CH 11

Earlier, Hara had confidently told Seheon to believe in her.

However, as soon as she demonstrated her skill, Seheon was probably left alone with the carnivorous rabbit. 

Fortunately, Hara fell towards that very place from earlier, so she was able to locate Seheon soon afterwards. 

Unfortunately, the situation wasn’t very good. Seheon was surrounded by three carnivorous rabbits. It seems like they chased him and he was eventually forced to be on the defensive. At first glance, it was a mess.

She became anxious. Hara flew towards Seheon, who’s on the ground, hurriedly. 

“Anchor Yoon!”

The rabbits reacted quickly at Hara’s cry. The three rabbits stared up at her in unison with twitching noses. 

She broke out in cold sweat. 

“……Kang Hara-ssi?”

But she felt apologetic the moment she saw the man’s face. It’s because the face of the man that spotted her was both happy and bewildered. How absurd must it have been to see the woman, who said she couldn’t put a civilian in the line of danger, soar upwards in the sky all of a sudden?

Hara reached out hurriedly. 

“Grab my hand!”

The man’s eyes widened slightly, but his situational judgement was rapid. He reached out quickly.

Hara took Seheon’s hand. She intended to lift Seheon up with her.

Only then did the rabbits, who noticed the situation, reveal their claws instantly. 

A normal person wouldn’t come up with the idea of lifting him up with her just because she could fly. This is because at first glance, Seheon was twice as big as Hara.

However, Hara also had an idea.

[Physical contact with the designated user, ‘Yoon Seheon’ is established]

[The skill ‘Just the thought of you makes me strong (S)’ has been activated]

[Status has been enhanced]

“Heok.”

The sudden increase in height of his vision caused Seheon to inhale sharply. Hara stretched out both of her hands, grabbed him and let out a sigh of exclaimation. This is it!

This is what Hara came up with while in the rock crevice. When she made contact with Seheon and saw the message that that skill was already unlocked, Hara quickly checked her status window. A rapid change occurred in the familiar status window that she’d frequently look at. 

[User: Kang Hara]

Stamina: 7 (+30)

Agility: 3

Strength: 4 (+60)

Skill: 2

Mana: 9

Luck: 1

Stamina and strength caught her attention the most. An additional 30 and 60 points respectively. It was several times better than Hara’s original ability.

As such, the current situation was Hara’s purpose. The first thing she’ll do is use the skill Flight, then grab Seheon and use strength to lift him up.

[The constellation, ‘Cupid’ is amazed]

Hara wanted to rub her nose like a cat that ate the canary. To do that, however, she’d have to let go of Seheon, so she held it in.

Of course, the rabbits didn’t remain still either. The rabbits jumped upwards frenziedly towards Seheon, who was suddenly soaring in the air, but Hara kept a firm grip on Seheon’s hand and soared higher in the sky.

“Uwah!”

Puk, kwang.

[Please take note of the controls.]

She wasn’t very skilled as her proficiency was only at 5. In the end, they both crashed into a large tree nearby because of the sudden rise.  

Screech! The bird-type monsters that were hanging from the tree jumped up in surprise. However, it was fortunate that they were low-levelled monsters that weren’t comparable to the E-class, so they fled in a hurry. 

The rabbits jumped up angrily, and ended up running into each other and falling on their backs.

“Kyaaak!”

[Proficiency of ‘Flight (S)’ has increased. (7/100)]

[The constellation, ‘Cupid’ is chuckling]

As she looked at the torn blouse that was caught in a branch, Hara thought blankly. It’s a relief that this costs 30,000 won.

* * *

The main kinds of trees that filled forest-type dungeons were coniferous trees, such as fir and pine. However, its shape was unique, and its branches were spread out in layers, akin to a dessert plate. This also contributed to why the duo that were thrown into the trees didn’t fall to the ground. 

After coming to her senses, Hara got rid of the carnivorous rabbits that they’ve been struggling against until then with ease. The rabbits were on the ground, and Hara was above, so it was natural.

Before the screeching rabbits could wave their claws properly, they collapsed at the behest of Hara’s weapon. 

But they didn’t have time to rejoice. The monsters that detected the scent of blood began to flock around.

Hara quickly picked up the dungeon byproducts from the rabbits’ carcasses and climbed up the tree. Seheon, who had been looking down at Hara from the tree until then, asked bewilderedly. 

“Kang Hara, aren’t you an E-class hunter? Did you have flying skills?”

“Oh, about that……”

Hara looked around. As this was a forest-type dungeon, she had to beware of flying-type monsters, but it’s fortunate that she didn’t spot any. 

After much contemplation, she confessed her situation. Of course, quite a substantial amount of information was omitted, but Seheon understood Hara’s brief explanation and soon understood the situation.

“……No wonder such a series of strange situations kept occuring.”

“Strange situations?”

Seheon’s eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth.

“The part where the person, who’d once said confidently that she’ll fly in the sky, suddenly vanished with the momentum of flying to space.” 

“A—ahahaha…”

Cold sweat dripped down Hara’s back. If Hara had been a little late, this man would really be no different from a departed spirit.

“I’m sorry……”

“No, why are you apologising? Rather, I should be thankful. After all, you’ve saved my life.”

The man apologised frankly. And he quickly summed up the situation.

“Anyways, Kang Hara-ssi has received an S-class awakening quest, and it also involves me.”

“Oh, yes.”

Seheon was also well aware of stories of hunters that awakened as an S-class hunter in critical situations. He might not believe it because it rarely happens, but Seheon easily accepted it.

No matter what, he’d clearly witnessed Hara’s skill with his own two eyes. And there was another reason.

“In the first place, if you possess flying skills, there’s no reason for you to be doing desk work.” 

As such, hunters with flying skills were rather useful and quite rare. Anyways, it was also a stroke of great luck that Kang Hara received an S-class awakening quest in this situation.

However, there were some things that Seheon wasn’t aware of. 

“It’s fascinating. Why me…”

Hara sweated again.

[The constellation, ‘Cupid’ is chuckling]

That’s right. Although Hara explained to Seheon, saying “It seems like a condition of the quest is to be in contact with the anchor,” but she didn’t tell him why.

There are few that’ll be able to mention the story of Cupid trying to matchmake you with someone with their own mouths. 

The reason for matchmaking them was because Seheon played a role in her dark history, even. Even if she dies, Hara really didn’t want to reveal that. 

“M—Maybe it’s because you’re someone that was drawn into this with me?”

“I see.”

The man nodded calmly. Then, he looked around.

“The sun is setting.”

The sun still rises and sets in dungeons. Of course, there are places where it doesn’t set. Anyways, it was just before sunset. In nature-type dungeons, the dungeon’s state changes rapidly depending on the presence or absence of the sun.

“What are you going to do?”

“Huh? What…”

Seheon shrugged at Hara’s question.

“I’m asking if you’ll destroy the dungeon or not.”

Ah. Hara opened her mouth.

There were only two ways to attack a dungeon.

One of them is the standard strategy of targeting the dungeon’s boss monster. And the second is to break the dungeon’s magical core. 

While both are standard methods, most of the magical cores are located within the  boss monster’s body. As such, the former was treated as the norm.

“You said that you haven’t completely risen to an S-class.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

“Then, it might be difficult for you to target a B-class boss monster. Perhaps it’s better to wait for a dungeon raid team.”

Seheon summed up the situation cool-headedly that’s unlike a civilian.  

He was right.

The ridiculous conditions set by Hara’s constellation under the guise of making them date. It was impossible for anyone to fight against a boss monster while holding Seheon’s hand.

“This dungeon is quite rare, with a separate magical core, but……”

Hara was unable to control the Flight skill, so she clumsily observed the entire dungeon while soaring into the sky. The magical core of this dungeon was separate, but the problem was that the boss was with the mana nucleus. There’s no other way aside from facing the boss monster.

“Let’s just wait for the raid team.”

In the end, they both reached the same conclusion.

She’d forgotten about it momentarily, but this dungeon appeared in the middle of Yeouido. Although the broadcasting station would look appalling, it also had its advantages.

“Gwanghwamun is relatively close.”

The Seoul Regional Natural Disaster Response Policy Office, aka the Seoul Branch Office of the Hunter Agency, was located in Gwanghwamun. There would be up to three S-class hunters working all the time there, so the situation would be quickly resolved. 

“Let’s hang in there for around three days.”

Seheon said that. Hara rolled her eyes and opened her mouth.

“You’re quite well informed…”

“If a local news reporter does mawari for around three months, they’ll know that much.” 

[T/N: mawari: journalistic slang, referring to reporters that go around the district police station for coverage of a case.] 

That doesn’t seem to be the case… Hara thought of the reporters that she’d frequently see in Mapo branch offices and shook her head. Anyways, the most pressing thing was to get to the safe area to avoid further harm. 

“Alright, let’s go.”

Hara’s body began floating after using the flying skill.

[Attempting Flight (S)]

[Proficiency of ‘Flight (S)’ has increased. (8/100)]

Then she approached him with a grim expression and opened her arms. Just then, Seheon looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“……As expected, that’s the only way.”

Seheon seemed rather upset.

“Must it be that?”

“…Probably?”

“There’s probably no other way.”

“……Do you need some time to consider it?”

Seheon shook his head.

“I don’t feel like it, but there’s nothing I can do. I’m already deeply grateful to be alive.” 

Despite that, his expression was still bad. That’s because Hara’s suggestion was none other than to carry Seheon while flying.

In a princess carry that appeared in movies at that.