Chapter 284: Burning Cleanly (3)

"Ah, there are quite a few intact buildings."

Feigning disappointment, I glanced around. It looked like a fairly developed city, not quite at capital level but significant nonetheless. The evacuation seemed to be over, as everything was eerily quiet. Under the dimming sky, not a single light was visible.

Turning around, I saw a hundred elite Japanese hunters lined up, occupying the four-lane road.

"Mike."

Mike was handed to me. Let's see, is the sound coming through well? I climbed onto a bollard placed to block vehicles from the sidewalk. Now I could see the people further back. It's not that I'm short, but perhaps because they're expecting a confrontation with an SS-class monster, everyone's faces were tense.

"Dear Korean Hunters, and less dear Japanese Hunters. What are you aiming at over there? I can tell you don't like me either. If anyone here thinks, 'Thanks a lot for helping,' raise your hand."

None. Even if there were, they'd be too embarrassed to raise their hands with the Amaterasu guild leader glaring at them.

"Let me briefly explain. Do you see this? This is a wide-area bait that attracts all the surrounding monsters. And it's... strawberry-scented."

I lightly pressed on a red, soft bead as I spoke.

"In a moment, I'll activate the bait, and you'll need to survive for about 30 minutes. It could take up to an hour. The top speed of an SS-class monster is around 200 km/h, so it won't take longer than that."

While there are slower ones like the giant toads from before, they're generally fast and can leap hundreds of meters in one bound due to their size.

"S-rank hunters will provide maximum protection, so it's safer to stay put rather than venturing out. You all know the drill, right? The support class waiting over there will apply plenty of support skills, so stick together and hold your ground."

Even if the number of S-rank hunters is reduced by about ten, we should be okay, but any more than that would be problematic. I looked down at the people and checked my skill window. The skill I planned to use this time would double the effect of my attack skills and,

[My Child is This Amazing (SS) - When the target is cheered on with the keyword in front of five or more sentient beings who understand the keyword, the target's stats and skill effects are increased by the sentient beings' percentage (maximum 100%)

Duration: 30 minutes

Cooldown: 10 days

*Effect is not applied if the target and surrounding sentient beings are aware of the keyword's effect]

This skill would increase stats and skills by up to 100 percent, essentially doubling their effectiveness. I hadn't had the right environment to use it before and had hesitated due to the risk of the keyword being exposed.

'Simply saying 'I love you' would obviously give it away.'

Of course, Yuhyun and everyone else would catch on. If that happens, it would become a one-time use skill. But,

'What if I explain the skill beforehand with a different context?'

I could state that it activates through some other action instead of the keyword. If that doesn't work, then I'd have to consider the skill as unusable, but such a workaround might be allowed.

"Now, onto the skill explanation. To Shishio over there, don't feel wronged about having your item information exposed. I'm revealing something too. This is a skill I've kept hidden and cherished. Plus, I'm not even getting compensation for it."

I made it clear I was taking a loss, continuing with my explanation.

Got it! Here's the revised translation with the corrected names:

---

"This is a support skill that doubles the target's stats and skill effects."

As soon as I finished speaking, silence fell. Some people were frozen in shock, while others doubted whether they had heard correctly. Doubling the effects was truly insane. Shishio, too, could only blink in disbelief.

While everyone was stunned, the first to react was Yoohyun.

"What are you doing, hyung!"

He instantly pulled me in and growled fiercely. I understood his concern.

"Calm down; it's bound to be exposed anyway if I use it. Besides, the conditions are quite strict."

If I'm not going to use it forever, it would eventually be discovered. The skill needs at least dozens of witnesses to be effective. I tried to reassure Yoohyun and continued with the explanation.

"This skill can only be used on someone with whom I have a close bond. You all know I can nurture monsters, right? This is a type of nurturing skill from that branch. It also has an age limit—under thirty."

I initially considered saying 'younger than me,' but with people like Moon Hyuna around, I changed it to thirty for safety. With Yoohyun having five years to spare, it should be fine, and if needed, I could say the skill's scope expanded when used in five years.

"So unfortunately, I can't use it on Guild Leader Seseong either."

Although I wasn't actually applying the keyword. Seong Hyeon-jae looked at me silently. He was such a sensitive person that I had considered leaving him at the hotel, but his abilities were too valuable to leave behind.

"Then I'm eligible?"

"Yes. Yerim, of course, and Noah as well. But due to the cooldown, I can only use it on one person at a time."

If not for that, I would have used it on Yerim, Noah, Peace, and Hyuna to ramp up the power.

"The usage condition is to express affection and encouragement towards the target in front of over a hundred people, and to hug them. That's why I asked you to gather here. It might be a bit embarrassing."

Expressing affection could include saying 'I love you,' which wouldn't be out of place.

"Since it requires a large number of people, it's a skill that can't be used inside a dungeon. There's also a time limit—only 30 minutes. So if used outside and then entering the dungeon, it wouldn't clear even the first floor."

I added that the skill was useless in dungeons to further reduce any heated gazes directed at me. With the conditions and limitations explained, the intensity of the gazes lessened. Yoohyun's expression also eased. It was a skill with low value compared to its effect, given it couldn't be used in dungeons, had age restrictions, and couldn't be forced.

A skill you can't use properly is like a pie in the sky.

"To summarize, you should endure well and quickly retreat along the designated route as soon as the skill is applied to Guild Leader Haeyeon Prepare yourselves."

At my signal, the support hunters quickly activated their skills. Then they boarded the prepared vehicles and left. The support hunters who had just departed and those who would retreat later were heading to a shelter set up beyond the mountains. It was the farthest location from the expected path of the SS-class monsters converging on this area.

After some time, a signal flare was launched, and shortly after, I picked up the strawberry-scented bait bead and pressed it firmly. With a pop, the bead burst.

- Krr!

Peace twitched his nose and shook his head roughly. Standing beside Peace, who had grown larger with the use of Grace, I said,

"Yoohyun, don't get involved if you can help it. Ignore the small fry."

The critical point was the SS-class monster. A faint tension settled in, and soon after, the bait began to show its effect.

- Krr… Kek!

"We've got one!"

A monster that suddenly appeared was immediately pierced through the head by Moon Hyuna's spear. At the same time, Yerim, holding the map translated into Korean, dashed forward.

"Unnie, want to make a bet with me?"

Cheerfully shouting, she began exploding the fire hydrants marked on the map. The resulting surge of water turned into dozens of ice arrows, shooting towards the approaching monsters.

"Don't exert yourself too much! The goal is to hold on!"

"Don't worry!"

Yerim shouted back, "I'll be playing safely!" Not playing, though! Lightning struck behind us, and a golden dragon soared into the sky. The S-class hunters from Japan, including Shishio, also started to move.

"Where are the SS-class monsters?"

"Ah, A, B, C, D, and E have all started moving! They're heading straight here without deviating from their predicted routes."

"Continue to report their positions and speeds."

So far, everything was going smoothly. The sound of buildings collapsing could be heard. A monster the size of a house jumped high and crashed down, but it was immediately bounced away by a surge of water. A chilling mist spread, and Moon Hyuna, on her bike, swept through the slowed monsters with her spear.

"Another breakdown! New one!"

Unlike Lancia's, this was a regular bike, so it soon fell apart due to the strain. Noah, meanwhile, hovered above the hundred S-class hunters, protecting them. Whenever flying monsters approached, Noah quickly dealt with them and, if things got tough, lured them to other S-class hunters.

With a cheerful clink, the golden chains maintained their territory. Monsters below A-class didn't even cross the golden boundary and were burned black. Even for S-class monsters, the result was the same—just a bit more endurance.

"No SS-class monsters have deviated from their routes yet. B is moving the fastest, and C is lagging behind."

"What's the estimated time of arrival?"

"Less than 10 minutes."

"That's manageable."

Modern technology is indeed great. With successful tracking devices and drones capturing footage, there was no chance of missing anything. The tracker on D was broken, but the rest, with small mechanical devices attached to them, were not a concern. Since they weren't powered by magic, they just felt like they were covered in dust.

The monster corpses piled up. There wasn't a single intact building in sight. The roads were cracked, and the last remaining bike was split in two.

"B's estimated arrival time is 5 minutes!"

The time had come. The hundred hunters were holding their positions. I cranked the microphone volume up to the maximum.

"Sorry for the noise during the battle, but please lower it a bit. If not, it can't be helped."

How could you even reduce the noise of monsters being slaughtered? I was embarrassed to speak up but had no time to hesitate. I turned to look at Yoohyun, who was standing beside me. My younger brother smiled brightly at me.

"No matter how many times I see him, my younger brother is handsome."

"Ahhh, uncle! I don't need to hear this, right? I'll cover my ears!"

Sure, here's the translation:

---

"Why, this is actually the truth."

"So kind and capable since childhood, there's nothing he couldn't do. Sometimes I wonder how such an exceptional kid can be my younger brother. He's grown up so well without a single flaw and, as an older brother, how well he treats me."

"What are you doing, hyung! Ah, I can't stand it!"

Oh, what now? But it did seem a bit off from the cheering.

"Even now, you've bravely taken on this dangerous task, trusting only me. But I'm sure you'll do well. Yoohyun, I love you, my younger brother. I always trust and rely on you."

As I said "I love you," I hugged my younger brother tightly. Did the skill apply correctly?

"Yoohyun?"

"Yeah, hyung."

My younger brother nodded slightly. Good, success.

"Retreat! Retreat immediately! Follow the route!"

At my shout, I took out two mini cookies.

"Peace!"

Peace took the cookies and shrank down. By becoming ethereal, he looked like a small decorative figure. If we couldn't defeat all the SS-class monsters and the skill time ran out, Peace was to stay behind for our escape. His speed was much faster than Yoohyun's.

Next, I ate a cookie and held Peace in my arms. Yoohyun quickly picked us up and put us into the chest pocket of his outfit. Although the Thunderbird's outfit was slightly loose, it still covered the view enough to share the doubled attack skill, and I used the teacher's skill on Yoohyun.

I saw people quickly retreating.

"Be careful, Guild Master!"

Yerim appeared beside us with teleportation, then disappeared again. Noah and Moon Hyuna threw in a few words and moved away. Seong Hyun-jae also joined the retreating group after using chains to throw back the pursuing monsters.

Before they completely left the area:

- Kyaaa!

With a fierce roar, a gigantic beast appeared. Its black fur whipped around as it ran swiftly, and concrete and asphalt were scraped away beneath its claws. The mere momentum of its stop sent debris from the surrounding buildings soaring like leaves in a gust.

At the same time, Yoohyun moved.

Blue willow leaves unfurled, and standing lightly on them, he extended one hand forward. From the tip of his hand, a dark blue flame rose. It was a small flame. Like a decorative candle, the tiny flame fluttered down, mixing with the willow leaves and falling gently.

- Krrr.

Though it didn't seem menacing, the monster retreated, sensing something. And then, whoosh. The flame that touched the ground soared high. With the fire barrier set to prevent the monster from pursuing people, Yoohyun wore a faint smile.

"I'll start, hyung. Hold on tight. It might be a bit dizzying."

"I've experienced Noah's acrobatics too. Don't worry."

Following the black beast, a dragon with dark scales also appeared. Two, and then the third. The ominous presence thickened the air, almost visible. Amidst this, Han Yoohyun calmly drew his sword.