Chapter 54

“I assume you’ve all seen it in the Ganansu Hunter’s video, but I’ll explain it anyway.”

So Suui Kim briefly explained the situation at the time. Cho-i being dragged into the cave. Finding a door inside the cave they went to rescue her from. And seeing a landscape where two worlds were divided after entering it. And heading to the seemingly not dangerous Land of Angels to save Cho-i. Cho-i, who didn’t know the situation on Suui Kim’s side besides her own, asked as she listened to the story.

“I wondered why you were in the Land of Angels.”

“Yes. I’m alive thanks to you finding me.”

“I didn’t go to save you. I went there and you guys were just there.”

“…Is that how it was?”

“Yes!”

Suui Kim pressed her forehead and continued.

“Anyway, Hunter Cho-i Hyeon and I acquired hidden items there. I understand it’s the first time two items have come out of one hidden dungeon…”

Taehyeok Sa said.

“Yes. That’s why the Dungeon Research Team was in an uproar. It’s a worldwide first.”

Cho-i Hyeon replied simply.

“Since there are two worlds, isn’t it just that two items came out?”

“It’s not that simple…”

“Couldn’t it be?”

Yeonhan Kim said. The four people looked at Yeonhan.

“Until now, none of the hidden dungeons were divided into two like that, were they? That’s why two came out.”

Just then, Cho-i Hyeon added as if something had come to mind.

“Oh, now that I think about it, there was a language similar to something of the Angel’s.”

Taehyeok Sa asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Ugh, I don’t want to talk to you. I mean, I found the same language in the Land of Devils as the one from the dungeon where those Angels from the trial grounds appeared, not the place you and I went to.”

“The same language?”

“Now that you mention it, wasn’t that captured by Ganansu? It was inside the cave, so it might have been captured.”

“Wait a moment.”

Taehyeok Sa stood up and made a call somewhere. Soon, someone from downstairs appeared with an item. The person, who seemed to be from the Dungeon Research Team, came upstairs with the camera that recorded Ganansu’s video and showed the video to everyone. And in the video, letters that flashed by as Ganansu entered the cave were captured.

“Yes, this. To preserve our species, we… huh?”

Cho-i blinked.

“Why can I read this?”

The people around looked at Cho-i. Cho-i’s eyes also widened. At that moment, Suui Kim, who had been quiet, raised her hand.

“I… can read it too. Not all of it, but…”

“Wait. I’ll read it first. Oh, the screen is shaking so much.”

Cho-i stared intently at the screen. The letters appeared for only a fleeting moment and it was dark, so they weren’t clearly readable.

“To preserve our race, we decided to merge two worlds and pass on our Legacy to another. Especially since ‘Devil’s Hand’ is an even more important Legacy…”

She frowned and zoomed in on the screen to read more of the text outside of it.

“The faithful servants who worship God and the corrupted ones who have come to know desire…”

As Cho-i read haltingly, Suui Kim, who had moved to her side, continued reading.

“Cannot be the same, so the Legacy is divided into two and left behind.”

“Oh, right, that’s how it reads, I think.”

Taehyeok Sa tilted his head and asked the dungeon research team.

“How many people in total have discovered a hidden dungeon in Korea?”

“One, excluding hunters Cho-i Hyeon and Suui Kim. The Guild Master of Hwayeon. Hunter Gihyeon Park.”

“…This has gotten complicated.”

Cho-i asked.

“Why?”

“He’s a man with quite a lot of animosity towards the Paehyeok guild. No, he just has animosity towards both Geumsin and Paehyeok. Because they’re above him. So if we ask him to cooperate, he’s not likely to.”

“Still, you never know, so call him.”

Cho-i said, leaning against Yeonhan Kim.

“What if he’s in a good mood and agrees to cooperate?”

“…I don’t know where that way of thinking comes from.”

“People should live thinking positively.”

That kind of thinking is why you throw people between monsters and laugh about it, you shut-in. I’m not a shut-in, but what do you want? After a few exchanges of such conversation, Taehyeok Sa picked up his smartphone to end this meaningless discussion. Ring-ring-ring- After a few rings, everyone heard a click, the sound of the call being answered. Since they were all people close to S-Rank, there was no way they wouldn’t hear the conversation.

“I called because I have a favor to ask.” -Oh my, the famous Paehyeok Guild Master asking me for a favor? “Stop being sarcastic.” -What’s the favor? “It’s about the hidden dungeon research.” -Aha, so you guys really went to that tank hidden dungeon, didn’t you? “…” -Otherwise, there’s no way a tank known as A+ Rank could split an A-Rank boss monster in half in one go. “So, are you going to cooperate or not?”

Then the other person chuckled, laughed without manners, then abruptly stopped laughing and said in a serious tone.

-I’ll cooperate, give me that tank. “Rejected.”

Click. Taehyeok Sa hung up the phone before the other person could say anything. And as he put his smartphone in his pocket, he said casually.

“It would be better to find and meet foreign examples.”

“Just like a friend, so rude.”

“Not a friend.”

Cho-i Hyeon sneered, and Taehyeok Sa denied it. Cho-i Hyeon held out her hand to Taehyeok Sa. As Taehyeok Sa looked at her hand questioningly, she said.

“Give me your smartphone.”

“What for?”

“I need to talk to the person directly.”

“…”

“I’m not going to switch sides, so stop being so weird.”

“…Alright.”

Cho-i took the smartphone from Taehyeok Sa and called Gihyeon Park again. Ring-ring, the signal went through, and after a short while, the other person answered.

-Why, did you change your mind? “Hello?”

Park Gihyeon chuckled, unfazed that an unknown woman had answered the phone. His laughter was unsettling.

-Ah, look who it is. Our esteemed S-Rank tank? “You recognized me right away?” -… “What?” -Right to informal speech? “You used informal speech first, didn’t you?” -Alright, well, I admit I was wrong there. So, if I start using polite speech, will you reciprocate? “No. The moment you’re Sa Taehyeok’s friend, you’re out.” -You’re on informal terms with Sa Taehyeok too? “That bastard made me.” -Bastard? Bastard? This is hilarious. “Anyway, let’s meet and talk. Let’s make a bet.” -What kind of bet? “The one who loses the fight grants a favor.” -Haha.

Park Gihyeon laughed, but there was an unpleasantness to it.

-It seems being under Sa Taehyeok has made you lose touch with reality. You’re not someone an S-Rank who just debuted can beat, I’m not. “I know. But I’m still taking a chance.” -Do you want to die? “Ahahahah.”

This time, Cho-i laughed.

“I won’t die.”

And then, *click*, she hung up the phone.

“If I do this, there will be a reaction…”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Sa Taehyeok’s smartphone began to ring. The name Hwayeon Park Gihyeon was clearly displayed on the screen.

“See? I told you so.”

Sa Taehyeok rubbed his temples and answered the phone for her.

“Yes.” -Tell your tank to take good care of that pretty face. “Why, planning to ruin it?” -Yes. “Well, I don’t think you can, but I’ll pass it on anyway.” -You probably think I’m easy to defeat now, don’t you? “You’re probably stronger.” -So? “But there’s a reason you can’t win.” -…I have no idea what nonsense you’re talking about. “You’ll find out when you try. Then I’ll leave the time and place to you. I need to nag, so I’m hanging up.”

*Click*. Park Gihyeon was hung up on unilaterally three times. Sa Taehyeok rubbed his temples and said to Hyeon Cho-i.

“What’s the plan?”

“Beat him until he’s on the verge of death.”

“What if you die first?”

“I’ll come back to life and beat him again.”

Kim Suui, who was listening nearby, asked.

“What is this all about?”

“It’s just something.”

“Don’t try to understand, you’ll get hurt.”

“…Alright, I don’t want to know any more either.”

Kim Suui stood up. Cho-i also stood up and approached Kim Suui.

“Why?”

“Aren’t the other party members here too?”

“That’s right. They’re downstairs.”

“I’m going to see their faces.”

“Then we’ll be leaving now.”

Nevertheless, Kim Suui, out of courtesy, bowed to the Guild Master. Cho-i, without a greeting, quickly pressed the elevator button. Once the two had disappeared, the remaining three sighed.

“Is it alright to let them do that?”

Kim Dongju asked. Kim Dongju, of course, knew Cho-i’s secret, but he couldn’t help but worry.

“She’ll handle it well on her own.”

After all, Cho-i Hyeon was someone even Taehyeok Sa couldn’t control.

“Should we just hand her over this time…?”

“Hey, don’t do that.”

“That’s not right.”

“They didn’t even raise her, and now they’re making a fuss.”

“What’s better than a hunter who grew up well on her own?”

“Exactly. We should be trying to keep her, not losing her.”

“I was just kidding, anyway.”

Taehyeok Sa sat down and crossed his legs. He held his head and sighed once more. Then he looked at the call log displayed on his smartphone.

“I’ll have to wait for a call first.”

Because he knew a call would eventually come from Gihyeon Park of Hwayeon.

And at that moment, Cho-i Hyeon was meeting and greeting the party members who had gone through the dungeon with her. Unaware of others’ worries, she smiled broadly and waved at them.

“It’s been exactly one day!”

“Hunter Cho-i Hyeon!”

Yeonwoo Han was the first to greet her. Next to him, Namsu Kang waved in response. Yeonwoo Han quickly went up to Cho-i and held one of her hands with both of his.

“You’re almost officially an S-Rank now, so you won’t forget us when you go, will you?”

“Even if I ask, it’ll just mean getting dragged into an S-Rank dungeon when they’re short on people, right?”

“Oh, I don’t want that, but I mean, just acknowledge us on Ansta sometimes. Speaking of which, you haven’t uploaded anything from Beondo Island since that day, have you?”

“I haven’t had time, have I?”

“Come on, let’s go take some pictures. There are good photo spots in Paehyeok too.”

“Oh, that’s really hilarious.”

Cho-i giggled and followed Yeonwoo Han, with Namsu Kang and Suui Kim trailing behind. Suui Kim watched the still carefree and bright-looking Cho-i from behind, pulled a candy from his pocket, and popped it into his mouth.

“Did you quit smoking?”

Namsu Kang asked.

“Yeah, to live longer.”

“Suddenly?”

“After coming back from the hidden dungeon, that thought crossed my mind.”