Holy B-Class Life

#080

“There was no attack team that went ahead.”

Sergei suddenly shifted his attention to that matter. He seemed to have completely forgotten about the ongoing debate over item priority rights.

With a serious expression, he headed straight for the back of the monster’s shell. His steps were quite hasty, as if he was anxious.

Dan Joo-hyuk twisted his lips and followed him closely.

“……”

Soon, they reached the fallen hunter. Sergei’s face darkened as he confirmed the suspicious man’s identity.

Then, so suddenly that even the nearest hunter couldn’t react, he swung his sword.

“What…!”

The sword flew straight towards the neck of the fallen suspicious hunter.

“Ugh……”

That violent trajectory was blocked by Dan Joo-hyuk with a loud clang.

Dan Joo-hyuk, holding the newly acquired greatsword, had somehow blocked Sergei’s path.

“What are you doing?”

Dan Joo-hyuk asked calmly, with a smiling eye. Then he swung his sword, sending Sergei’s body flying backward.

“Ugh!”

He couldn’t withstand it for even a second and tumbled backward. Dan Joo-hyuk, looking down at him, found it even more amusing.

To so blatantly do such a stupid thing.

What order could the Tsar have given? What could make him take such a reckless action to eliminate witnesses first?

What connection could it have with that [■■■ Fragment]?

“Dangerous individuals must be killed! Who knows what tricks he might pull again?”

Russian hunters who had rushed over urgently stood in front of Sergei. Among them, the one acting as interpreter hurriedly conveyed his outcry.

“Tricks?”

As if finding that word very strange, Dan Joo-hyuk tilted his head and repeated it.

Some of the Russian hunters glanced nervously at the fallen Sergei. Seeing this, it seemed not everyone had been privy to the entire plan.

It was a tense situation that could erupt into a fight at any moment.

“Huh? This person.”

Cutting through that tight tension, someone let out a surprised exclamation.

It was one of the Korean hunters.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think I’ve seen him somewhere……”

When Dan Joo-hyuk asked, the Korean hunter frowned as if unsure.

Then, in a rather uncertain voice, he asked Sergei:

“Isn’t he a Russian hunter? I think I saw him outside the gate……”

“What nonsense are you talking about! He’s not one of our hunters!”

Upon hearing this, Sergei immediately shouted angrily. He had already gotten up and was still holding his sword in one hand.

The confrontational atmosphere instantly reformed. Observing this situation, Dan Joo-hyuk thought that this issue probably wouldn’t be resolved quickly.

With that thought, he suddenly found this situation boring.

His gaze turned to the pants he would give to Yoon Pa-ran. Even after leaving this gate, it would take some time to return to Korea.

Recalling this fact, a slight irritation surged.

“I’m not sure either. I just caught him because he was lurking in front of the stone door.”

“Is that so? Hmm, did I see wrong? I’m sorry.”

Dan Joo-hyuk deliberately drew a firm line. The fastest way to exit the gate was to settle this first.

Surprisingly, as Dan Joo-hyuk seemed unlikely to raise an issue, Sergei’s expression became strange.

“……Ahem.”

After hesitating, Sergei put away his sword first. His gaze kept turning towards the new greatsword Dan Joo-hyuk was holding.

He’s being cautious because he can’t even tell the item’s grade.

“I apologize. This is where the Tsar is, and I got anxious thinking subversive elements had entered first.”

“I see.”

Even to this pathetic excuse, Dan Joo-hyuk responded sincerely enough.

Then, after clearing his throat a few times, Sergei asked with a seemingly serious face. To someone unaware of the circumstances, it would look like he was just gathering information.

“What was that guy doing in front of the stone door?”

“Well, I couldn’t communicate with him, so I just caught him for now……”

Dan Joo-hyuk answered vaguely, as if he had only been interested in the boss monster. Wanting to gauge the true meaning of his words, Sergei stared straight at him.

It reminded him of Yoon Pa-ran.

Of course, unlike with Yoon Pa-ran, those arrogant eyes only made him want to gouge them out.

“Let’s wrap this up and leave.”

Dan Joo-hyuk carefully contained that emotion for now.

Thinking of Yoon Pa-ran made him just want to return quickly.

❖ ❖ ❖

Dan Joo-hyuk personally carried the captured hunter as they moved.

Until they reached the exit, Dan Joo-hyuk consistently treated this guy as just a thief hunter trying to snatch rewards. After all, there were always some gutsy individuals who risked their lives to infiltrate gates first.

Not wanting to be backstabbed, he had Russian hunters take the lead. Conveniently, there was also the excuse that the Korean hunters were severely injured from reaching the boss area.

They surprisingly agreed readily and led the way diligently.

“We’ll go out first.”

Then, even at the exit, they volunteered to go out first.

“……”

Dan Joo-hyuk didn’t stop their movements. However, his suspicion deepened at their attitude.

What else could they have done outside the gate?

Due to the complex interests entangled in this gate, all resource collection including magic stones was to be done later. Thanks to this, the Korean hunters also prepared to leave with light loads.

“Come on. Let’s go too.”

“Anyone want to grab a drink before heading back to Korea?”

They seemed to have no idea what chaos might have unfolded outside. Regardless, Dan Joo-hyuk, who was about to move, stopped abruptly.

“……”

Despite knowing it was where the boss monster was, these people had rushed in first. Of course, he knew it was because they needed his protection in a foreign country.

Still, it wouldn’t hurt to instill some caution in them.

After all, there would be many occasions where he’d need cooperation from other hunters once back in Korea.

“Everyone, prepare for combat.”

At Dan Joo-hyuk’s words, meant as a kindness in his own way, the atmosphere at the exit instantly chilled.

“What…?”

“Hah….. I knew something felt off, damn it.”

“Why?”

“If you don’t know, shut up and bring out a shield if you have one.”

Even the foreign hunters who didn’t understand Korean cautiously observed the atmosphere. Some, seeing this side seemingly preparing for battle, discreetly checked their equipment.

This seemed enough of a warning. Therefore, Dan Joo-hyuk, unlike usual, headed towards the exit first.

He heightened his tension to the maximum. Preparing to deploy his skills, he considered the worst-case scenario of facing concentrated fire upon exiting.

Like that, his body completely crossed the exit. Amidst a faint dizziness as if his soul was resonating.

“It’s Hunter Dan Joo-hyuk! Confirm the front!”

“Front confirmed!”

His vision filled with soldiers crowding in front of the gate.

“……”

However, contrary to his concerns, their gun muzzles were not pointed towards the gate.

Korean special forces had their backs to Dan Joo-hyuk, maintaining strict vigilance in all directions.

“Dan Hunter. You’ve worked hard.”

Minister Byeon, similarly armed, was approaching from beside the gate.

Although he hadn’t revealed the quest on his status window, Dan Joo-hyuk had urged him before entering the gate. He had told him to be wary of the Tsar’s schemes if the conquest took longer than he had stated.

Minister Byeon’s current action was clearly a diplomatic discourtesy. However, there were always exceptions.

“Take good care of this. It must be brought back to Korea. At least A-grade.”

“……Understood.”

Minister Byeon looked down at the suspicious hunter’s appearance that Dan Joo-hyuk was handing over, with a dark expression.

At his direction, several special forces members received the unconscious man.

“Ugh, gasp!”

“Ah, shit. That scared me.”

“Hah……”

“Nothing’s wrong, right?”

He heard the Korean hunters who had closely followed him muttering. The surroundings were bustling with Russian soldiers, media capturing this confrontation, and civilians who had come to watch.

Despite this commotion, Dan Joo-hyuk fixed his gaze straight ahead.

“……”

The Russian Tsar had come out to the front of the gate.

The Russian hunters who had gone out first whispered something to him and bowed their heads. Unlike their dark expressions, a subtle composure was visible on the Tsar’s face.

The Tsar’s attitude irked him. As he raised one eyebrow, trying to gauge his intentions,

The man who had been making eye contact with him since earlier slowly approached.

Straight towards Dan Joo-hyuk.

“Hmm……”

Minister Byeon, standing beside him, immediately let out a troubled hum.

Until now, the special forces had been aiming their guns as if guarding against everyone outside the gate. Even that was already an exceptionally unusual situation in a foreign country.

But now the Tsar was walking directly into that line of fire. This was too much of a diplomatic burden. Minister Byeon had no choice but to order:

“Everyone, stand down now.”

Now there was nothing blocking the Tsar’s path. Cameras from around the world, which had been capturing the situation in front of the gate from afar, busily recorded this scene.

It was a clear reversal of the situation from the humiliation of having to allow Korea’s military operation just moments ago. Dan Joo-hyuk, roughly guessing what the Tsar was aiming for, deliberately stood still and waited for him.

“Dan Joo-hyuk.”

Finally reaching Dan Joo-hyuk, the Tsar looked at him. With a friendly smile that didn’t match this complex situation, the Tsar offered a handshake as if glad to see him.

From afar, the sound of camera shutters spread busily like the migration of a flock of birds.

Dan Joo-hyuk slowly extended his hand to respond to the handshake. Strangely, he had a bad feeling ever since the Tsar started approaching. As if a strange premonition of fate was drawing him in.

Suddenly, he noticed a liver spot on the Tsar’s face. Although it was covered with makeup, it couldn’t escape Dan Joo-hyuk’s keen eye at this close distance.

He’s quite old, but not enough to have liver spots like that on his skin.

Almost simultaneously with this thought, his hand touched the Tsar’s.

And then, he realized.

“You must have had a hard time.”

That he felt the same energy as the [■■■ Fragment] from him.

“……”

The hesitation lasted only for a moment. Dan Joo-hyuk opened his mouth with his usual relaxed smile.

“No, it was fun.”

He had a strong feeling that something big was about to happen.

An even bigger anomaly than now.