Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: The Last Siren
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"Due to various circumstances, with the pickaxe."
"?"
Of course, Jeong-hyeon had no obligation to resolve every single doubt his party members harbored.
He didn't feel like it right now, and this wasn't the time anyway.
Then, as if realizing their bodies felt too light, Won-ho patted his chest and spoke up.
"But our gear..."
"It's better if you don't ask about that."
The party members' equipment had long since sunk to the bottom of the sea.
'Just thinking about it makes the pickaxe weep.'
Of course, the party members, unaware of that fact, tilted their heads as if another question had arisen.
"No, but still, our gear—"
Byeong-ju was about to press for answers about their equipment when he couldn't hold back any longer.
Grind—
The sound of Jeong-hyeon grinding his teeth erupted forcefully, and he promptly shut his mouth.
Sang-hee jabbed Byeong-ju in the side with his elbow.
'Read the room, read the room!'
'I was trying to shut up!'
Won-ho hadn't said a word from the start, and Sang-hee had only just noticed Jeong-hyeon's state.
With teeth grinding and veins bulging on the hand gripping the pickaxe, it would have been strange not to notice.
And that expression on his face.
Even monsters would flee in terror.
After calming his anger in silence for a moment, Jeong-hyeon began issuing calm instructions.
"For now, Hunter Park Sang-hee, please head to that shoreline and find Hunter Yu A-young."
"Ah, Hunter Yu A-young."
"The rest of you, come with me to hunt down the last Siren."
Only then did the party members register Yu A-young's absence, their faces showing fresh surprise.
Since all the hunters here had awakened, A-young—who had passed out earlier—must have regained consciousness too.
She might be wandering around the island, so they needed to find her quickly.
"The Siren is about waist-high. It has a human face on a bird's body. It's not big, but a surprise attack could be annoying."
There was a chance they could get unlucky and run into the Siren.
It wasn't particularly strong—at least by Jeong-hyeon's standards.
But a healer like A-young could be defenseless against a sudden ambush from the brush.
"What should we do once we link up with Hunter Yu A-young?"
"It's not far... so please return here."
"Got it. We'll be back."
Just as Sang-hee was about to leave in search of A-young,
"Ah, wait a second!"
Jeong-hyeon hurriedly called him back.
He had almost forgotten the most important thing.
"Just in case, plug your ears."
They were hiding and evading, so maybe it wouldn't come up, but the Siren could still sing.
Hearing this, the party members hardened their expressions and hurriedly covered their ears.
Even if they didn't remember it, being mind-controlled and useless during the raid wasn't a pleasant memory for any hunter.
Rip—
What they wore now was thin cloth undergarments meant to be worn beneath armor.
Tearing a strip to plug their ears would serve as a temporary measure.
Finally, Sang-hee headed to the shoreline, while Jeong-hyeon and the other four ventured deeper into the forest.
"These Sirens—are they strong?"
—No, they're weak. Simply put, around level 3?
Won-ho, leading the group and parting the underbrush, asked Jeong-hyeon.
Jeong-hyeon answered immediately.
Won-ho or Yu-jun could probably take on ten Sirens at once without breaking a sweat.
With enough distance, Byeong-ju went without saying.
He wouldn't have brought hunters without proper protective gear if they were strong to begin with.
"So, they're rated level 5 purely because of the song."
Byeong-ju nodded as he overheard their conversation.
Jeong-hyeon agreed with that assessment.
Their individual power was weak, but a collective song that stretched several kilometers was a threat.
A song that ensnared anyone without mental resistance, regardless of trait rank.
It was ridiculously overpowered.
"But Party Leader, how exactly did you avoid being affected?"
It was the vague answer Jeong-hyeon had given earlier, but Byeong-ju asked again.
Perhaps a stereotype, but mages often brimmed with curiosity.
From the moment he saw Jeong-hyeon not covering his ears while everyone else did, Byeong-ju's eyes had been sparkling.
He'd keep asking unless given a proper answer, so Jeong-hyeon decided to share a bit more.
'But if they plug their ears, how can they hear me?'
So much for makeshift earplugs.
"It's because of the armor. It has mental attack resistance."
"No way. Is that an artifact too?"
"No, it's not."
It might sound like one just from the description.
Jeong-hyeon hadn't expected regular crafted gear to have such an ability either.
'No, it was melted from monster armor, so in a way, it could be called an artifact.'
Strictly speaking, though, it wasn't.
Then came Byeong-ju's mutter.
"No wonder it flickers with black energy..."
The Cursed Armor constantly shimmered faintly with black energy due to the Dullahan's curse.
The armor itself was black, so it wasn't obvious unless examined closely, but it was unsettling enough.
Rustle—
At that moment, Jeong-hyeon heard the unnatural clash of branches in his ears.
Too distinct to be the wind.
He tapped Won-ho's shoulder and raised his other hand to halt the group.
Then he pointed toward the direction of the sound for Byeong-ju.
Nod—
Byeong-ju nodded, understanding, and promptly cast his spell.
Strands of mana gathered into blade shapes, slicing cleanly through trees and grass ahead before flying toward the source.
Wind Cutter.
"Kyaaak!"
Sure enough, as the invisible blades shredded the area, a screech erupted.
A Siren with a familiar silhouette burst from the bushes and fled.
Once spotted, escape was impossible.
Whoosh—
Jeong-hyeon drew his dagger and hurled it at the Siren's leg.
The dense woods weren't ideal for throwing, but this was the Onyx Dagger.
Incredibly, its trajectory curved, piercing the Siren's leg precisely.
"Kiyaaak!"
The fallen creature let out a pained shriek.
It seemed too hurt to even try running again.
Even unscathed, it hadn't escaped; now with a crippled leg, what chance did it have?
"Go take a close look."
"Pardon? But..."
"Keep your ears plugged tight."
The party members looked flustered at the suggestion of approaching the still-breathing Siren, but Jeong-hyeon walked forward unperturbed.
Sirens were likely unique to this gate, or at least exceedingly rare worldwide.
Even injured, they needed as many witnesses as possible.
Unable to decide, the party members crammed their pinky fingers as deep into their ears as possible and hesitantly followed.
"Kyaaak! Kyaaak!"
Limping backward to escape the approaching Jeong-hyeon, the Siren flailed.
The party members grimaced at the sight.
"What kind of creature is that?"
"Mythical Sirens were supposed to be beautiful..."
The disconnect from the enchanting song they'd heard amplified their disgust.
Even sensing it posed no threat, they kept their fingers in their ears.
Meanwhile, Jeong-hyeon approached the Siren, pickaxe dangling, and did something that utterly shattered their expectations.
"Hey."
He spoke to it.
It screeched indifferently, but Jeong-hyeon matched its nonchalance.
"Sing for me."
He was demanding a song from a Siren.
Won-ho caught the gist amid the mumbling and gaped in shock.
"Boss, what are you saying!"
Even with ears plugged, the song might still ensnare them.
Monsters couldn't understand human speech, but instinctual fear surged.
Jeong-hyeon waved it off reassuringly.
"It's research. Research. Besides, killing the singer dispels the mental attack anyway."
Assuming no bizarre twists, this was a wipeout mission.
Clearing all Sirens would complete it.
Better to resolve curiosities before finishing, for future encounters.
"Kyaaak! Kyaaa!"
The Siren kept screeching in Jeong-hyeon's face,
"Sing when I'm asking nicely."
But as he menaced with the pickaxe raised high, it shockingly fell silent.
"Kiiii—"
"What the..."
Byeong-ju trailed off in disbelief.
Was he still dreaming under the Siren's spell?
A human threatening a monster—and it working.
Utterly unreal.
Ignoring their shock, Jeong-hyeon's intimidation proceeded smoothly.
The trembling, cowering Siren finally opened its mouth, and instead of shrieks, a song emerged.
"Hup!"
Their ears were plugged tight, so the sound was muffled, but they realized it was singing and panicked.
Fortunately, the volume wasn't enough to entrance them like before.
Realizing this, they turned worried eyes to Jeong-hyeon.
He claimed immunity, but up close like this?
If they knew how he'd handled the others, such concerns would vanish.
'Nothing special?'
Jeong-hyeon, seeing a Siren sing for the first time, was surprisingly disappointed.
What was so special about just singing? The voice didn't match that grotesque face.
He'd hoped it transformed while singing.
But no.
It simply gaped its bizarre maw and sang.
Satisfied, Jeong-hyeon swung the pickaxe.
Thud—
The song cut off abruptly.
As expected, a notification appeared before his eyes.
[You have cleared the mission of the level 5 gate 'Birds of Kapke Island.']
['Trait Shop' mission gate clear reward granted.
Reward: 8 coins]
'Tch, not a huge reward.'
Jeong-hyeon clicked his tongue inwardly at the clear reward.
Minimal direct danger, so only half of 'Lizardman Sanctuary's.'
But another notification followed.
[Hidden achievement, 'One Who Endures the Siren's Song Unscathed' achieved. Acquired 5 coins.]
[Hidden achievement, 'Siren Slayer' achieved. Acquired 5 coins.]
"Oh."
Not bad.
Total reward coins: 18.
He'd check Siren kill coins later, but even if less than hoped, no disappointment.
It hadn't been a tough clear, at least for him.
"You can all unplug your ears now."
Jeong-hyeon turned to the party and said.