I Became a Hunter with the Heavenly Slaughter Star Trait. - Chapter 55

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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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Episode 55

 

Episode 55

 

-Kwaaaang!!!!

 

Baek Ha-rim’s skills were much better than I had thought.

 

Was it because I was only considering the most ‘ordinary’ cases?

 

-Thwack!!!!

 

Baek Ha-rim’s specialty was explosion magic.

 

Usually, the most common types are flame or ice magic.

 

Occasionally, something unusual would be lightning magic.

 

I had never heard of explosion magic before.

 

But….

 

‘…The power is quite considerable, isn’t it?’

 

The accuracy was somewhat lacking,

 

but ‘explosion’ itself was rather terrifying.

 

Depending on where it hit, things could be blown to smithereens.

 

-Clatter clatter clatter….

 

Just like that Skeleton Soldier a moment ago.

 

All the ribs that had been protecting the magic stone were shattered,

 

and even the arms and legs had been blown away somewhere.

 

The skull had rolled all the way to my feet.

 

“Amazing.”

 

When I expressed my admiration, Baek Ha-rim shook his head.

 

“That was just lucky.”

 

“But the Skeleton Soldier was blown to pieces?”

 

“…That’s exactly why I said it was lucky.”

 

Afterward, as if to prove Baek Ha-rim’s words.

 

-Boom!

 

-Whoosh!

 

-Thud thud thud!

 

Explosion magic missing left and right.

 

The power was tremendous enough to completely destroy anything it hit,

 

but the moment it missed, it only caused minor impact.

 

-Thunk!

 

-Clatter!

 

The power of the missed explosion magic

 

only amounted to dislocating the Skeleton Soldier’s shoulder bone.

 

‘This is a bit severe.’

 

I didn’t say it out loud,

 

but everyone here was surely thinking the same thing.

 

Even Baek Ha-rim himself.

 

‘…Saying it’s fine here would actually be rude.’

 

It’s not like we’re playing blind man’s bluff.

 

“You’ll need to work on your accuracy.”

 

“…It’s not an easy task.”

 

Baek Ha-rim smiled bitterly.

 

How ironic.

 

Every shot would have been a perfect ten. Ten. Ten.

 

He must have lived a life never missing the center of the target.

 

But now he’s hearing things like ‘You’ll need to work on your accuracy.’

 

Probably,

 

his pride was hurt even more.

 

“I’ve been researching various methods myself, but it’s difficult to hit accurately like flame or ice magic.”

 

That was obvious.

 

Flame magic and ice magic

 

work by creating fireballs or ice bolts and then shooting them.

 

In comparison, explosion magic

 

works by exploding a predetermined location.

 

They’re completely different types.

 

“Then we’ll have to find a method.”

 

“I’ve been looking for a method for 10 years, but….”

 

Baek Ha-rim trailed off.

 

Perhaps I had said something presumptuous.

 

But,

 

if he’s already become part of my team.

 

“But I wasn’t there during those 10 years.”

 

I need to support him.

 

Just like I did with Cha Ye-rin and Ujeongmin.

 

Just like I made Ujeongmin into a healer,

 

I have a feeling I can develop Baek Ha-rim well too.

 

Even if ‘developing’ a man in his 40s sounds a bit strange.

 

‘The ability itself isn’t bad….’

 

That alone was enough.

 

Just the diligence of continuing his Hunter life for 10 years

 

was sufficient value in Baek Ha-rim.

 

“Good.”

 

-Clang!

 

I kicked the rolling skeleton skull away and

 

“Let’s call it a day and head back.”

 

suggested we return.

 

* * *

 

-Sizzle….

 

-Sizzle….

 

Premium beef grilling over charcoal.

 

The savory aroma from the bubbling fat stimulated the appetite.

 

However,

 

‘Even the saying about going for meat when you’re feeling down doesn’t work….’

 

Baek Ha-rim’s expression was gloomy.

 

No,

 

how can someone look so depressed while grilling beef….

 

“It’s so delicious!”

 

“Hyung, can we order more meat?”

 

In contrast, Cha Ye-rin and Ujeongmin were eating heartily.

 

“Yeah. Order more.”

 

Another plate of Korean beef with killer marbling arrived.

 

-Sizzle….

 

“How was today?”

 

I casually asked Baek Ha-rim.

 

Baek Ha-rim glanced at me, then began grilling the meat carefully.

 

-Sizzzzle….

 

For someone who doesn’t eat, he grills meat quite well.

 

“You were skilled.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“This Hunter, I mean.”

 

Huh?

 

I asked how today went.

 

Suddenly talking about me?

 

This is like bowing down and receiving praise!

 

“Not only is this Hunter’s individual skill exceptional, but the coordination with the other two seemed perfect as well.”

 

“Ah, haha….”

 

This wasn’t what I intended?

 

As I awkwardly laughed and scratched the back of my head,

 

“Rather, I wonder if I’m getting in the way….”

 

Baek Ha-rim muttered as if he couldn’t understand.

 

No, this person.

 

What on earth happened at his previous guild

 

to make him this lacking in confidence?

 

After being a Hunter for a whole 10 years?

 

Moreover, before that,

 

he was an athlete brimming with confidence.

 

A person who showed the dignified attitude befitting the title of national representative.

 

“There’s no way you’d be in the way.”

 

“Is that so.”

 

-Gulp.

 

Baek Ha-rim empties his soju glass that had been filled to the brim.

 

“I have many shortcomings, but please take care of me.”

 

In the end, I couldn’t hold back and asked.

 

“Why do you think you’re lacking?”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry for bringing up old stories.”

 

“….”

 

“When you were an athlete, didn’t you say ‘I’ll work hard’ instead of ‘I’m sorry’?”

 

Baek Ha-rim looks at me with a surprised face.

 

So,

 

I really was a fan!

 

“…There are fields where effort doesn’t work, you know.”

 

Baek Ha-rim smiles bitterly and fills his own glass.

 

“Archery was good because it was simple.”

 

Good because it was simple?

 

“There’s a target.”

 

“….”

 

“You shoot at that target and it’s over.”

 

That’s right.

 

When you think about it, archery really was a simple sport.

 

It’s all about ‘shooting at the target.’

 

“When the arrow flies….”

 

“….”

 

“I already know what will happen next.”

 

Baek Ha-rim was looking into the air with eyes that seemed to long for something.

 

“But this job is different.”

 

Baek Ha-rim bitterly downs his soju again.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“….”

 

“Anything.”

 

He’s right.

 

The laws of the Tower

 

were completely different from the laws of the world we knew.

 

In that place,

 

there’s no ‘chance’ to shoot again.

 

“If you miss, death.”

 

“….”

 

“That’s why I can’t say ‘I’ll work hard.'”

 

What use would it be to say ‘I’ll work hard’ in front of dead people?

 

Because of that, Baek Ha-rim had no choice but to become more familiar with saying ‘I’m sorry.’

 

Once I understood that meaning,

 

I couldn’t say anything at all.

 

-Sizzzzle….

 

-Sizzle….

 

For a while, only the sound of grilling meat continues.

 

Then,

 

“But you know.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Since we’re talking about bows….”

 

Suddenly bringing up bows,

 

Baek Ha-rim looks at me with a face that says he can’t understand.

 

“Do you still shoot well?”

 

“….”

 

Do you want to ask about that now? That’s the expression.

 

“The last time I heard was almost 10 years ago, so I’m not sure.”

 

“Still, you’ve done it all this time.”

 

“I don’t want to pick up a bow again.”

 

“But if you picked up a bow again, you’d shoot well, right?”

 

“….”

 

Baek Ha-rim’s expression became subtle.

 

Both confident

 

and somewhat melancholy.

 

A complex face.

 

And after a long while….

 

“…Probably.”

 

A voice strangely filled with certainty.

 

Thanks to that,

 

I became certain too.

 

“That’s good.”

 

“Yes? What’s….”

 

“Tomorrow, let’s meet separately.”

 

“…Tomorrow, you mean?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I grinned and flipped the beef that was about to burn.

 

“I had a good idea.”

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

I gave Cha Ye-rin and Ujeongmin a day off.

 

Even though I gave them time off, it seemed like those two were going to train anyway.

 

Something about having to work off the cost of the meat they ate yesterday.

 

“Hunter-nim.”

 

Do Sang-jin handed me a heavy bag.

 

“Here are the items you requested.”

 

“Oh, it’s bigger than I thought?”

 

“Yes. So please be careful with…”

 

-Thud!

 

Before Do Sang-jin could finish speaking,

 

I slung the bag over my shoulder.

 

“Thanks, Sang-jin.”

 

“What exactly are you planning to use this for…?”

 

Do Sang-jin does whatever he’s told,

 

but he still had a face that said he couldn’t understand.

 

“It all has its uses.”

 

“I see.”

 

“I’ll tell you when I get back.”

 

Honestly, I’m not sure if this will work or not.

 

If it doesn’t work, I’ll keep my mouth shut.

 

If it works, I’ll have to brag about it.

 

Heh heh heh.

 

As promised with Baek Ha-rim,

 

I headed to the Entry Hall.

 

“Oh, you’re already here?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Even though it was 10 minutes before our appointment time,

 

he was already here waiting.

 

Just from this, you could tell what kind of person Baek Ha-rim was.

 

Diligence.

 

Itself!

 

They say that to succeed as an athlete,

 

diligence is more important than talent.

 

Baek Ha-rim.

 

I had a feeling I could never catch up to his diligence.

 

“Shall we go?”

 

“…”

 

It seemed like Baek Ha-rim had already figured out what the bag I was carrying was.

 

However, for some reason, without making any mention of it.

 

“Yes. Let’s go.”

 

He obediently entered Babel Tower.

 

-Swoosh!

 

“Whoa!”

 

Was it because of the bag?

 

I lost my balance the moment I entered.

 

If Baek Ha-rim hadn’t caught me, I might have fallen disgracefully.

 

“Haha. It’s my first time with such a heavy bag.”

 

“…”

 

Baek Ha-rim looked at me laughing shamelessly, then

 

“Why did you bring that?”

 

asked me in a blunt voice.

 

Curious, but

 

acting like he wasn’t curious.

 

“I brought it because it has its uses.”

 

I set down the bag I was carrying.

 

And when I opened the bag.

 

“Ooh.”

 

A bow and arrows revealed themselves.

 

I picked up the bow and threw it toward Baek Ha-rim.

 

-Thwack!

 

Baek Ha-rim caught it stylishly.

 

“…What exactly are you thinking?”

 

“First, try loosening up your hands, it’s been 10 years.”

 

“Why? Inside the Tower, something like a bow is completely useless.”

 

“I know that too.”

 

“If it were an item from a box, maybe, but something like this is toy-level. It couldn’t even kill a single Goblin…”

 

Before Baek Ha-rim could finish speaking, I burst out laughing.

 

“Of course!”

 

“…”

 

“Who said anything about killing monsters with a bow?”

 

“…”

 

“Baek Ha-rim, you’re a mage. Of course you should use magic.”

 

“Then, why…”

 

-Clatter.

 

-Clatter clatter.

 

I started putting arrows into the quiver that was in the bag.

 

“What was your weakness, Baek Ha-rim?”

 

“…”

 

“Should I tell you instead?”

 

“It’s accuracy.”

 

“That’s right. Your explosive magic has good power, but your accuracy is way too low.”

 

“…”

 

“So it’s inefficient.”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

I grinned and handed the quiver to Baek Ha-rim.

 

“But archery is a sport where accuracy is most important, isn’t it?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“So I used my head a bit.”

 

Baek Ha-rim was still looking at me with a face that said he didn’t understand.

 

“From now on.”

 

I pointed far away,

 

-Kieeeee…!

 

at the Skeleton Soldiers beginning to emerge from the darkness.

 

“It’s not those guys.”

 

“…?”

 

“The arrows.”

 

“….”

 

“You’re going to detonate them.”

 

“…!”

 

“You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”

 

In an instant, Baek Ha-rim’s expression changes.

 

As expected, he ‘understood’ it.

 

“Even if we don’t know where the monsters will pop out from….”

 

“….”

 

“You know exactly where the arrows you shot will go, don’t you?”

 

“….”

 

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

—————
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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