The Late Game Healer Is Way Too Strong – Chapter 192

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗𝟐: 𝐀 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 3

“In the name of Edward C. Blackwood, Chairman of the 〈HSIU International Headquarters〉, I hereby appoint Hunter Min Siwoo as a Special-Grade Agent.”

Siwoo was recognized for his role in uncovering the conspiracy, and was promoted from Senior Agent to Special-Grade.

It was the only promotion amid the many demotions, punishments, and ongoing investigations.

Some might have argued that it was an overly hasty promotion, but no one objected since his achievements went beyond apprehending criminals to safeguarding the very foundation of HSIU.

Special-Grade agents were among the highest-ranking agents within the headquarters.

Including Harold, there were only nine of them, and no one had been promoted in recent years. Siwoo became the tenth Special-Grade agent.

Fortunately, none of the Special-Grade agents had dealings with 〈Pandemonium〉.

However, there were a few at the Senior, Intermediate, and Junior levels, so reinforcements were needed.

In such a situation, having an internationally renowned Hunter like Siwoo become a Special-Grade agent could prevent HSIU’s reputation from plummeting.

As a Special-Grade agent, Siwoo was given a house near the headquarters.

It was a modern two-story house on a hill, a strategic support measure for his frequent commutes to the headquarters. However, he gratefully accepted the free house.

The cool morning air felt refreshing on his face.

“Guild Leader, are you sure it’s okay for me to come with you?”

Siwoo looked up at the question as he stretched in the yard.

Choi Kang-yul was looking at him with an awkward expression.

“Of course. You’ve been recommended by the 〈HSIU International Headquarters〉’s Special-Grade agent, and by four major Korean guilds.”

“But. . . there must be many Hunters in Korea who are better than me. . . .”

“It’s fine. I recommended you because you’re good. I wouldn’t have recommended you in the first place if you weren’t.”

Choi Kang-yul had been selected to participate in the ‘World Hunter Comprehensive Ability Measurement Competition’ thanks to Siwoo’s strong recommendation.

Since he was a newcomer with no previous ranking, it was natural that his abilities were difficult to predict.

Usually, those who were recommended and participated in the competition would showcase their talents and bring honor to the recommending organization.

Since it would be embarrassing for both the Awakener and the recommending organization if they failed to make an impact, a certain level of performance was essential.

As Choi Kang-yul was the only one recommended from South Korea, his burden was far from exaggerated.

“I will risk my life to meet your expectations.”

“Why go that far? Just do what you normally do.”

“That’s why. . . may I ask for some training before participating in the ranking matches?”

“I was thinking of doing that anyway. I heard from Lo-an that you took down Crowel with a single blow?”

“That was pure luck. . . .”

Choi Kang-yul scratched his head sheepishly.

The suppression of Crowel had been entirely Lo-an’s plan.

It was obvious that if Lo-an and Choi Kang-yul appeared at the same time, the opponent would desperately try to escape.

Therefore, they created a one-on-one scenario where Lo-an would first exhaust Crowel’s strength, and then Choi Kang-yul would appear and subdue him.

The plan had worked perfectly.

“Have you been circulating your mana every day as I instructed?”

“Yes, I have. I’ve been practicing diligently every day.”

“Is that so? Then let’s start with a mana shield.”

Choi Kang-yul opened his dantian, drew out his mana, and began to weave it tightly.

Like creating a chainmail armor, he layered thin sheets of mana, creating a shield that nothing could penetrate.

Siwoo smiled as he watched.

He then drew Balmung from his belt and slashed diagonally with lightning speed.

Swo━━osh!!

“Ah. . . .”

Choi Kang-yul couldn’t close his mouth.

The mana shield he had created was cleanly sliced through by Siwoo’s single sword strike.

Moreover, the mana infused into Balmung was far less than the amount used to construct the mana shield.

“How is this even possible. . . .”

“The shield itself wasn’t bad. But it’s too honest and monotonous in its structure.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Instead of just layering multiple shields, create gaps between the shields. And rotate each shield in a different direction.”

Siwoo demonstrated it himself.

The mana shield he constructed began to rotate rapidly.

He then created another shield and rotated it in a different direction, and likewise, he constructed one more layer of shield and rotated it in a new direction.

“Attack me with anything.”

“Yes, sir.”

Choi Kang-yul charged his fist with mana and swung it with all his might at Siwoo.

A streak of lightning flashed horizontally, accompanied by the sound of wind being cut.

Zzzzzziiiiiiing!!

Siwoo swallowed a chuckle at the surprisingly powerful blow, but he didn’t let it show.

It was typical of Choi Kang-yul to follow orders diligently and bluntly.

However, Choi Kang-yul’s eyes widened in surprise, for a different reason than Siwoo’s.

He had been told to attack with anything, so he had charged his fist with mana and swung it. . . .

“I didn’t expect it to not even scratch the shield.”

That was understandable, as the amount of mana Siwoo’s shield exuded was incredibly weak.

In a normal clash, it would have been shattered, not scratched.

“It’s not a method that works against all attacks, but by rotating the shields, you can significantly reduce mana consumption.”

【𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐈 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮.】

“Well. . . I did provide the idea.”

Siwoo looked at Pre with an unpleasant expression.

【𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫! 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫!】

“Does anyone just become rank 1?”

【𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭! 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐏𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐫!】

━Heehing!

Watching the two thumb-sized dolls play intimately, Siwoo felt his spirits sink for some reason.

“By the way, where did Hunter Lo-an go?”

“Oh, he went to his players’ village.”

“Yes. . .?”

“It’s like a temporary special pardon. For now, try constructing a shield and rotating it.”

“Yes, sir!”

Choi Kang-yul initially embarked on his training with enthusiasm, but he soon realized the true extent of Siwoo’s training and deeply regretted it.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

A gloomy and damp dungeon.

The occasional sound of water dripping from the ceiling and the squeaking of bats were the only sounds that filled this place, until recently joined by a scream.

It was a gut-wrenching scream, as if a beast was vomiting its insides.

Diakan, who had been hung on the wall with his limbs bound in iron chains, screamed again at the sudden pain.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!”

He screamed so hard that his throat was torn and blood gushed out.

“My, my, ah, children. De, delicious, eat, eat.”

The sensation of worms crawling through his skin and devouring his flesh drove his mind to madness.

The worms, each as small as a thumb, moved all over Diakan’s body, fulfilling their role.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaagh!! St, stop it, p, please!!”

“We, we, ah, children. Eat, m, mother, mother.”

Rokuten, the insect manipulator, smiled pleasantly as he placed the worms on his hand.

It had been several days since his worms had been tormenting Diakan.

Diakan was currently undergoing torture as punishment for his recent string of failures.

Some would often go mad or die from shock while writhing in pain, but as long as he held out, he could keep his position.

“Stop.”

At that moment, a deep voice echoed through the darkness of the cave.

“Ye, yes, st, stop it.”

Rokuten flicked his fingers and retrieved the worms that had burrowed into Diakan’s body.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaagh!! Kyeeeeeeeegh!!”

The excruciating pain of the worms exiting was just as horrible as the pain when they had burrowed in.

Diakan trembled violently as he raised his head towards the man in front of him.

“Foolish and dull.”

A wave of majestic momentum from the voice swept over Diakan’s body.

“Keuk. . . .!”

It was just a voice, but Diakan felt as if he was being consumed by the other’s overwhelming aura.

If he couldn’t break free, he would surely die.

“M-Master. . . p, please spare me. . . .! Gulp. . . I, I can’t breathe. . .!”

“Do you dare call yourself my subordinate? With such pitiful abilities, not even as good as these worms?”

“I’m sorry. . . . Please spare my life. . . . Keuk. . . .!”

“You’ve failed at everything you’ve been tasked with. Yet you seem to value your life. You filthy, disgusting creature.”

“Heuk. . . .! M-Master. . . please. . . . Please, have mercy. . .!”

The one called master clicked his tongue and lowered his momentum.

Diakan gasped for breath and lowered his eyes, not daring to look directly at him.

In his current state, he could die just from the glare of master’s sharp eyes.

“You mobilized the 4th Hierarchy fledglings and failed to kill him, and you lost all of the 4th Hierarchy members.”

“. . . .Yes.”

“Moreover, because you failed to eliminate him, we couldn’t obtain the HSIU headquarters.”

“I-I’m sorry. . . .”

“Do you know how much damage 〈Pandemonium〉 has suffered because of that Min Siwoo?”

The deaths of the 4th Hierarchy members themselves were not a major blow to the organization.

However, as Min Siwoo’s existence grew like a snowball, the damage to the organization also increased exponentially.

In particular, the failure to secure the HSIU headquarters this time was a truly painful outcome.

How much time and money had they poured into Cargill Juan and his associates, only to have the results overturned in an instant?

Because of this, the 2nd Hierarchy members of 〈Pandemonium〉 were currently holding a meeting.

“We trusted in your insignificant abilities and supported you both materially and financially. Yet you dare to tarnish the prestige of the organization.”

The master’s voice rose in anger as he spoke.

Crack!!

Diakan’s limbs were torn apart and his bones shattered.

“Keuaaagh. . . . Kyaaaaaaaaaagh. . . .! M-Master. . .!!”

Blood spurted from his mouth and his joints bent at unnatural angles.

The master quickly waved his hand and lowered his momentum.

“Remember this, Diakan. There is no next time, there truly won’t be. If you don’t want to become a body that can’t die even if it wants to, you must succeed unconditionally. You would do well to take my words seriously.”

“Y-Yes, I, I will. Master. . . .”

“Hmph!”

The master swished his black robe and disappeared into the darkness.

A moment later.

A shadow stirred in the corner and a familiar figure emerged.

“My, my. You’ve been beaten up pretty badly. Diakan, you’re not dead, are you?”

“Keuk. . . .! Penel. . .shul. . . .”

“You’ve incurred the wrath of the 1st Hierarchy.”

Penelshul muttered as he read the mana remaining in the space.

The one called master.

In other words, the 1st Hierarchy of 〈Pandemonium〉, whose anger was imprinted on the mana that permeated the organization.

“I brought you a potion. Drink it.”

Penelshul released the chains that had been binding Diakan’s body and poured a potion into his mouth.

“Thank you. . . . . . .”

“Kukukuk. What’s there to thank.”

“This time. . . . I really thought I was going to die. . . .”

“The master was angry, so it was to be expected. Now you must cherish your life.”

Diakan nodded with a haggard expression.

“How much of the plan has been completed. . .?’

“Kukukuk. It’s almost done. You could say it’s 99% complete.”

Penelshul smiled broadly, his lips curling up.

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