Chapter 57

< The Cursed Dragon of Midnight (2) >

It was as if she was using a stealth skill; I couldn't clearly see her appearance. However, the silhouette was undoubtedly human. She had even spoken.

Could she be an S-rank Hunter with a stealth skill?

I don't remember her.

While keeping an eye on the fallen silhouette, I approached the basket where Piyak was. As soon as I picked up the sleeping Piyak, the silhouette suddenly stood up.

"Wow, that was intense. Honey, what was that? I have S-rank curse resistance, and it only just broke after I equipped the curse resistance item?"

It was a woman's voice. S-rank curse resistance? I don't want to sound presumptuous, but she's a monster.

According to the Weakling's Premonition, she has S-rank stats, S-rank poison and curse skills, SS-rank close-range physical attack skills, and an SSS-rank title... What is this? A Hunter I've never heard of. How can a title have three S's?

Of course, it might not have any offensive power like my L-rank title, but that seems unlikely. Because.

[Awakened ? Riet

Current Stat Rank: S

Potential Stat Rank: S

Optimized Initial Skills

Eternal Severance (SS) acquired

Path of the Blade (S) acquired

Radiant Aura (S) acquired

Flowing Cloud (A) acquired]

Severance, Blade, Aura. These initial skills have nothing to do with curses or poison. In other words, the poison and curse skills she possesses are likely from her SSS-rank title.

"What are you looking at, my pretty?"

...Her speech is fluent. Is she a Westerner?

'Even if her stats are high, her skills are no joke. If there were a ranking battle now, she would definitely be in the top tier.'

Close-range combat affinity with an SSS-rank title for poison and curses, and she seems to have a stealth skill. Given that the Lautistas' counter-skill is activated, her SSS-rank title must be related to the Cursed Dragon Dio Valsesis. Dio Valsesis, right? I've never heard of this monster, but the name alone suggests it's not an ordinary creature.

"Honey? Can you react a bit? Are you frozen in shock?"

"If you have business, you should have called and requested a visit during the day, Ms. Riet."

"Oh my?"

After the exclamation of surprise, the blurry silhouette became clear. Revealed in the darkness was a beautiful woman with a pleasant smile. Her short hair, cut for convenience, was dark, and her eyes were a striking gold.

Golden eyes. While high-ranking Hunters can have unusual appearances due to their affinities or skills, hers had a metallic quality that was too alien to be human.

"How did you know my name? And besides, you're F-rank with no offensive skills, right?"

She doesn't look Asian, but her Korean is fluent. It must be thanks to the translation item she's wearing, which occasionally drops in S-rank dungeons.

"Hunters usually keep a few tricks up their sleeves, don't they?"

"Not just a few, right? That curse skill you used earlier, it's probably SS-rank. And you seem to have a skill that reveals information about your opponent. You were reading something intently, weren't you?"

Indeed, using a low-level skill in front of an S-rank Hunter is a surefire way to get caught. I gently smiled as I put Piyak back in the basket.

"It was my ace in the hole. I was quite disappointed when it didn't work."

"It's not your fault. A skill that can nullify S-rank curse resistance is incredible."

Especially with the Lautistas' counter-skill doubling its effect. How many times has it increased?

"Can I assume you have no intention of attacking?"

Piyak is right next to me, and Peace and Myungwoo are nearby. It's best to avoid a fight if possible. Besides, with skills like hers, even if Yoohyun comes, the chances of winning aren't high. S-rank poison and curses in close combat are wicked.

Fortunately, it seems she has no intention of fighting either.

"Of course not. We're too incompatible. Did you feel the curse skill I cast as soon as I broke free from the curse?"

I didn't feel it. An S-rank curse skill must have been too weak and just disappeared.

"My curse resistance skill is quite high."

But I shrugged as if I knew. She raised her hands as if in response.

"My curse skill is specialized for certain conditions, so it's weak in combat, but it's frustrating that it doesn't work at all."

Simple attack curse skills like the Darkling's Thorn Trap are usually possessed by monsters, while a typical Hunter's curse skill is condition-specialized. They are versatile, used for things like inventory seals or contracts... Wait a minute. Could it be?

"Did you come because I tore up the contract?"

"Right! It was you?"

You came all this way just for that? It's ridiculous. Seeing my expression, Riet quickly added an excuse.

"It's not just that. I also came to ask a favor. I didn't think you would cancel the contract. I was going to ask if you knew anything. But after seeing Han Yujin's abilities... It seems the kidnapping was a trap set for MKC, right?"

No, but I put on a face that suggested it could be.

"Is that a rumor?"

"They say it was a plot by Seisung and Hae-yeon. But are we going to stand here and talk all day?"

Riet walked to the bed and sat down, crossing one long leg.

Hey, lady.

"Take off your shoes."

"Oh, right."

She obediently took off both of her boots. They were cat-patterned socks.

"Cute, right? I bought them at Dongdaemun."

"Ah, yes."

"You're too dry. In this situation, you should get on the bed."

She leaned back and waved her hand. The moonlight reflecting on the window... no, the light from the opposite building created a good atmosphere, but I don't want to share a bed with an unknown S-rank Hunter who has an SS-rank close-range cutting skill.

After a moment's thought, I went to the bed. I didn't lie down but sat on the opposite side.

"Isn't it usually not a big deal when an illegal contract is canceled?"

Illegal is illegal for a reason. Sometimes the other party prepares a fully equipped curse resistance item before signing. But if there's a different main purpose, why would she bother to confirm it?

Riet looked a bit embarrassed at my words.

"It's because I just started."

"Just started?"

"Yeah. I just started my business, so I can't help but be concerned. I got the curse skill ten days ago."

Ten days? Just ten?

"Can I ask how you got it?"

"You're too nosy. You didn't even come close."

"Since you know my secret, let's agree to keep our mouths shut."

"Secret? You mean stats and skills? The guild leaders of Hae-yeon and Seisung already know."

"I don't know."

At my words, she turned around and lay down, her golden eyes widening.

"You don't know? Really? That's surprising."

"Isn't this a secret worth exchanging?"

Though my hand is half fake. But if she learns a fact, she'll probably guess that I have some special skills. So I'm not giving too little.

"What should I do?"

"I know it's a title-based skill."

"Wow, you even have a skill to check status windows. You're too much. Fine, I got the title from an S-rank dungeon boss monster."

"Dio Valsesis?"

"No, you already know, why ask?"

Riet pouted.

"SSS-rank title, Dio Valsesis. The twin dragon Dio Valsesis can only be obtained by defeating the twin dragons with a half-sibling. My brother is also an S-rank Hunter."

It's a difficult title, fitting for her high rank.

"Can you tell me which dungeon it was?"

"It was an illegal dungeon in China... but after clearing it, it disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

"...You're not surprised? I'm not lying."

"I know. I believe you."

The twin cursed poison dragon Dio Valsesis. If a dungeon with such a monster as the boss had existed for five years, its information would have been revealed. So it must be.

A dungeon that should have appeared five years later.

The dungeon must have suddenly disappeared because the system administrators intervened.

'So that's why there was no information about this incredible Hunter.'

I've heard of a close-combat female Hunter, but her name was different. Many Hunters don't use their real names, so it's probably the same person. S-rank Hunters aren't common, and if the affinity and gender match, it's almost certain.

In the original future, Riet didn't get the twin title of Dio Valsesis because the dungeon hadn't appeared yet.

...Was there a similar incident?

"You believe me? Really?"

Riet slowly approached me. Up close, she really is beautiful. I was momentarily captivated by her face and sat there as her arm wrapped around my waist.

"But you, you're a bit strange."

"...What do you mean?"

She pulled me closer and leaned in, resting her nose on my shoulder.

"...Are you a dragonkin too?"

"I'm human."

"But the feeling... kin? No, more like... someone who can easily defeat Dio Valsesis, a, um, big shot?"

...I thought it was because of the Darkling's skill, but it seems to be due to the Lautistas' counter-skill or the Dragon Slayer title effect. Given that the Darkling was scared, it's not surprising that Riet feels something strange.

"You're getting excited."

"...What?"

"You smell good. Do you use perfume?"

I did use a lot of body wash. But more importantly, she's getting too close.

"Can you back off a bit?"

"Are you really twenty-five? You're too cold."

"You choose your opponents carefully at your age. But let's get to the point."

I've resolved all my questions, so I'd like her to leave now. Riet, looking a bit annoyed, roughly let go of my arm and lay down on the bed.

"That's harsh. Do you think I'll wear out if you play along? Besides, I'm not attracted to ordinary humans, which is sad."

"...You're not attracted?"

"Yeah. Not attracted. I guess being half-dragon and half-human has changed my sexual preferences."

Oh, that's unfortunate, but it's not my problem.

"Finish your business and leave. I need to sleep."

"Be cold. You looked cute on TV. By the way, why is your face still the same? Your stats seem quite high. You look good now, but if you've had that much correction, what did you look like originally?"

"I haven't had any corrections."

It's my original face.

"True, you said you just awakened. My business is obvious. I have a monster cub I want you to take care of."

"If it's just that, you should call during the day. I doubt you don't know my number."

I get all kinds of spam calls, so an S-rank Hunter wouldn't have trouble getting my number. Riet's eyes widened at my words.

"Are you pretending not to know? The guilds that negotiated with you are on high alert. How can I call you directly? Especially when your brother is openly warning people not to contact you personally."

Yoohyun was doing that?

"But is it okay to come here directly?"

She smiled slyly.

"As long as it doesn't get out, it's fine. You saw my skills, right? I never intended to reveal my face. I didn't expect you to be able to see through an S-rank Hunter's status window. I planned to sneak in, confirm your willingness, and gently reel you in."

Indeed, with a stealth skill, coming in person is safer than a traceable phone call.

"So you want me to raise the monster cub?"

"If I openly entrusted it to you, it would be exposed that I contacted you. Can you create a channel for me? There are many people in a hurry."

She made a cute plea. A channel.

"Do you use SNS?"

"Huh?"

"I'm going to make one soon. Since guilds and Hunters use SNS a lot, I'll follow you and contact you. When my SNS is up, post about it. Give me your ID."

"Oh, I haven't managed it properly. Here's my ID."

She took out parchment and a pen from her inventory, wrote down her ID, and tore it out to give to me.

"Thanks, I love you~."

Hearing her playful "I love you," I suddenly thought about applying a keyword to Riet. With the doubled effect, a casual word would be enough. It didn't take long with the Darkling, so it should work quickly with someone who understands love talk. What should I do? I could fill an S-rank spot and occasionally give her a growth buff.

A doubled growth buff might be too much. Let's see if the keyword effect appears first.

"Do you have someone in mind as a caretaker? Someone who raised you?"

"Huh? No. I raised my brother. Come to think of it, you said you raised your brother, right?"

"Um, yeah..."

I did raise him. But in the end, I, well.

"...He awakened on his own and went his own way."

Suddenly. He was going to take the college entrance exam, graduate, and go to university. I thought my job would be done then.

Oh, I remember. The savings I put aside for his tuition. I hadn't used it, so I canceled it before meeting the Awakening Broker. That's why my bank balance was more comfortable than I thought.

"Honey?"

I felt my motivation drain, and I lay down on the bed.

"If you're done, can you leave now? I need to sleep."

"Really just sleep?"

"Yes, I'm going to sleep."

I just closed my eyes. I could feel Riet hovering over me, looking down at me.

"Han Yujin, I'll come back to play."

"...It's fine."

"Thanks. Good night."

A light touch, like a feather, brushed my forehead and then lifted. The sound of her putting on her shoes and the door opening and closing followed. The constant Weakling's Premonition finally quieted down.

It's peaceful.

I opened my eyes again.

'...The system administrators are working.'

Not only blocking the progress but also deleting the dungeon that appeared five years early. They must have already cleared it, but what reward did they get? I should have asked.

'The reward must have been high, considering the difficulty over five years. But compared to the title, even a rare item wouldn't be much.'

The twin Dio Valsesis. An SSS-rank title is a rank that hasn't appeared even five years later, as far as I know.

If she's half-dragon and half-human, she must have inherited Dio Valsesis' abilities. And since it's a twin title, both siblings must have received it.

'If they defeated the boss monster alone, and it was an illegal dungeon, they must be operating independently without a guild or team. Two S-rank Hunters should be more than enough for now. Since Riet is a close-combat type, her brother is likely a support or healer? No, an S-rank healer would be known, so he's probably a support.'

He could also be a ranged or magic type.

In any case, both are currently beyond their ranks. It's a waste to leave them alone, and it's unsettling.

At least Riet is in a position to be disappointed with me, which is fortunate. But how long that will last is unknown.

'The keyword effect probably won't show on Riet.'

It's easy to apply because she's a cursed poison dragon, but she doesn't have anyone in mind as a caretaker. So, I should target her brother.

Her brother, raised by this sister. I can guess his personality without seeing him. He must listen to his sister well.

Since he's also a cursed poison dragon, the keyword should apply immediately.

'I should ask for an introduction to her brother.'

For the SNS profile picture, should I use Peace or Piyak?

< The Cursed Dragon of Midnight (2) > End

ⓒ Geunseo