Chapter 161

'Trading directly with a Guardian is dangerous.'

There were exceptions, like when you had justification from a Guardian like the Merchant of Venice getting involved, or when you had a reason anyone would deem as universally valid.

However, it was the Guardians who decided what was 'universally valid'.

The majority of Guardians saw humans as toys for their amusement. Like jesters, so to speak. There were many cases where the Player believed they had universally valid justification and attempted to trade with a Guardian, but only incurred the Guardian's wrath. The way Guardians thought was very different from us.

Normally, that was how it was.

'But I'll still do it now.'

Dealing with Guardians was like playing chess. If I moved this piece, I'd have to move this piece there, and if that piece moved like that, I'd have to move another piece. Each move could create dozens, hundreds of new moves and tactics.

'You have to think one step, no, at least two steps ahead.'

It was a good thing that Guardians saw humans as toys for their amusement. Because the majority of Players were like that, they didn't bother to do deep dives on the psychology of Players. After all, our Playing was just them having fun. That was why their personalities seemed relatively one-sided to us.

'Because there's no need to get super serious while having fun.'

If a Guardian ever got serious, it could be that I wouldn't be able to put them on my stage at all. There might not even be a stage to put them on because it would be outright destroyed. But at the very least, that wasn't the case right now.

'Thankfully, two of the Guardians watching me right now have a competitive relationship.'

The White Hunter, and the Conductor of Sound. If I manipulated their relationship well and walked the tightrope nimbly, I could move the Guardians with relatively low risk. Though, I'd die if I fell from the rope.

I took a deep breath.

'I can do it.'

I repeated the words inside my heart. I couldn't hope to do anything if I didn't believe in myself.

"To the White Hunter who dotes on me… I humbly venture a proposal."

When I said the words, a Pause took effect. Senia approached me.

"The White Hunter has used a Pause authority."

They used the expensive authority like it was nothing. The White Hunter was strong enough to use a Pause without hesitation even though a mere jester made a proposal. As expected of the Fight King Vela's Guardian.

"The White Hunter is waiting."

She didn't show it outwardly, but Senia was definitely nervous, too.

"I must now go head to head with a powerful enemy I would normally not be able to fight."

The two top Rankers of Italy, the Wargod Salvatore and the Fight King Vela, had personalities of completely opposite poles and clashed at every opportunity. Their individual fandoms were also completely different in character, but if you were to choose which of the two was more popular, it would be the Fight King.

Vela was a Player who never retreated and relished Playing on the razor's edge. He did a lot of intensely risky Plays, so his Playing was always flashy and taut with tension.

There was a set of lines that the Fight King said almost habitually.

–The will to not flee in the face of a powerful foe.

–The fighting spirit to never waver, even when pushed to the breaking point.

–The ambition to topple without fail those who endanger all I hold dear.

–Those are the things that have made me who I am today.

I, of course, liked the Fight King. So how was the Fight King able to monopolize the White Hunter's love? It was because Vela's disposition was the type the White Hunter preferred, just like how the Giant of the Sunset's favorite was Choi Sung-gu.

"The will to not flee in the face of a powerful foe."

"The fighting spirit to never waver, even when pushed to the breaking point."

After I said the first two lines, I felt my heart tingle.

'This is…!'

I didn't have a single clue back then, but this was definitely an 'incantation'. It was only a half-baked incantation with the shape of an incantation but no will behind it. But there was no doubt that it was an incantation. I just wasn't drawing out its strength properly.

'It was an incantation.'

With this new enlightenment, I gained new 'lines'.

'An extremely elementary one.'

I had the feeling it was an elementary incantation, the most basic of basics. But an incantation was an incantation. I pretty much got the lines to one of the Fight King Vela's incantations.

'As I thought, the Rankers in the past knew about incantations.'

I wasn't sure, but I had a strong feeling now that the Rankers from my past life knew about them. It was just that they didn't tell the public about them.

'It would be ideal if I could pull off an incantation, but…'

Right now, I couldn't afford to pay attention to that. In front of me was a Fire Giant eyeing me as if I were its prey, and the fire ki blazing in my chest felt as if it would explode at any moment. Plus, I was negotiating with a Guardian. I was already stretched to my limits.

I continued to recite the Fight King's words.

"The ambition to topple without fail those who threaten all I hold dear."

I changed the last line a little.

"Those are the things I wish for."

I was sure these words fit the White Hunter's disposition to a T. Sure enough, I heard a notice.

[The 'White Hunter' holds your 'will' in high regard.]

"As such, I shamefully ask the White Hunter to help me just this one time."

Directly asking for help wasn't good. No one could predict what side effects or aftermath this would cause. Senia had to know that as well—her expression didn't look too good.

'It's alright.'

Because there was another Guardian who kept the White Hunter in check, the Conductor of Sound. As long as I didn't lose my balance, I wouldn't fall off the tightrope. No, I would make sure that didn't happen.

"The White Hunter is curious as to how he can best help," said Senia.

I realized yet another fact from her words. The White Hunter could have sent me messages directly, but they were speaking through an Intermediate Administrator, all while using a Pause authority. Like most named Guardians, the White Hunter loved being at the center of attention. Countless Guardians had to be watching, and the White Hunter was definitely relishing every moment of the current situation.

There was something the Fight King Vela always said.

–I put the greatest value on foot techniques. A hunter's footsteps must be lighter than the prey's.

Vela put a constant focus on 'foot techniques'. That meant the White Hunter was the same.

"At the moment… I lack the adequate measures to resist the Fire Giant. But if I were to have some kind of augment to my movements, I would never run away from this wall that is the Fire Giant. I will become the hunter and hunt it without fail."

Senia's wings trembled. I didn't know what the Guardians were saying, but it seemed things were going well.

"The White Hunter is extremely happy with Player Kim Hyukjin's qualifications."

They were being recognized in front of many Guardians. They had to be in a great mood.

[The 'White Hunter' grants you a 'temporary favor'.]

[The grade of Hunter's March has been temporarily increased.]

[Hunter's March has temporarily changed to Courageous Hunter's March.]

[Favor Granted by the White Hunter]

Type: Special skill

Name: (Courageous) Hunter's March

Effect:

High chance to cure abnormal statuses in a solo battle (duration: 120 seconds)

+12% crit chance in a solo battle (duration: 120 seconds)

+40% increase in effect of consumable items in a solo battle

Increased effectiveness of a 'direct attack' ability of the caster when used in combination with Hunter's March (limited to innate abilities).

Can use the special ability 'Hunter's Step'.

Cooldown: 360 seconds

Proficiency: [1]

There was even a new ability.

[Hunter's Step]

The footsteps of an adept hunter hunting their prey. Your footsteps will become more hunter-like.

+21% increase in movement speed

+26% increase in jumping power

+33% increase in acceleration

+31% increase in maximum speed

Duration: 120 seconds

Cooldown: Same as (Courageous) Hunter's March

I suddenly gained a foot technique. Technically, it was more like a buff that made my movements more dexterous than an actual 'foot technique'.

There were only two minutes left. I could feel the Fire Giant's smile widening.

'The eyes of a predator looking at prey.'

I could feel it without question. There was ease in that gaze, confidence that it could hunt me down without a problem as long as it was given a little time.

'Savor the feeling of being a predator as much as you want.'

Because I would survive this fight. One minute left. It was about time.

Whirrrrrrr–!

The siren blasted.

–Dangerous monsters are still roaming about.

–All residents, please wait in the shelter and abstain from going outside under all circumstances.

The warning broadcast continued to play.

Whap whap whap whap whap whap–!

I also heard a helicopter overhead.

'They're here.'

Several helicopters were flying across the sky towards me. The Fire Giant glanced up and fired a fireball towards them, but failed to reach them.

'I can feel it.'

The smell of fire was getting even stronger. That meant the other Fire Giants were coming closer. Two of them. With the one that was already here, that made three.

I recalled the prophecy of the Precognitive Dreamer Ham Sohyun.

–Three fire demons shall descend.

They had indeed descended. Here, at the DMC Riverview Xi. In front of me. I felt them coming closer and closer.

[The Guardian Tower's 'Power of Guarding' is rapidly weakening.]

[The 'Power of Guarding' will disappear shortly.]

[When the 'Power of Guarding' is extinguished, the Guardian Tower will take aim at the enemies.]

I had a full view of the situation in my head. The information the Guardian Tower was sending me came directly to me. Tintin was taking aim at the three Fire Giants.

The Power of Guarding would disappear for the time being, but the 'Guardian Field' was still there. As long as the Guardian Tower still stood, the Guardian Field would persist. When they entered this field, the Fire Giants would be weaker.

'It'll dull their strength a little.'

Even just a little was fine. As long as there was a decrease in their strength, that was enough.

'It feels like I have two bodies.'

It was as if Guardian Tower had become my second body, like I was observing both the world Tintin was seeing and the world I was seeing with one pair of eyes, allowing me to take in and analyze more information.

"Now then."

I got up. The Power of Guarding would soon run out, allowing a whopping three calamity-class monsters, monsters we could never hunt with our strength alone, to encroach on the Guardian Field.

"In accordance with the White Hunter's will, I shall hunt the prey."

I pointed at one of the Fire Giants with my finger.

"Bang."

That was the signal for Sunhwa to jump out from behind the cars. She used a skill that wasn't fancy, but could be called her specialty, 'Taunt'.

"Taunt!"

The three Fire Giants glanced at Sunhwa and sent a firestorm raging her way with a casual swing of their arms.

"Kya!"

Unable to withstand the firestorm, Sunhwa rolled several times backwards with a sharp cry.

She utterly failed in pulling their aggro, a result I predicted. I entrusted this role to Sunhwa in order to confirm my prediction.

'I fully have… their aggro.'

The three Fire Giants were focusing on me. The first step of my plan slotted in nicely. They leisurely walked towards me, just five meters away now. The powerful 'smell of fire' they exuded stimulated my body.

'Ngh.'

My heart felt as if it would explode. I heard three notices in succession.

[You have been exposed to flames of a higher grade.]

[You have been exposed to flames of a higher grade.]

[You have been exposed to flames of a higher grade.]

They came even closer. My heart ached and strained like a bomb about to blow. But I did not run.

There was no time to pay attention to something like pain. I was coming into their attack range. I had to focus.

[The Guardian Field is registering the presence of enemies.]

[Inducing a decrease in the stats of the enemies.]

[The stats of the enemies are partially decreasing.]

At the same time, I could feel that my predictions were correct.

'Now.'

I began to manipulate the fire ki rampaging within my body with a method unique to me.

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