The Hunter of the Other World Who Is Being Misunderstood – Chapter 68

Ch 68: The Queen Bee’s Flight （1）

Then, Seon Uyeon nodded as if she understood.

“Well, I guess so.”

Of course, the variable of an anomaly shift always remains, but if you worry about such small probabilities every time, you can’t work in this industry.

“Have a safe trip. Fighting.”

“Ah, yes!”

Soon, Seon Uyeon disappeared beyond the gate.

I watched the spot where she disappeared and stretched slightly.

“I’ll do some web surfing in the meantime.”

Long live auto-hunting!

◈◈◈

Meanwhile.

Inside the gate.

Seon Uyeon carefully proceeded with her exploration, feeling the floral scent tickling her nose and the soft sensation of the grass under her feet.

Then, a monster came into view.

━Bzzzzzzzz…….

A honeybee the size of an arm.

The flapping of its wings sounds like a huge electric fan.

Beep.

『Scout Bee』

『Rank: C』

『Description: A common monster that appears in a Killer Bee Nest. It secretes pheromones to call bee swarms when it feels threatened.』

Seon Uyeon nodded, checking the analyzer information.

‘Good. No mutations.’

The most important thing to be careful of in this gate is that scout bee.

Scout bees need to be approached with caution because they call nearby allies as soon as they are attacked.

So, Seon Uyeon turned back without the monster noticing and launched a surprise attack.

“Kieek!”

Swish!

The result was successful.

Seon Uyeon’s awakened ability is wind.

It has advantages in terms of speed and noise compared to other awakening types.

‘Got it!’

She successfully assassinated the scout bee.

However, the moment she approached the scout bee’s corpse to retrieve the magic stone.

━Bzzzzzzzz.

The sound of bee wings echoed again from the sky.

Startled, she looked up and saw another scout bee flying menacingly……?

‘Two scout bees?’

Seon Uyeon hurriedly used her skill towards the monster that suddenly appeared.

Swish.

The bee, its neck cut by the sharp wind, soon fell to the ground.

Even after defeating her opponent, Seon Uyeon couldn’t hide her doubts.

She had heard that scout bees don’t usually travel in groups. But why did the same monster appear one after another?

“Why is it different from what I studied?”

A small sense of unease grew in her chest.

And this unease soon became a reality.

━Bzzzzzzzzzzzz…….

Because a roar began to erupt from the giant beehive embedded in the center of the dungeon.

‘It was too late to get rid of the second scout bee!’

Seon Uyeon was able to understand one thing from this. The scout bee had already called its allies.

But it was okay up to this point.

Because the assassination of scout bees often fails.

‘I heard that hunters with know-how sometimes deliberately provoke scout bees for mob hunting.’

Do you know why the Killer Bee Nest is considered easy even among C-rank gates?

Because the number of monsters is absolutely small.

So usually, even if you touch a scout bee, it doesn’t escalate into a big problem.

━Bzzzzzzzz.

━Bzzzzzzzzzz…….

━Buzz!

Seon Uyeon’s body stiffened at the following sight.

“Uh.”

Why are there so many monsters…?

The sky is full of bees.

A huge swarm appeared, enough to create shade in the dungeon where the clear sunlight was shining.

━Bzzzzzzzzzzzz…….

Such an abnormal number of individuals.

Seon Uyeon immediately recognized what caused this accident.

‘The staff registered the gate’s saturation level incorrectly!’

It’s a mistake by the Hunter Association!

If left unattended, the number of monsters in a gate gradually increases, so usually, after about six days, a ‘saturated’ label should be attached.

This ‘saturated’ label was a kind of danger warning.

It meant that the number of monsters was higher than usual, so be careful.

But the fact that that label was missing means……

‘They entered the gate’s creation date itself incorrectly. The program automatically displays the saturation status.’

Cold sweat poured down her face.

━Bzzzzzzzzzz!

What should I do? Even at this moment, the bee swarm is getting closer.

‘R-Run away!’

Seon Uyeon reflexively ran towards the entrance.

But then, as she was about to go back out through the gate, a sentence flashed through her mind.

‘Ah!’

An action that a hunter should never do.

That is, crossing the passage while the monster’s hostility remains.

Gate creatures don’t usually go outside, but if they are in a state of aggro（aggro） with a hunter, they can easily be dragged along.

‘I can’t go out now!’

To escape, she must first scatter the bee swarm’s attention.

But flying magical beasts boast tremendous speed, there’s no way she can outrun them with human legs!

“Kyaa!”

While Seon Uyeon was hesitating, she was surrounded by the bee swarm.

Thwack.

Seon Uyeon closed her eyes tightly and counterattacked against the pouring bee attacks.

Swish!

As the basic wind-attribute skill, Air Cutter, was activated, the corpses of the magical beasts that had been cut in half fell down in droves.

“Huff!”

But this is just the beginning.

There are still so many bees left, so many.

‘Disgusting!’

Seon Uyeon engaged in the hunt with a pale face.

As it is a fight between a B-rank and C-rank, the firepower was overwhelmingly advantageous on this side.

The number of killer bees was steadily decreasing.

But that was the same for Seon Uyeon’s mana.

‘It’s getting harder and harder to breathe.’

Her mana is rapidly being consumed. At this rate, her body won’t be able to keep up with the hunting speed.

‘Please, someone help me……!’

Seon Uyeon was terrified and half in a state of panic.

It was at that moment.

“…It should be about half cleared by now.”

Faintly.

A human voice flows through the noise of the bee swarm.

“Let’s see, just a quick check on how much has been cleared…….”

The man who appeared from the gate had a rather cold impression.

He stopped abruptly after discovering Seon Uyeon, who was fighting a desperate battle near the entrance, and asked in a puzzled voice.

“What is all this?”

“Giryeo-ssi!”

Hunter Kim Giryeo entered the nest.

◈◈◈

“What is all this?”

I never imagined it.

That a B-rank hunter, who should be roaming freely through the dungeon, would be getting beaten to a pulp.

Something’s wrong here.

“It seems the association made a mistake when registering the saturation level! There were way more magical beasts than expected. Oh, it’s such a relief you came…….”

Seon Uyeon was happy, briefly forgetting that I had entered illegally, but unfortunately, there was only one answer I could give.

“Hunter Kim Giryeo-nim, would you help me?”

I flatly said to that question.

“No. I can’t help you.”

What can I do?

What can a F-rank awakened one do in a C-rank monster’s nest?

But if I show a weak side here, yesterday’s bluff will become useless.

I pondered for a moment and added an explanation.

“I told you, didn’t I? I don’t want to rely on my awakened ability unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Now is that moment!”

“Really?”

For reference, even if you exclude the characteristic of the number of individuals, the monsters in this gate are treated as weaklings because their mana values are particularly low among the same C-ranks.

The conclusion is already out.

“Hey. Hunter Seon Uyeon. This is a problem that can be solved right away if you just don’t panic.”

“……!”

“Why do you want someone else to interfere with something you can do well enough on your own?”

I confidently made an excuse.

That your skills are sufficient to clear the gate, so I won’t help.

It was a plausible excuse.

“W-What, what are you saying right now…….”

Of course, Seon Uyeon would find it absurd.

“Calm down and try hunting slowly.”

There’s no other way.

I raised both hands to show that I wouldn’t interfere. Then, Seon Uyeon’s lips trembled as she looked at me with an unbelievable expression.

“Kim Giryeo, you……!”

It was then.

The hunter, who was trembling with betrayal, suddenly started running towards me.

That kind Earthling wouldn’t possibly lay a hand on me, but the problem was the numerous killer bees chasing after her.

I lowered my raised hands after seeing the monsters gathering like a cloud.

“Giryeo-ssi! Don’t do that and please do something about these things……!”

Bzzzzzzzzzz.

The sound of the bees is quite brutal when heard up close.

But I didn’t panic even though the C-rank monsters were right in front of me.

Because, from the start, it was impossible for me to get involved in this situation.

“Huh?”

Bzzzzzzzz.

A little later. Just as the swarm of bees targeting Seon Uyeon surrounded us.

A strange phenomenon appeared.

“Ugh, it stings!”

Thwack!

It’s strange. The killer bees that had gathered like a cloud only attacked Seon Uyeon persistently.

As if they couldn’t even see the hunter who was with her…….

“W-Why, ouch!”

Numerous bees avoided the spot where I was standing.

Seon Uyeon’s eyes widened as she didn’t understand the bizarre phenomenon of only being attacked.

Well, what can I do? This is their characteristic.

‘As expected, it’s the same as last time.’

At this point, the reason why I’ve been so relaxed all along was revealed.

『The bees that appear in the Killer Bee Nest』 are not aggressive by nature.

Because if they use their stingers carelessly, they will die themselves.

To put it simply, killer bees only attack those who are a threat to the nest first.

Meaning, they just ignore F-ranks, whose mana is like that of a newborn ant.

‘Is this…… a situation to be happy about?’

Somehow, my corneas became moist.

Anyway, that’s why I can be safe here, but.

“Kyaaaa!”

It seems Seon Uyeon is having some trouble with their attacks.

She has been desperately resisting the bee swarm since a while ago, but the number of sting wounds is gradually increasing.

‘Poor thing.’

It’s a situation where it’s a bit uncomfortable to just watch someone suffer.

So, I decided to teach Seon Uyeon a tip to overcome this crisis.

“Hey, Seon Uyeon-ssi!”

For reference, the killer bees that appear here are also creatures that can be seen in Alpha Uri.

Thanks to that, I know their weaknesses like the back of my hand.

“I’ll tell you where the dungeon boss is!”

“What did you say?”

“If you can’t do it, just catch the queen bee! If you kill it, the rest will fall off on their own!”

Bzzzzzzzz.

A shout flows through the noisy flapping of the bee swarm.

“Do you see that big beehive over there? The brown one!”

“Y-Yes, I see it……!”

“Look closely at the pattern on the outer part. Do you see the biggest swirl?”

Then, I pointed to the exact location where the queen bee was hiding.

“The queen is in the center of that swirl.”

“Ah, yes! Then, what should I do now……?”

“Pierce that with your skill. Break through the boss and the nest at the same time.”

This is the shortcut to clearing the Killer Bee Nest.

Find the hidden queen bee and finish her off with long-range magic. It was a really simple operation.

‘If you use this method, there will be a small side effect, but well, that’s about it.’

But even after receiving the clearing method, Seon Uyeon’s expression was dark.

“The nest itself? How can I do such a big skill! I already used all my mana……!”

Mana depletion, huh.

It’s hard to agree with that.

Judging from the perspective of someone who has directly touched the opponent’s mana. Seon Uyeon currently has plenty of mana left.

‘She’s too withdrawn.’

I looked at the stiff B-rank hunter with pity and soon came to a conclusion.

That person, she’s too anxious right now, so her magic isn’t working well.

In that case, it would be good to say something reassuring to ease her tension.

‘That’s it.’

After organizing my thoughts, I took a step closer to Seon Uyeon. And gently suggested.

“Seon Uyeon-ssi, you still have a lot of mana left.”

“Yes?”

“The fact that you’re talking and breathing is proof of that, use it up until you can’t breathe.”

Okay, first, let’s tell her calmly that she has a surplus of mana.

“Awakened ones like us don’t die from things like that…….”

If I add this kind of advice, Seon Uyeon will finally be relieved.

Because it means that there is no danger to life at all from overdoing it for a while.

‘What advice is more reassuring than saying there’s no risk of dying? Now she won’t hesitate either.’

Smile!

I confidently raised my head, convinced that Seon Uyeon’s tension had been relieved.

But the state of the Earthling in front of me was…….

‘Hmm?’

Seon Uyeon is looking at me with a face that has turned blue.

What is it, did she get early hypoxemia or something?