Chapter 39
Chapter 39
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: If There's No Crisis, Make One
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Time flowed like running water.
Training repeated.
Dungeons were visited periodically.
[You have acquired 'Green Lizard Tail' (C-rank).]
[You have acquired 'Crime Wolf Fang' (D-rank).]
[You have acquired 'Crime Wolf Claw' (D-rank).]
[You have acquired 'Cursed Quiver' (D-rank).]
....
All the miscellaneous materials from the dungeons went straight into the alchemy table.
Iron ingots, silver bars, threads, cloth, leather, and so on.
Stockpiling them for future item crafting.
While also raising Boneflesh's proficiency.
Truly killing two birds with one stone.
'Take it slow.'
The old man had sulked briefly.
But after I gave him two massages in a row, he snapped out of it like a ghost.
Ah.
Not ghost-like—a real ghost?
"You brat."
"Yes, yep?"
"Don't let your mind wander. How many times do I have to explain that immersion is the most important part of any training before it sinks into that thick skull of yours?"
As expected, the old man was a ghost.
One who'd mastered mind-reading, no less.
Whoosh!
I swung my sword.
Today, after going full circle, it was back to building proficiency in 'Slash'.
Raising a single skill's rank wasn't easy.
'Sever' (C-rank).
My Slash realm was still utterly crude.
"Huff, huff!"
I was drenched in sweat, swinging my arm like a madman.
"You there."
The old man stopped me.
"Huff, why now? I was in the zone."
"Only five minutes left, brat. So, let me ask you one thing."
The old man narrowed his eyes.
His expression suggested he had something on his mind.
Clunk!
I set down the bone sword I'd borrowed from Bone One on the ground.
Training time was plenty anyway.
A conversation with the old man—limited to one hour a day—was far more precious to me.
"Yes, go ahead, sir."
"There's something I've been wanting to say for a while now. That girl over there. The one who challenged me."
"Gi So-yul?"
"Yeah. How long are you planning to keep her around?"
"...."
The old man continued calmly.
"You need to get stronger. You might think you're decent now, but you're not even up to Mansul's toe. Yet right now, you've got someone way beyond your station guarding your side."
"You mean there's no crisis?"
Weeds that grow in harsh conditions tougher than a greenhouse flower turn out stronger.
Was that what he wanted to say?
But.
"Hmm, Gi So-yul has our promise... and she wants to stay too."
More precisely, because of you, sir.
I swallowed those words.
Sss.
I sensed Gi So-yul's presence nearby.
She must have perked up at her name.
She couldn't hear the old man's voice anyway.
"You need to send her off somehow. You took even Solar Spear's 'One' strike—it's not like you're scared of getting beaten by some nobody. You can handle that much, right?"
"Well, sure..."
Truth be told, yes.
The guys gunning for me.
Honestly, I barely paid them any mind these days.
With my training and Boneflesh proficiency eating up my brainpower, who had room for more?
"They say 'a gentleman keeps a whorehouse and a gambling den close but doesn't indulge.' No matter how much you shrink away, the world will notice you and envy you. You gonna hide behind someone every time?"
"But sir..."
I parted my lips.
"Would you like me to show myself to the world?"
Right now, I was hiding my rank.
No activities, just pure training.
Clearing, dungeon, clearing, dungeon—rinse and repeat.
Dungeons especially, I'd moved in ways to avoid drawing attention.
The old man didn't seem to like that.
"Yes, exactly. Brat. Do that, and you'll have things worth protecting. You didn't say you wanted to learn from some weak-ass blacksmith for nothing."
"Huh?"
This old man, no way.
Still sulking?
If so, that was pretty petty.
"But it's fine."
"What's fine?"
"I've learned a lot this time too."
"Suddenly?"
I tilted my head.
"Truth is, I'd overlooked it myself. The world I lived in and the one you live in—they're cut from different cloth."
"...."
"If it was a world where skills and items popped out at the snap of a finger, I wouldn't have tried to stop you back then."
Ah, right.
I'd shown the old man Boneflesh's smelting and alchemy processes once.
His shocked face was still fresh in my mind.
"This world is more mystical—and more brutal—than the one I knew."
"Why?"
Stroking his chin at my question, the old man replied.
"Me, Solar Spear—we were absolutes in our world. Unrivaled. Nothing interfered in our realm."
"But here..."
"Yeah, countless other worlds are intertwined. And that's not all? It's a world where 'transcendents' meddle under the name of 'skills.'"
Transcendents.
That's what the old man called the System.
'He's right.'
We don't know about the transcendents.
Just like lab ants can't comprehend the scientist.
We can only guess at other-dimensional beings or 'gods.'
It must baffle the old man.
Hunters who don't even know 'ki.'
Firing off essences of decades' enlightenment with a single 'skill.'
"That's why you need to surpass even me. Become greater. To prove Mansul is supreme, you must stand alone above not just my world, but all worlds."
"I see."
I nodded.
I'd understood why he was saying this.
'He's impatient.'
I didn't know why the old man obsessed over 'strength.'
Maybe some backstory, or just boundless pride in Mansul.
'One thing's clear.'
His goals aligned with mine.
Plus, he was far more experienced and powerful than me.
That alone made it worth following.
"Alright."
Decision made swiftly.
What the old man wanted was simple.
Break free from Gi So-yul's protection.
"But."
"But?"
The old man turned.
"That catalyst dungeon."
"The Root of Tribal Conflict or whatever?"
"Yes."
[Item: Root of Tribal Conflict]
[Rank: A]
[Type: Catalyst]
[Description: A root that can uncover the secrets of a hidden ruin.]
[Effect 1: Can open the dungeon 'Forest and Rock.']
[Effect 2: Item bound to Hunter 'Joo Dong-hoon.']
[Effect 3: This item can be activated by Hunters rank C or higher.]
A-rank catalyst.
Now a C-rank hunter, I could tackle it.
I spoke up.
"I'll challenge it right away. If there's no crisis, I'll make one. That difficulty level's no joke, right?"
The last one was B-rank.
But the difficulty was Solar Spear.
'Immeasurable' difficulty.
Honestly, I was pumped.
How tough would this dungeon be?
How much would it make me grow?
"Heh, brat. Finally getting the picture."
The old man nodded, satisfied.
"I've been waiting for those words. Go with my blessing."
* * *
Gi So-yul accepted surprisingly easily.
"Hellhound's a sneaky ranker, but also a coward."
"...."
"That's why he's cautious. As long as Seoul's Oseong is around, he won't show his face to you."
Truth be told.
Without Hellhound.
Gi So-yul's protection was starting to feel a bit excessive.
"Thanks for watching over me all this time."
"No need. I got plenty out of it too. It was a promise."
"Still, thanks are thanks."
I bowed deeply, sincerely.
Even if we'd grown closer lately, a ranker was a ranker.
And.
Ranker bodyguard service was something even billions couldn't easily buy.
"But."
Gi So-yul spoke.
"Yes."
"Whenever I want, you let me observe your training."
"Hm? You can already watch anytime you want."
She was a ranker.
My level was nothing to her; she could hide flawlessly.
Of course.
"You want me to pretend I don't see you? That's rude."
The Gi So-yul by my side was strict with herself.
Well, I nodded.
"Sure. Just let me know when you're coming. You've seen it all anyway; no big deal."
"And one more thing."
"What?"
"If a crisis hits anytime, call on Parang for help."
"...."
"I'm saying this out of concern, but you're recklessly bold sometimes."
"....Yeah, I do tend to charge ahead without looking back."
I scratched the back of my head.
Definitely.
Without Gi So-yul, there'd been plenty of close calls.
In dungeons, at Seonyu Station—everywhere.
"Remember this: your golden opportunity isn't just yours. I've got a stake in it too."
"....Got it. Okay."
For me, more allies were pure gain.
Reliable ones, at that.
For her too.
If I died, she'd lose her path to breaking through her plateau.
"Take care, then."
With that.
Sss!
Her figure melted away like snow.
Mystical technique, every time.
"Hmm."
After she left, I took a short break.
Then pulled the root from my pocket.
"Plant this in the ground, right?"
Root of Tribal Conflict.
I planted the catalyst in the clearing's soil, infusing it with my energy.
Rumble rumble!
Space shook, and trees sprouted up rapidly.
Roots anchoring the base.
Trunk swelling into a 'door.'
[Would you like to activate 'Root of Tribal Conflict'?]
[Can open dungeon 'Forest and Rock.']
[Warning!]
[This is a solo dungeon.]
Thump, thump.
My heart raced.
What trials waited beyond that 'door'?
No one could say for sure.
No one to advise me.
Like staring into the abyss.
A normal hunter would've been terrified.
But.
'No backing out for me.'
Hesitation breeds fear.
Only one answer anyway.
Best to dive in headfirst and clash.
'No matter the trial, I'll endure and grow stronger.'
Flash!
Blinding light filled my vision.
* * *
"Mm."
Inside a luxurious office in a high-end building.
A man in a black suit sat gripping his chin.
[Director Shin Jong-oh]
The man's name: Shin Jong-oh.
C-rank hunter, grandson of the chairman of Oseong Group—one of Korea's top ten conglomerates.
He was grinding his teeth at the news that his favorite ranker, Gi So-yul, was smitten with someone.
"Any intel on Joo Dong-hoon?"
"Yes, sir."
Across from him, his secretary-like woman adjusted her glasses.
"Approaching him was tricky due to the Agency..."
"Don't worry. Gi So-yul can't touch me anyway."
Parang might be a powerhouse.
But Oseong Group was a massive whale too.
Not close enough for them to risk bloodshed.
The secretary cleared her throat.
"Ahem. Investigation shows his movements were simple."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. He just went back and forth between the clearing on the back mountain and the Gotomall underground bazaar daily. Other times, the Agency's patrols got even fiercer..."
"Hm, hold on."
Shin Jong-oh's brow arched.
"Gotomall? He come into money or something?"
"Doesn't seem so. The place he goes is 'Smith's Smithy'—a workshop where newbie producers rent expensive gear."
"Producer, huh..."
Shin Jong-oh's forehead creased.
'What? Some special producer class?'
No way.
Was that why Gi So-yul was interested?
"Phew."
He let out a short sigh.
Relief, anyway.
Whatever his unique ability, Shin was C-rank.
No way a producer would beat him in a fight.
His wariness eased a bit.
Rage surged in tandem.
'I lost out to some lowly producer?'
Crunch!
Shin Jong-oh clenched his fist.
'Heh, time to teach him a lesson.'
A sinister smile curled his lips.