Chapter 240: Conquering the Kraken (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 240: Conquering the Kraken (2)
Dawn, the next day.
The defensive barrier split open, and a battle similar to yesterday's ensued.
The only difference was that the collective magic from the Magic Tower, which had signaled the start of the battle before, was not used today.
The number of creatures had dwindled significantly from the start, and besides, once a mage uses up all their mana, it takes about two to three days to replenish it.
“Hah!”
The battle against the Kraken Juniors that had set foot on land began.
Amidst the simultaneous clashes, the one who clearly stood out was Son Seo-yeon.
Every time her sword flashed through the air, severed squid tentacles fell like rain.
“…Ju-yeon’s buffs really are something else.”
This was thanks to Han Ju-yeon’s buffs.
It seemed her promise to Han Ju-hee to take responsibility for us wasn't a lie, as she'd layered us with all sorts of buffs before the battle even began.
Increased physical abilities, increased defense, improved concentration, enhanced mana efficiency, strengthened recovery, and more.
Truly the buffs of an S-rank Hunter.
After receiving them all, it felt like I could easily overwhelm an opponent a full rank higher.
Watching her effortlessly slice through an enemy that had been an even match just yesterday, I was once again struck by how incredible she was.
“Born with a golden spoon, that one.”
Her mom, her dad, and even her aunt.
With three S-rank Hunters by her side, wouldn't it be fair to call that a diamond spoon?
On top of that, she had inherited both her mother's and father's talents.
…Of course, I never taught her directly, but even if her form is a bit clumsy, she’s putting it to good use.
“Hah, haah…”
A smile spread across her lips after she triumphed against two Kraken Juniors at once.
Right.
Go on and rampage until you’ve let it all out.
Until that misplaced guilt of thinking the Kraken appeared because of you is completely gone.
While supporting her with magic only in dangerous moments, I looked through the gap in the open barrier to check on the Kraken in the distance.
Most of it was submerged, but just seeing the pointed, triangular head floating above the surface gave me an idea of the colossal body hidden beneath.
“…Is it still spawning?”
The reason it remained submerged and motionless was to spawn.
It was likely sucking up the ocean's energy and using it to continuously lay eggs.
Indeed, eggs the size of a human torso were floating around its body.
“One more day… no, two?”
The Kraken's spawning would continue until the energy in the surrounding seawater dropped below a certain level.
Once the energy it absorbed weakened, it would determine that it had spawned enough. Then, it would launch a full-scale invasion with its offspring.
At this point, some people might wonder:
Why not just land the first hit on the Kraken while it's spawning?
You can't.
The moment you strike the creature while it's feasting on the ocean's energy, it will stop spawning.
It will then absorb all the energy it has drawn into its body and convert it into its own power.
In fact, Japan had tried that once, and the creature had unleashed a breath attack of enormous size, causing them to suffer an unbelievable amount of damage, I believe.
Unless you can kill it in one shot while it's spawning, the correct answer is to not touch it at all.
“Hmm… to conquer that thing…”
If I were an S-rank Hunter, how would I take it down?
I ran a simulation in my head.
“Fighting it in the sea… is suicidal.”
But fighting it on land had its own set of problems.
How would you lure that massive beast onto land, and could you handle the damage to the surrounding cities when it started to rampage?
“That only leaves one option.”
When you eliminate the impossible situations one by one, only one remains.
Attacking it from the inside.
Of course, even that didn't seem easy.
Most colossal monsters have at least one method of repelling anything that invades their bodies.
Sometimes, the more severe ones make you regret not just chipping away at them slowly from the outside.
I bet this one is no different.
“Hmm… still, it’s the best method.”
A Hunter's conquest requires attention to many different aspects.
Especially if the battle environment is outside a dungeon.
There must be no civilian casualties, and the strategy must be designed to minimize damage to buildings in a city or to nature in a natural environment.
Isn't that hard as hell?
Yeah, it is.
But that's why Hunters make so much money.
Nothing in this world comes for free.
Rumble…!
The open defensive barrier began to close again.
It was a signal that today's operation was over.
“Ah, is it that time already?”
Looking around, I saw only a few living Kraken Juniors left, and the area was littered with corpses.
It seemed most of the ones in the sea were gone too…
By tomorrow, the work for B-rank Hunters should be finished.
And then, the full-scale conquest of the Kraken will begin.
I'm quite curious to see what kind of efficient strategy they'll use to take it down.
Then, my gaze unintentionally drifted to the nearly closed gap in the barrier.
The Kraken's triangular head in the distance.
Flash!
Suddenly, its eyes shot open.
“……?”
At the same moment, the barrier closed completely.
It wasn't a big deal for it to open its eyes in the middle of spawning, but I had a feeling its focus was directed this way… No, it couldn't be, right?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
After returning from the battle, Seo-yeon and I were held captive for a while by an insistent Han Ju-yeon.
“Stay still! I need to check you thoroughly for any injuries!”
She seemed to feel a much stronger sense of responsibility than I had thought.
After talking back to Han Ju-hee like that, I guess she was determined to protect us no matter what.
After being held like that and even having dinner together, we were finally released and returned to our lodgings.
With an emergency evacuation order in effect, the only things to do here were fiddle with a smartphone or watch unfunny dramas and variety shows on the TV in the room.
“Ugh, I’m so bored.”
Just as I was starting to think that fighting was better than this.
Vzzzzzt—
The smartphone I had tossed near my head vibrated loudly.
I checked to see who it was…
“…Han Ju-hee?”
My mind went slightly blank at the sight of her name.
After all the harsh words she threw at me, why was she suddenly calling?
Although I wasn't particularly hurt, some resentment is bound to remain for someone who says such things.
I wanted to reject her call coldly, but…
“Hello.”
At the same time, I was incredibly curious.
What on earth was her reason for calling me at this hour?
A moment of silence followed.
“…Hello?”
After I spoke again, her voice finally came through.
-I’d like to meet for a moment.
*
On top of the high defensive barrier, where the moonlit, atmospheric sea was in clear view.
As I used Fly magic to land, Han Ju-hee, who was already waiting, gave a slight bow and offered an apology.
“I’m sorry.”
“……”
Her red hair fell forward as she bowed her head.
“I was so angry, I couldn't distinguish between what I should and shouldn't have said.”
Her straightforward tone held genuine sincerity.
That's why I was surprised, puzzled, and a little angry.
I thought you'd forgotten the word 'apology' ever since you changed.
So you were still a person who could admit her faults and apologize honestly.
“You’re apologizing pretty quickly, aren’t you?”
My tangled emotions made my words come out sarcastic.
When she lifted her head, her expression showed not even a flicker of agitation.
Instead, her attitude suggested it was only natural to be spoken to in such a way.
Finding even that attitude displeasing, Kim Do-jin curled his lips into a cold, mocking smile.
“Did the experiment we were doing start to bother you?”
Despite the taunt and accusation that she was only apologizing to uncover my secret and satisfy her own selfish desires, she calmly shook her head.
“It may seem that way, but no. If that’s how you feel… I’ll stop the experiment as well.”
“Ha…”
A single, hollow breath escaped me.
“Did what you said to me… bother you that much? Enough to call me in the middle of the night to meet?”
“Yes.”
An immediate answer came before my question was even finished.
“Insulting someone for being an orphan… was something I shouldn't have done. Especially me.”
“And what is the reason that Hunter Han Ju-hee, of all people, shouldn't have done it?”
For the first time today, she was at a loss for words.
After a moment of hesitation, the answer she gave was enough to drive a person mad.
“Because my husband was in a similar situation.”
Kim Do-jin suppressed his anger and asked her again.
“…So, because Hunter Son Si-woo is also an orphan, you, who live with him, have even less right to insult orphans… Is that what I’m hearing?”
Han Ju-hee quietly nodded.
This is driving me crazy, seriously…
Since when did she care so deeply for her husband to spout such hypocrisy?
“Do you remember the question I asked during our last experiment?”
Her expression clouded as she nodded.
“…You asked about the truth behind the rumor that my husband and I are a show-window couple.”
“Then you must also remember how you answered, Hunter Han Ju-hee.”
“……”
Her mouth finally closed.
She must have realized it herself.
How hypocritical it was to claim she shouldn't insult orphans because her husband was one, right after admitting they were living as a show-window couple.
“Ah~ so even as a show-window couple, there are lines you won't cross? Is that the kind of mindset you have?”
My twisted emotions were laid bare in my tone.
She smiled bitterly and shook her head.
“I wonder.”
It wasn't a word spoken out of genuine confusion.
It was just her way of saying she didn't want to answer my question.
“Whatever the reason… I want to apologize for my slip of the tongue back then.”
Despite his efforts to dig deeper, he ended up right back where he started.
If anything, his clumsy attempt to probe had only made his heart ache.
Because despite all the years they had spent sharing a bed, he had no way of knowing what was in that woman's heart.
“Hoo…”
Kim Do-jin let out a deep sigh to try and relieve some of the tightness in his chest.
Still emotional, but in a much calmer tone than before, he asked.
“Are you only apologizing to me?”
Kim Do-jin wasn't the only one she had hurt that day.
Son Seo-yeon was hurt, of course, and Han Ju-yeon was likely quite wounded by her older sister's changed demeanor as well.
At that, she spoke with difficulty.
“I plan to apologize… to them as well.”
Her tone was noncommittal, as if the words "someday" were left unsaid.
Watching Han Ju-hee struggle more to say she would apologize to those two than to say sorry to him, a virtual stranger, Kim Do-jin shook his head.
I don't get it.
Is it really that hard to say sorry to your own family?
At the same time, an idea came to him.
A way to give her a bit of a headache.
“Let’s do this.”
“……?”
“Apologize to Seo-yeon sunbae and your teacher… I mean, your sister, first.”
As he said that, her expression darkened instantly.
With a much more relaxed expression and tone, he continued.
“The deadline is… before the Kraken conquest is over. I’ll accept your apology then.”
Seeing her troubled expression made it feel like I could finally breathe.
Regardless of her feelings, it was an offer I didn't care if she accepted or not.
If she did accept, I would at least think that the words she'd said while bringing up her husband weren't a complete lie.
And in that moment, Kim Do-jin vaguely realized what he wanted from her.
He wanted her to feel more frustrated, more troubled.
So much more than she was now.