IGOS 08

Chapter: 8

 Rival? (4)

After the quiz test ended,

the scores were as follows:

Gu Mina: 7 points
Kim Yongchan: 5 points
Park Yesul: 6 points
Lee Dohyun: 10 points
Jung Minwoo: 9 points

Total: 37 points

——————

Kwon Eunchae: 5 points
Kim Yunjung: 7 points
Park Dongwook: 3 points
Ji Yuchan: 9 points
Han Junseo: 8 points

Total: 32 points

With a fairly large gap of 5 points, Dohyun’s group became Group 1, but honestly, Dohyun still didn’t quite understand how things ended up like this.

“Wow… since Dohyun got a perfect score, we were able to win, you know?”

At Kim Yongchan’s words, Dohyun was dumbfounded.

To be honest, wasn’t it more because Park Dongwook made a big mistake?

“Seriously! I knew Dohyun oppa would get a perfect score!”

I didn’t even know that myself.

“No wonder your eyes looked different during the lecture! You must’ve studied a lot back in school, right?”

Let’s not mention that I graduated from a regional university.

“The last question was really hard—how did you solve it?”

The analysis told me.

Faced with his teammates’ burdensome gazes, Dohyun didn’t know what to do.

He even wondered if he had stood out too much.

Still, it didn’t feel bad.

Being praised by teammates wasn’t a bad thing.

While he was enjoying the not-so-bad feeling,

one by one, his teammates spoke in unison:

“See? The leader really is different.”
“Right, right.”
“Who else but Dohyun oppa could be leader?”
“Agreed.”
“Uh, uh-huh?”

So this was it.

They were dumping the leader role on him?

He had gone through this constantly in college, and thought he’d avoid it this time—but here it was again!

And now the 분위기 made it awkward to refuse, so he scratched his head.

‘Well, being the leader isn’t that bad.’

There wasn’t really any burden assigned to the leader anyway, and it wasn’t like he had to do anything special, so he decided to just let them call him that.

That’s what Dohyun thought casually, but the other team members were sincerely looking up to him.

‘He looked like he was slacking off, but got a perfect score, and he even lasted the longest in the run earlier. That’s amazing. He looks younger than me, but I should learn from him.’

‘Looks really aren’t everything.’

‘I thought he’d be weaker than me at first, but his stamina is incredible and he got a perfect score too… is this what you call both brains and brawn?’

‘I’ll just follow Dohyun hyung.’

It had only been one day, but Kim Yongchan already thought of Dohyun as a younger person he could learn a lot from, Gu Mina and Park Yesul were surprised by Dohyun’s abilities that differed from his appearance, and Jung Minwoo resolved to become like Dohyun.

No matter what, they were teammates who would spend a month together.

Forming bonds wouldn’t hurt.

More than anything, among those who had just awakened, Dohyun stood out noticeably, igniting their determination—while Dohyun, unaware of all this, simply thought they were pushing the leader role onto him.

With each having different thoughts, the team members received a message after Kim Areum’s lecture to gather at the sparring hall after a short break, and headed there.

Feeling reassured that Dohyun was with them again.

* * *

Seoul Hunter Training Center.

At the sink, Ji Yuchan was washing his face with cold water.

Even in the cold winter weather, the chill of the water did nothing to cool the heat on his face.

Seeing his flushed face in the mirror, still not calming down, Ji Yuchan let out a sigh.

“Ha… why am I being so childish?”

He knew very well that this sense of rivalry he was feeling was childish.

But why?

He couldn’t let it go.

Objectively speaking, Ji Yuchan was handsome enough to impress anyone, and he had talent in sports, having been quite athletic in his youth.

He seemed like someone with no flaws, yet he gradually began to feel pressure to meet others’ expectations.

The peak of that pressure was his mana awakening.

Because he had always exercised consistently, he recorded superior physical abilities compared to others, and with a bit of luck, he awakened with a high mana level.

What followed were expectations—that he would become the second rising star surpassing Hwang Hana.

That’s why Ji Yuchan, who felt he had to be perfect, had his obsession shattered from the very first day.

‘From Instructor Hwang Hana… to Lee Dohyun.’

First, it was Hwang Hana.

Her mana pressure overwhelmed him, and though he barely held it in, his obsession almost burst out.

But then there was Dohyun, who supposedly endured it effortlessly.

That started to bother him.

‘From the long-distance run… to the test.’

Even on the first day, there was nothing he could beat Dohyun in.

So Ji Yuchan hardened his resolve.

‘The next training will be different.’

Knock knock—

“Yuchan! They said everyone should gather at the sparring hall!”

“…Yes, I’m coming.”

Since the next training was sparring, he was confident.

Ji Yuchan had long trained in sports like boxing and kendo—sports familiar with sparring.

This time, he would show something different.

With that determination, he left his room and headed to the sparring hall with Park Dongwook, who greeted him.

* * *

The trainees gathered at the sparring hall.

Even though it was indoors, the floor and facilities looked extremely sturdy.

The floor and walls seemed made of some special material—shiny yet heavy.

Some trainees lightly tapped them with their hands or feet and were impressed by their hardness and solidity.

Just as they were admiring it, a man who had appeared at the center called out to them.

“Everyone, gather in the center.”

His voice was gentle, yet strangely heavy and clear in everyone’s ears.

As if it wasn’t just a normal voice, everyone found it fascinating and gathered as instructed.

Dohyun also moved to the center, curious, when the analysis kindly explained:

[Analyzed the application method of the skill “Intimidation [D]”.]

‘You can use intimidation like this too?’

It really tells me everything.

As Dohyun memorized the method and gathered, he saw a new instructor.

Unlike the others, he wore training clothes instead of a uniform. He looked like a lazy man, messy-haired, like someone you’d see loafing around in a neighborhood.

But for some reason—

all the trainees felt a sense of pressure from him.

[The skill “Intimidation [D]” is faintly spreading.]
[Neutralizing the skill “Intimidation [D]”.]

‘He’s not trying to crush us like Hwang Hana did.’

Even though he could increase the output, he was only spreading it lightly.

Dohyun figured he was trying to make them focus.

Then analysis activated again:

Kang Jihoon
Trait: Spy [C]
Skills:

• Dagger Technique [D]
• Intimidation [D]
• Ambush [D]
• Stealth [E]
• Mana Control [E]

Stats:

• Strength: 49
• Agility: 66
• Stamina: 51
• Mana: 29

[Analysis successful due to “Sword King’s Intuition [A]”.]
[150 AP acquired.]

‘Another C-rank!’

Just as Dohyun felt pleased, his vision suddenly turned red.

[Analyzing a threatening attack path.]

Before he could panic, his instincts told him it wasn’t dangerous.

At the same time, he raised mana in his body.

In the slowed world, Dohyun moved as best as he could, following the attack path shown.

He pulled his head back just enough—

Barely avoiding it by a hair’s breadth.

WHOOSH—

A fierce gust of wind brushed past his hair.

Only then did the trainees react.

“Ahhh!”
“What was that!?”
“Instructor!?”

The instructor’s hand was aimed at Dohyun—

but Dohyun stood there calmly.

To the trainees, it looked like teleportation.

Kang Jihoon tilted his head.

‘He… avoided it?’

Impossible.

So he concluded:

‘Guess I’ve gotten rusty.’

He lightly tapped Dohyun’s forehead.

“In the sparring hall, don’t let your mind wander.”

“Yes, I’ll remember that.”

Dohyun quietly smiled at the message only he could see.

Kang Jihoon turned to the others.

“I’m Instructor Kang Jihoon, in charge of sparring. It’s the first day, but I’m lazy—so we’ll start group sparring matches today.”

It sounded casual—but the meaning was harsh.

They hadn’t even learned sparring yet.

Kwon Eunchae raised her hand.

“Isn’t that dangerous…?”

“It’s fine. Instructor Choi Pil is here.”

“…?”

So getting hurt is expected?

Kang Jihoon spoke again:

“The Black Gate won’t wait for you. Enemies will attack the moment you let your guard down. Are you still going to complain about danger?”

Silence fell.

Because he was right.

Then he added:

“The winning team gets 1 hour of free time.”

That meant cutting half the class.

The trainees’ motivation exploded.

“Whoa!”
“I’ll do my best!”
“An hour!?”

Only Ji Yuchan kept staring at Dohyun.

Then he said:

“Instructor, I want to spar with Lee Dohyun.”

Kang Jihoon nodded.

‘Boxing… and kendo.’

Then he looked at Dohyun—

and felt something eerie.

But he couldn’t figure anything out.

“First match: Lee Dohyun vs Ji Yuchan.”

The two stepped forward.

Distance: about 5 meters.

“Win by surrender or knockout.”

The match began.

WHOOSH—

Ji Yuchan moved first—

But something shot forward like a blur.

“!!!”

He tried to dodge—

but it curved mid-air like a snake—

and struck his jaw.

CRACK—

His vision faded.

THUD—

When he regained awareness—

he saw Dohyun looking troubled.

“…Does that mean I win?”

Kang Jihoon couldn’t answer.

Because what Dohyun just used—

was his own skill:

Ambush.

“How… did you do that?”

“…I just copied it after seeing it.”

“…?”

After a moment, Kang Jihoon muttered:

“You crazy monster.”

“…Me?”

Dohyun felt a bit wronged.