Chapter 51: Landing on Inryong Island

—Rub, rub.

While Ruah participated in the penalty draw, Juju diligently polished the spikes on her gauntlets with a dedicated cloth.

She had processed and attached the C-rank rare metal that Himari had given her, turning her gauntlets into weapons effective against C-rank and lower monsters.

‘Little by little, step by step.’

She would hone her skills at the Academy, obtain a formal Hunter license, and continue to grow stronger.

And then, someday, she would become a respected high-ranking Hunter and save people. First, she had to be selected as a scholarship student in this camp. Especially since it was a guild led by Hunter Kim Jiyeon, she wanted to make a good impression.

“…!”

Hunter Kim Jiyeon, who had been talking with guild members in the distance, suddenly turned her head, as if sensing a gaze.

“Ah.”

Startled by the unexpected eye contact, Juju quickly averted her gaze, but Kim Jiyeon walked towards her.

“Student…”

Kim Jiyeon spoke, placing her massive prosthetic hand on the chair next to Juju. Juju finally composed herself and looked up.

“H-Hello.”

“Student, are you perhaps…”

“Y-Yes!”

—Thump!

Juju sprang up from her chair and bowed deeply to Hunter Kim Jiyeon.

“I’m Yoo Juju from Felix Academy!”

“…”

“I… I was wondering if you remember me—”

But Juju couldn’t finish her sentence.

Without warning, Kim Jiyeon pulled her into a hug.

“I saw your name on the list and thought it might be you, and it really is you.”

“…!”

“It’s good to see you, Juju. It’s been a long time.”

“H-Hunter…”

Reunited with the person who saved her life. Even though it was ten years ago, Juju’s eyes welled up with tears as she was overwhelmed with emotion.

“Thank you so much… for back then.”

“I just did what I had to do.”

“But, your arm… because of me…”

“Haha, don’t worry about it!”

Kim Jiyeon patted Juju’s back with her prosthetic hand.

“Like I said on stage, I was able to get this far thanks to that injury.”

Juju’s face brightened at her warm smile.

“Not just me, but you’ve changed in the past ten years too. You’ve grown a lot.”

“Ah… yes! I enrolled in Felix Academy earlier this year!”

“That’s great.”

Kim Jiyeon placed her right hand on Juju’s head. It was the same hand she had extended to Juju, who had lost her family ten years ago.

“Since I gained a new Hunter in exchange for my arm, I’ve been more than repaid.”

Kim Jiyeon ruffled Juju’s hair playfully.

“You seem to be a tank. Just like me.”

“Of course. You’re my role model, Hunter.”

“…Me?”

Kim Jiyeon’s eyes widened.

“Yes. You, the Hunter who saved me, are the coolest adult I know! That’s why I chose the tank position, just like you.”

“…”

“I have faith that you’ll always be an amazing Hunter.”

Kim Jiyeon looked down at Juju, whose eyes were shining with admiration, without a word.

“…Faith, you say.”

For some reason, her tone was a little colder than before.

“I understand. Then I’ll be watching you during the camp.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

“It was good to see you, Juju.”

Kim Jiyeon turned and walked towards the auditorium exit. Juju watched her go, placing a hand on her chest and taking a deep breath, wanting to cherish the heartwarming reunion.

“…I’ll do my best.”

Juju clenched her fists.

She couldn’t lose with her role model and idol watching.

“This is so uncomfortable.”

Ruah exited the restroom and sighed deeply. Her bound arms were extremely inconvenient. Even using the restroom just now took forever because she couldn’t adjust her clothes properly.

“Mm, mm.”

“What?”

She could now speak to Hwayeon without feeling nervous. Not because they were close… but because she knew Hwayeon couldn’t reply no matter what she said. It was like talking to a teddy bear.

“Mmph, mmph.”

Hwayeon handed Ruah her coat and pointed towards the restroom. It seemed she wanted Ruah to hold onto it while she used the facilities.

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Mmmph, mmmph.”

Leaving behind a mumble that could be interpreted as “Thank you,” Hwayeon quickly entered the restroom. Ruah draped the coat over her shoulder and leaned against a nearby wall to wait.

That was when it happened.

—Clank, clank.

A dull, metallic sound rhythmically approached. It was the sound of the Hunter with the massive prosthetic hand walking.

‘Kim Jiyeon?’

The Guild Master opened a door near Ruah and exited the auditorium.

“…”

Her expression was quite grim. Her eyebrows were furrowed, her eyes wide, and her lips tightly pressed together.

Finding her appearance somewhat unsettling, Ruah discreetly followed her out of the building.

—Clank, clank.

Kim Jiyeon turned a corner and walked towards the side of the building where no one was around. Leaning against the wall, she took something out of her pocket. A rectangular plastic object, about the size of a fist.

‘What is that, a vape?’

Just as Ruah was about to turn back, thinking she had needlessly followed her, Kim Jiyeon took a deep inhale from the device.

“Haaa…”

“…?”

‘Is that really a vape?’

Ruah stopped, observing Kim Jiyeon.

She closed her eyes, her body trembling slightly, and let out a hot breath. She seemed excessively pleased for it to be just nicotine.

‘Is she doing drugs or something?’

Kim Jiyeon took a few more puffs and then walked back the way she came. Ruah quickly returned to the auditorium before she could be spotted.

“Mmph!”

“Huh?”

Hwayeon glared at Ruah, holding her coat, which had fallen on the floor. Someone must have stepped on it while Ruah was gone, leaving footprints.

“Ah… sorry. I dropped it because I can’t use my arms.”

“Ugh…”

Anyway, now wasn’t the time to worry about Hwayeon’s coat.

<The preparation time will end shortly. Participants who are ready, please gather outside in the field with your weapons.>

—Whirr…

As Ruah and Juju, finished with their preparations, stepped out onto the field, they saw several light aircraft with spinning propellers waiting for them. These were their transportation to Inryong Island.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“A feeling?”

Ruah’s premonition was spot on. As soon as they boarded the aircraft, a guild member attached Ruah and Juju together and strapped parachutes to their backs.

The sight of multiple aircraft flying over the sea was spectacular, but Ruah couldn’t appreciate the scenery.

“Wow, this is my first time skydiving.”

“You think I’ve done this before?!”

Just like in a certain battle royale FPS game, the competition seemed to start with a descent from the sky. Ruah trembled, strapped to Juju’s front.

‘Skydiving with my arms bound…!’

She wondered if she would die of a heart attack before even reaching the island.

“Pull the ripcord after counting to ten after you jump, alright?”

“Okay!”

Unlike Ruah, Juju seemed enthusiastic.

“I’ll leave the parachute to you, Juju…”

“Trust me!”

After flying over the sea for about ten minutes, Inryong Island finally came into view below.

“Teacher, I think that’s it.”

“Y-Yes.”

Ruah cautiously opened one eye and looked down.

Inryong Island resembled a miniature version of Jeju Island. Except for the beaches, most of it was covered in forest, and a volcano with a distinct crater was located in the center.

‘Just like in the game.’

Having confirmed that it matched her memories, Ruah quickly closed her eyes again. Looking down any longer would make her regurgitate the lunch she had just eaten.

“Alright, countdown!”

The aircraft slowed down and began to circle. The other aircraft carrying participants also flew in a circular pattern.

“5, 4, 3, 2, 1!”

“Jump!”

As the floor of the aircraft opened, an unpleasant floating sensation washed over Ruah.

“Kyaaaaa!”

“Yahoo!”

Ruah’s scream and Juju’s cheer. The roar of the aircraft’s propellers quickly faded, replaced by the sound of rushing wind.

“Teacher, open your eyes! It’s amazing!”

“No way!”

—Thump!

—Thump!

After a few seconds of freefall, the sound of parachutes deploying filled the air. Juju pulled the ripcord.

—Whoosh!

“Whoa!”

A sudden upward pull. As their descent slowed, Ruah cautiously opened her eyes.

The view of Inryong Island, now much closer, came into view.

“L-Land west! There’s a river there!”

“Okay!”

Juju adjusted the parachute’s handles and changed direction.

As they descended further, a familiar notification sound rang out.

—Ding!

<Welcome to [Inryong Island].>

<This is a mystical island flowing with sacred power.>

‘Come to think of it, why does the system window appear?’

It was a process she had taken for granted in the game, but Ruah suddenly found it strange. They weren’t inside a Gate, so why could they only use equipped skills?

Before, she could rationalize it as a game mechanic, but the situation was different here.

————————————————-

[Currently Equippable Skills]

[Healing (Lv.MAX)], [Perfect Healing (Lv.MAX)], [Diagnosis (Lv.3)], [Hoshikawa-ryu Battoujutsu (Lv.1)], [Crackle (Lv.1)]

[Currently Equipped Skills]

[Healing (Lv.MAX)], [Hoshikawa-ryu Battoujutsu (Lv.1)], [Diagnosis (Lv.3)]

————————————————

‘I haven’t changed them since last time.’

Ruah replaced [Hoshikawa-ryu Battoujutsu] with [Perfect Healing]. Although she could only use it three times during the camp, she intended to use [Perfect Healing] to instantly heal Juju if she sustained any serious injuries.

“Teacher, I equipped [Wolf Assault] and [Iron Body], and left one slot empty, just like you said.”

“Good job!”

By then, they had descended considerably, and the river they were aiming for was within sight.

“I’ll land on the riverbank!”

Despite being her first time, Juju’s landing was unexpectedly perfect. The parachute didn’t get caught in the trees, and she didn’t fall.

“But why did you tell me to land on the river?”

“I-I need to… wash up.”

“?”

Ruah replied, wriggling out of the parachute harness.

“What do you mean?”

“…It’s a secret.”

Ruah quickly jumped into the river and submerged herself slightly. She couldn’t exactly tell Juju that she had a slight leak when they jumped.