Volume 1 - CH 22

If Seo Gangrim could recruit two snipers to the Flying Tiger Sect, they would become even stronger. He concealed his true feelings and spoke, "It would be better to use familiar weapons. Let's start hunting now."

"Yes!"

The two answered and immediately started chasing the nearby rabbits. But before Seo Gangrim joined the hunt, he used contribution points to increase his abilities.

[‘Strength’ increased to Level 12!]

[‘Stamina’ increased to Level 10!]

[‘Agility’ increased to Level 12!]

[‘Senses’ increased to Level 15!]

[‘Magic Power’ increased to Level 9!]

It felt like his blood was rushing, and his eyes sparkled. The snowy plain, which had looked only white just a moment ago, now revealed the movements of the demons.

- Seogeok!

He ran across the snowy field, swiftly cutting the neck of a hidden snow deer. In an instant, the snowy plain was dyed red with blood. Though he was just wielding an ordinary sword, it seemed as sharp as a renowned sword.

"Gangrim-hyung, you're really strong..."

Yoon Geoul, who had been chasing rabbits nearby, stopped and stared at Seo Gangrim in awe. Even though he could only see a white snowy field with his own eyes, Seo Gangrim seemed to spot demons everywhere he swung his sword. Yoon Bom, who was also watching the scene with her brother, said, "You're incredibly strong... You said you cleared the First stage alone, right?"

"Yes."

"I wish I could become that strong, too..."

After being absorbed in the hunt for a while, Seo Gangrim finally stopped after dealing with all the demons nearby. Spirit pearls was rolling out from various places. Although they had acquired a lot of spirit pearls, their task was not finished here.

‘There are other things I need besides spirit pearls.’

The carcasses of the demons scattered around were full of valuable resources. Beginners were in a hurry to only pick up spirit pearls, but there were many valuable materials left behind by the demons.

‘Leather, bones, and meat from the demons are useful materials.’

Seo Gangrim picked up the body of the Snow Rabbit that had fallen nearby and began dismembering it. The small horn was also one of the items.

‘I can put this in the Inventory Bag or use it as a material for items later.’

While Seo Gangrim was absorb in his task, he suddenly felt a gaze and turned around. Yoon Bom was standing there. When their eyes met, Yoon Bom was surprised at first, but then she smiled.

"What?"

"Oh, no. It's just fascinating! Can I watch from the side?"

"Do as you please."

Yoon Bom chuckled and sat down next to him to watch the dismembering process. Normal people might have been disgusted and sickened, but she seemed to be more composed than expected.

‘That’s why she’s the best marksman.’

Seo Gangrim’s desire to recruit Yoon Bom into Flying Tiger Sect grew stronger.

"Where's Yoon Geoul?" Seo Gangrim asked, looking around.

"Oh, he said he had to go take a leak for a moment."

There were only weak demons around here, so Yoon Geoul wouldn't be in danger. Also, Yoon Geoul's death would happen a few days from now.

"Still, let's look for him just in case."

He decided to wrap up and started organizing the loot, all the while Yoon Bom chatted cheerfully to him, "If you keep it up like this, Gangrim-oppa, you'll conquer this stage soon. You just need to catch 10 of them, right?"

"Well, it's not just 10 demons, you have to defeat each one of the 10 different species of the demons living here. Among those species, there's a high possibility of encountering ones stronger than this rabbit."

The terrain here was quite vast, making it challenging to locate the demons. Moreover, some demons only appeared at night, while others didn't come out when there were multiple people around. Some even appeared only under specific weather conditions. If luck was bad, one might not find the last species for several days.

"I think it will take me a long time for sure. The demons have camouflage-esque colors, making them difficult to spot."

"You'll get used to it soon enough."

"Really?"

Yoon Bom smiled happily as if she was pleased.

While they were chatting, they heard Yoon Geoul shouting nearby.

"Noona, Gangrim-hyung! Come over here!"

His voice sounded somewhat desperate. Although he didn't sounded to be harmed himself, Seo Gangrim still hurried his steps, concerned about the possibility.

As he approached, he saw Yoon Geoul waving his hand toward them.

"What's the matter?"

Seo Gangrim examined Yoon Geoul, and he didn't appear to be injured. However, there was someone else who seemed to be hurt. Yoon Geoul pointed to the person who had fallen and said, "I helped him because he was being chased by a demon, but he got injured. I've run out of healing items too..."

Seo Gangrim briefly glanced at the injured person. When the man saw him, he quickly looked away.

Yoon Bom was surprised and spoke to the person, "Aren't you Cheon Gunam? Why are you here like this?"

It was Cheon Gunam who was lying on the ground, his whole body frozen. The tip of his nose had turned bright red from frostbite.

When he didn't answer, Yun Bom tilted her head and asked, "Weren't you with Dok Gojun-ssi?"

"We, we're just wandering separately."

That's what he said, but Seo Gangrim could tell that he was not wandering separately; he had been abandoned.

***Read at novelworldtranslations.com***

And that was indeed the case.

‘Damn it. That bastard Dok Gojun. He said he was an ally...’

At first, Cheon Gunam thought that they were a decent pair, hunting together with Dok Gojun, who was much stronger than himself. Thanks to Dok Gojun's strength, the hunts were easy. Even though Gunam was only supporting from behind in battle, they were still able to slay the demons easily.

The problem began when Dok Gojun's attitude changed.

[Cheon Gunam, why don't you step up and fight? Are you the protagonist who hides your strength?]

[What? What are you saying?]

After throwing such an incomprehensible question, Dok Gojun laughed as if he had convinced himself.

[Is it because of me that you can't use your strength properly? Sorry. I didn't notice. Let's go our separate ways for now. Let me know when you open your power later.]

After saying that, Dok Gojun started to go on his own.

Since then, it was a series of hardships for Cheon Gunam. It had been several hours since he entered the Ice Valley. Once he started hunting alone, he keenly felt his weakness. Despite a considerable amount of time passing, he still hadn't slain a single demon.

‘Even if I try to form a new party, strangely, people don't want to be with me...’

He tried to find a new party, but people thought he intentionally spread false information and avoided him. Now, he was reluctant to ask for help to join a party because of his pride.

‘Even when hunting alone, my bullets don't work well against water-based demons.’

Moreover, because he didn't properly clear the Second stage, his overall stats were low. With low Senses, it was difficult for him to find demons. And right now, he was stabbed by a Snow Rabbit and was paralyzed.

‘Darn it. To meet Seo Gangrim at a time like this...’

He despised the sight of Seo Gangrim looking down at him.

While gazing at Cheon Gunam, Seo Gangrim casually said, "Need some help?"

At those words, Cheon Gunam was startled, and his temper flared up. He unintentionally spoke in a sharp voice, "No! I don't need any help. I can manage on my own."

"Is that so."

Cheon Gunam regretted his reaction but couldn't take back what he said.

With a slightly worried expression, Yoon Bom asked, "Are you really okay?"

"O-Of course."

Even in this situation, Cheon Gunam tried to act tough. Seo Gangrim looked at him with pity and said to Yoon Bom and Yoon Geoul, "He says he's fine. Let's go."

"Yes, yes...!"

Yoon Bom and Yoon Geoul glanced at Cheon Gunam and left with Seo Gangrim.

Left alone, Cheon Gunam was seething with anger.

‘Seo Gangrim, you only have a lot of experience; you’re nothing special...!’

He wanted to chase after him and settle things, but he knew his own skills and could only sit there.

How could he mess with Seo Gangrim?

As Cheon Gunam glared at Seo Gangrim's back, he suddenly heard something.

"...Huh?"

As if he heard a sound, Cheon Gunam turned around.

***

"Ugh, that’s enough! I'm tired!"

Yoon Geoul, who had been shooting arrows for a long time, collapsed on the snowy field. His fingers were numb from shooting arrows for so long. Yoon Bom, meanwhile, was standing still, but from her expression, she seemed tired as well.

‘For their first day, they're doing well.’

Seo Gangrim examined the demons they had slain. The killed demons were of varying species, and the number of total kills was considerable. At this point, most of the demons in the area were nearly extinct.

"Let's start heading back. It's getting dark," Seo Gangrim said and looked up at the sky.

Just as he said, the sky was gradually getting darker, and upon hearing the suggestion, the two of them nodded without objection.

"Okay, let's go back quickly, Gangrim-hyung."

They started trudging on the softening snow and headed back to where the gate was. The advent of night within the Ice Valley was as fast as their descent.

As they were moving, Seo Gangrim suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"...Wait a moment."

"What’s wrong?" Yoon Geoul, who was following from behind, looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"I heard a sound," said Seo Gangrim, gazing into the distance.

"What? I didn't hear anything...?" Yoon Geoul said, not hearing anything due to her low Senses.

Yoon Bom also seemed perplexed, unable to hear anything peculiar.

However, Seo Gangrim was certain that he had heard a faint sound. Moreover, it was a familiar voice.

"Someone is over there."

Straining his ears, he began to move his feet towards the direction where the sound was coming from. Beyond the grove of trees, someone's voice was clearly heard.

"H-Help me!"

By now, Yoon Geoul and Yoon Bom seemed to have heard the sound too.

Seo Gangrim drew his sword and said, "You two, go back."

"What? But, hyung..." Yoon Geoul hesitated, looking at him.

"I'm fine, so go back now, before the sun sets."

Taking Yoon Geoul and Yoon Bom to a dangerous place and getting them killed would be a big problem.

After firmly instructing them not to follow, Seo Gangrim hurriedly ran towards the place where the scream came from.

"N-No, I don't want to die here...!"

"Everyone, stay calm!"

"Aaaah!"

Among the chaotic voices, one voice caught his attention. Seo Gangrim rushed through the forest. And beyond it, he saw a familiar face.

The face belonged to Sin Sooah. She and several others were surrounded by White Wolves.