Chapter 7

7.

[『Hidden Quest』 has arrived!]

Quest.

Set specific conditions.

Rewards are given upon completion.

Just like any game system.

Lee Seong-han has received it a few times before.

Monster subjugation.

Special training.

Even hunting education.

He’s experienced it all.

But this kind was a first.

[『Hidden Quest』]

[The Guardian of the Great Forest, ‘Mirginos’, is a traitor abandoned by its kin. Prove your worth as a climber by defeating it. (0/1)]

[% You currently lack the strength to kill this entity. %]

[% Buy time until Kang Mi-young wakes up. %]

[Reward: 1 Special Enhancement Ticket]

[Failure: Death]

“So that’s how it is.”

Lee Seong-han activated [Automatic Combat].

He fixed his eyes on the mechanical scope.

“Kang Jin-young! Take care of the Lieutenant!”

“Got it!”

Kang Jin-young, who had been crouching, suddenly grabbed her sister.

She then rolled to the side with all her might.

“Kyaaaaaa!”

The Hatchling opened its mouth wide.

[The Guardian of the Great Forest, ‘Mirginos’, has recognized the intruders.]

[It greedily opens its mouth.]

Kwaaaaaa────!

The spot where Kang Mi-young had just been.

Sharp claws came down one after another.

The soil covered by the tarp scattered roughly.

“Are you okay?!”

Kang Jin-young rolled right up to Lee Seong-han’s face.

She looked stressed, her face pale.

“…That was close. This sister of mine can’t do anything without me.”

“Any injuries?”

“Just my back hurts a bit, but otherwise I’m fine. Her body is so weak, I wish I had her body.”

Kang Jin-young answered coldly, frowning.

“One hit from that thing and we’d be dead. Even you, sister?”

“Probably.”

Lee Seong-han affirmed in a stiff tone.

Encountering a Hatchling?

Avoiding it is usually the best option.

Lee Seong-han glared at the Hatchling’s flapping wings.

“The Hatchling is about to start its attack pattern. Get ready.”

“Let’s take care of this nuisance first. Ugh, it’s no help at all!”

Though she spoke coldly.

Kang Jin-young carefully placed Kang Mi-young in a corner.

“Kyaaaaaaaa!”

[The Guardian of the Great Forest, ‘Mirginos’, has recognized the intruders.]

The Hatchling’s [Shouting] skill echoed in all directions.

Blue mucus spewed from its scales and mouth.

Dodge.

[The Guardian of the Great Forest, ‘Mirginos’ has been affected by ‘Mana Contamination’.]

The contaminated serum took effect.

With its mana circuits infected, the dragon couldn’t properly use its signature magic.

As long as there was even a 1% chance of winning, they couldn’t stop.

[The ‘Charm’ effect on the Iron Blood Empress, ‘Kang Mi-young’, has been dispelled.]

[She falls into a deep sleep due to the caster’s curse.]

Kang Mi-young, who had been dozing in Kang Jin-young’s arms, slumped her head.

‘Here we go.’

Lee Seong-han spotted an opening.

He quickly rushed at the Hatchling.

They needed to buy time.

“We need to buy time until the Lieutenant wakes up!”

“Huh?!”

“We can’t win on our own!”

“Behind! Behind!”

[The Guardian of the Great Forest, ‘Mirginos’, has recognized the intruders.]

The Hatchling disappeared for a moment.

“Kyaaaaaa!”

It reappeared right behind Lee Seong-han.

Its gaping red mouth came into view.

Lee Seong-han clicked his tongue.

‘Blink?’

It was the high-level magic, Blink.

They were caught off guard.

‘Dodge.’

Lee Seong-han twisted his upper body to the side to avoid the attack.

Then he plunged a dagger deep into its face.

“That’s coming out nicely!”

Thick, dark blood gushed out.

A blue light enveloped the area.

“Crazy. Is that even human movement?”

Kang Jin-young muttered to herself as she watched.

[Unidentified approach detected.]

[Activating ‘Mental Barrier’.]

Tsu-pa-ba-ba-bat!

Blue sparks flew around.

The Hatchling, having dispelled its polymorph, let out a low laugh, trying to intimidate.

Its true form was revealed.

Covered in small wounds.

Lee Seong-han accurately fired his rifle.

[Automatic Combat] ensured the bullets hit their mark.

Because of the Hatchling, Kang Mi-young and Kang Jin-young almost died.

If that had happened?

The remaining Awakened would have to act longer, more frequently, and more dangerously to fill the power gap.

That was the law.

Discharge, discharge getting further away?

What nonsense!

A bleak future already loomed.

Well, think positively.

A dragon.

How many months would it shorten the discharge?

“At least a year. At least a year!!”

Lee Seong-han started laughing as soon as he thought of the outcome.

Thinking of the discharge bar today?

Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No. Yesyesyesyes!Yes!!Yes!!!

They would escape this hellish peninsula somehow!

Toward the land where freedom and democracy breathe!

Lee Seong-han quickly kicked off the wall and jumped!

In an instant, he flew to the Hatchling and slashed its wing joint with a greatsword.

Kugugugung-!

Elemental magic flew as the ground split.

Large boulders. Getting crushed meant instant death.

“Damn it.”

Lee Seong-han clicked his tongue.

Nature-related skills were hard to destroy.

Better to dodge.

He quickly rolled to the side.

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

The Hatchling, having failed its final attack, began to flee outside the tent!

With a loud noise, the tent flew into the air, and a damp wind swept over them.

“Watch out over there!”

Kang Jin-young, who had just recovered from her injuries, shouted.

A chill ran down their spines.

Kang Jin-young, kneeling on one knee, was deploying a magic formula with both hands.

A magic circle shaped like a fact appeared on the ground.

Sssssssss!

Chains made of mana flew at the Hatchling with a deadly sound.

The chains dug into the Hatchling’s skin and entangled it.

“Binding execution!”

Following Kang Jin-young’s command, the chains pulled toward the ground.

As soon as they were embedded, the Hatchling vomited blue blood from its mouth.

Kang Jin-young caught her breath and poured mana into it.

Lee Seong-han narrowed his eyes.

Then a status window appeared.

─

《System: Information》

『Kang Jin-young』

□ Level: [Lv. ??]

□ Traits

⤷ [Maximum Efficiency Magic Circuit (SSS)], [Magic Enhancement (S)], [Magic Knowledge: Expert (A)], [Dual Magic (A+)], [Mana-Type Body (B)] ···

◀ 1/4p ▶

[ – Locked – ]

─

“What do we do now?”

Lee Seong-han clicked his tongue at Kang Jin-young’s words.

“We hold on, what else.”

The sisters are both insanely strong.

This might actually be possible.

We can take that bastard down.

Lee Seong-han grinned wryly.

“Bring it on, you brat.”

* * *

Hatchling.

Literally, the infant state of a dragon.

Unlike adults, it hasn’t gained experience.

Thus, it lacks transcendent power and knowledge.

But its racial stats are already beyond comparison.

Its personality is also a mess, causing havoc wherever it appears.

“This is ridiculously tough.”

Lee Seong-han spat out blood.

The tower’s rules demanded the Hatchling be defeated.

Only then could they leave.

Lee Seong-han re-equipped his rifle.

He aimed at the Hatchling through the scope.

“You damn dragon chicken, just die already!”

Despite being chained, the Hatchling lunged forward.

“Wh-what strength?! Be careful!”

Kang Jin-young’s stance faltered as the Hatchling flew again.

Already injured all over.

Normal equipment couldn’t even scratch it.

Lee Seong-han calmly pulled the trigger.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Ratatatat!

Fully automatic suppressive fire.

The bullets ran out in seconds.

The dragon’s thick armor made the bullets bounce off like they hit steel plates.

“Damn.”

Swoosh!

The Hatchling’s sharp claws grazed Lee Seong-han’s arm.

The arm blocking his face flew into the air.

If he hadn’t blocked, his head would have been torn off.

There was no pain.

Lee Seong-han, in slow motion, calmly thought.

But no answer came.

‘What do we do?’

What can we do to kill that thing and survive?

His judgment slowed as he fell into thought.

No, Lee Seong-han stopped thinking.

‘We won. We won.’

Lee Seong-han collapsed to the ground.

Kang Mi-young knelt beside him.

“Are you alright, sir?”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

Kang Mi-young leisurely stepped forward.

Ziiiiing.

A reddish aura emanated from Kang Mi-young’s sword.

And a wave.

Just as the Hatchling panicked.

“Die.”

A single slash.

That small movement, and the spot where the Hatchling had been was instantly covered in blue blood and flesh.

Boom!

The sound of the slash echoed afterward. The ground of the Great Forest shook momentarily, as if an earthquake had struck.

[『Hidden Quest』 has been completed.]

As the quest window appeared, the sisters ran over together.

Lee Seong-han, collapsed, was covered in blood. At least seriously injured. The shadow of death loomed over him.

“Sir, sir! Snap out of it!”

“Seong-han?!”

But Lee Seong-han, until the moment he lost consciousness.

Was smiling brightly.

[『Hidden Quest』 has been completed.]

[You have conquered the 1st floor of the Gray Tower.]

[System restrictions have been lifted.]

[The threshold for affection points has been removed.]

[Kang Jin-young, having surpassed a certain affection level, has awakened the ‘Stalker/Isolation’ trait.]

[Kang Mi-young, having surpassed a certain affection level, has acquired the ‘Obsession/Dependency’ trait.]

[Calculating rewards.]

“Oh, god.”

We’re screwed.

Lee Seong-han’s face turned pale.

---