011 ㅡ Outside the City
The forms an Erosion’s Core can take are infinite.
Sometimes they appear as common rocks or gems, other times as plants like grass or trees, and sometimes they take the form of beasts. There was even a case where a river itself was the Core, requiring a massive deployment of flame mages and spirit summoners to evaporate the entire body of water.
And naturally, sometimes they are monsters.
Crunch!
Jinwoo twisted his sword, crushing bone and tearing through the heart. It was definitely dead. Having made that judgment, he pulled his sword out.
The Black Flame that had been burning inside the hidden Lizardman’s body flowed through the blade and into Jinwoo.
[A Fragment of a Past Life surfaces.]
[The sword shall hide in the shadows, unseen.]
‘Huh?’
A message appeared announcing the awakening of a new ability. Jinwoo, who hadn’t expected this, blinked in surprise.
I awakened another sword ability?
It was rare enough to awaken two abilities of the same classification. But three?
In terms of a mage, this was like awakening a fire attribute, then awakening a fire magic skill, and then awakening a slightly different fire magic skill immediately after. Just hearing about it made it clear this wasn't an ordinary occurrence.
The newly obtained ability imbued the sword with the attribute of shadows. In other words, the ability to hide the sword's presence.
‘So absorbing the Black Flame gives me an ability.’
Immediately after, he felt the air he was breathing change distinctly. He couldn't see the sky clearing up from inside the dark theater, but he could feel it on his skin.
The Erosion had ended. The Black Flame was indeed the Core of the Erosion.
‘If I deal with the Core, I get an ability...’
Judging by the fact that he gained a shadow attribute after killing the Shadow, the ability was likely related to the nature of the Core.
Then, if the Core was a common rock or a tree, what would he get? Would he become hard like a rock?
‘I’ll find out if I try it.’
He felt good about finding a way to gain abilities without entering a Gate.
Jinwoo gathered the corpse of the Shadow and the two dragon-tooth daggers it had been holding, then left the theater.
To find the Core, Chartia was scouring the entire Erosion zone as if combing for lice.
It wasn't difficult to search, as the area was full of plants acting as her eyes and ears, even without her having to move her feet. In the meantime, she protected people who hadn't evacuated yet and joined up with the Hunters who had come from outside to protect the citizens.
She heard that Mayor Ma Doo-sik was personally directing the operation on site.
‘He’s a responsible mayor.’
One might say this was natural and common sense for the person in charge of a city. That was true, but she knew just how many things in this world defied common sense.
There were plenty of high-ranking officials who would dump the responsibility on their subordinates and go drinking when an Erosion occurred, or those who would be the first to flee to a bunker alone.
That was the kind of world this was. A world where doing the obvious, natural thing was enough to be praised.
‘Where is Jinwoo going in such a hurry?’
Meanwhile, Chartia was sharing Jinwoo’s vision through the flower he possessed. To be precise, the view was from his chest, so the angle was a bit low.
His movements were cautious and prudent. His steps showed an intention to avoid provoking monsters as much as possible. Yet, there was no hesitation, indicating he had a clear destination.
The Movie Theater.
The place he arrived at was the cinema building. Even here, Jinwoo entered without hesitation and walked up the stopped escalator.
‘What did he come to find?’
This was a building she had already finished searching; a place where nothing existed. She had safely evacuated the people who were there and killed all the monsters. It was supposed to be an empty building.
Jinwoo arrived on the 6th floor of that empty building and opened the door to a screening room.
And when he turned on his lantern...
Kurong!?
A monster that had been invisible in the darkness began to appear.
‘What the...’
Chartia was astonished. Nothing had been detected when she searched.
But Jinwoo had found it at once. As if he knew it was there from the start.
‘That’s a Shadow, isn’t it?’
The monster was a Shadow. A lower-tier Dragon-kin monster skilled at hiding in shadows.
They were monsters that frequently appeared in specific areas of the 3rd Floor, and the zones they occupied were often called "Graveyards for Hunters."
Although their frontal combat power was on the weaker side for the 3rd Floor, the death rate in those "Graveyards" was undeniably the highest on that floor. B-class Hunters who had just entered the 3rd Floor often fell prey to them.
Even though this wasn’t the 3rd Floor and the location was a movie theater, the Shadow’s stealth ability was still formidable. Even she, an S-class, hadn’t been able to find it, so that spoke volumes.
G-Grrr...
Jinwoo found it and pierced it.
He penetrated the heart—a weakness for most living things, but a particularly fatal one for Dragon-kin—in a single strike.
The sword pierced through the creature's hard scales, tore through flesh and bone, and dug into the heart.
She couldn't take her eyes off that sword.
It was the first time. It was the first time she felt so captivated by seeing a sword.
Even when she saw the swordsmanship of so-called S-class Hunters, she only thought they were impressive; she was never mesmerized. As a Druid, magic and spirit arts were far more attractive to her.
But Jinwoo’s sword was different. That sword was definitely drawing her gaze.
Come to think of it, the sword itself was unique. There was a white gem embedded at the end of the pommel, and she felt an inexplicable familiarity from that gem.
‘This feeling...’
Chartia wasn't a fool.
The strange, unidentifiable feeling she was experiencing. And the fact that Jinwoo’s ability seemed quite powerful.
These two things created a single possibility.
‘Is he perhaps a reincarnation of an Elf, like me?’
If that were the case, everything could be explained.
The reason she was captivated by Jinwoo’s sword was that the swordsmanship was Elven. Perhaps her soul was feeling nostalgia.
‘I have to protect him.’
If that was true, she had to keep his secret.
Seoul seemed more tolerant of Elves than New York, but it was all much the same. There were surely many colleagues and bereaved families of Hunters killed by Elves in Seoul as well. If it was discovered that his past life was an Elf, he might go through the same things she did.
She had to protect him so that wouldn't happen.
The Ugly Duckling realizes it is a swan and lives as a swan, but they couldn't do that.
Their past lives were Elves, but they were humans now; they couldn't choose to live as Elves, nor did they want to. They lived in the human world. Therefore, they could not survive if they were ostracized by humans.
‘Jinwoo.’
For the first time, she felt a strong sense of kinship and attraction to a comrade in the same situation.
When he came out of the movie theater, the sky had already cleared.
The energy of the Erosion had washed away completely, revealing the original blue sky. The surroundings were still quiet because the military had set up barricades at the boundary of the Erosion to control the crowd.
Returning to the library, the building stood perfectly intact.
Chartia’s forest, which had swallowed the library inside the Erosion, was not here. Since an Erosion is a dimension separate from reality, no matter how destroyed that world is, it has no effect on reality.
At the library, the surviving citizens were hugging each other in joy, and to one side, Chartia was surrounded by men in suits.
"Chartia! You protected the citizens of Seoul!"
A man who looked important, accompanied by a horde of military, police, and aides, was talking to her.
He was a giant, about 1.5 times larger than an average person, and despite his massive size, his eyes were brimming with tears, showing just how moved he was.
‘Isn’t that the Mayor?’
Jinwoo was quite surprised to see a face he had seen many times on TV. Still, it wasn't incomprehensible. An Erosion of this scale occurring in the city center was certainly an event that would make the Mayor run out in his socks.
‘Should I go back quietly?’
The Mayor, who could be called the head of the city, and his elite aides. There was a soldier with four stars on his shoulder and a high-ranking police officer with a chest full of medals next to him.
As someone who had lived his whole life as a petty citizen, Jinwoo couldn't imagine inserting himself into that impressive group.
Just then, Chartia, who had been half-listening to Ma Doo-sik, spotted Jinwoo and her eyes sparkled.
"Jinwoo! Over here! Come here!"
As Chartia jumped up and down waving her hand, everyone turned their heads in unison to look at Jinwoo.
Under the wave of staring eyes, Jinwoo hesitated. He considered pretending not to hear and leaving, but he couldn't just walk away when she was jumping around calling him like that.
"Hello. I am Ma Doo-sik, humbly serving as the Mayor."
"Ah, yes. I am Kang Jinwoo."
Jinwoo shook the hand Ma Doo-sik offered.
This bear-like man had palms as large as pot lids, big enough to almost completely engulf Jinwoo’s hand. It felt like he could easily crush a hand like this if he applied even a little force.
‘Come to think of it, I heard Mayor Ma Doo-sik is a former S-class Hunter...’
With these fists, it seemed he could dismantle something like that Shadow from earlier with his bare hands.
"So you are Hunter Kang Jinwoo. I've heard a lot about you. That you accomplished something big on your very first Gate."
"Huh? You heard my name?"
"Of course. The Director of the Hunter Management Bureau reported it via the hotline."
"???"
The Bureau Director reported directly to the Mayor? Just for catching that bear?
Sure, he got a D-class magic stone and the corpse sold for a jaw-dropping price, so it was an impressive monster, but...
Whether it was because of that incident or this one, Ma Doo-sik was not treating Jinwoo like a novice Hunter.
What novice in the world could cut down a boss-level monster of a primeval forest in a single strike and locate the Core of an Erosion that even Chartia couldn't find?
In Ma Doo-sik’s eyes as he looked at Jinwoo, there was a strong desire.
‘I absolutely cannot let him be taken by a foreign country.’
Just as he had proposed naturalization to Chartia, foreign countries were putting their heart and soul into recruiting Hunters.
If information about Jinwoo leaked out in this situation, they would naturally send agents. Until the day he received the report from the Bureau, Jinwoo was just a person of interest, but finding the Erosion's Core today confirmed it.
"I heard from Chartia. That you cut down the Core of the Erosion."
"Yes."
Jinwoo nodded.
"The library and the movie theater aren't close. Did you awaken a detection-type ability?"
"Something similar."
Actually, it was the ability to cut the flame of life, but since he also had the ability to sense that flame, it wasn't wrong.
"A Searcher. To be able to detect a Shadow with less than a month of experience... you are S-class Searcher material."
"Eh, that's a bit... By the way, how high is the position of an S-class Searcher?"
"In terms of salary, it's whatever you name. The most dangerous things in a Gate are exploration and reconnaissance, but there are very few Hunters skilled in them. Searchers and Healers are typically treated as 0.5 grades higher than their actual rank."
"So an S-class Searcher is practically S+?"
"Since there is no S+ grade, it's hard to compare it like that, but if an A-class Searcher applies to an S-class Hunter party, they are often accepted."
"Wow."
The value of search abilities was higher than he thought. To be able to join a party one grade higher without issue.
Actually, thinking about it, Jinwoo agreed. What had been the hardest part for him in the Gate?
The fact that he couldn't detect the presence of the stalking Elf, that he didn't know what monsters were waiting 100 meters ahead, that he couldn't even go near the stream after the first day, and so on.
All were problems caused by the inability to scout. If he had just one companion with search abilities, his range of movement would have been much wider.
‘I’ve gained an ability to sense monsters and living things in my own way, so I could apply as a Searcher!’
The fact that a Searcher could join a higher-grade party was information worth remembering.
Of course, right now he was an F-class Hunter with only one Gate entry record, so even with a Searcher application, he could only join an E-class level party.
"On behalf of the city, I thank you for this incident regarding the Erosion. Since the two of you practically solved it, there will be a reward from the city level."
"Do you give out a certificate or something?"
"That is possible too. I would like to have a conversation regarding that..."
Ma Doo-sik looked around. The city, having just escaped the Erosion, was still in a state of chaos. As the person in charge of the city, he had a mountain of work to do right now.
"I really want to treat you to a meal. How about sometime next week? It’s difficult to make time right now."
"You want to have a meal?"
" Simply put, yes."
Jinwoo made a reluctant face. The title of Mayor was burdensome, and the bear-like physique was also burdensome. Just saying it suddenly like this wasn't likely to move him...
"How about the restaurant Cheongun for the venue? It is considered the best for gourmet food in Seoul. I will treat you with my own money."
"Let's have a meal."
He thought he would refuse, but he took the bait before he knew it.
If it was Cheongun, it was a restaurant that uploaded a video once a year on the gourmet YouTube channel Jinwoo watched every day. They said the price was expensive, but the money was not wasted at all.
And to be treated there for free? He found himself nodding before he was even conscious of it.
"Can I go too?"
"Chartia? Didn't you say you were staying in Seoul only until this week and then leaving?"
"I think it’s okay to stay a little longer. I have things to talk about too."
"If Hunter Kang Jinwoo is okay with it, I welcome you. What do you say?"
"Sure, let's do that."
Adding one more person wouldn't make the food taste bad.
When Jinwoo nodded nonchalantly, both Chartia and Ma Doo-sik’s faces brightened.
‘This was natural enough. There’s a tag-along attached, but...’
‘I’ve staked a claim on Hunter Kang Jinwoo, and it’s become the perfect setting to entice Chartia as well. I must keep next week completely open.’
With their own hidden agendas, the meeting of the three was promised.
‘I heard the lamb there is so delicious. Come to think of it, I’ve never tried lamb before.’
Among them, Jinwoo was simply licking his lips.
After Ma Doo-sik left to handle the aftermath, only Jinwoo and Chartia remained.
Once the important-looking people, including the Mayor, had left, the people who survived the Erosion flocked to thank Chartia.
"Thank you, Hunter-nim! We survived thanks to you!"
"I thought I'd never see my mom's face again. Waaaah!"
All sorts of people crowded in to offer their thanks. Even though it must have been hectic, Chartia responded skillfully and reciprocated.
Not only that, but she also grabbed Jinwoo’s arm next to her and raised it high.
"The one who found the Core and cleared this Erosion is Hunter Kang Jinwoo here! I only protected you; he is the one who ended the Erosion!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Kang Jinwoo! Kang Jinwoo!"
"Who is Kang Jinwoo? I’ve memorized everyone A-class and above, but this is the first time I’ve heard the name Kang Jinwoo?"
There seemed to be at least one person who couldn't get with the program, but regardless, the atmosphere wasn't bad.
He didn't know what was going on all of a sudden, but eh, whatever.
When Jinwoo raised his other hand high, a cheer erupted.
"Waaaaah!"
"Pfft, Jinwoo, you’re not the type to shy away from this sort of thing."
"Well, it’s festive and nice. Though I’m not used to it."
"You’ll have to get used to it. Like the Mayor said, Jinwoo, you’re going to be S-class, so you’ll hear cheers much louder than this."
"Aren't you throwing around 'S-class' too much? Aren't you just making empty promises?"
"It's true, though."
She said that, but Jinwoo couldn't imagine himself becoming S-class.
Especially since he had just seen Chartia’s ability to dominate the library and the nearby roads, turning them into her territory.
Right now, his only specialty was being good at cutting things with a sword; would that really make him S-class?
"Phew."
"It's finally over."
After some time passed, the two managed to escape the crowd.
Jinwoo sighed quietly. A lot had really happened today.
Getting swept up in an Erosion, meeting impressive people like an S-class Hunter and the Mayor...
But Jinwoo hadn't forgotten his original objective. The thing he wanted to find out when he first left his house today.
"Chartia. If it’s not rude, may I ask about your past life?"
"Of course."
Jinwoo was rather surprised by the incredibly ready answer. As far as he knew, Chartia faced criticism in New York society because of her past life as an Elf.
They called it criticism, but it was essentially similar to bullying or harassment. Because of that, he had braced himself for a slap on the cheek.
"I would have refused if it were anyone else, but it's okay if it's Jinwoo."
"Why me?"
"You know why."
"?"
I don't know?
He really wondered why she said it was okay only for him, but for now, his curiosity about Elves came first.
"Is it true that you were an Elf in your past life?"
"That's right. You seem to have a deep curiosity about Elves? You were only reading books about Elves in the library."
"There's something I want to know."
"Let's move to a different spot first."
Chartia gestured to move. A story about past lives wasn't really something to discuss on the roadside like this.
"Where are we going? It's probably not a coffee shop."
There were very few places suitable for talking about secrets. Jinwoo’s house or the hotel she was staying at?
But her answer was completely unexpected. Instead of speaking, she took something that looked like a ball out of her inventory and tossed it to Jinwoo.
When he caught it, he realized it was a motorcycle helmet. Before he knew it, a sleek black motorcycle had appeared next to her.
"Have you ever been outside the city?"
"Yes. My house's warehouse is outside the city."
"What? A warehouse?"
"My house is straddling the barrier, so..."
Chartia rolled her eyes as if that was absurd. Indeed, even he thought it was ridiculous. Living in a house that straddled the barrier.
Still, the rent there was the cheapest, so what could he do? In this day and age where even the outskirts cost 300,000 won a month, that house was only 100,000 won. Even the maintenance fees were cheap.
"Anyway, shall we go for a drive? Don't worry about monsters."
No one would worry about that when accompanying an S-class Hunter. However...
"Chartia. Outside the city is mostly Black Earth, right?"
"There are places that aren't, but mostly yes. Because those are places where they failed to clear the Erosion."
"Does 'failed' mean the Core of the Erosion is still there?"
"Yes. But destroying the Core now won't make the Black Earth disappear."
Jinwoo promptly put on the helmet and hopped onto the back seat of the motorcycle first. Partly because it was Chartia’s bike, but primarily because he didn't have a motorcycle license.
"Let's go."