My Reflector Is Invincible

6. One for Now

Kwa-kwa-kwa.

In front of a giant waterfall.

It was deep in the forest, far from the labor camp, in a remote location where people would not come.

‘If I had done things the original way, I would have started here too.’

It was the place you would end up if you chose to play dead.

You were supposed to be pushed down the river on a barrel and end up on the riverbank here.

Hak-Hyun tilted his head.

“Why have you come here? Are you looking for peerless martial arts or a magic sword?”

“Do you think there’s something like that here?”

“Then you should go to the nearby village. You can change your clothes and have a warm meal there…”

“Are you crazy to want to die?”

“Excuse me?”

“If you go like this, the villagers will welcome you.”

“!”

They were wearing slave uniforms and bloodstained soldier uniforms.

Even if they went to a village of war refugees, they would be immediately reported.

‘Then the people sent by Count Sanderson will come.’

“Just spread out a mat and sleep here.”

Haken looked very flustered.

“Even if you say that, there’s nothing here…”

“I didn’t come here for nothing. In a way, there’s something more important than what you said.”

Originally, arriving here on a barrel was not the end.

They were supposed to collapse because they were exhausted.

Then someone appeared.

“Excuse me. Are you okay?”

A middle-aged man with a rough face, wearing leather clothes and a thick beard.

＜Hunter Jack＞

He was an early mentor who took in and fed a prisoner who had escaped from a labor camp.

He was also almost the only ally in the game.

In fact, many players received his help.

‘Clothes, shelter, and even food for when you’re moving.’

No wonder his nickname was ‘Generous Jack.’

Of course, that’s all ordinary people get. However, protagonist Koh In knew one more thing.

“If you continue like this, it will be dangerous. Would you like to learn some skills from me?”

From the hunter, you could obtain ultra-rare skills that could only be learned at the beginning.

In some cases, you could even get a job.

＜[Hunter], would you like to change your job?＞

It was a very famous job that could be obtained early on.

＜Hunters are a balanced class specializing in ranged attacks as well as melee weapons.＞

＜They boast strong survivability through various survival skills.＞

It was a versatile class.

However, Jooin had no intention of becoming a ‘hunter’.

‘I can’t maximize the ability of ＜Reflection＞ with a normal job. I need a more special job.’

For him, ‘Hunter’ was only intermediate at best.

He wanted a one-of-a-kind job like the unique rank ＜Reflection＞.

＜Unique Job＞

It was a special job that existed only once in this world, like ＜Warrior＞ or ＜Saint＞.

And funnily enough, that job could be started through [Hunter Jack].

It wasn’t for nothing that I came here.

‘I not only have to meet Jack to meet the [Kingsman], but I also have to meet Jack to get that job.’

But no matter how long I wait, he doesn’t come.

There was no sign of him lurking either.

‘This is strange. It’s been more than enough time for him to get here by now?’

Of course, it might not be anything serious.

Sometimes the timing was off like this, or the route was wrong.

However, in a situation where I don’t have a second chance, I had to consider every situation.

“Haken. Find some footprints.”

“Footprints? Are you going hunting? But the beasts around here are strong…”

“Not animals. Find footprints the size of an adult male.”

Well, I said it, but it probably wouldn’t be easy.

‘Hunters have survival skills to erase their tracks.’

A skill known as ＜Footwork＞.

‘It will take a while, but it can’t be helped…’

“I found them!”

Huh? Already?

There’s no way they could be found this easily?

Joo-in headed towards where Haken was pointing.

In the corner of the grass, footprints were scattered haphazardly.

It was a location that wouldn’t be easy to find.

Which meant.

‘This guy… Does he have ＜Tracking＞ as well?’

He’s a ＜Thief＞ with ＜Lockpicking＞ and a higher-level skill ＜Tracking＞ from the start.

Joo-in’s gaze had to change.

‘A character of destiny. He’s more useful than I thought?’

But Haken tilted his head.

“But there’s more than one set of footprints? Didn’t you say the hunter was alone?”

“Of course.”

“Yes?”

The hunter who didn’t show up and the footprints of several people.

‘The broken barrels nearby and the footprints leading to the river…’

There was only one answer.

“They are prisoners who escaped from the labor camp like us.”

“Ah!”

It was entirely possible.

There could have been prisoners who jumped into the river to avoid the guards at the entrance of the labor camp.

And Hunter Jack must have picked up the prisoners who had collapsed from exhaustion.

It was originally the story that the player was supposed to experience.

But now that Joo-eun had to flee here and had taken care of the warden and come out the main gate.

It seemed that fate had changed after all.

‘But unlike players, there’s no way the nature of prisoners is good.’

Why did he have to take care of the prisoners of the labor camp?

He was worried about the life and death of Hunter Jack.

No matter how great of a hunter you are, if you get caught unprepared, there’s nothing you can do.

Hak-en asked Joo-eun, who had a troubled expression.

“Then what should we do? Should we just go somewhere else?”

“No, we’re going after them.”

“Huh?!”

Once we find the footprints, it’s over.

Joo-eun knew where Hunter Jack would have taken the slaves.

＜Hunter’s Rest＞

It was a hunter’s house built on one side of the forest.

‘The only place he could take the slaves is there. If he took them to the village, there would be chaos.’

However, Hak-en looked troubled.

“It’ll be difficult to find footprints from this point in the forest.”

Unlike the muddy riverbank, traces are not easily left in the flat forest.

However, Joo-eun was not worried.

“I know the way.”

“!”

It was a place they went to often.

Originally, he had planned to meet naturally in the forest and show his face, but it seemed like he would have to change his plans.

‘No, in a way, it might be a good thing.’

He had planned to become close with Jack while helping him in the forest, but what if Jack was in danger?

Wasn’t there a faster way to become close than simply helping with work?

Joo-eun began to move naturally, as if his body remembered.

Hak-en asked in surprise at that sight.

“Aren’t you taking the horse?”

“Yeah. I’ll leave the horse to you.”

“Huh? This guy to me?”

Hak-en looked flustered. He couldn’t have not known the value of a warhorse.

A single warhorse was worth a huge amount of money.

It was a considerable amount of money that even a wealthy merchant could live off of for several years. If it were a slave, depending on how you used it, you could live comfortably for the rest of your life.

That was why Hak-en, a thief, couldn’t help but look at Joo-eun in bewilderment.

“What if I run away with this…….”

“Do whatever you want. I chose to trust you, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Hak-en stopped in his tracks.

Joo-eun subtly observed his reaction.

He hadn’t saved Hak-en or entrusted him with the horse for no reason.

Anyway, the horse wasn’t very valuable to the main character, but he intended to use it to do some groundwork for Haken, a character of destiny.

＜Trust＞

‘How many keywords can be fed to a thief character?’

They usually like money, but surprisingly, this worked well for thieves.

‘Maybe because they can’t get trust, they desire it more.’

Of course, it also depends on the person.

When Haken didn’t respond, the main character narrowed his eyes.

‘As expected, money is the best for thieves…? Damn, that method costs a lot of money. Wait, since this isn’t a game, maybe the method is different?’

Just then, Haken gritted his teeth.

“Where is it, let’s go quickly! Come on, hurry up, you idiot!”

Yikes!

Haken led the horse as if he were guarding the main character’s mount, and entered the forest.

Then a window popped up.

＜Character of destiny has discovered his destiny＞

＜Character of destiny entrusts you with his destiny＞

＜Haken has become a [Subordinate]＞

＜He will never betray you＞

＜Character of destiny starts growing as your subordinate＞

＜Acquiring new skills＞

The main character was satisfied with the sight.

‘Good value for money. Best unit.’

* * *

How long had they traveled?

“Hide.”

“Yes? Yes?? Ack!”

Haken was startled when the main character suddenly pushed his head down.

He looked at the main character as if to ask why he had done that all of a sudden.

The main character narrowed his eyes and looked towards the forest.

A small light was visible in the dense trees.

Haken immediately recognized what the light was.

“Is that the hunter’s cabin you were talking about? But why are you telling me to hide….”

“It seems like my prediction was correct.”

Prediction?

Could it be that the hunter had been captured?

“I can’t see anything from here yet, though?”

But the main character was certain.

“Jack is an excellent hunter. He would never expose his location so easily. But even from this distance, we can see the light from the shack.”

“……Ah……!”

It was something a hunter would never do.

As they approached the shack, they began to hear voices.

“hahahaha. What the hell is this? Not only is there food, but a place to hide as well.”

“I was wondering how we were going to escape, but this is amazing luck. First, let’s change your clothes, hyungnim.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Why is this punk barking so loudly? Can’t you be quiet!”

Thwack, thwack, thwack.

The hunter Jack was being held captive by the men.

He was covered in blood and tied up so tightly he couldn’t move properly, all the while being beaten.

‘I’m glad I came.’

I need to meet the [King of Knights], so it would be troublesome if he died.

Joo-yeon checked right away.

“Do you know who those guys are?”

“They’re the Charlie Gang who used to run rampant in the mines. Their leader, Charlie, is in here for injuring a knight.”

“Wow, a knight….”

Just some hoodlums managed to injure a knight?

It might just be a rumor, but if it’s true, it could be quite useful.

So, there’s only one thing to do.

“Haken. You hide here.”

“Will you be okay by yourself? There are so many of them….”

By myself?

Are you kidding me?

“Have you forgotten where we are? This is a hunter’s shelter.”

At those words, Haken’s eyes widened.

“Shelter… Ah, then surely…!”

Joo-yeon smiled instead of answering.

‘I was going to test it out anyway, so this is perfect.’

That’s when it happened.

“Boss, I’m going to go relieve myself for a bit.”

“Don’t go too far. These parts are dangerous because of the beasts.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”

The sound of one of the Gang members inside leaving could be heard.

Joo-yeon slowly approached the man who was peeing.

The man’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Wh-what are you!”

“Me? A thief who’s come to save the poor hunter?”

“Th-this…!”

He tried to stop peeing and run away right away.

He must have been trying to go inside and call for their leader, Charlie.

Of course, Joo-yeon had no way of stopping him.

It goes without saying that summoning a demon or using magic to burn the man’s body as he escaped was impossible.

But there was something even scarier than that.

“I felt safe because the landlord was there when I came in, but it’s different when you come out.”

As he said that, Joo-eun kicked something.

As the string was cut, something sharp popped out of the tree.

It was a stake.

“There are traps everywhere near the hunter’s house.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the stake pierced Joo-eun’s back in an instant.

Puck!

The eyes of the gangsters who saw it went round. They looked as if they were wondering if there was a trap in such a place.

However, he soon burst into laughter as if he found it absurd.

“What an idiot! You fell into a trap yourself!”

Of course, it wasn’t Joo-eun who fell down, bleeding.

Flop…

The prisoner who had been running away until just now collapsed.

A cold voice came out of Joo-eun’s mouth as he looked at him.

“One down.”