Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Practice Like the Real Thing (1)
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"Are you really sure about this?"
Chae Seol-ah nodded at Kim Hyun's question.
"Yes. I'm fine with it."
Even though she'd foolishly missed her chance to ask Kim Hyun for something in return, Chae Seol-ah didn't seem particularly regretful.
'If I can get stronger than I am now, that's enough for me.'
She had always wanted to grow stronger.
After becoming the contractor of the Akashic Manual, how much attention and expectation had been heaped on her?
It wasn't just empty expectations, either.
There had been massive investments and support from so many people.
Yet Chae Seol-ah had failed to live up to any of it.
She, who had once been hailed as the future S-Rank and the Prophet, had ended up as nothing more than a disappointing failure.
That's why.
'I want to get stronger.'
Not as a failure, not as some flashy fake A-Rank, but as a hunter who could meet everyone's hopes.
And then, protect people.
"Well, alright then."
Kim Hyun shrugged nonchalantly and gave her a calm warning.
"I can make you strong for real, but don't think the process will be easy."
"It's okay. I'm already prepared."
Chae Seol-ah nodded.
She'd never once thought getting stronger would be simple.
So no matter what hardships came with it, she didn't care.
"For real? Don't blame me if you regret it later?"
Well, even if she did regret it, Kim Hyun wouldn't go easy anyway.
With that, Kim Hyun slung an arm around Chae Seol-ah's shoulder.
"Alright, let's start with the prep work then?"
"Prep?"
"First off, let's buy a gate."
At those words, Chae Seol-ah recalled the incident in Gangwon Province.
It had all fallen apart because of that mess, but originally, she'd gone there to tackle a gate in Gangwon all by herself.
"Come to think of it, what happened to the gate we bought back then?"
The question popped into her head, and she turned to Kim Hyun.
"Huh? What did I do with that one?"
But Kim Hyun just tilted her head, puzzled.
"...You didn't forget about it, did you?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"..."
As Chae Seol-ah stared at her, Kim Hyun made a what-can-you-do face.
"Eh, whatever. Gangwon's crawling with wild monsters anyway. One more D- or C-Rank gate popping open won't make a difference."
"That's... haah."
People like this were exactly why Gangwon was in such a state...
Her head throbbed, but she knew pointing it out wouldn't change Kim Hyun's mind, so she gave up.
"We'll clear this one properly. That should do it, right?"
"You have to clear the ones you buy..."
"Yeah, yeah. Sure, whatever."
Kim Hyun shrugged again and smacked her lips.
"Anyway, this time we're going A-Rank."
"A-, A-Rank?!"
Chae Seol-ah jumped in shock.
"Y-You're throwing me into an A-Rank gate alone?!"
She was determined, but this seemed a bit much.
As Chae Seol-ah freaked out, Kim Hyun quickly shook her head.
"No, not that."
"Right? Phew..."
Chae Seol-ah let out a sigh of relief.
Kim Hyun watched her and patted her own chest.
"I'm coming in too."
Then Batori piped up from behind.
"Demon Lord, what about me?"
"You can come along."
"Thank you!"
Kim Hyun smacked her lips again.
"Eh, you probably won't have much to do. Just watch."
"Understood, Demon Lord!"
Chae Seol-ah, who'd been listening, asked,
"So all three of us going in together—how's that work?"
"I'll explain when we get there."
Kim Hyun grinned.
"Let's save that for the fun on the day."
"Fun...?"
It sounded ominous, but Chae Seol-ah steeled herself and nodded. Whatever the method, it didn't matter.
As long as she could get stronger.
The next day arrived.
The A-Rank gate Kim Hyun had purchased was in Suwon.
"Why Suwon of all places?"
"It was the closest one."
"Hmm."
They took a taxi to Suwon.
"We could've just flown."
"...I couldn't say it at the time, but the wind was brutal."
"You'll have to do it yourself next time. Consider this practice."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Kim Hyun muttered something weird en route, but they arrived in Suwon safe and sound anyway.
Just like the previous A-Rank gate, the police had already set up a perimeter around this one in Suwon.
The gate was smack in the middle of a rice paddy.
"I think we need to take official handover next."
"I'll handle it."
Chae Seol-ah received the gate management rights from the police.
Now all that was left was to enter and clear it.
Chae Seol-ah looked up at the A-Rank gate with a tense expression.
The massive rift hanging in the air was overwhelming just to look at.
An A-Rank gate.
Minimum requirement to clear: 15 A-Rank hunters.
The fact that she was about to step into one felt utterly unreal, even now that it was right in front of her.
'I've never even been in a B-Rank...'
The highest gate Chae Seol-ah had entered was C-Rank.
And even then, she'd messed up big time. Too nervous, she'd botched her spells one after another and embarrassed herself.
'This time...'
Could she really do well?
She had no idea how much she could contribute in an A-Rank gate, but Kim Hyun said she had a plan.
Chae Seol-ah trusted her.
She turned to look at Kim Hyun.
Kim Hyun looked utterly relaxed, even yawning—she must've been sleepy.
'...I heard she cleared an A-Rank gate in under five minutes last time.'
Of course someone like that wouldn't tense up over an A-Rank gate.
Chae Seol-ah gave a wry smile and clenched then unclenched her fist.
'Okay.'
"Shall we head in?"
At Kim Hyun's words, Chae Seol-ah nodded vigorously.
"Yes."
Kim Hyun's group stepped into the A-Rank gate.
"Mm."
The moment they entered the gate,
Chae Seol-ah let out a short groan.
'A cave...'
This A-Rank gate was a cave-type.
Commonly called an anthill, famous for its maze of tunnels and chambers—just like the name implied. The monsters that came out of these were usually...
'Insect-types, right?'
And the hallmark of insect monsters was their numbers.
Individually weak compared to others, but they overwhelmed with sheer volume. Of course, in an A-Rank gate like this, each one would be plenty powerful too.
As Chae Seol-ah tensed at the thought,
"Let's get a headcount first."
Kim Hyun raised her right hand into the air.
With a casual grasping motion, a pulse of mana rippled outward. After holding it a moment, Kim Hyun nodded.
"Two thirty-seven."
Chae Seol-ah's eyes widened.
"D-Did you just count every monster inside the gate?"
"Yeah. So?"
Chae Seol-ah's jaw dropped.
Sensing skills were common among S-Ranks, but she'd never heard of one that could blanket an entire gate.
'As expected of Kim Hyun...'
She kept realizing it over and over, but the woman's abilities were insane.
Meanwhile, Kim Hyun stroked her chin thoughtfully, then nodded.
"This'll be good for about twenty."
"Huh?"
As Chae Seol-ah tilted her head in confusion,
Rumble rumble rumble!
A vibration shook the cave from afar, accompanied by the sound of something charging toward them.
Chae Seol-ah shouted instantly.
"M-Monsters!"
"I know."
The next moment,
A massive brown shape surged from the tunnel's end. It was too dark to make out clearly.
"This feels bad."
Batori grimaced and snapped her fingers.
A globe of light floated up immediately.
Revealing the approaching monsters.
"Kyaaah!"
Batori screamed.
Chae Seol-ah shuddered too.
"Wh-Why are those here?!"
The monsters resembled giant cockroaches.
"So gross and disgusting!"
Batori's face twisted as she clenched her fist, looking ready to blast them with magic. Kim Hyun stopped her.
"Hey, hold up."
"Ah, uh. Y-Yes..."
Batori retreated five steps with a reluctant pout. As she pretended to gag, Kim Hyun flicked her fingers lightly.
A dark crimson barrier sprang up across the tunnel.
Thud! Boom!
Screeeeech!
The cockroaches slammed into it, screeching and writhing. But no matter how they battered it, Kim Hyun's barrier held firm.
"Chae Seol-ah."
"Y-Yes?"
Chae Seol-ah whipped her head around in surprise.
It was the first time Kim Hyun had called her by name instead of "Agent Chae."
But there was no time to wonder why.
"Ready?"
Kim Hyun stared at her and spoke slowly.
"I'm going to let them in one by one from now on. Fight them 1-on-1. They're all at a level you can handle. Got it?"
Chae Seol-ah froze for a split second.
But she quickly pulled herself together and nodded.
"Got it...!"
Kim Hyun grinned.
The barrier parted slightly.
Screeeeech!
One cockroach broke through and charged at Chae Seol-ah.