Second Life of a Dragon Raising Hunter

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Chapter 45

Hyuk Mu-ryeon’s class is held four times a week. Of course, it wasn’t like students spent all four weekday sessions on such exhausting classes, as there are only five weekdays excluding weekends.

The mandatory Hunter class splits 200 students and anyone additional from the Magic and Crafting departments into two groups, meaning that practically, students only attend the class twice a week.

Most students are well aware that anything could happen when crossing the Gate. Weapons might break at any moment, or one could lose their weapon by falling into traps. Even with regular physical training and backup weapons, they train to fight with their bare hands.

Knowing that the Demon King himself would teach them was simply too enticing to resist.

Hyuk Mu-ryeon guides martial arts. That’s great.

With so many people, he manages to identify issues with each student’s form for all to see. It was truly impressive.

Sometimes, he would share stories from the past, and within those tales, one could feel a sense of untouchable martial essence. It was the best.

…But even considering all that, I couldn’t help but think that this was way too difficult.

Hyuk Mu-ryeon’s martial arts were transcendent. The very reason he didn’t put a limit on class size could be seen right before my eyes. This man could spot the odd posture of a student from nearly 200 people all simultaneously throwing punches.

Despite originally being against splitting classes, he revealed that it was mandated by the department, showcasing both his confidence and skill.

‘So, that’s the issue there.’

If you don’t pour your all into each technique, hitting with your best blow, Hyuk Mu-ryon would immediately appear, pointing out your mistakes.

That said, it wouldn’t be appropriate to say, “Oh, I just halfheartedly did this one.” Who knew what “light” punishment Hyuk Mu-ryeon might dish out at that moment?

You could say it was like an unobserved scrutiny among everyone, but for one student to another.

Fortunately, while the hair was still intact, seeing everyone in similar attire throwing punches at the exact same moment felt like watching a Shaolin training session.

“Oh~ this is so sweet~”

Yeon-woo could genuinely enjoy the sight with great ease.

If only Relin’s Warehouse were around, popcorn and beer would be the perfect setup~

Yet, the over two hundred fellow students glaring at her, wishing to kill that leisurely demeanor, was a whole different story.

*

What is a spirit being? If monsters mean creatures tainted by mana or adversarial life forms that came from beyond the Gate…

Then, spirit beings are those that adapted to mana and developed themselves based on it. Spirit beings that have evolved over long periods share certain commonalities.

For starters, they are generally huge, hardy, and typically possess condensed cores. Moreover, they exhibit superior intelligence compared to their species.

Aside from those characteristics, what varies depends on the type of spirit being. So what about the Black Dong Ogong that Yeon-woo plans to hunt?

“A super tough carapace and venom.”

“Oh, huh? Doesn’t that mean he doesn’t synergize well with Dad?”

“Exactly.”

For most warriors, monsters cloaked in ultra-tough carapaces were akin to walking nightmares.

Sword weapons that typically slice and stab would instantly become blunt instruments, and during the hunting process, one would easily end up losing a tooth.

Fortunately, the Doppelganger wouldn’t lose any teeth, but it was cumbersome to deal with since it wouldn’t get sliced through easily. Taking a blunt weapon and bringing it on a Doppelganger hunt could be one strategy…

Then there’s the venom. Regular centipedes aren’t a bother unless they bite, but it’s a whole different matter for spirit beings. Their blood even contained poison.

“Thank goodness it’s not deadly enough to be called ‘venomous’.”

“Ugh, how bothersome.”

“Best to avoid it. Get it off quickly if it touches your skin. Centipede venom is a real pain.”

“It might be okay to fight in the base form, but having to be in human form makes it a bit tricky.”

Shar mimicked throwing punches in place. If she had that much power, she could probably smash through the Black Dong Ogong’s carapace easily. Yeon-woo was just grateful that the Demon King had casually offered to take in one.

Honestly, Yeon-woo felt a bit scared of the situation. It wouldn’t be envy towards her daughter’s wisdom as a Dragon, but if Shar started training in martial arts seriously, it’d be only a moment before she surpassed him.

What people often refer to as the enlightenment (悟性) of human martial artists is inherently a realm entangled with emotions and intelligence.

How clearly one recognizes energy. Also, how quickly you can grasp and understand the meanings within techniques. This serves as the definitive measure of exceptional enlightenment.

In that regard, one could say Shar is pretty much at a level that could be termed a heavenly genius. A natural harmonizer and a master of magic, there’s no way a race born wise wouldn’t meet the condition of enlightenment, and her physical capabilities were at a level that would be tiring to even discuss.

If things continued this way, Yeon-woo felt a rising sense of crisis that he’d become the father who would step aside at Shar’s “Move aside Dad, you’re just in the way…”

Of course, it was a bit questionable whether a Dragon could even learn martial arts created for humans, so that was a matter that could only be figured out in practice.

Well, anyway.

“Actually, everything’s prepared.”

“…You’re not planning to make me catch it, are you?”

“Of course not. I had long prepared for breaking through those tough ones.”

Yeon-woo said this while patting the pouch hanging by his waist.

The transition from cold weaponry to beyond its realm is always in favor of the hot weapon category. History has proven that.

*

If you were to ask which industry benefited the most from the Gates opening, the unequivocal answer would be the Hunter industry.

This is not only because it was an industry that didn’t exist before, but not solely for that reason either.

In the early days, injuries within dungeons were akin to death sentences for Hunters. Nowadays, with advancements in technology, most injuries can be quickly healed with potions and various tools, but back then, things weren’t the same.

Thus, the Hunters of that time inevitably carried heavy loads. Bandages, herbs, lanterns, food, sleeping bags, tents, and even shovels or pickaxes.

But today’s Hunters were different. The age is one of miniaturization and convenience. They even took to the unthinkable of mixing analgesics with goblin eyeballs, a practice that no one would cheer for.

“But above all, the essence of technology that erupted from the Gates is none other than this.”

“Why exactly do you hold that in such high regard?”

Yeon-woo fiddled with the pouch hanging at his waist.

In response, Shar, who had been riding on Yeon-woo’s shoulder, tilted her head. Recently, Yeon-woo’s shoulder had become Shar’s designated spot. There was no reason or rationale to refuse, so he simply let her stay there.

‘What can I say, I’ve been used to carrying an egg on my head for so long now.’

After all, Shar didn’t weigh that much.

Furthermore, today, Shar was dressed in a lovely white dress that suited a young, cute girl perfectly, topped with a straw hat. It resembled a look straight out of a cartoon, but it fit her like it was her own.

It wasn’t even a picnic, yet she insisted on wearing this for her first outing after he bought her a dress. He even warned her that it might get ruined if not careful.

It wasn’t strange for Yeon-woo to understand her feelings. After all, Shar had witnessed him making it all.

But that thought came only because she didn’t know the advancements this item brought.

“Because, compared to its firepower, the raw materials are exceptionally cheap.”

There is a product known as the Spirit Crystal. As the name suggests, it’s a product primarily put out by Spirit Masters who have contracts with spirits.

But despite being called a crystal, it’s actually a substance located near the secretion of spirits.

It doesn’t come often, but occasionally, when spirits shed, it shows up.

Fortunately, Yeon-woo was able to find a Spirit Master seller who would give a discount for bulk purchases during a shedding period, resulting in a stockpile of flame crystals in the dormitory.

“Well, you’ll know when you see it. Look forward to encountering the Black Dong Ogong, Shar.”

When he had used it on Kai, the amount of crystals required was drastically reduced, making it only usable for defense, but this time would be different.

With that thought, Yeon-woo gripped Shar’s slender ankle as she hung on his shoulder and dashed forward.

“Hold on tight, Shar! I’m about to speed up!”

“Eek!!”

Surrounded by shining silver mana, Yeon-woo’s body swiftly soared southward towards the academy.

Downstream of the southern river, there, among the gorge, a single root of a spirit medicine lay hidden.

*

Suddenly, a dark cloud caught his eye, prompting him to glance away.

To the north in relation to the southern river and to the west in relation to the academy, a rain-bearing cloud was pouring down rain, sharply cutting through the clearing above the forest.

Directly over the forest, as if it had been sliced cleanly.

“Good thing it’s not raining here.”

Yeon-woo murmured briefly while glancing up at the sky. Shar stretched her head long to the left. Startled, Yeon-woo quickly moved back.

“Shar, why are you doing something so dangerous?”

“I-I was just curious. Sorry…”

“I-I almost said that too~!”

At Yeon-woo’s surprised rebuke, Shar looked disheartened. Yeon-woo was equally startled, but since he didn’t mean to, he could only flounder for a response. However, Shar buried her face in her palms, on the verge of tears.

But Yeon-woo’s surprise was understandable.

As mentioned, the lower part of the southern river possesses a gorge. But it’s not that as you walk along the river that the ground steadily rises.

To put it simply, the southern river digs deeper the further it flows. The outcome is the grand fissure showcasing its might right next to Yeon-woo, much like a powerful deity striking the earth with a hammer.

The width of the chasm spans several kilometers. How long would it take to fall to that bottomless pit if you dared to misstep?

No matter how much Shar could fly, this gorge was nicknamed the “Grave of Wings” due to countless flying monsters dwelling within it.

Even if she were a Dragon, the outcome for young Shar at the edge of such a place would be clear.

“It’s all because I’m worried about Shar, so cut me some slack…?”

Even in saying this, it felt like a clumsy attempt at consolation. Surely she must have developed resilience from life at the orphanage, but somehow he always felt helpless before Shar.

Was this what it meant for a father’s heart to soften before his daughter?

“……Hehe.”

Seeing the smile Shar flashed while sticking out her tongue and lifting her head, rather than feeling deceived, Yeon-woo felt a wave of relief wash over him.

“Phew… Don’t do that to my heart, Shar.”

“Sorry. Are you alright?”

“Well, I’m okay. Just be careful next time.”

“Is that a joke?”

“No, I mean staying put in dangerous places.”

“Does that mean it’s okay to mess around?”

“If I say it isn’t, will you stop playing around?”

It was a complex feeling towards wanting to prevent dangerous play while also wanting her to keep having fun, that’s what it felt like to be a father.

Anyway, since classes were scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, Yeon-woo felt the need to hurry.

While he perfectly remembered the location of the Black Dong Ogong, he was even less certain about Dongja Sam since even the user of that herb hadn’t pinpointed its exact whereabouts.

Before his regression, the person who had consumed Dongja Sam shared in an interview that he encountered a fortuitous event. In the Hammer Fissure, which gets its name from the resemblance to someone hammering the earth, while hunting, he was shoved by a monster and fell, losing consciousness.

He couldn’t recall how much time had passed. The man who awoke, feeling droplets of water on his face, was startled to find he was alive and opened his eyes in a damp cave.

And by this strange turn of events, he ended up finding the Dongja Sam.

…If I say it like this, would you even know how to find it? Such a thought crossed his mind, but in fact, the location where Dongja Sam was presumed to be discovered was somewhat specific. It was due to the fact that, in absurdity, many Hunters stormed the place after hearing rumors of someone’s fortuitous event.

“Phew, just as long as it’s not there.”

“Huh? What place are you talking about?”

Yeon-woo hesitated briefly at Shar’s obvious question. He had a nervous premonition that if he spoke, they would inevitably head there.

(To be continued in the next episode)