A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 123

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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 123: Snowy Field (4)

 

“If it’s not a monster, then what would it be?”

 

Ren asked cautiously.

 

“This is a dungeon. One that Hanako Guild has claimed first. Outside, the Japan Hunter Management Bureau is standing guard, so the probability of problems is slim.”

 

“….”

 

“But… yes. It never hurts to be careful.”

 

He sighed.

 

“Five people. But what I see now is one more than that… Honestly, as a guild leader, it would be strange not to check.”

 

Snow had already accumulated heavily on his yukata. The blizzard was blowing, and after various battles, it had piled up considerably.

 

And he carried as much responsibility on his shoulders as there were snowflakes.

 

‘That’s fortunate.’

 

Honestly, I was a bit worried he might just push through. Ren also seemed to have a strong stubborn streak like most S-rank Hunters.

 

“…And you don’t seem like someone who would say something pointless.”

 

Ren, who had been deliberating, finished his statement. It was puzzling, but no further explanation followed.

 

“Then it’s decided.”

 

I nodded as if I understood. Then I gave a light bow to the Wronged King Spirit who had finished his task.

 

“Please take care. Thanks to you, I received much help.”

 

| I as well… |

 

The Wronged King Spirit adjusted his old gat and soon disappeared.

 

Swoosh.

 

Nothing remained in that spot.

 

| Will you return? |

 

The Mountain Lord asked afterward.

 

“Yes. Somehow I feel that’s the right thing to do.”

 

| …You truly are… |

 

“Huh?”

 

| No, never mind. If you’ve decided, don’t hesitate. |

 

I nodded my head.

 

“Oh, right.”

 

Just as I was about to pick up speed with Ren, something came to mind.

 

“Spirit Descent Ritual Release.”

 

| …?! |

 

Whoosh—

 

The Mountain Lord who had left my body revealed his form. The White Tiger with a bewildered expression shook his head.

 

“Mountain Lord, could you give us a ride just once?”

 

| …. |

 

“…It would be much faster that way.”

 

I made the request boldly. After all, having ridden a god once, what’s stopping me from riding twice?

 

| …There will be a price to pay. |

 

“Yes, yes. I’ll buy you honey rice cake. Or maybe red bean porridge?”

 

| Noisy. |

 

The Mountain Lord grabbed the scruff of my clothes with his mouth. Then with a swift motion, he threw me onto his back.

 

Thud.

 

“Ow, ow, ow.”

 

I grabbed onto the faint white fur to survive.

 

“Ren, get on. This way is faster.”

 

“No, but how…”

 

“Hurry up.”

 

“It’s not proper etiquette to ride someone else’s summoned creature…!”

 

Ren’s pupils wavered. It made sense, considering his common sense had been shattered several times today.

 

| That one is noisy too. |

 

Whoosh!

 

The Mountain Lord wrapped Ren with his tail. Then he lightly threw him toward his own back.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Thud.

 

Ren, who had fallen face-first, rubbed his nose as if in pain. He seemed to need time to understand what had just happened.

 

| Good grief. The one who serves a deity is actually riding on the deity… I understand this situation, yet I don’t. |

 

The Mountain Lord clicked his tongue with a tsk.

 

“Hold on tight. He seems to be feeling a bit mischievous.”

 

| Mischievous, my foot. |

 

He denied it, but I was certain. When I warned him, Ren reluctantly secured his position firmly.

 

Screech.

 

What followed was swift and decisive. The master of the Winter Mountain began to pick up speed.

 

Cutting through the familiar snow field and cold air. The Mountain Lord’s claws kicked through the thickly piled snow.

 

‘Nothing will go wrong.’

 

A strange uneasiness wouldn’t fade. I frowned, mulling over the sensation that kept visiting me.

 

* * *

 

The wind blows.

 

“Ahhhhhhh…”

 

A sharp wind that seems like it will devour everything.

 

“Huff, gasp, huff…”

 

The cold winter wind often freezes flesh solid. Frozen flesh cracks and spits out blood in gushes.

 

Drip, drip.

 

Red blood fell. Onto the pure white snow field. It was beautiful like a gem.

 

“Ah…”

 

Crunch.

 

Someone gripped that gem. Clutching a handful of blood that had fallen from themselves.

 

And crawls.

 

To escape this place. To escape the scattered field of gems… Crawling, and crawling again.

 

“S-save me…”

 

“Shh.”

 

But he was caught after all. The man who had been crawling on the snow looked up with trembling pupils.

 

“You need to be quiet.”

 

Rough Japanese could be heard.

 

“Why, why are you doing this… We’re both Japanese, so why—.”

 

“…Hahah.”

 

When the man who had already lost one leg asked, his opponent burst into laughter.

 

You could tell from the sound of laughter. It was definitely hearty laughter.

 

Thud!

 

The man’s head was buried in the snow field. He didn’t move at all.

 

“Hmm hmm hmm.”

 

His opponent hummed a tune. A gentle humming, a very peaceful melody.

 

Then it turned around.

 

“Ah, you’re here?”

 

Cutting through the cold winter wind. A white tiger revealed itself.

 

* * *

 

The journey back was long. At the same time, it was treacherous. The scenery of the path we had taken kept changing due to the endlessly falling snow.

 

“Do you remember all the way we came?”

 

| Of course. The snowy field is no different from my home.|

 

However, since the Mountain Lord had resolved that as well, it didn’t become a major problem.

 

| …Did you see their fate earlier? |

 

“I caught a glimpse of it. They were all auspicious fortunes, so I didn’t pay much attention.”

 

Hanako’s Guild Members mostly had fortunate destinies like Heavenly Noble Star or Three Wonders Noble Star.

 

There were no evil stars associated with disaster.

 

“But….”

 

“….”

 

“The fate of humans standing close to death is usually hard to see clearly.”

 

I had met several such people before. Among the customers who came to the Shaman House, there were people whose future appeared hazy, as if shrouded in fog.

 

The most heartbreaking among them was a student who came in holding their parents’ hands, and the saddest was….

 

‘Grandfather.’

 

— Have you been playing some kind of trick lately? I can’t see anything clearly.

 

— What can’t you see?

 

— Grandfather’s tomorrow.

 

Like that day when I carelessly brushed it off. I didn’t want to let them end up the same way.

 

‘…Even though they’re strangers to me.’

 

I felt Ren’s heartbeat behind me becoming irregular. His anxiety must be intensifying.

 

‘It should be okay to at least wish for their safety.’

 

Our destination was drawing near. Before long, the Mountain Lord stopped walking.

 

| We’ve arrived. |

 

A place where the snowstorm raged white. The Attack Starting Point where we had left Hanako’s Guild Members behind.

 

“Ah, you’re here?”

 

Someone was there.

 

“…?”

 

I got down from the Mountain Lord’s back. Ren followed behind me as well.

 

‘Who is it?’

 

My nerves were on edge. The swirling blizzard made my vision blurry.

 

| Whoosh—. |

 

The Mountain Lord blew out his breath. As the winter god commanded, the blizzard gradually began to subside.

 

My vision clears.

 

No…

 

It turns crimson red.

 

“…!”

 

“…Uh.”

 

I instinctively stepped backward. The scene revealed as the blizzard subsided was truly shocking.

 

“Ugh.”

 

The stench of blood.

 

The metallic smell brushed against my nose.

 

“Urgh—.”

 

I covered my mouth and dry heaved. It was the smell of human blood.

 

The red blood that should have flowed through veins… it was scattered all across the snowy field.

 

‘Please, no.’

 

I came to my senses and frantically looked around. To find the owner of this blood.

 

One person? Or maybe two? No, it might be the enemy’s…

 

That couldn’t be.

 

“Hah.”

 

Now I knew. This wasn’t an amount that could come from one person. The liquid that had thoroughly soaked all sides was at least enough for three or more people.

 

Thump, thump.

 

My heart beat wildly.

 

‘Corpses…’

 

Something was piled up on one side of the snowy field. It was hard to make out with blood and flesh tangled together, but it was definitely.

 

‘Hanako’s Guild Members.’

 

Why?

 

How could this be?

 

To this extent…?

 

It was hard to accept the situation. I suppressed the dry heaving that was rising again.

 

| Look ahead. Pull yourself together. |

 

A firm voice was heard. I opened my eyes with difficulty.

 

Step.

 

The figure of ‘someone’ comes into view.

 

“…That thing….”

 

As I opened my mouth with a surprised expression, there was someone who rushed out like lightning in front of me.

 

Shriek!

 

Hanasaki Ren. Having lost his composure, his eyes gleamed with fierce intensity.

 

“Dual Sword Style, Full Bloom.”

 

The black blades moved chaotically. Sword paths more varied than before drew lines in the air.

 

Winter flowers bloom.

 

Ren swung his sword with the momentum to tear apart whoever stood before him. However, landing a hit didn’t seem easy.

 

Clang!

 

His sword was blocked. By a single thin sword.

 

“Haha….”

 

Fox Mask.

 

White face, red eye markings, pointed ears. The one who covered their face with such a mask had easily blocked the S-rank Hunter.

 

* * *

 

A life like a dream. Born into a Noble Family, wearing fine clothes, eating good food, and learning good things.

 

Growing up without lacking anything, he had now become Japan’s twelfth star.

 

— You truly have tremendous talent.

 

— You’re a talent who will lead Japan’s Hunter Society in the future.

 

Hanasaki Ren often felt like he was living in a dream. So he should share this fortune, he shouldn’t get conceited.

 

As he had learned, with courtesy. Dignified and moderate. He resolved to elevate the honor of his nation and name.

 

Clang!

 

However, misfortune comes to everyone without exception.

 

“Dual Sword Style, Full Bloom!”

 

He didn’t know that dreams are called dreams because they always come to an end. Cold reality awakens the young man.

 

Why?

 

How could this be?

 

To this extent…

 

Ren couldn’t bear to look at his colleagues scattered across the snowy field.

 

Screech, clank!

 

Instead, Ren chose to strike down the enemy before his eyes. He would kill them without fail.

 

“Unity of Ki, Sword, and Body.”

 

Power that transcends the realm of ordinary humans. An existence standing at the top even within the clear standard of S-rank.

 

Ren thrust his sword with all his might.

 

Clang—!

 

Now two sword wounds would soon be carved into the Fox Mask… or so it should have been.

 

“Hmm hmm hmm.”

 

What was this sharpness that cut through his vision?

 

“—!”

 

Ren hastily pulled his body back. But it was already too late. Fox Mask had finished preparing to slash his chest with their sword.

 

This was the power that killed an S-rank. There was no way it could be weak.

 

He’ll be pierced.

 

Ren closed his eyes. Surely his heart would be torn apart…

 

“Severe Cold.”

 

With a familiar voice, the surroundings instantly froze solid.

 

Clang!

 

Fox Mask’s long, sharp sword stopped in place.

 

“…Huff.”

 

Ren, coming to his senses, created distance between himself and Fox Mask.

 

“…Ah, what a shame.”

 

The opponent muttered. Though no expression could be read due to the mask, Ren felt like he knew.

 

“How disappointing!”

 

That thing was laughing. It was maniacal laughter.

 

* * *

 

What is its identity?

 

I used Severe Cold to stop Fox Mask’s movements. Then I observed the opponent.

 

‘Spiritual Sight.’

 

It was fortunate that I faced it directly. If I use Spiritual Sight, figuring out its identity should be easy…

 

Crack.

 

Crackle.

 

“Ugh.”

 

[Status Window]

 

Name : ?

 

Grade : ?

 

[Stats]

 

Health : ◼◼◼ Strength : ◼◼◼ Agility : □□□

 

Mental Power | □□□ Mana | ◼◼◼

 

[Skills]

 

? (S) lv.◼

 

? (S) lv.◼

 

? (S) lv.◼

 

Four Pillars / □□□

 

What the hell.

 

I couldn’t see anything. The Status Window was unable to display information as if it had malfunctioned.

 

I looked at the Fox Mask with trembling eyes.

 

‘Damn it.’

 

Dressed entirely in black. A tall, solid build that seemed masculine. Hair completely hidden under a pressed-down robe.

 

It greeted me.

 

“Hello?”

—————
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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