Chapter 24

"Master. You must not disappoint the wolf. I have always told you that the future of the wolf, or rather, the future of the Korean hunter community, depends on you."

"H, but... I..."

"Stop crying."

!

The man pulled on the small, limp arms. Already exhausted, young Siu was dragged along by the adult man's strength, unable to resist.

"It smells. I feel like I'm going to vomit..."

As they approached the entrance of the mock gate, Siu began to cry again. I don't want to go in. I really don't! No matter how much he resisted,

"Monster blood naturally has a foul smell. It's something every hunter must endure."

...

"The strong must know how to use their power properly. That is responsibility, and that is weight."

"..."

"The wolf, and the world, need your strength. Are you going to give up here?"

At the man's words, Siu wobbled to his feet. He stared at his small, wet hands with teary eyes.

Is it really true? Can I really save people?

If that's the case, I can't just cry here. If I have to overcome this, I want to overcome it no matter what. But...

"Ugh."

The stench that burst from the wide-open gate entrance. Unlike his determination, his nose and body strongly rejected it.

Siu covered his nose with both hands and squeezed his eyes shut to calm his churning stomach.

"3, 2, 1. Opening."

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the surroundings were enveloped in red light.

The sensation of entering the gate was a torment for the young boy. After stumbling through a bottomless pit with no ceiling or floor, he finally touched the ground and met the eyes of a grasshopper twice his size.

Kreeeeek─!

The grasshopper charged, making an eerie sound.

It was a well-made hologram. Being attacked only deducted points; it didn't cause actual injury. However, the hostility the monster exuded, the stench, and the fear Siu felt were all very real.

"No, don't come!"

The resolve he had before entering the gate was gone, and Siu waved his small hands in the air. In response, sharp ice blades were reflexively generated.

The sharp ice fell like a fierce rainstorm on the giant grasshopper.

Thud─

The grasshopper's melon-sized head rolled in front of the young boy.

"Ugh, ah..."

Before Siu could even scream, he fell on his bottom. The blood spewing from the severed neck bubbled like lava.

Passive ▶ 'Keen Sense of Smell' activated.