Chapter 24:

Chapter 24:

Chapter 24

It would be troublesome if Dok Gojun showed interest in him again. Just as he was about to leave, a notification window popped up.

[Third Stage, 'Ice Valley' has been cleared!]

[Subject: Dok Gojun (1 person)]

It was a notification message for the first person to clear the stage. Seeing this notification, people started buzzing with excitement as the first conqueror appeared.

"He’s already defeated them all?"

"I've only defeated five so far..."

Dok Gojun didn't react at all, as if it was natural for him to be the first to clear the Third Stage. He glanced at Seo Gangrim briefly but showed no interest. Then he turned his head and left, which made Seo Gangrim happy that he didn't seem interested in him.

Seo Gangrim looked at the people surrounding me and said, "Dok Gojun-ssi completed the Third Stage first. He's stronger than me, so you should stick with him."

"But it seems like Seo Gangrim-ssi is stronger..."

"I was just lucky. I'll take my leave since there are people waiting for me."

Just then, Yoon Bom and Yoon Geoul came down to the lobby, so Seo Gangrim moved towards them. Yoon Bom greeted him happily, saying, "Gangrim-oppa, hello! Wow, it seems like someone already cleared the Third Stage."

Yoon Geoul blinked his eyes while looking at the notification window. Then he seemed a little apologetic and said, "I honestly thought Gangrim-hyung would be the first to clear it... Did we prevent you from doing it?"

"It doesn't matter."

Seo Gangrim never had the intention to be the first the clear the stage anyway. If he did, Dok Gojun would show interest in him again. Besides, the hidden rewards in the Third Stage were better than the rewards for clearing the stage first, so he had no regrets.

"Then let's depart."

They headed towards the familiar snowy field. It was still morning, and the sun was high in the sky. While hunting at their predetermined hunting grounds, Seo Gangrim felt a strange gaze in the air.

'Is it starting now?'

[The presence of a God can be felt.]

Starting from the Third Stage, the gods would begin to observe humans to give their blessing. The people who were aware of their abilities and hunt demons were classified as hunters. And among the hunters, those who receive the gods' blessing were called Demigods. When they receive the gods' blessing, they gain immense power in an instant. That's why most exceptional hunters were Demigods. Due to this, many people wanted to receive a god's blessing, but the gods were selective in choosing humans. In Seo Gangrim's case, the gods didn't show any interest in his previous life. There was no god who wanted to bless a weak human.

[Some gods are watching you.]

However, in this life, there were gods who were paying attention to him, but their gazes were not warm. If they showed interest in him, they might have already approached Yoon Bom and Yoon Geoul with offers of godly blessing. Seo Gangrim glanced at the two from a distance, but there didn't seem to be any signs of that. All he could hear was their noisy banter.

"Yoon Geoul, why do you keep taking away my demons?"

"If you feel wronged, then defeat them first."

Yoon Geoul seemed to find it amusing when Yoon Bom got angry, so he continued to provoke her.

"Don't wander off and never go alone," Seo Gangrim said at the two of them.

"Okay, hyung!"

"Yes, oppa!"

There would be no problem if the two of them continued to stick together since there were relatively weak demons in this area. For now, Seo Gangrim decided to butcher the monster he had just hunted.

[Acquired 'Snow Claw Tiger's Leather'.]

[Acquired 'Snow Claw Tiger's Bone'.]

[Acquired 'Snow Claw Tiger's Meat'.]

The water bullets relentlessly sought out their prey. Cheon Goonam, with a self-assured smile, chased after Seo Gangrim.

"Now that I have received a god’s blessing, I feel like I can fly."

While hunting alone in the snowy field, when Cheon Goonam heard the voice of a god. He was overjoyed that a god had chosen him and taken an interest in him. He was instantly granted divine favour by Cheolwon Doryeong, lending him strength and granting him new abilities.

[Ability] Smallpox

[Rank] Human First-class

[Description] Borrowing the power of the god, the user can infect the opponent with smallpox. If the user attacks while Smallpox is active, the attacked area will be infected.

Upon receiving the divine blessing, Cheon Goonam’s magical power greatly increased, and he didn't tire no matter how many water bullets he shot. Moreover, this place was surrounded by snow. Water, the material for his water bullets, was overflowing abundantly.

‘Seo Gangrim seems to use fire abilities, so his destiny attribute must be fire as well.’

Cheon Goonam began to grasp the rough symbiotic relationship as he progressed through the stages. Water extinguishes fire. In other words, Seo Gangrim was his natural enemy. As evident, Seo Gangrim was only running away without attempting to counterattack.

"You're good at running away! Just like a little mouse!"

Seo Gangrim didn't stop, even in the face of Cheon Goonam's taunting. Instead, the distance between them was widening. Cheon Goonam gradually became out of breath.

'Darn it, why is he so good at running away?'

With his feet sinking into the snow, Cheon Goonam's speed was gradually decreasing. The winter shoes he was wearing, purchased from a shop, were different from Seo Gangrim's. Seo Gangrim had thin chains wrapped around his shoes to prevent slipping. As the distance grew wider, the voice of Cheolwon Doryeong reached them.

【He's a bad guy, right?】

【We have to punish the bad guys.】

【Goonam, he's a bad guy, right?】

"Oh, yes, that's right."

As Cheolwon Doryeong kept saying strange things, Cheon Goonam began to feel irritated.

'Dok Gojun is a strange guy, and this god is a strange guy too...'

As he grumbled inwardly, he saw Seo Gangrim leaping down the hill. When Cheon Goonam hurriedly chased after him and looked down, he saw something wriggling in the snowy field.

'It's useless even if you jump.'

Cheon Goonam gritted his teeth and launched a water bullet towards the wriggling creature. As the water bullet hit and exploded, a loud scream erupted.

-Creak!

The wriggling creature in the snow was a small snow boar. Once hit by the water bullet mixed with Smallpox, blisters started forming on its body in an instant.

"Darn it, I saw it wrong."

Cheon Goonam looked around, and when something moved, he shot another water bullet. But again, it was not Seo Gangrim, but a snow boar. Whenever he thought something was moving, Cheon Goonam immediately attacked, but they were all just demons.

"Darn it, Seo Gangrim. Where are you!"

Cheon Goonam yelled in frustration and shot a water bullet towards something that moved again. Once again, a scream erupted.

-Creak!

It was the scream of a boar, but it sounded distinctly different from before. Revealing itself among the piles of snow was an adult snow boar. It was much larger than the one’s from earlier.

-Creak!

The eyes of the adult snow boar were glowing fiercely, like those of a fierce beast. Only then did Cheon Goonam realize that things had gone awry.