Chapter 72

Swordmaster Healer Episode 72

TL: Boko

Editor: Ren

Chapter 24: Trouble (2)

What did you say? Did I hear wrong? My hearing hasnt been the best lately, so I hear bullshit sometimes. I think you said apologize while Im still talking nicely. Did I hear wrong?

Kyu Tae touched his ears with exaggerated motions. Sung Joon saw that and opened his mouth with a calm expression.

You heard right.

You, do you know who I am?

Arent you the S-rank Hunter, Cha Kyu Tae?

You know that, yet youre acting like this? Im lost for words

He shook his head and swept his long front bangs up.

Even the nation couldnt mess with S-rank Hunters. Yet Sung Joon had nonetheless asked him to apologize, even though he wasnt an S-rank Hunter; he couldnt believe what he was hearing.

Kyu Tae saw it as Sung Joon trying to protect his honor in front of all the onlookers.

You shouldve just ended it by taking the money

The number of Hunters that died from starting an argument with Cha Kyu Tae is in the double digits

S-rank Hunters were able to topple the nation as well as take on the Bosses in the large-scale Raids. Moreover, Korea lacked S-rank Hunters and these S-rank Hunters essentially werent restricted by the law.

Seeing as how youre trying to defend your honor even while knowing who I am, you must be at least an rank Just stop I can kill you in one second, warned Kyu Tae.

While Im still talking, just apologize and go, Sung Joon said.

Sung Joon leaked his highly restrained killing intent lightly. The onlookers felt a chill in the air, as if the air itself were freezing. However, Kyu Tae didnt even make a slight movement.

Rather, he just smirked and sneered.

So youve killed some people before, huh?

Kyu Taes eyes changed frighteningly. There werent many who could naturally control their killing intent. Sung Joons killing intent was thick, yet Kyu Tae was still belittling him.

Dont be so excited.

Do all S-rank Hunters talk this much?

Kyu Tae bit his lip lightly at Sung Joons provocation. However, he didnt draw his weapon first. It seemed like he would induce him into self-defense. Kyu Tae didnt seem to want to cause a large commotion and so he needed a justification, but unfortunately, Sung Joon was an expert in self-defense.

Sung Joon just smirked slightly and ignored his provocation. He looked at

him with an unpleasant, belittling gaze.

That made Kyu Taes blood boil.

What are you going to do if I dont talk it out? asked Sung Joon.

You, I can make you crawl back home if I wanted.

Hey. Why dont you try it?

Ultimately, Kyu Taes hand moved first. It seemed he at least had some sense, since he didnt use the weapon strapped to his waist, but instead used his fist.

It appeared as if he had simply swung his fist, but there was enough force behind it to shatter a normal persons skull.

Hes fast!

Befitting an S-rank Hunter, it was so fast that even Sung Joon had difficulty avoiding it. However, due to his ample combat experience, he became aware of Kyu Taes attack in a split second.

Sung Joon realized that avoiding it was impossible, so he drew his mana and transcended his synchronization rate.

Rishubalt informed him, Your synchronization rate is at 28%!

Sung Joon, who had now reached a synchronization rate of 28%, avoided Kyu Taes fist. It was just a difference of 1%, but he felt that his reaction speed had sped up considerably.

What is this!

Kyu Tae was taken aback.

He hadnt put his full strength into that attack. However, he had intended to kill Sung Joon with that fist, but he hadnt expected him to so easily avoid the attack.

Im slower than him if I fight him head on!

Sung Joon calmly compared his combat abilities with Kyu Taes.

Although Kyu Tae was relatively low ranked amongst the S-rank Hunters in Korea, he was at least still much faster than Sung Joon.

However, Sung Joon still had his combat experience from his past, as his synchronization rate had reached 28%. Combat experience was an important element that would influence ones combat abilities in a real fight.

No matter how fast or strong someone was, if they didnt have enough experience, they wouldnt be able to properly display their abilities on the battlefield. Conversely, if ones physical abilities were lacking, but they have ample combat experience, they could exhibit superb combat abilities in the field.

I have more combat experience than you!

Sung Joon rushed in and grabbed his right wrist, which Kyu Tae had been unable to withdraw.

Kyu Tae also had ample PvP experience, but unfortunately, Sung Joon had been a veteran at killing people in the past.

This is the end.

Thats what he had thought the instant he had

had grabbed Kyu Taes wrist. Sung Joon strengthened his grip.

Im going to break his wrist!

Kyu Tae felt the considerable pressure applied to his wrist and sensed danger, so he aimed his index finger at Sung Joons neck.

!

Sung Joon felt the flow of mana at his fingertip. Letting go of Kyu Taes wrist, he threw himself to the side. With tremendous speed, a magic bullet shot out and lightly grazed Sung Joon.

Thud.

Behind him, the parked cars bonnet now looked as if it had been crushed by a hammer. Sung Joon felt intensely anxious.

Its casting speed was much faster than chantless magic whilst also being far more deadly.

W-what is this Whats going on?

It looks like Cha Kyu Tae shot a magic bullet.

But that Hunter dodged it?

The onlookers were making a commotion. Sung Joons and Kyu Taes movements were so quick that even the witnessing Hunters couldnt thoroughly grasp the situation.

Still, there was one thing they were sure of: Kyu Tae had attacked first, so Sung Joon could fight back, as it had become self-defense.

Transform.

Kyu Tae bit his lip lightly and recited the activation words. The bracelet on his wrist became a small short sword.

I have to kill him.

It hadnt gone as planned, so he had no choice but to kill Sung Joon.

Sung Joon had acted in self-defense, but Kyu Tae was an S-rank Hunter, so he trusted in his rank. The nation, as well as the Bureau would come and find him, but he was certain that they wouldnt enforce the law.

I trust that you know what Im going to say from this point on.

Sung Joon drew his sword without hesitation. The sword gleamed with blue aura and Sung Joon opened his mouth with a calm expression.

From this point on, its self-defense.

His voice was filled with a icy killing intent.

Shut up!

Kyu Tae assumed an offensive stance and released his killing intent.

Ugh!

I-its killing intent!

As soon as Kyu Tae released his killing intent at full strength, a few of the Hunters, unable to resist it, weakly collapsed onto the ground.

It was the overwhelming effect of releasing his killing intent. However, he had been aiming for Sung Joon; yet, he hadnt been affected in the least.

It didnt work, huh? How many people have you killed?!

A lot.

Sung Joon grasped his sword and tidied his stance. He looked at him with a cold gaze and then opened

then opened his mouth.

This isrealkilling intent, he said.

Sung Joon released all his killing intent.

Argh!

It was for just a split second, but Kyu Taes offensive stance crumpled. He immediately got a hold of himself and resumed his stance, but he was shocked that his opponents killing intent was superior.

Sung Joon had attempted to rush in when Kyu Taes stance had faltered, but he couldnt, since Kyu Tae had resumed his stance quicker than he had expected.

The two Hunters remained motionless, staring wordlessly at each other for one minute so that they could observe the other.

Why arent they fighting? Are they waiting for the police?

Dont say such stupid things. I heard that if you make a single mistake in this kind of situation, you immediately die.

No matter how good that vestment-wearing Hunter is, hes at best an rank Hunter, but the S-rank Hunter, Cha Kyu Tae cant overpower him?

Well, Im sure he will.

Isnt he just doing that because hes terrified?

The onlookers provoked Kyu Tae. Ultimately, he made the first move. He swung his aurclad short sword and aimed for Sung Joon.

I have to go all out from the start!

Sung Joons eyes gleamed sharply. He utilized his high-speed movement to move to Kyu Taes side. Kyu Tae aimed and shot his mana bullet in the direction of the presence he could sense.

Thud!

Sung Joon avoided it and Kyu Taes mana bullet struck the blameless ground. It left a large indentation in the ground, forming a crater.

Damn it!

He had rarely been unable to overpower the Hunters he had faced thus far, aside from Sung Joon, so Kyu Tae cursed, exposing his restlessness.

I have no choice but to usethat!

Kyu Tae decided to use the technique that he had been saving. He drew a dagger from his waist and threw it at Sung Joon.

The dagger was just meant to hold Sung Joon back, and divide his attention, but Sung Joon too easily avoided it and swung his sword. At the end of the battle, Sung Joons sword slashed Kyu Taes neck.

No, he thought he had slashed it, but Kyu Taes bloodied body melted away like a mirage.

Afterimage!

He felt a presence behind him. Sung Joon hurriedly turned his body and responded, but Kyu Tae had already pierced his thigh with his short sword.

He would mix in an afterimage and confuse his opponent while using his stealth to quickly get behind quickly get behind his opponent. This was Kyu Taes secret technique; an ambush from the shadows.

Ugh!

Rather than unreasonably aim for a vital point that Sung Joon had quickly guarded, he aimed to limit Sung Joons movement; it was as if his skill was relaying to Sung Joon that he was no normal person.

Sung Joon immediately counterattacked, but with especially agile movements, Kyu Tae withdrew his short sword first and defended himself.

And thus, the fierce battle resumed once more.

Ha!

Sung Joon let out a short battle cry and forcefully struck Kyu Taes short sword. By the time he had withdrawn his sword, Sung Joon had already used his high-speed movement to widen the distance.

He used his high-speed movement even though his thigh is injured?

It wasnt impossible, but it would be painful and the injury would worsen, so it would be difficult without a strong will.

The bleeding had worsened, so a puddle of blood had formed beneath Sung Joon. When Kyu Tae saw that, he sneered.

See, youre bleeding so much.

Heal.

There was no reason to respond. Sung Joon simply cast his Heal. A flash of white light enveloped his wound and Kyu Tae, as well as the onlookers, were astonished.

H-he was a Healer?

This doesnt make any sense

Everyone looked on in disbelief. A Healers physical abilities couldnt match up to an S-rank Combat Hunters.

Is he by chance an SS-rank Hunter? Then itd be possible, wouldnt it?

Are you an idiot? Korea doesnt have any SS-rank Hunters! America or Russia have those!

Look at that, his healing power seems considerable. His bleeding has already completely stopped.

The onlookers were creating a commotion.

Sung Joon opened his mouth.

Ive grasped all your sword techniques. Now, its my turn.

His past was the Empires greatest knight, the Sword Saint Roukel. He still couldnt say that his synchronization rate was high, but he was at the level that he could precisely grasp Kyu Taes swordsmanship, just by crossing blades with him a few times.

In cases like Kyu Taes, where the opponent used an irregular swordsmanship that mixed in several feints, it would take a while before he grasped their swordsmanship.

I dont need your apology anymore.

Sung Joon disappeared. Kyu Tae quickly turned his body to where he sensed the presence and raised his short sword.

It was a perfect defensive stance. There were no openings and Kyu Tae sported a confident expression. However, that soon turned to despair.