Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Distorted Spirit Lake
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"Alright, shall we do a quick briefing and head in?"
"Sounds good. Spirits... this is seriously amazing."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
Seung-yeon and Usik were all smiles, thrilled to have lucked into a spirit-hunting party.
The rest of the group headed into the makeshift office first, while Jeong-hyeon hung back to give Ji-hee some space, letting her go last.
'Hm?'
Yun-ho and Jeong-jun hadn't moved either.
They were staring over this way, but Jeong-hyeon couldn't tell if it was him or Ji-hee they were looking at.
Their eyes met Jeong-hyeon's for a split second before they turned and walked off.
It seemed coincidental, perfectly natural—no reason to suspect anything.
But in that brief moment, Jeong-hyeon felt a twinge of unease.
"Nah, probably nothing."
He still couldn't pinpoint why.
It was just a vague gut feeling.
"......?"
Ji-hee glanced up at him curiously as he paused mid-step, tilting his head.
Jeong-hyeon shook it off with a smile.
Maybe he was just on edge from leading his first party.
"Nah, let's go in too, A-young."
He called her by her other name casually, guiding her along.
It was his way of easing the tension.
Whether it worked or not, he didn't feel that odd vibe from the two once they were inside the briefing room.
"Everyone probably knows each other's traits already, so I'll keep this short."
The party members turned to him in unison.
It was a strangely satisfying moment.
"Usik, you said you've hunted in spirit gates a few times, right?"
"About three times."
"Cool. Stick to defense counters on Yun-ho as much as possible until you're warmed up, then when I or Jeong-jun call it, switch to offensive attribute enchants when you get openings."
"Wouldn't it be easier for A-young to handle them with magic?"
Seung-yeon raised her hand during Jeong-hyeon's rundown.
Ji-hee flinched when her name came up.
It was a fair point.
Wasting a B-Rank Level 4 mage's firepower would be foolish.
Jeong-hyeon took a deep breath.
'Tch, gotta say it sometime.'
"There's something I need to mention about A-young Hunter's magic."
He spoke gravely, and the others tilted their heads.
"When A-young Hunter casts spells, stay as far away as possible."
"Huh? Why?"
"She still hasn't fully mastered her trait, so you might get caught in the crossfire."
"?"
Ji-hee had her head bowed by now, but everyone's attention stayed on party leader Jeong-hyeon.
*Why do I have to be the embarrassed one?*
Despite his big effort to explain, the group looked even more confused.
*I get it, I really do.*
Anyone awakening a magic trait for the first time could mess up.
Mana was brand new, and spells were high-skill to begin with.
But that only applied up to Levels 1 or 2.
Higher ranks adapted faster, so friendly fire was rare.
A B-Rank Level 4 definitely shouldn't have that issue.
No amount of talking would convince them here.
*Seeing is believing.*
"You'll understand better once you see it. Yun-ho and Jeong-jun up front, extra caution. A-young, cast in open areas away from people. Got it?"
"But she's our only B-Rank. Won't that leave a firepower gap?"
Usik's valid counter.
The party's sole mage holding back meant more burden on him for enchants.
But it was unfounded worry.
Ji-hee's issue wasn't lack of power.
It was too much power.
"I'll adjust to minimize the load on you, Usik. Shouldn't be too bad."
"Hmm......"
"Worried, but... no choice."
"Got it."
They nodded reluctantly.
Bailing on a spirit gate party now would suck, and she was still B-Rank.
Plus, her brother—who'd hunted with her up to Level 4—said it, so how bad could it be?
Jeong-hyeon clapped once the discussion wrapped.
The 'Distorted Lake of Mid-Low Grade Spirits' had intermediate spirits, but difficulty didn't spike much from low-grade.
This lineup could handle it; no need to drag things out.
"Alright, time to hunt. Let's make bank today."
"Yes, sir! Party leader!"
Seung-yeon's enthusiastic reply signaled the hunters to rise.
They filed out toward the gate in order.
Jeong-hyeon, planning to go last, watched Yun-ho and Jeong-jun exit.
Right before the door, their eyes met his—sharp, piercing.
Even briefly, his instincts flared.
A seasoned hunter's glare? Maybe.
But...
'Something's off...'
Jeong-hyeon had faced villains twice before; this didn't feel ordinary.
Not hostile, exactly.
More like appraising, probing.
'Gotta keep an eye on them.'
It might lead to headaches, but better safe.
If they had bad intentions joining this party, they'd picked the wrong mark.
Jeong-hyeon's cheerful gaze sharpened, pinning Bae Yun-ho and Lee Jeong-jun's backs.
***
"Spirit gates always feel so mystical every time."
"Totally. How is it this pretty?"
The 'Distorted Forest of Lowest Grade Spirits' Jeong-hyeon had done before was a literal forest of spirits.
The 'Distorted Lake of Mid-Low Grade Spirits' was different.
There was definitely lake-like stuff.
But compared to a human world's lake? Debatable.
"Stay sharp. Spirits can pop out anywhere."
Jeong-hyeon, in the middle, reminded the party.
Beautiful scenery or some other trick—it lured hunters into dropping guard, forgetting the danger.
Like the spirit lake before them now.
Endless flows of fire, water, wind, lightning, and more attributes merged into a vast surface.
Impossible elements blended into surreal art, breathtaking.
"They're here!"
Mana surged around the party.
'These spirits love ambushes... like vengeful ghosts. Wait, spirits?'
Jeong-hyeon scanned while quipping internally.
Spirits favored encirclement.
They probably positioned optimally, knowing humans couldn't sense them.
Wind spirits on right and rear.
Fire front, water left.
The encirclement made tank positioning tricky.
Good thing first encounter was all low-grade.
'Not a bad setup.'
Jeong-hyeon's plan was feasible.
"Tanks, shift left a bit! Take fire and water. Usik, front support as discussed!"
"Got it!"
Hunters moved nimbly.
Usik enchanted Yun-ho's counters smoothly—experienced.
'Rear's covered.'
Two wind spirits left—for Ji-hee.
"A-young."
She startled at his low call, tense since arrival.
Others might ease up, let her warm slowly.
Not Jeong-hyeon.
*Honorary HJH employee can't afford that.*
"Take those two wind spirits with magic."
"...Me?"
"Yeah."
She asked timidly, voice shaky.
He nodded with a reassuring smile.
Whether she saw it that way was questionable.
"I'll draw them front, dodge. Prep and fire when ready. Got it?"
"O-Okay!"
Uncharacteristically loud.
Drawing attacks meant closing in—risking her own uncontrolled blast.
Jeong-hyeon got it.
"Going in!"
He dashed at the spirits.
'Nervous as hell.'
Low-grade wind spirits? He could hop on one leg all day.
But what worried him was Ji-hee's spell from behind.
He was the only one here who hadn't seen it up close.
*If she fires, bail—spirits or not.*
Without top-tier combat sense and mana sensitivity, he'd never risk it.
He could feel spells forming behind, barely evade.
Best way, if possible.
'She needs to learn urgent responses.'
Quick judgment was hunter basics.
For party leader or solo—adapt constantly.
Low-grade winds? S-Rank trait could wipe on spawn.
She hesitated to use it, so they lived.
Jeong-hyeon aimed to coax natural use, not panic.
Even risky acting.
Whoosh—
Winds locked on the approaching human.
Blades of air slashed at him.
Threatening in the forest; now, yawn-worthy.
He delayed reaction on purpose.
Dodged at the last possible instant, dramatically.
"Whoa!"
Dynamic moves, sound effects included.
Looked every bit the D-Rank agility hunter sacrificing for rear guard.
"Eek!"
Healer Kim Seung-yeon gasped watching anxiously.
Perfect acting.
Ji-hee nearby gaped wide-eyed, raising her wand with both hands.
Looked ready to cast.
'...Too effective?'
Jeong-hyeon sensed something off.
Sure, he aimed for reaction—but she didn't know he was S-Rank too?
She should know low-grades couldn't touch him.
Just setting the stage for natural casting should've sufficed.
But she seemed convinced he was in real danger.
'Well... maybe that's better?'