Chapter 30

In a taxi headed to Seobinggo Station.

Do-jun and Cha Yeji headed back to her home to get her Suitcase.

 

Checking the time, it was already 20 minutes past the appointed time of 10 AM.

Do-jun texted Choi Gyu-shik that he would be 10 minutes late.

– It’s alright! Take your time.

Do-jun smiled after checking his reply.

‘They’ll have no choice but to wait.’

The Solomon Guild needed one last sacrifice to open up the reward chest.

“Gulp. As I was saying, the Merfolk’s characteristic features are the toxic mucus secreted from its whole body and the paralytic poison on its molars which can neutralize Hunters then… Are you listening?”

“Yes, of course. Manager, how’s the sandwich?”

“It’s delicious. Anyway, upon neutralizing their prey, the Merfolk would…”

She took out another sandwich from the basket which she had brought with her and handed it to Do-jun.

Cha Yeji thought they would have a date together, so she packed sandwiches as a snack. It would be a waste to leave it at home, so she still brought it with her.

“Manager, you’re not saying you won’t eat anymore, right? I woke up at 6 AM just to make this, you know? If someone hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t have gone through such trouble.”

Cha Yeji said with a menacing grin.

Do-jun wanted to say, ‘You made it because you wanted to.’

But instead, he kept those thoughts in him, smiled, and reached for the sandwich.

Cha Yeji smiled as she saw Do-jun take a big bite out of the sandwich.

Chomp.

The taxi driver who was looking at Do-jun and Cha Yeji through the rearview mirror laughed.

“You look good together. Are you a couple?”

To that question,

Cha Yeji blushed and said, tapping Do-jun’s shoulder with her palm.

“Do we really look like a couple? Well, he said I was the only one.”

“Haha! This man is surprisingly bold, huh?”

Do-jun looked sideways at Cha Yeji.

As she met his eyes, she immediately turned her head and avoided his gaze.

Eating the sandwich, Do-jun continued with the briefing.

＊ ＊ ＊

They arrived at Seobinggo Station 40 minutes beyond the appointed time.

“I am Lee Do-jun, the one who contacted you.”

“Uh… there are two of you?”

“Yes, this woman is Hunter Cha Yeji, and I’m her manager.”

Do-jun handed out a business card.

Choi Gyu-shik quickly scanned it.

“Seoul City Hall’s Rift Management Department? So civil servants also do this kind of thing?”

“It’s been about five years since our department was first established. We are currently managing Rifts below C-class.”

“Is that so? But the Rift we’re about to enter is B-class.”

“I’m not here today for work, but rather to raise the level of the Hunter I’m in-charge of.”

The trio from Solomon Guild exchanged glances.

A variable that they never anticipated.

It was common in the industry for a Hunter to die in a Rift.

However, if the dead Hunter is a person managed by the Seoul City Hall, it would be a different story.

“Also, I’m going to accompany her inside the Rift.”

“What? But ordinary people can’t enter the Rift.”

“You don’t have to worry about that since employees of the Rift Management Department are permitted to enter.”

“……”

Kim Hong-yeop, one of Solomon guild’s Hunters who was watching them, intervened.

“I’m sorry, but please give us a minute to talk about it…”

“Well, I look forward to your cooperation today, officer and Hunter Cha Yeji.”

Kim Hong-yeop tried to decline, but Choi Gyu-shik nodded and allowed it.

Kim Hong-yeop hit Choi Gyu-shik on the side as if to say he’s making things complicated.

‘Let’s just kill both of them.’

Sacrifice one of the two in the boss room.

And the other one could be killed on the spot.

And if ever an investigation comes up, stop them from prying further and say it was just a mishap during the hunt.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

＊ ＊ ＊

[The Monarch is within a 500-meter radius.]

[‘Blessing of the Vow’ has been activated.]

[All stats increased by 100%.]

[Damage dealt from enemy attacks is reduced by 50%.]

[You have gained Immunity to all status effects.]

Cha Yeji, who was walking ahead alongside the Solomon Guild trio, turned back and looked at Do-jun.

Even though it wasn’t a Rift managed by the Rift Management Department, Do-jun was still holding the Space Tab in his hands.

After checking the sword tattoo engraved on her wrist, she recalled Do-jun’s words in the taxi.

– The appearing monster are the Merfolk. You can think of it as a disgusting-looking fish that can walk on land. The strategy is simple. When you cut its wrist, the mucus from its body will disappear. Follow it with an attack to their upper body; then, you’ll be able to kill them easily.

Stomp. Stomp.

The tanker, Kim Hong-yeop, muttered while walking around.

“…I can’t see any Merfolk around. What is going on?”

Strange.

It had been 30 minutes since they first entered the Rift.

At this point, they should’ve encountered at least 20 Merfolks, but there were none.

Do-jun stopped moving upon hearing Kim Hong-yeop’s words.

“Ms. Yeji.”

“Yes, manager?”

“I’ll walk 100 meters away.”

“Oh, well… I’d like it if you do that.”

Cha Yeji tilted her head.

Do-jun had never been away from her for more than 20 meters.

She had nagged him to stay away for 100 meters or 200 meters before, but he never listened. And now he suddenly took the initiative, without her telling him to.

“Three Merfolk, 10 meters ahead!”

As soon as Do-jun fell back,

Three Merfolks appeared in front of Kim Hong-yeop, who was walking in the lead.

Cha Yeji pulled out her sword and charged towards the Merfolk.

“W-Wait a minute!”

Choi Gyu-shik tried to stop Cha Yeji.

He heard she was a C-class hunter. If she charged like that, she would be perfect prey for the Merfolk.

‘She can’t have her die before we reach the boss room.’

Choi Gyu-shik and Jo Hyun-jin weren’t actually healers.

He had one treatment skill, but it was considered garbage as it was below E-class.

In fact, they were more of ‘strikers’.

Choi Gyu-shik has one debuff skill and one healing skill, while Jo Hyun-jin has one attack skill and one healing skill.

‘I was going to reveal it later… I guess I’ll just have to think of a cover story.’

Swerve.

Choi Gyu-shik took out a dagger.

The moment he was about to rush to attack the Merfolk.

Whish!

The sword Cha Yeji was holding flashed.

And the Merfolks’ wrists were cut off, then the mucus flowing like a lubricant on their bodies dried up.

“…Huh?”

It wasn’t just Choi Gyu-shik.

The other two members of the Solomon Guild were also surprised.

Stab! Stab! Stab!

The Merfolks died helplessly without even having a chance to attack.

And Cha Yeji just swung her sword a few times.

Tak.

After finishing the sword dance-like movement, Cha Yeji landed on the floor and swung her sword in the air.

It was dripping with the Merfolks’ blood.

Choi Gyu-shik couldn’t shut his mouth.

The battle just now.

Was like a work of art.

The unobtrusive movement and great attack power as she slaughtered the Merfolks.

‘That’s a C-class?’

No, she’s at least a B-class Hunter or higher.

It could even be said that she was comparable to that of an A-class hunter.

In fact, B-class Hunters like Choi Gyu-shik and Jo Hyun-jin were already struggling hunting a single Merfolk. It wasn’t easy to land an attack on them due to their unique sticky mucus covering them.

“That was amazing.”

“It’s no big deal. It’s really easy to take them down, knowing its weakness.”

“…Weakness?”

“Yes. If you cut the Merfolk’s wrist, its defense is neutralized…”

Whoosh.

Cha Yeji looked at Do-jun, who was following her from behind, and said,

“…Was what Manager told me.”

＊ ＊ ＊

[Your level has risen up.]

Slash!

The Merfolk’s head was blown away.

As she led the group slaughtering the Merfolk, the trio felt that Cha Yeji was a monster.

Her movements were relentless, and when she was somehow surrounded and attacked by a herd of them, their attacks were pointless since she seemed to take no damage.

“…Shall I heal you?”

Jo Hyun-jin approached carefully and said.

But Cha Yeji only shook her head in response, saying she was okay.

“I’m fine. Just please take care of the manager.”

“…Yes.”

Choi Gyu-shik bit his nails.

There was a glitch in the plan.

Now he knew for sure.

Cha Yeji’s skills were neither C-class nor B-class.

The plan to force Cha Yeji to become the sacrifice when they reach the boss room is impossible to do now.

‘If we sacrifice the civil servant, we could kill them and gang up on her since there are three of us.’

That’s the only way.

No matter how good she was, even if her skills were that of an A-class Hunter, they could still defeat her if they worked together.

“It’s an intersection.”

Cha Yeji came to a halt.

Choi Gyu-shik knew where to find the boss room since he had already been there more than 10 times.

“To the right…”

“I think we can go to the left.”

Choi Gyu-shik turned his head towards Do-jun and smiled.

“Officer, I know the geography here best, so just leave it to me.”

However,

Cha Yeji walked to the left without hesitation.

“Hu-Hunter Cha Yeji! We have to go to the right!”

“If the manager says it’s to the left, then we’ll go to the left.”

“……”

Choi Gyu-shik laughed as he heard those words.

“What makes you say that? Hey, isn’t it both your first time here, officer and Hunter Cha Yeji? On the contrary, we’ve already been here a few times. Who should you be listening to?”

“Mr. Choi Gyu-shik.”

“Yes?”

“Then go to the right. The manager and I will go to the left.”

“…What?”

It was absurd.

He got angry for a moment.

But he had to put up with it for now.

＊ ＊ ＊

“…No way.”

It took them less than 10 minutes to reach the boss room.

Do-jun led them the way as if he knew the inside of the cave.

And without hesitation, Cha Yeji walked along the path where Do-jun guided her.

“There was a path like this?”

If they had gone right at the first intersection, it would’ve taken them over 2 hours to reach this place. Choi Gyu-shik murmured as he watched Do-jun putting the Space Tab in his briefcase,

‘It’s a good thing for us anyway.’

Now they could open the reward chest.

Choi Gyu-shik grinned at the tightly-closed bronze door.

“It looks like the boss monster is inside this room. What will you do?”

If she were to say she wouldn’t go in.

He would fight her right then and there.

“Manager, it’s dangerous. Should we head back?”

“I think it’d be fine to give it a shot.”

“Then I’ll go in. Instead, can you stay farther away from us?”

Do-jun nodded.

The Solomon Guild party laughed profusely inside.

Choi Gyu-shik thought about putting a debuff on Cha Yeji for now.

‘Disease.’

An A-class skill that reduces the opponent’s stats by 30%.

Even if her skills were already considered A-class,

It would be difficult to deal with three people with her stats cut off by 30%.

‘…What?’

Choi Gyu-shik doubted his eyes.

[‘Disease’ is ineffective against the target.]

At that moment,

Cha Yeji checked the holographic message in front of her.

[Choi Gyu-shik’s ‘Disease’ is blocked by ‘Blessing of the Vow’.]

“Mr. Choi Gyu-shik.”

“…Yes?”

Cha Yeji turned around and glared at him.

“Are you a PK?”