Chapter 138

At first, when the Flame Sword lit up, I thought we’d run into a monster.

But the hundred monsters swarming toward the distant Maiden Mansion didn’t seem blocked by anything at all.

“?”

The moment I looked up in confusion, I spotted something ridiculous.

“Oh.”

Hunter So Yeri, having noticed the same thing, burst out laughing from behind me.

And for good reason—a fiery stick was waving around wildly in the distance.

It would’ve been serious if it were a torch, but the problem was that sword had been affected by the Flame Sword skill.

“Using that as a torch.”

Someone was using an SS+ grade weapon fitted with an SS-rank skill… as a torch?

Well, they had used it to light a campfire earlier.

Versatile in every way!

―Shing!

Hunter So Yeri scooped me up in a tight hug and approached the cliff edge where Shin Jae-heon and Joo Yian were waiting.

“Looks like we’ve all gathered.”

The four-legged beast friends—who were labeled A-rank but packed S-rank stats—were marching toward the mansion at a blistering pace.

At that speed, they’d arrive in five minutes?

We could fly in quickly and stop their advance no problem, but time wasn’t exactly on our side.

So we jumped straight into a strategy huddle.

“They’re coming in such a neat formation—might as well hit ’em with an AoE, right?”

Hunter So Yeri pointed downward. Among us, only she and Shin Jae-heon had area-of-effect skills.

“Yeah. Judging by their path, it’d probably be best if I just sweep them with my Flame Sword.”

Shin Jae-heon eyed the monsters’ advance speed and the remaining distance to the mansion before speaking up.

“If I dive from the air and slam down, hardly any should slip through.”

“Just in case, I’ll check from midair for any stragglers.”

That left me and Joo Yian just buffing them up and kicking back.

Luckily, the monsters were obligingly clustered together, making this a cakewalk.

“Wow, A-rank trash mobs in an SS-rank dungeon? They’re feeling generous.”

Shin Jae-heon marveled. Joo Yian shook his head at the comment.

“I thought the same at first, but look closer—it’s far from ordinary. This place… is a training ground where the young master practices military tactics.”

…Huh, true that? I’d been relieved they were just A-rank, but this was a whole new angle.

Shin Jae-heon raised an eyebrow at that.

“Oh…”

Then he backpedaled.

“Madam must be hardcore.”

And those hardcore tacticians from the Eastern Empire had placed us in the perfect spot to screw them over.

“They really can’t see past their own noses.”

I grumbled involuntarily.

Didn’t they realize who’d be next after we stepped up?

Or did they think we couldn’t make a move?

“You mean the Eastern Empire guys?”

Hunter So Yeri piped up out of the blue. The serious expression I’d glimpsed briefly during our flight was long gone.

What was that old story about…?

I’d told her she didn’t have to share if it was too personal. That was already ten years ago.

Kid me had been less tactful than now and pried into Hunter So Yeri’s past without hesitation.

‘What did you really do back in the day?’

‘Nothing at all.’

‘Come on, no one just breathes and lives.’

I’d giggled and pressed her.

‘You really won’t tell me? Is it a secret? If it’s a huge secret, you don’t have to.’

Curiosity burning, but still trying to be considerate in my own childish way—if she really didn’t want to say it, she didn’t have to.

I would’ve let it drop there, figuring it was just some past she hated revisiting.

But Hunter So Yeri said something unexpected.

‘I’ll tell you when you turn thirty… no, make it thirty-five. I need time to prepare!’

Thirty wasn’t far off, so she’d hastily bumped it up by five years, no doubt.

And the year Hunter So Yeri turned thirty-five.

A bit wiser than my kid self, I held back from prying despite my curiosity.

But she approached me cautiously anyway and spilled it, out of nowhere.

‘…Forty it is. I’m still not ready.’

What kind of memory required that much prep?

‘Is it something hard to talk about? Then don’t. I’m curious, but I don’t want to make you relive bad times.’

She widened her eyes at my words, then shook her head.

‘It’s not that it’s hard—more like, it should be fine, but I’m just not mentally prepared.’

Then she cheerfully added,

‘So feel free to stay curious!’

‘But you won’t tell me even if I am!?’

‘Only until forty!’

The conversation had ended in laughter back then.

Suddenly piecing together that old thread only stoked my curiosity more. What on earth was her past?

…A history involving a holey parasol was hard to picture.

Was it just a one-sided romance with that utter trash?

As I racked my brain, my skill window flashed.

Full buffs always gave that thrilling rush, no matter how many times I saw it.

I confirmed Joo Yian and Hunter So Yeri’s buffs were applied properly, then turned to him.

Mmm~ Time to add my spoon to Shin Jae-heon’s perfectly set table.

With this, the sword energy extending from Shin Jae-heon’s blade would sweep the front lines alongside afterimages.

I traced a circle with my arms to signal prep complete, and Hunter So Yeri—who’d been watching—shifted into position with a grin.

Her gleeful face made it clear she was picking the prime spot to drop this double-buffed S-rank bomb.

As the bomb in her hand pointed toward its target, autonomously shaping its own fate, I turned to Joo Yian.

“They got here way faster than expected?”

Maybe because they didn’t plow through the forest or descend the cliff, but still, the speed was astonishing.

We flew, sure, but they’d moved after Shin Jae-heon, which meant crossing mountains and rivers, right?

Even if Shin Jae-heon was an S-rank DPS and Hunter So Yeri flew slow to accommodate me before accelerating at the end, it shouldn’t have been catchable.

And Shin Jae-heon had been carrying Joo Yian piggyback from the start, so sprinting full tilt wasn’t feasible?

As I pondered, Joo Yian opened his mouth with a troubled look.

“Hunter Shin Jae-heon… um…”

He chose his words carefully before continuing.

“He carried me in the most comfortable running position.”

“?”

Comfortable running position?

Obviously tucking the person under your arm and booking it.

An S-rank like Joo Yian wouldn’t snap from that, so no real issue.

But human rights! Human rights!!!

I could barely imagine Shin Jae-heon, a bit taller than Joo Yian, charging along with him like a pole…

Sorry, but that image was too much for Joo Yian!

“Like this?”

I demonstrated by hooking my arm around empty air and shaking. Joo Yian shook his head.

“Not that.”

Phew, relief. No way he’d do that unless it was desperate.

Wait—then what was the next comfiest running pose?

“No way…”

I raised my arms in a princess carry. Joo Yian closed his eyes.

I definitely saw it before they shut—a myriad of agonies flashing in those brown irises.

“He princess-carried you???”

For real??? Instead of answering, Joo Yian dry-washed his face.

More honest than a straight ‘yes.’ I cracked up.

“Makes me want to learn a flight skill.”

His plea was so earnest, it felt like it’d trigger one right there.

“Wow, seriously like this?”

Everyone! I’ve struck gold! This is my material for the next month!

I hugged the air demonstratively, and Joo Yian’s ears turned beet red along with his face.

“Isn’t this the first time since I carried you on your hunter awakening day?”

I recalled whisking him away from the Hunter Association entrance where he’d looked so flustered.

His face flushed even deeper at my words.

“…Probably because I don’t get carried around much.”

True, we weren’t usually that far apart.

Giggles leaked out at his distressed expression.

“So, who had the better ride?”

Me or Shin Jae-heon?

I whispered slyly, and he dry-washed his face again.

Though the red tint staining his cheeks didn’t fade.

“I owe him a debt… comparing feels wrong.”

Even now, upholding manners—Joo Yian truly embodied the grace the Maiden family prized.

“Then just this: Did Hunter Shin Jae-heon carry you well?”

At that, Joo Yian finally covered his face with both hands.

He clearly knew a tall guy getting princess-carried by another tall guy drew eyes.

And Joo Yian hated attention.

Good thing this was a special space—no worries about photos or videos.

“Yes… Very comfortably.”

But it felt like imposing. His awkwardness was suffocatingly adorable.

This was why teasing Joo Yian hit different!

“Please stop teasing.”

I’m serious. He looked like he desperately needed a hand fan.

So I fanned him vigorously from the side.

“Hoo.”

Watching him deep-breathe to calm down, I finally let slip what I’d been holding back.

“Now you just need Hunter So Yeri to complete the set.”

“Pardon?”

His color returning made it impossible to hold back.

“Princess carry grand slam achieved.”

“Hunter Shin Yuri…”

Joo Yian hung his head in defeat.

“I’ve been carried, and Hunter So Yeri’s warm and nice.”

Won’t you try? Huh? I was cackling and teasing him hard when—

A blinding flash erupted behind us.

―KABOOM!

A roar followed, like it could split the continent in two.

And even from afar, the ground shook here.

“Whoa.”

The result of Hunter So Yeri’s Shin Jae-heon bomb drop.

But how hard did they hit to shake us this far?

The moment I turned toward the monster swarm with that question—

Skills popping up rapidly, followed by—

―Whoosh!

Joo Yian’s wide priest robes enveloped me.

Then heat that the robes couldn’t fully block grazed past.

“Ah.”

Shock from the suddenness was fleeting.

I let out a sigh.

Even B-ranks needed caution with shockwaves.

“Thanks.”

As I spoke—

The remaining monster count, which had read [100] earlier, flipped to 0.

They shaved off 50%, 70%… but gave only 10%? Heartwarming generosity.

Wow! Such class!

As I admired, my vision rippled and shifted.

“I thought it was an experimental formation, but you pulled it off splendidly.”

Back in the banquet hall, we heard Maiden Madam’s assessment.

But she was praising the Eastern Empire crew, not us.

Shouldn’t the splendid ones be us?

“A formation worth studying.”

Shouldn’t you study our DPS instead?

“Perfect score.”

Maiden Madam held up a paper marked [10].

Shouldn’t the perfect score be ours????

Why are they getting it?

Maiden Madam’s favorability over their heads had skyrocketed.

“……”

“……”

Our four gazes met.

Hunter So Yeri and Shin Jae-heon’s especially bubbled with rage.

I was no slouch either, I could confidently say.

Seeing their favorability painted our future clear.

If we got revenge by dumping them in a bad spot, they’d fail spectacularly.

They’d eat -50% or -70% debuffs, but their trash stats barely mattered.

The real issue was the penalty we’d get for their failure.

Place them properly, though…

“……”

I could see them splitting off. Oh really?

We were forced to do them favors?

But they overlooked one thing.

“I’ve got a great idea.”

Hunter So Yeri—who’d clearly been debating snapping a toy horse in half—froze.

Whoa whoa, dial back the violence!

“Let’s resolve this with utmost class.”

When it comes to dealing damage, trust the DPS completely.

With my brilliant idea sparking, I turned to Maiden Madam.