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Episode 84: Hypnotist, Han Mina (16)

After completing her training, Lee Hye-ri washed up and sat down on the sofa. It was now time for Kang-san Oppa to come.

-I’m going home tomorrow after work. Marcus will come with me.
It was a stiff text like Kang-san Oppa.

‘Do you still not trust me?’
Lee Hye-ri was sad.
Ever since she said she was going to become a tanker, Lee Kang-san had tried to stop her several times, as if he didn’t trust her.
He said that she was still a child and didn’t know much, so she should give up.

Beep beep beep!

There was a sound of the door being unlocked. There was only one person besides her who could open the door like this.

“Hey, you’re here?”
“It’s been a while. It’s been half a year since I last saw you face to face.”
“Because the last time you came was during the entrance ceremony.”

If it were normal, Lee Hye-ri would have run to the blunt Lee Kang-san and chatted about this and that, but that wasn’t the case today.
Lee Hye-ri also knew why Lee Kang-san had come to see her.

“Hey, Hye-ri, how have you been?”
“Marcus is here too?”
“Haha, sorry. I told him that I didn’t have to come here, but he just wouldn’t listen.”
“It’s okay. I understand how stubborn Oppa is.”

Lee Kang-san said as if he didn’t understand what the two people were saying.

“Why are you sorry about that? As your older brother, I invited you here.”
“Hey, I told you to trust your younger sister. Is there a need to come all this way?”

Lee Kang-san sighed.

“Is it because of that person?”

Kim Si-woo, Lee Hye-ri’s private tutor.

“Yeah. Even so, having a man as your tutor is.”
“Would my tutor do something weird?”
“Yeah. Men are wolves…”
“Haa, Oppa, how long are you going to think of me as a kid?”
“What?”
“I think I clearly told Marcus Oppa, but I’m an adult now. I know everything, and I’ve been to a few dungeons. I still need experience, but I can tell what kind of person he is.”
“…”

Lee Kang-san kept his mouth shut.
He probably didn’t know that Lee Hye-ri would act this aggressively.
Lee Hye-ri was a good younger sister who always followed her brother’s orders without question since she was young.
Although she was a bit stubborn, she still mostly followed and relied on Lee Kang-san.
Yes, except for the fact that she wanted to be a tanker.

“I told you.”

Marcus shrugged behind Lee Kang-san.

“Ha, I see. I want to meet that tutor of yours in person?”
“…… What if I say no?”
“I guess I’ll have to ask that tutor for a parent-teacher conference.”
“Why are you a parent?”
“What?”
“You’re just my older brother. You’re not my parents.”
“Hye-ri, you right now…….”

Lee Hye-ri knew that these words would hurt her older brother Lee Kang-san.
After losing their parents, both siblings lived together, and Lee Kang-san acted as the parent and protected this family.
However, Lee Hye-ri couldn’t survive within his fence forever. Before graduating from the academy, she had to be recognized as Lee Hye-ri, not Lee Kang-san’s younger sister.
That way, she thought she would be evaluated fairly no matter which guild she went to .

Now, Lee Hye-ri wanted to show that she was strong not because she was Lee Kang-san’s younger sister, but because she was Lee Hye-ri. After all, she was an adult too.

‘Oppa doesn’t know why I want to be a tanker.’
‘He didn’t know that I want to be a tanker because I want to be a hunter who protects people like him.’
‘Neither did I have the courage to tell him what I really think.’

“I have to say something, too. I know you’re having a hard time, but isn’t this too much? Just trust me.”
“…….”

So, even colder words came out. Lee Kang-san’s expression became cold.

“Yeah. I’m not your parents. I can’t be your parents… But still, as your older brother and your only family. It’s something I have to do, because you’re my only family. That’s it.”
“Is it not because you don’t trust me?”
“No, it’s because I’m worried. I’m worried that that guy might do something weird.”
“What’s weird?”

Lee Kang-san kept his mouth shut at that question. It must have been difficult for him, who was more sexually conservative than her, to say that.

“Forcing you to do something or……”
“Don’t worry about that. That won’t happen. I’m not the kind of woman who would be subjected to something like that.”

Lee Hye-ri answered confidently.
She knew what he meant by the strange thing he was talking about, the way he was being forced to do something.
But she would never be forced to do something to Kim Si-woo. He still considered her just another student.

Rather, it would be different if Kim Si-woo was forced into it by her.

“…… Okay. That might not happen. But as your guardian, I need to make sure that man educates you well.”
Lee Kang-san behaved as an old-fashioned man seemed unwilling to give in to his prejudice.

“Pick up the spear and get into position. See how much you’ve improved.”
“If I pass, don’t ever talk about any other class I’m taking.”
“Understood.”

Lee Hye-ri took a stance, holding the spear, and Kang-san, opposite her, also raised his shield. An scene appeared, where the two tankers glared at each other.

“I’ll attack, so counterattack.”
“Come and see.”

Lee Kang-san swung his shield vigorously.
He showed no mercy.
He really looked like he was fighting villains and monsters.

A shield, the best shield and also the best weapon, fell upon her.

-Predicting the opponent’s shield’s path and using that power.

Kim Si-woo’s teachings came to mind. Lee Hye-ri’s eyes quickly found Lee Kang-san’s attack route.
And she aimed her spear at the center where she could feel the flow of power.

Phew!

The shield aimed at her body was deflected to the side.

Kuung!

A large ripple occurred in the living room floor that had been specially treated with magic.
Lee Kang-san had originally intended to scare his younger sister, and had no intention of continuing the attack.
However, he had never thought that she would be able to counter it so easily.

“…….”
“How is it? Now I can take on Oppa’s attacks. I don’t have to dodge.”

Marcus, who was behind Lee Kang-san, had shining eyes.
“Wow, look at this? You’ve grown up even more?”

When Lee Kang-san glared at Marcus at those words, he avoided eye contact and pretended not to hear anything.

“One time could be a coincidence, so let’s keep testing it.”
“None of your attacks will land.”
“Then, if I land even once out of five times, I’ll count you as defeated.”
“Isn’t that too cowardly?”
“You wouldn’t be bragging about taking on a single-target tank’s attack, would you?”
“Let’s talk after you guess, slowpoke Oh?”
“Okay. Try blocking this one too.”

A fierce duel between siblings began.
Lee Kang-san attacked with his shield, and Lee Hye-ri countered.
It was a fight that was slightly advantageous for Lee Hye-ri, thanks to Lee Kang-san controlling his strength so that the house would not collapse.

Lee Hye-ri, who had received all four attacks, waited for Lee Kang-san’s final attack.

‘Once… ‘

Even that stubborn older brother will acknowledge her.
So, if she endures this one time and gets his approval, nothing will stop her from getting tutored.

“Where did your mind wander?”
Lee Kang-san dug in at a speed he had never seen before. Lee Hye-ri raised her spear to counterattack.

“It’s not enough.”

Boom!

Ugh!

Lee Kang-san’s shield cut her spear in half.

“Your technique is good, but your counter-attacking power is lacking. I guess that great private tutor didn’t teach you this.”

‘Was it really as her Oppa had said?’
Lee Kang-san’s words had thorns. While his shield touched her body.

“Hye-ri, it’s my victory.”

‘How long has it been since we fought like this?’ Lee Kang-san thought.
Before their parents passed away, both used to fight often as siblings, but after Lee Kang-san became a hunter, they didn’t fight like this.

Lee Kang-san feels burdened by the need to protect his remaining family member, Lee Hye-ri.
Lee Hye-ri has a strange obsession with not being able to lose Lee Kang-san, the only person she can rely on.

The fact that they fought like this means that at least the strange sense of guilt that they had in their hearts after their parents’ deaths has disappeared.
Lee Kang-san may not know, but Lee Hye-ri has let go of that obsession a little bit.

Because Lee Hye-ri had the belief that no matter what happened, Lee Kang-san would never disappear.

“As expected, you’re strong, Oppa”, Lee Hye-ri said with a slightly relieved smile.

“Hye-ri, you’ve grown a lot too”, Lee Kang-san also smiled as he faced her. His face was surprised at his younger sister’s growth.

But apart from that.

“Still, I have to see the man in person.”
“Okay. A bet is a bet.”

***

After finishing class with Han Mina, Kim Si-woo received a call from Lee Hye-ri.

“Lee Kang-san?”
– Yes. If it’s not a nuisance, can I come tomorrow?
“Are you really ‘The Iron Wall’ Lee Kang-san?”
– That’s right.

Wasn’t Marcus enough last time?

-I’m sorry, teacher.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Are you doing your homework well?”
-Yes. I practiced today. I succeeded. Should I send you a picture?
“It’s okay. Stop sending me pictures that are good for SNS with the Oh Woon-wan vibe.”
-Isn’t that what you like?
“But, I like it.”

After finishing the conversation, Kim Si-woo hung up the phone.

“By the way, this is Lee Kang-san.”

It seems that Marcus wasn’t enough. That must mean he loves his little sister very much. Si-woo still can’t believe him suddenly appearing before him.

“It was just a fleeting encounter, but……”

There will be no way he would find out Kim Si-woo’s past identity.
Kim Si-woo was wearing a mask at that time. Only a very small number of people know the identity of Kim Si-woo under the mask.

“It’s a bit annoying that I can’t exchange few moves with him as Shadow Mask”, Kim Si-woo think it would be better to go out decisively.

***

“…….”
“…….”

Lee Kang-san, who came to Kim Si-woo’s house with Lee Hye-ri, glared at him without saying a word.
Si-woo also glared back at him for a moment.

“Your face looks unfamiliar. I thought that if you were skilled enough to teach our Hye-ri, then I would know you.”

As expected, he didn’t recognize Si-woo.
It was hard to recognize him based on the brief encounter they had during the River Gate raid.
That is, unless Si-woo showed him the fighting style he used when he was Shadow Mask.

“Korea is a big country, and there are many hidden geniuses.”
“Hmm… is that so?”
“Let’s have some tea.”
“… Thank you.”

When Kim Si-woo offered him tea made with chrysanthemum flowers, Lee Kang-san accepted the cup without saying a word.

“Let me get to the point. Why did you think Hye-ri had the qualities of a tanker?”
“Isn’t she the younger sister of the best tanker, Lee Kang-san? That’s why.”
“…… Is that all?”
“No way. From what I could see, she had potential. She’s fast, uses a spear, and has instinct that can deflect enemy attacks. It could be because of Lee Hye-ri’s obsession with being a tank, or because she’s literally Lee Kang-san’s younger sister.”
“…… Lee Hye-ri’s mobile strike is a dealing skill. It’s a skill that increases damage and helps you move quickly.”
“That’s right.”
“Are you saying that it’s okay to destroy all of a dealer’s potential?”
“No. That’s why I wanted to give her the role of an evasion tank even more.”
“…… Why is that?”
“If a hunter with the talent of an evasion tank can deal damage, then she can be more than enough to handle two people on her own.”

Lee Kang-san kept his mouth shut.
This is not a game.
It is a reality where the operator does not nerf a player because they have ridiculous performance, nor does he buff a player because they have abilities that are pushed aside by the mainstream.

So, if Lee Hye-ri can establish herself as an evasive tank capable of dealing damage, she will become someone that no one can ignore.
Rather, she will become the hunter that every guild wants. And Kim Si-woo was sure of it.

“Lee Hye-ri will become the hunter everyone wants in the future.”
Kim Si-woo continued speaking while looking at Mt. Lee Kang-san.
“She will become the best tank, beating the ranked #1 tanker standing in front of me right now.”

Lee Kang-san’s eyes, glaring at him, shone sharply. He was a person who could pressure people with just his eyes.
However, Si-woo was not the type of person to be pushed around by someone like that.

The two people’s eyes met in the air. The atmosphere became so tense that it seemed as if sparks were flying.

“So your goal is to make Lee Hye-ri the world’s best tanker?”
“Of course. Because Lee Hye-ri said she wanted to be the best.”

Lee Kang-san looked at Kim Si-woo without saying a word.

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