The Player Hides His Past

Chapter 3: If You Need Training (2)

Episode 3. If You Need Training (2)

Dodge the claws and teeth of the angry gnolls.

Make a fist.

I was just repeating that simple action.

But I could feel it.

That there was not the slightest hint of grace in my actions.

What happens if I cant dodge?

If the attack misses, will I be chewed up?

Would I bleed to death?

These are the kinds of thoughts that any human being would have.

Grandfells mind and body completely ignored them.

His pride is heavy and unshakable. Even if it were to sink and drown under its own weight.

The setting was displaying the stats of a lowly demon hunter by a hundred percent, or even more. At this point, I was surprised.

You must be seriously ill, I thought.

He was a dangerous bastard who valued style over life.

But call it a setup effect.

After all, my hand-to-hand combat skills were terrible.

Cause I didnt learn how to fight.

Puck.

This is a fist thrown with all my might.

Crunch!

It didnt do any significant damage to the gnoll.

Isnt this a disadvantage in a long battle?

Its a waste of durability, but I have no choice but to use it.

I made a very rational decision.

My behaviour didnt change.

Its pathetic.

I was like a swan on a lake.

To others, I must have looked like I was disciplining a plaything.

But Im serious.

Just as the swan flaps its wings to stay afloat.

Im dodging and ducking as best I can.

The words that came out of my mouth were unrelated.

Do you still lack discipline?

It was then.

I heard Seo Jung-yeons shout.

Im done casting! Dodge!

Flames erupted from her wand.

Another angle

I walked with the same grace this time.

The flying spell was Fire Arrow.

Not that I know anything about mages.

I know its low-level magic.

Moreover, the projectiles were slow.

I might just miss.

I make a guess and think about my next move.

For some reason, the gnolls didnt move.

Crack, crack!

The tail twitched.

There was no more growling.

I looked at them and said.

Discipline is ineffective with wild dogs.

There are degrees of shamelessness!

Even as I said it, I couldnt believe it.

But he didnt spit in my face after all.

Be careful, Lee Ho-yeol.

Its all in the past.

Aaaah, I got hit!

Boom.

Seo Jung-yeon clenches her fist.

I dont know what kind of bullshit shes going to say.

I shifted my gaze to Nol.

Pow!

The gnolls burned to ashes, and only an item remained.

[Crude Arrow]

[Rank: Normal]

[Limit: None]

[Effect: None]

[Description: A crude arrow].

[Crude Defence Longsword]

[Class: Normal]

[Limit: Lv.30]

[Effect: When attacking, has a low chance to cause the status ailment Rabies]

[Description: The blade becomes dull, reducing attack power].

When you join a party, experience is shared by default.

Items are prioritised for acquisition based on your contribution.

Of course, this system only applies to Rare and above.

So its a no-brainer.

Thirty-two arrows.

I thought that might be enough for now.

Ill just have to hunt down other Gnoll archers to get them.

I took the bow from my inventory.

It felt solid in my hand.

Shooting Mastery (21%): Increases the accuracy of your shots.

Only 21 per cent proficiency.

I was more concerned with questing than hunting.

Thats a lot for an archer class.

But even knowing the skill existed was not the same as fighting with fists.

Seo Jung-yeon turned to me.

Wow, can you use a bow?

Of course I can.

The bow was my main weapon.

The other party members chimed in.

Wow, arent you a martial artist or something? That punch you just threw was very martial artsy. What is that? Is that Tai Chi? You just threw a punch, and it looked like that!

It wasnt tai chi, it was stomping.

Anyway, thank goodness. I was getting worried because you were the only ranged dealer.

Yeah, Im relieved too.

Thats what I wanted to say.

I didnt open my mouth.

What did he say?

That you dont have to worry because Im here?

I said, Im just trying to keep up appearances. Who am I to say?

I was expecting more of that bullshit.

Fortunately, the conversation quickly moved on.

The man with the greatsword, Choi Jung-hoon, muttered.

By the way, whats wrong with him today? Hes Chul-min!

He was calling for Nam Chul-min.

Nam Chul-min had already crossed the turnstile.

He waved.

What are you doing? Why arent you coming over?

Seo Jung-yeon shook her head.

Is he usually like that? Its not like I have much experience with party hunting. Ive never seen a tanker go off on his own like that before.

A warrior armed with a shield and mace.

Han Sung-wook nodded.

You shouldnt be breathing like this from the start.

Ha, Im so sorry. Ill apologise on your behalf, Chulmin, because hes not normally like that, but why is he acting like that today? Ill try to talk to him later.

The mood turned sour.

No wonder.

Id done something that would get me in trouble in a game,

and he was doing it in a rift where his life depended on it.

At least Chulmins got a good idea of where youre going. If you meet up with another party, youll just waste time.

But dont you think youve gone too far on your own?

Yeah, I know. Ill call him, big brother. Is Chulmins tongue?!

Shush-shush

It was an ambush.

The gnolls in ambush revealed themselves.

One by one.

There were ten in all.

The arrows narrowly missed, but they were outnumbered.

Even with Nam Chul-min joining them, they were exactly outnumbered.

Chul-min, big brother! No, big brother!

But Nam Chul-min had no intention of joining them.

Choi Jung-hoons face turned red and began to contort.

No, fuck. Whats wrong with you! Hey, Nam Chul-min!

The stairs to the platform.

Nam Chul-min was there, staring at us surrounded by Nol.

I looked into his eyes.

Jet-black eyes with an unclear focus.

For some reason.

Those eyes were welcoming.

Whats ? I dont even know you.

Isnt this the time to be resentful, not welcoming?

But regardless of the question, I was acting.

Swoosh.

A steady posture that never wavered.

Like an archer drawing a bowstring.

I aimed at the gnolls, not wavering in the slightest.

Shush!

Until the moment I released the bowstring.

There was not the slightest faltering in my breathing.

Crack!

A headshot.

A precise hit to the head.

A single shot, and a Gnoll warrior falls.

And yet, I felt no emotion of joy.

The first thing Grampel learnt as the next head of the family was not to be distracted by petty matters.

The position of House Claudies head of household was one in which the slightest agitation was unacceptable.

To rejoice in the defeat of a mere gnoll?

That would be unbecoming of him.

I was in the same position.

Shush

Another headshot.

Eight left.

I nocked my arrow once more.

The gnolls didnt stand idly by.

CRRRR!!!

The Gnoll warriors charged.

Choi Jung-hoon and Han Sung-wook stopped the Gnoll warriors.

Each held off two Gnoll warriors.

But they couldnt overcome their numerical disadvantage.

Damn it! Watch out!

Two Gnoll warriors rushed towards them.

Two Gnoll archers loading their bows.

Seo Jung-yeon, who was casting magic, cried out.

Hey, what should I do?

The Gnoll warriors left Seo and Jung-yeon.

The Gnoll archers were targeting Choi Jung-hoon and Han Sung-wook.

No matter what they did, there would be consequences.

Seo Jung-yeon didnt seem to be able to make a decision easily.

But ironically, I replied nonchalantly.

Ill leave the Gnoll archer in charge.

At the same time, an arrow left my fingertips.

A hit.

The Gnoll warrior who had been charging at Seo Jung-yeon fell.

Thanks to this, Seo Jung-yeon had successfully completed her cast.

Please. Hit!!!

Pow!

Fire Arrow stretched out towards the Gnoll archer.

Choi Jung-hoon and Han Sung-wook tangled with their own kind.

Concentrating on hitting the two of them, they didnt notice Fire Arrow flying towards them.

By the time they felt the heat, it was too late.

All that was left was a Gnoll warrior charging at me.

CRRRR!!!

I didnt have the Rapid Fire skill.

There wasnt enough time to reload my arrows.

But I did have the longsword Id acquired from the Gnolls for self-defence.

I might be able to buy some time if I swung it and parried.

But,

Im afraid not.

It wasnt my sword I lifted, but my right leg.

That leg, stretched out in front of me, struck the Gnoll warrior in the head.

Puck!

Just like in the first battle.

The option of counterattacking was not in my mind.

Hence the extreme reaction speed that my body was capable of.

Crack, crack!

Towards the Gnoll warrior who had fallen to his feet.

I will not allow you to splash blood on me.

Push!

I pulled the bowstring with an expressionless face.

.

.

.

The others, except for me, let out a sharp intake of breath.

Ha, I thought you were going to die.

I didnt realise they were ambushing me.

Why didnt you tell me about ?

No one spoke first.

All eyes turned to Nam Chul-min, who was still watching us from the top of the stairs.

If anyone was angry, it was Choi Jung-hoon.

Fuck. Hyung, do you have feelings for us?

He gritted his teeth and approached Nam Chul-min.

His voice got louder and louder.

Fuck you. Youre the one who set us up! Okay, say it was a mistake. Say you didnt know we were ambushed. But why are you just standing there, staring, huh? Say something! Say something with a muzzle!

Two people getting closer.

If they stayed still, a fight would break out.

Seo Jung Yeon and Han Sung Wook stopped Choi Jung Hoon from both sides.

I understand, but why dont you calm down a bit?

Yeah, theres no point in fighting here.

No, just stay calm. This is between me and you. Hyung! Hey, Nam Chul-min, do you really think Im something because youre following me around calling me brother, brother? Youre either my brother or youre not a fucker.

I took a step back and watched.

Hahaha! Hahahahahaha!

At that moment, Nam spat out a laugh.

At the same time.

Ji-jik

The electric light that was shining dimly began to flicker.

Did you fail, why are you suddenly laughing and shit?

Hahahaha! Haha. Thats funny.

This is funny? Fuck, did you really just say that?!

I stared at Nam Chul-min in the flickering light.

The incomprehensible behaviour.

The catastrophic atmosphere around him.

The unfocused, jet-black eyes.

The joy I felt when I saw those eyes.

Decisively.

At this moment, the words that flashed into my vision.

[Skill, Natural Enemy is triggered].

Natural Enmity: Increases your combat power by leaps and bounds when battling demons.

Another angle

I looked at Nam Cheol-min and said.

You are a demon after all.