<b><i>One Step Further, Hoping to Advance (2)</i></b>


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    After the conquest of <Room of the Deserter> ended.


    About a month has passed since then.


    During that time, Korea, which had been chaotic due to various incidents, gradually regained stability, and the domestic Holdermunity also returned to its previously rtively peaceful and systematic state.


    Holders began to leave for hunting in dungeons and fields again, and each n continued to pursue their own interests through major operations or unexplored dungeon searches as before.


    However, there was still a n organizing the achievements from the <Room of the Deserter> conquest.


    The <Evil Hunter> n.


    Those who had recorded the most achievements and yed the most crucial role in the conquest at that time… Began to take steps towards bing a global n by making their reputation known to the international Holdermunity as soon as the conquest ended.-The soaring wingbeats of <Evil Hunter>! Reaches the top ranks in Korea just 3 months after establishment!


    -<Blue Archer>, which joined as a mercenary n, confirms merger with <Evil Hunter>!


    -Former <Blue Archer> master: “All n members agreed… I think it will be a good opportunity.”


    The first step was n mergers.


    By absorbing <Blue Archer>, which had joined as a subordinate mercenary n during the allied forces, they recruited arge number of archer-type Holders and support Holders that had beencking in the n.


    Additionally, merger discussions with the <Titans> n were ongoing, potentially allowing for the recruitment of warrior-type Holders as well.


    If all these mergers are sessful, it would result in the birth of a n that wouldn’t be inferior in size to otherrge ns.


    That’s not all.


    “…The reason I want to join Evil Hunter is because I’ve long admired Holder Do Jae-hyun, the n master! If given the chance, I absolutely want to join the n and conquer various dungeons with Holder Do Jae-hyun!”


    They also elerated the recruitment of new n members.


    Since <Evil Hunter> was established not long ago, they preferred constant special recruitment rather than official recruitment, but as their reputation soared through this conquest, all sorts of unaffiliated Holders applied to join.


    From unaffiliated Holders who were well-known domestically, to famous Holders active in the United States and Japan, Holders leaving their affiliated ns to apply for <Evil Hunter>.


    Even student Holders who hadn’t yet graduated from the academy…


    Due to the uniqueness of <Evil Hunter> starting as a student n in its early days and its reputation reaching the top ranks in Korea, all kinds of Holders applied indiscriminately.


    As a result, Vice Master Yoo Eun-seol, who was in charge of the final interviews along with the HR team leader, had been experiencing stress every daytely.


    “…Holder Yang Su-jin.”


    “Yes!”


    “You said you’ve long admired our n master, but the master hasn’t even been active as a pro Holder for a year.”


    “Ah, that’s right.”


    “…Ah, that’s right?”


    “Oh, I’m sorry! But my desire to lead the n together with Holder Do Jae-hyun remains unchanged! If I could just meet him face to face even once….”


    Most of the unaffiliated Holdersing for interviews were like this.


    As Do Jae-hyun rose to be Korea’s top Holder (although there are still differing opinions on this), and <Evil Hunter> also made its name known as an emergingrge n… Many Holders applied to join to ride on this poprity.


    Especially like just now, the majority were female Holders who said during the interview that they ‘really want to be with Do Jae-hyun!’


    Every time Yoo Eun-seol saw them, she felt angry for some reason.


    …It wasn’t for any other reason, just that she didn’t like peopleing to join the n with such a frivolous attitude.


    Really.


    “Hello! I’m A-grade Holder Na Hye-rin, applying to Evil Hunter this time!”


    Of course, there weren’t only chaff applicants.


    Skilled individuals like Na Hye-rin, a mercenary Holder who participated in the <Room of the Deserter> conquest and the top resource in the unaffiliated Holdermunity, were also being recruited.


    Anyway, the important thing was.


    That <Evil Hunter> was bing a strong n.


    “It’s growing much faster than Jae-hyun thought.”


    Yoo Eun-seol smiled as she thought of her disciple.


    Do Jae-hyun.


    This n, which he had established himself while facing numerous prejudices, was now taking big strides towards the name of the best in the country.


    The question marks that had been poured towards them in the early days…


    Were now turning into exmation marks that everyone was certain about.


    * * *


    Ippotrantion


    ***


    The academy finally reached its end of semester.


    In fact, from <The Transcendent’s Room> to <Room of the Defector>, due to a series ofrge dungeons and incidents breaking out, we ended up losing entire vacations and semesters.


    So for this first semester of the second year, there were actually no days with proper attendance.


    This wasn’t just me, but most of the student Holders attending the academy.


    Nevertheless, Professor Tak Won-ho and others within the academy foundation showed smooth handling of the situation.


    Considering the special circumstances that hit the domestic Holdermunity, they recognized attendance for most absent students, and actively used schrships and otherpensations to minimize discrimination among students.


    Thanks to this, all professors and students were able to spend the semester peacefully withoutints.


    And that was the same for me too.


    “…I want to eat.”


    Kang Juyeon, who was walking arm in arm with me, suddenly speaks up.


    “Now? Should we go out and eat something? But Ga-eun said she’d be here soon.”


    “No. The food you prepare, Jae-hyun.”


    “Huh?”


    As I turned my head slightly, she leaned her head on my shoulder and continued quietly.


    “…I want to eat the steak Jae-hyun makes.”


    “What? Haha.”


    Does personality not change easily even after dating for a long time?


    Whenever Kang Juyeon brought up things like this, she always seemed unfamiliar and shy.


    Even now, though I can’t see because she’s lowering her head, her face is probably red.


    I gently stroked her head and said,


    “Today we have ns together and it’ste, so how about the day after tomorrow?”


    “…Okay.”


    “Haha. Where did you learn that half-formal speech from? Chae-eun?”


    Seeing her silence, it seems I’m right.


    As expected of Kim Chae-eun.


    As the leader of the Lover’s Alliance, it seems she has spread all the elements I liked to show affection to her colleagues.


    Anyway, as we were walking together like that, Moon Ga-eun appeared right on time for our appointment.


    Today was the day she had invited us to treat us to coffee she would make herself, saying she had recently gotten a barista certificate.


    It would have been nice if Kim Chae-eun came too, but unfortunately she was absent due to prior ns with her dad, Professor Kim Myeong-hyun.


    Moon Ga-eun, who appeared in the distance, waved at us.


    “Jae-hyun! Juyeon! Here…”


    However, her eyes suddenly changed as she was waving happily.


    …It seems she spotted Kang Juyeon being shy and linking arms with me.


    Moon Ga-eun lowered her hand and instantly ran towards us to confront us.


    What the.


    Did she use some kind of walking rune?


    “Tch- Kang Juyeon! You asked Jae-hyun for something again, didn’t you.”


    “…What did I do.”


    “How many years have we known each other for you to try to deceive me? When you have that shy face, it’s always when you’ve sessfully asked Jae-hyun for something! What did you ask for. You made a naughty request again, didn’t you!”


    “…I


    And there they go again, bickering before they can even wait.


    Like true friends, they growled at each other whenever they met.


    I’m pretty sure Ga-eun used to be considerate of Juyeon at first, but these days when they’repletely open with each other, there’s no sign of that at all.


    “Come on, stop fighting and let’s go now. I want to try the coffee Ga-eun made herself soon.”


    Once again, I had to be the mediator.


    At my voice, Moon Ga-eun immediately brightened her expression and linked arms with me.


    “Hmph- Kang Juyeon, see youter. We’re not done talking yet.”


    “…Idiot. I’m still not going to tell you no matter what.”


    “Tch, this is really…”


    …Did the mediation not work?


    I scratched my head in dismay as I started walking.


    The empty left arm, of course, was Moon Ga-eun’s share.


    ***


    Ippotrantion


    ***


    “There’s a lot to do, so much to do.”


    All theplicated matters have ended, and the academy has reached its end of semester.


    Even the <Evil Hunter> n, which was my biggest task, is now on track and slowly building up its reputation.


    Now everything has truly entered a stable state.


    But even so, my work still shows no sign of decreasing.


    Now, I’m not just a student Holder, but the n master of arge n and the lover of three women.


    The number of Holders I’m responsible for has increased, and there are many people I need to protect.


    I’ll probably need to stay busy for at least another half year before there’s any leeway in my work?


    It’s a bit excessive, but not to the point where I can’t handle it.


    Moreover, since it’s work I enjoy doing, it doesn’t even feel that excessive.


    “Still… I should work while doing what needs to be done.”


    As soon as I arrived at my destination, I took out the equipment I had prepared in advance.


    These aren’t my main equipment like divine swords or divine armor.


    Leather armor made of ordinary materials and…


    An iron sword made of ordinary metal.


    These were the normal equipment I mainly used when I was once an F-grade Holder.


    I couldn’t help but smile seeing that equipment with some memories attached.


    And then.


    “You’re here.”


    A familiar voiceing from nearby.


    My friend, who appeared wearing ordinary equipment just like me.


    It was Park Jin-woo.


    The ce we gathered was the <Academy Training Ground>.


    It was the ce where Park Jin-woo and I first met and had a duel, and where everything at the academy began.


    At that ce filled with memories, I grinned as I looked at Park Jin-woo.


    “No matter how busy… We should do what needs to be done, right?”


    “Oh, of course.”


    Park Jin-woo responds happily to my words.


    Even after we both got busy, we always gathered like this to have a duel whenever the academy ended its semester.


    It was like a kind of routine.


    Today, for some reason, feeling nostalgic, we changed the location to the <Academy Training Ground> unlike usual… But nothing much would be different.


    As we always have.


    We would simply exchange blows with our swords.<hr>


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