Chapter 83

< Fear Resistance >

As I passed through the lobby, I saw the neatly arranged cages on the right side of the breeding facility. These cages were more like rooms, equipped with air purifiers, heating and cooling systems, and even CCTV. The smaller cages, which were relatively small, could withstand up to Stat B at Level 10, while the largest could handle up to Stat A.

The unicorns had already been moved here.

On the nameplates attached to the cages, I saw the names Peace and Blue. When I was away, the assigned hunter would take care of them here.

I placed the nest I brought from Seongseong into an empty cage and gently set Comet down.

- Hiss!

The baby dragon wrapped its long tail around my wrist and hissed at Blue, who was pacing outside. Despite the size and stat difference, which made it impossible for Comet to attack, he seemed quite agitated.

"Yeah, yeah. Blue can't come in, so you'll have to sleep here."

I then entrusted Blue and Piyak to the breeding facility. My luggage was still at the dormitory, and I planned to move it all and then take them home. Although I didn't have much, moving with the kids, especially Blue, would leave nothing behind.

Kang So-young went shopping to decorate Comet's cage. Han Yu-hyun, you should learn from her. Hurry up and come out and put a top-tier pet bed in Peace's cage.

"The mini portal to the second floor can only be used with a registration key."

Sung Hyun-je took out a thin, card-sized S-grade mana stone from his inventory, which had a password embedded in it. But why does that guy have a registration key?

"There are six registration keys in total. Each of the four guilds, excluding MKC, has one. The remaining two belong to Han Yu-jin and have been sent to Hae-yeon Guild. You can go and get them."

"Is my privacy non-existent?"

Why are you handing out keys to other people's houses?

"There's another door inside, so don't worry."

"If it's just a regular door, it's like a piece of paper to an S-grade."

"It's not that weak, more like a wooden board. It's specially made, you see."

It would still break if you hit it. Problems can arise within a household, so it's inevitable.

"The outer walls of the house can withstand an A-grade combat hunter for about 30 minutes."

"That's sturdy."

"The outer layer is made from the skin of a Level 3 Armored Dragon. Since there's no technology to process it, A-grade hunters had to do it."

I'm flattered. There are no dungeons in the country that produce Level 3 Armored Dragons, so it must have been imported.

Since the house keys were also sent to Hae-yeon, I didn't go inside. I'm sure they did a good job.

Sung Hyun-je unnecessarily kindly explained the training room, management room, reception room, and other facilities. I tried to give Song Tae-won some hints, feeling sorry for him being constantly silenced, but it didn't work at all.

'Song Tae-won must have another reason for being here, not just to give a tour.'

I can't tell him to shut up and leave. ...Should I say it? If I leave it as is, I might have to drag him out by force once the tour is over. He probably came with that intention.

Of course, Song Tae-won isn't the type to give up easily. I can see a fierce battle of wills in our future.

I'll just have to handle it myself.

"President of Seongseong Guild, I'm sorry to take up so much of your time. I'll listen to the rest from Manager Song."

With that, I suggested he return home. Sung Hyun-je's gaze turned to me, and the corners of his eyes curved into a thin smile.

"I don't mind spending time with you, so don't worry."

Damn, indirect talk doesn't work with him.

"I feel uncomfortable, so please leave."

I said it bluntly. He put on a hurt expression. Crazy. ...Really crazy.

"You're quite heartless, contrary to appearances."

"...We're not in a relationship where heartlessness is an issue."

"I think I've put in a lot of effort. I haven't treated you badly, except for checking your skills. Honestly, it's more rare for someone to accept such skills without hesitation."

What nonsense, I thought for a moment.

'Reflecting on it, Sung Hyun-je did treat me quite... well, didn't he...?'

Looking back, he hadn't caused me any harm except for the skill refusal. He was always kind to me when I visited Seongseong, and I received Peace's toys and earrings. In the dungeon, he listened to me more than he caused trouble for others. He even visited me in the hospital with gifts, and today, despite Song Tae-won's car being wrecked, I was able to come here comfortably.

It seems he really did put in effort for me.

'...It feels like I'm being tricked.'

Considering he's a powerful guild leader, he was incredibly gentle. Even now, he doesn't show any anger despite being told to leave.

It's true, but his words about the skills aren't wrong, and they are all facts I've experienced. Why does it feel like I'm being deceived?

Yelim grabbed my arm suddenly.

"Uncle, don't be charmed!"

Charmed by what? I feel so uncomfortable.

"Thinking about it, you've been very attentive to me, haven't you?"

I acknowledged it and continued with a smile.

"So, please show me some kindness this time. If you leave quietly without causing any trouble, I might be a bit moved."

If you're going to do it, do it properly.

Sung Hyun-je's eyes suddenly turned cold at my repeated hints. I'm raising your child, so calm down.

"I have no choice. The one who falls in love first loses."

What does that mean?

Sung Hyun-je glanced at Song Tae-won and turned around obediently. He must have had some ulterior motive, but it feels strange that he gave in so easily.

But at least he's gone for now.

"Yelim, shouldn't you go to your missed classes now?"

"How can I leave you here?"

"This is my home now. There are already hunters guarding it."

Yelim glared at Song Tae-won, who stood silently.

"They're only A-grade. I'll go if you come with me, Uncle."

Even if you're S-grade, Yelim can't handle it yet. He's one of the most experienced combatants in the country against other hunters. He could easily subdue someone at Yelim's level.

"Don't be so uptight. He's a public official, so what could happen? He can't just arrest people without due process."

"He does sometimes."

Song Tae-won said it casually. ...He does arrest people. Yelim tightened her grip on my arm. It hurts.

"B-grade hunters and above can be immediately detained for mass murder, based on my judgment. This also applies to C-grade hunters, depending on the skill."

"...Uncle, you're B-grade now."

Yelim frowned and whispered. I have Stat F and no attack skills.

"Honestly, if I were to be arrested, you'd be the first... Ouch."

Don't pinch me. The adults around her are so delinquent that I'm worried she'll end up visiting a detention center soon.

"Of course, I didn't come here today with the intention of arresting you. If you haven't committed any illegal acts, you have nothing to worry about."

...There's also murder, threats, and violence. But I won't get caught. I told Yelim to go to class again, and she sent me a worried look.

"Are you going to be on the 9 o'clock news or something?"

"Then bring some snacks."

I took out a pen and notepad from my inventory, inspired by Yelim's grumbling. I wrote down two phone numbers and handed them to her.

"If anything happens to me, call these numbers and ask for help."

"Whose numbers are these?"

"Call them and you'll find out. Don't contact them unnecessarily."

They are Do Ha-min and Yun Yun's numbers.

Even if I changed my phone, I have an old ID card, so Do Ha-min can find my location. Yun Yun, now S-grade with a long-distance portal skill, can ensure a safe and easy escape.

It means I'll be fine as long as I'm alive.

After calming Yelim and sending her off, Song Tae-won and I were finally alone. There was no need to tour the facilities further, so I headed towards the reception room we had passed earlier.

"Are you really not here to arrest me?"

I asked casually as we walked.

"No, I met your brother a while ago."

"......What?"

"Several people died in the Han Yu-jin kidnapping case. It was the first time Hae-yeon Guild's leader cooperated with an investigation, so I was a bit surprised."

"......First time means this has happened before, right?"

"About once a quarter."

Quarterly... four times a year... Yu-hyun?!

With a mix of emotions, I opened the door to the reception room. It was a beautifully decorated room with a glass wall on one side. There was a large kitchenette attached. I'll need to hire staff soon.

"I haven't heard such stories before. Has it ever been a serious problem?"

"Since it's not widely known, it's understandable. Serious incidents with S-grade hunters are rare, but things are much better now. Dungeon breaks hardly ever happen anymore."

Song Tae-won smiled faintly and continued.

"In areas where dungeon breaks occur, the use of attack skills can't be restricted, so in the past, you had to be prepared to lose an arm if you were unlucky. As you know, Hae-yeon Guild's leader is not an ordinary person."

"......"

"I'm sorry."

Not knowing what to say, I hesitated, and Song Tae-won apologized.

"No, no. I'm the one who's sorry. My brother... must have caused a lot of trouble."

Damn, Yu-hyun, what have you been up to? You're not just a regular hunter or guild member; why are you being mentioned by a public official in terms of losing an arm?

"Don't worry too much. It's common for high-level hunters to get agitated while cleaning up after a dungeon break. Especially when two or more S-grade hunters enter the same break area, the only solution is to set up a barrier and wait for them to calm down with healers on standby. It was a tense time, but it didn't become public knowledge. Compared to then, things are much more peaceful now."

"Yu-hyun... and Hae-yeon Guild's leader...?"

Song Tae-won's calm expression turned to a troubled smile.

"To be honest, I find it hard to describe the situation back then. Early S-grade hunters went through this at least once. That's why I was very concerned when I heard that four S-grade hunters were entering the same dungeon. Especially since two of them... No, that's not it."

We argued a bit, but it wasn't a big issue. I remembered Yu-hyun being disappointed that S-grade hunters rarely gathered in dungeons. If they used to fight a lot, it's no wonder they accumulated a lot of tension. Their stats have changed a lot over time, and it's understandable to be curious.

Still, it's not right. Wait for the relatively safe ranking battles.

"Would you like something to drink? How about coffee?"

A drink won't cost much, so it should be fine. Song Tae-won nodded. Entering the kitchenette, I saw a large coffee machine. How do you use it...? Opening the cupboard, I found instant coffee.

"I came here today to check on Han Yu-jin's condition."

As I tore open an instant coffee packet, a voice came from behind. Why didn't you just wait?

"My condition?"

Turning around, I saw Song Tae-won looking down at me with his usual calm expression.

"Yes. Han Yu-jin's stats are F, but the special skill level is high. That makes you a very desirable target."

I know that well. That's why Yu-hyun suggested confinement, and I've been careful to create my current position.

"Five guilds have discussed, but the balance has been disrupted by MKC. I heard that Han Shin is under pressure in various ways."

That's why Han Shin hasn't contacted me.

"Meanwhile, you took Han Yu-jin to an A-grade dungeon, which raised suspicions."

To be precise, I took them there.

"Have you ever suffered any physical or mental harm?"

"......What? It was tiring because they kept arguing, but that's all."

"You can speak freely. It's more unusual for Han Yu-jin to be unharmed. You might not know, but there are skills and items in the hunter world that can manipulate people. The lower the stat, the easier it is to use."

I know that. I've almost fallen victim before. But there's no need to worry now.

Mental skills, especially brainwashing, are less effective on someone with a stable mental state, even with Stat F. The easiest way to shake someone is through fear. All you need is violence and threats.

"But I have the Fear Resistance skill."

I don't flinch even against SS-grade monsters. What can they do? That's why I'm not particularly worried about such skills or items.

"I'm fine, so you don't need to worry."

I appreciate your concern. My answer made Song Tae-won's eyes darken and become heavy. His reaction to my assurance was strange.

Then, his hand touched my neck. The hand that approached without me noticing wrapped around my throat, and his thick thumb lightly pressed the area where my pulse was beating.

"Manager Song?"

I was a bit bewildered by the situation.

"Really, nothing happened?"

His voice, now deeper, hit my ears.

"What? Nothing- Ugh."

The hand on my throat tightened. I felt the urge to escape, but I had no way to do so. I should have carried an emergency alarm.

More importantly, there's no reason for this.

"Cough, cough!"

Fortunately, Song Tae-won released me after a moment. I coughed out the breath I had been holding and looked up at him. Why-.

"I apologize. The problem wasn't with the guild leaders but with Han Yu-jin."

"......What?"

Song Tae-won handed me a potion and continued.

"I observed Han Yu-jin from the hospital."

I took a sip of the potion, and the pain in my throat subsided. Was Sung Hyun-je's lack of reaction earlier because he was focused on me?

"I thought it was possible for Hunter Park Yelim. She's young and seemed quite close to you. But Han Yu-jin was also very comfortable with the Seongseong Guild leader."

"Sort of, we know each other."

"That's why it was even more puzzling. You both entered an A-grade dungeon. I understand that Han Yu-jin lost consciousness on the second floor after the SS-grade monster was killed. You saw the Seongseong Guild leader attack the SS-grade monster, correct?"

I nodded.

"To remain calm after witnessing the power of a creature far above you is not normal for a Stat F. An ordinary person would be terrified by a large, aggressive dog. If the dog were to roam around without a leash, almost no one could remain calm. Moreover, Han Yu-jin showed no fear in other situations."

"Other situations?"

"Yes. You didn't hesitate to touch the baby dragon, which has a higher stat than you. Even Hunter Kang So-young was worried. I took the liberty of checking, and you were indeed unusual."

He's talking about the neck grab. I thought he might really hurt me, but he didn't.

"Even in life-threatening situations, you were only slightly surprised and flustered, but showed no fear. It was as if your fear had been castrated."

That's accurate.

"Still, it's not necessarily bad, right?"

"It is bad."

Song Tae-won said firmly.

"Your current state is like a car with the warning lights off. Overcoming fear is good, but starting without it is reckless, especially with a low stat. If a lamb isn't afraid of a wolf, what will happen?"

It will become a well-prepared dinner.

"But if the lamb knows the wolf is dangerous, it will run away."

"Yes, but the current Han Yu-jin seems to think that observing the wolf from a certain distance is fine. It's not safe, even if it's not extremely dangerous."

Is that so? But I've felt fear when the skill message didn't appear.

I was slightly scared during the tension between Yu-hyun and Yelim, and I was a bit afraid of Seok Si-myeong's call. I was terrified when asked to gather 50 S-grade hunters, and when...

...Thinking about it, I've been brushing off most situations recently. When S-grade hunters collectively growled, I found it more annoying than scary. When Yun Yun transformed into a demon, the Fear Resistance skill message didn't even appear. Even if we're acquaintances, it was an SS-grade monster.

I do seem to have become more numb compared to a month ago.

'Maybe I'm getting dull without any stimulation.'

I thought it might be dangerous to leave it as is. Maybe I should turn off the Fear Resistance skill at home and watch a horror movie or something.

"Indeed, I'll be more careful. Thank you for your concern."

"......You're a difficult person."

Song Tae-won smiled awkwardly in response to my gratitude.

"The hand marks on your neck haven't faded yet."

"......Ah."

Even I think that's strange. I need to be more careful.

"I'm personally grateful to Han Yu-jin. I was worried about the awakening center, but there was nothing I could do. I hope nothing happens to you."

He said it was fortunate that there were no major issues and then took out a pen and notepad from his inventory, writing down a number.

"This is my personal contact. If you need any help, feel free to call."

"Thank you."

But how will Song Tae-won get back? He doesn't have a car.

"Um, there might be a staff member or hunter with a car. I can ask them to-"

"No, I'll take the subway directly."

Not a taxi, but the subway? If I had a driver's license, I'd offer to drive him. I need to get a license.

"By the way, you might not have seen the news, but there have been recent terrorist attacks targeting hunters. They mainly target the Hunter Association, but with the addition of famous people like Mr. Yoo Myeong-woo, be careful."

"I understand."

The group advocating for dungeon breaks has been conducting terrorist attacks in Korea for a while, but I remember it clearly from domestic cases.

Still, the future might not be exactly the same, so I'll keep it in mind.

< Fear Resistance > End

ⓒ Geunseo