Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: S-Rank Gates Have No Romance (1)
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The Hero's talent endlessly heightens my focus. It's a gift so profound I can't even comprehend it myself, wrapping around my body and turning every lesson into an inseparable part of me.
My swordsmanship has grown to the point where training feels meaningless. My magic has reached a level where I can sweep away battlefields with wide-area spells. And divinity now flows through me as naturally as breath.
I've secluded myself from the public eye, immersing solely in training for about a year now. Or maybe even less. The season when I first arrived has barely advanced a single step.
Only now do I gaze at the faint breath escaping my lips in the chilling air. I reach out toward that hazy, smoke-like puff, but it dissipates before my fingers can touch, leaving behind just a fleeting warmth.
Time flies by. I'm still just a reckless young man barely into adulthood, yet time doesn't wait for me—it tugs at my hand relentlessly. I was nothing more than a guy in his twenties who loved hanging out with friends.
Now burdened by a fate I can no longer refuse, I exhale another breath. One that's essentially a sigh.
As I brood alone like this, a palace servant approaches and relays a message to Seren. He could just tell me directly, but seeing how the servants no longer do fills me with a bitter pang.
"Arsius. The Divine Archer has arrived at the palace. How about we go say hello first?"
Seren smiles at me as always. Her face, more a gentle smile than pure innocence, is gradually taking on a mature grace. Even in her youthful features, hints of growing sophistication peek through.
"Shall we? Where are Sio and Lisrum?"
"They're probably already in the audience chamber, resting."
Seren quietly takes my hand, her warmth enveloping me like a spell. Drawn in, I simply follow her toward the audience chamber where our final comrades await.
"Seren, is the Divine Archer an elf?"
I ask her as we walk the path to the audience chamber. I know next to nothing about them.
"That's right~ The Divine Archer is chosen solely from the elf race across generations—their own unique 'Hero,' you could say."
Elves. A mystical race unseen on Earth. Long ears, exquisitely beautiful faces, slender yet toned bodies. Dwellers of nature intertwined with the World Tree, long-lived beings.
"Fascinating. Where I lived, there weren't even monsters, let alone other races. Seeing non-humans for the first time is wild."
"Eh~ It's fine. Even here, ordinary folks rarely encounter other races in daily life. I've only met a few myself."
I wonder if the stereotypes from Earth hold true, my curiosity piqued by these new encounters.
"So, tell me—are elves' ears really long? Are they super beautiful? Do they live in trees and wear nature-themed clothes?"
"Pfft! Arsius, you sound just like a little kid! Your eyes sparkling with curiosity are way too cute~"
"Hey, don't tease. You're starting to pick up Sio's habits and turning weird yourself..."
It stings that even her playful teasing and light punches are starting to resemble Sio's. She's far too lovely to end up like that goofy uncle.
"Ahem, that's on you, Arsius~ Besides, you can see the elves for yourself soon enough. We're at the audience chamber~"
Seren opens the door to the audience chamber we've arrived at. Soft sunlight filters in from within, bathing them in a gentle glow.
On the audience chamber's sofa, Sio and Lisrum seem to be chatting. A bit apart from them sit two elves with long ears and stunningly beautiful features.
Two?
"Bro's got it good. Dating a capable girlfriend means you can finally live that dream of freeloading~ Wait, no? Actually, you're already freeloading right now?"
"...Sihyun."
"Must be nice. Moving past the days of being babied by your immature little sis to clinging to your wife."
"That's not it."
"And an S-rank hunter at that? Wow, a rank so rare even the Hunter Association barely has any. Someone I could never even bump into~"
"... ."
"Ah, wonder if someone will take me in too. I wanna freeload~"
"You little brat!"
"Pfft! Seriously, I told you not to go seducing women everywhere. Now you've hooked an S-rank hunter. Someone even I can't get close to no matter how hard I try."
"I didn't do that... I didn't even know who she was. What was I supposed to do?"
"Karma's a bitch. Who follows random women around? Figure it out yourself. Well... honestly, dating her wouldn't be bad. Pretty, rich, strong—she's got it all."
Sihyun heads out like that. Sharing a morning chat before work felt nice at first, but somehow it devolved into me being the butt of the joke. I have no idea how.
I have zero intention of dating anyone else.
Someone I've already exchanged deep affections with exists. My gaze has no room left for anyone new.
I'd chased after someone for ten years who adored me, only to abandon her and return to Earth. I left without mercy, despite my apologies. So the thought of forgetting Seren and seeing someone else has never crossed my mind.
Ah.
If the longing grows stronger than now, maybe I'll tear through dimensions and head back to Pretoria. The daily ache of missing her is still something I can't get used to.
My homesickness for Earth was never this intense.
I said the scandal was giving me a headache, but I'm still raiding gates with Yuna. I decided to ignore all the gossip about scandals and dating. No point stressing over things that won't vanish anyway.
"Hey, you gonna shoot that bow or what?"
"Just confirming if today's light is as bright everywhere as ever..."
"You spout the same nonsense every day? Keep it up and I really won't team up with you anymore."
"Liar... You don't have anyone else to raid with anyway."
She pokes the back of my neck with a sharp jab, spouting undeniable truths. Now she approaches without hesitation, treating me like a buddy—I just roll with it.
"I don't need to raid gates. My capable little sis will take care of me anyway."
"Hmm... I don't mind much usually. But that feels kinda off."
Yuna pulls her hand away from me and steps back, eyeing me with disgust. Her twisted expression and grimace stab at my chest like true revulsion.
"No, I mean... it's not that bad, right? Not working is a good thing..."
"No matter how you dress it up, you're just a parasite leeching off your sister."
Can't argue with that.
"Fine. Let's grind these gates hard."
But hold on—haven't I made enough from A-rank gates alone to live off forever? Split between two of us, I'm already loaded.
"No weird thoughts. Hurry up and kill that monster coming our way, idiot."
"Got it."
Sio Style Swordsmanship Form 1: Mountain Splitter - Weak
Cleaves forward, clearing the path ahead
A casual swing of my sword sweeps away the monster in front, opening the path. I can't demolish the entire gate, so I compress and divide the technique, splitting only the minimal range needed.
Kwaaaang—
I grin at the satisfying sound of the cleared passage.
"Now you take the boss, right?"
"...What's the difference between a bow and a sword anymore? You're not even hiding your strength now...?"
This is me hiding it.
"Don't change the subject. Go snipe the boss already."
I wave off Yuna's incredulous stare. Our gate runs follow the same routine every time, wrapping up with her boss takedown.
"Fighting~"
"Jerk..."
Despite her words, Yuna is already nocking her bow.
Bull's Eye
Eyes glow, arrow forms from light
Yuna's eyes flash once as she activates the skill, igniting brilliantly. A cross etches into her pupils, her bow gleams gold, and a crystalline arrow of light gathers—not a normal shaft. I simply watch.
Bows really are excellent weapons, I think, as an illusory figure shines behind her like a backlight. Just like the first time I saw it, she traces paths of light. It reminds me of the twins' bows, more radiant than anyone's talent.
Shiiiiiik—
The arrow flies true, piercing the boss's forehead and embedding in the wall.
With that, the gate clears.
By afternoon, after finishing the gate, the sun dips low, and the air grows chilly once more.
Suits stand waiting before us as the fading gate vanishes behind. Probably Luna Guild staff.
- Hunter Yuna, Luna Guild has issued a summons due to the emergence of an S-rank gate. Would you join us?
Yuna frowns, bowing slightly to the politely requesting men.
"You can handle it without me."
- We could, but... without Hunter Yuna, it would be a huge blow to our guild hunters. Casualties are almost guaranteed.
That's the value of an S-rank hunter. Power that casually prevents deaths. The gap that decides guild rivalries. And the unavoidable sacrifices.
"I don't wanna go alone."
- Then what can we do for you?
"Take Siu too."
Unavoidable sacrifices...?
"Me...? Why...?"
"Not going unless it's with him."
"Hey, you crazy bitch."
- Hunter Ansiu... please join our Luna Guild's S-rank gate raid this time...?
"No... I'm not even in Luna Guild."
- That's fine. We'll ensure you're comfortable.
"No. I said I'm not going."
- But... Hunter Yuna says she won't go without you...
"Yeah... come together. Or no."
Why am I the unavoidable sacrifice...?
"Hey, you evil bitch!"
I smack the back of Yuna's head.