The Hunter of the Other World Who Is Being Misunderstood – Chapter 14

Ch 14: White Maze （2）

Two S-rank hunters and one F-rank.

It’s clear who will be the pitiful sacrifice.

‘I’m screwed?’

While I was preparing for death.

The S-rank hunters still had a menacing atmosphere.

“Am I any different? I have the same risks. Besides, I’ve already sacrificed myself twice.”

“What about Kim Giryeo? There’s another hunter over there, why don’t you ask him.”

“You want us to pass the duty to an F-rank when there are two S-rank hunters?”

Jeong Haseong raised the red sword he was holding.

He acted as if he would forcefully draw blood if you didn’t cooperate.

I don’t know what his swordsmanship is like, but there’s no good in getting caught up in an S-rank hunter’s fight.

‘Please, don’t pay attention to this side.’

I was afraid of getting caught in the crossfire, so I slowly backed away.

But that was the moment.

━Grrrrrr…….

The growling of a beast filled the hall.

Upon hearing this sound, the S-rank hunters stopped talking and simultaneously rolled their eyes, and unfortunately, their gazes stopped in the direction where I was standing.

That means this beast is behind me.

‘No, wait a minute.’

I forced my stiff neck to turn due to the tension. Then, the sight I least wanted to see unfolded before my eyes.

‘Wasn’t this place supposed to be free of enemies?’

Eight black wolves made of shadows.

…Monsters. Monsters appeared from a wall that was supposed to be empty.

━Awooooooo!

The leader of the black wolf pack howled loudly into the air.

Whether it was a call for comrades, the new black wolves that appeared next spread out wide, as if to dye this room, which had nothing but white light, in black.

Why did monsters suddenly appear?

“The lion statue’s eyes are glowing.”

Amid the confusion, Jeong Haseong gave an answer. Among us, he was the one with the most experience clearing gates.

“It seems to be a system where a monster wave occurs if blood isn’t offered for a certain amount of time.”

If we’re slow in choosing a sacrifice, they’ll push us. Is that it!

There was no time to curse. The black wolf pack that appeared next charged towards us.

Their teeth and claws were hardened with blue mana, so they could easily tear through Kim Giryeo’s thin layer of fat.

‘Eeeek!’

When a person is too surprised, they can’t even scream.

I swallowed my breath and walked quickly to avoid the black wolves.

‘At this rate, how will I ever outrun the wolves by walking!’

But because Kim Giryeo’s legs can’t run, escape is impossible…

I tried hard not to look, but one black wolf had already caught up to me.

Is this the end for me? Torn to shreds?

‘I was curious about the human body structure, but I didn’t say I wanted to see it in person…!’

I couldn’t bring myself to face the upcoming dissection show, so I tightly closed my eyes.

But the fear was only for a moment.

━Fwoosh!

“Ugh?”

A red light flashed for a moment through my thin eyelids.

At the same time, I felt a stinging heat on my skin.

What I saw when I opened my eyes was an intense flame burning the monsters.

‘Fire? Flames in empty space?’

I recalled the situation I experienced at the entrance of the dungeon.

Come to think of it, there was a sorcerer who used fire magic on the door that wouldn’t open.

“…Step back.”

Jeong Haseong!

He adjusted his grip on his sword and strode forward. And then, as if protecting me, he took the lead and began to take down the black wolves.

The monsters’ necks fell in droves from his powerful sword strikes, like a fierce wave.

Moreover, this person isn’t limited by the attack range, which is a chronic problem for swordsmen.

‘Is this what they call a primitive sorcerer’s magic?’

Fwoosh!

The surroundings were once again filled with flames by the awakening skill used by Jeong Haseong.

To be able to unleash this much firepower at once.

I thought as I watched Jeong Haseong manipulate the flames.

‘At this level, I can’t just ignore him as a primitive sorcerer?’

Besides, it’s not just Jeong Haseong. I was briefly distracted by the flashy flames, but there was one more top-tier awakened one here.

“Hmm.”

Kang Changho.

He had been observing the situation from his spot even after the monsters appeared, and it wasn’t until one black wolf charged at him that he showed any movement.

He took his hand out of his pocket and struck the black wolf’s long snout from above.

Then, the head of the black wolf that was punched exploded without leaving a trace.

“Judging by how soft its body is, it’s probably a C-rank magical beast.”

Tremendous brute strength…

Is Kang Changho’s awakening skill body enhancement?

‘Huh? Even if I get my magic back, conquering Earth might be a bit difficult?’

When I came to my senses, the S-rank hunters had already slaughtered the surrounding monsters in an instant.

My face turned pale.

What’s comforting in all of this is that both Jeong Haseong and Kang Changho seem to only use the abilities of the one system they initially awakened…

Is it important whether they have one or two attributes right now?

I have zero attributes?

‘D*mn it.’

Until I get my magic back, I shouldn’t mess with the S-rank hunters.

I made up my mind firmly. It was after that when Kang Changho opened his mouth.

“It’s the time limit.”

Kang Changho lightly shook off the black wolf’s remains on his arm and walked somewhere.

The place he was headed was none other than in front of the lion statue.

Then, before anyone could stop him, Kang Changho put his arm into the lion statue and offered himself as a sacrifice.

━Kugugugung…….

The lion statue, satisfied with eating Kang Changho’s blood, opens the door.

“If there’s a trap where monsters come out, then there’s nothing we can do.”

I didn’t expect him to cooperate so easily.

‘I won’t have to worry about getting crushed in an S-rank fight!’

Jeong Haseong’s mood also eased a bit at his actions. It was the moment a dramatic peace treaty was signed.

“Who will go next?”

“We’ll take turns opening the doors. We don’t know if an F-rank’s body can handle it.”

And in all of this, I came to know the humanity of a person named Jeong Haseong.

‘Hunter Jeong Haseong…’

The fact that he was the first to exclude me from the sacrifice candidates when he found out I was an F-rank, and the fact that he protected me when the monsters came out.

As befitting a national hero, Jeong Haseong thoroughly sided with the weak.

‘Thanks to him, I’m moving forward without shedding a single drop of blood, but at this point, I feel a bit sorry.’

The fifth room that followed.

I stared at Jeong Haseong with a surprised look as he staggered from anemia after offering himself as a sacrifice.

“Jeong Haseong-ssi, are you okay?”

But he quickly composed himself and spoke coldly.

“These kinds of sudden gates are usually small in scale. We probably don’t have much further to go to the exit.”

A person who was already pale now had a face that was almost white.

I was worried that Jeong Haseong would collapse, so I walked while keeping my eyes fixed on him. So, I didn’t notice that the man leading the way had stopped.

“Hmm?”

It was Kang Changho’s turn to open the door this time.

But he didn’t take action and only stared down at Jeong Haseong, who had followed behind.

“Jeong Haseong.”

It seems like he has something to say.

“Let’s stop progressing for a moment.”

“Why?”

“Now that I think about it, there’s no confirmation that there’s an exit beyond this. And we’re all getting worn out.”

“…….”

“Perhaps there are clues we missed, so how about we investigate the rooms we’ve passed through for a bit?”

It’s a suggestion that seems quite reasonable.

However, Jeong Haseong’s reaction to returning was cold.

“Going back is just an excuse, isn’t it? You’re actually planning to buy time?”

“What do you take people for?”

“Following the given conditions is the only orthodox method of clearing an EX-rank gate. You should know that as well.”

And at this time, a name that I had heard somewhere before popped out of Jeong Haseong’s mouth.

“I wouldn’t know if you’re planning to hit me in the midst of the monster wave and chaos. Just like with Choi Jin.”

The Rank 1 hunter spoke with his head held high, as if he had never staggered at all.

“Isn’t your mindset that if you’re going to suffer a loss, it’s better for everyone to die together?”

“Jeong Haseong.”

“I absolutely can’t trust you, and I don’t have time to be stuck in this kind of gate. I’m in a hurry…”

He conveyed his opinion with a voice as sharp as the blade hanging on his waist.

“I won’t say much. Open the door first.”

What if they actually start fighting like this?

I busily rolled my eyes between them.

But…

“Okay.”

This is unexpected.

Kang Changho was silent for a moment at that, then lightly raised both hands as a sign of surrender.

“I’ll open it right away, so don’t be so on edge.”

Unexpectedly, this person had a personality that gave in easily.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t help with the clearing, and there’s some kind of misunderstanding between us.”

“What misunderstanding?”

“The Choi Jin incident was an accident. I’m not some crazy person who attacks fellow hunters without a reason.”

His calm explanation continued.

“Of course, it’s true that I have a criminal record, so I understand why you can’t trust me. Jeong Haseong, you’re being too wary of me right now.”

“That’s…”

“Isn’t that why you want to get out of here quickly and make hasty decisions?”

“…….”

“Think seriously about what I said earlier. I think it’s better to go back even once, even if it’s your turn.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll open the door for now.”

And Kang Changho turned around and put his arm into the lion’s mouth.

Click, the room vibrated with the sound of the lock being released. The door opened.

‘So, rumors aren’t to be trusted after all.’

He seems like a person with common sense.

But at that moment.

I widened my eyes as I looked at Kang Changho. Jeong Haseong was also surprised.

“This…!”

“Kang Changho-ssi!”

Kang Changho leaned against the lion statue and half collapsed.

He seemed to be feeling dizzy like Jeong Haseong, and then he said while breathing roughly.

“Don’t worry about it. I brought a recovery potion.”

Now that I hear that, I can see it. Kang Changho has a hip sack around his waist, and the medicine is probably in that small bag.

“If I drink it, I can probably open the door two more times.”

He supported himself on his knees and struggled to get up.

Jeong Haseong looked at that and was lost in thought for a moment, then turned around and took the lead, saying.

“If we don’t see an exit in the next room, we’ll look for another way.”

I walked a little behind Jeong Haseong, in case I needed to support Kang Changho.

Kang Changho, who was standing next to me, seemed to be searching through his bag and taking out a small glass bottle.

‘Is that the recovery potion?’

But I was shocked by the Earthling’s method of using medicine that followed.

━Clang!

Kang Changho swung the potion bottle he was holding at Jeong Haseong’s head, shattering it into pieces.

The liquid that flowed from the broken bottle instantly vaporized in the air.

Jeong Haseong, who was attacked, belatedly turned around, but he was already exposed to the medicine.

“Kuh!”

Then, Jeong Haseong rolled his eyes and collapsed.

Paralysis? Sleep? I don’t know exactly what the effect is, but…

“Ah, it works well on S-ranks too.”

I know that wasn’t a recovery potion.