Chapter 19: The Strongest Bodyguard Ever
[Item: Trace of the Ancient Desert]
[Rank: B]
[Type: dium]
[Description: A key to uncover the secrets of a hidden relic.]
[Effect 1: Can unlock the dungeon ‘Ancient Desert.’]
[Effect 2: Bound to the hunter ‘Joo Donghoon.’]
“Um?”
I pursed my lips, repeatedly reading the item description.
Four keywords stood out: dium, key, ancient desert, and bound. Judging from the context, I wondered…
Is this so sort of linked dungeon…?
To be honest, I didn’t fully understand. Such things weren’t typically covered in the dia. Guilds, sensitive to information, wouldn’t release anything that hinted at a ‘hidden’ elent to the public.
Sigh.
This is why being alone is tough. I have to figure out all this information by myself.
I wish soone could teach about these things.
I needed a ntor, preferably a ranker who had already navigated these processes.
“Hm?”
At that mont, it was as if the heavens had responded to my burning desire, for soone appeared before .
—Swoosh!
Her hair fluttered in the wind, carrying a sweet peony scent and a familiar aura of death.
“Shadow Empress?”
My eyes widened. Why was Gi Soyul here? Goodness, I thought the Shadow Lurkers were hallucinating, but she did co?
“Ahem, it’s been a while.”
Our eyes t, and I shivered.
Ah, she truly is different.
The more you know, the more you see. Although I had beco slightly stronger, she seed even more colossal than before. She was a ranker who could take on dozens of A-rank hunters without breaking a sweat.
“You said to give you a little ti to gather your thoughts. I figured you must have sorted things out by now since you’ve been going to dungeons. Besides, if I didn’t co, I thought you’d probably never seek out.”
“Uh, right.” I awkwardly nodded as her comnt struck a nerve.
What should I do?
In truth, I hadn’t decided yet. Should I be honest or lie a little? And if I lied, how much should I hide?
Or not…
Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind.
Do I even need to lie?
Gi Soyul was among the top 1,000 hunters in the world—a ranker. She could crush with a single finger whether I had gotten an ‘opportunity’ or not.
And if she catches lying?
I shuddered.
She was the Shadow Empress, the queen of assassins. I could be kidnapped and tortured all night or have my throat slit in my sleep.
“…”
Besides, just look at her expression. That expressionless face was incredibly intimidating!
“Hmm? Why do you keep looking at like that? You did the sa thing last ti.” Gi Soyul frowned.
“Huh? H-How am I looking at you?” I stamred, sweating.
“You look like you have so impure intentions. Whatever you’re thinking… you’d better make a wise decision,” she answered imdiately.
Her response was practically a veiled threat, causing to flinch.
Gi Soyul sighed lightly before continuing, “There’s a saying that life is a journey that begins and ends with relationships. The quality of your life will depend on the kind of relationships you build.”
She ant that while she respected now, I needed to make the right choice. Depending on my answer, my life could improve positively—or negatively.
“I haven’t known you long, but I don’t recall you being stupid. Am I right?”
“Pardon?”
“To put it simply, I hope you make a wise choice.”
“…”
Indeed, she was a ranker. She delivered such a threat so elegantly.
—Gulp.
I swallowed hard and made up my mind.
I should just be honest. It’ll be more advantageous.
In the current hunter world, I was at the bottom of the food chain, a newbie—soone with no clue, as fragile as a chick. If I had a chance to form a connection with a ranker…
I must seize it.
Instinctively, I knew Gi Soyul was tenacious and persistent. If she ran into a problem, she would solve it no matter what. If there was a chance to beco stronger, she would cling to it persistently. If she knew about the Master of All Techniques by my side, she would want to maintain a relationship with .
“Okay, Shadow Empress.” Nodding, I said, “You want to know how I cleared that dungeon and what the reward was, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll tell you everything.”
“That’s a wise choice. I’m glad you understand.”
She looked pleased. I shrugged.
“But.”
“But?”
“There’s a condition.”
“…?”
Her smile faded slightly, but I wasn’t intimidated. I realized I had no reason to be afraid. Until I revealed information about my ‘opportunity,’ she wouldn’t kill .
“First, I need you to protect until I grow stronger.”
“Protect you? Do you owe soone a debt or sothing?”
“No, I just have so bullies after .”
The A-rank mbers of the Shadow Lurkers had escaped. As criminals, they wouldn’t easily give up on .
Gi Soyul remained silent for a mont. “…What’s next? You said ‘first,’ so there must be more.”
“Hm.”
“I can’t promise anything until I hear it all. I don’t like breaking promises.”
I nodded slightly, appreciating her integrity. I could sense her resolute spirit of keeping her promise, which I liked. She seed trustworthy.
“I’m a rookie. So please teach what I don’t know, within reason. Such as about this.” I waved the golden key, ‘Trace of the Ancient Desert,’ which I acquired a mont ago.
Her eyes widened for the first ti, clearly shaken.
“Is that… a dium?”
“Oh, you know what this is?”
I got a bit excited. If a ranker was this surprised, this must be sothing big.
“Did you get that from this dungeon?”
“Yes.”
“Hm.” Gi Soyul looked pensive, stroking her chin, then said, “You’re incredibly lucky.”
“Lucky?”
“Yes, the chances of finding a dium in a regular dungeon are almost zero. There are less than 100 known in the world. Plus it’s bound, so you can’t trade it.”
“…”
So what exactly is this thing?
“diums are also a kind of fortuitous opportunity. As you delve into them, linked quests appear,” she explained, muttering “Unbelievable” under her breath. “And those linked quests increase in rank, eventually reaching S-rank and above. Every dium I know of has done that.”
“…S-rank?”
“Rankers, including myself, are desperately searching for these items.”
“Wow.”
I was in awe. I figured the reward for clearing the dungeon was underwhelming, considering it required sacrifices. But it turned out the reward was worth it.
Seeing my reaction, Gi Soyul nodded. “Alright, I accept your conditions. But I have one too.”
A condition…
“What is it?”
Instinctively, I hid the key in my pocket. After hearing how rare it was, I felt protective of it even though it was bound to .
Gi Soyul said while watching , “…Let monitor your training.”
Her voice was clear as if she knew sothing.
“Monitor?”
“Why not? To protect you, I need to be around you anyway.”
“Hmm, I suppose.”
“I’ve been observing your energy since you cleared that old man’s dungeon. You’ve been exponentially growing stronger. Even today. I’m most curious about how you’re achieving this rapid growth.”
Her gaze showed a mix of yearning and obsession.
Was it her interest in the “old man” who had defeated her so thoroughly? Or were all rankers like this?
“In return, as I ntioned before, I can introduce you to many valuable connections. Ones that can directly change your life.”
Connections. That earlier comnt now made sense. Connections with rankers seed very tempting.
“…”
After a mont of contemplation, I said, “For a rookie like to make a connection with a ranker over a single opportunity… I’m honored.”
“Then it’s a deal?”
“Yes, deal.”
That day, I gained the strongest bodyguard ever.
* * *
Reaper Scans
Translator – Dawn
Proofreader – BringTheRayn
Join our discord for updates on releases! sdiscord.gg/reapercomics
* * *
Night had fallen.
—Beep, beep, beep!
I punched in the code to unlock my door. My dim, cramped basent room ca into view.
Feeling oddly cautious, I entered. After all, I had an unfamiliar guest—one who didn’t fit in this dingy place.
“…Have you been living in a place like this?” Gi Soyul’s voice echoed beside .
I swallowed nervously. The atmosphere felt awkward.
“It’s pretty shabby, right? I told you there was no need to follow here…”
“No, I have to. A promise is a promise.”
“Ah, right…”
She scanned my room with her cold eyes.
The scattered ran packages and ssy bedding made feel ashad.
Ugh, I should have cleaned up.
Wait, no! Who asked her to co here? I have the right to use my room as I please.
Just as I vigorously nodded to myself…
“Hmm, there are no surveillance devices or skills activated here. And no hunters above D-rank around the building. You’re safe for now.”
“…You were checking all that?”
“Of course. What else?”
“Nothing else. You’re as incredible as ever”
Clap, clap! I applauded inwardly. Truly fitting for the strongest bodyguard.
“No need to praise . I’ve confird your residence. I’ll be staying on the rooftop for the ti being. So let know when you’re going training tomorrow.”
I explained everything about the opportunity to her, from the elder’s existence to my training regi.
Her interest was so piqued that she had no intention of leaving my side. She wanted to observe my training closely.
But wait.
“Hold on. The rooftop? You’ll stay there?”
“Yes, guarding an area the size of this building is nothing for .”
“Well, you are a ranker, but…”
Seriously, why is she so strict? That ans she’ll be camping out on the rooftop to protect .
“That makes uncomfortable.”
“I’m okay with it, so it’s fine. Good night.”
—Swoosh!
She disappeared in an instant.
Ugh, my head throbbed. For a ranker to go this far… It’s too burdenso. Won’t her brother, Giparang, kill if he finds out?
—Sigh.
Then again, who cares? I didn’t ask her to camp out. What matters is that my uncertain safety is now almost perfectly secured.
Shadow Lurkers…
I had no intention of leaving them alone.
Give back what you get.
My standard doesn’t depend on my opponent’s strength. Once my skeletons are strong enough to challenge rankers…
They’re all dead.
The day my skeletons could rival rankers would be the official day the Shadow Lurkers disbanded.
The vow coiled like a serpent deep in my heart.
Reviews
All reviews (0)