A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 156

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 156: Line (3)

 

“He says he won’t.”

 

Choi Yu-kyung shrugged her shoulders.

 

“I wonder what change of heart he’s had again. These days, he won’t even mention the word ‘retirement.'”

 

“Is that true?”

 

“It’s true. Don’t underestimate Eden’s information network. I also heard some things while going back and forth between hospital rooms on the same floor as the Association President.”

 

Heo Gil stroked his chin as if convinced.

 

“Then that’s fortunate. There’s no one to replace her right now anyway.”

 

Although the names differed by country, the position of Association head should ideally be filled by an S-rank or someone with equivalent power.

 

Even if her domestic standing was narrow, when judged by overseas standards, the Association President’s position wasn’t one that opened easily to just anyone.

 

To avoid embarrassment during overseas visits or joint conferences, Yeo Jung-eun was the most suitable candidate in many ways.

 

“Why? You could take the position yourself, couldn’t you?”

 

“…I hope you’re joking.”

 

The next oldest S-rank after Yeo Jung-eun was Heo Gil. But Heo Gil was also only in his forties and lacked personal will, so he was out of the running.

 

Choi Yu-kyung twisted her platinum hair as she spoke.

 

“Of course I’m joking. Who would crawl into an Association that’s falling apart? Anyway, it seems the Association President intends to take responsibility to the end. We’re grateful for that. It seems somewhat admirable too.”

 

“She is a 1st Generation Hunter after all—. She must have something called a sense of duty.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu, who had been quietly listening, agreed. Then he lightly clapped his palms together and moved his mouth.

 

“Shall we get to the main point now? It seems like time is being delayed.”

 

The main point.

 

Choi Yu-kyung tapped the conference room table with her fingertips at those words.

 

“…Fine.”

 

“….”

 

“The Goemin Church has crossed the line. Those bastards who only operated underwater have now attacked not just Blue Dragon but even the Association. This isn’t something we can just let slide.”

 

Her green eyes, devoid of any playfulness, were cold. In contrast, gentle blue eyes took over the conversation.

 

“Absolutely. You could say they’ve looked down on us. Their purpose… hasn’t been revealed yet, has it? Does anyone have any guesses?”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu looked around the conference room.

 

Then the red-winged Hunter, who had remained silent throughout, opened her mouth.

 

“…Social chaos.”

 

Though it was a brief phrase, the Guild Leaders nodded in agreement.

 

The purpose of Nangseolhwa was a fact known only to the Association President and Eun Hae-dam, so it wasn’t mentioned.

 

“Right. Even if there were other purposes we don’t know about, that intention wouldn’t be entirely absent.”

 

“….”

 

“Religion spreads most widely when society is in chaos, after all.”

 

Choi Yu-kyung said this while leaning back in her chair.

 

“It’s been peaceful for a while. There was some noise for two or three years after I awakened, but… the past five years have been ridiculously peaceful. So much so that everyone was making a fuss about whether the Hunter world was finally entering a stable orbit.”

 

“….”

 

“Naturally, it would have been unsuitable for something like a pseudo-religion to flourish. If that’s why the Bishop is personally stepping forward to set up the game… we can’t just leave it alone.”

 

Korea was strangely a country with many pseudo-religions. Whether it was due to a trusting nature, or because individual misfortune and sorrow were particularly great.

 

Those who lost their support would often entrust themselves to religion in search of salvation.

 

‘Among them, the Goemin Church… isn’t just at the level of spouting sophistry, but a place that manipulates people using the power of dungeons and monsters.’

 

Though little information was known, its danger level was far higher than other pseudo-religions.

 

If they didn’t take action now, it would gradually sicken Korea.

 

“You’re right. We need to establish countermeasures. That’s why we started preparing ‘that operation.'”

 

Heo Gil adjusted his sunglasses while agreeing with Choi Yu-kyung’s statement. Along with one suggestion.

 

“How about we call the witness first? Apart from Guild Leader Choi Yu-kyung and the Association President, he’s the only one who has directly faced the Bishop. We should hear whatever we can about the enemy.”

 

Even though no name was mentioned, everyone in the conference room understood who Heo Gil was referring to.

 

Heo Gil glanced back at Lee Cheong-ryu.

 

“Ah, is it my turn? I’m always the villain. Being too competent is also a problem—. I hope you won’t be too surprised.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu said this while extending his hand toward the ceiling.

 

Following that, with a whooshing sound, a deep blue gate began forming on the ceiling.

 

“That shape gives me chills every time I see it…”

 

Yeon Na-yeon, uttering her first words of the day, looked at the gate with indifference.

 

Swoosh.

 

Someone appeared from the blue opening, and he landed lightly in the middle of the conference room.

 

“Ooh, it’s like a god has descended. I thought you’d fall with a crash, but this is completely unexpected!”

 

When Lee Cheong-ryu made a fuss, sharp eyes glared at him.

 

“Can’t you invite me normally? If you tell me the time and place, I can walk here on my own two feet.”

 

“Sorry, sorry. It really couldn’t be helped because of security. Whether it’s time or place, if it gets exposed midway, or if someone follows you on the way here, it would be a disaster.”

 

In reality, the area around the conference room was surrounded by a double layer of barriers created by Heo Gil’s ‘Puppet Theater’ skill.

 

That skill, which blocked the surroundings to create a quiet theater-like atmosphere, was often used in meetings where Guild Leaders gathered.

 

Today’s meeting required such thorough security that they needed to put up double barriers.

 

“Still, I put some thought into calling you, didn’t I? You were on your way home after stopping by Helena’s shop. I seriously considered whether it was okay to call you right away or not.”

 

“How did you even know that? I’m starting to wonder if you’re a stalker.”

 

“What, why would you think that?”

 

“…Put your hand on your chest and think about it.”

 

“I did. But I still don’t get it!”

 

Eun Hae-dam shook his head as if utterly fed up and gave up on saying anything more.

 

“Now that the witness is here, let’s continue the meeting.”

 

Heo Gil organized the atmosphere.

 

Eun Hae-dam sat down next to Choi Yu-kyung, who was apologizing on his behalf, and the meeting resumed once again.

 

* * *

 

This was my second time attending a guild leaders’ meeting.

 

‘The first time was when Hong I-jo dragged me along from the Academy. Still, being the second time, it feels less awkward than before.’

 

I sat down next to Sister Yu-kyung and looked around at the five guild leaders in turn.

 

‘…The atmosphere is different from the party.’

 

Unlike the party where everyone had been hopeful for the New Year, the atmosphere now was simply heavy.

 

“When was the first time you encountered a Bishop?”

 

Heo Gil’s question broke the silence. I turned my gaze to him and answered concisely.

 

“It was at Blue Dragon’s Busan Branch. I first saw the silver-haired Bishop and cut off his wrist.”

 

“Did you have any idea why the Bishop had invaded Blue Dragon?”

 

“He said he came to retrieve an errand boy. That errand boy was a spy who pretended to be an Association staff member to steal an item I had… brought out from a dungeon.”

 

“An item?”

 

The conference room stirred. Naturally. This was information I was revealing for the first time.

 

“I thought they were just causing trouble to shake up the guild system… What exactly was this item?”

 

I chose my words carefully for a moment. I wanted to exclude information that might lead to speculation about the Association President’s actions.

 

‘It would be troublesome if the fact that the Association President’s prophetic abilities are weakening were to be revealed.’

 

The Association President was barely managing the other guilds by staking his prophecies. If even this became impossible, the repercussions would be beyond what I could handle.

 

“It was something that increased mana, but it wasn’t anything special. As soon as I realized they were after it, I disposed of everything.”

 

“Hmm. So it means they had the purpose of not only increasing believers, but also using items and such to increase their inherent power…”

 

“That’s right. Exactly.”

 

I answered stiffly while rubbing the back of my hand.

 

‘By the way… The fact that they assigned an errand boy named Kang Hyun-cheol to me to retrieve Nangseolhwa means they already knew I would steal Nangseolhwa from that time. How chilling.’

 

They must have a Prophet Hunter attached to them. They weren’t opponents to be underestimated in terms of information gathering either.

 

“So you started getting entangled with the Goemin Church from then on—. What a twisted relationship. Next, you met them in Japan, was it?”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu asked, drawing out his words. Since he had already finished conveying this story to the guild leaders, there wasn’t much commotion.

 

“Yes. The perpetrator who killed the Japanese hunters was the silver-haired Bishop. I saw his face directly under the mask.”

 

“….”

 

“The purpose behind this incident is still… completely beyond my guess as well.”

 

Why did they kill Japan’s popular hunters? This was such insane behavior that exceeded the scale of everything so far that it was hard to even guess their intentions.

 

When I reported the facts with a sigh, Choi Yu-kyung crossed her arms.

 

“The more we dig, the deeper we fall into the labyrinth. At this point, it doesn’t seem like simple social chaos is their only purpose. And it doesn’t seem like the simple idea of expanding their religious influence to rake in money either.”

 

We had too few puzzle pieces in hand to figure out their exact purpose.

 

‘Whether it was getting involved in illegally buying and selling monsters at illegal auction houses, or gathering people to use as sacrifices in the Elf Dungeon…’

 

We had caught their tail several times so far. But they always cut it off and ran away, so we couldn’t know what the head was thinking.

 

“I find it interesting though? Haha, it’s a strange thing to say, but I enjoy this kind of thing. Deduction is always fun.”

 

“If you find it so interesting, do it by yourself.”

 

“Aw. What fun would it be to play a multiplayer board game alone?”

 

…Do you need to be slightly crazy to understand?

 

To understand the thought process of a crazy religious group, this side would also need to let go of sanity a bit like Lee Cheong-ryu… No, never mind.

 

“Isn’t there more interesting news? Like what happened when Guild Leader Choi Yu-kyung faced the Bishop a few days ago.”

 

“…Right. It’s time to talk about that.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu glanced toward Yu-kyung and asked. Yu-kyung uncrossed her arms and leaned back from her chair.

 

“It’s damaging to my pride, but. I was severely injured and fell into critical condition while fighting the Bishop. Even though I recovered quickly, the fact that I lost the fight doesn’t change. What do you think the reason was?”

 

“Because you were weak? …I’d like to answer that, but even I think that’s ridiculous. No one here doubts your skills.”

 

Yu-kyung was the undisputed leader of the number one guild and an experienced S-rank Hunter.

 

The guild leaders all found it difficult to speak up easily.

 

“The answer is simple. My attacks didn’t work on him.”

 

A quiet bomb dropped in the conference room.

 

“What?”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

“?”

 

“…What.”

 

The Guild Leaders all frowned in unison. Yu-kyung continued her explanation.

 

“No matter how much I used my skills, they just passed through, and I couldn’t reach the Bishop. Whether skills or items, I can only speculate that he has the power to nullify attacks. But….”

 

“….”

 

“All of Hunter Eun Hae-dam’s attacks worked on the Bishop.”

 

Yu-kyung spoke without hiding anything, using honorifics.

 

“…That’s correct. There was never a time when my attacks didn’t work on the Bishop. Though I did struggle due to the difference in power.”

 

The Guild Leaders didn’t open their mouths. Even Lee Cheong-ryu was lost in thought and remained silent.

 

‘It’s that incomprehensible of a situation. S-rank attacks pass through while A-rank attacks land.’

 

I continued the story.

 

“And Choi Yu-kyung Guild Leader isn’t the only case where attacks didn’t work on the Bishop. When I went to Japan, the top-tier hunters there also couldn’t attack the Fox Mask… that is, the Bishop.”

 

“…But you could?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Soon after, Heo Gil was the first to speak up.

 

“It would be good to test it.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“How about you join this ‘operation’ as well?”

 

Operation?

 

“Wait. I told you not to talk about that.”

 

Yu-kyung stopped Heo Gil. However, Heo Gil firmly shook his head.

 

“This isn’t the time to be picky. What if when we carry out ‘that operation,’ your abilities, or even ours, don’t work on them either?”

 

“….”

 

“By then it’ll be too late. If we don’t want to be annihilated during the operation, we need to try every method we can use.”

 

What is he talking about?

 

I tilted my head and asked.

 

“What operation?”

 

Heo Gil removed his sunglasses and tucked them into his dress shirt, then opened his mouth.

 

“Fine. I’ll explain it to you.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————