F-Class Destiny Hunter

Chapter 73

"No, not yet..."

Jang Taeheon tried to get up, stumbling a bit. He certainly had a strong will. Seo Gangrim looked at him as he struggled to stand and said, "You can keep going until you give up, but what's the point?"

He stared at Jang Taeheon with emotionless eyes, a gaze that also encompassed the twin siblings.

"I'd spar if you like. But I don't like fighting like this just because someone ordered it."

"..."

"I clearly said that we would be comrades from now on, but you ignored my words."

The determination in the eyes of the three of them wavered at Seo Gangrim's words. Yoon Geoul muttered, "But the gods..."

"If a god ordered you to kill Yoon Bom, would you unquestioningly follow that order?"

"!"

Yoon Geoul fell silent at his words. Seo Gangrim brushed off the dust on his body and continued, "Think for yourselves and make your own decisions. Don't blindly obey someone else's orders."

Jang Taeheon clenched his fists; his pride was wounded. Yoon Bom hesitated for a moment, then approached Jang Taeheon and bowed her head.

"I'm sorry, Jang Taeheon-ssi. I attacked you out of the blue. Even if a god ordered it, I shouldn't have blindly obeyed it."

"I'm sorry too, Jang Taeheon. Moreover, this match was unfair."

"...It's alright. I was the same way."

The tense atmosphere from earlier had finally eased. Just a moment ago, they had treated each other as enemies, but now they seemed more relaxed. It was a relief to see things resolved amicably, and there was also another benefit for Seo Gangrim.

"Then, since I won, the gods should give me something, right?"

There was an agreement that if Seo Gangrim won, each god would give him an item.

Jang Taeheon nodded. "Yes, they said they would send it. He wants to know if there's anything specific you want."

"I'll relay it through telepathy. Go rest and get some treatment."

"Understood, Master!"

The three of them quickly left the training grounds. Just a while ago, they had fought each other as enemies, but now they departed with a much more relaxed atmosphere. They must have realized the value of cooperation through their battle, and it had brought them closer. While Jang Taeheon fights at close range and protects the snipers, the twins provide cover from a distance. Therefore, they had to establish a friendly relationship with each other. Seo Gangrim hoped their fates would intertwine.

"Even if I disappear, they shouldn't scatter in all directions."

The final stage was opening soon. Seo Gangrim had something he wanted to do once he cleared the final stage and leave the facility. That was leaving them behind. He would leave them and disappear, lest they'd be entangled with Baek Young. Now, there wasn't much time left to be together. With those thoughts in mind, Seo Gangrim quietly left the training ground.

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The golden thread in front of the Seventh Stage began to burn like fire. It was the day the final door would open. People gathered in the lobby, looking at the golden threads that scattered like golden leaves, which was quite different from when they first arrived here.

Only about a third of the remaining participants were left. Those who were once terrified on the first day were no longer here.

Annaby stood in the center of the lobby, addressing the crowd. "The seventh door has now opened. If you choose to conquer the final stage, as promised, you will be able to leave."

The last remaining door appeared more like an exit than a entrance to the Demon World.

Annaby continued with her unchanging voice, just like on the first day. "As this is the final stage, there will be many difficulties. Once you enter, you can't return here until you've finished the stage, so I recommend thorough preparation."

Annaby's advice seemed overly concerned. The people were already prepared to the extent that they had accepted the possibility of not returning at all. Annaby realized this and didn't elaborate further.

"I'll leave the words of appreciation for next time. I hope to see everyone come back. May luck be with you."

After the brief farewell, she stepped aside for the people. While a few entered the door to the last stage, Yoon Bom was observing her surroundings. Jang Taeheon asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Well, I can't see Master or Dokgo Jun-oppa anywhere..."

All the others had gathered in the lobby except for those two. Yoon Geoul scratched his head and said, "It seems like Dokgo Jun-hyung is still finishing up. But as for Master... Ah, here he comes!"

As Yoon Geoul finished his sentence, Seo Gangrim descended from the second floor to the lobby. Jang Taeheon greeted him with a pleased expression. "Hyung-nim, the door is open. Let's go quickly."

"Ah, I'll enter later. There's something I need to do."

"Something to do? What is it?"

"It's a secret."

Seo Gangrim's explanation, or lack thereof, left the others somewhat disappointed. Yoon Bom, her face still holding a trace of reluctance, asked, "Then can we wait and go together?"

"It's something I need to do alone. It won't take long."

"In that case, there's nothing we can do... But hurry up!"

With Seo Gangrim's assurance that he would join them later, the others no longer had any doubts. As they prepared to leave, Seo Gangrim quietly moved toward the training room. At that moment, a desperate voice called out from behind. "Gangrim-ssi, wait a moment!"

It was Shin Sooah who had followed him. There was no one else around.

"What's the matter?"

"You said you'd be late entering? I have something to discuss before you leave the training facility..."

Saying this, Shin Sooah took something out of her pocket: a mobile phone.

"Could you give me your number? I've exchanged numbers with everyone else, but I don't have yours."

Seo Gangrim looked at the familiar object as if he didn't recognize it. A phone number? Seo Gangrim had no intention of maintaining contact with Shin Sooah.

Seeing Seo Gangrim's lackluster response, Shin Sooah said, "You're not going to give me your contact information? Are you planning on never seeing me again outside?"

That was the plan. Once he left this place, he intended to sever ties not only with Shin Sooah but also with everyone he had met here. That way, even if Baek Young came looking for him, they would be safe.

"Okay. I'll give it to you."

Seo Gangrim accepted the mobile phone and entered his number. Of course, he had no intention of using it to communicate with Shin Sooah. However, he had to provide his number for the sake of one contact related to the Demon World. But afterward, he would disappear from Shin Sooah's life.

"You didn't give me a fake number, did you? You always keep your distance from us, so..."

With the phone in her hand, Shin Sooah questioned Seo Gangrim suspiciously.

"It's the real one," Seo Gangrim replied with a nonchalant face.

"Alright, I'll believe you. I'll contact you when we're outside. See you next time."

At the mention of 'next time,' Seo Gangrim couldn't respond. Was there a 'next time' for them? He watched as Shin Sooah left, and eventually, he turned away and walked back.

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"Hey, you guys did well. Go and rest."

"Woong..."

"Kyaang!"

After completing their training from the Demon World and returning to the lobby, Yorn and Linnie lay down on the floor, showing signs of exhaustion. Normally, Seo Gangrim would have told them to get up, but this time, he just let them be. After all, he was the only one left in this training facility, hence he could use it as he pleased.

Four days had passed since the Seventh Stage opened, making Seo Gangrim wonder if everyone has managed to clear it by now. Unfortunately, not knowing the situation, he felt a bit frustrated.

"You're not going today either."

Without warning, Annaby appeared in the lobby, Seo Gangrim's only conversational partner. He nodded lightly in greeting.

She asked in her usual straightforward manner, "Why aren't you heading to the last stage?"

"I want to train Yorn a bit more before going."

"Is that the real reason?"

Annaby's voice carried a faint trace of suspicion. Seo Gangrim's response was part sincerity and part justification. In reality, he wanted to train as much as possible because he wasn't sure if his current abilities were sufficient to clear the final stage. Moreover, Yorn was still young, which was a secondary issue. But the primary reason was that he shouldn't enter the last stage yet, at least not until Shin Sooah and the others succeeded.

"Well, I also wanted to collect some items here to sell outside. I think I can get a good price for them."

"I see. Given the circumstances..."

Annaby seemed to take his justification quite seriously. She appeared to be contemplating something, so he shifted the topic.

"If we conquer the last stage, will there be any rewards to the first to clear it?" Seo Gangrim asked Annaby.

She looked up at him. Her mask seemed to be a part of her body.

"No. There won't be any rewards."

"I see."

He had asked just in case, but it was as he expected. In his past life, the last stage also didn't give any rewards, so there was no point in checking again.

"Did someone clear the stage already?"

"I can't say."

In that case, he would have to wait a little longer. In his previous life, Shin Sooah cleared it in three days, so waiting a week should be sufficient. However, he was concerned about the others, especially since he didn't know how long it would take for Father Yohan or Jang Taeheon to clear it. If he entered without confirming their success, it could complicate things. Hence, he had to wait for now.

"Well then, I'll go and rest first."

"Sure, take a rest, Seo Gangrim-ssi."

Seo Gangrim left and returned to the room, carrying the sleeping Linnie and Yorn on his arms. After placing them on the bed, he took out his smartphone. There was no internet or cell signal inside the Demon World, so he couldn't contact anyone immediately. However, once Shin Sooah and the others successfully conquered the last stage and left, he could reach them. Thus, he still sent a message to Shin Sooah.

[Please reply after successfully clearing the last stage.]

In truth, even if he hadn't exchanged contact information with Shin Sooah, it wouldn't be a problem. Once people began leaving the training facility, it would become news. However, getting a direct message from Shin Sooah would provide more clarity on the situation. He had decided that he would only enter once all of them had left the training facility.

"Now, I'll accumulate as many experience points as possible and improve my abilities."

He also had been fortunate to receive items from 'The Father of God and Man' and 'Life's Flame, Immortal Youth.'

["You've received items from 'The Father of God and Man'!"]

["You've received items from 'Life's Flame, Immortal Youth'!"]