Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Forced Conscription Lacks Romance (3)
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A day passes like that, and the sun rises once more. Sihyun and I, having gotten ourselves roughly ready, head outside.
"Bro! We didn't forget anything, right?"
"Sihyun..., we're just bringing our bodies along. What more do you keep thinking we need to pack...?"
"No, don't brush it off. You never know. I don't go into A-rank Gates or higher that often either. So maybe I forgot something."
"Ah~ just trust me. A-rank is a piece of cake. We've cleared how many with Yuna already? This time, your big bro's gonna carry. Real-life carry acknowledged?"
"True, if you suck that bad at games, you gotta be good in real life. Good thing you know it. Then let's hurry up~"
"Hey."
It was just a playful remark to ease her slightly tense look, but for some reason, it stung my heart.
"Beeee~"
Sihyun sticks out her tongue with a mischievous grin. She waves me on ahead, beckoning me to hurry. Scattering her innocent smile like a carefree kid.
Hmm, she's gotta be 28 or so, right? That's pretty astonishing.
Playing around like that, with not a hint of tension, we arrive at the Hunter Association.
And waiting out front already, Yuna spots us and comes over.
"Siu, you're late. And baby bro.... Hi."
Her casual greeting felt somehow off.
"Who decided to call me baby bro? Yuna, you haven't even started dating, let alone gotten married."
Sihyun stares at her in disbelief, and Yuna clicks her tongue, expressing her regret.
"This one's a no-go...."
As if you'd accept it anyway.
"Anyway, why'd you come so early and wait around like this?"
Drawing stares from everyone nearby—did she really need to come out early just to wait?
"Hearing we're going into a Gate together after so long made me feel all weird...."
"Excited?"
"Dunno...."
Her flushed face was already screaming excitement, yet Yuna naturally just says she doesn't know.
"You're so consistent. If you're coming out early anyway, just come to our house and we could've gone together."
"Oh."
Her expression, like she hadn't even thought of it, was adorably blank and true to form.
- Um..., L-Lee Yuna Hunter and An Siu Hunter, please enter with Team Leader An Sihyun....
The Association staff guiding us stammers while looking at Yuna. Probably because S-rank Hunters aren't something you see every day. It's always fascinating to witness.
"Bro, you and Yuna Hunter are coming in with me and my team."
Sihyun straightens her clothes and calls over her team members. The ones we'd run into at that festival Gate incident before.
- Ah, hello!
Even these guys' voices are shaking.
"Yuna, you must be super popular."
"...? Why?"
"You can tell just from their faces."
Like fans gazing at an idol. They looked ready to ask for autographs after the Gate clear.
"Dunno.... Not my problem."
Yuna pays them no mind and, blaming the early hour for her sleepiness, climbs onto my back.
"Wake me when we get in...."
"...."
Here we go again.
She did this even in S-rank Gates. Makes her a pretty wondrous person in her own way.
"I seriously can't trust you two at all.... God really is unfair sometimes."
Sihyun sighs watching us.
"Sihyun, don't lump us together.... And yeah, God’s always been unfair."
Shaking her head, Sihyun gives the signal to move out, and we follow her steps into the Gate.
I open my eyes after a brief ripple.
"Oh, a cave."
The damp, musty cave we'd missed felt oddly welcoming after so long.
"Everyone, stay vigilant and protect the mages and healers while following. I'll clear the path."
Her calm, steady voice reaches us. Hearing that familiar tone laced with seriousness felt a bit fresh. She was always just teasing me before.
"What about you, bro?"
Then she turns to me. We'd only entered a Gate together once, that C-rank, where I messed around. Guess giving me orders felt awkward.
"Me? Can I just do whatever?"
"Hmm.... Stick to the formation and guard the group? Wanna give it a shot...?"
She looks skeptical but doesn't outright stop me. She knows Yuna and I have cleared A-ranks just the two of us. And that I'm the one who saved her life.
So I'll just have fun.
"Yuna, wake up!"
I shake Yuna awake from where she's snoring against my back. She rubs her eyes sleepily even though she just dozed off, and I hand her the bow.
"Arrow to the front~!"
"Mmm...."
Yuna fires an arrow forward, eyes still closed, face blank. She chants her usual incantation.
Snipe
The massive bodies appearing ahead are pierced by a mere streak of light and crumble. Naturally, the beam doesn't stop—it embeds in the wall and explodes.
BOOOOM—
And beyond the crumbling wall.
"Jackpot! Shortcut found! Let's gooo~"
I just dash off in high spirits.
- Hey, you crazy bastard! Stop! I said stop! Who the hell clears a Gate like this!!
Sihyun's yell echoes as I'm already running.
"Keep up! I'll clear the way ahead."
I just flash her a grin.
See? Told you there's nothing to worry about forgetting stuff.
********
I weave through the swarming monsters. Carrying one person doesn't slow my light movements as I pull away, then chant my own spell.
Arrow Fire Heehee!
The ultimate incantation. Say it, and the arrow fires automatically.
".... Can you stop saying that?"
"Nope, nope. When else am I gonna mess around like this?"
"Siu, this is the first time I'm embarrassed for you...."
Yuna clings to my back, head down, just aiming her bow forward.
The people behind just staring. The bump on my head from pissed-off Sihyun.
Nothing could hold me back.
"Ahh, this must be what they call a divine weapon."
One of King Sejong the Great's achievements.
Still carrying Yuna, I press forward. She gripes but fires another arrow anyway—no real danger.
After two hours of dashing around messing about, satisfied at last, I set Yuna down.
"Huh...? Why put me down all of a sudden?"
"Today's workout's done. Now it's my break time."
I flash a grin and sidle up to Sihyun, who's trudging along behind.
"Fun having so much fun like that?"
"Yup~"
"Haa..., but I'm the expedition leader, and you're my brother—do you have to pick the most embarrassing stuff every time...?"
"Hey, everyone's tension's eased up thanks to it. Think positive~ Ow."
Got smacked.
"Cut it out or I can't hold my head up.... You idiot. What Hunter runs around a Gate all innocent and carefree like a kid...?"
Sihyun sighs. Giving up on reining me in, she lets out a resigned chuckle and continues.
"At least act cool in front of others sometimes...."
- Kyaaak!
The short, sharp scream cuts off my chat with Sihyun.
My gaze snaps over involuntarily, feet halting as light gathers in my outstretched hand, forming a sword.
What I see: a massive hand bursting through the cave wall, reaching for the mage and healer. I meet the troll's hand head-on.
My playful stance shifts as I swing toward the monster. No need to close distance.
Sio Style Swordsmanship Form 3: Iron Cutter
The sword aura naturally slices through its grip.
The mages, who'd closed their eyes thinking they were done for, cautiously open them. What they see: the cleanly severed stump of that massive hand.
Their gazes turn to me. Eyes full of awe and gratitude.
"Like this?"
I smile at Sihyun and release the sword in my hand. Beatrice reverts to light before hitting the ground, leaving only a moment of silence.
- Whoa..., is that the hidden charm thing? Messing around all the time, then bam—cool....
- It's the face that sells the hidden charm. If he were ugly, they'd be yelling why he didn't do it sooner and calling him clueless.
- Oh, self-intro time?
- No need to say it, that hurts already. Stop.
The ensuing chatter echoes briefly in the cave.
"Ugh, you jerk. Showing off just to pick up girls again. Seriously, stop adding more."
And Sihyun's exasperated jab at me gets a retort.
Sihyun, having overheard, glares at me like I'm a bug. Even as we resume marching now that it's over, her face still shows lingering disgust.
No, Sihyun—you told me to act cool.
I'm just innocent here.