A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 76

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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 76: What Remains (2)

 

It was a red decorative cord. An accessory worn around the waist of a hanbok, it wasn’t something easily seen in modern times.

 

 

There was no description that could serve as a clue. Only vague words were listed.

I pondered over the item’s effect written at the bottom.

 

‘Increased fatigue recovery, huh.’

 

Just then, Heo Gil answered the question.

 

“I heard it was an item found in some dungeon. I bought it because of its unique appearance. But how do you know it came from a dungeon rather than being crafted…”

“I’ll take this one.”

 

It had the same discovery route as the Spirit General Sword. It was almost the same path Kim Bok-soon had mentioned regarding the Spirit General Sword.

I chose it without hesitation.

 

‘If it increases fatigue recovery speed, it’ll be a great help even when I cancel the Divine Descent Ritual.’

 

Every time I canceled the skill, my stamina would hit rock bottom. During the Life Dungeon, I had collapsed entirely.

Even aside from its appearance, it was an item I desperately needed to prevent such situations.

 

“…Alright.”

 

Heo Gil nodded with a dubious expression. Then he prepared and handed over item transfer certificates to Yu-kyung, Lee Cheong-ryu, and me respectively.

 

“Are you really going with that?”

“Why?”

“Nothing. I welcome it. It suits you well.”

 

Heo Gil pretended not to see Lee Cheong-ryu with the deep-sea whale horn slung over his shoulder.

 

* * *

 

I wrapped the decorative cord around my waist.

Though my stamina stat was only 10 at most, I could feel it recovering faster than before.

 

‘An unexpected gain.’

 

Of course, aside from the item, I had also achieved my original purpose. Heo Gil said he believed my testimony about the Bishop and promised to help going forward.

Now that the Bishop’s appearance had finally been confirmed as fact, things would likely be quite busy for a while.

 

 

Eden and Blue Dragon were the same. As if proving they had made time with effort, they competed to return to their guilds.

 

‘They could have opened a Gate before leaving…’

 

Thanks to that, I stepped through the Academy’s main entrance for the first time.

Ah, those days when I flew in through windows.

 

But then…

 

“Are you Eun Hae-dam?!”

“Is it true that the Academy Arena was completely burned down?”

“As an unknown Hunter, what are your thoughts on defeating talents who will become the pillars of the future Hunter world!”

 

Flash flash flash flash!

 

Ah, so bright. Brilliant white flashes burst right in front of my eyes. As soon as I opened the massive Academy gates and stepped out, reporters’ questions poured down on me.

It seemed they had been waiting here continuously since the match ended.

 

“This is insane…”

 

How am I supposed to get home?

 

‘I never thought I’d experience something like this in my life.’

 

Well, if you’re an A-rank Hunter, the public mostly knows your name and face. Like Choi Yu-il or Jung Su-hyuk.

But I was unknown among unknowns. Since I had no public activities, no one recognized me.

And yet I, who had defeated three A-rank prospects who would soar like idols upon debut… this level of attention wasn’t strange.

 

“Some are viewing this as Blue Dragon’s declaration of war against the Academy Guild!”

 

Declaration of… what?

 

An absurd question popped out from one reporter. Blue Dragon’s declaration of war? What nonsense.

Just how many misunderstandings have I faced so far? I resolved to clear up this misunderstanding once and for all.

 

“…So.”

 

The reporter who had asked the question thrust a microphone toward me, thinking this was the moment.

 

“Please give us a word!”

 

I sighed inwardly and spoke.

 

“First of all, this matter has nothing to do with Blue Dragon.”

 

Flash!

 

The flash burst once more.

 

“I’m not affiliated with Blue Dragon, nor am I affiliated with any other guild. This was just… an accidental incident. Between Dean Heo Gil and myself.”

 

Good. I explained it well. Now there shouldn’t be any more talk about whether I joined Blue Dragon or not.

 

“Do you mean you defeated an Academy ranker by pure accident?!”

“If you have no relationship with Blue Dragon, which guild do you plan to join? Is it true that Eden and Red Dog contacted you earlier?!”

“The stock prices of various businesses run by Dean Heo Gil are plummeting! What are your thoughts on this!”

 

However, what I had overlooked was that reporters are like hyenas…

When they sense prey showing weakness, they endlessly follow up with question after question.

 

‘How would I know about stock prices? I don’t even have money to deposit!’

 

I looked for an escape route. Among the cameras pressing in like a tide, wasn’t there a single space for me to slip through?

Right, there wasn’t.

 

‘Damn…’

 

I desperately wanted Spirit Form. But if I summoned the Mountain Lord now, I’d die from mana depletion.

Ah, I should have chosen an item like an invisibility cloak instead of the blood cord.

 

“What should I do… huh?”

 

Flap.

 

I heard a familiar sound from somewhere. I quickly raised my head to the sky.

 

“Wings…”

 

Red wings. Hong I-jo was flying above the reporters.

The moment I saw him, my eyes sparkled.

 

‘That’s it.’

 

I shouted loudly.

 

“Hong I-jo!”

“…?”

“Please give me a ride!”

 

Then I stretched both hands upward.

 

“…?!”

 

Hong I-jo hesitantly descended toward me.

Soon he grabbed both my arms and flapped his wings again, rising into the sky.

 

“Phew…”

 

I looked down at the reporters growing distant below. Ugh, it was scary with my feet getting farther from the ground too.

Anyway, I could go home now, so that was a relief.

 

“What was that just now? Hong I-jo?!”

“Is that a hint that he’ll join Red Dog…?”

 

Of course, I pretended not to notice the reporters’ wild speculation.

 

* * *

 

“Why…”

“Why did I ask you to give me a ride?”

 

Nod. Hong I-jo confirmed.

 

“Oh, we need to go this way. Turn and go left again.”

 

I’d gotten used to flying without safety equipment. The S-rank Hunter was the safety equipment, after all.

I guided the way to my house while speaking.

 

“I didn’t want to deal with the reporters. I should be the one asking questions. You’re the one who readily gave me a ride, Hong I-jo.”

“…Payment for the information.”

“About Yeo-jun?”

“Yeah.”

 

Did things go well? Hong I-jo answered in his flat tone.

Well, if it’s an effect that amplifies others’ skills. Forget future development potential – that alone has tremendous value.

 

‘Though I did recommend him quite impulsively.’

 

…I just didn’t want him to end up like me.

 

“After graduation, he’ll come.”

“Oh, really?”

 

I let out a small exclamation of admiration.

 

“That’s great…”

 

As expected, he did want to graduate.

Myeong Geon-woo would no longer be someone to worry about either. After safely completing three years and joining Red Dog, a bright future would await him.

I felt somewhat relieved about Jung Yeo-jun’s much improved future.

 

“We’re almost there. It’s around this area.”

“It’s dark.”

“This place is always like this.”

 

An alley with only a few street lamps. My longtime home was in this place.

The narrow, dark alley was difficult terrain for someone directionally challenged like Hong I-jo to navigate.

 

“…Moving, I could probably do it now if I set my mind to it.”

 

Random words spilled out due to fatigue.

Hong I-jo was both quiet and showed little reaction, so somehow words flowed out of me as if I were talking to a bamboo grove.

I muttered sentences that received no response.

 

“I don’t really want to leave this place…”

 

For now, it was a matter to think about. Those words about having to protect the shrine were still vivid in my ears.

 

I pointed to a rooftop with my fingertip.

 

“Over there.”

 

Flap, Hong I-jo descended toward that place.

 

Whoooosh—

 

The night wind from the sky touched my face. Black hair and the hem of my long robe fluttered.

 

* * *

 

A dark alley where a broken street lamp flickered. After looking down at the person wearing hanbok, Hong I-jo moved his steps.

 

Ring ring—

 

Soon a bell sound rang from his mobile phone. Hong I-jo stared blankly at the numbers on the screen, then brought it to his ear.

 

“….”

[…If you answered, at least say something.]

 

A thin voice came from beyond the mobile phone. Hong I-jo didn’t move his lips despite the other party’s demand.

 

[You do know my number, right?]

“Yeah.”

 

More precisely, he recognized it by voice. Hong I-jo knew this voice.

The Guild Leader of Butterfly, Yeon Na-yeon.

She soon got to the point.

 

[You were at the scene.]

“What scene?”

[Earlier, the match at the Academy. While I was away busy with Butterfly business, the remaining three were there.]

“…I was there.”

[You saw everything.]

 

Yes. Hong I-jo had seen it. The sight of swift swordwork, rotten eyes, and blue flames captivating his vision.

Yeon Na-yeon asked again.

 

[Is it all true?]

“Yeah.”

[…Hard to believe.]

“You have to believe it.”

 

Hong I-jo answered lightly. Saying that, he flapped his wings. Red wings cut through the air.

 

Whoooosh—

 

He rose into the sky. The scenery visible below his feet changed considerably.

In the dark landscape, buildings and people growing smaller. When he came up here, nothing felt particularly large.

Hong I-jo climbed onto a slightly higher building.

 

[Then a bishop of the Strange People Cult really appeared… Eun Hae-dam, was it? That person probably wasn’t doing all this for fun.]

“Right.”

[Huh?]

“He didn’t seem like that kind of person.”

[….]

 

Hong I-jo vouched for him. With this, trust in Eun Hae-dam became even more solid. He always faced others with slightly different eyes.

 

‘I’ve seen many ‘possibilities’… But never once, something like that. I’ve never seen it.’

 

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason he believed.

 

Hong I-jo landed on top of the building. Dangling both legs into the air, he thought about the words he had been muttering earlier.

 

— …Moving, I could probably go now if I made up my mind. But I don’t really want to leave this place…

 

That was the voice of someone with a past. Hong I-jo knew. He had to know.

 

Beyond his thoughts, Yeon Na-yeon’s voice came again.

 

[The Academy will naturally lend their strength, and Butterfly has no choice but to help too.]

“….”

[The ripple effects will be huge. It’s been quiet until now…]

 

The guild leaders instinctively felt it. The approaching danger. The existence called a bishop would only be the beginning.

Yeon Na-yeon added a sentence.

 

[There’s one last thing I want to ask.]

“….”

[…Will Red Dog participate?]

 

Hong I-jo maintained his silence. In the conference room, at the arena, without fail. Even when Heo Gil and Yeon Na-yeon threw out proposals, Hong I-jo alone said nothing.

So Yeon Na-yeon had to ask. The choice of Red Dog, one of the Five Great Guilds.

 

“We are…”

 

With the city beneath his feet.

Hong I-jo quietly murmured.

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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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