Chapter 43

"Pfft."

"Pffft."

Min-ki burst out laughing, and a few researchers in the back row who were from the Pokémon generation also couldn't hold back their laughter. Ga-eul glanced back and discovered that a young researcher's phone case had Pikachu on it. Indeed, there was no one born in the 90s who could be free from Pokémon.

On the other hand, Ayoung, who was born after the turn of the century, only sent a worried gaze forward.

"Will Soram oppa be okay when it's only been two days since he got out of jail?"

"Sheesh, you're worried about that bastard. You're too kind."

It wasn't sarcasm but a sincere exclamation. How warmly must she view the world to even have concerns about Jin Soram? High-level exclamations were indistinguishable from sarcasm.

"I'm really worried. What if he loses in a really embarrassing way when it's all being broadcast live? I think Soram oppa will get cursed at more than others."

Ayoung pouted her lips, saying she was serious.

"Is Chief Han that strong?"

"He's really, really strong. He's just like you, unnie. But when I saw him before, it seemed like he couldn't control it and went even harder. On top of that, I'm more anxious because Soram oppa always looks down on Tae-un oppa, saying he'll win."

"Did Jin Soram say with his own mouth that he would win?"

"Yeah. But it was like a joke..."

"Then that guy will win."

Ugh, what the heck. Ga-eul leaned against the backrest as if she had lost motivation after finding out the result in advance.

"That guy doesn't make empty promises about that."

"Really...? I don't know..."

Ayoung still couldn't shake off her worries.

"Ayoung, you joined the headquarters last summer, right?"

"Huh? Yeah."

"Then it hasn't been quite a year yet."

Come to think of it, Jin Soram had been quieter than before since Ayoung joined. Also, the frequency of dangerous dungeons being assigned to Team 7, which had a newly awakened high school student added, had decreased. Even if there were a few, Soram would have gone alone.

In other words, it was almost the first time for Ayoung to see Soram fighting properly.

Although they were known to be similar to the public, when evaluating combat power within the headquarters, Soram was always at the top among Kim Ga-eul, Jin Soram, and Seo Min-ki. Ga-eul had no objection to the evaluation that his skills were the best since Director Park Jae-seon of the 1st generation.

The problem was that bastard's personality and laziness that couldn't be covered by his skills... But seeing him even rescheduling to accommodate the new team member, it seemed like he took care of his own people in his own way. Including Ayoung.

That's when it happened.

"Come at me, you bear-like bastard! You don't fit the image of the cute and lovely Team 7 with cute Soram and Ayoung! I'll remodel you completely with this opportunity!"

"..."

"Ah, that crazy bastard."

Soram made a loud declaration of war to Tae-un. The large screen in front showed Tae-un's face, whether intentionally or by chance. Han Tae-un expressed annoyance, absurdity, and a loss of fighting spirit in his expressionless face. Ayoung also covered her face and muttered, "Our team leader who is embarrassing no matter where he is..."

"Match start."

The match started with good timing along with the provocation.

Bam!

The one who stomped the ground first was Soram. His body flew up diagonally forward as if bouncing. With a single leap, the distance between Soram and Tae-un disappeared. Soram used his height advantage to swing down his raised sword. Tae-un quickly held his sword horizontally to block the attack.

Clang!

Ugh, he's not budging at all. Even though he struck down with all his might from above to the point where his hand felt numb, the opponent didn't even have a tremor in his wrist. Soram made a disgusted expression.

Instead of pushing each other's swords and having a power struggle, Soram dodged the sword and stepped back, then thrust upward again at the empty space below. Tae-un's sword clashed again at the spot he aimed for. Four exchanges took place while keeping their feet in the same spot.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Tae-un's movements themselves were slightly slower than Soram's. That was the reason why the attacks were blocked at the last moment before the sword touched his body. Even in the eyes of researchers who weren't hunters, Soram seemed to have a bit more leeway. However.

"..."

Tae-un, who knew he was at a disadvantage in speed, pushed Soram back by putting strength into his sword every time it clashed with Soram's. Soram was pushed back, his posture was disrupted, and the time earned in that moment narrowed the speed gap with Soram.

Clang!

On the other hand, this also meant that he was confident in defeating Soram in a power struggle. However, Soram's attack speed was too fast, so there wasn't much room to push through with strength.

When it came to this, Soram also naturally wanted to properly clash at least once. Both hands tightly gripped the sword handle.

Clang! Screech...

This time, Soram didn't back away immediately after the attack and pushed with the swords interlocked. Tae-un was momentarily startled by the suddenly changed pattern, but he also put strength into his hands holding the sword. The bodies of the two engaged in a power struggle came close to the blade. Their eyes met at a distance of less than a span.

Han Tae-un was glaring fiercely at Soram instead of his usual expressionless face where his eyelids covered the upper part of his eyes. As the confrontation prolonged, strength entered his jaw. Soram also pressed the ground harder with his back foot. He smiled to hide his narrowing eyes.

"Wow, Han Tae-un ssi's expression is so scary. I might get hit. Did you have a grudge against me?"

Even though he asked, he thought it could be possible, but Tae-un immediately denied it while relaxing his expression.

"That's not the case. This is a match, so...!"

At that moment, when the tightly exchanged force was diverted to the side, Tae-un's balance was slightly disrupted.

"Actually, I hit anyone well even without a grudge."

Soram didn't miss the opening and kicked the side of Tae-un's shin with his foot.

Bam!!!

"Ugh...!"

Before Tae-un, who had frowned in pain, could straighten his posture, Soram swung his sword diagonally in a large motion. Along with the sound of cutting through the wind, a blue mist lingered on the blade.

Clang!!!

This time, Tae-un barely blocked it, but the sound of the swords clashing was different from the start. Along with a sound as if a heavy lump of metal had crashed to the ground, his body was pushed far back.

"..."

Tae-un, who stood in place, glared at Soram and pointed his sword. Soram also regained his posture. A smile still hadn't been removed from Soram's face. On the other hand, Tae-un, who had been verbally toyed with and even received a surprise attack on his joint, looked slightly heated.

"At times like this, it looks cool if you deliver a villain's line. Han Tae-un ssi."

"What should I say?"

"For example, something like 'The warm-up is over now!'"

"Let's end the warm-up here."

Tae-un's feet slowly lifted off the ground. A white powder-like substance floated at his feet as he began to fly. He's planning to attack by flying. Soram jumped back to create some distance.

"Your application ability is a zero. It would be nice to add something like, 'Since I'm starting to use my strength in earnest, you will be finished by my hands within 10 seconds!'"

"10 seconds will pass while talking."

"Well, that's true!"

Tae-un's blade abruptly approached Soram. The white glow on his sword followed the sword and drew a parabolic trajectory.

Clang!

"Jin Soram ssi, you talk too much."

Clang!

"Being cool and going without a word, I'm not really the type for a cool hero. Did your fantasy shatter a bit?"

Screech- Clang! Clang! The sound of swords clashing became much noisier than before. Both of their speeds had increased, and the intensity of attacking each other was much stronger.

However, this time Tae-un had the upper hand. There was bound to be a difference between Soram moving his feet on the ground and Tae-un flying around in the air and attacking. On top of that, there was also a difference in strength.

"Ugh, Soram oppa is being pushed back after all. I told you to borrow my board..."

Ayoung had given the idea that a skateboard-sized one would be good to carry around because it's small and definitely a vehicle, so it would be good to float! But Soram had refused with a smile, saying it was fine.

As a fellow team member, Ayoung didn't want either side to win overwhelmingly. She hoped for a close match... and ultimately, she wanted Soram to win. Soram was an 8-year veteran hunter with a much larger position and expectations placed on him.

Min-ki, who saw Ayoung nervously biting her nails, scratched his cheek and said,

"Ayoung... That bastard Jin Soram is playing around right now."

"Huh? Of course, he's not using all his strength, but still... isn't the environment disadvantageous for Soram oppa?"

Although Tae-un's special ability was not precisely known, the most prominent thing so far was his heavy attacks using explosive strength. That was the strength Tae-un could exert alone.

In contrast, among Soram's attacking techniques, the ones with great power required the use of a vehicle. However, there was no way such a thing would be in that wide-open arena. The person himself didn't seem to have brought anything either.

"Well... is it disadvantageous? I don't know."

While Min-ki was answering, Soram, who had been staggering step by step, had already been pushed back to the center line.

Clang! Clang!!

Soram's smile also faded a bit as if the heavy attacks were burdensome. Tae-un's sword still had a white glow wrapped around it, doing who knows what. It made him strike down the opponent's sword with strength that went beyond the usual level of a 1st-grade hunter.

"Ah, it's so heavy I'm dying, seriously."

Soram's molars clenched tightly. The movement of his elbow, which had received continuous impacts, momentarily stopped. Tae-un didn't miss the moment when his gaze was briefly taken by his arm.

"Ah!"

Soram, who received an attack swung up from above, lost his grip on his sword. It seemed like Tae-un had intentionally hit near the handle. Soram's sword flew up, spinning like a disc. Then, Tae-un's foot stamped the center of Soram's chest.

Bam!!!

"Ugh...!!!"

Although Soram brought his arms together to defend, he was pushed back and even flew away from the spot, crashing into the wall.

With a boom! sound, dust rose, and a part of the wall there collapsed. Soram's body slid down on top of the cement chunks that poured down with a thud.

"..."

Everywhere became quiet.

Tae-un slowly flew to the front of the debris of the broken wall. His gaze, which discovered Soram lying motionless on the ground, slightly frowned.