Infinite Evolution Hunter - Chapter 80

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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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80
I slashed at Suden’s sword, and he released his blade, channeling aura into his fist to counterattack. His thinking possessed a flexibility that belied his age.
As a knight versed in aura manipulation with considerable experience, he stood before us with confidence—but unfortunately, his opponent was me, dragged through relentless training by the incarnation of Darkness herself.
My stats had grown exponentially through burning life force. Previously they increased by ten to twenty percent, but now they climbed by forty percent. Already a stat powerhouse, this forty percent boost elevated me beyond my former tier. If I faced Jung Min-gi the Hunter again now, I could draw out his full strength.
I sidestepped his punch with ease as he abandoned his sword, then drove a straight punch into his chest.
Thud!
My fist connected with his chest, and a shockwave erupted from his back.
“Gasp…”
Suden’s face turned ashen as he gasped for breath.
“I respect the elderly, but a madman who commits mass slaughter of the innocent? That’s an exception.”
“To dispatch an Empire Master so effortlessly! You truly are the Holy Maiden’s companion!”
The Lion Beastman emerged from hiding as he watched the aging knight collapse.
“A Master? This man?”
“Indeed. Though he ranks lowest among them, he is certainly a Master.”
Spreading aura so broadly was impressive, but I hadn’t sensed any particular speed or devastating power from it.
I had definitely grown stronger than before.
“But wait—a Master would come all this way just because a single aristocrat died?”
With Helen and Franklin dead, only eight Masters remained in the Empire. That meant they weren’t people with much leisure time.
“He was no ordinary nobleman.”
Suden spoke between ragged breaths.
“Then who?”
Suden clamped his mouth shut.
“Bae Na-young.”
At my call, Bae Na-young nodded and placed her hand on the aging knight Suden’s head.
“Answer.”
“Ugh…”
A Master’s mental defenses were formidable. I pressed down on Suden’s throat as he resisted.
“I don’t care if you die here.”
My grip tightened around his neck. Realizing certain death awaited if he refused, his will broke, and Bae Na-young’s mental domination took hold.
“So who is that Bread Head?”
“A mage who maintains barrier magic. He came to repair the barriers in this region. He said he was taking a break during maintenance but never returned—that’s why the barriers here have collapsed.”
“The bastard abandoned his work to go to a hot spring? And they entrust such critical work to just one person?”
“Four were supposed to come, but they all made excuses and didn’t show up.”
“The Empire’s administrative layer is notoriously corrupt. Besides, no one would have imagined anyone would touch an Empire nobleman, much less a mage,” the Lion Beastman added.
The Lion Beastman chimed in.
“Wait—a barrier? Are you talking about the one that was blocking spatial movement?”
“Yes.”
I turned to look at Eres.
“Eres, didn’t you say you don’t interfere in human affairs?”
“Look away.”
“…Yes.”
Why mention not interfering in the human world in the first place?
“Then… you can use spatial teleportation?”
“…That is correct.”
Eres frowned as if troubled, and the Gate opened.
“Oh, just like that.”
“…It was not I who did this.”
Eres sighed.
“Still, if you enter there, you can reach your world.”
I followed Eres as she led the way, with Bae Na-young behind me, and countless beastmen trailing after us.
“You cannot go.”
Eres raised her hand toward the beastmen behind us.
“If you leave them alone, they will die. Please, help them.”
Bae Na-young bowed her head.
“Are you saying you will not interfere in human world affairs this time either?”
“It cannot be helped. That place is not somewhere they can reach.”
“Saint, we will be fine. From now on, we will head west on our own.”
The Lion Beastman stepped forward as their representative.
“Please return home now. We will never forget your grace, Saint.”
“…I will contact Sono Rim of Malbokia. So that he can help you. Please take care of yourselves.”
Bae Na-young exchanged farewells with the beastmen. The beastman children came forward and embraced her.
“Then, let us go.”
At Eres’s urging, Bae Na-young and I entered the Gate.
As I looked back while passing through, I saw the bloodthirsty beastmen swarming toward Suden and the knights. Their fate was obvious. They had brought it upon themselves.
Beyond the Gate lay a space flooded with light in all directions. It was so bright that I could not discern where it began or ended.
A man approached from within. As my eyes adjusted to the brightness, I saw the face of a golden-haired man. His face, sculpted like a masterpiece, was literally radiant.
“You have come.”
“Hmph….”
Eres snorted dismissively at his words and turned away.
“You still enjoy meddling in human world affairs, I see.”
The Light Being glanced at Bae Na-young and me as he spoke.
“I have not interfered greatly.”
“For someone claiming that, you certainly taught quite kindly. Did memories of old times stir?”
The Light Being examined me carefully as he spoke. So Eres had been pushing me hard in order to teach me after all?
I was so absorbed in their conversation that I noticed too late—Bae Na-young’s complexion had turned deathly pale.
“My presence may have been overly stimulating for one who wields the power of Darkness.”
When he closed his eyes, the light surrounding us gradually faded, and Bae Na-young’s color began to return.
“Now I shall send you back to your world. Close the Gate that flows against the current.”
“Did you send Sono Rim and Blitz?”
“Yes. I asked them to do so. But I did not expect you to come here.”
“I may be presumptuous, but there are several things I wish to ask.”
“What is it?”
“If the Destroyer God occupies Telus, doesn’t that mean Telus will cease to exist?
“That would be the case.”
“Then why don’t beings of your and Eres’s caliber stop the Destroyer God? Is it because you cannot interfere in the human realm? Wouldn’t you also perish?”
“From a human perspective, yes. But we have already lived for countless eons. Whether we live longer or shorter holds no interest for us. And the entity you call the Destroyer God is not evil. It is merely the law of the universe.”
“The law?”
“It means a current that neither you nor we can stop.”
“But couldn’t we simply continue to block the Gates and monsters that keep appearing?”
“Even if you repel the invasion force assembled against your world this time, it won’t be long before stronger and more numerous armies are created and sent to your realm.”
“… Then, is there truly no way?”
“There is not.”
“Then why did Sono Rim say he would resist?”
“It is only natural for mortals to struggle against their own extinction.”
I had returned to the past believing we could finally stop this, yet it seemed Earth held no hope whatsoever.
“… How long until the next invasion force arrives?”
Before the next army comes, I must find some way to evacuate somewhere.
“It will not take long.”
A curse escaped my lips.
“That is by your measure, is it not?”
Eres spoke.
“Eres?”
“Perhaps… ten thousand years, or perhaps a hundred thousand years.”
“… Is that not a long time?”
“This world has existed for hundreds of billions of years. In comparison to that span, is it not but a fleeting moment?”
“Now go. Whether you struggle or surrender is for your world to decide. However, I shall close the Gates.”
“We too wish to involve ourselves no further.”
Hope kindled within me. Perhaps I cannot slay the Destroyer God or whatever it is, but if I can repel this invasion—this wave, as one might call it—I can buy time. With that time, humanity could either flee to another world or grow stronger.
“Go.”
As the man’s gaze turned to one side, a Gate opened there.
“Thank you for everything.”
I bowed my head in gratitude to Eres. Though I had been irritated at first by being held here, my abilities had grown by at least two stages because of it.
“Hmph. That is enough.”
I grasped Na-young’s hand and stepped through the Gate.
“We shall meet again soon.”
I heard Eres speak those words before my head fully passed through.
What? I thought we wouldn’t see each other again?
When I emerged from the Gate, I found myself in the Plains. The terrain was identical to the Gate I had entered on Earth. Since they couldn’t open a Gate directly on Earth, they must have opened a Gate within the Gate itself.
“Let’s go.”
“You worked hard, brother.”
“Didn’t you say you were angry last time?”
“I… when did I ever do that?”
“Just speak casually.”
“R… really? Hehehehe.”
Finally, it was time to head home.
* * *
“Five months have passed since I left?”
After exiting the Gate, I called Yang Sang-heon, and he came to pick us up.
“You didn’t know?”
Yang Sang-heon asked from behind the wheel.
“Ah… where I was, there was no sense of time.”
I’d thought my abilities had grown quickly, but that wasn’t quite right. I hadn’t realized it would take this long.
“Nothing happened while I was gone?”
“Well… both mothers were very worried.”
“I imagine they were…”
It would be strange if they weren’t worried when a son and daughter suddenly disappeared and couldn’t be reached for months.
“You should go greet them right away.”
“You’re right.”
“Oh my goodness!!! Ji-seok!!!”
Hearing that I’d arrived, Mother was waiting at the front door. As I stepped out of the car, she rushed toward me.
From the way she held me, as if she’d never let go again, I could feel just how much heartache she’d endured.
“Don’t worry. Your son is healthy and strong.”
“You foolish child! What kind of place was that to follow someone into?!”
Now that she was reassured, it was time for her to scold me.
“I’m sorry.”
If I hadn’t followed Franklin back then and dealt with him, when he returned, neither I nor those around me would have been safe. It was an unavoidable choice, but Mother wasn’t interested in hearing such reasons right now.
“Never again! Never again! Don’t you dare do something like that! Quit being a Hunter already! You’ve earned enough money anyway!”
“Mom…”
“No! No!”
Mother was too angry to listen to what I had to say. A rational conversation was impossible at this moment.
“Alright. Let’s go inside. I’m hungry.”
“Oh my, what am I thinking? Wait a moment, I’ll cook for you.”
“Don’t bother, Mom. Let’s go out to eat.”
While I was away, she’d suffered so much that she’d lost weight. I gently placed my hand on Mother’s back and infused her with vitality.
“Oh my… is it because my son is here? I feel energized.”
If I poured it in all at once, her body might not accept it, so I’d need to infuse her with a little vitality each day.
While I was being scolded, Bae Na-young was also being beaten like a rat by her mother. I felt like I got off easier in comparison.
Even while eating, Bae Na-young was scolded relentlessly, and her appetite seemed to have fled as if she’d lost her desire to eat.

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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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