Expelled Hero Is Too Strong

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Chapter 10: Giant Monsters

The area where the Rank 5 Monster Area was opened in Bucheon consisted of a villa neighborhood with relatively low-rise buildings.

Unfortunately, a monster appeared in a residential area, prompting all the residents to follow evacuation orders and flee.

People were probably anxiously pacing, worried that their homes might be destroyed right now.

“Hyung, it’s the Barrier.”

A bluish curtain visible a few steps ahead of Yoo Ji-han.

Translucent and clearly showing what was inside, it was a barrier generated by magic.

The essence of modern magical engineering, which had saved countless human lives since its first appearance.

Using large amounts of magic stones packed with mana, this technique partitioned space to ensure that monsters couldn’t escape outside, and it had been set up in advance by the Hero Department.

‘It looks thinner than I remember.’

The last barrier Yoo Ji-han had seen was that of a Rank 2 Monster Area.

As the rank of an MA increases, the strength of the barrier also grows stronger, but the barrier set up in a Rank 5 Monster Area was relatively thin.

If a powerful monster were to break loose, such a barrier would be easily shattered, but at this stage, it wasn’t a concern.

‘At this level, it’s no different from the outside.’

The barriers at Rank 3 or Rank 2 MA were so thick that even breathing inside was uncomfortable for heroes.

The 1st Rank, deemed a national crisis, was said to be several times thicker, and heroes inexperienced with mana were known to be unable to even enter those.

Creak—

Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu stepped inside the barrier.

The bluish curtain made a sharp sound as it brushed against their skin.

“Ugh….”

Kim Si-hu trembled, feeling the odd sensation of the barrier against him.

However, once they got inside, that feeling diminished.

‘Let’s see.’

Yoo Ji-han looked around.

The first thing that caught his eye was a convenience store with its door wide open.

The large glass door had shattered, and the items inside were scattered all over.

It was a scene that would surely infuriate an employee.

Yoo Ji-han moved closer to the convenience store to take a better look inside.

“All the damaged products are vegetables.”

“Really?”

Among the various items on the floor, it was especially noticeable that the packaging for cabbages and sweet potatoes was widely emptied.

In contrast, the eggs and chicken remained entirely intact.

This was not the work of heroes who entered, but rather the actions of monsters.

“It seems like it really is a Giant Monster, just as the Hero Department announced.”

Giant Monster.

It’s a shortened term for what is commonly referred to as a monster chick.

According to news articles, about two weeks ago, a truck transporting a large number of chicks overturned in this vicinity.

Chicks that escaped from the truck scattered everywhere.

Since there had been records of chicks transforming into monsters before, the Hero Department conducted a search operation to find the chicks just in case.

Thanks to that, over 100 chicks were found, but some apparently made their way to areas where humans couldn’t reach.

Eventually, for reasons unknown, they transformed into monsters, leading to this MA being declared.

Kim Si-hu said with a curious expression.

“How do you know so much about what they eat?”

“It varies by monster, but Giant Monsters behave much like chicks.”

Yoo Ji-han remembered usually registered monsters or ones mentioned a few times in online articles.

You never know when information might come in handy.

‘The truck driver is going to face huge fines.’

In this age, it’s quite common for plants and animals to suddenly turn into monsters.

However, if it is found that someone was negligent during that process, enormous fines can be imposed.

And this was one of those situations.

“Let’s go.”

From now on, it’s battle time.

A battlefield where blood may splatter and flesh may be torn at any moment.

The heroes hope that the blood and flesh won’t belong to humans.

Swish!

Yoo Ji-han drew the sword from its sheath.

He walked cautiously, scanning the surroundings with a slower pace than usual.

An unbearably slow speed, to be honest.

There wouldn’t be great issue by simply walking normally, but this role felt somewhat unfamiliar to him.

‘I need to do well.’

The main dealer of a party consisting of only two members.

With no tank to protect the party from enemy attacks or anyone to attract attention, it was just him and Kim Si-hu, a wizard, who could deliver some decent firepower.

Reflecting on his past when he was attending classes at Hero Academy, he realized that he had rarely been in a party structured like this.

With fewer members comes immense responsibility.

‘I should also play some role as a tanker.’

While it was technically a lower rank compared to what he was used to, as the only frontliner of the party, Yoo Ji-han felt a mounting tension.

Especially since the wizard, Kim Si-hu, couldn’t unleash his full power without a sturdy tank or warrior protecting him upfront.

Since it was their first outing, presenting a good appearance would help Kim Si-hu fight with more confidence moving forward.

While thinking that, they were moving between the villas.

“Something’s over there in the parking lot.”

In a parking lot located on the first floor of a villa.

Yoo Ji-han’s keen senses picked up a faint noise from inside.

The two approached the parking lot, which was coated in green waterproof paint.

As they neared, the sound grew closer.

“Bawk.”

“Bawk, bawk.”

As expected, three Giant Monsters with yellowish fur were in the parking lot.

Unlike the common chicks, which were the size of a palm, these were larger than a sizable puppy and reached about knee-height.

Their beaks looked solid and sharp, resembling small drills, capable of piercing through human flesh.

“Bawk?”

The creatures, peacefully grooming each other’s fur, turned their attention to Yoo Ji-han as they sensed their presence.

“Baww!”

“Bawk! Bawk!”

Suddenly, the Giant Monsters let out loud, sharp cries directed at the humans.

The volume was hard to believe coming from chicks.

Frowning at the irritating noise filling his ears, Kim Si-hu immediately prepared a spell.

[Haste]

As soon as Yoo Ji-han summoned a spirit, he cast Haste on himself.

A slightly gentler breeze blew compared to when he had first learned magic.

It was proof that his mana was gradually stabilizing.

“Bawk!”

One of the Giant Monsters opened its beak wide and screeched.

White teeth were revealed inside its mouth.

The sharp and pointed teeth of the Giant Monster grew all over its tongue and roof of its mouth.

If bitten even once, it would definitely tear flesh apart.

When fighting the Giant Monsters at close range, they had to dodge not only the thrusts of their beaks but also be cautious of being bitten.

For beginners with little experience, that was no easy feat…

<—The probability of succeeding in hunting the Giant Monster right in front of me>

<97%>

Yoo Ji-han’s ability, Sampling, indicated that he only had a mere 3% chance of failure in his hunt.

Finished preparing, he charged at the Giant Monster.

Thud!

Seeing him rushing forward, the nearest Giant Monster leaped towards him.

It was roughly the height of Yoo Ji-han’s head.

“Bawk!”

The creature, mouth wide open, seemed poised to bite at Yoo Ji-han’s face or neck.

It was a remarkably clever attack that utilized the force of the charging opponent.

For a Giant Monster, at least.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Yoo Ji-han halted abruptly just before touching the Giant Monster, as if slamming brakes on a car.

Though he had been scolded by Kim Hyun-tae and the other party members for lacking even basic attack skills, he was very confident in handling himself.

The Giant Monster, with its head thrust forward, missed biting him from a finger’s width away and crashed to the ground.

<—The probability of my attack hitting the Giant Monster's skull>

<95%>

“Bawk, bawk…!”

The despairing gaze of the Giant Monster watched as a slender sword fell toward its head.

Wham!

The blade deeply pierced the Giant Monster’s skull.

It didn’t merely embed in the bone; it split its brain in half.

Unlike its tough beak, the skull was the Giant Monster’s greatest weakness.

“Bawk…”

The eyes of the creature whose skull was split in two rolled back in its head.

“Bawww—!”

“Bawk, bawk!!”

Witnessing their companion’s demise, the others let out cries of despair.

Infuriated, they charged at Yoo Ji-han.

But their fates weren’t far different either.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Four arrows of wind that flew from behind struck the body of one Giant Monster.

Not stopping there, three more arrows flew from behind and pierced through various parts of its body.

Unable to withstand the shock, the Giant Monster fell lifelessly.

The remaining one lunged at Yoo Ji-han, but—

Swish!

He swung his sword toward the neck, just below the Giant Monster’s beak.

“Bawk…”

Blood flowed from the wound on the Giant Monster’s neck.

When Yoo Ji-han drove his sword into its neck once more, it crashed forward.

“Phew.”

Looking around, no other monsters were visible.

Confirming safety, Yoo Ji-han swung his sword in the air to shake off the blood on the blade.

Kim Si-hu approached him from behind.

“It went more smoothly than I expected…?”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

The two looked down at the sprawled bodies of the Giant Monsters.

Having succeeded in their first hunt with barely any effort.

The overwhelming result felt almost absurd, like their tension had been for nothing.

By calculation, it seemed unnecessary even to cast buffs on themselves.

In fact, it felt as if they had overexerted themselves during the fight.

“However, that could use a bit of improvement.”

“Yeah?”

Yoo Ji-han pointed at one of the Giant Monster carcasses with his finger.

From the numerous holes in its body, blood was gushing out; this was the one Kim Si-hu had attacked with magic.

“What seems to be the problem?”

“The more torn up it is like this, the much lower the selling price will be.”

“Ah…”

“Since Giant Monsters are mostly sold in monster restaurants for food, it’s better to attack the head, which is both a weak spot and the least desirable part.”

One of the new markets created by the emergence of monsters was the consumption of their flesh.

The introduction of new ingredients that hadn’t existed before thrilled food enthusiasts and chefs tired of ordinary fare.

And Giant Monsters were one of the key ingredients handled in places that sell monster meat.

It is said to gain immense flavor when made as stews or grills.

Thus, to maximize their selling potential as ingredients, it was necessary to maintain the flesh intact as much as possible.

“So that’s a helpful tip.”

“If you can’t aim for the head right away, don’t worry about what I just said.”

“No, that wouldn’t be hard at all.”

Kim Si-hu replied confidently, repeatedly clenching and opening his fist.

*

About two hours later.

Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu were heading toward the entrance, carrying a bundle full of Giant Monsters.

Carrying two bundles each, a total of four, Kim Si-hu dragged them along the ground as he said,

“Did we catch too many…?”

“For a first hunt with just two of us, it was quite a lot.”

The hunt had gone well, and the two ended up getting overly greedy.

The bundles they were carrying were so stuffed that they couldn’t close properly.

As they gradually approached the entrance, they spotted another party that had just finished their hunt.

Yoo Ji-han maneuvered closer to them.

“Hey, look over there.”

“Is that all Giant Monsters inside?”

Soon, the eyes of the surrounding heroes gathered on the bundles held by Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu.

It was no surprise; the number of Giant Monsters hunted by just two of them was greater than what any other party had managed.

“It seems like they caught more than we did…”

The count of Giant Monsters hunted by a 12-member party was nearly on par with that of the duo from the Sweet Fun guild.

“Oh? That’s the guy from earlier.”

The man who had given them advice before entering the MA was nearby.

Looking very weary, he stared wide-eyed at Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu.

He soon glanced at their bundles, and no matter how he looked at it, they had caught more than his party had.

Moreover, since there had been injuries during their battle, a significant gap existed between their outcomes.

Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu grinned and shouted.

“Hey there!”

“We’re still alive!”

“…Ugh!”

The two waved their hands toward the man.

Naturally, surrounding eyes were drawn toward them.

Finally, as the man’s face turned bright red, he turned and fled.