Hunters Keep Coming To My House - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

“Seo Yeon-oh, is it a time to refuse something like that?”

Jung Tae-il’s words struck me like a dagger. Hesitating over a slight burden when it was time to quickly pick up every bean on the ground and grow was behaving too negligently. 

Just because I left the government didn’t mean there had been any significant change for me. Countless threats still loomed in front of me, as if Jung Tae-il and Han Seung-hoo repeatedly emphasized the danger of me being alone.

‘…I have nothing to say.’

I truly couldn’t say anything. Quietly biting my lips, I had nothing to respond with. Taking a deep breath, Jung Tae-il continued with an even firmer voice than before.

“What you should be concerned about right now is not these trivial matters, Seo Yeon-oh. Remember that.”

“…”

“So pull yourself together.”

“…I understand.”

What was I trying to hide now? The most urgent thing was for me to become stronger. I needed enough strength to protect myself inside the dungeon. I would use any means necessary. I looked at Han Seung-hoo and nodded slowly.

“Seung-hoo, thank you. I’ll use it well.”

“When you get better, please let me ride again.”

“If Arvani allows it.”

“I might have to give more beef.”

Changing the atmosphere, Han Seung-hoo stood up as if shaking off the tension. As we were about to go out for flight practice, he gestured to Jung Tae-il.

“…Well, only at times like this.”

“You’re better at driving monsters away than I am.”

“…Do you want to see Sister Seo Yeon-oh in danger?”

“Got it.”

Jung Tae-il roughly swept his hair back and went out of the front door. Fortunately, he didn’t move to another place but went outside the house. 

Truly… whether it was a great sense or an extraordinary learning ability, I once again realized how impressive Jung Tae-il was. While inwardly admiring him, Han Seung-hoo smiled gently and spoke.

“So, Sis, I’ll go out and help that guy, so get ready and come out quickly.”

“Got it, Seung-hoo.”

With a brief nod, Han Seung-hoo followed Jung Tae-il outside the house. Left alone in the house where everyone had left, a deep sigh escaped from me.

“…Well. Then, I should get ready too. Arvani, come here. Let’s try flying.”

Shaking the saddle in my hand, I called for Arvani. Arvani, upon seeing the saddle, wagged its tail excitedly and ran towards me.

I wonder if it recognizes the saddle.

Arvani jumped around, trying to bite the straps of the saddle to hold them in its mouth. However, due to its compact size, it couldn’t achieve what it wanted.

Nevertheless, Arvani, seemingly in a good mood, bit the hem of my clothes and confidently moved toward the front door.

“Yeah, yeah, you want to fly too, right?”

Kyuu!

“Well, you must have been flying every day until you became mine… The house must have felt cramped.”

Kyuu-woo?

Turning around with innocent eyes, Arvani seemed to ask what I was talking about.

Kyuu!

Then it made a whining sound…

“Stop babbling and let’s go quickly, okay?”

Got it, got it. It felt like watching a mischievous dog teasing its owner during a walk. 

Bending down, I lightly stroked Arvani’s head and slowly opened the front door. After a while of being in reality, meaning outside the gate, our backyard seemed a bit awkward. Inside the now familiar gate, Arvani, as if drinking in the air mixed with magic, quickly ran out like a foal with its reins loose. 

He immediately sprinted out through the main gate, quickly released the ‘miniaturization,’ and returned to his original size.

Perhaps because I had only seen him in a small form, Arvani, who was now just a compact car, seemed a bit unfamiliar. Smaller than a dragon but still carrying the imposing presence of an S-level monster.

‘…I guess it’s quite impressive that I tamed Arvani.’

Thinking that the past me was braver than today’s me, I approached Arvani. Arvani urged me with a cry.

“I’m going to put on the saddle… It might be uncomfortable at first, Arvani.”

Kyuu!

“Don’t worry?”

Kyuu!

He quickly signaled, as if telling me to put on the saddle by rolling the ground with his large front paws. I slowly approached and began to put on the saddle.

As it was my first time handling a saddle, I was worried about hurting Arvani, but…

‘…Oh. It installs automatically…?’

Was it a consideration from the system for beginners?

Thanks to that, I successfully put on the saddle for Arvani without any difficulty. Afterward, I energetically jumped onto Arvani and took my seat on the saddle.

The palpitations and heightened perspective from riding a living creature, and the anticipation that it would soon take flight—my heart raced violently, matching the excitement of the upcoming journey into the sky. 

I wondered why I was so eager to know what it feels like to fly.

However, afraid that excitement might lead to an accident, I took a deep breath to maintain my composure. That’s when it happened.

Ding!

[A chance to get closer to Arvani!

You acquire the skill <We Are One!>.

When using the skill, you can share or receive senses with your partner.

In short, it’s a skill that connects him and Seo Yeon-oh as one!

? The target of use is specified (Target: Arvan, who has recognized you as the owner).

? When other pets are registered, the number of targets increases.

However, pets may reject the skill.]

Simultaneously.

[Just acquiring the skill is a bit disappointing, so let’s add another quest!

A quest for Seo Yeon-oh, inexperienced in flying!

Successfully use <We Are One!> to fly safely.

Rewards for success: <Combat Flight>, ‘Windproof Jacket (S)’

Failure: Decrease in Arvani’s trust.]

“Oh….”

It was truly an unbelievable timing.

The system, seemingly understanding all my thoughts and actions, timely granted the skill.

And…

‘…Didn’t I come back to that kind of system before?’

The tone was different.

That means there are multiple administrators of the system.

‘What kind of system has multiple administrators?’

What does the system look like?

As questions began to accumulate, Arvani, shaking his upper body, urged me.

“Got it, Arvani. I had something to think about for a moment.”

While gently caressing Arvani’s neck, I quickly scanned the system window in front of me. Just in case I misunderstood the quest, failing it could result in a significant loss for me. Since it promises clothes and a skill, I must succeed.

With sparkling eyes, I energetically shouted the skill to Arvani.

“<We Are One!>”

With the sensation that the skill was activated, a different feeling rushed in. A sense of seeing, feeling, and breathing that approached in a new way. The dimension of the scenery unfolding before my eyes was different from what I usually saw, and even the depth of the breath I usually took was different.

Feeling the wind on my scaled skin, Arvani’s wing joints felt oddly stiff and ticklish at the same time. 

This was Arvani’s senses. It truly felt like becoming one with Arvani. His thoughts naturally came to my mind. He wanted to fly quickly, his wings were too ticklish, and as long as I held the reins, all I had to do was command.

There was no chance I would let go of the reins!

Trust me, the owner!

Simultaneously, Arvani’s cry echoed. Even though I sensed that Jung Tae-il and Han Seung-hoo were approaching from the side, right now, all I wanted was to soar through the sky with Arvani.

“Let’s go, Arvani!”

Whether my words acted as a trigger or not, Arvani lowered his wings to the ground and then began to move.

Swoosh!

In an instant, Arvani and I soared into the sky. 

And then, I realized: this flight was bound to be a success, without a doubt.

* * *

Kyuang!

Arvani, with his wings fully spread, roared in excitement. Thrilled, he moved his wings more vigorously, expressing his desire to fly faster.

Amused by Arvani’s enthusiasm, I laughed. Then, I pressed my upper body closely against Arvani’s frame, assuming a posture suitable for riding.

Having flown with Arvani continuously for about 30 minutes, we took a brief rest. 

“…Phew.”

Alright, let’s fly again.

I pulled the connected reins with strength, and Arvani, folding his wings, rapidly ascended into the sky.

Soon, our bodies gently rose above the saddle. As we gained some height, Arvani joyfully performed several mid-air somersaults. Swiftly passing through a cluster of fluffy clouds, he left holes in them.

As we traversed the sky at high speed, a cold breeze brushed against my face. I shouted with exhilaration to Arvani.

“Arvani! Are you having that much fun?”

Kyu!

“Me too!! The feeling of flying in the sky is truly amazing!”

Kyu-woo!

Arvani’s happiness and excitement at being able to fly freely with his owner were transmitted to me vividly. Arvani was likely feeling my joy as well.

The more we flew, the stronger the effect of <We Are One!> became. Arvani had adapted perfectly to his senses, to the point where even distant objects were visible through his senses.

Thanks to Arvani, I could discern which direction he wanted to go and even identify the monsters ahead.

Realizing that this was the sensation of an S-level creature, I shouted to Arvani again.

“Now, let’s head back home, Arvani!”

Arvan instantly changed direction towards the direction of our home. As we flew at rapid speed, the house gradually began to appear as a small dot.

My improved vision made it possible to see Jung Tae-il and Han Seung-hoo standing in the yard, appearing as tiny dots.

“Arvani! From here, let’s descend slowly to the yard!”

Yes, at this point, I had become accustomed to flying with Arvani. There was no need to worry about flying anymore. So, it was time to gradually move on to the next stage.

‘As much as I’d like to keep flying…’

Why did I have to discover that near my house…?

We had stumbled upon a creature that had made its nest surprisingly close to my home. 

A creature with the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle—a griffin.