Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Rookies Handle a Grade-2 Erosion Core
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Two rookie hunters taking down a Grade-2 Erosion Core. And to top it off, it's on Tsushima Island. If everything goes smoothly afterward, Korea might even end up owning the island, all thanks to me and Han Sang-ah.
It's the perfect combo—riding the wave of hype from my TV appearance while stirring up national sentiment. And rescuing the captured fishermen to boot?
Is there any faster way to skyrocket to fame in Korea without any backlash?
— Got it. No guarantees, but even if we prep and it falls through, we can just act like it never happened.
"Exactly what I was thinking."
The relationship between Taebaek LLC and the Association President is a strange one. This conversation probably won't get back to Yoon Sung-hyun.
After ending the call, I stared at the fog a bit longer before clicking my tongue.
"Looks like we're in for some hard work."
Tsushima Island is pretty big. Roughly twice the size of Geoje Island. Finding and smashing a Grade-2 Erosion Core here will take a decent chunk of time.
"We can't rule out other Grade-3 or unranked Erosion Cores either."
Han Sang-ah, having finished packing, stood beside me and chimed in.
"That's fine."
I've got something to rely on. I brushed down my gloves and answered confidently. With the mana stored in these gloves, I can last exactly five minutes—even Lee Se-eun would survive at least that long without dying.
"According to the statements, the fishermen are being held at a shrine..."
The place they're held is a shrine. Tsushima has two: Kaijin Shrine and Watatsumi Shrine.
Distance-wise, we head to Kaijin first. If not there, then Watatsumi.
"About 50km away. Not impossible to go and come back."
For hunters, that's a round trip doable in a few hours. Assuming no interference, of course.
"The issue is rescuing the captured fishermen and bringing them back here."
We go empty-handed, but return loaded. Han Sang-ah pondered my words. Watching her, I spoke up.
"Unload all the supplies we brought."
Time to change plans. Han Sang-ah shot me a questioning look.
"What's the idea?"
"Grab a mid-size van and hit the road light."
Race straight to the shrine, wipe out the monsters there, cram the people in the van.
An eight-seater should do. About fifteen missing. We can squeeze 'em in.
"Then floor it back here."
Once we arrive, unload the people and call the Maritime Agency for a boat. Load 'em up and send them off.
"...Think it'll work?"
"What's not to work? It's surprisingly simple."
Drive the van to the shrine. Clear the monsters, load the survivors. Burn rubber back here.
Just three steps.
"Too risky."
"You think we came here expecting safety?"
Han Sang-ah muttered softly at my retort.
"Didn't expect it to be this risky. Anyway, got it."
"You drive?"
She nodded.
"Grandpa was impressed."
Impressed, huh...
"What kind of impressed?"
She replied,
"He rode shotgun once, worried about my skills. Never again after that."
"That doesn't sound like impressed."
Something life-threatening must've happened. She shook her head at my words.
"If he's too worried to ride again, doesn't that prove my skills?"
"Yeah, validated in all sorts of ways."
Seeing her nod casually like right?, I scratched my head. Complaining about safety now would be ridiculous.
"Driving's easy. I won't even have to do much."
"What do you mean?"
She answered proudly,
"They'll swerve out of the way anyway."
Why? 'Cause they don't wanna die? I swallowed the quip.
Others value their lives too. Whatever her style, it makes other drivers think, "Don't dodge, and you're dead." Impressive skill.
How to describe it? Considering it scares them off entirely... Aggressive defensive driving?
Best defense is a good offense, as they say.
"If you hate it, you drive."
"Nah. I'm better at monster cleanup right now."
Handling any monsters or ghosts tailing the car— that's my forte.
"Agreed. Let's prep the van."
We hopped in. And that's when I truly grasped Han Sang-ah's aggressive defensive driving.
"Hey, we're over 150 kph."
"Too slow?"
I clicked my tongue. No wonder Grandpa avoids shotgun. Is this a car or a hearse to the afterlife?
She's not bad at driving. Just brutally aggressive.
"Looks like they're moving."
"I see 'em. Time to roll."
I double-checked the climbing rope tied to the spear tip. Supposed to hold 3 tons—wonder if it's true.
Only one way to find out. Grinning maniacally, I hurled the spear at one of the pursuing monsters, rope-end secured.
The harpoon-like spear slammed into a corpse's skull. Thwack—I yanked the rope taut, ripping it free.
"Nice, no issues."
That confirmed the rope's reliability. No holding back now. I played harpooner from the speeding van.
"Feels like deep-sea fishing!"
Is this why people visit Tsushima? As the spear flew, I spotted a corpse leaping from the roadside toward our van. I leaned out and swung a fist.
The ambitious attacker exploded with a crunch, ribs shattered, tumbling across the road.
"Stinks awful."
Han Sang-ah's curt assessment. Punching rotten flesh bare-handed left my knuckles caked in gore, pus, and blood.
"I know. Tough it out."
Or wear a mask. Anything in tricky spots, she handled with her ability.
"We've got more fans than I thought."
"Those aren't fans—they're monsters."
Nearly a hundred tailing us.
"The ghost ship was tougher."
Individually, the sea's ghost ship corpses and ghosts were stronger. On the island, they're overwhelming with numbers.
Ghost ship had space limits, so quality over quantity. Island? No limits—pure swarm tactics.
Undead's biggest edge is numbers anyway. They just get back up.
Curvy road, ocean on one side. Slight misstep, and we're swimming.
"Ahaha."
Is she laughing?
But none of that fazed the woman driving beside me.
Her eyes gleaming, mashing the pedal, whipping the wheel—I finally sensed an indescribable madness dwelling within her.
"You pretended to object when I pitched this, but you were thrilled inside, weren't you?!"
I bombarded charging corpses with spears and yelled at Han Sang-ah.
"It is dangerous."
With that, my body lurched sideways. I gripped the window frame, grunting.
Screeeeech—the car's center of gravity teetered dangerously. Black tire streaks scarred the road like brushstrokes on hanji paper.
"Fucking insane."
Amid it all, I kept blasting clinging corpses and spirits.
Speed topped 150, pushing 170. 50km at this pace? Theoretically, twenty minutes flat.
Assuming we don't crash first!
"Zero accidents so far."
"Bullshit."
"For real. Grandpa banned me from driving for three years, but before that, three months accident-free."
Sensationalize her driving three months unscathed? Or fear she hasn't driven in three years?
"What a goddamn crazy woman."
"A compliment?"
"Yeah, you flower!"
I flipped her off, shredding three corpses and two ghosts mid-dive.
"One latched on the back."
"Nah, it'll be fine. Just drive."
No need for me. Another sharp turn flung the rear-clinger off.
"Believing in the driver's skills? Energizing!"
"Then again, so good the elderly might nap forever? Permanently!"
Her skills? Untrustworthy. I just know I can survive a wreck.
Anyway, proving her three-month accident-free claim, we reached the destination unscathed.
"How was it?"
"What, want praise? Stick to plan. Don't stop here..."
Before I finished, the van roared like explosive diarrhea and surged again.
"Yeah, keep flooring it. Good girl."
Our refined plan en route to the shrine:
Shrine path has stairs lined with torii gates. Those iconic Japanese shrine arch things.
Smash 'em flat.
"One, two. Ram."
Like now. Boom—torii shattered, van charging on.
Four wheels brutalized the pedestrian stairs. Van shook wildly, climbing the slope. This'll tank the lifespan, but...
Not our van anyway?
"You're doing great. Keep pushing."
Blasting torii while ascending? We'll arrive in seconds.
"There! Captives spotted."
Speed run. Too many tailing corpses. Clear 'em all, then safely evac fishermen?
Viable with twenty headcount. Not us two.
"Stopping."
Her word—van airborne, then brrrrack, skidding to a halt in the shrine courtyard, kicking up dirt.
"Save the people!"
I swung my black-flame-wreathed spear, blocking the corpses storming the shrine after us.
"I'll leave a mystery at this shrine."
Muttering, I slashed the ground. The Paradox Flame coiled around the spear spread across the floor.
Chasing corpses hit the black inferno zone, slipped ass-backward, and slid helplessly.
"What'd you do?"
"Secret."
Paradox Flame burned friction. Now, the shrine entrance is frictionless forever—unless rebuilt from scratch.