A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 113
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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 113: Unpredictable (4)
Inside the rippling White Hell Gate. The S-rank Gate that had appeared in Seoul, on the 5th day since its occurrence.
In a place where originally there should have been nothing but monsters, voices could be heard.
“Still not here? Always late as usual.”
In the center of the dungeon stood a round table. Those seated around the table decorated with splendid jewels conversed with each other.
“I thought we were all finally gathering together… Waiting is so boring.”
“Try developing some patience, sir. You’re hardly one to talk, considering you chose this place as our meeting location.”
A woman with jet-black hair flowing down to her feet complained. Then a man with a bushy beard snapped back in a sharp voice.
“It was too far for me too, so tiring…”
Finally, a boy clutching a small doll muttered.
“Why? Isn’t it beautiful and nice.”
“Only in your eyes. Fix that strange hobby of yours.”
An S-rank Dungeon. For those who had made their base in a place that humans should rightfully fear, they were far too peaceful.
Perhaps it was only natural. This dungeon had been created by them in the first place—those called the ‘Bishops’ of the Strange People Cult.
“A hobby, you say. This is like a declaration of war. Isn’t it quite amusing? Watching them tremble helplessly before a disaster they can neither enter nor eliminate.”
The woman smiled slyly.
“Our ‘activities’ will begin in earnest from now on… This was also a test of sorts.”
“Tsk, senile old hag…”
“What?”
“That’s a bad word…”
The woman without a single wrinkle scowled.
“What a ridiculous thing to say. Look in a mirror. See who’s older.”
“Not interested.”
“That guy really…!”
When the bearded man showed an indifferent reaction, she raised her arm to strike the table.
“Ah. Can’t you stop fighting?”
That’s when it happened. Someone walked out from the darkness.
“It’ll be heard all the way outside.”
It was a man with an annoyed expression. His long silver hair reaching down to his waist was striking.
He scratched his ear as he headed toward the table.
“…To be late again for such an important matter. You really are something.”
“What’s so urgent.”
“Didn’t I tell you to fix that careless attitude of yours.”
As he slumped down at the table, nagging poured out.
The silver-haired man ignored it and waved his hand dismissively.
“Enough. Let’s just get to what you wanted to talk about.”
“So cold…”
The boy said while poking his doll. The woman sighed and soon opened her mouth.
“You all know that disturbing things have started happening lately.”
“…”
“To be precise, I’m talking about things that really pissed us off. I called you here today to discuss that.”
The woman’s expression darkened. Her long fingernails tapped against the table.
“Two important personnel have already been eliminated. I think it’ll take quite some time to find similar replacements.”
“Two? Ah. That caretaker and the stupid elf.”
The silver-haired man nodded. Then the bearded man continued.
“That old elf with the long tongue and long ears—his entire race has disappeared. I just heard that the castle collapsed.”
“Eek~ How scary…”
The boy hugged his doll. The woman nodded as if agreeing with the man’s words.
“Right. Thanks to that, we lost a third of our sacrifice supply.”
“That elf was responsible for that much?”
“How surprising. You didn’t know?”
“Uh. I suddenly feel bad for calling him stupid.”
The silver-haired man chuckled. The woman said while twirling her hair.
“Well, what’s done is done. He’s already dead. Anyway, you need to take a bit more interest in our work.”
“How much more than this?”
“Tsk…”
The woman looked at the shrugging silver-haired man with displeasure. The bearded man also clicked his tongue softly.
“Being so frivolous.”
“It’s someone else’s problem.”
The boy holding the doll muttered in a regretful tone.
“That caretaker guy too… They say he was captured. He was a nice guy…”
“It was quite a useful ability, wasn’t it a shame. Finding a replacement for that will take some time.”
The boy nodded his head. He didn’t forget to mutter, “Please make me a good person this time too…”
“…So you’re saying all of this is the work of one person? Hah. This has become quite troublesome.”
The man stroked his beard. The woman rested her chin on her hand and continued his words.
“That’s why I said we should have erased them from the beginning… If you don’t cut the sprout, it keeps growing – that’s their nature.”
“No one knew. We only realized it when the sacred artifact was stolen.”
“Ah, right. The sacred artifact.”
The woman clapped her hands. Then she wrinkled her face until creases formed on her forehead.
“Now that I think about it, I’m getting angry…? So right now, we’ve suffered three different losses?”
“Why are you getting so angry? If you keep frowning like that, you’ll just look older.”
“Shut up. Before I shave off your head?”
As the man leaned back in his chair, his long silver hair swayed gracefully.
He looked up at the dim ceiling and spoke as if giving advice.
“Enough. Let’s organize what we need to do first. You must have some countermeasures in mind, right?”
“…Of course I do.”
A deep sigh was heard. The woman extended her fingers one by one as if organizing the situation.
“We’ve suffered a total of three losses. Among them, two are particularly significant damages. The sacrifice and the sacred artifact.”
“…”
“If we don’t handle this immediately, it’ll become a headache.”
The bearded man rarely agreed with her words.
“You’re right. The longer we delay, the worse it gets.”
“…Then it’s decided.”
The woman struck the table briskly with a loud thud.
“Let’s call for volunteers. Who wants to step forward?”
At that proposal, someone among the three raised their hand. Following them, one more hand went up.
“Yes… Very good.”
A satisfied expression appeared on the woman’s face.
“I hope it gets resolved safely. I have faith in you. Oh, and. While you’re at it…”
She raised the corners of her mouth painted with red lipstick.
“Don’t forget a little revenge as well.”
Revenge.
Though it was a short word, the meaning contained within it was by no means simple. The revenge she spoke of would certainly not end with just “a little.”
Those who had voluntarily raised their hands agreed with her words.
* * *
I wiped the blood that had splattered on my chin. A magic stone was glowing inside the crushed ant’s head.
‘This is almost like just picking them up.’
However, the sensation of rummaging through the burnt brain to extract the magic stone was quite unpleasant.
“Wow, as expected of an A-rank! You’re incredibly fast.”
A Hunter who had sliced off one of the ant’s legs shouted to me.
I smiled awkwardly and stuffed the collected magic stone into my sleeve.
‘Even though it’s a hastily formed party, we work together surprisingly well.’
I had set out to conquer a dungeon using the internet, just like when I entered the skeleton dungeon last time.
It was to confirm the effects of the enhanced Spirit General Sword.
‘The contract with the Association President is still valid. But there’s been no contact at all.’
I still wasn’t familiar with using the internet, but… having used it once before, I was able to find a decent recruitment post.
— Looking for a dealer! Our current staff suddenly came down with awakener flu ㅠㅠ Priority given to those available this Thursday!! Text us and there will be a brief interview!
‘I was nervous because they said there would be an interview.’
The reaction that came as soon as I sent my Hunter License via text was unexpected.
That’s how I passed the interview with a free pass and became a temporary party member.
My assigned task was to fry and roast the ants.
Whoosh.
Flames blazed from the enhanced Spirit General Sword. I detected an ant that was charging at my back.
“Fire Virtue Flame.”
Swish, the hem of my blue shaman robes fluttered. As I spun once in the air, the ant’s abdomen burst open from the flaming Spirit General Sword.
Splat.
Fire Virtue True Lord’s flames found their prey. The corpses of dead ants began to burn.
| Haha. A feast of fire in an ant nest! |
I stuck my hand into the fire pit and pulled out a magic stone.
“That’s crazy. Isn’t it hot?”
“Well, it’s fire I created myself.”
“So cool… Thank you so much for coming. We were really worried since our party only consists of B-rank and C-rank members.”
The party member’s eyes sparkled. Well, this raid party had a high ratio of B-rank Awakened, and even the leader wasn’t A-rank.
‘Well, most small and medium parties are like that.’
They were even missing existing members, so they must have been quite anxious.
‘They were practically clinging to my pants…’
I recalled the desperate messages and shook my head.
“Heal over here please!”
“Yes! Oh, leave that alone. The Hunter says he’ll just burn it!”
“Oh, really? Thank you!”
The party members were faithfully carrying out their respective duties. The individual combat ant hunting was going extremely smoothly.
“Divine Spirit.”
| Yes yes, I’m ready! |
I stood in front of where the ant eggs were gathered. How long would it take to eliminate these one by one?
“Flame.”
Blue flames blazed from my hand. The fire instantly spread to the cluster of unborn monsters.
Whoosh!
Even though they were eggs, they were B-rank monsters. In other words, they were essentially solid masses of mana.
But under Fire Virtue True Lord’s flames, they all turned to ash in an instant.
Kieeeek!
A worker ant, enraged by the death of the eggs, charged at me. I casually lifted one leg and kicked it away with a thud.
Kiiiik!
The ant tumbled and staggered far away.
“Ah, thank you…!”
A Hunter who had been bitten on the side by that worker ant expressed his gratitude.
The Healer ran over and cast heal on that Hunter, restoring him somewhat.
“Thanks to you, the strategy will really end quickly. I was thinking it would take about three days! Come on, shall we move on to the next area?”
The Party Leader shouted energetically. The raid party’s atmosphere was very good.
I smiled lightly at the inexplicable sense of pride and nodded.
“Yes, let’s go.”
Next was the boss battle. Hunting the Queen Ant.
* * *
The S-rank divine sword played its role perfectly. When the Hunters with support skills restrained the Boss Monster, everything after that proceeded smoothly.
Slice.
I thought it had only penetrated about an inch. The weapon with increased critical hit rate sliced right through the monster’s vital point.
I took a deep breath. As I sheathed the sword, the flames flickering on the blade disappeared.
“It’s over. Shall we head out now?”
When I turned around, the Hunters stood with their mouths agape and blank expressions.
“Wow, wow…”
“You say it, quickly!”
“Why are you making me do it! You do it, hyung…!”
They started patting each other’s shoulders among themselves.
‘Why are they acting like that?’
I brushed the ash off my shaman robes and gestured toward the dungeon exit. The party members continued bickering with each other even at that moment.
* * *
“Ugh. I’m tired.”
I muttered that and stretched my stiff shoulders.
As I came out of the dungeon, the cold air tickled my face. Come to think of it, it’s almost the end of the year.
“Excuse me, Hunter…!”
“Yes?”
The Party Leader who had been creaking all along came over to talk to me.
The Tank, heavily armed in armor, extended his hand with movements that seemed unlubricated. It was a handshake request.
Though the way he looked was a bit… like a fan asking a singer for an autograph…
“?”
I bewilderedly took his hand. He grabbed my hand and shook it vigorously.
“Thank you so much for today. I was really impressed! Like, you killed the Boss in one hit, wow.”
The other person awkwardly read the room and said.
“Ahem, if you have time, would you like to have a meal with our party…! How about it?”
Oh, I haven’t done corporate life but I know this one. An after-work gathering after business ends.
“A meal, you say. I’m fine with it, but…”
“Yes! There’s a restaurant in this area.”
“Aren’t you tired?”
But do they have enough stamina left after conquering a dungeon? At a glance, they all looked worn out.
However, the Party Leader vigorously shook his head and said.
“Not at all! When you handled everything for us, what could have been difficult!”
‘I remember you getting your calf bitten earlier though…’
Steel Leg scratched the back of his head.
“And actually, there’s something I’d like to propose…”
“?”
“Our party always goes around with fixed members like this. Actually, as you can see, it’s not a very safe combination. The friend who couldn’t come today is just a C-rank Dealer too.”
Hmm…
This feels familiar somehow…
“So while we’re having dinner today, we were hoping you might positively! consider joining our party, would that be alright?”
Aha.
It’s a recruitment offer.
I recalled the countless recruitment offers I had received directly and indirectly so far.
Ring ring—
But suddenly my mobile phone rang.
“Um, sorry but just a moment.”
“Yes yes! Please take it comfortably!”
Who is it?
‘What. This guy suddenly.’
I pressed the call button with a puzzled face. I didn’t forget to put in a voice that had become unfriendly without me realizing.
“Hello. Ah— Yes, Association President.”
When I answered the phone, silence fell around me.
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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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