《Reincarnated as The LHS Protagonist!? (Loser Hides his Strength)》 Chapter 1 - Haruno "Hehehe... YOUR GIRL IS MINE! WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT, HUUUUUUUUU¡ª?!" The buff student shoved Haruno, knocking him flat on his face¡ªagain. "We''re dating, you know." Haruno''s breath caught. His eyes widened. ''Misaki...?! What...? Why...? Why would you date him?! Can''t you see what a scumbag he is?!'' His fingers dug into the cold floor. He kept his head down, shame washing over him. Hojin crouched beside him, voice dripping with mockery. "She''s got a fine ass, let me tell ya''. I buy her cheap flowers, and she blushes like crazy. She''s so easy. How come you never hit it, huh? You limp? Too bad... We already kissed." Haruno''s fists clenched. His nails bit into his palms. "Don''t... get mad..." he told himself. ''Stay calm..!'' He knew. He knew he could cave Hojin''s face in with one hit. "Yes...!!" Someone whispered, grinning as they read the scene, watching Haruno''s anger build. "What a loser. Leaving a girl hanging like that." "Maybe it''s for the best. Weaklings like him can''t protect her anyway... And Hojin is a B-Ranker, even if he''s not evaluated yet." Hojin''s friend snickered. Haruno had gotten used to the bullying. He could take the punches, the insults. But now, his childhood friend¡ªMisaki¡ªwas involved. Hojin had crossed the line. "YESSS...!!" The reader''s smirk grew as they scrolled. The next panel showed Haruno''s eyes turning blank white, his face shadowed in black. Shit was about to go down. "Damn... Haruno''s been getting beat down by Hojin all this time." "Hojin gets all the girls, everyone listens to him, and he still won''t leave Haruno alone¡ªjust because Haruno tried to protect Misaki when they were kids. But... isn''t this too much?" A girl sighed, crossing her arms. "Haruno''s just weak. Can''t he stand up for himself at least once?" She turned away, unimpressed. What they didn''t know¡ªwhat no one knew¡ªwas that Haruno wasn''t some helpless loser. He was a player. A secret hunter. A certified S-Ranker. Dungeons, monsters, world-class battles¡ªhe aced them all under a fake identity. If he wanted to, he could crush Hojin in an instant. "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES, COME ON!!!!" The reader slammed his feet against the sofa, his fingers shaking as he scrolled. "KICK THAT NTR BASTARD AND EVAPORATE HIS BALLSACK!!!" This was it. His last straw. Misaki was the one he loved¡ªthe one he never had the guts to confess to. And now, after all these years of torment, hearing Hojin say those words... All the pain. All the humiliation. 50 chapters of suffering. This was the breaking point. "COME ON!!!!!!!!!!" The reader screamed. His pulse pounded in his ears. His whole body leaned forward, bracing for the moment Haruno finally snapped. And then¡ª A memory flashed. His late uncle''s voice. "Haruno... People act cruel because they''re weaker than you. Be better. Don''t sink to their level. Revenge never feels good in the end." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The reader froze. "No." His breath hitched. His heart sank. The hype died in an instant. "NO, NO, NO!!" The reader''s protests grew louder, his hands gripping the edges of the book like he could shake sense into the pages. Haruno''s fingers loosened in the next panel. "NOOOOOO!!!!" The reader shouted. Haruno''s shoulders slumped. His breathing steadied. "You''re right, Uncle Wren... I''m... the worst for even thinking about hurting him. No... killing him." Haruno lifted his gaze to Hojin. "He just doesn''t know better. I''m stronger. Just endure. I''ve fought monsters stronger than him. He can never actually hurt me. So just... let go." His head lowered. His body followed. Hojin''s shoe pressed against his skull, pinning him to the school hallway floor. A smug grin stretched across Hojin''s face. "DON''T LISTEN TO THAT SENILE FUUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKKK!!!!" The reader lost it. He dug his fingers into his pillow, ripping the fabric apart. "HE''S LIKE JAPAN, HE SHOULD''VE BEEN BOMBED TWICE FOR PUTTING THAT RETARDED MINDSET INTO YOUUUU!!!!" His voice cracked from screaming, but he didn''t care. This was bullshit. Haruno gulped. "I''m... so sorry..." The reader froze. His expression twisted into pure disgust. "FUCK OUTTA HERE!!" He nearly threw the book across the room¡ªbut then, his eyes landed on the next chapter title. Chapter 151, 152, 153, 154. The final chapters. With a heavy sigh, Yuuto read through them all, until eventually reaching the final chapter. His jaw clenched. ''Grrr... I''m already here. I''ll finish it. Then I''m burning this shit and giving it away.'' He flipped the page, his last hope hanging by a thread. ''Please. Please, for the love of Christ, author... at least give him revenge.'' 5 Years Later... "What the fuck? A timeskip?" The reader''s eye twitched. "Woulda preferred if he fucked him up while still in school, but... whatever." He flipped to the next panel. A man stood alone, staring at his phone. The screen showed a couple''s photo on Instagrabam. Misaki. Smiling. Standing beside Hojin. "So... you really married him." Haruno exhaled softly and tossed his phone away, his gaze drifting toward the deep night sky. "It''s been ten years since I started hunting. There are hunters everywhere now..." "I''m sorry, Uncle Wren." His grip tightened around the enchanted knife in his palm. "I can''t do this anymore. I can''t... live this life anymore. I guess I was never meant to be a hero." A solemn smile crossed his lips. "Best if I die here... Goodbye, Misaki." The blade sliced through his throat. THE END. ¡ª ''.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................'' "...Okay." He closed the book¡ªgently. Then, without hesitation, he walked to the kitchen. He placed a pan on the stove. He grabbed the sharpest knife in the drawer and sliced the book into 100 pieces. Piece by piece. Then, he poured oil into the pan, tossed in the shredded pages, and watched as the story burned into ash. "Fuck this book." He snapped a photo of the blackened remains and posted his review on the author''s page. 1/5 Stars "Fuck you and your story. You don''t even deserve constructive criticism, hack of an author. Kill yourself like your main character, dirtbag. I hope you stay a virgin forever." He exhaled through his nose. "Well... there goes my weekend." Yuuto slammed his head against the bed, staring at the ceiling. Then, without another thought¡ª He passed out. Then, he heard a phone notification. ''Ahh... alarm. Fuck off... I set it off for today. I already worked out the rest of the week.'' Yuuto groaned as he woke up, his eyes groggy. He turned to the small table beside his bed, instinctively reaching for his phone. It was still dark outside. He glanced at the screen. ''I got a message, huh? Wonder from who? And... what happened to my phone? Looks different. An update?'' Blurry-eyed, he navigated to the messaging app, still half-asleep as he clicked on the notification. The sender''s name was hazy, but the outline looked like a woman. [Yes... I''m¡ª...] Yuuto squinted, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. ''...!!!'' [Yes... I''m seeing Hojin. I''m sorry... It''s... not your fault, Hakkun. I... just fell for him.] The message showed. His heart sank. ''Oh no.'' ''Oh nonononononononononono.'' He shot upright, eyes darting around the room, searching for a mirror. ''Oh fuck.'' His reflection stared back. ''I''m... in that shitty novel. As the main character.'' The phone slipped from his fingers, landing on the floor with a dull thud. His breath steadied. His grip tightened. A grin crept onto his face. ''LET''S...'' ''FUCKING...'' ''GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'' His eyes flashed blue, the prime strength of the hunter''s system surging through him. Somehow, he knew exactly how to activate it. He flicked open the item shop. Square glasses. Equip. The frames materialized instantly. He slid them on, his smirk widening as he stared into the mirror. ''Game on.''
Then, another notification lit up his phone. [REMINDER: TOMORROW, SCHOOL HUNTER RANK EVALUATION TEST!] His grin widened. ''Now I''ll show you how to use your powers better than that retarded uncle of yours.'' Chapter 2 - REVERSAL [note: changed it so that the manwha Yuuto was reading was 500 chapter long. And the point he''s inserted is roughly at chapter 150-ish. And that Uncle Wren''s alive. That fucker won''t escape reckoning.] "Remember, Haruno..." Uncle Wren''s voice was soft, almost comforting. "Family is the most important thing. So listen to me, alright? I only want you to be the best version of yourself." "Alright, Uncle!" Morning came. The sound of water splashing against porcelain echoed through the bathroom. Yuuto stood at the toilet, whistling. "WOOOOOOOOOO, life could be a dreeeaam~" He glanced down. At the bottom of the toilet bowl, Uncle Wren''s photo stared back at him. Yuuto pissed on it without a second thought. "Away from shitty uncle''s influenceee~~" ''Family''s important. No argument there¡ªas long as they''re not actively sabotaging you like your old fart of an uncle.'' ''That uncle had practically told Haruno he''d burn in hell if he didn''t unconditionally love him and listened to him at all times; that he can''t be wrong. That wasn''t family. That was a selfish bastard who couldn''t see beyond his own moral cage.'' ''A typical boomer, convinced his way was the only way. And that belief was what pushed Haruno to kill himself despite being the strongest, most broken hunter there is.'' ''And God forbid Haruno ever thought for himself. If his views didn''t align with Uncle Wren''s? He was bad in every way. At least, according to Uncle Wren.'' With a smirk, he flushed. The image swirled but remained stubbornly stuck to the bottom. ''Eh, I''ll toss it out later.'' Right now¡­ He sat at his desk, scrolling through the web. ''I know everything about this world from the manhwa, but nothing beats good ol'' research.'' This world was Earth. But 20 years ago¡ªblah blah blah, dimensional gates appeared. Blah blah, monsters invaded. Blah blah, mass panic, destruction. Humans awakened superpowers¡ªinhale¡ª Blah blah, ranking system for hunters. (The ones who enter gates, kill the boss, and close them.) Blah blah, ranking system for gates. (Difficulty is random, but the average keeps creeping higher every few months.) And, of course¡ªI''m the only one who can get stronger. Shun Haruno. Seventeen years old. Second-year high schooler. Bullied. A known weakling with no family¡ªexcept for good old Uncle Wren. "What?" Yuuto thought, staring into an imagined invisible camera. "Uncle Wren''s still alive in this story. This isn''t Spider-Petersonne: The Awesome." The premise was simple. Stronger gates kept appearing over the decades. Hunters eventually couldn''t keep up. Haruno¡ªthe only one who could actually grow stronger¡ªwas humanity''s last hope. The LHS (Loser Hides his Strength) element was the selling point. Readers ate that up¡ªthe strong acting weak. But this story pushed it too far. It ripped apart at the seams. There was no payoff. Which is why it SUCKED. At some point, even the strongest hunters hit their limits. Haruno was the only one who could break through. So naturally, he soloed the final boss, won the ultimate reward, and what did he do? He gave the system to everyone else. From the shadows, of course. Because wise Uncle Wren once said, "You shouldn''t do things for glory or fame. You should do them because it''s ''rIgHt.''" And because Haruno was so just, so humble, so selfless¡­ If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Everyone else got infinitely stronger than him, more famous, more successful - while he ended up in poverty. And then¡­ He killed himself. ''A professional punching bag, through and through.'' ''There was a time when other hunters respected him, at least professionally. That ended the moment he handed them power on a silver platter.'' ''Motivated by his "teammates" and Uncle Wren to do the right thing.'' ''The truth? They were all power-hungry fucks. Uncle Wren included. He also wanted power over Haruno, which he had so much until he got him killed.'' ''And the second they got what they wanted¡­'' ''They ghosted him.'' "Well, shiver me timbers¡ªhere''s what I''LL never do!" Yuuto thought, leaning back in his chair, phone in hand. 7:40 AM. "Still got time before class¡­ Ah, wait¡ªI have no idea when class even starts." His screen lit up with incoming messages. [HAKKUN, Please respond!] ¨C Misaki. [Did I do something wrong?!] [Please call me when you wake up.] [We''ll walk to school together today, okay? It''s been a while, after all, haha!] [I miss you, okay? I don''t want us to be at odds¡­] [You''re not upset about me dating him or anything, right? He''s just someone I like, but that doesn''t mean I hate you!] [We''ll ALWAYS be friends!] Yuuto stared at the messages, his expression flat. ''Right¡­ She''s used to Haruno scrambling to text back the second she messaged. But when she sent that last night, I left her on read.'' ''Guess her pride and ego took a hit. Oh well, she better get used to it.'' "That ''always be friends'' bullshit doesn''t work on me. You ghosted him a month after you started dating NTRBully #421, dodging his texts with the ''I''m just busy'' excuse¡ªuntil eventually, he stopped trying." Yuuto sighed, tossing his phone onto the bed. ¡­ Or so he meant to. Instead, the phone shot through the house''s wall, shattering against the pavement outside. "¡­Fuck. Right. I''m an S-Rank hunter now." He flexed his fingers, staring at his hands. "Better get used to controlling that." After searching his computer for his school''s start time, he rummaged through his closet, pulling out a uniform that closely resembled the one he always wore in the manhwa. "Alright. Let''s bounce." Yuuto stepped outside, the golden morning sun shining above. "What a great day." Meanwhile. "Misa-chan¡­ Where are you going so early?" Hojin''s voice was groggy as he propped himself up on the bed, shirtless, watching Misaki get dressed. "Uhm¡­ I¡­" She hesitated, fidgeting. "I just want to catch up on classes. And¡­ It''s still a secret, you know. Us. We can''t be seen together yet." She grabbed her bag and neared the door. "I get it. We''ll meet at school, then?" Hojin smirked, stretching lazily. "And after¡­ I might need some more complimentary lessons. Especially after last night." He winked. "S-sure!" She nodded quickly¡ªtoo quickly¡ªbefore slipping out. Hojin''s gaze narrowed. "Huh¡­" "Guess she''s off to hold that wimp''s hand or something. Pshh. I''ll humiliate him for it later." He yawned, rolling over. Back to Yuuto. "Alright. Power check." Status Menu. Shun Haruno Level: 50 Rank: Lower S-Rank Strength: 150 Agility: 100 Vitality: 200 Intelligence: 50 Awareness: 100 HP: 20,000 / 20,000 MANA: 5,000 / 5,000 "And now for the frosting¡­" Class: Ice Assassin. ''Having a system in a manwha while being a main character must also mean having a secret class. Even after giving everyone a system, no one had this class¡­ Until, well, someone did.'' "He wasn''t remarkable. The system was the only good thing about him. And if he just acknowledged that, among other things, he would''ve had a much better life." Yuuto let out a slow exhale. "Anyway. Skills." SKILLSET: KNIFE DAGGER [LV.MAX] ¨C Summon an ice-cold dagger, as sturdy as the strongest steel. [USAGE: 100 MP] BERSERK [LV.MAX] ¨C Enter a state of rage at will. All stats are tripled, but at the cost of your health. [USAGE: 15,000 HP | COOLDOWN: 24 HOURS] KILLER INSTINCT [LV.MAX] ¨C Emit a predator''s aura, striking fear into enemies nearby, paralyzing them for 10 seconds. [USAGE: 2,000 MP] COLD BREEZE [LV.9] ¨C Become a ghost. Invisible to the naked eye, but a freezing wind gives away your presence. [55MP/s | COOLDOWN: 1 MINUTE UPON DEACTIVATION] COLD IMMUNITY EQUILIBRIUM [LV.4] ¨C Extreme resistance to cold damage¡ªbut cripplingly weak to heat. "Lucky it''s chilly today," Yuuto thought, skimming through the list. IMMUNITY [LV.2] ¨C Lethal poisons only have mild effects. Resistance improves with level. "Decent. But I want the BIG GUNS." Yuuto scrolled further. DEFENSE [LV.1] - The higher this skill gets, the more difficult it is to hurt you! REGENERATION [LV.1] ¨C Heals 10 HP per second. [PASSIVE] FINAL STANCE [LV.1] ¨C A fatal hit won''t kill you. Instead, all stats except HP double for 10 seconds. However, you must kill your opponent within that time¡ªor die instantly. [COOLDOWN: 1 HOUR] IGLOO [LV.1] ¨C Create a safe zone in the shape of an igloo. Higher levels increase its size¡ªbut also its mana cost. [USAGE: 8,000 MP] Yuuto exhaled, stepping back as he took in the full picture. "Heh. Poetic, almost." ''The skills tied to survival and preservation were at their weakest, while the ones designed for killing were maxed out.'' "Guess the author was paying attention to Haruno''s mental state and his self-destructive tendencies." His mind drifted to the final chapter. Haruno''s suicide. His gaze drifted upward, the sky stretching wide above him. "Still a shit story, author. Probably just a fluke." "H-HAKKUN!!" A familiar voice rang out in the distance. "W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING SO EARLY?! I WAS ON MY WAY TO MEET YOU SO WE COULD WALK TOGETHER!" ''Speaking of ''destructive''¡­'' Yuuto''s eyes narrowed as he spotted her¡ªMisaki, sprinting straight toward him as he made his way to school. ''Ho, ho, ho¡­ Merry¡ª'' Before he could finish the thought, she crashed into him, hugging him tightly, her hand instantly locking around his. ''¡­Fucking Christmas.'' Yuuto exhaled. ''Time to give you a taste of your own medicine.'' Chapter 3 - Ego Yuuto walked down the street, Misaki clinging to his arm. Her grip was firm, her body pressing lightly against him¡ªespecially where her chest brushed his sleeve. "You¡­ look good today! And those glasses are fake, right?" she asked, her voice carrying a teasing lilt. "They are," Yuuto nodded, offering nothing more. "Hehe, you''re so weird, Hakkun." She giggled. "But it suits you! I like it!" Her words sounded innocent enough. But Yuuto didn''t buy it. He knew¡ªeverything she said, every little move she made¡ªwas a setup. ''This is where most protagonists fumble these kinds of interactions.'' "Hakkun¡­ you''re so distant all of a sudden," she murmured. Yuuto barely reacted. We literally didn¡¯t talk for one day. Guess ghosting her really bruised her pride. "Not responding to my texts? It¡¯s like you don¡¯t care about me at all anymore¡­ So tell me what happened! Let¡¯s work it out together..." Her voice softened, her gaze shifting away with a subtle frown. Yuuto studied her carefully. He knew exactly what this was. ''An inexperienced protagonist would fall into one of four traps in response to this blatant attempt at emotional fishing.'' 1. The Flustered Denial: At the slightest hint of physical attention, they panic and backpedal. "Uh¡­ I-I''D NEVER HATE YOU! W-what are you saying¡­? It''s just¡­ You dating him¡­ I-I''m just worried for you, okay¡­?" 2. The Desperate Confession: Caught in the moment, they break down and spill their feelings. "I¡­ Actually. Misaki¡­ There''s something I never told you. I¡­ Love you." 3. The Forced Indifference: Wrathful, he distances himself away from her. "Nothing''s wrong. There''s nothing to talk about." At first glance, this may seem like the best response¡ªdetached and unemotional. However, forced indifference is still a reaction, proving she affects him. This paints him as the problem in her eyes, giving her justification to distance herself and cut him off. By acting cold and unapproachable, he allows her to frame herself as the victim trying to fix things while he''s the one shutting her out. In the end, it reinforces her control over the situation rather than undermining it. 4. The Aggressive Rejection: They lash out in bitterness/or ignore her altogether, burning the bridge entirely. "Let go of me. The moment you hung out with that piece of shit, you became my enemy!" "I''m not talking to you anymore. You have that bastard, don''t you!?" ''Every single one of those responses was a mistake. Each one fed her ego, validated her, and reinforced her control over the dynamic. They let her dictate the emotional narrative.'' Yuuto¡¯s gaze remained unreadable as he recalled how Haruno had made every one of those mistakes. ''The last two, especially, sealed his fate with that whore.'' ''They handed her the perfect excuse to shift all blame onto him¡ªhis ¡°immaturity,¡± his ¡°jealousy.¡± It left her feeling righteous in cutting him off, rewriting the story in her favor. Even when he tried to reconnect later, it was already over. She had him neatly filed away as the pathetic, obsessed ex, ghosting him whenever it suited her, keeping him at arm¡¯s length.'' Yuuto glanced at Misaki. She sighed, pressing herself further against him, tightening her grip¡ªtightening the hold of her chest against his bicep. ¡°¡­Hakkun? Please, say something¡­ I don¡¯t want us to fall apart¡­¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Yuuto almost laughed. ''Now, if I just wanted to cut this attention whore off, I¡¯d pick number three or four. I don¡¯t care about being with her, or how she sees me.'' ''But she falls into the category of people I fucking hate. Exploitation, after all, is only just when I do it.'' ''Cutting her off isn¡¯t enough.'' I want to humiliate her. The thought burned in him¡ªa deep, simmering desire to make her feel helpless. ''I feel angrier than usual. I wonder why.'' He concluded before brushing the thought off. "Oh, there''s something, Misaki," Yuuto said with a sigh. "What is it!? You know you can tell me anything!" she urged, her head snapping toward him. "When you told me you were dating Hojin..." he began, watching as she instinctively leaned in. ''I knew it. He''s jealous, isn''t he¡­?'' she thought, anticipating his inevitable confession. "I decided to get a girlfriend too!" he said with a smile. "Oh, Hakkun¡­ I told you, it''s not your fault¡ª" Her words trailed off, her eyes widening as the realization hit. ''Wait, what?'' That wasn¡¯t the reaction she expected. ''No. I definitely misheard that. It¡¯s Haruno, after all. He¡¯s¡­ nice. He¡¯s not a skirt chaser.'' "You¡­ want me as your girlfriend¡­?" "No," he replied flatly, his expression unreadable. "You already have a boyfriend. It would be unfair to ask that of you." ''WHAT?! UNFAIR!?'' Her lips nearly parted at his words. "I want a different girl as my girlfriend," he continued as they walked, now approaching the school grounds. ''He''s just trying to make me¡­ feel bad.'' "So," Yuuto said, glancing at her, "can you let go of my arm? I don¡¯t want other girls to misunderstand or anything. You understand, right?" ''WHAT!?'' Her lips parted in shock as she froze in place, forcing him to stop as well. "Uhm¡­ What¡ªwhat are you saying¡­ haha? Misunderstand? Everyone knows we''re besties!" she said urgently. "Well, maybe," he conceded. "But I do want to try my luck. And if you''re around, they¡¯ll surely be jealous, since you¡¯re so pretty. So, please, let go?" "Wha... I... Uhm... Ah... Let go..? Really, Hakkun? You want me to let go of you...That badly...?" She said, her voice now timid as she frowned, acting hurt. ''Damn, she''s that desperate for control over him? Hm. Wonder why. Her attention whoring in the manwha wasn''t really expanded upon other than her just being that way. Oh well. I don''t really care about her reasons.'' "You''re serious about Hojin, right? If he were here, would you still be holding onto me like this?" Yuuto said, his voice composed. "O-Of course I''d hold you!" She said with a smile, "He trusts me, after all~.." "Oh... I see." He looked down, Misaki smirking calmly to herself. "You two''ve already decided on boundaries, then... And holding me like this is the okay zone?" "Of course~.." Misaki said almost joyfully, regaining her composure. "We''ve already set those boundaries... Me holding you like I always used to... If he took something like that away, I''d never have dated him in the first place!" Yuuto glanced at how her chest pressed against his arm. ''Desperate, are we? I guess I''ll have to be bolder than that to shake her foundation.'' "I see," he murmured, his expression becoming unreadable as they reached a secluded corner behind the lockers. Then¡ªwithout warning¡ªhe pinned her against the wall. His palm landed just above her head, trapping her in place. Her breath hitched. ''Waah... Haah... What... Haah...'' Misaki''s eyes widened, her pulse spiking, her breathing shallow as she locked onto his sharp gaze. His lips hovered just inches from hers. "If I kissed you now..." Yuuto murmured, his voice low, deliberate. She froze. "Would that still be within those boundaries?" A shudder ran through her. "Ha... Hakkun... Haru...no..." she stammered, barely able to form words. Her cheeks flushed, her heart fluttering, a mix of excitement and panic crashing over her. Yuuto leaned in further, his breath teasing her skin. "If I ran my fingers through your hair... pulled you closer..." His other hand hovered just over her head, his warmth brushing against her scalp. She could feel it¡ªalmost leaning into his touch despite herself. "I... Uhm... Not... Ahh..." she stuttered, her body betraying her as Yuuto inched even closer. Her eyelids fluttered shut. Her lips pressed together, readying herself for his lips. ''Just... haah... what... what..ever...'' Her mind went blank as she anticipated his kiss. Then¡ªhe whispered against her ear. "Hojin''s awfully lenient with you," Her eyes snapped open. Her breath caught in her throat. "Though, I''d still bet on him being pretty pissed about this... But if you say it''s alright..." His smirk deepened. A jolt of realization crashed over her. Misaki shoved him away, her body trembling, eyes wide as if she''d seen a ghost; her pulse pounding in her ears. Yuuto stood tall, his chin up, watching her with a confident gleam. "Huh? Was I too close, Misaki?" His voice dripped with feigned innocence. "Why''d you push me away? I thought you didn''t mind us being close¡­" "I... HAAAH...!!!" She tried to shout, to accuse, but an argument wasn''t being formed in her mind. ''W-What... This... He¡ª!!'' Her thoughts spiraled as she stumbled back, eyes wide with disbelief. Then, without another word, she spun on her heel and bolted down the hallway. Yuuto smirked, hands casually tucked into his pockets. ''Child''s play...'' He took a deep, satisfied breath before narrowing his eyes. Lifting his arm, he squeezed his bicep. ''Sturdy as steel. Unless I really applied pressure, I wouldn''t even be able to dent this muscle.'' His gaze drifted to Misaki, who had been pressed against him the whole time. ''Something tells me she knew Haruno was full of shit with his LHS act.'' ''In which case, it makes sense why she kept trying to keep him close, keep him docile. If she ever suspected he was "Ice Assassin," she had plenty of chances to feel him out whenever he saved her and¡­ compare.'' ''Oh well. I''ve got more important things to worry about.'' His eyes flicked up the hallway, landing on the sign ahead. RANK EVALUATION TODAY. ''Securing my future comes first. And by extension, some hard cash.'' He thought with a smirk as he walked. Chapter 4 - Kiril STARTER HIGH. A school for normal humans. The same one Uncle Wren enrolled Haruno in, so he could "live a normal life"¡ªbecause "he deserves a normal childhood despite his power." "Listen, Haruno. You have powers, true. But you mustn''t use them selfishly. Your powers are just a trait. You shouldn''t abuse them, or they''ll consume you." "If used in the wrong hands... it''s like a knife." "Don''t make that mistake, Haruno. Always be humble." Bullshit. Yuuto walked the halls, his thoughts sharp. ''Man, why did I even read that stupid manhwa?'' He scoffed to himself. ''I guess I kept hoping for a payoff. But I should''ve seen the signs¡ªthe same bullshit Uncle Wren spews, and Haruno just eats it up.'' As he walked, his eyes landed on a classroom door. 2-2. ''Haruno''s classroom.'' ''Well, whatever. I''ve got nothing better to do. Might as well wait here in his seat till school starts.'' --- 1 hour later --- "Haruno." A voice called out, and the seat beside Yuuto shifted. ''Ah... him.'' Yuuto''s gaze softened as he looked at the silver-haired teen beside him. Kiril Baranov. A Russian foreigner. His homeland was wiped out by an SSS-rank gate¡ªa disaster so massive that the ruins still stand, untouched - as well as the gate and monsters that are still being held-off by top-ranked hunters from invading other countries. The survivors scattered across the globe. His parents died in the war. Now... "Happy to see you! Did you sleep well?" Kiril smiled warmly. ... Haruno and Wren were all he had left. Not by blood, but Kiril was the kind of friend you only found in stories. "Yeah. How are you?" Yuuto asked calmly. ''Right.'' ''It''s today.'' Yuuto''s gaze darkened. ''Kiril''s death. I''m kind of angry about that, since he''s amongst the very few characters who were okay in the story, and didn''t deserve to get shit on.'' "I''m doing great... It''s just¡ªhaha¡ªwhy did they even make us come to school today? We''re nothing like hunters..." Kiril laughed awkwardly, rubbing his temple. "The whole day''s gonna be dedicated to the exam too," he muttered, already exhausted. Yuuto scoffed. "Dumbass, do you really not know why they called us in? Who''s gonna stroke their ego if we''re gone?" Kiril''s eyes widened. His head snapped toward Yuuto. "Haruno... that''s¡ª" ''Ah. Right.'' ''I''m Haruno.'' ''While I''m against being the punching bag, I''d rather not make him suspicious¡­ How do I salvage this¡ª'' "Hilarious!! Hahahaha!" Kiril suddenly burst out laughing. "I didn''t even know you could be that funny!" Yuuto exhaled slightly, watching him crack up. ''Also ''Ah, right''¡­'' ''Kiril was really lenient with Haruno. That''s how he kept his powers a secret from him¡ªeven after a decade of friendship.'' "Hearing you swear¡­ wow. I think I have better odds winning the lottery," Kiril quipped, finally calming down. A pause. Then, his tone shifted. "Nothing happened to you, right?" "Oh, don''t worry about it." Yuuto leaned back. "I guess I''m just mad. Misaki''s dating Hojin, after all." "WHAT!?" Kiril shot upright, eyes wide. "Why the hell would she date that §®§å§Õ§Ñ§Ü?!" His face twisted in disbelief and disgust. "No idea," Yuuto murmured, resting his chin on his palm. "Guess there''s some hidden charm to him?" "Charm of the penis breath, cyka?!" Kiril spat. Yuuto tried to keep a straight face. ¡­But even he wasn''t ready for that one. "Pfft¡ªgod...damn it..." His smirk cracked as he lowered his head, struggling to stifle a chuckle. "Wouldn''t that have passed onto Misaki, though?" Yuuto added, still grinning. "Didn''t smell anything when I saw that §ä§å§á§Ú§è§Ñ. Maybe it moved back to Hojin when they made out?" Kiril exhaled, giggling along. Then, his eyes widened. "Ah, Haruno, I''m... I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to insult¡ª" "Don''t worry about it," Yuuto waved him off, steadying his laughter. "I know you always hated her guts, and yesterday I understood why. You''re not cussing at her enough, if anything." Kiril blinked. Then, his face lit up like a firecracker. "§¡§ç, §ä§í §Õ§Ñ§Ø§Ö §ß§Ö §á§â§Ö§Õ§ã§ä§Ñ§Ó§Ý§ñ§Ö§ê§î! That §ã§å§Ü§Ñ (bitch), that §ê§Ý§ð§ç§Ñ (slut), that §Ô§â§ñ§Ù§ß§Ñ§ñ §à§Ò§Ö§Ù§î§ñ§ß§Ñ (filthy monkey)! I swear, I see her and I wanna vomit¡ª" This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. His voice picked up as he started ranting in pure Russian fury. "§¿§ä§Ñ §ä§å§á§Ñ§ñ §á§Ú§Ù§Õ§Ñ! §¿§ä§Ñ §Ö§Ò§Ñ§ß§Ñ§ñ §Õ§å§â§Ñ! §³§ã§Ñ§ß§Ñ§ñ §Þ§â§Ñ§Ù§î! §¤§ß§Ú§ð§ë§Ñ§ñ §Ü§à§â§à§Ó§Ñ! §±§à§Ý§ß§Ñ§ñ §Ò§Ö§Ù§Þ§à§Ù§Ô§Ý§Ñ§ñ §ç§å§Ö§ä§Ñ! This §Ò§Ý§ñ§Õ§î probably can''t count to ten without using her fingers! §Á §Ö§Ò§Ñ§Ý §Ö§× §Ó §â§à§ä¡ª" Kiril stopped mid-sentence, then waved his hands. "¡ªNo, no, I take that back, I wouldn''t touch that §ã§â§Ñ§ß§í§Û §Þ§å§ã§à§â with a ten-meter pole! Even if she begged me!" By the time he finished, his face was red, breath heavy, and hands gripping the desk like he just had a war flashback. Yuuto watched in amusement, resting his chin on his palm. "In Russia, we have a saying for girls like her," Kiril spat. "Pretty sure you already named all of them." Yuuto smirked. Kiril scoffed. "I barely scratched the surface. If you really wanna curse, learn Russian¡ªthere''s an unlimited supply of swear words." Yuuto chuckled but then tilted his head. "... There''s something I wanna ask." "Why did you hate her so much? Even before what I just told you?" "Ah..." Kiril''s eyes widened for a split second, caught off guard. "That''s because¡ª" "ALRIGHT, EVERYONE, BE SILENT!" The teacher''s voice cut through the room. Kiril and Yuuto turned their attention to the front. "Today, our humble abode¡ªalong with other schools¡ªwill have a joint session. We''re heading on a field trip into a C-Ranked Gate! This will be the ranking evaluation test!" The teacher announced proudly. "Our goal today is to support one of our own as he gets his rank evaluated¡ªour very own Hojin Daisuke!" He gestured grandly toward the door, welcoming Hojin inside with open arms. ''That oaf was always late in the manhwa for normal lessons, but when it came to stroking his ego? Right on time.'' Yuuto thought as he watched him enter. Buff. Tanned. Piercings. Hojin soaked in the cheers from the classroom. Misaki wasn''t here, but if she were, she''d be cheering too. His chin lifted slightly as the teacher continued. "A B-Ranker from OUR SCHOOL!" "Please, please, teacher..." Hojin raised a hand modestly. "I''m still not a B-Ranker yet. They need to evaluate me first..." And the class erupted in admiration. "He''s so humble!" "A real role model!" The teacher bowed slightly. "Don''t be so modest. You''ll shock the other schools to their very core with your strength. Please, look out for us in the Gate." Hojin smirked. "Of course, teacher! Who the hell do you take me for?!" Then, his gaze slid toward Yuuto and Kiril. Neither of them clapped. ''Heh... Guess he''s still pissed about that bitch. Forgot his place for a second¡­'' Hojin''s smirk lingered. ''Fucker... The Gate is a dangerous place. Anything could happen in there. If I were to accidentally slam my fist against that Rusky friend of yours instead of a monster...'' Hojin flexed his fingers as he stood. ''Everyone will be on my side.'' ''I''ll make sure of that.'' Kiril was one of the few who knew that Hojin tortured Haruno just for fun. But even among those who knew, he was one of the rare ones who actually hated him for it. "I''ll look after everyone. Just come to me!" Hojin nearly roared. The classroom exploded with cheers. ''...I need to enter that Gate.'' Yuuto''s mind sharpened. ''In the manhwa, Haruno stayed home¡ªjust like good old "wise" Uncle Wren advised. And that''s where Kiril died.'' His eyes narrowed. ''200 students. Only 4 casualties. And Kiril was one of them? It almost feels like 3 students were killed just to cover up for one. Kiril being a casualty was too specific, considering he''s Haruno''s best friend.'' Yuuto''s fingers tapped against his desk. ''So, before I reveal that I''m a hunter and secure my future... I want to test something, as well. A theory I had while reading this manhwa.'' He stood up. "Teacher." Kiril flinched. "Haruno?!" He whispered urgently. "What are you doing?" Yuuto''s voice was calm. "I want to go to the Gate as well." Silence. The teacher''s eyes widened, and students'' heads snapped in his direction. "Haruno''s going...?" "Isn''t he dead-scared of dungeons? He can barely look people in the eye..." Whispers spread like wildfire. The teacher exhaled, shaking his head. "Haruno, I can''t make last-minute changes. I''m sorry, but you should''ve thought about this at least two days ago. I already relayed the student count to the association¡ªthere''s no room for mistakes." Yuuto glanced at Hojin. Hojin remained silent, his gaze flickering between Yuuto and the teacher. After a few beats, Yuuto sighed. "Alright¡­ Sorry for interrupting." He sat back down beside Kiril as the teacher resumed Hojin''s praise. Kiril leaned in. "What were you thinking, cyka?! You want him to bully you even more?" His voice was urgent, his glare sharp. Yuuto muttered, "I just wanted to test something..." His gaze bore into Hojin, who looked satisfied. Kiril scoffed. "Hope that was worth it." Yuuto grimaced faintly. "¡­You have no idea." Then, as if flipping a switch, his tone turned completely casual. "By the way, totally off-topic¡ªyou''re not gonna swap seats with me, right? ''Cause I really wanna go on that trip." "No way, I wanna see it." Kiril''s gaze sharpened. "Those fucking things that ruined Russia¡ªI wanna look at them up close as they get slaughtered." His fists clenched. Then, his tone shifted. "That aside, if your uncle knew what you just asked, he''d be very disappointed! You know he doesn''t want you in danger!" "Yeah, you''re right. He really cares about me," Yuuto muttered with a shrug, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "§¢§à§Ø§Ö §Þ§à§Û... Something''s really wrong with you today, Haruno." Kiril exhaled. LATER The bus had just left, rolling out of the school gates with two A-Ranked Hunters escorting it. Needless to say, the students were buzzing with excitement. Misaki had avoided Yuuto''s gaze all day. And now? Yuuto sat alone in the empty classroom, watching the bus disappear in the distance. The substitute teacher had left minutes ago, scrawling a lazy "SELF-STUDY" note on the chalkboard before heading out. Yuuto exhaled as he pushed his chair back. ''Alright¡­'' He rose from his seat. ''Time to go.'' With a deep breath, he murmured: "COLD BREEZE [LV.9]." His form shimmered¡ªthen vanished. He took a step, raising a palm to block the sunlight¡ªonly to watch the rays pass right through it. ''I can still see myself clearly¡­ but to the ordinary eye? I''m invisible. Even most hunters wouldn''t notice me... At least, that''s how it worked in the manwha.'' His gaze flicked to his MANA bar. MANA: 4,890/5,000 ''Just enough to slip out of the school unnoticed.'' As he approached the hallway, groups of students walked past him¡ªchatting, laughing, completely oblivious to the invisible figure standing just a meter away. "Brr¡­ Felt a chill just now." "Odd¡­ The windows are all closed." They shrugged it off and continued walking. Yuuto smirked. ''Neat.'' ''Alright, Kiril. You won''t die. Not if I can help it. Consider it a reward for being loyal.'' He slipped back into the classroom and approached the window. ''I''m a hunter. I need to get used to supernatural strength now¡ªif I want to be efficient inside the Gate, or, any gate, really.'' Yuuto peered down. A 15-meter drop.Enough to shatter his legs if he were normal. But he wasn''t. ''I''m a hunter.'' He clenched his fists, forcing his shivering to stop. ''An S-Ranked hunter. I could fall off a skyscraper and walk away mostly unscathed¡­ So come on. Jump¡­ JUMP.'' His breathing quickened. His body refused to move. ''Nah.'' Yuuto let out a slow breath. Then, a smirk. "I''m Yuuto Sakurai first. Hunter second." Then, with one powerful push, he launched himself out the window. The force dented the window frame behind him as he soared through the air¡ªhigher than the school building itself. ''Fuck¡­'' His breath hitched. Now 30 meters up, he took in the view¡ªthe school shrinking beneath him, the city stretching beyond. He had done this. He had launched himself into the sky. A rush flooded his lungs. His eyes widened. The feeling of being a giant in a world of ants. The cold air slapping against his face. ''Haha¡­ Fuck¡­ This is awesome¡­'' A barely restrained chuckle escaped his throat. Then¡ªgravity called. The air pressure roared against his ears as he plummeted. "Okay, okay, okay, okay!! F-Fuck¡ªMILFS, MILFS¡ªMIIIIIIIIIIIIILFS!!!" He crashed onto the school''s grounds. A shockwave of dust burst around him. ''That¡­ HAAAH¡­ That was¡­'' He stared at the ground, chest heaving, still in awe. "Hey, did you hear that? I heard a boom outside!" "Something landed here¡­?" "A monster?!" The students gathered near the dust cloud, murmuring anxiously¡ªcompletely unaware Yuuto stood invisible right before them. His pulse still pounded. ''That was fucking awesome¡­ I barely feel anything¡­ Oh, haaah¡­ Now¡­ hAAAH¡­'' His head snapped up. ''Time to follow that bus.'' He flexed his fingers. ''It left barely a minute ago.'' His legs bent. ''One more jump, and I''ll spot it.'' Chapter 5 - Gate While the bus was riding along, Kiril had a thought while looking out the window. Thinking about how Haruno swore next to him, and how much shocked Uncle Wren would be if he knew. ''I appreciate Uncle Wren... But... Isn''t he too strict on Haruno, at times?'' He thought with a huff. ''It''s like he can''t even afford to have fun. I know.'' He let out a smile, ''I''ll be extra attentive, and finally lend him my PF5 console for the weekened. He always asked for that.'' ''He deserves a somewhat normal childhood, at the very least.'' Kiril''s eyes darkened as he recalled Russia in the ruins, his parents beneath a burning building. ''I''m already fucked-up anyway.'' When someone tells you that you deserve a normal childhood, what do they mean? Normal to Haruno¡ªor to them? It''s always them. Wren didn''t want Haruno to stand out. He needed to keep the moral high ground, to make sure Haruno stayed the obedient student, humbly eating from his palm. There''s nothing normal about a child breaking themselves down to fit into someone else''s idea of it. Nothing normal about a kid letting people trample over them because they were taught that''s how "normal people" live; or that''s the "right thing to do" when you''re strong enough to demolish them. A so-called genius once said powers are just a trait¡ªlike running fast or being smart. That they aren''t special, yet shouldn''t be used to get ahead. That they''re like a knife, something that must never be used against others. But if that''s true, then telling a superpowered person not to use their abilities¡ªlike Pob-Mesycho¡ªis the same as telling a fast-runner to never compete, never profit, never excel. It''s not wisdom. It''s not fairness. It''s meant to bring them down to everyone else''s level. ''And I refuse to be controlled.'' ''If I''m gonna live in this world, I''ll stand at the top. If it''s powers, then I''ll use them.'' Another leap from the ground. ''AND USE THEM...!'' Another leap from a sturdy rooftop. ''AND USE THEM-OH FUCK THIS IS SO FUN!'' Yuuto chuckled as he soared through the air time and time again, following the school bus in his invisible form. Yuuto glanced at his MANA bar. MANA: 2,490/5,000 ''Haah¡­ Refreshing.'' But his gaze hardened. ''If this field trip is too far, I''ll have to hide. Hunters can sense my energy, and while I rank S, I''m still at the lower end of the spectrum. Unlike Haruno or the others, I¡ªYuuto Sakurai¡ªhave zero real battle experience. No Hunter-to-Hunter fights. No monster fights.'' His jaw tightened. ''My first few scuffles are gonna be rough.'' His thoughts shifted. Hojin. ''I know it was you, you oaf. The one who got Kiril killed. You practically confirmed it in the classroom. If you were just another boastful bully, you would''ve insisted I come along¡ªto reinforce your superiority like you always do. But you kept silent.'' His fingers curled. ''Because you couldn''t afford me messing up your plans¡­ or outshining you.'' ''Because you fucking know Haruno is a Hunter.'' The realization clicked into place. ''Thinking back, he always pummeled Haruno when he could. I thought it was just Haruno tilting his head whenever he got hit and playing dumb. I thought those scratches on his cheeks were just dust.'' Yuuto''s expression darkened. ''But I see now. He knew.'' A chilling thought crept in. ''¡­Does that mean Haruno knew he knew as well? Hm. An important detail like that was just glossed over?'' Yuuto shook his head. ''No¡ªmakes sense that Haruno knew but didn''t do shit. Uncle Wren told him never to harm fellow Hunters unless absolutely necessary. That aggression would make him a killer. And Haruno, being the obedient little nephew, would rather get beaten down than disappoint him. That''s why he never retaliated. Because Hojin never tried to kill him¡ªjust break him.'' Yuuto''s gaze locked onto the bus. ''I''m not Haruno, though.'' Then, a question echoed in his mind. ''But... Do I kill him?'' His body flinched mid-jump. ''¡­Guess I''ll wait and see. Maybe it really was a coincidence. Maybe Kiril died for some other reason. Maybe Hojin''s just an attention whore, and he didn''t want me there because he knew I''d outshine him.'' This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Yuuto exhaled sharply. ''I''ll find out soon enough.'' --------------------------------------------- "Alright! Attention, class! We''re about to enter a C-RANK GATE!" The teacher announced, rounding up the students. "Follow the instructions of the Hunters and stay in the group! Any mischief, and you''ll be kicked out on the spot!" He warned before bowing to the Hunter approaching from between the buildings. She was flanked by a party of armored Hunters, their presence alone commanding respect. "Woah..." "That''s...!!" A dark-haired woman stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "The 3rd strongest hunter in Japan!" "Hello," she greeted, voice deep yet indifferent. "I''m S-Rank Hunter Sakuya Yama." Her presence alone silenced the students. She looked to be in her late twenties, light armor fitted over her frame, a polearm strapped diagonally across her back. Yuuto watched from a distance, eyes narrowing. ''There she is... One of Haruno''s enemies... And one of my favorite characters in the manwha.'' His gaze sharpened, studying her movements. ''Even if I had proper combat experience, I''m not sure I could take her. Best stay hidden until they enter the portal.'' Sakuya turned to the students. "You will be entering a C-Rank gate and joining the other schools for the yearly Hunter evaluation exam. We will assess the awakened." Then, she exhaled, her tone dipping into irritation. "As for the rest of you¡ªyou''re just dead weight." Silence. The teacher flinched. The students stiffened. "You''re only here because the higher-ups wanted their pockets lined," she added bluntly. Murmurs spread through the students, confusion and unease swirling between them. "C-come on, Ms. Yama!" A confident voice broke the tension. Hojin stepped forward, grinning. She flicked her gaze to him. "You''re the one being evaluated, right?" "Yes! I''m honored you remember me, senpai!" He bowed. Yuuto and Kiril, being far apart, shared the same thought. ''Jesus Christ, what an ass-kisser.'' "I may not have been evaluated yet, but I''m already a B-Ranker!" Hojin declared, puffing his chest. "In a C-Rank gate, I could handle everything inside, no?" Misaki, standing in the crowd, gazed up at him in awe. Sakuya''s expression didn''t shift. "...You''re being evaluated, and yet you don''t know that Gate Ranks and Hunter Ranks are separate?" Her voice, while flat, carried a dangerous edge. Hojin flinched. "Ah... I-I knew that... It''s just that this gate¡ªmost of the monsters are below my level¡ª" "Have you ever choked on a sausage?" She asked. Hojin blinked. "N-no...?" "Would that also be below your level?" She took a step forward. "Because a sausage has no rank. And yet, it could kill you." Her tone darkened. "Same goes for these gates. NEVER underestimate them. And if you can''t help but flex your puny muscles, don''t do it in my presence. Got that?" Hojin swallowed. "A-ha... I... I... Yes..." He looked away awkwardly as the Hunters behind Sakuya sighed in unison. "If that were me, she''d have broken my bones..." "I know, right? She''s way too soft on kids... Best wife material¡ª" Before the last guy could finish, a faint shhkt cut the air¡ªa tiny slash appeared on his cheek. He paled. "I''ll just keep quiet." Yuuto''s eyes narrowed from his perch on the rooftop. ''I barely saw it, but she cut that guy''s cheek¡­ Damn. She''s tough.'' Sakuya turned back to the students. "Listen up, all of you." Hojin stood stiffly, teeth clenched. ''Damn this fucking bitch¡­'' "Even experienced Hunters die in these gates. If you stray from the group for even a second, I will kill you myself. It''s already enough that we have to carry dead weight like you¡ªdon''t make it harder for me or my party. GOT IT?" The students snapped to attention. "Y-YES, MA''AM!" Yuuto exhaled, watching her speak. ''I always liked her.'' His gaze lingered. ''She never sugarcoats her words. When she says something, she means every word. Even when Haruno was about to hand the system over to everyone near the end of the manhwa, she was one of the very, very few who tried to stop him¡ªeven as his enemy. Not because she cared, but because her pragmatism clashed with his idealism. She hated his guts, but she still respected him enough to warn him.'' Yuuto smirked faintly. ''She disguised it as a jab at his ego, but she was right. She told him to keep the system to himself¡ªbecause once he gave it away, he''d be worthless. That his so-called allies, and even people he thinks he loves would toss him aside the second he outlived his usefulness. That they were snakes, whispering about ''the right thing'' only to bleed him dry.'' His smirk faded. ''They fought over it. He lashed out at her, told her she was wrong. That he ''believed in people.'''' Yuuto''s fingers curled against the rooftop. ''I like to think he thought about her in his last moments and how stupid he was... Nah. He was too naive for that. That''s why...'' ''I''m gonna make her my ally rather than follow this manhwa''s dumb plot.'' Her party split into four groups, circling around the students. Determined hunters surrounded the excited, smiling students before they all stepped into the gate. ''They''re gonna be in there for three days¡ªuntil the party takes out the main boss.'' Yuuto watched the swirling energy of the gate. ''Beyond this thing is an entirely different dimension. Every gate has its own monsters, its own world¡­'' His gaze shifted to the hunters stationed nearby, ensuring no one unauthorized entered. ''What''s troublesome about this gate isn''t its rank. It''s that I have zero clue what''s in there. Haruno wasn''t inside this one, after all. And the monsters? The manhwa never specified them.'' ''Well, there''s a first time for everything¡­!'' A smirk crept onto his face as he activated COLD BREEZE [LV.9] and leapt from the building. ''Oh, I love this.'' The wind howled against his face as he plummeted, a rush of exhilaration coursing through him before he crashed into the pavement below. "What was that!?" The hunters'' heads snapped toward the impact zone. ''Yeah, look here¡­!'' Without hesitation, Yuuto bolted away from the crater as the hunters rushed to investigate. "A tremor..? The ground just cracked out of nowhere!" one of them exclaimed. "There''s someone out there!?" Another scanned the area, but Yuuto had already slipped past them. Their attention quickly returned to the gate. "I don''t sense anyone¡­" a hunter muttered, while Yuuto stood right before the swirling portal. ''Here we fucking go... My first gate. I''m about to fight monsters I''ve only ever read about.'' A shudder ran through his body as he imagined the cerberus-like beasts with glowing red eyes and claws as big as a man''s torso¡ªcreatures Haruno had breezed through like they were nothing. ''Monsters that can kill me.'' He clenched his fists. ''Hunters who could evaporate me with a spell.'' ''Is it really worth it? I could just abandon these guys. No one''s gonna remember me anyway¡ªas the manhwa already confirmed¡­'' He lowered his gaze, Kiril''s presence lingering in his mind. ''What''s my real motivation here? Saving the world? Securing my future? If that''s the case, I could just stick to the gates I actually read about¡ªplaces I know I can get stronger in safely¡ªrather than blindly walking into this one.'' His MANA Bar flickered into view beside him. [WARNING! Mana EXTREMELY LOW!][MANA: 405/5,000] ''Kiril''s a nice guy, sure. But if I stuck my neck out for every "nice" person, I''d just be following in Haruno''s footsteps. And it''s not like I have any deep ties to Kiril¡­ or that Hojin guy¡ªother than being a reader of this dogshit story. I have no reason to go in there whatsoever.'' [MANA: 200/5,000] ''So why am I here?'' He stared at the swirling blue energy of the gate. [MANA: 90/5,000] ''Ah, right.'' His lips curled into a smirk as he recalled the cold wind whipping against his face, the rush of soaring to a height equivalent to a small apartment building when he left the school to chase the bus, the city shrinking beneath him. [MANA: 35/5,000] [INSUFFICIENT MANA! COLD BREEZE [LV.9] will be deactivated!] ''To secure an alliance with an influential S-Rank hunter¡­ And to see just how high I can jump if I get stronger.'' He stepped into the portal just as his skill ended.