A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 140

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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 140: The Boy and Girl (4)

 

Before long, we reached the Back Mountain.

 

Crack.

 

A dry branch broke under my foot as I stepped on it.

 

A few bare trees created an eerie atmosphere.

 

“Be careful and follow me.”

 

I advised Baek Kyul and Kim Se-min as I took large strides forward.

 

All the potentially dangerous trees had been cut down, leaving only their stumps, so moving around wasn’t difficult.

 

“…Uh.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Baek Kyul occasionally swallowed nervously but followed along better than I expected. Gone was the boy who used to be scared of even a single shadow…

 

‘So he really does act different in front of a girl his age.’

 

Or maybe… since Kim Se-min was climbing the dark Back Mountain without batting an eye, the guy’s pride might have been hurt.

 

Given Baek Kyul’s personality, it was probably closer to the latter.

 

‘Are we about halfway there?’

 

As expected, it was more like a hill than a mountain, so getting this far barely consumed any time or energy.

 

I briefly placed my hand on a split tree trunk and leaned against it.

 

“…Hmm.”

 

Let me concentrate. I still don’t feel that pricking sensation on the back of my neck.

 

However, I needed to check whether it was really absent, or if I just couldn’t sense it because my Spiritual Power hadn’t fully returned.

 

Whoooosh—

 

A cool winter wind blew—one that would surely feel bone-chillingly cold to ordinary people.

 

“…When the heavenly ruler is serene, all parts of the body follow commands.”

 

I quickly recited the Mind Calming Sutra. It was a Sacred Text used to compose one’s mind before prayer, but it was also useful when concentration was needed.

 

Well, I had used Shamanic Spells so freely according to my own preferences that Grandfather had scolded me multiple times for it.

 

“Opening the list and releasing the locks, white clouds roll across the sky…”

 

My complicated feelings settled down and a familiar sensation came over me.

 

With my body and mind in order, a sense of unity that felt like I could accept everything in this world.

 

‘In the past, I wouldn’t have needed to memorize it.’

 

Evil spirits would evaporate with just a gesture… Ah, seriously.

 

Now it had become a tale of past heroics.

 

‘It’s over there.’

 

I finally noticed the source of the energy. Baek Kyul, who had been watching carefully, asked quietly.

 

“What did you just do?”

 

“Why, is it fascinating?”

 

“No, you looked kind of crazy.”

 

“….”

 

This bastard.

 

I held back the urge to smack him on the head.

 

“It’s at the summit.”

 

“A normal person?”

 

“No, it’s at the mountain peak.”

 

My gaze shifted to the not-so-distant mountain peak. There was definitely a flickering energy there.

 

“…So we have to climb all the way to the top after all.”

 

Baek Kyul pressed his nose bridge with a reluctant expression. But hadn’t we already come too far to give up?

 

The guy pulled on his white hoodie and gestured with his chin.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

His adaptability really was good. It didn’t even seem like he was forcing himself to endure fear anymore.

 

‘I’m telling you, this guy has good potential.’

 

I chuckled and removed my hand that had been leaning against the tree trunk.

 

At first, I had agreed with a light heart, just wanting to help. It was nice, reminding me of the old days when I went around doing exorcisms with Grandfather.

 

Step.

 

Baek Kyul and Kim Se-min started walking first. I watched their backs and thought.

 

‘I should buy them a meal after this is over…’

 

That’s when it happened.

 

— Hae-dam. Didn’t I tell you to never let your guard down during exorcism!

 

A voice that had now grown faint suddenly flashed through my mind. It wasn’t a hallucination.

 

This was just…

 

“Ah.”

 

A warning from forgotten instincts.

 

“…!”

 

Something caught my eye. A sacred rope was tied to the tree pillar where I had been resting my hand. It was an extremely old, worn sacred rope.

 

Why was such an item here? I grasped the situation and urgently opened my mouth.

 

“Stop!”

 

I shouted while reaching out my hand. But my fingertips couldn’t even catch the hem of Baek Kyul’s hood or Kim Se-min’s school uniform jacket…

 

Stagger.

 

I missed them.

 

“Hey, wait, why is this…!”

 

“…Ah.”

 

The children disappeared in an instant. Like smoke, they evaporated from that spot.

 

“…Damn it.”

 

I clenched my teeth tightly.

 

This situation pointed to only one thing. Something that deceives and bewitches people.

 

It was an evil spirit.

 

* * *

 

Crash.

 

Baek Kyul and Kim Se-min tumbled down onto the earth ground. The ground felt like it was shaking, and they had simply lost their footing.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Baek Kyul clutched his head and barely managed to stand up.

 

‘No brain hemorrhage? Nothing broken…’

 

Then he checked his own condition and lightly applied Heal. Aside from minor bruises, there were no serious injuries.

 

“Kim Se-min?”

 

After that, Baek Kyul checked on his party member.

 

“I’m fine.”

 

Kim Se-min was already standing upright. She dusted off her skirt and spoke calmly.

 

“Any injuries?”

 

“None.”

 

Baek Kyul squinted his eyes to check if that was a lie.

 

Kim Se-min had a history, after all. When they went to that dungeon together where skeletons appeared in droves, she had clearly been seriously injured but refused Baek Kyul’s Heal.

 

‘She really seems fine.’

 

Her gait was steady and there was no visible bleeding anywhere. That was fortunate.

 

Baek Kyul withdrew his attention and looked around the surroundings.

 

“I don’t see hyung.”

 

He confirmed that Eun Hae-dam was nowhere to be seen and frowned.

 

‘This is bad.’

 

How long had it been since he gave that scary warning not to stray from him? And they were already separated.

 

Baek Kyul tapped his flashlight repeatedly.

 

“Ah, damn. This thing’s broken.”

 

No matter how much he hit it, no light came out. Being separated from Eun Hae-dam was already worrying, but now even the flashlight was broken—it was going from bad to worse.

 

Kim Se-min calmly agreed.

 

“That’s right.”

 

“…Aren’t you bothered at all? Your brother disappeared too, and the flashlight broke so we can’t see ahead.”

 

Baek Kyul couldn’t understand Kim Se-min’s attitude. She seemed like a person without emotions. Even he wasn’t that extreme.

 

She glanced at Baek Kyul and then reached out her hand.

 

Whooom—

 

Kim Se-min’s staff appeared in the air. When she swung it lightly, a bright light turned on.

 

“Now we can see.”

 

“…No, ha. Never mind.”

 

Light was just a secondary problem. The biggest issue wasn’t that…

 

Baek Kyul gave up on explaining and plopped down.

 

“Let’s wait here. Until my brother finds us.”

 

“Here?”

 

“When you’re lost, you’re supposed to stay in place. Didn’t they teach you that at home?”

 

“There was no one to teach me.”

 

“…!”

 

The boy was flustered. When talking with others, it was usually him who made the other person flustered. Really, this was his first time encountering someone like Kim Se-min.

 

Fine, let’s just not talk. Baek Kyul pulled his hood down deeper and crouched.

 

“…? Where are you going?”

 

That’s when Kim Se-min acted on her own. She looked around in all directions, found the path leading to the summit, and started walking.

 

“Where are you going!”

 

“To where I was originally planning to go.”

 

Kim Se-min didn’t stop. Baek Kyul shouted urgently.

 

“Hey!”

 

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much distance left to the summit.

 

‘Why is she so fearless?’

 

He had seen many Hunters and worked with various types of people, but Kim Se-min was unique even among them.

 

‘Damn it. Whatever happens, happens…’

 

Baek Kyul had no choice but to chase after Kim Se-min. He could only hope that Eun Hae-dam would somehow find them.

 

‘If we go to the summit, maybe we’ll meet him there.’

 

It was a common mistake that lost children made, but if they knew that, they wouldn’t be lost. Baek Kyul followed Kim Se-min with anxious eyes.

 

And before they knew it…

 

They had reached the mountain peak where the entire view of the school could be seen at a glance.

 

“…What?”

 

Moonlight brightly illuminated the area beneath the night sky. Kim Se-min’s staff wasn’t even needed.

 

But in that place filled with moonlight, a strange sound could be heard.

 

「Haha, wow! A new friend!」

 

Startled.

 

Baek Kyul trembled and frowned. It was the voice of a girl around their age.

 

“…Which class is that kid from who came here for a courage test?”

 

He was certain that someone had come here for a courage test.

 

Baek Kyul held his forehead, thinking that one more troublesome situation had been added.

 

“No.”

 

“…?”

 

“…I said no.”

 

Kim Se-min’s face was filled with joy as she said this.

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

Baek Kyul ignored Kim Se-min and courageously shouted toward the surroundings.

 

“Hey, you can’t be here. It’s dangerous! It would be better if you came out with us—.”

 

It would be… better.

 

「Hahaha!」

 

Laughter echoed in all directions. It was loud enough for the echo to spread throughout the entire Back Mountain.

 

「Play with me. You have to play with me!」

 

Hesitation.

 

Baek Kyul stepped back. He instinctively felt what Eun Hae-dam had called ‘something wicked.’

 

The boy hurriedly pulled out a talisman from his pouch. Just as he was about to tear it—.

 

“I’ve been looking for you for a while.”

 

Kim Se-min approached the source of the voice with joy.

 

“W-wait. What are you doing!”

 

Baek Kyul tried to stop her, but it was useless. Kim Se-min had already gone far away.

 

“Please show me that too.”

 

The girl reached out her hand, and the formless girl responded to her.

 

「Wow—. You’re a pretty sister. If I show you, will you play with me?」

 

Nod.

 

When Kim Se-min nodded, everything went dark and she felt like she was being sucked somewhere.

 

* * *

 

When she opened her eyes, she saw a ceiling with glow-in-the-dark stars attached to it. Kim Se-min got up from the bed with a dazed expression.

 

Swish.

 

When she raised her hand to check, she saw a hand that was clearly smaller than her original one.

 

Her body’s sensations were also similar to before her awakening. It was a child’s body that seemed unable to lift even slightly heavy objects.

 

“Se-min— Kim Se-min!”

 

Just then, someone called Kim Se-min from outside the room. Kim Se-min’s mouth moved wordlessly.

 

“…Ah.”

 

She needed to answer, but her throat was choked up and the words wouldn’t come out easily.

 

“Aren’t you going to get up? How long are you planning to sleep—.”

 

The door opened and the owner of the voice entered. It was a woman in her early twenties with jet-black hair grown down to her waist, wearing an innocent and bright smile.

 

“Oh my. What’s gotten into you to wake up so early?”

 

The woman’s eyes widened in surprise as she discovered Kim Se-min sitting on the bed.

 

“…Yeah. I’m trying to live diligently like you, Sister. I’ve been waking up early lately.”

 

“Haha. Really? Our Se-min has grown up—.”

 

At the admirable words, the woman pinched Kim Se-min’s cheeks and praised her.

 

“I made breakfast, so eat and go to school. I have training. Oh, come to think of it, vacation is coming up soon, right?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Then shall we go to the sea together next week?”

 

“…The sea? Really?”

 

“Of course, really. When have I ever lied to you?”

 

Lies.

 

You did back then, and back then too.

 

Kim Se-min hid her expression. It was what she had become best at lately.

 

“Okay. Have a good training session.”

 

The woman patted Kim Se-min’s head a couple of times and then left the room. Kim Se-min got down from the bed.

 

Rustle.

 

There was something in her pajama pocket. When she took it out, it was a talisman with red Chinese characters written on yellow paper.

 

— If it seems dangerous, tear it right away. It will make the evil thing retreat for a moment.

 

“….”

 

Kim Se-min folded the talisman and put it back in.

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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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