Chapter 43 (2/2)
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The problem was how he would go back there….
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‘Is skipping out on the daily quest the only way?’.
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There was not that much loss involved . He would still earn the same amount of stat points, even if it was the penalty quest . .
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‘Let’s try for the Penalty Zone tomorrow . ’.
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To think that he would skip the daily quest so he could get the penalty quest… Jinwoo thought back on the time he ran for his life and chuckled . .
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“I wonder if they’ll give experience and items . ”.
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Jinwoo couldn’t help but smile . .
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At that time, Jinwoo felt a presence of someone getting out of the elevator at the end of the hallway outside . It was the light footsteps of a girl . Her walk was familiar to him . .
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‘It’s Jinah . ’.
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It was 11 o’clock at night, about time for his sister to come home . Jinwoo got up and opened the door before she could even get the keys out of her pocket . .
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“Oooh~”.
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Jinah jokingly praised her brother . The first time he did this, she nearly jumped out of her skin, but she had gotten accustomed to this method of greeting . They say human beings can get used to anything . .
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“I’m home~”.
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“Welcome~”.
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Jinah happily greeted her brother then walked to her room . She was about to close the door, then stopped,.
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“Oppa . ”.
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She stuck her head out of her room . .
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“Do you have any free time this week?”.
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“This week? Why?”.
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“The teacher asked me to ask you for a parent/guardian meeting[1] . Can’t be helped if you’re not free, though . ”.
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As if her teacher had sent her on an important mission, Jinah looked nervous . .
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‘Parent/guardian meeting…’.
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As a senior in high school, Jinah must’ve been busy with school . He wanted to make an excuse that he did not have the time, but thanks to someone, he did have a day he was completely free . .
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‘Sigh… Yoo Jinho, you’re no help at all . ’.
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Jinwoo replied after giving it some thought,.
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“Thursday . ”.
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“Really? Thanks, oppa!”.
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Jinah’s expression brightened . Feeling like she was about to run over and give him a hug, Jinwoo held up a hand . .
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“Che . ”.
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Jinah scrunched her face at him and closed the door . Jinwoo sighed at his situation . .
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“Hah…”.
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On top of the nonstop Raids, he wanted to visit the Penalty Zone and now, he had to go to a parent/guardian meeting on Thursday . .
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It was going to be a busy week . .
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-8 . Class Advancement Quest- [2].
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Jinwoo left his house early in the morning . Today’s schedule was packed with work . Yoo Jinho had told him that they had reserved 4 Gates . As they would be taking a break tomorrow, the young man wanted to take care of 2 day’s worth of Raids in one day . .
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‘Well, when I think about the recent clear speeds…’.
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He could certainly pull off 4~5 Raids in a day . The only limiting factor was the number of C-rank Gates appearing in a same area . So today was a rather lucky day . He happily walked towards outside of the apartment, but he did not see Yoo Jinho’s Bongo that would always be waiting for him . On top of that, he felt an unfamiliar presence nearby . .
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“Tsk . ”.
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If it wasn’t for what happened yesterday, he would’ve given it no thought . But not after that meeting . .
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‘I even warned them . ’.
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Jinwoo discovered his watcher hiding around the corner . The man in a business suit was checking the time on his watch and did not notice Jinwoo approaching him . Jinwo spoke up right in front of the man,.
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“Excuse me . ”.
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The man jumped in surprise,.
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“H-Hunter Sung Jinwoo-nim!”.
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He looked like he had seen a ghost . .
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‘Well, that’s why I hid my presence . ’.
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Jinwoo clicked his tongue on the inside . .
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“You’re from Baekho Guild, right?”.
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“Hmm? Ah, yes . I’m Hyun Gicheol of Baekho Guild’s Second Management Division . ”.
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This appeared to be the subordinate that Ahn Sangmin was talking about yesterday . .
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“Please to meet you, Hunter-nim . ”.
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Hyun Gicheol cautiously held out a hand . He was asking for a handshake, but Jinwoo was not in the mood . Seeing Jinwoo just stare without reciprocating, Hyun Gicheol turned red and retracted his hand . .
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“Didn’t I make it clear that I won’t be entering a Guild for the time being?”.
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Hyun Gicheol frantically held out a hand . .
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“Ah, that’s not why I’m here . ”.
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Then, the man held out a tumbler he was holding in the other hand . .
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“What’s this?”.
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In the frosted sides of the tumbler, Jinwoo saw a strange colorful liquid . Hyun Gicheol held his head up with pride and replied,.
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“It’s vegetable juice . I personally made it, and I can guarantee it’s quality . ”.
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“ . ”.
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Hyun Gicheol did not lower his hand this time . Jinwoo relented and took the tumbler from him . .
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“So, you’re telling me you’ve been waiting since dawn, just to give me this?”.
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“Yes! Hunter-nim has to think about his health, after all!”.
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Jinwoo wanted to ask why Baekho Guild would be concerned with his health but stopped himself . Hyun Gicheol bowed his head then smiled brightly as he walked away . .
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“Then, I’ll see you again, Hunter-nim!”.
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The man waved to him as he disappeared in the distance . Jinwoo waved the tumbler back at him . .
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“ . What an amusing man . ”.
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After Hyun Gicheol left, Jinwoo stared at the tumbler . He had heard of insurance salesmen who tried to earn brownie points with a potential customer with store-bought yogurt, but that man was probably the first in history to bring handmade vegetable juice to a potential customer . .
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‘Well, I shouldn’t throw it away . ’.
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It probably wasn’t poisoned . Not that it would work against him . .
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He thought to at least give the taste a try . .
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gulp.
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Jinwoo drank the juice and was surprised . .
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‘It’s delicious . ’.
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A familiar voice came from behind him,.
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“Hyungnim!”.
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Turning around, he saw Yoo Jinho approaching him . Brightly smiling as always, the young man gestured towards the direction Hyun Gicheol had walked away to . .
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“Hyungnim, who was that just now? I saw him standing around for a while . ”.
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Jinwoo’s reply was short . .
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“An insurance salesman . ”.
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“Ah . ”.
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As expected, Yoo Jinho accepted the explanation without a doubt . Jinwoo looked around and asked,.
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“Where’s your car?”.
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If the young man had seen Hyun Gicheol waiting for him, that meant he must’ve been also waiting around nearby, but Jinwoo did not see his ride . .
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“I parked it way over there, hyungnim . ”.
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“Why?”.
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“Haven’t there been reports of a serial killer in this area? I’m not from around here, so people were looking at me strangely . ”.
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Jinwoo nodded, understanding . It was an incident making its round in the news . The victims were mostly young women . They said there were already two murders just this month . Of course, if people saw a strange Bongo parked at the entrance of the apartment… It made sense the neighbors would be suspicious . .
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Jinwoo drank the last drops of the juice and started walking towards where Yoo Jinho had parked the car . .
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“Let’s go . ”.
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“Yes, hyungnim!”.
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The magic beasts this time were lizardmen . As their name implied, the lizardmen were humanoids in the shape of lizards . Walking on two feet, they used both weapons and occasionally magic . The lizardmen magicians were few in number, but they were an annoying enemy . .
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Two fireballs appeared in the lizardmen magician’s hands . .
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‘Magic?’.
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As Jinwoo tried to approach the caster, the two lizardmen that were standing guard at its side raised their spears . Their reptilian reflexes were fast . Jinwo leaped backwards to dodge their spears, but the fireballs launched themselves at him, one after the other . .
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woooosh-.
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“Hyungnim, watch out!”.
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Yoo Jinwoo screamed from a distance . .
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Bang!.
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The cave shook with the explosion . .
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Translator’s Notes:.
[1]: “parent/guardian meeting” (학부모 상담): “student’s parent” 학부모 + “discussion/counselling” 상담 . As highschool students near their graduation and prepare for college in Korea, parent/guardians are often called to the school to sit down and discuss the student’s future prospects with their homeroom teacher . .
[2]: “Class Advancement” (전직): lit . “to change jobs” . I’ve translated “job” as “class” in his status screen . .