Chapter 402
Chapter 402
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 402
Chapter Title: Hunter's Strange World
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The past few days.
I used Hacking to dig up all sorts of information on Park Su-ho.
But there wasn't much to find.
First, his family situation.
His parents had died two years ago in a dungeon collapse incident, and his younger sister was in a coma, slowly dying from a curse inflicted by the A-rank monster Baek-taek. Without the neutralizing agent to keep countering the curse, she wouldn't last even a month.
The problem was that the Baek-taek curse neutralizer was ridiculously expensive, and for an ordinary person to shake off that curse was next to impossible. To completely eradicate it, you'd need the power of an S-rank shaman.
'Park Su-ho's current debt is just over 100 million.'
Park Su-ho had gotten into Gukcheon University thanks to a scholarship. The university wanted the prestige of enrolling Park Su-ho, the hero of Changwon.
'His social connections got cut off two years ago when he dropped out of high school... and aside from the entrance ceremony, he hasn't set foot on campus.'
Park Su-ho was diving into dungeons every single day. He needed the money. What was strange was that he was buying things like bulk flour or farming tools with it.
'...If there's one thing Park Su-ho has, it's the ability he got upon awakening.'
Ha Seung-hee probably didn't know exactly what his ability was. She just suspected it was something special.
'Just how amazing is it for Ha Seung-hee to take an interest?'
???
Goblin Cave
An F-rank open dungeon. As the name suggested, it was infested with F-rank monsters: goblins.
Due to the high humidity and the stench that made you want to puke, it wasn't a popular spot. Unless you were a Hunter desperate for cash, no one came here on purpose.
I confirmed Park Su-ho had entered the Goblin Cave and followed three minutes later. The Association staff guarding the entrance tilted his head.
"...Sung Yu-jin? You're a C-rank Hunter, what brings you here?"
"I need goblin poison, so I came to get it myself."
The staffer stared at my face for a moment.
"...Please don't cause any trouble inside the dungeon."
"No worries there."
The stench hit me the moment I stepped inside. I suppressed my presence and headed deeper into the cave.
I found Park Su-ho. He was hunting goblins with a shortsword. His movements surprised me. It had to have been shortly after his awakening, and he surely hadn't had proper combat training, but he moved like someone who'd been taught by a pro.
"Kreek!"
A goblin lunged with its claws outstretched. Park Su-ho responded calmly. He sidestepped to dodge, then thrust his shortsword at the goblin's heart for a counterattack.
He methodically took down the goblins one by one like this.
Then three goblins appeared at once.
'Three goblins would be too much for an F-rank Hunter fresh off awakening. The right move is to retreat to a narrow spot behind and fight there.'
But Park Su-ho moved differently from what I'd expected.
He thrust out his left hand—the one not holding his weapon. On his left wrist was a tattoo of intricate geometric patterns.
"Fireball!"
A ball of fire materialized in Park Su-ho's palm and shot toward the goblins. Boom! It exploded, instantly killing all three.
'Magic?! Park Su-ho used magic?!'
No, it was too early to call it magic for sure. I hadn't sensed any mana when he cast it. Maybe it was just his ability.
"Thanks, Elisha. That's all thanks to you."
Park Su-ho muttered as he collected the goblin mana stones. His tone made it clear this wasn't just talking to himself. If it was, he'd be certifiably insane.
'...Is someone hiding? Fooled my eyes? No way.'
Cell service was impossible inside a dungeon. Did he have some companion I didn't know about?
"You're pushing yourself too hard. You guys need to get stronger fast, too. That way it'll be better for you all... What?"
Park Su-ho froze.
He suddenly whipped around, pointing his shortsword my way. I swallowed hard from my hiding spot behind the wall.
"Who's there! I know you're hiding behind that wall! Come out!"
How the hell had he sensed my presence? Could an F-rank Hunter pull that off?
I hesitated for a second, then stepped out to face Park Su-ho.
"Y-Yu-jin sunbae!?"
"Long time no see, Park Su-ho."
"How did sunbae...?"
"I came for goblin poison and... saw something interesting. How'd you cast Fireball? You're not a mage. And last time, didn't you tell me it was physical enhancement?"
"Th-that's..."
Park Su-ho was visibly flustered. His eyes darted around. He clearly hadn't expected to run into someone he knew here.
"Whatever, if you don't wanna say, fine. I can ask around someone else. About those moving tattoos, too."
The moment I turned my back—
"Elisha! No!"
A Fireball came flying at me.
I used Instant to dodge it, then closed in on Park Su-ho in a flash and grabbed his throat.
"You just tried to kill me? Got a death wish, Park Su-ho?"
"Kkh! No! It wasn't me! Sunbae! This is...!"
"Explain it properly so I can understand, Park Su-ho."
I growled with killing intent, and Park Su-ho nodded frantically in fear.
???
Tattoo World.
It was Park Su-ho's ability.
Through his tattoos, he was connected to another world. He could send food or tools there, use powers from that world, and even go there himself.
'Abilities like this exist, huh.'
I looked over Park Su-ho's body. Excluding his hands, feet, head, and neck, it was covered in tattoos. A sun on his right wrist, a mountain on his abs, something like a village over his heart.
His back had fields and caves.
"...This looks familiar. Hmm."
"A web game, right?"
"Yeah. That web game where you develop a village."
"Yes. That's what I thought at first, too. And... it's not that different. The more I develop this Tattoo World—specifically, Veroprin City that I rule—the stronger I get proportionally."
I stared at Park Su-ho's right shoulder. Merchants driving a cart were moving toward his chest.
"Doesn't it hurt?"
"No, it doesn't."
"That Fireball earlier?"
"It's magic from Elisha, Veroprin's market proxy. I can use her abilities with her permission. When I fired that Fireball at you, sunbae... it wasn't me. It was Elisha's will."
"Fine, whatever. If I can enter the Tattoo World, can I go too?"
"I'm not sure... I've never tried."
"Give it a shot. In exchange, I won't breathe a word about your ability to anyone. Deal?"
"You really won't tell anyone?"
"Yeah."
"...It might fail. I've never brought anyone else into the Tattoo World."
"Just try. If you can go, I should be able to too."
"Okay. Give me your hand first."
"......"
Holding hands with a guy felt gross, but I extended mine anyway. I was that curious about his ability.
Park Su-ho took my hand, closed his eyes, and focused. His tattoos began to glow, and we entered the Tattoo World.
A brilliant blue sky and floating clouds came into view.
Park Su-ho and I appeared in a place resembling a medieval village. The villagers bowed deeply the moment they saw him. It was clear how much they revered him.
Then someone came running toward us. A stunning blonde in a white robe, D-cup breasts, slim waist.
"Mayor! You're here! And... the mayor's guest too."
"Elisha. The person next to me is my university sunbae. He's not an enemy."
"...I'm sorry. I attacked thinking he was an enemy."
Elisha bowed to me. I quietly savored the view down her cleavage.
"No big deal. I wasn't exactly friendly either. And... I didn't expect it to really connect to another world."
"Sunbae, you'll keep your promise, right? Please keep this a secret..."
"I will. Mind if I look around this world instead?"
"Of course."
Under Park Su-ho and Elisha's guidance, I toured this world—specifically, Veroprin City, which Park Su-ho ruled.
Mines and rice paddies lay outside the city walls. Beyond them stretched a dense forest.
"Su-ho, does time stop out here when you're in?"
"Pardon? No, time flows the same."
"Huh. No other worlds?"
"Other worlds?"
"Never mind if not."
It was very different from my Playful Life app.
And there wasn't much to see in this world. The Hundred Ghosts world had way more sights and fun things.
"...The city's suddenly getting rowdy. Oh no. A fight broke out!"
"Mayor! It's dangerous!"
Park Su-ho and Elisha rushed off to break it up. I took the chance to pull a Spatial Movement Scroll from my inventory.
'Coordinate save... worked? Can I come here from outside with a Spatial Movement Scroll?'
Worth testing.
Afterward, we went to Park Su-ho's house in the city and had dinner.
"Is Elisha Su-ho's lover?"
"L-Lover? The mayor and I aren't like that."
"...Right."
Elisha quickly shook her head in denial, while Park Su-ho gave a melancholic smile.
I realized they had feelings for each other. But I had no intention of meddling to fix their relationship.
"You can only come here once every three days, for about four hours?"
"Yes. Elisha says if the ability develops more... I might be able to stay longer."
"Can't bring Elisha out?"
"Tried, but... no luck."
"Got it. Thanks for the tour today. Ready to head back?"
"Sure. You should be able to return with me."
After dinner and saying goodbye to Elisha, Park Su-ho and I exited together. We were back in the Goblin Cave.
"Phew. Sunbae, please keep my ability's secret."
"Promise. Won't tell a soul. But Ha Seung-hee seems to be watching you. Why?"
"......Last time there was that incident in Changwon, I gave her something from the Tattoo World."
"Something?"
"Perfume that hides you from monsters. That's why she's keeping tabs on me."
"Sell that stuff. Make bank."
"......Elisha says at the city's current level, we can barely make one a month."
"Huh. Anyway, I'm out. Good luck."
"Ah. Yes. Take care."
???
A few hours later.
I looked at the Spatial Movement Scroll. It had the coordinates for Park Su-ho's Tattoo World, Veroprin City, set.
'Will it work? Oh, Park Su-ho can observe the Tattoo World, so... better hide my face.'
Wearing a clown mask, I tore the scroll.
I was in Veroprin City. People around stared at me.
'Success!'
If coming here worked, so would going back with another scroll.
'Being able to come and go with Spatial Movement Scrolls means... the worlds are linked somehow...'
I shook my head. Headaches later. Something more important right now.
"Elisha! I'm coming to fuck you right now!"
???
Park Su-ho lay on his sleeping mat, eyes closed.
But sleep wouldn't come. Today, someone else had learned his ability. Someone he barely knew.
'...Will that sunbae keep his promise? He didn't seem like a bad guy...'
His mind a mess, Park Su-ho needed a distraction. He naturally activated his Tattoo World observation ability. A screen visible only to him appeared. He could view the Tattoo World through it, but only watch.
'Elisha... I wonder what Elisha's up to...'
Park Su-ho thought of the mansion where Elisha stayed. The screen shifted there.
'What if Elisha's suddenly taking a shower?'
Having such idle thoughts, Park Su-ho searched the mansion for her. Elisha was in the bedroom.
"......!!"
Elisha was on the bed, being ravaged by a man wearing a clown mask.
-S-Stop...! Haaaang!