Chapter 33
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: 【Come Here, Let's Piggyback and Play】
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The radio the driver had tuned to buzzed with people chattering excitedly about dungeons.
"Is the radio too loud?"
"Pardon? No, it's fine!"
"Haha, good to hear. Then I'll get you to Namwon safely."
The limousine bound for Namwon glided smoothly along the road.
Today's assignment was the Namwon S-rank fairy tale dungeon, known among hunters as Chunhyangjeon.
The reason it bore that name was simple: the dungeon's interior was designed exactly like the tale of Chunhyangjeon. Hunters had to witness the meeting, trials, and reunion of Chunhyang and Mongryong while battling monsters.
'Though it's kinda funny that the boss monsters are Chunhyang and Mongryong themselves.'
Truth be told, the real reason Shin Ji-ui was looking forward to this dispatch wasn't the intriguing storyline—it was the team members coming along. She pulled out her phone from her inventory, opened HunterNet, and checked the team roster again.
[Dispatch Team: Shin Ji-ui (SS-rank), Choi Min (S-rank), Lee Sang-wook (A-rank), Kim Su-ah (A-rank), Jin Ju-hyeon (B-rank)]
Her first S-rank dungeon raid with Choi Min Hunter. A chance to see the hunter's true abilities up close.
'Maybe it'll jog my memory about something.'
Whether from anticipation or nerves, her heart beat a little faster than usual.
* * *
"Everyone's here, so let's head in."
Choi Min Hunter spoke curtly and stepped up first for the item scan. Her demeanor was the same as always—blunt and prickly.
"Hahaha! Shin Ji-ui Hunter, looking forward to working with you again!"
"Same here!"
Lee Sang-wook Hunter, on their second raid together, greeted her with his usual booming laugh and a hearty handshake. A-rank hunters were more plentiful than S-ranks, so the skill gap wasn't huge, and she often teamed up with the same faces.
'Classic balanced team comp this time.'
Core attackers: herself and Choi Min Hunter. Hybrid: Kim Su-ah Hunter. Defense: Lee Sang-wook Hunter. Healer: Jin Ju-hyeon Hunter. A solid setup aimed for a safe clear.
Creeeak.
As Choi Min Hunter pushed open the wooden gate emblazoned with a taegeuk pattern, a sharp floral scent pierced their noses.
Once fully inside, a rugged hillside path came into view, lined with tiled-roof houses. Lush green trees surrounded them, and in the courtyards, people who screamed "I'm the house servant!" were sweeping away.
"This village of Namwon in Honam was once the great kingdom of Daebang!"
"Whoa, that startled me."
A singer's voice boomed through the dungeon interior, so resonant it could pass for a pansori concert hall.
"To the east, Jirisan Mountain; to the west, Jeoksung River; south across Jeok River, a hollow; north to Tongunam Hollow—everywhere a land of gold and rivers, a prosperous paradise!"
"It's Chunhyangga."
Jin Ju-hyeon Hunter, who'd been listening quietly, chimed in.
"This brat's a rascal~!"
As if responding to her words, a man's voice echoed from afar. Heading toward it, they found a grand tiled-roof house larger than the rest. Inside, on the porch, a young man in hanbok sat, barking orders at his servant.
'That's Mongryong, no doubt.'
Mongryong's refined, handsome face was etched with boredom.
"Who're you lot?"
As they peered into Mongryong's house, a woman's voice called from behind. A shabby man and woman in period drama rags suddenly surrounded them. Gripping sickles and hoes, they approached with clear hostility.
"Hyah!"
The woman's sickle grew larger than the man himself, and Lee Sang-wook Hunter dashed forward, raising his wooden shield.
Bam!!
The shield cracked in half under the sickle's immense weight. Through the gap lunged the man. Before his hoe could slice Lee Sang-wook Hunter's waist, Shin Ji-ui pulled Ego's trigger long and hard.
Vrrr—
"Urgh...!"
Clang.
The vibrating air made the man clutch his head in agony, his sharpened hoe dropping to the ground.
'They look human, but they're monsters in the end. Still feels kinda wrong.'
She aimed at the writhing man and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
"Whoa!"
As his body dissolved into smoke, something yanked her backward. And right away...
Crunch.
A massive sickle embedded itself where she'd stood moments before. Regaining her balance, she pointed Ego forward—but the sickle and woman were already engulfed in crimson flames, crumbling to ash.
"Kyaahhh!!"
The woman screeched, reaching for Shin Ji-ui, but her ashen fingers crumbled powerlessly.
"Ha... that was close..."
"You okay?"
Lifting her head slightly, she met Choi Min Hunter's impassive gaze.
"Don't hesitate just because they're humanoid. They're monsters, nothing more."
"...Got it."
Choi Min Hunter released Shin Ji-ui's collar and scanned her briefly before looking away. Humanoid monsters like Yuki-onna or Jjambap felt otherworldly, but these ones looked exactly like people. Attacking them felt off, no matter what.
After Jin Ju-hyeon Hunter healed Lee Sang-wook Hunter's wrist, she turned to Shin Ji-ui.
"Shin Ji-ui Hunter, can you check the gate location with that item?"
"Oh, sure. Hmm..."
Pathfinder pointed toward the bustling marketplace.
"That way."
"Whoa, crowded."
"Monsters mixed in too. Stay sharp."
Getting mobbed in that crowd would be a nightmare.
She gripped Ego tight and entered the market.
"Fine silk~ Pearls~ Jewelry~"
"Fresh fish for sale~!"
Ox carts rumbled by amid vendors hawking wares—a classic marketplace scene. Lee Sang-wook Hunter crossed the center with his massive shield, yet no one stared; they just parted like the sea.
Thud.
A child in colorful patchwork clothes bumped into the shield and tumbled back.
"Oh dear, you okay?"
"Waaah~"
The kid sniffled, then burst into tears.
"Must've hit her forehead."
Instinctively, Shin Ji-ui stepped forward. She knelt by the child ahead of Lee Sang-wook Hunter, stroking the reddening bump on her forehead.
"Sniff, waaah~"
"It's okay, it's oka..."
'Wait.'
All the non-monsters had sidestepped them so far. Why did this one collide?
A bad feeling hit her. She pulled back just as the child's nails dug into her wrist.
"Gah!"
"Get back!"
Thwack!
Lee Sang-wook Hunter bashed the child away with his shield, sending her flying far off.
"Kyahaha~ Idiot~"
Whish.
Dozens of kitchen knives from the market flew at them. Shin Ji-ui raised Ego with her good hand and pulled the trigger. A white shockwave deflected them all, sending them clattering to the ground.
Boom boom boom!!
Embers flared as Choi Min Hunter launched into the air, closing the gap to the child in an instant. Hellfire swallowed the girl just as Shin Ji-ui turned away.
"Aaaagh! It hurts, it huuuurts!!"
"Eek!"
"Shin Ji-ui Hunter?! You alright?"
The child's horrific screams pierced her ears. Shin Ji-ui collapsed, clamping her hands over them.
'Why'd it have to be a girl around Ji-yu's age?'
It sounded just like Ji-yu screaming. Begging not to be healed, pleading to be let out, wanting to go home.
'I wanna die. For real.'
She even considered ripping out her eardrums. Finally, the child vanished completely.
"Haa... haa..."
"Y-You... okay?"
"Ah..."
Only then did her surroundings come back into focus. All the hunters stared at her, concern etched on their faces in their own ways.
'Ugh, showed some embarrassing weakness there.'
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Your face looks pale..."
"Heal her wrist first, anyway."
Choi Min Hunter added curtly.
"Oh, right! You got hurt earlier?"
Jin Ju-hyeon Hunter hurriedly placed Shin Ji-ui's wrist on her palm. Soon, black smoke rose from her hands.
"Ow, stings."
"Hang in there just a bit."
The black smoke seeped densely into the wound. Lower rank than Han Jin-woo Hunter's healing, it made the flesh regenerating feel vividly raw.
"Some kind of mental skill?"
"No, nothing like that. Just..."
No need to spell it out.
She just gave a wry smile.
"I'm a bit weak to kids."
"Haha... yeah, makes sense."
Jin Ju-hyeon Hunter nodded in understanding, and Lee Sang-wook Hunter bobbed his head vigorously too.
Once healed, they hurried out of the marketplace into a thickly wooded rough path. At its end loomed a massive tiled building, with Mongryong and his servant atop it—who knew when they'd arrived.
Drinking booze too. Lucky guy.
Thud thud thump!
"The blind moon cries out in longing for its mate. Dragonfly and white moth seek fragrant scents in pairs. The water is the Milky Way. The mountain view is a jade mirror. If the jade mirror is true, how could there be no fairy boat from the moon palace?"
Pansori rang out clear and bright again.
"That's probably Gwanghanru Pavilion. Mongryong's about to send his servant to fetch Chunhyang now."
"You know your stuff, Jin Ju-hyeon Hunter."
"I was a Korean literature teacher before awakening."
That explained it.
With the question answered, Kim Su-ah Hunter let out an "Ah~" and glanced back at Gwanghanru.
Pathfinder pointed beyond it. Shin Ji-ui silently gestured toward the gate without a word, and the others nodded, pressing on.