Chapter 35

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 35

Chapter Title: First Expedition (7)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

From head to toe, the figure was pure white. It was too far away to see clearly, but it looked like it was wearing something resembling a nun's habit.

Its gaze was fixed on me. It didn't spare a glance for Oroji standing beside me, just stared straight at me. Meanwhile, my eyes were drawn to the stomach area of the clothes it was wearing.

A red circle. Inside it, a geometric pattern. The exact same red emblem etched between the wyvern's eyes was drawn there.

It stood in the forest, gazing silently in our direction, then vanished into the depths of the woods.

"A humanoid monster? No way..."

Humanoid monsters appeared in at least B-Rank Gates, and even then, only in a tiny fraction of them. They were monsters among monsters.

Vampires, succubi, werewolves, and the like. Monsters with intelligence, capable of understanding human speech and behavior, yet armed with special abilities.

Most hunters never encountered one in their lifetime. It was utterly impossible— even in your wildest dreams—to run into one in a mere C-Rank Gate like this.

"You saw it, right? Same as this thing."

Oroji's toe nudged the dead wyvern's corpse, its tongue lolling out. Her gaze lingered on the red emblem between its eyes.

"Yeah. I saw it."

"Ugh, a black mutant ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on top of it. And now this pattern... what a mess."

She scratched her head vigorously, muttering to herself. A bad premonition crept up my spine, like that monster might pop out again any second.

I grabbed Oroji's wrist and tugged, urging her on.

"Let's hurry. I don't think we can outrun it this time."

"What's the big deal? If it chases us, I'll just chuck another dagger at it. It chickened out this time, didn't it?"

"Ugh..."

I clamped my mouth shut.

Truth be told, killing the wyvern had been a near-miracle. We'd been close enough, I'd seen the perfect motion just before, and the wyvern was already weakened—a pure stroke of luck.

I knew that full well, so whenever Oroji pointed out my recklessness on the way back, I'd opted for defensive silence.

"I'm not saying it was a bad call. Without you, we both might've been goners. Still, be more careful next time. Rushing in headfirst without thinking is the deadliest habit in this hunter life..."

Oroji dragged the wyvern's tail along, lecturing away. I trailed silently behind her, nodding occasionally.

"If you hadn't, we wouldn't have had that mess at the bank, right?"

She grinned mischievously. It was the kind of smug smile that made me want to smack her.

...Of course, I could see the future clearly: getting fried by a bolt of blue lightning. So instead, I chuckled.

"Your face looks weird. Got a cramp?"

"Nope."

"Want another piggyback?"

"Nah."

"For real? You sure? Last chance."

"Nooo."

For some reason, she wore a suspicious frown as her hand patted my head.

I didn't make a peep, just meekly followed her.

Damn, she's filthy and sneaky about it, that's for sure.

The area around the tents was quieter than expected. Maybe they'd already pulled out. Only the flapping of canvas in the wind echoed eerily.

"...People aren't gonna freak out seeing you like that, Oroji?"

"Me? Why?"

"Well, you've got a ton of wounds, and your clothes are ripped..."

"And you're worried about that?"

Even to my joke, Oroji shot me a look like she'd heard every weird line in the book.

I couldn't read her expression, so I shut up. Fair enough—who could read that woman? But her icy stare felt too harsh for a lame joke.

Oroji and I circled around the tent village. The narrow paths between tents were too cramped to drag the wyvern's bulky corpse through.

Hauling the exhausting load near the Gate, a familiar voice rang out.

"Understood. Please handle it that way."

"Still, you didn't have to go this far..."

"No, we can't impose on the Yongdam Clan."

"Are you sure? Maybe gather a few more people before..."

"Time's of the essence."

"...Even so, if they caught you like that, by now..."

"Ah, no. Jungwoo is definitely... snff..."

My steps quickened on their own. I glanced anxiously at Oroji, who still looked annoyingly laid-back.

She waved one hand lazily, her face etched with fatigue, as if speaking was too much trouble.

I hurried into the tent area. Far ahead by the Gate, a Yongdam Clan member and our group stood like tiny dots.

"I'm back!"

I raised both arms high and waved them wildly. Heads turned our way. My pace picked up until I was full-on sprinting.

"Jungwoo!"

The clan members ran toward us. I grinned wide, waving my arms overhead.

Seeing familiar faces melted my tension, and my strength drained away. Legs propped ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up by sheer willpower buckled, and I slid dramatically across the dirt on my knees.

My ears rang. Pain hit my whole body late. Like clouds rolling in, my already dim vision blackened further.

Thinking back, I'd pushed way too hard all day. A hollow chuckle escaped at the miracle of surviving.

Several people clung to me, shaking me. They hauled me up, or so it felt—hard to tell.

Through heavy eyelids, I saw Yang Jihee reaching out. White mana-like energy flowed into me, tickling my wounds.

What now? Eyes kept closing. Exhaustion from the tension crashed over me. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I needed to explain, reassure them...

I barely raised my trembling hand, pointing toward Oroji's approach. Then my consciousness snapped off.

"J-Jungwoo! Jungwoo!"

"He's fine, Hayeon. Just asleep."

"B-But the wounds, they're..."

Park Jungwoo's condition was a sight to behold.

His leather armor was torn at the seams, outer clothes gone. What remained was half-rags, exposing gashes from sharp claws or whatever.

Caked in sticky blood—monster or his, who knew—he'd be scarred for life without healing skills. Barely breathing; excessive blood loss could've killed him anytime.

"...What happened?"

Chae Seoah's sharp gaze pinned Oroji. Oroji, who'd strolled in dragging the wyvern casually, let her grip slacken.

"We both fell in the forest. Somehow crawled out alive. Don't look at me like that? It's no different from me saving him."

She prodded the wyvern with her toe, speaking lightly.

"And take this."

"Wh-What do you want for it...?"

"Want? He caught it, not me. Yours by right."

Oroji nodded at Park Jungwoo. Distrust etched the group's faces.

"No way. Jungwoo's just a... kid. Not strong enough for that."

"Kid...? Anyway, true story. Ask him when he wakes. I'd be dead without him. He's not shameless enough to hog credit."

Chae Seoah eyed her like a criminal protesting innocence.

Which, honestly, she was.

Oroji averted her eyes slyly. Tapping her choker, she said,

"For real. I can't live like before even if I wanted."

"Ever heard 'a leopard can't change its spots'?"

"There's 'even a thief regrets in tough times' too."

A cold wind whistled by. Oroji kicked the downed wyvern, rubbing her neck awkwardly.

"Anyway. The kid's usually an idiot, but he stepped up a few times. Gifting it outta gratitude, so just take it. I'm beat."

The women around Park Jungwoo clamped their mouths shut in unison. Each had their reasons to buy Oroji's words.

Luckily, he was asleep and missed her "idiot" jab going unchallenged.

"A-Anyway, thank you. For saving Jungwoo..."

Moon Hayeon bowed deeply, her teary face gone. Gazing at the soundly sleeping Park Jungwoo, she smiled dopily through puffy eyes, tension fully released.

Watching, Oroji crossed her arms, stroking her chin. Eyes rolling thoughtfully, she murmured,

"Fair enough. Gotta be grateful for something."

"Look at her. Can't help ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠herself—scheming to weasel something out. How's that reformed?"

"Not weaseling. Just a proposal."

Oroji spoke brazenly in her clear voice. She shifted from Chae Seoah's distrustful stare to Yang Jihee, still silent.

Yang Jihee flicked her eyes calculatingly, sighed softly, and spoke reluctantly.

"...Whatever. From tagging along to saving him, the clan owes you thanks."

"Quick on the uptake—love it. So, one favor..."

I sat up and looked around. Yang Jihee's house. The soundproofed basement room I'd half-claimed during the week's prep.

"I really made it back alive..."

Already drained, my energy fully ebbed. I flopped back slowly, head on pillow. Screw rest or whatever—just more sleep.

Come to think of it, new skill, stats up a bit. That cheered me right up.

One peek before bed. Grinning ear to ear, I blinked twice.

My eyes twisted in horror as I read the status window.

"What the fuck is this..."

There was a new skill I hadn't seen before. A-rank, no less. Had to be a good one. But the name...

Sage Time? How does a skill get named Sage Time?