Hunter Academy’s Battle God

During one of Gaon’s weekends…

Arden smiled at YuSung, who was sitting before him.

[Then… could I ask you to bring someone else as well?]

It was a favor for his granddaughter. Adela wanted YuSung to participate in Red Dragon Sardonix's raid.

'That's probably evidence that Adela thinks of YuSung as her rival…'

"YuSung, I know you already heard it from the headmaster, but I'll ask again… What do you think of going to Italy?" Arden asked YuSung, a smile on his face.

Named rank 7 bosses were called ‘calamities’.

Not only that, but it was the opportunity to see a dragon up close. YuSung had no reason to refuse.

YuSung had just finished the exams and had some free time, so it was a great opportunity for him.

"I also want to participate."

"Haha, that's great. I'll send you someone to guide you once it’s time. Many active hunters are interested in you… So sending someone with no second intentions will be hard. Haha!"

Arden got up while laughing and turned his head. He was making a bitter smile. He didn’t want his granddaughter's interest in YuSung to be just a rivalry.

After that incident when she was five, Arden had wished someone could melt Adela's coldness.

YuSung, who Adela was showing interest in, was similar but different from her. Although it was for different reasons, both had gone through a harsh situation at the young age of five.

Maybe that was why he believed that YuSung had the ability to melt her heart.

'Maybe it's too much to ask.'

Back then, when everyone was happy, he hadn’t expected Adela to return to how she used to be. Arden just wanted to stop feeling guilty. When he looked at how cold his granddaughter had become, although he hadn't done anything wrong, he couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible.

That's why he wanted to see a change in her.

Arden didn't want his granddaughter to be alone and not notice how lonely she truly was.

That's why, for him, and for Adela…

'That kid might be…'

He’d used the opportunity to leave his granddaughter in YuSung's hands.

* * * *

The weekend after the exam was special.

There were students like EunAh that went to visit their families; some others like SiWoo used portals to visit foreign countries like Japan.

Although Amy was busier on weekends than on weekdays, she was a special case. For most students, weekends were important.

'It's been a while since he ate, so I should prepare some snacks…'

Sumire liked staying in school with YuSung, especially when she was preparing food for him.

'Since there's some tteok left, I should fry it and then cover it with a sauce!'

She liked to prepare food personally for him.

Sumire didn’t visit her family on weekends because they were far away, so they naturally ended up spending a lot of time together.

Making food for just the two of them made her happy.

"YuSung, here!"

YuSung was also happy whenever he tasted Sumire's food.

'YuSung…'

Her feelings toward YuSung had been shifting as of late.

Before, she was just happy looking at him taste her food, but things had changed.

The time they spent in the club room with just the two of them…

YuSung tasting her food…

Her waking YuSung early every morning…

Although she was trying not to be conscious about it, her daily life with YuSung, rather than with club members, made it seem more like they were a married couple.

YuSung put his snack down and asked, "Sumire, did something happen…?"

He had lived on Martial Spirits' Mountain for too long, so his knowledge of certain common sense areas was low, but he was surprisingly good at catching other people's emotions.

"What?! N-no. I was just thinking about something…"

"What were you thinking about?" YuSung asked her while making a confused expression.

"It's just that… I'm a bit happy, and…"

She was also afraid.

Sumire couldn't finish the sentence. They were colleagues, not lovers. Sumire's happiness wasn't very clear.

"Since… you're going to go to Italy, I won't be able to see you for a while." Sumire gathered courage and somehow managed to convey her thoughts, but YuSung understood it in a friendly way.

"I'm also going to miss you, Sumire. Still, this is a great opportunity."

There was nothing weird.

The YuSung Sumire knew had always been like that. He was a kind and admirable person who did his best to achieve his dreams.

At first, she just wanted to repay YuSung for trusting her, but that wasn't the case anymore.

[As expected. Making you join was the correct decision…]

She recalled the kind YuSung who consoled her and his reliable back that supported her

[2nd! I'm 2nd! YuSung!]

She remembered when she was happy after meeting YuSung.

[As the party leader, I won't let you be rude toward Sumire anymore.]

The memories of what she'd gone through with YuSung made her heart feel tight. She was aware of something since she was being more honest with her feelings.

The feelings she had for YuSung were…

"Y-YuSung! Since it's the w-weekend, why don't we hang out in Academy City?"

She knew she was being greedy, but she wanted to get closer to YuSung.

* * * *

Academy City's branch manager Mei Lin was making a satisfied expression as she looked down at Academy City.

'Our funding has increased.'

Academy City was in charge of elites, even among the Hunter's Association, because they had to deal with things ranging from small Academy events to things like foreign relations with other countries. Despite having so many things to do, Academy City was like the back of the line when it came to battles and had little danger.

That's why their funding was lower than what dangerous areas received. It felt like only the day prior when Mei Lin was struggling with funding, but things had changed.

It was all thanks to Association President Kang YuChan.

'YuSung was where it started.'

Although the amount of work she had to do had increased, Mei Lin had no complaints.

"It'd be great if Korea won the International Competition with me still in charge…"

Although it was due to Kang YuChan's orders, Mei Lin had supported YuSung in many ways, so she'd greatly benefit if YuSung won.

'If that happens, I might be able to become the next Association President.'

Kang YuChan trusted her, and she was a rank 6 hunter, so there was a chance.

…But that was only if YuSung managed to win.

Even though Mei Lin had managed to rise in the ranks without much trouble, becoming the Association President without a huge achievement was hard.

'According to the rumors, he loves training, so he might really be able to win…'

Lin was already getting ahead of her imagination when she saw a familiar sight.

YuSung and Sumire were walking together.

Sumire held a giant cotton candy and gave bites of it for YuSung to eat.

"A date…?"

To think they'd have a date in Academy City when the International Competition's next round was right around the corner.

"He's definitely…"

Mei Lin's thoughts that he was probably going to be training were wrong.

* * *

* * *

Academy City’s park held a giant, glittering blue pond with koi fish swimming in its depths. It was beautiful.

Since it was a place normal people were restricted from entering, there weren't many people in the park on weekends.

"It's a very pretty park…"

Academy City was the closest city to Gaon Academy. It was such a short distance away that you could just take the school bus.

"You're right. To think there was a place like this in Academy City."

Rather than the modern installations of Academy City, YuSung was more used to the greenery.

Just looking at it made him feel more comfortable.

"Even though it's so close, there are many things we don't know…"

In reality, Sumire wasn't referring to Academy City, but YuSung. Looking at YuSung peering out the window on rainy days made Sumire wonder what he was thinking about.

Still, she never asked.

She was happy enough with their relationship as it was, so she thought that getting even closer was her being too greedy.

There were probably things he didn't want to tell her.

She thought burying those questions was the correct decision and had avoided them, but she knew that, in reality, she was just scared.

She'd been deceiving herself.

"Uhmm… Y-YuSung. Is there anything you're scared about?"

YuSung’s fears constantly changed. At first, he was scared of his parents that had abandoned him; then he was scared about the world that had suddenly changed for him, and then he was scared of other things: boards, monsters, coldness, and hunger.

He'd faced his fears, so fear had become a thin sensation.

"I… have something." Sumire wasn't scared about the things he had been scared about.

"What are you scared about?" YuSung asked while looking at the pond.

Sumire smiled and replied, "I was afraid of people hating me, so… I couldn't reject things I didn't want to do, even though there were many times I wanted to say otherwise…"

Sumire sat on a bench, smiling awkwardly at YuSung. Even without trying, too many memories were crossing her mind.

[Ah, she's too bad! Sumire threw it again!

[But still, let's play with her~ Sumire's nice, after all.]

Sumire's biggest fear was being hated. Was that why she tried to act as if she were considerate?

[I'm okay…! I can always do it next time.]

[As expected. Sumire's a good person~.]

[She's really considerate.]

If she didn't stand out, if she wasn't greedy, there wouldn't be a need for others to hate her. Sumire's nature made her avoid conflict to protect herself.

"I did my best… to make it so others wouldn't hate me."

The undead dungeon incident crossed her mind.

As Sumire's Trait exploded back then, the undead became overly excited. Although no one got hurt, Sumire was only a middle school student, so that incident became a nightmare for her.

[KYAA! RUN!]

[AGH, T-TEACHER!]

She’d been able to hear people screaming all around her in that messed-up dungeon.

Of course, the real nightmare came after that incident.

[Sumire…! Because of you!]

[Ugh, it really feels bad…]

She couldn't handle how people's attitudes toward her changed, and she’d lowered her head. Unlike normal, the hallway always felt long.

She ended up returning to her house, not able to go to school anymore. She didn't have the courage to return to a place where everyone hated her.

That's why she’d gone to Korea.

If it were a place where no one knew about her, she'd probably be able to start all over again. She didn't think she was guilty, but she couldn't help but be disgusted with herself.

Things had changed.

"I don’t want to be like that anymore."

Sumire carefully leaned her head toward YuSung's shoulder. Although the posture was natural, her body was stiff with nervousness, and she couldn’t help but feel her skin heating up.

"I want to be braver and a bit more selfish…"

At that moment, as if it were trying to cool her reddening face…

Tap. Tatap-

Tadadap- tap.

Raindrops began falling from the sky.

Ripples spread across the pond.

She felt the drops puddling beneath her feet.

The raindrops fell, and a clear sound was heard.

Swoosh-

The scent of freshly wet grass stimulated her nose; she closed her eyes and gathered some courage before mumbling, "I want to know more about you, YuSung… I want to stay with you."

The rainy park seemed to be just for the two of them right then.

Sumire wished time could stop like that, and YuSung just smiled at her.

Their relationship was too deep to just be called a partnership, and it was too pure to call affection.

The owner of Sumire’s fragment didn’t like the state of things.

- My child…

Laplace's voice spread in Sumire's head.

- Will you be satisfied with this after making such a resolution? You should be more greedy than this.

She was surprised at Laplace’s voice.

"YuSung, please, stay with me tonight." Dangerous words left her mouth.

- Fufu. Yes. You should aim at least for that.

Laplace felt proud.

"Ah. Y-YuSung! Th-that's!"

When Sumire tried to correct herself, YuSung looked into her eyes and smiled. "Okay, Sumire. I'll do that."

She was lost for words and had a hard time stopping herself from smiling.

'I… I'm happy…'

To think that they could stay together until the next day after spending the entire day together. Sumire was so happy that she was already thanking Laplace.