Chapter 23: The Man Who Prepares for Misfortune （4）
Is this what it feels like to be abandoned by the heavens?
From the moment he heard Kang San’s words, Jeong Chan-woo couldn’t control his trembling body, unlike his usual self.
“A, an Ant Nest?”
A name you hear at least once in your life.
The notoriety of the Ant Nest is something no one working as a Hunter can be unaware of.
Like the Black Ants they were currently dealing with, ant-type monsters aren’t particularly strong, but things change once you enter their domain, the Ant Nest. The Ant Nest is their home ground. Unlike outside, where Worker Ants appear, Soldier Ants, ranked D-rank, emerge in the Ant Nest. If it were simply a matter of facing monsters a rank higher, Jeong Chan-woo wouldn’t be this despairing.
‘We’re finished.’
Why is the Ant Nest classified as a C-rank area?
Their boss monster, the Queen Ant, is indeed a C-rank monster, but due to her constant spawning cycle, her combat abilities are practically non-existent. Yet, the reason it’s C-rank is because the number of ants born from the spawning cycle is beyond imagination. Outside, you only encounter a fraction of them, so it’s not very dangerous, but if you enter the ants’ lair, you have to face hundreds, thousands of ants rushing at you, risking your life.
And this place is underground.
It’s not an environment where you can escape if you want to, and the power of ants fighting in their own territory is inevitably different.
A place that earned its notoriety for complex reasons.
Initially classified as a D-rank hunting ground, the Ant Nest has now been upgraded to C-rank due to the high number of casualties.
“H, how did this happen? The exploration report said there was no Ant Nest around here.”
Jeong Chan-woo asked, almost screaming.
There was no one to blame but Kang San.
“I don’t know the reason either. The exploration report clearly stated that this place was at least 5km away from the Ant Nest, and it’s extremely rare for a solid Ant Nest to collapse like this.”
He couldn’t tell the truth.
The exploration report was probably accurate.
The reason the Black Ant habitat they chose this time was rated E-rank was because it was located some distance from the Ant Nest, so there were only Worker Ants out foraging for food. Jeong Chan-woo’s management meticulously confirmed this fact and judged that it was a difficulty level that Jeong Chan-woo could handle sufficiently.
Nevertheless, a variable occurred.
There was only one culprit.
The problem was that Kang San was included in this party.
The fact that a non-existent Ant Nest was created and even the solid ground collapsed was a result of Azmoon’s Trial.
Jeong Chan-woo’s complexion turned noticeably pale.
Seeing him breathing roughly as if he was suffocating, Kang San approached him and grabbed his shoulders.
“Chan-woo.”
“…….”
“Get a grip, Jeong Chan-woo!”
Jeong Chan-woo was startled.
Looking into his lifeless eyes, Kang San spoke in a firm tone.
“Out of the 30 raids you’ve cleared so far, there probably haven’t been any hunting grounds of a higher rank than yours. That’s why you’re trembling like this, unlike yourself. But I have experience successfully completing hundreds of raids in crises like this. So if you can’t trust yourself, trust me and fight. Got it?”
Jeong Chan-woo nodded.
Kang San’s forceful presence made him feel like he had to.
“Look around. See the four passages?”
“……Yes.”
“I’ll take the three passages in front. You just need to handle the small passage in the back. Can you do it?”
“I’ll try.”
“Good.”
Jeong Chan-woo’s eyes gradually regained their focus.
As he explained to Jeong Chan-woo, the Ant Nest where the party had fallen had four passages, in the front and back. Soon, Soldier Ants would pour in from there. To survive, they had to somehow block those passages.
“Han-byeol, Woo-bin.”
“Y, yes?”
“For now, take care of the ants attacking from the small passage. I’ll buy some time.”
“Understood.”
They were also visibly tense.
Yeon Woo-bin’s condition, in particular, wasn’t good, but at least Jo Han-byeol seemed to be holding it together.
That was fortunate.
It was a relief to have at least one comrade to rely on.
Kang San took a deep breath and stood in front of the three large passages.
‘This is a truly cursed life.’
Trials were both a blessing and a curse.
Having repeatedly experienced life-threatening trials, the smell of death was now almost fragrant to him.
But the funny thing was that Azmoon’s Trials always came with hope.
Trials that required risking his life at his current level.
Conversely, the fact that it was a difficulty he could withstand if he risked his life became Kang San’s support in any situation.
‘Let’s overcome it. Just like always.’
A reality that had become routine.
Just as he had prepared for misfortune throughout his 25 years of life, Kang San now had to get used to a life of preparing for and overcoming trials.
Finally.
Tadatadatadak!
Kyaak!
“They’re coming!”
The ants swarmed in.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
『Guardian’s Will has been activated.』
『Since the number of enemies you are facing is 35, your defense and health regeneration will increase by 35% each.』
The buff effect.
It wasn’t a hopeful sound.
In exchange for a 35% increase in defense, Kang San learned that the number he had to face was 35.
Kwaang!
Thwack!
He blocked the charging Soldier Ant’s rush with his shield. Kang San’s body shook violently from the sudden impact, but he didn’t fall down, which was a testament to his training. Kang San’s Strength was only 32, which was lower compared to his opponent, but his ability to endure had improved thanks to the Toughness effect.
“Haa.”
Whoosh!
He immediately ducked.
The Soldier Ant that followed swung its saw-like forelegs, and a few strands of Kang San’s hair were cut off by a hair’s breadth.
A chilling situation.
In that split second, Kang San’s eyes calmly captured the opponent’s movements. After 300 days of tedious evasion training, Kang San’s senses had improved dramatically. It was a sixth sense that couldn’t be explained by mere stats. Kang San took a step forward and slashed the Soldier Ant’s body with his sword infused with Blood Demon Art.
Crack!
The Soldier Ant’s exoskeleton shattered.
Blood Demon Art, 2 stars.
With a base passive 20% increase in attack power, Kang San’s attack dealt significant damage that surpassed the difference in rank.
However.
‘This isn’t enough.’
Kang San’s expression contorted.
It was a blow aimed at the opponent’s weak point, yet the Soldier Ant’s unscathed appearance showed how unfavorable the situation was. Then he had to change his strategy. The Blood Demon Sword Technique, First Style, could potentially k*ll the Soldier Ant, but the 5-minute cooldown was holding him back.
‘The only fortunate thing is that not all 35 are Soldier Ants.’
Roughly 10 of them.
In Kang San’s vision, there were more Worker Ants than Soldier Ants.
And the number Kang San was facing simultaneously didn’t exceed five. The Ant Nest, being underground, inevitably had a limited space, and as the human-sized Soldier Ants poured in, the space became completely filled.
From then on, Kang San’s movements changed.
He blocked the Soldier Ants’ attacks defensively and, whenever there was an opening, he would strike with all his might, severing the heads of the Worker Ants.
Slice!
『The effect of Blood Demon Art has been activated.』
『Attack power temporarily increases by 2%.』
‘One.’
Since this happened during a break, his Blood Demon Art stat started from zero. So his priority was to accumulate the Blood Demon Art stat to compensate for his lacking attack power. If he dealt with 10, he’d get a 20% attack power buff, and his senses would sharpen due to the unique effect of Blood Demon Art. With that level of buff, he should be able to gain enough strength to deal with the Soldier Ants.
The best choice.
Kang San gritted his teeth and faced the waves of ants’ attacks.
Thwack!
Crack!
A chaotic melee ensued.
When Kang San struck a Soldier Ant’s face with his shield, the Soldier Ant bit the shield with its massive jaws. The shield didn’t budge against the immense force. Kang San dodged the follow-up attacks from other ants and, using the Blood Demon Sword Technique, First Style, he slashed the face of the Soldier Ant that was biting his shield. This time, he felt a distinct cut. The Soldier Ant’s hard exoskeleton cracked open, and green liquid sprayed into the air like a fountain.
Thud.
Thwack!
Kang San didn’t miss the opportunity.
His sword, thrust forward with a ferocious lunge, mangled the Soldier Ant’s brain, and his Blood Demon Art’s attack power increased once again.
A total of 4%.
The stacks were accumulating.
Kang San’s movements were artistic.
It was a scene that defied belief that he was an E-rank Hunter, but the actual situation wasn’t so hopeful.
There were no follow-up attacks.
As he was fighting alone, openings inevitably appeared.
Crack!
Suddenly, a Soldier Ant’s attack landed on his abdomen.
It was impossible to endure without any damage with his strength alone. Kang San made a split-second decision to deliberately take the attack on his abdomen, reducing the damage with the Iron Man’s defense boost. But that was it. With the continuous attacks of the ants, Kang San’s body accumulated more wounds. His abdomen was bruised purple, and blood trickled from the places where the sharp, serrated claws grazed him. And when a Soldier Ant bit his shield and wouldn’t let go, Kang San, with his face flushed red, had to struggle with all his might to hold onto his shield against the D-rank bite force.
He felt nauseous.
He had exerted so much force that a foul smell rose from his stomach.
Thwack!
Crack!
But Kang San held on tenaciously.
Even in this overwhelming situation, he gritted his teeth and didn’t allow the ants to leave the area he had designated.
His only hope.
That the party would quickly deal with the ants in the small passage and come to his aid.
However, reality wasn’t hopeful.
“Aaack!”
Jeong Chan-woo’s scream.
He had collapsed under the ants’ attack.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
Crack!
A Soldier Ant’s jaws clamped down on Jeong Chan-woo’s shoulder.
The armor, thinly plated with steel, crumpled instantly, and Jeong Chan-woo screamed in pain as if his shoulder was being ripped apart.
“Aaack! Aaaack!”
It was agonizing.
The past 30 raids?
They meant nothing now.
He, who had only ever faced monsters he could handle with his own abilities under the meticulous management of his agency, had no confidence in enduring this current situation. In a situation where the pain was driving him insane, if Jo Han-byeol’s arrow hadn’t pierced the Soldier Ant’s head by a hair’s breadth, he would have died right there.
“Ugh…….”
Jeong Chan-woo’s mentality shattered.
He looked at the ants in front of him with a terrified expression.
Only five.
There were only two D-rank Soldier Ants, yet he had collapsed before Kang San, who was facing 35.
His body wouldn’t move.
The previous attack had dealt him a considerable shock.
That’s when it happened.
Flash!
“……?!”
Light emanated from Jeong Chan-woo’s body.
Startled, he quickly turned his gaze and saw the shimmering heat haze emanating from Kang San’s body, healing his wounds.
It looked as if a halo was shining.
Kang San shouted.
“Get a grip! Do you want to d*e like this?”
Jeong Chan-woo’s eyes wavered.
It was shocking that Kang San was using a healing skill, but Kang San’s condition looked far worse than his own.
Kang San, bleeding profusely on the ground.
And behind him, 35 ants swarming.
Kang San, in the midst of h*ll, risking his life, chose to heal Jeong Chan-woo instead of himself.
He felt a surge of emotion.
And, guilt.
He had exuded so much confidence before the raid, yet in the actual battle, he was showing such a pathetic display.
“Uwaaaack!”
Jeong Chan-woo let out a roar and kicked off the ground.
If he was going to d*e anyway.
Shouldn’t he d*e after using all his strength?
Jeong Chan-woo strained his neck and fought back with all his might.
As his body, frozen in fear, loosened up, he displayed a power that was sufficiently threatening even against the D-rank Soldier Ants.
The situation had become extreme.
And such a sight.
‘……Ah.’
Was creating a huge ripple in one person’s heart.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
After falling into the Ant Nest.
Yeon Woo-bin couldn’t regain his composure.
Fragments of memories surfaced intermittently.
As the trauma of the moment when the people around him died resurfaced, he crouched down and squeezed his eyes shut.
“This isn’t real, this isn’t real…….”
He repeated it like a mantra.
His body trembled like an aspen leaf, and his lips turned blue.
Why was this happening to him?
On a raid where he had mustered great courage to overcome his trauma, he was facing the worst crisis.
‘Why does this only happen to me?’
He covered his ears.
He wanted to escape this reality.
How much time had passed?
He didn’t try to face reality, no matter what was happening around him.
Then.
Grab!
Slap!
“Are you crazy?!”
As soon as his body was pulled up, his head snapped back.
His cheek stung.
He was jolted awake.
He glanced sideways and saw Jo Han-byeol, with an unusual expression, venting her anger.
“Can’t you see that? They’re risking their lives to buy us time to attack. And you’re just squatting there like that? What are those people supposed to do? You crazy b*stard. If you’re going to d*e, d*e alone. Don’t k*ll innocent people because of your trauma.”
Words fired like a machine gun.
Jo Han-byeol’s voice held desperation along with anger.
A desire for Yeon Woo-bin to come to his senses and use his magic.
But it didn’t work at all.
If he could snap out of it just because Jo Han-byeol got angry and slapped him, his trauma would have been resolved long ago.
“Kang San-nim kept his promise. Even when the ground was collapsing, he jumped and saved you. Now it’s your turn to keep your promise.”
‘……He saved me?’
Yeon Woo-bin’s expression hardened.
Kang San.
That name resonated within his heart.
He finally remembered.
In the chaotic situation where the ground was collapsing, Yeon Woo-bin felt something embrace him and fall in his place.
A fragment of memory.
That jumbled moment, combined with Kang San’s face, transformed into a coherent memory.
‘Ah.’
Ripples appeared in Yeon Woo-bin’s eyes.
At the end of his gaze.
He saw Kang San, standing alone, facing the demons of the underground.
