How Is This A D-grade? (4)

Yu Seha twisted his body around, inspecting the training outfit he was wearing.

It was basic gear with no special abilities.

If this were an ordinary <Hunter> promotion test, the weapon he carried would also be recognized as part of his specs, allowing him to freely use [Saint’s Sword].

‘But this is a test conducted by the examiners.’

They said they standardized it to prepare for complications.

“It’s been a while, Mr. Yu Seha.”

Yu Seha turned his head at the voice he heard.

A woman with glasses, exuding a cold and sharp image, approached.

He recognized her.

She was the same staff member who had overseen Meowi’s 3★ promotion test in the past.

Yu Seha exchanged a brief conversation with her.

Immediately after, the woman with glasses dutifully returned to her role, fitting her image.

“Then, first, let me explain the sparring rules–”
“No, hold on a second.”

The man across from them.
B-grade examiner Jeong Kwang-hyuk raised his hand, interrupting her.
He spoke in a tone that suggested he found her talk bothersome.

“Hey, you ignorant brat. You know the rules now that you’ve moved up from D-grade, right?”
“Yes, I understand them well.”
“Good, since we’re both busy, let’s skip all this. You agree, right?”
“I agree.”

The woman nodded without any change in expression as they exchanged glances.

She naturally raised her hand to start the countdown.

Meanwhile, Jeong Kwang-hyuk continued to grumble.

“…Tsk. I accepted this as part of my duties as an examiner, but… I don’t have the luxury to waste time on a brat like you.”

“Yes, well, thank you.”

“You’re being cheeky… Don’t you get it even when I say it indirectly? I’m saying it’s not too late. Take the proper regular test you kids have to. Don’t lose and waste six months for nothing.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“…Ha, damn.”

Jeong Kwang-hyuk tugged at his unkempt, shaggy hair.

It was a habit he had when he was stressed.

‘Tsk…’

Jeong Kwang-hyuk felt upset.
In a word, it was dirty.

That rookie named Yu Seha or whatever.

He heard the kid was just 19 years old, still wet behind the ears.

It was absurd…

Jeong Kwang-hyuk disliked men younger than him.

He also disliked those who were good-looking.

Lastly, he despised those who arrogantly ignored the advice of elders even more.

Ironically, Yu Seha was someone who met all three of these disliked criteria.

‘Annoying…’

Soon, his gaze fixed on Moon Bora, who was cheering for Yu Seha from the stands.

That brat…
Even has a stunning beauty like her as a girlfriend, huh?

Jeong Kwang-hyuk grew even more infuriated.

The more he thought about it, the more his anger flared.

Logically, there was no reason for a rookie just challenging the C-grade to take him on.

Jeong Kwang-hyuk concluded it was due to the recent incident.

‘Yeah. Still holding a grudge over that collision, huh?’

Does he think the promotion exam is a joke?

While D-grade might be brushed off as child’s play, it was different from C-grade onwards.

‘C-grade is the true world of hunters, rookie.’

The decisive difference between D-grade and C-grade was the <Performance Test>, a real combat trial.

No matter how high one’s stats were or how well they used their skills, many crumbled before the variables of real combat.

There were plenty who couldn’t even show half of their original combat strength against terrifying, strong, and fearsome monsters.

The government didn’t set C-grade as the minimum requirement for S-grade monster raids for no reason.

“Then, please start the match.”

Jeong Kwang-hyuk loosened his stiff neck.

He thought of decisively breaking this arrogant brat’s spirit.

It was also good for the kid’s future.

Splat!

“…Huh?”

Thud!

“Ugh!”

One second after the match started.

Until he got hit by Yu Seha.

---

‘…Oh?’

Yu Seha stared at Jeong Kwang-hyuk with a surprised expression.

He accelerated in an instant.
And landed a precise punch on the unguarded abdomen.

He expected to inflict significant damage, cause a loss of balance, and finish it…
Surprisingly, Jeong Kwang-hyuk staggered but regained his stance.
Thanks to that, he couldn’t continue his fierce attack.
If he attacked now, he would surely be countered.

‘Did I hit too softly?’ Yu Seha wondered.

Noticing the magic lingering at the opponent’s feet, he quickly realized his ability.

‘[Steadfast Legs] is there.’

A Rare-grade skill.

It increased the owner’s knockback resistance and enhanced durability, providing a decent defensive capability.

Indeed, he thought a B-grade was a B-grade.

Then he swung the training longsword menacingly.

Clang!

“…Damn it!”

Meanwhile, Jeong Kwang-hyuk barely blocked the descending sword.
The blow to the abdomen hurt more than he expected, throbbing.
Surely a bruise was forming.

Jeong Kwang-hyuk sweated as he blocked the sword strike.

‘What is with this guy?’

The speed of the sword was unusual.

One thing was clear: it wasn’t a speed a mere D-grade could produce.

Soon, he roughly grasped the two types of magic surrounding Yu Seha’s legs.

Agility and speed-related movement abilities.

Skills known for their excellent synergy among <Hunters>.

He clicked his tongue.
Indeed, there was a reason for him to hold his head high in front of him.

Of course, that was all.

“Don’t get cocky just because you landed a lucky punch, you rookie!!”

Jeong Kwang-hyuk clenched his hands.

He pushed back Yu Seha’s sword, infusing it with magic as if to crush it.

No matter how fast, without strength, the damage is ultimately insignificant…

“…?”

But Jeong Kwang-hyuk was soon taken aback.
He was being pushed back.
He was gradually being pushed.

‘I’m losing in strength?!’

How could this be?

Jeong Kwang-hyuk’s [Strength] stat was a whopping 55.
It was a number that surpassed the mature B-grade evaluation of 50 by a full 5 points.
You might say it’s just 5, but that’s the talk of someone who doesn’t know anything.

‘The growth requirements for stats increase tremendously at the 30, 50, and 80 marks.’

To raise just 1 point, countless <Hunters> sweat and toil.

In that sense, Jeong Kwang-hyuk had pride in his strength.

He had never lost to anyone in terms of strength.

The flustered Jeong Kwang-hyuk was shocked by the two streams of magic coursing through Yu Seha’s arms.

‘Damn it…?’

Not only ‘movement speed,’ but there were two ‘strength enhancements’ too?

Jeong Kwang-hyuk was convinced.

This rookie…

‘There’s no way he’s just C-grade?’

Could he be B-grade?
That fresh-faced rookie?

Jeong Kwang-hyuk gritted his teeth.

It took him a full 30 years to reach this point…

Jeong Kwang-hyuk frowned deeply at his thought.
He soon regained his composure.

Fine, he was willing to admit it.

‘You seem to have raised your stats well.’

It wasn’t impossible if one consumed expensive elixirs like meals at a young age.

But…!

“Don’t get cocky! The experience we’ve walked is different!”
“…Excuse me, have you always been this talkative?”
“You, you… insolent brat!”

Clang, clang!
Clang!

About 10 seconds.

Weapons clashed fiercely at the contact point.

Yu Seha’s sword was close to textbook, yet strong and fast.

Jeong Kwang-hyuk’s sword was rough, wild, and executed with killing intent.

Yu Seha observed Jeong Kwang-hyuk’s seemingly reckless yet efficient swordplay in his own way.

It was as if he understood the sword, caring little about winning or losing.

This realization drove Jeong Kwang-hyuk to the edge.

He wasn’t here for sword practice, he was clearly enjoying himself.

‘Alright, I’ll make you regret it.’

[Swordsmanship] was just a part of Jeong Kwang-hyuk’s strength.
The real prowess was about to be revealed.

Tap!

“…!”

In an instant, Jeong Kwang-hyuk gave a small twist to his left hand, deflecting Yu Seha’s sword and brushing down the blade.

Yu Seha’s eyes widened at the soft movement, different from the previously wild and rough feel, akin to what one might call a gentle technique.

The ensuing phenomenon was equally shocking.

Swoosh…

The training longsword Yu Seha was holding drooped pathetically like a deflated balloon at a fair.

It felt as if it had been replaced by something other than metal.

Yu Seha recognized what it was at a glance.

B+ grade rare boss.
The skill rune of <Changeling>. [Prank of Softness].

A rare <Curse Technique> ability that temporarily reduces the weapon’s strength, hardness, and power, rendering it soft like rubber.

Jeong Kwang-hyuk seized the opportunity.

He kicked the empty training ground floor as if scattering something.

Amazingly, something like sand dust was generated.
It exploded right into Yu Seha’s eyes.

Jeong Kwang-hyuk’s class was a warrior, fighter type, <Gangster>.

His <Skill Tree> ability, [Sly Sand Kick].

Finally, he pulled out his left hand.

As he clenched his fist, a subtle light shimmered, and a mass of metal coalesced.

It was the Hero-grade buff skill, [Iron Knuckle].

Three vicious combinations that were second to none.

This was why Jeong Kwang-hyuk was a notorious <Examiner>.

He was a person thoroughly specialized in hand-to-hand combat against humans.

As Jeong Kwang-hyuk charged forward, he pondered what Yu Seha, who had been defeated, might say.

‘What will he try to say?’

Like the other naive rookies who dared to challenge him.

Would he call it cowardly, or question if he was truly an examiner?

‘Ha! Not a chance!’

Don’t be ridiculous. He never broke the rules of a sparring match.

He adhered to the conditions that needed to be kept, aiming for maximum power and victory.

That was the mindset of a hunter that B-grade hunter Jeong Kwang-hyuk from Dead Hell pursued.

Just as he was about to end it…

“…!”

Jeong Kwang-hyuk stopped in his tracks.

Rumble!!!

A world filled with crimson light.

Something had gripped Jeong Kwang-hyuk.

It felt as if he was bound by chains, unable to move an inch.

With his extensive experience, Jeong Kwang-hyuk realized this was a type of ‘killing intent’.

It was Yu Seha’s recently acquired Epic-grade skill, [Calamitous Fiend], that ensnared him.

‘…Impossible.’

It was definitely not the kind of murderous intent a rookie could produce.
What on earth was this?
There was one more unbelievable fact.

Yu Seha was staring straight ahead as if nothing had happened from the start.

This meant he was never affected by [Blindness], and undoubtedly had a rare and precious <Resistance> type ability.

Jeong Kwang-hyuk trembled uncontrollably.
No matter how he looked at it…
Isn’t this too much?

“You, you filthy, talented bastard!”

---

Meanwhile, Yu Seha, terrified, stood frozen as he watched Jeong Kwang-hyuk, deep in thought.

The unique, smooth hand movements he had displayed just moments ago.

Honestly, things like <Changeling> didn’t matter.

What Yu Seha was concerned with was that movement.

It was quite an impressive movement skill.

‘Wasn’t that like the proverb softness overcomes hardness?’

The unique smoothness undoubtedly had the strength to deflect an enhanced sword.

It was a move worth learning.

Yu Seha nodded and dropped his sword to the ground.

Jeong Kwang-hyuk, who was beyond furious, had finally snapped.

At that moment, his status ailment was lifted.

He swung the [Iron Knuckle] with a nearly close killing intent.

‘Hoo…’

Yu Seha took a deep breath as he watched the approaching fist.

It’s his first real battle, but…
It’s precisely at times like this that you have to use it even more.

He grasped the energy within his body.

Just like when he first activated [Strange Monstrous Strength], the unique power began to stir.

Yu Seha instinctively realized.
It’s different.

Just like when he used [Strange Monstrous Strength], he felt as if he had stepped into an entirely different realm.

He could see the trajectory of the fist.

Beyond simply seeing it, he understood how it would be swung and where the impact would concentrate.

In other words…

‘It means it’s become useful for reversing the opponent’s strength.’

He spread his hand.

Recalling the gentleness used by Jeong Kwang-hyuk.

At the moment his fist exploded… Yu Seha’s hand traced a mysterious circle, throwing Jeong Kwang-hyuk into the air.

It was an unbelievable sublimation of skill, as if defying gravity.

Simultaneously, it was proof that he had exhausted Jeong Kwang-hyuk’s resources in just one minute.

“Huh?”

Jeong Kwang-hyuk’s bewildered voice escaped.

He spun helplessly in the air, unable to respond, and began to fall defenselessly.

Yu Seha clenched his fist.

He was grateful for the enlightenment that had been imparted to him, no matter the circumstances.

With that sentiment, he prepared just before the fall.

He focused his strength into his waist and compressed his mana into his fist.

“It’s over.”
“W-wait…!”

Thud!!!

“Ughhh!”

He mercilessly drove a solid punch into Jeong Kwang-hyuk’s chest.

Bang!

Jeong Kwang-hyuk flew far away.

He collapsed powerlessly after being embedded in the arena’s outer wall.

Yu Seha listened to the [Combat] level-up sound echoing in his ears and looked at the bespectacled female employee.

The female employee showed no change in emotion, even after witnessing a D-grade utterly defeat a B-grade.

As if it were the most natural thing, she calmly said.

“Yu Seha’s victory.”

C-grade promotion.

“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”

---

After being promoted to C-grade. About 3 days later.

Near the entrance of Mount Munhyung in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.

Moon Bora and I were walking, carrying equipment for dungeon exploration.

The woman leading the way turned her body with a swift motion, announcing our arrival.

The woman, looking at us in an awkward posture, was undoubtedly beautiful.

But her peculiar, eerie laugh of ‘Hehehe…’ undermined all her charms.

“…Hehe.”
“…?”

Our eyes met.

The woman, her face slightly flushed, let out a sly smile with a soft “Heehee…”

Moon Bora, standing next to her, seemed to sense something and furrowed her brows, just as the woman slowly began to speak.

“Ah, hello. I-I will introduce myself again. I am Um Jimi, the examiner in ch-charge of this B-grade promotion exam.”

“I’m Yu Seha.”

“…I’m Moon Bora.”

“Y-Yu Seha, right? Hehe, y-your name is cool.”

“Oh, huh? Ah, thank you.”

“Hehe…”

“…Tsk.”

Moon Bora clicked her tongue.
And Um Jimi raised her hand.

She cleared her throat and proclaimed as if taking an oath.

“Th-then, from now on… we will b-begin the B-B-grade promotion exam for the two of you.”