NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19
The image materializes—a straight hole piercing through the forehead. Evidence that the magic bullet penetrated the brain, yet the beast wouldn’t stop.
Its strides remained proud and defiant. True to its title as the Mountain Tyrant, the creature refused to fall. A grim thought crept in—could its regeneration have restored its brain in such a short time?
“―――!”
I wanted to keep my distance and observe, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. Frozen from mental exhaustion, I could only watch as it approached me, jaws opening.
“…….”
In that moment, I let out a weak chuckle. Its eyes had lost their focus. When I lightly prodded it with a tentacle, it toppled over, lifelessly swaying to the side. Its pupils were completely dilated. The heart still beat, but it would stop soon enough. I felt deflated at the realization that it was already dead.
Yes, it was dead. But despite confirming its death, it didn’t quite register. It seemed like it could spring back up at any moment, yet it lay still on the ground. Compelled, I moved closer and devoured it.
[Experience points have reached maximum. Lv.7 → Lv.8]
[Experience points have reached maximum. Lv.8 → Lv.9]
[Conditions for Lv.10 achievement met]
[Experience points have reached maximum…]
Having mindlessly consumed it, I activated stealth and dashed beyond the territorial limits. I swiftly climbed the hill and gazed in awe at the beautiful landscape.
I reached the peak in one breath and opened my status to check.
[Mountain Tyrant (Worg{Abnormal}) Lv.14] [EXP 952 / 19124]
[Body length 1.24m] [Height 64.7cm] [Weight 34.2kg]
The first noticeable change was a title swap—from the owner of the Snake Bone to the Mountain Tyrant. It meant I had robbed it of its original title.
Joy flooded in, filling my chest with a sense of accomplishment I hadn’t felt while hurriedly eating it. Finally, I had achieved all my goals in this mountain.
Without a doubt, I was the strongest on this mountain. Excited by the fact that I had conquered Jirisan.
What a time it had been. A relentless struggle after relentless struggle—days I never wanted to relive. But having crossed the threshold of life and death, I had finally arrived here.
It hit me only now—I’d actually slain the monstrous wolf. Overwhelmed by elation, I couldn’t help but howl.
“――――――!”
[The proficiency of Threat (F) Lv.3 has reached maximum. Threat (F) Lv.3 → Threat (F) Lv.4]
[The proficiency of Threat (F) Lv.4 has reached maximum. Threat (F) Lv.4 → Threat (F) Lv.5]
Surprised by my sudden rise in threat level, I figured the animals around were scared. I began inspecting other stats. The first thing that caught my eye was the level. Up from 7 to 14 in a snap.
Just how much experience did I gain?
The requirement for level 7 was around 9,000, of which I had filled about 6,000. For level 14, nearly 20,000 experience was needed, meaning I must have gained close to 100,000 experience!
Indeed, that monstrous wolf warranted such a statement.
Prior to changing, my stats were [Strength 91] [Agility 99] [Stamina 167] [Magic Power 30]
Afterward, they became [Strength 111] [Agility 124] [Stamina 193] [Magic Power 45]
Overall, my stats had seen a significant spike. Usually, when a level rises, each stat increases by about 2 to 3 points, but this seemed unusually high for a jump from level 7.
Stamina 193. The wolf’s stamina was 233, so I had closed the gap considerably. I wasn’t sure if I could grow as massive as it, but by then, I would likely be much stronger than it. After all, I’d have skills too.
Then, my thoughts turned to Euna.
Though she had fallen during the fight, there was no way I could have taken it down without her. She had remained alive until the end, and I assumed she had made it back safely, capturing whatever faint signals remained. Surely, she was alive. I nodded slightly and checked my skills.
[Skill List]
Gluttony (E) Lv.9, Tentacle Cluster (E) Lv.3, Detection (D) Lv.2, Weak Regeneration (E) Lv.8, Weak Stealth (E) Lv.8, Spying (E) Lv.4, Weak Hearing (F) Lv.9, Weak Intuition (F) Lv.6, Weak Vision (E) Lv.4, Damage Reduction (D) Lv.3, Hardening (D) Lv.3, Transformation (E) Lv.2, Weak Poison Resistance (F) Lv.1, Threat (F) Lv.5, Hunger (E) Lv.6, Swimming (F) Lv.4, Diving (F) Lv.4, Resilience (E) Lv.8, Insight (E) Lv.3, Charge (E) Lv.3, Semi-Feet (E) Lv.3, Weak Smell (E) Lv.3, Excellent Instinct (D) Lv.1
[Remaining Skill Points: 7]
‘Gluttony should reach D grade soon enough.’
Honestly, I expected eating the monster wolf would boost it to D grade, but I had to settle for just leveling up from 8 to 9. Overall, my skills had improved as well.
Quite a few skills had reached level 9, and it wasn’t long until they hit their maximum level. With 7 skill points accumulated, I had a decent buffer…
[Mountain Tyrant: The one who conquered the mountain. All living beings on the conquered mountain submit.]
Above all, this title proved that I had become the king of the mountain.
Submit. It must be related to my threat level rising by two. As I wrapped up checking my stats, I instinctively passed the administrative office. The First Gate. A jumble of unreadable characters. Staring vacantly upward, I noticed a tuft of fur dropped at the foot of the steps.
It was black fur, slightly different from my own. It couldn’t possibly come from the monster wolf; most likely a bear… I chuckled bitterly.
The bear I had spent time with had apparently followed me this far. It was already out of sight and detection, but I hoped it would live long. I hastened my steps.
Now, it was truly time to leave Jirisan.
***
“So you applied for a transfer again?”
“Ah… yes.”
“Are you out of your mind? Is the clan a joke?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“You. You’re already being disciplined, aren’t you?”
Euna, sipping her coffee, had her lips twitching. The price of her impromptu visit to Jirisan was a painful six-month pay cut.
“…You call me every time for a deployment.”
“Did I? That was the team leader. Anyway, the train left a while ago. Just go and work.”
“Sunbae~ Can’t you do something? Please?”
“…….”
With her desperate plea, Woo Taek sighed. Euna’s friends, huh?
“Those greenhorns?”
“…….”
“Not at all…?”
A brief silence. Woo Taek sighed deeply, as if to change the atmosphere.
“Fine. Let’s hear it. Why do you want to come back?”
“…….”
You used to hate being a hunter, right? That’s why you moved to the office, wasn’t it?”
Euna’s lips sealed shut at the pinpoint remark. Looking down at her, Woo Taek thought to himself.
She had talent. No doubt about it. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have been brought into the dawn in the first place. The team leader wouldn’t have lamented her departure each time, either.
But she couldn’t do it. Their personalities didn’t match. He had spoken to the team leader before—he had no intention of bringing Euna back into Search Team No. 3. Being a hunter inevitably wore one down.
Fighting something always gnaws at oneself. One couldn’t slack off in training and discipline to avoid being devoured by monsters, and even after killing one, the smell of blood clings to you. While children may idealize being hunters, it wasn’t as glorious as it seemed. Having briefly experienced being a hunter, she should be aware of this too.
It felt wasteful to let go of her talent, but it was far better than watching a person break. Woo Taek shook his canned coffee.
“If I don’t say anything until you finish your drink, I’m just leaving?”
“…Do I have to?”
“Aaaaah! I got it. I got it! …Stingy.”
“Huh?”
“Just… can you pretend you didn’t hear that?”
Euna’s lips resumed their fluttering.
“You know? Last time… I know it sounds stupid, really?”
“…….”
You asked if I saw anything at the end. Because of that…”
“Hmm.”
“At the very end, someone saved me. I’m sure that’s how it went. And I just wanted to confirm that…”
As Euna rambled on, Woo Taek let out an exasperated sigh.
“Does that make sense?”
“…….”
You said that thing saved you from Alpha? On that mountain?”
Alpha. The codename of the Worg on Jirisan. The top of the two Worgs that still hadn’t been captured, rumored to have evolved into another species.
“…Yeah.”
“Fine, let’s humor that.”
“…….”
“So you’re saying that slime saved you?”
“That’s not it, I mean really…”
“So what exactly are you trying to come back for?”
Euna fell quiet. The reason she wanted to return. She had thought it over but drew a blank when asked. Deep down, she understood how ridiculous her thoughts were.
You said Alpha saved you. But Alpha is still alive. Assuming what you’re saying is true… that means the slime saved you, then died?”
That made sense. Euna nodded, albeit somewhat listlessly.
“…….”
You know what you did wrong, right?”
I caused chaos at Jirisan without permission and disrupted the team…”
“No, Euna. That’s not it.”
Woo Taek shook his head, sighing.
“Can’t you see? You’ve forgotten your position.”
“Forgotten…?”
Your predicament. You’re not a hunter right now. Did you make a mistake? Sure. You certainly disrupted your team. That’s a reason for punishment. But you’re talking nonsense about the slime saving you.
“Nonsense…”
Downcast, Euna leaned against the edge of the rooftop.
“Maybe it’s not nonsense for you. But for us?”
“…….”
Why would a slime save you? And how would it stop Alpha?”
“…….”
Even if I think it’s possible, what would others think?”
She had nearly died twice after venturing to Jirisan. Once for leaving her work without notice during deployment, and once while in a hospital bed. And now her words sounded utterly crazy. Euna found herself helplessly exhaling at the ground.
“And you think you told me that you’d quit the office and want to go back to Search Team No. 3?”
“…….”
I can’t say anything else. Just go apologize and work hard.
“…But…”
“But? Listen, are you even hearing me?”
“Did you hear what I said?” Woo Taek couldn’t finish the thought as he saw Euna bent over, her head hanging low.
“I still want to go. Please.”
As she insisted and remained stooped, Woo Taek accidentally locked eyes with her. Her gaze held something pure. Confronted by those deep emotions in her eyes, he found himself at a loss for words.
“It’s fine if you call me crazy. I’ll endure any scorn from others.”
“…You.”
“Even so, I want to find it.”
Woo Taek finally realized what was in Euna’s eyes: it was poison.
“I’m not searching for the slime.”
“…….”
“That wolf you called Alpha?”
“What are you planning to do with Alpha?”
“I’ll kill it.”
No hesitation in the response made Woo Taek grasp Euna by the shoulders.
“Get a grip! Euna! Didn’t you just say you’re no longer a hunter?”
“…….”
“Are you really crazy?”
“I! It saved me twice! What about…?”
If I can’t even do that? Euna bit her lip.
“I will definitely kill Alpha. No matter what. I must.”
With those bold words, Woo Taek shut his eyes tight. It wasn’t an impossible endeavor, particularly if she set her mind to it. With the talent she had once displayed, she could have already become a team leader, had she come from an Academy instead of a regular school.
Her talent was enticing enough that they scouted her, and it was also the reason the team leader had been unwilling to let go. If she truly meant what she said…
“……”
It didn’t come off as completely impossible. Instead of asking her if she was serious, Woo Taek simply gazed into her eyes—an answer to that question was clear in the venom that glimmered within them.
“Please. Sunbae.”
“……”
“Let me return to Team No. 3.”
With her second plea, Woo Taek leaned against the railing, resting his forehead on his arm. After a long moment of contemplation, he spoke.
“…I’ll at least mention it.”
“……!”
“Don’t get your hopes up. The team leader won’t be thrilled about your return.”
“Thank you!”
Whether he heard it or not, Woo Taek shook his head and headed inside the building. Euna nudged the coffee can on the railing and let out a small chuckle.
‘You said to talk until I finish drinking.’
Already an empty can. She laughed at her clumsiness but soon her expression hardened at a name that popped into her mind.
“Alpha…”