Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 188: After the Auction (4)

The Cheolwon hunting ground was a place that Han-Yeol had never visited, even during his time as a porter. It had gained notoriety for its high level of difficulty, housing terrifying monsters within its borders. Many hunters dreaded taking on this challenging ground due to its harsh weather, treacherous terrain, and occasional blizzard storms.

One of the main creatures inhabiting the hunting ground was known as 'Seolin' in Korean. In English, it was essentially referred to as a Yeti. However, to avoid confusion with another monster in the same area, it was officially called a 'Snowman.'

Some people mistakenly believed that the Snowman was a lovable and amusing creature, akin to the beloved snowman character Olaf from a certain animated film. In reality, the Snowman was anything but lovable and funny; it was a colossal beast adorned with razor-sharp claws and a body covered in thick snow and fur.

This led to debates about the monster's name, as some argued that calling it a 'Snowman' could mislead people into thinking it was harmless. However, despite these concerns, Han-Yeol couldn't help but feel a strong attraction toward the Cheolwon hunting ground, as if something was pulling him toward it.

“Hmm… Hey, Mujahid.”

“Yes, hyung-nim?” Mujahid responded.

"If the monster's resistance to physical attacks is a problem, perhaps you should consider making some adjustments to your fighting style," Han-Yeol suggested to Mujahid. "Of course, if you want to continue as a brawler, you might have to forgo venturing into the Cheolwon hunting ground. But if your goal is to explore this hunting ground, then it's worth considering a change in your current fighting style."

“What kind of change do you have in mind?!” Mujahid asked with great enthusiasm.

Twinkle…! Twinkle…!

Han-Yeol couldn't help but feel burdened as soon as he finished speaking, as Mujahid unleashed his puppy eyes attack on him.

‘This proves it,’?Han-Yeol thought to himself. ‘This sinister fellow is fully aware that his puppy dog eyes attack is extremely effective against others, and he also knows how to make full use of his face as well…’?

He felt truly envious of Mujahid.

Han-Yeol never considered himself to be incredibly good-looking, but he also didn't consider himself ugly either. If someone were to be asked whether he was ugly or good-looking, they would say he was good-looking, but not incredibly so.

Mujahid's cute face, capable of attracting the maternal instinct of women, could be something Han-Yeol would feel jealous about, but he wasn't jealous at all. Well, maybe he was a bit jealous, but this was the same jealousy most men would feel toward handsome men...

That being said, Han-Yeol wasn't so obsessed with looks that he would consider undergoing plastic surgery just to enhance his appearance.

He would have considered undergoing surgery to charm a wealthy woman and achieve success in life if he weren't a Hunter. However, the person he had become didn't require such actions to succeed. After all, he was already quite successful and the object of envy for most men.

"What do you think about using a weapon that allows you to strike and slash?" Han-Yeol suggested. "Perhaps something like a bladed-knuckle? It would enable you to attack in various ways while still maintaining your original fighting style. You wouldn't have to be so selective about the types of enemies you engage."

"Hmm... I see," Mujahid pondered deeply upon hearing Han-Yeol's suggestion.

Despite having many talented individuals around him, some even smarter than Han-Yeol, this was the first time he had received such a proposal. Most people simply advised him to avoid monsters that were immune to his attacks, which had prevented him from considering altering his fighting style.

After all, Mujahid's primary fighting style involved absorbing the enemy's strength by enduring damage and then returning it to them manifold.

"That is indeed a fascinating idea," muttered Shin Yoo-Kyung, appearing impressed, unlike Mujahid, who was lost in thought while stroking his chin.

Shin Yoo-Kyung, likely the brains behind Mujahid, found Han-Yeol's suggestion intriguing.

"We used to avoid hunting monsters immune to physical attacks, but Mujahid-nim realized that ignoring his weaknesses isn't always the best approach, especially after attempting to hunt the gigantic lizards," Shin Yoo-Kyung remarked.

"Yeah, he's right," Mujahid muttered, sounding defeated.

He had never felt such helplessness in his life. He hadn't expected the second most powerful monster, apart from the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva, to be immune to physical attacks.

However, the experience had some value, as it made him consider changing his fighting style, something he would never have contemplated if he hadn't felt so helpless against the gigantic lizard. It wasn't just the fact that his attacks were ineffective against the monster; it was the overwhelming sense of despair that his striking skills, earned through blood, sweat, and tears, had become utterly useless due to the monster's attributes.

Mujahid felt he had nothing to lose by trying a weapon like a claw, as it wouldn't necessarily require a complete overhaul of his combat style.

“Take your time to think about it and let me know if you’re going to choose a different hunting ground or change your fighting style and continue with the plan you made. It doesn’t really matter to me either way since I’ve already decided to entrust the planning to you. After all, I don’t really have a particular preference on which hunting ground we should go to,” Han-Yeol said with a shrug.

“I’m extremely envious of you, hyung-nim.”

“Haha…”

Han-Yeol didn't have any notable weaknesses, as he possessed a wide range of skills including striking, slashing, shooting, and even explosives. Furthermore, he was proficient in combat at melee, mid-range, and long-range distances, making him akin to an overpowered character in video games.

While it would be a stretch to claim that Han-Yeol was the most powerful Hunter in the world, he was determined to keep growing stronger.

In essence, Han-Yeol's current rank held little significance.

‘This is what it feels like to be a strong and capable person,’?Han-Yeol thought while feeling content with this newfound sense of confidence.

“Ugh…” Mujahid muttered under his breath.

To an outsider, it might appear trivial to contemplate, but changing the fighting style he had used since the day he awakened was not an easy decision.

‘However, if Mujahid can overcome this trial…?Then, he has the potential to one day become an even greater hunter,’?Han-Yeol thought.

He believed that a person reaches the most important stage of personal growth when they are willing to set aside their pride for the sake of improvement.

Mujahid sat there, pondering Han-Yeol's words, when suddenly he raised his right fist and slammed it onto his left palm, his eyes burning with passion and conviction.

"Okay, I've made up my mind!" Mujahid exclaimed as he stood up.

"I can already guess what your decision will be," Han-Yeol said.

"Yes, as hyung-nim suggested, I will change my fighting style. To be honest, I've realized that relying solely on my physical abilities has its limitations when hunting high-level monsters," Mujahid explained. "I've come to understand that in order to hunt more aggressively and efficiently, I must not only rely on striking skills but also learn how to stab and slash my enemies."

"I'm glad you've decided to improve yourself," Han-Yeol said, smiling.

"Haha! Thank you, hyung-nim," Mujahid replied.

Han-Yeol still found it amazing to have such a relaxed and friendly conversation with someone like Mujahid. Their camaraderie had started unexpectedly when Mujahid approached Han-Yeol and asked to become his student. They ended up going on a hunt together, and despite Han-Yeol's naturally reserved and shy personality, they developed a close bond.

Mujahid seemed overjoyed at the idea of developing a new fighting style and appeared ready to start immediately. However, his aide, Shin Yoo-Kyung, who often took on the role of calming his fiery nature, brought him back to reality.

"Now, Mujahid-nim, it won't be easy to acquire a claw weapon before the hunt since you're leaving this afternoon," Shin Yoo-Kyung said. "It might be possible if you're fine with using any claw, but the quality of melee weapons can vary greatly depending on the material and craftsmanship. Finding a claw befitting an Osiris Rank Hunter like you, Mujahid-nim, in just a few hours would be impossible. May I suggest that you first procure a suitable claw and choose a different hunting ground for now?"

It was true that the Cheolwon hunting ground was a top-tier location with rare monsters and valuable treasures, but there were plenty of other high-level hunting grounds throughout South Korea.

However, the real reason Mujahid insisted on hunting in the Cheolwon hunting ground was his strong desire to see the snow for the first time. But upon hearing Shin Yoo-Kyung's cold response, he felt disheartened, and his mood instantly soured.

"I wanted to enjoy the snowy scenery and go hunting while feeling the cold and refreshing air of the Cheolwon hunting ground... Can't we just get any claw weapon and use it?" Mujahid protested.

"No, that won't do. Entering a high-level hunting ground with a low-quality weapon can be dangerous. You could potentially lose your life if it breaks or fails to perform," Shin Yoo-Kyung explained.

“Ugh… Alright, I understand,” Mujahid sighed in resignation.

He was fully aware that at times he could be simple-minded and incredibly stubborn, but he also knew that he was not stupid. He wasn't just a reckless and bloodthirsty warrior; he possessed the ability to discern when to fight and when not to.

However, the main issue was that his rational side seemed to only emerge during battles and not in everyday life.

"I know of a reputable workshop with a skilled craftsman. They might have a suitable claw weapon in stock if you're lucky. I can give you the location, so why don't you go there and take a look?" Han-Yeol suggested.

"Thank you very much, hyung-nim!" Mujahid exclaimed, gazing at Han-Yeol as if he had just saved his life.

Han-Yeol couldn't help but laugh at the humorous sight. Shin Yoo-Kyung left the room with Mujahid after receiving the address to the workshop, and Han-Yeol suddenly remembered what he needed to do. He made his way toward the backyard of the mansion.

“Kyuu!”

Flap! Flap!

Mavros playfully circled around Han-Yeol, flapping his dainty wings. Han-Yeol had come to his backyard to utilize the excess Invoke he had acquired from his recent power leveling by summoning another demon.

‘I would love to summon a high-level demon right away, but I honestly have no idea how many levels I would need to raise to meet the insane requirements for summoning one. Besides, focusing solely on one stat while neglecting the others isn't really my style.’?

If his main class were a Demon Summoner or something similar, he would have allocated all his bonus stat points into Invoke without hesitation. However, he couldn't blindly do so because his main class was not that of a summoner, regardless of being a hybrid character.

His main combat strength relied on his personal combat skills and abilities, although he greatly benefited from Balrog and the Void Devils.

‘To compensate for my lack of combat strength, I can raise my Charisma to acquire more monster pets without relying solely on the demon's power,’?Han-Yeol pondered.

Although he couldn't be certain, he had a feeling that monster pets could further evolve after their initial stage of evolution. His instincts told him that the conditions for the second and third stages of evolution would be much more complex than the first stage.

This was why he wasn't in a rush to summon a high-ranking demon at the moment. He believed that making the most of the tools at his disposal was the best course of action, and thus, he decided to summon another intermediate-ranking demon.

‘I already have enough combat-type demons, so it's time to consider summoning a support-type demon to create a well-balanced and harmonized demon lineup,’?he concluded.

He went through great efforts to find a suitable demon for his plans, manually scouring every entry in the Demon Encyclopedia application he often used. It was not reliable to rely on automatic suggestions to find what he was looking for.

After a thorough search, the result of his efforts was finally in his hands. Han-Yeol retrieved the demon's sigil from his pocket, which he had prepared in advance for the summoning ritual.

“Lord Satan… Arch Lich… to manifest… This I respectfully… Lord Satan, may you deem me worthy, Father!”

Fwaaaaaa!

The temperature of the entire backyard instantly dropped below zero…

Bzzt! Bzzt!

…and the well-maintained grass and beautifully blooming flowers in the backyard froze and withered away lifelessly.

The gardeners employed by Han-Yeol put in immense effort to manage and maintain the backyard. It wouldn't be surprising if they were overcome with the urge to harm him upon witnessing the scene of all their hard work going to waste.

‘Sigh… I’m really sorry about this,’?Han-Yeol sighed apologetically.

He was incredibly sorry but he had no other choice. After all, he could not delay his growth and not summon the demon just to accommodate the feelings of his employees.

The demon Han-Yeol summoned was called an ‘Arch Lich’.

[Arch Lich: A pitiful Lich that scoured through the world for centuries in search of a peaceful death only to be transported to the demon world and turn into a demon. The Arch Lich’s malevolent magic is fatal to the living.]

‘Not bad,’?Han-Yeol was impressed.

He could discern that among all the intermediate-ranking demons, the Lich would be the most efficient and useful support-type demon. It was a bit disappointing that the Arch Lich was not a pureblooded demon but instead, an undead that had somehow transformed into a demon.

However, Han-Yeol found a silver lining in this situation. The lore discrepancy made it possible for him to summon the Arch Lich at a lower cost.

Gwuoooooh!

A powerful wave of mana gathered around the sigil of the Arc Lich.

“Oh!”

Chwaaak! Chwaaaaaak!

The Arch Lich appeared standing on top of its sigil as everything in its surroundings was frozen solid in ice.

'I wonder if the Arch Lich's ice attribute will harmonize well with Balrog's fire attribute... The Void Demons should be an exception since they possess the void attribute,'?Han-Yeol started to ponder.

He was slightly taken by surprise when the Arch Lich turned out to be an ice attribute demon, as this information did not come up while he was researching the demon. Still, he quickly shrugged off these thoughts and focused on the matter at hand.

'Well, I'm sure it will work out somehow.'?

Han-Yeol decided not to dwell on it too much. He decided that it was much better for his mental health to keep things simple and not overthink about the matter.