Chapter 22
[Skill ‘Knead-Knead’ Activated.]
[Prickly Duck Clamp Infused with Mephisto (Defective)]
Reduces the defense of targets attacked within the Frost Clan’s domain by 50%.
Increases the owner’s attack power by 100% within the Frost Clan’s domain.
Can create snow ducks using magic.
“Defective?!”
There was a slightly annoying part, but—
“You can make snow ducks with magic?”
After infusing magic into the duck clamp and opening it, a snow duck really appeared.
Regardless of the season, they could now obtain fresh snow ducks endlessly…!
“To think I’d get such an amazing ability.”
He could always throw snow ducks now. His shoulders shook with joy.
Then, he had to test this incredible option.
When Gru made a snow duck and threw it, a giant slime exploded.
“…!”
One shot!
Gru’s body trembled.
“To think such a huge slime was one-shot.”
He looked down at his hands, now like fluffy bear paws thanks to the suit.
“Is this… Gru’s power?”
He clenched his fist into a tight ball.
“Incredible.”
He felt he had taken one step closer to becoming the ultimate, strongest hunter.
But it was scary too. The duck clamp felt oddly heavy. Is this… the weight of power?
He wanted to sweep through the dungeon with his newly gained strength immediately.
But he had to hide it.
Until he could grow stronger like in I, Hunter Only Level Up and avoid being exploited by bad people…
Gru shaped another snow duck and threw it at the remaining giant slime.
Bang! Bang!
As two giant slimes exploded in succession, Gru curled a side of his lip into a sneer.
“Hah!”
[Dungeon ‘Cradle of the Frost Clan’ Cleared]
A notification window popped up, giving him rank points based on contribution.
He confirmed a prompt asking if he wanted his name on the ranking board and entered his hunter name as ‘Half-Made Bear MK.1’.
He wasn’t on the board yet, but this would be the first step toward legend.
Briefly basking in euphoria, Gru trotted to his bicycle.
“Better get out quickly.”
Since he had gotten carried away defeating the boss, the dungeon had been cleared, so the bus driver would return soon.
Turning the handlebars, he tried to leave the boss room before being discovered.
At that moment, a long line suddenly appeared in the air behind him. Like unzipping space, it cut through and appeared.
Several newly spawned slimes trembled at the terrifying magic.
It’s crimson eyes flashed wildly. Within its long eye, three pupils swirled around.
Then it seemed to sniff the air deeply as if sensing something, stretching out skeletal fingers.
Poke.
Its index finger touched the back of the small bear doll’s neck.
“Huh?”
Sensing something strange, Gru turned around—but there was nothing there.
“Good work.”
“Good work! But Hunter, what happened to the boss room?”
Since the dungeon was cleared without the bus driver even entering the boss room, someone asked Lee Sang-hyuk.
“Well… it’s the first time I’ve seen bosses self-destruct… Anyway, since it’s cleared, there shouldn’t be any issue getting your hunter license. If anything goes wrong, contact us. We can run it again.”
“Ah, okay. Thanks.”
“Thank you for today.”
“Thanks. Go on inside.”
“Yes. We’ll visit again next time.”
The party safely dispersed, and when Gru stepped out of the dungeon entrance, he saw rain falling heavily.
“It’s raining.”
Some people hesitated, shading themselves at the entrance.
“Mom! Why are you here?”
It was Yejin, a prospective hunter who had shared bread with him.
“She’s so dramatic even when meeting me.”
“Oh, I’m embarrassed.”
“I came because it’s raining and I was worried.”
Her mother lightly smacked her back and walked holding Yejin in her arms.
Watching their backs, Gru opened his mouth.
“Jealous.”
It reminded him of kindergarten dismissal time—when friends’ parents came to pick them up.
Gru had always watched his friends’ families blankly before following the teacher onto the kindergarten bus back to the daycare.
“But Gru can head home on his own.”
He had a bus card and knew how to use map apps.
Gru rode past the people on his bike.
As expected in a busy dungeon, the bus stop was right ahead.
“When I get home, I’ll waterproof the suit too.”
People’s eyes began to follow the bear doll riding the bicycle.
Suddenly, someone blocked the bike’s wheel with the toe of a black walker boot.
A man in black athletic clothes, wearing a mask and a hat pulled low.
He tilted an umbrella over Gru’s head.
“What’s this?”
Trying to move forward again, the pedals were blocked by the man’s feet.
“Troublemaker!”
Gru frowned. A bad adult blocking a kindergartner’s path.
Gru tried to turn the bike, and a faint laugh followed by a familiar voice reached him.
“Going out alone in the rain?”
Gru peeked up. His face lit up and his round ears twitched.
– Guildmaster…
Shh. He raised a finger to his lips.
“If someone sees us, it’ll be troublesome.”
He moved them to a secluded spot and stored the bike in his inventory.
Jurim roughly checked Gru for injuries, found none, and lifted him up.
Gru snuggled warmly into Jurim’s arms as they moved to the parking lot.
“Warm… warm.”
Jurim’s solid frame felt especially comforting today.
Gru hugged Jurim’s neck tightly. The big bear doll pressed against Jurim’s jaw.
Jurim squinted slightly, tilting his head in the direction Gru was pressing.
– Thank you for coming, Guildmaster of String.
“Of course… But why that tone?”
– Auto conversion.
“You’ve added every possible feature.”
– I have to look overwhelmingly strong.
Jurim seemed puzzled, but Gru babbled on excitedly.
– Gru did amazing in the dungeon. He gained incredible power.
“Impressive.”
Jurim didn’t seem overly serious, but still listened patiently as Gru rambled about sharing bread and stories of prospective hunters.
– And today, the weather is really nice.
“On a day like this, they say the weather is bad.”
The Guildmaster is an adult but misses a lot of things.
– When it rains, families come to pick you up. That makes you happy, so today’s really good weather.
“……”
Jurim gazed slowly at the sky. Dark clouds blocked the light, giving the scenery a gloomy cast. Autumn had arrived, bringing a noticeably cool breeze.
“Not cold?”
– Inside the suit, it’s stuffy and warm!
“Then it’s nice weather.”
“Hehehee.”
Gru hugged Jurim’s neck even tighter.
