A short while later.
I led the survivors I met in the dungeon toward the hill the fairy had told us about.
In the process, we exchanged minimal greetings with the other challengers.
Before leaving the festival grounds, we also sought additional advice from the fairies there for our search.
━Do you happen to know where the other hunters who came a few days ago went?
The fairies in the plaza had answered this way to the question of whether they knew the whereabouts of the Treasure Hunter Team.
━Some other guests did come here, just like you said.
━That's right.
━They also went to the hut on the hill we told you about! I don't know what happened next.
If that's the case, then both clearing the dungeon and rescuing the missing advance team ultimately require meeting that entity called 'Apa'....
While I was organizing my thoughts, I heard the sound of the group's conversation from behind.
"Well, it's a relief that Hunter Kim Giryeo-nim came. Even if it was by mistake, he's an S-rank hunter, after all."
"Indeed."
"Won't things work out somehow now?"
They seem greatly relieved just by my appearance.
However, Seon Uyeon, who knows the truth about the EX-rank gate, has a dark expression throughout our walk.
This type of gate usually doesn't depend much on rank, and she even witnessed the phenomenon where the mana value rose to an unmeasurable level when the fairy revealed its true form.
'If we assume the worst from their perspective, a section that demands sacrifices might appear, like during the 『White Maze』.'
I kept silent and led the way.
Even so, the voices of people kept echoing from behind.
"But, now that I think about it, how are the fairies living here able to communicate at all?"
"That's true."
"Intelligent beings in a gate...."
"What could they be?"
For reference, the one speaking now is the association's analyst, who possesses appraisal skills.
I overheard this conversation and chuckled weakly. In fact, it's hard to see those fairies as having intelligence.
'They don't think for themselves and speak. They're just machines reciting predetermined responses.'
But I didn't bother telling that secret to the Earthlings.
After all, this kind of information has nothing to do with the raid, and even if it helps in escaping....
Judging by the looks of it, it seems like this is the first time Earth has encountered a scenario gate.
If I know too much about a phenomenon that has no precedent, I'll naturally look suspicious.
'Let's be careful.'
Today, I needed to maintain my silence. Even to avoid being exposed as an alien.
Thinking that, I scanned my surroundings. Then, I noticed what the fairies in the plaza had called a large tree.
To be precise, it was a small, cute plant that barely reached a person's shin.
'For a fairy, this is big enough.'
I bent my knees and checked the hut submerged in the shade of the tree.
What I could see through the window of the hut was a small shadow moving around busily.
So, what now? Should I call the landlord first?
━Knock knock knock.
"Gasp!"
I lightly knocked on the door of the hut.
The survivors, who had been badly burned by the fairy, were startled by my actions, but fortunately, nothing they feared happened.
Creak.
Soon after, the owner of the hut gently greeted us through the slightly opened door.
"Wh, who are you...?"
A timid tone. A calm impression.
The newly appeared fairy had a strange appearance that felt out of place, and I could quickly identify the source of that feeling.
'Ah, it doesn't have wings.'
The identity of Apa, whom the creatures in the plaza had mentioned, is a fairy without wings.
"Are you perhaps the guests who came to the kingdom?"
But its flight ability is fine.
Flap flap.
Soon after, the fairy came out of the door and flew up to about my shoulder height, and I watched it with my eyes and spoke.
"That's right. But if it's okay, I'd be grateful if you could tell us where the guests who came before us are now."
Annoyingly, the association employees standing behind me have a duty to search for dungeon survivors.
Instead of Seon Uyeon, I asked about the whereabouts of the Treasure Hunter Team who had gone ahead.
"Guests? What guests? I don't know."
Well, well.
The answer that came back was different from what I expected.
"The guys in the plaza clearly said those people went here."
"Huh? No. You are my first guests. I don't understand who you're talking about."
The wingless fairy shook its round head from side to side, saying that it had never seen any people.
'Is it lying?'
At first, I considered the possibility of perjury, but surprisingly, the probability of that is extremely low.
The Gishimche are the type of guys who don't seem to understand the concept of 'deception' well.
They are more honest than us, rather.
In fact, the rules presented in the dungeon, although there may be some discrepancies, mostly tell the truth.
'Is it a design error?'
I thought of a few more possibilities.
Honestly, whatever the case, I couldn't find out the location of the advance team right now. Since even Seon Uyeon's tracking isn't working, they might have already been eaten by the fairies.
Therefore, it's better to use our time more efficiently now.
"Then, do you know how to get out of here?"
I then brought up the blunt main point, without any flowery language.
"How to get out?"
Fortunately, there was no problem with communication. The fairy recognized the topic we brought up and continued the conversation smoothly.
"If it's about the way out of the kingdom... I have a place in mind. But I can't just tell you."
"Then?"
"If you grant me one wish, I'll guide you."
I slightly moved my facial muscles at the fairy's proposal. That is to say, I frowned.
"A wish? What kind of wish?"
"I can't tell you before you promise to grant it."
"No, but you need to at least tell us what it is...."
"I can't tell you before you promise to grant it."
I didn't know this kind of setting would be embedded in this artificial creature.
They want us to blindly accept the proposal without knowing what kind of request they'll make. It's unsettling.
"Hmm."
But there's no other way.
We're in a position where we need to clear the dungeon quickly and get out. And there was nothing else we could try besides listening to that wingless fairy.
"What should we do?"
After a brief discussion, we decided to grant the fairy's wish. It was unanimous.
"Really? Are you really going to grant it? Is it a promise?"
But what that fairy wanted was....
"Th, then. Can you play with me for just 10 minutes?"
I never imagined it would be something like this.
We were momentarily stunned by the fairy's words, and the round creature flew around us, chattering.
It was a joyful gesture.
"I don't have any friends! I've always been alone. So, I'd like you to play tag with me!"
"Tag?"
"That's my wish!"
Just listening up to here, it's quite a bland request, but....
The problem is, that fairy species has a history of killing hunters through a game called balloon play.
"The rules of tag are, one person becomes 'it' and runs around trying to catch the others. If you get caught by 'it', that person becomes the next 'it'!"
"That's easy?"
"And after passing 'it' back and forth like that, when 10 minutes are up, the last person who was 'it' receives a 'penalty' and it's over."
"Take back what I just said."
Sure enough. The wingless fairy ended up making the declaration we feared most.
"Eek, a penalty!"
Most of the people here have experienced what a 'fairy-style penalty' is.
'They said the loser has their head torn off and is killed.'
So, in other words, isn't this a 10-minute torture session where we have to pass a bomb with instant death to each other?
I felt a moment of doubt.
This bait box is clearly a trap set by a Gishimche with a peculiar taste. So, they should be indifferent to human death and suffering.
'Did they put a process where a death is guaranteed on the essential path to clearing the dungeon?'
When my expectations were off, I took a tense posture, in contrast to when I confidently said I would grant the wish.
But there's no way to go back on our promise now.
"It's 10 minutes starting now!"
Soon after, the resident of this dungeon announced the start of the wish.
Flash!
Suddenly, a bright light burst from the right side of my vision. When I turned my head to check, I could see that a change had occurred to one of the survivors.
A man in his 30s, with a ring of light beautifully designed around his shoulders.
"Oh, this is the mark of 'it'. When you touch a friend's body, it'll automatically move."
Well, that's roughly what they said.
The fairy, with eyes that shone like expensive topaz, opened its mouth and smiled brightly.
What came back was a very sharp voice.
"Wh, what is this! What is this! Why am I 'it'?"
"The first 'it' is just random."
"Damn it! No, I mean, why are you deciding that on your own...!"
"It doesn't matter since the last 'it' is the important one, right?"
The challenger who suddenly had a great danger placed on them even forgot that they were afraid of the fairy and started cursing.
Well, that ring of light is practically a death sentence. Who would dare to be happy about it.
Slowly.
The other members of the group, having grasped the situation, cautiously began to distance themselves from 'it'.
Just a moment ago, they were relying on each other, saying they would work together to clear the gate....
"Kikikik!"
The wingless fairy made a sound that was hard to tell whether it was a sneer or something else, as it watched us scatter.
The sound of it laughing in a high-pitched voice was the same as the fairies in the plaza.
"Th, this damn monster...."
But then.
The hunter who was chosen as 'it' spread mana through their blood vessels.
That fairy clearly asked to play tag 'with them', which meant that the same rules of the game also applied to that creature.
'That's right. Come to think of it, there's no need for us to fight each other!'
Bang!
The one who was chosen as 'it' was none other than a C-rank employee of the association.
C-rank. In a way, they could be instantly killed by 『Hydra's』 venom, but in fact, they are still close to superhumans compared to ordinary people.
That C-rank hunter took action, aiming for the moment when the fairy flew low.
They stomped their foot, and using that momentum, closed the distance and reached out their hand toward the opponent's torso.
It was truly instantaneous.
Perhaps the analysts here wouldn't have even recognized the action, and even I missed most of the movement because I blinked.
"Ugh!"
Flash.
At the moment when I thought a faint light had appeared. When I came to my senses, the fairy was already floating far away in the air.
"Wh, what...."
"Kyaaa! It's fun! It's fun!"
The hunter who had missed the fairy was confused, not knowing what was going on, but that scene made me give up on one hope in my heart.
'This damn thing, why did they put a 『blink』 spell on the fairy...!'
What the fairy just did was a short-range teleportation, and since the opponent was using that skill, there was no chance of victory for us half-baked magicians.
'We can't catch that. Not only us, but even if Jeong Haseong came, it would be difficult barehanded!'
This is crazy.
The C-rank, who had no way of knowing the truth, continued to struggle to catch the fairy, but no matter how many times they tried, the result was the same.
Flap flap.
The fairy let out a clear laugh and never accepted the position of 'it'. The loser of this game was bound to be among the humans.
'They really designed this gate like trash.'
Anyway....
If I ever regain my power, I'll make sure to wipe out these Gishimche this time around....
I pretended not to notice the chaotic situation and briefly looked at the ceiling of this other world.
It was a habitual escape from reality.
Ch 169: Scenario Gate （3 ##############
Moreover, the things that gave me a headache weren't just that. It was about three minutes after the tag game started, I think.
"Ugh, ugh..."
The C-rank hunter finally realized that he couldn't catch the fairy, and soon stopped in his tracks.
He stood still, only dripping with cold sweat, and unable to overcome his fear, he ended up transferring his pain to others.
Thud!
He grabbed another raider.
"Hah, hah..."
And why was that target me of all people?
"I'm, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..."
After doing all that, what kind of nerve did he have to apologize now?
Flash.
I nonchalantly looked at the ring of light that had moved onto my shoulder.
Here, the shortcomings I hadn't filled were clearly revealed. Although I had increased my defense with the 『Sacred Tree Sapling』, my other physical abilities were still at rock bottom.
'I couldn't avoid him running at me.'
Hmm.
But that hunter wouldn't know that my reflexes were poor.
"Why me, of all people, an S-rank?"
I glanced at my right arm and asked. Logically, if you pass the tag to an S-rank, it's obvious it would come back quickly, so I was curious what he was thinking.
"Th, that's… I'm sorry. I just couldn't stay as the tagger, I, I really felt like I was going crazy…!"
"..."
"B, but Kim Giryeo Hunter-nim, you're an S-rank, right? You can… catch the fairy, can't you? Right?"
"No. It keeps teleporting, so honestly, it'll be difficult."
"Really? But…"
The C-rank hunter in front of me said with a panicked look.
"Still, you're an S-rank."
He's a mid-level hunter, so he should know that in these special gates, rank doesn't have much of an effect.
"It'll be different if you're an S-rank, right? Even if you get the penalty, you're strong, so you won't die, right? Yes? So, can't you please keep the tagger role? Pl, please. Please don't give it back…"
"Lee Section Chief-nim!"
Unable to watch any longer, Seon Uyeon yelled at her coworker, but I stopped her.
"…It's okay."
Anyway, it's pointless to argue about role transfers right now.
As soon as I received the tag, I calmed myself down.
I shouldn't try to quickly return the mark here. I might be a fake registered one with a forged rank, but the other guy was a veteran C-rank.
'I'm being pushed back in the agility contest.'
So I decided.
I thought I should divert people's attention elsewhere.
If I eliminate the tension between the group, that damn employee who passed the tag to me will eventually show an opening.
'Even aside from that, I have to make sure people don't get too far away from me!'
Tremble, tremble.
I hid my trembling hand in my pocket and said with all my might.
"The employee is right. It's better for me to have the tagger role."
"Yes?!"
"In the first place, it's not good to get too confused in the dungeon. So, to calm everyone down…"
I won't pass the tag.
When I pretended to be calm as if reassuring them, as expected, the people around me stopped running away.
The tension was easing.
"Y, you're really going to keep it? Really?"
"Staying still like this is proof, isn't it? Don't worry and come here. Don't get lost."
"Okay."
"I'll figure out the fairy somehow. It might be hard to catch, but if the penalty is eating people, at least it'll come close then."
I poured out all sorts of sweet talk to close the distance with the tagger candidates.
While doing this, I steadily analyzed the mark on my arm, but unfortunately, it wasn't a standard that could be erased with F-rank mana.
In other words, if I wanted to live, I had to pass this to someone else somehow…
'You damn bastard!'
The problem was that the C-rank hunter I was targeting wouldn't come into range no matter what.
Even after hearing me say I wouldn't pass the tag, that employee was still staying in his place.
No matter how cleverly I tried to persuade him, he absolutely wouldn't come close.
Moreover, as the 10 minutes promised by the fairy approached, even the others who had seemed relieved were subtly distancing themselves from the tagger…
'Ugh.'
I'm getting anxious.
If they stay so far away, when I pass the tag, I'll reveal my F-rank physical abilities to the whole world.
'If I had known this would happen, should I have done something about this sluggish body first? No, but my assets are limited, what am I supposed to do!'
My thoughts became complicated, and at that moment, the fairy spoke clearly from the sky.
"There's one minute left~"
I had done everything I could to keep people from focusing on the tag game.
With one word from the monster, the sense of crisis surged again. The raiders took a couple more steps away from me, their expressions tense.
Honestly, I want to crush that fairy's cheerful head.
'Haaa.'
At this point, I really don't know what to do.
I pondered for a moment.
First, the closest person right now is Seon Uyeon.
But she is a B-rank.
Even now, she is looking at my mark with a face as cold as ice, and if I take action, she will run away in a flash.
Trying to play tag with an awakened one who is B-rank is reckless.
Then, naturally, the victim must be chosen from the people other than her.
"Hunter-nim, perhaps you should try to catch the fairy now…"
"As I said before, it's impossible. That thing is clearly using teleportation skills."
"But."
"Not just me, even if Jeong Haseong or Esther came, it wouldn't work. That much is certain, so don't make me waste my energy in advance."
50 seconds left.
Now I had to make a decision.
Should I get revenge on that ruffian who passed the ring to me? Or should I safely target the slow analyst?
But it seems like there is a correct answer to this problem after all. To go for sure, you must target the weak.
That C-rank hunter from the Association can withstand the tag even if it gets transferred to him right before the end.
When I think about it, he was just unfairly made the first tagger, and it's pointless to hold a grudge against him for passing the tag to survive.
'Okay.'
Then, it's the value judgment I always make.
'It's hard to die in their place just because they're pitiful.'
I decided to sacrifice an innocent weak person to preserve my life.
A very Alpha Uri-like idea, far from any noble cause.
I may be a body that likes altruism, but I never once said that I was good myself.
However, after a few seconds, someone suddenly stopped that choice.
"...!"
Mana suddenly approached.
Someone's touch on my back.
Surprised by the unexpected situation, I quickly turned my gaze.
What I saw was a long strand of black hair of an awakened one.
"What the…!"
—Thud.
Sparkle!
Seon Uyeon, who had touched my back and taken the tagger's mark, then hesitated and stepped back. She had her eyes wide open, as if she was surprised herself.
"3 seconds left!"
And at this moment. A signal announcing the end of the game flowed in the air.
"2."
"1."
"That's…"
Just as the fairy was about to start the unpleasant countdown.
The Earthling in a suit revealed the reason for her actions in a trembling voice.
"…Giryeo-ssi is an S-rank hunter, after all."
Strangely enough, her reason was exactly the same as the words the Association employee had made up, not even a word different.
"Because he's an S-rank hunter…"
She had taken my mark.
She took a deep breath, as if imagining the future that was about to come. Her face was terrified.
"It's all done! Now, the tagger will receive the penalty!"
At the same time, the 10 minutes ended.
Soon after, a green afterimage formed at the tip of the fairy's finger.
The afterimage grew into a powerful flash, and stretched out at a speed that was almost like light.
And then, a dull thudding sound was heard.
"Seon Uyeon!"
The Association's B-rank hunter fell down with a hole in her stomach, without making a single sound.
Giggle.
The wingless fairy laughed quite lightly even after causing such a big incident.
I wanted to tear off that fairy's skin right away.
But now was not the time. Seon Uyeon, whose abdomen had been pierced, was still spilling blood on the floor.
"Why?"
The other person had already told me the reason.
I still didn't understand the Earthling's actions. I was questioning it.
"Why on earth."
What does it matter that someone else is an S-rank hunter?
I urgently checked Seon Uyeon's condition.
A wound about 4cm in diameter that had pierced her side.
Even now, lukewarm blood, typical of warm-blooded animals, was flowing out of the open wound, and seeing this, a thought suddenly occurred to me…
'Huh?'
It's not an instant death?
Yes. It's not an instant death.
The area that was hit was far from vital points, and when I calmed down my anger, the amount of bleeding wasn't that great either.
'Wait a minute, now that I see it, it's almost a minor injury?'
Come to think of it…
Because of the actions of the fairies during the festival, everyone had subconsciously mistaken the penalty for death.
Looking back, that Apa didn't directly say that she would kill them if they lost the game.
As soon as I realized that Seon Uyeon was in a treatable condition, my mind was instantly organized.
"Potion!"
I then shouted towards the back.
"Does anyone have a recovery potion? Give it to me right away. Hurry!"
Then, another employee from the Association took out an emergency medicine. It was a liquid that seemed to be a mid-to-low grade recovery potion.
I poured the medicine he gave me onto the wound in front of me.
Fortunately, because the mana cannon had avoided the bones and major organs, the regeneration progressed quite quickly.
Looking at the circumstances so far.
It was highly likely that Seon Uyeon had fainted from the fear of death, not because her injuries were severe.
"Ah..."
As expected, when I shook her awake, her consciousness returned without difficulty.
She opened her eyes groggily and took a deep breath, like someone who had just come out of the water.
"Huh? I have a head… I'm not dead, I'm, I'm alive?"
She still seemed to be in a daze.
I sat next to her, who was talking nonsense, and explained.
"The penalty was different."
"Yes?"
"We misunderstood because the fairies in the plaza were killing people, but this time, it just ended with a hole in the body."
Then, Seon Uyeon opened her mouth slightly.
She seemed very surprised by her survival, but it was nothing compared to the bewilderment I felt.
I had never expected that B-rank hunter to do something that was practically throwing away her life.
"No, but why on earth did you take the tag?"
I was genuinely curious about the alien's brain, so I asked, and Seon Uyeon answered.
"Giryeo-ssi seemed like he really wasn't going to pass it on…"
"Yes?"
"Maybe we could lose an S-rank hunter in a place like this, and that's a bit, well, not right…?"
Seon Uyeon had made such a brave sacrifice, but she still looked terrified.
It seemed that the aftereffects of having made up her mind to die for a short time remained.
"Actually, the reason I said it was because he was an S-rank was also an excuse, it was just because it felt uncomfortable."
"…."
"…After my parents passed away like that, I just can't stand seeing someone get hurt in front of me."
"…."
"So, I did it to make myself feel better. Actually, it was to make myself feel better…"
She then added.
She said that she was originally this kind of person, so even if it wasn't me, she would have taken the tag anyway, so I shouldn't feel sorry.
Of course, even if she hadn't said that, I, being an Alpha Uri soul, didn't feel much guilt…
I fell into a long silence after hearing Seon Uyeon's words.
"Hunter-nim?"
And at that moment, a voice that disturbed my thoughts suddenly cut in from the air.
"-Thank you all for granting my wish!"
A high-pitched, tearing laugh. The fairy's unique intonation.
"It was fun to play. It was so much fun! I'm going to write about today in my diary. I'm glad you came to the kingdom."
Chatter, chatter.
At this time, the others couldn't hide their anger at the fairy's words and frowned.
No matter how annoying her words were, she was just a doll acting according to the blueprint.
"Hold my arm and stand up."
"Ah, thank you…"
It's foolish to pour emotions into an object.
So I ignored the fairy and took care of Seon Uyeon instead. Although I used a recovery potion, she would need support for a while.
Ch 170: Scenario Gate （4 62728282827
"Then, as promised, I'll show you the way!"
As we got up, the damn fairy spoke right after.
Actually, there's a secret forest in this kingdom that only citizens can enter, and maybe beyond that forest, there's the exit we're looking for.
Because 'they' also appeared through the forest.
"They?"
When the challenger asked, the fairy reacted.
"The giants."
The fairy shuddered as if it had feelings.
"They're bad guys. Giants like to eat fairies. And their skin is so tough! The light we use doesn't work at all."
The light mentioned here must refer to the magic missiles we saw earlier. The technique that pierced Seon Uyeon's abdomen.
"Geez, the giants are bad? Hey! Damn it, you guys are doing the same thing! You ate us and hurt us, yet you're shamelessly talking nonsense?"
But at this moment.
An analyst, unable to contain his anger, shouted in a dumbfounded voice, and the fairy blinked its almond-shaped eyes rapidly.
"The fairy and the giant are the same? What we do is just playing..."
"Shut up!"
"Don't you guys do that? Isn't there a rule that you hurt a friend who loses in a game?"
"Even if there is, it's just a flick on the forehead or a pat on the back! Anyway, you crazy...!"
"C-calm down. It might not be good to provoke the fairy too much."
The fairy still didn't seem to understand what was being said, even as the analyst was being restrained by another challenger.
"Different cultures? Are they different?"
However....
"Then, I'm sorry."
Not long after, the fairy started offering a kind apology. We were surprised for a moment upon hearing this.
"I didn't know the guests disliked this."
"Uh, uh....?"
"If you didn't like it, I won't do it again. Really."
The fairy even made a face that was almost a cry and bowed its head, and the awakened ones looked at each other with embarrassed faces.
They didn't expect a monster in a dungeon to act this way....
"Now, I'll guide you to the forest. It's a bit far!"
A little while later.
The wingless fairy showed an unexpected behavior throughout the way to the forest.
"By the way, aren't you thirsty? I have fruits. They're sweet. I'll give them to you."
Aren't you hungry? Aren't your feet hurting?
It was because it was showing all sorts of kindness, caring about the well-being of the guests following it.
"Hmm."
The analyst, who was furious just a moment ago, spoke hesitantly.
"If I'm not mistaken.... the fairies living here seem to be quite friendly, unlike other dungeon creatures."
I agree with this part.
"Um, excuse me. Fairy…nim? I have a question. Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Do you happen to know what a gate is? You're residents living here."
But everything ended there.
The analyst, who seemed to have a strong academic inclination, tried to extract some information from the fairy, but as expected, the resident here knew nothing other than its own background setting.
"I don't know."
It just repeated the same sentence every time it heard about the outside of the kingdom.
I already knew this would happen from the moment I noticed the identity of this dungeon, so I didn't bother to say useless things to it.
"You guys are talkative. I like that."
Flap.
The wingless fairy raised its voice as if it was having fun, looking at the challengers who kept asking questions.
Finally, the problematic forest it mentioned came into view.
"Oh, this is...."
"Is it a place you know?"
"It's the place we visited on the first day. It was blocked by something like a barrier, so we couldn't go inside."
I listened to what Seon Uyeon was saying and looked ahead.
A mysterious boundary surrounded by dense mana. It certainly doesn't seem easy to break through with ordinary methods.
"You need fairy dust to pass through this place! I can give it to you."
But at that time.
The fairy, which had been floating at a high altitude, came closer and stopped talking for a moment.
It should be preparing the dust or whatever quickly. Why is it suddenly standing there blankly, hesitating?
"Hmm. But...."
It was around the time we were wondering.
After a long silence, the wingless fairy barely uttered the next words.
"First, as promised, I've shown you where the path is, but… would it be okay if you didn't go in here?"
"What?"
"As I said before, this is a forest where giants live. Giants are really scary. I'm worried about you."
Droop.
The fairy drooped its body and expressed something similar to sadness.
But even if we hear those words, we can't stop the investigation. Our home is right outside that forest.
"Enough, just get that dust thing out quickly."
If possible, I'd like to go home before fatigue builds up.
I pestered the fairy, thinking about getting out of this gate quickly. Then, a reply came from the fairy.
"You're determined."
Somehow, its eyes seem to have become a bit more sparkling.
"Aren't you afraid of the giants?"
Pop.
Before we could answer, the fairy neatly clasped its tiny hands together and continued to speak.
"You seem brave. Okay. Then, I'll also be brave and do my best to guide you to the end of the forest."
"Okay."
"But, I have a proposal."
"What?"
"If you have the power to do so, I would like you to defeat the blue giant living inside. You don't have to if you don't want to."
"…."
"But if you do, I'll be very happy and will definitely reward you."
A new proposal.
The C-rank hunter in the back is saying he shouldn't listen to a fairy's request again, looking disgusted.
I quietly decide to carry out this errand.
"Defeat a giant. Does it even know what that is...."
"If it's a monster that eats fairies, doesn't that mean it's stronger than these things?"
"Oh my god, then what are we supposed to do..."
Unlike their worries, the fairy's natural enemy was a very easy opponent.
It's a bit awkward to say this when I was just struggling with tag, but anyway, I was the soul of a great magician.
I can gauge the mana of the creatures living inside without even entering the forest.
'It's about D-rank. And there's even an order from the resident to subjugate it.'
Just one level higher than the fairy's usual state.
Knowing the level of the enemy in advance meant there was no need to tremble in fear of the unknown, so I took this opportunity to use a shallow trick.
"If the giant is stronger than expected, I'll go hunting myself then. So, don't worry about it yet."
A struggle to maintain the S-rank image!
I said shamelessly that they shouldn't be afraid because there's a top-tier hunter.
Then, the survivors are all moved.
"Oh."
"Hunter-nim...."
If they're so easily fooled, it feels like I'm doing something bad to innocent people.
"Hmm."
Fortunately, the discomfort didn't last long.
A little later, we put on the white powder that the wingless fairy gave us and took our first steps.
And this is the scene that unfolded at the entrance of the forest.
"T-t-this. Could it be...?"
Crushed plate mail.
Broken staff.
And other things.
"The giant did this. It must have left only the clothes it couldn't eat here!"
We soon discovered a pile of magical tools that were presumed to be from hunters.
Seon Uyeon examined the items and soon confirmed the situation.
"It's the equipment of the missing treasure hunter team."
It seems that the advance team was annihilated in this section.
'What is this? It's all broken beyond repair.'
I clicked my tongue after confirming that there was nothing to salvage among the relics, and at that moment, Seon Uyeon spoke in a small voice next to me.
"Giryeo-ssi."
"Yes."
"Isn't it strange?"
"What do you mean?"
"The fact that the treasure hunter team entered this forest means that they were guided by that fairy, who is the only one who knows the way in the kingdom."
But why did Apa say that it had never met the treasure hunter team?
Seon Uyeon realized the contradiction and tensed up. But even after hearing those words, I calmly just changed my posture.
"Well, maybe that fairy backstabbed the hunter team that went ahead."
If it were a normal gate, it might do that to extract fear, but the standards here are a bit special.
'A scenario type would avoid the death of its prey unless absolutely necessary...?'
Maybe it's just a minor error.
I shrugged my shoulders and changed the subject. Anyway, it's not a problem that we can solve right away.
"By the way, are you feeling okay? If you're okay, try walking on your own."
"Ah, yes."
We gathered the traces of the advance team and continued the investigation.
It means we were following the pure white fairy to search for the exit.
'I wonder what planet that fairy originally lived on?'
Of course, as the guide warned in advance, we hadn't gone far before we encountered the 'giant'.
"Huh?"
"That's a giant?"
"Yes. It's a giant!"
The fairy's natural enemy had a form that was far from majestic, befitting its low rank.
A clumsy, square shape as if it were made of clay.
Its height was at most just a head taller than an Earthling. Moreover, its volume was so small that it even felt diminutive.
"It's so, so big! It's scary, right?"
Even that seems like a huge beast to the fairy, but anyway.
"Seon Uyeon-ssi."
"Yes?"
Slightly.
I pointed my chin in the direction of the giant.
"Take care of it."
"Yes?"
"After seeing it in person, I understand. It's a D-rank monster. Analyst-nim, you can see it clearly too, right?"
Then, the holder of the appraisal skill, who was mixed among the survivors, nodded.
The monster of the forest, which was only frightening, was actually just a low-level monster!
Whoosh, whack!
Seon Uyeon activated her awakened ability after hearing our words. And when the giant's body was easily cut by the wind she created, cheers erupted from behind.
"It's weak!"
"That's right. It's a weak monster!"
"Well, this is EX-rank, so it should be like that...!"
The atmosphere brightened in an instant.
The attack itself has a bright future, but we still have problems to solve, so we couldn't just laugh.
"Seon Uyeon Hunter, I'm sorry, but can you perhaps take care of the giants from now on?"
To hide the forged rank, I had to reduce unnecessary actions.
Of course, if I used the 『Hydra』, I could handle a monster like that too, but it's too strange for an S-rank to rely only on the power of poison.
The reaction of "why bother?" would accumulate and eventually develop into suspicion.
'For now, let's try to coax this Earthling well. Hmm, if I make an excuse that I want to check if she's applying the skills I taught her well....'
I wanted to entrust the giant hunting to the B-rank hunter next to me. But the reaction I got was surprising.
"Ah…. is it perhaps because of that reason?"
"Yes?"
"You told me before, that Giryeo-ssi's awakening ability is dangerous to use where there are people."
Whisper, whisper.
Soon after, Seon Uyeon whispered in my ear so that no one else could hear.
"But it's true that there are many people here who are close to non-awakened, so you must be careful."
"Hmm."
"Some might even faint if they are exposed to the mana of an S-rank."
She nodded as if she was determined, saying this.
"Anyway, I understand what Hunter-nim means. I will take the lead from now on."
Huh?
I haven't even tried any tricks yet.... she understood everything on her own...?
For a moment, I thought it was a relief, but that feeling soon subsided.
Suddenly, I wondered how much I had been bluffing that now even if I stay still, misunderstandings would roll on their own.
'I don't even remember when I made up the lie that Seon Uyeon is believing now.'
I pondered the sense of futility about my entire life for a moment.