The SSS-Class Hunter’s Garden Log - Chapter 44

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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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Chapter 44

 

【SYSTEM】

 

【Skill ‘Telekinesis (A-rank)’ is activated.】

 

In an instant, the stones the golems had been diligently gathering rose into the air.

 

The rocks floated up as if defying gravity, circling around Taegyeom in the air.

 

The golems who had their stones stolen jumped up and down in place.

 

The clattering sounds grew rougher as the golems showed their aggression.

 

They waved their hands threateningly while making hissing sounds, looking just like, well, how should I put it.

 

‘Those guys look like they’re cursing up a storm because their stones got stolen?’

 

Nah, surely not?

 

What monster would curse?

 

Hana let out a hollow laugh at her own ridiculous thought.

 

The rocks floating in the air all turned direction at once.

 

Pushed by an invisible force and gaining acceleration, the rocks instantly shot down toward the dwarf golems.

 

Crack—!

 

Craaack—!

 

Sharp bursting sounds erupted one after another.

 

The rocks precisely pierced through the golems’ cores, and their stone bodies shattered to pieces.

 

Fragments flew in all directions and debris rolled across the floor.

 

In less than a few seconds, the moving golems had instantly turned into piles of stones.

 

Taegyeom dusted off his hands and shrugged his shoulders.

 

“See? It’s nothing special.”

 

His expression was filled with satisfaction.

 

It was such a clean battle that it made the recent frustrating times of hitting his limits seem meaningless.

 

Taegyeom felt like his blocked airways had finally opened up.

 

“You don’t need to worry about anything, just trust this Yun Taegyeom and follow me.”

 

Taegyeom kicked the broken golem debris aside with his toe to clear the path and puffed out his chest even more.

 

Hana clapped her hands for him.

 

Honestly, seeing the cute doll-like golems turn to powder made her feel a bit sorry for them, but she decided not to voice this thought.

 

Taegyeom, who had taken the lead again, scratched his philtrum.

 

“I heard you wanted to enter a Gate to get monster excrement?”

 

He kicked at the surrounding rocks and added,

 

“But do stones even relieve themselves?”

 

Huh.

 

Right. She hadn’t thought of that.

 

Do stones relieve themselves?

 

‘Since they’re monsters, maybe they could… right?’

 

At Taegyeom’s words, Hana seriously pondered for a moment.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Suddenly, a shadow fell over Hana’s head.

 

“Hm?”

 

Hana felt something strange and stopped walking.

 

Then the shadow that had been cast over her head suddenly disappeared with a whoosh.

 

“What was that?”

 

Hana quickly turned around, but there was nothing behind her.

 

She looked up just in case, but it was the same.

 

Hana scratched her head.

 

“That’s strange. It felt like something was following us.”

 

Was it her imagination?

 

After looking around a few more times, Hana tilted her head and started walking after Taegyeom again.

 

But just a few steps later, a small stone fell with a thunk! onto Hana’s head.

 

“Ah! What the heck, really?”

 

Hana, who had been hit on the head out of nowhere, stopped walking and turned around again.

 

But all she could see were the finely crushed remains of the golems.

 

And those remains seemed to be less than before.

 

“That’s strange.”

 

Hana muttered while rubbing her throbbing crown.

 

Soon Taegyeom approached and looked in the same direction.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Well, something fell on my head. And it seems like there’s less debris from the broken golems than before.”

 

Taegyeom also bent down slightly to scan the floor.

 

“Really…? Maybe other golems took some and dropped it…? Ah, I don’t know. Let’s just hurry and go.”

 

Taegyeom, who spoke nonchalantly, turned around first.

 

Hana also lingered her gaze for a moment longer before following his steps.

 

As the footsteps grew distant and all signs of people completely disappeared, a rock crouched beside a pillar began to stir.

 

The form that slowly rose as if it had been holding its breath was completely different from the cute dwarf golems from before.

 

A grotesque shape made of broken stones haphazardly attached together.

 

Mismatched rocks moved with creaking sounds as if forcibly joined together.

 

In the center of the enlarged golem’s head was a black dot that hadn’t been there before.

 

As that dot contracted and expanded like a heartbeat.

 

Crack.

 

The rock split and the dwarf golem’s body grew even larger.

 

Tall enough to easily surpass the pillar’s height and cast a long shadow on the ceiling.

 

And then.

 

From far away, a small stone came rolling.

 

It was another dwarf golem with a black dot embedded in it.

 

The remaining debris stuck to the body of the golem that came later like magnets.

 

Before long, the D-rank Gate that had been used for training novice Hunters instantly changed its appearance.

 

What emerged from breaking through the rocky crevices were two S-rank monsters.

 

【SYSTEM】

 

【’Dwarf Golem (D-rank)’ has been contaminated by a rampage item.】

 

【Grade is being readjusted to Contaminated Golem.】

 

【Grade readjustment in progress…】

 

【’Contaminated Golem (S-rank)’】

 

* * *

 

“Hmm.”

 

Around that time, on the opposite side of the dungeon, Taegyeom let out a small groan of difficulty.

 

“Um…, Hana? You’re going to look around more, right?”

 

With a more haggard face than when they entered the Gate, Taegyeom exhaled a tired breath.

 

And rightfully so.

 

Even though they had dealt with most of the visible monsters, this rocky terrain had no trace of monster excrement anywhere.

 

But they couldn’t just leave the Gate empty-handed either.

 

The system window had been constantly ringing ding, ding since earlier.

 

【SYSTEM】

 

【Search for item ‘Contaminated Lettuce🥬(D-rank)’ to mix with ‘Melancholy-tinged Oyster Mushroom🍄(B+-rank)’.】

 

‘So at least give me a range of where to search.’

 

The fact that the system was giving such persistent guidance meant there was definitely mixing material somewhere in this Gate.

 

If she could just find that item, she could also get a memory fragment, so it would be too wasteful to just leave.

 

But the problem was that everything around was nothing but rocks.

 

There wasn’t even a single strand of green moss to be seen.

 

Those damn stones.

 

No matter where he looked, left or right, there were nothing but stones everywhere.

 

And to make matters worse, the place was ridiculously vast.

 

“Where exactly am I supposed to find lettuce, seriously…”

 

Hana muttered quietly while looking around the surroundings once more.

 

But suddenly, a frivolous sound echoed from his stomach.

 

Grumble.

 

It was so loud that Taekyum, who was walking ahead, turned his head around sharply.

 

“…Ah, ahaha.”

 

Hana laughed awkwardly.

 

It seemed like climbing up and down rocks and wandering around had drained his stamina quite a bit.

 

“Should we take a break and eat something before moving on?”

 

“Good idea! I actually brought some food just in case!”

 

“That works out well, I also brought some snacks.”

 

Hana took off his backpack, placed it on his knees, and opened the zipper.

 

Inside were neatly packed snacks arranged in order.

 

Boiled potatoes, crispy and savory popcorn made from corn kernels obtained from Popcon, and even cherry tomatoes.

 

As he took out the food neatly contained in plastic packs one by one, his eyes met directly with Taekyum’s across from him.

 

Taekyum was also holding something he had taken out from his backpack.

 

‘Gasp, that’s…!’

 

Hana’s eyes widened as he confirmed what was in Taekyum’s hands.

 

It was meat.

 

And not just any meat, but pork belly.

 

Hana’s gaze immediately fixed on the meat that was glistening brilliantly.

 

Without realizing it, saliva gathered in his mouth.

 

Gulp.

 

Was it just his imagination that the sound of swallowing seemed unusually loud?

 

But it wasn’t his imagination, as Taekyum chuckled and began rummaging through his backpack in earnest.

 

“Wait a moment. This isn’t everything.”

 

So that’s what was in that incredibly large backpack.

 

Following the meat came a torch and even charcoal. Materials for properly grilling meat poured out one after another.

 

After emptying his backpack like that, Taekyum nodded his head with satisfaction.

 

Hana, whose mouth was hanging open, looked at Taekyum in amazement.

 

“Do people usually… call this kind of thing snacks?”

 

“Well, you see-.”

 

At that moment, Taekyum suddenly leaned forward.

 

As if he were about to share some tremendous state secret.

 

“I don’t usually teach this to just anyone.”

 

Even though there were only the two of them in this Gate anyway, Hana also got caught up in the atmosphere and leaned forward, whispering.

 

“Yes.”

 

“The meat grilled on these stones here is really delicious.”

 

“…!”

 

“Other restaurants can’t even compare. Stone plate pork belly, you know?”

 

Taekyum gave a thumbs up with a very solemn expression.

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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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