A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 170

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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 170: Tea Party (2)

 

The Four Pillars reading called Gwangui Academy.

 

‘Someone who likes to prove things, and won’t believe anything they haven’t seen with their own eyes… In a way, an upright person.’

 

And with that upright personality, a middle-aged Hunter armed with life experience and confidence in himself.

 

That was Heo Gil.

 

‘This time too… He’s going to clash directly to find out. Whether I’m qualified or not.’

 

For me, it was a proposal I had no particular reason to refuse.

 

“Fine. Let’s do it. If I don’t have skills that can even compare to yours… I think it would be better to cleanly give up on fighting the Bishop.”

 

“Simply being able to compare won’t do. You need to beat me.”

 

Heo Gil stood up from the tea table with a smile.

 

“Beat me, and show me skills worthy of my acknowledgment.”

 

“…Ha.”

 

I let out a hollow laugh. He was telling someone with A-rank clearly stamped on their license to beat a veteran S-rank?

 

‘He’s saying he won’t allow it.’

 

It was a realistically impossible condition. Heo Gil must have known that when he said it too.

 

“This is a matter of efficiency. When deploying another S-rank would solve it easily, why would we bother with a Hunter who can’t even beat me? What fool in the world would approve such a thing.”

 

I argued back.

 

“You said if I catch the Bishop, you’d let me have a private meeting.”

 

“That promise is still valid. The private meeting with the Bishop is a reward for your cooperation in this operation. Regardless of combat, if you contribute even a little to catching the Bishop, the meeting will happen.”

 

“…”

 

“So there’s no need to take unnecessary risks.”

 

Heo Gil explained calmly. On the surface it seemed like he was being considerate of me, but…

 

‘In the end, he’s touching my pride again.’

 

Even if that wasn’t his intention.

 

It could be interpreted as—I’ll give you what you want, so don’t be greedy and weak people should step aside.

 

I ended up accepting the proposal.

 

“…Understood. I’ll accept those conditions. If I beat you, I’m going into the church.”

 

“Do whatever you want.”

 

Heo Gil shrugged his shoulders. His eyes were sparkling as if this was interesting.

 

‘What’s this?’

 

“Actually, I’ve been curious for a long time. Ever since you beat our students. At the time, anger and regret came first, but… I might have been looking forward to it since then.”

 

“…”

 

“The emergence of a new S-rank, that is.”

 

He continued.

 

“Someday… I’ll retire. Of course, I’ll continue to hold the position of Academy Dean, but in just 7 or 8 years, it’ll be quite difficult to go in and out of dungeons.”

 

“Who said you could retire?”

 

“Haha. Time will decide that.”

 

When Yu-kyung reacted sharply, Heo Gil laughed.

 

‘Time… That makes sense. By then he’d be in his 50s.’

 

Both the Association President and Heo Gil. No matter how S-rank they were, it seemed no one could win against time.

 

“In today’s era, the number of S-ranks is directly a country’s national power. But there are only four young S-ranks currently in Korea… It’s few, far too few. I’ve always been troubled by this problem.”

 

Heo Gil came to stand in front of me. Still sitting at the tea table, I naturally found myself looking up at Heo Gil.

 

“How about it, do you think you could solve this problem for me?”

 

He lifted his sunglasses and met my black eyes directly.

 

“…I wonder.”

 

I stood up from my seat.

 

“I’m not sure about that. The rank I received is lower than yours after all, and I’ve never thought that judgment was wrong.”

 

Without a god, I am weak. Perhaps it was natural that I received such a ridiculously low rank compared to S-rank skills.

 

But… I am a shaman, and without a god, I am not myself.

 

So considering only the ‘real’ me who has received a god, perhaps Heo Gil’s expectation that I might be a new S-rank wasn’t wrong either.

 

[Status Window]

 

Name: Eun Hae-dam

 

Rank: ?? Rank

 

[Stats]

 

Health: 10 Strength: 10 Agility: 10

 

Mental Power | 200 Mana | 510

 

[Skills]

 

Spiritual Sight (P) lv.5

 

Spirit Summoning (S) lv.5

 

Divine Descent Ritual (S) lv.5

 

Talisman Arts (S) lv.1

 

I glanced at my skill window filled with S-ranks and licked my lips.

 

“However, everything in the world is bound to change someday. No one can know until they open it up and see.”

 

Heo Gil’s and my eyes met.

 

“I think it’s worth giving it a try. I’ll meet your expectations.”

 

Beyond his sunglasses, eyes marked by the traces of time gleamed with interest.

 

“…Very good. You’ve had this tendency since before—once you decide on something, you don’t hesitate. Even though you seem to waver at first.”

 

He took off his sunglasses and tucked them into his formal suit.

 

“I really like that about you. You seem like someone who doesn’t have regrets. No matter what happens.”

 

“…I’m glad it appears that way.”

 

When I’m someone filled only with regret and lingering attachments, still unable to forget and clinging to the past.

 

I chuckled softly.

 

“Hey. Where is Butterfly’s training ground? Even a stuffy place that only does research should have a training ground.”

 

“You’re quite talkative for someone who’s borrowing. Follow me. It’s right on the floor below.”

 

Yeon Na-yeon guided me, Heo Gil, and the other Guild Leaders.

 

‘Seeing how no one’s saying anything in particular, they must agree with this duel…’

 

Lee Cheong-ryu would be fine with it as long as it’s interesting, and Sister Yu-kyung is someone who supports my decisions anyway.

 

Hong I-jo and Yeon Na-yeon seemed to think this duel was necessary.

 

‘Well, yeah. How could I take on an important role in an operation like this without proving my abilities? It’s only natural.’

 

It was the established order. Following silently was the right thing to do.

 

‘…A sparring match with an S-rank Hunter. Can I do it?’

 

Honestly, I wasn’t confident. I’d been growing continuously, but S-rank was a problem of an entirely different dimension.

 

Objectively speaking… the skill grades of Divine Descent Ritual and Spirit Summoning themselves were S-rank, that’s true.

 

But the skills I could actually use when performing the Divine Descent Ritual were still only A-rank.

 

‘Maybe it would be possible if I used up all my mana and poured it into Spirit Summoning.’

 

But I’d collapse immediately after, so this wasn’t a good solution either.

 

“Hae-dam? Aren’t you coming?”

 

“…Ah, I should go.”

 

Yu-kyung asked with a puzzled expression. I hurriedly followed behind them.

 

‘You don’t know until you try.’

 

The future was something no one could guarantee.

 

* * *

 

We took the elevator and moved to the training ground.

 

“Cough, cough. Is this all dust?”

 

When we opened the heavy stone door covered in thick dust, a spacious training ground appeared. Yu-kyung coughed while waving her hand.

 

“Just how long has this gone unused?”

 

The air inside the training ground was also stuffy. Lee Cheong-ryu opened his mouth wide as if shocked.

 

“This, this is a training ground…”

 

“…”

 

“Not a storage room…?”

 

It was a natural reaction from someone who lived for training. Yeon Na-yeon made excuses as if she felt guilty.

 

“…Butterfly’s achievements are mostly research achievements. We only do dungeon conquests because we need them for research.”

 

“Still, closing gates to prevent dungeon breaks should be a major guild’s duty.”

 

When Heo Gil glared at her, Yeon Na-yeon glared back at him.

 

“But the monster research that Butterfly conducts is several times more helpful than simply closing gates. Who do you think found the weakness of the deep-sea mermaids that became a problem recently?”

 

“Ahem, of course I’m well aware of that. I wasn’t trying to criticize you.”

 

“Hmph.”

 

Yeon Na-yeon turned her head away.

 

‘So they can be helpful in that way too.’

 

Rather than dealing with monsters through simple brute force methods, a guild that researches and provides efficient methods… That was Butterfly.

 

“Anyway, it’s a good place for a duel. Since it’s a place we hardly use, it doesn’t matter if you handle it roughly.”

 

“Hmm. So we don’t have to pay compensation even if it gets damaged?”

 

“As if… You’ll have to cough up all the repair costs.”

 

I absolutely must not break anything…

 

That’s what I thought.

 

“Let’s start quickly, shall we? Everyone has busy schedules afterward. We haven’t even finished the briefing yet, so we can’t waste time here—!”

 

“If you’re excited, just say you’re excited.”

 

“Haha.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu laughed awkwardly. He had an expression like a child with a Christmas present in front of him.

 

“Who will win? What do you think?”

 

“Well.”

 

The way he patted Hong I-jo’s shoulder looked like someone watching a soccer match.

 

Meanwhile, Yugyeong asked Heo Gil.

 

“I can referee, right?”

 

“No. That wouldn’t be fair. If it were you, you’d definitely favor that side over me.”

 

Yugyeong’s plan didn’t work. It was disappointing for me. I had no choice but to suggest.

 

“How about Hong I-jo referee? He has chains, so it’ll be easy to subdue anyone if something happens.”

 

“Mm.”

 

Of course, there would be communication difficulties… Hong I-jo readily accepted.

 

“Come on, let’s start quickly. There are chairs here too.”

 

Lee Cheong-ryu prepared chairs on one side. Plastic chairs were coming out of his Gate one by one.

 

The last thing to appear was a plush single-person sofa.

 

“What’s that?”

 

“This one’s mine—”

 

“Take out the same ones, while I’m being nice.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Yugyeong threatened him. The plastic chairs disappeared and several sofas appeared.

 

“Geez…”

 

I shook my head.

 

Soon the Guild Leaders took their seats one by one. Heo Gil and I positioned ourselves at opposite ends of the training ground.

 

“Rules.”

 

Hong I-jo, standing in the middle, spoke.

 

“Simple.”

 

“…”

 

“Until collapse, fight.”

 

It meant the battle would continue until victory was decided. I nodded.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Good.”

 

Heo Gil also agreed.

 

Shing.

 

I drew the Spirit General Sword from its scabbard. The well-maintained silver sword surface revealed itself.

 

[Item]

 

Seven Star Divine General Sword (S)

 

— In response to the call of the gods, you who will soon become a god.

 

And you who calls upon the gods.

 

“…Divine Descent Ritual.”

 

My whole body began to grow cold. Sharp blue freezing aura flowed through my bloodstream and frigid air filled my lungs completely.

 

“Mountain Lord.”

 

The strongest being among the divine spirits I could summon. Now that I had raised my mana above 500, I should be able to draw out his power to the maximum.

 

| First time seeing you this new year. |

 

A growling voice echoed in my head.

 

“Yes. I couldn’t give you New Year’s greetings.”

 

| You can give them today. It hasn’t been long since the lunar new year passed, so I’ll be lenient. |

 

“I’m grateful for your understanding.”

 

After finishing the warm greeting, I looked at Heo Gil standing before me with gleaming eyes.

 

Heo Gil asked me.

 

“Is muttering to yourself a habit?”

 

“Let’s call it a kind of prayer.”

 

“To what god? I’m curious who shamans believe in.”

 

“…You knew?”

 

I made a surprised expression. In these times, shamans weren’t exactly well-known to the general public. People either didn’t know about them, or avoided them even if they did.

 

Heo Gil chuckled.

 

“How old do you think I am? I know at least that much. Considering your attire, it wasn’t hard to deduce. Though I only realized it recently.”

 

“…”

 

“In my youth, I used to visit shamans often, asking them to read my fortune. Fun memories.”

 

He then extended his hand.

 

“Hmm… I never expected to fight against a shaman though. I wonder how this will go? I’m quite excited.”

 

Light flashed from Heo Gil’s hand. A square cube rotated with a clicking sound, creating something.

 

“Puppet Show, Hamlet.”

 

Whiiiiiii…

 

A tragic wind blew. And before my eyes stood a prince holding a sharp sword.

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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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