Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Doubts and the Centipede
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In front of the Ta Hak dormitory, a quaint little park.
This place should have been an eyesore on weekends, filled with couples holding hands and strolling around—Ta Hak had no rules against dating—but today, it was as deserted as a fishing village in the off-season.
That was because everyone had shouted "freedom!" after the aptitude evaluation ended and bolted.
Joo Ah-rin had seized that gap to plop down squarely on a bench.
Instead of eating kimbap, she was mulling over the Old Butler's voice while deep in conversation.
The topic was the aftermath of rooting out the wolf.
"Joo Seol-gwang didn't notice, right?"
-He probably didn't. We dug into Kim Myeong-cheol with full confidence, and it turned up gambling, tax evasion... a whole bunch of hidden issues. The disqualification reason is solid, so the third young master won't think we caught on either.
"Thanks for your hard work. Then the remaining spot..."
Joo Ah-rin calmly laid out her pre-planned thoughts.
There were a few backup candidates, but no guarantee they weren't wolves either, so she requested more thorough verification even if it took time, wanting to fill it with reliable people.
It was the proper response and the right call.
"With that in mind, miss."
But this soon led to an unwanted outcome.
"That mysterious investor needs verification too. Even if you know them, better to be sure, right?"
"...That person too?"
Joo Ah-rin feigned surprise, dragging out her words.
She knew the Old Butler's concern came from affection, but ordering a background check felt awkward.
They had agreed to keep the identity secret, and the wolf hunt was, in a way, thanks to that person... Park Ha-yul's divination.
"Setting aside the contract, are they really trustworthy?"
But the Old Butler pressed on.
Whether they were truly trustworthy wasn't an easy answer.
"The truth is, that investor..."
Finally, after agonizing, she started to broach it.
Suddenly, two cups of coffee appeared right in front of her.
From the café they frequented...
"...Americano?"
-Yes?
"H-Hold on."
Joo Ah-rin stumbled over her words and whipped around in shock.
There stood the owner of lush emerald hair that looked tempting just to gaze at.
Dodam's president, Jeong Ae-ri, waving with a fresh smile.
"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. I'll come back later..."
"No. It's fine."
It was a situation where answering was tough anyway.
With a perfect excuse appearing, Joo Ah-rin picked up her phone again.
She wrapped up the urgent matters, said she'd call again soon, and hurriedly ended the call.
"This makes me feel too bad."
"It's really fine. But how'd you know I was here?"
"Hmm~ Well..."
Jeong Ae-ri chuckled and succinctly explained something that wasn't much of a story.
She had picked up coffee from their favorite spot to talk, was heading up to the dorm, but got drawn by a familiar silhouette.
"Something to say? To me?"
Joo Ah-rin asked back, savoring the fragrant yet bittersweet coffee aroma.
"Yeah, personally curious about something~"
"...?"
Joo Ah-rin bit down on the straw, waiting for the next words.
Internally repeating how delicious it was, she sucked hard.
"Are you dating Park Ha-yul?"
"Pffft!"
As soon as the words ended, black liquid sprayed out into the air.
Coffee flooding her sinuses stung sharply, and Joo Ah-rin coughed up the rest while hacking.
"Whoa, why so surprised? You okay?"
"Cough. What kinda ridiculous—cough cough—nonsense is that, sis? Cough."
The startled Jeong Ae-ri hurriedly patted her back.
"No?"
"Of course not. Why would I date someone like..."
"But why hold hands? Right in front of everyone."
"That was..."
She wanted to spill everything but couldn't.
Joo Ah-rin explained as best she could within what she could reveal.
She stressed it was unavoidable due to work ties.
"Hmm~"
But the reaction wasn't satisfying.
"Not mutual, huh. So that's why you joined Dodam..."
Jeong Ae-ri narrowed her eyes slyly, spouting nonsense.
Joo Ah-rin let out a shallow sigh and denied it once more.
"...Sis, it's really a misunderstanding."
"Really? Doesn't seem like it from his side."
Jeong Ae-ri winked with a meaningful smile.
"Huh?"
"Think about it~ Did it have to be that timing? Info he could've shared even after Roberto's offer, but he held it back—doesn't that mean rethinking his intentions?"
...Timing?
Joo Ah-rin just gaped, unable to respond.
* * *
The difference between great demons and demonic beasts boils down to attributes.
It stems from the innate gap between humans and demonic beasts.
Humans merely wield attributes, but demonic beasts are born as attributes themselves.
In that sense, down there right now.
The single sword strike, infused with fire attribute and glowing red, was pure fire overcomes wood. Fire beats wood—a simple principle made real.
But the result was more destructive than expected.
The moment the curving single sword pierced the Strange Centipede's abdomen near its bulging pouch, evading Cheon Seo-yun.
Rumble.
A scorching flash erupted.
The Strange Centipede twisted violently right after, letting out a wretched screech unfit for anything but a lowly rank-10 beast.
"Whoa, what the—."
Startled by its thrashing, Cheon Seo-yun tried to pull back, but I, using Heavenly Silken Thread to literally fly forward, barked in a low, firm voice.
"Now. Finish it."
But Cheon Seo-yun's flashing eyes turned to me instead.
"B-Bro? Why're you here... Wait, was that attack just now from you? Whoa, saying you're weak..."
What nonsense. When did I.
You killed it before I even stepped in.
-I wanted to say, but held back lest the talk drag and we miss the moment.
The fire attribute in the single sword wasn't complex like the Blue Flame that burned the ant queen before.
Of course, as a special-grade armament, the single sword's sharpness and demon-slaying property were formidable, so basic fire alone half-killed it—no issue there—but it was a damn solid hit, so we needed to wrap it quick.
"See me after."
Cheon Seo-yun got hyped alone, decided alone, and straightened her sword.
Whoooosh—
Fierce, pure mana particles gathered into a blue crystal, then she leaped high.
Charging like a rhino, she swung the now nearly 4m-long sword club sideways with all her might.
Slice—
A short, clean cut rang out, unfit for its thickness.
Mount Surisan's mutation, the Strange Centipede's massive body, split in two and crumpled to the ground.
But. Not dead.
It raised its chainsaw-sharp jaws toward us, lips smacking as if raging to the last.
...Ah. So that's it?
I finally fully grasped its final message.
Don't let my death be in vain.
Come quick, deliver the finishing blow, secure the time—pleading to me.
What choice did I have.
Gladly guide it to a meaningful end...
I manifested the Loyalty Guard dagger, gripped it in my right hand, and approached.
Or tried to.
But a skinny hand grabbed my wrist first.
"Just leave it. It's dying anyway. What if it self-destructs like its spawn?"
Cheon Seo-yun gripped my sleeve tight, genuinely worried.
Only then did I notice her torn clothes.
She'd struggled against the Strange Centipede; white tee stained red in spots, neckline ripped long.
Be more careful.
I took off my hoodie and handed it to her.
"The main body can't self-destruct."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Better send it painlessly. Nothing worse than waiting for death."
Maybe the human face mask, or the subtly triggered noble air, but embarrassingly solemn words slipped out.
"Ah, waiting for death..."
But her reaction was odd.
Cheon Seo-yun's eyes trembled faintly, then she sighed.
The hand releasing my sleeve drifted down like petals in the wind.
...Did I overdo it?
Thinking I'd burdened her more than the clothes, I tried to take it back.
"I'll borrow this a sec."
Whoosh—she snatched it and turned away quick.
...What's with her.
I eyed her back suspiciously, then trudged over.
First, plunged the dagger into the Strange Centipede's forehead.
[Defeated Irregular Grade-6 Strange Centipede.]
[Reward: +3 days remaining time.]
[Inter Quest Achieved]
[Reward: +5 days remaining time.]
[Remaining time: 27 days 5 hours 54 minutes]
[Reward: Acquired 15 SP.]
[Remaining SP: 31]
['Gluttony' says it's a decent meal after a long time.]
[Seal Release Rate: 5%]
Absorbed the demon energy too, so I'd claimed everything personal.
Now, register as leader for the bounty, but that wasn't easy.
A ghost without ID and a Ta Hak student breaking rules standing front—too risky.
"No choice."
Decision made, I called Viper.
"Oh, Time-Limited sir, hunt going well?"
"Bit of a problem."
* * *
Entrusting Irregular cleanup, Viper laughed hollowly first.
But after receiving proof pics, attitude flipped.
Stammering nonsense, told me wait, hung up.
So now, Cheon Seo-yun and I sat in nearby grass.
I opened sub-space pouch, handed prepped drinks; we sipped silently, watching sunset over the cliff.
Cheon Seo-yun stayed quiet awhile, then spoke.
"Our teamwork was good, right?"
Teamwork?
Felt oddly familiar, but I answered honestly.
"Was there teamwork?"
"No, you scouted, I hunted—split roles, results were great. Though turns out you're no slouch..."
True. Way easier. She rampaged on her own without orders.
I nodded then, and a smile tugged her lips.
"Anyway, today was fun. Made good money, shook off that gloomy mood from days ago."
Cheon Seo-yun rubbed her nose, embarrassed by the sudden confession.
"Good."
I replied shortly.
It eased some of my mental debt too, so it was for me as well.
"...That's it? Wow, look at that emotional desert."
"Better short than overdone."
"Tch. Anyway, I'll add your ID, so hunt together again when times match."
Cheon Seo-yun extended a hand, informing/proposing.
But why meet you again.
To wriggle out, I intoned gravely.
"Won't be easy to meet again. Not much time left now."
"Ah..."
Hinting I was busy worked, it seemed.
Cheon Seo-yun nodded small, eyes somehow sad as she told me.
"...I'll send messages sometimes."