There was a legend at the Monster Hunter Training Academy.
Long ago, there was a monster hunter who'd slain as many beasts as a mage.
Though he'd retired with the passage of time, he was still hailed as a legendary figure.
After hanging up his gear, he returned to his hometown and opened the academy.
Naturally, it drew in a massive number of aspiring hunters, becoming the largest training ground in the kingdom.
Having such a place right in my hometown was a stroke of great luck.
Unlike hunters flocking from across the kingdom, it was practically next door.
That is, as long as I didn't get kicked out for failing the quals.
And so, after twists and turns, I found myself back at the academy.
Having taken down multiple mid-sized monsters, my power level had risen accordingly.
I figured I could at least handle some proper training now.
"Dojo breaker, eh? This oughta be fun."
"Heh, the hotshot rookies these days got some real fire!"
Sorry, but I'm no rookie.
I've been hunting monsters for five years myself.
Still, these academy instructors were on another level.
They'd all been hunters once, retiring to teach here.
To them, I was still just a fledgling.
A sigh escaped my lips.
How the hell did things snowball like this?
I'd tried correcting them midway, saying it wasn't a dojo challenge, but they wouldn't hear it.
The mood was already electric.
Listen to the guy in question, damn it.
"The Training Director is coming."
All the instructors had gathered.
Then the Training Director stepped out.
This was my first time seeing him in person.
Everyone described him differently.
Some said he looked like a tiger, others like a giant.
Stories varied wildly.
I'd never had reason to visit the academy before, so no chance to see for myself.
Training Director Draigen.
Maybe I felt a flicker of excitement at finally meeting him.
Soon, he emerged from the doorway.
I blinked.
Was that really him?
There stood a small boy.
His hair was snow-white, like that of an old man.
But his face was unmistakably a child's.
The boy's gaze slowly settled on me.
"Hmmm."
He scanned me up and down.
"Took down mid-sized monsters solo?"
"Yes, this is Haren."
An instructor bowed his head in reply.
Was this kid really the legendary Training Director Draigen?
The boy eyed me with half-lidded eyes, then spoke.
"You a mage?"
Mage.
The word made me freeze.
First time I'd heard anyone toss it out so casually.
Most folks worshipped mages like gods.
"No, sir."
"Then why's mana leaking off you?"
This kid was definitely Draigen.
I didn't know why he looked so young, but his eyes were sharp as hell.
"After tangling with a monster, mana started flowing in my body. That's why I've got Mana Stone Hardening Disease."
"Terminal case, then."
He clicked his tongue and trudged toward me.
"But for someone with that disease, you look awfully spry."
"I've got a trick or two."
"Fair enough. A hunter's gotta have his secrets."
Draigen clasped his hands behind his back and took center stage in the training yard.
He jerked his chin at me.
"C'mere. Let's see what this rookie's got."
"...You'll be disappointed."
I'd never had real training.
My only brag was mopping up monster scraps.
Honest as I was, Draigen snorted.
"Everyone disappoints me. You're no different."
Fine then.
"What weapon you use?"
Weapon.
My strongest was bare hands.
I raised them casually, and he reacted like I'd lost my mind.
"Bare hands against monsters? You're begging for death."
"I'm terminal anyway. What's to lose?"
"Gutsy. A man staring down death fears nothing. Show me that spirit."
Draigen stomped the ground.
That was the signal.
I slammed my left foot down, channeling power from my legs.
My body shot forward like a cannonball.
"Fast."
"Oho."
Ignoring the instructors' murmurs, I closed the gap on Draigen.
He still stood with hands behind his back.
Full of openings everywhere.
Going easy on me?
No hesitation, then—attack.
Just as I swung for his face—
A chill ran down my spine.
Bad vibe. I pulled the punch.
Draigen's brow twitched.
Right call.
Face shot would've been my end.
From the retracted pose, I targeted his leg with a kick.
Thud!
A heavy impact in my leg.
I jerked my head up—Draigen was perched on my foot.
Hands still behind his back, pulling off that insane balance trick.
I yanked my leg back quick; he flipped through the air and landed clean.
"Good instincts. Reflexes too. Best I've seen lately."
"...Thanks."
Didn't expect praise.
"But your moves are too linear. Like you got no clue your own power level."
Spot on.
I had no gauge on my current strength.
Absorbing mid-sized monsters kept boosting me—it was inevitable.
"Again."
He nodded; I charged once more.
Punches, kicks.
Trusting split-second instincts, halting when needed.
Draigen dodged or blocked everything.
Felt like punching an endless wall.
No attack landed, obviously.
"Rookie's got slick moves."
"Push him harder!"
"Land one hit!"
Instructors hyped up.
Training Director getting attacked? Party atmosphere.
A new kind of appraisal for me.
Watching Draigen weave effortlessly, my mindset shifted.
Even powered up, the gap was vast.
Not something a few mid-sized absorbs could bridge.
Like facing a mage—utter hopelessness.
That's how strong Draigen was.
And he hadn't attacked once.
Probably wearing me down till I collapsed.
I read his intent.
Confirmed he wouldn't strike.
Time to switch tactics.
Instant Death Magic.
Just one touch to plant it.
Not that I'd actually use it on Draigen.
But fight with that single-minded goal.
Once.
Just touch him once.
That'd suffice.
Eyes flashing, I amped my punches' speed.
Forcing past my limit.
Arm trembling violently.
But the swing arc narrowed tighter.
A barrage of fists formed a fist veil.
I herded him, shrinking his space deliberately.
His dodges cramped more.
Evasive footwork and head tilts right in my face.
But once cornered this far—
Thud!
Our size difference let me shove.
I stomped wide, thrusting my whole body forward.
Pure body slam.
But I dwarfed Draigen.
To evade, he leaped back big.
Sure enough—airborne.
Thud!
Instantly, arms shot out like snakes—to grab.
Just before contact, his hand moved.
Pinned both my wrists.
Then a small knee rocketed up.
Tiny, but packed power.
Chin hit? Lights out.
Still, I poured everything into my grip.
Leaned harder, yanked wrists fierce.
His pull shifted; knee slammed my gut.
Shock rattled me, but I endured the clash.
Draigen's eyes widened briefly.
Last chance.
Headbutted full force.
Crack!
A sharp sound echoed.
"Guh!"
His fist had skyrocketed into my forehead.
Damn, held back till the end, huh.
Didn't even see it.
No reflex trigger like before.
A strike from another realm.
Brain scrambled.
My stubborn will shook from one blow.
Head hit, but felt like a monster's smash.
"Oof."
"Clean hit."
Instructors shook heads in pity.
I ass-planted, sprawling flat.
Vision spun.
Brain-jostled balance wrecked.
"Felt like fighting a real beast. No self-preservation. Meant to tire you out, but hand slipped."
Draigen's voice neared.
He approached, tsking.
"Don't egg on rookies like this, you lot."
Instructors coughed awkwardly.
Those bastards ignored me on purpose.
Wasted effort.
"You too, quit while..."
He trailed off, looking down.
My hand gripped his ankle.
I'd pulled every trick, but the gap was unbridgeable.
So I picked the best dirty move.
A faint smirk tugged my lips.
Draigen stared, then chuckled dryly.
"Looks like you had a play. Did I get tagged?"
Can't say.
Instant Death Magic was my ace.
Exposed, it loses edge.
"Come find me when you wake."
Consciousness faded.
This was the limit.
Felt my forehead swelling like a lump.
Gonna need ointment for days.
"Been a while since I raised a shady one."
With that, my world went black.