Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Monsters with Traits
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After clearing "Merrillium Mine's Gems,"
Jeong-hyeon had spent the past few days agonizing over which raid request to take next.
"There's nothing that seems particularly urgent."
Excluding Vice Guild, no desperate requests stood out.
A few more had come in after that, but it was as if the guilds had colluded—they all offered similar content with similar rewards.
'No urgent gates right now is a good thing, I guess.'
Of course, it was ambiguous for Jeong-hyeon, who had to choose a gate, but on the flip side, it meant the country was running safely.
Suddenly feeling bored with everything, Jeong-hyeon closed the request file and logged into Hunter Net.
Hunter Net was currently ablaze with one particular topic.
And that topic wasn't unrelated to Jeong-hyeon.
- Hey, lately it feels like monsters are using traits. What do you think?
└ Yeah, for real... Monsters were always kinda dumb, right? But the other day while hunting goblins, one moved really nimbly. Dodged attacks and everything. Suspicious.
└ Nah, that's just you sucking hard lololol
└ Lmao, only noob water hunters who can't even hunt properly say crap like that
└ Lololol you're just washed up. Monsters were fine before, no way they're suddenly using traits lololol
Rumors had started circulating recently that monsters were using traits.
Of course, such stories had persisted steadily for a long time.
And they had consistently been dismissed as urban legends.
It was perfect fodder for stoking hunters' fears, after all.
Hunters' main advantage over monsters was fighting with traits that the beasts lacked.
But if monsters gained traits like hunters?
It would completely upend the hunter world.
Even regulations like the minimum four-person entry for safety would need major revisions.
A single trait could be a powerful variable capable of turning the tide of battle.
'Normally, this wouldn't be blowing up like this...'
Without credibility, such sensational gossip would barely make third-rate tabloids.
Jeong-hyeon usually ignored it entirely.
But now, things were different.
The casual anecdotes—what people called "stories"—were starting to turn serious.
└ But get this, I heard from a source in some guild that in high-level gates, monsters that don't use magic suddenly start casting spells;;
└ What fresh aggro is this?
Jeong-hyeon had even witnessed something like that himself.
The Grand Mantis that used magic.
At first, he'd thought it was a unique case due to Harad's effects.
But after handling Harad directly, he had to change his mind.
'Harad only amplifies magic—it doesn't create magic that wasn't there.'
In the case of Spirit Stones, even if the user didn't know how to wield mana, they could faintly summon the corresponding elemental energy.
But Harad only had amplification effects.
Ultimately, the magic the Grand Mantis used back then was something they already knew—it wasn't Harad's doing.
Naturally, Grand Mantis weren't magic-using monsters, so by hunter standards, it was fine to call it a trait.
'And now that I think about it, there was another suspicious case.'
Jeong-hyeon's thoughts deepened.
Before he acquired Mana Sensitivity, in the "Dragon's Tomb" with Sea Guild members.
The boss monster there, the Undead Demi Drake, had fired a Fire Breath right before dying.
He'd assumed it was just a typical drake breath at the time, but upon reflection, it was definitely odd.
Demi Drakes weren't a type that could use breath attacks.
Looking back now with Mana Sensitivity, it definitely seemed like magic.
Not certain, but.
In any case, magic traits were the most obvious.
But what if monsters had traits like Combat Sense, agile movement, or swordsmanship?
"Tch... What's the world coming to?"
Monsters with traits.
The more he thought about it, the fouler his mood got.
Jeong-hyeon clicked his tongue and shook his head.
Monsters were scum that all deserved to die—nothing else would put his mind at ease.
And on another note,
'I need to be more careful from now on.'
If monsters really started using traits, even his specs that could easily clear level 5 gates weren't cause for complacency.
This hit closer to home for Jeong-hyeon, who had multiple traits.
He knew firsthand how a single added trait could variably impact final combat power, depending on the situation.
- R r r
At that moment, Jeong-hyeon's phone rang.
- Operations Division Chief Choi Nam-shik
It had been a while since Nam-shik last contacted him.
'Come to think of it, I haven't heard from him since I told Ji-hee she could take a break while improving the trait suppressant.'
Still, as an S-Rank hunter, was it okay to be this neglectful?
Shouldn't there be at least a daily morning greeting?
Jeong-hyeon chuckled at his silly thoughts and answered.
"Yes, Chief. Long time no talk."
- Ah, Hunter Jeong-hyeon! Yes, it's been a while.
Was something good happening?
Nam-shik's voice was unusually bright.
Jeong-hyeon instinctively sensed it.
'Whenever association folks sound this chipper, it's never not annoying.'
Something troublesome was coming his way.
Sure enough, Nam-shik cheerfully made the request.
- If you have time, could you come to the association?
"...Is this about the contract?"
- As expected, sharp intuition!
'Here we go again?'
It had been quite a while, after all.
He didn't know if they'd succeeded in improving the trait suppressant, but there was no reason to keep Ji-hee benched forever.
- Heh heh heh... I think things will get a bit easier for you now, Hunter Jeong-hyeon.
'Easier? Sounds like it worked pretty well.'
Nam-shik, ever cautious about his duties, wouldn't say that unless the results were impressive.
Already bored flipping through mediocre requests, Jeong-hyeon felt curiosity stir.
"Then I'll head out right now."
- Really? Great. Take your time!
Whatever thrilled him so much, Nam-shik hung up immediately after Jeong-hyeon's agreement.
Jeong-hyeon glanced bewilderedly at his phone's home screen before starting to get ready to leave.
He'd recently used a ticket to level up Movement Speed once, so the trip to the association shouldn't take long.
After finishing preparations, Jeong-hyeon stepped outside.
"...Huh?"
He froze upon seeing his neighbor emerging from the gate at the exact same moment.
'Oh right, she moved here.'
He'd seen her moving in but had completely forgotten amid everything.
Choi Ji-hee stood there.
"Ahaha... Hi."
"..."
Her timid nature hadn't changed.
Ji-hee hesitated for a moment before silently bowing her head.
"I definitely saw you moving in last time, but you've been so quiet I forgot."
"..."
He'd blurted something out to say anything.
Ji-hee looked visibly flustered.
Jeong-hyeon hurriedly added,
"Ah, not that I'm complaining. Quiet neighbors are great. Not that you shouldn't do anything, just... you know."
"..."
But the more he spoke, the more it felt like sinking into quicksand.
Ji-hee seemed to feel the same.
Unable to handle it, Jeong-hyeon changed the subject.
'No way... hopefully not.'
He desperately hoped otherwise even as he asked.
"Are you heading to the association by any chance?"
"..."
"Ahaha, I see. You're going to the association too. Same here."
But ignoring his wish, Ji-hee cruelly nodded.
Of course—Jeong-hyeon was going because Nam-shik called, so it made sense he'd contact her too.
What an idiotic question in hindsight.
Resigned, Jeong-hyeon started leaving the neighborhood with Ji-hee.
As an unsafe outskirts area, public transport or taxis required a long walk.
Not tough for hunters, but the real issue was different in this situation.
'Walking that distance in this awkward atmosphere?!'
He resolved to buy a car now that he had the money.
Driving himself would at least make the awkwardness bearable.
He hadn't noticed before due to Movement Speed making travel effortless, but now it felt essential.
With Ji-hee as a neighbor, this would happen often.
"...You don't happen to have a Movement Speed trait or anything, do you?"
"...?"
Unable to endure, Jeong-hyeon blurted a gaffe.
Not even "Want to drive?" but asking about her trait directly.
When he obviously knew what it was.
Ji-hee blinked up at him, confused.
Jeong-hyeon laughed hastily to cover.
"Hahaha, kidding. Joke. I know what your trait is, Ji-hee."
Only then did she faintly smile and nod.
Watching her, Jeong-hyeon felt a bit puzzled inwardly.
'Huh, she seems a little different somehow?'
She still didn't talk much, but she nodded and reacted appropriately.
She'd even smiled faintly just now.
Not trembling like their first meeting.
'Does she warm up more after hunting together?'
She'd gotten more comfortable after one raid, it seemed.
Of course, the awkward vibe didn't suddenly vanish.
"You're early! Didn't expect you two together."
They met Nam-shik waiting in the association lobby.
Jeong-hyeon wanted to grab his collar and demand,
'Tell me. Why'd you do this to me?'
But drained from enduring the awkwardness, he just nodded weakly and followed inside without protest.
"? Hunter Choi Ji-hee, do you know why Hunter Jeong-hyeon is acting like that?"
Bewildered, Nam-shik asked Ji-hee.
But she just shook her head in surprise, claiming ignorance.
"Weird. That's not like him. Anyway, let's go in. Hunter Jeong-hyeon! Come on!"
Nam-shik tilted his head but hurriedly called after Jeong-hyeon.
Ji-hee followed with quick steps as they headed deep underground.
Back in the association security room with the trio reunited.
'Why's he so happy?'
Jeong-hyeon wondered, watching Nam-shik grin nonstop.
Even after they all sat, he wouldn't get to the point—just kept smiling.
Then Nam-shik suddenly turned to Jeong-hyeon.
"Hunter Jeong-hyeon."
"Yes?"
'Did he hear my thoughts?'
Of course not.
What Nam-shik said was utterly mundane.
"I heard you did amazing work for Vice Guild this time."
"Ah... Yeah, sorta."
"Clearing such a big gate—your business should boom from here."
"Hope so."
Why beat around the bush like this?
Jeong-hyeon responded appropriately, waiting for the main topic.
Finally, Nam-shik smiled and broached it.
"So, the association was thinking of giving HJH Gate Office a request."
"?"
It was bigger than expected.