HDAAD Chapter 137

I clutched my throbbing head.

‘Why does even the hangover follow the rank?’

Taeju, who had been groaning with me until this morning, had seemingly recovered and gone out to conquer a dungeon, but I was still moaning on the sofa.

“Oppa, are you still in pain?”

“Aren’t you in pain?”

“No.”

Looking up at Hanseong’s face, it was bright and clear, without a trace of hangover.

‘Is the Hunter’s soju discriminating by rank or what?’

“You’re not throwing up?”

“No.”

“Oppa, why don’t you go to your room and sleep?”

“I can’t.”

I know there’s no better cure for a hangover than sleep, but I couldn’t do that.

“Why not?”

“Today is the day to meet the first purification requesters.”

After saying on live broadcast that we would provide free purification, many hunters wanted to receive purification from the guild.

The problem was that not only Korean hunters but also hunters from around the world had applied, to the point where 24 hours wasn’t enough.

But I couldn’t just keep purifying here forever, so I had no choice but to divide it on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Can’t you postpone it?”

“No.”

Normally, I’d prioritize my own body over others’ suffering, but I couldn’t postpone it because there was someone I absolutely had to meet among today’s first applicants.

“When are you going?”

At that moment, the phone on the table made a beep-beep alarm sound.

Speak of the devil. I didn’t know it applied to alarms too.

“Now.”

As I forcibly raised my body while clutching my whining head, Hanseong said “Just a moment” and ran to the kitchen.

“Oppa, try drinking this honey water.”

I drank the honey water Hanseong handed me.

‘I guess healing potions don’t work on hangovers?’

I was debating whether to take out one of the advanced healing potions I had made to raise my skill proficiency whenever I was bored, but I just got up.

I could smell alcohol with every breath I took and exhaled.

“Oppa. You smell strongly of alcohol, is that okay?”

“It’s fine since I’m not the one doing it.”

I was planning to just stand by, intending to hide the fact that Salt’s purification effect was amplified through me.

“Then wait a moment.”

Hanseong ran to her room and soon returned with something in her hands.

“What’s this?”

Without answering, Hanseong took my hand and slipped a ring onto my pinky finger.

“I made this recently. Just in case, wear it.”

In the middle of the ring, which was as thin as a black thread, a red jewel was embedded.

“[Appraise].”

+++

[Ring of Protection]

Grade: S

Defense: Increases by 20

Description: A thread ring made in an easily accessible form. For something made by such a great blacksmith, it has many failures, so its stats have been adjusted downwards.

When the wearer is in danger, a protective barrier is automatically activated, and the barrier disappears when the threat to the wearer is removed.

Number of possible activations: 3 times.

Creator: Woo Hanseong

+++

“Is it okay to give me something like this?”

This was something that should be sold at an auction. Why put such a priceless item in my hands?

As I stared in amazement, Hanseong rubbed under her nose and said,

“I made it to give to you, so of course I’ll give it to you. It’s my first time making a ring so it’s a bit clumsy, but it’s still useful, so wear it for now.”

“…Thank you.”

Feeling guilty, I could barely utter my thanks.

The reason I approached Hanseong wasn’t really for her sake, but for my own selfish reasons, which made it even harder.

“Oppa, it’s not time for that kind of talk yet.”

“Huh?”

Hanseong smiled brightly and said,

“I plan to cover you from head to toe with items I’ve made.”

“From head to toe?”

“Yes. That way, you’ll be able to safely complete that thing called the Cradle and come back.”

I stiffened my body that was about to flinch and smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“Okay. I’ll look forward to it.”

“Hehe. You really can look forward to it.”

“Okay. Got it. I’ll be going now. Salt, Haegeum, let’s go.”

Salt flew from my room, clutching Haegeum.

I held out my palm to receive Haegeum, and Salt sat on top of my head.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Take care!”

I waved to Hanseong and left the house.

And then…

“Phew.”

I exhaled the breath I had been holding.

‘I hope Hanseong hasn’t noticed anything.’

I looked at the house where Hanseong was with suspicious eyes.

That I have to go to the Cradle and that I shouldn’t get hurt.

It was all similar to what she had said before, but her eyes were different.

As if she expected that I might not return.

Haegeum, probably finding it strange that I was staring at the house, jumped up and down on my palm and asked,

“Did you forget something?”

“No. Nothing.”

‘No way. That can’t be possible.’

I shook my head.

***

“We’re going to process about 20 people today, would you like the list?”

The secretary I often saw in front of Seomun Noeul’s office held out a document.

“No, it’s fine.”

What’s the point of seeing who’s who? There’s no need to know people who aren’t even in my party.

“Then shall we start?”

I nodded at the secretary’s words.

The place I was in now was the interview room that Noeul Guild uses when recruiting new employees.

Hearing the groans of the hunters standing outside, I nodded, and the secretary clapped twice.

“I’ll send them in.”

With a shout from outside, the door opened, and the first person to receive purification entered.

And that person was someone I knew well.

“…Mr. Shin Sooha?”

[Shin Sooha – Contamination level 66%]

‘What the hell. What has this guy been doing to be in this state?’

“Yes.”

Shin Sooha, who entered confidently, sat in front of me and held out his hand.

“Why are you here?”

“I came to receive purification.”

I chuckled at the ridiculous answer and took Shin Sooha’s hand.

[Shin Sooha – Contamination level 46%]

“Didn’t you go home after work yesterday?”

“No. I went to a dungeon.”

SSS-rank stamina.

I’m really envious. If I had that kind of stamina, I would have been hit less for dozing off.

“Did you drink?”

“Why? Can you smell it?”

“Yes.”

So much for gargling at the guild. If I can still smell of alcohol, should I chew some gum?

“Is it strong?”

“It’s not too bad.”

“That’s a relief. By the way, how’s Mei?”

“Not yet.”

I clicked my tongue.

She’s not a child, shouldn’t she forget the pain of heartbreak after sleeping it off?

“What about her mother?”

“Her condition isn’t good enough for transfer.”

Although Shin Sooha had opened the path of naturalization, it was difficult to easily choose that path.

China wouldn’t let her go easily, and it was obvious that Mei’s mother would oppose it.

Now she’s just a mother with a weak body, but in her youth, she was a soldier who served her country loyally enough to become a military commander.

“Naturalization will be difficult.”

“I know that too.”

I nodded and let go of the hand I was holding.

[Shin Sooha – Contamination level 0%]

“The contamination is gone, so you can go now.”

“Yes.”

As I watched Shin Sooha quietly bow and disappear, the secretary standing behind me quietly approached.

“Do you know Guild Master Shin Sooha?”

“Yes. Why?”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Guild Master Shin Sooha so docile.”

I tilted my head.

“Isn’t he usually docile?”

Shin Sooha may have deceived me and treated me roughly, but I thought he was known publicly as a gentleman, wasn’t he?

The secretary shook her head vigorously at my question.

“You don’t know much about Guild Master Shin Sooha! That person is a complete sociopath!”

Socio…path?

“Did you really not know? It’s a famous story among hunters?”

“I was a ruffian before I came to my senses.”

When I mentioned my past before the possession, the secretary nodded with an “Ah.”

“Then you wouldn’t have known. I understand.”

“Um, could you explain that in more detail?”

“Of course. First, Guild Master Shin Sooha is-“

As the secretary nodded and started to speak, the door suddenly burst open.

“I’m here for purification.”

“Ah, come in.”

I had forgotten about the current situation due to the story about Shin Sooha.

I grabbed Salt sitting on top of my head and lowered it.

“Peep?”

“What else. We have to work. Sit here and hold out your palm.”

The hunter sat down hesitantly and held out their palm.

“I’m going to place the purification bird on your palm. Don’t grip it tightly or try to forcibly grab it.”

The hunter’s contamination level was 5%, nodding their head.

At this level, they probably just have a slight headache, it’s surprising they made it into the first group.

“S-rank?”

“Huh? Yes. They said S-rank could be purified too, so…”

Listening to the confused hunter’s answer, I placed Salt on their palm.

“Ah.”

The hunter receiving purification let out an exclamation.

And then

[Jin Siwoo – Contamination level 0%]

The purification ended immediately.

Is it because the contamination level was low? The purification was really fast.

“The purification is complete. You can go back now.”

“Just a little longer!”

As I tried to retrieve Salt, the hunter’s hand twitched.

“If you grab it, the next purification will be difficult.”

At the secretary’s sharp words, the hunter relaxed their hand again, and in that moment, I retrieved Salt and jerked my chin.

“Leave.”

“I’m sorry.”

The hunter who apologized hurriedly left, and the next hunter entered.

‘Were there this many S-rank hunters in the world?’

It’s one thing that everyone coming in is S-rank, but they all had contamination levels below 10%.

“The pace is fast.”

As the 17th hunter left, the secretary said.

“It’s because everyone’s contamination level is low.”

“Then does it take longer if the contamination level is high?”

“Yes. That, and it seems that rank also plays a role.”

I always purified SS-rank or SSS-rank, so I didn’t know, but seeing today, it seems that the purification speed also differs according to rank.

‘Both the contamination rate and the purification rate, what exactly do they have to do with rank?’

As I was tilting my head at this incomprehensible problem, the door opened and the person I had been waiting for finally entered.

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

[Baigang Barjigon – Contamination level 88%]

It was Baigang Barjigon, the reason I had to come to the guild today.

The situation in China was urgent, and I couldn’t see well when we were trapped in the dome, but Baigang Barjigon I saw today looked gentler than I expected.

She wasn’t a beauty like Taeju or Shin Sooha, but her features were distinct.

Especially her blue hair and sky-blue eyes made her first impression gentle, making her seem approachable.

‘Hmm… her condition is severe.’

I heard she had come to Korea and waited before Noeul notified her because her contamination was severe, and indeed, Baigang’s face was covered in cold sweat as she approached.

‘Should I hold her hand or not.’

I always purified Shin Sooha by holding his hand, but this was the first time I had met Baigang since encountering her in China.

‘She’s going to be a member of my party, but just in case.’

The more secrets are hidden, the better.

I instructed her the same way as the previous hunters.

“Please sit here and hold out your palm. I’m going to place the purification bird on your palm. Don’t grip it tightly or try to forcibly grab it.”

I placed Salt on Baigang’s outstretched palm.

‘Do all SS-rank hunters have big hands?’

Like Taeju’s hands, when I placed Salt on Baigang’s hand, its already small body looked even smaller.

“So this is the purification bird.”

“Yes. It must be your first time seeing it.”

Baigang, her face flushed perhaps due to the purification, nodded without taking her eyes off Salt.

“Ms. Baigang.”

“Yes?”

“You’re Mongolian, right?”

“Yes.”

She was answering while looking at Salt, but I couldn’t tell if she was understanding and responding, or just answering ‘yes’ to everything.

‘Surely she’s not intoxicated by the purification?’

I looked at Baigang suspiciously and threw a question that couldn’t be answered with just ‘yes’.

“Is there a country that Mongolia plans to conquer the Tower with?”

Baigang lifted her head and looked at me.

“What do you mean?”

Although her expression had relaxed a lot due to the purification, her eyes were still normal.

“You’ve heard the prophecy, right?”

Baigang nodded.

“Because of the prophecy, some countries have joined hands. As far as we know now, it’s the United States and China, and Japan and Russia.”

“Ah.”

“What about Mongolia?”

“I haven’t received any specific information.”

If Baigang, Mongolia’s representative hunter, hasn’t received anything, does that mean Mongolia hasn’t joined hands with anyone else?

I looked into her sky-blue eyes and asked.

“Then, Ms. Baigang, would you consider joining us?”

“By ‘us’, you mean Korea?”

“Yes.”

Baigang lowered her eyes as if pondering.

Her eyelashes covering her eyes were black, giving the impression of a shade blocking the sun.

‘She’s taking a long time to consider, should I explain about the party?’

Just as I was about to explain how excellent our party was to make it easier for her to decide, a message popped up in front of me.

[Baigang Barjigon – Contamination level 78%]

‘Damn. The efficiency is terrible.’