Chapter 69
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Subduing the Giant Treant
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“Duck!”
“Watch your feet!”
Kwaaang!
The raid members' voices rang out noisily amid the surging vine tendrils.
Yeon Sung-hun, positioned at the rear alongside Yun Ga-ram, watched the situation intently.
The ‘Giant Treant’ was every bit the threatening A-rank monster it was reputed to be.
Its sheer size surpassed even the Titan Uranus, making it the largest monster they had encountered to date.
Moreover, the thick wooden vines extending from all directions and the razor-sharp leaves ensured no one could afford to let their guard down.
Above all, as a plant-type monster that could suck up nutrients from other creatures, it displayed the ruthless ferocity befitting an A-rank beast.
“I’m throwing a potion! Get clear!”
With Lee Ha-na’s shout, she hurled the potion in her hand with all her might.
The frontline members pressuring the Giant Treant hurriedly pulled back.
The only one remaining was Han So-yul.
Instead of dodging, she conjured a thick barrier of wind.
Unfortunately, the potion Lee Ha-na threw didn’t reach the creature’s main body.
A vine from the Giant Treant had shattered the potion bottle mid-flight.
Kwaaaang!
Flames erupted explosively in its wake.
Plant-type monsters were generally thought to be weak to fire, but in actual combat, the effect wasn’t as dramatic as one might hope.
Still, it was far better than nothing.
It was undeniably more effective than against other monster types.
And the potion thrown this time was none other than one made by Yeon Sung-hun.
“─────!!!”
The Giant Treant let out a guttural screech as the flames surged upward.
Tadak-tadak—
The tips of its extended vines began to burn.
The raid members didn’t miss the creature thrashing in agony.
“Han So-yul!”
“Yes, Unnie!”
At Choi Yeon-ah’s call, Han So-yul launched herself through the flames.
The Giant Treant flung relatively intact vines and leaves at her, but they fell short against her body enveloped in wind.
Han So-yul swung her sword, cloaked in aura and wind, with all her strength.
Shaaaak—!
A blade of wind sliced through the massive body.
The other raid members didn’t let the briefly exposed vulnerability go to waste.
Starting with the arrow Yun Ga-ram loosed, the waiting members charged in unison.
The Giant Treant’s sturdy body was shredded in an instant by the onslaught.
“────!”
Kuung—
With Kim Jun-su’s final thrust embedding his sword, the Giant Treant finally collapsed, drained of strength.
The raid members swiftly dodged the falling colossal tree.
“Good work.”
“Everyone, great job!”
As they gathered around the fallen beast, they freely exchanged words of encouragement.
Yeon Sung-hun, who had watched from a safe distance, nodded in satisfaction.
In this battle, he hadn’t participated or issued commands as usual.
It was a sort of rehearsal before handing leadership to someone else later.
Everyone moved calmly and effectively.
He hadn’t been able to assess Lee Ha-na’s command skills closely since Choi Yeon-ah had handled most of the directing, but the outcome was satisfying enough.
Above all, he had confirmed firsthand that the raid could function without him.
That alone was a sufficient achievement.
“Wow, everyone’s amazing.”
Yeon Sung-hun glanced over at the sudden exclamation of admiration.
Cha Ye-ji, who like him hadn’t joined the fight, was gazing at the raid members with sparkling eyes.
The rebellious, prickly attitude from before was gone.
Her eyes held pure admiration and envy.
Not a bad look at all.
“They’ve all been working hard.”
“...Do you think I could become like that someday?”
Cha Ye-ji asked cautiously.
Her eyes mixed hope with a hint of worry.
Seeing her sneak a peek at him, Yeon Sung-hun smiled warmly and nodded.
“Of course you can.”
She might not have been ready before, but now? Definitely possible someday.
Cha Ye-ji fell silent at his calm, unqualified assertion, without further explanation.
She glanced at the raid members, then slowly nodded.
“...I’ll work hard too.”
“Yes. Learn from Choi Yeon-ah the Hunter or Lee Ha-na the Hunter.”
“Got it. I’ll learn diligently!”
Yeon Sung-hun smiled quietly at Cha Ye-ji’s vigorous nod.
He had aimed to recruit only immediate assets, avoiding promising youngsters, but watching her made him reconsider a bit.
Is this why people raise others?
He hadn’t been directly involved much, but he felt inexplicably proud.
She had started off shaky but was growing steadily without going astray, making his fingers twitch.
If it were So-yul, I wouldn’t hesitate to pat her head...
His mental age, including his past life, made everyone seem like kids regardless.
Good thing he was Yeon Sung-hun and not Faust, or he might have patted impulsively.
...Gotta stay young. No thanks to being an old soul in a young body.
He was Yeon Sung-hun, after all.
He wanted to live youthfully, enjoy his prime—not as some two-hundred-year-old geezer.
Though enjoying youth is tough with how busy I am.
Too much work; he might age out before savoring it.
Yeon Sung-hun let out a wry chuckle, then shook his head lightly.
Enough idle thoughts.
The rift exploration wasn’t over.
Left are the Black Alligator and Hunter Scimitar, right?
Both were notoriously tricky.
The former’s issue was the swamp environment’s variables; the latter was the monster itself.
The Black Alligator isn’t top-tier among A-ranks outside the swamp. But Hunter Scimitar...
As its name implied, it was a born hunter.
Among same-rank monsters, it boasted otherworldly speed and cunning to toy with prey.
And they’d face it in a dense forest where visibility was poor.
Mana detection could counter it somewhat, but...
Given its stealth, ordinary detection wouldn’t even pick up its presence.
Moreover, how many could maintain that level amid chaotic combat?
Maybe just Yeon-ah.
Yun Ga-ram might manage with his always-active presence detection skill, but the rest? No.
No matter how he sliced it, Hunter Scimitar was the rift’s toughest challenge.
“...Tch. Not easy.”
“Nya? What’s that?”
Han So-yul, who had sidled up unnoticed, tilted her head at Yeon Sung-hun’s quiet click of the tongue.
Her cheeks bulging with an energy bar made her look just like a hamster.
Her innocent look drew a chuckle from him, forgetting his worries.
“Hunter Scimitar.”
“Mm...! Yeah, definitely. Never fought one, but from what I’ve heard, it won’t be easy. Hmm. What to do?”
Innocent but no fool.
Hearing him, Han So-yul rubbed her chin, pondering hard.
Maybe devising a strategy?
She seemed serious, but her puffed cheeks made her utterly cute to him.
A fond smile slipped out as he naturally patted her head.
“Ugh, no idea! Couldn’t we just burn the whole forest?”
After deep thought, Han So-yul’s solution was brutal and crude.
Yet potentially the most effective.
No forest, no hiding spots—nullifying most advantages.
However.
“Then we’d lose all the materials too.”
“...Ah!”
Han So-yul smacked her forehead, realizing she hadn’t considered that.
“Right! Can’t burn up all those precious materials!”
The old Han So-yul might’ve shrugged off materials, but now, attuned to Yeon Sung-hun’s potions, she valued them more than anyone.
Without knowing what treasures lay within, torching the forest was out.
“Don’t worry about its strategy—I’ll figure something out. Just focus on your role.”
“Got it. I’ll get strong fast and slice that cat in one swing!”
Too grotesque for ‘cat,’ but her resolute expression earned a quiet nod from Yeon Sung-hun.
Ending the brief chat, he rallied the rested raid and moved out.
Next target: Black Alligator.
Clear the relatively easier foe before Hunter Scimitar.
Relatively, that is—compared to Hunter Scimitar.
The swamp was the Black Alligator’s habitat but also home to other monsters, naturally.
Lizardmen and aquatic types lurked, low-rank but tough due to the terrain.
Sudden lunges from water were standard; ambushes from thickets common.
Yun Ga-ram’s diligent detection kept casualties low so far, but it was clearly harder than before.
Eying the gradually fatiguing raid, Yeon Sung-hun pondered briefly.
“Yeon-ah.”
He called Choi Yeon-ah, who was looking after Cha Ye-ji with Lee Ha-na.
“What’s up, Sung-hun?”
She approached promptly.
After a moment’s gaze, he handed her a small storage box from his pocket.
“...What’s this?”
“A gift.”
Choi Yeon-ah tilted her head curiously and opened it quietly.
Her mouth fell open at the ring inside.
“...How did you?”
“Got it by chance. Wanted to give it at a better time, sorry for this situation.”
She looked from the ring to him and back, then spoke softly.
“...Thank you.”
“No need. If I was giving it, should’ve done so sooner...”
As he trailed off awkwardly, she slipped the ring onto her finger.
Gazing at her reclaimed gear with deep emotion.
“Really, thank you. Never thought I’d see this again.”
“Skip the thanks. Can you use its ability?”
“No issues. Doesn’t consume my mana.”
Yeon Sung-hun sighed in relief.
Good it wasn’t like Hermes’ Footsteps or her sword, requiring mana.
True to ‘Blessing of Water,’ the ring excelled near or in water.
It amplified physical abilities there, let her walk on water, and enabled natural movement underwater with breathing.
“Perfect. One less worry.”
“Leave the alligator to me. With this, it’s just a big croc.”
Her face brighter, more excited than usual, she smiled.
Familiar with its powers from past use.
He smiled back at her confidence.
Glad she’s this happy.
Might thank Jeong Hyun-su again—though just considering it.
Exploration proceeded far smoother with her reclaimed gear.
Worth its reputation from her prime.
Not sure the exact amp, but she rampaged like a fish in water.
Han So-yul’s support sufficed; others barely needed to step in.
Yeon Sung-hun even had to tell her to conserve stamina.
“I’m fine. It recovers stamina too. Plus your potions? No problem.”
“...I see. Impressive.”
Explained her uncharacteristic confidence.
Full mana use, full gear—near water, she was theoretically invincible?
What kind of monster in an S-rank rift wrecked someone like that?
Accounting for no water and ignorance, it made sense—but still, S-rank beasts were monstrous.
Disaster-class?
Past life ‘disasters’ incarnate.
S-rank rift monsters might be that caliber.
If so... No, not now.
Shaking off thoughts, he turned.
Choi Yeon-ah was mowing down charging Lizardmen.
Her overwhelming dominance drew an unwitting chuckle from him.
Bolstered by her prowess, Yeon Sung-hun and the raid pressed deep into the swamp toward the Black Alligator.