F-Rank Secretly Becomes Stronger - Chapter 4

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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4

Bewilderment.

The first emotion he felt when his attack was completely seen through was bewilderment.

“….”

How could the guy who was gasping for breath just a few months ago during sparring, unable to properly block even casual attacks, do this?

Hyeongju stood there dazed at this moment that defied common sense.

He had slumped to the floor and was caught up in various thoughts when he quickly got up from his position under Juhyeok’s gaze looking down at him.

“You bastard…!”

Quickly correcting his stance.

Whether it was luck or not, he couldn’t just end things being beaten by an inferior student who couldn’t even rank in the top 200.

Originally he had planned to just give him a light lesson, but now that it had come to this, he had to make Juhyeok taste a moment twice as humiliating as everything he had endured until now.

“….”

In contrast to his eyes burning with rage, Juhyeok calmly looked at him without even drawing his sword.

At the moment when a precarious tension filled the air as if they would clash at any moment.

“What’s going on here.”

A deep voice came from the direction of the door that had opened at some unknown time.

When both turned their heads simultaneously, a bald instructor was standing there.

“The lights were still on so I wondered what was happening… Were you sparring?”

With those words, the instructor walked across the dirt floor with heavy steps.

He approached the two, examined their expressions, and spoke with a calm expression.

“But the atmosphere looks quite hostile to call it sparring.”

Since he already understood the relationship between Hyeongju and Juhyeok to some degree, he didn’t think this sparring had happened by mutual agreement.

Anyway, Hyeongju must have bothered innocent Juhyeok again and things got hostile like this.

A scene that was obvious without even seeing it.

Since this wasn’t the first or second time something like this happened, he casually separated the two.

“It’s late, so return to the dormitory now.”

“….”

An expression full of dissatisfaction at the instructor’s command.

Hyeongju wanted to immediately make that arrogant gaze submit and recover his pride, but he wasn’t stupid enough to cause a disturbance in front of an instructor.

He relaxed his stance but didn’t take his eyes off Juhyeok.

“Did you go somewhere for training during the week?”

“….”

“It seems like you achieved some results…? Though it’s unfortunate that all the grades have already been finalized.”

His tone became as refined as possible in front of the instructor.

Still, anyone who wasn’t an idiot could understand the underlying meaning.

Even if something seemed a bit different, since the exams were already over, there was nothing that could be changed.

The Hunter Guilds would judge based on his three years of grades, not his current appearance.

It was a clear fact that Juhyeok’s grades made it difficult for him to easily enter even small-medium guilds.

“Still, if you participate in the Banya Festival tournament, things might change a little.”

The Banya Festival.

A festival held by the Academy after all exams were finished.

Tournament-style battles were held among participating third-year students facing graduation.

As a prize, the winner gained the right to have a unique weapon custom-made by a blacksmith from a famous guild comprised of Academy graduates.

Usually, commissioning a unique weapon from a blacksmith wasn’t something that cost just a penny or two, so it was something ordinary Academy graduates couldn’t even dream of.

In fact, it was mostly the valedictorian or salutatorian who won the championship, but most mid-to-upper tier students also participated.

The reason was simple.

“Even if winning is naturally difficult, all the big shots come to watch, so you can at least make an impression… right?”

The last chance to appeal to Hunter Guilds.

Even if you couldn’t win, scouts from decent Hunter Guilds definitely attended this event, so it was an opportunity to prove how valuable a person you were beyond just grades.

“Who knows? If you parry the salutatorian’s attack even once like you just did, there might be a guild that sees potential.”

“….”

“Let’s see if you can block it next time too.”

Tournament opponents were usually determined by lottery.

Nevertheless, Hyeongju still insisted on fighting him again.

Considering Juhyeok’s grades, it was hard to think he could easily climb up through consecutive wins in the tournament.

“Why. Do you think I can climb that high?”

“What? How far could a guy who’s barely 200th place go?”

Hyeongju said with his face twisted in contempt.

“I just have a feeling that if you enter, we’ll end up fighting from the first round.”

What a ridiculous thing to say.

There were over 50 students participating in the tournament alone.

The possibility of the two of them being matched up from the beginning among so many participants was extremely low.

‘He must be planning to manipulate it.’

Hyeongju was a Student Council member, and his parents were heads of a famous Hunter Guild, so bribing one committee member would be a piece of cake.

If he entered the tournament event, they would definitely pull strings behind the scenes to arrange the matches.

He let out a hollow laugh at how openly they revealed their obvious scheming without even trying to hide it.

“…That’s enough.”

The Instructor stepped in, unable to watch any longer.

He too knew what Hyeongju was thinking when he said such things, so he interfered in a conversation he normally wouldn’t have joined.

“Whether or not to participate in the tournament is for that kid to decide himself.”

“Instructor. I’m merely suggesting this out of concern for a classmate’s potential.”

The bastard put on a superficial smile.

He showed a good-natured expression, but knowing his true intentions, it was nothing but disgusting.

“Wouldn’t it be too regrettable if a friend who worked harder than anyone else in our grade ended up like this?”

“…”

The Instructor remained silent and glanced at Juhyeok.

As he said, since enrollment until now, except for the week he had disappeared, Juhyeok had come to the Training Ground every single day without fail to spend his time training.

As an Instructor, he naturally hoped Juhyeok would participate in the tournament and catch the eye of some Guild, but now that Hyeongju had expressed his sinister intentions in a roundabout way, he couldn’t recommend the tournament.

‘If he goes in without knowing better, it’ll just be another one-sided match like the usual sparring sessions.’

The Instructor highly valued Juhyeok’s determination.

All the other Academy instructors except him also viewed Juhyeok favorably.

What educator in the world would look badly upon a student who always showed sincerity and tried to improve their skills, even without talent?

‘I can’t let that bastard humiliate him at the event.’

Juhyeok had already disappeared for a week after the grades came out.

The instructors had worried that he had finally broken down.

Fortunately, seeing him come to the Training Ground now, it seemed he had overcome his despair and returned.

‘His wounds probably haven’t fully healed yet.’

If such a kid participated in the tournament and was brutally defeated, he might really put down his sword this time.

As an Instructor who supported him, it was something he couldn’t bear to watch.

First, he would calm down Hyeongju and steer the conversation toward not participating in the tournament—

“Kugh!”

Hyeongju was struck by something and sent flying, rolling across the ground.

The Instructor who had been facing him quietly watched the scene, then slowly turned around as he saw a sword that had passed through beside his ribs.

“You couldn’t block it.”

A clean thrusting stance.

Hyeongju flying ahead, unable to collect himself.

Juhyeok muttering expressionlessly while looking at him.

“I wondered if you could, but you really couldn’t block it.”

Only then did the situation piece together.

A sword strike launched while the Instructor was turned around.

Hyeongju couldn’t react at all and was hit, and even he, standing right next to them, hadn’t noticed any sign of it.

‘I didn’t know?’

No matter how much it was a Surprise Attack while his back was turned, at his speed, he could have blocked it with his eyes closed.

But just now, he couldn’t.

I heard the sound of cutting through the wind too late, but couldn’t react.

Even the Instructor, who maintained a stone-like expression in any situation, showed a visibly large reaction.

Unable to hide his bewildered state, he stood dazed for a moment before quickly assessing the situation and restraining him.

“Juhyeok! What do you think you’re doing!”

“….”

Cold eyes staring at the opponent who had fallen far away without giving any answer.

Hyeongju, who had been completely caught off guard by the clean Surprise Attack, initially just wore a surprised expression, but upon meeting those eyes, he jumped up from his spot and charged forward.

“You bastard!”

Hyeongju charged with his sword, his face looking as if he’d seen his parents’ killer.

Having his attack completely destroyed and then being made to roll on the ground from a surprise attack, it was natural for him to lose all reason.

“Forget the tournament, I’ll kill you right here!”

His pride hadn’t just cracked but had completely crumbled.

It seemed this rage wouldn’t subside unless he beat Juhyeok half to death.

However, the Instructor wasn’t powerless enough to let further problems occur.

“Stop!”

Just before their swords could clash.

The Instructor quickly grabbed both their wrists and twisted them, completely subduing them.

“If you cause any more trouble, I won’t let it slide.”

He had just allowed an unexpected attack, but he wouldn’t stand by and let them cause more trouble.

A stern warning delivered to both in a grave voice.

Hyeongju had lost his reason so such words barely registered, but the wrist caught by the Instructor showed no intention of moving.

“That bastard attacked first, didn’t he!”

“Are you saying you’ll ignore the Instructor’s words and cause trouble because the opponent attacked first? And I already clearly saw with my own two eyes that you attacked first.”

“But…!”

“I won’t say it twice. Put down your sword.”

“….”

Eyes alternating between the Instructor and Juhyeok.

He wanted to tear apart the guy in front of him right now, but the situation wouldn’t allow it.

As his reason gradually returned and he was about to release the strength from his sword.

“Since you’re so worried about me, I can’t not participate.”

Juhyeok said while looking at him arrogantly from the front.

“I’ll try participating in the tournament.”

Juhyeok lowered his sword first along with his declaration to participate in the tournament.

He spoke to Hyeongju, who was still glaring at him with an angry expression.

“Go ahead and set up the stage and wait. I’ll play along with you.”

“….”

The two with their arms caught, with the Instructor between them.

Amid the flowing tension, at the mention of the tournament, Hyeongju forcibly swallowed his anger and tried his best to smile.

“Fine. See you then.”

The restraint was finally released as he relaxed his hand.

Hyeongju violently kicked the Wooden Sword that had fallen to the floor into a corner and turned to leave.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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