduct it from the money I receive from the raids. Ah, will it cost over ten million won? The package from the Association was 9.99 million won.”

“Ah, ahahaha…”

Only then did Han Seok-hyun understand and burst into laughter.

He couldn’t answer because he kept chuckling even after starting the car. Seo-ah was the one who was flustered.

“Why, why are you laughing?”

“Ah, ahem. I’m sorry. We usually charge external trainees, but we specially invited Hunter Park Seo-ah, so we won’t charge you separately.”

“Really? Ah, that’s a relief.”

Because she wasn’t affiliated with a guild, it had been on her mind the whole time, and Seo-ah finally looked relieved.

Han Seok-hyun kept glancing at Park Seo-ah even while looking straight ahead.

“So, what abilities do you have, Hunter Park Seo-ah? Besides being a healer.”

“Umm, Yoo Ji-an told me to keep it a secret.”

“Ji-an did? I see. Umm, then you don’t have to tell me.”

“…Yes, I’m sorry. I’ll tell you next time if I get the chance.”

Han Seok-hyun’s immediate agreement was surprising and seemed natural at the same time.

In the meantime, they arrived in front of the Taeyang Guild building.

The 88-story skyscraper, located in the middle of Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul], sparkled under the sun. The entire building belonged to the Taeyang Guild.

After getting out of the car, Han Seok-hyun asked,

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, what kind of training do you want? Do you want to improve your abilities as a healer?”

“For now, physical training. My legs hurt because it took so long in the gate last time.”

“Your legs hurt because you walked for a long time? Were you injured?”

Han Seok-hyun urgently examined Seo-ah’s legs.

“Ah, no? I wasn’t hurt.”

“You just said your legs hurt…”

“Doesn’t everyone hurt after walking for more than three hours? I was wandering on a gravel path for over two hours back then…”

Han Seok-hyun looked even more puzzled at Park Seo-ah’s words.

“Ah, well… Hunters usually don’t get leg pain from walking that much. Even E-class hunters… unless their legs are broken…”

Seo-ah blinked, hearing a story from another world. Han Seok-hyun, who was talking, soon closed his mouth after seeing Seo-ah’s expression.

“Yes, well. I think I understand roughly what kind of training you need.”
Han Seok-hyun nodded as if he had understood something on his own and pressed the elevator button. Seo-ah followed him with an awkward expression.

Following Han Seok-hyun downstairs, they arrived at a very large gymnasium-like facility. Who knew there was something like this in the basement of this building.

Several hunters were training individually.

“Guild Leader, what brings you here?”

A hunter there recognized Han Seok-hyun first and approached him.

“Instructor Kim Cheol-doo.”
Han Seok-hyun brought Park Seo-ah forward.

Kim Cheol-doo had a shaved head, was tall, and had a sturdy build. He looked to be around 40 or 50 years old.

“This is Hunter Kim Cheol-doo, who is in charge of hunter training in our guild. He is a B-class hunter, but he is so good at teaching that Ji-an and I both learned from him at first.”

“Really? Even Hunter Yoo Ji-an?”

“Yes, anyone can become stronger through awakening, but it’s good to learn how to use your body.”

Seo-ah felt somewhat wronged. She was not included in the ‘anyone’ who becomes stronger through that awakening.

Listening to them, it seemed like hunters’ bodies were different, so why was she so physically weak?

“Instructor Kim Cheol-doo, this is Hunter Park Seo-ah. She is an E-class healer. Please focus on physical training and basic stances.”

“An E-class healer?”

Before Kim Cheol-doo could make a surprised expression, Han Seok-hyun patted him on the shoulder a couple of times and winked.

“Yes, ahem. Please take good care of her. Hunter Park Seo-ah, why don’t you go inside and take a look around? You can leave your luggage here, and we’ll move it to your accommodation.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Doo-hee, come here and show the hunter around!”

After confirming that Seo-ah had disappeared from his sight, Kim Cheol-doo lowered his voice and asked,

“An E-class healer? Is the Taeyang Guild that short on people?”

“No, there’s a story behind it. She’s not a member of our guild yet, but she’s an important person, so please take good care of her. And… her physical strength seems to be at the level of an ordinary person, no, a paper doll, so please be careful.”
Han Seok-hyun whispered in Kim Cheol-doo’s ear so that no one could hear.

“It seems that she has a hard time just walking for a long time.”

“Is that true? Is she really a hunter?”

“Yes, please take good care of her. Our guild needs to leave a good impression on Hunter Park Seo-ah.”

“If she’s that important, well, is she the daughter of the head of state or something?”

Han Seok-hyun laughed blandly and shook his head. It seemed he had no intention of telling him now.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

After Han Seok-hyun left, Kim Cheol-doo tilted his head and entered the gymnasium.

“That’s strange, I can’t figure it out.”

Park Seo-ah, who had changed into her gym clothes in the locker room, walked out hesitantly. In any case, she was a student assigned to him. There was no such thing as giving up in Kim Cheol-doo’s dictionary.

“First, we’ll start with a simple test. Lift this dumbbell.”

Kim Cheol-doo pointed to the smallest of the barbells on the floor. It was labeled 30kg.

Seo-ah approached and struggled with both hands to lift it to her waist.

“I lifted it!”

Seo-ah smiled with a proud face. Seo-ah thought that she was stronger than other girls her age because she was good at carrying heavy things while working part-time.

However, Kim Cheol-doo’s expression seemed darker than before.

“…Put it down.”

Kim Cheol-doo wiped his shiny forehead.

That 30kg barbell was mainly used by young hunters who came for the first time.

Even magicians or healers who didn’t mainly use strength could easily lift at least 40kg with one hand.

‘Paper… did he say paper doll?’

“Hoo! First, we’ll start with running. Let’s run ten laps as a light warm-up. Begin!”

“Yes? Yes!”

Just as Seo-ah was about to sit down, panting after somehow completing ten laps, Kim Cheol-doo shouted energetically again.

“We’ve only warmed up. Drink a glass of water and continue right away. Doo-hee!”

Yoon Doo-hee brought water to Seo-ah, and Seo-ah gulped it down.

‘Huh?’

But the water was not ordinary water. The moment she drank it, her rapid breathing gradually subsided, and her trembling arms and legs became a little lighter.

It was a fatigue recovery drink developed directly by the Taeyang Guild. It didn’t completely restore her like a potion, but it reduced the fatigue accumulated during training to some extent.

“Are you feeling better now? Let’s go again. This time, five laps in a duck walk!”

“Huff…”

Seo-ah was horrified, but seeing the surrounding hunters silently training, she eventually squatted down.

In the midst of being so tired, a trick suddenly came to mind.

‘Fighting!’

Seo-ah used the [Fighting] skill on herself.

[Fighting: Increases the strength and agility of the touched target by 10% for 5 minutes. Can also be applied to oneself.]

But what Seo-ah had overlooked was that even if 10% of [Fighting] was added to Seo-ah’s insignificant stats, it was still insignificant.

[Stats: Strength 4 Magic Power 6 Agility 2 Defense 4 Stamina 5 Mental Strength 10]

Even with simple arithmetic, strength increases by 0.4 and agility increases by 0.2. It was impossible to feel the change because the numbers were not displayed in the stat window.

“Two laps left! Hunter Park Seo-ah! Don’t slow down!”

“Ugh.”

Seo-ah had to grit her teeth and diligently move her heavy legs.

* * *

The Taeyang Guild’s training program was diverse.

For three days, she did physical training, but she also occasionally learned movements such as stabbing and cutting with wooden swords.

That hellish time continued.

Even today, just before passing out, she was given a short break. No matter how much they relieved her with fatigue recovery drinks, it was never complete.

Her body was exhausted from the forced march of the past few days, but Seo-ah diligently participated in the training.

‘How much has it increased now?’

[Stats: Strength 8 (4↑) Magic Power 7 (1↑) Agility 5 (3↑)

Defense 6 (4↑) Stamina 9 (5↑) Mental Strength 14 (4↑)]

Seo-ah bit her lip in anxiety.

‘No, not at this rate.’

In fact, compared to other hunters, it was quite fast for just three days, but Seo-ah was just frustrated.