The SSS-Class Hunter’s Garden Log - Chapter 60

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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 60

* * *

‘Korean Hunter Association Headquarters?’

Even after exiting the Gate, the system window’s message wouldn’t leave Hana’s mind.

Wondering if he had seen it wrong, he checked several more times.

But the result was the same.

Hana, who had been pondering, lightly grabbed the sleeve of Kang Hyeon who was standing beside him as they returned to the guild together.

Then, as if he had been waiting, Kang Hyeon’s gaze turned to Hana.

“Seo Ganghyeon, could you lend me your ear for a moment?”

When Hana gestured with his hand, Kang Hyeon silently bent his waist.

But even so, there was quite a height difference, so Hana eventually had to stand on his tiptoes.

Having finally managed to whisper, Hana explained briefly and quickly.

The new ability Popcon had awakened thanks to swallowing the core, and the reaction detected from the direction of Association Headquarters.

Kang Hyeon listened silently to Hana’s words without any particular reaction until the end, then spoke.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. I’ve checked several times, but it’s accurate. I suppose we should go confirm it?”

A moment of silence passed.

Like the cloudy sky reflected in the glass exterior wall, Kang Hyeon’s gray irises also settled calmly.

“I think we should.”

* * *

So saying we should confirm it didn’t mean he would come along too.

With one hand firmly held by Kang Hyeon, Hana stood in front of Association Headquarters and muttered inwardly.

How did I end up here?

He had accompanied them since Popcon’s ability was needed, but one side of his heart felt strangely uncomfortable.

Or maybe it was his hand that was uncomfortable.

Hana wiggled his hand trapped in Kang Hyeon’s grip for no reason.

Then Kang Hyeon’s gaze immediately followed.

“What. Is something uncomfortable?”

“Could you please let go of my hand?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Originally, only guild leaders can enter the Association. The exception is one companion brought by that guild leader.”

No, I understand that. But why does that become a reason for us to hold hands?

Hana expressed his question to Kang Hyeon with his eyes.

But there was no way that would work.

Kang Hyeon stubbornly held Hana’s hand as he approached the Association building.

If he was a companion, surely just standing beside him would be enough.

‘Sigh, I don’t know. It’s not like Seo Ganghyeon being strange is just a day or two.’

Shaking his head slightly, Hana looked around.

Korean Hunter Association Headquarters was still imposing.

The glass exterior walls gleamed, reflecting the low-hanging clouds.

A smooth, cold building that seemed to have no gaps.

Around the entrance, access control devices and security hunters were stationed.

Refined mana was thinly spread, making the air itself feel tightly constricted.

Following Kang Hyeon and safely passing through the entrance, Hana looked around.

Inside the Association, the footsteps of busy employees and radio sounds were gently intertwined.

It was an orderly yet chaotic order.

Hana pulled Popcon deeper into his arms.

A small necklace was fastened around the creature’s neck.

It was an item that blocked monster presence, which Kang Hyeon had given him in advance.

He said it was an item with concealment effects that absolutely no hunter could detect unless they were quite skilled.

Thanks to this, Popcon just looked like a white puppy on the outside.

Very cute and harmless-looking.

Still, he couldn’t be at ease.

This was the middle of Association Headquarters.

If they were caught giving off suspicious energy, it wouldn’t end with just grumbling like Choi Kwon.

“Is there a reaction?”

Then, Kang Hyeon asked in a low voice.

Hana checked the system window and frowned.

“No. It’s gone.”

It wasn’t there.

Clearly, residual energy from an artificial core had been detected at this Association Headquarters, but as soon as they entered the building, the notification disappeared from the system window like a lie.

“It disappeared?”

“More precisely, the traces seem to have been cut off. I can’t track it anymore.”

It was as if someone had intentionally erased it.

But who on earth?

Puzzled by this fact, Hana suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

The surrounding structures felt strangely familiar.

‘It’s definitely my first time, so why doesn’t it feel unfamiliar?’

The floor material, lobby structure, even the elevator routes.

His body was reacting first, even without Kang Hyeon’s explanation.

As if it was a space he had known for a long time.

It was strange.

Come to think of it, the self in his recent dream had definitely said that.

That he thought he would die of boredom during new hunter training.

Could it be that he had visited this place before losing his memory?

“You know, Seo Ganghyeon. By any chance-“

But once again, as soon as he opened his mouth, Hana’s words were interrupted.

Because Popcon in his arms suddenly stuck out his head and sniffed with his nose.

“Kyak!”

The creature that barked softly perked up his ears.

Along with that, the quiet system window began ringing ding-dong again.

It seemed that since Popcon was bound to him, Popcon’s ability was automatically connected to the system window.

【SYSTEM】

【’Sweet Corn Sprout’ has detected artificial Gate core energy at close range.】

Close range?

Hana’s head shot up.

And quite exquisitely, in the direction where Hana’s gaze landed, a man was walking along the glass corridor.

Bright blue irises contrasting with black hair.

And a bright blue suit in primary colors that matched those blue eyes caught attention at first glance.

Flustered by that extraordinary appearance, Hana realized the man was gradually approaching this way.

Hana pretended not to be flustered as he pulled Popcon deep into his arms, covering the creature’s face with his arm.

As the man got closer, the scent of refined perfume enveloped the surroundings.

Finally, the man who stopped a few steps away smiled gently.

“Yun Hana? It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”

Up close, his bright blue irises were even clearer.

Instead of scanning Hana up and down, his eyes that shone transparently in the light curved politely into crescent shapes.

“Ah, excuse me.”

The man lightly touched his forehead as if apologetic.

“I’m late with introductions.”

His soft and stable pronunciation had a mysterious power that dissolved wariness despite this being their first meeting.

“I’m Damian Park, newly appointed as Vice-Chairman.”

Damian stepped closer with a good-natured smile and extended his hand as if requesting a handshake.

However, Hana frowned and took a step back instead.

“Hello. But how do you know my name?”

“Hmm. Could we shake hands first before I explain that? My hand is feeling a bit awkward here.”

Damian lightly shook his extended hand.

His fingers were long, and his palm had a neatly groomed feel.

Even the angle of his handshake request seemed calculated, unnaturally natural.

It was an awkward situation to refuse.

Kang Hyeon was right beside him, but this was a public space and the other person had introduced himself as the Association’s Vice-Chairman.

After hesitating briefly, Hana withdrew his hand from Kang Hyeon’s and extended it to Damian.

The moment their hands touched.

A tingling sensation like electricity seeping through skin was momentarily felt.

At the same time, the system window that usually appeared in blue turned red.

【SYSTEM】

【Warning. An unidentified target is attempting to access user information.】

Hana’s heart seemed to drop with a thud.

Access?

What?

With instinctive rejection, Hana tried to pull his hand away.

But Damian applying pressure to the hand was slightly faster.

It wasn’t a tight grip.

It was just enough to gently convey the intention of ‘I won’t let go,’ but that alone was sufficient to transmit intimidation.

Despite this, Damian still wore that good-natured smile on his lips.

“What’s wrong?”

Though it was a sweet voice, perhaps because he knew the dark intentions of trying to open his stat window without permission.

Damian’s voice felt unpleasant.

The warning message in the system window blinked repeatedly.

【SYSTEM】

【Danger level unmeasurable】

【Contact maintained】

【System will begin arbitrary intervention for user protection.】

Hana’s fingertips grew cold.

At that moment.

A blurry system window invisible to Hana’s sight overlapped the existing window.

【SYSTEM】

【■■’s blessing (downgraded ver. ‘Get Lost, Thief!(D-rank)’) temporarily recovers 80% of its original function.】

【Overlaying stat window with false information. Unauthorized targets will read the falsely recorded stat window.】

It was instantaneous.

Damian’s bright blue irises wavered very slightly.

Like the moment when someone confirms something, then accepts a result different from expectations.

However, that wavering subsided in an instant.

“Hmm.”

Only then did the force in Damian’s hand loosen.

Not missing that opportunity, Hana quickly withdrew his hand.

The tingling sensation that had seeped through his skin remained unpleasantly on his palm.

Damian arranged his hand as if nothing had happened.

He adjusted his cufflinks once and smiled charmingly again.

But Hana was still recalling the message that had been blaring in the system window moments ago.

【An unidentified target is attempting to access user information.】

This person.

He just tried to look at my stat window?

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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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