Chapter 112 – Curse of Pain

Even at the words “came to rescue you,” Hwang Da-yeon couldn’t feel at ease.

‘Though I heard from Dad that he awakened…’

Still, he was just 21 like her.

She knew he had awakened less than a year ago.

And generally, hunters could only raise their level by 200 in a year.

So she worried about Min Do-jun coming to such a dangerous place, but only briefly.

She wasn’t in a position to worry about others.

“What about Dad? Did Dad come too?”

For her, the only trustworthy person was Hwang Ui-chul.

With him being over level 2,000, she could feel safe.

But Min Do-jun’s answer was different from her expectations.

“Teacher is waiting at the bottom of the mountain.”

“At the bottom…? So you came here alone?”

“Yeah. It was dangerous for two people so I came alone.”

“…”

Deep concern showed on Hwang Da-yeon’s face.

“Don’t worry. I’m stronger than Teacher.”

“You’re joking at a time like this…”

“Would I?”

Saying that, Min Do-jun untied the ropes binding her hands and feet.

*rustle rustle*

When he tore them apart with pure strength without using a knife, Hwang Da-yeon showed a surprised expression.

‘Is this what it means to be a hunter…?’

Though she didn’t know how strong Min Do-jun was, now wasn’t the time to be picky.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

As Hwang Da-yeon stood from the chair and tried to walk.

“Wait.”

Min Do-jun stopped her.

“We need to escape as quickly as possible, so excuse me.”

“What do you me- Ah!”

Before she could speak, Min Do-jun swept her up in his arms.

“Better not to look ahead.”

Before she could understand the meaning of those words, Min Do-jun carried her up from the basement.

Just then, a Black Sea Guild member coming out of the bathroom looked at them with a startled face.

“W-who are you!”

Instead of answering, Min Do-jun launched Fire Blast.

[First Strike effect doubles damage.]

[Hunter Slayer trait effect doubles damage.]

The damage amplified 4 times total struck the guild member’s face.

*whoosh*

“Aaaaargh!”

Hwang Da-yeon, accidentally seeing him rolling on the ground trying to extinguish his burning face, squeezed her eyes shut.

Now she understood Min Do-jun’s words about not looking ahead.

[You have killed Hunter Nam Gung-hyun.]

[Stolen trait ‘Intermediate Resistance’.]

[Stolen 7 equipment items.]

[Current kills: 50/50]

[All stats increased by 50%.]

[Time remaining: 59 minutes 59 seconds]

Along with stealing the trait and equipment, the Avatar of War buff duration reset.

‘Good. Now I don’t have to worry about the buff running out.’

Just then, the door burst open.

“What’s going on!”

The guild member waiting outside had come in hearing the screams.

Though his hands weren’t free while carrying Hwang Da-yeon, Min Do-jun had magic.

‘Gust Blade.’

*whoosh*

Ten blades instantly generated and shot out moving like living creatures.

*slash* *slash*

The guild member at the door collapsed limply as his limbs were severed.

At the horrible sound of something being cut, Hwang Da-yeon buried her face in Min Do-jun’s chest.

[You have killed Hunter Seo Jin-ho.]

[Stolen trait ‘Iron Will’.]

[Stolen 8 equipment items.]

Though he gained traits and equipment, there was no time to check them.

‘Eliminated all forces in the cabin.’

Now just had to escape safely.

Min Do-jun quickly left the cabin.

Though the forces at the villa looked over late hearing the commotion, Min Do-jun was already descending the mountain.

Trees and bushes passed quickly as he ran at full speed.

“Ungh!”

They moved so fast that Hwang Da-yeon in his arms groaned from the air resistance.

“Bear with it a little, we’re almost there.”

Despite running at incredible speed while carrying someone, Min Do-jun showed no signs of strain.

Shortly after, they safely arrived where Hwang Ui-chul was waiting.

As Min Do-jun put Hwang Da-yeon down, the car door burst open.

“D-Da-yeon!”

Seeing Hwang Ui-chul getting out of the car, Hwang Da-yeon burst into tears.

“D-Dad! *sob*”

Father and daughter embraced, savoring their reunion.

As if competing to see who could cry more, neither’s tears showed signs of stopping.

“I’m sorry, Da-yeon. Dad is so sorry.”

“*sob* I was so scared, Dad.”

“Are you hurt anywhere? Did they do anything to you…”

“No, they didn’t.”

“Phew, thank goodness. Thank goodness.”

That’s when Min Do-jun stepped between them.

“Teacher. We should go now. They’ll be chasing us soon.”

Though he wanted to give the father and daughter more time, now wasn’t the time for this.

“Right, okay. Da-yeon, get in quickly.”

Just as they were about to get in the car and leave.

“Agh!”

Hwang Da-yeon suddenly screamed.

“Da-yeon! What’s wrong?”

“Ugh… N-no. My head suddenly hurts… Aaaagh!”

Hwang Da-yeon screamed again in agony.

“Da-yeon! Are you hurt somewhere?”

Hwang Ui-chul hurriedly checked his daughter’s head but found no wounds.

“Aaagh! Aaaaah!”

Still, Hwang Da-yeon just clutched her head as if having a severe headache.

“Aaaaaaagh! It hurts! Dad!”

“Oh no, Da-yeon…”

Hwang Ui-chul could only pace anxiously seeing his daughter in constant pain.

With her severe headache, there was nothing he could do.

That’s when.

*ring ring*

A call came to Hwang Ui-chul’s phone.

“Da-yeon, hold on a little. We’ll get to the hospital quickly.”

Hwang Ui-chul tried to start the car, ignoring the incoming call.

*ring ring*

“Damn it, who at a time like…”

About to reject the call, Hwang Ui-chul froze seeing the caller ID.

It showed “Lovely Daughter.”

‘The person with my daughter’s phone…’

There was only one person.

Hwang Ui-chul immediately answered.

“Ahn Kwang-hyun.”

-Why so slow answering the phone?

“You b*st*rd, what did you do to our daughter.”

Hwang Ui-chul thought Ahn Kwang-hyun was responsible for his daughter’s pain.

Otherwise she wouldn’t be hurting like this.

“Did you drug her?”

-Hehehe, drug her? Didn’t even give her a sip of water.

“What did you give her to make her like this!”

“Aaaagh!”

Even as Hwang Ui-chul shouted, his daughter continued suffering.

-Such lovely screams.

“You b*st*rd…”

-Don’t get too angry. You broke the promise first, right? I told you to come alone but you brought some nobody hunter, snatched the goods. Even killed our guild members in the process. If anyone should be angry, it’s me.

“I told you. Touch even a hair on our daughter and I’ll kill you.”

-Right. But won’t your daughter die before you kill me?

“…”

Hwang Ui-chul looked at his daughter in the passenger seat.

As a father, his heart broke seeing her suffering in cold sweat.

-I’ll overlook you killing our guild members and taking your daughter. The deal is still valid.

“There is no deal.”

With those words, Hwang Ui-chul tried to end the call.

Better to get her to a hospital as quickly as possible rather than waste time.

Though he didn’t know what drug Ahn Kwang-hyun had given her, a healing awakened one should be able to recover her somehow.

-Ah ah, you don’t think taking her to the hospital will cure her? Only I can save your daughter.

“Bullshit.”

-You don’t know, but I have a special ability. Can’t explain in detail but roughly it’s an ability to inflict pain remotely… Your daughter’s suffering is all because of this ability. Healing awakened ones? I guarantee they absolutely can’t remove it. Only I can cancel it.

“We’ll see about…”

-Well, regret it if you want and go to the hospital. But can your daughter hold out until you reach the hospital? It’s the countryside so it’ll take at least an hour to reach one.

“…”

-I’m giving you a chance to save your daughter. You’ll regret it for life if she dies from your stubbornness, right?

“…So what do you want me to do?”

-Come here as promised and hand over the sword. Then I’ll save your daughter.

“How can I trust you? You might be lying after giving her some strange drug?”

-Believe it or not is up to you, but do you have a choice?

“…”

-Well, not that I can’t prove it.

After saying that, Ahn Kwang-hyun was silent briefly before continuing.

-I just stopped your daughter’s pain. Check. Though I haven’t completely removed it, so don’t relax.

Hwang Ui-chul turned his head with wide eyes at those words.

Hwang Da-yeon who had been screaming until just now was quietly catching her breath.

“You really can control pain remotely…”

-Now you believe?

“…Is it some kind of curse?”

-No need to know that. Now come to the villa as promised. But come alone. If you bring that nobody hunter who killed our guild members…

“Aaaagh!”

Hwang Da-yeon screamed again.

-Your daughter will die in agony.

With those words, the call ended.

Hwang Da-yeon kept groaning as if the pain had started again.

Hwang Ui-chul had no other choice.

“Do-jun, I’ll go so you stay here with Da-yeon…”

“Teacher.”

Min Do-jun cut him off and spoke in a serious voice.

“You can’t go. That’s exactly what he wants.”

“Then are you telling me to just watch here? While my daughter suffers like this?”

“Do you think he’ll keep his promise if you hand over the sword? Seems he can control pain remotely. He could temporarily stop the pain then lie about removing it.”

“Then what do we do? There’s no other way, no way!”

“Leave it to me. I’ll take care of him.”

Just then, the phone rang again.

It was Ahn Kwang-hyun.

-That nobody hunter is next to you, right?

“…”

-Put him on.

When Min Do-jun took the phone, he first heard mocking laughter.

-Hehehe, such confidence for a young punk? What? You’ll take care of me?

“…!”

Min Do-jun couldn’t hide his surprised expression.

‘How did he know? Did he plant hidden cameras in the car?’

Before he could collect his shocked emotions, Ahn Kwang-hyun spoke:

-You probably know my name so you must have checked my level. Yet such confidence… Your level must be around 2,500?

“I’ll kill you.”

-Hehehe. Nice spirit. I’m so scared! But what can you do? You won’t get a chance to fight me. Because I absolutely won’t remove the pain unless Hwang Ui-chul comes.

“…”

-Put him back on.

When Hwang Ui-chul took the phone, Ahn Kwang-hyun said:

-I’ll say it once more – if you don’t come alone, I won’t remove the curse? Right. The curse you mentioned. I warned you clearly. Choose wisely.

“…”

After the call ended, Hwang Ui-chul looked at Min Do-jun as if he had no choice.

“In this situation, I have to go alone. Give the sword back.”