Hunter Academy’s Battle God

[Here's the lodging… Feel free to tell us if you find anything uncomfortable.]

Thanks to what Sebastian said, YuSung had no expectations regarding the lodging, but it was bigger than he expected.

'It doesn't lack even compared to Gaon…'

They’d used a lot of money to build the modern installations.

The Clock Tower Academy's ‘Seven’ dormitories were full of simple but luxurious furniture and installations.

'And this familiar yet unfamiliar scent… Is it Sumire's new menu?'

He smelled meat that had been boiled until it became soft and well-seasoned vegetables.

The scent of Sumire's meat stew increased YuSung's expectations.

'I haven't tasted it yet… but I already know it’s delicious.'

Considering the other party members had yet to arrive, an hour was probably left before dinner.

'Taking a bath with the smell of meat stew filling my nose sounds good.'

YuSung organized the schedule from the entrance, and Sumire greeted him with a smile from the kitchen. She was wearing an apron.

"Ah. YuSung! You’re here earlier than I expected!"

"Yes. EunAh and Amy are also going to arrive soon."

After she’d finished training, EunAh chose the Academy's shower room instead of the one in the lodging.

It seemed like she was shy about taking a shower in a shared lodging. Sumire nodded as if she understood her.

"Ah… Then… Yusung… Do you want to take a shower or eat first…?" Sumire asked in a shy tone.

YuSung calmly answered, "I'm going to take a shower before EunAh and Amy arrive."

He untied the ribbon on his head, and his hair flowed down. Sumire stared at him before quickly pointing toward the shower room.

"I… I knew you'd choose that! So… I already warmed the bath water!"

"Sumire, as always, thank you."

Sumire smiled awkwardly at YuSung's thanks; then she looked back at the stew.

She made an expression that made it seem like she’d been thinking deeply about something and said, "Since… I can't go out in this match, I at least wanted to ensure my party members are in good condition."

After saying that, Sumire smiled at YuSung. As always, YuSung was honest regarding his thoughts and emotions.

"Sumire, you're always thinking about us."

YuSung slowly walked toward her while talking in a soft voice. Sumire nervously watched him approach.

"YuSung…"

"As expected. Our party wouldn't be complete without you."

Sumire had made EunAh open herself to others. Lee SiWoo, who didn't have a positive opinion of her, ended up recognizing her, and she'd never betrayed YuSung's trust and expectations. She always went beyond her capabilities and achieved more than expected.

"Sumire, thank you."

Although it hadn't been long since YuSung made the party, there were too many things he was thankful to Sumire for.

When he smiled at her while saying his thanks, Sumire's cheeks turned red.

"M-me too…"

Sumire didn't dodge his eyes and looked at him directly.

"YuSung! Thank you!"

Despite being shy, she smiled at YuSung while looking him in the eyes. She'd definitely changed.

Tap.

At that moment, his hands touched Sumire's head.

'Sumire always asked for this when she was under the influence of the fragment, right?'

Laplace's fragment made Sumire more honest with herself. Basically, YuSung stroking her head was something she wanted in daily life.

"Then, keep doing a good job. Sumire."

After saying that, YuSung left to take a shower, but Sumire went stone-still and blushed.

'YuSung…'

Sumire touched her hair.

Although she couldn't participate in the tournament, thanks to YuSung's actions, Sumire was happier than at any other time.

* * *

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* * *

Swoosh.

Water poured from the shower head.

In the shower room that was separated by blue glass, Amy peeped out at EunAh.

"EunAh… This is my opinion, but I don't think you should get friendly with Angela. She seems… A bit dangerous."

"Haa. That again? I just exchanged a few words with her."

"I'm just saying that you should be careful… Angela… There's something weird about her."

Although Amy was saying it uneasily, EunAh just cast it aside.

"Okay. Just take a shower."

"But I'm telling the truth…

"Rather than that, what's the plan you wanted to discuss?"

"Ah, that?"

Amy smiled at EunAh's question. Although she'd said that to separate Angela from EunAh, Amy saying they needed to discuss the match was true.

"I heard that Lorelei's team has received artifacts from the Association."

"What? Besides the Saint's Sphere?"

The Saint's Sphere was a unique artifact from Aris. Because of that, they'd managed to stop Sumire from participating.

"Yes. Although it probably won't be a unique-rank one… According to the information, they ordered the items after Korea was chosen as an opponent."

Kim EunAh frowned. "They ordered artifacts…? Does that mean they were created in the 'Tower's Atelier'?"

The Tower's Atelier…

It was an Atelier that took elite artisans from six countries and created hunter equipment. The equipment from the Tower's Atelier was something that only elite hunters could use, and the amount of money required to create each artifact was astronomical.

"You don't know what they created, do you…?"

EunAh's expression became serious while she wiped the water from her body with a towel. From the start, the English team got a unique artifact and even asked for certain items from the Tower's Atelier.

Because the country's honor was on the line, they seemed to be trying their best. Kim EunAh started to get anxious.

'I need to participate this time no matter what…'

EunAh wasn't able to participate in the match against Japan due to familial reasons, so it would be the first time she'd be participating.

Thinking that they might lose because of artifacts made her angry. That would make all of the training she'd done with YuSung meaningless.

'Regardless of what they bring, I must win, no matter how…'

EunAh had a strong sense of competitiveness.

As EunAh bit her lips, Amy, covered with a towel, carefully walked like a cat toward the changing room.

Swoosh- Sssk!

Amy glanced at EunAh, who'd just finished dressing, and asked, "EunAh… isn't it easy to guess what kind of artifact it is?"

Although Amy looked like that, she was able to think fast. Although her grades weren't as high as Sumire's, she was still one of the best students regarding grades. EunAh continued to silently dry her hair.

'An artifact to fight us…'

Tap.

EunAh put the hair dryer down.

She was able to figure it out after a bit of thought. Amy was right.

"Based on what they've prepared, rather than focusing on their individual Traits, they're probably going to use artifacts aimed at us."

Amy nodded at EunAh's serious tone.

"Seeing how they prepared the Saint's Sphere to stop Sumire, they're for sure going to do that for each of us."

"Then the question is what artifact to block who… Since they prepared the Saint's Sphere, it probably won't be Sumire…"

Amy agreed to what Kim EunAh had guessed and added something.

"Yes! Although it angers me, it probably won't be for SiWoo or me since we haven't shown much until now~ We also aren't Sevens."

There were only two besides Sumire, Lee SiWoo, and Amy: Shin YuSung and Kim EunAh.

EunAh looked at herself in the mirror and raised electricity from her right hand.

BZZT-!

The crackling blue electricity sparked out light, and EunAh made a serious expression and spoke in a low voice, “Me…?”

"I'm not sure, but… the artifact will probably be specifically to counter you or the party leader."

There were many artifacts that could tolerate Kim EunAh's Trait of Electricity.

"If it's me, I might have to fight without electricity," EunAh said.

Amy hesitated for a bit; then she opened her mouth while scratching her cheeks.

"Yes. If they're being cautious about you, I think it will be something against electricity. Maybe they will wear an anti-electricity suit or an artifact that can absorb it…"

"I see."

Kim EunAh had finished putting on her clothes and was tying her hair.

Swipe- Tap.

'Electricity…'

If Amy's information was right, there was a chance she might have to fight against someone immune to electricity.

That was a hard opponent—just like the first time she fought against the Lake Dragon.

"It doesn't matter," EunAh calmly said.

EunAh had learned martial arts from YuSung. Thanks to that, she’s learned new techniques. She wasn't her old self who relied only on electricity anymore.

"I'll win," EunAh said with confidence.

Amy's eyes widened.

"EunAh…! You're too cool! That sounds like something the party leader would say!"

As always, Amy smiled cutely at EunAh.

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