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nThere was a time when ordinary hunters were called heroes.

nA tale from 30 years ago during the Great War.

nThe emergence of strange monsters.

nThose who calmly hunted strange beings far stronger than them during war.

nNot affiliated with any group, they were the very first hunters who wandered the battlefield.

nPlaces where the military couldn’t reach, dungeons and cities where fighter jets and tanks couldn’t enter, and places that nobody cared about…they went around such battlefields saving lives.

nPeople called them ‘heroes.’

n‘That’s all in the past.’

nLee Junseok smiled bitterly as he looked down at the master swordsmen from the VIP seat.

nIt was funny to him that even though he has nothing to do with swords, he was given a VIP seat just because he’s a S-Rank hunter.

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n‘It’s supposed to be a swordsmanship debate, so why make a big deal about superhumans.’

nHe calmly raised his head and saw Yoo Seodam sitting in the Constantini family section.

nOrdinary hunters, once seen as heroes.

nThe kind of people who used just a knife or gun against giant monsters.

nBut, everything changed once superhumans appeared.

nBeing able to subdue monsters cheaper, more efficiently, more perfectly, and more brilliantly, they are in every way superior to ordinary hunters.

nF-Rank?

nSuch a rank doesn’t exist for superhumans in the first place.

nAll superhumans are ranked starting from E-Rank.

nThat’s to say, F-Rank is just a way to group ordinary hunters.

nPeace was restored, the military rose, and enterprise started up again.

nAnd superhumans became the perfect means of business.

nThey were able to hunt monsters more efficiently and gather ‘aether crystals,’ while dazzling the world with their brilliant abilities.

nHowever, the number of superhumans were small and there were mostly only F-Rank hunters who needed time to grow at the time.

nThus, the first ‘Hunters Association’ started hiring a large number of ordinary hunters.

nThey had only one goal.

nCreate a hunting guide using the hunters’ experience.

nAnd as expected, the hunters without superpowers provided the most insight and were vital to the development of the hunter industry.

nJust, their use was only that.

nLee Junseok still remembers.

nWhen he first gained superpowers and became a D-Rank hunter.

nAnd what a F-Rank hunter who was 9 years his senior said to him.

n‘…They decided to send you to this D-Rank dungeon instead of me.’

n‘What? Didn’t you say it was your turn?’

nIt was odd.

nThe distribution of dungeons was supposed to be equal within the guild.

n‘Yeah. It was. However, the guild decided that sending you is more efficient.’

n‘Ah…’

nAt the time, Lee Junseok had only hunted three times, while his senior was a 9 year veteran.

nThe reason was because ordinary hunters wasted too much money each hunt.

nCompared to a superhuman who could finish a mission with just one aether dispenser.

nAfter that day, the senior hunter who had taught Lee Junseok quit the industry.

nFrom that moment, Lee Junseok, faced with the reality that the veteran F-Rank hunters who have been protecting him since young would slowly disappear, he began to have a strange feeling.

n‘Even though they don’t have superpowers, still…’

n‘Junseok. I’ve decided to quit this time.’

nOne by one, his idols, the ordinary hunters, began to leave the industry.

nGuilds and corporations gave ordinary hunters almost no work, and in a world where peace has been established, it was difficult finding a hunting job alone.

nThese hunters who once put their bodies on the line for humanity did not even receive a single word of praise after retirement.

nThey were slowly forgotten by everyone.

nJust like that.

nIt became a natural occurrence.

nEvery morning there would be news of a F-Rank hunter’s failure and articles suggesting they were useless.

nF-Rank hunters may have been the salvation of humanity during the Great War, but now they were of no use in this peaceful era.

nWhen Lee Junseok finally became a S-Rank hunter, he was able to use his influence to move within the Hunters Association.

nThat was when he realized.

n‘…Were they purposely given these missions?’

nThe F-Rank hunters’ mission success rate was falling exponentially because they were purposely given ‘impossible missions.’

nIn other words, they were sent into dungeons with statistically low chance of clearing.

nAlso, when a F-Rank hunter accomplished something great, it was only covered a little bit by the media.

nIt was as if to hide their achievements.

nAnd, it wasn’t just one corporation.

nMany national Hunters Association did the same.

nHe had brought up the case to the current president of the Hunter Association at the time.

nWhat the president of the association then said to Lee Junseok still lingers in his mind.

n‘They’re useless now anyway.’

n‘What?’

n‘That’s why they’ve fallen off. This era is for superhuman hunters, not ordinary ones.’

nThe president of the association had also called F-Rank hunters ‘money-sucking ants.’

nAnd, ever since the establishment of the Superhuman Academy, the need for ordinary hunters continued to fall.

n‘It’s just the natural flow of life.’

nLooking at the president of the association who acted as if everything was fine, Lee Junseok gave a defeated laugh.

nWho put you in the position you are in now?

nWho stood up to save humanity?

nWho gave up their life so you can live?

nWho the hell was it?

nLee Junseok didn’t have the courage to say it then, and it’s been years since.

nNow everyone in the world is aware.

nF-Rank hunters are no longer needed.

nHow many years have you been a veteran on the battlefield?

nIt’s certainly great.

nBut only great.

nThat’s all.

nIt’s very rare nowadays for anyone to see ordinary hunters as special.

nBut even if they did, they would still be disregarded.

nIn the end, there is almost no active F-Rank hunter left, and it’s safe to say that there are none that have been active for more than 10 years.

nSo Yoo Seodam is a very special case.

nHe also survived the politics of Lost Day, and is a person who has gone to Hell Gate and back.

n‘Rather, I wish I could bring him to our guild.’

nLost Day, Velvet, and every other guild were afraid of the Association’ influence, so they were reluctant to recruit a F-Rank.

nEven if it’s a 15 year veteran.

nHowever, when Lee Junseok looked into Yoo Seodam’s eyes today, he realized.

n‘This guy, there’s something.’

n‘There’s no way he doesn’t know how he’s treated unless he’s a fool.’

nYet, he still remains in the hunter industry…like he’s aiming for something.

n‘…Are you going to make a guild? Do something political? Business?’

nHe’s certain, one way or another, Yoo Seodam will do something big in the future.

nIn the meantime, if he can somehow involve himself with Yoo Seodam.

nPah!

nThwak!

n“Heup!”

n“Head!”

nThe sparring had begun and numerous masters were competing with their real swords, but Lee Junseok did not give them a single glance.

nHowever, the Costantini family’s section.

nFor a long time, he looked at Yoo Seodam.

nMost superhumans are the ‘strength’ type.

nThey had the simple ability of strengthening their body.

nThis worked well with the use of aether blades against monsters.

nHowever, how could anyone who has never used a sword be able to swing it properly just because they held one?

nThus, swordsmanship clans with a long tradition that span hundreds of years began to teach their swordsmanship to superhumans.

nThat’s how the first swordsmanship debate started, but now, its original purpose has blurred.

nSuperhumans no longer want the teachings of ordinary people.

nRather, they wanted to learn from their senior superhumans who have wielded the swords for years.

nSo that’s why master swordsmen worked even harder, but…

n‘It’s bull**.’

nThe swordsmanship debate had already become a ‘social event.’

nOne by one, superhumans began to replace the swordsman clans as ‘master swordsmen.’

nAnd then they would talk and laugh among themselves.

nNow, superhumans are no longer interested in the swordsmanship of ordinary people.

nThey saw no need for it.

nTaylor sneaked a side glance.

nYoo Seodam.

nShe was wondering what he was thinking as he silently watched the ordinary master swordsmen sparring.

nFor some reason, Taylor began to feel nauseous, so she got up from her seat.

n“Where are you going?”

n“It’s over.”

n“The main event with Celeste is about to start.”

n“Oh. I’ll be back before that. I’m going to have a smoke.”

nShe didn’t want to smoke in front of Seodam, so she just said that and left.

nIn the end, it’s a friendly competition among master swordsmen by showing off one’s disciple.

nThat’s to be expected.

nHowever, it has nothing to do with Seodam, and Taylor didn’t care about it either.

nThere were quite a few people wandering around the corridor since it was break time.

nLike Taylor, some people were smoking, while others went to the bathroom or were socializing in the corridor.

nAnd, among them was Aren.

nA S-Rank superhuman with a big ego for being in the Master Swordsmen Association.

nAlthough he’s not from a prestigious family, he has a very good reputation for his sword skills and performance in the hunter industry.

nJust, he looked at the weak with contempt.

nHe was talking to the competing swordsmen, but unlike him who was smiling, they looked very uncomfortable.

n“Of course. As a master, this level of success is nothing.”

nA superhuman among ordinaries.

nHe’s probably enjoying some sense of superiority.

nHowever, Taylor, who knew Aren well, is certain that’s the case.

nIt was obvious why the ordinary master swordsmen would have an uncomfortable look.

n‘Ah, **.’

nTaylor turned around in a hurry, but unfortunately it was too late.

n“Oh, Taylor!”

n“…Ah, **.”

nThinking that today couldn’t get any worse, Taylor glared at Aren.

nExcusing himself from the master swordsmen, he approached Taylor, and unlike the master swordsmen’ expression, she had a blank expression.

n“Say what you have to say, then ** off.”

n“Haha, why are you so cranky? I heard you came here, but I was too busy to find you. Did you have lunch? Should we get together for a meal later?”

nTaylor, with a puzzled look, asked.

n“Me? With you? Why?”

n“There’s a restaurant around here, and I’m familiar with the chef…”

n“Hey.”

nShe took a pack of cigarettes out of her pocket and sighed.

n“I’m so damn tired right now and don’t have time for this. So shut up and ** off.”

n“…Really?”

nAren stared at Taylor, and with a stiff look, asked.

n“Yoo Seodam. He’s here this time as well, isn’t he? As the Constantini family’s sword instructor.”

n“What?”

n“Right? It’s Yoo Seodam, isn’t it?”

nTaylor stopped fiddling with her pack of cigarettes and looked at Aren coldly.

nHowever, he continued to speak.

n“You know you’ve been acting strange, right?

nAren is now a 12 year veteran.

nWhen he was a rookie, Taylor had already been working as a hunter for three years.

nEven though it was only three years, Taylor at the time was bolder, more courageous, more determined, and a better leader than anyone else.

nAren knew that her harsh words and actions were just a means to unite her teams.

nPerhaps Aren became interested in Taylor since then.

nSo he had approached her several times because it didn’t matter to him whether she was dating or not as long as she truly didn’t fall in love with someone else.

nHowever.

n“Ever since meeting Yoo Seodam. Haven’t you grown tired of him?”

nTaylor was never the same again and did not look at anyone else.

nSince 12 years, no, 15 years ago when he first debuted.

nTaylor had said she only wanted to follow Yoo Seodam.

nHe couldn’t understand it.

nThere are many talented and outstanding people, so why Yoo Seodam who has no superpowers?

nTaylor smiled and asked a question.

n“Hey.”

n“Tell me.”

n“Then let me ask you, who’s better than Yoo Seodam?”

n“What?”

nAren, who was bewildered by Taylor’s question, tried to answer but.

n“Superpowers? Wealth? I don’t need any of that. You know why? Because I have it all.”

n“Taylor.”

n“I don’t need everything. It doesn’t matter if it’s a F or S-Rank superhuman. And just because Yoo Seodam is a F-Rank hunter, is his value as a person F-Rank?”

nOn the contrary.

n“S-Rank…aren’t you only a S-Rank superhuman?”

n“…”

nTaylor almost spat out her words.

n“You. I used to think you were annoying. I’ve changed my mind.”

nShe always spoke with a foul mouth.

nHowever, when she was really angry, she didn’t swear at all, but rather, she smiled.

nA pretty lively and refreshing smile.

n“You’re just revolting.”

nSaid Taylor with a pretty smile on her face, then she walked away.

nFor a long time, Aren stood there as he clenched his fists, lost in thought.

n‘…Yoo Seodam.’

nUltimately, this is an era where ability meant everything, so he couldn’t understand why Taylor was obsessed with Yoo Seodam.

nSomeone who has less ‘absolute worth’ than himself.

n‘Rather, if only I could thoroughly crush Yoo Seodam.’

nWith a stiff expression, he returned to the stadium.

nAs he was trying to silently find his seat in the Okamato family’s section, he thought the atmosphere was strange.

nCeleste Costantini VS Sanagi Okamoto

n‘Oh, has it started already?’

nThinking that he might have been late after talking to Taylor, he looked down at the stadium.

nInitially, he wasn’t interested in the battle.

nHe taught Sanagi swordsmanship himself, and Celeste was lower rank in the first place, so she was not a match for Sanagi.

nSo most people thought it was like a waterfall falling upwards, and everyone had predicted the outcome.

nSuch a reason.

nStrangely, the stadium was quiet for some reason.

n“…Huh?”

nHaap!

nThuk, chaang!

nEverything was still.

nOnly the sound of the two women’s voice and their swords colliding filled the stadium.

nWith trembling eyes, Aren continued to watch.

nSanagi Okamoto.

nShe was losing to Celeste Constantini.

nA C-Rank was losing against a D-Rank.

n‘This…does it make any sense?’

nThe difference between D-Rank and C-Rank is like the difference between a bicycle and a car.

nEven if the car is driven slowly, you can never lose.

nOr, like a battle between a child and an adult?

nNo, it was more like a battle between a rat and a cat.

nBut now.

nThe rat has bitten the cat.

nThe bicycle has crushed the car.

nSuch an unbelievable thing was happening.

nIs it because Celeste had suddenly awakened to C-Rank?

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nNo.

nEveryone in their seat could see.

nShe was still just D-Rank.

nThen, there is only one reason why Celeste was dominating Sanagi.

n‘Celeste’s swordsmanship is overwhelming Sanagi’s swordsmanship.”

nEnough to make up for the difference in their physique ability.

nHowever, last time, Celeste did not overwhelm Sanagi’s swordsmanship, and instead it was about even.

nSo what is the explanation for her sudden growth this year?

nSome who have reached that thought, looked at the ‘master’ who was sitting in the Costantini family’s section.

nThere, sitting was a F-Rank hunter with no superpowers.

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