Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Seol A-yoon and Cheon I-ryeong
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“What the hell is this chick! Why is everyone protecting her!”
While Cheon I-ryeong turned toward me, Chae Jeong-ah freaked out and reached out to shove me away. I stared at her hand, trusting in my Orb, but Seol A-yoon's black suit blocked my view first.
Slap!
“Eek!”
“How dare you lay your filthy hands on her?”
“You, what are you! How dare a nobody like you touch me!”
Chae Jeong-ah clutched her cheek, her eyes welling with tears as she shouted, but Seol A-yoon continued in her flat tone as if nothing had happened.
“I blocked you because you reached out with your filthy hands toward Lady Iroha. For a mere guild member to act so brazenly... be grateful you're a healer. That's the only thing that just saved your life once.”
“W-What? Saved? You threatening to kill me? Ha! Go ahead and try! If you think you can handle all the backlash from the other hunters!”
“That's exactly what you want... isn't it?”
Seol A-yoon took a step forward, her voice turning icy, and Chae Jeong-ah plopped down on her butt with a thud. Abyss Guild members rushed to help her up.
“You... I'll never forget this humiliation today. You too! The Association too! If you think hunters will cooperate after treating us like this, you're dead wrong!”
“Do as you please.”
Seol A-yoon didn't stop advancing, her momentum overwhelming even Abyss, who had already wilted before Cheon I-ryeong. Chae Jeong-ah screamed in rage, but Cheon I-ryeong and the others just snorted.
“Who's that woman?”
“I don't know either... She just showed up saying she's a secretary.”
“Hmm, she's pretty bold. Interesting.”
While Cheon I-ryeong took an interest in Seol A-yoon, Abyss began their withdrawal, leaving only the Association and Heavenly Flame Guild to tidy up the chaotic site around the Gate.
And in front of the massive Gate.
“Can I go in too?”
“Of course. Don't worry with me here. Since you're already with us, I'll help Ro-ha get some experience.”
Cheon I-ryeong seemed in a good mood after landing a blow on Abyss. As Seol A-yoon stuck close behind us and gently pulled me to her side, Cheon I-ryeong narrowed her eyes.
“You've done your job, so we'll handle the Gate. Take good care of the Saintess.”
“I'm Lady Iroha's personal secretary. It's only natural for me to accompany her on official duties.”
Seol A-yoon responded word-for-word without twitching an eyebrow at Cheon I-ryeong's words. A subtle tension began to flow between the two.
Why are sparks flying here all of a sudden?
“We're too busy protecting you inside the Gate anyway, and if you're not a hunter, you'll get corrupted by magi right away—wait... You aren't Yerina, are you?”
What was Cheon I-ryeong talking about? I knew the name Yerina too. America's S-rank hunter with flashy platinum blonde hair and revealing outfits, boasting a huge fandom. Korean-American... right?
Confused, I glanced at Seol A-yoon beside me, and she casually swept her long black hair behind her ear. If you changed Yerina's original look to black hair and put her in a suit...
“Eek?”
“My Korean name is Seol A-yoon. Please call me that from now on.”
“No way! An American S-rank hunter in Korea, posing as a secretary? This isn't some ploy to whisk Ro-ha away to the US, is it?”
Cheon I-ryeong's sharp words planted doubts in me too. An S-rank hunter was a nation's top asset. What reason could Yerina—no, Seol A-yoon—have for approaching me as a secretary? It seemed too roundabout even for scouting.
“I'm just repaying a debt of gratitude.”
“...Gratitude?”
Gratitude out of nowhere? I had no idea what was going on.
“Ro-ha, what did you do this time? Did you live in the US or something?”
“Huh? I've only been on a plane to Busan.”
I couldn't understand why Cheon I-ryeong accepted Seol A-yoon's words and gave me that suspicious look. It wasn't like I was some serial savior.
As the powerful invader faced off against the domestic ecosystem's apex predator, the shimmering green Gate drew close enough to touch.
“Anyway, I'll take responsibility for Ro-ha, so just don't get in the way.”
“Wouldn't it be riskier with Heavenly Flame's guild master's magic? It'd be better to leave her to me.”
Seol A-yoon's ability was telekinesis. Invisible power, but according to hunters who'd cleared Gates with her:
'It's like a transparent giant crushing the magibeasts.'
That made her an irregular even among S-ranks, so her confidence was justified.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Just as invisible sparks crackled between them again, Lee Jae-hoon approached and intervened.
“As an enhancer, wouldn't it be better for me to handle close protection? Please focus on the subjugation, both of you.”
“Chief Secretary Lee...”
“...Understood.”
Thanks to Lee Jae-hoon's interruption, the tension eased for now, and Heavenly Flame's remaining A-rank hunters moved in unison. They quickly formed ranks and entered the Gate one by one.
Cheon I-ryeong and Seol A-yoon led the way, with Lee Jae-hoon at my side, and we stepped inside to a vast desert greeting us. The scorching sunlight baked the sands, rising in heat haze—a place unfit for life.
“No magibeasts in sight here?”
Aside from a distant oasis, the golden sands filled our wide view. Maybe something waited at the oasis?
“Be careful of the ground, Lady Iroha.”
“Sand Fish... What a pain.”
Seol A-yoon and Cheon I-ryeong frowned, already knowing what lurked here. Tension emanated from Lee Jae-hoon right beside me too.
“They're called Sand Fish. Think of them as piranhas swimming through the sand. They're hard to spot and ambush from below, making them tricky opponents.”
Oh, interesting. Of course, it'd be different if I had to fight them, but we had two S-ranks here. Lee Jae-hoon called them tricky, but Cheon I-ryeong just said annoying—that was the gap.
A-rank hunters formed a defensive circle around me, vigilant, while Cheon I-ryeong and Seol A-yoon strolled ahead casually. At their movement, the sand rippled slightly—
Shhh—swish, slither—
The sand bulged like veins, racing toward them. Dozens swam visibly beneath, startling me into flinching, but Lee Jae-hoon reassured me.
“Hunters differ vastly by rank, but S-ranks aren't just twice as strong—it's impossible to quantify. That's why we call them national-level powerhouses.”
A ring of fire encircled Cheon I-ryeong's feet like a belt. The sand veins burst with a pop!, launching Sand Fish the size of an adult's torso, armored like fish with gaping jaws like moray eels.
The moment they crossed her fiery ring, whoosh! fierce flames ignited their bodies, incinerating them. Only ashes remained, scattering in the wind.
Seol A-yoon's side was even more brutal. Leaping Sand Fish froze mid-air, curling into balls with a squelch, spewing black fluid. They thudded to the ground like balls, piling up.
That was Seol A-yoon's power dominating America... We A-ranks watching could only gasp in awe.
“Hmph, no class.”
Cheon I-ryeong grumbled curtly as Seol A-yoon drew attention. As if to one-up her, she conjured a massive fireball in her palm, but the Sand Fish switched tactics, burrowing deep. Aiming from right underfoot now?
But that shallow ploy crumbled before Seol A-yoon spreading her arms wide. The sand trembled rumble-rumble, and over a hundred Sand Fish thrashed up like hooked fish.
“Oh, thanks.”
Cheon I-ryeong grinned at the airborne Sand Fish and spread her arms too. Dozens of flame feathers like a phoenix's wings unfurled beneath her hands.
She swung her arms wide, and the fiery feathers sliced through the air, piercing each Sand Fish one by one.
Roarrr—
“...I caught them, though.”
“How long would it take to skewer them all? Just burn 'em quick. Well, not bad skills.”
Seol A-yoon scowled in dissatisfaction while Cheon I-ryeong smirked. Regardless of their feelings, we mere spectators gaped at the two on another level.
Wow... I didn't see her powers before, but S-rank is no joke.
I'd somewhat dismissed Cheon I-ryeong because she came on so lightly, but seeing her in full form, I realized just how much she'd been holding back.
National-level powerhouses. In just a few exchanges, they proved the title wasn't empty, inspiring awe.
“Ro-ha, looks cleared up. Follow me. Heavenly Flame, tighten perimeter security for any surprises.”
“We're not heading out?”
“Gates with Sand Fish always have one of those oases. And there...”
Following Cheon I-ryeong's casual stride, we reached the oasis pulsing with life amid the harsh desert. At its center, a tiny sand islet held a strangely shaped plant.
“Bingo. A perfectly ripened Mana Fruit like this.”
Beyond its bluish leaves and stem, a deep blue fruit gleamed like a flower under the desert sun.
“Here, Ro-ha, you eat this. This size will boost your mana a ton.”
“Me? I didn't do anything... Wouldn't it be better for you to have it?”
“I'm past the level where this helps me grow. Eat it without worry, Ro-ha.”
“Exactly. It's far better for Lady Iroha than us. More effective that way.”
Why did they suddenly agree now?
The grape-sized plum-like fruit was forced into my hand, sending a cool energy through me.