Solo Spankings

[17JosephLC]

Sung Jinwoo was, perhaps, one of the most smug 10-year-olds in all of Korea. The reason for this, one may ask? Because yesterday, he had awoken as the youngest Hunter in history.

And as an S-class Hunter too.

Shortly after his awakening and classing, recruiters from all five of the major guilds in the country had wearily approached him, giving him their calling cards. They had been hesitant because, S-class or not, he was still technically 10. Was it even legal for a Hunter his age to enter a dungeon?

Anyway, his big sister Jinha, who had been really shaping up physically lately, had quickly brought him home after that.

“Sis, let’s have pizza for dinner,” he said, and as she was just an E-rank Huntress, she would have to listen to him for now on, right?

[Spank Life]

Sung Jinah was a 24-year-old Huntress, officially ranked as an E-Rank Hunter.

E-Ranks were the lowest of the low, and Sung Jinah was at the bottom even when compared to other E-Ranks. She was mocked by her peers and given the moniker ‘The Weakest Hunter’.

But that was all in the past. One month ago, Sung Jinah and her party had stumbled into a mysterious Double Dungeon. It was a traumatic experience that left all but three of them dead, and Sung Jinah with a mysterious power that was targeted at her growth.

At this moment in time, Sung Jinah was closer in strength to an A-rank and still growing stronger. Officially, though, Sung Jinah was still an E-Rank Hunter. She didn’t plan on retesting until she was firmly in the category of an S-Rank Hunter. This was to protect herself and her little brother, for whom Jinah was the sole caretaker for. Of course, that was disrupted as suddenly the entire nation’s, neigh, the world’s, attention was on her little brother, who had awakened as an S-Rank Hunter. The biggest guilds and even the Hunters’ Association all wanted to use him.

I need to get stronger and fast, thought Sung Jinah, who was currently folding her laundry.

Sung Jinah glanced up from her task at her little brother. “We can’t afford that, right now, little brother Jinwoo. I can cook fajitas and rice?” Sung Jinah’s inventory was bursting with rare materials that could give them a fortune. But again, she was trying to lay low. Soon, she could spoil her little brother (and give their comatose Mother a better hospital).

[17JosephLC]

“I have a better idea; why don’t you let me a solo an E-rank dungeon? Then I can sell all the loot, and we can totally afford pizza,” Jinwoo said, using puppy eyes on his big sister. “I could easily join one of the guilds, or maybe even the Association! So can’t we just splurge a little?”

[Spank Life]

“No!”

Sung Jinah denied, vehemently. Her eyes were narrowed, and her tone was harsh and firm. Sung Jinah didn’t want her little brother anywhere near a Dungeon. They were dangerous, and she’s seen many Hunters die to the slightest error. Of course, Sung Jinah had never seen an S-Rank Hunter fight; they were in a completely different world than her.

But even those monstrously strong Hunters would die. It was a grave, sad day when that happened. Depending on who it was and their contributions, the nation (even the world) would weep for them.

“And no. You won’t be joining any guilds or the Association. You’re only 10. The only place for you is school and home.” Sung Jinah told her naive little brother, firmly. She wouldn’t let him be manipulated.

“Now, what would you like for dinner? We can have fajitas and rice, or top ramen.”

[17JosephLC]

Jinwoo flinched at the sudden, strict snap of his sister’s voice. She explained to him that he would not be going anywhere near a dungeon, he would not be joining any guilds or the Association, and that the only places for him were home and school. “But… but nunaaaaa,” he whined, childishly, “I don’t want to go to school. It’s stupid and boring. Besides, I’m an S-rank Hunter now! I could probably solo a whole E-rank dungeon by myself! Tell you what; I’ll go with you on your next raid, and protect you while I kill all the monsters,” he tried to convince her.

“Besides, since I’m so much stronger than you… I think I should be in charge from now on,” Jinwoo told her.

[Spank Life]

Sung Jinah’s glare intensified.

“Before you’re an S-Rank Hunter, you’re a 10-year-old boy. You’re not going near a dungeon, and that’s final.” She replied firmly. Sung Jinah wouldn't place her baby brother in harm's way. Sung Jinah has seen what’s happened to other child hunters. Sure, none of them were S-Rank, which were the cream of the crop. But regardless, a Dungeon was not a place for a child. But for the necessity, Sung Jinah never would have become one herself.

Sung Jinah paused, taken aback by Sung Jinwoo’s unexpected display of arrogance. Her 10-year-old brother? In charge of her?

The worst part of Jinwoo’s arrogance is that she could almost see where it was coming from. There were many cases where a younger sibling or even a child became the dominant one in the household because of their strength.

If Sung Jinah was still truly an E-Rank, it’s likely she would have conceded (or been forced, too). But her strength was secretly nearing the S-Rank.

“You better get all these funny ideas out of your head, Sung Jinwoo. You won’t be going to any Dungeons, and as your older sister, you’ll still be listening to me.” Sung Jinah said, prepared to take it further if need be. She wouldn’t let this new ranking lead to her cocky little brother getting himself in bigger trouble.

[17JosephLC]

“No, it is NOT final,” Jinwoo said, and stomped his foot to show his conviction. A small part of his mind told him to shut up and apologize while he still could, but he ignored that bit of his mind.

His glare intensified when she continued to be firm with him. “No, I think I’ll be in charge from now on. Since you’re the weakest E-rank in history, and I’m an S-rank, I can do more than you can. So I’m in charge now, and that’s final,” he told her. Striding forward, he grabbed her wrist in a firm grip.

He wasn’t planing on hurting Jinha, of course. She was his big sister, and he loved her! But he was also like, a billion times stronger now, and she was trying to keep him from helping her and Mom by banning him from dungeons! He would only give her a quick little scare to let her know he was in charge now, and then everything would be okay.

[Spank Life]

Sung Jinah stilled as her young brother marched across the room and grabbed her by the wrist. Due to his superhuman status, it was actually a very firm grip. If Sung Jinah was a true E-Rank, she wouldn’t have been able to break it. But she wasn’t. However, Sung Jinwoo didn’t know that, she thought.

Sung Jinwoo was under the impression that was barely a superhuman. Moreover, he hasn’t been exposed to the strength of other Hunters, be it other S-Ranks or the weakest in E-Rank.

An idea was born in Sung Jinah’s head. If she couldn’t convince him he wasn’t ready through words, what if he lost in a contest of strength to the weakest E-Rank class in history? That would be his only experience and reinforce the idea that he wasn’t anywhere close to ready.

That reasoning aside, Sung Jinah didn’t appreciate her little brother’s attempted manhandling of her.

“Sung Jinwoo. I. said. No.” With barely any effort, Sung Jinah broke the grip. She turned her little brother around and delivered two firm smacks to his rear, one to each cheek. Spanking wasn’t very common in their household, not since Sung Jinah had gotten a handle on the whole parenting thing once their dad disappeared and their mom fell into an incurable coma. But right now seemed like a good time for it.

“Go stand in the corner, young man. I’ll speak to you when dinner is ready,” she command, giving a sharp third smack to his center.

[17JosephLC]

After taking her wrist into a firm grip, Jinwoo said, “I will be going into dungeons, at least the lower level ones. I’ll protect you from monsters, and we’ll get tons of loot to sell and live much better lives.”

His attempt at manhandling and minor intimidation failed completely. With barely any effort, Jinha easily broke free of his grip. Then she quickly turned him around and landed two quick, sudden smacks to his bottom cheeks. “EEP! AHH!” Jinwoo yelped loudly, jumping a little from the sharp sting of the two spanks.

Jinwoo looked up at her, aghast. She was supposed to be the lowest E-class EVER! And he was an S-class! He was supposed to be so much stronger than her… but she easily broke free from him! Was he really that weak, even after his awakening? And not only that, but she had swatted him! Jinha hadn’t spanked him in… months, almost.

“OWW!” He yelped again, almost dashing into the corner, putting his hands on top of his head on instinct.

[Spank Life]

It was cute that Sung Jinwoo’s motivation was to improve their lives. And sad. Mostly sad. Because a 10-year-old shouldn’t be stressing over finances and his family’s livelihood. It made Sung Jinah want to work harder.

As cute and heart-wrenching as it was, Sung Jinah still didn’t appreciate his attitude and pseudo assault. So as her palm landed two solid blows to his bottom, she took satisfaction in his little yelps.

Sung Jinah watched her little brother scurry over to the corner, properly cowed by her display of strength and dominance. Sung Jinah would cement her status as caretaker and breadmaker later. But for now her priority was still cooking dinner for herself and him.

30 minutes later, fresh fajitas and rice was prepared.

Despite the fact the food was ready, it wasn’t time for dinner.

Sung Jinah pulled a chair out from under the kitchen table and patted her lap. “Little brother, come here.”