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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Crushing Pride
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What a way to crush someone's pride. How would Han Sang-ah's senior react to that?
"Uh... yeah."
What the hell? He backed down immediately. Han Sang-ah's gaze shifted back to me.
"Since it seems like my senior doesn't like you, I want to team up with you."
"Why?"
Kim Min-je answered my question in a calm voice.
"You're stronger than me, so I want to watch and learn."
"You're embarrassing me by gilding my face like that."
Han Sang-ah responded to my words.
"Gold melts at 1,064 degrees Celsius. You'd die before feeling embarrassed if you gilded your face."
"Damn it."
No matter how I look at it, that guy's a bit off. Anyway, switching teams.
Compared to hanging around with that senior guy who still seems pissed at me, it'd be better to go with Han Sang-ah, even if she seems a little mentally unhinged.
At least she doesn't seem hostile.
"If switching teams is possible, that's what I want too."
Han Sang-ah nodded at my words.
"I'll handle it right away."
After saying that, she went somewhere and came back shortly after.
"Now I'm in Group 8."
"Um... aren't you going to ask for my opinion?"
Han Sang-ah replied to her senior's cautious question.
"The people affected by the team change are me, Yoo Chan-seok, and you, Senior—a total of three. Two have already agreed. If there's any reason this consensus should be rejected, please let me know."
So, the required votes are met.
"...That's not it."
"Then it's settled. Senior, you can go to Group 3."
And just like that, the teams were switched in an instant. Han Sang-ah sat next to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Do you know how to use a sword by any chance?"
Instead of answering, I tapped my spear. Han Sang-ah let out a hum at my gesture and fell into brief thought.
"From the sound it made against the spear, it seems pretty sturdy. But that doesn't really answer my question."
I closed my eyes for a moment at her response.
"My main weapon is the spear."
"Yeah, I know. Your fight with Lee Se-eun was incredible. I couldn't look away."
The conversation felt like it was going nowhere. Just as I was about to say something more, someone stepped onto the auditorium stage and gave us a thank-you speech, repeating the explanation we'd already heard.
—That's all. We have high expectations for you. I wish you all success and a safe return.
After that, we got up from our seats, left the auditorium, and boarded boats by group, heading straight for the troubled Gyodongdo Island.
"What a sight."
As I looked out, a chilling aura washed over me. As the island came into clear view in the distance, tension etched itself onto everyone's faces.
A few even showed outright fear beyond mere tension. Probably hunters without much experience.
"You don't look scared at all."
It was Han Sang-ah's question.
I've been through too much to be scared by something like this. I've seen man-made hells, natural hells, and even the real hell itself.
"It's just a gloomy island."
Developing it into a tourist spot in this state would be tough. That was my full impression.
"Landing in 10 minutes."
At the boat driver's announcement of the arrival time, everyone hurried to prepare. Some prayed, others checked their weapons again or tightened the straps on their armor.
Hunters live facing death—whether it's allies' deaths or monsters'. Superstition or not, who could mock it if it brings peace of mind?
"We've arrived."
We landed at the southern tip of Gyodongdo. A nearly collapsed pension stood abandoned in eerie desolation. The wind made the tattered door creak.
"What are you all doing? Get off the boat already if you're here."
I said that to the others in my group and hopped off briskly. The hunters, who had been staring blankly at the grim scene, snapped to and followed.
As soon as we disembarked, the boat sped away without a backward glance.
12:17 PM. Checking the time on my smartphone, I turned my gaze to one side.
"Hunter over there, what abilities do you use?"
The man standing there dumbly snapped out of it with an "Ah" and answered.
"Flames."
"Tell me your most confident skill and how long it takes to complete it at full condition."
"Uh... Fireball. Takes about 30 seconds to cast?"
I nearly grimaced at his answer. About 30 seconds? It's either 30 or it's not—'about' what? Should I ask if he wants a rough estimate?
After hearing his answer, Han Sang-ah spoke up.
"I..."
"I already know yours. Talisman drawing: 0.57 seconds, prep time: 7.7 seconds. Drawing and swinging: 0.13 seconds."
Han Sang-ah blinked at my words.
"How did you...? Was there a clock behind me? I don't even know those exact times myself."
"Even if I told you the trick, you couldn't replicate it."
Mana in the air vibrates at regular intervals, unlike the mana accumulated in the body after control. Using that is like carrying a highly precise timer.
But once you start building mana in your body, the atmospheric mana feels too faint to detect those vibrations.
Han Sang-ah fell silent at my explanation.
"If you have nothing more to say, I'll finish what I was saying."
"Okay, got it."
I'd roughly gauged the others' skills through questions, then stated firmly.
"We need to check two areas over a week."
We'd brought supplies for a week. Now we needed to decide where to base ourselves for that week.
"We'll set up at Hwaga Temple and operate from there."
One of the listeners made a dissatisfied face.
"Why should we follow you?"
"A normal person can reach Hwaga Mountain's summit via the trail in about 30 minutes."
If it takes a civilian 30 minutes, we could cover it in seconds.
"The summit is only 259.6 meters above sea level, but from Hwaga Temple, you can see Eumneung-ri, and from the peak, Gyodong-myeon is in plain view."
I pressed on without pause.
"It might be destroyed or have an Erosion Core nearby, but if not, the old temple buildings could serve as lodging."
It's a small temple, but plenty of space for seven people.
The guy fell silent at my words. He probably wanted to say, "Why should I follow some newbie on his first job?" But I gave him a completely different answer.
"There are plenty of places to stay right nearby if we look. Do we really need to go that far? We could get surrounded climbing the mountain for no reason."
What, like dying of thirst on the mountain like that horse demon?
"We're seven strong, and the enemy isn't bringing thousands."
How do you surround a mountain? Come up with a better excuse if you're gonna say no.
"Anyway, I don't feel like blindly following some inexperienced hunter."
Experience? Pulling the experience card in front of me, of all things.
I shrugged at his firm words. Do whatever you want. I'm not dragging anyone who doesn't want to come.
"What about the rest of you?"
Four sided with the one who'd just spoken. Sticking with me were Han Sang-ah and the flame guy I'd questioned earlier.
"If anything happens, contact us through this."
"What about you guys?"
I looked at the man.
"Can your flames work as lighting?"
"Yes, that's no problem."
That should suffice. I tossed them the flares and pistol from the boat.
"Not that you'll need them."
In the end, our group shrank to three. What was this guy's name again?
Oh, right. Kim Min-je.
"Hunter Kim Min-je, I'm curious why you're coming along."
I asked him, and after a moment's thought, he replied.
"Isn't this your first time? I'm worried about two rookies acting alone."
So he figured an experienced guy like himself should tag along to help. He's got a good heart.
"Thanks for the consideration."
Han Sang-ah thanked him too upon hearing that. Their accumulated mana levels were similar.
I wasn't sure if their skills matched, but Han Sang-ah probably had the edge.
We packed our gear and headed for Hwaga Temple, postponing scouting.
On the way, we spotted a group of small dwarves gathered.
The bat-headed goblins were warming themselves by a fire, their crude spears and bows leaning nearby.
"Not too many."
22. Since two mentions might be needed, 22 again. I said to Kim Min-je,
"First strike, please."
At my words, Kim Min-je took a deep breath and extended his hand. He drew up his body's mana, gathering flames in front of his palm.
'I thought 30 seconds was too long since he said "about," but...'
This power level looks promising. Guessing from the mana gathered and the fireball's projected strength, I revised the plan on the spot.
"Let's focus on protecting Hunter Kim Min-je."
"Why?"
"Against numbers, he's most efficient as the main attacker."
If we handled that many, it'd just waste excess power.
"It's ready."
The fireball he'd made flew toward the bat-headed goblins peacefully warming by the fire. Casting time: exactly 23.1 seconds.
I knew it wasn't 30. The fireball slammed into the ground and exploded. Six died, three injured.
"Keep preparing another one, Hunter Kim Min-je. We'll buy you the time. Signal before you fire."
Considering his skill and mana, he could pull off more at this power. As I finished, I tapped Han Sang-ah's back.
"I'm going in. Guard well."
"Weren't you going to buy time?"
"Yeah, buy time. Not by sticking to your side."
If those monsters reached Kim Min-je, it'd be pointless. Buying time also secured his safe distance.
"You protect Hunter Kim Min-je. I'll dive in and stall them."
With that, I charged spear-first at the goblins. Their heads snapped toward me as they panicked from the sudden explosion, scrambling for weapons.
"Kieeeek!"
The ones grabbing their crude spears and bows screeched shrilly at me.
"Is that your greeting? Fine, mine too. Kieeeek!"
I didn't need to kill them myself. Just pinning them here would let Kim Min-je handle it from afar.
Kim Min-je attacks, I hold them, Han Sang-ah guards.
Role division's advantage is max efficiency if everyone sticks to their job. And I prioritize efficiency in fights.
It's not role division if it's like a college group project where one person does everything—that's just idiocy.
Time's up. Kim Min-je's firing another.
"Now!"
I'd prepared and leaped back instantly. Then the explosion followed.
As the fireball erupted again, the bat-headed goblins in front of me now strained to reach Kim Min-je behind me, ignoring me.
"Shoo, shoo."
No chance. I swung my spear like a staff, blocking their path. A couple slipped past me in the chaos.
But Han Sang-ah wasn't slacking. They fell to her blade.