F-Class Destiny Hunter

Chapter 107

The tou roared at the loss of its companion. Then, ignoring the Moyung Sect members, it charged at Seo Gangrim. The giant tou swung its hefty fist but Seo Gangrim nimbly leapt up to dodge the blow.

- Swish!

With one swing of his sword, a large crack split the tou's chest. It was as if he had sliced soft clay rather than stone. Seo Gangrim was inwardly surprised at the sensation.

'This giant tou was this weak?'

It reminded him of the first time he came to this demon realm in his past life. Back then, he barely escaped with his life thanks to Shin Sooah's protection. Seo Gangrim grinned as he swung his sword.

'Clearly different than back then.'

His past self who had trained yet was still inferior felt like a different person now. As he evaded attacks nimbly and counterattacked, the party members stared in awe.

"I heard the trainees were strong but..."

"Are trainees always this good?"

It was their first time seeing a trainee's combat skills. It was on a completely different level than them.

The giant tou swung its fist in rage at Seo Gangrim but-

- Swish!

At the same time, Seo Gangrim's sword severed its fist. Then in an instant, countless lines were drawn across the tou's body.

- Thud!

The giant tou collapsed without a chance to scream. Turning back into a pile of rocks. Seo Gangrim briefly glanced at the fallen tou then moved on again. His expression was nonchalant, as if he had simply cleared rocks blocking the path.

"Um, excuse me!"

Just then the leader hurriedly stopped Seo Gangrim. Seo Gangrim looked back and asked in a grave voice. "What is it?"

"That is..."

The leader hesitated before squeezing his eyes shut and speaking.

"Would you mind partying with us?"

Now wasn't the time for pride. If they latched onto Seo Gangrim, they might be able to clear this place too.

But Seo Gangrim replied disinterestedly.

"Didn't you just leave earlier? Why the sudden change?"

"That's, well..."

How could he say he had dismissed Seo Gangrim as a nobody? As the leader floundered for words, Seo Gangrim briefly sighed then left the place.

Seeing that, the party members hurriedly chased after him.

"Qu-quick, let's get out! More demons could show up and..."

".....Damn it."

Encountering demons while trapped was bad news. They rushed after Seo Gangrim and escaped the cave.

***

-Screeech...!

The demon blocking the path let out a final scream and collapsed. Seo Gangrim flicked the blood from his sword and looked around.

At the edge of the forest, numerous demons lay fallen. Though he had defeated the tous and escaped the cave, there was no rest.

He had dealt with all the ambushing demons but there were so many it took more time than expected. From his memories, he should be around halfway at this point.

'How far had the others gotten?'

Seo Gangrim sat on a rock to rest then activated the communication device.

"Is everyone okay? How far have you gotten?"

[Ah, Gangrim-ssi. We just got out of the passages. I was nervous since it's a Great Demon realm but it's not as difficult as I thought.]"

It seemed Shin Sooah was progressing smoothly. Well, she had been the first to clear this realm in her past life so she would do fine without Seo Gangrim's help.

Meanwhile, the twins were still in heavy combat, quite noisy. He could faintly hear Linnie and Yorn's cries.

[Master, we're still in battle! I'll contact you later!]

[Ugh, why is everyone else so weak? Noona, let's just leave them and go...!]

Protecting others, the twins seemed a bit hassled.

Hearing Yoon Geoul complain about the others being weak, Seo Gangrim couldn't help laughing.

"It's not that they're weak, you two are just strong."

[Us? We're just ordinary though? Compared to Master or Sister Sooah-unnie we have a long way to go...]

If other awakened heard this, they would be furious. Anyway, it seemed everyone was making steady progress. Amidst the sounds of Yoon Geoul fighting, the gods' voices loudly cut in.

【Hey, is this guy Seo Gangrim?】

【He really hasn't accepted a god yet?】

【Why didn't he get one?】

All sorts of gods had entered the communication channel, clamoring noisily. It was even more chaotic than when Seo Gangrim was at the training facility.

Most hunters would have a god by now so Seo Gangrim, yet to make a contract, must seem easy prey.

【Hey, Seo Gangrim. Wanna make a contract with me? I'll treat you well!】

Whether at the facility or after leaving it, the gods' reactions were the same. Pushing for a contract right off the bat. But unlike before, the situation was different now.

"Without an offering?"

【Huh?】

"I don't come cheap. Were you planning to take me without paying a deposit?"

Normally, people would be desperate for a god but Seo Gangrim's case was unique. He had no intention of accepting a god. So it was the gods who were eager, not him.

Seo Gangrim could sense the gods were taken aback by his response.

【Are you trying to make a deal with us now?】

【A mere human dares be so brazen. 】

【Just because you're a bit strong don't get cocky now...!】

The gods seemed displeased with his attitude. Well, of course. Before the Awakening Day, they took people by force and threats but now this measly human was demanding compensation.

Seo Gangrim, however, didn't care if they showed displeasure. After all, they were the ones missing out, not him.

"If you want to be my god then send an offering first."

After saying that, he manipulated the settings of the communication channel. Thanks to my spirit strengthening after passing level 30, he could control the communication channel to some extent.

[Telephatic communication partially blocked.]

He didn't completely drive the gods away but muted them. They were probably spewing curses at his attitude but he couldn't hear them so he didn't care. They could only communicate with him if they used an item.

Anyway, the quiet was satisfying. With the gods' voices gone and most demons cleared, Seo Gangrim got up from my seat.

...Or maybe not fully cleared yet.

"Why do you keep following me?"

He spoke to the people gathered nearby. They flinched, watching him from a distance. They were from a sect he hadn't heard of, Moyung or otherwise.

A man who had introduced himself as a sect leader spoke up. "We're not following you, it's just that you went down the same path we took first!"

"Then please go ahead."

"....We'll go in a bit!"

After unintentionally saving them at the intersection earlier, the Moyung Sect people had been trailing after him. They weren't interfering so he had left them be, taking care of the small fry around. But he couldn't let them keep chasing him. He had to shake them off somehow.

He got up and started moving forward again. And as expected, the Moyung Sect members followed right after him. He could hear them murmuring.

"That wall in the center must be where the boss is right?"

As soon as they left the cave, a gigantic stone wall came into view. It enclosed the area circularly like some kind of tower. As they guessed, the boss was inside there.

"Seo Gangrim, rather than completely dismissing us, you seem nice contrary to your words."

"If we do well, we might be able to mooch all the way to the boss room."

Listening to them, he walked towards the center. As he silently advanced, upon entering the forest, more demons revealed themselves before him. They were large snake-like creatures.

-Hiss!

The demons bared saw-like teeth, making threatening noises. The Moyung Sect behind seemed to think he would handle them as they showed no tension. Better for them to be on guard though.

[The ability 'Invisibility' has been activated!]

The moment Seo Gangrim held his breath, his ability was activated. As he vanished, the demons and Moyung Sect members were both startled.

"Wha-what the, where did Seo Gangrim go?"

"He was clearly just here...!"

Unable to see Seo Gangrim, the demons immediately searched for a new target. The snakes charged with hisses towards the Moyung Sect.

Caught off guard, they were promptly bitten on their limbs.

"Argh!"

"Everyone get your weapons!"

"That bastard Seo Gangrim used us as bait...!"

As they screamed and fought the demons, Seo Gangrim slipped away ahead. The demons could entertain them for a while.

He dismissed his ability and surveyed his surroundings. He recalled his memories to confirm the geography around here. Seo Gangrim turned right instead of going straight which would lead to the boss area.

-Crunch, crunch...

He followed the familiar traces into the depths of the forest. Thorny vines blocked his way as if no demon had set foot here before. He then silently cut through them and advanced.

In his previous life, when they first raided this Demon Realm… Many Manshins charged at the boss but were all defeated and retreated. Even top-tier hunters like Shin Sooah and Dokgo Jun found the boss difficult to confront. And so people failed multiple times to conquer the First Great Demon Realm. A month had passed and the this realm remained unconquered. While Shin Sooah was holding a strategy meeting to figure out how to clear it, Seo Gangrim raised a doubt.

[Now that I think about it, something's been bothering me.]

[And what's that? Please tell us.]

[Why is the Demon Realm divided into 3 areas?]

At first Seo Gangrim thought it was just to split up forces. However, all areas ultimately led to the boss room. Others dismissed his question but Shin Sooah listened intently and found the reason.

-Rustle...

Seo Gangrim finally found it. After wandering the treacherous forest trails, he finally discovered what he was looking for. Pushing through the bushes, there laid a strange mechanical device that was overgrown with vines as if left unattended for ages.

Seo Gangrim slowly approached the device. And in that moment, a warning message popped up.

[Frostfire spirit has detected an intruder!]

As expected, the trap activated once he entered a certain area. Nearby scattered armor pieces started rattling and assembled midair into a shape.

[Spirit First-class Frostfire spirit has spawned!]

Frostfire spirit, a demon beast. A somewhat troublesome opponent to face alone. But instead of despair, Seo Gangrim was elated. As a humanoid demon, that meant he could steal its Destiny.

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