Chapter 16 Part4 (2/2)

[You roughly know what direction you need to go in, right?]

”Yes, thank you.”

It felt similar to opening the world map in a game, marking one's destination, and moving towards said destination. To put it simply, a navigation system for a car. If he closed his eyes, an arrow would appear in his head that would indicate which direction he should go in.

All of the dungeons Ethan had told him about were situated in the same area. They were quite far off, but if he used the train, he could get there quickly, and even if he didn't have access to the train, he could get there riding Jin at top speed in only three weeks; if he just walked there, he could get there in a year.

[I hope you grow quickly. Since you can't invade the capital all by yourself.]

”Thank you... very much. I hope I'll be able to stand side by side with you one day.”

[Superb.]

That ended their private chat. Immediately after, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo stopped acting and thought about it. What the h.e.l.l is this piece of s.h.i.+t planning?

”Are there heroes who kill other heroes to grow...? Then does G.o.d just sit by and allow that to happen?”

”What are you talking about?”

”There's an a.s.shole, one of our seniors who's trying to lead me somewhere. 100%.”

He knew since he was in the same line of business (swindler). Ethan Cruz was 100% a son of a b.i.t.c.h. But compared to Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, Ethan's means were quite sloppy.

For example, all of the dungeons he'd informed him about were in the same direction. A prominent figure like Ethan Cruz... no, a hero who's been at this for a long time wouldn't have just stayed in one place like that, so does it make any sense that all of the dungeons he'd told him about were in the same place? It was definitely a trick clearly aimed to lead Lee s.h.i.+n Woo to a special area.

”Couldn't it just be that he found a ton of dungeons that weren't fit for his level after leveling up a lot and moved to another area? It's not good to be so distrustful of people, s.h.i.+n Woo.”

”No, my 's...o...b.. radar' is going crazy right now. I thought it was strange that I became a rising star or whatever just by introducing myself in the chatting channel.”

”But you are a rising star... Even from my point of view, you're so talented that it's strange.”

”You know pretty much everything about me, but the problem is that the other heroes don't.”

Ethan Cruz's objective was so clear, but he didn't know what his motive was. What good was it to kill another hero? Rather, he should get a penalty from G.o.d, so why...?

'Mm... I guess I could just meet with G.o.d and ask her myself.'

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo thought, and around the time he felt relaxed, he got another private chat request. Of course, it came from Ye Jin Jin. As soon as he accepted, he heard a lively girl's voice in his ear.

[Ye Jin Jin: I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you! But I have something that I really needed to tell you.]

”It's because I got another private chat request.”

[Ye Jin Jin: Who!? Is it Ms. Retadane? It shouldn't be Erian [2]...]

”Ethan Cruz.”

[Ye Jin Jin: That senior...!? Ah, that's right. I recently unlocked a new function. I'm here right now.]

”Here...?”

He waited, figuring that she might have unlocked the sharing function, and as he expected, the minimap sharing function activated. Of course, he could've refused, but didn't; funnily enough, she was in the complete opposite direction to the point Ethan Cruz had marked.

[Ye Jin Jin: I'll work hard to catch up to your level, so let's hunt together in a party later!]

”Yeah, sure...”

[Ye Jin Jin: Then I'll get going now! I'll get back to hunting!]

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo listened to the cheerful Ye Jin Jin until the very end and couldn't help but suddenly recall what his seniors had told him. 'Take it easy on the romance...?' There's no smoke without fire, but perhaps... no.

'No way.'

If one likes a skeleton, then they were either really screwed up in the head, or became a skeleton themselves. Now that he thought about it, both of them were pretty much the same.

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo unhesitatingly interpreted Ye Jin Jin's feelings for him as just trust. Or perhaps respect. If it was either of those, there was nothing wrong with her. It was fine to have those kind of feelings for a skeleton.

”s.h.i.+n Woo! What the h.e.l.l did you do!?”

Then, Kratia came flying by and landed in front of them. Beyond her, the Pauls were moving diligently to collect the bones. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo marveled at the fact that they did it without him ordering them to do so. These guys were truly starting to show promise!

”I just used a skill. It doesn't work on allies, so don't worry.”

”If you just let me see you use that skill... No, wait a sec.”

Kratia was soon greeted with a sight that was much more surprising than the Shriek of the Dead. She had discovered the three Iron Golems that stood side by side around Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, as if guarding him. There was no way she, with her magical abilities, wouldn't be able to figure out what kind of relations.h.i.+p Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had with the golems.

”You, this... Perhaps...?”

”Yep.”

”Let's increase the duration of the contract!”

As soon as Lee s.h.i.+n Woo nodded his head and acknowledged her, Kratia's eyes brightened, as though there were stars in her eyes. It was the most beautiful and lively face he'd seen since meeting her. However, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo replied sharply and firmly, like a slap to the face.

”Don't want to.”

”Ugh...!”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, who had already achieved his objective, didn't really need to hang out with her any longer. But Kratia, who had witnessed yet another miracle from Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, couldn't let him go so easily; Lee s.h.i.+n Woo ultimately agreed to increase their contract by just three more days.

In exchange, all of the bones of the undead that she killed would go to him, and... they forged another alliance.

[1] T/N: He never actually uses Ethan's first name to address him, but using 'senior' here wouldn't work.

[2] T/N: Uses the Korean term ”unni” to describe Erian here. Women use this term to refer to women older than them that they're close to or their real sisters. In this case, it's the former.

</chapter>

<script>