Second Life of a Dragon Raising Hunter

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Chapter 12

Yeon-woo was running.

“What do you think of Sky Steps, rookie?”

As Yeon-woo poured mana into his lungs and sprinted for all he was worth, he could see Yuri and Baek In-hwa casually chasing after him with their arms behind their backs.

It felt maddening. How was it possible for him to be struggling while they were moving at a leisurely pace? Was this really what Sky Steps was?

To make it worse, Baek In-hwa moved with grace, gliding over the icy surface like a figure skater, making Yeon-woo feel utterly pathetic.

“U-using mana to run…?”

“Such a silly comment. You’re not entirely wrong, but if I were to give you a score, it’d be a solid 30 out of 100. Do take that class again.”

What was he supposed to do about not knowing? Yeon-woo felt unjustly aggrieved.

“To start with, it’s about… simply lightening the body for more effective movement.”

With enhanced respiratory capabilities, one could converse while running, but since Yuri began to slow down, Yeon-woo gradually reduced his own speed as well.

That must be everything he needed to see. As Yeon-woo caught his breath, Yuri spoke.

“The methodology of running can also be considered Sky Steps. It’s about running faster and longer. That’s the essence and origin of Sky Steps.”

“I see…”

In those words lay Yuri’s martial spirit. A perspective steeped in practicality. Was it a kind of wisdom inherent in a man who dedicated his life to the sword?

Only by having a clear worldview and encountering the sword could that man reach the dreamlike realm of “Walking Without a Trace.” Such thoughts crossed Yeon-woo’s mind.

“Therefore, before you learn Sky Steps, you first need to know how to run properly. Pay close attention to my form.”

One might think running wouldn’t be all that different, but Yuri’s demeanor as he ran was distinctly impressive. He leaned forward, lifted his knees high, and landed on the balls of his feet, swinging his arms for additional propulsion.

Yeon-woo attempted to mimic that style. Yuri nodded in approval. It would take some time to get used to it, but he felt a bit faster.

After a while of practicing that stance, Yuri finally spoke.

“Now you must cover that with mana and break free from the laws of physics. This could mean making your body lighter to increase hang time or returning the impact you take while stepping back as a recoil.”

After pausing for a moment, Yuri smirked and tapped his finger gently on Yeon-woo’s forehead.

“Mana moves according to the user’s imagination and will. The Sky Steps Baek In-hwa employs shares the philosophy of ‘leaving no footprint in the snow.’ Through that, collective identity is passed down and training becomes easier. While it may undermine individual potential, it’s an incredibly efficient method.”

Baek In-hwa glared at Yuri. Naturally, he wouldn’t be pleased to have the essence of his Sky Steps exposed. Feeling the intense pressure from Baek In-hwa, Yeon-woo broke into a cold sweat. He shouldn’t have inserted himself in the first place.

But honestly, wasn’t “Walking Without a Trace” far too famous and characteristic of a Sky Step? He thought they could at least grant him that.

With a bright smile, Yuri scattered his gaze lightly and looked at Yeon-woo. The eagerness to teach… felt overwhelming, and Yeon-woo shrank a little.

“However, Choi Yeon-woo, you shouldn’t worry about that. For every person, there exists a thousand unique martial styles. Every person looks to different things. So, think. What kind of martial art do you desire? What is your goal? What do you want to achieve?”

At that moment, it was as if Yeon-woo was entranced, his gaze slowly sinking. Oh boy! Yuri was stifling a cheer.

It was a scene one might see often when dropping a few words to children trapped within walls, but Choi Yeon-woo was a child proclaimed to lack talent ever since he was born. Considering that being stymied was the realm of genius made it quite impressive.

Baek In-hwa glanced around cautiously, aware of Yeon-woo entering an altered state of mind.

When a friend reaches a state of selflessness, it is only right to protect them. Fortunately, there were no passersby nearby, so there seemed to be no cause for concern, but who could say for sure.

……

It was dark. As if plunged into an endless shadow or perhaps dreaming, it was dark. Was this what it felt like to be submerged in deep water, unable to see even an inch ahead? However, soon a light emerged.

It wasn’t something visible but an imagined reflection within. A mirror reflecting oneself. What was this complex psychic kaleidoscope displaying?

Familiar scenes flickered by like a slideshow. Click, click, click, click…

In just two days, he’d seen a staggering three advanced techniques. How remarkable, he thought.

Click, click, click…

Namgung Seong was seen flying forward, his body leaning to the limit. He resembled a bullet, or perhaps a shooting star.

How could he propel his lightweight body the fastest? It was a glimpse of how Namgung pondered over embodying the divine falcon.

Even without using mana, he was minimizing air resistance and using those wings to maintain balance. The expanse around him was indeed boundless, as was the legacy of the great celestial deity. He looked just like a predatory bird diving from the sky or taking flight.

But that belonged to Namgung. It had no place for himself.

Click, click…

Baek In-hwa glided smoothly across the plains. He was as beautiful and swift as a figure skater dancing upon the ice of the northern seas. And, of course, leaving no footprints or dust behind reflected his Sky Steps’ pursuit of harmony with nature.

A precise step that wouldn’t leave a trace even on tender, fragile snow. Even inheriting the history of martial arts, he demonstrated a fierce will to live as one with nature.

Yet, that was created for surviving the winter. It had no place for himself.

Click…

Finally, Yuri set forward with a lightness that seemed to cover thirty steps with just one. This was… indescribable. It was already the realm of dimensional shifting. Yuri’s realm had already transcended the heavens, connecting to the very sky.

If the Ice Palace’s Sky Steps sought to coexist with nature, what Yuri had was nature itself. There was nothing he could even imitate, let alone emulate. Moreover, it felt inappropriate to even discuss Sky Steps here.

…So how did he want to move?

Suddenly, a golden dragon could be seen soaring up from a deep cave. Since he had no memory of seeing such a scene, it must be a fragment of thought passed down from Shar. Therefore, it didn’t belong to him. It suited Alkeinea or Shar far better…

As he looked up, the sky, stars, and the sparkling sea stretched infinitely toward the horizon.

Boooom—

There was a white whale endlessly leaping, even though it could never reach the stars. It kept jumping again and again, wishing one day to touch the stars…

……

“Huh?”

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. Normally, humans would live grounded unless faced with an exceptional circumstance like skydiving and would be confined to a hemispherical world.

However, what Yeon-woo saw now was a spherical world. Truly the celestial sphere. It was such a breathtaking sight.

Endlessly expansive verdant skies overhead, lush green lands below.

An indescribable sense of freedom swept through his whole body. Yeon-woo found himself agape. The cool air rushed into his lungs.

It was a view he had never seen before, nor would he again. Especially since air supremacy had slipped from humanity’s grasp.

After spotting something tiny, like an ant way up high, he suddenly realized he was hanging upside down in the air.

Once the faint feeling of buoyancy faded away, it was inevitable that gravity would come into play, causing him to fall.

It was a truly beautiful sight, but hidden in it lay the perilous path to death.

What could he do up here in the skies, but he had to at the very least prepare himself mentally.

Most importantly, his entire body felt extraordinarily light. To reach this height, he seemed to have fully gathered all his mana, both core and physical.

‘Sha, Shar!!’

He called out desperately, but there was no response. Did he really have to meet his demise a second time by falling? At this point, he could only pray the people below would catch him.

Even if Baek In-hwa couldn’t catch him, he thought Yuri would manage it easily, but to be honest, considering Yuri’s eccentric nature, praying for Baek In-hwa to catch him was all he could do.

“…You idiot?”

Hooosh, a refreshing scent entered his nostrils. It was Baek In-hwa. Just about ten meters from the ground, Baek In-hwa leaped up to catch him.

“Damn it, I was counting on you…!!”

“What are you saying, what are we to each other… let’s skip the chit-chat.”

Like a princess carried by a knight, Baek In-hwa effortlessly embraced Yeon-woo and gracefully landed on the ground. It was as if snowflakes lightly settled onto the earth. Was the “Walking Without a Trace” and the Ice Palace’s Sky Steps specialized in this kind of thing?

Upon landing, Yeon-woo released the tension in the arms Baek In-hwa used to catch him. Naturally, he ended up thudding to the ground with a thud.

It wouldn’t be fair to ask for kindness considering he’d just saved his life.

Looking inward, the fiery energy that usually resided in his heart was dried out, with the mana laid bare like a wasteland.

Yuri approached Yeon-woo, who was sprawled out on the ground, chuckling softly.

“So, how was your experience using your own unique Sky Steps?”

Yeon-woo took a slow breath. He had to pull up the capabilities of Dragon Heart to their maximum extent. As he concentrated on his heartbeat, he distinctly saw a faint mana entering his body from the surrounding air.

Strongly focusing on what he had just realized, Yeon-woo confidently opened his mouth.

“I have absolutely no idea what’s going on.”

*

“I never imagined you could jump so recklessly, even from an old man’s perspective.”

“Are you blaming me for that now?”

“Why would I blame someone else for something that wasn’t my fault?”

Yuri wore a rather proud expression. In reality, Yuri was not to blame at all. It was merely Yeon-woo’s selfish human nature that wanted to put the blame for almost falling to someone else.

Yeon-woo sighed softly and sat up.

Thanks to Dragon Heart’s absorption abilities, the languid fatigue he felt just before dozing off had vanished, but even if he was to put it nicely, he certainly wouldn’t even make it halfway to Seokseongsan. Moreover, considering there might be fights ahead, he would have to fundamentally revise today’s plans.

“I need to learn to control my strength… Sorry, Baek In-hwa. Can we hang out again another time? I don’t think I can make it today…”

Of course, there was no real reason for Baek In-hwa to invest his time with him. He had merely said it without much thought, bracing himself for rejection, and yet Baek In-hwa silently nodded in agreement.

“Then I’ll contact you when I think I’ll be good to go. Could you give me your number?”

As Choi Yeon-woo naturally handed over his smartphone, Baek In-hwa was instantly flooded with thoughts. Was this what his father warned him about concerning obtaining numbers? But we’re classmates, aren’t we?

After resolving the inner turmoil in mere seconds, Baek In-hwa typed his number into Yeon-woo’s phone. He called himself and registered it.

‘…Is this what they call a friend, or not?’

“Thanks a lot. Oh, and thank you too, Professor Yuri. I didn’t have anyone around to teach me Sky Steps.”

“Not at all, I’m a professor before I’m a department head. I have to take care of students who are falling behind the average, don’t I?”

With that, Yuri turned around and disappeared in an instant. Running the distance of roughly 3 kilometers to learn Sky Steps in such a short amount of time demonstrated how quickly one could reach Seokseongsan, provided they could proficiently control mana.

As he gazed northward with a sense of loss, Baek In-hwa quietly spoke up.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“Huh? Oh. I was thinking of eating lunch and then heading to the mana training room.”

“…Alright. Good luck.”

With Baek In-hwa gone, Yeon-woo was left alone.

Uchah, rising to his feet, Yeon-woo checked his body several times.

When he had no mana, he hadn’t realized, but having some now showed that even a small amount was a problem.

Moving his slightly residual fatigued body, Yeon-woo reached a conclusion. He looked into the dark, gloomy forest nearby.

“Then I might as well earn some lunch money.”

There was a need for collecting goblin eyeballs. They might have been used as a raw ingredient for a pain-relieving agent. Thank goodness it was not for potions. Blood would require illnesses, but eyeballs could easily be wrapped in leaves and brought back.

Truth be told, he felt more or less as fatigued as he usually was in his previous life. Ten goblins wouldn’t be a problem at all.

(To be continued in the next chapter)