F-Rank Secretly Becomes Stronger - Chapter 58

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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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58

‘He’s far surpassed A-rank.’

The sensation he felt from that all-out surprise attack just now.

This isn’t the kind of force that could come from a mere A-rank.

Even his sloppy stance had completely disappeared.

The man who was clearly full of openings now glares at him with a proper stance that could serve as a model for anyone.

‘Be careful not to get hurt?’

Kieran recalls the advice he heard from Korea’s S-rank Hunter.

When he glanced toward the spectator seats, he momentarily made eye contact with Park Hanseong Hunter.

Park Hanseong Hunter awkwardly averted his gaze.

‘Well, this is ridiculous.’

He thought he was covering for him because they were from the same country.

It wasn’t covering for him, but deliberately deceiving himself for his sake.

‘Anyone watching would think I could win easily.’

He can’t gauge it.

He naturally assumed he would win and had even scheduled all his follow-up appointments.

Could he really defeat that guy quickly and leave the sparring hall unscathed?

“What are you spacing out for?”

Clang―!

In the moment he was distracted, the sword swiftly rushes forward and strikes again.

The wooden swords clash violently, creating an intense noise.

“Friend, isn’t that a bit underhanded?”

“There’s nothing underhanded about winning and losing.”

Would he blame the monster for deceiving him too?

Would the monster then say “I understand” and step back?

Absolutely not.

A Hunter who faces monsters in Gates must know how to use cowardly tactics too.

“Besides, you were the one who underestimated me on your own.”

“Yes, that was my mistake.”

A light kick thrown to create distance while their swords clashed.

Juhyeok jumped back to dodge it and landed gracefully.

“I never dreamed that an F-rank Irregular could be this strong.”

No matter how exceptional, A-rank was the limit.

As a human, one must reach a certain level to barely arrive at the stage called S-rank.

Who could have known there would be a human reaching for such a level with F-rank mana amount.

“If you do well, you might even be judged as S-rank level.”

“Rank has no meaning to me.”

Juhyeok stomps the ground forcefully and exhales deeply.

The weight felt within it.

Kieran suddenly felt goosebumps rise on his forearms.

“Power isn’t simple enough to be divided by such things.”

“…Yes, that’s why things like Irregulars exist in this world.”

It wasn’t mana.

Just presence.

Beads of sweat rolled down from the presence that an F-rank was emitting toward him while stomping the ground.

‘A boy who will climb the mountain called S-rank with F-rank mana.’

A fairy tale.

A story that should only exist in writing was unfolding before their eyes.

‘Still, I have no intention of losing peacefully.’

A veteran who had been an S-rank Hunter for over 10 years, experiencing Gates.

He couldn’t lose helplessly to a kid who hadn’t even reached his thirties.

Kieran faced Jung Juhyeok without being overwhelmed by the fighting spirit he was emanating.

Two beasts looking at each other as prey.

From that moment, the real fight began.

*

“How many hours has it been now?”

“…Six hours and 17 minutes.”

Six hours since the sparring began.

Kieran and Jung Juhyeok’s levels matched perfectly.

Strength, speed, even combat sense.

A duel so evenly matched it was as if they were fighting against a mirror.

“Just how long are they planning to keep this up?”

“I don’t know. They don’t seem to be getting tired either.”

Heads shaking with fed-up expressions.

Everyone sitting in the spectator seats had the same expression.

Just how long were these two planning to continue this fight?

No, did they even intend to end it?

It wasn’t like they were just standing still either.

They exchanged blows at least once every minute.

Each time, a scream that strikes the ears rings out.

If it weren’t for the specially processed wooden swords, it wouldn’t be strange if they had already broken.

Even while exchanging countless blows that were difficult to count, neither of them looked tired at all and continuously prepared for the next exchange.

“I could tell just from watching Juhyeok train, but his stamina really is monstrous.”

“Juhyeok’s mental strength and stamina are definitely S-rank or higher.”

Juhyeok was engaging in a prolonged battle on equal terms with an S-rank Hunter whose mana amount was dozens or hundreds of times greater than his own.

Seeing that scene, everyone already knew it, but they were once again reminded of his monstrous stamina.

“So when is this going to end?”

“I think it would be better to just end it in a draw… What do you think, Association President?”

Park Hanseong Hunter glanced at the Association President and asked.

The Association President stared expressionlessly at the sparring hall and answered without even turning his head.

“Do you have the nerve to interfere between those two?”

“….”

“Since we’ve come this far, they need to settle it to feel satisfied.”

Too much time had already passed to end it with a draw.

A match that wouldn’t end unless one of them raised the white flag first.

The Scout made a disgusted expression at those words and let out a small, deep sigh.

‘Surely Kieran won’t lose…?’

Although it had become quite an even fight, Juhyeok with F-rank mana and S-rank Kieran were different from their very physical structure.

No matter how excellent his stamina was and worthy of being called S-rank or higher, it was ultimately exaggerated content.

Of course, seeing how he had endured until now was sufficiently impressive and it wouldn’t be strange if he was given the S-rank title.

‘But his opponent is S-rank, he won’t lose even in a prolonged battle.’

The one who would smile in the end would ultimately be Kieran.

The Scout watched the sparring with that natural hope.

The scout watched the sparring match with natural anticipation.

However, his trembling legs reflected his anxious heart.

“Hey! Jose!”

As if knowing Scout’s feelings, Kieran stepped back from their standoff and called out loudly to Scout.

He asked without taking his eyes off Jung Juhyeok.

“How many hours have passed now?”

The two seemed so immersed that they couldn’t sense how many hours had gone by.

Scout stood up from his seat and spoke into the microphone.

“6 hours have passed.”

“6 hours? Has it already been that long?”

His head turned in surprise.

He barely blocked Jung Juhyeok’s attack that targeted that opening and said.

“Then there’s no choice.”

He pushed aside the sword that was pressed against his.

Then he raised the hand holding his sword.

‘Is he trying to end it now?’

Since quite some time had passed, it was time to settle things.

He raised his sword as if he would strike down immediately.

“Let’s stop.”

“Huh?”

He threw his sword forcefully to a distant corner.

Scout, who had been quietly watching that scene, was momentarily dazed.

It wasn’t just Scout.

Everyone who had been quietly watching looked at Kieran with bewildered expressions.

“Kieran! What are you talking about!”

“I have to go have dinner with my daughter and wife.”

“Then at least settle it once and for all! After sparring for six hours, you’re going to end it so anticlimactically?”

“You don’t understand.”

A clicking sound of disapproval.

Kieran pointed at Juhyeok and spoke as if it were obvious.

“If we clash with real intent, neither of us will walk away unharmed.”

Six hours.

The time they had crossed swords with full effort was six hours.

During that time, neither had managed to land any effective hit on the other.

In other words, it was safe to say they were at nearly the same level.

If either one recklessly charged in uncharacteristically, the one who waited calmly with reason would surely claim victory.

Kieran anticipated this fight would have no end and declared forfeit rather than drag it out longer.

“My family members are waiting, so I need to go quickly.”

“What kind of…”

Words left unfinished from sheer disbelief.

Regardless, Kieran approached Juhyeok and offered a handshake once again.

“You won, F-rank.”

“…It feels unsatisfying, but if you have a promise with your family, it can’t be helped.”

An atmosphere as if things were wrapping up between them.

Even in the midst of this, Scout seemed unconvinced and shouted loudly into the microphone.

“You can eat with your family tomorrow too!”

“Was our guild so black that we can’t even keep family appointments?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Then that’s settled. A guy with F-rank mana amount lasted six hours against me, so it’s not strange to say he won.”

Kieran shrugged and released the handshake.

He smiled toward the spectator seats as he spoke.

“I’ll give you the magic stone I promised, so don’t get so worked up about it.”

“…Ha.”

With his offer to give the magic stone from his own share as compensation, there was nothing more to say.

There was no point in arguing since they had already reached their conclusion among themselves.

‘This was a chance to properly boost my performance…’

The opportunity to work a Hunter presumed to be S-rank for a D-rank salary was slipping away like this.

Leaving behind the Scout’s regretful sounds over the microphone, Juhyeok spoke to Kieran.

“There’s something else I need to receive besides the magic stone.”

“Was there something else besides the magic stone?”

He had heard the bet was only for one S-grade magic stone.

Kieran wondered if there was something else, and he answered.

“An apology.”

“An apology?”

A reaction showing he didn’t understand.

Juhyeok answered lightly.

“I should also receive an apology from the Scout who insulted me.”

“…That’s the first I’m hearing of this.”

His face, which had been full of smiles, gradually hardened.

He turned his head toward the spectator seats and asked in a much lowered voice.

“Jose. What is this about?”

“Th-that was a misunderstanding, I’ve said it several times.”

The Scout stammered as he made excuses.

Kieran frowned at him and said.

“You still haven’t fixed that habit of cursing in foreign languages in front of Hunters?”

“….”

The speaker went quiet.

The Scout holding the microphone fell silent for a moment, then forced himself to continue speaking.

“That’s not it, this time it’s really a misunderstanding—”

“Cut the bullshit.”

The spectator seats glared at him with quite an angry expression.

Kieran pointed to the sparring hall floor and spoke to the Scout.

“Come down right now and bow your head in apology. If you don’t, I’ll go directly to the Guild Master myself.”

“….”

Unable to make any more excuses at the mention of the Guild Master, the Scout came down to the sparring hall.

He bowed 90 degrees to Jung Juhyeok and apologized in a crawling voice.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m really sorry too, let me apologize together.”

Even though it wasn’t his fault, Kieran apologized together with the Scout.

“I’ve received your apology, so it’s fine now.”

“Thank you, I’ll personally deliver the magic stones we agreed on within tomorrow, so I’ll be going now.”

“Understood.”

With those words, Kieran made a phone call to somewhere and disappeared with the Scout.

Seeing the Scout’s dejected expression as he left the sparring hall made me feel somewhat satisfied.

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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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