episode_0049

“Let’s go, husband.”

After having breakfast, I left the house and headed to the festival venue where she would officially reveal herself as a hunter in front of the public today.

Being an A-rank hunter, the number of them was quite small, so just being affiliated with the country was enough to gain fame. However, for hunters below that rank, unless they had an opportunity like this, they wouldn’t have a chance to gain fame in front of the public. Therefore, in such competitions, quite intense scenes were staged.

One might wonder if hunters who obtain resources through the gates really need fame, but once you become famous, more sponsors and support follow. So, this festival was an opportunity for many hunters and guilds.

“Hmm… I should buy that car later, husband.”

Of course, there were hunters like her whose goal was to become truly famous.

“To ○○ Road, please.”

“Yes, to ○○ Road, it might be quite congested today… By any chance…”

Taking a taxi to the venue.

Casually chatting with her, we arrived at the venue where she got off the taxi and said, “Husband.”

“What is it?”

“If we make money, let’s buy a car right away.”

“…When we make money, then.”

It seemed like she realized the necessity of having a car after using public transportation a few times.

Well, I was also planning to get a car soon, so I just replied with that. As we approached the entrance of the stadium, it was almost time to part ways as participants and spectators.

Looking at the divided entrance, she said, “Well… I have to go this way, and you have to go that way. Participants invited as spectators can watch the match from the closest point to the stadium, so make sure to watch my performance without missing it, husband.”

“Alright, I got it. Do your best.”

With that expression of affection from her, I parted ways with her and entered the stadium.

As it was a festival that attracted a lot of public attention, the stands were already filled with many people.

“Hey, adjust the camera angle…”

“This should be enough…”

“The participant we should pay attention to today is…”

“Someone from the Haetae Guild is here. There’s a participant from the Haetae Guild…”

From journalists from various broadcasting stations to individuals who seemed to be representatives of medium and large guilds.

There were indeed many people walking around.

Today’s matches not only attracted those in the hunter industry but also the interest of the general public, so it was natural.

After all, it was a fight of awakened individuals that you couldn’t easily see elsewhere, right?

There was no other element that made people’s hearts race like the Galde Cup.

From the guild’s perspective, if they were lucky, they could recruit talented individuals to their guild, and the public could get a glimpse of the next generation of hunters who would lead the future of the hunter industry in South Korea. How could today’s matches not attract people’s attention?

She, whose goal was to gain fame here and then publicly declare our relationship, seemed incredibly impressive.

I couldn’t help but feel that she was using this place as a stepping stone for that purpose, but seeing her enthusiasm firsthand, I couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. Soon, the appointed time approached, and the festival began.

“Ah, mic test, mic test. Hello, everyone. I am the host for this festival, Oh Eun-seo. I think my introduction is unnecessary, right? So, without further ado, let’s begin the 52nd Hunting Festival!”

The host smoothly transitioned to explaining the competition.

“Yes, a total of 328 hunters have expressed their intention to participate in today’s hunting festival…. Wow, is this number really accurate? As the minimum requirement to participate in the competition is hunters of B-rank or below, C-rank hunters, the number of hunters above C-rank is increasing in South Korea.”

The emcee continued in a very somber tone.

“Unfortunately, there is very little time to witness the activities of all these individuals…. Therefore, our organizers have decided to reduce this large number to 64. The remaining participants will compete in a tournament format.”

With that declaration, the emcee stepped back and manipulated the device in the arena to bring something up from underground.

“From now on, the 328 C-rank and B-rank hunters will enter a virtual dungeon filled with countless monsters. Defeat more monsters than others. Your score will reflect the number of monsters you defeat, allowing you to advance to the finals. Now…. let the preliminary rounds begin!”

As the announcer spoke, the operators began displaying the virtual dungeon on a large screen.

Beyond the screen, an otherworldly scene unfolded, unlike anything seen in the present world.

Monstrous creatures the size of large trucks roamed the streets without a care, while smaller monsters filled the gaps between them.

As the audience was momentarily overwhelmed by the sight, the emcee’s playful voice could be heard, lightening the mood.

“Oh, if anyone wishes to withdraw, please let us know in advance. Even though it’s a virtual world, it’s a truly realistic virtual world.”

Of course, no one withdrew at this point, and soon all 300 hunters had transitioned to the virtual world in no time.

The hunters soon began to clash with the hordes of monsters.

As the battle between humans and monsters began to resemble a war, people started to lose themselves in the spectacle. I, presumably not an ordinary spectator but someone from a guild, could hear their conversations.

“The Association really went all out. Creating an environment reminiscent of a major upheaval or a mausoleum for a simple event….”

“Well, the Association loves to make a fuss about the duties of hunters. Maybe they really want to create heroes this time.”

Listening to their words and gazing at the screen illuminating the virtual world, prominent figures among the hunters began to catch my eye.

Hunters who had already taken down several large monsters, those who had defeated dozens of smaller monsters, and most notably….

“….”

There’s no need to mention who it was.

Thud….

Pitter-patter.

Soon, the spectators in the stands noticed something unusual on the screen.

“Huh? Rain?”

Under the dark sky, she suddenly summoned rain, using the water to attack the monsters.

As a dozen or so water-based creatures gathered around her, it was unnecessary to guess who had created this strange spectacle.

=========

【Name】

Alia Valenstein

【Age/Height/Weight】

38 years old/162.8cm/42.1kg

【Stats】

– Strength 43.9 (B)

– Agility 49.9 (B)

– Stamina 43.2 (B)

– Endurance 47.9 (B)

– Durability 48.9 (B)

– Magic Power 41.1 (B)

– Inner Energy/Aura 46.7 (B)

– Skill 44.5 (B)

– Overall Evaluation (B)

【Disposition】

Positive

–

Neutral

– Half-Human, Half-Spirit Body (S)

Negative

–

【Ability】

– Insight (B)

【Skills】

– Nature Spirit Swordsmanship: Lv.8

– Extreme: Divine Sword Unification Lv.7

– Extreme: Sword Energy Merchant Lv.4

– Vision: Spirit Summoning Lv.9

– Vision Extreme: Spirit Unification Lv.3

Well, to me, who knew her usual appearance well, it didn’t really feel real, but she was truly an elf, in other words, a fairy.

Receiving the love of nature, gaining strength from the grace of nature, she was a protector of nature who protected it.

The true abilities of her that I had only seen through the status window until now were being reproduced right in front of my eyes.

=========

– Vision: Elemental Summoning Lv.9

=========

Splat!

“Krr…. Krrrrrr…..”

Swish!

“Kek, Kerrrr.”

Unable to withstand the attacks of the streams of flying monsters turning into blades towards where her footsteps were heading, they lost their lives one by one and collapsed.

“Wow…. What kind of ability is that?”

“That hunter…. No, where does she belong?”

And it was natural for the audience to pay attention to her figure.

Because that figure was clearly the birth of a new high-ranking hunter no matter where you looked.

“Wow…. If it’s that level, isn’t she an S-rank hunter?”

“Well, I’m not sure about that, but at least in terms of performance….”

“More importantly, she’s a guildless solo player, right?”

“No, what? Then who’s her sponsor?”

“No, sponsor or whatever, she’s only recently naturalized in Korea….”

The audience seats were getting louder and louder, and I couldn’t bear it any longer, so I tightly closed my eyes.

The sight of her, who I could call my woman, in action was both a joy and a burden too big to handle.

‘Ah…. Sigh…. Evan, what to do….’

Should I run? Should I hide?

Even if not today, imagining that someday I would introduce myself as her husband in front of the public made my stomach twist.

Can I handle her even at this level of achievement?

I may not know, but it seemed like I needed to work even harder to become a man who suited her.