Chapter 107
Sword Master Yoon Min-soo's disciple, a super rookie walking the royal road.
The words describing Song Seung-jun all highly evaluated his potential.
In fact, most Koreans firmly believed that Song Seung-jun would reign as the new strongest.
Song Seung-jun himself had confidence in his abilities and constantly worked hard, dedicating himself to hunter activities more than anyone else.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that he poured all his time into training and growth, except for the minimum necessary rest.
As he had put in such painstaking effort, he had firm faith in his own skills.
To be precise, he couldn't help but have faith.
It was also a clear fact that the system obtained by becoming a hunter gave definite rewards proportional to one's efforts.
Of course, not everyone received equal rewards for equal effort.
While some hunters couldn't surpass certain ranks despite the same effort, Song Seung-jun had grown easily, so he was well aware that this world was designed very unfairly.
However, this wasn't just a matter of unfairness.
It was on a completely different level.
"I thought Lee Seong-jun Hunter was a martial artist who used fist techniques..."
Song Seung-jun's expression hardened as he trailed off.
Lee Seong-jun's final strike that took down Razaka kept replaying in his mind.
'...That red crescent moon released at the end was undoubtedly strong energy.'
It meant he had such excellent and delicate control abilities that he could not only shape strong energy but also release it into the air.
'I know that to release strong energy like that requires a high level of control...'
Yet Hunter Lee Seong-jun had released it instantly without much difficulty.
He had so easily released pure energy, which would dissipate immediately if even a little impurity mixed in.
'Has he already reached the level of Grand Master?'
A returnee who was called a rookie just a few months ago had reached the realm of Grand Master.
This alone was astounding.
But what was most surprising was something else.
'His understanding of the sword was so profound it was beyond my imagination.'
Although far inferior compared to Hunter Lee Seong-jun, Song Seung-jun was also a swordsman with innate talent.
Therefore, while he couldn't understand in detail how Lee Seong-jun had wielded his sword technique, he could vaguely sense how incredible that strike had been.
'The sword became Hunter Lee Seong-jun, and Hunter Lee Seong-jun became the sword.'
It meant his will and the sword had become one.
In other words, the strike that Hunter Lee Seong-jun just showed contained an overwhelming understanding of the sword.
Of course, one might think, what's the big deal about feeling like you've become one with the sword?
But only someone who doesn't know swords could say that.
The swordsmanship that Hunter Lee Seong-jun just displayed had reached the state of unity between self and object, which is the goal and dream of a swordsman.
As his amazement kept growing, a question naturally followed.
'Could my master perform swordsmanship like that...?'
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't imagine it, and Song Seung-jun had to shake his head.
'Impossible.'
It meant that the sword Hunter Lee Seong-jun just wielded had surpassed his master, Yoon Min-soo, who had been like the sun.
As he continued his thoughts, both his surprise and questions grew.
'What level did Hunter Lee Seong-jun reach in the other world...'
He couldn't even dare to guess.
It felt like he was looking at the sky above the sky, a realm beyond the heavens.
It was only natural that he felt awe, not just as a swordsman but as a hunter.
"Hunter Lee Seong-jun... truly amazing."
Naturally, the awe Song Seung-jun felt wasn't just admiration as a swordsman.
There was also a feeling of gratitude.
'Thanks to Hunter Lee Seong-jun, I was able to survive.'
He had thought there was no hope against the power of Razaka, who had the ability to grow endlessly stronger.
He had been despairing, imagining his own death and the destruction of Korea.
But then Hunter Lee Seong-jun, descending from the sky, saved everyone.
From Song Seung-jun's perspective, who carried a sense of duty as a hunter, he couldn't help but feel grateful.
"Thank you."
His words didn't reach directly.
Lee Seong-jun had already returned to Seoul by helicopter.
But just because his words couldn't reach didn't mean he couldn't express his gratitude.
Song Seung-jun, who had been looking at the park where the aftermath of the fierce battle was being cleared, turned his gaze to look at the sky where Lee Seong-jun had departed.
"No matter what happens, I will definitely repay today's debt."
Given the overwhelming, almost indescribable gap between them, he might not be of much help right now.
But in the not-too-distant future, when he reaches the realm of Grand Master, he might be able to provide at least some small assistance.
No, he would make sure he could.
'Even if I have to dedicate everything I have, I will definitely...!'
Song Seung-jun made a firm resolution in his heart, his eyes shining.
* * *
The fierce battle between Lee Seong-jun and Razaka was broadcast live by journalists filming from a distance.
The fight between Razaka, who boasted such tremendous power that he was declared to be on par with a Yellow-grade boss monster, and Lee Seong-jun, called the hope of Korea, was enough to astonish all who saw it.
It could be said that it was so overwhelming that one couldn't even imagine it if they hadn't seen it directly.
In Korea, people couldn't hide their joy, beyond mere excitement, saying that finally, a hunter with ranker-level power had appeared in Korea.
This excited atmosphere wasn't limited to just Korea.
People from all over the world, with different nationalities, genders, and values, expressed their joy in unison.
It couldn't be helped because the kings of monsters who had stolen and were trying to steal more of humanity's land were humanity's greatest enemies.
There was no need to dwell on the fact that Lee Seong-jun's nationality was Korean.
Thanks to this, praise for Lee Seong-jun erupted from everywhere, literally, and the video of his battle with Razaka spread across the world in an instant.
The scene of Lee Seong-jun cutting Razaka in half with a single strike was even featured as a headline by famous media outlets in various countries.
It was literally a victory for humanity and a remarkable achievement.
Of course, Lee Seong-jun's actions and achievements so far had been incredible as well.
Especially, clearing the treasure gate faster alone than Sandra Block's party was an amazing feat worthy of a line in hunter history.
However, fighting and winning against a king of monsters resonated more with people who had directly experienced the period of great change, and it ignited a warmth in a corner of their hearts.
└Fighting the King of Werewolves, Razaka, with such composure? Lee Seong-jun, you're simply the G.O.A.T.
└At this rate, he'll reach ranker status soon.
└Just a ranker? I think he could even aim for a spot in the Guardians.
└That's an exaggeration. Razaka might be the King of Werewolves, but he was still only Yellow grade. It's just that Korean hunters have been underperforming, if it was a major power, this would have been dealt with long ago.
└Although Razaka isn't the strongest among kings, Lee Seong-jun Hunter has only been active for half a year, so isn't there enough potential?
└Hurrah for the Republic of Korea. Hurrah. Once Song Seung-jun finishes his growth and reaches ranker level too, we won't need to be intimidated by neighboring countries like before.
└Indeed, even China and Japan only have about 5 ranker-level hunters, so within the next 10 years, Korea might be able to exert significant influence in Asia like in the past.
└While I'm really curious about how far Korea will grow, I'm more excited and curious about how much Lee Seong-jun will achieve.
└Considering what he's shown so far, I think he might completely overturn the stage?
└Agreed, maybe being Korean will become something to be proud of later.
It wasn't just ordinary citizens who were pouring out admiration.
Tendo Ryosuke, the head of the Japanese Hunter Association, couldn't help but marvel at Lee Seong-jun's achievements.
"Ah, no, is, is this even possible?"
Tendo, who had always maintained a calm demeanor for the sake of his position as association president, kept stuttering in a way that made it hard to believe he was the same person. He turned his head urgently.
"Didn't you say that despite his impressive current growth, he would clearly have limits?"
"I'm sorry, I have nothing to say... It was just my lack of insight."
Hoshino Mayuki, the head of human resources at the Aqua Guild, immediately bowed her head.
There was no need to further reprimand someone who clearly acknowledged their own mistake.
No, even if he did reprimand her, it wouldn't change the past.
It would be wiser to come up with a new plan as quickly as possible rather than wasting energy on such futile actions.
Although he clearly understood this in his head, a bitter taste lingered in his mouth.
"Huh... You know as well, but failing to recruit such a talent is truly a significant national loss."
Unable to hide his impatience, Tendo bit his lower lip and checked the video of Lee Seong-jun's battle with Razaka once again.
Thump! Thump!
Watching the video, his heart unconsciously started to beat violently.
"It's really more and more amazing the more I look at it."
Mizunohara Kento, the master of the Aqua Guild and an active ranker sitting next to Tendo, nodded in agreement.
"That footwork that seems to create mist is on par with my secret technique, the Raging Fire Heavenly Step, even when compared."
"Is, is that true? A footwork technique on par with the Raging Fire Heavenly Step?!"
The most important things in a fight are the eyes and feet, because no matter how powerful an attack is, it's useless if it doesn't hit.
In that sense, the Raging Fire Heavenly Step, which had mysterious movements that bewildered the opponent's eyes and mind, could be said to have excellent abilities even among SSS-rank skills.
In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Mizunohara Kento was able to reach the ranks of rankers thanks to the abilities of the SSS-rank skill, Raging Fire Heavenly Step.
The fact that he had a footwork technique on par with such a Raging Fire Heavenly Step meant that Lee Seong-jun's movements were already at the level of a ranker.
"Yes, the ability to not just create afterimages but to materialize them is a technique that's difficult even for me."
At Mizunohara's firm answer, Tendo couldn't close his mouth.
"Huh... Huh huh..."
And that wasn't all.
Lee Seong-jun possessed terrifying destructive power capable of cutting Razaka, the King of Werewolves, in half with a single strike.
In other words, he had both excellent movement, which could be considered defense, and destructive power, which could be considered offense.
To put it differently, Lee Seong-jun was already a hunter with ranker-level skills.
"It hasn't even been half a year since he returned... and he's already reached the position of a ranker, huh huh huh!"
Faced with such unrealistic situations, Tendo kept letting out hollow laughter.