A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 9

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

 

Chapter 9: B-Grade Zombie Dungeon (4)

 

“H-how did you just do that?”

“No, this doesn’t make sense… Two attributes, and before that! The power alone… What the hell are you?”

 

Loud voices burst out all at once. Both Kang In-ho and Baek Kyul were rambling incoherently, stumbling over their words.

 

“They said you were an acquaintance of the guild leader, so did you receive some special training underground or something?”

“That can’t be…”

 

I denied it with a bewildered expression. Special training with Sister Yu-kyung underground? I’d be lucky not to die.

 

“Why didn’t I know about you? Then do you originally operate in the provinces or something…?”

“Not at all.”

“Eh, I thought that was the most likely explanation.”

 

Baek Kyul looked suspiciously at my outfit, which looked like something worn for ancestral rites in some mountain village.

 

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but… thank you. Thanks to you, we survived.”

 

Kang In-ho stepped forward to calm the chaotic atmosphere. He bowed his head to me with polite gestures, his armor clanking as he bent forward.

 

“Baek Kyul, you too, hurry up.”

“Th-thanks.”

“Geez, you’re using informal speech again…”

 

At Kang In-ho’s scolding, Baek Kyul turned his head away, pretending not to know.

 

‘Really, these kids these days.’

 

I chuckled and handed the axe to Kang In-ho.

 

“Now that we’ve caught our breath, let me ask you one thing.”

“Are you asking about the whereabouts of the Leader and the other colleagues?”

“Yes.”

 

I answered while recalling the Four Pillars readings of all the hunters that had changed without exception. It seemed like they had gone somewhere else. That place would be more dangerous if anything, certainly not less so.

Kang In-ho equipped his axe back on his back as usual and hesitated for a moment before speaking.

 

“…Hunter. If it wouldn’t be rude, could you possibly come with us?”

“…”

“Hunter, you were just temporarily caught up in this dungeon, but from our perspective, you’re like a lifeline… It’s really shameless of us, but if you could help us just once more…”

“Yes, I understand.”

 

I readily accepted.

 

“…!”

“I’m an acquaintance of Sister Yu-kyung, but… I’m also a longtime friend of that guy Choi Yu-il. Well, we’re not exactly close though.”

 

I said while scratching my cheek.

Sudden Leg Calamity. It might just say ‘injuring one’s leg,’ but it was a reading where one could easily suffer an accident serious enough to lose their life if they weren’t careful.

 

‘If I can save him, I should do my best.’

 

Considering all the help I’ve received from Choi Yu-il so far… And considering that guy is the only friend I have left.

 

“Let’s hurry. Before it’s too late.”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

 

We left the cave and started walking. Each of our steps carried its own sense of urgency.

Sniff, Kang In-ho had quite a moved expression on his face.

 

‘Is it that significant…?’

 

It was a little later that I learned there were quite a few hunters who were rather indifferent to saving others unless promised substantial rewards.

 

* * *

 

We headed deep into the dungeon. It was where the Boss Room was located.

 

“But how did you end up getting separated?”

“Well…”

 

My question was followed by what seemed like a situation briefing resembling a reflection meeting.

 

“No matter how urgent it was, we shouldn’t have split the team.”

“…It was our mistake.”

 

The female hunter who introduced herself as Lee Jung-yeon spoke with a heavy tone.

 

“This was a sudden Gate that appeared on the road. The saturation level was quite serious, so if we didn’t deal with it immediately, a dungeon break was about to occur…”

“…”

“The Association contacted Eden urgently asking them to clear it as quickly as possible. In that process, we who were on standby and the Leader, who is one of Eden’s main forces, were deployed.”

 

Kang In-ho continued the explanation while running and carrying Baek Kyul, the healer. Baek Kyul, perched on his shoulder, was covering his mouth and holding back nausea.

 

“However, until we actually started attacking, we had no idea this was a zombie dungeon. So we quickly split the team, trusting only in the Leader.”

“Yes. Originally, the Leader can easily subjugate B-grade bosses.”

 

Choi Yu-il was more impressive than I thought.

 

‘But you trust him because there’s nothing else to trust…?’

 

As a friend of over ten years, these were stories I absolutely couldn’t understand. He’s the most fragile guy of all.

 

‘Well, since he’s an A-rank hunter, it’s not completely incomprehensible.’

 

But still, the fact that such a Choi Yu-il was in danger…

 

“Choi Yu-il, his attribute is….”

“Do you know about it?”

“To some extent.”

 

I hardened my expression.

 

‘That guy’s a grass-type Pokémon.’

 

“…Let’s hurry.”

 

* * *

 

“This seems to be the place.”

 

The path had ended. In front of us stood a massive wooden door.

 

‘This is the Boss Room….’

 

The surging ominous energy was on a completely different level than before.

 

“I’ll break through.”

 

Kang In-ho clenched his armored fist tightly. Then, taking a deep breath— he struck the door with a bang!

 

Thoom.

 

The heavy door immediately toppled backward and fell.

 

“Ah….”

 

And I couldn’t help but be amazed at the scenery that appeared beyond it.

Unlike the dark dungeon, bright light was pouring out.

 

“…Grassland?”

 

Whoooosh—

 

A clear breeze blew, and green grassland spread out before us. It was as if someone had taken a piece of nature from somewhere and placed it here.

It was far too beautiful to be called a zombie dungeon.

 

“Stay alert. This isn’t Earth’s scenery.”

“…Yes.”

 

Kang In-ho took an attitude completely opposite to my admiration.

I quickly came to my senses.

 

‘Right, this is inside a gate. It’s completely different from where I used to live.’

 

Beautiful my ass. I knew better than anyone that it was just a dangerous existence.

 

“Should I burn it?”

 

If I burned it all down, we’d quickly find the boss monster’s location too.

However, Kang In-ho shook his head.

 

“No. I think finding the leader should come first.”

 

He was right. Well, we can’t have him burning up with it.

I withdrew the flames that seemed ready to burst from my fingertips at any moment.

 

‘Where the hell is he?’

 

I looked around, scanning the surroundings.

 

Startled.

 

“…Wait a moment.”

“Yes?”

“What is it?”

 

Crack, crackle.

 

I heard the sound of something breaking. This direction is….

 

‘Above?’

 

I looked up. Sure enough, cracks were spreading across the sky that had seemed so peaceful— crack, crackle.

 

“Everyone dodge—!”

 

Bang, craaaaaack.

Thoom—!

 

The hunters, including myself, reflexively ducked down. Something began pouring down from the sky above.

 

“Damn, what is this!”

“What’s suddenly…!”

“Watch your heads!”

 

Objects were falling from the empty sky.

Even roughly counting, there were over ten. One of them was falling directly toward me.

 

“Fire Virtue Flame—!”

 

Whoosh.

 

Fire sprouted above my head. The flames instantly devoured it and died down.

I quickly approached the fallen object to examine what it was.

 

“What on earth is it?”

“Hunter, this is…”

“It’s a monster. Though it is.”

“It’s all crumbled. Why…”

 

It was an animal-shaped monster that resembled a rabbit. It was so withered and dried that its bones were visible.

When Lee Jung-yeon poked the corpse with her fingertip, it crumbled. The burned corpse quickly turned to powder and disappeared.

 

‘Something’s strange.’

 

“Didn’t they say this place had some kind of… life force? That things wouldn’t die easily here?”

“…”

 

My mind raced quickly.

In a dungeon abnormally overflowing with life force, there were dried-up monster corpses?

Compared to the ones on the First Floor, this made even less sense. Far from being dried up, they were so full of moisture they were practically bursting, reviving again and again no matter how many times we killed them.

 

| Hmm! This is definitely strange! And… but you know. |

 

Then I heard Fire Virtue True Lord’s voice in my head.

 

| Since earlier… the sunlight isn’t hot! |

“…!”

 

I suddenly realized. Though sunlight was clearly falling brilliantly over the grassland, I couldn’t feel any heat.

 

‘I’m missing something…’

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

I rolled up the long sleeves of my shaman robes. Then I knelt down in the middle of the grassland.

Soon I pressed my palm firmly against the grass.

 

Whoosh!

 

Sparks spread from my palm. Starting from me as the center, flames began spreading toward the vast grassland.

Though what was visible to the eye was grass full of moisture, it spread instantly as if I had set fire to dry grass.

 

Crackle!

 

The flames that had been spreading endlessly soon disappeared without a trace.

What remained was no longer a grassland.

 

“It’s all fake.”

 

All the grass had disappeared. The sky too, and the sun. Everything crumbled.

My vision overturned, and reality became visible as if awakening from a mirage.

 

“A trap…”

 

What remained was a dark cave.

Vines clung tightly to the walls growing there, and damp air unpleasantly filled my lungs.

 

“It was a trap.”

“Ah…”

 

The hunters looked around in confusion.

 

“…Traps are usually used to hide something.”

“Yes.”

 

Lee Jung-yeon swallowed and spoke. I stood up while brushing off the hem of my shaman robes.

 

‘Did the edges get a bit singed?’

 

It’s definitely just ordinary silk, so it had no choice but to burn. It’s remarkable it lasted this long.

 

‘…It’s a bit regrettable. It was precious.’

 

Anyway…

 

“It’s over there.”

 

What the dungeon, what the boss monster had been hiding.

I extended my index finger and pointed in one direction.

Choi Yu-il.

Under a tree red as blood, Choi Yu-il sat kneeling.

 

‘What on earth happened?’

 

A maple tree so massive it could fill the entire dungeon. And Choi Yu-il kneeling before it.

Near the tree, the animal monsters that had been falling from overhead earlier were positioned.

The strange thing was…

 

‘They’re all dead.’

 

All the monsters were dead, completely dried up.

 

‘Did he fight better than expected?’

 

I set aside my speculation for now and headed toward Choi Yu-il.

 

“Hey, you—!”

 

Whatever happened, the guy was alive. I felt relieved that the worst-case scenario hadn’t come to pass.

 

“Are you okay? What happened?”

 

Tap tap.

 

Kang In-ho, Lee Jung-yeon, and Baek Kyul also followed me and approached Choi Yu-il.

 

“Leader, are you alright!”

“I had no idea it was a zombie dungeon. What about the other supporters?”

“Are you dying?! Not yet, right?!”

 

Just a few more meters.

When we had only a short distance left before reaching Choi Yu-il.

Suddenly, Choi Yu-il turned his head.

 

“…?”

 

Don’t come….

 

“…don’t come closer,”

 

The blood-soaked guy was saying that.

 

“Please.”

 

It was an expression I’d never seen before.

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