229

Chapter 229

Later that evening.

Jinwoo climbed up a hill and sat comfortably.

The shimmering moonlight illuminating the forest was in view.

Jinwoo gave his soldiers some free time to do what they want to do.

Among them,『Tusk』and the dragons towering size attracted attention.

They were seriously talking and exchanging opinions when all of a sudden the biggest dragon walked out.

"What are they doing?"

Jinwoo found it strange when the soldiers who gathered around 『Tusk』and the dragons suddenly backed down.

Soon, the biggest dragon who walked out blew fire into the sky.

'Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!'

『Tusk』, who laughed at the thickness of the flames, stepped forward.

'Kouwu Wu-wu-!'

The enormous pillar of fire burst from his mouth and illuminated the dark sky.

The dragon feeling defeated, shrugged and turned, while the High Orcs whistled and cheered.

They seemed to have made a bet on whose fire is stronger.

But.

"Would it be wrong to use the "Marble of Avarice" when they are making such a bet?"

Even though Jinwoo know it's wrong, he sneakingly gave 『Tusk』the Marble of Avarice, and when their eyes met, 『Tusk』scratch his head and smiled awkwardly.

Jinwoo laughed at the shamelessness of 『Tusk』. He then reached out his hand as if nothing happened.

『Tusk』grinned and chuckled towards Jinwoo repeatedly.

It’s a peaceful night.

However, Jinwoo felt uneasy.

'.........'

He then looked at the sky.

He could feel beings from the other world slowly descending to earth.

Their power.

Their malice.

It triggered the heightened senses of Jinwoo.

It felt like something's coming out from a thick fog.

"When will they reveal themselves?"

The fact that the war is inevitable stressed him out.

Jinwoo, who zoned out for a moment lifted his head.

He noticed something strange. The ant soldiers were carefully cutting down trees and picking up rocks.

He was about to call 『Ber』but he heard someone talk from behind.

"I think they are trying to build you a place to rest."

A soft voice that doesn't fit his big size.

It was the General Commander, 『Bellion』.

Jinwoo nodded without looking back.

『Ber』is the only one who would quickly and enthusiastically do something voluntarily.

『Ygritte』on the other hand executes his job flawlessly, as for 『Bellion』.... Well.

I knew nothing about 『Bellion』yet.

The strong bond that connects 『Bellion』to him is from the former Shadow Monarch.

Jinwoo wanted to know more about him.

"Is that how I feel?"

『Bellion』silently approached Jinwoo.

"My Lord, why don't you retrieve your soldiers back into your shadow?"

Jinwoo then replied without taking his eyes off his soldiers.

"I thought it would be suffocating. You lived in a gap of dimension until you arrived here."

'......'

『Bellion』was speechless.

Jinwoo then asked.

“Is it sad that you can no longer meet the former Shadow Lord ... Asborn?”

Just a few days ago he lost his father so, Jinwoo also knows the feeling of losing someone close to you.

『Bellion's』feelings wouldn't be any different.

Jinwoo could understand the loss he was feeling.

"I stood by him when he stopped the rulers who rebelled against the Absolute. And when he had the power of death, I was the first one to become a soldier."

『Bellion』continued to speak in a calm voice.

"I've been assisting him for a long time, but I have never doubted his judgment."

"Not until now right?"

Jinwoo repeated what he had asked.

『Bellion』, who was worried about how to answer, had difficulty expressing his feelings.

"I've never thought about my feelings."

"That's why I'm giving you a chance. Think about it."

'..........'

A long and heavy silence.

『Bellion's』reply was silence, but Jinwoo could feel his sincerity, and that was enough.

Only then did Jinwoo turned his head back and looked at 『Bellion』.

"I want to know more about you and Asbon. Is that possible?"

"It will be a very long story."

"Good! I need that to buy me some time until my eyelids get heavy."

Jinwoo looked forward again while 『Bellion』sat quietly beside him.

"It was a time when I was still the fruit of the World Tree (Ydraggsil)."

"Fruit? You were a fruit?"

"All the soldiers in the sky are born in the form of fruit from the branches of the World Tree (Yggdrasil). It's an endless giant tree that can cover the whole sky with its branches."

"Huh?!"

As the night deepened, Jinwoo continued listening to 『Bellion's』extraordinary story.

**********

In the remaining hours of darkness, Jinwoo ran through the forest.

Running 10 kilometers daily have been his habit for a long time.

Even without the daily quest anymore, his body was already used to it.

Being able to breathe the fresh air of the forest as the sun rises helped Jinwoo organized his thoughts.

"Time to go back."

He will be informing the people about the existence of the eight armies which he still doesn't know as to when they'll show up.

They must know that the real war will be happening soon.

He cannot promise that everyone will be safe.

He cannot promise that the world will still be the same.

As the power of the dragon, seen through the memory of the Shadow Monarch, was unreal.

The dragon and the legion of destruction that followed him had burned everything that breathes life.

Such as earth which became the dragon's next target.

So now, it's not just him anymore, everyone needs to start preparing soon.

Jinwoo automatically stopped running after reaching 10 kilometers even without being informed by the system.

Thanks to daily quest, it became a habit engraved into his body which he never missed doing every day.

But that's not all.

He became stronger and learned how to fight.

The last gift left behind by the former Shadow Monarch before he went into his eternal rest gave him an advantage.

Jinwoo turned to witness the sunrise.

Far above the ridge of the mountains, the sun emerged.

**********

Jinwoo, who can now use 『Shadow Exchange』 anytime, teleported to Ahjin's Guild building.

He didn't go straight inside his office because he was worried that their new employees might get a heart attack, but then he saw a strange woman coming out of the office.

She looked quite familiar to Jinwoo.

The woman, who was about to pass by suddenly turned around and spoke to Jinwoo.

"Uhmm Hello, I was wondering if..."

'..............'

When Jinwoo looked at her, she suddenly freaked out and quickly walked away unable to continue what she's going to say.

"She's a nice girl."

Jinwoo entered the Guild office.

"Huh?!"

"Huh?!"

The employees with eyes wide open froze when they saw him.

"Should I come in again so you can greet me Good Morning."

That is why it's much better to walk into the office.

The Guild Leader visited the guild office and, the employee's expression is all the same.

Yoo Jin Ho soon discovered Jinwoo and rushed out with a bright face.

"Brother!"

Jinwoo firstly asked what he was curious about before greeting Yoo Jin Ho.

"Who was the woman that just left?"

He doesn't know why, but she looks so familiar.

Yoo Jin Ho soon answered, then Jinwoo already understood why he felt that way.

"Oh, that was my sister. I went here because I kept avoiding contact. Was my sister rude to you by any chance?

"No, it's not like that."

That's why she looks familiar.

Jinwoo nodded as he turned to the door and then he asked again.

"Why are you here?"

"Ahmmmm..."

Yoo Jin Ho, who hesitated to reply for a moment looked at Jinwoo's eyes and said.

"Brother, do you remember when I was beside you when the huge gate opened?"

"Yes, I do."

"Well, someone saw me through a live feed."

Jinwoo already has a rough idea of what happened.

"Now that I've become the Vice-President of Ahjin's Guild, they want me to surrender my Hunter's License and avoid doing dangerous things."

Jinwoo expected it.

Since Jinwoo, the Guild President is also a hunter, Yoo Jin Ho as the Vice-President doesn't need to be a hunter anymore.

It was apparent that his family will be worried about him.

But because he knew what Yoo Jin Hoo was thinking, he didn't try to persuade him.

"I wanted to stay as a hunter from the beginning up to the end."

Jinwoo knew how Yoo Jin Ho worked so hard up to this point and, they have been through life and death situations too. Jinwoo then stretched his hand and flicked Yoo's forehead.

"Huh? Brother?!"

After embarrassing Yoo Jin Ho, Jinwoo headed to the representative's room, took off his clothes which he wore for a few days and changed into new ones.

"I'm gonna use the car."

"Do you want me to drive you brother?"

"No, I'll be right back."

"But where are you going, brother?"

"The Hunter Association."

Yoo Jin Ho tried to take the keys and dissuaded Jinwoo.

"But brother, there are reporters outside."

Jinwoo then left the office before Yoo can say "It's going to be hard to get out there since it is crowded.".

It was indeed.

Outside the office building, starving and sleepless reporters are anxiously waiting for Jinwoo to get a scoop.

They waited so patiently that as soon as they saw Jinwoo, they swarmed him.

"Hunter Sung! Hunter Sung! Hunter Sung!"

"Hunter Sung Jin Woo is here!"

"Turn the camera on! Turn it on!"

And then it became silent.

"What?"

"Uh, uhh."

They have no idea what's happening. Everyone looked around and were all speechless.

Only then did they realize.

All of them are floating in the air 10 centimeters off the ground.

"What the hell?!"

However, this brief moment didn't last long.

'Hut!'

The reporters simultaneously went down to the floor but, Jinwoo's already gone.

They embarrassingly looked at each other and laughed.

"Hahahahahah!"

"Oh my god!"

A situation that made them speechless.

An added line for Hunter Sung Jin Woo's article just happened.

**********

Jinwoo drove straight to the Hunter's Association.

Upon receiving the call, Woo Jin Cheol and his employees personally greeted Jinwoo.

But.

"...What?"

The expression of Woo Jin Cheol wasn't his usual also his employees.

As soon as Jinwoo got out of his car, Woo Jin Cheol quickly approached him.

"Hunter Sung... Have you heard the breaking news?"