Chapter 90
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: School Trip (5)
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Having successfully activated our synchronization, Ha Siyeon and I continued to hunt in silence.
This is so easy.
The monsters were already weakened by the Beast Master, and we were even stronger thanks to our synchronization. There was no chance of a crisis.
We'd even taken down a respectable named monster like the Iron Spider, which said it all.
Maybe it's because this isn't the pro superhuman course? It's seriously a breeze.
As Ha Siyeon said, it probably had something to do with this being a low-difficulty course for cadets.
Kyuu.
Geumho made his presence known, his expression practically begging for praise.
Right. It's also because our Geumho fought so well.
I gently stroked Geumho's head.
By the way, Seoyul, your mana has increased a ton. What's your rank?
It went up about two ranks, so I'm roughly C-rank now?
I reached D-rank through the complete succubus embodiment, and the synchronization pushed me up to C-rank.
Huh? You're still only C-rank? For that, your power seems way too strong.
It's all about control, isn't it?
I said with a smug smile.
Right, right.
But the innocent Ha Siyeon didn't seem to grasp my intention at all and was simply amazed.
But is it okay to keep releasing your seal like that? What if your enemies find out?
It's fine. I didn't release the seal, I modified it, so they won't catch on.
Of course, there was no such seal, but I had to say that.
It was an extension of the lies I'd told so far.
I see.
Ha Siyeon nodded as if she understood.
Siyeon, you seem to be getting used to A-rank mana.
Me? Yeah. A little?
Ha Siyeon grinned shyly.
I didn't realize B-rank and A-rank would be this different. It's so hard to control.
S-rank is even worse.
Ha Siyeon's trait, Sanctuary of Ice, had immense output to compensate for its short-range penalty.
Combined with the gap between A-rank and B-rank, her output was literally exploding.
When we're separated later, you'll go back to B-rank. Make sure you adjust well then.
Okay.
Well, you're adapting at an absurd pace, so don't get too impatient.
Of course~ I won't.
Thankfully, her impatient habit seemed to have disappeared. Then again, she went from a body that couldn't handle mana to a top prospect with elemental mana, so why would she be impatient?
Shall we get going again?
Yeah.
Let's go, Geumho.
Grrr.
We stood up.
Oh, by the way, how many points have we collected?
Hold on.
I checked the terminal I was given.
About 2,000 points?
Huh? Doesn't that mean we can get a Tier 2 reward?
Yep. The points from the Iron Spider were bigger than I thought.
A named monster for you.
If we find just one more named monster, we might even get a Tier 1 reward.
Awesome. I heard getting a Tier 1 reward in the cadet course is like plucking a star from the sky.
We're not exactly ordinary cadets, are we?
I ruffled the fur on Geumho's head as he yawned beside me.
We even have the great Geumho.
Gya-reung!
Geumho lifted his head as if to say, "Just trust me." His body had grown, but he was still cute. I stroked him and said,
Alright, let's really get going.
Okay. I hope we find another named monster.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Seoul, South Korea.
Ah, right. I forgot to say this. Congratulations on your discharge from the hospital.
Thank you.
Shin Jia and Yuhwa were talking in the reception room of Shin Jia's home.
Anyway, this concludes the Vagabond incident.
Shin Jia said, organizing the documents.
Yes. It's faded from the public's memory, and it's safe to say there's no more profit to be gained from it.
Yuhwa, who was also organizing papers, took another document out of her bag.
This is the report on the Gwuiryeong and Geomryeong attack.
Ah, thank you.
Shin Jia reviewed the document she was handed. Some of the information was new, while some she already knew.
...Where did you get the information that the Seekers of Truth are targeting you, Yuhwa?
This seemed too hasty a conclusion.
After all, she herself had almost been kidnapped.
It came from Seoyul.
Anc... Seoyul?
For a moment, she was so flustered she almost said "Ancestor," but quickly corrected herself to "Seoyul."
Yes. He told me when we spoke on the phone yesterday. Apparently, they're convinced I was the mastermind behind taking care of Vagabond.
What's the reason?
Hmm. Where should I begin?
Yuhwa relayed to Shin Jia exactly what she had heard from Kang Seoyul.
Explaining Maestro's personality and how he would likely move, a highly credible accountexcluding anything disadvantageous to Kang Seoyulwas reproduced from Yuhwa's lips.
I see.
Shin Jia was immediately convinced.
It was all just speculation, but if Kang Seoyul was the source, it was more than ninety percent certain.
Of course, this doesn't mean you're safe, Jia. You know that, right?
Yes, I know.
It was just that Yuhwa was the main target. It didn't mean Shin Jia wasn't a target.
Seoyul felt very sorry about it. He said he was sorry for making you a target because of him.
...That's just like Seoyul.
The two women shared a bitter smile.
So I told him to stop talking nonsense.
Good for you.
Anyway, that's all I had to tell you.
Yes. Thank you.
Shin Jia bowed her head deeply.
Yuhwa had gone to the trouble of visiting her home to give her a report on the Gwuiryeong and Geomryeong incident that she didn't necessarily need to provide. Regardless of her personal feelings, expressing gratitude was the proper thing to do as a human being and as the heir to the Shinhwa Group.
By the way, you must be disappointed. About not being able to go on the school trip.
...Yes.
Shin Jia bit her lip.
Because of this, she had fallen to second place in the rankings. That hurt more than anything.
You're second place now.
Yuhwa, who knew this better than anyone, smiled slyly.
It was clearly a taunt.
Shin Jia bristled.
...It doesn't matter, I'll take it back soon enough.
The gap from a single practical exam is quite large. Think you can do it?
Of course. Ah, though it might have been difficult for you back when you were a cadet, Yuhwa.
As expected, these two did not get along.
Speaking of which, Seoyul said he was going to the Monster Park today. I wonder if he's having fun.
...What?
Shin Jia's eyes widened.
You didn't know? He said he was going to the Monster Park with Ha Siyeon today. I guess you and Seoyul aren't that close?
...
Shin Jia pouted.
He kept it a secret from me...
Hearing that two people she was close with went to a famous tourist spot in Australia without a single word to her, she felt inexplicably upset.
Yuhwa couldn't hide her surprise at the clear change in her expression.
Shin Jia wasn't the type to be so expressive.
...So it seems she really does like Seoyul.
Kang Seoyul had said that Shin Jia knew nothing about his past.
She only knew him as an unusual cadet hiding some of his strength, so he had asked her not to say anything strange to test her.
She must have fallen for him during the Pialle Allo incident. Since he was the benefactor who avenged her.
Yuhwa came to that conclusion.
Meanwhile, Shin Jia was having thoughts of her own.
Yuhwa is closer to my ancestor than I thought.
Shin Jia glared at Yuhwa with a sullen expression.
The fact that he told Yuhwa he was going to the Monster Park but not her suggested they were close.
...He said she only knows him as an unusual cadet hiding his strength.
Kang Seoyul had said that Yuhwa knew nothing about his true identity.
She only knew him as an unusual cadet hiding some of his strength, so he had asked her not to say anything strange to test her.
He had even added that their friendship developed because he had helped the Bihon Guild, starting with the doppelgnger incident.
As I thought, it's highly likely my ancestor was involved in Secretary Kim Shinwoo's case.
Shin Jia came to that conclusion.
* * *
Ugh~ I guess finding one more named monster was too much to ask for~
Ha Siyeon said, plopping down onto the ground.
Honestly, finding even one was a miracle.
That's true.
There were about thirty minutes left until the Monster Park closed.
We had acquired about 2,500 points. As expected, regular monsters weren't worth much.
I'm not asking for a Golden Named, but it would be nice if a Golden Monster showed up.
As if.
Golden Monsters were rarer than Named Monsters. And Golden Named were even rarer than Golden Monsters.
I'd seen statistics somewhere that the probability of encountering one was similar to winning the lottery.
...Still, I had a feeling that *I* might be able to find one. I guess that was asking too much.
Then again, everyone buys lottery tickets with that kind of thinking, and they all lose.
Well, a Tier 2 reward is still something.
I decided to look on the bright side.
A Tier 2 reward from the Monster Park was an A-rank equivalent piece of equipment.
On the open market, it would cost at least a billion.
Still, it feels a little disappointing.
Ha Siyeon said with a sullen look.
A Tier 2 reward isn't good enough for you? My dear Siyeon, I didn't take you for a greedy one.
I said with a sly smile.
Huh?
Ha Siyeon tilted her head.
Why would I be satisfied? Aren't you the one getting the reward, Seoyul?
Huh?
It seemed we had a misunderstanding.
Did I not mention it? I was planning on giving the reward to you as a gift, Siyeon.
Ha Siyeon was dumbfounded.
...This is the first I'm hearing of it.
...Was it?
Well, I'm telling you now. The reward is yours, Siyeon.
I smiled brightly.
Why would I take it? You're the one who got the tickets, Seoyul, so you should have it.
Ha Siyeon shook her head with a firm expression.
It's fine. There aren't any rewards I really want anyway.
All the Monster Park rewards were weapons. And for me, weapons were useless.
When I get back to Korea, Cheonbyeon will be complete. What use would I have for another weapon?
Even if you don't want anything! You should still be the one to get the reward
There's a white sword among the Tier 2 rewards called Baekcheong. It has ice attribute amplification.
of course... huh?
Ha Siyeon's eyes widened.
Baek...cheong?
Yeah. It's a Korean-style longsword. Looked pretty nice.
No, wait... didn't you say ice attribute amplification?
Yeah, I did.
One of the few attribute amplification weapons in the world?
Yep.
Ice attribute on a sword?
Yep.
...Why is such a high-end piece of equipment a Tier 2 reward?
Because there aren't many ice attribute users, right? And it's on a sword, no less. Low demand must have dropped it to Tier 2.
...
Ha Siyeon's pupils quaked. Her lips moved, but no words came out.
Her expression was pretty funny.
A fierce battle between greed and conscience was probably raging in her head.
If it were me, I would've snatched it up in a heartbeat. Siyeon is just too nice for her own good.
I really don't need anything, so you take it, Siyeon. A weapon like Baekcheong is something money can't buy.
But still...
And I'm not just giving it to you. Think of it as a little bribe so you can chop off plenty of demon heads later.
Ah...
I smiled playfully and patted Ha Siyeon's head.
Well, you can also think of it as a gift from your teacher.
I stood up.
Besides, it's not polite to keep refusing a gift, you know? In times like these, you're supposed to just smile and say, 'I'll use it well!'
At my playful grin, Ha Siyeon gave a bittersweet smile, and then,
...Okay!
it turned into a bright one.
I'll use it well!
It was a radiant smile, just like Ha Siyeon. I chuckled.
Gya-reung.
Beside me, Geumho tilted his head, looking confused about the situation.
Alright, about twenty minutes left. Let's make a final push...
It was then.
!
!
I felt an immense presence behind me.
A heavy pressure, the likes of which I had never felt before.
This... is...
An aura of a completely different class, so much so that I couldn't even tell if it was killing intent or hostility.
I hadn't felt this even when I faced Hermit in his combat stance.
It wasn't this intense even when I confronted Vagabond one-on-one.
I was terrified to even turn around.
But I had to see.
I swallowed hard and slowly turned my body.
My body turned as if creaking.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
After a second that felt like ten minutes,
I was able to see the being that was emitting that monstrous pressure.
Fur that seemed to be draped in pure white, with prominent black stripes in between.
Red eyes that seemed to have condensed valor into gems.
And yet, a noble posture.
Baek...ho...?
Beside me, Ha Siyeon muttered in a trembling voice.
My own lips were trembling as well.
...Why is Baekho here at a time like this!
The primal killing intent of the wild, something I hadn't even felt when facing the drake, made the hair on my entire body stand on end.
A dreadful sense of terror, as if I were sticking my head into a monster's mouth.
Kh!
Death.
That thing was death in the form of a tiger.
With a trembling hand, I used Artisan's Makeshift Forge.
I intended to pull out Lucifer's Demonic Spear. This was no time to worry about side effects like murderous impulses.
I didn't think for a second I could win even with Lucifer's Demonic Spear, but it was better than dying without doing anything.
Geu-reung.
Geum, ho?
But Geumho stopped me.
He let out a small cry, as if to say there was nothing to worry about.
*Step, step.*
With the same noble gait as Baekho, befitting a king of beasts, he walked forward.
One step. Two steps.
Geumho!
I snapped back to my senses.
No matter how strong Geumho was, Baekho was on a different level.
At this rate, Geumho would be!
Damn it!
I moved my mana again to summon Lucifer's Demonic Spear.
But the creature's movements were faster than the speed at which I could move my mana.
!
In the blink of an eye, Baekho was positioned in the center of me, Ha Siyeon, and Geumho.
It felt like death was right in front of me.
I gritted my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut.
...Is this how I die!
Nyaaaang~
It was then that I heard a coquettish cry.
...Did I mishear something?
Nyang~
This time, a shorter cry.
That definitely wasn't the sound I remembered Geumho making.
I peeked open one eye.
...
And was bewildered.
The king of the wild that had made me feel death's embrace.
...Excuse me?
Was acting coyly, rubbing its face against Geumho's body.
The immense pressure that had been radiating from its body was now gone without a trace.
Kreung.
Receiving Baekho's advances, Geumho snorted.
He turned his head away with a very haughty air.
Baekho seemed to like even that side of Geumho, rubbing its face even more aggressively.
I stood there with my mouth agape. I could hear Ha Siyeon gasping beside me.
...
...Don't tell me that monstrous pressure was its mating call?
No, more importantly, why is Baekho here?
The Monster Rampage episode is still about a year away.
This isn't the right time for Baekho to appear.