#003
#003
Yoon Pa-ran flinched at the suddenly closer distance. It was strange, as Dan Joo-hyuk would normally disappear with a regretful look.
Not wanting to reveal his tension, Yoon Pa-ran forced a heavy voice and asked, “What is it?”
“I’d like Hunter Yoon Pa-ran to take the vanguard position from the next monster clash.”
“What…?”
It seemed like another provocation at first, but it was an unexpected request.
As it wasn’t something he could simply ignore, Yoon Pa-ran looked up at him directly. Though he felt Dan Joo-hyuk’s shadow looming over him, he endured it for now.
“All the hunters with taunt skills are gone, and you want me to take the front?”
Hunters don’t have clearly defined classes in their status window. They just move flexibly according to their skills.
Special skills were needed to lead and draw the monsters’ attention. And Yoon Pa-ran didn’t fit that category.
“In the previous clash, one of the vanguards with taunt skills got seriously injured. I’m planning to move them to the rear until the potion takes full effect.”
Dan Joo-hyuk calmly explained the current situation, more than Yoon Pa-ran had expected.
Of course, that didn’t calm his mind, so he glanced towards the forest path beyond the safe zone. The path they had been traversing felt narrow for an A-rank gate.
“There are no more B-rank hunters with taunt skills now.”
“Is the path too narrow to position C-rank hunters with taunt skills…?”
Even with taunt skills, it would take five C-rank hunters to bind an A-rank monster’s feet.
In this situation where all A-rank hunters were absent due to Dan Joo-hyuk, it meant that having a B-rank hunter fill the position would be advantageous for movement, even without taunt skills.
“I see that tiny head of yours can think after all.”
“Damn it, are you going to keep calling me small?”
While Yoon Pa-ran was trying to analyze the situation, Dan Joo-hyuk spouted nonsense as if very surprised.
His head was already heating up. Though he understood there was a reason, he couldn’t help feeling indignant as soon as he heard the proposal.
“Anyway, we’ll have to choose the vanguard based on rank, not skills.”
“Why me out of all the B-rank hunters?”
Above all, Yoon Pa-ran was irritated because he knew the reason for the lack of higher-rank hunters.
That S-rank bastard was a pervert who went crazy and rushed in at the sight of any gate. The Gate Management Office always happily played along, saying they could conserve their forces.
It meant Dan Joo-hyuk was the reason why there were no A-rank hunters in this A-rank gate. If not for this situation, even if taunt skills were lacking, other A-rank hunters would have filled the gap in the vanguard.
Though he certainly didn’t expect a good answer, Dan Joo-hyuk had a talent for making Yoon Pa-ran even more furious.
“That’s just my decision.”
Suddenly, Yoon Pa-ran felt a sense of crisis as the voice with a hint of laughter seemed a bit closer.
“You call that a reason…!”
Only then did Yoon Pa-ran jump to his feet. He thought they were finally discussing proper tactics, but it seems he came to pick a fight after all.
Yoon Pa-ran bristled as he stepped back a full stride. The unsettling closeness returned to its original distance.
Dan Joo-hyuk’s voice stretched out even more sarcastically.
“Why? Can’t you do it?”
“There are plenty of capable people, so why are you only asking me?”
“Then, let’s make it an order from the attack team leader.”
Yoon Pa-ran, who was about to say something more, had to shut his mouth.
The moment he pulled out the attack team leader title, it was as good as a lost battle.
“…Damn it.”
The authority of the attack team leader, responsible for the lives of over 100 hunters, was absolute. Inside the gate, even a small decision could determine the hunters’ lives.
Even Yoon Pa-ran had to respect that line. Ignoring it would have severe consequences.
It meant he couldn’t ignore the bastard’s proposal, given his position with siblings to protect.
“That’s all I have to say. Simple, isn’t it?”
It was simple. He might get his stomach pierced several times by an A-rank monster’s sharp attacks, but it was indeed simple.
His fists trembled. He’d love nothing more than to swing at that face with its fresh smile.
Maybe it was because his head was boiling, but even the fear he always had of Dan Joo-hyuk’s pressure seemed to evaporate.
“You call that simple.”
“We depart in four hours.”
Instead of causing a hopeless violent incident, Yoon Pa-ran just narrowed his eyes threateningly. This was the most he could do to vent his anger right now.
Dan Joo-hyuk had never penalized Yoon Pa-ran just for his attitude, perhaps aware that he was the one picking fights first.
“Rest well.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
It was an hour later before the agitated Yoon Pa-ran could fall asleep.
“Sigh…”
The time to depart after the short rest approached. Being an A-rank gate, they’d probably have to repeat this twice more before finishing.
Though he got some sleep, Yoon Pa-ran’s head was still hot.
There were dozens more B-rank hunters in this attack team, excluding those with only buff skills. Of course, he was also skilled in close combat with a longsword, but singling him out for the vanguard felt malicious.
Damn it, if he thought this would make me give up.
Instead of arguing with Dan Joo-hyuk again, Yoon Pa-ran silently checked his equipment. If he was going to crumble from tricks like this, he wouldn’t have survived until now.
“Let’s all prepare to depart.”
At Dan Joo-hyuk’s low voice, the hunters began forming ranks in front of the statue at the exit.
Yoon Pa-ran, who had stepped up to the vanguard with an indifferent expression, was no exception.
“I’m counting on you, Hunter Yoon Pa-ran.”
Of course, he was right next to Dan Joo-hyuk again.
He glanced briefly at the sly voice and gritted his teeth.
“Shut up.”
He heard chuckling laughter from beside him but deliberately ignored it. His hands kept tensing up. It was extremely difficult to resist the impulse, especially since his hand was gripping the longsword’s handle.
Endure it. Just one more shitty day and it’s over.
He needed to buy Ju-hee new sneakers, and Min-woong a new elementary school bag. There was also a new transforming robot with mana stones out, how much would that cost?
“We’re departing.”
The attack team slowly walked out of the safe zone. Yoon Pa-ran unconsciously glanced at the large statue marking the safe zone’s boundary.
The two statues were broken in various places, making their original form unrecognizable. Nevertheless, their posture of raising both arms as if worshipping something was noticeable.
The principle behind safe zones hadn’t been accurately identified. Even after scanning with all sorts of detection skills, no one knew why monsters wouldn’t approach these places.
So some would say that safe zones seemed like God’s last act of mercy.
“…”
After staring at the statue with an indescribable gaze, Yoon Pa-ran soon turned his head.
As he looked ahead with tense eyes, he began to hear harsh breathing sounds. Monsters that had already caught their scent were gathering one by one.
“We’ll break through immediately. Rest will be after the third clash, as before.”
Without even looking back, Dan Joo-hyuk casually spoke and drew up his power. The red light peculiar to his skill settled on his giant blade.
At the same time, he shot forward at a speed Yoon Pa-ran could barely see.
Kieeek!
The monsters let out malicious roars towards the human who had leapt in first.
Dan Joo-hyuk, who had been staring indifferently at the dozens of monsters, stomped the ground hard at the midpoint. It was a taunt-type skill that most vanguard hunters possessed.
Most of the monsters rushed towards Dan Joo-hyuk as if drawn by a magnet.
“Come on, let’s go too!”
One of the vanguard hunters shouted spiritedly. The others beside Yoon Pa-ran also followed Dan Joo-hyuk.
Running hard to keep pace with them, Yoon Pa-ran carefully observed the monsters.
He activated a skill before getting too close to a suitable one.
[Stream of Destruction B]
Attacks a distant enemy with a powerful stream of water.
A stream of water that formed above Yoon Pa-ran’s head shot forward like a sharp wedge. Thanks to repeated practice to the point of boredom, his control was extremely delicate.
Kuheung!
The monster that got hit in one eye by the powerful water stream howled in pain. Then it immediately charged straight at Yoon Pa-ran, dripping black blood.
The blood smelled rotten, with no sense of life force at all.
Only such ‘dead’ monsters emerged from the gates that had appeared on Earth one day.
“Hah…”
The monster that pounced on him resembled a quadrupedal lion. Although its side was tattered as if something had torn into it.
Despite already being dead, the monster’s movements were hardly different from a living one. It swung its large forepaw at Yoon Pa-ran, approaching more threateningly than zombies in movies.
“Ugh.”
The attack he blocked with his longsword was very heavy. It was certainly not easy to deal with an A-rank monster.
With the armor he was wearing, he could probably kill one or two somehow.
“Get… away…!”
Gritting his teeth, Yoon Pa-ran pushed off the heavy monster. Sharp claws kept threatening to strike.
Being without intelligence or life, their movements were surprisingly simple. However, Yoon Pa-ran’s attacks, aimed at openings, didn’t land well. It was due to the difference in rank.
After a moment’s thought, Yoon Pa-ran looked around.
Except for Dan Joo-hyuk, they were all B-rank or lower hunters. Among these busy, struggling individuals, Yoon Pa-ran activated a skill.
Very carefully, he used a skill he had hidden without reporting to the Gate Management Office.
[Sacred Energy S]
Imbues with the power to destroy evil.
*Can ■■■■ ■■■■■■ ■■ Sacred ■■■■■■ ability.