The city outside Hanyang University Hospital buzzed with life, unchanged by the chaos that often lurked beneath the surface and above the sky. University students laughed as they chatted with friends, office workers rushed toward their jobs with half-finished coffee in hand, and most striking of all—hunters walked openly in armor, weapons sheathed at their sides.
Watching them, Joo-Hee couldn't help but marvel in thoughts, 'If this were my old world, people would've stared, thinking they were weirdos or cosplayers. But here... this is just a normal occurence in their daily life to the point that everyone's just gotten so used to it.'
She smiled faintly, her heart lightened by the fact she was finally discharged. As she made her way through the city, she took in the bustle of the streets, the noise, the sheer normalcy of this dangerous, unpredictable world.
Eventually, she arrived at the training center.
The moment she stepped through its doors, however, a heavy fatigue seemed to press down on her, almost spiritual in weight. She sighed deeply, her expression sinking, 'Dang it, I finally arrived. Sigh... this place really suck the life out of me every time I walk in. To think my fantasy of swinging swords and getting good at it would be this exhausting...'
Despite her efforts, the [Basic Swordsmanship] skill had only reached Level 2. She really thought her transmigration would make her some kind of genius in fighting. But... reality strike her hard than ever.
Days of relentless training had led to minimal improvement, and the act of swinging a sword over and over again had become mind-numbingly repetitive. If not for [Healing Touch], her delicate hands would've been blistered beyond repair by now.
"Sigh… should I just give up the sword and focus on magic, instead?" she muttered under her breath. 'No matter how much I try, this body of Joo-Hee just isn't suited for the sword. It is far too delicate and will require years of training to mold it for close-range combat. But…'
Her thoughts darkened. 'But if I soon walk into a dungeon with only magic, and something goes wrong… what then...?' She clenched her fists. 'This world isn't a game and no longer just a novel. A single mistake, and I could die. For real...'
Before she could spiral deeper into anxiety, someone suddenly lunged at her from behind, hugging her shoulders tightly.
"Joo-Hee! Congrats on getting discharged!" a cheerful voice rang out.
Startled, Joo-Hee turned around to see Choi Soo-Ho, a rapier-wielding C-minus rank hunter, and one of the few people she'd become friends with during her time training. Soo-Hee beamed with her usual high energy, her ponytail bouncing with every movement.
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Soo-Ho's eyes gleamed as he launched a powerful overhead strike, but Jake saw it coming. With a quick twist of his wrist, he deflected the blow and countered with a strike of his own. Soo-Ho barely managed to block, the force of the impact pushing him back.
"Not bad," Soo-Ho grunted, but Jake could sense his frustration growing.
The match continued, a blur of motion and strategy, both opponents pushing each other to the limit.
Jake's muscles burned with effort, but he refused to back down.
Every strike, every block—it was all building toward something greater.
This wasn't just a sparring match. It was a reminder. I'm not weak anymore.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Mr. Kang Ho called an end to the match.
Both Jake and Soo-Ho stood, panting heavily, their swords lowered but still at the ready.
"Good," Kang Ho said, walking over to inspect them both.
"You've both improved, but there's still a long way to go."
He clapped Soo-Ho on the back before turning to Jake.
"Especially you, Joo-Hee. I can see the fire in you. Keep that up."
Jake nodded, exhaustion weighing on his limbs, but a sense of accomplishment warming his heart.
I'm getting stronger.
Little did he know, the system was quietly tracking his progress, monitoring every improvement in his swordsmanship and other skills during training.
Despite his relentless practice, the advancement felt slow, each step forward hard-earned.
Still, the system recognized his persistence, even if Jake himself couldn't see the progress unfolding as quickly as he hoped.
As the day came to a close and the sun began to dip below the horizon, Jake wiped the sweat from his brow and made his way back toward his apartment.
As he crossed near the hospital, his thoughts drifted to Jin-Woo.
'That guy is probably growing stronger every day. How both lucky and unlucky he is to be the main character of his own story. Meanwhile, I'm here, struggling to get used to this new life.'
He stopped in front of the hospital, gazing up at the sky as a gentle breeze swept past him.
"Take care, Jin-Woo," he muttered under his breath.
"The days of chaos are coming… for both of us."
But even as he spoke, he knew—this was his story too.
And he would be ready for whatever came next.