Chapter 39
Chapter 39
[Ariensa Cyan Demar (Yian-ssi) >>> I have absolutely no intention of fighting.]
Who’d be crazy enough to team-kill in this brutal world?
The two spoke in perfect unison.
But the brutal scene unfolding before her eyes looked nothing like what the hunter chat suggested.
Then what the hell is this situation?
I just rushed over right after clearing my dungeon.
Your status window showed a B-rank Terror debuff, Hunter Shin Yuri. I tried to join you within the hour…, but we barely missed the timing.
Oh.
To enter the same gate, you had to do it within one hour.
Whether civilian or hunter, once someone entered, the gate’s entrance sealed after an hour.
A sealed gate wouldn’t open until everyone inside was dead or the dungeon was cleared.
That’s what I thought too, but we ended up running into each other.
The situation made sense now.
Anyway, it seemed Yian-ssi and Shin Jae-heon had seen her take on the B-rank Terror and rushed over right away.
She’d been D-rank when she entered.
They must have figured it would be dangerous if they didn’t join within the hour.
Luckily, she’d cleared it.
Of course, unless they wanted to rack up penalties, they should have brought knights and paladins under their command.
The problem was that the two had run into each other here of all places.
Sealed gates glowed white, so pinpointing hers wouldn’t have taken long.
And once they did, they’d bolted straight here.
Everyone was so flustered they hadn’t even noticed she’d hit C-rank.
Good grief, you walking disasters.
Still, she was grateful.
They’d come because they were worried she’d die, right?
Say what you would, these were her hunter team.
Of course, touched or not, the situation was barreling toward crisis.
“This is a territory governed by a noble under the imperial family, but has the lord granted permission for the Holy Sian paladins to advance?”
Shin Jae-heon spoke up.
His heavy voice echoed, and the hall’s atmosphere sank instantly.
Yian-ssi stared straight at him.
“The Church prioritizes saving lives above all. Even if it means breaking worldly laws, at the voice of Lord Sian.”
His monocle glinted. Shin Jae-heon narrowed his eyes.
“Even so, since the Church stands on worldly soil, constantly flouting secular rules is problematic.”
It was a chilling tone.
By then, she was starting to feel a bit absurd.
You guys aren’t actually going to fight, right?
They hadn’t been secretly harboring feelings for each other, had they? Why so intense?
No, that’s just how the lore is in this area.
As Shin Jae-heon brazenly replied, Yian-ssi—striving for a cold expression—earnestly messaged in the hunter chat.
……Please don’t push too hard, Hunter Shin Jae-heon.
After a brief silence, a follow-up came.
I have nothing to say back.
Acting like you’ve never traded barbs with me before.
First time trying.
Come to think of it, the two never had reason to clash. Shin Jae-heon raised an eyebrow.
Oh, right.
An absurd exchange was unfolding.
She barely restrained the hand itching to slap her forehead.
Guys, we have hunter chat—couldn’t you have at least asked each other where you were headed beforehand? This mess could’ve been avoided.
Didn’t think of that.
Ugh, that jerk!
Shin Jae-heon was always like that, fine—but Yian-ssi, why you too?!
“……I merely heed the voice of the divine.”
In the end, Yian-ssi spoke. Good thing he was playing the pope.
No comeback? Just push with “God’s will”! You’re fine!
In the silence, Yian-ssi slowly closed and opened his eyes.
“Fortunately, there seem to be no casualties here, so I’ll withdraw the paladins.”
A dignified yet gentle voice. Well done, Yian-ssi!
“Would you? Then I need to investigate further.”
Shin Jae-heon held out his open hand.
“The Church’s devotion to life shown here won’t be forgotten.”
Do you have to snark like that?
That’s the character.
No penalty, so probably…
Unlike Hunter So Yeri, suffering in a polar-opposite personality, Shin Jae-heon fit his character perfectly—no hardship there.
Then Hunter So Yeri chimed in.
Hunter Yian’s gonna cry~
Right, our fragile-hearted Yian-ssi with no DPS—what are you—wait.
What?! Where are you watching from?
No sign of Hunter So Yeri in the hall.
I’m not crying.
Yian-ssi replied quickly amid it all. He seemed a bit indignant.
“The temple will also investigate this phenomenon. Per the prior agreement between the temple and the imperial family, we’ll cooperate on monster-related matters…”
But a gentle smile soon bloomed on his face.
“So, shall we investigate together?”
Shin Jae-heon narrowed his eyes.
It practically screamed “not pleased” on his forehead.
“Very well.”
She even caught his reluctant nod.
The emperor’s lore really hates the Church, huh.
Otherwise, would he make that face at a teammate?
Sleeping with your head toward the Church drains stamina.
LMAOOOOO
No way
As the hunter chat exploded in shock, Yian-ssi and the Holy Sian Church folk turned and exited the hall.
Whew, at least no brawl broke out.
You guys totally fought though, right?
And Hunter So Yeri was commenting like she’d been watching the whole time.
No, seriously, where are you watching from?!
Look up—at the sky!
The sky? In a hall, that’s just the ceiling, right?
Glancing up absentmindedly, she spotted a massive fireball beyond the open ceiling meant for ventilation.
What the heck was that?
Did this place actually have both sun and moon at night?
Her unbiased thoughts lasted only a moment.
Was gonna drop it if you kept fighting.
Put that vicious fireball away right now!
She snapped urgently, and as the hunter chat filled with laughter, the fireball vanished from the sky.
No need for a three-way war, you disaster humans!
“Good grief.”
As she habitually rubbed her forehead, Marquis Jaret poked her side.
Why? Turning, she saw Shin Jae-heon and snapped to.
Right—he was the emperor now.
She quickly switched to rubbing her face dry.
Pretend to be tense! Act ashamed before His Majesty!
Should’ve watched the fight from the front row in my room.
Of course, staying tense while checking hunter chat was tough.
Luckily, strong intent input it like typing—telepathically.
If it were actual keyboard typing, she’d have eaten RP dungeon penalties for sure.
Ugh.
She and the other nobles had to report the incident in detail to the imperial family.
“I followed the light, and there was a chandelier monster!”
“Some vile mage did this for sure!”
The nobles poured out truths and nonsense in unison.
“No, heretics did it!”
“Heretics? Tell that to the Holy Sian Church!”
Even as they vented personal grudges and insulted each other, one thing they agreed on:
“Countess Edelvice was the MVP in this crisis.”
“That’s true.”
Shin Jae-heon, who’d been listening, turned to her.
“What say you, Countess Edelvice?”
Is this for real, Countess Edelvice?
Quit clowning with that serious face?
Think I’d lie?
“Embarrassing as it is, yes.”
She bowed her head slightly.
“Similar to other sites. Fortunately, Countess Edelvice acted swiftly, so no damage here.”
Shin Jae-heon gestured as if the inquiry was over.
The nobles sighed in relief at no harsh punishments.
What was there to punish? You didn’t spawn the gates.
“Return to your territories. With the empire in turmoil, settle your local unrest.”
At Shin Jae-heon’s words, the nobles dispersed.
Her eyes met his briefly. Wanted to chat since they met, but chatter here meant penalties.
As she headed to her family carriage, his chat popped up.
These folks can’t see system windows, right?
Yes, the paladins who fell into the gate with me couldn’t see them either.
So only the four of them could see system windows?
As she thought that and left the hall—
“Countess Edelvice!”
A booming voice called her.
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