Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 191: Mavros Flying Above the Snowman (2)

Mujahid had both Hunters and Porters under his command, but they were not officially registered as a team. The reason for this was that their roles were not to fight alongside Mujahid, but rather to support him with logistical issues so that he could fight to his heart’s content.

These Porters and Hunters were more like salaried workers for a company rather than active hunters on the hunting grounds.

"What about your gear for the frost?" Han-Yeol asked.

"I've prepared the best!" Mujahid confidently replied.

"That's great. Hmm... Is it alright if the Mulan team tags along?"

"Are you talking about your personal filming crew?"

"Yeah, I usually bring them along whenever I go hunting, so I was wondering if it would be alright for them to tag along when they're not Hunters or Porters."

Han-Yeol was not worried about the Mulan team because the Cheolwon hunting ground was cold. He could always go to the Hunter Mall and buy the best thermal apparel available. The thermal apparel sold at the Hunter Mall was not the same as those sold outside, as these thermal apparel were made by awakened beings with mana coating, and they were extremely expensive.

These thermal apparel could only be afforded by Hunters, wealthy people, or researchers exploring the North Pole or the South Pole, and it was going to cost Han-Yeol a fortune if he equipped every single member of the Mulan team with them.

However, the cost was not going to be burdensome for him at all, as he could immediately make the money back once he switched on his broadcast.

"Well, I heard it can be a bit dangerous, but we can always proceed with caution, right? We also have the option of not bringing them along if you're worried about them. Ah, you don't have to worry about my subordinates, as all of them are trained to withstand all sorts of extreme climates."

The Porters that Mujahid brought along were not simple Porters. All of them were soldiers who underwent extreme training in the Egyptian military, and their mission was to assist Mujahid to the best of their abilities until they awakened as Hunters.

Then, they were free to decide if they wanted to be independent or if they wanted to join one of the raid parties operated by the government.

This was the reason why Mujahid's personal team and the Horus raid party's Porter slots were always full, even though they selected only the best of the best.

“Should we do that?”

Han-Yeol would have brought along the Mulan team if they were going to a normal hunting ground or if this was an excursion from the Horus raid party. However, the Cheolwon hunting ground had many lurking dangers, making it quite risky to bring these untrained civilian women there.

"Yes, I think that is for the best," Mujahid said.

"Haa... I guess we have no choice," Han-Yeol replied with a sigh.

Han-Yeol really enjoyed his broadcasts, so he wanted the Mulan team to tag along whenever he went out on a hunt. He also heard from Su-In that she had finally found a suitable host to replace Yoo-Bi, which Han-Yeol was looking forward to as well.

"The Mulan team will definitely think it's a shame they can't come this time. Those girls are willing to go through hoops on fire if it means they could film something good," Han-Yeol said with a laugh.

Mujahid shrugged in response and said, "But there's nothing we can do about it, hyung-nim. I mean, who will take responsibility if they die while trying to film? Their families might get a huge payout because you’ve insured them quite well, but what's more important than life itself in this world?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Han-Yeol nodded in agreement.

It was good for Han-Yeol to consider the Mulan team's desire to film and broadcast his hunts, but bringing civilians to a hunting ground that even seasoned Hunters found dangerous was pushing it.

"Alright, we're the only ones going this time."

"Yes, hyung-nim!"

"Then, I hope both of you will take care of yourselves over there," Shin Yoo-Kyung said with a bow.

His main duty was to assist Mujahid and act as his brain, so he had no business tagging along the hunt since he was just a normal civilian.

"Oh, you can go home now, Yoo-Kyung."

"I was about to do that."

"Wow... Lucky you... Your employer is going to suffer for five days, but you're already thinking of taking the week off?" Mujahid sneered in his typical fashion.

Then, a blood vessel popped on Shin Yoo-Kyung's forehead after hearing those words.

It was true that he was going to take the week off while Mujahid was away hunting, but that didn't mean he could nonchalantly relax without a care.

Mujahid was different from the average Hunter. He was a Prince of Egypt and a successful businessman with numerous companies under his name and a personal net worth of more than thirty trillion won.

Surprisingly, all of his companies ran smoothly even without him lifting a finger, and the main reason behind that was none other than Shin Yoo-Kyung.

That was the reason Shin Yoo-Kyung couldn't help but be pissed off when he heard the carefree 'chairman' tease him for taking the week off.

“Mujahid-nim!”

“Ah… Yoo-Kyung is upset again~ I’m so scared~ Well, I’ll be going first, hyung-nim!” Mujahid sneered once more before running off as fast as he could.

"Haa... I wonder when he'll grow up... I apologize for the commotion, Han-Yeol Hunter-nim. I feel that I have only been showing you unsightly scenes ever since we met."

"Haha, don't worry about it. It's actually nice to see the employer and employee getting along so well. In fact, I'm jealous that Mujahid has someone he can trust beside him."

It was mentioned before, but Mujahid was not someone who showed his true colors to just anyone. He usually acted quite charismatic or even cruel toward other people, but he revealed his true personality to only a select few.

He showed his mischievous, carefree, and cute self to those he fully trusted, and that was why his subordinates had complete trust in him.

"I will leave Mujahid-nim in your care, Han-Yeol-nim."

"Don't worry about him. He is strong enough to survive even if I don't help him."

"Yes, I agree with you."

Shin Yoo-Kyung was well aware that his employer was quite strong, but he couldn't help but worry about him since the hunting grounds were unpredictable places where anything could happen.

Mujahid's companies would be in danger if something happened to him, and the livelihoods of the millions of people he employed would be at risk.

Shin Yoo-Kyung once had a younger brother who dreamed of becoming a Hunter, but he tragically died in an accident while working as a Porter.

‘A single time of experiencing such pain is more than enough for me,’?he thought as he saw Mujahid as his little brother.

“Then, I’ll be off now.”

“Ah, yes. Please have a safe trip, Han-Yeol-nim.”

“Okay, thank you.”

‘Heh… He’s quite a nice guy,’?Han-Yeol thought after reading Shin Yoo-Kyung’s mind with Telepathy.

He bid farewell to Shin Yoo-Kyung and departed from the mansion. As he stepped outside, he was greeted by the workers, and then he boarded the vehicle that Mujahid had prepared in front of the mansion gates.

The trucks carrying the Porters followed closely behind in a convoy.

“We’re going to depart now, hyung-nim!”

“Sure, let’s go.”

[Move out!]

[Yes, sir!]

Mujahid’s knight, who was also his team’s Manager, gave the signal to set out.

***

After Han-Yeol left the mansion.

“Lalala~”

The highest-ranking female worker in the mansion, Tina, happily hummed as she went about her tasks. Like every day, she was heading to the backyard to tend to the plants.

The Egyptian workers were exceptionally well-trained and diligent. They never slacked off in managing the mansion, ensuring that even the smallest details were taken care of. While their employer may not be concerned with these minor aspects, they strived to maintain the mansion in perfect condition.

‘Hmm… I wonder what kind of concept the backyard should go with for this winter?’?Tina wondered while walking toward the backyard.

The backyard was quite an important part of the mansion, so it needed a lot of care and attention.

“Huh? Where am I? Wasn’t this the backyard…?” Tina muttered while tilting her head in confusion.

She came here almost every single day to tend to the plants, so there was no way she could be mistaken. However, this place was definitely not the beautifully maintained backyard she knew.

The plants were frozen and withered, giving the entire area a desolate appearance. It seemed as if the entire place had reverted back to its original state.

One… two… three…

“KYAAAAAH!?HAN-YEOL-NIM!” she screamed at the top of her lungs after realizing who the culprit behind this mess was.

A rumor began circulating among the workers that Han-Yeol wasn't summoning demons due to his ability, but instead, he was the devil himself.

***

Vrooom! Thud!

Mujahid's team and Han-Yeol zipped through the highway.

“Hum~ Hum~ Hum~” Mujahid seemed to be happy about something as he merrily hummed a tune.

“Are you that happy?” Han-Yeol asked.

"Yes! Egypt is quite arid, so it's impossible for it to snow there. Forget about snow, it's quite rare for us to even get rain. We would have suffered droughts if not for the Nile River. But with recent technological advancements, we no longer face the risk of running out of water. Anyway, snow is something I'm always eager to see because I come from such a place. You won't believe how excited I was when I first came across snow in Europe!"

"Well, I guess that makes sense..."

Han-Yeol found it difficult to understand why Mujahid was so obsessed with snow. Seoul was always knee-deep in snow during winter, and there were many accidents because of it. However, he somewhat understood how Mujahid felt, as there were some things that he himself longed to see at least once in his life.

"Let's sweep that hunting ground clean, hyung-nim!"

"Keke! Sure, let's run wild!"

"OH YES!"

Han-Yeol was slowly starting to itch for a fight after resting for a long time, and he needed an outlet to vent all the mana he had stored up so far. He was certain that the Cheolwon hunting ground would be an excellent outlet for him.

‘The first hunting ground I’m going to after obtaining the Ice Attribute skill is an ice field… It can’t get any more ironic than this,’?he laughed inwardly as life seemed to be quite interesting these days.

Whooosh!

‘The temperature is dropping now that we’re almost at the Ice Hell…’?

Han-Yeol was not affected by the cold since his mana kept him warm, but he was more sensitive to changes in temperature than anyone else. He noticed that the temperature was dropping as they neared the hunting ground.

Pssht!

[We will be arriving at the Cheolwon hunting ground in ten minutes. Put on the clothing you’ve prepared.]

.

Pssht!

[Roger that.]

Mujahid's team grew busier as they approached the hunting ground. Their roles were quite different from those of a normal team, so they had many things to prepare before the hunt. Their objective was to ensure that Mujahid could hunt in peace, so they had to flawlessly prepare everything in advance.

“Hyung-nim.”

“Yeah, I heard it too.”

Click… Clack!

Han-Yeol loaded the pistol in his waist, then checked his HSK-447P on his back.

‘Alright, I’m ready to roll.’

Han-Yeol possessed a versatile arsenal of skills that enabled him to excel in both melee and ranged combat. His proficiency with guns was particularly lethal, as he had the ability to infuse his mana into the bullets.