Chapter 426: Sword Practice, The Third Time (2)

And then, the next day.

-Kkang! Kkang! Kkang!

“Uuaaaahhh!”

“Hayaaaahhh!”

In the training room set up in Eunyoung Noona’s basement.

The sound of two blades clashing. And the fierce battle cries of two greatsword users echoed repeatedly.

Blows that were much heavier and faster than usual.

If previous sword training sessions were simply about building strength, technique, and split-second judgment, today’s sword training was a completely different style of practice.

That’s because today’s sparring session didn’t impose any restrictions on the use of sword-based awakening abilities; it was practically a mock battle that could be considered real combat.

-Kkaang! Kkaang!

The loud noises, impossible to produce with practice greatswords colliding, traveled up my arms several times.

If we had been wielding real swords, at least one of our swords would have snapped by now.

In the first place, this underground training facility itself wouldn’t have survived this long either.

But what was truly terrifying wasn’t the weight or speed of the swords, but the murderous glint in Noona’s eyes as she looked at me.

“Haa, haa, haa…”

“Don’t rest! Keep your sword up!”

“Heeu, aaaaaahhh!!”

Even when my arms throbbed from blocking Noona’s sword twice per second, forcing me to momentarily lower my weapon, Eunyoung Noona’s eyes, blazing with her awakened ability, absolutely refused to let me rest for more than three seconds.

It felt like facing an endlessly regenerating monster that never tired. And indeed, Eunyoung Noona’s current state was quite similar.

An overwhelming pressure, far greater than when I faced the Kraken on that island in Indonesia, continuously assaulted me.

Even though I had become much stronger compared to back then.

“Swing! Slash! Thrust!! If you think about resting, move your body!! Even if your arms fall off, don’t let go of your sword!!!”

“Aaaaaahhh!”

-Kkang!!!

Despite being Eunyoung Noona, her maniacal, ferocious cries were hard to associate with her usual self.

Truly fitting for her awakening ability, ‘Berserker of the Greatsword,’ she looked more like a berserker than anyone else once she fully unleashed her powers.

It wasn’t for nothing that her nickname during her active days was ‘Berserker Kang Eunyoung’.

If she had wielded a real sword against actual monsters, she probably could have cut down one or two S-rank monsters without hesitation, depending on the matchup.

Actually, hearing the news around the company lately, it seems she’s been tackling high-level dungeons with the CEO.

There was definitely a lot about Eunyoung Noona on the internet news too. Stories about how ‘Eun & Ok Co., Ltd.,’ whose status had relatively declined, was revived with Kang Eunyoung’s return.

Though, honestly, I never felt the company’s status was precarious even when Eunyoung Noona retired.

“Heok, heok, heok…”

“More, more, moooore!!!”

Still, to be honest.

Between the usual Eunyoung Noona and the current Eunyoung Noona, the Kang Eunyoung I respected more was the one she’s showing right now.

Hunter Kang Eunyoung, not Mother Kang Eunyoung.

Because it reminded me of her 12 years ago, protecting Hye-eun and me during that monster wave that turned the village into ruins.

I deeply respected Eunyoung Noona back then, who stood against monsters to protect us despite being retired for over five years.

And of course, that’s still true now.

“Hwaaaahhh!!!”

Pulling my arms, which had momentarily dropped, back up, I leaped towards Eunyoung Noona again with my sword.

Infused with the will to reach just a little closer to the Eunyoung Noona of that time.

An hour after the sparring match with Eunyoung Noona, where we both poured everything we had into it.

“Heok, heok, heok…”

“Haa, haa, haa…”

Eunyoung Noona and I lay on the training room floor, drenched in sweat, only letting out ragged groans.

We were sprawled out defenselessly, looking quite pathetic to any onlooker, but right now, we couldn’t even think about changing positions, let alone being conscious of our appearance.

It was a moment where our entire bodies were barely capable of focusing solely on the act of ‘breathing’.

Without any regard for who was more exhausted, Noona and I simply lay on the floor, repeatedly taking in as much air as possible.

“Heok, thank, you, for, your, hard, work…”

“Our Taekyung, haa, you worked hard too…”

Even though it was only a short training session of just one hour, the intensity was harsher than any other training we had done so far.

Especially since this was the first time I directly faced Eunyoung Noona in her ‘Berserk’ state.

Fitting for her unique awakening ability, ‘Berserker of the Greatsword,’ Noona possessed several exclusive skills usable only by berserkers.

One of those was the Berserk state she used in our sparring match just now.

It’s a unique skill of berserkers that causes excessive secretion of endorphins, pushing the body’s limits further and creating an untiring physique.

The reason I became so exhausted in just one hour after starting training was also because I had to face Eunyoung Noona’s Berserk state with my entire body.

The blows were on a completely different level compared to our previous sword training sessions.

Her sword, swinging much faster and heavier blows two to three times per second, was barely manageable even just to block.

If this had been a life-or-death battle, I would have died at least 10 times within that hour.

The only glimmer of hope is that I managed to land what would count as critical hits on Eunyoung Noona about five times.

The Berserk state was practically a finishing move for Eunyoung Noona.

In another sense, it’s a technique where if you don’t kill the enemy the moment you use it, you put yourself in danger.

Moreover, she didn’t just use the Berserk state in the recent sparring match. Eunyoung Noona unleashed every single skill she could possibly use, besides Berserk.

Conversely, the abilities allowed for me were strictly limited to ‘sword skills,’ so strictly speaking, it wasn’t an all-out war where both of us used our full strength.

Of course, it was a natural limitation since I had only asked Eunyoung Noona for training in swordsmanship.

This time was designated for sword training, not magic training.

Still, if it had been an all-out battle involving magic, recovery, and everything else, I suspect I might have ended up beating Eunyoung Noona.

In fact, even during the intense sparring, I thought more than once that Noona wouldn’t be able to counter magic at this very moment.

With this rate of growth, achieving victory over Eunyoung Noona solely through swordsmanship might not be a distant future.

“Landing five hits on Noona in just one hour… I never imagined our Taekyung would become this strong?”

“Still, in the end, Eunyoung Noona ‘killed’ me more times. As expected from an S-rank Hunter.”

“Taekyung has many other skills besides swordsmanship. Ah, I didn’t expect to be caught up already; time is truly cruel.”

“You haven’t aged much compared to your active days, so why talk about time being cruel?”

“I know you’re just saying that, but it still sounds nice to hear.”

…It’s not just empty words.

After gazing at Eunyoung Noona’s face, who was still showing no signs of decline as both a woman and a Hunter compared to her prime, I slowly got up from the hard training room floor.

Eunyoung Noona, whose body hadn’t recovered yet, remained lying on the training room floor.

“Please rest a little longer, Noona.”

“As expected, young people recover quickly…”

“I told you, you haven’t aged. Besides, it’s inevitable that your body gets exhausted after using Berserk.”

Just because you don’t feel fatigue for an hour doesn’t mean it actually suppresses physical exhaustion.

As a result, after the exhausting physical exertion of Berserk ends, it’s almost a given that the body becomes nearly paralyzed for a while.

That’s why you always need a trustworthy companion nearby when using this skill.

The outcome was almost predictable the moment a defenseless Hunter was left alone inside a dungeon.

…In situations like this, monsters could attack while you’re vulnerable.

-Malkang.

“Euhh?!”

While she was still lying on the floor, unable to move, I squeezed Eunyoung Noona’s breasts from above.

My action elicited a reflexive, lewd moan mixed with surprise from Eunyoung Noona.

-Malkang, malkang.

“T-Taekyung? You told me to rest…?”

“You can’t get up for about 30 minutes, right? I’ll keep you company so Eunyoung Noona doesn’t get bored. While also helping to relieve your desires little by little.”

“Hngg, W-what are you talking about, Taekyung…”

After using Berserk, the after-effects leave you almost paralyzed, unable to move.

That’s why you always needed a trustworthy companion nearby when using this skill.

Although she used Berserk because of my training, it meant Eunyoung Noona chose me as her trustworthy companion.

Being subjected to slightly lewd teasing by that trustworthy companion was ultimately the result of Eunyoung Noona’s choice.

Therefore, you shouldn’t easily entrust your defenseless body to others.

“Euhh…!”

Even just massaging her breasts through the thin tights, Eunyoung Noona quickly heated up, letting out cries.

Her two nipples, now erect and protruding through her clothes, proved her excitement.

Normally, she would have shyly resisted in various ways, calling it embarrassing, but the current Eunyoung Noona was incapable of even such timid resistance.

Whether she liked it or not, she had to entrust her body to me for the next 30 minutes.

“And, Eunyoung Noona, you were looking forward to it too, weren’t you? Like we’ve always done, the sex that follows after training.”

“……”

Unable to cover her face with her hands or turn her head away in embarrassment, Eunyoung Noona’s face flushed involuntarily.

There was no verbal consent, but her reaction alone was answer enough.

I began to explore her body, lying immobile on the training room floor, with a bit more boldness.

After all, having finished a more grueling training session than usual, I felt I deserved this much of a reward.

Both for me, and for Eunyoung Noona.