Shooaak! Sand flew up like a towering wave, sending Song Taewon sprawling backward. All skills except Plunder were forbidden, and he wasn’t allowed to reinforce his body with mana. He was to block attacks using only Plunder, and Song Taewon complied faithfully—though it was far from easy.

Rubbing his forearm where he’d taken the young Chaos’s kick full-force for failing to activate his skill in time, Song Taewon righted his disheveled posture.

“Once again, please.”

“It’s cracked, you bastard. Pretty, heal him.”

Noah, who’d been waiting, cast a healing skill on Song Taewon. Noah is pretty, but calling me that out in the open is a bit… Still, among the Elder, Hamin, and me, I suppose I’m the only one with any sense.

Song Taewon offered Noah a light bow of thanks and braced himself to take another attack from Chaos.

Before leaving for the Chatterbox party in the U.S., this was his last visit to the young Chaos. He’d dropped by in between, but this was the first time they’d all come together. The young Chaos frowned at the sudden crowd but didn’t seem to mind too much. Then it inspected Yuhyun and Yerim, me in turn, and finally Song Taewon.

“You really are strange.”

Chaos remarked as it kicked off Song Taewon’s shoulder and spun down.

“No matter how overwhelming the power in that vessel, it’s astonishingly clumsy for something you’ve had since birth.”

“Director Song can’t handle it, huh? Well, Yuhyun, wait a moment. Maybe you’re subconsciously rejecting it.”

According to the Elder, Director Song was extremely poor at handling the Plunder skill relative to his stats. He excelled at skill execution, but his Plunder was too weak. Normally, an S-Rank combat type like Director Song could draw enough Plunder to at least envelop an arm.

“You must be suppressing it.”

Chaos’s gaze made Song Taewon lower his eyes slightly.

“…I don’t know.”

“It’s been too long a habit for you to sense. Probably since childhood. Was there any event back then that might’ve triggered this?”

“Not that I recall.”

“Director Song can’t be trusted to speak of himself. Ach!”

“Yuhyun, go easy when he speaks, please.”

A newcomer watching me massage my arm spoke up quietly.

“Honey, I can do it better. Tentacles are the best—softer, less painful, and they even offer warmth, vibration, and moisture! They do low-frequency, too!”

“That’s enough.”

“Hyung, roll onto your side.”

“Just once, and you’ll change your mind!”

The newcomer had been championing tentacles every time we met. Probably because Myeong-woo refused them. Why insist on attaching tentacles to a perfectly fine human body?

“Don’t trust anything Director Song says about himself. It’s always ‘I’m fine,’ or ‘Don’t worry.’”

“You’re a lot like him.”

“What do you mean? He’s worse than me.”

Song Taewon glanced at me. Why? It’s true, but I’m still better than him.

“Or are you afraid of yourself?”

The thin wooden rod in Chaos’s hand swung with terrifying force. Pang—air exploded outward. Without skills or mana protection, even an S-Rank could have had their skin torn and flesh shredded. A black shadow coiled around Song Taewon’s forearm to block the rod. It glanced off—then in an instant changed direction and stabbed into his side.

“Share your strength!”

The Elder barked as he drove the rod mercilessly through Song Taewon’s ribs. I winced at the sight, but Director Song merely stepped back, plucked the rod from his body without a flinch.

“If you can’t keep up with the speed, split! How can someone so adept with his body and mana not even properly divide his shadow? It’s your power, after all.”

The Elder clicked his tongue and looked to me.

“You said your range broadened when I cast that skill on you. That must’ve been a placebo effect.”

“Really?”

“Sure. It’s odd your skills work at all against a force that devours everything it touches.”

That actually makes sense. If auxiliary skills don’t work on Plunder targets…

“Honey, it’s possible. Doubling attack skill effectiveness doesn’t just amplify power—it lets you adapt instantly. If your power suddenly doubles, you can’t control your body, right? The auxiliary effect helps with that, maybe letting Mr. Shadow use his shadows better.”

That auxiliary effect is common to other support skills, too. Director Song listened in silence.

“Still, if you were restraining your strength normally, it would burst out when your body’s in danger. …Well, that it hasn’t means you’ve survived so far.”

…Even at the cost of your life. Just as you never swallowed Seong Hyunjae. Song Taewon peered down at the much smaller Chaos with calm eyes.

“Then is it safer to leave me like this?”

“If it means remaining an ordinary S-Rank Hunter.”

The problem was nobody would leave him be once they knew he’d awakened. He never was one to retire quietly, either.

“Mental issues or interference aside, broaden your sense of your own limits and try using your power. Like it or not, your shadow is yours.”

Right. But accepting yourself… isn’t so easy. The Elder seemed to particularly dislike Seong Hyunjae sitting on the floor, but there he was, sipping tea with elegance.

“I still don’t know if you really resemble the young master.”

Hyunah whispered to Yerim across the table.

“The vibe’s completely different.”

“Well, the looks are somewhat alike.”

“But the eye color’s totally different. Still, handling Seong Hyunjae proves you’re a good person.”

Hyunah had applauded when Seong Hyunjae knelt so obediently. Then joked she’d become a fan of the Elder, and the young Chaos seemed to like her, too.

Thud—Song Taewon’s body was hurled onto the sandy ground. Even his martial arts are no joke, but he still couldn’t match the Elder. Hyunah let out a soft sigh, and Yerim murmured in envy.

“I still can’t keep up with the Elder’s movements.”

Everyone watched the two intently. Except Myeong-woo and the newcomer. The newcomer hovered by me, and Myeong-woo was finishing up work on the translation item. He said it still had some bugs, but it was usable. The other item he lent me looked incredibly useful, too.

“Shall we draw lots soon?”

At my words the newcomer fashioned a round container.

“Pick a color. Yuhyun, if you draw, you go without complaint.”

“…I think we should ask Peace’s opinion, too.”

“You think Peace will want to go with you?”

“If he knows you’re going alone, of course he’ll try to come along.”

Probably.

“Let’s decide by lottery first. I’ll put in a ball for Peace, too. Evelyn said anyone left is fine. Riet’s going with Soyeong-ssi. And Seong Hyunjae-ssi…”

“He’s already got plans.”

…Is Gyeol really okay? Worried, I let only those remaining choose a color.

“I’ll draw for you.”

S-Ranks can be so touchy. The newcomer assured me the balls were identical, but you never know. He plunged his hand in and drew out a yellow ball.

“Yerim.”

“If Yuhyun draws, we’ll redraw for elemental compatibility.”

The second ball was black.

“Government officer! Glad to have you.”

“Likewise.”

A solid pairing—Director Song was reliable, so I’d worry less about Yerim. The third was blue: Hyunah. And the fourth was red: Noah.

“You’re on a team with my pretty one.”

“Please take care of me, Breaker Guild Leader.”

“Call me noona. Or Hyunah-ssi if you prefer.”

Hyunah smiled.

Only Yuhyun, Evelyn, and Peace remained.

“Yuhyun, why not go with Evelyn? Seems okay.”

“Peace prefers it.”

My brother’s stubborn.

“He’s used to syncing with me. Even if distant support is strong, facing an unfamiliar opponent is uncomfortable.”

“You’re overthinking. He’ll dash off and not care. Going with Peace lets him move faster so he can catch up with you.”

Yuhyun’s right, and Yerim’s argument is plausible. Evelyn needs a teammate, too. Seong Hyunjae piped up.

“With an invitation, a Miller Hunter can pick freely. No worries.”

“True. Does Evelyn have close hunters abroad?”

“If she does, she does.”

He glanced at Hyunah. She pursed her lips.

“If it’s really impossible, you could go with Seong Hyunjae. If I could comfort Gyeol, that is.”

“One clause of the Miller Hunter contract is that you may refuse to accompany the guild leader only when absolutely necessary.”

So “anyone left” meant anyone except Seong Hyunjae.

“Or I could go?”

Myeong-woo, who’d been watching us, spoke up.

“Dangerous!”

“You must preserve your body, sunbae!”

The newcomer and I protested to Myeong-woo. He laughed, twirling the metal rod between his fingers.

“You assure safety. Besides, as an S-Rank, they can’t easily harm me.”

“Well… still.”

Word’s out that he upgraded an SS-Rank weapon, so S-Ranks know. They’re keeping it quiet, but rumors have spread enough. It’d be wiser to befriend him for a chance at SS-Rank gear rather than rival him.

“They might target the blacksmith side. He’s a key to protecting the world!”

A bouncing volleyball spun in front of Myeong-woo, shifting red, blue, yellow. He once said that even if the world ended, he’d carry me out.

“Let’s do a fun and productive crafting session! Want to see my workshop? I can sneak you in. Rare materials galore. You can’t take them out, but you can use them.”

The newcomer was desperate. Trying to tempt Myeong-woo with offers of collaboration—clearly personal motives. Like a puppy blocking its owner from leaving.

Anyway, we decided to ask Evelyn. Maybe she’d prefer another hunter over Yuhyun.

“I’ll set it up so you can visit Honey Dungeon in the U.S. too!”

“Thanks.”

“First.”

The young Chaos approached me.

“Don’t let people hurt you too much.”

“They can’t hurt me more.”

The Elder frowned at my ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) reply.

“Even heroes who’ve saved the world are bound to have haters. Some hate you just because you passed by.”

“Is that from experience?”

“Not my own. I heard of someone who was resented for flaunting their prowess.”

That must’ve been unfair.

“It’s not your fault. Even if you chose your loved ones over the world.”

“You’d get roasted for that.”

“Then those haters should save the world themselves. You help them, they’ll still hate you—just less.”

After all, even Yuhyun—who raided dungeons to protect me—had his detractors.

“Weren’t you on the world-saving side, Elder?”

“I do it because I want to. Doesn’t mean live recklessly. Live like a person. But never sacrifice yourself.”

Chaos, who’d been patting my arm, glanced back at Seong Hyunjae.

“Live for yourself, instead.”

I feel like I already am. The Elder stepped in front of Seong Hyunjae.

“Always put yourself first. As you are now. Sacrifice is a luxury.”

Seong Hyunjae tilted his head and let a faint smile play on his lips.

“A somewhat lonely story.”

“No pity.”

The Elder’s expression softened almost imperceptibly with sympathy. He bid farewell to the young Chaos and the newcomer, then stepped outside.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep