Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 214: An Absurd Ending and The Desired Skill (5)

Mujahid held an interest solely in combat, and combat alone. Initially, the Egyptian executives of the Goblin Group had belittled Shin Yoo-Kyung, engaging in various corrupt activities during the group's early days. Unbeknownst to them, Mujahid had delegated all his authority to Shin Yoo-Kyung. The man they dismissed as a mere scarecrow turned out to be the most potent figure in the group after Mujahid himself.

Subsequently, those responsible for the corruption began to vanish one by one. To this day, nobody knows their whereabouts. The timing of these disappearances coincided with rural rumors in Egypt about nocturnal screams and torturous sounds. However, these accounts ultimately amounted to nothing more than baseless hearsay.

"That's why I want to stay with you longer, regardless of my father's commands."

"Hey... You're giving me goosebumps... Knock it off."

"I'm genuinely sincere, hyung-nim," Mujahid declared, his eyes gleaming with fervent determination.

His eyes burned with an intense passion that might have unsettled most people.

"I wouldn't complain if I had someone like you by my side."

"Yes! Thank you, hyung-nim!" Mujahid exclaimed, leaping for joy.

Though Mujahid might have initially been stronger than Han-Yeol, their roles had since reversed, and Han-Yeol had grown even mightier than him. While their stats differed, the gap between an S Rank and a Master Rank was too vast to draw a direct comparison.

Han-Yeol had evolved into an insurmountable force for Mujahid. Yet, it could be argued that Han-Yeol benefited from having someone like Mujahid at his side. Not only was Mujahid a potent S Rank Hunter, but he also held the title of a prince in a burgeoning nation and owned a global corporation. Establishing a positive relationship with someone of his stature was undeniably advantageous for Han-Yeol.

Furthermore, Mujahid's longer tenure as a Hunter meant he could offer guidance and advice on matters beyond Han-Yeol's awareness.

"Hahaha!"

Mujahid found joy in the prospect of being alongside Han-Yeol. Seated at the mountain's edge, the two of them shared a glass of beer.

Whoosh! Whoosh!?

Soon after they began enjoying their drinks, a signal arrived, indicating the completion of all their tasks.

"It's finally done, hyung-nim."

"Yeah, it was a long but enjoyable day. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Haha! I suppose I have a talent for choosing hunting grounds!"

Both of them had ascended to this mountain's edge for a specific reason. From their vantage point, they could survey the entire snow-covered landscape that had been under the monsters' dominion for the past three decades.

The Cheolwon hunting ground stood as one of the rare places on Earth that managed to reclaim the innate beauty bestowed upon it by Mother Nature. Originally, Cheolwon had been a locale with little beyond an army base. However, the diminished human presence following the emergence of dimensional gates facilitated the area's recuperation.

Earth had carried the burdens of pollution, a consequence of humanity's heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Over the course of three decades, these wounds began to heal as humanity shifted its energy source from fossil fuels to mana stones.

Nonetheless, humanity's ongoing need for natural resources—like wood, stone, minerals, and sustenance—ensured that pollution persisted as an enduring global challenge.

Yet, the astonishing rejuvenation and revival of the Cheolwon hunting ground's natural magnificence could be attributed entirely to the hunting ground itself. Situated within a natural reserve area, it remained untarnished by logging or mining activities. The irony was profound: the presence of monsters acted as a protective barrier against pollution, serving as a shield that preserved the land's innate grandeur until it could be fully restored.

‘This place would be awesome as a natural retreat,’?Han-Yeol thought while admiring the scenery.

“Let’s go down, hyung-nim.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Whoosh! Tak!

Both of them leaped from a height of seventy meters, yet this was an ordinary feat for them, given their statuses as an S Rank and Master Rank Hunter.

[My prince!]

As soon as Mujahid touched down, he was welcomed by Mahomet, the leader of the Porters associated with the Goblin Group.

[Are you guys done?]

[Yes, sir. The accounts are as follows: ninety-six Ice Demon corpses and their mana stones, one hundred one Snowman corpses and their mana stones, one hundred eighty-nine Ice Troll corpses and their mana stones, and three hundred eleven Ice Goblin corpses and their mana stones, for a grand total of eight hundred nineteen monster corpses.]

The figures Mahomet just mentioned were truly astounding, and the fact that all these monsters were felled in a single raid could potentially earn it a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

However, both Han-Yeol and Mujahid were not the sort to concern themselves with such trivialities. Moreover, the hunt wouldn't qualify anyway, as it wasn't an official one.

“Phew…?It seems that we did hunt a lot after hearing the numbers,” Han-Yeol said.

“Keke! I agree, hyung-nim!”

“Alright, let’s wrap it up and go home. It’s just going to become troublesome if the monsters suddenly start spawning for some reason.”

“Yes, hyung-nim!”

Vroom!

The dozens of tractor trucks revved their engines in readiness for departure, while Han-Yeol cast another glance across the area using his Demon Eyes. Once he ensured that no lurking threats were present, he promptly issued the order to proceed.

[All forces, move out!]

[Yes, sir!]

Creak… Creak… Creak… Creak…?

The tractor trucks started moving until they left the hunting ground.

“Kieeeeek!”

Chwak!

Mavros soared through the sky with Han-Yeol on his back, maintaining their reconnaissance until the last tractor truck departed, vigilant for any potential lurking dangers.

Han-Yeol looked back at the hunting ground before exiting and said inwardly, ‘Take care. It was fun while it lasted.’

Then, he bid goodbye to the icy mountains before finally leaving them after days of hunting.

***

The Cheolwon hunting ground hunt was over, but Han-Yeol’s work was just starting.

‘Ugh… So bothersome…’?he grumbled at the thought of having to meet the ten American Hunters as well as their ambassador.

Han-Yeol and his party first went to his mansion after the hunt.

“Haaap…!?I should get some sleep now,” Mujahid said with a yawn.

“Ugh…!?Mujahid, you bastard!” Han-Yeol growled while trembling in anger.

He was quite exhausted, and hearing Mujahid talk about resting annoyed him.

However, life had a peculiar way of being both unfair and fair, precisely when it was necessary.

“Where are you going, Mujahid-nim?”

“Hmm?”

Mujahid turned around and saw Shin Yoo-Kyung looking at him.

“Yoo-Kyung…?”

“Yes, it is I, Shin Yoo-Kyung!”

“What brings you here…?” Mujahid tilted his head and asked.

A vein protruded on Shin Yoo-Kyung’s forehead after hearing Mujahid feign ignorance.

Kwachik!

"Are you seriously asking that right now? What kind of sleep are you thinking of having? You've got a mountain of documents to sign! You can only rest after you've finished signing all of them!"

“H-Hiiiik!”

Mujahid's love for fighting surpassed all else in this world, while his disdain for paperwork ranked as his most detested activity. He had initially enlisted Shin Yoo-Kyung to shoulder the load of his tasks and responsibilities, yet he still found himself obligated to personally endorse crucial documents essential for his companies.

Given the global scope of the Goblin Group, there was no way Shin Yoo-Kyung could simply append his signature to these significant papers, despite Mujahid's unwavering trust. Nevertheless, this did not imply that Mujahid was required to sign every single document, as Shin Yoo-Kyung capably handled the day-to-day and minor matters in his stead.

It was evident that Mujahid faced an imposing stack of documents demanding his signature, and his plans of indulging in a day of uninterrupted sleep began to fracture before ultimately shattering into pieces.

"N-No! I refuse!" Mujahid protested vehemently.

"You don't have a choice, and you're not a twelve-year-old child. Please refrain from complaining and follow me."

Kwak!?

“Ugh…?H-Hyung-nim… Please save me…” Mujahid pleaded while being dragged away by Shin Yoo-Kyung.

“Best of luck to you, Mujahid~” Han-Yeol sneered.

“Noooo! Hyung-niiiiim!” Mujahid screamed before he disappeared into the distance.

He paid a heavy price for betraying Han-Yeol and attempting to rest alone.

"That's why loyalty matters, Mujahid," Han-Yeol chuckled, casting a glance in the direction he had vanished.

As the Special S raid party approached, Han-Yeol greeted them warmly.

"Excuse me, Han-Yeol Hunter-nim...?"

"Hello, Yoon-Ho," Han-Yeol responded with a gentle smile, his manner gracious even though their interaction had concluded.

This courtesy was extended partly due to the valuable skill 'Dimensional Storage' he had gained from Kwon Yoon-Ho. Han-Yeol wasn't one to dismiss someone without cause simply because he had obtained what he needed.

"It was a short hunt, but thank you for everything!" Kwon Yoon-Ho expressed his gratitude.

This time, the Special S raid party reaped substantial benefits from their collaboration with Han-Yeol. Despite their frenetic hunting over the past five days, the frequent appearance of trucks to collect monster corpses bolstered their gains significantly. Han-Yeol's generosity in allowing them to utilize the trucks during the hunt painted him as a benefactor in their eyes.

Already respected as a Master Rank Hunter, Han-Yeol's substantial assistance added another layer of gratitude from the Special S raid party.

Han-Yeol was someone from a totally different world compared to them, and being able to hunt with someone like that was a great honor and privilege in their eyes.

“Yeah, you guys worked hard too.”

“Thank you very much, Han-Yeol Hunter-nim!”

.

“How can we ever repay you, oppa?”

“…”

Everyone, except the Hunter who was older than Han-Yeol, expressed their gratitude individually. Naturally, Han-Yeol wasn't particularly concerned whether the older Hunter thanked him or not, as that individual held little significance to him.

"No need for repayment; simply give your best in all your future endeavors," Han-Yeol responded with a composed demeanor.

He didn't perceive any debt owed to him, thus repayment wasn't something he expected.

"That's... um..." Kwon Yoon-Ho hesitated.

‘Hmm? It seems they want to say something,’?Han-Yeol thought after seeing how everyone was squirming and stealing glances at him.

“What is it? Is there something you want to tell me?” he asked.

Tak!

Kwon Yoon-Ho suddenly executed a deep bow of ninety degrees before Han-Yeol, exclaiming, "Han-Yeol Hunter-nim!"

Subsequently, the remaining members of the Special S raid party also bowed in his direction.

"What's happening?" Han-Yeol questioned, his surprise evident.

The Egyptian Hunters and Porters assembled around him.

"I apologize for my audacity, but we implore you to guide us!" Kwon Yoon-Ho fervently requested.

"Huh?" Han-Yeol's confusion deepened at the abrupt entreaty. Lead them? Out of the blue?

The notion seemed so incredible to Han-Yeol that he resorted to employing his Telepathy II skill—a talent he hadn't used within the hunting ground.

‘W-We need a leader…!’

‘Yoon-Ho is good, but he’s too timid like the rest of us…’

‘Our raid party needs Han-Yeol Hunter-nim if we are to survive from now on!’

‘It’s better to hunt with a safe and consistent raid party and receive a monthly salary instead of risking our lives by ourselves…’

‘Please… Please…!’

The Special S raid party members did not seem to have any hidden motives.

‘I see…’?Han-Yeol thought.

Initially, he entertained the idea of accommodating them, given his impending plans to establish a company. However, he concluded that it was premature to entertain such considerations and opted to defer the decision.

Nonetheless, the circumstances took an unexpected turn when the Special S raid party approached him, requesting his leadership.

“Alright,” Han-Yeol said.

“W-What?!”

“Are you serious?!”

“Yeah, I’m serious, but…!” Han-Yeol added.

“…?”

"I'm quite occupied these days, so not at the moment. I'm on the verge of establishing my own company soon, and I'll be recruiting Hunters for that venture. I assure you that once my company is up and running, I'll extend an offer to all of you."

"T-Thank you very much!"

Upon his agreement, the members of the Special S raid party once again bowed in appreciation. They couldn't help but place complete trust in him. His commitment wasn't mere empty words; it was evident he possessed a well-defined vision.

"However!"

"Y-Yes...?"

"You need to become stronger than your current state."

"Yes, we comprehend!"

A fervent determination burned in the eyes of each member of the Special S raid party.

‘W-Wow! Han-Yeol Hunter-nim agreed to take us in!’

‘The world is truly a mysterious place…’

‘I don’t care how it is as all I care about is hunting with a Master Rank Hunter!’?

Everyone appeared exceedingly content with this achievement, except for a solitary individual.

‘Tsk… Seeing such a young kid act like a big shot pisses me off… I should probably leave this raid party once they distribute the goods.’

The only elder Hunter within the raid party was the exception, harboring negative thoughts about Han-Yeol.

As Han-Yeol gradually gleaned his inner sentiments, a growing anger began to simmer within him. He thought, 'Tsk tsk… What's the use of growing older if he's still behaving like a fourth-grader? His arrogance essentially squandered a chance of a lifetime!'

Han-Yeol didn't see the necessity of trying to persuade someone who had already made the decision to depart.

‘Fucking farewell and good riddance, loser!’ Han-Yeol chuckled inwardly.

It was actually better and healthier for Han-Yeol to keep these kinds of people as far away as possible.

Tak!

"Alright! I trust you'll train diligently until the day we cross paths once more!" Han-Yeol exclaimed, giving a hearty clap.

"Yes, captain!"

They all offered a deep bow of ninety degrees to Han-Yeol. He couldn't help but muse that they were a small yet spirited raid party...