The Huntsman Of Death:A Gamer's POV As Side Character

SWOOSH!

The spear came at me again, its sharp edge cutting through the air like a whirlwind. Reed thrust it forward with speed and precision, but I swayed my body just enough to dodge. His strikes were relentless, like a machine gun firing on full auto.

"Bro… just let me hit you once." Reed's voice sounded pitiful, almost desperate, even as he continued his barrage.

"Just once, please," he added, his gaze pleading while his hands moved with ferocity.

I ducked and weaved, letting the spear graze past me, then angled my blade to deflect it lightly. With each clash, I could feel his frustration growing, and for some reason, the look on his face brought a small, guilty satisfaction to my heart.

Reed cursed under his breath. 'What are you, a slippery roach?'

"As a master, don't you have any pride? How can you stoop so low?" I taunted, smirking as I stepped aside to dodge his next strike.

Reed's expression crumpled into one of disbelief. "You only remember I'm your master during moments like this, you little shit! Come here and let this master hit you!"

He roared, lunging forward with a wide swing of his spear. His movements were wild now, the frustration clearly messing with his focus. I twisted my body, evading the attack again, and angled my blade to guide his spear off course.

"Calm down, Reed," I said, keeping my tone cool.

"Calm?!" Reed growled, his face red with effort.

"You think I can calm down when you're treating me like a joke?!"

"Did you forget just how I am?"

"Did you forget the weight my name carries?"Reed shouted dramatically that drew everyone's attention from around who gave him a weird look.

His energy was chaotic but amusing in its own way. Reed had always been a bit over the top, like a character straight out of a cheesy action flick.

Just as I started finding my rhythm, the sound of heavy boots hitting the ground broke through the air. A shadow loomed over us.

"Instructor Alex," Reed said, freezing mid-step.

I straightened up and turned toward the figure.

Alex stood there, his sharp gaze cutting through the space between us. His blank, emotionless face was almost scarier than if he'd been yelling. His eyes landed on me, narrowing slightly, and I felt the intensity of his stare as though it were a blade pressing against my chest.

"You seem to have gotten stronger, a bit though," Alex said.

"Thank you, sir," I replied, bowing slightly.

"But your movements—your footsteps—they're sloppy," Alex continued, his tone colder than ice. "No, worse than sloppy. They're like a baby crawling out of a cradle."

"Pfft—" Reed burst out laughing, but the sound died immediately when Alex and I both shot him a glare.

"You're worse than an idiot," Alex said, his eyes narrowing at Reed. "Even fishermen spearing fish have better form than you."

Reed's jaw dropped, and I struggled to suppress a chuckle. It was my turn to find amusement, but I quickly masked my expression.

Alex's piercing gaze returned to me. "Lukas, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"I remember your primary weapons are the dagger and bow. So why this new obsession with blades? I've also seen you practicing with swords."

I hesitated before answering. "Sir, I find myself lacking talent in mastering any single weapon. I want to fill the gaps in my skills by using the ones I'm proficient with. I believe in results, not in dreams of mastering a weapon."

Alex's expression grew even colder. "So you're saying you don't have talent, and instead of specializing, you'd rather dabble in everything?" His voice cut like a knife. "Do you think knowing a bit about every weapon can rival true mastery?"

A wave of pressure rolled off him, making Reed falter. I stood firm, meeting his gaze. This wasn't anger—it was a test.

"That's not what I meant, sir," I said firmly. "I believe the blade is the most efficient weapon for killing. It's not too short, not too long, and it can adapt to both close and long-range situations. As for learning other weapons, it's because, at my core, I am a hunter. A hunter uses everything at their disposal to take down their prey. For that, I need basic knowledge of all tools available."

Alex rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his sharp eyes flicking to Reed, who looked away awkwardly.

"Your belief is different," Alex said after a moment. "And I won't try to force mine on you. Still, the path you walk is dangerous. One day, you might regret not dedicating yourself to mastering a single weapon."

I glanced down briefly, then lifted my head to meet his gaze with calm resolve. "Regret is for those who hold back, sir. As for me, I give everything I have. There's no room for guilt."

It sounded pretentious, even to me, but I said it anyway.

Alex nodded slightly. "Remember that," he said before turning to the other cadets, who had all stopped to watch.

"What are you staring at? Do you think this is some fancy show? Ten more laps—now!"

"WHAT?!"

"Noooo!"

Alex's eyes narrowed. His voice dropped, colder than ever. "You dare to complain? Fifteen laps. Keep whining, and I'll add more."

Weapons clattered to the ground as everyone scrambled to run. The glares they shot my way were daggers in themselves. Reed and Roderick exchanged looks, their expressions like chefs preparing to roast me alive.

I sighed, ignoring them until Ashton jogged up and patted me on the back. "Don't mind them. Running is good for us. This is a blessing in disguise, and it's all thanks to you."

I tripped over my own feet, giving him a sidelong glance. 'What the f*? Is this guy trying to console me or get me killed?'

...…..

The training ground was littered with bodies—no, not corpses, just the utterly exhausted remains of my fellow cadets. Reed, sprawled on the ground beside me, gasped like a fish out of water, clutching his throat dramatically.

"Haa… wa… wa…" he wheezed, crawling pathetically on all fours.

"You alright there, mighty dragon?" I quipped, trying to steady my trembling legs. Truth be told, I wasn't much better off. The intense drills had left even the strongest among us annihilated, but somehow, I managed to stay upright—barely.

"If I die… please remember me, disciple," Reed croaked, reaching a hand toward the sky like a tragic hero in his final moments. "I am… the Descendent of the Ancient Dragon God…"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "What the hell are you even saying?"

Roderick, sitting cross-legged nearby, chimed in, smirking. "Wait, wait—weren't you the Heir of the Ancient One just last week? Now you're the Descendent of the Dragon God? Which is it?"

Reed waved weakly, his hand flopping in midair. "Same… same but different," he muttered, collapsing dramatically.

These two were something else. Roderick was the type who loved trash talk, and Reed? Well, he was in a league of his own, fully embracing his chuunibyou antics. Watching them bicker was almost entertaining—almost.

From my other side, Ashton spoke up, dabbing sweat off his forehead. "They've gotten pretty close, haven't they?"

I glanced over and shrugged. "Birds of a feather flock together."

Ashton chuckled, slapping my back lightly in camaraderie. I flinched immediately, shooting him a glare. "Don't."

"What? Why?" he asked, genuinely confused.

"It hurts," I said bluntly. Even standing was painful at this point.

Before Ashton could respond, a sharp, commanding voice cut through the air.

"Everyone!"

The entire training ground froze as Instructor Emilia stepped forward, her tone both authoritative and oddly soothing. She gave a quick glance at Alex, who nodded wordlessly. His icy demeanor never wavered; it was like he was carved from stone.

Emilia's gaze swept over us, her expression sharp but with a flicker of mischief in her eyes. "You all remember the event, right?"

There was a collective pause. Then, predictably, a few clueless cadets started murmuring.

"Huh?"

"What event?"

Reed and Roderick looked at each other, equally confused, which earned them a round of judgmental stares from the others. I watched the scene unfold, suppressing a sigh. These two really were the clowns of the group.

Emilia pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something under her breath before composing herself. "Control… control…" she sighed, her patience clearly wearing thin. "Don't you read the official posters? Or check the notifications on your smartwatches?"

At that, a few of us—including Reed—looked away guiltily. I knew for a fact Reed spent most of his time reading manga and playing games, so expecting him to stay updated was a lost cause.

Emilia took a deep breath, her tone turning colder. "Three days from now, you'll be going on a hunt. Not in a dungeon—this will be real field exploration. Each of you will be assigned a designated region to clear out the monsters lurking there."

The air grew tense as her words sank in. She continued, her voice sharp and unwavering. "Each month, hunters and knights team up to clear the outskirts of monsters and beasts. This time, it's your turn. There will be no supervision. No safety nets. If you're careless…" Emilia trailed off, her serious expression sending a shiver through the group.