Chapter 61

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 61

Chapter Title: Love Call

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'Finally shook ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠them off.'

After sitting through the entire lengthy opening ceremony, it was already midnight.

The moment I headed to Hall A for a quick bite, strange gazes pinned themselves on me, and soon a decent crowd swarmed my way. The hunters who had greeted me warmly and introduced themselves soon shifted to sly sales pitches disguised as chit-chat.

"Are you really SS-Rank?"

"Any interest in broadcasting?"

"We've got this new armor set we're really pushing—mind trying it on just once...?"

"How's the Association treating you? Oh, nothing big, but we've got an opening in the guild...?"

I forced a smile through their schemes to lure me in and snag something from me, then slowly extricated myself. For those who wouldn't budge, I leaned on the power of my words to send them packing.

The ones who peeled away from me had already switched targets, desperately pitching to Ha Mi-jun Hunter, Se-bin, and the Chairman.

"Yawn."

"You look tired~"

"Wah! You startled me!"

Han Jin-woo Hunter approached with a beaming smile, Americano in hand.

"Have some coffee! There's a machine over there."

"Ha... Yeah, I probably should."

It wouldn't fully chase away the drowsiness, but better than nothing.

I needed to check if Mina and Muha's siblings had made it into the presentation session safely, and stick around to avoid missing anything I didn't know. So I had to hold my ground here as long as possible.

Weee-oong—

"Hm?"

Suddenly, a loud siren blared inside the conference room.

"What is it? What's going on?"

"Fire?"

"Not a gate explosion, right?"

"Was there a gate around here?"

The abrupt situation had people murmuring, and the hall grew chaotic in seconds.

"What? Leaked?"

"Adler Observatory—that's right out front!"

"The one by the lake?"

"Ugh......"

Sighs and worries piled up from the crowd.

'This is unexpected.'

I clamped my mouth shut at the unforeseen development and strained to catch the broadcast filtering through the murmurs.

"You two, over here for a sec."

That's when Ha Mi-jun Hunter draped his arms around me and Han Jin-woo Hunter's shoulders and hustled us out of Hall A.

"What about the others?"

"Kang Se-bin Hunter bolted to handle the leaked monsters. The other invited S-Ranks are in the lobby."

Led by him to the building lobby, we found about five people gathered, including conference staff. Some faces I didn't recognize.

'...What's this?'

A redheaded man in the group was smiling right at me. I gave a polite nod in return, then turned to the staffer.

"You heard the announcement? Let's cut to the chase."

The staffer tapped furiously at a tablet while rattling off without pause.

"The two leaked monsters are currently clashing with Grace Guild members in Grant Park. Truth is, Grace Guild hunters aren't exactly combat pros—they need backup. We'll compensate fairly for any support."

"Then we split into dungeon clear team and external cleanup team."

The staffer nodded at Ha Mi-jun Hunter's words.

"Yes, exactly. Kang Se-bin Hunter is handling the leaked monsters and civilian evac. For now, from you all, the dungeon clear team..."

"I think me and Shin Ji-ui Hunter would be suitable."

A smooth baritone cut off the staffer. Hearing my name out of nowhere, I turned to see the redheaded man who'd nodded at me earlier. He smirked, lips curling up, and the staffer paused before speaking.

"Any idea what kind of dungeon it is?"

"Of course. Including the recent C-Rank Hayden Observatory dungeon in New York, over 23 observatory-adjacent dungeons have all followed similar patterns."

"Why Shin Ji-ui Hunter specifically?"

"Observatory dungeons are packed with dark-attribute monsters. An SS-Rank light-attribute hunter could wrap it up quick, don't you think?"

He finished his brief analysis and smiled, eyes crinkling into half-moons that cast tiny shadows from his thick lashes underneath.

"And you know Bullet Guild excels at dungeon raids."

'Ah, he's from that guild.'

Bullet Guild, America's combat-focused powerhouse. All members are combat or defense specialists, masters of dungeon clears. They fire off scout offers the second an S-Rank awakens.

Not just this timeline—countless previous ones had sent me love calls too.

"Joshua, you've got some confidence."

Ha Mi-jun Hunter chimed in, and Joshua turned to him.

"When you've got the goods, no need to play humble."

"Oh?"

"Ah."

A brief silence fell. As Ha Mi-jun Hunter stroked his chin with interest, Joshua spoke again.

"Nothing."

Joshua flashed the same smile as before.

'Did he just frown a bit?'

"Alright then. If Shin Ji-ui Hunter's okay with it, we ask you and Joshua to clear the dungeon."

"Sure."

"Then let's move out."

Bang!!

The moment we reached the gate, another monster burst out, so I immediately pulled Ego's trigger. The massive meteor chunk shattered from the sonic bullet, its fragments rolling down the observatory steps instead of turning to dust.

"Whoops... We'd better clear this fast."

Joshua kicked the meteor chunk aside and stretched lightly. Tall and lean, but his silhouette visible through the jumpsuit hinted at solid muscle.

Sturdy build.

"Joshua... Hunter, right?"

"Ah, haven't properly introduced myself yet."

He pulled a small card from his inventory and handed it over. It was a business card.

"...Huh."

"Bullet Guild Master, Joshua Chester. Just call me Joshua!"

'He's a way bigger deal than I thought?!'

Hearing Bullet Guild made me figure maybe an executive, not the top dog. While I floundered, Joshua's eyes stayed fixed on me.

"Uh... Shin Ji-ui from the Korean Hunter Association."

"I know. The world's only SS-Rank awakener, and DF #1."

Joshua's eyes sparkled. His deep blue irises, like paint mixed in, faintly reflected my silhouette.

"I was shocked when the DF rankings updated. Never dreamed you'd snatch the #1 spot I'd clawed back over years in one go."

"...Hold on. So before I awakened..."

"Yep. That was me."

Right, Mi-rae-ssi had mentioned some American guy when she saw my DF. That was him. Was he #1 in past timelines too? I hadn't paid attention, so no memory.

"But that's fine now. Changed my goal."

Joshua leaned in with a pretty eye smile, bowing slightly to bring his face closer.

"To bring Shin Ji-ui Hunter into our guild."

Thump.

My heart pounded from the instinctive pressure. Never crossed paths directly, so I didn't know him exactly, but he was no ordinary guy.

"Looking forward to working with you."

"Same here. Ask away if you're curious about the guild."

'Gotta milk him for info first.'

After a quick handshake, we stepped into the dungeon.

Crack.

Whether modeled after the real observatory interior, a vast lobby-like space stretched before us, complete with exhibit halls and a souvenir shop off to the side.

"Exactly like the Hayden Observatory dungeon layout."

Joshua strode toward the exhibit hall. Glancing at 'Pathfinder,' the white arrow pointed there too.

Not just charging in blindly.

"Probably dark-attribute constellation monsters as regulars. Hm... No mid-boss, I think."

"Quick read on a fresh dungeon."

"Heh. Thanks."

'Wasn't trying to praise you.'

Joshua grinned wide as he crossed the exhibit hall.

Ting-a-ling.

A clear bell rang out. Finger on Ego's trigger, I aimed toward the sound—a black star model entered my sights.

Bang!

The pristine white bullet pierced the stone, splitting it into pieces. The multiplied shards flew at us threateningly, but I whipped out a shield and deflected them all. Definitely C-Rank—no real threat.

"That weapon Ha Mi-jun Hunter's work too?"

"Yeah. Seemed like you two knew each other earlier..."

"Oh, nothing much."

Clang—

The thick rings on his thumbs slid down, transforming into palm-sized jackknives gripped in his hands.

"He made mine too. Though finding an S-Rank who hasn't commissioned him might be harder."

Joshua smiled again as he finished.

Smiles as bright as Han Jin-woo Hunter's.

Joshua's weapons were a pair of ordinary jackknives. Compact for the hand, but the blades looked sturdy and sharp.

As he led, tearing through the observatory, I quietly closed my left eye. No deep entanglements, so info ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was limited.

Vanishes every Hell Path opening... Coincidence, or connected?

I opened my eyes and borrowed the Creator's pupil this time.

Nothing extraordinarily unique. One thing nagging me...

'Weapon inscription.'

Born to a liar's fate, plus vanishing Hell Path openings as a major guild master. Plenty suspicious.

Bam!!

"Eek."

Distracted, a huge constellation model plummeted toward my head.

Bang!!

I dodged aside and fired Ego—the white bullet speared straight through.

Sizzle.

Scattering stone dust got swallowed by crimson magma, sticking gooily to the floor and vanishing without trace.

"Better keep your head covered. Most monsters drop from above~"

Joshua brushed dust off his shoulder and stepped toward me. A woody, incense-like scent wafted over, similar to Choi Min Hunter's.

"Thought any more about our guild's scout offer?"

He gazed down persistently, blue eyes gleaming intensely from his crescent-shaped lids. Not a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠casual probe—he genuinely wanted me in his guild.

'Might as well leave the door open and fish for info.'

With Apostle 'Mask' in America, a reliable intel line like him—higher status than Azadivar siblings, tons of connections—would help track him.

I grinned at him and spoke.

"I've given it some thought."

"Mind sharing your answer?"

Then I spotted a falling star model behind him.

Bang!!

Aimed Ego over his shoulder and pulled the trigger. A faint vibration, and the bullet embedded perfectly, shattering into dozens of fragments that rained down.

Joshua startled, whipped around, then looked back at me.

"Let's clear this gate first."

"...Haha."

"Sure."

Joshua stepped back a pace, then took the lead again.