Chapter 437: The Correct Way to Use Plant Magic (2)

About two hours after Hunter Kim Sungchul entered the Tomb of the Ancient Tree.

Do Sihee was still sitting in the Adventurer’s Guild lobby, intently watching the warp gate that Kim Sungchul had entered, waiting for it to activate again.

‘He should be coming out soon….’

Two hours had passed since he took on a quest and entered the Tomb of the Ancient Tree.

By rights, he should have been out of the dungeon long ago.

More importantly, when considering the fundamental question, the very fact that Kim Sungchul, who possessed skills comparable to an A-class hunter, had entered a C-class dungeon like the Tomb of the Ancient Tree was strange in many ways.

Waiting for that particular hunter to emerge from the dungeon, Do Sihee continued to speculate.

‘If his condition was bad, he would have chosen a B-class dungeon. He didn’t even seem to have the greatsword or shield he carried last time.’

In reality, the greatsword had been left with Soo Areum for maintenance just recently, and the shield was stored in his spatial pouch, ready for use at any time.

Unaware of this fact, Do Sihee could only vaguely assume he was unarmed.

Seeing him enter the dungeon unarmed, she cautiously considered various possibilities, wondering if he possessed other awakened abilities.

‘I thought he was a multi-awakened individual after seeing him wield both a sword and shield, but was he just an awakened individual whose abilities focused on enhancing basic physical strength? Or could he possibly have other awakened abilities besides a sword and shield….’

As she continued to ponder various thoughts in her mind about the hunter named Kim Sungchul.

The platform of the warp gate Kim Sungchul had entered flickered, and soon, the hunter in question who had gone inside the dungeon appeared before her.

Seeing no signs of intense combat on Kim Sungchul’s clothes, she momentarily considered the possibility that he hadn’t fought at all, but upon seeing Kim Sungchul immediately approach the quest counter, Do Sihee quickly retracted that thought.

Because from Kim Sungchul’s monster material pouch, opened in front of the counter, came hard, thick wood that anyone could see was material from a Woodrello.

“I will complete the quest for collecting ten Triss Cores, one Woodrello Core, and Woodrello pillar stem materials.”

She didn’t know how, but he must have a way to carry his weapons discreetly. Or perhaps he had a method to defeat monsters without weapons.

‘If I had followed him into the dungeon, I might have been tracked back.’

Do Sihee quickly forgot about that judgment without regret.

‘If I had followed him into the dungeon, I might have been tracked back.’

If that happened, her plan to gather information on Kim Sungchul and evaluate him would also be disrupted.

Fortunately, seeing Kim Sungchul, who hadn’t yet turned his gaze towards her, she figured he probably hadn’t noticed her presence at all.

Just that alone meant the situation wasn’t too bad.

After all, information obtained outside the dungeon would surely be far more valuable than what could be gained inside.

“Good work.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Hunter Kim Sungchul!”

Do Sihee quietly followed behind the hunter in question as he left the dungeon.

Not forgetting to use earth magic to silence her footsteps either.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

By the time she left the Guild’s dungeon after finishing her practice with plant magic, it was already nearing evening.

She had arrived at the Guild quite late in the morning to begin with, and it was the end of January, a winter month with short days.

The streets were beginning to be tinged with darkness, starting from just early evening.

If I went to work at the company now, it would probably be around the time I could do my healer part-time job at the company’s treatment room.

Although the treatment room wasn’t announced in advance in the morning, so the number of visitors probably wouldn’t be that high.

After quickly finishing her various thoughts, she eventually decided to return home for the day.

After all, she had intended to spend the entire day learning how to handle plant magic from the start.

Since she had reasonably achieved that goal, she figured she could relax leisurely for the remaining time.

Conserving adequate stamina for tomorrow was also an important part of condition management for a hunter.

“I’ll have to make do with whatever groceries I have at home for dinner.”

Without detouring to the mart or any other place, I returned straight home without much hesitation.

Even as I opened the front door and stepped inside, I thought today would be no different from any other ordinary day.

…Until a sudden, unexpected voice called out from behind me.

“…You don’t seem to live in a particularly nice house, judging by what I expected.”

“……?!”

A chilling voice that seemed to brush against my neck suddenly sent a wave of tension through my body.

As I was taking off my shoes at the entrance and stepping into the house, I quickly turned around to identify the source of the voice.

“Wh-who…?!”

“I heard you were the commoner hunter who seduced Sihee, so I expected you’d live in a slightly bigger house than this, but it’s quite modest compared to what I imagined.”

“…………!!!”

A red-haired woman who, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, opened my front door and followed me inside.

The moment I saw that familiar hairstyle and eyes, I instantly knew who the voice belonged to.

A striking face and attire that you could never forget once you’d met them.

And I certainly couldn’t forget that voice, which belonged to the rudest hunter I had ever met.

“Do Yehee….”

“Last time you said you didn’t really know me, but you remember me this time? I’m honored.”

She had left such a strong impression that I couldn’t help but remember her, even if I didn’t want to.

Even though it was a memory from over a month ago, Do Yehee’s impression was still quite vivid in my mind.

The image of her using mud golems made with earth magic to plunge Sihee and Eunbyul into the muddy ground.

The way she looked down condescendingly at her step-sister, and Sihee, who burned with hatred towards her.

And even that stupid face begging for surrender beneath me right after losing the duel.

Seeing how disgraceful she looked back then, I thought she was probably too embarrassed to ever show her face again.

It seemed Do Yehee wanted to settle the remaining grudge she held against me.

“……”

I remained wary of the red-haired woman before me, ready to pull out my shield and spear from my spatial pouch at any moment.

Do Yehee, pretending indifference to my reaction, covered her mouth with the fan she was holding and murmured.

“You don’t need to be so wary. I’ve just come today to have a ‘conversation’ with you.”

“…What conversation? You barge into someone’s house so shamelessly.”

“You opened the main gate and the front door yourself, didn’t you? I merely followed your steps inside.”

“If I had known a bitch like you was following me, I wouldn’t have opened the door.”

“Please refrain from using such vulgar language. It might change my mind about wanting to resolve things through conversation, especially since this is a rare opportunity.”

I didn’t really want to talk with her at all, though.

However, it was disadvantageous in many ways to simply drive this woman out by force.

For one thing, the location itself, inside my house, made intense combat impossible.

Even if I drove her out like this, that woman who found out where I live would surely come again next time.

And next time, she wouldn’t appear alone, but likely backed by the financial power of the Dokyung Group.

…Still, the fact that she appeared alone offered a tiny glimmer that she genuinely wanted to talk.

Of course, I didn’t think it would end with just a conversation, and I had a bad feeling that there was some other purpose attached.

“If your goal was simply to talk to me, you didn’t need to go to the trouble of tailing me like this.”

“That’s such a one-dimensional way of thinking. It’s clear you already have a bad impression of me from the previous incident. If I had approached you on the street, would you have readily agreed to talk?”

“……”

“Therefore, I had no choice but to leverage your vulnerability and speak to you like this. Now that you know where I live, you can’t easily refuse my conversation.”

…So from the moment she tailed me, she intended to find my weakness.

It was fortunate that I came straight home without stopping by the company or anywhere else.

At least my other personal information wasn’t figured out.

And the fact that I hadn’t taken off my mysterious mask yet was also… fortunate in many ways.

“Mr. Kim Sungchul? Or should I call you Hunter Kim Sungchul?”

“…Whatever you prefer.”

“I haven’t come seeking revenge against you, Mr. Kim Sungchul. I fully acknowledge my defeat in that duel. Of course, I do think your actions afterward weren’t very ladylike, but I’ll graciously overlook that matter.”

“How incredibly generous of you, I’m so grateful.”

“Be even more grateful. Since I, who am a commoner hunter, am showing this much interest in you, Mr. Kim Sungchul, you should show some sincerity too.”

…Seriously, I want to smash my head against a wall.

Seeing her brazenly speaking after barging into my house uninvited, I felt an impulse for my body to react before my words could.

No wonder Sihee harbors such fierce hatred towards her step-sister.

Considering how infuriated I was getting, even on only our second meeting, I could fully understand Do Sihee’s feelings, having grown up in the same house with this woman her entire life.

“It won’t be a bad offer for you either, Mr. Kim Sungchul.”

“…The fact that you shamelessly entered my house is already a bad offer.”

“Although your home seems unremarkable, I will acknowledge your abilities and value.”

“Nothing changes just because someone like you acknowledges it, and frankly, I don’t need your approval anyway….”

“I’ll get straight to the point. Join my party, Mr. Kim Sungchul.”

I almost doubted my ears at the words that came out of Do Yehee’s mouth, who had been spouting that arrogant voice with a haughty expression the whole time.

Do Yehee’s words, spoken again, confirmed that I hadn’t misheard.

“Instead of approaching that foolish and weak child Sihee, join my party, Mr. Kim Sungchul.”

“I don’t know what offer that child made to keep you, but if you join my party, I’ll give you double that.”

“…Double?”

“Yes. Double. Whether it’s money, items, or anything else.”

Hmm.

I wonder if you really can give it.