Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: How to Find the Shaman Amid a Horde of Lizardmen?
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Finding the shaman in the middle of a lizardman horde?
It was actually easier than expected.
He was wearing a hat made of bird feathers like he was advertising "I'm the shaman," and unlike the other lizardmen, he was covered in garish pigments.
"Hyrk!"
While Jeong-hyeon scanned his surroundings, a lizardman thrust a spear at him from his right front.
Jeong-hyeon knew it was coming but didn't bother reacting.
He knew he was still in her line of sight.
Just as the spear was about to reach his Cursed Armor—
Fwoosh—
A fireball shot quickly from behind Jeong-hyeon, not only blowing off the lizardman's head but also taking out the unlucky one behind it.
'Her reaction speed is better than I thought.'
Ji-hee was focusing on support fire as per Jeong-hyeon's instructions.
This was probably thanks to the stabilizer, but her response time was impressively quick.
Thanks to that, Jeong-hyeon could ignore the lizardmen swarming around him and focus solely on the search.
Their weapons couldn't pierce his Cursed Armor and injure him anyway.
And finally, Jeong-hyeon's gaze locked precisely on one spot.
'There!'
Charging straight through the lizardman pack like a wild beast, Jeong-hyeon had found the shaman.
"Kyrrek!"
The shaman met Jeong-hyeon's eyes, pointed at him with a finger, and let out a bizarre shriek.
It seemed he'd realized the dagger flying straight at him was aimed solely at him.
"Hyrk!"
The lizardmen responding to the shaman's command were slightly more robust than the others.
They still looked like bipedal lizards to Jeong-hyeon, though.
Evidently holding a slightly higher status among the lizardmen, the others scattered past Jeong-hyeon at the shout.
'There are quite a few of them...'
He'd felt it while weaving through them—they outnumbered the earlier group.
Around 70 to 80.
He'd taken out over a dozen on the way here, but the rest converging wasn't a small number.
But now wasn't the time to worry about that.
'Well, Ji-hee has the rear covered.'
The shaman's position was cleverly hidden from the sanctuary's view.
He'd probably chosen it with that in mind.
He knew human mages were powerful.
So now, even if lizardmen swarmed the sanctuary, Ji-hee could unleash her magic freely without worrying about Jeong-hyeon.
Regular lizardmen couldn't touch her, even with the shaman's buffs.
"Okay. Stay put and wipe that forehead clean."
Jeong-hyeon lightly twisted his neck and gripped the pickaxe tightly.
In response, five lizardmen—his guards—stepped forward.
One against five, just by numbers.
The lizardmen were much bulkier than Jeong-hyeon, but somehow, the momentum felt reversed.
As Jeong-hyeon casually tapped the pickaxe handle against his left palm and closed the distance, the lizardmen slowly circled him with tense movements.
Of course, Jeong-hyeon wasn't just watching.
Swoosh—
Mana Bolts generated rapidly around him shot toward the five lizardmen.
They spun powerfully, far more destructive than normal Mana Bolts.
Pew-pew-pew—
"Hyrk!"
Even so, penetrating their tough, thick hides and dealing real damage was tough.
'I didn't fire them expecting that!'
Thud—
While the lizardmen were distracted by the Mana Bolts, Jeong-hyeon casually switched the pickaxe to his left hand as it hit his palm and reached for his waist with his right.
Swoosh—
Naturally, his right hand now held Black.
No need for trajectory adjustments at this range.
Even if they were big, they were just regular lizardmen.
Dodging a B-Rank level 5 Throwing Skill was impossible.
"-!"
One lizardman, still dazed by the Mana Bolts, took a dagger to the chest and toppled backward without even a dying scream.
Without confirming the kill, Jeong-hyeon was already leaping left.
'First strike: thrust!'
Crack—
The pickaxe tip, gripped short in both hands, shattered the leftmost lizardman's ribs.
"Ssaeak!"
The ragged intake of breath suggested punctured lungs.
No need to worry about that one for now.
Jeong-hyeon swung the pickaxe wide at the next lizardman.
The sharp tip smashed its temple hard.
An impact that would make its eyes bulge.
In the blink of an eye, three of the five guards were down.
"Kh, kyrk!"
The path to the shaman was wide open.
They were just annoyances anyway—not his real target.
He ignored the two remaining guards, frozen in panic, and drew his Onyx dagger.
Swoosh—
That was it.
Black returned to his hand right after.
Only then did Jeong-hyeon calmly turn to the last two lizardmen.
"Hh, hyrk..."
They'd had mana to begin with, but now the shaman's buffs were gone too.
They were just oversized lizards now.
Thud—thud—
Two swings finished them off.
"How's the rear looking?"
He moved back to where he could see the sanctuary again.
Boom—boom—
A spectacular fireworks display was unfolding there.
"Kyyyik!"
"Hyrrek!"
'It’s the first time I've felt sorry for the monsters.'
Fireworks made of shredded lizardman flesh.
She'd been picking them off precisely before, but now she was unleashing overwhelming firepower.
Fleeing in fear or blindly charging the sanctuary—no difference.
Ji-hee's flames rained down impartially on all their heads.
'...Guess I should join in soon.'
If Jeong-hyeon got close, she'd shift targets, but he had no desire to step into that inferno.
Jeong-hyeon crouched down to wait for it to fully clear.
***
"Man... it's like a whole different place now."
"I-I'm sorry. There were just so many lizardmen..."
"No, nothing to apologize for."
The bombardment from Ji-hee died down.
Returning to the sanctuary, Jeong-hyeon looked back at the clearing he'd passed through.
He'd noticed on the way, but the swamp was a mess.
It had been mostly flat with patches of muck above the water; now it was pockmarked with crater-like pits filled with water.
The stench of roasting lizardman corpses from the fire attacks was the cherry on top.
Ji-hee apologized, embarrassed by Jeong-hyeon's bemused comment.
It was a bit excessive, but not wrong, so he shook his head.
"But why did you pour out so much firepower like that? Wasn't it tiring?"
"No, not tiring at all. I was just worried the others might get hurt."
"Ah, we're fine!"
"My body's already aching enough as is!"
Yeon-hee and Su-chan, who had been staring blankly at the former clearing like Jeong-hyeon, waved their hands in surprise.
Even if their levels were a bit lower, they were top A-Rank level 3 and 4 hunters.
They could handle ten lizardmen at once as a party.
With a barricade of corpses narrowing the entrance, they could hold out indefinitely on defense.
'Can't stand seeing people get hurt?'
Meanwhile, Jeong-hyeon pondered Ji-hee's answer alone.
Her near-perfect support fire, and that overkill finisher anyone could see.
If it was because she feared others getting hurt beyond just following orders, that changed things.
Sure, no one likes seeing allies hurt, but this felt excessive.
She could dominate solo now as an S-Rank, but as levels rose, she'd need the party more.
No matter how skilled, party hunts required balance.
The others had joined to fight, not be protected.
"No issue right now, but you need to consider party dynamics going forward."
"......Understood."
"If you handle everything like this, the others might relax and fail to respond properly in emergencies. The terrain changes are variables too. Match your magic with the frontliners and support from now on. Got it?"
"......Yes."
Ji-hee's expression grew gloomier with each word.
She'd tried so hard with good intentions to avoid burdening others, only to get scolded.
'Even with the stabilizer, I'm still no good.'
As she clenched her fist tightly without realizing—
"But of course, you're doing way better than last time."
Jeong-hyeon's words, which she'd thought ended, started anew in a completely different vein.
Her bowed head snapped up reflexively.
Jeong-hyeon grinned as he finished.
"Improve just a bit more, and you might really be able to hunt with me someday."
"......"
Blood welled in Ji-hee's palm from the grip.
Someday, she could hunt with Jeong-hyeon—not just on contract.
She, who'd always been a headache and burden, could have such an amazing partner.
One who was, in a way, her benefactor.
Meanwhile, her reaction to his casual toss-out wasn't negative, so Jeong-hyeon inwardly cheered.
'Yes! Keep growing like this, Ji-hee!'
Party balance? Terrain changes?
Concerns for normal parties, but not his.
He just needed a driver to carry him.
Even in a Mission Gate with an overwhelming boss, a fully grown Ji-hee could handle it and report, "All done, Boss!"
"Ehehehe..."
The thought brought a sinister smile to Jeong-hyeon's lips.
And watching him—
"What do we do? Choi Ji-hee the hunter... she's so nice, but stuck with that guy."
"Should we report to the Association?"
"Be serious. What if he makes us skin 100 orc hides?"
"Or cut off fingers and heal them back?"
"Hup!"
The Association's response team's ace prospects trio were secretly watching.
It seemed Jeong-hyeon's infamy in the Association wouldn't clear anytime soon—far longer than he'd hoped.