Ch.9494. Meeting in the Mountains

# [Monster Daily]

– Date: This Friday, near the central peak of Mt. Hwahak, Gyeonggi Province

– Mission: Eliminate the Tyrant Hornet nest.

– Reward: 3 Monster Points, 0.2% Risk Reduction

The new mission from Monster Daily involves the insect monster Tyrant Hornet.

As an S-class monster, it possesses a terrifying poisonous stinger and speed, but like moths, it has the weakness of a fragile body.

That’s only when dealing with a single specimen.

When it comes to a nest, Tyrant Hornets swarm out in droves, and that changes everything.

While definitely not SS-class, they become dangerous because of their annoying tendency to attack in large numbers.

Their abilities? Something like poison stings and wing-wave techniques used in groups?

Not dangerous individually, but when they cluster together, nothing is more irritating.

Since it’s this Friday, I can go after school ends.

I can just rest on the weekend anyway. I was about to lie down comfortably when I checked the status window again.

But what time do they appear?

– Date: This Friday, near the central peak of Mt. Hwahak, Gyeonggi Province, 9 AM

“….9 AM?”

I held my head.

Today is Wednesday, and Friday is two days away….

“I should notify them in advance.”

But how do I handle this with the security team watching? What excuse can I use to suddenly disappear at 9 AM?

Why does it have to be at such an awkward time? What am I supposed to do? The timing made me extremely flustered.

If there was no surveillance, it wouldn’t matter, but with surveillance, I can’t transform carelessly.

If it were after school hours, I could make any excuse, but can I really skip school to go?

No, I can’t.

Besides, there was no plausible excuse I could use to get to the site.

“Ugh… this is driving me crazy.”

I couldn’t think of a suitable excuse. The next day, Thursday, my mind was still filled with worry.

Of course, like with the Void Invader, there might be opportunities if it’s not caught for several days.

But with such a large outbreak, there’s a high chance another guild will take it.

Though they’re numerous, hunters can match their numbers accordingly.

My original plan to run one gate on Friday and then rest was falling apart.

Even during morning classes, my mind was repeatedly pondering for a good solution.

Think. What events happened around this time? Something I could use as an excuse?

A death in the family in the intermediate class? Or tracking someone who fled after their boyfriend died in a monster attack?

But none of these match the timing. It needs to be specifically connected to Friday.

The closest connection might be the White Dragon Guild conducting a nature survey around the mountain? But I have no connection to the White Dragon Guild.

Seol Yu-hwa is there, but she’s not even an official guild member yet… Even if I asked to go with her, if I disappeared during the trip, suspicion would naturally fall on me.

So what else?

There’s one thing. The advanced class has a mountaineering club that explores mountains and experiences nature during HR time.

From what I know, the second-year president goes hiking around this time?

But they’re second-years, would they accept me if I tried to join? This won’t work either.

No, I should at least try. I need to use every means possible to get there on time.

But as if to answer my efforts, Han Seong-yeol, the mountaineering club president, said to me as soon as he saw me:

“You suddenly want to join? Be nice to your seniors first. At least you can’t join.”

Damn it.

As I was racking my brain for a way to leave the academy, lunchtime arrived.

Seol Yu-hwa sat down beside me.

“Have you been well?”

“Yeah. You’ve been on the other side lately?”

“Somehow. Are you okay? There are bad rumors among the second-years.”

Even Yu-hwa has heard such stories? This is worse than I expected.

No, it’s fine. Monsters are the priority anyway. I don’t care what the second-years say.

“It doesn’t matter. There’s some trouble, but it won’t last forever. Even if I can’t drink… I mean, it’ll blow over with time.”

“That’s good. But Jong-hyun.”

At this point, Yu-hwa bowed her head deeply, looking very embarrassed.

“I have a favor to ask, is that okay?”

“What is it? If it’s something I can help with, I will.”

“Well… our guild is conducting a mountain survey, you know? As you know, rural areas and such terrain often have slower response times than cities. We need to re-examine the optimal routes.”

There it is. The White Dragon Guild’s survey activity has begun from Yu-hwa’s lips.

“Starting from the metropolitan area and working your way down?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“Just a guess. Usually, they start with the metropolitan area first.”

I almost slipped up again. I need to be careful.

“But Yu-hwa, since you’re not officially recruited yet, don’t you not have to do this?”

“Yeah. I’m free to choose, but it feels wrong to just sit around. Honestly, I want to say I can handle at least one area.”

“Then why don’t you just do it?”

“I would, but I don’t have enough time. This week I need to visit a daycare for counseling and attend an elementary school meeting… It’s too awkward to participate. Jong-hyun, you’re good at this kind of survey, right?”

Wait, what’s this atmosphere? Is she asking me for help?

A glimmer of hope was sparkling in my mind.

“Honestly, it seems too hard to do alone, so I wanted your help.”

“Don’t worry about a thing.”

I grabbed Yu-hwa’s hands.

“Huh?”

“If we’re going to do it, we should start quickly. I’ll go in tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? I appreciate it, but I have to look after the kids tomorrow…”

“No, I’ll go alone, so it’s fine.”

At this point, Yu-hwa’s face was filling with question marks.

She must be bewildered.

“Alone? Isn’t that too much? There’s no need to push yourself.”

“It’s not too much. Besides, I’m studying various things right now. It’s killing two birds with one stone. In return, help me out if I have a favor to ask later.”

Actually, I could do it for free, but if I’m too generous, that would seem suspicious too, so I’m setting conditions.

“Okay. Thank you. I’ll go as soon as I can arrange it.”

“No, I’ll go from the morning.”

Yu-hwa was silent for a moment, as if her brain had stopped working.

“M-morning? What about school?”

“They say strike while the iron is hot. Friday is mostly club meetings if there’s nothing special. I should go during this gap. I can study theory quickly later.”

“So suddenly? I feel really sorry.”

“You can help me later.”

I finally succeeded in securing an excuse.

*

Friday, 8 AM. I was already near Mt. Hwahak with a tablet in hand.

It wasn’t mine but one that Yu-hwa had borrowed from her supplies and lent to me.

This tablet has surveying functions. It can analyze the most efficient routes.

I came out early because I still had work to do.

I input the distances to nearby hunter teams and reporting stations, checking how quickly one could climb the mountain.

[Distance Calculation Settings]

The weather was slightly damp and cool, laden with morning dew.

I was running around diligently in my old reinforced suit.

Right, since I’ve done this many times, it should be quick.

Mountains have points. They’re called branch points, meaning there are multiple routes up the mountain.

This could be outsourced, but that’s not the only reason for this survey.

It’s because hunters can take paths that others can’t.

Hunters can easily climb treacherous paths that ordinary people can’t access.

That’s exactly what we’re measuring.

The real purpose is to identify the express routes that only hunters can use, not the regular routes.

I called the security team who might be watching from somewhere. Today it’s Senior Unjeong.

“Senior! Would you like to come too?”

“Skipping school for a girl? You’re something else.”

“It’s not for a girl. It’s pure goodwill. Goodwill.”

“Sure, sure. Excuses are… for the good times.”

This simple reason is perfect. Plus, even if I’m suspected, I went because I was asked to, so my excuse is more believable.

Now I was just waiting for 9 AM.

Around that time, I was running toward the highest central peak.

Saving non-traditional paths on the tablet creates new routes.

Halfway up the climb.

I deliberately stopped. It was time for the break to happen.

While pretending to catch my breath and killing time, the break began.

What should I do here? There’s nothing but to run away.

“Aah! I’m running away!”

And suddenly Senior Unjeong appeared in front of me.

“Good quick reaction!”

I backed away and descended as quickly as possible.

She’ll come up soon anyway.

While escaping, I pulled out a card.

What to transform into? Forest with multiple enemies. The choice is obvious.

[Insect Asura]

Transformed into an adult Insect Asura, I soared upward immediately.

I saw Senior Unjeong fleeing.

Well, with so many enemies, what else could she do?

“Huh?”

The senior was surprised and took a defensive stance, but I had no intention of attacking her, so I naturally ignored her and continued on.

[Liquid Metal]

-Stats enhanced due to Insect Asura’s characteristics.

[Tyrant of the Forest]

-Forest terrain effects applied.

[Main Card]

-Species: Insect, Name: Insect Asura, Growth Form: Adult

Characteristics: Tyrant of the Forest (parameter rank increases in forest areas or when fighting multiple enemies), Cutting Enhancement (adds cutting effect to attacks), Detection Enhancement (easier to notice opponent’s techniques or presence), Heteromorphic Evolution (all stats increase by 1 rank when equipped with sub-cards except mechanical sub-cards)

Strength: SS

Agility: SS(+)

Resistance: SS

Magic Resistance: SS(+)

Energy: SS

Mana: SS(+)

Skills: Jaw Crusher, Wing Wave, Armored Insect, Poison Powder

The stats of the Insect Asura under forest terrain effects are literally top-tier.

As I flew forward with my jaws clenched, I saw 2-meter Tyrant Hornets in front of me.

And as we faced each other, I activated Jaw Crusher.

The hornets began to be ground by my jaws. They’re somewhat tough, but that’s fine. These jaws can chew through creatures like you.

The moment three were shredded, the hornets made airplane-like sounds and took threatening postures.

Yes, I can predict what they’ll do next. They’re planning to gather and use Wing Wave as a group, right?

It’s an advantage to know their techniques. As the hornets gathered, I pulled out one of the 10 new cards I had obtained.

[Sand Wind (Birds and Insects only)]

-Scatters sand to obstruct vision.

-Reduces enemy speed rank.

While activating the sub-card, I moved my Wing Wave.

The sand wind carried my wave toward them.

As the sandstorm-like wind reached them, they began to split apart as if shot by firearms.

But when a Tyrant Hornet tried to crash into my back, I defended with my skill, Armored Insect.

With the sound of something breaking, I saw the hornet’s rear end shatter.

A clean cut with my horn.

Only one thing remained: the nest itself. Unusually, this specimen appeared with its nest.

I rose in one breath to finish it off, but I saw something strange.

There was a person next to the nest. As I approached, I felt a killing intent I hadn’t experienced before.

“Is it you? The one who keeps interfering?”

Something’s wrong. I stopped midway. And I could identify who that person was.

A man with long ponytail hair and wearing a suit.

Elegant appearance with sharp eyes looking this way.

Siwujin.

The third-in-command of the White Dragon Guild. And…

“Human monster!”

I charged at him with all my might.