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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: The Missing People
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Hong Si-jun quietly called for Im Hyeji.
SSS-rank Summoner Gyu Yeon-su and his wife were there as well.
A meeting with two SSS-rank hunters.
To the tense Im Hyeji, Hong Si-jun dropped a heavy bombshell.
"There might be an unexpected accident during tomorrow's gate blockade."
The words he spoke with a grave expression were things that had no place in the goal of recapturing Hwaseong.
"In the temporary living areas near Hwaseong, there have been a ton of missing persons reports over the past year or two. And recently, traces have been found of illegal Chinese immigrants heading toward Hwaseong."
"...."
For Im Hyeji, who had never heard of such things before, it was confusing information that didn't easily click.
What did that have to do with anything?
The sudden spike in missing people.
Illegal immigrants.
Chinese people.
Hwaseong.
And an S-rank backflow dungeon on top of that.
Was he saying there was some connection?
"China's SSS-rank hunter, Li Heian. Someone witnessed him entering Hwaseong."
"....W-Wait? An SSS-rank hunter? Why would a Chinese SSS-rank hunter be in Hwaseong..."
"He..."
Biting his lip to swallow his rage, Hong Si-jun explained how he'd learned about him.
"Has the ability to strengthen monsters."
"Such a thing... That kind of ability exists?"
Im Hyeji couldn't believe it.
Hunters and monsters were enemies.
Dungeons appeared, monsters poured out to threaten humanity, and in a world where modern weapons couldn't easily defeat them—where even humans got swept up in the disadvantage—hunters had emerged.
With new abilities and skills close to superpowers, hunters existed to defeat monsters. That was the purpose and reason for their powers and skills.
The ability Hong Si-jun described completely betrayed that purpose.
Wasn't it a power solely for monsters?
It made monsters stronger, threatened humans, and plunged humanity into crisis.
And from an SSS-rank hunter, no less.
Someone who could conquer SSS-rank dungeons—why would they?
"China keeps him completely under wraps. He's never been officially announced or active. He's presumed to be a necromancer type, but..."
"...Ah!"
It wasn't a power that threatened humanity.
So originally, it was an ability to turn monsters into allies to fight alongside.
He was just wielding a knife honed for cooking against humans.
But how did Hong Si-jun know about China's secret hunter?
"About two years ago, while conquering an S-rank dungeon, we were attacked by Li Heian. More than half my party members died in that incident."
With no intention of hiding it, Hong Si-jun explained the true purpose and reason for the Hwaseong recapture party.
The story was long.
Once it was all out, Hong Si-jun made a request.
"We might... even die. If both Yeon-su and I die, please save her over me. I'll protect everyone else."
It was the final plea, containing the reason behind this entire saga.
"...That's way too unexpected a backstory? Wow, stuff like this was happening inside dungeons I didn't know about?"
The moment Im Hyeji heard everything, goosebumps rose on her skin.
She'd expected some conspiracy theory since he mentioned about 40 people, but still.
"It's something we have to check, but he said it's almost certain."
Of course, it wasn't guaranteed.
If they were 100% sure, there'd be no need to disguise it as a regular Hwaseong recapture with two SSS-rank hunters.
He said if Li Heian got even a whiff, he'd bolt immediately.
"Reality really is stranger than fiction."
For a shut-in nerd like him, it was too hard to swallow.
Stuff like this actually happened?
It was the kind of absurd story you'd see in conspiracy galleries.
China's unregistered SSS-rank hunter.
Going overseas to strike major nations.
For some reason—weakening enemy forces? Or a weirdo hunter's secret hobby?
Imagining himself as Li Heian, it almost sounded fun.
How thrilling must his life be, in his own way?
Strengthening monsters as an SSS-rank hunter, commanding them, and picking off flying-high hunters left and right.
"But if he can strengthen them, isn't that dangerous?"
The monsters that backflowed from the S-rank dungeon numbered 20 S-rank ones remaining.
Seventeen were near the gate. Even if not all got boosted, a few turning SS-rank would push the difficulty beyond simple enhancement—straight to SS-rank dungeon levels.
"It was two years ago, but he said the strengthening ability is unstable. Not enough to turn S-rank into full SS-rank."
"...Right? If it could do that, it wouldn't make sense."
Just like the gap between S-rank and SS-rank hunters was like heaven and earth.
The difference between S-rank and SS-rank monsters was arguably even greater.
That level of buff was like rebirth for a monster—exaggeration or not, even an SSS-rank couldn't pull that off.
"...."
But why did it feel possible to him?
In a way, it was just a different flavor.
Wasn't he a similar type of SSS-rank enhancement hunter?
Feeding semen to raise a hunter's mana rank. Teaching them skills.
Of course, coldly assessing it, he rated his own ability a step above SSS—like EX or SSSS-grade.
But Necromancer SSS-rank? Temporary boosts to that level seemed plausible, raising his view of SSS-rank power.
Plus, 40 people were there. Anyone could see they were sacrifices.
"Anyway, it's a good opportunity, so let's prep to bail if needed and give it our best."
A crisis was an opportunity.
This meant opportunities arose from crises.
Especially Resurrection—it fit the word perfectly.
Compared to Kang Hana, it was useless in safe spots, but now a chance to use it was emerging.
He'd spent some P on elixirs, but after arriving in Hwaseong, clearing various quests, absorbing A-rank mana stones, and having lots of sex, he'd amassed 290P.
Out of that, he spent 100P to upgrade Mana Sperm to level 2.
His trump card to temporarily boost Im Hyeji's mana to SS-rank.
And with skills gaining 20% more effect, it'd definitely help.
On top of that, he'd learned a new [Survival] ability.
An honest-to-god SSS-rank skill.
This was a reproduction ability exclusive skill like Survive First, which was why it was reasonably priced compared to other SSS skills.
Like it was saying, "Learn this so you don't die pointlessly."
Exclusive skills all seemed survival-oriented.
Maybe that's why it was under the Survival ability tab.
Anyway, even with absolute invincibility, he'd learned this just in case he got caught in a crisis—because surviving one second longer alone wasn't that meaningful.
He had to protect Im Hyeji, and Kang Hana of course.
For that, the others needed to escape too—this door made it possible.
Wooong.
Mana drained rapidly as the door opened.
Luckily, for its high cost, C-rank mana was enough to activate it.
The bare minimum, in a way.
After one use, he'd have to wait for mana regen or absorb mana stones.
"Huh?"
"Come check it out."
I grabbed the surprised Im Hyeji's hand and stepped through the door.
Crossing the rippling gate-like portal, another door opened right beside it, and I emerged from there.
"...Huh?"
"Oho."
Two doors side by side.
Im Hyeji was startled seeing me emerge from the other one.
She marveled at our joined hands sticking out through the doorframe, then crossed over and followed behind me.
"Whoa, what is this, oppa?"
"Our lifeline."
I sent Im Hyeji through alone this time from where we'd returned.
She came out the entrance door.
"Back and forth works. But what if we need to retreat from danger?"
Maybe because this was safe, the door hadn't opened far away.
Couldn't pick the location, which was a shame, but on the flip side, better the system reliably chose a safe spot than him judging "safety."
The door lasted 30 seconds before vanishing.
"Okay."
Whether monsters could cross was crucial, but he decided to trust no such bullshit would happen.
It was SSS-rank. A 100P skill, after all.
Of course, trust and verification were different.
"Let's test it properly."
For a life-or-death issue, panicking later with "Why doesn't it work?" would be his epitaph.
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