Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Boy from the Mountains
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At first, I thought he might be some wild hermit living off the land.
But no, not quite.
If you just looked at his facial features, he'd be the picture of an idol star.
His hair was a total mess—like he'd maybe seen the inside of a salon once in his life—with green leaves stuck here and there, and his jeans were caked in dirt. Still, this boy who looked about middle-school age had the undeniable face of a star.
Was he a child actor stranded here while filming some survival variety show nearby?
"Who...?"
Once Han Ji-seong realized it was just a young boy who'd appeared, he lowered his guard a bit and asked cautiously.
But the kid kept staring sullenly—not at us, exactly, but at the pile of branches we'd been about to use for a fire.
"Unnie, he's wearing those cheap rubber slippers."
He really was.
Walking around these treacherous mountains in those?
The question marks floating over the guild members' heads kept multiplying.
"You folks seem like city guests from Seoul or somethin', but ya can't light fires out in the open on this here mountain."
His Chungcheong dialect was thick as could be.
Those big eyes with their heavy double eyelids and that baby face spouting dialect—it felt like watching a badly dubbed show.
Kang Han stepped forward and explained.
"We're hunters from the Justice Guild. We got lost and were trying to make a fire before nightfall. Sorry about that."
The boy nodded once, as if accepting the apology.
But that didn't stop him from eyeing us suspiciously. In a prickly tone, he asked,
"Even hunters get lost?"
No one had a comeback for that.
Yeah, even hunters struggled to navigate mountain paths.
Though my presence as dead weight probably made it worse.
"You seem to know the paths around here well. Could we get your help?"
"Sure thing."
The sullen-faced boy agreed more readily than expected.
"Mountains get cold at night anyway. Follow me if ya want."
With that, he hopped off ahead.
"Hey, kid! Hold up a sec!"
I shouted in a hurry, scrambling to pack up the camping gear we'd laid out, with the guild members following suit.
He stopped and stared blankly at us, waiting anyway.
"Let's go."
The moment we stashed the tent in sub-space, he whipped around and strode off briskly again.
Was he using some kind of shrinking-earth technique? Even our S-ranks and A-ranks had to widen their strides to keep up.
As we chased after him, barely spotting the top of his black head bobbing through the underbrush far ahead, a thought crossed my mind.
Am I the only one who feels like he's got a really faint presence?
We arrived at our destination—following this mystery boy—right around the time the sun had fully set and stars were starting to peek out.
"A house out here?"
Jang Su-ho whispered to me.
Normally I'd tell him to back off, but even I was stunned this time.
Tucked deep in what looked like the ass-end of nowhere—did they even have electricity?—stood a fairly large house, lights glowing brightly all on its own.
A Joseon-era scholar would've thought he'd been bewitched by a fox spirit.
"Here ya go."
"Is this your house, kid?"
"What else? A hotel in these mountains?"
Oh boy, what a spoiled little golden boy vibe.
Anyway, we followed him as he shuffled through the gate in those rubber slippers.
"Granny, Gramps, I'm home."
His voice was casual, like he'd just popped over to the corner store. The sliding door to the veranda flew open, and out came a kindly elderly woman.
"Child, where've you been till now? Huh? And who's this behind ya—friends?"
"Nah, I ain't got friends. Just some folks tryin' to light a fire up in the hills. Picked 'em up."
"Oh my, is that right? Come on in, then."
"Thank you, ma'am. If it weren't for your grandson, we'd have spent the night in the wild."
Kang Han bowed politely and introduced us.
"We're hunters from the Justice Guild in Seoul."
"Justice Guild? You mean the one I know?"
The warm-hearted grandma lit up and hollered toward the house.
"Gramps! Come out here! We got guests from Seoul!"
The one who appeared at her call was a white-haired old man.
"Ahem. From Seoul?"
He stared at our group filling the courtyard, lingering especially on Kang Han's face, then said,
"Looks mighty familiar. You kin or somethin'?"
"They're from the Justice Guild, dear."
"Wha—Justice Guild?"
Startled by her words, Grandpa slipped on his shoes and came right up to Kang Han, clapping his hands.
"Well I'll be! It's him! That face is pure Kang Gu-hyeon Hunter!"
Then he grabbed Kang Han's hands tight.
Just like he'd said—like reuniting with long-lost family.
"How'd such fine guests end up in our neck of the woods? Come on in! Everyone, inside now!"
Suddenly dubbed "honored guests and their friends," we found ourselves plopped down around the cozy living room floor.
And when we mentioned we hadn't eaten, a full spread appeared before us.
"Must be starvin'. Dig in quick."
But no one could bring themselves to touch their spoons right away, fidgeting awkwardly.
It had all happened so fast—leaving us wondering if this was okay.
"Thanks for the meal!"
This wasn't some funeral rice—we weren't gonna sit here staring at it.
I scooped up some soup first and took a bite.
The rich, hearty soybean paste soup made with perfectly dried radish stalks was divine.
"Alright, thanks for the meal."
Once I started, the others followed suit.
First bite's the hardest, but everyone was starving and soon spoons were flying.
Kang Han next to me especially polished off a bowl in no time and got a forced refill from Grandma.
Fancy looks, but he's got a hearty appetite, huh.
The whole time we ate, the old couple and the boy didn't leave the living room.
The grandparents seemed thrilled by the rare guests; the boy pretended to whittle something he'd foraged while keeping an eye on us.
That naturally led to hearing about their family situation.
"So you all fled to the mountains together during the second dungeon break."
"We lived in the city before. But back then, the country seemed like it had no plan at all."
"Least the Justice Guild saved our son who was still in Seoul."
Now I got why they'd perked up so much at the Justice Guild intro and Kang Han's face.
These folks remembered the guild's heyday.
Kang Han and the guild members looked awkward and embarrassed by the warm welcome.
They were more used to being mocked before even introducing themselves as Justice Guild, or getting flak without knowing why.
After dinner, they cleaned an empty room spotless for us to crash in.
But there weren't enough blankets and pillows, so we laid out our sleeping bags.
Staring up at the dark ceiling, I thought,
They're definitely good people.
But what was this nagging feeling?
Honestly, if I'd been alone, I wouldn't have dreamed of coming this far.
Sure, there were risks, but unless Grandpa and Grandma were secret S-rank hermits, they couldn't harm us.
That's why I'd followed a stranger without much caution.
So what was it?
This sense of some overlooked blank spot?
They're absolutely not bad people.
If anything, they were kind souls who'd welcomed lost strangers from the mountains with open arms.
Then it hit me—something Grandpa had said, smiling with his wrinkled face.
"Goodness, our boy meeting fine folks like you in the mountains—what luck!"
...What?
Whatever. A good meal and warm bed would sort it out by morning.
Sure enough, we woke refreshed and prepped to head back into the mountains at dawn.
"Once you're done minin' or whatever, come back for more food. I'll whip up somethin' tasty."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you."
"Aw, you young folks work so hard protectin' the likes of us weaklings."
Grandma clasped each of our hands, fretting over us pitifully.
"But how ya gonna find the gate without knowin' where it is?"
"I know."
The voice chiming in belonged to yesterday's boy.
When'd he show up?
I wasn't the only one who hadn't noticed him.
The twins and Jang Su-ho flinched, and even S-rank Han Ji-seong and Kang Han startled for a split second.
Hoo boy, check him out.
Yesterday's faint-presence hunch wasn't just me.
"Right, then. Boy'll guide ya and come back?"
"Hey! I'm not a boy!"
Getting mad at "boy" proved he was one.
"We'll be back, Grandma, Grandpa!"
I waved to the couple seeing us off at the courtyard gate.
Mining rights had a deadline, so handle urgent stuff first, then grill them later.
Not because of the tasty free food. Nope.
We hustled after the boy like yesterday.
As daylight grew, his figure ahead became clearer.
Paths seemed nonexistent, but following him led to easy rocks or flat spots between trees.
"Like a squirrel."
"What'd ya say?"
"Didn't say nothin'."
Wild squirrels got good ears too?
About an hour later, we reached the gate.
Between two massive trees that stood out even from afar, a jagged rift shimmered—like it might've been invisible at night.
A weathered Awakener Association fence marked the perimeter, rusted to near-uselessness.
"Thanks, goldilocks—er, kid. Head home now. Granny and Gramps'll worry."
"What're ya talkin'?"
He shot me a grumpy look.
"I got business inside too."
With that, he rummaged in thin air, pulling out...
"A burlap sack?"
Wait—no, did he just use sub-space?!
"Sun'll set otherwise."
"You... an awakener?"
"Somethin' like that."
Somethin' like what?
First shock since possessing [Sejong Mask].
"Boy."
I slipped and called him that; his big eyes turned fierce.
"No, seriously—what's your name?"
"Why ya askin' my name?"
"You hate bein' called boy."
Idol-faced goldilocks grumbled reluctantly,
"...Cheong-su. Im Cheong-su."
I'm losing it.
Gotta post this on hunter forums later.
Title: [Went Camping, Found an S-rank Potion Master—My Story].
Somethin' like that.