With a chilling crack, the spear was pulled from Shishio's leg. After fulfilling its duty, it melted away and disappeared.
"It would be nice if it could stay in weapon form," I mused.
The spear that just vanished was SS-rank, after all. If it could remain in weapon form, it would be an overpowered skill. If you could combine two S-rank swords and a few A-rank swords to create an SS-rank weapon, hunters worldwide would be scrambling to gather weapons. It even means you could create an S-rank weapon by gathering A-rank swords.
Although having it disappear after a set time is balanced, it's still a bit of a loss.
'Perhaps the skill's efficiency will improve with a higher rank.'
Improving skills is inherently tricky. Skills generally grow by being used frequently. Even if I apply a buff to myself, I can't grow the skill without using it. Maybe I should try melting down some mid-level weapons with the buff applied.
"I won't retreat easily."
Shishio muttered like a third-rate villain as he poured a potion on his injured leg.
"That's such a clichéd and juvenile thing to do."
"…What?"
"If you're truly the greatest hunter in Japan and a lion king, you should act accordingly. It would be cooler to gracefully accept defeat and smile it off."
Shishio, looking perplexed, staggered as he stood up.
"Is this something to laugh off?"
"Why so narrow-minded? At least act like you're fine on the outside. Then people will think, 'Wow, even after being torn apart like that, he still has composure. Amaterasu must be impressive!'"
"No, that…"
"Be smart. Quickly and coolly! Come on, say it. 'This is nothing to me! I am the great Amaterasu Guild Leader!'"
"…What are you making me do?"
What am I making you do? If you're in high spirits, you'll be more efficient and put more effort into clearing dungeons, which means I'll have more to gather. It's better to have the mindset of, 'Even if I get torn up a bit, it's okay!' rather than thinking, 'Even if I make money, it's all going to be taken away.'
"Don't sulk. Pull yourself together and finish up quickly. Go on air and boast about how you resolved Japan's crisis. I'll overlook a little broadcasting exaggeration. It's probably always been that way anyway."
As I reassured him, Shishio, with a grimace, began managing his guild members. It's better to keep the one who's contracted under control rather than have some random person shake up the Japanese hunter scene. So, do your best.
Soon after, the helicopter that had evacuated Shishio and his team returned. The new healers treated the injured. They asked if they should send a helicopter for us, but with Peace around, we declined and decided to leave on our own. It would be awkward to sit face-to-face right now.
"It's surprising that the Seseong Guild Leader didn't intervene. Surely, Irin would have known, so did they intentionally stay out of it?"
We had already disclosed the duration of our buffs, so it wasn't unexpected that they'd attack after 30 minutes. However, with four S-rank hunters on our side, I thought they'd at least put up a decent defense. If not, Yoohyun would have been sticking to me to double the duration of the attack skills.
"Ultimately, it's a gain since they sent those guys off well. Yoohyun, gather as many S-rank swords as you can. We don't have a single S-rank sword right now."
"Yeah. It does feel a bit lacking."
Yoohyun spoke in a slightly dejected tone. S-rank weapons aren't common, and the one he had been using since he first got it must be a bit disappointing to lose. I thought about whether I could get an SS-rank sword with my points. I'd like to have several swords of S-rank or higher just in case. It's troublesome to end up empty-handed after using a skill like this.
"By the way, did you level up at all? You've defeated five SS-rank monsters; didn't you get any titles or anything?"
"I leveled up, but nothing else."
That's surprising. I'll have to make sure to get something when meeting a new recruit. It doesn't make sense that, even though he's an S-rank hunter who received buffs, he defeated five SS-rank monsters without getting anything. At the very least, he should have received an SSS-rank title!
"I'll take care of everything."
And then there's the Blue Flame as well. Although Iryn said it's dangerous, she doesn't understand my skills. She doesn't know that I can handle the power I experience and feel in the mental realm. In reality, I'm too weak to even touch Yoohyun, but it's different in the mental realm. No matter how skilled my little brother is, he won't easily swallow me.
But I need to tell him about that before showing such a side. About the events before the regression.
'…I can't tell him about the repayment skill, though.'
That's something that absolutely must not reach Yoohyun's ears. If he knows that his death allowed me to gain the power of the ship… I can't say what choice he might make if something like the last time with Choi Seok-won happens.
I don't intend to get caught, but if he does notice, I'll disclose the keywords to nullify it. It's a shame not to provide growth buffs, but I can't let Yoohyun have a means to risk his life to protect me.
'How much should I tell… I need to think it through in advance…'
My throat suddenly felt dry. How much and how detailed should I explain… Perhaps just saying that I regressed might be enough. But I need to tell Yoohyun that he protected me and that, even now, he… But I don't want to.
I felt the fear resistance skill activate.
"Hyung, shouldn't we get going too?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
As I came to my senses and looked up, I saw that most of the injured had already been moved to the helicopter.
"Let's just find the remaining SS-rank magic stones and head out."
Saying that, I pulled out the magic stone detector and began walking. There were three left.
"Hyung! Are you hurt?"
Yoohyun suddenly grabbed me. At his shout, Peace also approached me, looking worried.
"Of course not. I'm fine."
"But you were limping just now!"
"…What?"
For a moment, my mind went blank. Limping? That couldn't be.
"You must have seen it wrong. Look, I'm fine."
I took a few steps to prove it. Naturally, I was perfectly fine. Yoohyun tilted his head.
"…You're not hiding pain, are you?"
"No. Why would I hide it? If I were injured, I'd just use a potion. Maybe you mistook exhaustion for pain. My stats are F-rank, so it's natural for my legs to be giving out a bit. Ah, now that I've said it, I feel even more tired."
"We need to make sure you rest at the hotel, even if we have to force it. Peace."
At Yoohyun's call, Peace, who had been in its ethereal form, expanded back to its full size. Climbing onto Peace, which nudged me with its snout, I prepared to leave.
"Hyung, give me the detection item too. I'll find the rest."
Nodding, I handed the item to my brother.
- Vroom
"There's no pain, Peace."
I truly wasn't in any pain. I looked down at my right leg. There wasn't even a scratch; it was perfectly fine. But unlike my excuses, the chance that Yoohyun saw it wrong was almost zero.
I unconsciously clenched my jaw. My teeth were tightly shut.
'Is it because I accepted it as if it never happened?'
Since my body is fine, the issue must be mental. It's not strange. It would be more unusual if there were no visible signs of limping when it might have become a habit. It felt like the forgotten pain was coming back, causing a slight frown at the corners of my eyes.
If I turn off the fear resistance now, I would undoubtedly be terrified. Memories of the past, like those jellyfish creatures showed me, would resurface, making my insides tingle. I want to keep pretending as if nothing happened, just like always.
'Let's take it slow, slowly.'
There's no one around to blame me for my condition. If someone does blame me, there are people who will quietly take care of them.
Still, the leg is fine, and for now, there's no past injury, so it's difficult to explain. If I stay conscious of it, I shouldn't limp.
Yoohyun returned with the three remaining SS-rank magic stones. In the meantime, Shishio's group had withdrawn. The helicopter took off with a loud noise and soared into the sky.
"Hyung, here."
Yoohyun handed me all the magic stones and climbed onto my back. Peace spread its wings wide.
"Don't you have any greed?"
"You said you'd take care of it."
Well, that's true.
We headed straight to the shelter where the people were. Even though I didn't use the sprint skill, Peace flew quite fast. We arrived at the shelter slightly earlier than Shishio's helicopter.
"It's gone."
Only traces of the shelter remained. The building had disappeared, and standing on the muddy ground swept away by water was a Japanese hunter who trembled and shouted at us.
"T-the group has gone to Tokyo!"
Tokyo? I hope nothing happened to Myeongwoo.
"What's going on!"
Shishio, arriving a step too late, shouted. A hunter with bruises on his face quickly answered.
"Korean hunters realized that Shishio-sama had taken the hunters and left only later, and, unable to tolerate it, they seized the shelter and took the hostages to the Amaterasu Guild headquarters in Tokyo!"
Later? Shishio is now as pitiful as an ant's speck. By now, the Amaterasu Guild building must have been thoroughly looted.
"Get moving! Now!"
The helicopters, unable to land, hastily took off again. As the lights of the helicopters receded and we prepared to depart, a Japanese hunter called out to me.
"Um, Hunter Han Yujin, you're probably tired, so please tell them it's okay to come slowly."
"Who said that?"
"Guild Master Seonghyun said he would handle the arrangements. He mentioned that there's a decent hotel nearby."
It seems they anticipated how things would turn out. It's reliable if Seonghyun is handling it, but...
"No, I'll go right away."
"Oh, then you can go to the nearby airport. They said a private plane is waiting."
So soon? It hasn't even been two hours since the monsters appeared. If it's nearby, then it's likely that Japanese planes aren't in good shape, and they must have contacted Korea.
I was going to say it was fine, but Yoohyun turned toward the location the hunter had pointed out, saying it would be more comfortable to take the plane. Since we'll need to take that plane to get home, it's better to transfer to Tokyo now.
"Uncle! We didn't touch the item storage room!"
Yerim shouted cheerfully as she flew toward us.
"Good job."
Noah, Hyuna, and of course, Seonghyun were all in perfect condition with no visible scratches.
"Thanks to you, we arrived comfortably."
"It's late at night; shouldn't you have rested instead?"
"Didn't expect you to come right away. You even had a private jet ready. Your surprise is unnecessary."
Just then, the sound of a helicopter was heard. Followed by a thud, someone urgently jumped down. It was clear who it was.
"What is the meaning of this!"
It was Shishio. His face was bright red, not just his face but his neck too, indicating he was extremely angry.
"My Lion's Den!"
Uh, well, yes.
"My Golden Lion Statue!"
I think I heard that the whole thing was made of gold. Although rare minerals obtained from the dungeon had decreased the value of other gemstones, the price of gold still held. It must be expensive.
"Guild Master Han, why is he still in one piece?"
Yerim glanced at Shishio and asked. Considering he had been treated, it was strange he was still intact. His limbs had certainly not been unscathed.
"I told him to spare him."
"You really shouldn't be soft-hearted with such people."
It's not about being soft-hearted, Yerim. It's more beneficial to let them grow and offer their harvest.
"Surviving after all this-!"
"Have you already forgotten what I said?"
Seonghyun's soft voice cut through Shishio's outcry. Shishio flinched and shut his mouth. It was clear there was some past issue between them. Although I don't know the details, it must have been unfortunate for Shishio.
"Please handle it reasonably. If you trample too much, there will be nothing left to eat."
"Other Japanese guilds cooperated in this incident too."
"Oh, that-"
"I'll give you the list tomorrow. After you rest."
He's already found that out too? I'm curious. They must be somewhat sizable guilds. Leaving behind the frustrated Shishio, we headed towards the hotel.