Chapter 18 Part 1: Red-Beaked Crow

“Jo Yeon-ho.”

I called out to him, and he turned around to look at me. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him face-to-face. That’s because he’s been strangely avoiding me ever since I got hurt.

“Why? I’m busy.”

He averted his gaze and pretended to be busy. Another guy next to me said,

“Yeonho, it’s okay, I’ll finish up here.”

he yelled, “Ah, hyung!” and got angry.

“What’s up?”

Before I could bring up the subject, he raised the tail of his eye sharply and added something else.

“By the way, do I have to talk to that kid next to you?”

The little girl standing next to me, Sun Ha-Rang, suddenly exclaimed in dissatisfaction. Even though I knew it was directed at me, I still didn’t say any word in response.

“I don’t care, I’m here to ask you a favor.”

I didn’t care and went inside. It didn’t really matter whether she heard me or not, because it wasn’t something she could figure out base on some fragmentary information.

“A favor? You?”

Jo Yeon-ho looked surprised at my words. I’m not really the type who asks people for favors.

“Do you think you can make … Some holy water?”

“Holy water?”

I nodded. Water that contains divine power is collectively called holy water. It is not easy to channel divine power into a substance. It’s mostly reserved for high-level healers. It could be used as a potion substitute, but more importantly, it could be a deadly weapon against the undead and demons.

“I can but it’s weak.”

I asked without expecting much, but it was possible? Apparently he was a higher ranked healer than I thought. I grasped both of his hands tightly and begged him desperately.

“Can you make some for me?”

“Hey, let go of me..!”

I grabbed his wiggling fingers
and squeezed them.

“Can you prepare some for me?”

Jo Yeon-Ho flicked my hand away and said,

“Okay.”

“Really? Thank you!”

“Uhhh……. No one’s been getting hurt lately, so it shouldn’t be too difficult, but why?”

“Just in case.”

“What the hell are you planning, this time.”

He grumbled, but he still said he’d give it to me in two days, and I could come back then.

I’d rather not have to use it, but It’s still better than none, albeit weakly.

“What are you going to do once you get out of this gate?”

Kim Ki-taek, who was guarding my side, suddenly asked. It was a random question.

“I don’t know.”

Maybe I’ll go back to being a hunter. I’m not completely unwilling to pretend I don’t know anything, and just live a normal life. It’s true that the life of a Hunter is fierce and painful, but there’s an inevitable battle coming, and when I think about it…

“Have you ever thought about becoming a Hunter?”

Wow, this guy can even read my mind?

“Hunter?”

I’m only an 「Awakener 」right now, so I guess I have no choice but pretend to be one.

“The 「Red Flames」 offers training opportunities to new 「Awakeners 」 who seemed talented. Did you know about this?”

“Uh, yeah. I know.”

It’s no secret that large guilds operate private academies to nurture their own Hunters. Who, unlike the national academies, eat, sleep, and dress under the thorough guidance of the guild. So they are forced to swear lifelong loyalty to that guild in return.

“If I were to recommend you, How would you feel about it?”

He gave me an incomprehensible look. I’m pretty sure I know what he’s looking at me for.

While traveling with 「Backwater, I did not just eat and play around either. I could take down  an E-ranked beast by myself. So even with the guards by my side, I’d still occasionally go out and get some monster meat. I’m sure they were watching me closely.

They had seen me fight, and had probably heard the stories of our battle with the Rodents. But…

“I’m not interested in joining the 「Red Flames 」.”

I had no intention of joining the 「Red Flames 」 . I need a guild with a more free-spirited atmosphere.

“It’s stifling.”

Because of their size, many large guilds, including the 「Red Flames 」, often have a strict hierarchy for control. They prioritize guild-level requests over individual ones, and sometimes have to make choices for the guild rather than the hunter himself.

I had the experience of flying solo in「Backwater 」, leaving behind Pyo Yeon-Won as the chief. So I don’t necessarily need that kind of claustrophobic atmosphere. My abilities really shine when I have more freedom.

“You speak as if you know 「Red Flames 」very well.”

“I know the basics.”

“Then you also realize what a great opportunity this is, don’t you?”

If I were a true New 「Awakener 」, it would be an opportunity that would never come again.

A scouting offer from a large guild. It’s a dream come true for many 「Awakeners」, and I’m sure there are many Professional Hunters working in small and medium-sized guilds who are desperate to get into the eyes of the 「Red Flames 」 somehow. So starting a career in 「Red Flames 」 is a kind of an elite course.

However, I’m someone who has reached the top through non-elite means. The name of the guild meant nothing in the face of the overwhelming power of the individual.

“Still, I’m not interested.”

“Why?”

He asked in a tone that said he really didn’t know why: Oh The arrogance of a guild that had never been rejected.

“I don’t like ‘hot’ things.”

I joked around and chuckled slightly at the pun.

It must have been five days ever since I sent the crow. It was the time when I was waiting tediously for a response.

I went to bed as usual, Jeon Chung-Woon was waiting outside the tent. A little while later and he will be switched out by Kim Ki-taek or Sun Ha-Rang.

With the holy water from Jo Yeon-ho in my arms, I tied the Karambit around my waist and went to sleep.

I drifted off to sleep without realizing it, and when I woke up…

“You’re finally awake.”

Beelzebub was in front of me.

What?

Am I dreaming or something? It seemed too realistic.

Instead of a barely stocked tent and a creaky iron bed, I was on this fire pit and a fluffy mattress that felt too soft against my skin.

Seriously, I didn’t even realize that I was being moved. I reached for the Karambit in my waistband reflexively.

“What’s wrong?”

Beelzebub acted as if he didn’t care that I was on high alert.

He was reading a thick book, while seated on a chair carved and embossed with ornate patterns. The table was antique, and the teacups on it smelled quite fragrant. He looked like a medieval nobleman.

“Wasn’t it you who called for me?”

TL NOTE:

They finally met. Hahaha~

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