How to Live as a Fencing Genius Hunter - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How a Fencing Genius Lives as a Hunter
Chapter 3
Awakener Jung Jae-ha (2)
“What connection is there between hunting Magical Beasts and recovering my legs?”
I raised an eyebrow.
This wasn’t some online game where you’d automatically gain experience and level up just by killing Magical Beasts.
“Ah, you weren’t aware? When an Awakener hunts a Magical Beast, they absorb the Mana the beast was carrying.”
“Pardon?”
“The amount absorbed varies greatly depending on the Awakener’s talent and the type of Magical Beast, but in any case, absorption occurs. Each time it does, both physical abilities and supernatural powers grow stronger.”
Listening to the Samjeong employee, it seemed reality had now surpassed online games.
“Artificial Awakeners awakened with Awakening Serum are identical in this regard. It’s confirmed data observed over the past year across other Artificial Awakeners.”
My nausea subsided as if it had never been.
“There’s even a documented case of someone who had a disability before awakening—one leg completely absent—and the leg actually grew back.”
“Grew back?”
“Yes. After hunting around a thousand Orcs and Goblins and clearing D-rank Gates, it gradually regrew. We can say with certainty that at least nerve function will fully recover.”
Five minutes was enough time to swing a sword a hundred times over and still have breath left.
Five minutes passing didn’t mean I’d collapse completely, and if my strength kept growing with each hunt, there was no reason to despair.
I thought back to my fencing days.
Had there ever been an opponent I couldn’t beat, even fighting seriously for more than five minutes?
Nothing came to mind.
The numbers were the same.
A thousand.
It was a lot, but not an impossible figure.
It was simply a matter of fighting a thousand times.
“I understand. Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
I bowed respectfully to the staff members around me.
Fencing is the sport of gentlemen.
A fencer must know how to express gratitude when grateful.
“Then, shall we prepare?”
“Yes.”
I immediately began preparing for my release.
I got a fresh haircut and showered.
Looking in the mirror, I saw myself as I had always known myself to be.
My body, improved from my active years, whether from the awakening or not.
Hair cut short and neat as it had been during my fencing days, a sharp yet good-humored expression, eyes with a subtle gleam of intelligence.
“Ha, haha.”
Seeing that light reflected in my eyes, I laughed again.
It was the light of hope I had longed for all this time.
“Has it been four years?”
“Yes. Four years now.”
“Do you have any regrets?”
“…I’ll be satisfied walking out after rolling in on a wheelchair. And with the fact that I can wield a sword again.”
That day, I left the island.
The procedures moved faster than expected, so I hadn’t even had a chance to tell Chae-ha the news yet.
My smartphone, which had been off for four years, wouldn’t turn on—something seemed to be wrong with it.
“Could I borrow a phone for just one call?”
It was good that I’d memorized Chae-ha’s number.
“I have a younger sister. We exchanged letters occasionally, but since I couldn’t use the phone, she won’t know about my current situation.”
“Ah, please use it freely.”
Holding a smartphone after so long felt awkward.
I’d never been particularly comfortable with electronics to begin with.
Chae-ha used to call me hopeless with machines.
I couldn’t really argue against it.
I simply didn’t care for them, and honestly, I had no talent for them.
I’d frozen computers many times poking at random buttons, and my coach always had to help with all sorts of electronic documents.
I jabbed at the screen with my finger and made the call.
[The number you’ve reached is not in service…]
The automated voice came through and then cut off.
“It’s not working?”
“No. It’s not.”
“It happens a lot. So many people have died or been separated.”
When I looked regretful, the civil servants gathered in small groups and offered various pieces of advice.
“If you got a letter, you’d know the address. Once the training ends, you’ll get leave—go find her then.”
“Oh, there’s a government-run reunion website. Post your profile there and search for her.”
A reunion website, then.
I’d have to look into it.
“Do you know where your sister works now?”
“Yes. She said she’s working as a non-Awakener clerk at Sambyeol.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about. You’ll meet her someday. Or Jae-ha could always join Sambyeol yourself.”
“I heard it’s a very good guild. Would they take us?”
“Do you know how badly we’re short on Hunters? If you do well at the training institute, you can go anywhere.”
Beyond that, I learned about various forms of support available in this changed world—telecom subsidies, free company phones, housing support for those displaced from the Seoul metropolitan area, and more.
It all proved helpful.
* * *
Now that I mention it, the Ministry of Justice officials had also tried to intimidate me somewhat.
Parole is different from a special pardon.
I’d have to wear a location-tracking electronic ankle bracelet, and there were restrictions on overseas travel and various other constraints.
It wasn’t the cancellation of a sentence, but rather the execution of that sentence happening outside a prison.
And the Awakener Association training institute in Southern Gyeonggi Province immediately made clear that the association wouldn’t treat us like criminals.
“You didn’t remove the bracelet, did you?”
“I was told I shouldn’t take it off…….”
A staffer who looked every bit an Awakener grabbed my right ankle as I stepped off the bus, then ripped off the electronic ankle bracelet like it was tissue paper.
“Is it really okay to do that?”
“Any electronic device breaks down eventually from exposure to mana inside Gates anyway. And it’s awkward to mention this, but…… never mind. Just head into the main hall.”
He trailed off, seeming to reconsider what he was about to say.
I shrugged and made my way toward the main hall.
The training institute was luxurious enough to rival the accommodations I’d stayed in during my days as a national athlete.
The cafeteria I glimpsed as I passed evoked a five-star hotel buffet, and the main hall—spacious enough for more than a thousand people—had cushioned chairs throughout.
Even the smartphone handed out at the entrance to the main hall was a top-of-the-line model.
Of course, to me it was just a brick-sized object.
I only bothered to locate the phone icon.
“Damn! The facilities are incredible.”
“I think I might actually live well now.”
“Like hell. Never going back in a cell.”
The main hall was already swarming with people of all types.
Rough-looking men scattered throughout exchanged crude language and coarse banter with each other.
“I’m glad I ran into you, you bastard! Did you rat me out to a cop?”
Some of them, overwhelmed by the power they’d gained after awakening, were grappling at each other’s collars from across the room.
From my training days, I was familiar enough with that type to find them unremarkable.
“Thank you all for applying to the Rehabilitation Hunter Conversion Program.”
At that moment, a beam projector switched on and someone climbed onto the stage.
“Hong Si-yu, Senior Policy Coordinator of the Awakener Association’s Special Cooperation Division.”
She was a woman in a vertical-striped suit with lustrous red hair cut in a sharp bob.
Since she wasn’t particularly large, even holding the microphone didn’t immediately draw the attention of all the parolees.

Whoooosh!
Not until that woman—Hong Si-yu—suddenly opened her mouth wide and unleashed a violent blaze that reached all the way to the back doors of this sprawling hall.
“Insane.”
The fire alarm wailed and sprinklers burst overhead, but no one protested.
I just stood there with my mouth hanging open, replaying what had just happened.
I never imagined I’d see a person breathe fire in reality.
Honestly, it made my heart pound a little.
Didn’t that mean I was an Awakener just like her?
“Most of you gathered here were likely incarcerated before the Gate Incident, so I’ll briefly explain how society has changed before we begin.”
Everyone straightened up and focused at Hong Si-yu’s words.
“I’ll award education points to whoever shows the best attitude, so pay close attention. Later, you’ll be able to choose your posting based on the order of your points.”
She smiled gently, as if promising candy to children who listened well.
Now there was no doubt everyone would be attentive.
“Four years ago, the first Gate Incident occurred in Paju…….”
Hong Si-yu summarized the major events of the past four years in a single PowerPoint slide.
The Gate opened, Magical Beasts poured out, Seoul fell, and ten million refugees were created.
Sea Beasts caused shipping problems, and the economy collapsed entirely.
S-rank Hunter Ban Hae-jin suppressed major Gates, and after Samjeong Group developed Awakening Serum and power conversion technology, the situation began to improve.
Regarding mandatory military service for Awakener Hunters, Ban Hae-jin refused the government’s decision and attempted a coup before negotiating with the government.
The Awakener Association and Guild system were established, and the Mana Stone economy began.
“……And you will enter the Gates and hunt Magical Beasts, thereby creating a safe environment for the mining teams to extract Mana Stones.”
By the time he finished speaking, even the most rebellious parolees had become meek as lambs.
A profound sense of unreality coursed through my entire body.
“Next, let me show you the Magical Beasts you’ll mainly be facing.”
Hong Si-yu advanced the slide.
[Classification: Jack O’Lantern (also called Halloween, Pumpkin Spawn at sites)]
[Classification Rank: C]
[Type: Plant, Erosive]
On that slide appeared the image of some sort of pumpkin-vine-like monster.
Inside its head, which resembled a Halloween pumpkin, flames burned, and below that hung a semi-humanoid, semi-bestial body made of vine tendrils.
Murmurs rose from various quarters.
Some laughed, finding it ridiculous-looking.
I too silently expressed doubt.
What kind of life form was this, looking like some sort of brain nut?
“This creature is called a Jack O’Lantern. But you’ll mostly call it Pumpkin Spawn, so just remember it that way. It’s the second most common Magical Beast after Goblins, so you’ll see plenty of them.”
Hong Si-yu did not smile.
“Jack O’Lanterns aren’t extremely powerful Magical Beasts, but the power they wield is the problem.”
Her tone grew heated by degrees.
“These Pumpkin Spawns absorb fire. If heat above a certain temperature is generated within a certain range, they absorb it immediately. In other words—you can’t use guns.”
Hearing that, I understood why the military had collapsed so easily.
Guns are more powerful than you’d think.
Even I, who’d earned the title of greatest swordsman under heaven, ended up in a wheelchair from a single revolver shot.
“Most Magical Beasts die when shot. But if this creature mixes in with other Beasts, guns become useless, so whether Awakener Hunters use their abilities or swing swords, they have to kill this spawn first.”
So those Beasts could disable guns.
“The problem is, even if this Pumpkin Spawn can be shot, it’s hard to kill. Its body is as hard as dead wood, it stands over three meters tall, and there are other Beasts nearby. Once it’s absorbed heat, it can also spew fire and attack.”
So, Hong Si-yu continued, drawing breath.
“A lot of C-rank and lower-tier Hunters, as well as Artificial Awakeners awakened with Awakening Serum, have died. Because of that, we had no volunteers, which is why we brought you in. It might be your stroke of luck.”
Now I understood why the facilities and meals here were so good.
It felt like a last meal.
Hong Si-yu continued with another “so,” and advanced the slide again.
“You’ll need to practice with melee weapons. Greatswords, axes, spears, longswords, katanas, fencing—anything goes.”
All manner of blades appeared on the screen.
“Once you’ve cleared this spawn, the non-Awakener Hunters behind you will be able to shoot down Goblins, Orcs, spiders, and the like with guns.”
Fencing blade. Katana. Longsword. Hwandao. Cavalry Sword.
“If any of you have belt ranks or certifications, write them on the application form later. We’ll give you bonus points. Oh, but boxing, jiujitsu, or judo won’t work. That creature has spines on its body, so punching it just hurts your fist, and its arms are vine tentacles that won’t break.”
These were all things I’d trained in before.
“Wait, let me take a quick poll first. Does anyone here have a Kendo belt rank or anything? I’ll give you lots of Education Points.”
That was when Hong Si-yu posed the question to us.
“I do.”
“I have one too.”
Hands rose sporadically.
“I have several.”
Without hesitation, I raised my hand as well.
I didn’t know exactly where or how I’d spend those points, but it wouldn’t hurt to take them if they were offering.
I also sensed from Hong Si-yu’s tone that she didn’t regard this “Rehabilitation Hunter Conversion Program” particularly favorably.
It felt like they were dragging in scum like us because they needed Mana Stones.
She didn’t seem to value our lives as precious.
But I wasn’t quite the same as the other inmates, was I?
“Kim Gang-o. Former commander of the Scorpion Faction. Kendo 3rd Dan.”
Most of the people who’d raised their hands were like that.
They’d trained in athletics, then stepped onto a dirty path, and used what they’d learned for dirty things.
“Understood for now.”
Hong Si-yu’s expression wasn’t good either.
“And you over there…… huh?”
She pointed at me, her face turning uncertain.
“I’m Jung Jae-ha. Olympic fencing gold medalist. I’ve won several international competitions as well.”
I gave her the answer Hong Si-yu wanted to hear.
“Wait, Jung? The athlete?”
* * *
“So you got into the training center? Congratulations. You really pulled it off.”
A darkened room.
“I told you he’d succeed. He’s strong. Stronger than anyone I’ve ever known.”
The One-armed Man and the Silver-haired Woman spoke to each other.
“So, want to go see him?”
“You’re joking, right? I don’t want to end up in prison alongside him.”
“You waited four years for this. Originally you might’ve seen him in two. Did you really not trust your own handiwork—even after building half of it?”
“A 50% fatality rate is closer to poison than Awakening Serum. I couldn’t use that on you.”
“Either way, you’ve done well. Thanks to you, we got all the way to 2.0.”
“Just words?”
The One-armed Man laughed with ease, and the silver-haired woman laughed without substance.
“Of course I’ll be generous. Gold, cash, Mana Stones—name your price.”
“Is today the day Sambyeol’s warehouse gets completely cleaned out? ‘The boss has lost his mind.'”
“He has lost it…… So you’re really sure you don’t need to see him?”
“I was prepared to wait ten years.”
…….
“I can wait a little longer.”
She slowly curled and uncurled her fingers in the metal-plated glove, as though grasping for something.
“I also have faith that you’ll make it all the way up.”
“To the very top of the world?”
“You’ve taken a liking to climbing the career ladder these days. Try standing there once.”

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