3. The Sky is Dark

* * *

Yoo Eun-ha. Younger sister of Korea’s S-rank hunter “Divine Sword” Yoo Jin-seok.

Compared to her exceptional brother, the weak Eun-ha shut herself away at home, closing her heart to the world.

Realizing this couldn’t continue, Jin-seok wrote her an academy recommendation letter at a friend’s request, hoping to at least make her a D-rank hunter.

Honestly, he didn’t expect much.

It was a favor for a dear friend’s sibling-only natural to help. But who could’ve predicted this?

Outwardly, she seemed like a prickly cat. He assumed she was all bark.

Given how she’d pick fights with Jin-seok from the safety of her room, that made sense.

“My name is Yoo Eun-ha. Hobbies include reading. Unique ability: Acceleration. No particular likes or dislikes.”

Meeting his student again after so long, the first thing he noticed was how much she’d changed.

Her once-black hair was now white, ears adorned with multiple piercings.

The cigarette smell whenever she spoke.

She seemed like nothing more than a rebellious kid, yet her perpetually whiny, irritated expression had cooled into blank neutrality.

Honestly, even her white hair didn’t seem awakened-just dyed for fun.

She claimed her ability was Acceleration. Same as Jin-seok? Or was she lying?

The ability test would prove it.

When testing began, Kim Ji-hye had to completely revise his assessment of this girl.

During the same dummy test he, Jin-seok, and their peers had pummeled years ago, he witnessed her true worth.

Mana control surpassing his own-fitting for Jin-seok’s sister. But then…

With eerie focus, as if only she and the dummy existed, she moved.

Yet he couldn’t see her.

Speed invisible even to an A-rank hunter’s eyes. Only afterimages. Just like Jin-seok’s Acceleration.

A shadow flitting before dummies. Countless strikes precisely shattering cores faster than they could regenerate.

To onlookers, it seemed almost demonic.

“Kim Ji-hye.”

Lim Yoo-jin, A-rank hunter and simulation room supervisor, approached with test charts.

“Hey. How’d this batch do?”

“Reina with spirit arrows destroyed 1,459 dummies. Divine Sword Choi Si-woo: 1,124. Park Ji-soo: 1,114. Han Su-ji: 1,057.”

Impressive recruits, though eclipsed by Eun-ha’s 7,000+ count.

“Si-woo and Reina exceeded expectations. Ji-soo and Su-ji are remarkable too.”

“By pure DPS, Si-woo dominates.”

“And Eun-ha?”

Kim Ji-hye jerked his chin toward the scoreboard.

“Still climbing.”

Her damage output likely surpassed others too-precision strikes on dummy cores.

“What the hell? That’s really Eun-ha?”

8,500…8,600…

Reaching 8,600 instantly. Checking her mana levels:

“She’s regenerating mana faster than expending it?”

Not just that. Her mana circuits multiplied like chain reactions.

Was this even possible?

No signs of doping-this surpassed enhancement drugs. Besides, someone like her wouldn’t bother with them.

“Natural genius?”

With monster-hunting training, she could deploy immediately.

Just this test result alone would spark bidding wars among guilds-especially as the Divine Sword’s sister.

“Why flaunt skills she could’ve hidden?”

“Maybe a ‘hidden powerhouse’ act? Or spite after being forced into the academy?”

“Headache incoming.”

She hit 9,999.

Most cadets had left bored, leaving only star rookies like Si-woo and Reina gaping at the display.

Why can’t these siblings do anything moderately?

Jin-seok famously soloed every dungeon, even the Pyongyang campaign.

Eun-ha likely destroyed far more-the counter just capped at 9,999.

“How long is she going?”

“Huh? Oh, right.”

She showed no signs of stopping. Probably venting academy-related frustrations.

She’d once claimed to hate her brother enough to kill him.

Were those dummies Jin-seok proxies?

“Cadet Yoo Eun-ha! Stop!”

He halted her onslaught.

“Ah, yes.”

“With talent like this, you surpass your brother. Check the board.”

Eun-ha smirked at the score, spinning her dagger.

“Only 9,999?”

Definitely out for Jin-seok’s blood. Might need to monitor her.

“That’s the max display.”

“I see. What a shame.”

Oddly, she seemed more concerning than the Divine Sword wielder.

Blinking rapidly while staring at the board-almost cute.

“Instructor, are we done?”

“Uh, y-yeah.”

Ignoring calls from classmates, she bolted home.

* * *

“Ahhh, I’m melting. Melting.”

Groaning like an achy old man, I writhed in pain.

Can’t take it anymore. My whole body itches unbearably, like bugs crawling under skin.

The sky’s still dim.

Groping for a cigarette, I lit up.

Finally, some relief.

Outscoring the protagonist yesterday was unexpected.

+ is hell.
Once daily usage feels lethal.
What kind of shitty combo is this? Oh right, no dick to go limp-guess this is my version.

“Ugh, academy’s such a drag.”

Why go? I learned that working means losing. Isn’t attending academy work?
Don’t wanna. Absolutely not. Maybe skip today?
Still dark at 7 AM. Need to get ready.
Each drag brightens my vision.

“Ideal would be not going at all.”

Choi Si-woo with his Divine Sword is protagonist. I’m not.
Outshining him risks stealing that role.
But I must attend-my bank account’s nearly empty. Need hunter income fast.
Why’s fate so cruel?
Still, education matters in any world.
Imagine graduating after skipping classes, trying to join a guild:

-Can you even hold a sword?
-Just a party girl. If you were male, we’d make you a pack mule. Tch.

That era’s disdain leaves a bad taste.
But my male memories know backbreaking labor.
This body’s pathetically weak though. Surviving Acceleration + Parallel Circuit is impressive.
*Sniff*
A sour stench-my sweat reeks.
Some guys misunderstand:
Women sweat too.
Some might fetishize it. Not me.

After a quick shower, I drank sugar water for breakfast.
Not because I’m poor. When kicked out, Jin-seok-famous protagonist-gave me money.
In this sequel, he’s thriving and wealthy.
As his sibling, don’t I deserve some? Original Eun-ha thought so, despite their fights.
Like fighting with parents but accepting their chicken:

-Eat this.
-Okay.

Not apologizing, but the chicken’s good. Temporary truce.
He’ll likely fund me until I start hunting.

Maybe grocery shopping later.
After academy, of course.
Phone says it’s almost time.
* * *

“Truly the Divine Sword’s sister. That bloodline’s no joke.”

At the academy, while fiddling with my phone, our protagonist sat beside me, teasing.

“Bloodline? Just coincidence.”

Calling 9,999 coincidence is copium.

“Coincidence at 9,999? The Divine Sword couldn’t hit 1,500. Ridiculous. Decided-you’re my rival now!”

Reina suddenly poked my chest, declaring:
“I can’t lose either. As a woman, I won’t overlook this. You’re my rival.”
This isn’t some cheap novel.

-Decided. Divine Sword? Funny. I’ll become the ultimate being! Yoo Eun-ha! From today, you’re my rival!

Heroine Reina’s combative with elitist tendencies.
Originally, she rivals Si-woo. Quiet me shouldn’t qualify.
This abnormal development puzzles me.
Why am I the rival?
I’m weak-a corpse without Acceleration + Parallel Circuit.
Even then, post-usage brings unbearable itching and darkening skies.
Now the protagonist too? Am I becoming the fated rival, not a heroine?

“Why’d you rush off yesterday?”
“The sky darkened?”
Duh.
“It was bright yesterday.”
Liar.
“Gates nearby cause that. Well, specifically S-rank monsters.”
“Check Hunter Gallery?”
“Gallery?”
“Yeah. Look-featured post with your clip.”
Si-woo showed his phone.

[Title: This Year’s Hanseong Academy Rookie.avi]

The video showed me annihilating dummies with Acceleration + Parallel Circuit. The skyrocketing kill count stood out.
My figure was mostly afterimages.
Dagger precision strikes on dummy cores. A Netube video titled with my name.
Varied comments:

-Who is she? Faster than America’s “Flash Gina.”
-Divine Sword Yoo Jin-seok’s sister Yoo Eun-ha. Read the description.
-Holy shit, those hip movements in the afterimages. Killing me.
-Fuck, she’s gorgeous at the end. A doll?
-LMAO the piercings. Why bother with makeup? Total badass.
-Next permanent E-rank hunter pig bitch
-Shut up, incel~
-She doesn’t know you exist, pig.

The video went viral overnight-5M+ views, massive likes.
Comments in countless languages. Korean ones were rare.
Views still climbing.
The uploader owes me-gained tens of thousands subscribers.

“Huh, everyone’s looking at me differently.”

Yesterday’s dismissive gazes now held awe or intrigue.
The girl who mocked me earlier just glared, fists trembling.

“With that performance? Obviously.”

But…
Why should I care?