Chapter 14: Synergy of Fire

The third mission.

Having already experienced it twice, Lee Taeseong felt neither flustered nor nervous.

He calmly checked his physical condition.

Until now, he had only a small dagger and the basic mission outfit made of cloth.

However, things were completely different now.

In his hand, he held a longsword, and his body was clad in sturdy leather armor.

‘Investing my score was definitely worth it.’

The Kuramunt Empire’s standard-issue longsword, worth 2,500 points.

The Red Feather Mercenaries’ leather armor, worth 2,400 points.

Combined, they cost nearly 5,000 points.

He had made a bold investment, postponing the purchase of a new house, and he was glad he did.

The sense of security he felt entering the mission was on a whole different level.

Lee Taeseong intentionally ignored the road stretching through the reed field and stepped into the thick vegetation.

-In a mission, your life is more important than anything else.

If you can clear it, just clear it as simply as possible.

Many have died because of their greed for points.

You must be absolutely careful.

Of course, Hunter Lee Taeseong, you already know this, and since the third mission is still considered a tutorial, there shouldn’t be anything dangerous, oth…

The memory of his phone call with Manager Song Sang-yeop just before coming here flickered in his mind.

‘I’m sorry, even though you gave me such earnest advice.’

Taeseong apologized inwardly.

Song Sang-yeop’s advice was not wrong; he genuinely cared for him.

Taeseong understood that.

Normally, that would be the right way to act.

‘But not for me.’

If he didn’t have the skill called Dream, he would have taken that cautious approach.

But why had he suffered so much to learn those skills in the Dream World?

It was precisely for a challenge like this!

-Rustle.

Swish.

Taeseong did not let his guard down.

He remained alert, paying attention to his surroundings.

If a problem arose, he had to flee immediately.

If the enemy was too powerful or their numbers were overwhelming, it would be a different story.

He was prepared to use the Dragon Shadow Wind Step at any moment.

‘And if it looks like I can’t win at all, I can just set the place on fire.’

The reeds were plentiful, and the air was dry—just like during the first mission.

However, that could put Taeseong himself in danger, and for now, he wanted to test his improved strength.

It happened in that instant.

“Shaaa!”

Something leaped out from between the reeds.

Taeseong’s eyes moved quickly.

It was a praying mantis the size of a human forearm.

It had sharp-looking sickles on its front limbs and lunged toward him with a jump from its long legs.

‘I see it.’

Taeseong’s eyes flashed with a faint orange light.

Perhaps it was because his overall internal energy and mana had increased while practicing the Solar Celestial Power, but his senses had sharpened.

He could clearly see the mantis as it jumped.

-Whoosh!

-Slash!

Taeseong used the Flame Cloud Sword Art to cut the creature down.

It was a clean movement that slipped past the sickles to strike precisely at the head.

-Ding!

『You have defeated a Swamp Reaper.』

『You have earned 120 SC.』

It was worth 120 points.

‘This is manageable.’

In terms of points alone, it was slightly stronger than the Ranyark he had fought in the previous mission.

To Taeseong, it felt like its stats were entirely focused on attack power.

Judging by the sensation of his blade cutting through it, its defense was pathetic.

He only needed to watch out for those freakish, sickle-like front legs.

-Snap!

Snap!

Snap!

-Dash!

At that moment, Swamp Reapers began to rush in from all directions.

As mentioned in the mission description, they seemed sensitive to sound.

If one moved quietly along the path, they could pass through the reed field without trouble, but once a battle broke out like this, the monsters would keep coming.

From Taeseong’s perspective, this was better.

‘The scores are coming right to me!’

Stepping through the footwork of the Dragon Shadow Wind Step, he cut down the Swamp Reapers one by one.

One step, one slash, two enemies defeated.

With decent swordsmanship, good footwork, and the mana manipulation to back them up, the experience was entirely different from before.

He dispatched them with movements as fluid as flowing water.

-Ding!

『You have defeated a Swamp Reaper.』

『You have earned 120 SC.』

『You have defeated a Swamp Reaper.』

『You have earned 120 SC.』

‘Easy. This is easy!’

A faint smile touched Taeseong’s lips.

With internal energy and mana supporting him, he was on a different level.

The power and precision of his sword art, as well as the flames it produced, were much darker and stronger.

The Solar Celestial Power was clearly enhancing the Flame Cloud Sword Art.

It wasn’t just a feeling.

-Ding!

『Proficiency in Flame Cloud Sword Art has increased.』

『The skill level of Flame Cloud Sword Art has risen.』

『Flame Cloud Sword Art (Lv.3) -> Flame Cloud Sword Art (Lv.4)』

‘Already?’

A skill level had gone up.

He had barely used it! Suddenly, a post he had seen on a community board came to mind.

– Learn a mana manipulation technique that matches the attribute of the skill you’re learning.

If it’s an ice skill, learn a yin-cold internal art; if it’s fire magic, learn a flame-based mana technique.

They will synergize, making the skill stronger and allowing it to grow much faster.

It had been a highly recommended tip.

└ That’s a great tip.

The problem is… how many users can actually find a match like that?

└ LOL, in reality, I’m begging some low-tier NPC to please teach me any skill at all.

└ The rich guys probably start with piles of gold coins and learn high-grade skills easily, but not us.

└ They say this is a free-to-play game, so why is it like this?

Damn capitalism.

└ That’s just life.

Have a drink and forget about it~

He remembered those comments well because they were funny.

Naturally, since Taeseong was also a non-paying user, he hadn’t expected to obtain such skills.

You never know where life will take you.

Regardless, Taeseong continued through the reeds.

As the skill level rose, the flames erupting from his sword grew more intense.

Using that, he set the reed field ablaze while cutting down the enemies that lunged at him.

Gradually, the world began to be swallowed by fire.

As he operated the Solar Celestial Power at full capacity, his fire resistance seemed to increase as well.

Even amidst the flames, although it was hot, it was quite bearable.

“Kieeeek!”

“Kyark!”

The Swamp Reapers that lunged at him were all dealt with, while those further away tried to flee from the flames.

However, this was a mission zone.

An invisible barrier prevented them from moving beyond a certain distance.

Eventually, the fleeing Swamp Reapers died at the dead ends, and those that fought became Taeseong’s experience points.

As if in a trance, he danced through the reeds, swinging his sword.

The experience of mana manipulation, swordsmanship, and footwork clicking together in perfect harmony was almost euphoric.

-Ding!

『Proficiency in Flame Cloud Sword Art has increased.』

『The skill level of Flame Cloud Sword Art has risen.』

『Flame Cloud Sword Art (Lv.4) -> Flame Cloud Sword Art (Lv.5)』

-Ding!

『Proficiency in Dragon Shadow Wind Step has increased.』

『The skill level of Dragon Shadow Wind Step has risen.』

『Dragon Shadow Wind Step (Lv.2) -> Dragon Shadow Wind Step (Lv.3)』

-Ding!

『Proficiency in Solar Celestial Power has increased.』

『The skill level of Solar Celestial Power has risen.』

『Solar Celestial Power (Lv.1) -> Solar Celestial Power (Lv.2)』

Notifications appeared one after another, but Taeseong didn’t even care.

He was so focused that he didn’t even realize they were popping up.

Gradually, a mountain of Swamp Reaper corpses piled up around him.

By the time their numbers exceeded dozens… Stop.

Taeseong halted his ceaseless blade.

Before he knew it, there wasn’t a single enemy left to challenge him.

The sounds of the Swamp Reapers that had echoed from all sides had completely vanished. He had killed them all.

“…Whew. Huff.”

Only then did Taeseong let out his held breath.

A pleasant fatigue filled his entire body.

After exiting the reeds and returning to the path, Taeseong walked forward.

-Roar The reed field was slowly being consumed by fire.

He moved forward, making no effort to hide his footsteps, but not a single enemy attacked.

Taeseong sheathed his longsword at his waist and walked leisurely along the path.

Upon reaching the end of the road.

-Ding!

『You have passed the reed field.』

『You have earned 5 SC.』

『Mission Success!』

『Returning to Earth.』

Taeseong’s vision was suddenly plunged into darkness.

***

After completing the mission and returning home, Taeseong immediately opened his status window to check his score.

『Name: Lee Taeseong Skills: Dream, Flame Cloud Sword Art (Lv.5), Thunder Fist (Lv.1), Dragon Shadow Wind Step (Lv.3), Solar Celestial Power (Lv.2) Owned SC: 8,405』

A score of over 8,000 points!

“I must have caught over 70 of them.”

Since each one was worth 120 points, the math was roughly correct.

It was absurd.

He knew he was doing well, but he hadn’t realized he’d killed that many.

It felt like he had been wandering through a dream.

Regardless, it was a good thing.

Taeseong immediately got dressed and headed out.

He wanted to tell Manager Song Sang-yeop this happy news in person rather than over the phone.

Surely, the man would be happy for him.

He sent a message saying he was heading to the Association and hopped on a bus.

Taeseong’s studio apartment was near Euljiro, close to his former company, so it wasn’t very far from the Association.

Though the traffic in downtown Seoul was congested, it only took about 20 minutes to reach the National Hunter Association Headquarters in Myeongdong.

And when he stepped off the bus.

“?”

Taeseong flinched.

About a dozen people in business suits were lined up at the main entrance of the Association.

‘Wh-what? How did they know I was coming?’

Did earning 8,000 points in the third mission warrant this kind of treatment?

His shoulders began to square with pride.

Taeseong approached cautiously.

However, the people in suits only glanced at Taeseong as he passed and looked straight ahead again, repeatedly checking the time on their wristwatches.

“…Ahem.”

Taeseong had to clear his throat to suppress his embarrassment.

Of course.

He hadn’t reported today’s score yet, so there was no way people would be out here waiting for him.

And even if he had, would it really be to this extent?

“Hunter! You’re here early!”

As he was passing the main entrance, Manager Song Sang-yeop, who was coming down to the first floor, spotted Taeseong and ran over.

“First of all, congratulations on succeeding in your third mission! I knew you’d do it, haha.”

Song Sang-yeop offered his congratulations first.

“Let’s go inside and talk more. I’ve prepared some drinks and snacks.”

“Yes. By the way, who are those people standing outside?”

“Outside?”

Song Sang-yeop turned his gaze to check the entrance.

“Ah. That’s Executive Director Choi and his team.”

“An Executive Director? Why is someone like that standing out there? Is the Association President coming?”

“No way. It’s likely because someone from the Blue Dragon Guild is coming. For the Executive Director himself to come out…”

Just then, it became noisy outside.

A black limousine arrived, the rear door opened, and someone stepped out.

It was a woman with a cold expression and flowing black hair.

Even without any expression, she was beautiful enough to put any celebrity to shame.

“Oh. The Vice Guild Master of Blue Dragon has come in person.”

Song Sang-yeop said it, but Taeseong already knew.

He had seen her several times on TV and the internet.

Hunters were modern-day nobles who possessed power, capital, and authority.

Of course, that only applied to high-ranking hunters, but Lee Ye-ji, the Vice Guild Master of the Blue Dragon Guild, was certainly one of those noble hunters.

She was already on a path to immense success at a young age, and because of that, she had an enormous following of fans and admirers.

Even Taeseong, who had little interest in influencers, had heard her name.

“I see, someone like her warrants an Executive Director from the Association waiting outside.”

“Well, yes. If she were to naturalize to another country, it would be an astronomical loss. We have to treat her well.”

As he said that, Song Sang-yeop felt a strange sensation.

Looking at Taeseong, who was watching Lee Ye-ji with a fascinated expression, he felt as though Taeseong might one day rise to an even higher position than her.

‘…If it’s Hunter Lee Taeseong, it really might be possible.’

It was too much to compare him to the Vice Guild Master of Blue Dragon just yet, but considering his performance so far, he was already impressive.

Besides, hadn’t he just returned from successfully completing his third mission?

He would have to hear the details, but Taeseong’s expression looked bright, as if it hadn’t been very difficult at all.

Since Song Sang-yeop had always had good intuition, he felt he shouldn’t simply ignore the feeling he just had.