A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 168

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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 168: Butterfly (5)

 

Clank.

 

I heard the sound of iron chains clashing. Something seemed to be bound.

 

‘What is it?’

 

I squinted and looked ahead. But not just the sound of chains, but the sounds that followed in succession…

 

My hearing caught on before my sight.

 

Grrrr.

 

A cry that scratched at the throat.

 

‘That’s…!’

 

Slowly revealing yellow eyes, and jet-black scales reflecting a blue-green light.

 

A massive, jet-black dragon was there.

 

“Black Dragon?”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu spoke its name.

 

“Ah… haha.”

 

“…Do you know what that is?”

 

“Of course.”

 

He raised his hand to cover his mouth. A strange light flickered in his eyes.

 

“This is the first S-rank monster that appeared in Korea. I thought they were all dead… Why is this here? No, how is it here?”

 

It wasn’t a question directed at me. He seemed to be questioning himself. As if searching for an answer.

 

“It was already 20 years ago… Dragons do have long lifespans, but they’ve been raising this without killing it all this time? No, that’s not right.”

 

“…”

 

“Black Dragons didn’t only appear in Korea 20 years ago. Of course, after that they were only found overseas… Right, it could be one brought from overseas. But then there’d be no reason for the Butterfly Guild to hide it?”

 

Finally, Lee Cheong-ryu looked into the Black Dragon’s yellow eyes and asked.

 

“What could it be… Who are you?”

 

Naturally, no answer came.

 

“Times like this are really frustrating. It would be nice if I could understand monster language.”

 

…Let’s not mention that I can roughly understand monster language.

 

‘It’s like throwing prey into a lion’s cage.’

 

I kept my mouth firmly shut.

 

“What do you think? Is this really domestic?”

 

“Well. I’m not sure, but it doesn’t look like a young specimen. …The wounds are deep and old too.”

 

To the returning question, I only spoke about what was visible.

 

Grrrr…

 

The Black Dragon bound tightly in iron chains glowed fiercely with its eyes, but seemed to have no will to attack us.

 

No, it would be more accurate to say it didn’t even have the strength to do so.

 

‘It’s exhausted.’

 

The deep scars on its face looked to be at least 10 years old.

 

‘It’s not a recently captured specimen.’

 

Even I, who didn’t know much about monsters, could tell that much.

 

“Hmm, it does look old, doesn’t it? The reason I first thought of the Black Dragon that appeared in Korea 20 years ago is similar. Timing-wise… it seems more likely to be that specimen rather than the ones that appeared overseas.”

 

“Do you know all the monsters that appeared worldwide, Lee Cheong-ryu?”

 

“Haha. As if that’s possible.”

 

He stroked his chin.

 

“About 90 percent?”

 

“…You’re joking, right?”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu shrugged. I couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious.

 

Grr, grrr.

 

Clank!

 

The Black Dragon thrashed about. The little mice that appeared before its eyes seemed highly irritating.

 

“Ah… I want it.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu swallowed quietly. What did he just say?

 

“…Being invited to headquarters doesn’t mean you can freely wander around here, does it?”

 

Then, from behind us came a voice more frightening than the monster. It was Yeon Na-yeon.

 

“I got a signal that you’d arrived, so I checked, but you weren’t at the briefing location… I never thought you’d be here.”

 

Damn. To run into her right away.

 

‘Of course an S-rank couldn’t not know what’s happening in their territory.’

 

I desperately hoped to call upon the Mountain Lord to enter Spirit Form, but Yeon Na-yeon had already discovered me long ago.

 

“…Even the person I believed wouldn’t do such a thing is doing the exact same thing.”

 

Yeon Na-yeon glared at me.

 

To suddenly be treated the same as Lee Cheong-ryu. How unfair.

 

“Oh, my. We’ve been caught.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu turned his head with an innocent expression.

 

“But you can’t expect someone to suppress their curiosity. It’s human nature to want to do something more when told not to, isn’t it?”

 

“That’s probably just you.”

 

“Haha. Who knows.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu laughed and put his arm around my shoulder.

 

‘A drowning man clutching at straws strategy?’

 

I knocked his arm away with the feeling of exorcising a ghost. Then I offered words of apology to Yeon Na-yeon.

 

“I’m sorry, Ms. Yeon Na-yeon. I tried to stop him, but as you know….”

 

“I know. There’s no way an A-rank Hunter could stop an S-rank. I wasn’t trying to blame you.”

 

Fortunately, Yeon Na-yeon seemed to understand the situation and let me off the hook.

 

“It’s also my fault for not strengthening the security measures in the first place. Since it’s a day when S-ranks are gathering together, I should have done it yesterday.”

 

She pressed her forehead in annoyance. Then she soon shook her head as if resigned.

 

“…It wasn’t something I could hide forever anyway. Let’s go back for now.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu didn’t cause any more trouble. He simply nodded lightly and followed Yeon Na-yeon toward the elevator.

 

‘At least there won’t be a bloodbath….’

 

I was just relieved that the worst-case scenario I had imagined didn’t occur.

 

* * *

 

Clunk.

 

The elevator door closed.

 

“So, that Black Dragon. I’m right, aren’t I? The first S-rank monster that appeared 20 years ago.”

 

“…You managed to figure out even that much.”

 

Being in the same space, the height difference between Lee Cheong-ryu and Yeon Na-yeon was tremendous. Nevertheless, Yeon Na-yeon confidently continued her conversation with Lee Cheong-ryu.

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Ooh, but why do you have that thing? It must have killed quite a few people…. If this fact comes to light, it might cause quite a stir?”

 

His tone was cheerful, but the content was different. He was pointing out the risk that the Nabi Guild carried by possessing the Black Dragon, delivering it like a condensed warning.

 

‘It almost sounds like a threat.’

 

I quietly listened to their conversation from beside them.

 

“We have something to research.”

 

“Ah, that ‘research’ again.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu reacted with indifference.

 

“What a convenient excuse. No one knows the actual details of the research…. Just by giving that reason, you can possess any item, even a monster that killed tens of thousands of citizens.”

 

“….”

 

“Maybe Blue Dragon should have built a research facility first instead of a training ground.”

 

He’s deliberately provoking her.

 

‘To hear the content he wants.’

 

Before long, the answer he wanted came from Yeon Na-yeon’s mouth.

 

“…We’re looking for ways to utilize it as a weapon.”

 

“….”

 

“But we’re facing difficulties. We don’t intend to monopolize it, so don’t worry, just know that much for now.”

 

“Aha…?”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu tilted his head. At his reaction, Yeon Na-yeon hesitated before speaking.

 

“If you’re planning to expose this fact to eliminate a competing guild….”

 

“Ah, that’s not it. Anyway, it’s true that the Nabi Guild’s research helps our work. If Ms. Yeon Na-yeon weren’t here, who would conduct monster research?”

 

“….”

 

“Hmm, a weapon…. I’ll be looking forward to it?”

 

He grinned. Conversely, Yeon Na-yeon pressed her brow firmly.

 

“Haa.”

 

A sigh came as a bonus. I thought to myself.

 

‘A weapon. So they’ve been breeding that monster all this time to turn it into a weapon?’

 

It was an extremely dangerous idea. Moreover, since the Nabi Guild was established roughly 10 years ago, if they obtained a monster that appeared 20 years ago, it was likely through the black market.

 

Illegal trading and illegal breeding by a large guild. And the subject was even a monster that appeared during the ‘First Catastrophe’ period….

 

‘I should keep quiet about this.’

 

For a secret I learned by accident, the scale was quite large.

 

* * *

 

Eventually, the elevator arrived at basement floor 5.

 

‘This place… It’s that garden from before.’

 

A greenhouse garden where colorful flowers bloomed in full and several butterflies fluttered about.

 

‘It’s dazzling even though it’s underground.’

 

The garden bathed in artificial lighting could easily be mistaken for being above ground.

 

“Are you all just arriving now? You’re quite late.”

 

Yu-kyung’s voice came from within the garden. Yu-kyung, sitting at a tea table, waved at me, Lee Cheong-ryu, and Yeon Na-yeon.

 

“Tsk tsk, keeping time is basic etiquette. And what happens when even the briefing host is late?”

 

Heo Gil, sitting beside her, clicked his tongue and shook his head.

 

“Haha. We had some business to take care of.”

 

“Thanks for finding your way here, everyone.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu and Yeon Na-yeon headed toward the tea table, casually responding to his words.

 

“But… where is Hong I-jo?”

 

I looked around and asked. It was because I couldn’t see the red wings that were usually conspicuous wherever he went.

 

“Mmm, he’s in last place. Nothing surprising about that, right? He’s probably lost.”

 

“Really… It’s amazing every time I see it. He’s the fastest person here.”

 

“Right? Every time I see him, I wonder how someone can have such a poor sense of direction.”

 

Yu-kyung giggled. I shook my head.

 

“Don’t worry. He’s never completely failed to show up before. If we wait, he’ll figure it out and come. Though, he might arrive around the time the briefing ends!”

 

I hope he comes before we discuss the important stuff… Hong I-jo’s wings had a high probability of being utilized in some way during this operation.

 

“…But now that the host is here, there’s something I want to ask.”

 

It was Heo Gil. He spoke while lifting his sunglasses that he wore due to the artificial lighting.

 

“Are you really planning to conduct the briefing here?”

 

A butterfly fluttered over. The pink butterfly landed on Heo Gil’s waxed hair.

 

“Is there some problem?”

 

Yeon Na-yeon calmly brewed tea and asked back. She handed the clearly steeped tea to Heo Gil.

 

Tremble.

 

The middle-aged man’s hand holding the flower-decorated teacup shook.

 

“No… there isn’t.”

 

I quietly laughed. Tea, flowers, butterflies. And Heo Gil.

 

‘There couldn’t be a more mismatched combination.’

 

The sight of him gripping the teacup with a few fingers and slurping it was truly incongruous.

 

“Despite how it looks, Butterfly has the most thorough security. Considering what we’ll be discussing today, it’s the most appropriate location. I like it. The flowers are pretty too. Right?”

 

Yu-kyung, who was more nature-friendly than anyone, had a very satisfied expression.

 

“Yes. It’s better than the school.”

 

“Ahaha.”

 

Yu-kyung chuckled slightly at my joke. Then she organized the atmosphere.

 

“Alright, anyway, everyone who was supposed to gather is here. Let’s start what we need to do. Everyone made time from their busy schedules to come here.”

 

Teacups were placed in front of everyone, and the meeting began.

 

“First, let’s have everyone report their recent progress. There were areas each of you was assigned to handle.”

 

I recalled the previous meeting.

 

“Hong I-jo was supposed to get the arrest warrant for the Strange People Cult, and Yeon Na-yeon was tracking believers, right?”

 

“That’s right. Academy was monitoring the churches operated by the Strange People Cult, and Blue Dragon was supposed to open an entrance to the church we’ll infiltrate.”

 

Yu-kyung nodded.

 

“But the arrest warrant… there’s no way to know whether he got it or not.”

 

She clicked her tongue while looking at Hong I-jo’s empty seat.

 

“Let’s check that at the end. First, let me talk about the Strange People Cult churches I’ve been investigating.”

 

“…”

 

“There are some concerning points.”

 

Heo Gil adjusted his sunglasses and opened his mouth.

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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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