Chapter 250 – Traps (1)
When I came out of the dungeon, it was already a deep night with the moon shining brightly.
The sea was calm.
The Kraken’s huge body was quietly floating in the sea with its activity suspended, and the Kraken Juniors that awoke from their eggs also followed their mother.
However, not all places were quiet.
“Waaaaa-!”
Arriving on land, ardent cheers pierce your ears.
“Big one! Big one!”
Kim Tae-yang raises a clenched fist at the shameful tinnitus that he even mentioned.
“Nunna, I’m dying!”
Joo-hee Han glares at her with eyes contemplating whether she will really kill her.
“Namgoong-hyeok, the hope of the political faction Moorim!”
Even Namgoong-hyeok, the face of Moorim in Korea.
“I’m passionate, I’m passionate.”
Even at dawn, everyone is awake.
If you think about how that is possible, the answer comes quickly.
Death of the Kraken.
When that gigantic body collapsed on the water, how loud it must have hit the ears, and the resulting tidal wave would have shook the barrier.
It is natural for hunters with sensitive senses to hear the sound and wake up.
They personally gathered here to pay tribute to those who killed the Kraken.
The first among them to welcome us was Seong-tae Kim.
“Everyone has suffered. You must be tired, but take a good rest today.”
You can tell how happy he is just by looking at the deep smile on his lips.
Although the plan was slightly off, the Kraken attack was an operation under his leadership.
It has to be because they succeeded in attacking the Kraken with almost no other damage except for the small scar caused by the Kraken Jr. And B-class hunters fighting.
That’s thanks to the S-class hunters, what kind of credit does Kim Seong-tae have?
It’s called the dripping water effect, and even if you pick up a few drops of water from under it and eat it, you’ll feel full.
“Hunter Han Joo-yeon and Hunter Kim Do-jin are also resting here today.”
A new accommodation was also given to me and Juyeon, who explored the inside of the Kraken with the S-class hunters.
It’s a completely different place from where I used to live, both in size and options.
“Then get some rest and see you tomorrow.”
Kim Seong-tae, who personally guided us to the dorm, left leisurely, and Joo-yeon and I remained in the narrow hallway.
“…”
“…”
There is a tremendous awkwardness between us when we are suddenly alone.
Every time I see his face, I think of the kiss we shared in disconnection.
Clearly it was the only way for us to live.
But… , Simply that the kiss we shared at that moment was not solely about the will to survive.
A short but intense moment.
Both me and Jooyeon coveted each other sincerely.
To the point of completely forgetting even the moment-by-minute crisis.
It wouldn’t have been as awkward as it is now if I could simply end it with that mistake.
It is said that everything is difficult at first, and then it gets easier after that.
The heart once embraced only tries to grow as it pleases, and it seldom fades away.
Still, I can’t stay like this forever.
“I… , Teacher.”
After overcoming the awkwardness and breaking the silence, Joo-yeon finally stares at me.
With her cheeks puffed up.
That’s a habit that Juyeon often shows whenever she has a complaint…
“Sister.”
“… Yes?”
“Teacher seems too far away. Therefore… , Rather call me Nu, Noona.”
“Oh, um.”
The words “No” Because it feels so far away are lodged in her heart.
It felt like it was making it clear to me that I would no longer be so far away.
“Teacher. That, um…”
I was about to ask him if he likes me, but he hurriedly shuts his mouth.
“Do you want to ask? Do you like me?”
But she hits her head like she knows it all.
When I stare blankly at her with her dumbfounded expression, she smiles shyly and nods her head.
“It’s true that I like you. No, not exactly…”
Joon-Yeon continued talking while gently tucking her hair on the side of her slightly bowed face behind her ear.
“I can only like you now.”
A meaningful word chills the heart.
“What is that…”
“Do you remember? When we kissed Key.”
“Of course.”
Can’t do it
There are only a few times in my entire life during Son Si-woo’s days that I have memories as intense as that.
Juyeon pushes the wand in my hand toward me.
“This wand… , It was a gift from my brother-in-law when I became a Hunter.”
“… Yes.”
You know well
There are so many ingredients that go into it, so it’s more memorable.
At the time, one of the executives in charge of the guild’s housekeeping was so angry that if they sparingly used them, they could make ten great swords, and if they gave that much, at least they would have to join the guild.
Thanks to that, I couldn’t even go home properly for a week to make up for the puncture, and I only wandered around the dungeon, probably.
“The most used material here is the horn of a unicorn. Do you know what a unicorn’s representative characteristic is?”
“… Are you saying that when you see a girl, she goes crazy?”
“Ahaha… , That’s right. Because of the unicorn horn used in this wand… , There is a little embarrassing wearing restriction.”
“That, um.”
Starring… , Is that what you mean?
“The condition that only virgins can use it… Iran.”
“…”
The moment I heard that, I felt that way.
He really did it right.
The boy’s words follow.
“After about 10 years of wearing this, a strange thing happened.”
“Interesting… , Work?”
“Huh. He said it was because he maintained his virginity while being full of the energy of a unicorn, so he got a sub-attribute.”
“… Is that the ‘sacrifice of innocence’ I experienced?”
“That’s right.”
Unicorns and virgins.
I think I know roughly how the sacrifice of chastity is exercised.
A person who literally maintains her virginity must sacrifice her virginity to give a very powerful buff to others.
And the target… , Of course, he must have been the one who took away his virginity.
I know roughly the circumstances.
However, could that be the reason why you have no choice but to love me?
The moment she wondered, she smiled bitterly and continued her words.
“When the Sacrifice of Chastity activates… , I am subject to a curse.”
“I… 주라고요?”
저주라니.
What does that mean?
Then she smiles awkwardly and shakes her hand.
“Ah… , To be precise, it may or may not be a curse. It depends on whether I activate this trait on someone.”
Suddenly, an ominous thought crossed my head.
‘Purity’ and ‘sacrifice’.
“선생님, 설마… ?”
당장에라도 터질 것처럼 새빨개진 얼굴로 조심스레 고개를 끄덕이는 그녀.
“Yes. Once Sacrifice of Chastity activates… , It can only be dedicated to that object.”
아니, 아니야.
“My… , 수, 순결을.”
… Fucked.
* * *
Standing blankly under the pouring shower water.
Chewing and swallowing a luxurious meal prepared late at night without knowing what it tastes like.
I took a nap holding on to my beating heart like a person suffering from angina pectoris.
그저 멍한 얼굴로 휴식 시간을 전부 지새운 김도진이 향한 곳은 다름 아닌 기자회견장.
Click! Click!
연신 들려오는 셔터 소리가 무심코 인상을 찡그릴 만큼 더없이 거슬린다.
However, Dojin Kim is a pro.
지금보다 더 중요하고, 많은 기자가 몰린 기자회견도 능수능란하게 해치우는 프로 중의 프로.
조금이라도 더 자극적인 기사를 뽑아내고자 안달인 하이에나들에게 찡그린 얼굴은 그야말로 맛 좋은 먹이라는 것을, 그는 잘 알고 있다.
“Uh… , 지금부터 기자회견을 시작하도록 하겠습니다.”
이번 기자회견의 내용은 단 하나, 크라켄의 공략에 대한 것이었다.
발언권을 건네받은 한 기자가 물었다.
“크라켄의 내부를 공격하여 별다른 손실 없이 공략을 마쳤다고 들었습니다. 이번 작전, 손시우 헌터의 조언으로 실행된 것이라 들었는데… , Is that correct?”
이에 대한 물음을 답하기 위해 마이크를 쥔 사람은 김성태였다.
“Yes, that’s right. 손시우 헌터께서 세심하게 조언해준 덕분에 과감한 작전을 감행할 수 있었죠. 비록 사정상 공략에는 함께하지 못했지만, 올바른 길을 인도해준 손시우 헌터께 이 자리를 빌어 감사의 말씀을 전합니다.”
크라켄 공략을 통해 쌓은 공 일부가 이 자리에 없는 손시우에게 돌아가고 말았다.
이에 미안함을 느낀 한주연이 테이블 아래로 손을 뻗어 제 옆에 앉아 있는 김도진의 손 위를 가볍게 포갰다.
김도진은 괜찮다는 말 대신 고개를 저어 아무렇지도 않음을 표현했다.
Actually, it didn’t matter anyway.
저번에 그녀가 얘기했던 대로, 손시우의 이름값이 아니었다면 이번 작전은 결코 S급 헌터들의 승인을 얻어내지 못했을 테니.
또 다른 기자가 손을 들어 올렸다.
“크라켄 내부에 던전이 존재했다고 들었습니다. 당시의 상황을 간략하게나마 설명해주실 수 있으실까요?”
제법 장황하게 대답해야 하는 물음에 당당히 마이크를 쥔 사람은 김태양이었다.
“에, 그게 어떻게 된 거냐면 말입니다…”
Kim Tae-yang, who likes to step out and enjoys receiving attention, began his flamboyant tongue movements.
“At that time, I just… !”
Of course, he did not hesitate to go through adaptation and editing focusing on himself.
However, this story was not the only one that could receive attention.
Because the person who defeated the Kraken clone, the boss, wasn’t him, but someone else.
“I came here after arranging the named monsters… , Hunter Han Joo-hee defeated the boss and succeeded in attacking, this is it.”
After Kim Tae-yang’s lengthy explanation, Han Joo-hee’s coy gaze stayed on Kim Do-jin.
After the Kraken attack, Kim Do-jin went to Han Joo-hee and asked her a strange request.
The request is that the person who killed the Kraken clone is not Kim Do-jin, but Han Joo-hee.
When I asked why she had to do that, she replied that she didn’t want to gossip.
She understood
Apart from her abilities, Kim Do-jin is only a B-class hunter.
There would be many controversies just by going inside the Kraken with S-class hunters, but what would happen if I heard that he had defeated the boss?
‘People who don’t believe will start biting.’
The human heart is truly cunning.
I envy those who are moderately successful, but want those who are out of reach to fall, whether it’s a mistake or not.
Even so, it was obvious what would happen the moment hotter attention was focused on Kim Do-jin, who is gaining popularity as the biggest prospect in the hunter industry.
It is for that reason that she accepted Kim Do-jin’s request.
Afterwards, questions about the Kraken attack continued to pour in, and S-class hunters answered with microphones.
Soon after, the press conference was almost at the end.
“The name of new B-class hunter Kim Do-jin is on the list of Kraken attack members, so there is a controversy over whether it is a preferential treatment or not. Please say something about this.”
The thing to come has finally come.
This was already within the expected range.
A B-class hunter following the attack of a disaster-class monster? Isn’t this just a good thing to chew on and bite off?
‘I can’t leave it like that.’
Being ridiculed by reporters is just disgusting.
When you’re about to grab the microphone to give a response you’ve prepared to prevent this. A white hand stretched out from the side and grabbed the microphone before him.
“It’s not a preferential treatment, I asked for an escort myself.”
A look of bewilderment appears on the face of the reporter who asked the question to Han Ju-yeon’s shield, the owner of the white hand.
“Hunter Han Joo-yeon himself… You mean?”
“Yes.”
The reporter who asked her short answer sat down with a tearful expression on her seat.
Through her activities this time, she has already been promoted to S-class Hunter.
Furthermore, her older sister is Han Joo-hee, and her brother-in-law is Son Si-woo.
Such a person answers firmly, what more can I ask.
Han Joo-yeon, who sank a reporter, puts down her microphone and looks at Kim Do-jin.
Looking at Kim Do-jin, who had a bewildered expression, and smiling brightly, her expression said this.
‘Did I do well?’
Whether to be happy or not.
Kim Do-jin with confused emotions and Han Joo-yeon smiling brightly.
The scene of the two facing each other was captured by reporters’ cameras.
And the next day.
【Love of the century that transcends rank S and B, grade?】
The rumors of infidelity between the two heated up the world.
