Chapter 19

The Strongest Bodyguard in History

[Item: Traces of the Ancient Desert]

[Rank: B]

[Type: Medium]

[Description: A key to unraveling the secrets of a hidden ruin.]

[Effect 1: Can open the Dungeon, ‘Ancient Desert’.]

[Effect 2: Item bound to the Hunter, ‘Ju Dong-hoon’.]

“Hmm?”

I pursed my lips and repeatedly read the item’s description.

There were four words that stood out.

Medium, key, Ancient Desert, and bound.

Judging from the context.

‘A linked Dungeon… something like that?’

Actually, I didn’t really know what it was.

It wouldn’t be on the mass media.

And guilds sensitive to information wouldn’t release things that smelled obviously ‘hidden’ to the public.

‘Ha.’

It’s sad being alone like this.

I have to figure out these things out one by one.

‘I wish someone would tell me about this stuff.’

I needed a senior.

In short, someone like a Ranker who’s gone through all these processes?

“Hmm?”

It was then.

As if the heavens had answered my burning desire, someone appeared before me.

Swish!

Hair fluttering in the wind, a sweet peony scent blooming from it.

And a familiar aura of death.

“Dark Emperor?”

My eyes widened.

Why was Gi So-yul here?

Wow, I thought the Dark Shadow Unit guys were seeing things.

She really came?

“Ahem, it’s been a while.”

My eyes met Gi So-yul’s.

At that moment, I felt a thrill.

‘Ah, she’s definitely different.’

You see as much as you know.

She seemed even more immense than before, now that I was a little stronger.

A powerhouse that dozens of A-class Hunters couldn’t handle.

That name is Ranker!

“I said I’d organize things and tell you when I had some time, right? I figured you’d been doing Dungeons and were somewhat settled, so I came. I thought you wouldn’t look for me if I didn’t come.”

“I, I see.”

Slightly embarrassed, I nodded awkwardly.

‘What should I do?’

I hadn’t decided anything yet.

Should I tell the truth, or should I lie a little?

And if I lied, how much should I lie?

‘Or maybe?’

Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind.

‘Is there any need to lie?’

Gi So-yul is one of the top 1,000 Hunters in the world.

A Ranker.

Whether a Hunter like me gets a ‘stroke of luck’ or not.

It means she can handle it with a single finger.

‘If I lied to her and got caught?’

I shuddered.

She’s the Dark Emperor.

The queen of assassins.

I could be kidnapped and tortured all night.

Or have my throat slit in my sleep without anyone knowing.

“……”

Besides, look at that expression.

That blank face looks pretty scary!

“Hmm? Why are you looking at me with that expression again? You did it last time too.”

Gi So-yul’s brow furrowed.

“Huh? What kind of expression am I making?”

I asked, sweating, and she replied immediately.

“I don’t know what it is, but it looks pretty impure? Whatever you’re thinking… you’d better make a good decision.”

Something.

I flinched at her answer, which felt like a veiled threat.

Gi So-yul sighed softly at my reaction and opened her lips.

“Hoo, they say life is a journey that starts with relationships and ends with relationships. Your life’s quality will probably change depending on what kind of relationships you build.”

It was clear that she meant that since a Ranker like herself was respecting a nobody like me.

I should make a good decision while she was being nice.

Depending on my answer.

My life could change for the better.

Of course, it could be negative too.

“I’ve only watched you for a short time, but I remember you not being stupid. My gut feeling is right, isn’t it?”

“Yes?”

“To put it simply, I mean I hope you make a wise choice.”

“……”

Indeed.

A Ranker’s experience is something else.

Threatening someone with such high class.

Gulp.

I swallowed and made up my mind.

‘Let’s just be honest, it’ll be more beneficial.’

Currently, in the Hunter world, I’m the lowest of the low.

I don’t know anything.

An existence like a chick that dies if you touch it.

If I had the chance to form a Ranker connection with someone like that?

‘I have to grab it no matter what.’

I instinctively knew it.

Gi So-yul is a Hunter with a strong obsession.

If there’s a problem she can’t solve, she’ll try to solve it no matter what.

If there’s a chance to get stronger, she’ll cling to it more persistently than anyone else.

If she knows that Mansul Old man is next to me.

She’ll try to maintain a relationship with me no matter what.

“Okay, Dark Emperor.”

Nodding, I opened my mouth.

“You were wondering how I cleared that Dungeon. And what the reward was, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll tell you everything.”

“Good choice. I’m glad you’re so understanding.”

She wore a satisfied expression.

I shrugged.

“But.”

“But?”

“There are conditions.”

“……?”

The corners of Gi So-yul’s mouth, which had been raised, dropped again.

But I wasn’t intimidated.

Come to think of it, there’s no need to be afraid.

At least until the information about the ‘stroke of luck’ comes out of my mouth, she’ll never kill me.

“First, protect me until I grow stronger.”

“Protect? Did you owe someone a debt or something?”

“No, there are just some guys bothering me.”

The A-class Dark Shadow Unit guys had escaped.

I didn’t think those criminals would give up on me easily.

“……”

Gi So-yul was silent for a moment.

“…What’s next? You said ‘first,’ so I guess there’s a next one.”

“Hmm.”

“I can’t give you a definite answer until I hear everything. I don’t have a habit of breaking promises.”

I nodded slightly.

I acknowledged it.

I could feel her firm spirit, that she would only say what she wanted to protect, which was even better.

It meant she was a trustworthy person.

“I’m a newbie. Tell me things I don’t know whenever possible, as long as it’s not too much. For example, this.”

I shook the golden key I had just obtained, ‘Traces of the Ancient Desert.’

Then, for the first time, her eyes widened.

Her eyes were shaking, she seemed slightly agitated.

“Could that be a Medium?”

“Oh, you know about this?”

A Ranker was agitated?

I was a little excited.

Is this really something?

“Did you get this from a Dungeon?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Gi So-yul grabbed her chin and made a humming sound.

Then, after thinking for a moment, she opened her mouth.

“Haa, you’re a very lucky person.”

“Lucky?”

“Yes, the probability of getting a Medium from a normal Dungeon… is almost zero. There haven’t even been 100 known to the world so far. And it’s a bound item, so you can’t trade it.”

“……”

So.

What is this?

“Hoo, a Medium is also a stroke of luck. If you dig into it, you’ll get a linked quest.”

Gi So-yul muttered ‘no way’ over and over again as she explained.

“And that linked quest keeps going up in rank, eventually going up to S-rank or higher. All the Mediums I’ve known so far have been like that.”

“…S-rank?”

“It’s also an item that Rankers, including me, are looking for with their eyes peeled.”

“Heo.”

I was impressed.

No wonder the reward was so stingy for a Dungeon that sacrificed someone.

It was trying to give me a reward like this.

As I was gaping, Gi So-yul nodded.

“Okay, I accept your conditions. But I have conditions too.”

Conditions.

“What is it?”

I instinctively hid the key in my pocket.

It didn’t matter since it was bound, but still.

Since she said it was something precious, I wanted to.

Gi So-yul, who had been staring at me, opened her mouth.

“…Allow me to monitor your training process.”

She said in a clear voice.

A voice as if she knew something.

“Monitor?”

“Why? If I’m going to protect you anyway, shouldn’t I be by your side at all times?”

“Hmm, is that how it works?”

“Actually, I’ve been aware of your aura for a while. From the time you cleared that Deep Old Man stage until now… you’ve been getting stronger exponentially. Even today. I’m most curious about that. How can you get stronger so quickly?”

In her eyes as she looked at me, I could see a kind of longing and obsession.

Was it because of her interest in the ‘Old Man’ who had inflicted a crushing defeat on her?

Or.

Are all Rankers like this?

“Instead, as I said before, I’m willing to introduce you to many relationships. Relationships that can directly change your life.”

Was she talking about that thing about life being about relationships?

A Ranker’s connections were tempting.

“……”

I thought for a moment and said.

“To be able to build a relationship with a Ranker with just one stroke of luck. I’m overwhelmed.”

“So is that a deal?”

“Yes, deal.”

On this day.

I obtained the strongest bodyguard in history.

The night had already grown dark.

Beep beep!

I entered the password and opened the door lock.

Then, a gloomy and narrow basement room appeared.

For some reason, I entered more cautiously than usual.

Because.

There was a strange guest next to me.

A noble guest who didn’t fit in with a place like this at all.

“…You’ve been living in a place like this?”

Gi So-yul’s voice was heard next to me.

I swallowed hard.

A strange atmosphere flowed.

“It’s very shabby, right? I told you, you didn’t have to come with me…”

“No, I can’t do that. A promise is a promise.”

“Ah, yes…”

She scanned my room with a cold gaze.

I was embarrassed by the scattered ramen wrappers and the disheveled bedding.

Ugh, I should have cleaned up before coming out.

Wait?

No!

Who told you to follow me here?

I have the right to use my room as I please.

It was when I was nodding my head vigorously like that.

“Hoo, there are no surveillance devices or skills. There are no Hunters above D-class around the building either. You’re still safe.”

“…You were aware of that?”

“Of course.”

“No, you’re amazing as expected.”

Clap clap!

I applauded fiercely in my heart.

As expected of the strongest bodyguard in history, she’s neat.

“You’re welcome. I’ve checked the residence, and I’m going to be staying on the roof of the building for the time being. So. Be sure to let me know when you go to train tomorrow.”

I had already explained everything about the ‘stroke of luck’ to her.

From the existence of the Old Man.

To what kind of training I was receiving.

She seemed to have a great interest in it and didn’t seem to want to leave my side at all.

She wanted to watch the training process one by one?

No, by the way.

“Wait a minute. The roof of the building? You’re going to stay there?”

“Yes, guarding the area around a building is nothing to me.”

“No… well, I guess you would be since you’re a Ranker.”

No, this woman.

Why is she so by the book?

Then, while protecting me, she’s going to be sleeping rough on the roof.

“Then I’m going to be too uncomfortable.”

“I’m fine, so it’s okay. Then have a good night.”

Swish!

She disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Heo.

My temples throbbed.

A Ranker is going this far.

It’s too much of a burden.

Wouldn’t Gi Parang, who is said to be her brother, try to kill me if he found out?

“Hoo.”

Well.

What does it matter?

It’s not like I told her to sleep rough.

The important thing is one thing.

I have now secured my safety, which had been anxious, almost perfectly.

‘Dark Shadow Unit…….’

Of course, I had no intention of letting those guys go.

‘I’ll return what I received.’

The standard I set doesn’t consider the opponent’s strength.

The moment my Skeletons grow to the point where they can compete with Rankers.

‘They’re all dead.’

That day will probably be the official disbandment day of the Dark Shadow Unit.

My determination coiled like a snake deep in my heart.