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Chapter 15: Do You Have A Skill Too? (3)

The Goblin King staggered, grumbling like a pot at a boil. The ruler of the fifth-floor hunting ground slowly fell to the ground, bleeding from the cut on its throat.

“Gorr.” I looked down at the Goblin King’s body solemnly.

For the last week, the monster in front of me had been my greatest enemy. I died so many times trying to kill this monster. Feeling like an honorable warrior who was bidding a farewell to his rival, I—

—Stop fucking around, you wacko zombie, the Guardian scoffed.

“Ah, please. It took me six Coins to kill it. Can’t you let me just enjoy the moment?” I grumbled.

The number of Coins equaled how many times I’d risked my life. Since I was on my sixth Coin, I had died five times to get this Goblin King.

—What? I always speak the truth. Only a wacko would get sentimental after killing one monster.

“Is that so? Mr. Sword Emperor is such an honorable man.”

Perhaps it was noticeable from how casually I was talking to my Guardian, but I’d gotten used to using my aura now. Even as I bantered with the Guardian, the world was slow because I was on my elixir again but I was speaking a lot faster than usual by using aura in my tongue.

“Gorrrrrr.”

However, I had used an expedient to win the fight, rather than fighting the Goblin King fair and square. Scratching my head, I pulled out a shit-colored Skill Card.

High Society of Goblins

Class: F

Effects: A problem greatly troubled the Goblin King: “Goblin culture is too uncivilized. Every sentence ends with ‘kerr-kerr’. I cannot show my dignity like this!” Just then, a stroke of genius struck the Goblin King. “That’s right! From now on, I shall end my sentences with gorrr. Gorrr! It suits my elegance, gorr.”

※However, it will intensify the conflict within the race.

※The Skill has been copied from Monster: Goblin King.

I clicked my tongue. “Goblins worry about the most useless stuff. Kerr and gorr aren’t that different from one another.”

—That’s why they’re goblins. Humans aren’t any different from them though.

“Pardon?”

—I was talking to myself.

I was about to press him when I heard a voice in my head.

[Your presence has become stronger.]

It was my first time hearing the message, but I knew what it meant. Many Hunters talked about it in their interviews, and some of them actually streamed it live.

“F-finally!” I clenched my fists.

I had been a Class F Hunter all my life and I was constantly worried that I might still be the same until my last day. However, after acquiring the Skills to duplicate Skills and regress in time, I had overcome numerous trials and tribulations. Finally, the moment of leveling up arrived for me too!

[Hunter Kim Gong-Ja’s level has increased.]

“Ah...” I marveled.

[Your Skill slots have increased!]

[Your Hunter Class is E.]

I was still a Class E Hunter though.

[May luck be with you.]

My aura surged from within me, rising as fiery red streams that enveloped me before it dripped downward and disappeared.

—...Is it fire? the Guardian mumbled, his brow furrowed. Blood? Hmm... It’s confusing. It looks like it could be either of the two...

“The visual effect just now means I leveled up, right?”

—It’s not just about looking cool. It’s sort of like a hint. The Guardian scratched the back of his head.

“A hint?”

—Yeah. How your aura reacts when you level up determines the form of your aura. For example, the Fire Emperor, the guy you killed, would have had an aura of fire. I’m sure of it.

“Fire...” I remembered how the Fire Emperor had burned the Saintess to death in the slum alley. Although I never wanted to remember it again...I agreed that his aura would have been in the form of fire.

—The form of a Hunter’s aura usually depends on their trauma. Well, it doesn’t have to be trauma, but it normally is. It’s like a reflection of your subconsciousness. Notable incidents, moments, and memories that impact the rest of their lives are reflected in the form of their aura.

“I see.”

—From the looks of it, I think yours is either fire or blood.

That made me wonder.

“Then...what’s the Sword Star’s aura?”

—Moonlight, the Guardian casually replied. When he was a boy, Gramps Marcus got lost in a mountain. Since he didn’t want to die, he forced himself to get to the top of the mountain. The canopy became thinner as he got closer to the top, slowly revealing the night sky. When he finally got to the peak, he had a full view of the sky.

—It got him thinking. The moon doesn’t shine on its own. It merely reflects the sun’s light, but it’s still beautiful nonetheless. He wanted to shine like moonlight by embracing life. That incident left a very deep impression on him, so he’s been trying all his life to live by that conviction.

“You said he was a boy back then,” I had to ask.

—Yup. It happened when he was twelve years old.

“What kind of a twelve-year-old is capable of thinking that deep?”

—That’s why Gramps Marcus is a natural-born geezer. Tsk, tsk. When I was his age, I was thinking about the best way to beat the crap out of a gangster that was bothering me. The Guardian nodded to himself.

“No...I wouldn’t exactly call it normal...either...”

If the Sword Star was a natural-born geezer, then was the Guardian born to be a bully?

—Anyhow, since you’ve gotten used to the fifth floor, let’s get to the hunting ground on the sixth floor.

“Oh, about that. Can we head straight to the tenth floor and work on taking down the boss monster?”

—What?

“I now know that I can copy monsters’ Skills and I’m somewhat familiar with using my aura. I think I’m more than ready to take down the tenth-floor boss monster.”

The Guardian gave me a sharp stare.

—Kim Gong-Ja, you’re still a greenhorn. Isn’t it too soon for you to get arrogant?

“Definitely not,” I asserted.

The tenth floor of the Tower in my world had remained uncleared for several years, and was believed to be unassailable. Despite the difficulty, I dared to suggest clearing it, so the Guardian had every right to be concerned.

“I’m really confident about this,” I repeated. No, I was sure that I could do it. “If I fail to kill the tenth-floor boss monster within two Coins, I’ll call you Teacher.”

—Huh? Two Coins?

The Guardian looked very tempted.

—It took you six Coins to take down the goblins’ leader; are you seriously telling me that you’ll take the boss monster down with only two Coins? You may not know this, but I always collect my winnings no matter what it takes.

“But! There are conditions.”

—Huh?

I raised my index finger. “Tell me all the Skills that the tenth-floor boss monster has. You can’t lie or hide their Skills, and don’t do anything to the cards either.”

—Hmm... Okay. That’s fair...

“And!” I grinned. “If I win, call me Mr. Gong-Ja as politely and respectfully as possible. What? Are you scared? Well, you can quit if you’re a chicken.”

There was nothing a bully hated more than being called a chicken, and the Guardian was no ordinary bully. He was the strongest bully who had cleared the ninety-ninth floor of the Tower in another world. A hot stream of air blew out of his nostrils.

—Ptoo! One overpowered Skill made a greenhorn cocky enough to mock me, the Sword Emperor! Aaaaaaalright!!! Fine! Let’s make this bet!

“Deal.”

—Deal! Kim Zombie, I guarantee that you won’t be able to kill the tenth-floor monster. You’ll call me Teacher for the rest of your life. Oh, riiiiight! You can’t even die, so you’ll have to call me Teacher forever.

“Is one of your passive Skills Delusional? Get ready to serve your master.”

—Hehehehe.

“Hehehe.”

We snickered sinisterly and glared at each other.

The Hunters hunting goblins watched us from a distance.

“Hey, did you see that guy? He keeps talking to himself.”

“He’s laughing to himself now. Is there a problem with his head?”

“Shhhh! He might look at us. Pretend you didn’t hear anything. We heard nothing.”

...I realized I should try to not look like I was talking to myself. I clamped my lips shut and headed to the tenth floor.

***

Unlike the other hunting grounds, a guard dispatched from the Hunter Management Bureau was standing in front of the entrance to the tenth floor’s boss monster. He listened to my request and frowned.

“You’re going to challenge the boss monster on your own?”

“That’s right.”

In less than two seconds, I became a crazy guy in the guard’s eyes.

“Umm, I’m not sure if you’ve seen the news recently, but... The Black Dragon Guild made a Tower Raid Team with thirty of their elites and four High Rankers and they still failed. Hunting on your own is practically suicide.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with my request,” I insisted. “Bureau regulations say to let all Hunters in if they want to challenge boss monsters.”

“You aren’t wrong, but... “ The guard answered, looking troubled. “I’m sorry, but I have to record all the Hunters who enter the room. My superior in the Bureau is going to check it...and then I become the bad guy who let a Hunter walk to their death. Please cut me some slack here.”

“Mmm...” I calmly stroked my chin, wondering what I should do.

—What is this bureau? The Tower in my world never had guys like that!

As expected, I was the only one who was calm.

—They’re all lazy pigs! I never liked them! This is why these so-called Hunter Management Bureau and the guilds are still twiddling their thumbs on the tenth floor! They wasted too much of their energy on politics! Hey, Kim Zombie! Just beat him up and go fight the boss.

Why would I beat an innocent person? I silently asked the Guardian.

—He dares to stand in my way.

I clicked my tongue at the Guardian. As expected from a psychopath, he treated humans as worse than mosquitos.

“Sir.” I pulled out a pouch. “I can tell that you’re a hard-working man. You’re right, challenging the boss monster is practically suicide, but...that’s what I want.”

“Say what?”

“Things have been too hard for me recently...” I smiled bitterly. “My lover died a year ago, and the Alchemist Office has recently diagnosed me with a terminal illness. I have half a year at most, and I’m not sure I can endure it without my lover.”

“Ah...”

—What? What kind of shitshow is this, Zombie? The Guardian frowned.

Ignoring him, I softly continued, “But I’m a Hunter, although my Class is low. I don’t want to be hospitalized in the Alchemist Office until the end of my life, wondering if I’ll die today or tomorrow. If I’m going to die, I want to challenge a monster like a true Hunter.”

“What a story...” The guard gave me a look of pity, the one people usually made after listening to a tragic story.

“Here is the money I saved for my treatment.” I handed him the pouch, heavy with one hundred gold. “...Why don’t you take it? I have no use for it anyway.”

“I-I can’t take that!”

“I’m going to die anyway, so I want to do it with no regrets. Sir, please don’t record my name in the entrance list either. This is my last request as a Hunter...”

The guard’s eyes got teary. Part of the weight on his heavy heart was no doubt the pouch full of money.

“...Okay. Go. I didn’t see anything...”

The Guardian was dumbstruck.

—Hello? Are you two shooting a movie? Someone please tell me there are cameras rolling around somewhere.

Regardless, the guard let me in. I walked across a stone path that led to a fancy mansion. It seemed to have once been owned by a noble family. I stood in front of the mansion’s gate and slowly pushed it open.

The tenth floor was originally cleared by Yoo Soo-Ha, but that’s going to change. I listened to the gate’s hinges squeal as I opened it and took a step inside. I’ll recreate—no, create legends that are even more incredible than the Fire Emperor’s.

The stage began with peals of laughter coming from all directions. At the same time, the gate I entered through swung shut.

The place turned dark instantly and creepy laughter from beyond the darkness grew louder and louder.

—Are you here to play?

No one made a move, but candles glued all over the floor lit up one by one, revealing dolls everywhere. They were girlish dolls that children would play with.

—Are you going to play with us?

The dolls opened their mouths.

—Freeze tag? Red light, green light? Hide and seek?

—The ice melted. The street light is gone. Hide and seek it is!

—Yeah! Play with us! Play hide and seek with us!

—Hehehehehe!

“Alright, I’ll play.” I got into position.

My aura, which I had spent the last week training, billowed out of me.

I heard a voice, as if to affirm my decision.

[One challenger has entered the boss monster stage.]

[The challenger’s name is Hunter Kim Gong-Ja.]

[May luck be with you.]

This was the start of the Hide and Seek in the Infernal Mansion, the stage that no human managed to clear yet.