Chapter 135
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 135: How to Set a Goal (9)
[A Story Fragment has been added.] [Currently collected Story Fragments: 14]
[Story Fragment / Unread]
A barracks. The other researchers had all gone out to eat. The woman, left alone in the empty barracks, muttered to herself endlessly, as if talking to someone.
“Yes. It seems difficult to deliver a message through the variant race. They’ve lost much of their language ability… so the researchers seem to be judging it as a type of confusion attack used by the monsters.”
The woman was Park Juhyeon.
“I tried to offer another interpretation… ‘don’t they just have an instinct to leave the Tower?’, it just ended at that. That’s not it, though.”
“No one was badly hurt. …One person died, but no one knows.”
“I know. That a person who has completed mutation is practically a monster. And that's why they can come out of the Gate. Still….”
“...Yes. Got it. I'll keep it in mind. Thank you.”
After whispering to herself like a mad person, she glanced around and cautiously stepped out of the barracks.
A few days passed after that.
Just because it was a battlefield didn't mean combat was happening every minute of every second. But the unstable energy of the danger zone created Gates quite often. We had participated in quite a few battles and were slowly getting used to the atmosphere of the battlefield and combat. And I…
[STATUS] -Name: Kang Nahyun -Class: Sniper -Level: 40 -Strength: B- -Agility: B -Stamina: B -Mana: A-
[Skills] -Passive: Inventory Lv.3 -Passive: Thousand-Mile Sight Lv.4 -Passive: Perfect Aim Lv.4 -Active: Mana Bullet Lv.14 -Active: Location Tracking Lv.5
I raised my level quite a lot. I didn't miss the chances to level up and invested my Metapoints appropriately. This much was above average, even among regular Hunters. However, a small problem arose. The cost in Metapoints for stat level-ups began to rise exponentially the moment they hit B-rank.
[Strength Stat 1-Step UP - 700 Points] [Agility Stat 1-Step UP - 1400 Points] [Stamina Stat 1-Step UP - 1400 Points] [Mana Stat 1-Step UP - 5600 Points]
It seemed to be about double the cost compared to C-rank. Not just stats, but the points needed to level up skills also jumped sharply from the moment they hit LV10.
[Mana Bullet Level Up - 6400 Points]
This also required about double the previous points. It seems it will cost more points than expected as I go on. I had to stop strengthening my stats and skills at a reasonable line. Even so, I didn't expect it would cost over 10,000 points to enhance them this much.
[Metapoints: 25800]
I sighed, looking at my points, which had dwindled in an instant. After resolving the non-virgin controversy, the points were increasing smoothly, but I needed to save them for any unexpected situations. It's a shame, but thinking about it, this is a level I couldn't have even dreamed of in the past. I decided to be satisfied with my current state for now. Even with just this, I could be treated reasonably well in the Hunter world. In fact, Na Yuhan was also very surprised at my rapid growth.
“Nahyun, your growth is definitely fast. Your starting stats were low, but your growth speed is enough to cover it. Your skill proficiency has also risen quite a bit thanks to the training and real combat. You could probably win against an active Hunter right now. That's amazing.”
“Really? I'm not that amazing.”
“No. You've really worked hard.”
Na Yuhan probably doesn't know exactly 'how' I worked hard. But his sincere praise, his expression telling me I was amazing, made me happy.
“Thank you.”
I felt a strange emotion at the fact that I had now become a natural member of the party he created. I suppressed the fluttering in my chest and made a suggestion.
“More importantly, Yuhan, you still haven't found the dragon-shaped rock, right? How about we try using my <Omission> now? I hear rumors we'll be going back to school soon... so I'm worried we're running out of time.”
“You think so. It's true there's not much time left until the Gate opens….”
Na Yuhan seemed to contemplate for a moment, but soon nodded. The rumors of returning to the Academy soon seemed to have fanned his anxiety. If we can't find it before returning to the Academy, the opportunity will be lost forever, even if the Gate opens. Na Yuhan spoke.
“Then, tonight, if I ask, can you use <Omission> to find the way?”
“Yeah!”
It seemed he planned to move at night, as it was difficult to move separately during the day due to the researcher escort. We'll move after the senior Hunters check the barracks and the others are asleep.
“—So, he said to gather at our barracks tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“What's going on now?”
“Umm… Is it okay to move around freely?”
I returned to our barracks and relayed the plan to Na Yuri, Shin Baran, and Min Jaeyun. They looked surprised at the sudden request, but they all agreed to it for now. After Choi Garam checked the barracks and left, we cautiously checked outside. Thankfully, perhaps because it was getting late, there were few people moving about inside the garrison.
“I'm nervous….”
“Shh!”
Shin Baran carefully clamped her hand over Min Jaeyun's mouth and pulled her into the barracks.
“Isn't that pale thing over there Hana-sunbae… Ah, she disappeared! What?”
“...A ghost?”
“Hiik…!”
I pushed Na Yuri into the barracks and went in myself.
“I-it's not a ghost, right?”
“Probably not….”
I patted Shin Baran, who had gotten scared by the word 'ghost'. A little later, Choi Sujeong and Lee Hana entered the barracks. Choi Sujeong, who came in quickly, greeted us in a small voice.
“Sunbae is here~”
“Welcome!”
“Yeah. Where are the others?”
“Not yet.”
We held our breath and waited for the male party members. Before long, the presence of two people approached the barracks. Two? Just in case, I gestured for Choi Sujeong and Lee Hana to hide, and just as I tensed up, Park Siwoo quickly entered the barracks, hauling Na Yuhan under one arm.
“Yuck, I'm gonna puke…!”
“Hold it in.”
“Uuuk.”
As Na Yuhan retched, Park Siwoo grimaced, tossed Na Yuhan into a corner, and instantly put distance between them. I can guess the situation. Na Yuhan's trash... um, very lackingstats almost got them caught, so Park Siwoo couldn't watch and just grabbed him and ran. Na Yuhan, who had collapsed to the floor, clutched his mouth and couldn't get his bearings for a while. As I approached to help him up, a surprised Park Siwoo shook his head and blocked my hand. Then, he himself kindly helped Na Yuhan up. Na Yuhan was genuinely freaked out.
“What, why are you suddenly acting all friendly?”
“To snap you out of it.”
“I'm snapped. Let go.”
Na Yuhan tried to peel Park Siwoo's arm off him. To be precise, he tried to peel it off, but thanks to his trash... lacking strength, he just flapped. As Park Siwoo let go, Na Yuhan wiped his arm as if disgusted, and checked the inside of the barracks. Confirming everyone was gathered, he nodded and took an item from his Inventory. It was a sound-blocking item. Na Yuhan immediately used the item and got to the point.
“We're going to clear a Fixed-type Gate that opens today.”
“Fixed-type Gate?”
“Yes. It's a dungeon that must be cleared as quickly as possible.”
Na Yuhan murmured with a serious expression. Just then, Na Yuri cautiously raised a question.
“Is it because of the danger? If so, wouldn't it be better to tell the senior Hunters or the other Hunters?”
“It's not because of the danger. It's because of the importance. And with the evidence I have now, I can't easily convince the Hunters. Even if they were convinced, the Projection-type Gates are more urgent, so a relatively less dangerous Fixed-type Gate would be ignored. That can't happen. The item inside is more important than anything. It can't fall into the hands of others... especially the Wild Hunt.”
“What on earth is it?”
At Park Siwoo's question, Na Yuhan shut his mouth for a moment, then, as if he'd made a decision, he spoke.
“A Key.”
“A Key?”
“A Key that can open the door of the sealed Tower. You've heard of it, right? Hero.”
“……!”
Park Siwoo's eyes widened in surprise at Na Yuhan's words. Immediately after, Shin Baran shouted in shock.
“A Key that opens the door of the sealed Tower... I've never even heard of such a thing!”
“Of course. It's classified. So I can't move the Hunters here just by saying there's a Key inside. Even if the news reaches the higher-ups… they'll spend a long time just confirming if what I said is true.”
“Nyahaha~ So you're saying we have to move? If it's related to the sealed Tower, it must be extremely dangerous!”
“Yes. That's why I'm asking. Please help me.”
Na Yuhan spoke confidently, but his eyes darted around, checking the group's reactions. Everyone's response was different. Some looked contemplative, some frowned, some were silent, some smiled with an unreadable expression... Silence continued for a while. Min Jaeyun, who was looking anxiously at Na Yuhan, stammered.
“B-but… it's classified… so how do you know about it, Yuhan?”
“That's…. I've read a lot of records in my family's library—”
“Yuri doesn't seem to know about it…?”
“You know that's a ridiculous excuse, right?”
Na Yuri cut Na Yuhan off, her eyebrow quirked as if to say 'not a chance'. Na Yuri, who knows that another soul is possessingNa Yuhan, couldn't help but know it was a lie. Na Yuhan, as if realizing his mistake, avoided her sharp gaze. After a long silence, Na Yuhan ultimately couldn't seem to find a plausible answer. He squeezed his eyes shut and said.
“...I'll tell you later. So, for now... can't you just trust me?”
A form, as if he had shrunk in on himself, afraid of being scolded.
‘You can't leave. It's that kind of event.’‘If you kill me now, Kang Nahyun and Sunbae-nim will die here with me.’
It was a side of him I couldn't have imagined before. I silently reached out one hand and stroked his cheek. He opened his eyes, startled by the sudden touch. His red eyes met mine. Meeting those clear, ruby-like eyes, I slowly smiled.
“I'll trust you. So, ask me to help.”
“...Can you help me?”
“Yeah. Of course!”
Starting with me, the other friends began to state their opinions. Na Yuri was first.
“Good grief… you're a really unreliable person, but if you're going this far, I'll trust you this once.”
“I've heard about the Key. My grandmother said it must never fall into the hands of evil, so I have to help.”
Next was Park Siwoo, and then…
“I trust you. I'll always help you. My benefactor.”
“Nyahahat! I have to work according to the contract anyway~ Well, even if it wasn't for the contract, you kept a difficult promise. Of course I trust you.”
It was Lee Hana and Choi Sujeong. Min Jaeyun and Shin Baran, the last ones, seemed to be contemplating until the end, but,
“Yes… I've thought about it, but I don't think Yuhan has any reason to trick us. But you have to tell us how you found out later, okay?”
“What's with this mood? Is everyone agreeing? Hah… well, fine. If everyone else is, I'll help this time. Just see what happens if it's a lie!”
In the end, everyone said they would help. Na Yuhan, who heard everyone's words, just blinked, as if he'd heard something unbelievable, and then silently pinched his own cheek.
“Yuhan!?”
“Sorry, just a moment, it just… felt a little unreal.”
And then he laughed. Puha, puhahahat! He laughed for a long time, as if something was so joyful, and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. He smiled.
“Good. Then let's go. Nahyun, if you would.”
“Okay!”
As soon as Na Yuhan said that, I used <Omission> just as we had discussed during the day.
[Kang Nahyun, Na Yuri, Na Yuhan, Min Jaeyun, Park Siwoo, Shin Baran, Lee Hana, and Choi Sujeong moved to the front of the dragon-shaped rock where the Fixed-type Gate will appear today.] [4000 Points] [Purchase?]
The moment I carefully pressed the button with my fingertip, the eight of us were instantly transported outside the garrison. When I opened my eyes again, I saw a giant, ochre-colored rock shaped like a dragon with its mouth open.
“Dragon Rock…!”
“So it was here. Thank you, Nahyun.”
Na Yuhan, bowing his head, strode into the dragon's mouth. He walked to the center of the blocked wall, which felt like a small cave, and stood in front of it. We silently followed Na Yuhan and stood behind him. Before long, the wall blocking us began to distort.