The Regressed SSS-Rank Supporter Who Turned Dark - Chapter 44

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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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#Episode 44
Cha Eun-sung and Instructor Kim Sang-eung.
Their clash was nothing short of a blood-soaked melee.
Clang, crash!
Crash!
The axe and dagger collided relentlessly.
It wasn’t merely a matter of weapons meeting weapons.
Whoosh, whish!
Screech!
The feints and deceptive exchanges they traded with one another tore through the air itself.
“This is… insane.”
“Is this what a real battle between masters looks like?”
“They’re incredibly fast!”
The members of Bravo Team watched the duel between Cha Eun-sung and Instructor Kim Sang-eung with undisguised awe.
Their clash—no, their life-or-death duel—existed in an entirely different realm from anything these novices could comprehend.
Had any of them faced Cha Eun-sung or Instructor Kim Sang-eung, they wouldn’t last even three seconds.
The knife-fighting prowess of both Cha Eun-sung and Instructor Kim Sang-eung had reached an unfathomably high level.
For those who had only recently awakened and were now learning the essential knowledge and techniques required of hunters, such skill was beyond imagination.
Meanwhile, Ra Si-hyun watched the duel with her blood running cold, nearly losing her mind.
The more I came to know Cha Eun-sung, the more terrifying he became.
It was frightening when he crushed Oh Tae-kwon and the Alpha Team leader, but facing monsters was even more terrifying.
That peculiar indifference of his, that attitude as though he feared neither combat nor death itself—it sent chills down my spine.
As if he could casually kill someone without changing his expression and simply continue on his way.
Yet watching him fight Instructor Kim Sang-eung only deepened my fear and respect for him.
It was something close to awe.
‘A puppy doesn’t know to fear a tiger. How pathetic and laughable must I have seemed, prancing about as a mage of all things?’
Ra Si-hyun deeply regretted her past behavior and felt profound remorse.
Not only had she complained to this monster, but she’d been downright rude. If only she could turn back time, she’d beat herself senseless.
‘From now on, I’ll never displease him. Never.’
Ra Si-hyun made a firm resolution and drew out her spirit blade.
There was no denying that Cha Eun-sung was a monster.
The fact that he’d been admitted to the Special Armed Forces Training Institute meant he was a newly awakened hunter.
That such a novice could stand against Instructor Kim Sang-eung was extraordinary in itself—proof of genius.
But given the caliber of his opponent, Ra Si-hyun intended to help him.
This wasn’t just her thought alone.
Oh Tae-kwon, Kim Seung-hye, and Park Seok-ho had all drawn their spirit blades and were watching for an opportunity to aid Cha Eun-sung.
However…
Whoosh.
Ra Si-hyun lowered her spirit blade.
“Everyone, don’t.”
“What are you talking about? You’re saying I shouldn’t help Sang-eung?”
“Yes.”
When Kim Seung-hye asked as if she didn’t understand, Ra Si-hyun answered curtly in a flat voice.
“Don’t.”
“You still haven’t come to your senses.”
Kim Seung-hye glared at Ra Si-hyun as if she’d had enough.
“Are you saying to let Sang-eung die? Because of your petty grudge?”
“That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
“A grudge? Ha! That’s ridiculous. What good would holding a grudge against someone like that do me? I’d only lose out.”
Ra Si-hyun acknowledged the reality in a cold voice.
“Then why are you telling us not to help him?”
“Exactly.”
Oh Tae-kwon and Park Seok-ho spoke as if they couldn’t understand at all.
“Sigh.”
Ra Si-hyun let out a deep sigh, then answered in a tone suggesting she couldn’t work with them like this.
“Look at Sang-eung’s expression.”
“…?”
“Does that look like the face of someone in danger to you?”
The gazes of all Bravo Team members turned toward Sang-eung’s face in unison.
“Huh?”
Kim Seung-hye was startled.
“Hyung…?”
“H-how…?”
Oh Tae-kwon and Park Seok-ho were equally shocked.
Grin!
Sang-eung….
Sang-eung was smiling.
Despite being slashed and stabbed by the short sword wielded by Instructor Kim Sang-eung, blood pouring from wounds all over his body, he swung his axe with a beaming grin on his face as if he were having the time of his life.
“That guy’s enjoying himself. I have no idea how he can do that, though.”
Ra Si-hyun shook her head, unable to comprehend, and spoke.
As for her, she couldn’t even begin to fathom why Sang-eung could smile.
“Why don’t you stop interfering and keep watch of the surroundings instead?”
“….”
The Bravo Team members hesitated for a moment, unable to understand either Ra Si-hyun’s words or Sang-eung’s laughter.
“Do as you like. I won’t interfere. Not until Sang-eung asks for help.”
Ra Si-hyun said so and picked up her rifle to keep watch of the surroundings.
After a brief moment of deliberation, the Bravo Team members followed suit, each taking up their weapons.
It didn’t make sense, but judging from Sang-eung’s expression alone, he truly seemed to be enjoying himself….
* * *
This is exhilarating.
Maddeningly exhilarating.
I could feel dopamine and adrenaline exploding through my brain in torrential waves.
‘Uncle Sang-eung really is something else.’
I knew better than anyone that stray thoughts were forbidden during a life-or-death duel, yet I couldn’t stop them from surfacing in my mind.
Despite walking on thin ice—literally treading the edge of a blade—I kept breaking into involuntary grins.
One slip, and my carotid artery would be severed, or a vital point pierced….
“What the hell are you grinning about in front of me, you bastard?”
Instructor Kim Sang-eung spat out a curse and unleashed an even fiercer barrage of attacks.
Clang, clang-clang, clang, clang, clang-clang!
Boom!
Five exchanges of offense and defense transpired in the blink of an eye.
‘Ugh.’
My left forearm had been sliced, but it was barely more than a scratch.
‘This is purely a difference in weight class, not skill.’
I could be certain of it.
In pure technique, I held the advantage.
The only difference in physical capability came from Instructor Kim Sang-eung possessing more ether and higher-grade ether than I did.
Upon confirming this, I felt a sense of accomplishment wash away old, lingering emotions.
In truth, this wasn’t merely a life-or-death duel.
It was the old me.
A cathartic release of the sorrow I’d endured as a supporter.
Before I returned to the past.
I hated being a supporter.
It wasn’t that being a supporter was the problem.
It simply didn’t suit my nature….
Some find pride in their role as a supporter, dutifully fulfilling their duties in silence.
But I was not one of them.
I wanted to fight.
To face enemies directly, to win, to cut off their breath with my own hands.
But reality denied me that.
Supporters didn’t engage enemies directly; we were bound to support our comrades from behind.
So I trained relentlessly.
To face enemies and monsters without powerful offensive skills or a spiritual blade weapon.
I fought countless times until my body shattered, rolled, took hits, and rose again.
That’s how I earned the joke of being “the strongest among non-awakened individuals.”
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t overcome the limitations of being a supporter, so all my efforts felt hollow.
But today.
I confirmed that those seemingly meaningless efforts were never in vain.
The axe I wielded now was proof of everything I’d endured back then!
CLANG!
The axe and short sword collided with tremendous force.
‘I can win this.’
No—I’ve already won.
Whoosh!
My axe moved half a beat faster.
Ting, clang, ting-ting, ting-ting, clang!
We exchanged blows repeatedly.
“…!”
Kim Sang-eung’s eyes wavered subtly.
He couldn’t adapt to my accelerated tempo and was beginning to expose openings.
‘Now!’
I summoned a disc from the [Full Moon] card in my left hand and hurled it forward.
Whoosh!
The disc flew straight at Kim Sang-eung’s face.
“Huh!”
Startled, he frantically shifted his stance.
Thud!
My axe came down hard on Kim Sang-eung’s left knee.
I didn’t stop.
Squelch!
As I wrenched the axe free, I dodged his counterattack and struck back.
Crack!
Kim Sang-eung’s left arm flew off.
“KYAAAAGH!”
A ghastly scream tore from his throat, and a viscous, dark-red ether poured from his body, engulfing me.
I understood instinctively.
His unique ability—what he called Blood Qi—would restrain or dull my movements.
‘I won’t allow it.’
I quickly retreated, creating distance, and hurled my axe with all my strength.
Throwing away your primary weapon is a decision where losses far outweigh gains.
If I missed, I’d lose my weapon for nothing. Even if I hit, failing to incapacitate him would only leave me vulnerable to retaliation.
Yet I threw the axe anyway for one reason.
I was certain I wouldn’t miss.
Whirrrr!
Crack!
The spinning axe slashed through Kim Sang-eung’s remaining right arm.
His right arm, still gripping the spirit blade, fell to the ground.
Thump!
Kim Sang-eung could no longer stand and collapsed to his knees.
The blood that had been flowing had long since vanished.
‘I won.’
But I couldn’t celebrate the victory.
“Uncle!”
I rushed toward him in desperation.
It wasn’t too late yet….
* * *
When I was about five meters away from Kim Sang-eung, it happened.
“Kyaaaack!”
A bug the size of a palm burst from Kim Sang-eung’s mouth and flew toward my face.
Giseolchung.
A monster resembling a parasitic worm that infests fish tongues, called [Kimotoa Exigua].
It seemed it had tried to switch hosts to me as Kim Sang-eung’s life grew critical… but did it really think that would work?
I quickly drew the double-barrel sawed-off shotgun strapped to my left hip.
Click, bang!
“Kiiiiiii!”
Giseolchung burst into pieces.
For a monster that had been controlling a 4-star Hunter like Kim Sang-eung, its durability was pathetically fragile.
“Cough, cough cough!”
Kim Sang-eung was on the brink of death.
“Hack!”
Blood gushed from his mouth with each cough.
Blood was pouring from the severed edges of both his arms, and at this rate, he would go into shock from blood loss within a minute.
‘I won’t let him die.’
I drew the [Healing] card and summoned Undina.
“It’s urgent. Hurry.”
“Yes, Master.”
Whoosh!
Undina didn’t ask questions or hesitate—she obeyed my command and became a healing wind that wrapped around Kim Sang-eung.
‘Bring them.’
Using the [Loot] card, the ferrets’ bodies stretched out, retrieved Kim Sang-eung’s severed arms from the ground, and wrapped around the cut edges like bandages.
“I, a cigarette… cough!”
“Just hold on a moment. Right now….”
“Just… give it to me. Please. Ugh!”
I pulled out a cigarette and lighter from Kim Sang-eung’s plate carrier pouch, placed it in his mouth, and lit it.
Smoking rates had skyrocketed since the Gate Incident fifteen years ago.
It was true that in war or apocalyptic situations, alcohol and cigarettes functioned like currency.
A world where death had become routine.
People always sought something to catch their breath, even for a moment, and that something was cigarettes.
“Huuuuuh.”
Kim Sang-eung exhaled a long plume of cigarette smoke.
Then he turned to me and spoke.
“Eun-sung.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Don’t do it.”
“Yes…?”
“Just leave it.”
“…?”
“Let it be.”
Kim Sang-eung slowly closed both eyes.
As if accepting death itself.

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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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