A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 109

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 109: Curtain Call (2)

 

“Cheers!”

 

A lively atmosphere. I timidly clinked my only makgeolli cup.

 

“Don’t you have any more unique toasts? You sound exactly like a department manager in his 50s.”

“If you’re so dissatisfied, why don’t you put your creativity to good use?”

“Hmm, that sounds like a very good toast!”

 

The Red Dog Hunters exchanged jokes in stiff, military-like tones.

I chuckled softly and sipped my makgeolli.

 

‘Is this almost my first time at a drinking party like this?’

 

After reaching drinking age, I had no memories except for occasionally having a few drinks with Choi Yu-il or Sister Yu-kyung.

 

‘Not bad.’

 

The interior of the restaurant, packed with customers, was bustling. There were occasional glances at Hong I-jo, but most people just focused back on their own drinking sessions.

Small talk and noisy company dinners. The charm of a space where stories were exchanged was great.

 

“Um, you really worked hard today. I feel like you went through trouble for nothing.”

“Not at all. We did something good, after all.”

“Still… *cough*, because of our Guild Leader. Here, have a drink!”

 

Wi Seo-jin filled my makgeolli cup to the brim. I drank the alcohol and put beef in my mouth.

 

‘Delicious.’

 

It really melts in your mouth… Actually, this was also part of the reason I accepted Hong I-jo’s proposal.

 

 

Though the process involved some manipulation by the Red Dog Hunters. The result was good, so it was fine.

 

‘How could I refuse beef?’

 

I continued my satisfying meal with the corners of my mouth turned up.

 

“But Hunter Eun Hae-dam seems incredible too. Aren’t you tired?”

“Uh… Me?”

“Yes. We got sent home before we could even lift a finger, but I heard there was even an A-rank Boss Monster at the scene.”

 

Wi Seo-jin, sitting next to me, said. I paused for a moment before answering.

 

‘I don’t really feel… extremely tired.’

 

 

It was probably also thanks to this sash I’d started wearing out of habit.

But more fundamentally than that…

 

‘I no longer need to use up all my stamina and mana just to deal with an A-rank boss.’

 

Of course, I wasn’t in perfect condition. But I wasn’t tired enough to miss a drinking session.

 

“Hmm, yes. I think I’m doing reasonably well.”

“Oh… You’re the first person I’ve seen who doesn’t collapse immediately after dealing with that, aside from S-rank Hunters. That’s really amazing.”

 

Wi Seo-jin drank her beer with an interested expression.

 

“Indeed.”

 

Hong I-jo also spoke in a calm tone as if agreeing.

 

‘Is that so? But the one who’s more amazing is…’

 

I glanced at Hong I-jo across from me.

 

Flutter.

 

Due to his red wings, he was taking up space for three people.

The Hunters on either side had been pushed quite far away. They chewed their meat with pitiful expressions.

 

“Ahem, cough.”

 

I tried hard to hold back my laughter. Not laughing at this would be difficult even if Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva came.

 

‘Still, it must be troublesome every time.’

 

As I’d always thought, Hong I-jo’s wings were very conspicuous.

Blood-red feathers. At first glance, they looked like well-made sculptures.

 

‘I heard there are often these special-type Hunters overseas.’

 

Awakened with characteristics clearly different from humanity…

But their numbers were extremely rare, so even in this land with a population exceeding fifty million, Hong I-jo was the only one.

 

 

‘It doesn’t seem to be a skill exactly.’

 

I was a bit curious about how he came to have them. But it was awkward to ask directly.

I sipped my makgeolli again and put aside my curiosity.

 

“Come on, cheers!”

“Cheers—.”

 

While quietly enjoying this peaceful commotion.

 

* * *

 

“Eun Hae-dam! Want to go for a second round?”

“Ah, I’m fine. It’s getting a bit late.”

“Ah…! I understand. Well, you must be tired no matter what. Please head home first!”

 

Wi Seo-jin, whose tension was through the roof, spoke with flushed cheeks. I could tell from when she was just downing the high-proof alcohol made for Awakened…

 

‘I did well to drink in moderation.’

 

I waved goodbye to the other Red Dog Hunters.

 

“Take care! Thank you for the early dismissal gift today.”

“See you again next time! Preferably as fellow Guild Members!”

“…Haha. Get home safely.”

 

And then…

 

“Hong I-jo, aren’t you going with them?”

 

I spoke to the one S-rank Hunter standing there blankly.

 

“Gave you the card.”

“Ah, right.”

 

That’s enough, I suppose. It’s better for the boss to step away at this point.

I nodded as if I understood.

 

“Well, then.”

 

‘Is there anyone listening in?’

 

In front of the bar, on the street filled with the atmosphere of alcohol past midnight.

With Red Dog having gone for their second round, there was no one who would approach a High-rank Awakener to eavesdrop on our conversation.

 

“…About that Auctioneer from earlier.”

“Yeah.”

 

I quietly began the conversation.

 

“You remember the meeting from last time, right? The one we had at the School. You must know about the agenda we discussed then too.”

“….”

“The religious organization called the Strange People Cult.”

“…Yeah.”

 

Hong I-jo listened to my words with a silent expression. Confirming he was listening, I continued my sentence.

 

“The Auctioneer seems to have connections with that organization. This incident too, they definitely had a hand in it.”

“….”

“If we leave this alone, it might escalate into greater damage. If they really have the ability to raise Awakening grades…”

“Dangerous.”

“…Yes.”

 

Hong I-jo tilted his head slightly. Then he furrowed his brow as if deep in thought.

 

“I’ll look into it.”

“…Will you participate in the investigation?”

 

I showed a slightly surprised expression. The Large Guilds participating in the Strange People Cult investigation were Eden, Blue Dragon, Academy, and Butterfly, excluding Red Dog.

I had heard from Sister Yu-kyung that Red Dog wouldn’t participate due to recent personnel shortages.

 

“Yeah.”

“….”

“Today, it’s been a while since we had a company dinner.”

 

Hong I-jo threw out what seemed like a random comment. However, it wasn’t long before I could understand what he meant.

 

“It feels real. That everyone… has returned.”

 

He looked up at the sky for a moment. Seoul’s night sky was just dark and gloomy, but the neon signs from the surrounding shops sparkled, giving it a decent atmosphere.

 

“Our old selves.”

“….”

“The old Red Dog.”

 

So we can be together again.

Having regained their strength, they would once again pour their efforts into protecting society’s good.

It was just a brief period of misfortune, but I realized that the original Hong I-jo was a surprisingly righteous person.

 

“…That’s good.”

 

Really.

 

I smiled lightly and put my hands in my pouch. November weather was quite chilly, after all.

 

“Ah, right.”

 

But I felt something in my pouch. Only then realizing, I spoke to Hong I-jo.

 

“Hong I-jo. About that insomnia of yours.”

“?”

“Is it very severe?”

“Hmm…”

 

The man with dark shadows under his eyes answered slowly.

 

“A little.”

 

As expected.

 

‘It must be quite severe.’

 

I took something out of my pouch.

 

“Here.”

“…?”

“I told you I had a method.”

 

 

Yellow paper. And strange red lines drawn on it. It was the talisman I had briefly drawn earlier.

 

“Originally, writing with mirror cinnabar works best, but… this one has an unexpected additional effect, so there shouldn’t be much difference.”

 

I looked at the faintly floating popup window.

 

 

‘In the end, the talisman skill still hasn’t been fully updated.’

 

From what I’ve deduced so far, it seems to be a skill that slightly increases basic stats for a certain period of time.

 

The problem is…

 

‘I can’t actually use this on myself.’

 

Sigh.

 

I secretly let out a sigh. The range I could use was limited to attaching it to weapons for enhancement, like last time. It seems to be a support skill rather than an attack skill.

So even if the updates are slow, I don’t feel too disappointed.

 

‘Well, what can I do.’

 

I’ve never seen a shaman use talismans on themselves anyway.

 

“…What is it?”

 

When I held out the talisman, Hong I-jo expressed his confusion. Still, he slowly took it.

 

“I wonder if you know what a talisman is…”

“…?”

“Well, these days only those who know, know.”

 

I scratched my cheek and gave a simple explanation.

 

“Attach it to the head of your bed and sleep. It should make falling asleep a bit easier.”

 

That talisman is the type that dispels mental distractions and wandering thoughts. No matter how I think about it, Hong I-jo’s insomnia seems to be a mental issue.

 

‘I don’t know the exact reason though.’

 

Still, it should help.

 

“…Yeah. Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“….”

“Not being able to sleep becomes difficult if it goes on for long.”

 

I know because I’ve experienced it before. If an S-rank Hunter has dark circles that deep, how little sleep has he been getting?

 

“I’ll be going then. Get home safely.”

“Oh, I’ll…”

“I’ll take a taxi.”

 

 

Ugh.

Anyway, didn’t he drink too? If he flies me around, wouldn’t that be drunk flying…

 

I casually waved my hand to catch a taxi.

 

“….”

 

I didn’t know it, but Hong I-jo stood there for a while, fiddling with the talisman.

 

* * *

 

A few days later.

 

I was lying on the floor with my back against it in my cramped home.

 

“Ah… This is annoying.”

 

I’d rather go out with a sword and hunt monsters. But I can’t put it off any longer.

I finally pulled myself together and got up. Then I looked around.

 

“It’s gotten quite dirty.”

 

I’ve been away from home frequently lately. For two months of that, I was trapped in a dungeon and couldn’t come at all.

The result was a neglected home with no trace of human habitation.

 

“Should I clean up a bit…”

 

So today’s plan is a thorough cleaning.

 

I looked at the dusty Buddhist painting and scattered ritual implements while putting my hands on my hips.

 

* * *

 

Sweeping and wiping.

I used a duster I bought from Daiso in front of my house to dust off the small god statue placed on the shelf.

 

“Cough, cough.”

 

After wiping it with a cloth until it was sparkling clean, it looked exactly like it used to.

 

“This feels pretty satisfying.”

 

It was an item that Grandfather cherished dearly. It’s at least 50 years old, apparently.

 

“Phew.”

 

With that god statue as the finishing touch, I completed the cleaning and looked around the much cleaner house.

 

“I guess this is good enough.”

 

It was still cramped and cluttered with ritual implements and household items mixed together. But it wasn’t too bad in its own way.

 

‘Moving…’

 

I’ll think about that later. It’s not urgent. I’ll probably be away from home more often for a while anyway.

 

Ding-dong—

 

Just then, I heard the cheerful sound of the doorbell.

 

“?”

 

What’s this? There’s really no one who should be coming today? Choi Yu-il said he was training today too.

 

Creak—

 

I opened the door with a puzzled expression.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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