I Possess Too Many Characteristics

Chapter 13

“Ms. Jiyun, are you alright now?”

Jeonghyeon whispered.

His expression was still frowned.

In reality, the pain was excruciating.

He had intentionally offered his right arm to lure Garyeong and Hanseok into a false sense of security, but for a moment, he thought he was going to die.

━I’m going to intentionally injure myself severely next time.”

━What?”

━And if Mr. Hanseok and Ms. Garyeong tell us to leave the Gate, you don’t have to worry. But if they say we can’t leave, don’t be surprised and keep healing me until I say I’m okay. They probably won’t stop that.”

The words he had urged them to remember when they returned to the clearing.

In truth, it was a half-gamble, but he couldn’t find any other way to make them completely let their guard down.

Just as he had pretended not to see the goblins, he had no choice but to act like he didn’t know about their plot.

Jeonghyeon staked his life on the natural healing power of his only E-rank trait, 「Minor Physical Enhancement」, and their complacency in underestimating him as a weak Hunter.

And as a result,

“W-what! What are you!”

Although he still felt a tearing pain every time he moved his arm, he was able to maintain enough composure to rush at Garyeong.

However, no matter how much they had aimed for an opportune moment, they were professional Hunter hunters.

Garyeong instantly fired several Mana Bolts.

They were definitely faster and stronger than when she had fired them at the goblins.

It meant they had been hiding some of their true abilities.

But Jeonghyeon had concealed himself far more thoroughly.

‘I can see them!’

Jeonghyeon narrowly dodged the projectiles.

It was the fastest he could move at the moment.

If Garyeong had been fully prepared, it would have been impossible, but this was a surprise attack.

Jeonghyeon, who had dodged and closed the distance at a speed far exceeding Garyeong’s expectations, in no time,

“Gah!”

Plunged the iron spike of his mace deep into Garyeong’s chest.

Even if she was a D-rank Hunter, there was nothing she could do if her heart was pierced.

Jeonghyeon pulled the mace out of Garyeong’s twitching body.

Her tightly contracted muscles didn’t want to let go easily, but when he applied a little force while enduring the pain, the iron spike slid out.

Thud━

And Jeonghyeon smashed Garyeong’s head with the iron ball.

“You……”

Garyeong collapsed, her expression one of disbelief.

Jeonghyeon watched, catching his breath.

It was the first time he had killed a person with his own hands, even if it was a moment when his own life was threatened.

Although the sensation itself was no different from killing goblins or zombies, the emotional impact was different.

Garyeong’s corpse, blood gushing from the hole in her chest.

Jiyun, who seemed to be in shock from witnessing a person die before her eyes, pointed her finger in surprise.

“Huh? Her face is changing!”

Perhaps the magic that had been applied to her face had been dispelled when she died.

Garyeong’s face reverted to its original form, that of an unknown someone.

Her appearance was significantly different from the photo on her Hunter ID.

After confirming the kill, Jeonghyeon collapsed to the ground.

“Huh?”

And a notification window popped up in front of Jeonghyeon.

『The proficiency level of 「Weak Battle Sense」（F） has increased from 1→2.』

It was a level-up notification he never imagined he would see in this situation.

It was certainly welcome, but the situation was too urgent to savor it leisurely.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. More or less……”

Jiyun approached Jeonghyeon and used her Healing trait on his arm again.

No matter how much he said he was fine, such a deep wound wouldn’t heal easily.

It would be a blessing if it hadn’t reopened during that brief but intense struggle.

“Ugh.”

Jeonghyeon groaned.

The Physical Enhancement trait was truly remarkable.

Even with the focused E-rank healing, if it weren’t for Jeonghyeon’s natural healing ability, he wouldn’t have been able to move, just like Garyeong had said.

However, he couldn’t afford to be completely relieved just because he had dealt with Garyeong.

Jeonghyeon stopped Jiyun as soon as the pain subsided a little and said,

“We need to get moving.”

“Ah, right.”

Hanseok was still out there.

Truthfully, Garyeong was the easier opponent for Jeonghyeon to handle.

At least, if he could get close, the odds were in his favor.

But what about Hanseok?

What could he possibly do against that guy who wielded a giant axe with such ease?

Even if his 「Weak Battle Sense」 had leveled up to 2, it was still F-rank.

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Hanseok was on his way back after finding a group of goblins nearby.

“Damn it, I’m late.”

It took longer than he expected to find them, but such variables only delayed his pleasure.

Jeonghyeon would still be lying helpless, and Jiyun would be stupidly trembling beside him.

“Ker! Ker!”

Hanseok smirked, glancing back at the goblins chasing him with the sole intent to kill.

“Just wait a little longer, I’ll introduce you to the guys you’re supposed to kill.”

But when he returned to the clearing, there was no one left.

Well, to be precise, only Garyeong’s corpse lay cold.

“Heesu!”

Startled, Hanseok instinctively called out Garyeong’s real name and rushed over.

As Hanseok bent down to check on her, the goblins shrieked and interfered.

“Ker━”

“You damn things!”

It was unclear who his curse was directed at.

And the goblins couldn’t withstand Hanseok’s axe, fueled by his rage.

Hanseok went on a rampage, splitting all the goblins he had brought in half.

Only then could he carefully examine Garyeong’s body.

The hole in her chest, which appeared to be the direct cause of death.

And the mark of a blunt weapon on her head.

It couldn’t have been Jiyun’s doing.

Remembering the unique shape of Jeonghyeon’s mace, Hanseok gritted his teeth.

“How the hell!”

He was sure Jeonghyeon’s arm had been pierced by a goblin’s spear.

Even with an E-rank Healer and the delay, it shouldn’t have been a wound that could heal so easily.

Then there was only one possibility left.

“He tricked us somehow.”

Jeonghyeon had turned the tables and deceived Hanseok and Garyeong.

Hanseok laid Heesu’s body back down and touched his own face.

He couldn’t see it, but the sensation was different.

The magic that had changed his face with Garyeong’s death had also been lifted.

Hanseok picked up the axe he had left on the ground.

Originally, he hadn’t intended to kill them himself, but now that things had come to this, there was no reason to hesitate.

He had no choice but to kill them with his axe.

Hanseok looked around with bloodshot eyes.

He easily found two sets of footprints.

Hanseok, who had been hunting Hunters inside Gates, was also skilled at tracking.

The stride was short and irregular.

It seemed they managed to kill Heesu, but the wound must have been deep.

The footprints led towards the Gate’s exit.

“Those brats can only run that far.”

Jeonghyeon’s movements were quite fast.

Even if he was a mage, if Garyeong was defeated by him, his true skills must be far greater.

If he had the time, he would have hidden the footprints, but seeing as he hadn’t, it seemed like he was fleeing in a hurry.

Hanseok started running, following their footprints.

At his speed, he could easily catch up to a wounded, limping F-rank.

“You bastards! Stop right there!”

Hanseok’s enraged voice echoed through the forest.

It was a voice powerful enough to make the fugitives cower in fear if they heard it.

It didn’t matter if they had already left the Gate or not.

Since his use of the axe had already exposed his crimes, it was a foregone conclusion.

Even if they had left the Gate, he would chase them down and kill them.

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“Stop right there!”

Hanseok’s furious voice came from behind.

It was quite a distance, but Jiyun could hear it too.

“What should we do?”

Jiyun’s expression was filled with despair.

She knew that even though they had managed to kill Garyeong, Hanseok was an even tougher opponent.

It would be difficult to make him lower his guard like they did before.

“Just a moment.”

Jeonghyeon bit his lower lip and fell into thought.

Even with the level-up of one trait after being injured, the power gap between him and Hanseok would have widened, not narrowed.

The exit wasn’t far, but he was sure Hanseok would catch up before they reached it, and even if they escaped, there was a high chance he would go berserk outside.

There was no reason for him not to, now that his crimes had been exposed.

In the end, he had to deal with it inside the Gate.

Jeonghyeon opened the Trait Shop.

The 3 coins he had earned from the previous hunt.

The only thing that offered a chance for a dramatic change, something Hanseok couldn’t even dream of, was the EX-rank Trait Shop.

He had no choice but to raise the rank of the traits he currently possessed.

Among them, if he could get another 「Weak Battle Sense」, which he already had two of and was at level 2……

‘Please, please!’

Jeonghyeon prayed desperately in his mind as he refreshed the list.

He couldn’t afford to save coins now that things had come to this.

『The list has been refreshed.』

And as always, the trait list was refreshed nonchalantly.

Jeonghyeon, who was hurriedly scanning it, let out a sigh of relief.

「Weak Battle Sense」

The only card that offered a possibility was shining brightly, indicating that it could be synthesized.

It was more than fortunate that it appeared after just one refresh.

“Ms. Jiyun. I’m sorry, but let’s try one more time.”

“Yes?”

A glimmer of hope flashed across Jiyun’s face.

Even in this urgent moment, if Jeonghyeon said that, it meant there was a stepping stone.

A stepping stone to pull them out of the villain’s clutches.

But after hearing Jeonghyeon’s explanation, Jiyun couldn’t help but gasp.

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They were still quite a distance from the exit.

Hanseok, whose face had returned to normal, smirked as he saw Jiyun frozen in fear, caught up by him.

“You can only run this far-‘

But his confident tone was cut short.

Hanseok looked around, Jiyun standing before him.

“Where did that bastard go?”

Jeonghyeon was nowhere to be seen.

Jiyun didn’t matter.

He could kill her easily anyway.

But Jeonghyeon was important.

The guy who had the power to kill Garyeong, or Heesu.

He had to locate him first.

But Jiyun just shook her head, trembling.

“I-I don’t know.”

“Does that make sense? You two ran away together.”

Hanseok approached Jiyun step by step, his eyes filled with suspicion.

Unable to bear it any longer, Jiyun shouted out, uncharacteristically.

“I don’t know! He was so badly injured that he couldn’t even move properly. So I left him behind!”

“Really?”

Hanseok thought for a moment.

He wondered if the timid Jiyun would go that far, but people could change drastically when their lives were on the line.

How many times had he witnessed and enjoyed such scenes?

Meanwhile, Jiyun, watching Hanseok hesitate, hurriedly shouted,

“I-I won’t say anything when we get out! I’ll say it was an accident! Please spare me! Please!”

“What?”

Hanseok scoffed as if it was the most absurd thing he had ever heard.

If Garyeong were alive, it might have been a different story.

But how could he possibly spare Jiyun now that he couldn’t even change her face anymore?

Hanseok raised his axe high, aiming for Jiyun, who was trembling against a tree.

It would be a bit of a hassle, but if he went back and retraced their steps, he could easily find a severely injured person.

He hadn’t noticed it in his excitement on the way here.

“Eek!”

Jiyun screamed, raising her arms above her head.

It was a futile gesture.

The axe would easily tear through such weak arms.

Hanseok inhaled, preparing to swing the axe down.

And in that brief moment, a dark figure dropped down behind him.

Thwack━

With a brutal sound of metal and skull colliding.

Behind Hanseok stood Jeonghyeon, gasping for breath.