I was Mistaken for a Noble Hunter Chapter 108

Training (7)

 

An offer to become the Sword King’s disciple.

It was a proposal that came out of nowhere when he hadn’t even done anything.

He had expected it would take significant effort to achieve, so he was surprised… but there was no way Kang Ian would let this opportunity slip.

“…If you would accept me, I would dare to wish to become the Sword King’s disciple.”

Kang Ian spoke in the most respectful tone he could muster.

“Hoh ho. Good. Then let’s first take a light look at your skills.”

Cheon Hajin curled his fingers.

It likely meant to spar.

Though it was essentially asking for a match right after becoming a disciple, Kang Ian wasn’t particularly surprised.

‘He’s acquainted with Brother Hoopung and an old A-rank Hunter… this is totally something he’d do.’

In Kang Ian’s mind, people of that level were already monsters.

Even if they suddenly asked to fight in the middle of the street, he’d just accept it.

“Looks like you didn’t bring a sword. I can lend you one.”

“That’s alright.”

Kang Ian shook his head and pulled out a sword from his subspace.

Sajad’s longsword.

Seeing the sword suddenly appear in his hand, Cheon Hajin’s eyes gleamed.

“A spatial-type skill? That seems quite convenient.”

After a brief note of admiration, Cheon Hajin gestured again.

“Come at me.”

Even after those words, Kang Ian hesitated for a moment.

He knew Cheon Hajin was a famous A-rank Hunter with the title “Sword King.”

But charging at him when he hadn’t even drawn his sword felt a bit off.

Moreover, Cheon Hajin, standing still, didn’t look particularly strong.

He wasn’t bulky like Kang Hopung, nor did he have intimidating muscles.

He looked like an old man who might fall over with a light push.

He was even missing his left arm.

“Hm. Not coming?”

Seeing Kang Ian, Cheon Hajin seemed to guess what he was thinking and smirked slightly.

Then, he placed his right hand lightly on the hilt of his sword.

“!”

At that moment, the air changed.

Kang Ian swallowed.

He had merely moved his hand, yet the aura emanating from him completely shifted.

It felt like facing a wild beast.

‘If that sword is drawn, I lose!’

If he was going to do anything, it had to be before the sword came out.

Bang!

Kang Ian kicked off the ground and rushed forward.

Gripping the longsword with both hands, he swung it widely from left to right.

Whoosh!

It was a strike backed by superhuman strength and speed, but Cheon Hajin simply stepped back and avoided it.

The blade barely brushed his clothes.

It was a chillingly precise sense of distance.

Slash!

Swish!

Kang Ian’s attacks flowed like water.

He followed up with another swing and then cut diagonally upward.

In the blink of an eye, multiple strikes were unleashed, but Cheon Hajin dodged them all with minimal movement.

His right hand still rested on the sword hilt.

‘It feels like I’m attacking a ghost.’

Kang Ian thought that as he continued chasing and swinging his sword.

He was sure his strikes should have landed, yet they were all avoided by a hair’s breadth.

After dodging dozens of attacks…

Click

Cheon Hajin’s sword was finally slightly drawn.

At that moment, an overwhelming aura engulfed Kang Ian.

An intangible force brushed past him like a slash.

‘Ghk!?’

For a brief moment, his body flinched as if he had actually been cut, and instinctively, Kang Ian pulled out a shield from his subspace.

Clang!

Almost simultaneously, Cheon Hajin’s sword struck the shield.

‘If I hadn’t pulled out the shield, that strike would have ended the match!’

He hadn’t even seen it.

In a real fight, his head would have been severed.

“Oh? You can use a shield, too?”

Cheon Hajin’s eyes sparkled with interest.

That strike had been meant to end the spar, so he hadn’t expected it to be blocked.

“Use everything you can.”

Saying that, Cheon Hajin lightly flicked his sword.

But while his motion was light, receiving it was not.

Boom!

Crash!

“Ghk…”

It felt like blocking a cannon.

No… an actual cannon might not hit this hard.

Kang Ian braced himself behind the shield, thinking about how to deal with this.

Without the shield, he would’ve already been sliced apart like sashimi.

‘I can’t match him with swordsmanship alone. Maybe if I throw the shield and attack from both sides…’

That might split his attention enough to stand a chance?

“Disciple, you seem to be thinking too much. Do you think that shield will keep protecting you?”

At that moment, Cheon Hajin’s voice, sounding faintly amused, rang out.

Kang Ian felt chills.

This time, he clearly saw the incoming slash.

And the blue energy surging from the blade.

If he left it alone, both shield and body would be split apart.

Flash!

Kang Ian activated his sword aura skill and clashed against him.

BOOM!

The two swords collided with a sound like an explosion.

Clang

Kang Ian dropped his sword.

Cheon Hajin’s blade stopped right in front of his neck.

 

***

 

After the spar ended, the two master and disciple sat facing each other, catching their breath.

“One spar isn’t enough to know everything, but I think I roughly understand how to teach you.”

Cheon Hajin looked at Kang Ian with interest.

‘It’s not just his character that passes.’

Cheon Hajin originally valued character more than swordsmanship.

Without cause and courtesy, swordsmanship could become a mere killing technique and bring harm to others.

No matter how talented someone was, if their character was poor, he would never teach them beyond a certain level.

But after witnessing Kang Ian’s skill, even that belief wavered slightly.

Such overwhelming talent!

‘Good. Talent granted to one with proper character… this must be the will of the heavens.’

Such cases were rare, making it all the more pleasing.

‘On top of that, his physical ability is excellent, and his fundamentals are solid.’

And the sword aura he displayed… even if only once, was remarkable.

He had blocked a strike Cheon Hajin had intended to finish things with.

Teaching him would certainly be enjoyable.

‘Both talent and character pass. This child might even grasp the ultimate form of my swordsmanship that my other disciples couldn’t.’

Meanwhile, Kang Ian was also looking at Cheon Hajin like he was a monster.

‘Are all A-rank Hunters like this?’

The final clash of sword auras had similar power.

Kang Ian didn’t feel outmatched in strength… yet the match ended instantly.

At the moment their swords collided, Cheon Hajin had subtly shaken his blade, deflecting Kang Ian’s.

An absurd level of technique!

That’s why he had no choice but to drop his sword.

‘Even with my intermediate weapon mastery skill, I can’t compete. Not even close.’

He’d need at least advanced weapon mastery to make it a proper spar.

But such skills were extremely expensive.

“In any case, we’ll spar again as part of your training. Tell me when you’re ready.”

“I’m ready.”

“Already? You can rest more.”

“I can rest when I’m dead.”

“…That’s something Kang Hoopung often says.”

Cheon Hajin looked at him in disbelief.

Kang Hoopung rarely took long breaks during workouts.

Whenever someone complained, he’d say:

—You won’t die from this! Rest when you’re dead!

Having heard it so often, Kang Ian had adopted that mindset.

‘His talent is good, but his mindset might be a bit… odd.’

Suppressing that uneasy feeling, Cheon Hajin stood up.

This time, he held a wooden sword.

“I’ll spar using a wooden sword. Don’t use your shield… fight only with your sword.”

“Understood.”

Kang Ian nodded and charged with his longsword.

Despite the clash between wood and steel, the wooden sword remained undamaged.

By channeling energy and using an advanced technique, Cheon Hajin deflected the force.

At the same time, he lightly poked at Kang Ian’s openings.

Every time Kang Ian swung once, two or three openings appeared.

Cheon Hajin struck all of them.

In less than ten seconds, Kang Ian was hit dozens of times.

“Cutting the opponent is not what swordsmanship is. Defending yourself… that is where it begins.”

Cheon Hajin had taught many people over the years.

Though he formally accepted a few disciples, he had instructed countless others.

Thus, through sparring, he could naturally reveal an opponent’s flaws and guide them to improve.

By repeatedly targeting openings, the opponent would unconsciously learn to block them.

Kang Ian was no different.

‘Impressive. His growth speed ranks among the best I’ve seen.’

But Kang Ian’s growth was exceptional even among them.

When the student learns quickly, the teacher naturally becomes more enthusiastic.

Thud! Thud!

Cheon Hajin’s wooden sword kept striking through Kang Ian’s defenses.

“You have too many openings! A sword isn’t something you just swing! Move while constantly paying attention!”

“Yes!”

Kang Ian received the training passionately.

Pain?

It hurt… but the joy outweighed it.

Because messages kept appearing.

Ding!

 

[You are being trained by a swordsman of overwhelming skill.]

[Valhalla’s Secret Swordsmanship proficiency increases 3x.]

 

The skill he had paid dearly to learn had progressed painfully slowly.

But now, it was visibly integrating into his body.

Feeling himself grow stronger in real time… how could that not be enjoyable?

Their sparring continued for hours until Kang Ian collapsed from exhaustion.

“Huff… huff…”

Kang Ian lay sprawled on the ground, gasping.

Cheon Hajin stood beside him without even a drop of sweat, looking down.

His face was full of pride.

After hours of training, he had thoroughly enjoyed teaching.

“Disciple.”

“Yes, Master.”

Though it hadn’t even been a full day since they became master and disciple, a deep bond had already formed.

Through prolonged sparring, sincerity beyond words had been conveyed.

Both were devoted to the sword, so closeness came quickly.

“If you have no plans tonight, how about sparring late into the night?”

If another disciple heard this, they’d be shocked.

It was rare for Cheon Hajin to suggest such a thing first.

“Ah, I can’t today.”

Kang Ian shook his head regretfully.

“Hm. I see. I suppose I asked too much on the first day. Don’t worry about it.”

“I’d love to train with you all night, but I have volunteer work delivering briquettes late tonight.”

Although crystal stones had replaced much of traditional energy, some poorer neighborhoods still used coal briquettes.

The volunteer activity was a surprise gift event, held late at night.

“I ask for your understanding, Master.”

“Ah… no. Of course, I understand. I’ve taken in a truly good disciple.”

Cheon Hajin was impressed.

His disciple’s character moved him deeply.

“May I join you for the volunteer work?”

“Ah, that won’t be possible.”

But Kang Ian shook his head firmly.

He could bring him, but assignments had already been distributed.

If he split his area, he’d lose “nobility.”

“I’m sorry, Master. Let’s go together next time.”

“Hm. Very well.”

Unaware of his true thoughts, Cheon Hajin assumed the slots were simply full.

 

***

 

After finishing training with the Sword King and the volunteer work, Kang Ian returned home.

“Phew. That feels good.”

Finishing the day with volunteer work left him fulfilled.

Of course, his body was tired.

After being hit so much during training, his whole body ached despite no visible injuries.

He washed up and lay on his bed… but didn’t fall asleep.

There was something he needed to do.

Opening his subspace, he took out a small box.

[Shining Valhalla Random Box]

[Upon opening, either a skill or an item will appear at random.]

It was a reward for defeating the demon in the Black Gate.

But he had been too busy… with the research request, Medvedev’s visit, and meeting the Sword King, so he was only opening it now.

‘Last time, I got Saint Bruta’s Gauntlet replica. I wonder what I’ll get this time.’

With anticipation in his eyes, Kang Ian tossed the box in his hand a few times…

Then opened it.