Chapter 34
“D-Don’t look!”
He wrapped his body with his four hands as if shielding himself.
“Nobody look at me!”
Gidan gripped his sword and slowly stepped forward.
One of Malikian’s hands swung “Biat’s Void.”
“Doooon’t looook!”
But with just a casual flick from Gidan, the sword was deflected and flew far away.
Malikian stared blankly at “Biat’s Void” before turning his gaze toward Gidan.
Gidan met his dumbfounded face.
Inside the hood that seemed impossible to surpass was such a pitiful man.
“…….”
That day, the anger and disgust that had clung like the smell of pool water refused to disappear.
Bottom of the 9th, 2 outs.
The runner on third could only attempt a steal.
A desperate dash for home.
A baseball that invaded dreams every night.
The past year had played back like a fast-forward.
A year later, standing again as a batter.
“Biat’s Desire” pierced through Malikian’s chest.
“Malikian.”
Gidan tilted his head slightly and asked with a calm demeanor:
“Still the smell of pool water?”
…….
Malikian didn’t answer.
But Gidan already knew the answer.
[Skill “Lion’s Breath” activated.]
[Skill “Purple Bloodstream” activated.]
Soon, magic exploded at the tip of the sword.
Ding-
[Achievement: <Sword that Defeated Biat’s Last Descendant> unlocked!]
Biat Swordsmanship 12-Form is inherited.
Crash!
Gidan threw the shattered sword to the ground. The fragments fell onto the fallen Malikian.
“Damn… this is tough…”
Ding-
Level up!
Gru, probably due to severe magic depletion, was fast asleep, leaning against the railing.
He didn’t know what he had accomplished, or what he had done for Gidan—he just slept like an angel, peacefully.
Gidan trudged over and sat down, leaning his back against Gru. The boy hugged him as if he were the most precious gift.
“I need to take Gru home…”
Continued blood loss made his vision blur. He vaguely saw the familiar form of a man in front of him.
“Ah… I’m gonna get scolded.”
Suddenly, it felt strange, like being mischievous kids about to hear their father’s lecture.
Ding-
[Dramatically overcame a risk far beyond your level!]
[Achievement unlocked.]
[Title: Walk-off Home Run]
A smile escaped him.
Placing his hand over his blurred eyes, Gidan’s lips curved into a soft line.
Ding-
[Measuring contribution…]
[Gidan ranked 3rd.]
[new less made bear MK.1 ranked 1,000th.]
A man stood before the sleeping Gidan and Gru, sitting side by side.
He let out a deep sigh.
[Title: 5252 Gidan! I knew it~!]
Is it real that our guild is ranked 3rd?
[Title: Every morning when I wake up, I’m surprised.]
That I’m part of “Hyeonak,” which has both the 1st and 3rd ranked members.
Going to the Hyeonak research lab, the wind brushes past my bangs.
With the wind comes the fame of Hyeonak.
So proud!
[Title: Today I showed my Hyeonak business card to the convenience store part-timer I always go to]
I usually buy a 2,000-won kimbap, but today I deliberately picked up a 5,000-won lunchbox.
As a member of Hyeonak, I must maintain dignity.
As I opened my wallet to pay, the Hyeonak business card accidentally fell… and her mouth dropped.
“Do you happen to go to Hyeonak, with the 1st and 3rd ranked members?”
“Sorry, but we politely refuse autograph requests.”
Hah… it’s exhausting rejecting countless handshake requests from convenience store customers.
[Comments]
Did you get electrocuted?
Hey, laborer!
[Title: I heard one more person joined?]
Does anyone know who it is? I’m really curious… Hyeonak, right? Ongeulma?
[Comments]
Probably? Then their ranking points would’ve gone up together.
If someone went, wouldn’t they have revealed it themselves?
Probably Gru.
ㅁㅈㅁㅈ If it’s Hyeonak, we all know it’s Gru.
Damn, it was Gru~!! lol
What does Gru even do lol
Just their presence gives us strength…
You ignoring my kid? If they cheer from the sidelines, even an S-rank monster is solo-able.
For our daughter, I might even be able to defeat an S-rank monster.
Japan dreams, Korea achieves…
Full stop.
[Title: Hyeonak hyungs, who is Gru?]
Is Gru a new Hyeonak hunter? Is it true that they teamed up with Gidan?
[Comments]
Just kidding, Gru’s 4 years old.
They are a new hunter, though lol
Hyeonak mascot
Hyeonak’s three main features: The decayed oil guild master, S-rank school meals, and Gru…
Why is only Gru named lol
Agreed.
[Title: I got a kiss on the cheek from Gru, what happens now?]
It’s just in my imagination.
[Comments]
Guild master, it’s this guy.
Gidan, it’s him.He came running in all flustered.
Look at the explosion in views.
Bro’s trolling a bit lol
Don’t do that to a 4-year-old —_-
Gidan hunting an S-rank monster alone caused a massive stir. Not just in the media or online communities, but inside the company as well.
“Team leader, how did Gidan defeat it alone? Did he… reawaken or something?”
“Some people are just talented, huh.”
“Is this a strategy team dinner?”
“Gidan’s on team 1, why are we having a dinner?”
“Oh, but he’s in Hyeonak too. Let’s do it! Dinner!”
While everyone else was in a celebratory mood…
“I’m sorry…”
“We’re sorry…”
The two underage members involved were kneeling inside the guild master’s office, heads bowed.
Joolim, sitting on the edge of the desk with arms crossed, tilted her head to the side.
Her usual lazy expression didn’t change, but today her eyes blazed like lasers.
Shiver.
Breaking the suffocating silence, Joolim said:
“Gidan, you’ll be reporting to the PR team for a while.”
“Huh?”
Gidan’s pale face became even paler. Recently, the PR team had been sharpening their fangs.
Other S-rank members from major guilds were appearing on TV, YouTube, commercials, even as luxury brand ambassadors.
Hyeonak had two S-rank members with looks to match, but one slept all day out of annoyance, and the other declared they wouldn’t go anywhere besides school and dungeons, angering the PR team.
And the guild master had recently caused a broadcast accident during an interview. They were surely frustrated but couldn’t show it openly; it was said they muttered curses quietly whenever the two passed by the PR office.
In that situation, having Gidan return triumphantly after defeating Malikian, only to be sent to the PR team, was like feeding a starving hyena.
“I’m going to get worked over….”
Gidan clutched Joolim’s pants pitifully.
“Hngh…”
“Speak up if you have something to say.”
“Um, still… isn’t that a bit too much? The guild’s been having a hard time recently.”
Gidan blinked, holding his hands together like a flower offering.
Gru opened their mouth.
“Dongie oppa must be really tired.”
Indeed, his face looked paler than usual.
Joolim tilted one corner of her mouth in a mocking smirk and chuckled.
“Try me. If you’re cute, I might reconsider.”
Gidan froze, stiffening. She knew him well enough to anticipate this reaction when a trap was set.
Joolim waved dismissively, as if she expected it.
“If you can’t do it, off to the PR team you go.”
“Hyung, just hit me instead!”
Gidan began begging as if vomiting blood.
Seeing things spiral worse, Gru, trembling with wide eyes, copied Gidan.
“G-Guild master… H-Hit… Gru- huh!”
Before Gru could finish saying to hit them, Gidan covered Gru’s mouth with his hand, and Joolim glared at Gidan with terrifying eyes.
“Watch your words in front of a child.”
