The Magical Hunter Girl Decorates the Dungeon! - Chapter 87

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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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The Magical Girl Hunter Prepares a Dungeon! Episode 87
“……Colleague?”
“Yes. If you just say you acknowledge me as a colleague, I’ll go quietly and wait.”
“Really? And the moment I say that, you’re not going to start insisting that ‘colleagues have to fight together, so why won’t you take me with you’?”
“I won’t insist.”
“Hah…… Okay.”
When it came time to actually say it, he seemed embarrassed. Han Ji-hyeok’s face flushed slightly as he worked his lower lip, then spoke.
“Lee Ji is my colleague.”
“Not Lee Ji—Magical Girl Daisy!”
“M-Magical Girl Daisy is my colleague! ……Satisfied?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go!”
With Lee Ji on his back, Han Ji-hyeok began running toward the Grass Nest. Meanwhile, Lee Ji quietly checked her Skill Window.
[Magical Girl Grows Stronger Together (E)]
: When there’s a nearby ally capable of using combination skills, you can use a more powerful version of your skill once per day.
: Available allies (1/1)
-Han Ji-hyeok
‘Excellent!’
“……Why are you squirming? You’re not going to transform, are you?”
“No. But how did you end up here?”
“The Vice Association Chairman asked me to raid some pseudo-religious cult that was dealing in black market Magic Stones. But he said there’s been a problem with the nearby F-rank Dungeons, so he told me to start here.”
“You came alone?”
“No. My ally who came with me will enter once we finish dealing with the cultists. ……Though it’d be better if she couldn’t enter.”
“Why?”
“Normally, when someone enters a Dungeon, the Gate closes. But this Dungeon’s stayed open even after the civil servant Hunters arrived. It’s almost like it’s recruiting sacrifices.”
“Ah…….”
“Never mind—you don’t worry about it. Say, over there? That incredibly cute puppy?”
“Oh, yes!”
“Really cute…….”
The word “cute” died on his lips once he saw the creature’s actual size.
Han Ji-hyeok deliberately ignored the puppy, which was desperate to knock the visitor over and lick him to death, and gently set Lee Ji down on the fluffy nest. Jun-seo, who had been cradling the egg, looked startled at the sight of Han Ji-hyeok.
“Who are you?”
He clearly couldn’t recognize him because of the mask. Han Ji-hyeok simply waved his hand lightly and immediately bolted from the nest.
Only once he was quite far away did he clutch his stomach and laugh.
‘That was like watching pretend play!’
It really was adorable though—those tiny creatures gathered in the nest, tenderly nurturing an egg larger than their own heads.
‘……I’m feeling a bit more energized thanks to that.’
In truth, Han Ji-hyeok had been quite tense coming into this place.
He’d experienced Dungeons many times before—
‘But this is my first time having to rescue someone.’
Simply destroying everything like he had before wouldn’t work here.
Grimoire 998 flew up beside him.
[Where are you headed?]
“I’m going to find the missing person first.”
Han Ji-hyeok pulled out the Radar he’d received from the civil servant earlier.
It was a tool that allowed civil servant Hunters to locate each other even when separated from their allies.
“I suspect the missing people might be being used as the Dungeon’s energy source.”
The Dungeon has been growing stronger ever since it received an intruder. It’s even been expanding the Gate, actively drawing in new “guests.”
‘It’s almost like it’s hunting Hunters.’
Grimoire 998 agreed.
[That’s a solid read. But you know that if some dinosaur expert or whoever calls you for a Dungeon Quest, you can’t refuse for long, right?]
“I know.”
The more people who refuse a Dungeon Quest, the more penalties accrue, and accumulating penalties leads to a Dungeon Break.
After Grimoire 998 seemed satisfied with the answer, it added something almost as an afterthought.
[But you’re not thinking of cooperating with the little Magical Girl?]
“No way. She’s just a kid. Hae-cho the Hunter will get here faster anyway.”
One of the few S-rank Hunters even the Association could boast of—Hae-cho. With her S-rank physical abilities, she could probably dispose of a pseudo-religious group in under an hour.
That was when Grimoire 998 made a clicking sound.
[Well, it looks like another “guest” arrived first.]
“Huh?”
Han Ji-hyeok soon understood what that “guest” was.
From behind him—a Parrot came flying urgently, shrieking.
“Guest! Raise the egg! Guest! You have to raise the egg!”
“Sorry, but I’m not ready to be a guardian yet!”
“There’s no such thing as perfect readiness in this world!”
Grimoire 998 let out a soft laugh.
[That Parrot’s right. Sounds like it’d be fun to chat with.]
“I’d rather talk to people, honestly. ……Anyway.”
As Han Ji-hyeok ran, he checked the tracker in his hand.
“I think I’ve found the civil servant.”
The scenery around them had shifted to forest.
Towering trees stretching toward the sky, squelching ground, humid air—it all stirred a sense of unease.
‘It feels like something’s around here……’
The prediction was right. Not far away, Han Ji-hyeok picked up a signal coming from the missing civil servant.
‘If I just turn this corner……!’
And then, faced with the scene that unfolded, Han Ji-hyeok at first doubted his own eyes.
‘Could the missing person really be in there?’
The signal was emanating from an egg right in front of him—an egg larger than a person.
And it wasn’t just one egg. There were seventeen eggs the size of an adult, and one egg as tall as a child…….
Han Ji-hyeok began pounding on the egg, shouting. The egg was extremely hard.
“Hey!”
As if in response to his voice, a human shadow moved inside one of the eggs.
“…….”
Someone inside was mumbling. The voice was inaudible. Instead, from some distance away, came the sound of something rushing toward him.
Could it be that same “raise the egg” Parrot from earlier?
‘I need to rescue them quickly.’
Han Ji-hyeok channeled Magical Power into the weapon he’d borrowed temporarily from the Vice Association Chairman.
‘Let me carefully crack just the eggshell!’

* * *
“Jun-seo! Egg! Are you okay? ……You’ve gotten bigger?”
The egg that had been about the size of two soccer balls was now far larger than a backpack. With Lee Ji’s help, Jun-seo carefully set the egg down and spoke.
“It whined so much about wanting to see you.”
“Oh no, I’m sorry. I wanted to see you too.”
Lee Ji gently stroked the pointed part of the egg. From inside came a pleased, humming sound.
Jun-seo whispered.
“What happened? What did you talk about with that civil servant?”
“Well, actually…….”
Worried the baby might grow anxious hearing about what the adults were discussing, Lee Ji and Jun-seo exchanged words while holding the egg close.
That this had become an extremely dangerous Dungeon.
And that an S-rank Hunter, Han Ji-hyeok, had been dispatched from the Association.
After hearing it all, Jun-seo’s face flushed red.
“So, so… the person who saw me carrying the egg earlier was Han Ji-hyeok?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my god! He saw me bouncing around with the egg, he definitely laughed at me!”
“Why would he laugh?”
“……He didn’t find it funny?”
Perhaps hearing that, the egg trembled slightly.
Jun-seo quickly patted the egg and explained.
“I’m not saying you’re funny!”
A clearer sound came from inside the egg.
[Peep! Peep!]
It sounded like a protest. Jun-seo hurried to add.
“I’m not embarrassed! I just…… I’m proud that I’m strong enough to carry you!”
[Peep. Peep…….]
“……Will you let me carry you again?”
[Hum-hum.]
“Phew…….”
Jun-seo carefully hoisted the egg onto his back and stood. As he wandered along the edge of the nest, the egg seemed content, swaying its body left and right in a satisfied motion.
Lee Ji asked with curiosity.
“How did you know what it wanted to do?”
“This little one only ever stayed in a box after being born, then came to us. So it only knows what it’s experienced with us.”
“Ah…….”
“If I do one of those things, it’s happy.”
Basking in sunlight, being fanned, being held and patted…….
All the things Lee Ji and Jun-seo had done would be the sum total of happiness this child knew.
Her heart ached a little, so Lee Ji gently stroked the egg’s head. It made a purring sound.
‘I know this feeling.’
Early summer, lying in the living room with the fan on.
How soothing it had been when those hands brushed back her slightly sweaty bangs.
The person who taught Lee Ji that sensation…….
‘……I want to see my sister soon.’
“You know, baby. I’ll take good care of you while you’re in the egg.”
[Coo-coo-coo?]
“And after you’re born, I can show you so many wonderful things.”
[Hum-hum…….]
The egg still seemed not to understand what she was saying. But Lee Ji believed this feeling would reach it nonetheless.
She made a small request.
“So, will you hatch soon?”
To clear the Dungeon and return to her sister.
[Hum-hum-hum……. Hum, hum, hum!]
“What, what?”
The egg suddenly began to shake.

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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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