Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Where Did the Mosquito Bite?
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In the car heading to Guryong Mountain.
I asked Min Ji-yeon, sitting beside me, the one thing I'd been wondering about.
Since she'd decided to transfer, my guess was probably spot on, but just in case there might be some unknown weakness.
Ji-yeon, why were you stuck with Naraka all this time? You could've joined anywhere if you'd just asked.
…It was because of the orphanage.
Even moving the orphanage—they would've fully supported that too.
I did bring it up… But even when things seemed positive, they'd refuse at some point. Naraka must've intervened. Before the Association formed, Abyss and Naraka had a ton of influence.
Min Ji-yeon continued her story, laced with all her past bitterness.
I even considered reaching out to Heavenly Flame once, but by chance, I caught Hunter Lee Jae-hoon's gaze… It was terrifying, laced with disgust, so I gave up. Turns out it was just my imagination.
Ahem…
Told you so.
Cheon I-ryeong shot a sharp glare at Lee Jae-hoon, who coughed awkwardly in embarrassment. Did he hate healers? When we first met, he was all business—no sense of that at all.
Then the Association formed, but I doubted it'd last. An association without hunters? The guilds never lost any power.
True enough, even when the Association issued gate directives, the guilds always did whatever they wanted.
Heavenly Flame's near-annihilation at that S-rank gate, the A-rank gate where they scored mana grass, the full-blown media manipulation scandal that lit the fuse.
The absolute gap in hunter numbers.
Luckily, things worked out and turned into a boon, but their underhanded tactics were downright chilling.
And then there was Iroha-nim's existence.
Me?
Yes. Embarrassingly, I found myself comparing. Tremendous healing power on top of that flawless character… With the Saintess already in the Association, why would they take on a ticking time bomb like me? So I gave up.
I'm not that kind of person.
Even so, Min Ji-yeon's story made perfect sense.
Healers weren't just any hunters—they were the prime assets pushed by Abyss and Naraka. Letting one transfer meant all-out war with Naraka or the Federation.
Even with such a juicy resource dangling there, the big guilds had it locked down tight. No one could touch it.
Heavenly Flame might've been the only one bold enough.
Still, outrageous.
When gates pop up, evacuation orders go out around the site due to accident and breaking risks.
People have no choice but to leave their homes, but for orphanages, that's fatal.
Kids and caretakers shoved out onto the streets en masse.
No place big enough to house them all, and tight conditions make renting hotels a nightmare.
If gate clearance gets delayed on top of that, nothing more horrific.
But you can't ignore the order and hunker down risking lives.
Naraka had exploited the orphanage's weakness all along, holding the kids hostage.
It's okay now. The Association and Foundation will make absolutely sure the kids are safe. And the other orphanages too.
I don't even know how to thank you…
I took her trembling, teary hand and pondered expanding our plans further.
Seoul's orphanages would consolidate at Foundation centers for now, but other regions must be dealing with the same mess nonstop.
We'd need more centers, tied in with Association branches.
Our influence outside Seoul was still too weak.
Need a way to draw in more hunters…
While lost in thought, we climbed the mountain road and reached the blockade.
Collapsed barricades, soldier and monster corpses scattered everywhere, blood pooling thick.
Association hunters linked up with those barely holding the line and moved with crisp efficiency.
Doesn't look like any strong monsters. Roha-yang, wait here. We'll mop up quick and be back.
Cheon I-ryeong and Lee Jae-hoon tasked the other hunters with guarding me, then charged ahead to handle the wolf-like monsters.
I watched them for a bit before heading to the downed folks.
So many groaning from deep bite wounds everywhere.
Be careful, Roha-nim.
A-yoon's watching over me. And there are others.
Seol A-yoon and Zeus hunters, plus others, were spread out wide around me, eyes on the blockade perimeter.
This setup? Even an A-rank monster couldn't punch through.
Urgent cases first.
No distinction between soldiers and hunters—I started Restoration on the worst wounds.
But so many with stopped hearts already. My chest felt heavy.
How did the blockade get hit like this…?
I'd just finished treating one soldier and stood to move on when a blood-and-mud-caked hunter called out in a raspy voice.
Sa-save me! Help here!
Please wait. I'll get to you after the critical cases.
Lots of blood, but mostly shallow cuts.
Still, Shin Myeong-hu, the ex-Zeus guild member approaching, blocked his path.
She said wait. You'll get treated by severity once urgents are done.
You, you…!
Hold on—you're Nam In-ho, the guild master?
Nam In-ho? The Zeus Guild Master?
What was he doing at a blockade?
Betraying scum!
Nam In-ho's hands flashed brilliant yellow lightning.
Seol A-yoon caught on late and slammed him with telekinesis, but the bolt already shot from his hands toward Shin Myeong-hu and me.
Argh!
Roha-nim!!!
Huh?!
Instinct kicked in—I yanked Shin Myeong-hu and threw myself in front.
The air-ripping bolt slammed into me in an instant. Screams exploded through the mountainside.
Kyaaak!
No!
Protect the Saintess! Min Hunter!
Screams rang out as Cheon I-ryeong and the others, finishing monsters afar, rushed over. The air turned murderous.
But… I'm fine.
That startled me. But I'm good—back to your posts.
Sorry, Roha-nim! I failed to protect you… Treat yourself first!
I have Moon Spirit. Just a little sting—I'm fine.
Roha-yang! Is that what you say right now?! You sure you're okay? Let me see!
Really, nothing at all.
Moon Spirit's magic defense turned Nam In-ho's lightning into a mild zap. Stronger than static, maybe?
But Cheon I-ryeong checked me over head to toe anyway, begging Min Ji-yeon for heals.
What a mana waste.
Which bastard dares—where is he!
Nam In-ho's over the—
Nam In-ho got smashed by Seol A-yoon's telekinesis and flew like a puppet with cut strings, crashing inside the blockade.
Twitching on the ground from the impact.
Then a pitch-black monster burst from the nearby woods and chomped his nape.
Gaaak! Aaak! Save me!
Grrr!
The monster thrashed its head wildly, ripping his throat wide as blood sprayed.
Cheon I-ryeong sighed as it dragged the frozen Nam In-ho into the forest.
Damn, needed to dig for his backers… That's Nam In-ho, right?
Yes. Nam In-ho, Zeus Guild Master.
Shin Myeong-hu and the surrounding hunters confirmed. But no one knew why he was here.
Did Nam In-ho work here? First time seeing him?
Yes—if an A-rank hunter, we'd know.
Then why…
Even the blockade's assigned hunters said it was their first time seeing him. Regret hung thick for not capturing him alive.
Something's up for sure… Doesn't add up as simple grudge revenge. The sudden breach, his random appearance.
Zeus is Federation-affiliated. If deliberate, probably their doing?
Cheon I-ryeong nodded at my words. But the trashed site offered slim pickings for evidence.
Grill the Federation later. Resume treatments for now.
Roha-yang, more in this mess…! Head back.
No, I'll finish the job. Ji-yeon? Treat the ones I point out.
Yes, got it.
Roha-yang!
Cheon I-ryeong called again, but when I just shook my head silently, she bit her lower lip and came right up beside me.
Sigh, so stubborn… Fine, Secretary Seol and I stick with you. Rest of you—hurry and rebuild the blockade.
Got it!
With a sigh, Cheon I-ryeong and Seol A-yoon glued themselves to my sides.
This was overkill protection… Even if they didn't know my abilities, the two S-rank defense items made me upper-echelon tank level.
Hell, I'd shrugged off an A-rank attack easy.
But pushing back here would've gotten me forcibly sent home, so I quietly started treatments flanked by them.
Having Min Ji-yeon sure made it smoother.
Way better than solo.
Only downside: her B-rank limit. Wish we could boost her rank faster without grinding gates.
Anyway, the Association's quick rebuild plus fresh military reinforcements restored the barricades good as new.
Finally with some breathing room, I gazed at the magi-corroded land for the first time. Through my clairvoyant sight, the ground looked alien.
Like a massive black tar blob smothering everything.
Magi bloomed like smoke from the sticky surface.
But this… somehow feels like something I could handle?