Magnus of Ice

HUNTER SONG CHI-YUL

Inside an aikido dojo, master and pupil were interlocked in a spar. With a foot placed in front, the pupil struck with the bamboo blade. "HIYAAA!" The pupil sounded feminine, but the force of the strike indicated that the pupil had been training for years.

Although the strike was forceful, it was easily deflected by the master.

*CLACK*

Instead of counterattacking, the master kept deflecting, as his strikes wouldn't carry much force due to him not having an arm.

*CLACK*

Even though the master was missing an arm, the pupil didn't let up. They knew their master was superior with the sword, even if one-handed. So, with swift movements, the pupil kept striking as the master kept deflecting.

*CLASH*

Even though they wore heavy protective equipment, the master and student kept moving about as if wearing their everyday clothes.

*CLASH*

After a few more minutes, the master and student finally decided to rest. Taking off their helmets and upper body equipment, the student praised the master. "Master, you're as skilled as always." Finally coming into view, the master was an orange-haired man, clearly advanced in age. Looking at his resting student, he answered, "What are you saying? This old body will become useless if I don't train it properly." Before the student could answer, the master continued, "It's obvious you were going easy on me."

The master was none other than Hunter Song Chi-Yul, the man that left with Lee Ju-Hee, leaving behind Jin-Woo and Magnus inside the double dungeon. As sweat rolled down his face, he continued, "Were you putting less strength in your thumb out of consideration for me?" The student was now sitting on their knees, with their hands clenched into fist. "That can hardly be considered a handicap. If you still had both of your arms...."

"Stop... It's been a few weeks already, and yet you're still talking about that...." Chi-Yul said as his phone started to ring.

*RING*

"*Sigh* An emergency call. Low-rank hunters constantly get these kinds of annoying calls. We'll have to stop here for today."  Mr. Song said as he answered the phone. After being informed of the dungeon and its details, he hung up.

"Master. Are you really planning on postponing your retirement?" The pupil asked, earning a side eye from Mr. Song. "Retirement?" Chi-Yul asked as he made his way to the window, looking out. With his only hand, he clenched his fist as he spoke, "Even though I'm alive... How long do I have left? I want to stay useful to this world with my remaining life." Relaxing, he turned around, smiling as he said, "But this is really quite novel, you know."

"How so?" His pupil asked, not really knowing what he meant. "An S-rank hunter being taught the way of the sword by a low-rank like me...." Chi-Yul explained as he maintained eye contact with his pupil, trying to gauge their reaction. "Well... I may have a high rank, but that can't make up for a lack of skill." Nodding, he ended their session then and there, as he had to prepare for the dungeon raid.

Walking down the street, with sakura flowers blooming, Mr. Song Chi-Yul could be seen deep in thought. He was currently wearing a brown leather jacket. Underneath, he wore a white windbreaker with black jeans and brown construction boots. His arm had on a brown brace for support, and a gray fingerless glove, for better grip. 'A D-rank dungeon this time? Since my awakening didn't affect my strength, my sword doesn't work on monsters. Why did a swordsman like me get awakened as a mage-type hunter?'

'Why can't I grasp the skills that the Jin boy had....?' He couldn't help but wonder as he remembered Magnus with his scythe made of ice. 'The sword skills I've learned over the past decades... I have no use for them in a dungeon... There must be a reason for this.' He finally thought as he looked up while passing past a cafe, The Dragons Monarch.