The SSS-Class Hunter’s Garden Log Chapter 31

At the same time, a black line stretched out across the floor from under Lee Haechan’s feet.

 

The line slithered like a snake, connecting to the tips of Hana’s and Kanghyun’s shoes ahead.

 

“Huh?”

 

Walking ahead, Hana looked back due to an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

 

“What is this?”

 

Discovering a black trace tangled like thread on the heel of her shoe, Hana brushed it off.

 

Meanwhile, because her pace slowed down a bit, Kanghyun, who was walking ahead, turned his head.

 

“Yoon Hana-ssi, what are you doing?”

 

“Ah, yes! I’m coming!”

 

She pouted, slightly miffed by how uncannily fast he noticed her lagging behind by just a few steps to nag her. 

 

“Why is he only like that to me?”

 

“What did you say just now?”

 

Hearing her quiet grumbling, Kanghyun stopped and looked back at Hana.

 

Startled, Hana laughed awkwardly and quickly ran to Kanghyun’s side.

 

“Ah, I didn’t say anything? Now, let’s go quickly!”

 

* * *

 

“I’d prefer it if you waited inside here.” 

 

Kanghyun cast a red barrier around Hana.

 

It was a safe zone created by a skill.

 

“And don’t go startling people again.” 

 

“Hey, don’t worry. It was just too sudden earlier, so I didn’t have time to react.”

 

“Yeah right.”

 

Even at Hana’s words, Kanghyun had an expression that wasn’t quite convinced.

 

Eventually, after adding one more layer to the red veil and leaving even Choi Kwon next to Hana, Kanghyun finally moved his steps toward the center of the gate.

 

The deeper they went, the more the scenery changed.

 

Puddles of water gathered here and there on the ground, and the sky filled with ashen dark clouds created an eerie atmosphere.

 

Furthermore, the rain that had felt like a drizzle had turned into a torrential downpour before anyone realized. 

 

And out of all things, the most conspicuous was the massive boss monster standing tall like a tree in the center of the Gate. 

 

The roots of the boss monster, which took the shape of a tree, spread in all directions, and something like black sap flowed down between the stems.

 

<Boss Monster: ‘Melancholy Arrowroot (A+-rank)’>

 

Discovering the opponent, the light in Kanghyun’s eyes sank coldly. 

 

Yoon Taegyeom also immediately adjusted his grip on his spear.

 

On the other hand, Lee Haechan took a step back.

 

This was because a mental-type hunter wasn’t meant to step onto the front lines directly.

 

As the long sword moved, drawing a circular trajectory, Yoon Taegyeom’s spear dug in right after.

 

Puddles splashed from the impact, and black sap from the severed roots sprayed across the floor. 

 

Perhaps thanks to Lee Haechan’s skill, the battle seemed smooth. At this rate, they might be able to take care of the boss monster easily.

 

It was then that another system window popped up before Hana’s eyes, who was watching Kanghyun swinging his sword from afar.

 

Ding!

 

【SYSTEM】 

<Surprise Mission Triggered!> 

<Mission: Joyful Ecological Tour – Let’s investigate the ecology inside the gate!> 

<Condition: Secure the Gate Core> 

<Reward: Gate Occupancy Rights – You can connect the portal with previously occupied gates. Grab this golden opportunity to expand your garden!>

 

While she was wondering why there was another surprise mission in the middle of a tense situation.

 

Something caught lightly against the tip of Hana’s foot. 

 

“Huh?”

 

As she bent down, a large mushroom was growing at her feet.

 

It was much larger and darker in color than the mushroom she had seen earlier. With its dark red glow, it looked more like a mushroom-shaped jewel than a mushroom.

 

Hana’s eyes narrowed at the mushroom, which looked exceedingly suspicious to anyone who saw it. 

 

“Don’t tell me… is it this?”

 

Even so, it was a mission, and she wondered if she would find it this easily.

 

Still, just in case, the moment she lightly nudged what she couldn’t tell was a mushroom or a jewel with the tip of her foot.

 

【SYSTEM】 

<You have discovered an artificially modified gate core!>

 

The system window popped up again.

 

“Oh.”

 

Hana’s eyes sparkled.

 

This actually works? 

 

At that moment, 

 

Booooom—!

 

The entire Gate vibrated violently at an explosive roar. 

 

“Whoa!” 

 

Startled by the sudden roar, Hana quickly looked towards where Kanghyun was.

 

Fortunately, Kanghyun didn’t seem to have any problems.

 

Not only that. Seeing the ground split wide open along where his sword had struck down, Kanghyun was the cause of the roar.

 

“You scared me.”

 

After confirming that Kanghyun was casting his skills perfectly fine, Hana patted her thumping chest and focused back down at her feet. 

 

So this is the Gate core? 

 

“It’s my first time seeing one in person.” 

 

It was the moment Hana bent down and touched the core.

 

As if sensing that contact, the boss monster suddenly twisted its body.

 

Its massive stem, extending like a tree, thrashed as if convulsing, and the roots that had spread in all directions went wild, scraping the ground.

 

“Grrrk! Kyaaak!”

 

A bizarre scream that seemed to tear the air echoed inside the gate.

 

At the movement of the boss, which momentarily lost its balance, Kanghyun’s eyes flashed.

 

Kanghyun closed the distance without hesitation.

 

A howl flowed out from what was presumed to be the boss monster’s head, which had been severed by Kanghyun’s sword, and its huge body staggered.

 

“Is it down?” 

 

However, the moment marooned Yoon Taegyeom muttered, sticky fluids poured from the severed cross-section, and new roots began to creepily grow from the boss monster’s cut part, regaining its shape. 

 

“Crazy. That thing is regenerating!” 

 

Choi Kwon, who was also watching the combat situation, was astonished.

 

Unlike the relatively relaxed atmosphere until a moment ago, tension instantly crushed the air.

 

Seeing the boss monster’s roots extending out again towards Kanghyun’s chest, strength gathered in Hana’s hands.

 

The problem was that Hana was holding the gate core.

 

Failing to control her strength, the gate core wobbled in Hana’s grip, and then.

 

Pop!

 

With an uncharacteristically cheerful sound, the core was pulled up by its roots.

 

And simultaneously.

 

Halt.

 

The movement of the boss monster, which had just been regenerating, stopped like a lie.

 

【SYSTEM】  

<Mission Complete. The Gate Core has been secured.>

 

<Rewards Granted:

-Environmental Understanding has increased.

-The area has been converted into farmland under the user’s management.

-Can now be linked to your existing garden.>

 

Beyond the system window that filled Hana’s vision, the mushroom held in her hand began to change. 

 

Sizzle—.

 

It shriveled rapidly as if losing moisture, then contracted into a shape resembling a hollow black seed. 

 

For Kanghyun and Taegyeom, who didn’t know the situation on Hana’s side, the sudden stop of the boss monster was perplexing.

 

But Kanghyun soon activated a skill.

 

“Skill, Ignition.”

 

With a low murmur, a bright red flame spewed out from the tip of his blade toward the boss monster like a bullet. 

 

Whoosh. 

 

In an instant, the boss monster’s body was engulfed in flames, then collapsed into ashes.

 

With the gate core removed, the boss monster could no longer regenerate either.

 

As the blazing monster turned into a heap of ashes and piled up on the ground, the rain that seemed like it would never end also gradually stopped.

 

Checking the message floating in the air, Yoon Taegyeom swept his chest in relief.

 

“Wow… I thought it was really going to regenerate. So is it really over now?”

 

Instead of answering, Kanghyun lightly flicked his sword.

 

The black sap smeared on the blade flowed down to the ground along with the stopping rainwater.

 

However, Yoon Taegyeom patted Kanghyun’s back.

 

“Hey, Kanghyun-ah. But something’s a bit strange?”

 

“What is.”

 

“I don’t see an exit.”

 

No matter where they looked around, the familiar light of the exit was nowhere to be seen. 

 

Not only that, the collapse of a Gate after a clear normally didn’t begin until at least thirty minutes had passed, yet the scenery inside the Gate was already distorting. 

 

Kanghyun’s gaze quickly scanned the surroundings.

 

Then he realized that the person who should be there was gone.

 

“Where is Hunter Lee Haechan?”

 

“Huh? You’re right? He was here just a moment ago, where did he go?”

 

Taegyeom looked around belatedly, but the place where Haechan had been was completely empty.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile.

 

In the Association President’s office, the situation of the gate that had occurred in the front yard of the Haechi Guild was being broadcast in real-time through a drone screen.

 

The Vice President, standing in front of the wide desk, was looking down at the screen with his arms crossed.

 

A relaxed smile hung on his lips.

 

“Currently, Hunter Seo Kanghyun and Hunter Yoon Taegyeom have entered the gate.”

 

The secretary standing beside him carefully continued the report.

 

“S-rank mental-type Hunter, Lee Haechan, has also accompanied them. It seems the F-rank and A-rank Hunters who were nearby were swept in as well.”

 

Finishing his words, the secretary sneaked a glance at the Vice President’s expression.

 

“Although it is a high-grade Gate, wouldn’t Hunter Seo Kanghyun clear it quickly? If that happens, the Vice President’s plan—.” 

 

“I wonder. Even for Seo Kanghyun, it won’t be easy.”

 

Then the Vice President stretched his lips into a smirk.

 

“Because the boss monster of that gate doesn’t die just by slashing it. As long as the special core embedded in the ground isn’t removed, it will regenerate endlessly no matter how much you cut its body.”

 

However, the Vice President’s arrogant attitude didn’t last long. Because red system letters popped up on the screen.

 

“…!”

 

The Vice President’s smile instantly froze.

 

“Subjugation complete? That shouldn’t be possible?”

 

But that was only for a moment. The Vice President forced himself to act relaxed and raised his chin.

 

“Well, it seems they used their brains a bit. But even so, they won’t be able to come out of the gate.”

 

Saying so, something that looked like a black dot or a bean rolled in the Vice President’s hand.