Chapter 513.??? |
Chapter 513.???
"Then to Hunter Kim Giryeo, gates must look like something very negative, right?"
"Well, that's obviously..."
"You probably dislike [Dungeon Shock] enough that you'd want to eliminate it if you could. After all, it's the reason people can't even rest and have to keep working all the time."
Had this mammal been drinking in broad daylight? Logically speaking, it would be difficult for any modern person today to like those bizarre, demonic dens known as gates. So I asked why he was stating something so obvious, and the man with the indigo hair paused for a moment.
"_"
Then he spoke again.
"I'm sorry, but I just don't understand that ideology of yours."
It was rather awkward to hear someone else say the exact words the Archmage himself had wanted to say.
But it seemed Kang Changho had been wanting to say something like this for quite some time.
"If the country collapses, we can just immigrate somewhere else. The world is already busy enough with spending money and enjoying ourselves, so why do you always..."
"What do you mean?"
"Step forward and take a loss?"
"You couldn't understand me because I act in a way that puts me at a disadvantage?"
"This nation isn't a region with enough value to protect so desperately anyway."
He expressed these opinions without the slightest hesitation.
"So, Hunter Kim Giryeo, do you like Seoul that much?"
Why was he suddenly speaking of a city that had been minding its own business as if he were criticizing it? Still, from my perspective, there was no reason not to answer the question.
"Of course I like it."
The internet works well. There's plenty to eat. For the record, seeing as a man once turned up dead of starvation in the middle of the city center, I couldn't exactly describe it as perfect. But for many reasons, I had taken on the position of a guard for the Republic of Korea.
"And to be honest, my life has had quite a few storms. The only acquaintances I have left who are still alive are a few people in Korea."
"Hmm."
"And if I want to safely maintain those relationships, then opposing the gates becomes even more necessary."
The moment I answered politely—
"—What if you assume that while acting for those acquaintances, you yourself might die?"
Kang Changho immediately changed his attitude and countered. Now he began pressing the issue with a questioning tone.
"Even knowing that risk, are you still planning to stand at the front and oppose the gates, Hunter Kim Giryeo?"
"Why are you suddenly like this?"
"I'm sorry. But this is a more serious problem than you think, so I'd be very grateful if you'd answer as sincerely as possible."
"What..."
"Just so you know, the enemy threatening this world is some 'something' capable of creating unknown things called gates. And if you keep wandering suspicious dungeons collecting information to oppose something like that..."
"Keep wandering?"
"You'll probably die young."
Kang Changho spoke from the well-kept lawn of the garden. He was standing upright in the shade cast by the nearby wall. And from that position, he was offering something that was not quite advice.
"It's obvious the probability of dying will increase noticeably, so I'm really asking if you, our Kim Giryeo-ssi, are still going to help others as an S-rank hunter."
But just because someone questioned it, would the Archmage's plans change?
"Why does he keep interrogating me as if he's trying to determine the truth?"
I had already decided long ago to accept all the dangers of dungeons. Even if humans emphasized the risks and warned me, I would not reverse that choice.
"Ah. Perhaps he's acting like that because he can't believe an Archmage like me is protecting them? This is certainly a plausible assumption."
So, to reassure the suspicious mammal in front of me, I spoke seriously.
"I'd rather die than be unable to do what I want to do."
"You're not even a fire attribute, yet you live pretty fiercely."
This was similar to the intentions one would have while wearing the item called the [Pyromancer Necklace]. So Kang Changho quickly accepted it. If the other party had maintained the same attitude all the way from F-rank to S-rank, then perhaps the even unbelievable claim that he would help humanity was more likely to be kept.
"...Fine. I understand. Then next time I'll contact you again after I obtain a [Waterless Golem Core]."
An unexpected remark followed. As if he had nothing more to say, Kang Changho folded his arms quietly after mentioning he would look into the next weapon material I had requested.
"What about this Epic-rank blunt weapon? Can I just take it?"
He waved his hand dismissively at an artifact worth over a hundred billion won as if it were a stone. It seemed to mean he didn't want to be bothered any further.
"I wonder if gift tax applies to this... I was going to ask about that because I'm afraid of taxes..."
Well then, let's withdraw for today before he changes his mind. Since I happened to be on a crutch right now, I promised to continue the conversation when my body was in better shape and left his house. For reference, while I was walking out through the gate, Kang Changho lowered his head as if pondering something.
.
.
.
After that.
Another twenty-four hours passed on the planet.
[Shattered Foot Repair Complete 0]
"Yahoo!"
After receiving an artifact from a certain ex-convict, my weapon manufacturing schedule had unexpectedly moved to a light run. However, and since that laid-back ex-convict had even quickened his pace to get here, I assumed he would be fine with the focus on producing equipment.
"Hmm."
Step. Step.
I walked down a street in the city center with my leg injury fully healed. For the record, I was planning to stop by the Republic of Korea's item auction house today. However, as I was walking along the sidewalk blocks, a nearby shop window suddenly caught my eye.
"It's a clothing store."
Of course, I had no intention of buying anything there. Still, I became interested in observing through the glass to see what kinds of trends mammals were following, and just then—
—Vroooom...
From one side of the road came an engine sound that was rarely heard.
"Huh?"
And there was no need to confirm the source of that sound with my eyes. With the Archmage's instincts, I had already identified the driver.
"Kang Changho."
Soon a conspicuous car appeared on the nearby road. The Republic of Korea's third S-rank hunter had revealed his face from within a vehicle commonly referred to as a 'supercar'.
"Kim Giryeo!"
Good grief. And now he was even calling out such a precious name so casually while approaching.
Thud.
The driver who got out of the strangely shaped car came running straight toward the shop window. He even broke into a light run. However, since it was currently a quiet weekday morning, there were no pedestrians around, so there were no gates pouring in. In other words, even S-ranks could have a focused conversation comfortably.
"Yes. Hello-"
As usual, the conversation began with a greeting. But the first sentence the other mammal spoke was rather bewildering.
"This."
"Hm?"
"I found the next artifact you requested. Take it."
Let me correct myself. What filled my chest right now was not bewilderment, but fear.
"What?"
The items I had asked him to procure were all extremely difficult to obtain, yet he had brought them in rapid succession.
"No, uh... well... first of all, thank you..."
"Yeah."
"But I don't know if I can just accept such a rare item like this."
"You were the one who asked me to get it, weren't you?"
The sarcastic remark caused the conversation to halt briefly. But no matter how uneasy I felt, the artifact now in my hand possessed enormous monetary value.
"Perhaps friendship was something that could be bought with money after all...?"
Such a pathetic thought crossed my mind for a moment. Still, I quickly placed the material into my item box and barely regained my composure. And since that laid-back ex-convict had even quickened his pace to get here, I assumed he must also have something busy to attend to. I was about to end the conversation quickly when—
"Hunter Kim Giryeo. Since I kept my promise to procure the artifact, would it be alright if I said something I want to say now?"
This felt ominous. As I closed my mouth with an inexplicable premonition, Kang Chang-ho began proposing something new on his own.
"To be precise, there's something I'd like you to make time for."
"What is it? Is it urgent?"
"Not particularly."
"Then... did some extremely dangerous gate appear suddenly?"
"It's not either. If you have time, I was hoping you'd come to a certain restaurant with me."
"What?"
"Ah, and just so you know, at the restaurant I plan to talk only about personal matters completely unrelated to dungeons."
"_"
"Grabbing a drink and building rapport between colleagues in the same industry. Honestly, it's a very common proposal."
Come to think of it, I had often done similar things with Seo Esther. There just hadn't been alcohol. I had frequently eaten meals with people in the same field.
"What kind of intention is this..."
But hearing such words from an ex-convict naturally made me uneasy. Even aside from that feeling, I was simply busy. This was the era of Dungeon Shock. And at a time when everything was this hectic, asking a researcher to abandon experiments and raise a glass was—
"These days I'm already overworking myself often. This is troublesome."
After all, the artifact procurement had begun because he himself insisted on helping. So I cautiously declined the invitation to dine together.
"I'm sorry, but these days I'm too busy to make personal time."
Kang Changho nodded as if he understood.
"Ah, really?"
But the peaceful reaction lasted only a moment. The man with [Dragon's Eye] lifted his gaze toward the sky and remained silent in a way that felt unsettling. Then he spoke again with words whose intention was difficult to grasp.
"Even if I assume this side pays the meal cost of 500,000 won, it's still a no?"
Of course not. There was a saying on Earth that you should be wary of people who buy you beef, and yet he was offering to cover such an expensive meal without hesitation. Now I was genuinely uneasy. So with a reluctant expression, I declared that I couldn't make a personal appointment.
But the physical enhancement specialist, who was listening quietly to the refusal, suddenly added one more remark.
"You must have felt suspicious about the proposal I just made."
It was an extremely accurate judgment. And Kang Changho, raising his index finger slightly, continued speaking on his own.
"It can't be helped. Then shall I explain in advance why I suddenly made such a special request?"
"That would be nice."
"Hm. Actually."
A sentence starting with a common preamble. So I expected some trivial reason to follow. But without blinking once, Kang Changho calmly delivered the explanation.
"I had been engaged to a certain woman for several years, but due to various circumstances she dumped me recently and broke off the engagement. In that case I either have to cancel the omakase reservation I made earlier or go alone, and honesty that would be a waste."
"_"
"So I feel like I should drink with someone and talk about personal matters, but unfortunately the only acquaintance I can make this kind of request to happens to be Hunter Kim Giryeo."
"_"
"That's why I asked you to come to the restaurant with me."
What did you just say?