Chapter 204: Gaze (2)
“I’m off!”
-Kyawooh!
Yerim raised one arm high, and Blue mimicked her by lifting one wing. After their energetic farewell, Yerim and Blue disappeared beyond the gate.
With a slight time gap, the defense-type Hunters crossed first, followed by the rest of the team entering the dungeon one after another.
For the next few days, neither Yuhyun, Yerim, nor Peace would be around, so it would be quiet even if I went out to the garden. There were still others, but I already felt a bit lonely.
“The final design for the Peace and Chirp plushies is expected to be completed by this evening. The marketing team is currently handling it, but the head of the legal team is strongly pushing to create an entirely new department.”
Seok Gimyeong spoke as we walked out of the dungeon building together.
Since Peace was an existing monster, they said there was no way to crack down on counterfeits. While the name “Peace” couldn’t be used, there was no way to prevent people from selling “Flame Horned Lion cub” plushies. However, Chirp was considered a unique mutant species and was scheduled to be officially registered as a one-of-a-kind monster, meaning it would be managed even more strictly than Peace.
“So they’re planning to focus on products that feature Peace and Chirp as a set. Along with plushies, other character merchandise is also in the works.”
“Other character merchandise?”
“Yes. Team Leader Kim Hayun seems determined to create everything she wants. She found the curled-up Sorok you posted yesterday adorable and has already requested Breaker to make a plush version. There’s also been a suggestion to open a character goods shop in the Breeding Facility building, possibly combined with a café.”
Seok Gimyeong said it would work well if placed on the first floor of the commercial area accessible to outsiders.
Since it was currently empty, it made sense to fill it with something. For further details, he advised me to speak directly with the marketing team and Team Leader Kim.
Outside, Haeyeon’s A-rank Hunters were waiting.
I got into the car with Seok Gimyeong.
“By the way, Team Leader Seok, there’s a fan site for Yuhyun, right?”
As we chatted about various things, the thought suddenly crossed my mind. I might not have found it myself, but I was sure it existed. Yuhyun was undoubtedly popular.
“Of course, there is.”
I knew it. There’s no way it wouldn’t exist.
“Can you give me the website address? I couldn’t find it myself.”
At my words, Seok Gimyeong’s expression became oddly ambiguous.
“Well… as far as I know, the biggest one is membership-based.”
“Membership-based? How much is the membership fee? Do they give out membership cards too?”
An old colleague once told me about his daughter losing her membership card for a celebrity fan club and causing a huge fuss.
Hearing my words, Seok Gimyeong’s expression grew even more awkward.
“Director Han, I don’t think you’ll be able to join.”
“What? Why not? I’m family.”
“It has… a rather complicated history. The marketing team oversees it.”
A complicated history? What was that supposed to mean?
As I stood there bewildered, Seok Gimyeong advised me to forget about it and not concern myself with such things.
“Also… since you’ll be heading to Japan soon, I should mention that both the Guild Leader and Hunter Park Yerim are quite popular there as well.”
“In Japan? Is it because they’re S-rank Hunters? Japanese Hunters don’t seem to be very well-known domestically, so that’s surprising.”
Before the ranking matches existed, even popular Hunters were mostly famous within their own countries. But after the ranking matches started, the top-ranked Hunters became internationally recognized regardless of nationality.
“…Everything is being managed. Just brush it off lightly.”
He reassured me once again that they were keeping close track of things, so I didn’t need to worry. But why?
“If they’re people who genuinely care about the kids, isn’t that a good thing? I’d like to connect with them, even if just online. Is that not possible?”
“They are good people. But… it would be a bit burdensome if family members acknowledge them directly.”
Would it? I wasn’t entirely sure, but since he said so… Still, I felt a bit disappointed. Couldn’t I at least thank them? It would be nice to ask them to continue looking after the kids. Given how important public image was for S-rank Hunters, showing gratitude seemed appropriate. So why was I being told not to?
Feeling perplexed, I sent a message to Song Taewon.
[Chief Song Taewon, Hunter Park Yerim has just entered the dungeon. I’ll stay put and behave until the kids return, so please don’t worry. It should be quiet for a while, so I hope you can leave work early and get some rest. Wishing you a pleasant afternoon.]
Yerim would be out soon, and Yuhyun wouldn’t take too long either. In the meantime, I’d just focus on handling things inside the Breeding Facility. As I was about to put my phone away, I sent another message.
[Do you have any favorite animals?]
If you do, please let me know. Preferably one or two species.
I added that message for Song Taewon. Since he was a close-combat type without a particular elemental affinity, it would be easy to match him with a monster that suited his preferences. If he liked A-rank monsters, they wouldn’t be too difficult to acquire.
I would have loved to get him an S-rank monster, but those were hard to obtain. Even an A-rank one would be useful for raids and make things more convenient.
“The information about the Japan dungeon raid will start leaking tonight. Since it’s practically a Korea-Japan showdown, the hype will spread quickly.”
Seok Gimyeong couldn’t suppress a smirk as he spoke.
A Hunter rivalry between Korea and Japan, especially when competitive sports had been lackluster lately? It would ignite instantly. The thought made me chuckle as well.
“Our Yerim is going to become incredibly famous.”
Time wasn’t passing fast enough. I was already looking forward to it.
Flames spread far and wide. They devoured the dense undergrowth and trees, scorching the rocks black—some even melting under the heat—as they rampaged forward. The forest and hills were stripped bare in an instant, and the monsters lurking within were swallowed by the crimson tide.
-Kiieeek!
A massive lizard, covered in damp moss, leaped to escape the flames. Just as it attempted to flee to solid ground, a red-furred lion appeared behind it. The Flame Horned Lion strode leisurely through the burning forest and, with its front claws extended, slammed the lizard’s body down.
Before the lizard had any chance to resist, a flaming spear pierced through its head with a crack. The monster’s body turned to ash in an instant, and the fire spread even further.
The ordinary monsters on the first floor of the dungeon were utterly overwhelmed by the sheer firepower, too busy running for their lives to even think about fighting back. They never even got a chance to sink their teeth into their invader.
The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh, and ashes drifted like snow. The rising heat distorted the entire sky.
At the end of the fiery onslaught, two massive rock walls appeared. They stood apart, facing each other, with faint cracks running along their surfaces.
Crack. The walls split open, and a head covered in rock-colored scales emerged. A pair of twin serpents, identical except for their eye color, revealed themselves completely outside the cliffs. These were the boss monsters of the first floor.
-Krrrr.
The Flame Horned Lion let out a low growl, baring its fangs.
The twin serpents were tricky bosses that had to be killed simultaneously, or they would regenerate. They instinctively kept a distance from each other, making it difficult for even a highly skilled S-rank Hunter to take them down alone.
“Blue Willow Leaves.”
The skill materialized, placing Han Yuhyun to the right of one serpent. Without hesitation, he kicked off from Peace’s back, landing lightly on the floating blue leaf. Peace, without needing any commands, moved on its own. Wreathed in flames, it lunged straight at the left serpent.
-Ssshiik!
The massive serpent raised its head high, scattering venom in the air. Its bright yellow eyes locked onto the human floating above on the leaf. The moment it tensed its long neck, preparing to strike down the tiny intruder—
Han Yuhyun vanished.
A speed-enhancing skill. It only increased his movement speed, but to the serpent, it was as if he had disappeared entirely. Caught off guard, the serpent flinched, and in that instant, a hand landed on its snout. Only then did the monster finally catch sight of the human.
One red eye curved slightly into a faint smile. The venom that had saturated the air couldn’t reach Han Yuhyun, consumed by the flames that cloaked him.
With a crunch, his grip tightened, crushing the serpent’s scales. In his other hand, fire gathered and swiftly formed a long spear. The weapon plunged smoothly into the serpent’s skull, like a needle piercing cheese.
Whoosh!
The flames surged, evaporating blood and melting flesh in a violent storm. The massive serpent’s body crumpled. Over half of it burned away, its remaining form twitching. It struggled to regenerate, but each attempt was met with more flames that devoured it anew.
Han Yuhyun landed lightly on the ground and glanced to his left.
“You’re slow.”
Hearing his murmur, Peace let out a deep roar and instantly grew larger. It clamped its jaws around the left serpent’s head, pinning its body down, and with a single powerful pull—
Crunch.
The sound of flesh tearing echoed as the serpent’s head was ripped off.
At that moment, the right serpent’s regeneration stopped entirely. Its remaining tail section burned away into nothing. A sizable magic stone remained, and Iryn darted out, immediately snatching it up. After glancing at its master for permission and seeing no objection, the little creature gulped it down.
With the boss monsters defeated, the gate to the second floor appeared. However, Han Yuhyun didn’t proceed immediately. Instead, he sat down on a rock.
Peace, having shrunk back to its juvenile form, approached and settled beside him. Han Yuhyun retrieved a water bowl from his inventory and poured in a mana potion for Peace. Then, he drank a potion himself to replenish his mana.
Once Peace finished its potion, he took out a water bottle and poured fresh water for it. He also drank a few sips himself.
He considered eating some rations but instead pulled out a small jar filled with dried fruit. His expression softened as he gazed at the glass jar. The smile that appeared on his face was completely different from the one he wore while hunting just moments ago.
“I already miss my brother.”
-Krrrng.
Peace rumbled in agreement.
The dried fruit was too precious to eat—he simply held the jar, staring at it. His brother would definitely come to greet him again when he returned. And they would go home together.
“Should I leave just a small wound again?”
-Kyarr.
Peace perked its ears but then glanced down at its own front paws. There wasn’t a single scratch on them. Not that it had taken any damage to begin with—its fur was spotless. For a Flame Horned Lion, cleansing dirt with its own fire was an effortless task. However, by the time they exited the dungeon, its once-pristine fur would inevitably be tangled and dirty.
If it truly hated being washed, not even its master, Han Yuhyun, would be able to touch it easily. An F-rank in stats wouldn’t even need to be mentioned. It was just an act of playful stubbornness.
The flames that had been raging throughout the dungeon slowly began to subside. The heat that had filled the air gradually dissipated.
Han Yuhyun hesitated before taking out just one piece of dried fruit and placing it in his mouth. It was slightly sour and sweet. He didn’t chew or swallow it, just let it sit in his mouth like candy.
Lately, his days had been peaceful and sweet. There were things that bothered him—not just a few, but quite a lot—but he was satisfied enough to endure them.
Of course, a deep-seated anxiety always lurked within him. Sometimes, for no reason, his chest would feel cold, and he’d become restless. Even so, he wished these recent days could last just a little longer.
For things to stay just like this. To have a real home, someone waiting for him, someone who loved him unconditionally.
“…I miss my brother.”
-Kng.
Perhaps Peace felt the same way, as it let out a low, melancholic whimper. The way his brother looked at him—the most loving, affectionate, and gentle gaze in the world. How had he managed to give that up for three whole years? It was astonishing even to himself. Maybe because they had been apart once, he cherished him even more now.
Even resting felt like a waste of time. He finally chewed and swallowed what was in his mouth before standing up. He wasn’t particularly tired yet. Just as he was about to step through the gate to the second floor—
“…!”
He felt a gaze on him. Han Yuhyun instinctively drew his weapon and scanned his surroundings. Peace also sensed something, its ears perking up.
But there was nothing in sight. No monsters, no plants—just barren, desolate land stretching before him.
Was it just his imagination? No, something was still brushing against his sharpened senses. Han Yuhyun clenched his teeth. It was irritating.
“…Iryn.”
The fire spirit let its body scatter into flames. At the same time, leaves spread out, igniting into a red blaze. The spirit’s fire licked and searched every corner of the area.
The moment it caught onto something, that presence vanished. Han Yuhyun’s brows furrowed slightly.
‘…Is this related to the system?’
Surely, nothing had happened to his brother. But there was no way to find out while inside the dungeon.
Without hesitation, Han Yuhyun dismissed his skill and stepped through the gate to the second floor.
–TL Notes–
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