LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 108
Chapter 108: I Quit Being a Saintess!
The day of the S-rank Hunter promotion ceremony.
Around 11 a.m., the S-rank Hunter promotion ceremony, signed by the Hunter Association, the Bureau of Returnee Management, the Ministry of Personnel Management, and the President, was held.
Before the promotion ceremony, from 9 a.m., the event hall was filled with officials from the Hunter Association, government personnel, and representatives from hunter guilds invited from various countries, who had gathered to celebrate the newly held S-rank promotion ceremony in Korea.
Thanks to this, Seoul was buzzing with a festive atmosphere.
However, even in this celebratory mood, the identities of the hunters participating in the promotion ceremony were kept as confidential as possible.
Although people in certain circles or the Hunter Gallery knew to some extent which hunters were participating in the promotion, there was still the possibility of fraudulent activities or terrorism before the official start of the promotion.
For this reason, the hunters participating in the promotion had to remain in the waiting room, almost in hiding, under the guidance of the Hunter Association.
[Next, we will hear a speech from the President for the hunters participating in the promotion ceremony.]
[Dear hunters….]
[Next, we have remarks from Wang Soyeong, the representative visiting from the Mountain Guild in Shaanxi Province, China.]
[Greetings to all the esteemed hunters. Even in Shaanxi Province, we are closely watching this promotion, and the many hunters gathered here are….]
Of course, none of the hunters preparing for the promotion could pay attention to the speeches being broadcasted through the hologram screens, as they were all too tense.
“Please, please….”
“This is it. This is the last chance….”
“Mom, this time I’ll make it.”
“Food. Supplies….”
“Hey, you crazy woman. Why did you pack a pot and a burner? Do you think you’ll have time to cook in there?”
“You never know! Why are you getting so angry!”
And it wasn’t just A-rank hunters challenging the S-rank promotion.
There were also B-rank or C-rank hunters, who were skilled but hadn’t been promoted due to lack of achievements, trying their luck this time.
Even unregistered awakeners, classified as criminals, had joined the promotion challenge.
“Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
“Look who’s applying for a promotion.”
“Screw you. Let’s see who makes it through.”
“Hmph, I don’t associate with drug addicts.”
“You bastard.”
“Shut up, would you? You think you’re the only one here? Be more discreet with your nonsense.”
“…….”
Normally, unregistered awakeners would be arrested, but during the national event of the S-rank promotion, an unspoken rule allowed their participation.
If any of them acted out, committed a crime, or attempted terrorism, an S-rank hunter or Yeonseo, hiding somewhere, would personally deal with them.
“Shia unnie, according to Director Lee, the location for the promotion will likely be the S-rank infested dungeon near Donggucheon.”
“……Yeah.”
Yeonhwa and Shia were also among the hunters challenging the S-rank promotion.
Come to think of it, this was the same place where Shia had waited when she first returned to Earth and visited the Hunter Association.
Back then, Shia had looked around curiously at everything, as it was all new to her. But today, Shia was just staring blankly at the ceiling, passing the time.
“The conditions are either to eliminate the dungeon boss as the top priority or to survive for a week until the promotion ends. It’s not just about hunting and enduring against monsters, but also about testing the ability to survive when isolated or trapped by a dungeon’s unique mechanisms.”
“……Yeah.”
“Don’t worry about food. I brought plenty of emergency rations and high-calorie hunter food. I even packed a fryer and cooking oil just in case you feel it’s not enough. The large transport drone Grandma gave me still works well.”
“……Yeah.”
Receiving Yeonhwa’s explanation, Shia sat there with a dazed expression, as if her mind were elsewhere.
Sensing that Shia wasn’t in her normal state, Yeonhwa sighed softly and snapped her fingers in front of Shia’s face.
Snap, snap!
“Unnie.”
“……Yeah.”
“Unnie!”
“…Huh?”
When Shia finally responded, Yeonhwa sighed again.
She understood the situation, but Shia clearly wasn’t okay.
“What’s wrong? You’ve seemed a bit off, not just today, but for a few days now. Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine…”
Yeah, I’m fine.
I mean it.
“Unnie, is it because of that?”
“…Did you hear about it?”
“I’m sorry. I pushed Yeonju unnie a bit to find out.”
Usually indifferent to everything except hunter work and training, Yeonhwa couldn’t help but be concerned when it came to Shia’s affairs.
Especially when it involved something related to the family she thought she’d never be able to see again.
“I’m sorry for finding out on my own. I wanted to help you somehow, but…this time, I can’t do anything.”
“No, just knowing and comforting me is enough…just knowing that you care about me is already a great help.”
Even if there’s nothing someone can do to help, having someone who wants to help and comfort you is enough to give you strength.
“…And now, it’s okay.”
“Huh?”
“It’s just…it’s over now. I’m Shia. She’s Park Yoon-jung. That’s the end of it.”
“…Is that so.”
“Yeah, that’s it. It would be a lie to say I have no regrets, but I’m really fine. It’s not like the connection is completely severed. She even sent me a message to cheer me on before I came here. I’ve decided to be grateful that we can continue to build a new relationship from now on.”
Yes, that’s enough.
Since both Shia and Yeonhwa had confidence in their abilities, they had no more words to exchange.
Anyway, collaboration between hunters was allowed in the S-rank promotion, so if Shia and Yeonhwa stuck together and helped each other, there shouldn’t be any major difficulties in the promotion.
Of course, to add some challenge, the Hunter Association might introduce some unique gimmicks or additional tests towards the end of the promotion, but even considering that, Shia and Yeonhwa weren’t too worried.
“Hunters participating in the promotion, the event will officially begin now.”
“Please board the assigned vehicles. From this moment, your drones and smartwatches will be cut off from all external communication.”
“Any attempt to communicate with the outside world by unfair means will be considered cheating, and you will be disqualified, so please be cautious.”
“Before entering the promotion dungeon, we will stop by the Hunter Market provided by the Association. Please purchase any final supplies or survival items you need.”
Time flew by quickly.
Even while boarding the vehicle from the Association’s waiting room, agents from the Hunter Association came out to remind them of the schedule and precautions for the promotion, but Shia couldn’t remember any of it.
She just stared blankly out the window, as if daydreaming, and Yeonhwa occasionally glanced at her with a slightly worried expression.
“We’ve arrived! All participating hunters, please disembark!”
Though her mind was elsewhere, Shia forced a smile when she saw Yeonhwa’s face, a mixture of worry and anticipation.
Yeah, there’s someone right next to me who’s worrying about me…
I can’t ignore Yeonhwa’s kindness and concern.
‘Pull yourself together, Shia.’
Focus on the promotion now.
I need to pass the promotion so that Yoon-jung can praise me.
After that, I’ll meet up with Yoon-jung and Yeonhwa, and we can have a big celebration feast for my promotion.
By then, Yoon-jung’s birthday will have passed, so we can drink as much as we want. If I buy her a present for her birthday… yeah, it’ll make for another great memory.
“Now, we will begin entering the dungeon! Once inside, if you decide to quit the promotion or are deemed unable to continue, the Association will automatically disqualify you.”
“Each hunter will have a personal stealth drone camera following them to record footage!”
“As previously informed, this promotion is about survival and hunting. You must survive in the dungeon for a week, and either hunt one dungeon boss or at least 50 monsters to pass the first stage of the promotion.”
“However, if you leave the dungeon before the week is up, or if the number of monsters you’ve hunted is fewer than 50 by the end of the week, the Association will review the footage and make a disqualification decision, so please give it your all.”
Let’s focus on the present.
I should concentrate on what’s happening now rather than the uncertain, foggy future.
One by one, the hunters, equipped with personal drones and the Association-provided cameras, began entering the dungeon.
I don’t know what awaits us inside, but…
Thud!
“…Huh?”
At that moment, Shia felt her heart pulsing violently as if it was about to have a seizure.
Of course, she wasn’t physically in pain.
But at this moment, that pulsating felt more awful and painful than anything.
“Unnie?”
“…………”
Yeonhwa’s eyes widened when she saw Shia suddenly collapse to the floor.
Shia, sitting on the ground, stared blankly into space, not responding to Yeonhwa’s voice.
Thud, thud, thud!
Shia knew exactly what this sensation was.
The holy power connected to her heart had been severed.
It was rare for her holy power to be cut off like this.
Shia didn’t usually release her holy power.
And there was no reason for her to pour a large amount of it into someone else.
So there was only one reason why Shia felt this sensation.
‘The pendant… broke?’
She didn’t know why it broke.
An external shock? An attack?
She knew well that it wasn’t something that could be easily broken.
As soon as she felt that the pendant, the one she made with her holy power and gave to Yoon-jung, had been crushed, her vision went dark.
‘What do I do?’
What in the world… what do I do now?
Did something happen to Yoon-jung?
What is this?
What on earth is going on?
“Shia unnie!!”
“A…h…”
The one who pulled Shia out of her half-panic state was Yeonhwa.
“Go quickly.”
“Huh…?”
“Go quickly!”
“But the promotion….”
“Is the promotion more important? Or is what you hold dear more important?”
Yeonhwa didn’t know exactly what was going on.
But seeing Shia’s face on the verge of collapse, Yeonhwa reminded her of what she needed to do.
“Do what you need to do.”
“…Thank you.”
No more words were necessary.
Bang!
Shia bolted from her spot, not caring about the promotion or the eyes on her.
“W-wait, Hunter Shia!?”
“What, what’s happening?”
“She’ll be disqualified if she does that….!”
“No way, even the drone camera is following Hunter Shia!”
As the field agents became flustered, Yeonhwa stealthily pulled out her smartwatch and started making a secret call somewhere.
I may not be able to follow and help unnie directly, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help at all.
Beep, beep, beep
“Hello? Grandma Yeonseo?”
○○○○
What appeared to be a café was now serving as the Mountain Guild’s temporary office.
The building was the same one the Mountain Guild had taken Yoon-jung to when they attempted to ‘convince’ her.
“If we just waited quietly, they said she would come here. And she really did.”
Yoon-jung wasn’t there. Instead, members of the Mountain Guild, dressed in red, and Bai Weishen, the Hunter from Baiyun Battalion whom Shia had beaten up last time, were glaring at Shia, as if waiting for her.
Fortunately, this time there seemed to be a drone with a patched translation module, because Bai Weishen’s voice came through clearly in Korean.
However, the person Shia was looking for wasn’t Bai Weishen. It was Yoon-jung.
“……”
“Tsk, this is getting more troublesome than I expected.”
As he spoke, Bai Weishen threw off the coat he had draped over his shoulders.
His grotesquely muscular body stood out.
“…Where is she?”
“What do you mean?”
“…Yoon-jung. Where is she?”
“Hah, why are you asking us? Do you think we’ve taken her?”
Crunch!
“Cut the crap. Answer quickly.”
As Shia stepped forward, the asphalt beneath her foot cracked, scattering bits of stone.
Yet even then, Bai Weishen only chuckled.
It wasn’t just Bai Weishen; none of the Baiyun Battalion members under him seemed to feel threatened by Shia.
“You seem overly confident just because your sneak attack succeeded that first day.”
Bai Weishen was sure of himself.
That sneak attack had only succeeded by chance.
There was no way he’d fall for a lucky strike twice.
Moreover, he had learned something from that ambush.
‘That girl has weaker punches than I thought.’
He had assumed she was strong, but her strength was only effective in surprise attacks and the first hit.
She had hit him on the head, and he only passed out?
That meant her fundamental strength and finishing power were weak.
She was fast, but only to a certain extent.
Once Wang Soyeong returned from delivering her speech at the promotion ceremony, she would be quickly overpowered.
All Bai Weishen had to do now was stall for time.
By the time Wang Soyeong rejoined them, Yoon-jung would have crossed the West Sea and arrived in China.
Then, this woman—Shia—would be powerless to stop them.
‘Still, it’s infuriating.’
She dared to ambush me and underestimate me?
To pull such a cowardly sneak attack during what should have been an honorable duel.
I won’t let her get away with this.
“Huuuuuup!”
“…?!”
Bai Weishen was an S-rank Hunter, specializing in frontal assault and vanguard combat, and also… he was a Suitable One for the Fragment.
At that moment, Shia’s eyes widened as she recognized the familiar stench of Malevolent Energy.
The already massive Bai Weishen, who stood at three meters, began to swell to more than double his size.
The mana flowing from his grotesquely bulging muscles radiated a menacing pressure. It was clear he was now far beyond the strength of a typical S-rank.
‘Malevolent Energy, that smell…’
A thick, acrid stench of Malevolent Energy, far beyond what a human should emit.
“I authorize the Baiyun Battalion to share the Fragment!”
“”””Yes, sir!””””
As Bai Weishen’s body grew, the members of the Baiyun Battalion also absorbed the Malevolent Energy, enhancing their bodies.
Those who were B-rank gained power equivalent to A-rank.
And Bai Weishen, already S-rank, perhaps even surpassed that, rising to a level where he could easily overpower any S-rank Awakener of the same class.
“Hoooo, yes. You were asking about Yoon-jung, right? That’s right, we took her.”
With a relaxed grin, Bai Weishen looked down at Shia.
“But here’s the thing, Shia. You barged into a building that our guild temporarily rented, interfering with the process, and Yoon-jung rejected the Mountain Guild’s offer. That’s where it ends. After that, nothing happened. We’ve been busy delivering a speech for the S-rank promotion ceremony being held in Korea, and we’re set to return home in a week, once the results are announced.”
In fact, the Mountain Guild, aside from Wang Soyeong, was already heading back to China.
This information would even be recorded by the media covering the promotion ceremony.
“As for the location of our auxiliary drone and the records on our official Hunter IDs and visas, that’s all on file… of course, that’s just the official story.”
So?
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“Don’t you understand? What happened today won’t be leaked to anyone, nor will it be recorded. Everything that happens here stays here.”
Bai Weishen, his muscles swollen with mana, created an oppressive atmosphere as he slowly approached Shia.
“The higher-ups were adamant that we bring her back since she’s such a rare Suitable One. If she resisted, we would have broken a limb or two and dragged her along.”
Then, looking down at Shia, he spoke.
“To be honest, I don’t get it. I don’t care about the political stuff or the higher-ups’ agenda. What I don’t understand is you, Shia.”
Bai Weishen had already read up on Shia’s background.
“If you’re a Returnee, wouldn’t it be enough to adapt to the Hunter era and make a living? A Returnee without money, doing clown shows on livestreams, refusing all the money that’s offered. Why go so far just to protect some ordinary girl?”
Ah! Could it be that?
“Is that Yoon-jung kid something special to you? Your type or something?”
Shia didn’t react to his words.
She just listened quietly to Bai Weishen, her expression blank.
“Anyway, it’s over now. If you’d just accepted the terms we offered in the beginning, this could have ended smoothly, right? But because you jumped in and caused a fuss, now my subordinates and I have to deal with this overtime hassle, which is quite inconvenient.”
“……..”
“You seem pretty angry. Want to try your luck? If you think I’ll go down as easily as I did during your sneak attack, you’re mistaken.”
The foul stench of Malevolent Energy grew stronger.
“…I’m a saintess.”
“Huh, so what? You think I’m scared now? Did you expect me to go easy on you because you’re a saintess? If so, just go home quietly. Beating up a coward won’t satisfy me anyway….”
“…I wanted to live like a saintess. I wanted to act like a saintess.”
Did you know?
I’m not naturally a saintess.
“I just wanted to live like one. I tried to live like a saintess.”
Because I wasn’t born a good person, because I’m a human being who could easily fall into desire and corruption.
I endured. I held back. Before acting, I thought, and then thought again.
“But even I can be broken.”
Do you know when that happens?
When I’m insulted?
No.
When I’m subjected to irreparable humiliation?
No.
When I’m in pain?
When I’m injured?
When I think I’m going to die?
None of those.
“It’s when someone touches the people I care about… the people I’ve bonded with.”
I’m a person too.
Even though I’m the Saintess of the Dead, I’m still a person.
Because I’m a person.
I get angry too.
“And you thought you could stop me with these ridiculous, pitiful tactics? No, these aren’t even tactics. You tried to stop me with pathetic threats?”
I’m so, so very angry.
“You thought that if you did this, I would fall into despair and sorrow, hang my head in defeat? You thought I’d submit to you? That I’d give up?”
Haaaaa…
A deep sigh, like that of a beast, flowed from Shia’s throat.
The stench of Malevolent Energy she had sensed in them… for some reason, it now felt like it was coming from her own throat.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I tend to forget. Even after more than 60 years of all sorts of horrendous experiences in my previous world… I still forget.”
There’s nothing better than humans, but conversely, there’s nothing more foolish and revolting than humans.
Squeak.
Crack.
“For a moment, I was stupid enough to try to understand your position.”
Yes, I should reflect.
Humans can only move forward by reflecting on their past mistakes.
“Thank you. You’ve reminded me of one thing. No, I already knew it, but… you’ve helped me remember it again.”
“What the hell are you… Gaaah!?”
“You shouldn’t treat something that’s not human as if it were human.”
“Mmgh…!”
“….Urk..!”
At that moment, the atmosphere changed.
The oppressive mana that Bai Weishen had been radiating suddenly dissipated.
No, it wasn’t that it was nullified or counteracted.
Despite the tension in the air, the members of the Baiyun Battalion felt as if they had been transported to a quiet, peaceful countryside.
They couldn’t understand why they felt that way.
And none of them could breathe.
It was as if the oxygen itself had rejected them.
In front of them, the Saintess of the Dead was quietly creaking, and though the atmosphere was calm, the sight was utterly chilling.
Even Bai Weishen, who had been so confident, and his Baiyun Battalion subordinates, realized they couldn’t move.
‘Why can’t I move?’
Mana?
No.
That woman, Shia, wasn’t emitting any power at all.
Yet Bai Weishen couldn’t move a finger.
No, it wasn’t just his fingers.
He couldn’t even speak.
In truth, it wasn’t that Bai Weishen couldn’t move.
‘The Fragment… the Fragment is trembling…? No, it’s not me. The Fragment is scared…!’
What the hell is happening? What is that?
What is it that has frightened the Fragment like this!
“I guess I’ve met too many good people…”
So…
I’ve met a lot of good people, which means… there are bound to be people on the opposite end of the spectrum.
“You really thought those pathetic conditions, those pitiful threats, would work on me?”
What was I expecting?
What mercy and sympathy was I hoping for?
What was I…
What was I hoping for…
From those pathetic creatures…
Those things, wearing the shell of humans, hiding in the skins of beasts, pretending to be human!
Ah, how foolish.
So young and so foolish.
Even after over 60 years of hardship, I’m still this foolish.
I’m sorry, Menelapie.
I’m sorry, Teresa.
I’m still such a fool.
So, I…
Today, I’ll give up.
“I, Shia, the Saintess of the Dead, as a child representing the Trinity, proclaim this.”
I prayed that I wouldn’t have to do this again.
I prayed that I wouldn’t have to meet you again.
“In the name of the Father, I declare one thing.”
But you said it yourself.
“No one in this place, tainted by evil, shall die.”
The world doesn’t go as we wish.
‘Ah. How painful.’
How sorrowful.
It feels like my eyes are burning.
‘Ah, how sorrowful.’
The once colorful world is turning black.
Are the tears flowing from my eyes?
Is it blood?
Or is it the filthy, foul Malevolent Energy?
“In the name of the Son, I declare two things.”
Crack.
Creak.
Snap.
Crack!
“No evil in this place shall escape without permission.”
As the veil of deep darkness was pulled back, my eyes opened.
Why didn’t I do this sooner?
It would have been easier this way.
I should have done this from the start…!
The radiant golden eyes turned into the dark, weeping eyes of despair.
Her white skin cracked from sorrow and wailing, splitting as though a drought had consumed the world.
Let everything be covered in darkness.
There is no room for light to enter here.
“I pray.”
The Saintess of the Dead, Shia, is a companion to the Hero.
She is the guide for the wounded.
She is the predator that devours Malevolent Energy.
I pray to the starlight.
Yes, I am a wretched laughingstock.
Yes, I am a wretched spectacle.
Yes, I am the one who laughs in misery.
Yes, I am the Saintess who laughs, even when stones are thrown.
Yes, I am the Saintess who embraces insults.
Ignore someone like me and continue living your lives as you always have.
Raise your laughing voices high.
I’ll rip your vocal cords apart.
Keep pointing those arrogant fingers.
I’ll crush those fingers.
What could be the reason that the Starlight of Despair created someone like me?
Today, I’ll cast aside the pretense and answer that question.
“In the name of the Holy Spirit, I declare three things.”
“No evil in this place shall ever see the light.”
Do not worry.
No one in this place will die.
For to die would be an act of mercy, a restful sleep.
There is no mercy for those standing in this place.
They will never see the light.
And the world went dark.
Ah, how sorrowful.
[I, the Saintess of Death, shall lead you young evils to hell.]