Chapter 60: My Secret Family Consultation with Her Guardian

“What are you doing here, Ms. Sung Mi-Na? Also, what’s with that outfit?”

I called the name of the person wearing a beaked mask, causing her shoulders to flinch.

“You...”

Thud!

Her mask fell to the ground. She was sweating, but that only enhanced her beauty.

“How did you know it was me?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I have an appraisal skill.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. This mask is an A-grade concealment item with a voice changer. You’re telling me your appraisal skill can bypass that?” Sung Mi-Na gritted her teeth.

You don’t have to glower at me like that, it’s the truth.

“Anyway, what are you doing?”

Sung Mi-Na pointed at Sword Demon and said, “Killing him,” making him wince.

That much was obvious. Still, was that guy some kind of neighborhood punching bag?

“Mr. Sword Demon, just admit it, you’re a weakling. Didn’t you say there’s less than ten people you couldn’t kill?” I whispered to Sword Demon.

“Assassination requires groundwork. Also, that woman is definitely one of those ten.” Sword Demon smugly puffed out his chest.

Was that something to be proud about? I sighed and turned to Sung Mi-Na.

“I’m not sure what’s going on, but can’t you forgive him? I know, he looks like a bad guy. But once you get to know him, he’s quite pitiful and even a bit foolish at times.”

“M-Mr. Sword God?”

“

Ha?

Did you just ask me to release the guy who tried to kill my little sister?” Sung Mi-Na’s eyes burned with anger.

So, she knew.

“He’s changed, and besides, he’s lost an arm. Is there really a need to kill him? If you’re still mad, I’ll take responsibility and have him turn himself in. Aren’t you an S-rank Hunter? You can still be considered a public servant, right? Shouldn’t you be upholding the law...”

However, Sung Mi-Na looked around at the surroundings, not paying attention at all.

“Doesn’t seem like anyone else is tailing you. Unlike your appearance, you’re quite reckless.”

Then, her ruby lips curved into a smirk, taunting me.

Ah, she’s so goddamn pretty, my heart can’t help but flutter. Masculine instincts are so sad.

“This suits me. I was about to come after you once I’m done with him. Now, I can take care of you both. Saves me the trouble.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. While I could see why she wanted to get rid of Sword Demon, why me?

“W-why me?”

“Drop the act. Johan mentioned your name before he died. I figured that you’re the one behind all of this.”

Mastermind? Me? Wait, how did you get it so wrong?

“Why did you approach Mi-Ri? You won her over by pretending to save her, didn’t you?! What are you planning to do?!”

But I am just an ordinary third-rate novelist in South Korea. Ah, wait. I'm not even one.

I fell into depression as I recalled the latest novel I had uploaded on Dalpia. Now that she blamed me for everything, I felt like wallowing in misery.

“I also have a question for you. If you care so much about your younger sister, why did you seal her power?”

Sung Mi-Na was petrified. It seemed like I’d struck a nerve.

That day, at the hospital, I desperately tried to break Sung Mi-Ri’s seal, only to fail miserably. Finally, I appraised the seal on the monster.

-----

[Blood Pearl Seal]

Around for 13 years. Suppresses the Thunder Beast’s power, from which Sung Mi-Ri’s abilities originate from.

Special note: The seal was made by the cursed Sung Mi-Na with her own life.

-----

“I just can’t wrap my head around it. Why risk your own life to seal her? No way, are you jealous of her? Do you hate the idea of her surpassing you as a Hunter? Is that why you decided to nip it in the bud?”

“Nonsenses! You don’t know anything!” Sung Mi-Na’s face contorted horribly.

Then, Sung Mi-Na pointed her finger at my heart, saying, “Skill, Reaper’s Declaration.”

Like a bodyguard blocking a bullet, Sword Demon panickedly leaped in front of me.

“No! Mr. Sword God!”

“

Stop!

”

But Sung Mi-Na was faster. Except, nothing happened.

Caught up in the atmosphere, I felt a bit nervous.

“Mr. Sword God, are you alright?! Do you feel any discomfort?!” Sword Demon scanned me all over with a pale face.

“I don’t feel anything.”

“And here I almost killed myself on her order... As expected of Mr. Sword God! You’re amazing!” His eyes brimmed with respect.

Of course, I wasn’t pleased at all.

Did you hear?

That woman mistook me as the mastermind behind all of this!

“Despite my best efforts, my commands still didn’t work on you.” Sung Mi-Na bit her lips until it bled.

Based on Sword Demon and Sung Mi-Na reactions, her ability seemed to be outstanding, yet it didn’t affect me in the slightest.

“I’ll admit that you’re much stronger than I thought. But if you think that’s the full extent of my power, you’ve made a huge mistake!”

Rooooar!

Her hair flew up as her aura surged.

“Mr. Sword God, be careful. I’m not fully certain, but there are rumors that she’s actually an SS-rank Hunter. She may be a Psychic-type Hunter, but you shouldn’t let your guard down.” Sword Demon dryly gulped, directing his sword at her.

“SS-rank?”

So far, the highest rank for Hunters in South Korea had been S. But if what he said was true, then wouldn’t Sung Mi-Na be the strongest Hunter in our country?

Tzzz!

As Sung Mi-Na extended both hands toward us, her pupils turned blue.

“

Burn.

”

Then, something unbelievable happened.

Roooooar!

A powerful firestorm burst from her hands. Wasn’t that an elemental power exclusive to Special Ability-type Hunters?!

“

Eek!

” Both Sword Demon and I dodged reflexively.

Tzzz!

Although the fire didn’t graze me, the heat alone was enough to scald my skin.

“You rats!

Freeze!

”

Whiiiing!

This time, a blizzard appeared.

Crack crack crack!

The cold blizzard froze our legs in an instant! How could she freely manipulate elements of other abilities?!

This absolutely defied all common sense and logic! Sure, some Hunters who could wield more than one power at a time, but never those of conflicting elements?! And not at the same time?!

“Sword God, don’t be fooled! This is all an illusion!” Sword Demon yelled in a hurry.

“Let me ask you this.” Sung Mi-Na snorted and raised her hand into the air.

Ssssss!

The scattered, flying gravel gathered around her, merging into one.

“How does a perfect illusion differ from reality?”

Hearing that, I suddenly recalled a few cases. Someone froze to death despite being trapped in a broken freezer. A mother used her raw strength to lift a car that pinned her child. The mind did take over the body at times, whether positively or negatively.

Ruuuumble!

Sung Mi-Na hovered the boulder, now about the size of a mountain, over our heads.

“If you want to live, speak! Who are you?! What is your motive?! Even if this is an illusion, if your mind perceives it as reality, you’ll die regardless!” she warned us.

Seriously, so much bloodlust.

Well, if she was that curious, I suppose I should just tell her.

“I’m Yu Il-Shin, a freelance novelist. Recently, I’ve been playing god to ants. Oh, I’m also Ms. Sung Mi-Ri’s dedicated trainer. I want to help her become an S-rank Hunter someday. So why don’t you break her seal, you stubborn guardian?!”

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

“Huh?

HAHAHAHA

!” Sung Mi-Na laughed in disbelief. But soon, her expression twisted once more. “If that’s your wish, die!”

Tremendous shadow loomed over me and Sword Demon.

A burning meteorite, weighing hundreds of tons, came crashing down at us, threatening to crush us to death.

“

Arghhh!

Mr. Sword God!” Sword Demon screamed, turning completely white.

Facing such an impossible threat, a sword master like him must’ve felt like an ant going against a wave.

Meanwhile, I was unfazed.

“Skill Sharing, Il-Ho’s Strong Body.”

Along with the skill, I also equipped the malevolent god title, Brutal Killer. I felt an immeasurable surge of strength as my muscles ripped my clothes to shreds.

“W-what?” Sung Mi-Na’s eyes widened in shock.

Who cares if the falling meteorite was real or an illusion? All I had to do was smash it to pieces! I clenched my fists, punching in the direction of its trajectory.

Bam bam bam bam!

The meteorite shattered with a deafening bang!

“N-no way!”

Shards of the meteorite rain all over, shattering the ice that shackled me in place. As Sung Mi-Na watched in disbelief, I approached her.

The moment I grabbed her by the neck...

“Don’t underestimate me! Skill, Mental Space!”

The veins on her forehead bulged. At the same time, my world changed.

Flash!

Huh? What’s this?

There were neither Sword Demon, mountain, nor meteorite in sight. Everything had vanished. It was a strange space, akin to a blank canvas, and I stood there alone.

Wait, not really. Sung Mi-Na soared above my head like a bird.

“You really pissed me off.”

Even without you saying so, I can tell.

She seemed about to pop a vein, and her hair stood on end like a hedgehog’s.

Interesting hairstyle you got there,

just as I thought that...

Ssss—

“Huh?”

The floor I stood on suddenly turned into a swamp. I was sinking. In a panic, I tried to resist, but...

Flick! Flick!

Chains flew at me from all directions, binding and dragging me down.

“

Argh

!”

Crack! Craaaack!

I tried breaking them, but they were just too many. Thousands after thousands of chains restrained me, like a spider capturing its prey.

Ssss—

Sung Mi-Na watched me smugly. “Don’t worry, you won’t die. You’ll only turn into a vegetable and never wake up.”

Then, she stepped on my head with her high heels, sinking me deeper until my neck.

“This is your last chance. Tell me. Who are you? What is your motive?”

I pondered over it seriously. Was this an illusion or reality? If it was an illusion, I could say whatever I wanted, right?

“Ms. Sung Mi-Na...”

When I spoke, she smiled brightly, looking satisfied.

“Very good. Do you feel like talking now?”

“I can see your panties. White...”

“

Kyaaaa

!” she screamed, withdrawing a few steps.

Who told you to step on others while wearing a skirt?

Growl—

That was the last thing I saw as I got swallowed by the swamp. Darkness enveloped everything around. It felt as if I’d been plunged into a vast universe of dark matters. Sleepiness from three all-nighters in a row to rush the deadline pervaded me.

Mm, I’m getting sleepy. Wait, I shouldn’t be sleeping.

I hadn’t found out why she sealed Sung Mi-Ri’s powers. Yet, against my will, my consciousness slipped away.

Ding!

Faintly, I heard a notification from God-Maker.

[You have met the conditions for activating Silently Crawling Nightmare’s innate power Night Rose.]

Somehow, I felt that this was going to be a good dream.

***

Only Sung Mi-Na was left in the mental space.

“I never got him to fess up. He must have something to do with Abysm!”

She stared at the swamp that had swallowed Yu Il-Shin with mixed feelings. What a shame she failed to figure out his true identity. At the very least, that was one less threat directed at Mi-RI.

Shall I head back?

Just as she was about to return to reality...

Flick flick flick!

“...!”

A giant vine suddenly appeared from the swamp, attacking her.

Bang bang!

“

Urk

!”

Sung Mi-Na leaped into the air, barely dodging the vines, but that was only the beginning.

Ruuuumble!

A massive earthquake shook her mental space! Then, an absurdly gigantic being rose from the swamp.

“O-oh my gosh! W-what’s that?”

Sung Mi-Na was startled when the tall shadow loomed over her. It was an outrageously huge yet eerily beautiful flower.

“H-how did this end up in my mental space...?!”

It was her domain! There shouldn’t be any unrecognizable or unapproved entity here?!

Ruuumble!

That cryptid flower looked at Sung Mi-Na, opening its jaw wide and roaring ferociously.

-

Kieeeeek!

“

Kyaaaa

! D-don’t come near me!”

Sung Mi-Na’s nightmare had begun.