I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game

The Shin Family.

A prestigious hunter family in Korea, famous for their unique ability to consistently produce strong hunters.

In a world where awakenings occur randomly, the Shin family stood out for their ability to produce powerful hunters as if on an assembly line.

They capitalized on the desires of wealthy individuals and politicians who craved hunter powers, amassing great wealth and influence.

‘But that prestige has faded a lot nowadays.’

After all, Chairman Lina had established the Velvet Hunter Academy, now the world’s top hunter training institution.

While the unity of a hunter group bound by blood couldn’t be overlooked,

ultimately, what mattered most in fighting monsters and demons was raw combat power.

Once upon a time, the Shin family was considered one of the two major powers in the Korean hunter industry, alongside Lina.

However, as the Academy stabilized and its graduates began to make their mark at the Gates, the Shin family’s influence gradually waned.

The shortcomings of Shin family-born hunters were too obvious.

While they possessed high destructive power due to their vast mana reserves,

their combat abilities in real-world situations were abysmal.

Additionally, once someone joined the Shin family, they were trapped within its closed system, unable to leave.

Take Shin Su-yeon, Shin Se-hee’s sister and an S-rank hunter, for example.

Despite encountering me when her mana reserves were depleted, she was still easily overwhelmed and ended up imprisoned in Shin Se-hee’s room.

In any case, due to reasons like these, the Shin family’s reputation had taken a significant hit, and they were now on a downward spiral.

‘Would they just sit back and accept this decline calmly and humbly?’

Of course not.

‘The Shin family has ambitions to rule the world.’

They were crazy enough to conduct human experiments to achieve their goals.

But no matter how ambitious they were, they weren’t foolish enough to directly challenge Lina.

So, they shifted their attention elsewhere.

A landmass too vast for Lina’s eyes to reach.

A place where human experiments could be conducted on countless unsuspecting individuals.

A country not too far from Korea, where the Shin family had now established their base.

China.

The Shin family had set up shop in China.

“How are things with the Shin family these days?”

I asked Shin Se-hee, trying to gather any additional information she might have.

“Hmm… It’s strange.”
“Strange?”
“Yes, in the past, they caused me quite a lot of trouble.”

Shin Se-hee fiddled with her lips as she spoke in a monotone voice.

“When Shin Su-yeon came to find me before, I had to make her believe that she had successfully captured me, and Utopia had to pretend to be under her command… It was quite a hassle to keep it all a secret from the family.”
“Oh.”

I whistled in admiration as I listened to her.

I had wondered why the Shin family hadn’t reacted at all lately, and it turned out that Shin Se-hee had been working behind the scenes to keep them in the dark.

When it came to matters like this, Shin Se-hee was someone I could trust completely.

“……It’s become a bit troublesome because our name has become too well-known lately. Our status has risen to the point where it doesn’t make sense for us to be under Shin Su-yeon’s command anymore.”
“Yeah, that makes sense…”

Indeed.

In the US, they had competed with the Hunter Rangers and achieved outstanding results.

And upon returning to Korea, they had boldly revealed the dragon’s head on national television.

‘Come to think of it, we’ve been stirring up quite a lot of trouble.’

“……But then, the Shin family suddenly stopped contacting me. It happened right when we received the monster extermination request in the US. At the time, I thought it was a good thing and didn’t think much of it… Do you think something happened?”

I nodded in response to Shin Se-hee’s question.

“Yeah, the Shin family is probably planning something big.”

At that, Shin Se-hee sighed deeply, her face reflecting her exasperation.

“……So, we have to stop them, right?”

After all, she knew the Shin family better than anyone else.

“Yes, this time, we’ll all go together, including you.”
“Okay, I’ll start making the necessary arrangements.”

Shin Se-hee nodded with a determined expression.

.

.

.

A few days later, the Utopia party gathered in front of the space teleportation gate, fully equipped and ready to depart for China.

“……We’re skipping classes a lot, aren’t we? At this rate, we might graduate without attending many classes.”

Lee Yoo-ri, with her conscientious personality, expressed her concern.

Ichika added, “Yeah, I transferred to the Academy, but I’ve spent more time outside than in class.”

I chuckled and replied, “That’s just how the Academy is. Look at the third and fourth-year seniors. They barely attend classes and focus on personal training and hunter activities.”

“……But we’re first-years… Well, except for one.”

Lim Ga-eul, the only second-year in Utopia, pouted.

“Probably, the third and fourth-year seniors are the ones who find it hardest to believe that we’re first-years.”
“Yeah, lately, they’ve been speaking more formally to us and asking for autographs and photos…”

Clap—

I clapped my hands to bring order to the chaotic atmosphere.

“Anyway, as I said, we’re going to China now. But this time, stay alert. We’re up against a massive family called the Shin family, and… Unlike Japan, the Chinese won’t have good feelings toward us.”
“That’s right…… After what happened in the US with the monster extermination request, China took a hit to their reputation…”

Shin Se-hee nodded in agreement.

Ling Xiao.

The Chinese hunter who had targeted Utopia during the US monster extermination request, only to fall into her own trap.

She had deliberately left the Gate in Jiangsu Province uncleared, causing countless casualties, and then showed up to play the hero, only to be exposed for her despicable past.

Although her actions were unforgivable even by Chinese standards,

the Chinese Hunter Association had taken her away and punished her.

However, her ugly past had been exposed to the whole world, damaging China’s reputation and prestige.

And the root cause of it all was Ling Xiao picking a fight with Utopia, earning herself a mountain of negative public opinion.

So, it was understandable that the Chinese wouldn’t have warm feelings toward us.

This time, our goal was to enter quietly, take care of business, and leave quietly without causing a fuss.

‘Hmm, I’m not sure if that’s possible, though…’

That was the goal, but to be honest, I wasn’t confident.

The lively atmosphere didn’t help, so I raised my voice to give a stern warning to the party members.

“Absolutely, do not do or say anything that will attract attention. Stay quiet.”

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.

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“Kyaaaaaaahhhh! Jin Yuha!”
“Finally! Jin Yuha has come to China!”
“Kyaaaaaahhhh! Wave to us!”
“You’re so handsome!!!”

A group of girls surrounded us in front of the space teleportation gate.

Click— Click—

The sound of camera shutters filled the air, accompanied by flashing lights.

Apparently, my plan to enter China quietly had failed from the very beginning.

“……”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“……”

The party members glared at me.

“……What? Jin Yuha. You said to stay quiet.”

Lee Yoo-ri glared at me and spoke up.

But I felt wronged.

‘Is this my fault!?’

“W, well, it’s not just because of me! It’s because of Utopia! Our party’s name has gotten so big that it’s not just about me anymore!”

I raised my voice to defend myself against the party members, but…

“Jin Yuha! Can I ask for your autograph?”
“Jin Yuha! Me too!”
“Can we take a picture with you?”
“I love you, Jin Yuha!”

The girls ignored the other party members and crowded around me.

“……You’re popular.”
“Little Fool, does the junior remember what he said earlier?”
“We’re supposed to avoid attracting attention, but Jin Yuha’s face is attracting all the attention.”
“Maybe I should just join them and take some pictures too?”
“The junior has it easy. Young and popular…”

The party members shot me cold glares and made snide remarks.

I stared blankly into the air, feeling dead inside.

‘But how did they even know we were coming here! I didn’t leak any information at all!!’

The girl at the front of the group spoke in a high-pitched voice.

“Jin Yuha! Everyone else said it was impossible, but we believed in you! We knew you would come to China someday, so we’ve been waiting here all this time!”
“Huh?”

Oh.

I hadn’t thought of that.

So, all they had to do was wait here, eating and sleeping, until I showed up?