Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Voices of the Summons
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“Let’s go, Hoyangi!”
“It’d be a miracle if we got one more skill unlocked~”
Grrr…….
The summons’ reactions were lukewarm compared to the hunters’ pumped-up energy. Kim Hyun-wook flashed a bright grin at Hoyangi, but the tiger cub deliberately avoided his gaze and trudged ahead at a snail’s pace.
“Uh… so, we’re doing the dungeon clear just with the summons, right?”
“Ah, yeah. Our clan rule is to let them fight it out among themselves without using other skills or weapons, as much as possible.”
I quietly asked Kwak Min-ho, the nearest hunter, and he set Rose down on the ground as he answered.
It’s the best way to level up summons, that’s for sure.
‘That said, the mood’s kinda off.’
There seemed to be some connection between Kim Min-sook’s reaction when I expressed interest in joining the clan and the summons’ deflated morale.
‘Ugh, I don’t wanna dungeon with these assholes…’
“Huh?”
“What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing.”
A unfamiliar voice suddenly pierced my ears. I looked around, but couldn’t spot anyone who might’ve said it.
‘Wait, could it be…?’
I opened my inventory and checked the ‘Inner Thoughts Phone’ pinned to the first slot.
[Activated]
That meant this voice was…
‘I’m only putting up with this for my real dad. Gonna ask for tomatoes when I get home.’
The voices of the summons around me?
‘Why does Dad keep telling me to be friends with these jerks? Doesn’t make sense…’
A childlike voice kept echoing in my ears.
From the earlier tomato comment, it sounded like Hoyangi…
I glanced at Hoyangi. She was leading the pack at the front, slowly plodding along with a face full of dissatisfaction.
“Is this your first time in this dungeon, Hunter Shin Ji-ui?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. First time.”
“The Namyangju C-rank dungeon is perfect for growing summons! The monsters have high defense but low attack power, so you can test out all sorts of summon skills!”
Kim Hyun-wook pointed confidently at Hoyangi and Rose, his face beaming with pride.
“Hoyangi and Rose can already do combo attacks!”
I turned back to Hoyangi. She forced a smile at Kim Hyun-wook before trudging onward.
‘Fight together with that long-eared freak again? Dad’s an idiot!!’
“Their teamwork is top-notch!”
“...Oh, really?”
‘Doesn’t look like it at all.’
I ignored Kim Hyun-wook’s enthusiasm and glanced at the other summons.
‘Those punks are gonna fight again. Ugh, hate seeing them. Why’s my Yoon oppa hanging with losers like that?’
The one with the rustic dialect was probably Dukbae…
‘Sigh… gonna have to run my ass off again? Why keep using that shitty D-rank movement skill… Even if he’s my bro, he needs to get his head straight.’
The calm voice casually dropping f-bombs was Rose.
‘…….’
And even the silent Dushimi watching everything…
After hearing the summons’ true feelings through the Inner Thoughts Phone, I pieced it together.
‘The summons don’t get along.’
And among the hunters, only Kim Min-sook seemed to have noticed. With summons who weren’t on good terms, adding a new face could spell trouble—that’s probably why she hesitated on my joining.
I checked the Inner Thoughts Phone in my inventory again.
[Inner Thoughts Phone]
[S-Rank]
[A phone that lets you hear the inner thoughts of summons within 1km]
I need to use this to mend the summons’ relationships—win them over, and Kim Min-sook too.
Crunch.
Right then, a massive wooden pillar-like thing burst out from the roadside café.
‘Ah, it’s a coffee grinder.’
Up close, it was a bean grinder.
Fitting for a café street background—coffee-related monsters.
“Okay, same as always. Hoyangi!”
“Rosie~”
Kim Hyun-wook and Kwak Min-ho called out, and Rose dashed forward like a bullet, kicking the grinder’s handle with her hind legs.
Thud.
As the grinder toppled, Hoyangi slammed down with her front paw and sparked a small flame.
‘Eek! Did that long-eared freak just step on me? Scary! Why’s the bunny so tiny!’
‘Fuck, nearly died.’
Rose and Hoyangi’s chemistry was terrible.
They’d been clearing dungeons with Rose as bait and Hoyangi attacking, but it didn’t suit their personalities.
Whirr.
Suddenly, the grinder’s handle spun wildly, sucking in nearby pebbles.
“Ack, Rosie!”
Awoo—!
Crunch!!
As Rose staggered toward the grinder, Nokdu bit her scruff and yanked her back swiftly. At the same time, a green wind blade obliterated the handle.
Whoosh—
‘That’s Dushimi’s attack.’
As expected of an A-rank—it packed more punch than C-rank Hoyangi. Flames slipped through the gap in the shattered grinder.
Boom!!
‘Finally, I can use my skills properly.’
Hoyangi swung her paw again, launching a fireball.
Bang!
Direct hit. The grinder shattered into pieces.
“Good job, Hoyangi!”
Kim Hyun-wook grinned wide and thumbs-upped her. Hoyangi gave a sulky smile, but she still seemed uneasy after Rose nearly got hurt.
I turned and headed toward Kwak Min-ho.
“Is Rose okay?”
“Ah, yeah. Nokdu saved her—no injuries.”
Rose, cradled in Kwak Min-ho’s arms, stared blankly ahead with a dissatisfied look.
Poke.
‘Sis, did I do good?’
A hefty weight on my foot—looking down, Nokdu was begging for pets with her whole body.
“Haha! Still just a pup!”
Song Yun laughed heartily, cooing over Nokdu.
‘Can’t stop her, huh.’
I petted Nokdu’s head for a while, then opened my status window to check the Sudden Order timer.
[Animal Communicator]
Gain favor from five or more summons.
[1/5]
🎁 Reward: Massive progress on mission ‘Wolf’s Companion’
⏰ Time Limit: 2 hours 57 minutes
‘...Gotta do something now.’
With time running short, it was time to step up.
“I noticed Rose was playing bait—does she have a movement skill?”
“Yeah, D-rank movement skill.”
“Rose draws the monsters’ aggro, then the other summons attack!”
Kim Hyun-wook chimed in.
“Could Nokdu take that role instead?”
[Eloquence increased]
[All lifeforms in range react to Awakener ‘Shin Ji-ui’s’ words.]
‘Okay, got ’em rattled.’
Nokdu’s attack skill wasn’t unlocked yet, so I couldn’t pitch her as DPS. But her S-rank movement skill was open—worth a shot.
“Uh… Nokdu?”
“Will the teamwork work…?”
Kwak Min-ho and Kim Hyun-wook exchanged awkward glances.
‘Makes sense they’re thrown off.’
It was like telling a rolling stone to replace the cornerstone.
I kept a harmless smile and spoke calmly.
“Hoyangi and Rose have good synergy, but the size difference makes it hard for them to go all-out. Rose looks worn out too.”
‘Whoa! How’d she know?!’
‘Damn, she’s sharp.’
Hoyangi and Rose reacted in perfect unison, like they’d rehearsed. I twitched my nose at Rose, then looked to Kwak Min-ho. He looked hesitant but slowly nodded.
[Speech result: Accepted]
“Sure. Let’s give it a try……”
“Hoyangi…? You wanna try it too?”
Grrrowl.
Hoyangi growled in satisfaction, and Kim Hyun-wook’s eyes widened.
“Nokdu has a movement skill too?”
“Yes, S-rank, and it flies—so Hoyangi can attack from the ground comfortably.”
I answered Kim Min-sook, then looked down at Nokdu. She stuck out her tongue, panting excitedly before leaping into the air and landing coolly.
‘Did good, did good~!’
“Shall we keep going?”
The hunters nodded as I spoke, with Hoyangi’s voice echoing only in my ears.
[Animal Communicator]
Gain favor from five or more summons.
[2/5]
🎁 Reward: Massive progress on mission ‘Wolf’s Companion’
⏰ Time Limit: 2 hours 53 minutes
‘One more!’
Probably Hoyangi, who’d reacted earlier. I glanced her way—her eyes sparkled at me before she turned and trotted ahead.
‘Kinda like that human~ Gotta try befriending that puppy too.’
Too grateful for words.
I fought back a grin and followed the summons.
Thud, thud, thud.
Three bean grinders this time. They swarmed Hoyangi instantly, spinning their handles furiously.
Awoo—!
Bam!
Nokdu body-slammed one, drawing their aggro.
‘Can’t catch me? Dumbasses!’
My Nokdu was fierce.
She taunted from higher up, enraging the grinders into raising their blades at her.
Crunch!
Hoyangi struck from the ground, cracking one under her paw and spewing fire into the gap.
While one burned, Nokdu zipped around the rest, disrupting perfectly.
Thud, thud.
Much smoother teamwork—the grinders shattered in seconds.
Grrr!
Boom!!
Later coffee machines fell to Nokdu’s disruption, Hoyangi and Dushimi’s attacks. Seamless teamwork.
“Wow, that’s fast for sure.”
“Hah! We just got schooled by an SS-rank! Haha!”
Kwak Min-ho marveled, and Song Yun laughed booming.
‘Left with Rose, Dukbae, and Dushimi…’
Rose was free from bait duty but bored without a role. Dukbae hadn’t shown skills, clinging to Song Yun’s shoulder.
No choice—frontal assault it was.