Chapter 202
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 202
A faint song drifted from the temple.
“Isn’t this a hymn…?”
“As a believer of the Moon Cult, I’ve heard my share of hymns. This sounds a lot like one.”
The priests of the Sun Cult looked slightly displeased.
“…Strictly speaking, it does fit the structure of a hymn, but…”
“Just because it sounds like music from Earth doesn’t mean we can treat something from another dimension the same way.”
“I don’t know if it’s a clue, but it certainly isn’t pleasant.”
A hymn was music meant to praise a god and nurture faith. This place had just been revealed as a former Temple of the Sun, so the fact that such a bizarre hymn was echoing through it was blasphemy itself. It was an insult to the sun, a song of praise for something wicked.
The faint singing that echoed throughout the temple was bizarre, laced with a slight dissonance. Yet, its melody was also soft and languid, like a lingering summer twilight. At the same time, it was incomprehensible, like the cry of a wild beast.
It rippled through the air like a whale’s song spreading through the sea.
“…”
“Anyway.”
Despite the bizarre atmosphere, the hunters focused on the task at hand.
“Is locating the heart our top priority?”
“Yes. While the monster itself is often the heart, there are just as many cases where a separate heart exists.”
“And securing Hunter Seo Gio and Novice Priest Cha Yi-sol is also crucial. They were kidnapped. Both are incredible talents; we can’t let them die like this.”
“We should take a look around.”
Kang Seo-dam held up a small, round gem.
“We can find Novice Priest Cha Yi-sol’s location with this Resonance Stone.”
The Resonance Stone, which Iruda was said to have shared with her partner Cha Yi-sol, vibrated with even more life the moment they entered the painting. Its pulse felt like a tiny, living heart.
“She is definitely inside this dungeon.”
“Then Hunter Seo Gio is here too…?”
“For now, we’ll move under the assumption that they’re both trapped in the same place.”
“What about finding the heart?”
“As we discussed, let’s split into two teams for now.”
One team would rescue the hostages, and the other would locate the heart.
“Hunter Sa Na-rae, I’m counting on you.”
“Yeah, yeah. This is my specialty. Don’t worry.”
“If a strong monster appears, make sure you lead your team well. Don’t let them scatter…”
“Haha, don’t you worry. We’re a diligent bunch.”
I don’t trust her at all.
Kang Seo-dam made eye contact with the hunters assigned to Sa Na-rae’s team. They, too, were nodding while holding back sighs. Though a diverse mix of hunters had gathered for this urgent battle, at least there were no clueless rookies among them.
I can trust this side, at least.
He nodded.
“See you later.”
“Yes, see you later.”
They split into two groups.
* * *
A gardener is an existence belonging to the garden.
They referred to themselves by various terms. Some were literal gardeners, while others called themselves servants, messengers, apostles, or believers. Some gardeners even called themselves the garden’s children.
The common thread was that ‘gardeners’ were beings who could not defy the garden.
“Ah, Flower Garden…”
Drip, drop…
Blood-stained petals drifted down from Jeong Young-won as she hung her head.
“Flower Garden, I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
Jeong Young-won wept tears of blood, pressing her hands to her eyes. The texture of the lush petals brushing against her palms was impossibly soft.
She was enraptured by their pure smoothness, like the skin of a newborn, but the anger and sorrow radiating from the Flower Garden forced her to weep and beg for forgiveness.
“Flower Garden.”
“Young-won.”
“Ah, please…”
“You can’t lose your mind here, you know that, right? Huh?”
“It’s too cold for you here, isn’t it?”
“Ah, this is driving me crazy.”
The man was the team leader who managed Jeong Young-won. Even if he didn’t know she was a ‘gardener,’ he knew she was wrapped in some massive mystery. With a troubled expression, he stood guard over Jeong Young-won, who was holed up in the narrow, dark space.
“What did you do this time to get scolded like this?”
Bright flowers had bloomed around Jeong Young-won’s eyes and in her hair. Tender sprouts budded from her fingers. It was a chilling sight, as if a living person was being consumed by nature.
To those obsessed with art, like the Collector, this sight might be described as ‘beautiful’ or ‘artistic.’ But to a man with ordinary sensibilities, it was nothing but a goosebump-inducing, horrific punishment.
“Flower Garden, Flower Garden…”
“It seems to have started right after you healed Hunter Yoo Seong-un.”
Jeong Young-won was one of the top healers in the Eunwol Guild, but even she occasionally overexerted herself. This was what happened when she borrowed power from her ‘god’ without permission.
Was there really a reason to go this far?
Of course, if Hunter Yoo Seong-un hadn’t recovered, they would have been decimated by the boss monster that had just appeared. Although numerous A-Rank hunters had gathered here, every single one of them was a precious asset.
If even one person was missing, it would have been a disaster, but still…
Besides, it was a mystery how Hunter Yoo Seong-un had recovered so quickly in the first place.
It wasn’t possible through human strength, so he guessed Jeong Young-won was responsible, but he couldn’t begin to comprehend how.
The man let out a long sigh and stayed by Jeong Young-won’s side.
“I’ll keep anyone from coming in. Just focus on recovering.”
“Ah, aaaah… haaa…!”
“Oh dear, what a mess…”
He didn’t know what was so urgent that she had to borrow a god’s power.
She’s not a stupid girl.
There must have been a reason she had to do it. A reason he didn’t know.
The man stepped outside the room to guard the perimeter. As he closed the door, he spotted a small figure standing nearby with a slightly flustered expression. The man blinked, taking in the situation.
“Little Priest?”
“Ah, yes. I am Novice Priest Iruda.”
“Why are you here?”
“The others said I should stay with the Eunwol camp.”
“Ah, the other priests said that?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“In that case, you’re more than welcome.”
Eunwol maintained friendly relations with both the Sun Cult and the Moon Cult, and that extended to the novice priests who belonged to them.
“What’s your position?”
“Tanker.”
“I heard you’ve already made a contract with a god, Sister.”
“It is thanks to a divinity who looked upon me with favor.”
“You’re famous, Sister Iruda. They say a god’s gaze fell upon you the moment you were born.”
“It was a great grace. Without it, I wouldn’t be standing here today. Whatever you ask of me, I will deliver more than satisfactory results.”
“You don’t have to go that far…”
Uncomfortable with how she humbled herself, as if afraid of being turned away, the man waved his hand with an awkward smile. He wasn’t used to a child with such a sophisticated vocabulary.
“So, you didn’t come here because you’re injured or anything, right?”
“No, nothing like that. I was just wondering where I should be…”
“Ah, I see. If possible, I’d like you to guard our camp.”
It was rare, but this wasn’t the first time he’d seen a child Iruda’s age on the front lines. The man smoothly organized her duties and positioning.
“Most of the people here are healers, so they’re all squishy.”
“I will do my utmost.”
“Uh, and…”
He trailed off, and the girl tilted her head.
“…Did you hear that?” she asked quietly, referring to the pained sounds coming from Jeong Young-won’s room.
“Could you pretend you didn’t hear that?”
“I swear on the divinity I serve that I will keep my mouth shut.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
He was glad she didn’t ask why Young-won was in that state.
I wouldn’t know how to explain it anyway.
It wasn’t the first time Jeong Young-won had been at the beck and call of the ‘Flower Garden.’ Because he was close to her, he simply assumed she served some kind of god, but even he didn’t know the full story.
Still, no good would come from spreading it around.
Jeong Young-won was a good colleague and a decent friend. If she had circumstances she didn’t want to talk about, he genuinely wanted to help keep them hidden.
“Can you tell me how your tanking works?”
“I lure monsters, gather them in one place, and then cast a barrier.”
“A boundary? Can you trap them completely?”
“It’s based on erecting intangible walls. It’s not impossible, but I’m not at that level yet.”
“Just erecting a single wall is amazing enough. I’m impressed.”
What was I doing at her age?
“What shape does the boundary take?”
“Recently, I succeeded in forming it into a hemisphere.”
“What’s the capacity?”
“It can hold up to five adult men.”
“Oh, that’s quite impressive.”
Among boundary shapes, a sphere was the most effective, followed by a hemisphere. However, most hunters with boundary abilities hit a major wall when trying to alter the shape.
And she can already make a hemisphere and hold five people?
No matter how much she was chosen by a god, her talent was outstanding.
“Hmm. What if you just made a flat, rectangular wall?”
“If it’s just a flat wall, I can cover this entire tent. It would only block the entrance, though.”
“Alright then, Little Priest. I want you to save your strength as much as possible. If the front line is breached and a horde pours in, that’s when you step up.”
“…I don’t mean to question your command, but is that wise? If the situation you described occurs, it would mean we’re considering a retreat. That’s tantamount to admitting defeat in this battle.”
“You’re as smart as they say, Sister Iruda.”
But that was what he wanted.
“Your ability is meant for that exact moment. In a worst-case scenario, when no one else can protect you and the patients here, that’s when you step in.”
“Until then, that means you can just relax and do nothing. Got it?”
“I’d feel too guilty…”
“If you feel guilty, you can help out the healers. I hear the Sun Cult teaches first aid even to novice priests. Go find those who need supplies or help and assist them.”
“Ah, yes, I will do that.”
“But more than anything, I don’t think you need to worry too much.”
The man wore his characteristic smile.
“It’s not complacency. I just trust the people beyond that wall.”
The A-Rank hunters capable of operating in the sea, as well as the B-Rank hunters who supported them, had all gathered to block the boss. The man believed they wouldn’t let it reach the mainland.
“Aaaaargh!!”
“Fuck, who brought this rookie?!”
“Who are you calling a rookie, you son of a bitch?!”
Of course, the situation on the front lines was anything but easy.
“Goddammit, where the hell is all this seawater coming from?!”
Thanks to Yoo Seong-un’s efforts, they had managed to freeze the surface and the area just beneath it. However, unfrozen seawater constantly surged up from the deep, attacking the hunters.
Perhaps there was a limit to it, as the rising seawater gradually began to freeze into a slushy state, but it was still fluid…
“Since when does seawater have a mind of its own?!”
“Wow, fuck, this is driving me crazy…!”
Crash! Crunch! Shatter—!!
The seawater, mixed with thick chunks of solid ice, moved like a living serpent, lashing out to impale the hunters.
The hunters had to fend off the surging ice and freezing water while simultaneously dealing with the mermaids crawling up from the depths.
“What is with these fucking mermaids…?!”
“Hey, someone call the fire-type hunters!!”
“Our forces alone can’t handle this…!”
Watching the humans, the mermaids laughed.
“Ahahaha!”
“Hahaha, uhehehe…!”
“Ah, aaaah!!”
Splash—!!
“Aaaargh!!”
“Hey, grab that bastard!!”
Though they spoke no language, they grabbed the ankles of panicking hunters and dragged them into the sea. Once dragged beneath the solidly frozen surface, even a hunter would struggle to survive.
Dealing with the flesh-and-blood mermaids wasn’t difficult. They could be torn apart with weapons or frozen with ice. The problem was the sheer number of them crawling out of the deep sea.
“Why are there so many of them…?!”
Mermaids rose endlessly from the sea.
“Fuck, did the raid team even make it inside safely?!”
“I heard they sent word! They’re inside the dungeon!”
If they had traveled by submersible, they would have suffered significant casualties, but fortunately, that wasn’t the case. The situation was so urgent that even without knowing how ‘Black Cloak’ had helped, the hunters were just glad to receive a brief update.
Meanwhile, Yoo Seong-un was going on a rampage.
Boom—!!!
The ice of a snowfield is harder than anything.
He drove his spear into the ground, using the recoil to launch himself into the air. In an instant, he formed another spear, simultaneously freezing and tearing through the Mermaid Princess’s body.
Clatter—! A sound like scattering glass beads or diamonds echoed.
But she healed instantly.
“Oh dear, that hurts.”
“Ha, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
Crunch!!!
Yoo Seong-un landed, spreading another layer of ice across the glacier. Then he was running again.
Such a drama queen.
The face wore a sneer, the torso surely lacked a heart, the legs were clearly just for show.
Darting forward like a bullet, he once again froze and shattered the woman’s face, but the result was the same. It wasn’t just Yoo Seong-un. Countless other hunters had frozen and shattered her repeatedly, yet the Mermaid Princess remained undamaged.
Of course.
Even in the polar regions, the sea exists.
No matter how cold it gets, the sea is always there.
It might freeze in parts, but it can never be frozen entirely. To freeze the entire sea would be to bring about an ice age in this dimension. It was impossible, and it must not be done.
Therefore, it was impossible to damage a mermaid who had assimilated with the sea by freezing her…
Swoosh—!!!
Sliding across the ice, Yoo Seong-un adjusted his grip on his spear.
The only thing cold could do was temporarily halt her movements.
Even that was a huge help. Massive damage occurred every time the boss monster moved, so keeping it frozen was essential. But this was just a stalemate.
And our side is taking more damage.
The mermaid was the sea itself, breathing and alive, but the humans were not the cold itself. Continuing this war of attrition would only benefit the Mermaid Princess. Once the humans exhausted themselves, she could move as much as she pleased.
“Ha, fuck.”
Yoo Seong-un’s face contorted fiercely.
“What a pathetic mess.”
“Hunter Yoo Seong-un, freeze it!!”
“Ah, I’m on it!!”
Whoosh!!!
Crunch—!!
Boom, clang!!
One by one, he froze the harpoons of seawater flying toward him like arrows.
Yoo Seong-un slid across the ice, stepping on the frozen harpoons. The moment he tried to approach the princess’s main body, the ice bridge under him shattered with a loud crack. He simply leaped onto other pieces of ice, flew through the air, and reached her once more.
The moment their breaths met.
“Hey,” the sea spoke. “Who do you think will win?”
“Me,” Yoo Seong-un replied to the monster’s question with a resolute smile. “I will.”
Crack, boom—!!!
The princess’s face shattered into pieces and scattered.
Swoosh!!
As he set foot on the glacier once more, the Mermaid Princess, who had regenerated in an instant, laughed.
“…Ahahaha, haha…!”
“What are you laughing at?”
“Isn’t it amusing how confident you are?”
“Because Hunter Seo Gio will fight by my side.”
“How can you be so sure? Do you believe he loves these ungrateful humans?”
“Of course. Absolutely. He was born that way!”
“Do you really think so?” Aria asked. “Do you believe that man is the incarnation of benevolence? You know he’s far from ordinary, right? He was a human, too. One who liked to laugh, chatter, and play jokes… a human who felt both affection and hatred.”
The mermaid said that Giovanni was no incarnation of benevolence.
“He, too, felt pain as pain. He was an ordinary person who knew how to suffer when in agony and how to weep when sad. Yet, you only view the person named Gio as a work of art.”
“Are you trying to say I’m arrogant? Ignorant and stubborn?”
“Ah, yes, it is so horrific. Humans are truly so disgusting. Why must that precious existence be wedged among you and become an idol?! Why must he become a symbol of luck, a saint of mercy…?!”
The woman was furious.
“He is an ordinary human!!!” she screamed.