A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 116
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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 116: Japan (1)
Purple bob cut hair. A cold-looking beauty wearing silver glasses.
“You’ll be accompanying me on this business trip. Please take care of me.”
Jung Su-jin, an Association staff member dressed in a black suit, offered me a handshake.
“…Hello?”
I took her hand and greeted her. What an unexpected face. I heard the Association side would assign someone to me, but I didn’t know it would be Jung Su-jin.
That makes sense since she said she was from the Emergency Gate Management Department.
“It’s nice to see you like this. But last time, you definitely said you were from the Emergency Gate… anyway, the Management Department, didn’t you?”
“That’s correct. Today I’m on assignment.”
“Ah. You get assigned frequently.”
I saw her during the grade assessment, and we’ve run into each other often since then. Even though I heard she caught the Association President’s eye.
Jung Su-jin looked awkward as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
“The Association has blurred boundaries between departments. When there’s a shortage of personnel, we help each other. And I’ve basically been transferred to the Association President’s Dedicated Department now…”
“Really?”
“Yes. He thinks very highly of how I handle work. I’ll probably receive a different business card soon.”
So that’s how it was. I said this while taking off the sunglasses from my head and tucking them into my chest pocket. Mountain Lord was complaining he couldn’t see ahead.
“Isn’t the work difficult?”
“Not at all. He’s very kind. Though he does ask me to do tea ceremony with him sometimes… Actually, quite often.”
“Haha.”
“Still, I’m happy to have my abilities recognized.”
‘That old man does have an eye for people.’
I nodded and offered my congratulations.
“Then let’s go check in your luggage first.”
“Ah, yes. Please take care of me. This is my first time at an airport.”
Jung Su-jin adjusted her glasses as if she understood. I followed her, dragging the suitcase that Baek Kyul and Choi Yu-il had helped me pack.
* * *
“…Um, excuse me, Hunter?”
“Yes. What’s wrong?”
“The ticket seems a bit strange…”
Jung Su-jin’s hand trembled slightly as she received the airplane ticket. She looked back and forth between the ticket and me.
“This is… First Class…?”
Jung Su-jin grasped the situation with a flustered expression.
| First… What’s that? |
‘The best seats on the airplane.’
| Oho. |
Taking advantage of her confusion, I whispered to the Mountain Lord and then said nonchalantly.
“I changed them.”
“What?!”
They did it for me when I went to the counter.
She asked loudly in return. I shrugged my shoulders.
“It’s good to travel comfortably.”
The flight was booked by the Japanese side, and as expected, they were true to form. The original seats were Economy Class.
I figured there was nothing wrong with making our first trip comfortable.
‘My bank balance is quite generous too. This is the kind of opportunity to spend it on.’
However, Jung Su-jin still had a bewildered expression.
“But, we’re only flying for 2 hours.”
“…Really?”
I didn’t know that. I froze for a moment while wearing the neck pillow I bought at the duty-free shop.
‘Japan is that close?’
You’d have to have been there to know. I thought it would be at least a five-hour flight. Technology these days is really amazing…
“…Should we get a refund?”
I asked seriously. I had wanted to get into the travel mood, but I hadn’t planned to be extravagant.
But Jung Su-jin smiled gently. It seemed she took my words as a joke.
“No, thank you.”
“….”
“Um… I’ve never ridden first class before. This is so amazing right now.”
She said hesitantly. Her face looked so excited that I couldn’t bring myself to say anything else.
‘Well, I guess what’s good is good.’
I scratched my cheek and boarded the airplane heading to Japan.
* * *
During the brief two hours, we crossed the sea through the sky.
| …Hooh. |
Throughout the flight, the Mountain Lord kept opening the window to look outside, so I couldn’t really sleep well. Of course, I was also excited about my first trip.
“Wow, they really look so small. This is amazing.”
| To think the Ten Thousand Mountains look so quaint… |
“Don’t you feel like you’re floating?”
| I’m a spirit, so I wouldn’t know about that. But the density of the atmosphere is definitely different. |
The Mountain Lord placed his front paws on the window frame. He gazed outside for a long while.
‘Having the Mountain Lord here definitely makes it less lonely.’
I looked at him and laughed heartily. Even though it had been a while since I’d seen the Divine Spirit, perhaps because we’d talked so much, it felt like we’d already grown close.
“Mountain Lord, you need to work hard protecting me too.”
| You should prepare your Spiritual Power. |
“Yes, yes.”
After chatting like that for quite a while, before we knew it.
Japan, Narita.
We took our first steps into the airport of that city with an unfamiliar name.
‘So this is Japan…’
Animation characters were drawn on the walls. There was no Korean, and the signs written in Japanese made it feel real that we had come to another country.
‘Somehow, this is fascinating.’
It felt like a unique experience, as if going to another world through a dungeon.
“They said they’d be somewhere around here… Ah, there they are.”
Jung Su-jin looked around near the immigration gate and pointed to one side.
In the distance, two men in formal suits were standing.
“They’re people from Japan. I heard they’ll help guide us through the schedule.”
“I see.”
I removed my neck pillow and approached in their direction together with Jung Su-jin.
“Hello. Nice to meet you.”
Jung Su-jin greeted them in fluent Japanese. The two Japanese people looked surprised and their mouths moved slightly.
Then one of them handed over something.
“Ah, it seems to be a translator. You can wear it in your ear.”
“Oh. How interesting. Is this accurate?”
“Yes. It’s made from dungeon byproducts.”
Well, there are even monster language translators. I inserted the machine that looked like a wireless earphone into one ear.
“Ah, nice to meet you. Welcome to Japan. You are Hunter Eun Hae-dam, correct?”
Now I could hear the other person’s language. I grasped the hand that was clearly extended toward me and shook it…
[Special Advantage Activated!]
…But then.
Suddenly a popup window appeared before my eyes.
‘What?’
As if answering my question, the system soon displayed an explanation.
[Special Advantage]
— Power left behind by many wounds and unceasing resistance.
Containing the will of ancient spirits, it doubles all of the user’s ability stats.
This effect only applies while staying in the corresponding country.
‘Suddenly? Wait a moment.’
My eyes quickly scanned through the text. It says all abilities are doubled. Really?
“Hunter?”
Snap.
I suddenly remembered that I was in the middle of shaking hands with someone I’d just met.
“…Yes. Nice to meet you.”
“Thank you so much for coming. The Japanese citizens are also very… welcoming.”
The Japanese person smiled while exchanging pleasantries. I gave a slight smile in return without much reaction.
“I am Sato Hiroki from the Japan Hunter Management Agency.”
The Japanese person, no, Sato introduced himself while offering his business card. I forgot to bring one, so I couldn’t offer a Shaman House business card.
‘Hunter Management Agency? That sounds strange.’
A department that ‘manages’ Hunters… Well, I guess that makes sense.
I cleared my mind of distractions and received the business card with proper courtesy.
“…”
Glance, my gaze went back up to the status window again.
[Status Window]
Name: Eun Hae-dam
Grade: ?? Grade
[Stats]
Health: 20 Strength: 20 Agility: 20
* Special Advantage in effect
…Even doubled, it’s still not much…
I’d need to gradually test how far the range of this effect extends.
‘Many wounds, old spirits…’
There were many reasons I could guess. I glanced at the Mountain Lord and gave a bitter smile.
“Hunter. Let me briefly brief you on today’s schedule.”
“Ah, yes.”
Sato’s translated speech flowed into my ears. I focused my attention on him once again.
“There’s nothing particularly difficult. Since it’s the first day, we’ll have a meal first and once the mana measurement is finished, we’ll meet again tomorrow.”
“What kind of measurement?”
“Ah, I didn’t explain this.”
The Japanese person with his hair slicked up with wax cleared his throat with a cough.
“Japan’s Hunter entry procedures are somewhat strict. According to our domestic standards, Awakened individuals who enter for purposes other than tourism must have their mana levels measured and registered before the procedures can be completed.”
“….”
“We have a special machine, and using that machine makes it finish quickly, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
I furrowed my brow. I was certain that revealing Status Window information was a critical matter for Hunters.
Perhaps reading my expression, Sato offered an explanation.
“Um, I apologize. It’s government policy. When you leave the country, all information will be deleted, and we will never use the Hunter’s information. It’s only for reference purposes when unfortunate incidents occur….”
Then Jung Su-jin quietly whispered to me.
“If you don’t register that, they’ll deny entry….”
I let out a light sigh. Fine, I understand. I’ll do it.
“Yes, I understand.”
“…! Thank you for understanding.”
The other person quickly brightened up. And soon he was explaining Tokyo’s restaurants while guiding me.
“What would you like for your meal? The udon is delicious, and there’s also tempura. Actually, Tokyo is delicious wherever you go—.”
They wouldn’t give me a penalty for eating foreign food, would they?
I had reasonable suspicions as I gently petted the Mountain Lord perched on my shoulder.
Peace of mind, peace of mind….
* * *
To start with the conclusion, there was no penalty. And the food here didn’t suit me well.
‘It tastes heavily of soy sauce and oil….’
I thought it wouldn’t be too different since it’s a neighboring country.
Still, the green tea was really rich and delicious. The soft steamed egg was good too.
‘The sashimi that came out at the end was also decent.’
I reminisced about the other foods whose names I couldn’t pronounce.
“Please come this way.”
Sato Hiroki opened the door to the building.
Hunter Management Office.
This place seemed to receive good government support – the doors were intact, and the exterior was large and clean.
I – including the Mountain Lord – along with Jung Su-jin and Sato took the elevator up and arrived somewhere.
“This is the machine right here. It’s new equipment that can precisely measure the mana in your body!”
Whirrrr—
The machine placed in the center of the room started operating.
“Oh…”
The black machine embedded with magic stones was placed inside a transparent glass chamber.
“Please place your hand on the magic stone and draw out your mana to the maximum. The specially treated glass will block the mana density, so you don’t need to worry about the safety of the surroundings.”
Sato gave a thumbs up. I nodded and walked toward it.
“Ah, we’ll proceed with your companion first.”
Then Sato mentioned Jung Su-jin first. Well, they did say all Awakened need to be measured.
“Alright then.”
Jung Su-jin opened the door of the glass chamber with a calm expression and went inside.
Whoosh—
As she took a deep breath, purple magic wavelengths rippled. However, the wavelengths soon disappeared without a trace.
“Hmm… Yes, you’re all done.”
Soon, the number 14 flickered briefly on the glass window before disappearing.
Sato wrote something on the paper with an indifferent expression.
‘E-rank lowest… was it.’
I already knew the number, but I didn’t expect it to be displayed so publicly.
‘How should I react to this.’
When I failed to manage my expression, Jung Su-jin, who had come out from behind the glass, blinked her eyes.
“…Um.”
“It’s okay.”
She clenched and unclenched her hand with an expressionless face.
“My value isn’t here, after all.”
“….”
“Recently, I even got a Japanese language certification. The highest level. And also, Chinese and Gate Safety Industrial Engineer…”
I smiled slightly at her as she enthusiastically counted on her fingers.
“—I see.”
Jung Su-jin was different from before. People change even from small triggers, after all.
‘She really seems to be okay.’
It was good to see.
“Then I’ll finish up quickly and come back too.”
I headed to the measurement room following Sato’s guidance.
“Mountain Lord, please wait here for a moment.”
| Understood. |
Hop, the Mountain Lord climbed down from my shoulder.
Click.
When I opened the glass door and entered, I saw Sato clicking his ballpoint pen with a bored expression.
‘I’ve been feeling this since earlier. He’s kind, but… overall he doesn’t seem very interested.’
It must be because someone other than an S-rank came.
I turned my attention to the machine. The magic stone glinted faintly.
‘I was told to draw out my magic power to the maximum.’
Usually, hunters would suppress the mana flowing out of their bodies as a matter of course.
What kind of looks would you get if you went around scattering magic power on the streets? It was one of the representative bad manners of the Hunter era.
‘Is this how you do it?’
I tilted my head at the mana release I was doing for almost the first time.
“But…”
My hand was placed on the machine’s magic stone.
Whoooooosh—!
Golden magic wavelengths burst forth.
“Is this okay?”
[Status Window]
Name : Eun Hae-dam
Grade : ?? Grade
[Stats]
Mana | 844
* Special Advantage in effect
My mana stat is over 800 right now…
Crack, crash!
I heard the sound of glass breaking.
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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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