Evolution Theory of the Hunter

“Yes. I heard that you had all been in danger. I’m thinking that I’m glad that I wasn’t very late.”

“Hm…… I see.”

His expression was stiff. He was probably trying not to show it but it should hurt quite a bit. Why did you challenge me to a battle of strength.

I had power that wouldn’t lose out to a level 10 hunter. Unless one completely armed themselves with skills that increased power and such equipment, it would be impossible to win against me.

In the first place, there weren’t many people that could match me in my base stamina and strength but the Effort skill’s buff is considerable as well after all.

I saw his face crumple up a bit and let his hand go. If it was this much, the greeting was done.

After finishing the hand shake Eum Young-hyeon suddenly started laughing.

“I encountered a mishap after recklessly testing a hero huh.”

“Yes?”

“Sorry. My competitive spirit rose after seeing a person that made the several thousand Chungho Group members fall into chaos with his own strength. You get more childish the older you get.”

He was unexpectedly broad minded? I thought he had a nasty personality since he suddenly challenged me to a strength fight.

“Either way, thanks. I survived thanks to you. To be honest, I was thinking that I might die here you see. Although I didn’t say it to my subordinates.”

“Even if it wasn’t for me it would have been possible to win since General Eum is here.”

“Now now. The flattery is enough with that. Then, should we talk about the specifics inside?”

Eum Young-hyeon showed us into his tent.

The inside was considerably wide and a map of the key areas was hung on the wall.

He opened his mouth after sitting on a circular chair.

“The Chungho Group did retreat but a fair amount of their troops are still preserved. Do you have some kind of plan for that by any chance?”

“I don’t know anything about tactics. I was just lucky this time around too.”

“This young friend is humble. I never saw such a scene in my life you know. A monster army of that size…… right, there’s something I want to ask…….”

“Please.”

“What happened to the corpses of the Chungho Group members? There weren’t that many left.”

Among the 1,000 dead, most had been returned to the void and evaporated.

The ones left was only about 100 or so.

“Monster need to be fed too.”

“Hm…….”

The change is expression was quite a sight. Of course, it couldn’t be helped that it was uncomfortable for a person.

“Ah. Sorry. I have a physiological antipathy towards monster after all.”

“It’s fine to not apologize for each and every thing. I would have done the same thing after all.”

He carefully opened his mouth.

“In that case the items as well…….”

“They were probably eaten as well.”

“As expected……!”

“Is there a problem?”

“No. My life was saved by you so I can definitely yield that much.”

It seems he’s thinking that it’s certain that I have collected it. It was the truth too. But since he said he won’t cause problems about it I’m only thankful about it.

“Well, that topic is over now, can you tell me about the monsters?”

I obvious predicted that question.

People that summoned spirits and used them were rare but existed, there were also skills to tame wild animals. However, there was not a single person until now that could control monsters.

Either way, the battle has been won so he would have to report how they won so it was obvious that he would be curious about my ability.

I had also already decided my answer to that.

Hide a few things and say a few things honestly. It was something that would surprise people but as always it was curiosity that would disappear like a flash of light. Hiding it in a poor manner would be a bigger problem.

“Tamed monsters disappear if they die. Their food is usually items. If you don’t give it to them then the binding will be gone and will rampage.”

The lies I was said with a serious face were being written down by him.

I felt a bit sorry but it wasn’t like I could say everything as it is after all.

“So there’s something like a restricting conditions?”

“It does exist but…… I would like to refrain from saying that.”

“Certainly, it’s like exposing yourself after all. My curiosity builds up as I get older.”

He was similar in age to Manager Kim so wasn’t it a bit early to say that he was old.

Then again, most hunters retired before they became middle aged.

It’s said that really successful people have a method of maintaining their physique by having more skill slots.

They said that there are rare skills that prevent the aging of the body or return the body to how it was at its prime after all.

Since Lee Hui-seung also has a body that seems like he’s in his thirties it can’t be a complete made up story. That guy is already almost 80 you see.

After a few more questions were exchanged Eum Young-hyeon extended his hand once more.

“I will put your name in the report in a cool way so look forward to it. There might a good bonus from the government.”

“I won’t have any big hopes.”

Maybe if there was something they could lose but there’s no way those scrooges would use money after the problem has already been solved.

I didn’t have anything to lose either anyway. I was already feeling full just looking at the item list. If it was this much it was enough for me to play around for the rest of my life.

For now, I should buy a new house. I was busy until now so I couldn’t think about expanding my house but since I should be able to live freely for a while.

“Seonbae oppaaa!”

Soo-ah flew towards me with great force. It wasn’t a metaphor, she was really kicking the sky.

Is this some kind of body slam.

“Ahh!”

Soo-ah who hit the ground head first let out a scream. Why did you dash at me so noisily. I might have accepted you if you did it moderately.

“Wow. That’s just wrong. We met after such a long time.”

“It hasn’t even been a day.”

“Is, is that so? I thought at least a week passed. Heehee.”

“Whatever. The other people.”

“They’re waiting outside. There might be a fuss if they see monsters after all.”

“Well, the people that need to know already know. Just tell them to come in.”

“Yes sir.”

Not long after Soo-ah called, my party members came through the wooden fence. Dozens of monsters were coming in in a line behind them so onlookers came in droves.

“Wow. Isn’t that a Milworm? I almost died because of that once.”

“Me too. This scar was from getting bitten by a Milworm.”

“Bullshit. If you got bitten by a Milworm it wouldn’t be a scar but losing an arm or leg.”

“Seriously. I’m saying that it’s the truth so why aren’t you trusting me?”

“You should say words that can be believed to be trusted.”

Exclamations came out every time a monster passed by.

That sound climbed to the maximum as Edward passed by.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he looked like a prince riding a white horse as he slowly came in on a horse.

The exclamations of female hunters could be heard.

“Wow. Isn’t that oppa amazing?”

“Isn’t he a celebrity? He looks really good though?”

“What’s so good about a guy that looks like the brother of a prostitute…… Women really don’t know anything.”

“Tell me about it. It’s not even winter so what’s up with that coat?”

The glares full of jealousy poured down on him at the same time.

“Hm……?”

The guys that matched eyes with him retreated a bit with a twitch.

Don’t get red faced. You bastards.

I let out a sigh as I despawned the monsters.

The sightseeing was enough with this much.

Despite having the horse despawned, Edward stayed in the sitting position as he slowly landed on the ground.

I could hear the sound of the female hunters collapsing.

Should I say that his every move has elegance to it. He’s like a leech that rolls around in the house without doing anything but once he comes out he poses like that.

The fact that it even works is something that makes my stomach turn over.

“Urg. Party leader. Why did you suddenly despawn them.”

Jang Moon-bok’s group had fallen off the horses and were rubbing their bottoms.

Since the original party was all riding in the van Jang Moon-bok’s group were the only ones that suffered.

“Ah. Sorry. I didn’t know that you guys were riding as well.”

I could only see Edward posing after all. I did feel a bit sorry.

After ending the parade that wasn’t really a parade we entered our assigned tents.

The inside was pretty wide but it couldn’t be compared to the van so it was decided that Jang Moon-bok’s team 2 and Park Chan-hyeong would stay there.

It wasn’t easy to trace the surviving Chungho Group members.

The outstanding recon members had died before this battle and the ones left were all battle members so it was impossible for them to find the traces of the Chungho Group.

I tried flying a few eagles but because they all got shot down by arrows there wasn’t much of a gain.

I was thinking about sending the Milworms but there was no way of knowing where they were doing what. It wasn’t like they could talk and the only thing they could do was dance around by shaking this way and that way and vomiting the monsters they ate.

The latter was something they did for Han Joon-suk saying that it was a present. The person himself was happy but the rest of us that were watching from behind almost vomited.

In such a situation Park Han-bum came forward.

The tracing techniques and outstanding camouflage ability that he learned during his soloing period was decent for figuring out the Chungho Groups movements.

The only worry was sending him on his own.

“Will you be okay? It might be dangerous. There can be hunters above level 7 among them too.”

Park Ham-bum’s level could be seen as around 5. He did have a level 6 bow but the other items and skills including the accessories were level 5 after all.

“All you have to do is attach a hunting dog to me.”

He pointed at Kelby that Yeon-gyeong was hugging.

I inspected Kelby after receiving him from her.

Hell’s Guard Kelberos (0)

Growth Points : 53

Special Ability : Grows by using items as food. Grows more the higher the level of the item. Does not die. Can gain additional abilities by growing.

Additional Ability : Can eat monsters.

His growth points had reached 53 at some point. He had gone around as a monster level among level 3 monsters when he was at around 40 so since he’s a bit over 50 he should be seen as being similar to a level 5 or 6.

However, it was not enough to use as a guard.

I opened the item list and poured out all the broken items that have been piled up until now.

Dozens of items fell and roll around on the ground. I started thinking that it would have been worth quite a bit if they were in good condition.

Park Chan-hyeong and Jang Moon-bok’s team’s eyes went wide.

Chan-hyeong opened his mouth.

“This. Are these all items?”

“They’re broken ones. Things that you can only get the price of the metal.”

However, it was seen as everyday food for Kelby.

“Eat it all.”

“Woof!”

As I put Kelby in front of the broken items he started diligently chewing on the items. Perhaps he thought it wouldn’t be enough with his small figure, his body grew bigger as he ate.

Kelby ate away the items like he had been starved for a week. It was quite a bit but I could see the items disappear in mere moments.

Looking at someone else eat somehow made me hungry as well.

“How about we eat something as well?”