One of the parties that had been hunting in the underground prison was taking a break.
“Phew.”
A Warrior wiped the sweat dripping on his forehead. “The level of the monsters here is enormous.”
The Cleric also plopped down without even thinking of smoothing his crumpled robe. “I’ve got to boast to my friends when we get back to Morata. We’re seriously hunting in this underground prison.”
“We oughta be able to hunt even better if we brought teammates…”
“Pft. Don’t even say that, ’cause there shouldn’t be many people who are hunting while raising their EXP as nicely as we are.”
“We fought a whole seven times in 2 hours. That’s an incredible combat record.”
“It’s the fastest battling I’ve had all year. Lots of monsters come out, so it’s a really good spot for hunting.”
“It is a bit lacking since we only have 7 party members this time. Next time, let’s add another high damage Swordsman and Magician each and try a proper hunt.”
They were chatting while taking a break when 11 vicious Heretic Hunters of the Embinyu Church approached them from the passage.
The party members took up their weapons and rose from their seats.
“They’re not giving us a chance to rest.”
“What should we do? There’s still some distance between us, so should we run?”
Just when they were worriedly sharing their opinions, a huge creature and people approached the location of the Heretic Hunters. A man equipped with jet-black Talrok’s Armor, helmet, and gloves ran in speedily. After him, an old mercenary and three ladies came riding in on a large and brawny black cow.
“Seductive Dance!”
A Dancer who got off the cow distracted the Heretic Hunters as she danced. The Shaman used magic.
“Wavering eyes, amplify horror to make them see what they do not want to see most.”
The willpower of the Heretic Hunters was very vulnerable, and they were men, so their gazes were easily stolen by Hwaryeong’s dance. Da’in’s high-proficiency magic was invoked in that opening. Da’in didn’t even come down from Yellowy’s back.
“Embinyu God, hast thou forsaken me?”
“I am a heretic. Judge me!”
While the Heretic Hunters were screaming, Weed brandished his sword. “15 Chain Strikes!”
His swordsmanship didn’t back away or halt. With swordsmanship that added to his strength as he advanced, he precisely sliced only the weak points of the Heretic Hunters. His Strength, Agility, and overall fighting ability were amplified due to Dain’s buff magic.
“15 Chain Strikes!”
He used effective skills for group hunting without reserve as he bore down on the Heretic Hunters. The Heretic Hunters braced for battle and swung their weapons, but they were helpless. They were cursed every time Weed’s sword sliced past, and their bodies burned in flames, insects crawled over them, or their hair turned into stringy snakes. At the end of the battle, Yurin got down from Yellowy and simply picked up the japtem.
“Run!”
Having cleared the Heretic Hunters in an instant, they ran off to their next destination. The party’s appearance, hunting, and movement happened like a flash of lightning! Monsters collided with each other as they were ran over from afar with a wave of heat. The party headed towards that group of monsters, fought them in an instant, and went off to yet another location.
The people who had been hunting there originally muttered dazedly.
“What the hell is this?”
“For them to defeat the Heretic Hunters so fast… did you see the swordsman’s footwork? Even if it’s a skill, how can he run in at the enemy at that angle? He went around to the enemy’s back way too easily and knifed ‘em, though he did get hit a few times.”
“Didn’t it really seem like he was just letting himself get hit because it was annoying to dodge?”
Not 5 minutes since they had left, a swarm of people tumbled in from the passage in the direction where Weed, Yellowy, and the others had appeared. They were the onlookers who had been following since the River of Lamentation vicinity.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes?”
“Did Weed and his teammates pass through here?”
“Weed?”
“Wargod Weed. He didn’t come this way?”
A young Warrior spoke urgently and anxiously, as if he had missed something important!
“I don’t know such a person… Ah, a party that came in riding a black cow did kill Heretic Hunters and went past.”
“Heretic Hunters!” The other onlookers who had also come asked, “How many were there?”
“11 of them.”
“11 of them! How many minutes did it take to defeat them?”
“Huh, how should I say how long it took… it really happened in a brief moment.”
“Please tell us anyway.”
“Roughly about 2 to 3 minutes?”
“So fast!”
The spectators cheered as they ran off to where Weed and Yellowy had disappeared.
“What was that just now?”
“Maybe… was Weed that Weed? Wargod Weed! He’s hunting in the underground prison!”
* * *
As she breathlessly followed Weed, Da’in was able to feel it.
‘He’s really… grown a lot.’
She had offered to party together with the Sculptor she’d met in Lavias because the sight of him hunting alone without teammates had been pitiful. Despite the limitations to the Sculptor profession, she had been able to feel a strong will from him as he fought monsters with all his might. The Sculptor who had raised his Perseverance by going as far as to take hits from monsters on purpose now wielded Blacksmithing and Tailoring skills. He had made food for her in Lavias as well, but his Cooking skill had also risen to Intermediate in their time apart. He even dragged a bull named Yellowy along with him.
“This slow-witted cow.”
Moooooooooo!
“Yurin, if you have any paint left over, paint him yellow.”
Moooooooooooo!
While they were resting for a bit after repeated battling, the sight of them squabbling with the sculpture lifeform named Yellowy was also cheerful. Yurin and even Hwaryeong played while chiming in.
“Oppa, he’s gonna be eaten anyways, so why dye him?”
“They say the black pigs of Jeju are very nutritious and tasty; just leave him black.”
[T/N: Jeju is Korea’s largest island, known for its tourism, scenery, and apparently its pigs.]
MOOO!
Yellowy wailed sorrowfully and pitifully. However, he wasn’t always treated unkindly. When mealtime rolled around, Weed gave him very nutritious hay, even though there was no knowing when he had gotten it. Yurin fed him herbs that she had on hand, and kind Hwaryeong got water and washed his face and body.