64 Chapter 63 (1/2)
”Jin-Woo oppa!”
Hahn Song-Yi displayed her happiness as tears formed in her eyes.
”Team leader!”
It wasn't as much as Hahn Song-Yi, but still, the two male Hunters' expressions also brightened up considerably. Park Hui-Jin also breathed a sigh of relief after confirming Jin-Woo's face.
Unfortunately, Jin-Woo didn't have much leeway to respond to their welcomes.
”Ssh!”
Jin-Woo placed his finger on his lips and gestured them to keep quiet. The four people, seemingly getting ready to embrace Jin-Woo at any moment now, all froze up like ice statues.
Park Hui-Jin cautiously asked.
”W-what's the matter?”
Jin-Woo glared at the fainted Kim Cheol, the dumb b*stard who deserved to be beaten up, before turning around.
”Looks like Kim Cheol brought along unwanted visitors.”
He sensed countless presences hiding in the forest. Right now wasn't the time to worry about Kim Cheol or Go Cheol or whatever. The real problem lay elsewhere, after all.
Shururu…
After sensing Jin-Woo's glare, the White Phantoms undid their stealth and revealed themselves one by one. At a quick count, there were around 20 of them.
And among them…
Jin-Woo's glare was fixed on a long-haired White Phantom riding on horseback.
'….That has to be the boss.'
An overwhelmingly mighty aura was coming from that creature, incomparably heavier than any Ice bears and the White Phantoms near it.
If that guy wasn't the boss of this dungeon, then just who else could be?
For the first time in a long while, Jin-Woo's skin broke out in goosebumps.
Just as Jin-Woo was shivering ever so softly from its powerful aura, the boss also recognised Jin-Woo's strength in one go.
”So, there really was one. A truly worthy being among all the human trash.”
”….What did you just say?”
”…?”
When Jin-Woo spat out a response purely out of reflex, the boss displayed an expression of pure surprise.
”You, can you understand our language?”
Jin-Woo was also taken aback.
'How is it possible to converse with this guy?!'
Not only could he understand what a monster was saying, but he could also actually converse with it, too.
A language he couldn't even remember learning before fluently rolled out of his mouth as if it was his mother tongue.
”You…. You know how to speak the language of the monsters?!”
Park Hui-Jin's expression said her shock was so extreme that she didn't know what to do now. Seeing that, Jin-Woo realised that only he could understand what that boss was saying here.
'Is this because of the System?'
Like, an automatic translation feature?
Jin-Woo shifted his gaze back to the boss. The boss returned the gaze with great interest.
”To be able to converse…. Very good. There is someone I wanted to introduce to you.”
The boss pointed at one of the White Phantoms standing behind it.
”I'm sure you're familiar with him already.”
Jin-Woo's glare sharpened instantly. Indeed, he recognised that particular White Phantom.
'That guy is….'
That guy was none other than the bstard that fired an arrow at Hahn Song-Yi before breaking out in a mocking grin. How could he forget that arrogant bstard's face?
That exact same smile was still etched on the monster's face.
”This friend informed me of a truly strong being among the humans. And this friend wishes to challenge you to a duel, so how ab…..”
Even before the boss finished his words, the 'Knight Killer' Jin-Woo threw flew in a straight line.
Stab!!
And the dagger landed right in the middle of the grinning White Phantom's face.
”Heok!”
The shocked cry came from the Hunters, though, Yun Ki-Joong hurriedly covered his mouth to stifle the cry he let loose inadvertently just now.
Plop.
The White Phantom collapsed on the ground.
Jin-Woo extended his hand out, and the 'Knight Killer' buried in the dead Elf's face shook around a little before it got pulled out and flew back to him. Jin-Woo grasped the returned 'Knight Killer' in reverse grip and lowered his posture.
”Anything else you want to say?”
The boss spoke up in admiration.
”….You are indeed very strong.”
Then, it climbed off the horse. However, as if it wasn't planning to fight yet, it didn't draw its weapons nor showed any willingness to engage in battles.
”However, you know this already, don't you?”
The boss maintained a leisurely expression and continued to engage him.
”….That you can't fight this number all by yourself.”
There were over twenty Ice Elves here.
However, their number wasn't important. No, the real danger came from the fact that there was the boss monster among them.
The rest of the White Phantoms were no match for Jin-Woo, who had raised his level as much as he could by hunting every single Ice bear in this forest.
….Exactly like the fool who got killed with a dagger to its face.
'So, how should I go about killing the boss?'
While Jin-Woo began kicking his brain into gear, the boss continued on.
”So, I shall make a simple suggestion.”
”A suggestion?”
”That's right. It won't be such a bad suggestion for yourself.”
”….”
Jin-Woo was inwardly surprised.
It was a well-known fact that humanoid type monsters possessed intelligence. But he never expected to see a monster trying to negotiate with a human. So, he couldn't help but get curious here.
”….I'll hear it.”
The boss smiled as if it had expected that answer and opened its mouth.
”Before that, I want to ask you something.”
”…..?”
”Why are you among these humans, when you're not one of them?”
Jin-Woo's expression crumpled deeply.
”What nonsense are you talking about?”
”Ahaha. It seems that you have no idea.”
The boss guffawed out loudly, before pointing to its temple.
”Every one of us can hear a certain voice repeating itself in our heads. It tells us to kill humans. However, I can't hear that voice when I'm looking at you.”
'Ah.'
That's what this guy meant?
In that case, Jin-Woo could think of a reason for that.
'When the boss says humans, it's probably talking about Hunters.'
The thing was, he had changed to this strange something called 'Player' through the System, during his ordeal in the underground temple. Technically speaking, he was slightly different from other Hunters – meaning, other Awakened human beings.
'That's why that guy thinks I'm not a human.'
That made perfect sense.
When Jin-Woo's expression slowly changed to that of an understanding, the boss nodded its head.
”There is no need for us to fight each other. And our side does not wish to see needless casualties, as well.”
The boss finally got to the main topic.
”Hand over the humans behind you. Then, we will guarantee your life. How does my suggestion sound to you?”
Before he answered, Jin-Woo asked back.
”I want to ask you something, too.”
”Fine. Go ahead.”
”Just who are you? Where did you come from, and why do you wish to kill humans?”
”We are….”
It happened then.
The smiling face of the boss suddenly froze stiff. But, that odd state lasted only for a brief moment. The boss regained its original expression and continued on.
”There is no need for us to fight each other. And our side does not wish to see needless casualties, as well.”
'What the hell was that?'
Jin-Woo frowned deeply.
The boss repeated itself like an NPC from a game that was asked a question that was not in the script, or one that it was not permitted to answer, to begin with.
”Hand over the humans behind you. Then, we will guarantee your life. How does my suggestion sound to you?”
Its expression showed how relaxed it was. In other words, it had not recognised how odd its own actions were. The White Phantoms standing behind didn't display any reaction towards the boss's strange behaviour, either.
'....'
Jin-Woo continued to wordlessly observe then, prompting the boss to begin urging him.
”Will you accept my suggestion or not?”
Jin-Woo wanted to find out more about the monsters' origins and their true intentions, but as it turned out, it was all a waste of time.