F-Class Destiny Hunter

Chapter 69

The reason this Imugi turned into Steel was due to a deep-seated resentment. All the efforts of almost a thousand years had turned into nothing but a disappointment, and that resentment had transformed the Imugi into a monster. But what if that resentment could be purified?

"You are not a monster, nor are you a failure. You are simply a dragon."

Seo Gangrim spoke without a hint of doubt or deceit. He had never once referred to the Imugi as a snake. Upon hearing Seo Gangrim's words, Steel's pupils trembled, and the intense heat surrounding his body gradually began to subside.

["Steel's energy is weakening!"]

["The purification of Steel's resentment has begun!"]

Steel closed his eyes, and his body slowly shrank, much like a giant flame extinguished by rain. From being a massive presence, he gradually dwindled in size until he was about the size of Linnie, finally resting in Seo Gangrim's arms. It was now just a small dragon.

"Steel has been dealt with now."

"This is unbelievable..."

"Steel is no more. So, isn't this also a form of dealing with it?"

The mission was never about killing Steel; it was about dealing with him. Steel no longer existed; all that remained was a small dragon. While Se o Gangrim was muttering to himself, a notification window appeared before him.

[Steel, the monster, has been dealt with!]

[Additional rewards for the most significant contributor!]

[You have obtained an additional reward of 20,000 Spirit Pearls!]

As Steel's presence faded, the system recognized the mission as complete.

"Oh, I got a mission complete notification too!"

"Me too! I also got one for dealing with it."

The people who had participated in Steel's subjugation were all checking their mission notifications one by one. They all displayed 'mission complete'.

Seo Gangrim confirmed this and then spoke, "It says 'mission complete' for dealing with Steel..."

Seo Gangrim suddenly staggered and knelt on one knee. His complexion looked terrible, and his skin had turned almost purple. Trainees from Zone Two hurriedly approached Seo Gangrim.

"Master, are you okay?"

"Seo Gangrim-ssi!"

His condition looked dire to anyone who saw him. Linnie and Father Yohan were at a loss, trying to offer treatment when Seomun Yongneo stepped forward, assessing Seo Gangrim's condition.

"Your injuries are severe due to the toxins and heat. You'll die if left untreated."

She said this, then glanced at a specific member of her squad. He was a man with long braided hair. When he was staring at her in a daze, Seomun Yongneo spoke to him, "Come and treat him. Do you have any items?"

"Yes. I do."

The man quickly regained his composure and approached Seo Gangrim. Seo Gangrim was gazing at him with a helpless expression, as if he recognized the agent as someone familiar.

"It's done."

The man finished treating Seo Gangrim and stood up. Seomun Yongneo approached Seo Gangrim cautiously.

"Seo Gangrim-ssi, you've been through a lot."

Moments ago, she had been trying to strike Steel with lightning, so it was hard to believe the change in her. She looked concerned as she spoke, "Do you want to take a break? We can send you to the treatment facility."

"I... decline."

Rejecting Seomun Yongneo's kindness, Seo Gangrim struggled to his feet. In his arms, he cradled the small dragon. He looked at Gong Joo and spoke, "Can I take this dragon with me? There might be potential issues, so I want to protect it."

"Fine, do as you wish."

Gong Joo responded somewhat begrudgingly, and Seo Gangrim smiled gently.

【This is amazing. There are two of them, really?】

【Is the protection just an excuse, and you want to raise them?】

【He's scheming, definitely scheming.】

It was partially true. Originally, one of the reasons he had chosen this Imugi was to tame it and take it with him with the Token of Friendship.

【But you have to admit that this is quite a situation, right?】

【Yeah. I mean, how many humans would risk their lives to take him back, no matter how much they wanted to?】

【To be honest, it would have been easier just to kill it.】

【Well, isn't that why you went crazy earlier?】

Regardless of what the gods said, Seo Gangrim paid no attention to them and looked around. Amidst the chaos, several people appeared to be busy. The agents were taking care of seriously injured trainees or cleaning up the area, while the remaining trainees looked bewildered.

"We have to kill another snake to pass as well..."

"But, man, the situation is a bit unclear."

As Seo Gangrim scanned the people with his eyes, he moved towards the direction where the trainees from Zone Three were. Among the confused Zone Three trainees, there was one person standing still, looking blank. Jang Taehun was staring at Seo Gangrim.

“Now, isn't it your turn to attack?” Seo Gangrim asked Jang Taehun.

Jang Taehun hadn't completed his mission either, but there was still time left. If he killed the dragon during that time, Jang Taehun could pass this place. However, Jang Taehun shook his head.

"It's fine. That's not a snake; it's a dragon."

"So what are you going to do? Are you going to find and kill another snake?"

"No, I never intended to find another snake if I couldn't defeat you."

He wore a face that didn't seem to care much even though he was on the verge of failure. Jang Taehun yawned and said with indifference, "Ugh, it's over now. Am I disqualified too?"

"You should follow my orders before you get disqualified."

"Oh, that."

Scratching the back of his head as if he found it troublesome, Jang Taehun replied, "Alright. What's your order?"

"Let's move for a while."

At this, Jang Taehun's eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he still followed Seo Gangrim. When they were alone, Seo Gangrim spoke in a low voice.

"My orders are..."

"Your orders?"

"Transfer to Zone Two."

"Move to a different zone? Is that even possible?"

"Yes, it's possible."

"What's the point of switching zones when I'm already disqualified? I'm done for."

"By moving zones, everything resets, and you can start from the beginning."

When people who were disqualified protested, Annaby had said this.

[The mission in Zone Two is to protect the snake, and you have failed that mission. It is not possible to find and protect another snake.]

[Once again, I would like to emphasize that the mission in Zone Two has failed. Please be aware that after the mission period ends, automatic disqualification will take place.]

Annaby emphasized the phrase 'Zone Two's mission', saying that the mission of Zone Two had failed and that it was impossible to challenge Zone Two's mission again. Annaby hadn't officially announced that there was no other way to retry the mission even after failing it. That was a hint of sorts.

In the Destiny Protection Bureau, it was not disclosed, but there was a way to retry a mission even after failing it: by changing zones. Each zone had its own designated team leader, and with their approval, it was possible to change zones. For example, team leaders sometimes scouted personnel from other zones and brought them in. Especially when someone was in danger of failing, they often did so. Additionally, even without the leader's proposal, it was possible to voluntarily change zones by finding the door to the other zone.

If someone attempted to open the door of another zone and enter, contact would be made with the team leader of that zone. If the team leader approved, the door would open, and the zone would change. That being said, most of the time, they would approve, so one was able to change zones almost 100% of the time when one tried to open a door in another zone. Their argument was that if one could find the other zone's door on one's own, there's no reason not to approve of switching zones. Even if that wasn't the case, increasing the number of personnel in one's own zone was beneficial in various ways, so unless the team leader was completely against it, most would pass. Nevertheless, just in case, Seo Gangrim went to Annaby's office to inquire.

[As Seo Gangrim surmised. If the conditions are met, people from other zones might come to Zone Two. Are there any people you have in mind?]

[Yes, I am not sure yet.]

He received approval from Annaby, so there was no reason to hesitate further. Seo Gangrim spoke to Jang Taehun, "The problem is that you have to go through the missions from the beginning, but it's better than being disqualified."

The downside was that Jang Taehun would have to start from scratch. Going with a group of strangers, and who have been hostile to him, and starting from scratch was risky in many ways.

"So, what do you say?" Seo Gangrim asked the question again, but Jang Taehun remained silent, still wearing a surprised expression.

'Is he not up for it?'

Considering they had been enemies until a while ago, it was somewhat natural that Jang Taehun felt uncomfortable.

Seo Gangrim spoke with an indifferent expression, "If you don't like our zone, you can move to another zone. In that case, you should contact the team leader of the other zone..."

"I'll go to Zone Two."

Before Seo Gangrim finished speaking, Jang Taehun responded. Jang Taehun grinned and extended a large hand as if asking for a handshake. "I like Zone Two. I want to fight more with them in the future. I may have lost this time, but things will be different next time, right?"

It seemed like he was genuinely happy himself. If Jang Taehun came to Zone Two, it would be a welcome addition from Seo Gangrim's perspective.

As they shook hands somewhat roughly, an announcement window appeared before Seo Gangrim's eyes. It was the sound of destiny enterwining.

['Jang Taehun' and 'Seo Gangrim's' destinies are beginning to intertwine!]

[The wavering destiny is settling according to Seo Gangrim's will.]

[Seo Gangrim's destiny grade has risen to 'Human Second-class'!]

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While the agents were tending to the trainees' injuries and cleaning up the Demon Realm, Seomun Yongneo was making her way to her office. Her shadow stretched long in the company hallway. Her cold eyes held various emotions. 'That was more interesting than I thought. I'm now sure it's a good idea to start on the higher difficulties.'

After losing the bet with Team Leader Gong Joo, she had been interested in Zone Two's trainees, particularly Seo Gangrim. She had been lucky that Steel had appeared just as she wanted to see him.

"I was planning to make Seo Gangrim fail his mission by killing Steel and then scout him..."

She hadn't expected that a trainee would be able block her lightning. Moreover, she didn't expect Seo Gangrim to subdue Steel in any other way than killing him.

'And besides Seo Gangrim, there were many people to keep an eye on.'

The various people who had collaborated on this Steel operation. They each had excellent skills, but what interested her more was their unity.

'Executing a plan is more difficult than devising it.'

Even the best tactics were useless if people wouldn't listen. Especially on dangerous missions, people were prone to desertion.

'Was it Seo Gangrim who gave the orders, and why did everyone follow him?'

When people follow someone within a short period of time, there's something noteworthy about that person. Usually, it's their personality or strength.

'Although he seemed skilled, he wasn't overwhelmingly stronger than others. So, it must be his personality...'

Having arrived at her office, Seomun Yongneo tossed her uncomfortable jacket and gloves onto the sofa. After sitting down at her desk, she continued to ponder deeply. At that moment, the agent who had followed her into the office asked, "Did you see someone you liked?"

In response to that question, Seomun Yongneo looked up with a faint smile.

"Yeah. I want Seo Gangrim. No matter what it takes."