Chapter 13

Chapter 13 - Sharing a Table

『 Translator – Divinity 』

Lee Suyeon.

She was an A-Rank Hunter working solo, without affiliation to a guild or organization.

Considering that even just becoming a B-Rank Hunter usually gets you love calls from many major guilds, an A-Rank Hunter is one positioned quite high in the Korea rankings.

Such an A-Rank mage, Lee Suyeon, had left the guild she worked at for a long time and was currently active solo. Because her plan was to subjugate C-Rank Gates solo to gain EXP and slowly gather Hunters to establish a guild.

Today as well, she entered this place partly to look for promising Hunters in the C-Rank Gate.

Since no Hunters came no matter how long she waited, she went to fight the boss monster alone and began the subjugation.

"Damn it...."

However, something unimaginable happened: namely, an error occurred in the Gate. Some call it an error, others call it a Hidden Gate, but it refers to the boss getting stronger when a certain trigger activates while fighting it.

The Alpha Red Wolf, which was the boss of the C-Rank Gate, grew one stage and became an Alpha Ogre. A B-Rank Gate's boss monster.

It was a monster that three A-Rank Hunters could barely manage to defeat only by gathering together. Since it belongs to the stronger side among B-Rank boss monsters, full preparations must be made, yet Suyeon ended up encountering such a monster alone.

Moreover, a situation where she was overconfident in her skills and didn't even bring potions or a Return Stone.

At this rate, she was clearly bound to die.

Her life flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.

Awakening luckily right after becoming an adult, she thoroughly stepped in shit at the guild, experiencing ordeals as ordeals came.

Disliking the guild that worked Hunters like operating a factory, she left the guild as soon as she ranked up to A-Rank Hunter, and just when she thought her life might finally be unfolding, to think she'd die like this.

Tears flowed from her eyes.

She ends up crying out 'Save me!' unconsciously.

"Help me!!"

Of course, there was no way it would reach anyone. Thinking that, she wailed, and at that moment.

Boom—!!

A colossal fireball exploded beside her. Due to delicate mana application, it accurately slammed only into the monster, and Suyeon received no harm at all.

The Alpha Ogre was a monster with overwhelming defense compared to its attack power, its level comparable to most A-Rank boss monsters, making it a considerably difficult monster to kill.

"But that kind of monster... was taken down in one go?"

Suyeon felt bewilderment before joy at having survived, and looked around.

* * *

(Anonymous 1): If Byeol grows just a little more, she'll likely surpass Meteor Strike tenfold.

Because I was the guardian acknowledged by Byeol, I could receive all the Gate subjugation rewards. Waiting for the clear reward calculation, I used the Stealth skill and went inside. Initially, I intended to show myself, but decided to hide my identity because the power Byeol used was too immense.

'She's safe.'

After confirming she was unharmed, I silently exited the Gate with Byeol.

"...!! I don't know who it is, but thank you!"

Perhaps having vaguely seen my form, she shouted from behind.

"Hehe."

Byeol wore a proud smile, and I conveyed words of pride to such a Byeol.

(God of Rain and Sunlight): When will the reward calculation be done? I'm kinda curious about this.

(Father of Crops): Tsk, should have just gone closer to the hunter, she looked pretty.

(Water God of Cheongha): I wish you'd act your age.

(Father of Crops): ...Aren't Constellations who act their age rarer among Constellations? Only they themselves are noble, right?

(Anonymous 1): kekekeke.

Ignoring the chat with effort, I returned to the cave.

As soon as I entered the cave, a message welcomingly informed me that the reward calculation was complete.

My level rose by 5 in an instant.

Normally, even with consistent Gate subjugation, raising 1 level per month is difficult. Considering that, it could be called an enormous gain.

Since the Alpha Ogre collapsed from Byeol's single fireball shot not even 5 minutes after it appeared, I obtained the fastest clear achievement this time as well.

Is it because the Speed Stat obtained last time and the Speed Stat obtained this time combined? My body feels even lighter. Perhaps Speed Stat also affects dynamic visual acuity, as even leaves flying by look a little slower.

I think I understand why they say Hunters who go all-in on one stat can surpass human limits.

Since the boss monster was killed by the power of Byeol, who is an Elemental King, it seems I naturally acquired the Elementalist trait.

Whereas last time it was an Unidentified Egg, this time it's clearly specified as a Spirit Egg.

"Looks like Byeol's getting a younger sibling?"

"Ppiya—!"

Byeol tilted her head sideways, as if not properly understanding the meaning of my words.

And I showed the Spirit Egg to the little one.

"Al!" (Egg!)

She hugs the egg, saying 'Al!' with unusually clear pronunciation. Because her arms were short, she spread both arms to hug it, but a slight gap remained, creating a precarious scene, and finding that sight cute, I chuckled.

(Water God of Cheongha): Hoho, cute. Wait a moment, I should look to see if I have any spare Orbs.

(Father of Crops): If you're going to raise one more elemental anyway, an Earth Elemental helpful for farming would be good. You can achieve good results if you farm with elementals.

(Anonymous 1): How about just raising a Fire Elemental and having it auto-hunt together with Byeol?

(God of Rain and Sunlight): It's a matter for Jinwoo to handle himself.

I nodded.

Wouldn't too many coxswains take the boat up a mountain? I had no intention of deciding the elemental's element already.

"Hehe, hehe."

Byeol was still smiling, holding the egg with difficulty.

"Byeol, what element would be good for the spirit soon to be born?"

"Mool! Mool!" (Water! Water!)

"Water?"

"Pya!"

Byeol nodded her head vigorously.

Habaek, sponsoring as if he had been waiting.

After bowing my head to him in thanks, I brought the Orb of Water into contact with the egg.

Woong— Woong—!

Perhaps because of the experience of having Byeol's egg absorb Orbs while she was inside? This time, I could have the egg absorb the Orb quite skillfully.

A blue spot appeared on the previously colorless egg, and Byeol smiled brightly.

Paat—!

As soon as Byeol beamed, water sprayed out from the little one's hand, and the surface of the egg, which previously only had blue spots, was already completely dyed blue.

"Hehe."

The little one staring intently at me with an expression asking if she did well.

I stroked Byeol's head and smiled at her.

"Good job! Byeol's a genius, huh?"

"Hehe, genius!"

* * *

Suyeon looked around her surroundings as soon as she came out of the Gate. She, being a mage, had magic that could sense mana, and using all her remaining mana, she moved towards the place where mana was felt. It was in order to meet the benefactor who saved her.

"Pant— Pant—!"

It hadn't been long since she came out of the Gate alive, yet running up the mountain felt like death, to the point where her mouth tasted metallic.

'Still, I have to run!'

She ran up the slope using her mental strength. She wanted to convey her thanks to her benefactor and also maintain a good relationship.

She, who planned to establish a guild, is by no means a weak Hunter. Despite appearances, she was a Korea Ranker and an A-Rank mage whose skills were already recognized in many places.

'That was a Fireball that someone like me couldn't dare replicate.'

Fireball itself is a simple skill, but the finesse within it was so daunting I couldn't even conceive of imitating it.

She desperately wanted to meet that Hunter who had used such magic so effortlessly. Even if recruiting them to a guild might be difficult, as long as a good relationship is maintained, there would likely be nothing to lose.

Thus she continued climbing the mountain and finally, discovered smoke coming out of a cave.

"Pya, Pyaa!"

"Looks delicious, right?"

"Ung!"

Inside the cave, Jinwoo and Byeol were sitting in front of a fire, smiling brightly. He is stir-frying well-prepared Red Wolf meat with rice, making fried rice with oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil.

"Waaa...."

At the savory aroma coming from the cooking process, Suyeon's jaw dropped open unconsciously. Since she had starved all day today, she couldn't help but naturally swallow her saliva.

"...Excuse me!"

"Yes?"

"By any chance, might you have seen anyone pass by here?"

Suyeon didn't seem to think Jinwoo was the Hunter who saved her.

"Well, I don't really know."

Jinwoo, pretending not to know, averted his gaze slightly and invited her to join them.

"If you're hungry, you can eat together with us."

It was words uttered out of concern for Suyeon, who had suffered in the Gate, and Suyeon approached, smiling bashfully as if embarrassed.

"Haha, then... just one bite for me."

"Unnie, Unnie! Pya!"

Byeol, who liked people in general, beamed at Suyeon.

Suyeon too quickly fell completely for Byeol's cuteness and soon wore an 'aunt smile'.

(God of Rain and Sunlight): Wow... scary.

(Anonymous 1): That bastard Jinwoo knows that hunter is looking for him right now, but he's pretending not to know, right? Is he a psychopath?

(Father of Crops): Is this that 'hiding true power loser' thing that's popular these days?

(Anonymous 1): Jinwoo's just a loser.

(Water God of Cheongha): Are you insulting a proud descendant of Goguryeo?

(Anonymous 1): Don't know about that, but the farmer must be happy, huh? You finally saw the pretty human.

(Father of Crops): Huhuhu.

Jinwoo chuckled watching that chat.

'It's not being a psychopath, it's just not going out of my way to create a troublesome situation....'

Based on Hunter experience, Hunters have a tendency to unconditionally try and bring skilled hunters they meet into their own guild.

Moreover, since the Fireball wasn't even Jinwoo's skill, if he were misunderstood, a troublesome situation would arise.

Anyway, after conveying those thoughts of his to the Constellations via chat, he handed the fried rice to Suyeon.

"Thank you, I'll eat well!"

She received the plate from Jinwoo, who gave her something delicious, smiling cheerfully.

(Anonymous 1): She's a human who doesn't know how scary people can be; what's she going to do if this Jinwoo guy is a bad person?

"I'm Lee Suyeon, an A-Rank Hunter. Thank you so much for sharing the meal! Actually, I was extremely hungry."

"I'm Kim Jinwoo. Please eat plenty."

Suyeon, bringing up various stories to Jinwoo.

(Anonymous 1): ...If she's an A-Rank Hunter, it makes sense she wouldn't be scared. Acknowledged.

"I was subjugating a Gate alone when a hidden boss monster appeared and I almost died... A certain Hunter saved me, so I came this far trying to find that Hunter."

"You were almost in big trouble."

"That's right, Jinwoo-ssi, you're a Hunter too, aren't you?"

"...How did you know?"

"Because this meat is Red Wolf meat. And there's a sword back there too!"

I was startled.

Jinwoo, smiling as if it were nothing, began his self-introduction again.

"I'm a B-Rank Swordsman."

"And you can't use magic at all?"

"Yes, I can't use magic, but I have cooking-related skills, so I know how to prepare Red Wolf."

"Aha, that's amazing."

I could feel Suyeon withdrawing her suspicious gaze. Hearing that he couldn't use magic, she seemed convinced Jinwoo wasn't her savior.

"...!! But this fried rice is incredibly delicious?"

The fried rice, tasted belatedly after withdrawing her suspicion. Suyeon was greatly surprised by this taste. Because Jinwoo had sprinkled a little Flame Grass, it had a flavor and umami that one couldn't dare experience in ordinary fried rice.

"Ma—shisseo!" (Delicious!)

"Byeol, is it delicious?"

"Ung!" (Yep!)

Hearing Byeol's cute laughter, Suyeon once again wore an 'aunt smile'. Thus time flowed little by little, and before they knew it, Jinwoo, Byeol, and Suyeon had become quite friendly.

Suyeon, having learned that Jinwoo was a Hunter traveling together with Byeol, his daughter born from the heart, was contemplating travel destinations worth recommending. While contemplating, she emptied her third bowl of fried rice.

"You know, there's an abandoned dungeon on the way towards Yangpyeong County?"

"Ah, really?"

"Yes, it's a place most people don't know, but it's quite famous among Hunters."

Something where the Gate doesn't disappear even after being cleared is called an 'Abandoned Dungeon'; it's similar to a normal cave, but a place with quite a lot of sights where mana and essence also flow faintly.

"Because there's a lot of essence, Elementalists often go there, and it's a place kids like too. It's good to think of it as a cave. Occasionally, if you're lucky, you can even discover items!"

"Sounds good?"

Jinwoo replied with a tempted expression. Coincidentally, hadn't I just obtained the Elementalist trait a moment ago? Besides, Byeol is an Elemental King, and I also have the Spirit Egg. If it's an abandoned dungeon rich in essence, it seemed there would be nothing to lose by going. Hearing there were many sights, it seemed Byeol might be able to enjoy it too.

(Anonymous 1): Oh, sounds interesting?

(God of Rain and Sunlight): Let's go tomorrow right away! I'm curious.