D-Rank Constellation Hunter… Stuck Without Internet! - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 31
When Ha Gyuhyuk opened his eyes, the world had completely inverted itself.
The moment he regained consciousness, something churned in his stomach, and he retched violently.
But nothing emerged from his empty belly.
It was only afterward that he realized his wrists were bound.
“The poison certainly lasts a while on a D-rank. We were worried you might’ve died.”
An irritating voice pierced Ha Gyuhyuk’s ears.
His vision returned only after considerable time had passed. It seemed he’d been struck with a sensory-numbing toxin.
Naturally, he was stronger than an ordinary person without any abilities—but how many true civilians remained in this world anymore?
One way or another, it was a world where D-ranks struggled to survive.
‘I’d forgotten about all this thanks to Ulrim.’
Perhaps I’d developed a dangerous complacency.
The world had always preached caution—knock on every Gate before entering, watch your surroundings everywhere you went.
Yet not everyone lived in constant fear of abduction.
Ha Gyuhyuk felt a sudden surge of indignation. The faces that came into view were all familiar.
‘Those people who kept lingering in front of my home.’
“You’re not even surprised. Do you know who we are?”
“You were outside my house so long that I couldn’t help but memorize your faces.”
Ha Gyuhyuk was someone who bent easily.
In any normal circumstance, he would have yielded first and observed carefully afterward.
‘But Ulrim wouldn’t want that.’
Rather than submit like a fool, I’d respond appropriately and wait for my moment.
Ulrim would surely come to my aid.
In the past, I would have cowered and said nothing.
‘No matter how much I trust Ulrim, at this level… is it a matter of mental fortitude?’
Even before this overwhelming disparity in power, I felt no panic or weakness.
Perhaps it was because I’d drawn close to an existence of such transcendent caliber that humans could never presume to approach.
Yet one thing remained undeniably clear—even with my mind intact, I couldn’t defeat these people in my current state.
Feeling no fear wasn’t entirely advantageous, it seemed.
“Ha Gyuhyuk? If you’ll just answer a few questions, we’ll let you go without a scratch.”
“If interrogation were truly your only goal, there would’ve been countless other methods available to you.”
“But this way is the fastest.”
“Taking me captive won’t guarantee you the answers you seek.”
The questions coming would be predictable.
What else would they ask besides whether I’d been chosen by a Constellation?
And if I refused to answer, they’d resort to truth serums or torture conducted out of sight.
Either way, I was confident I could endure it.
‘Because Ulrim told me not to speak of it.’
Since I’d been told our relationship was best kept hidden, it was my duty to honor that word.
Even if it were a lie told not for my sake, but for the Constellation’s own convenience.
Even if my lips were torn to shreds, I would keep the secret.
The people before me wore expressions of complete indifference, as though my defiance was utterly inconsequential.
“We don’t need to introduce ourselves, do we?”
“You wouldn’t tell us even if we asked.”
And I already knew who these people were.
Ulrim had warned me to be careful of them and had already divulged all their personal information to me.
Everything from ex-lovers I’d rather not know about to elementary school grades.
‘[ The Constellation of the Entangled Apocalypse’s Finalizer declares that those who dare target my human shall pay the price. ]’
That’s what Ulrim had said while handing over their information.
The dossier that had been leaked included not only their past but also all the skills these people primarily used.
Information that even the Hunter Association couldn’t easily obtain—I had acquired it simply by breathing.
For now, I needed to buy time until Ulrim could assess the situation.
“Well, you certainly know your stuff. What we want to ask about is what happened inside that Dungeon when you rescued Hunter Kim Gyuwun.”
“….”
“When we tried to question those who entered, they were all afflicted with a silent curse. I suspect you’re the only one who wasn’t cursed.”
People from Guild Taemyeon.
The masterminds who had tried to sacrifice me to save Kim Gyuwun.
Back then, I had lost all will to live and had accepted their proposal without resistance.
So I harbored no resentment toward Taemyeon for that.
If the Constellation hadn’t descended, I would still be trapped in that Dungeon.
I didn’t even blame Taemyeon for choosing the person with the least to lose.
“Didn’t you ever consider that I might be cursed as well?”
“The silent curse only affected those who were inside that building at the time.”
By “that building,” they likely meant the Guild Building and similar structures.
I suddenly became acutely aware of just how many things Ulrim had been handling behind the scenes without my knowledge.
Ulrim continued with explanations I hadn’t even asked for.
What the Constellation had said, and how they had searched for me afterward, only to find I wouldn’t leave my home.
I discreetly summoned my status window.
[ Current stat correction buffs are active. ]
[ Protection Package is operational. ]
[ Should anyone target your life, the divinity of the Constellation of the Entangled Apocalypse’s Finalizer will directly punish them. ]
[ Tracking Package is operational. ]
[ The divine power of the Constellation of the Entangled Apocalypse’s Finalizer is tracking you. ]
‘No matter how much I act up here or how much these people threaten me, I’ll be safe.’
I didn’t know exactly what “punish” and “track” meant.
I had simply accepted and applied them because Ulrim offered them.
But even if I didn’t understand what they were, I wouldn’t underestimate them.
Rather, the mystery made them seem all the more formidable.
I responded with an even more confident tone.
“…Do I need to know that?”
“We’ve suffered plenty for this, so we’re trying to keep things peaceful, aren’t we?”
How could anyone call this peaceful when they had a D-rank Hunter bound hand and foot?
I didn’t bother hiding my incredulous expression, and they snickered in response.
“What exactly do you want to hear?”
“Just what the Constellation did in that situation, what kind of communication happened between the Constellation and you—things like that.”
Questions that deviated not one bit from my expectations.
It was utterly deflating.
The fact that Ulrim’s divine power was being wasted on this was so lamentable it said everything.
“Like I said, no matter what you do, my lips won’t open, so just give up.”
They wore bewildered expressions, as if they hadn’t expected Ha Gyuhyuk to come out so boldly.
Or perhaps some button of anger had been pressed.
Dark green smoke roiled before his eyes, and in an instant, his breath caught sharply.
“It’s a phantom pain curse. Everything that happens from now on is nothing but illusion, but….”
“A D-rank Hunter breaking free from an illusion would be quite difficult, wouldn’t it?”
“You’re showing your confidence so openly?”
Laughter echoed.
What had seemed like only three or four people before his eyes now felt like dozens.
Suffocation crashed over him, and agony as if his insides were burning consumed him.
Ha Gyuhyuk gasped involuntarily, his body trembling in spasms, his mind growing distant.
“Just tell us the truth and the illusion will break in an instant. We’ll even erase all the painful memories you’ve endured so far….”
The words trailed off.
And in that moment, Ha Gyuhyuk realized that all the agony enveloping him, along with the restraints binding his hands, had vanished.
A shadow fell across his vision.
“Ah…?”
Breathing heavily, he lifted his head.
It was the silhouette of a woman with pale violet hair swaying gently in the air.
Who was it—such a question was unnecessary. At least for Ha Gyuhyuk, it was.
‘I knew I would recognize her the moment I saw her.’
I believed I could recognize her, even if no one else could.
Ha Gyuhyuk opened his mouth as if whispering.
“Oh, you’ve come….”
“Yes.”
Ulrim….
[ The Constellation of the Entangled Apocalypse’s Finalizer sets foot upon Earth. ]
[ The seed of the Constellation has sprouted. ]
That voice, heard so distantly before, now sounded right beside him.
Still with her back to Ha Gyuhyuk, the “god” spoke.
“Close your eyes and count only to five.”
By then, everything will be finished.
At the same moment, a tree of light blazed beneath his feet, bright enough to blind.
The scales of divinity had tipped.
Decidedly, in favor of one who was cherished.

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