8 chapter - Lee Yuna (2)

After hearing the whole story, I understood what Lee Yuna meant by "knight."

She wasn’t talking about a news article or a chauffeur, but an actual knight.

The kind that rides a horse around in medieval armor.

“Out of all the possible words, why ‘knight’ though?”

“I just… it was the only thing that popped into my head at the time.”

Fair. There weren’t many words that really fit this situation anyway.

Maybe something like bodyguard or escort warrior?

But that wasn’t the important part.

“So what you’re saying is that your Trait designated me as your ‘knight’?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry.”

Lee Yuna’s Trait was a bit complicated.

She did get stronger through hunting—but it wasn’t by her own kills.

“You said you felt yourself get stronger when I killed that thing?”

“…Yes.”

“And you’re sure I only got registered as your knight when I jumped in to take the hit for you?”

“Yes. I think so. It felt like something clicked between us in that moment.”

It wasn’t a common type of Trait, but after being in this industry for three years, I could make an educated guess.

“Sounds like it’s probably a support-type Trait.”

“Huh? A support-type Trait?”

Getting experience from someone else’s performance usually meant a support-type Trait.

Most of the time, it was when the person casting buffs gained power when their target took down a monster.

But I didn’t get any buffs or anything.

Even at the moment I was supposedly appointed as her “knight,” I didn’t feel a damn thing.

Not like weird Traits are a new thing around here anyway.

I asked her, “Want to try doing something to me?”

“Huh?”

“Like… making me stronger or faster or something.”

“You mean a buff?”

“Yeah. Try to imagine pouring all the energy inside you into me.”

Lee Yuna reached her hand out toward me, shut her eyes tight, and concentrated hard on… something.

Nothing happened.

“…Let’s save the training for later. For now, let’s just finish the raid.”

“W-Wait! Changshik Oppa!”

As I turned away, she grabbed my hand.

And in that moment—

Vmmmmmm.

“Huh?”

“Wait, what?”

A faint light enveloped me, and the sharp pain in my left shoulder vanished instantly.

…Healing-type!

Suddenly I remembered that doctor who’d saved my life after the Rapid Corrosion Gate.

Same kind of power, even kind of looked like her.

Can that really be a coincidence?

Either way, healing-types were practically nobility among Hunters.

They could ditch the whole Hunter life and still rake in guaranteed money in the medical world. It was a blessed power.

For someone who just awakened, her output’s insane.

It was only a bruise on my right shoulder, but the recovery speed was clearly beyond normal.

I’d had treatment from healing-type Hunters before. I knew what to expect.

Cases like this usually came with a catch.

It’s probably limited to whoever’s registered as her knight.

And appointing a knight couldn’t be easy either.

If what she said is true, she’d need someone to literally throw themselves in front of an attack for it to register.

Not exactly the kind of thing that happens every day.

Plus, there might be even more conditions.

Bottom line—Lee Yuna can only grow stronger if the person she registered as a knight does the hunting.

And her Trait only seems to trigger when she’s physically present during the fight.

Which means…

She basically couldn’t leave me now.

If she wanted to grow, she had no choice but to stick with me.

Now it made sense—why she insisted on staying with me even after I offered her a promotion but no raise.

There’s no way she planned all this. Instinct, maybe? Good instincts.

Well, whatever.

From my perspective, it was like a golden goose just rolled into my lap.

Healing-types weren’t exactly easy to come by.

“I felt like something just drained my mana… was that…”

“Yeah. Looks like your ability activated. My shoulder injury from the Skeleton healed up.”

“R-Really?”

“Looks like the trigger’s skin contact.”

Lee Yuna yanked her hand away and apologized.

“I’m sorry!”

“What for? Congrats on your awakening. You’re a healer now.”

Lee Yuna beamed at me with a huge smile.

She clearly knew just how valuable a healing-type Trait was.

Sorry, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Your power probably only works on me.

But there was no need to rain on her parade.

“I’m glad. I was really scared of fighting monsters… but, um, Changshik Oppa?”

“Yeah?”

“When does the light go away?”

“What?”

Come to think of it, the faint glow covering my body hadn’t disappeared.

What’s this now?

I pulled out a dagger and lightly ran my finger across the blade.

It cut me, blood welled up… and stopped almost immediately.

The wound sealed right up.

Hah.

Lee Yuna’s Trait wasn’t just basic healing.

After a single touch, it gave me passive healing for a certain amount of time.

This is way too similar.

Coincidentally, that doctor who’d saved me had a nearly identical ability.

It was enough to raise some very logical suspicion.

Could they be sisters?

Not like I could go digging into her family life.

Still, if word gets out… people will be lining up to snatch her away.

At that point, “appointing a knight” wouldn’t even count as a drawback.

Big-name guilds would figure out some loophole and make it work.

She could easily pull a seven-figure salary.

…I’m screwed.

I had a gut feeling this partnership with Lee Yuna wasn’t going to last long.

Even if we did a few more raids together, she’d get picked up by a major guild in no time.

Better make the most of her while I can.

I picked up the mace I’d tossed aside and said,

“Alright, let’s move out.”

“Yes, Oppa.”

**

Skeleton Cave Raid wrapped up quickly.

Now that I had a mace, smashing Skeleton skulls was easier than breathing.

Sizzle—

The sound of beef cooking on the grill was pure magic.

We’d decided to grab some barbecue after clearing the raid.

“Let’s eat.”

“Uh… I think it’s not cooked all the way yet…”

“Beef’s supposed to be eaten slightly rare.”

Honestly? I had no idea.

This was the first time I’d ever eaten beef in my life.

I’d only heard that’s how you’re supposed to eat it.

“Here.”

“Thank you…”

I poured her drink first, then filled mine.

“You did well today.”

“I didn’t do anything. You did everything, Oppa.”

I downed a shot, took a bite of beef—and froze in surprise.

The juicy flavor and tender texture exploded in my mouth. It was way better than I’d expected.

I’ve been living a lie!

Anyone who said pork was better than beef was a damn liar.

This wasn’t even a contest with pork.

So this is why expensive stuff is expensive.

It really hit me how lucky I was to finally be able to afford things like this.

Focus. Now’s not the time to get sentimental.

There was a good reason we were splurging on high-end barbecue after the raid.

I spoke first.

“You’re applying for the D-Class promotion tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Then we’ll be in the same rank starting with the next raid.”

“Oh, no way. There’s no way I’m the same D-Class as you, Oppa. I still have so much to learn. Please teach me everything.”

Thankfully, she didn’t seem to have any plans to leave the party—at least not yet.

She probably didn’t realize how valuable her Trait really was.

“So what did you think of today’s raid?”

“At first I thought the monsters weren’t that scary, but… I was being too careless. If you hadn’t stepped in back there, I don’t know what would’ve happened to me…”

“Exactly. That’s why you always have to be cautious when raiding Gates.”

“I see that now.”

I casually tested the waters.

“I felt like we made a really good team out there today.”

“I did too! So I wasn’t the only one who thought that!”

Of course she did.

Tank-DPS and healer was always a great combo.

Truthfully, anyone who played the tank or melee DPS role would pair well with a healer like her.

If it wasn’t me, any halfway decent Hunter would’ve clicked with Lee Yuna just as easily.

“So, about that party I mentioned before… remember I said I wanted to start a D-Class raid party after I get promoted to C-Class?”

“Of course!”

“Well, I was really hoping you’d be part of it. What do you think?”

The bait was in the water.

Now I just had to see how the fish reacted.

“…Wait, Oppa.”

Uh-oh.

Was I too obvious?

Did she catch on?

“…You weren’t planning to leave me out of the party, were you? I just assumed I’d be in it.”

Hooked!

“No way! Of course you’re in. Looking forward to working together.”

“I’ll do my best!”

I felt a little guilty, like I was taking advantage of someone too trusting… but hey.

The world’s a cold place.

If a big guild comes calling with a scout offer… she might change her mind.

Still, if I butter her up now, maybe—just maybe—she’ll hesitate before leaving.

She might even turn them down to stay loyal.

That’s the best I can hope for.

Now all I could do was wait and hope she’d choose to stick with me.

**

The next day.

I was home for once, finally free from having to do day labor every day just to scrape by.

These days, I spent my downtime trying to recruit people for a new D-Class raid party.

But either because of Choi Changshik’s infamous reputation, or the fact I still wasn’t C-Class yet, the responses were underwhelming.

Seriously? Not even a single reply?

I had a decent TV at home, so I figured I’d spend the day binge-watching some drama… when a message popped up from Lee Yuna.

Lee Yuna

Oppa

What are you doing?

Could you come over for a sec?

Thinking it was another chance to score points, I called her right away.

[Beep. Hello?]

“What’s up?”

[Oh, it’s nothing big. I’m at the D-Class promotion office right now. I already submitted my documents and did the mana check—now I just need to demonstrate my ability.]

At the moment, I was the only one registered as her knight.

Which meant I had to be there if she wanted to activate her Trait.

[Sorry for the trouble, Oppa.]

“No, it’s fine. I’ll get ready and head over. Let’s grab lunch after.”

[Thank you. I’ll be waiting.]

The ability test was over in minutes.

A government staffer witnessed Lee Yuna activate her Trait and gave a brief, expressionless nod.

“Congratulations on your D-Class promotion. The upgrade will be finalized online later today. Your Hunter license will be ready for pickup in two weeks.”

Just like that, Lee Yuna became a D-Class Hunter.

Lucky her.

Some people grind for three years and still get nowhere, and others level up overnight.

Life’s unfair as hell.

“Congrats on the promotion. Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Spicy pork bone stew! There’s a place nearby that’s amazing!”

She lit up brighter than I’d ever seen her as she led the way.

Once we sat down at the restaurant, though, I started to feel a sharp stare.

Huh?

A guy two tables over was glaring a hole through us.

Is he staring at Lee Yuna?

That guy wasn’t even trying to hide it.

I looked over at her again, curious.

Well… I guess she is pretty cute.

Even dressed plain, her looks stood out. A little effort with makeup or styling and she’d be gorgeous.

“Two pork bone stews, please!”

She didn’t seem to care about any of that, though.

Soon, two steaming bowls of stew arrived at our table.

“Oh?”

She was right—this place was legit.

“It’s good, right?”

“Really good.”

I slurped the broth clean and stood up to pay.

“Oppa! Let me treat you. You came all the way out here for me—it’s only fair I pay for lunch.”

“Thanks. It was delicious.”

And that’s when it happened.

The guy who’d been staring at us walked up to Lee Yuna.

Is he trying to ask for her number or something?

I watched, kind of amused—until he frowned and jabbed a finger in my direction.

“You friends with this son of a bitch?”

“???”

I froze.

I looked behind me, just in case.

No one there.

He was definitely pointing at me.

And he just called me a son of a bitch.