The skills of hunters who used mana usually carried a blue glow. Mana itself had the nature of a cold, clear blue. Some exceptions existed, like mental-type magic, but no such spells had been used in today's fight.
Even so, Siwoo clearly remembered it. His blade had shone with red light during the battle. Yet now, only a steady blue surrounded his sword. He questioned himself—had he imagined it? Was it an illusion caused by over-focus in combat? If that red glow was a trick of the mind, then what about the word "revenge" he thought he had heard earlier? Could that too have been nothing more than a hallucination?
But something didn't add up. He remembered how easily his sword had cut through the claws of the Bear Tiger. Those claws were known for their unmatched toughness, nearly impossible to sever. Unless his weapon was made from extraordinary materials, it should not have been possible. Confusion filled him, but no matter how much he thought, there was no answer. He couldn't even ask Byungseop for help without raising suspicion. For now, he decided not to dwell on it.
Just as he rose to his feet, sharp pain shot up his leg. Looking down, he realized he had been clawed during the fight. Fortunately, it wasn't a major wound—only a shallow cut that had narrowly missed a vital artery. With relief, he cast a basic level healing spell, a simple mental-type magic.
Healing magic was effective but slow. For about five minutes he focused his mind, and soon a soft blue light shimmered over the wound as the flesh knitted together. If this were outside the gate, he would have needed stitches in a hospital, but within the gate, the magic spared him the trouble. Of course, such a spell could only heal minor injuries. A torn artery or severed limb was beyond the reach of a D-rank hunter.
Still, it was enough. He rose again, glancing at the Bear Tiger's corpse. Blood still dripped from its severed neck. He couldn't waste more time. Although he had lost valuable minutes fighting, this beast's remains were far more valuable than the ones he had originally planned to collect. Determined, he retrieved his hunter's bag and began dismantling the monster.
The bright light of the gate shimmered, and in an instant, his surroundings shifted. He was back inside his own home. A quick look at the timer showed he still had two hours left, though he had only planned to use three and a half. Leaving early felt wasteful, but he had no choice. His mana was nearly drained, and the appearance of a D-rank monster in what was supposed to be an E-rank gate made things too dangerous. If he ran into anything stronger, survival would be unlikely.
The thought sent a shiver through him. He looked over his body, covered in dirt and dust from battle, his hunter's uniform scratched and torn. His thigh was ripped, his coat scarred with claw marks. If Byungseop saw this, questions would follow. For now, he decided to patch it up with the emergency repair kit.
As he was cleaning up on the rooftop, Minjun appeared unexpectedly. The boy's worried eyes caught every mark left on Siwoo's clothes and skin. Realizing what had happened, Minjun broke down, his emotions overflowing. He blamed himself, thinking his mistake had nearly cost Siwoo his life.
Siwoo could feel the sincerity behind Minjun's tears. The boy had believed only E-rank monsters would be inside. He had no way of knowing a Bear Tiger would appear. Touched, Siwoo reassured him and accepted his apology. What mattered now was making sure such a mistake wouldn't be repeated.
After calming Minjun, Siwoo asked about his father. Minjun explained that earlier, the old man had waited by the gate for a while, then suddenly left, saying he had someone to meet. It was unusual, but Siwoo decided not to worry until his father returned. He then lifted the bag he carried, telling Minjun he had something to show him. Minjun's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he followed behind.
Elsewhere, far from their home, Kang Myungjun stood on a golf course. His game was interrupted by a call from his secretary, who reported that Jin-ho had gone to meet Park Samjung. This caught Myungjun's attention immediately. Jin-ho was known for his pride—someone who would never bow his head to ask for help. If he was seeking out Park Samjung, it meant the financial pressure placed on him had finally worked.
Still, Myungjun wasn't satisfied with assumptions. He had already prepared by planting people with hidden cameras and microphones nearby. He wanted undeniable proof of Jin-ho's intentions. If Jin-ho was truly desperate enough to borrow money, it confirmed everything Myungjun suspected—that Siwoo was a useless monster phobic, and that their family's hidden weaknesses were about to be exposed.
The thought amused him. Pride meant nothing in the face of family. Even the strongest eventually bent their knees. Myungjun decided he would wait, watch, and uncover Jin-ho's true motives himself.