The SSS-Class Hunter’s Garden Log - Chapter 58

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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 58

“Here. It says that an evil god needs ‘sacrifices’ to descend into the world.”

It was such an unpleasant hypothesis that he didn’t even want to put it into words.

But looking at how things were unfolding, if the Vice-Chairman truly worshipped an evil god, he might have tried to perform a ritual for that evil god’s descent.

And everyone seemed to agree with that thought.

“So. What you’re saying, Yun Hana, is that this is some kind of means to prepare the sacrifices needed to summon an evil god?”

“That’s what I’m speculating.”

Everyone was silently staring at the core for a moment.

Rustle.

The front pocket of Hana’s overalls moved suspiciously.

“…?”

Just as he wondered what it was.

In an instant, Popcon burst out from inside the pocket and charged toward Kang Hyeon.

And before anyone could stop it, it gulped down the Gate core that was on Kang Hyeon’s palm.

“…! Ahhh! Popcon, spit that out. Quickly! Bad!”

The inside of Gangnam Station Gate instantly became chaos.

“Popcon, good boy? How about spitting out what you just ate?”

“Kyak!”

Hana stretched both hands forward, bent his waist, and tried to soothe Popcon. With the gentlest voice possible, with the kindest expression possible.

“Come here. That’s not for eating. Bad. I’ll give you treats if you spit it out.”

But when Hana chased after him with quick steps, thinking it was a game, Popcon got excited and started racing around inside the Gate.

The white fluffy ball dashed across the garden.

It zigzagged through the cherry tomato rows, hopped over potato mounds while wagging its tail vigorously.

The more Hana chased after him, the more excited he seemed to get, deliberately kicking up dirt as he changed direction.

“Hey, stop there! Stop! Popcon!”

A faint red aura flickered beneath Popcon’s belly.

It was a softly pulsating light, as if the swallowed core was melting inside.

What if he gets a stomachache from that?

Hana’s eyebrows formed a worried expression.

Hana crossed the garden with an almost tearful expression, reaching out to catch Popcon, but each time only the cotton-like tail brushed past his palm.

Getting more and more excited, the white tail wagged frantically as if it might fly away at any moment.

Then, the moment the overly excited Popcon made a big leap over a mound.

Popcon’s appearance began to change.

His round fur started expanding as if filled with wind, and his cotton ball-like body swelled up like a snowball.

The mane part grew longer first. Luxuriously, bursting out in all directions.

Next, his round eyes that were like black beans elongated, and blue light flashed from within.

With his agile body and elongated fangs added, Popcon became more like a white lion-shaped monster than a puppy.

Hana’s mouth fell wide open.

“Po, Popcon?”

“Kroaang!”

An earth-shaking roar filled the inside of the Gate.

The excited Popcon’s giant front paw landed on the ground with a thud.

And something was miserably crushed under those two feet.

“Ah!”

A helpless sound flowed from Hana’s mouth.

A row of carefully grown cherry tomatoes.

The fruits that had been ripening red burst with a squish under the giant paw.

Seeds and juice spread over the soil.

“Wh, what is that! It’s a monster!”

Choi Kwon’s shout cut across the garden.

At the enlarged Popcon, Choi Kwon immediately took a combat stance, spreading both hands.

Then small whirlwinds began spinning above his hands.

Tae-gyeom and Haechan also simultaneously stepped back and took combat formation.

The sight of the giant white lion standing with its mane flowing was truly worthy of an S-rank monster.

Kang Hyeon also hid Hana behind his back protectively and placed his hand on his sword hilt.

But Hana himself was in a daze.

“…That’s our Popcon?”

The giant being before his eyes and the cotton ball that had been cuddled in his arms just moments ago couldn’t possibly be placed on the same level.

That’s when it happened.

Ding—.

A cheerful notification sound that didn’t match the situation at all rang out.

A translucent system window appeared in the center of Hana’s vision.

With its usual annoying tone.

【SYSTEM】

【Oops, I forgot to mention this too. Sweet Corn Sprouts grow bigger when they get excited or worked up! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧】

【But don’t worry! Since it’s a non-combat type, even though it gets bigger, it’s still gentle! There’s even a saying that the bigger it is, the cuter it is!】

Hana’s mouth twitched.

Right, well. Even if he got bigger, Popcon was still Popcon.

Actually, those giant cotton ball-like white front paws were only surprising at first, but looking at them now, they did seem cute.

But the problem was that there were too many watching eyes right now.

Thanks to Seo Ganghyeon’s consideration, they had managed to hide that Popcon was a monster until now, but it had all been ruined.

“Kr, krung…?”

The white lion that seemed ready to roar again seemed to finally notice that the atmosphere around him was unusual.

Choi Kwon’s wind was directed at him, and Kang Hyeon’s gaze had turned coldly serious.

Popcon’s mane flinched.

And then, whoooosh.

With the sound of air deflating, his giant body shrank instantly.

The luxurious mane folded up as if wilting, and his brave eyes became round like beans again.

A few seconds later.

On the garden stood Popcon, back to his original form, with his tongue hanging out and his head tilted in confusion.

Then Popcon discovered the cherry tomatoes crushed under his feet and jumped up in surprise.

“Kyak!”

His round front paws hurriedly tried to poke and prop up the tomatoes.

But the already burst fruits were just mushy.

After pondering for a moment, Popcon seemed to make a decision and diligently scraped soil with his front paws, covering up the crushed tomatoes.

And then he tilted his head as if asking what had happened.

Making that usual cute expression.

“Kuung?”

His sparkling bean-like eyes and swaying tail were quite adorable, but since his true form had already been revealed, the commotion showed no signs of settling down.

When Popcon approached, Choi Kwon screamed and quickly hid behind Haechan.

“Wh, what’s going on! Benefactor, you! Why are you carrying around a monster!”

* * *

A moment later.

Choi Kwon’s face, still not calmed down, was flushed red.

“I’ve never heard of carrying around a monster like a summoned creature! This violates Hunter law! It’s clearly illegal!”

The whirlwinds spinning in his hands fluctuated unstably.

It was proof that his emotions were just as turbulent.

“Taking an unregistered monster outside the Gate? This is concealment and a potential disaster element!”

Popcon tilted his head blankly, not understanding what those words meant.

“Kuung?”

Yun Taegyeom scratched his head.

“Well… but there haven’t been any incidents so far, right?”

Lee Haechan also nodded his head.

“R-right. Kwon, calm down. A-and if it’s bound type, it’s not da-dangerous either.”

“No, why is everyone so calm? Am I the only one who finds this situation strange? This is a problem!”

Choi Kwon pounded his chest in frustration.

Tae-gyeom and Haechan each gazed off into the distant mountains.

“Well, as for me. If it’s something Hana is doing, I support anything. It’s Hana we’re talking about. The one who grows such amazing crops!”

“I-I received mu-mushrooms and got he-help in various ways. I don’t pa-particularly want to make an issue of it.”

Choi Kwon looked around frantically as if frustrated.

His eyes were searching for someone who would agree with him.

In Kwon’s field of vision, he spotted Han Tae-ho crouched in a corner of the garden.

“Guild Leader Han!”

At Choi Kwon’s shout, Han Tae-ho opened and closed his mouth with a ‘me?’ expression.

“Don’t you agree? Does it make sense for a monster to be wandering around outside the Gate? This goes against principles!”

“Hmm. Th-that’s true, but.”

Han Tae-ho cleared his throat in embarrassment.

Just then, thud thud thud thud. A white cotton ball came running over.

Popcon stopped right in front of Han Tae-ho, then lifted its round front paw and placed it right on his hand.

At the warm and soft sensation, Han Tae-ho’s nose bridge twitched.

“See! Even Guild Leader Han says it goes against principles!”

Unaware of the situation, Choi Kwon snorted, thinking he had gained an ally.

But Han Tae-ho carefully cupped Popcon’s both paws with both hands as if they were precious.

Han Tae-ho, whose nostrils flared at the small front paws that fit snugly in his hands, eventually couldn’t resist and lifted Popcon up in his arms.

And he abandoned Choi Kwon and sided with Tae-gyeom and Haechan.

“Don’t be so harsh. What wrong could this cute little thing have done.”

“Excuse me?”

“No, even though it got a bit bigger just now, right now it’s no different from a puppy. In today’s world, one monster of this level…”

“Guild Leader Han!”

Finally, Choi Kwon couldn’t hold back and let out a loud shout.

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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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