Chapter 229: Chapter 229

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”

“...?”

Choi Yeonseung turned his head when he heard a voice calling out to him from behind. The hunters serving the Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons were behind him.

“What’s going on?”

“Our master told us to help you.”

“...What?”

For the first time in years, Choi Yeonseung was at a loss. Of course, receiving help from other hunters was great. After all, the hunters of the angel constellation were some of the most earnest and skilled household members out there. Even Choi Yeonseung could use their help.

The only problem was…

‘I was going to assassinate a hunter.’

Choi Yeonseung had a nervous look on his face. Given that he was thinking about his assassination plan, he couldn’t help feeling embarrassed at the thought that other hunters would follow him.

“Is there a problem?” asked Kwon Yeongseung, not understanding what was going on.

It wasn’t often that the household members of the angel constellations come together to offer support like this. Wasn’t the angel constellation known for being capricious and proud?

Choi Yeonseung had apparently received the attention of this constellation through his recent raids. Taking this opportunity to attract even more positive attention might’ve been a good idea.

‘What a clueless bastard.’

Choi Yeonseung looked at Kwon Yeongseung?with pity. The latter flinched at the seemingly reproachful look he was given. Had he done something wrong? n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Yes. I’m grateful for your help.”

“I want to keep Sehui in a safe place,” Han Seha quietly told Choi Yeonseung. Han Sehui was one of the household members of the angel constellation.

“Can’t you tell her that?”

“She would get angry and ignore me.”

Despite her appearance, Han Sehui had a very big ego. Despite having a lower rating than Han Seha, she wasn’t one to submissively back down when she was told to.

“With that expression? I can’t imagine it.”

“It’s even scarier because she has that expression even when she gets angry,” said Han Seha with a serious tone. She seemed to be seriously afraid of Han Sehui, who stood still as if frozen, with an expressionless face.

‘Isn’t Han Seha the older sister? She is...’

Relationships within the family had nothing to do with actual strength. For example, A-grade hunters couldn’t oppose their parents despite their strength.

“...Wait, if she’s going to get angry if she hears it from you, won’t it be worse if I’m the one to tell her?”

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung... I think she’ll listen to you,” said Han Seha while tilting her head.

Choi Yeonseung sighed at her unjustified confidence. “Would it make sense for me to tell her?”

“I think it makes sense...” Han Seha couldn’t speak firmly whenever Choi Yeonseung reacted like that. She was hesitant and her voice trailed off.

“Should I make Hunter Kwon Yeongseung do it?”

“Can you?”

“... The two of you are the worst!” exclaimed Kwon Yeongseung, his handsome face contorting into a weeping expression. These two were probably the only ones to irritate one of South Korea’s A-grade hunters in such a fashion.

“I’m sorry. We’re so comfortable with each other that I accidentally crossed the line with this joke. I sincerely apologize.”

“N-No. I’m not actually mad. I just...”

Kwon Yeongseung felt embarrassed, and Han Seha proceeded to criticize him, “Why are you pouting and making Hunter Choi Yeonseung feel bad?”

“You really have no conscience…” said Kwon Yeongseung while looking at Han Seha in disbelief.

“Ok, I’ll tell her first,” said Choi Yeonseung while approaching Han Sehui. He explained the situation to her cautiously.

Both Han Seha and Choi Yeonseung were nervous. Was she thinking of fighting in the rear?

The answer was simple.

Shake shake shake shake.

“Is there a special meaning in South Korea if you shake your head horizontally four times?”

“It means ‘absolutely not’.”

Choi Yeonseung gave up trying to convince Han Sehui.

‘If something happens, I’ll be there to help her… Han Seha will also be there.’

Han Seha was already talking to the household members of the angel constellation with fierce eyes. She was almost saying that there would be a constellation battle if her little sister got even a small scratch.

***

The angel constellation heard the news that there was an S-grade monster in a monster wave and provided support despite him fighting a fierce battle in England. Amelia’s arrival, an A-grade hunter from England, was proof of the angel’s support. Even though he was focusing on the battle in England, he still sent an A-grade hunter in China to provide support, which showed just how much attention the monster wave was getting.

When fighting an S-grade monster, they needed an A-grade hunter to protect their clan members, so having Amelia help them was a logical choice.

“You are from England? Are you royalty there?”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t have very good memories of England,” said Choi Yeonseung with a frown on his face. Thirty years prior, he didn’t think much of the country. However, after he came back, there was only nasty news about England.

China had some of its territory occupied but not all of it. Meanwhile, Britain had its entire country occupied and the government and royal family were forced into exile. It was only natural that the country would radically change for the worse.

There was The Knights of the Holy Temple, an extremist terrorist group that kidnapped the president of the United States and tried to launch a nuclear weapon against the United Kingdom. A man named Joseph Grant tried to make the Abyss Gate raid a success by ruthlessly sacrificing hunters.

All the people Choi Yeonseung had heard about and met were so radical that he couldn’t help feeling reluctant toward the country.

“Not all the evil acts in the world are committed by the British, but still, isn’t it weird that all the British people that?I have encountered are doing terrible things?”

“Have you met Christopher Winter?”

“I don’t think he’s a good guy either.”

“Hunter Amelia is far from being such an extremist,” explained Kwon Yeongseung briefly. He knew her well. Unlike radical A-grade hunters like Joseph Grant, Amelia was a moderate from the British royal family.

“Her skills are unquestionable. It’s rumored that she will succeed the Queen of England.”

“I’m more shocked that the Queen is still active after 30 years. Aren’t the British kind of ridiculous? Look at Chen Xiezhi.”

It was surprising that someone who listened to the genius hunters from 30 years ago was still on active duty. In all honesty, as far as experience was concerned, it wouldn’t have been strange if the Queen of England had received the S-grade position.

Amelia approached Choi Yeonseung and greeted him in pretty old-fashioned British English.

“It is quite a pleasure.”

“Same here.”

“I was very excited after hearing Illaphael’s words.”

“...?”

He had already heard it, but hearing it again was perplexing.

-I only remember fighting, but perhaps...

-Yes. Do you understand now?

-Was he affected by the shadow power and lost his mind like Chen Xiezhi?

-...There might be other possibilities...

The goddess of sloth tried to bring up the traditional theory of ‘getting along while fighting together,’ but Choi Yeonseung believed in the more modern theory of ‘it’s time to die if you do something that people shouldn’t do.’

“If the Chinese hunters manage to destroy the torch dragon’s defensive barriers, the attackers will go in one after another. There is a predetermined order, and we have to stick to it.”

There were several top hunters, but not all of them would jump in at the same time. The first raid team would go in and target the enemy. If they failed, the second raid team would attack. If they failed as well, the third raid team would join, and so on…

‘So I’m in the second team, and Huang Guangao and the Chinese hunters are in the first team?’

Choi Yeonseung was worried. Would Huang Guangao actually try to defeat the torch dragon?

‘If he wants to be on top in this monster wave, he has to kill the torch dragon. If he wants to destroy more land in China, he will prevent us from slaying the dragon...’

Was he supposed to wait in case he was actually trying to help?

Baaaaaaang!

Before Choi Yeonseung could finish thinking, the attack started with a loud roar. It was a formidable attack in which numerous hunters and state-of-the-art modern weapons were generously mobilized. It was like a colorful firecracker had exploded. Flames and lights flickered like crazy in the distant sky, and everything seemed to crack.

Soon after, someone urgently shouted, “The first raid team was wiped out!”

“...What??”

***

To be precise, they weren’t wiped out. They all got captured by the torch dragon. Choi Yeonseung was left speechless by the sheer absurdity of the situation.

‘No... How can a servant of an evil god constellation be so weak?’

-It seems like the evil god constellations on Earth have a hard time finding talented people...

-It doesn’t matter how hard it is. Huang Guangao is an A-grade hunter and backed up by an evil god constellation. He should be able to hold on to a certain extent, even if his opponent is an S-grade monster. I didn’t expect him to drag so many hunters into the raid zone only to get caught.

-Is he a fool?

-No. It might be a trap.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ wonders what kind of madman would create such a trap.]

It was a scheme in which he gave his own body to an S-grade monster, and it would be countered because the intention behind it was too obvious.

‘That’s true. The Chinese hunters might be a bit crazy, but they’re not that crazy.’

“The second attack team, please go in!”

“Let’s go.”

The combat helicopters took off after those words. Even though they were called helicopters, they were more like flying fortresses. After customizing a military helicopter and making it a base, the engineers reinforced it with special materials they got from monsters and from the Abyss. To top it all off, they covered the helicopter with artifacts.

It was a masterpiece that combined Earth’s mechanical engineering with the magic of the Abyss!

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is earnestly asking you to bring one of these helicopters to it later.]

‘This must’ve been something made by the Chinese government after they scraped out everything... I understand.’

-Activate stealth magic!

-Yes!

The pilots, all of them with stern expressions, activated the stealth magic and approached the torch dragon.

The torch dragon was still flying through the sky indifferently, despite its defensive barriers having been destroyed.

-■■■■■■...

“It’s casting magic. Be prepared!”

Despite the big distance between them and the dragon, and the fact that the helicopter was flying fast, Choi Yeonseung was the first to notice it.

The torch dragon was taking a deep breath.

“It’s an Ice Breath!”

There was a loud noise and a pillar of ice materialized in the sky. It soon shattered and numerous ice fragments fell from the sky.

‘It would’ve been over if that had hit us.’

“No matter how I look at it, the first team didn’t really have the skills to kill the dragon anyways. Even so, how the hell did they manage to get caught?”

“Did they purposely let themselves get caught because they didn’t want to attack the dragon?”

The hunters were murmuring with suspicion when the torch dragon opened its giant mouth. The Chinese hunters were trapped inside.

“...”

“...Uh...”

The hunters were at a loss for words. It was an extraordinary sight.

“Why... Isn’t it going to swallow them?”

“I don’t think that’s the question we should ask right now.”

“Perhaps it’s trying to absorb all the magic power from them. You know, like eating candy…?”

“Crazy...”

There were many things they didn’t know about the torch dragon, but no one expected it to gently roll the hunters around in its mouth like that.

-Please help the captured hunters!

Everyone snorted at the voice coming from the radio.

“The Chinese are quite the comedians.”

“Honestly, I would’ve had a laugh if it weren’t for this situation.”

“They didn’t ask us to save them, but to help. If we attack now, won’t the torch dragon be startled and swallow them? I think it would be better.”

As everyone was laughing, Choi Yeonseung asked the pilot, “Can you get closer?”

“Y-Yes!”

Chen Xiezhi, who had been dozing off beside him, looked up and asked, “Is it time to fight?”

“Yes. As I mentioned before, you just have to do what I told you.”

“Yes. I understand. I’ll do what you want.”

“...?”

Choi Yeonseung was taken aback by Chen Xiezhi’s loud and clear voice. It was quite different compared to when he was screaming and on a rampage.

“Have you regained your sanity?”

“What do you mean? I’ve always been sane, haven’t I?”

“...?”