Hunters Keep Coming To My House - Chapter 153

Chapter 153

[Title: Taking a Quick Step Towards Becoming a Seasoned Homeowner!

A special and secretive quest has arrived exclusively for Seo Yeon-oh!

This is a special opportunity provided by the system!

It’s all for Seo Yeon-oh’s rapid growth.

Please do your best!

This space belongs to Seo Yeon-oh.

However, some of the authority in this place has been usurped!

Please remove the authority of the current system administrator, ‘Gold Dragon.’

Also, secure authority over this space completely.

Current authority of Seo Yeon-oh: 68%

Due to the increase in Seo Yeon-oh’s abilities, the senses that were blocked will be released.

You will be able to feel the authority over the space!

Everything in the space will follow Seo Yeon-oh.

Success Reward: Title ‘Seasoned Homeowner’ acquired, all stats +100.

Failure: Slow growth, acceleration of decay in the world.

However, if ‘Gold Dragon’ catches on to this content, the quest will automatically disappear. (Considered a failure if the quest disappears.)]

‘…Hah.’

It was a quest that was difficult to grasp the intentions even after rechecking. How can a mere human understand a system that pits against beings and psychological battles outside the norms?

I would rather engage in a psychological battle with someone like Kang Yoon-soo, who’s as obstinate as a mule… it’s not easy to win with words in my situation…

I sighed inwardly as I looked at Allen. He was still examining me with a faint smile on his lips. It felt like he was attributing meaning to every single one of my reactions, making even breathing uncomfortable. 

I maintained my expression as much as possible and met Allen’s gaze. I barely managed to stop the corners of my mouth from trembling, feeling as if the muscles on my face were paralyzed.

‘Well, but still, this quest was necessary.’

I couldn’t rely on Allen forever.

He understood that too…

As the quest window hinted, Allen also had a share of the authority over this space that should entirely be mine.

This wasn’t surprising, as I could have anticipated it enough through his actions so far. Considering how much he contributed here, it could be counted on one hand.

The only problem is…

Allen knows everything that happens at this gate.

Who visited my house, what happened, and even why a battle occurred. Even that Ellie came here with a Black Dragon embedded in her body.

All of it went through Allen’s eyes and ears.

Until now, I might have unconsciously relied on Allen because I had no power to deal with beings outside the norms like the Black Dragon.

Knowing all those facts.

But now… the situation was too dire to just trust Allen and wait passively for the system’s response.

Because the mastermind of all these events, the Black Dragon, Inu, began to move actively from the shadows.

I couldn’t know what she hoped for by doing this… but I knew I had to stop Inu if I wanted to live long.

Look, isn’t it terrifying that there’s no condition attached like accelerating the erosion of the world upon quest failure? It’s not just about me dying and that’s it, now it’s about the world being at stake. 

…Damn it. 

So, I had to increase my strength even more. 

That’s why this quest was nothing short of a blessing for me. It’s like feeding growth into my mouth. Of course… the fact that Allen is the one I have to deceive is still a problem.

‘Just have to get over it.’ 

Once I get past this hurdle… I’ll send Allen out of the house. That way, I’ll increase my dominance so that Allen can’t interfere anymore.

I’m not sure how to increase dominance… Alright, it’s a good plan.

With firm determination, I glanced at Allen in front of me and lightly bit my tender lip.

It was to get myself together.

Then, after his question about how I’d changed since earlier, I opened my mouth to Allen, who had been waiting for my answer.

“Just now, my abilities grew stronger from where Allen sent me. So, that’s how Allen feels. It’s like experiencing some kind of awakening event.”

“Hmm, I never allowed such a thing.”

“Not everything goes as planned.”

“If everything went as planned, why would variables exist and mutations survive?”

Contrary to what I had been wary of, I shrugged nonchalantly up to my shoulders. Well, doesn’t this kind of thing happen often? That was the vibe I gave off.

Allen looked at me with a frustrated expression, his eyes full of resentment. He would know. That my growth now is the biggest variable among variables.

So, he had no choice but to admit it.

“I can’t beat you.”

“It’s hard to beat someone desperate. I still earnestly hope to become stronger.”

“Yeon-oh, you might not realize it, but you’ve already become strong.”

“Well, compared to the beginning, that is. But my opponents, somehow… seem like mythical beings.”

Allen burst into laughter at my half-joking, half-serious remark. The tense atmosphere surrounding him vanished in an instant.

As I quietly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that I had overcome the hurdle, Allen tapped the table.

“Since you want it so desperately, I’ll step aside. I won’t ask, won’t be curious, and won’t even know what’s going on, so go ahead and achieve what you want.”

“When everything’s over, call me again. You and I still have unfinished tasks. Although I can’t delay it any longer, telling you now wouldn’t even enter your mind.”

With a hint of regret, Allen lifted the corners of his mouth into a slight smile. It must be quite regretful to step aside like this.

After all, he was the one who had urged me before that he couldn’t wait any longer.

“It’s regrettable for Allen.”

“Rather than saying it’s regrettable… I’m waiting. No matter how fast destiny approaches, if you don’t accept it… everything will return to nothing.”

“…I always feel like Allen’s words are hard to understand.”

“We don’t do foolish things like revealing our true feelings.”

I awkwardly chuckled and lightly bit my lip.

“…Feels like I just got punched in the gut, doesn’t it?”

“Honesty is your charm, don’t worry. It’s us being excessively hypocritical.”

I wanted to nod vigorously in agreement with the expression of not being honest, but I held back. Those darn dragons never understood what I said all at once.

Still, admitting my flaws in front of them directly wasn’t good manners, so I just smiled and brushed off the response.

“Then I’ll wish you success in achieving what you want, Yeon-oh.”

“Of course, I’ll achieve it.”

“Yeah, Yeon-oh.”

Allen slowly stood up from his seat. Then, as he slowly looked around the room, he conveyed some incomprehensible words to me.

“Come to think of it, isn’t it common in this country to offer fruit to guests?”

“Well… Offering snacks and tea is common in any country, isn’t it?”

“Is that so.”

“Perhaps you wanted to receive guest treatment…?”

He chuckled and shook his head. He just smiled subtly as if he had satisfied his curiosity, then vanished in a golden shimmer in an instant.

I stared blankly at the spot where Allen disappeared until his golden mana completely vanished.

Even if he didn’t need a front door, this was a bit too much.

I sighed deeply and headed towards the living room window. It was to call out to Jung Tae-il who was outside.

“Mr. Tae-il! Come in!”

…Hmm?

As I called out first and narrowed my eyes, I looked around. Only the clean yard caught my eye, as I had tidied it up earlier.

There was no Jung Tae-il or Arvani in the yard.

“…Wait, where did these people go again?”

Where did the person who promised to call if it was dangerous go? Where did the person who said he’d protect me go?

My mouth gaped in disbelief. If he had to go somewhere, he should have gone alone. Why did he take Arvani with him? As I muttered to myself, feeling perplexed… I heard a chuckle from behind me.

“You talk too much by yourself.”

“…Mr. Tae-il.”

The one who appeared from behind, of course, was Jung Tae-il. And Arvani was perched on his head, showcasing his presence with a whimper.

“Just went up to the roof for a moment.”

“…Hmm. Why did you go up to the roof?”

“I had something to check.”

“…What?”

A smile spread across Jung Tae-il’s face at my question.

A smile reminiscent of a sated beast.