A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 149
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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 149: Attack (1)
Yu-kyung pushed Lee Cheong-ryu aside in front of the Gate. Lee Cheong-ryu seemed flustered by the sudden offer.
“…What? Guild Leader Choi Yu-kyung?”
“That’s right. It’s just an A-rank Dungeon Break. Give me a few people to handle the small fry and I alone will be enough.”
“That may be true, but… why? I expected you to push back if anything, not volunteer to go instead.”
Then Yu-kyung spoke as if stating the obvious.
“You need to send the kids back from here. Are you going to save that skill to make soup later?”
“…”
“Today is New Year’s. Starting the new year with rumors that the large guilds were playing around while a pillar of the nation’s Hunter industry collapsed – would that be acceptable? We need to quickly clean up and handle the situation first.”
It was a quick judgment. At the same time, it was insight that precisely pinpointed what no one else had thought of.
The position of Korea’s number one guild clearly couldn’t be obtained through ordinary experience.
‘Well…’
No matter how late the Dungeon Break news was delivered due to the system malfunction, public opinion wouldn’t consider such details one by one.
Plus, there was no need to throw them the perfect prey of a New Year’s celebration party.
“…You’re truly one step ahead. I suppose I’m still far from adequate.”
“Of course.”
Yu-kyung snorted.
“Then I’ll go with you too. I’ll lend my strength.”
“No need, no need. Why would we all swarm over there just to handle one little thing? Too many cooks spoil the broth.”
Heo Gil also volunteered, but Yu-kyung lightly declined. Having two S-ranks commanding the situation could make things more complicated… It was an understandable choice.
Yu-kyung stepped into the Gate that Lee Cheong-ryu had created while simultaneously shouting.
“Everyone, don’t panic!”
The atmosphere of the party hall was instantly brought under control.
“A-rank Hunters from the guild, one from each – five total. Assemble in front! All other Hunters return to headquarters and stand by to respond to calls as the situation demands! Eden too, don’t whine about disliking this guy’s Gate and follow orders!”
At the shout of the Guild Leader of the undisputed number one guild, the Hunters in the party hall responded resoundingly.
“Yes, understood!”
Soon, in less than a minute, the Hunters selected their personnel like well-trained soldiers.
Eden, Blue Dragon, Red Dog, Butterfly, Academy. Five A-rank Hunters from a total of five guilds stood in a line before me and Yu-kyung.
‘They’re all Hunters with area skills. Blue Dragon sent a Healer.’
It was a very suitable group for handling a dungeon break. Their stats even exceeded the highest levels of A-rank.
Such power all at once…
‘I’m only now realizing that the top five guilds are gathered in one place.’
With those five and Yu-kyung, an A-rank dungeon break seemed more than manageable.
‘…It should be manageable.’
“Good. Then we move. I trust you all know what to do when we get there without me having to explain. I don’t have time to teach you one by one.”
“Yes! Of course!”
At the resounding reply, Yu-kyung nodded with satisfaction and turned around.
Step.
Soon after, a deep blue Gate swallowed everyone—.
“I’ll be back, Hae-dam.”
Yu-kyung disappeared without a trace.
I watched this scene and placed my hand over my heart for a moment.
‘…Why am I suddenly feeling so anxious?’
It was strange. What anxiety? I should only feel reassured. Cold sweat began to flow and my heart started pounding like a club.
‘Why on earth?’
It was an unpleasant sensation.
* * *
After Yu-kyung left, Lee Cheong-ryu opened five Gates. They were all paths leading to the headquarters of the large guilds.
Except for Red Dog, whose headquarters location wasn’t precisely known, the Hunters returned to their respective headquarters through those Gates.
“A dungeon break… Really, it’s a headache every time. What are the characteristics of the monsters that appeared?”
Yeon Na-yeon muttered. The Guild Leaders were trying to grasp the situation as quickly as possible using their respective information networks.
“They’re all dragon-type monsters capable of flight. Every single one of them. It’s troublesome, but not to the extent that Guild Leader Choi Yu-kyung can’t handle them.”
“That’s a relief.”
“The problem is that all radio waves near the Association have been cut off. That’s why we’re only hearing about this now. The fact that we weren’t at headquarters also played a part.”
Heo Gil clicked his tongue as he turned off his mobile phone. Lee Cheong-ryu chimed in.
“It’s fortunate we found out now at least. By the way, we need to make sure the damage doesn’t spread to civilians. If there happens to be any damage, we’ll need to conduct relief operations after the situation is resolved.”
“Right. Whether it’s high-grade or happening at the Association. It’s just the same dungeon break. Let’s handle it as usual, as usual.”
Even though the situation was special, it was ultimately just a simple dungeon break, and as he said, there was no reason to make a fuss about it.
‘I would have thought the same way normally.’
Four Pillars / General Star Death
Four Pillars / General Star Death
Perhaps because I had seen Yu-kyung’s status window acting strange earlier.
‘I can’t just sit still.’
“Lee Cheong-ryu.”
“Hm?”
“Could you open that door again?”
I spoke up with difficulty. Lee Cheong-ryu asked back with a puzzled expression.
“Door? You don’t mean the Gate leading to the Association, do you?”
“Yes. I think I need to go there. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Hmm, a ‘feeling’…”
It was a gamble. There was no way people other than Sister Yu-kyung or Choi Yu-il would believe in something like my feeling.
I’m not a Prophet Hunter, just a strange person who gets anxious more often than others.
“No.”
As expected, the predetermined answer came back.
“If I send you there, Guild Leader Choi Yu-kyung will kill me.”
I chuckled softly. It was something I could easily predict without him having to say it.
She definitely would. Sister always worries about me. But this time… I feel the same way.
‘I have to get there somehow. If my speculation happens to be correct. Even if I have to reveal a few cards.’
“There was something I couldn’t say earlier.”
“…Ah, right.”
I uttered a single word.
“Strange People Cult.”
“….”
“That’s what I’m worried about. Whether they’re repeating here what they did in Japan.”
It was too early to explain in detail since not all the Hunters had left yet. But just saying this much should be enough for Lee Cheong-ryu to understand.
‘That the perpetrator of the Japanese Hunter serial murder case was a member of the Strange People Cult.’
Sure enough.
“…I understand what you’re getting at.”
Lee Cheong-ryu quickly finished understanding and asked back.
“But what connection is there between that incident and the dungeon break that just happened?”
I spoke with complete honesty.
“Think about it. Isn’t it too contrived?”
“….”
“What are the odds of an A-rank dungeon break occurring at exactly the location where the Association is? It even appeared as if it dropped from heaven the moment the New Year began. There weren’t even any unconquered dungeons nearby.”
It was too strange to call it a coincidence.
‘If we just look at the dungeon break alone, we could call it coincidence. But when we add the variable of the Strange People Cult, it becomes too suspicious.’
“Moreover, they already have a history of controlling monsters. There’s no law saying they can’t do something they’ve already done once a second time.”
Lee Cheong-ryu, who had been thinking deeply, nodded his head.
“That makes sense.”
“…!”
“But if that’s the case, then you going there is even more out of the question.”
His blue eyes showed a resolute expression.
“Dungeon breaks of this scale have always been the responsibility of large guilds to resolve. What you mentioned is also… under the jurisdiction of large guilds.”
“….”
“But you’re an independent Hunter who doesn’t belong anywhere, and you don’t have your own guild either. If problems arise, it becomes ambiguous to determine responsibility.”
Lee Cheong-ryu ruffled his hair.
“In the worst case scenario, I, who opened the door for you, would end up taking all the responsibility.”
“Then.”
“?”
“Then how about I go on my own? Regardless of your will, Mr. Lee Cheong-ryu.”
I know well enough that you’re not such a rigid person.
“….”
I glanced toward where Hong I-jo was.
‘If Lee Cheong-ryu won’t send me, well, isn’t there only one means of transportation here?’
Lee Cheong-ryu seemed to catch my intention and covered his mouth.
I also knew that there was definitely a smile floating beyond that hand covering his mouth.
“You like anything interesting, don’t you.”
Things that deviate from expectations. Things that escape from his web of deduction… The unexpected fun that comes from such things.
He liked everything that sparked his interest.
Lee Cheong-ryu was that kind of person.
Therefore, even if I walked into a death ground with my own feet, unlike Yu-kyung, he was someone who would simply watch.
Because he was curious about the results that would come from it.
“Ah, this is troublesome…”
“Mr. Hong I-jo.”
I paid no heed and spoke to the Red Wings Hunter.
“Yeah.”
“You said you still have a debt to repay to me, right.”
The price for rescuing Red Dog’s 2nd Unit. His desire to repay that hadn’t been satisfied with just the items received at the auction house.
“A lot.”
Hong I-jo answered as if it were obvious.
‘Perfect.’
“Then could you do me just one favor?”
Flutter.
His red wings spread without hesitation.
* * *
Whooooom—
The blue Gate rippled and released those inside.
“Tsk, what a mess. They’ve destroyed it mercilessly.”
Choi Yu-kyung looked around. The scene before her eyes wasn’t the familiar sight of the Association.
Whiiiiiii—
It was a place that looked as if something had swept through it, like it had been bombed.
“…They’re all dead.”
A faint smell of blood lingered. The Association staff who had been on dawn duty would be its source.
‘Even if we’d come earlier, it would have been the same.’
Because a dungeon break is that kind of disaster.
The metallic scent stung her nose, but Choi Yu-kyung’s expression remained impassive.
‘Is this my first or second time?’
She’d been doing this job for a full 10 years now. Having experienced battles on land, sea, and even in the air, there was no way the smell of blood would shake her mind at this point.
‘…How tragic. To be stuck here until this hour on New Year’s of all times.’
She simply offered a brief moment of mourning, and then would beat down the bastard who had done this to them.
That was all the job Choi Yu-kyung had been given.
“They’re gathered over there. Everyone get ready.”
“Yes!”
The monsters flying in circles around the sky came into their view.
Kwaaaaah—!
The pterodactyl-shaped monsters were colorfully vibrant, as if they had been doused in paint of various colors.
‘Puppets?’
Looking closely, they appeared to be made by stitching together various pieces of cloth. It was quite unusual, one could say.
“Fortunately, they don’t seem to have moved elsewhere. They must have flocking habits.”
The Eden Hunter said. As he guessed, the monsters weren’t moving, but were simply surrounding the Association building from above.
It would have been a disaster if they had flown away like migrating birds. It was fortunate amid the misfortune.
“But there’s no guarantee they’ll stay here forever.”
“….”
“I’ll bring them all down before they scatter.”
Choi Yu-kyung hardened her expression. Her green eyes focused solely on the prey before her.
“World Tree, Second Form.”
Crrrrrack—!
Massive tree roots began to grow from beneath their feet.
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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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