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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: First Gate Hunting (2)
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"Sis, you must be tired."
"...No, what do you mean tired."
Lee Yu-rim, who had just taken out a Forest Lizard sneaking toward them from the trees, turned her head bashfully at Kang Ji-ye's words.
Compared to her brother Kang Sa-hu, who was handling every monster inside the gate all by himself, she felt like she was just slacking off.
"What are you talking about! Blocking a guy climbing trees to approach is tough. You worked hard."
"Uh, I could've taken it down easily with an arrow."
Bae Deok-ho, who had been guarding the tree root entrance, spoke in bewilderment, but he quickly turned his head forward upon seeing Kang Ji-ye glaring at him with axe-like eyes.
Man, what's with that look from a girl I just met today...
Bae Deok-ho chuckled inwardly at how unabashedly she treated him.
Of course, knowing there was no malice in her actions, he didn't feel offended—rather, it felt endearing, like looking at his own daughter.
Lee Yu-rim glanced at Kang Sa-hu, who was standing a ways off, scanning the surroundings.
"Your brother's the one working hard."
"Oh, right. Sis, speak comfortably. I'm a high school senior~"
Kang Ji-ye pointed it out, noticing Lee Yu-rim kept using formal speech, and Lee Yu-rim jumped in surprise.
"High school senior? You're only 19?"
"Yep!"
"...You've had it rough too."
Lee Yu-rim dropped the formalities as suggested, and Kang Ji-ye beamed brightly.
Lee Yu-rim stood for a moment, watching Kang Sa-hu off by himself, then squatted down next to Kang Ji-ye.
"By the way, about what you mentioned earlier."
"Earlier?"
Kang Ji-ye asked back, not catching on, and Lee Yu-rim nodded.
"Your brother's nickname."
"Nickname...? Oh, right. Yeah, that."
Finally realizing she meant the moniker Kang Sa-hu had as a Necromancer, Kang Ji-ye gave an awkward smile.
"Yeah, I was curious about it. What's your brother's nickname?"
"Um, well..."
Kang Ji-ye trailed off at the direct question.
Even if she told her, Lee Yu-rim probably wouldn't grasp its meaning.
But seeing Lee Yu-rim waiting patiently without pressing, brushing it off felt uncomfortable too.
Of course, she had no intention of spilling her brother's info straight to someone she'd just met.
"Hmm~ This is kinda privacy, so instead of me telling you, ask him directly later or I'll tell you after getting his okay!"
"Got it. Sorry if that made you uncomfortable."
"Nah, no way~. It's natural to be curious."
She was sensitive to people's emotions, and seeing Kang Ji-ye smile and brush it off genuinely, without any pretense or lies, Lee Yu-rim couldn't help but smile back and nod.
They must get along really well.
Envious eyes from Lee Yu-rim lingered on Kang Ji-ye, who was so protective of her brother's secrets as privacy.
While the others chatted peacefully by the tree roots,
Kang Sa-hu, who had been vigilantly surveying the area, returned.
As he approached, Kim Ho-myeong shot up from where he'd been sitting.
"All done?"
"Yes, just one left now. But that boss seems a bit off."
The unexpected reply puzzled the group.
"What's up, bro? Something happen?"
"It's not exactly something happened. Feels like we've got a boss monster. It's pretty strong, so I held back the Giant Hounds from charging in."
As a Necromancer, the higher his power grew, the more he could share emotions, info, and even vision with his commanded summons.
Contrary to Kang Sa-hu's worries, the Giant Hounds' hunting skills were top-notch.
Made even more aggressive by the sweltering humidity peeling flesh from their bodies, they tore through Forest Lizards like raging beasts, clearing the path.
But the final monster the Giant Hounds found was on another level from the others here.
Kang Sa-hu, linked by will, sensed the danger first and ordered the eager Giant Hounds to hold.
It screamed boss monster, and he didn't want to risk destroying them.
"Damn... You took out everything but the boss already? I could've soloed this gate no problem."
Bae Deok-ho scratched his head sheepishly.
The others reacted similarly.
"...Not sure if it's 'cause this is the lowest-rank F-grade gate or if the summons are just that strong, but impressive."
Kim Ho-myeong praised Kang Sa-hu, eyes gleaming faintly.
Kang Sa-hu shook his head like it was nothing.
"I can summon more for backup and handle it. Three more should do it."
"F-from five, you can call even more?"
"Yes, of course."
As Kang Sa-hu reached for another soul core to demonstrate, Kim Ho-myeong raised a hand to stop him.
"Hunter Kang Sa-hu, hold on a sec."
Kang Sa-hu paused at the call, and Bae Deok-ho grinned.
"You really gonna hog it all? We're teammates here too—gotta do something. How about we take the boss?"
Kang Sa-hu stared steadily at Bae Deok-ho.
His mind raced as he studied the man's face.
Hiding his power to snag the boss?
That odd vibe from the gate briefing.
Bae Deok-ho claimed B-rank Awakener, but Kang Sa-hu doubted it.
The qi feels totally different.
Awakeners had varying potential and power by rank.
Bae Deok-ho said he was B-rank, like Kang Ji-ye.
But as a Necromancer with unique senses and insight, Kang Sa-hu saw through it.
The qi in Bae Deok-ho's body was thicker and larger than A-rank Hunters Kim Ho-myeong or Lee Yu-rim.
Meaning he was hiding his true rank.
But why?
That was the issue.
Calling him out like "Mr. Bae Deok-ho, you're actually A-rank or higher, right?" wouldn't work—he could deny it, and without a Monolith check, no counter.
Plus, without knowing why he hid it, pointing it out rashly was tricky.
With Kang Sa-hu not answering right away, Kim Ho-myeong and Lee Yu-rim took it as distrust and backed Bae Deok-ho.
"He's right. We came as Awakeners too—no way we're sitting out while you solo the fight."
Lee Yu-rim nodded in agreement.
Since they volunteered, Kang Sa-hu figured no need to overdo clearing every monster himself. He nodded.
"Alright then. Let's head to the boss together."
Their faces lit up at his approval.
Kang Sa-hu pocketed the Giant Hound soul core he'd meant to summon extra and led the way.
Along the path, corpses of Forest Lizards shredded by Giant Hounds littered the ground.
As Kang Sa-hu passed, the bodies dissolved into smoke, forming small orbs that flew to him.
Collecting the soul cores without breaking stride, he pressed on until they reached the boss area.
Woof!
The Giant Hounds waiting nearby per Kang Sa-hu's will bounded over happily.
Flesh dripping, bones exposed, maggots wriggling in rotting spots—the others recoiled in horror.
But Kang Sa-hu and Kang Ji-ye, used to worse as Necromancer kin, showed no reaction.
"Wow, they really follow you well? Already commanded them?"
"Nah, they've been obedient from the start. And they lack spirits, so 'command' isn't quite right."
Kang Ji-ye eyed them curiously at his words.
To make them obey the one who killed them this well... takes forever usually...
Kang Sa-hu returned the Giant Hounds to soul cores, and Bae Deok-ho muttered while scanning around.
"So, this is the boss spot, huh..."
His gaze halted on one massive tree towering over the rest.
As if on cue, a huge Forest Lizard descended from it.
Keruruk...
Its eyes rolled wildly, body far larger than the others.
If regular ones were corgi-sized, this King Forest Lizard was the size of two full-grown elephants.
"That the one!"
"Mr. Bae Deok-ho, let's form up before attacking."
"Oh, right! Sorry, Party Leader!"
"...?"
Kang Sa-hu blinked at being called Party Leader.
But the others glossed over it naturally, no odd vibes.
...Misheard?
Not a big deal anyway, Kang Sa-hu refocused on the fight.
"Hya!"
Twang!
Bae Deok-ho nocked and loosed an arrow with a shout, slicing the air.
It struck the boss's back dead-on, pink blood spraying.
Kieeeek!
"Nice!"
Bae Deok-ho pumped his fist, thrilled it landed.
As he swiftly reloaded, the enraged boss gaped wide.
Splat!
Its long tongue shot toward Bae Deok-ho.
But Kim Ho-myeong, shielding up front, blocked with his shield—metal rang out, tongue ricocheting away.
"Ngh?!"
Expecting a regular Forest Lizard, Kim Ho-myeong staggered in shock but held.
He bounced off the ground but his Awakener-toughened body took no damage to bones or muscle.
"It's coming down!"
Kim Ho-myeong yelled as the boss scrambled down the tree on all fours.
Mere moments later, it thudded earth-shakingly, toppling nearby trees.
Kiiiiieeeek-!
"Incoming! Get behind me!"
Kim Ho-myeong braced as the boss charged like a battering ram.
He'd slipped up earlier mistaking it for regular, but now knowing its power, no more slacking.
Mana surged from him, enveloping his body.
A message window popped up before his eyes, visible only to him.
Skill - Weight Proportion has activated.
The moment Kim Ho-myeong activated the skill, the bull-sized boss rammed headfirst, as if to smash him shield and all.
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