Chapter 25 - Chapter 25

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 25

Chapter Title: Hachi's Treasure

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"A fork in the road ahead!"

Lee Sang-wook the Hunter pointed up ahead with his hand. One path was the dirt trail we'd been following all along, while the other was a red wooden bridge. The pathfinder arrow was pointing toward the slope.

'So that wooden bridge must be for the owner.'

The bridge was shrouded in thick fog, giving off an otherworldly vibe like it led to another realm entirely. Every now and then, a beastly wooo echoed from within. Ghosts could've popped out at any second, and it wouldn't have been the least bit surprising.

"To avoid bunching up all the S-Rankers on one side—which could get dicey—let's have Cha Do-yun Hunter and Shin Ji-ui Hunter split off. Which way will you take?"

"I've got an item for finding gates, so I'll head toward the owner."

"Then I'll go with Ji-ui~"

Ji-ho unni shot her hand up high. Lee Sang-wook nodded, and unni flashed me a grin. Cha Do-yun Hunter glanced my way once, then turned back to stare straight ahead.

Kkiing?

Right then, the owner dropped to one knee and started petting Hachi's head. Hachi wagged his tail, mouth agape in a big doggy grin. He had no clue what was coming for his owner.

The owner left Hachi behind and turned toward the wooden bridge. Hachi sat there watching his back until he vanished into the fog—then casually strolled down the slope.

"Alright, we'll split here. Shin Ji-ui Hunter, Min Ji-ho Hunter—once the owner vanishes, hustle to the gate as fast as you can."

"Got it. See you soon~!"

Ji-ho unni waved to Cha Do-yun's group and stepped into the fog first. I hurried after her.

'The fog's thicker than I thought.'

I could barely make out the owner's silhouette ahead. If a monster ambushed us now, it'd be trouble.

"Gotta watch for ambushes."

Chwaaah—

Ji-ho unni must've thought the same; she extended her hand and wrapped a 'Shield of Rain' around the owner. It was only B-Rank, so it wouldn't fully block an S-Rank monster's attack, but it should prevent instant death.

Shiiik.

No sooner had the shield gone up than a black butterfly fluttered straight at Hachi's owner.

Taang!

A transparent water dragon and a pure white voice bullet slammed into the butterfly at once. Its black wings shredded apart, crumbling to dust and vanishing.

"Hachi..."

"Huh?"

"...That dude just spoke, right?"

The owner—who'd been mannequin-still the whole time—finally opened his mouth. I'd stowed the auto-translator in my inventory, but his words came through clear as day in Korean.

Hachi's owner turned back, staring blankly into the fog-shrouded distance he could never return from.

He probably knew. Once he crossed that bridge, he'd never see Hachi again.

"I hope you don't wait for me too long."

"..."

"I'll do the waiting. You go have fun, eat your fill, and come back with no regrets."

Hachi's owner dissolved into black smoke. The green cardigan he'd been wearing dropped to the ground with a soft thud. The frail wisps of smoke lingered like regrets, circling the spot before slowly transforming into a butterfly and fluttering away.

I raised my Authority, entranced, aiming it at the butterfly wobbling precariously up and down.

"Ji-ui~! Come here, check this out."

"Oh, yeah! Item?"

"Kinda... but..."

Ji-ho unni beckoned, and I dashed over. In her hand was the green cardigan the owner had worn. When she placed her palm on it, an item acquisition window popped up.

This F-Rank cardigan was 'Hachi's Treasure'? Why slap a name like that on something so lame?

For some reason, tears pricked at my eyes, so I tilted my head back.

"Just in case, should we grab it? It's not a by-product, so no rule violation."

"Sure, why not."

Ji-ho unni stowed the cardigan in her inventory, then stared at my hand.

Oh, right. Time to head back.

I lifted my hand to check the pathfinder. The arrow pointed in a direction that looked nothing like a path.

'This fog is brutal.'

Chak.

I fired Ego toward where the pathfinder indicated. A beam of white light sliced through the fog, vibrating the air.

Saaah.

The hazy fog began to lift like heat shimmer. Finally, the slope path emerged. Ji-ho unni and I hustled down it.

At this pace, we'd link up before the four seasons even kicked off!

After a long sprint, a spiky golden ponytail came into view, with a gate waiting beyond. Chae Hyun-min Hunter turned at our approach and waved.

"You made it quick! Figured you'd hit around Four Seasons phase 1."

"Ji-ui's ring is a total beast—we got here early."

Ji-ho unni slung an arm around my shoulder, beaming. Hachi ignored the commotion, plodding ahead single-mindedly.

Pabak.

While everyone fixated on Hachi, he scratched at the gate with his front paw. Cute claw marks marred the massive wooden gate, but we had no time to coo over it.

Next up: four mid-bosses, then the final boss Hachi himself.

I glanced down at Hachi with the gate at our backs. Like with the black jellyfish earlier, he sat statue-still, waiting for his owner.

"Sniff, sniff... Smell flowers anywhere?"

"Me too. Feels like phase 1's starting..."

Sure enough, as Ji-ho unni said, a sweet floral scent wafted through. The dungeon's chill breeze warmed under sunlight, and the roadside trees along the slope bloomed pink like diluted paint.

A gust swept in from somewhere, sending pink petals fluttering like birds. They blanketed the world, turning the clear blue sky and our rugged dirt path into a sea of flowers.

It was so breathtakingly beautiful, my eyes blurred for a second—then a thick tree vine burst from the petal pile, lunging at me.

"Kgh!"

I severed it before it pierced my arm, but not before it shredded my forearm, blood dripping onto the flowers. No time to hurt. Petals swarmed me, forming a massive scythe aimed at my neck.

Tang, tang, tang!

I leaped behind the petal scythe with Word Without Feet and pumped three voice bullets into it. Tearing my eyes from the scattering cherry petals, I whipped my head toward where the vine had come from.

Too many trees!

Every roadside tree had turned cherry blossom—and I couldn't tell which one attacked. No chance to scan with Authority amid the onslaught; I dodged desperately. The others were in the same boat.

"AOE incoming! Fall back!"

Lee Sang-wook unfurled a massive shield, covering everyone but Cha Do-yun Hunter. Cha Do-yun drew his bowstring taut.

Piiiing!

One arrow cleaved the flower field, spawning a massive storm in seconds. The green tempest devoured everything nearby, slamming lightning down.

"Shin Ji-ui Hunter, you okay? I'll heal you now."

"Y-yeah..."

I handed my left arm to Chae Hyun-min Hunter and peered past Lee Sang-wook's shield at Cha Do-yun's assault.

Unique skill: Heaven's Disaster.

The training glimpse had barely shown a tenth of its true power.

All the cherry trees shook in the wind; some uprooted entirely, spinning wildly in the air.

Oh, right—time to scan.

That special note was straight-up chilling. Dodging charm? Tense up the brain, maybe?

Thanks to Chae Hyun-min Hunter, the bleeding stopped, and the wound closed neatly. Looked like we'd have to brute-force these trees.

I stepped out from the shield and unloaded with Cha Do-yun Hunter. Trees hit by my voice bullets erupted in red liquid; branches fleeing the storm charred black from lightning.

"Not getting tired?"

"..."

"...Cha Do-yun Hunter?"

No way—he got charmed?!

Even as I clocked it, a sharp vine erupted from underground, straight for his heart.

'He's always saving my ass, so no hard feelings!'

Kwaang!!

"Guhk!"

Tang!!

I grabbed Cha Do-yun Hunter's collar with one hand and yanked him to the ground. At the same time, I fired at the greedy vine thirsting for blood. It crumbled to ash with a crackle and hit the dirt. The storm-swallowed trees lost form bit by bit.

"What... was that just now?"

"Think you got hit by the charm skill."

Cha Do-yun Hunter's long lashes trembled. He glared up at me.

"Hey, I just saved your life—don't get petty on me."

"You think I can't separate work from personal?"

'Ungrateful much?'

Cha Do-yun Hunter scowled as he stood, brushing petals from his clothes.

'Phase 1's done... Summer next?'

I rolled up my sleeves ahead of time and rejoined the line.

Maeam, maeam, maemaam...

"No breather, huh? Straight to the next."

"Yeah."

Ji-ho unni tied her button-up at her waist and rolled her short sleeves into a tube top. Scorching sunlight blazed down like it could ignite the ground; cicada cries swelled louder.

The desperate chorus—screeching like it was their last day—layered and intensified, irregularly rattling my eardrums. Hot sweat trickled down my spine.

Cheombeong.

Suddenly, a massive puddle appeared before us.

'Water draws people, huh?'

It looked so refreshingly inviting, I wanted to dive in. I kept Ego trained on it, tension high—then a webbed hand burst out.

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