Chapter 589
Chapter 589
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 589
Chapter Title: MT
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"Professor. What's going on? Please explain in more detail."
"I'll keep it simple. A Level 2 monster disaster alert has been issued across Jeju Island."
"...Across all of Jeju Island?"
"That's right. Thousands of cone seahorses are advancing on Jeju Island."
Thousands of D-rank monsters charging in.
It was a situation that warranted a Level 2 disaster alert. But one thing nagged at him: how had no measures been taken until it reached this point?
The whole point of the Hero Association was to prevent exactly this kind of thing.
'This is a dungeon break. Was there an undetected dungeon lurking in the sea near Jeju Island? Even so, it's surprising the Association didn't spot it beforehand.'
Either way, the key to the current crisis was survival.
"This is an emergency. The Association members on Jeju Island are swamped and can't send reinforcements. They're prioritizing areas in worse shape than ours by dispatching hunters there first."
It was a perfectly reasonable call from the Association's perspective.
This hotel had dozens of hunters on site. Even if most were D-rank or lower, there was the famous A-rank hunter Han A-young. They could do more than just hold out. The professors were retired, but they'd all been at least B-rank hunters in their day.
"We can't just sit here as hunters. It's time for us to step up."
Unlike the nervous Hunter Department students, the professors' eyes burned with fervor. They might even see this as a chance to put Gukcheon University's name on the map.
"I'll do whatever I can. What's the plan?"
The professor had called him out personally; holing up in his room wasn't an option. Besides, this was an opportunity. Special circumstances like these were perfect for racking up merit points.
"D-rank and lower hunters will defend the hotel. You and the other C-rank-plus hunters will head outside and take on the cone seahorses. Luckily, Han A-young has agreed to help us."
The decision seemed already made; Han A-young and the other professors stayed quiet.
The mood wasn't hopeless.
Because Han A-young was here.
With her, a few hundred cone seahorses posed no real threat. The real worry was if the monsters heading their way weren't just cone seahorses.
'Here's hoping no dozens of A-rank-plus monsters show up at once.'
If that happened, everyone here could be wiped out.
As he checked his gear, Ha Seung-hee appeared, finally making her way down to the first floor. Their eyes met. He flashed her a grin. She immediately turned away, pretending not to know him.
"Yu-jin hyung."
Park Su-ho approached, fully geared up.
"Hey, Su-ho."
"I want to go out there and help you, hyung... but the professor says I have to stay here."
"I know your skills, but the professors go by rank, not actual ability. And protecting the people in this hotel is important too."
"Yeah, I get it. Be careful out there, hyung. I have a bad feeling about this."
"No plans to die here."
He passed Park Su-ho and headed to Han Ha-rin and Han A-young.
"Ha-rin sunbae. A-young noona. Got something to say."
He led them to a secluded corner out of sightlines and away from CCTV.
"What is it?"
Han Ha-rin's voice was sharp. She was clearly tense before battle. Han A-young, on the other hand, seemed utterly relaxed, like this was no big deal.
He stretched out both arms, wrapping around their slender waists and pulling them against him. He felt their ample breasts press against his chest.
"Nothing much. Just wanna kiss."
"Sung Yu-jin. This isn't the time for..."
"Sure."
Unlike Han Ha-rin's reluctance, Han A-young replied brightly and pressed her lips to his. Naturally, their tongues intertwined in a wet, sloppy dance.
"Unni?!"
Han Ha-rin panicked. She glared at Han A-young, then squeezed in like she couldn't lose. Han Ha-rin still had that competitive streak against her. Han A-young chuckled softly after being nudged aside and dove back in.
The three of them kissed at once. They devoured his lips and tongue like it was a contest. It was a lewd scene straight out of the raunchiest porn.
???
D-rank monster: cone seahorse.
These things normally lurked in rivers or the ocean. They could float in the air, but not far from the ground. And they couldn't stay active on land for long. Their bodies dried out quickly up there. On land, their physical abilities dropped by more than half.
'But right now, it's pouring rain.'
No drying out for the cone seahorses. The weather was on their side. Without the downpour, they probably wouldn't have left the sea in the first place.
Still, being on land limited their movements somewhat.
'On land, cone seahorses only have one attack: ramming.'
Their horns could pierce steel easily. A direct hit wouldn't end well.
'Just watch out for their burst acceleration, and they're not dangerous.'
But he barely had to lift a finger.
Han A-young's frost attacks froze most of the cone seahorses solid, killing them. Han Ha-rin's gravity crushed the rest into paste.
All he and the professors did was mop up the stragglers they missed.
In the end, over 150 cone seahorses were wiped out in just five minutes of fighting.
"That was way too easy."
He rested his Fire Lotus Blade on his shoulder, eyeing the seahorse corpses. They'd collect the mana stones later.
"The situation isn't over yet. Don't let your guard down, Sung Yu-jin."
The professor spoke from beside him. He was right; it wasn't done. More cone seahorses were approaching from the distant sea—about the same number as before.
Han A-young and Han Ha-rin sprang into action.
The pouring rain turned to hail, gravity empowering the ice chunks. The sisters' combined power shredded the seahorses. Even watching left him awestruck.
'No wonder people say elemental powers are the best.'
One surviving cone seahorse barreled toward him, eyes full of murder like it wanted payback. Standing still must've made him look like easy prey.
He flicked a finger, channeling lightning.
'Huh?'
A bolt shot from the dark clouds toward the seahorse. The area flashed bright. Rumble. Thunder followed belatedly.
'This is...'
It felt different from usual.
'The lightning and clouds are resonating.'
Most of the power came from the clouds. He'd just guided the bolt down. Mana cost: less than 10% of normal.
'Haha, this is fun. Worth leveling up Lightning.'
The environment wasn't just favorable to them. It worked for him too. Dark clouds pregnant with lightning, enemies soaked in water.
'Another live one over there.'
Boom!
Lightning struck true. His upgraded Shooting trait ensured no misses.
"Sung Yu-jin. Overkill. Conserve your mana."
"I'm good, Professor. Plenty of mana left. Feeling great. This setup feels like a stage made just for me."
"The environment...? I see."
The professor looked up at the clouds blanketing the sky. He'd realized Sung Yu-jin was using them.
"Elemental hunters can borrow nature's power. But humans can't fully dominate it. Don't forget that."
"Got it. I won't push too hard."
He was buzzing. Smashing monsters with lightning bolts was addictive. Like he'd become a god.
Two hours later, more cone seahorses crawled out of the sea.
This time, he took the lead.
He wanted to test his full power.
Rumble.
As he stirred his mana, lightning writhed in response within the clouds.
Instinct told him: he could control 33 bolts at once.
'More than I thought. Probably from the Intelligence boost affecting my Lightning trait.'
He lowered his gaze to the horde charging in—about 200 strong.
He could handle them solo.
'Die.'
Thirty-three azure bolts rained down.
Electrocuted seahorses collapsed without a scream. But some remained.
'Not enough yet.'
He kept hurling bolts until his mana ran dry.
His vision flashed, thunder roaring loud enough to burst eardrums.
When mana hit zero, no seahorses stirred. Smoke rose from their charred corpses.
"Good work, Yu-jin. Impressive. No one seeing this would peg you for a C-rank hunter."
"Got lucky. Mind if I head in and rest? You handle cleanup?"
"Your juniors will take care of that. Go rest."
He turned toward the hotel.
His lips trembled. He could barely contain his elation.
To think he could unleash this much power.
'Sex! I wanna fuck!'
He needed to vent this joy with sex, ASAP.
???
"Orders from the Association."
The professor addressed the gathered hunters.
"What are they?"
"We're to stay at the hotel and protect the civilians until the situation resolves. Good news: we have enough food here for ten days."
No one was surprised.
They'd expected it. If the hunters left, the civilians were dead meat. And other parts of Jeju were in the same boat. With the storm raging, flying out was impossible.
A boat? Waves were insane, and the sea crawled with cone seahorses. Sailing now was suicide.
"Silver lining: the seahorses attack in waves, not all at once. Numbers are growing, but... we have Han A-young. We can hold until the Association sorts it out."
No gloomy faces.
They'd repelled multiple waves unscathed already.
"The civilians have agreed to help too. Rest until the next wave."
"Professor."
Han Ha-rin called out.
"What do you think caused this mess?"
"The cause...? Beyond my pay grade. Association's guess: an erosion-type dungeon."
"So this is from an erosion dungeon's influence?"
"Likely. Look at the sky—that's proof. Those clouds have hung over Jeju without budging since last night. Clear anomaly."
"If it's a dungeon... then the core's somewhere."
"Not our job. That's for the Association. Han Ha-rin, go rest. We need your strength."
"Yes. Heading in."
???
He pretended to head to his room but slipped into Ha Seung-hee's instead.
"You wanna do it even now?!"
"Contract's a contract, even in this mess. Gotta check your status."
"Sigh. You're gonna do it no matter what I say."
Ha Seung-hee sighed and hiked up her skirt. Fancy purple panties. He reached out and tugged them down.
"Thought you'd put up a fight, but you're compliant all of a sudden? What's on your mind?"
"Nothing. Just fulfilling the contract."
"Doesn't feel like it. Saw my performance today and changed your tune? Thinking I might hit S-rank someday?"
"..."
Ha Seung-hee fell silent, not denying it.
S-rank hunter.
Even being buddy-buddy got you perks.
She'd definitely seen S-rank potential in him. Otherwise, she'd snap like last time.
'Chaebol heiress and a total gold-digger. Heh.'
He reached for Ha Seung-hee's pussy.