Chapter 17 (2/2)

「Monster of Mt Bukhan, Turns Out to be a Bulldog Mutation.」

”s.h.i.+t.”

A curse was the first thing to pop out of my mouth after looking through a couple of vague photos.

It was gnolls. The photos were of the gnolls I had Dominated, roving about Mt Bukhan.

Smack!

I palmed my forehead.

The gnolls must have also crossed over the 'Gate' with me while I returned to my house in a stupor. It was a mistake I'd never have made normally, thanks to which people were crowding at Mt Bukhan, meaning I couldn't recklessly go back until things calmed down. I supposed the one thing to be relieved about was that they didn't come into the city.

'It's been just two days since this incident was publicized.'

In any case, I had to take care of this. It wasn't too late, so I could still do something about it now.

Ding- Dong!

The moment I came to a decision and was about to stand, the bell at the front door rang. I went up to the intercom to see who it was, and the middle of my forehead creased into a frown.

'Of all times to come.'

It was Mins.h.i.+k. What's more, he wasn't alone.

I turned off the computer, went to open the door, and was greeted by four people.

”Hansung…”

Mins.h.i.+k opened his mouth first

I was on my guard. Seeing as he had come down from Mt Halla, he must have heard of the news regarding Mt Bukhan. It made sense that I would be the first person he would suspect.

”Why is your hair like that?”

”…It's a recently trending fas.h.i.+on.”

”H-, how unique.”

My half-burned hair looked as if I'd done a perm; the damage I sustained from entering the Ancient One's altar. The other wounds on my body were healed, but the hair remained the same.

”I heard you weren't even going to school. You are doing well, aren't you?”

”I'm trying to do well. But who are the people next to you?”

Two women, and one man. It was a balanced group.

The two women were extremely pretty, while the man was a macho-man so muscular that the outerwear he wore failed to hide his muscles.

'All of them are Awakened.'

It was my first time meeting them except for one

The woman with a voice that even celebrities envied. She had milky white skin, and short golden hair that matched especially well with her elegant features.

'Saintess Syria.'

She was definitely Saintess Syria. She wasn't a Saintess right now, but Mins.h.i.+k must have chosen her as the very first party member.

I did expect this to a certain degree. Saintess Syria was a woman of extremely high potential, and she was a peerless when it came to 'Healing' related skills. However, she was a foreigner who came from Russia.

I wondered why she would be in Korea.

Of course, a Saintess and Magic Swordsman was a good combo. He must have put a fair amount of consideration before recruiting her, but a small doubt remained in my mind. Besides her, it was my first meeting with the other two.

'I would win by a hair if we fought.'

That was how I judged it with my countless battle experiences as the base. These people were indeed Awakened, but in my eyes they were all nothing more than novices. It must been at most 3 months since they awakened. Their stats should be similar or a bit lower than mine. While Mins.h.i.+k was indeed a cause for concern, I knew more about the Magic Swordsman cla.s.s than anyone. The skills he would use and the methods to countering them still remained in my head.

Mins.h.i.+k spoke.

”This is Syria. And these two Linlin and Shaoting are siblings.”

In any case, they sure were a global lot.

It was my first time hearing the latter names. Seeing as how he emphasized on Syria's side, was he measuring my reaction?

I responded flatly,

”They're all foreigners?”

”That's right. Syria is from Russia, and it's been a few days since Linlin and Shaoting arrived from China.”

I gave a small nod to them.

Their att.i.tudes were chilly though. I mean, their expression didn't even twitch in the slightest. Was I to take it that I didn't even enter their eyes?

”Well, come in first. I haven't much to show but since you've come, I might as well serve some tea.”

I couldn't just leave them standing there so I invited them in, but the moment they entered, the woman called Linlin pinched her nose and said,

”Smells of blood.”

So she can even speak Korean. I had opened all the windows in an attempt to ventilate the place but it seemed the smell still lingered.

I made some green tea, and after placing the teacups before my guests I spoke,

”Wow, nose like a dog's1. Actually I made a girlfriend not too long ago…”

”Really? Good for you! Is it someone I know?”

”It's someone you don't know.”

'And someone I don't know as well.'

In fact, I didn't even know if it was a person at all.

Mins.h.i.+k responded with glee to my words, like it was his own business. It didn't feel too bad seeing him so glad. A shadow of suspicion did remain in my heart, but anyhow, I believed that he definitely intended to become a 'hero'.

”You have to introduce me later.”

”Alright.”

I wasn't too keen on this subject.

Syria and Linlin's gazes directed at me were as if they were looking at a beast.

Clicking my tongue inside my mind, I changed the topic immediately.

”Anyhow, what's the matter? Crowding at my place all of a sudden. I never knew you were such an international guy.”

”It hasn't been long since I've made friends with them. I contacted them so I could see them in Korea.”

I blinked my eyes in apparent confusion.

”You haven't been friends for long but they scheduled flights and came to Korea?”

”There are some reasons for that. In any case, I have some things I want to tell you about regarding that as well.

I took a mouthful of green tea before placing down the teacup. It looked like we were about to enter the main subject.

I was silently concentrating on the words to come, when Mins.h.i.+k grabbed onto both my hands.

”Hansung. Together with us, let's do it.”

”Do what?”

I asked questioned him in a doubtful tone, and then his eyes practically gleamed as he replied,

”Together, the world. Let's save the world.”

…What the h.e.l.l?

1: Nose like a dog as in, great sense of smell.

——

That's it for the ma.s.s release today. I'll see you all tomorrow! Join our discord if you like to wait with the others for the next chapter to resolve this mighty cliffhanger!

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