Hunters Keep Coming To My House - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Han Seung-hoo closely observed the woman sitting in front, tearing at her hair. 

He focused on the woman with golden hair reaching near the shoulder blades, slightly lighter brown eyes than her hair, and overall, a woman who might be considered beautiful.

‘…She seems ordinary.’

However, it was difficult to say anything distinctive about her as a hunter. Not even a hint of uniqueness as a hunter. 

If anything, her mana power level seemed to surpass the average.

Even in the presence of such powerful mana, Seo Yeon-oh belonged to a somewhat mysterious category. 

Rather than being extraordinary, she fell into the realm of the peculiar.

‘How can she breathe so comfortably in this mana?’

Even now, the pure mana inside the house pressed down heavily on them. 

If the mana was potent enough to be present in the air, the gate’s level would likely exceed S-level. Ordinary lower-level hunters would probably collapse due to the overwhelming pressure and difficulty breathing. Even for Han Seung-hoo, it was challenging not to frown in this heavy atmosphere.

Yet, despite the circumstances, Seo Yeon-oh not only had no difficulty breathing but also lived quite well. Moreover, she was even protecting Han Seung-hoo as the owner of the safe house. 

As time passed, Han Seung-hoo became increasingly curious about the woman in front of him.

Even with the sensed mana power, she was at best a D-level, while Han Seung-hoo was S-level, and yet nothing was intimidating about her. She even wanted to negotiate with him. 

‘This is the first time encountering someone like her.’

In Han Seung-hoo’s life, encountering someone like her was unprecedented. 

With a face more attractive than celebrities, Han Seung-hoo lived a comfortable life overall. Everyone, regardless of age or gender, liked him with just a word.

Not only did he possess hunter skills, but with his looks, he effortlessly gained wealth and fame without much effort. There were even times when his close aides guaranteed that there must be brainwashing skills involved. 

Han Seung-hoo stared at Seo Yeon-oh with a strange look.

She was unconsciously tearing at her hair while muttering incomprehensible words.

Han Seung-hoo looked at Seo Yeon-oh, who seemed to be worrying about hair loss, with a pitying gaze, then closed his eyes for a moment.

‘…It’s worth keeping an eye on her.’

Might as well use Seo Yeon-oh’s proposed contract to his advantage.

‘It might become a fight over who gets Seo Yeon-oh first.’

If it comes to that, Seo Yeon-oh should be claimed by him.

In the safe house within the gate, if utilized well, the potential could be limitless. Soon, hunters in South Korea would recognize this fact. 

‘It was a good idea to enter this area alone. Although the risk was high…’

Certainly, the waves and mana were challenging for even Han Seung-hoo to handle alone. 

Han Seung-hoo recalled that moment, exhaling a long breath. The sensation of trembling nerves was still vivid.

Could he ever feel that energy again in his lifetime? 

Han Seung-hoo opened his eyes, having remembered that time when the impact felt like the descent of a god.

* * *

Just before the gate opened, it was a time of peace for everyone.

It was a time for preparing for the next day’s schedule or going to bed. However…

Boom!

Suddenly, a massive force made Han Seung-hoo and three other S-level hunters turn their heads in the same direction. Even though they were all in different places, they were all looking at the same spot. 

How could they not turn their heads? There was a presence emitting such an eerie energy. 

Even the top-ranked hunter, who had never felt fear since awakening, felt the hairs all over his body stand on end. It was as if the gate was opening for the first time in the world. 

A bold assumption.

If such energy could be felt, no matter how far away it was, it was undoubtedly eerie and dangerous. 

Han Seung-hoo instinctively moved his body toward the source of that energy.

With a furrowed brow, Han Seung-hoo arrived when the gate had already formed. The shape and size of the gate were not much different from others, but one thing was different.

“…What is this?”

A gate with a peculiar shape on the ground.

And the tremendous energy emanating from within.

Even for a high-ranked hunter, the intense energy felt like entering this place would be suicidal. 

Han Seung-hoo swallowed hard.

By morning, everyone would know about this gate, and by then, the number of people allowed to enter would be decided.

‘I’ll have to go in with that unlucky guy.’

It was considered natural for S-level hunters to join forces to clear high-level gates. 

‘No one below S-level can withstand this level of energy.’

What level could this gate possibly be?

With a deeper frown, Han Seung-hoo immediately took out a mana power measuring device from his inventory. He turned it on to measure the mana power in this place.

However, 

beeeep!

beep…

The mana power measuring device made a loud noise, and soon, the power went out. The device, crafted by a master, could measure up to SS-level mana power.

The fact that this machine went off meant that the mana power level of this gate was immeasurable. Confirming this, Han Seung-hoo hastily brought up the system window.

However, strangely enough, the system window did not respond.

“Why isn’t it showing up?”

Han Seung-hoo tried calling up the system window once again, but the system remained silent. It was the first time this had happened since his awakening and an increasing sense of foreboding swept over him.

It was quite ominous that the system window would malfunction just because a single gate appeared. Han Seung-hoo bit down on this realization and glared at the gate.

Then it happened.

A voice, appearing without any warning, resonated. 

“Well, you’re still quick on your feet.” 

“…Jung Tae-il.” 

“I’m here too, Seung-hoo. It’s been a while.” 

“…Yoon Soo as well?”

The figures that had been entangled in a bitter fate since Han Seung-hoo’s awakening were none other than the top-ranked Jung Tae-il and the fourth-ranked Kang Yoon-soo.

Kang Yoon-soo, with his neatly tied hair and mild appearance, alternated smiles between Han Seung-hoo and Jung Tae-il.

“Seung-hoo, you’re still not on good terms with Tae-il?” 

With pitch-black hair and eyes so dark they seemed colder than anyone else’s, Jung Tae-il, looked at the gate before shifting his gaze to Han Seung-hoo.

“Just leave it, he’s still a young lad.”

Han Seung-hoo furrowed his brow. He wanted to retort, but even that seemed like a waste to him. Instead, he looked at Kang Yoon-soo and spoke.

“Did you feel it too?”

“Yeah, of course I did. I’ve never felt such an eerie energy before. Have you measured the mana power?”

“It’s immeasurable.”

“Really? How would one measure this? The government couldn’t respond immediately either.” 

Kang Yoon-soo wiped the smile off his face and looked at the gate. Following suit, Han Seung-hoo also directed his gaze towards the gate.

“Just in case, I reported to the government first, saying it could be dangerous. I’ve felt a gathering of mana power suspiciously for a while now.”

“But?”

“They said there’s a house over there, and even though they couldn’t demolish it, I found it absurd. I almost had a huge argument with the government about it, Seung-hoo. But I didn’t expect it to be this powerful…”

Kang Yoon-soo took out several small beads from his inventory and threw them onto the ground around the opened gate. As the beads connected, a small barrier was formed above the gate.

These beads contained Kang Yoon-soo’s skills. They could create a barrier to prevent the overflow of intense mana power. 

Kang Yoon-soo had excellent talent in manipulating mana power, and he was even the most skilled among current hunters in detecting mana power. Thus, he could predict where a gate would appear.

‘Before the gate opens, mana power gathers in that spot.’

All the information he learned in this way was promptly shared with the government. This helped reduce civilian casualties since many used to die due to mana power intolerance before the gate’s appearance.

While Kang Yoon-soo was creating the barrier, suddenly he stopped and looked at Jung Tae-il and Han Seung-hoo.

“Wow, it’s fascinating. The mana power around this gate has already disappeared.”

“…”

“What?”

In response to Kang Yoon-soo’s words, both Jung Tae-il and Han Seung-hoo moved toward the gate. 

Kang Yoon-soo’s words were indeed true. The vehemently pouring mana power had completely vanished. And…

“All the mana power has been drawn deep into the gate…”

Swiftly releasing all the barriers and quickly scanning the inside of the gate, Kang Yoon-soo muttered quietly.

Hearing this almost sigh-like sound, Jung Tae-il spoke up.

“We need to check.”

“Well, yeah. But are we going in now?”

“If not now, it seems like we won’t get another chance.”

“Ahaha, that’s true. It seems this gate will disappear soon.”

“Then it’s right to go in.”

Kang Yoon-soo shrugged as if he couldn’t be stopped and stepped back. Then, he stood behind Han Seung-hoo. 

“Seung-hoo, go in with Tae-il.”

“I don’t want to.”

“If you go, I’ll take care of your weapons. You’re in a tough spot with your mana stone broken.”

“Do you know what might be inside there?”

“From the current detection, it’s probably just low-level. Just check the problem area with gathered mana power and come out quickly if it seems dangerous. Do you have a gate warp stone?”

In response to Kang Yoon-soo’s words, Han Seung-hoo narrowed his eyes. 

With Jung Tae-il in close combat and Han Seung-hoo in ranged combat, there would be no danger in moving together. It made sense to move together from this point on.

As he let out a long sigh, Jung Tae-il entered the gate.

“Well, repay me properly later.”

“Yeah, yeah. Have a safe trip.”

With Kang Yoon-soo’s farewell, Han Seung-hoo also entered the gate. And somehow, he found himself arriving at Seo Yeon-oh’s house first. 

Jung Tae-il would soon follow, and the future would unfold accordingly.