Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Black History #3
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The hunters blankly stared at their status windows.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You have achieved a Hidden Piece! "...?"
Lakia Bells blankly stared into empty space.
Hidden Piece.
Not some neighborhood dog's name, but a term she'd already seen twice in a row this time around.
The other hunters, who rarely saw it even once over their entire careers, had now encountered it twice, as casually as bumping into a local friend.
And consecutively, at that.
"Am I... Am I seeing this wrong...?"
"The senior hunters clearly said not to expect it...?"
"Any attacks aimed at Do-yoon from now on will be considered attacks on me."
Confusion, awe, worship(?)
All their emotions converged on the one hunter at the center of it all.
A man standing there on his back with a terrifying object slung over it, catching his breath leisurely for a moment.
-Thump.
Lakia Bells's chest faintly trembled after tasting a fragment of that strength.
The trait of those who only truly quicken their pulse upon discovering not just the strong, but the perfect match.
'Sister.'
They said finding one's mate in a lifetime was incredibly difficult, yet Lakia Bells felt Do-yoon's presence growing ever larger within her.
The fact that Do-yoon himself hadn't even considered it was quite the blind spot.
"That guy's really from Earth...?"
"I'm confident. If I challenged him, I'd be dead in under five seconds."
"It's an insurmountable wall. We shouldn't even think of competing."
The scene from moments ago was etched into the hunters' minds.
Even faced with a Kobold King several times larger and stronger than himself—
There was no hesitation in his movements, striking only at weaknesses with precise, effective blows.
How one-sided was it that it even felt like the Kobold King was howling in injustice.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Rewards are enhanced due to the Hidden Piece. Do-yoon's head struggled to comprehend the situation, but his heart honestly raced with anticipation for the rewards.
'Grateful if they give it, sure.'
But popping out from such an unexpected place left him quite flustered.
"Why?"
"No. Just got a gift."
Eira watched Do-yoon with curious eyes from behind, staring at the same spot, but nothing was visible to her.
Because she lacked the permitted authority.
"A gift?!"
But hearing that her companion and precious friend had received a gift—
Eira was thrilled instead, shaking on Do-yoon's back.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Rewards ▶ A large amount of experience ▶ Small mana stone x1 ▶ Passive: 'Kobold King's Charisma (C)' Kobold King's Charisma (C) The charisma of a leader who commands the pack. In group activities, the pack will obey your commands better. "...Huh?"
But upon seeing the skill's description that followed, Do-yoon's excitement deflated.
Since it was a Hidden Piece, couldn't they have given something better?
He felt disappointed, but comforted himself that it was better than nothing.
✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ [Previous Lv] → [New Lv] Seeing his level rise by one digit lifted his mood again.
"Ma, mana stone...!"
"Selling this turns it all into money..."
'Mana stones must all sell for a high price.'
Earth, where Do-yoon lived, was the same.
Once back at the Association, he'd earn another nice pocketful.
"...Do-yoon."
Turning at the voice calling him, he saw the skinny hunter's face.
"What."
"Floor 5 has been cleared. We can enter Floor 6 tomorrow right away."
Floor 6.
The next stage, permitted only to those who cleared the themed stage.
"Can't go outside."
"We can go out."
Whether to leave or proceed to the next stage was up to the hunters' choice.
However, once entered, a stage couldn't be abandoned midway until cleared.
Abandonment meant death.
Yet most hunters, thirsty for rewards and conquests, chose to push to the next stage.
"What will you do?"
"Me?"
Originally, he planned to return to Earth and share the rewards and info he'd gathered.
The senior hunters would naturally be waiting for his return.
"Was gonna head back."
"...Head back?"
At the skinny hunter's mutter, the area fell silent for a moment.
"What."
"No way you're just leaving here? No! Let's go to the next stage!"
"The griffin that lays golden eggs... no, we can't let Do-yoon go here...!"
"...?"
Do-yoon tilted his head at the hunters' creepy gazes.
Wouldn't they all scatter once moving to the next floor anyway?
At least, as far as Do-yoon knew.
Help from hunters of the same world was possible only up to the tutorial zone of Floor 4.
After that, unless on fixed stages, they couldn't meet or get aid from other worlds' hunters.
"We can't even enter together anyway."
"Still, they'd like to match pace somehow."
"Pace?"
"Yeah. Even those guys over there, who have confidence in their skills, couldn't match your clear speed. Know what that means?"
'Do I need to?'
The thought flashed, but he decided to hear it out.
"It means you hold value we can't keep at our level."
"What value. High potential?"
"Exactly."
"Thanks for the praise."
Was it okay to act arrogant here?
Just Floor 5 cleared.
He was still a total newbie.
Do-yoon had so much more to do.
"Do-yoon."
This time, Lakia Bells approached and called him.
"Whether you go out or tackle the next stage, I respect your will."
"What now..."
Her attitude, drastically different from before, made Do-yoon dizzy.
"B-but. I hope a corner of your heart holds my existence."
"Eira."
Eira behind him raised an arm threateningly, waving it around.
'What's this about.'
Seemed like some circumstance Do-yoon didn't know.
"Wanna stay friends?"
"...Y-yes."
He thought for a moment.
Slapping his cheek on first sight was way over the line.
But her behavior after wasn't bad.
"Depends on what you do."
If the connection ended here, so be it.
If fate brought them together later, maybe.
Hopefully, she'd be more mannerly and kind by then.
"You... acknowledge me?"
"If you're that nice next time we meet."
"...!"
At those words, Lakia Bells trembled, shoulders shaking as if deeply moved.
"Such a broad mind too. As expected, the tribe's future..."
"Get lost!"
Watching Lakia Bells shoved away by Eira's not-quite-a-slap, Do-yoon turned to the skinny hunter still there.
"What'll you do?"
"What do you mean..."
Honestly, beyond conquests, there was a serious, heavy issue to resolve first.
"How long do we have to leave this stage?"
"Just cleared the boss room, so after tomorrow, it'll reset and force us out."
"..."
Time with Eira was drastically shortening.
"Got it."
"You leaving?"
"...You guys go first."
"Shame."
Watching the hunters leave obviously disappointed, Do-yoon set Eira down.
"Heehee."
Eira, still innocently smiling, unaware of anything—the young True Ancestor, back to object.
The object's role was in progressing the story and trials.
And the story they progressed had now all ended.
The suffering young True Ancestor had finally succeeded in revenge against the zealots.
Her mind had stabilized somewhat by Do-yoon's side, more than before.
'What happens now.'
Normally, it should reset.
The forbidden zone swept by Do-yoon and the hunters' battles.
The zealots.
The boss mob's vacancy would be filled by new kobold-type monsters.
Anyway, his worries kept drifting to Eira's future, as an accessory to that trial.
"Hm?"
Seeing Eira looking up beaming, clueless, soured his mood again.
'Just tell her that?'
Since she was part of the Tower, an accessory made for someone's trial.
Leave her here, let the bonds and memories fade, back to suffering days?
"..."
Not a great feeling.
No, it pissed him off.
After all the hardship to make her like a little sister, sharing memories together.
And now erase it all like rubber off a page.
The hunters left one by one.
Back in the village, Do-yoon spent Eira's last moments with her.
Let her fully explore the village she'd missed.
Even teased the guards eyeing them warily.
The guards, mistaking Eira for an innocent child, suspected kidnapping.
But freaked at "young True Ancestor" and hid in their group.
'Same here?'
They knew about hunters, so the village seemed weakly under the Tower's influence.
Time flowed on—
The last night before Eira's return.
Sitting by the campfire as before, feeling each other's warmth, Do-yoon suddenly asked.
"Eira."
"Hm?"
"Was it fun?"
Did she feel satisfied enough?
Revenge done, sorrow quelled.
Short time, but he'd acted with conviction it was worthwhile.
Actually cleared trials easily with her active help.
"Yeah!"
Eira nodded without hesitation at Do-yoon's question.
The smile on her lips showed pure happiness.
Eira was plenty happy.
Active together, feeling bonds.
Grateful for another like herself.
Days so joyful, scary to think it might be a fleeting dream.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Does Oppa like Eira?"
So she wanted verbal confirmation again.
If the bonds built weren't lies.
Not like the bad zealots treating her as a tool, but truly like family.
"Yeah. Like you a lot."
"Heeheehee!"
At the immediate reply, Eira beamed and jumped into his arms.
Embracing her small frame, Do-yoon felt his emotions plummeting.
'Hate this.'
Was there no way?
Not just because her powers boosted his fights.
He just wanted her with him.
Maybe the system influence from the Tower Lord Wine Lord's meddling.
"Me too!"
But in this place.
Eira and Do-yoon gazed at each other truly.
Days passed. Time changed.
Eira's end approached.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'Themed Stage' completed. Remaining challengers are automatically summoned to the non-combat zone. -Ding!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ There is an unclaimed reward. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Rewards ▶ Skill: Memories of the True Ancestor (???) Use 'Memories of the True Ancestor' to temporarily manifest the object. The manifested object will fight alongside you. "Huh?"
As the world crumbled and the campfire's warmth fully vanished.
Eira in Do-yoon's arms merged into his body with a bright smile.
"Oppa, call me again!"
Their time didn't seem over yet.