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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Yuki Onna and the Loyal Hound
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"Shin Ji-ui Hunter!"
"Eek!"
My eyes snapped open. Instinctively, I sat up and scanned my surroundings. There were Ji-ho unnie and the other hunters, all wearing worried expressions. The maple leaves that had densely packed the branches were now falling steadily, and the sky was filled with nothing but gray clouds, as if snow was on the way.
"Huff, huff."
"You okay?"
"Y-yeah... How long was I out?"
"Not long. Maybe three minutes?"
"That's a relief..."
To think I'd gone through a full life-flashing-before-my-eyes montage in such a short time—it must've hurt like hell.
I slipped my hand under my clothes and touched my back. The skin felt a bit rough from the wound, but the pain was completely gone. My energy had recovered too, and my mind felt sharper than before.
"We're not into the final phase yet. Think you can stand?"
"Yeah! Thanks to you guys, I'm good as new."
I stood up and stretched. My joints popped with satisfying cracks. It had hurt so bad my vision had blurred, but now I was perfectly fine. No wonder every raid team needs at least one healer.
"By the way, why did that monster only chase after Shin Ji-ui Hunter?"
"Yeah, wonder why. The light attribute, maybe?"
"Ah~ Because it's a crow? That could be it!"
The conversation flowed naturally, like water. As Ego, which had turned into an earring, returned to my hand, the dungeon prepared for winter. Ji-ho unnie put her shirt back on, tying it around her waist earlier, and Chae Hyun-min Hunter wrapped us in her defensive skill, 'Rat Fire Play,' just in case.
Hoping this blocks out some of the cold.
The trees were now skeletal branches reaching barren toward the sky. The cool breeze that had tickled my skin now carried a biting chill as it swept past me.
As the clouds hung thick and low enough to touch, fluffy snowflakes brushed my fingertips.
Whoosh.
Oof, it's cold.
The mildly cool wind had turned into a flesh-cutting gale. I rubbed my arms to generate some heat when I spotted a figure in the distance along the path.
"What's that?"
"Humanoid monster. Stay sharp."
A woman with pale skin in a pure white kimono was slowly walking toward us. Her hair, lips, even her eyes were all white, like a finely crafted plaster statue coming to life.
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling. As she drew closer, the bell sounds grew louder, and the snowstorm intensified.
Why are there so many with charm skills? Can't even plug my ears.
Ku-goo-goo-kwang!!
A massive icicle dropped from the sky, hurtling toward us to impale our bodies. After dodging them all, I unleashed a wide-area sonic wave while fleeing. The pure white waves rippled around Yuki Onna and us, shattering the icicles embedded in the ground into pieces.
Wielder of the Strongest Weapon
Progress Increased
Achievement: 16%
In that opening, Ji-ho unnie glided smoothly across the ice toward Yuki Onna and leaped, summoning a massive water dragon. As the dragon opened its jaws wide to swallow her whole...
Crack!
"Ugh!"
"Cover your heads!"
The water dragon froze!
A thin layer of frost formed on the dragon's surface, turning it into an ice statue. Unnie's body was blown back by Yuki Onna's blizzard. Fortunately, Lee Sang-wook Hunter's earth wall shaped into a giant hand and caught her.
"Thanks... Oof."
Ji-ho unnie clutched her head as she stepped down from Lee Sang-wook Hunter's 'Vast Expansion.' Her face was plastered with irritation.
Papapapak.
Lime-green wind arrows targeted Yuki Onna's head and heart, but she spun gracefully, dodging effortlessly and firing sharp icicles in all directions. The ones hitting the shield shattered like glass, leaving only frigid air behind.
Need to take her down fast.
The insane cold was slowing my movements. Everyone else seemed affected too. Chae Hyun-min Hunter's floating Rat Fire Play around us wasn't enough against this murderous chill.
Then Yuki Onna floated up into the sky. She grabbed her hair with both hands and tore at it, opening her mouth impossibly wide for a human.
"Ah— Hee-hee, ha, ah— Aaaahhh!!"
"Ugh!"
Her 'song' was grotesquely scream-like. More like a wail of agony, the eerie voice pierced my eardrums, making my vision swim.
Shiiik.
Icicles flew through my wavering vision. I dodged the big ones with my movement skill, but the smaller shards got me.
"Argh, my head hurts."
Ji-ho unnie muttered as she fired another water dragon. But it missed its mark, slicing through empty air.
First, push out this noise.
Woooong.
I held Ego's trigger long, vibrating the entire air. Yuki Onna's song dispersed instantly. Everything but us shook unsteadily left and right.
Jang!
"Kiyaaaaak!!"
Yuki Onna's ears burst. Clutching her head, she unleashed more icicles everywhere. A lime-green arrow sliced through the gap.
Plunk!
It hit precisely between her eyes.
Let's finish her.
Bang!!
Before she could pull out the arrow, I fired Ego. A white sonic bullet embedded in her forehead.
"Haa, ha..."
A blue gem dropped as the piled snow on the ground melted away.
"Thought I'd freeze to death."
Ji-ho unnie huddled, rubbing her arms. Her defense wasn't high, so she was easy to kill if you caught an opening, but her patterns were annoying.
"Looks like the mid-bosses are done. Let's see, Hachi is..."
"Still fine. Does it turn into the boss only if you touch the gate?"
Chae Hyun-min Hunter poked Hachi, but it stayed rigid like a wax doll. No point waiting—the owner wouldn't come. Knowing Hachi's wait ends in futility made my heart ache.
"Let's rest a bit before the boss. I'll use recovery skills."
"Anyone else hurt?"
Cha Do-yun Hunter's Sky Breeze began to blow, and Chae Hyun-min Hunter busily treated icicle wounds. Luckily, no major injuries. My ankle had a few small shards tearing the skin a bit—nothing serious.
"Anyone low on stamina? I have recovery pills."
"Ah, give me one! I'm okay now, but might crash during the boss."
Ji-ho unnie popped the stamina pill from Lee Sang-wook Hunter into her mouth, then scrunched her brow.
Tastes bad? Never tried one.
"Why do you carry red ginseng flavor...?"
"It's healthy-tasting, right? Haha!"
"Try chocolate milk next time. That's decent!"
Ji-ho unnie shoved the pill pouch into her inventory and rinsed her mouth with water.
"Alrighty, time to wrap this up?"
Lee Sang-wook Hunter and Chae Hyun-min Hunter stood, stretching. Cha Do-yun Hunter recalled his Sky Breeze and stared at Hachi.
"End it quick before it goes invincible. Min Ji-ho Hunter, block Hachi's vision and draw aggro."
"Got it~"
"Shin Ji-ui Hunter and I will prioritize attacks. Lee Sang-wook Hunter, assist our defense and protect Chae Hyun-min Hunter."
We formed up before Hachi. Aggro-taker Ji-ho unnie slid toward the gate with her water dragon. She turned to us silently. When Cha Do-yun Hunter gave the OK sign, she cautiously touched the red wooden gate.
Awoo— Woo-woo—
The doll-like Hachi moved. It raised its head, letting out a mournful howl. Red liquid soon poured from its eyes.
Kwagak.
Blood tears streamed down as its body cracked with dislocating bones. It began transforming from a normal puppy into something else.
Its spine arched high, paws became jagged. Claws grew long and sickle-like, Hachi's blood tears dripping onto them.
The cute form vanished in an instant. Now before us was the boss monster 'Hachi.'
Ku-go-kwang!!
"Whoa?!"
The ground shook and cracked. Trees sprouted from the fissures, branches lashing out. I pulled Ego's trigger at the stems aiming to tear me apart.
Bang!
Obviously an earth-attribute monster. Ji-ho unnie merged with her water dragon, keeping just out of Hachi's reach while drawing its attention.
Splash!
Hachi's front paw slashed through the water toward unnie, but she dodged narrowly. I shoved attacks into the gap. Hachi twisted to evade the dozens of sonic bullets, but some hit its shoulder and exploded.
Yelp! Kyang!
"Gasp!"
"Focus, Shin Ji-ui Hunter!"
Why does a yokai cry like a normal dog?
Hachi bled and writhed in pain. I unconsciously covered my mouth with one hand. Maybe a wide sonic wave would muffle the cries—I kept firing, but it only whined louder.
"Man, this is rough..."
Hitting ghosts felt easier.
Kwaduk.
"Ugh!"
A tree trunk from the cracked earth grabbed my leg and flung me upward.
Ting!
Glass-like leaves flew at my airborne body. I deployed a shield just before one hit my forehead.
I landed on Lee Sang-wook Hunter's Vast Expansion defense skill. A lime arrow streaked green, accelerating like it caught the wind until it blurred into Hachi's neck.
Kki, kyaeng!
"Ugh...!"
"Shin Ji-ui Hunter!"
"I know!"
I'm really sorry, Hachi...
I fired at Hachi as it trembled, trying to pull the arrow. A massive sonic blast engulfed it.
Kwa-goo-goo-kwang!!
Nearby trees vanished without trace, debris floating like dust. The explosion whipped my hair wildly. I watched the gate, smoke billowing thickly.
"Did we get it?"
What if he chants resurrection, Lee Sang-wook Hunter...
The words rose in my throat, but I bit my lip to hold them back. The smoke obscured everything. I cautiously aimed Ego at the gate.
If something shows, Hachi's alive. If not, clear.
Purple text appeared through the small circle of my fingers.
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