The Gardener in a Hunter World - Chapter 32

Disclaimer: This is an edited MTL. Thus, I can’t guarantee that my editing to be proficient. But I hope you enjoy this story with me. If there are any corrections, it is highly encourage to leave a comment.

T/n: Another extra chapter from panvang.

When the Outer Giant Dungeon opened again, few people believed that the Eternal Flame Guild would try again.

There were no deaths, but it is known that they suffered a lot.

The outer giant’s iron-wall-like defense prevented all attacks except for the beam that returned to him.

In front of the impenetrable castle, the hunters could only watch some insect-type monsters devour it and run.

Except for HwaYeon, everyone agreed that the fact that there were no fatalities was thanks to the guy who pulled the aggro.

When the Outer Giant Dungeon reopened, instructions were sent to the nearby military base.

 

—Catastrophe is unavoidable. Don’t expect to be able to deal with disaster grade monsters without taking any damage. Mobilize all available firepower when he appears.

 

The government’s will to blow it aways before any damage increases was so firm.

The elite hunters of the Five Star Alliance and the Union came out, but in the end, they had to come out without catching the outer giant.

Now the catastrophe is imminent.

An evacuation order was issued, and nearby residents were evacuated.

As the tank’s main weapon was heading towards the gate, a red-haired woman suddenly appeared.

Cha HwaYeon immediately negotiated with the commander of the military unit.

“I’m going back in, so please stop the troops.”

“Didn’t you fail last time?”

“I don’t fail twice, because this time, I came fully prepared.”

The words “Why didn’t you do that from the beginning?” surged up to the commander’s throat, but he couldn’t

utter it.

Because the opponent is a single number hunter.

He has to watch his mouth because the one in front of him is like nobles who support the present Republic of Korea.

The commander was obliged to give permission on condition.

“Regardless of whether the hunters enter or not, the shooting will start as soon as the outer giant appears. You have to avoid it on your own.”

“There will be no catastrophe.”

“It would be great if that was the case but call the 31st troops!”

As the soldiers retreated from around the gate, the Eternal Flame guild members drew closer.

Kim HyungSeok hurriedly ran and asked.

“Cha guild leader, are you sure? Anyone can see that this is reckless.”

“Don’t worry, there is a sure way. Because I don’t throw eggs to a rock1Doing unnecessary things.”

Suspicion flashed in his eyes.

“What……?”

“It’s a secret, so let’s stick together. If no one was here, I would have embarrassed to call you. Good for you.”

“I won’t go in unless you tell me.”

“Ha… Really. This is it.”

HyungSeok’s eyes widened as HwaYeon took the scroll out of her arms.

“Is this before?”

“I got it from that person’s shop, so the performance is certain. Just drag the aggro.”

HyungSeok called his subordinates with a bright voice.

Even if they were subordinates, they were all hunters, so they didn’t like to hit rocks with eggs.

However, they seemed to be tempted to hear that there was a scroll obtained from Ji-Ha’s shop.

“Aren’t the magicians going crazy?”

“Someone said that they had used it in a Category 2 dungeon before, so they hit the ground and regretted it.”

“I heard that a strange insect helps, so it’s worth a try.”

The world first clear of an outer giant dungeon?

Even a supporting actor, not the leading actor, will receives a lot of attention.

It is worthwhile to try as the ranking rises with high points.

Hunters who judged so gathered behind HyungSeok.

“We’ll be the first one to clear. Let’s go in.”

CheolHeon was puzzled that HwaYeon’s attitude was different from usual.

In this case, it was normal to emphasize ‘I’ rather than ‘we’.

It was also strange that HyungSeok was obedient when asked.

Normally, he would have been half-willed to just follow her because he would take care of it himself.

‘There’s something.’

Soon, the hunters entered the gate.

The officials watched them with concern.

 

***

 

There was no catastrophe.

HwaYeon finished the outer giant by melting it with reflection and the quest was cleared.

The two guild members exited the gate triumphantly.

The commanders of the military units were dumbfounded and cut off their troops.

 

—Cancel the catastrophic alert, lift the evacuation order, and withdraw all but guard troops.

 

Now, only administrative procedures remain.

Such as organizing latecomers and scraping the resources inside.

Hwayeon came on the media spotlight.

The robe she was wearing was messed up with dirt and her gorgeous red hair had turned brown, but her expression was brighter than ever.

“How was the situation in there, Ms. Cha?”

“What do you think as the world’s first clear of an outer giant dungeon?”

“China said it was absolutely impossible, what tactic was effective?”

Kim HyungSeok and Choi CheolHeon waited for her self-praise.

There is a repertoire that comes out every time she breaks the record in the dungeon

Just retelling of how strong and awesome she is, so the reporters didn’t expect too much.

But today’s screen is a little different.

“Our success today would not have been possible without one helper.”

“…Yes?”

The bewildered reporters murmured.

Was Cha HwaYeon this kind of character?

The one who was condescending in every interview?

Whether they were embarrassed or not, HwaYeon’s words continued.

“He didn’t want anything. Just said it’s his job to help me and you. Everyone should know that he is a very frustrating and poor person, but in reality, everyone should know that he is not, because we owe him big or small.”

“Who is that person?”

Someone asked that question, but HwaYeon didn’t answer and stepped back from the microphone.

It was strange for her to refer to herself as ‘I’, but it was also unusual for her not to push the microphone.

Anyway, today was a weird work.

HyungSeok and CheolHeon, walking behind HwaYeon, exchanged glances.

Probably that person?

He is right.

He is the only person who will give the scroll to HwaYeon and receive nothing.

HyungSeok laughed in vain.

‘The resources from the dungeon of an outer giant are close to tens of billions. And yet, he…’

Apparently HwaYeon bought the scroll and didn’t give anything.

So, there’s an interview like that.

‘What a man.’

To soften Hwayeon’s arrogant and sharp attitude was really amazing.

HyungSeok was busy walking and ordered finish up the rest.

Hwayeon was seen driving her car to go somewhere.

If it’s her, it’s a nearby pub and have a nice drink, but how about today?

CheolHeon came and said to him,

“I think she’s going home today because she’s tired.”

“I think I know where she’s going.”

“Perhaps…”

“There, I guess.”

The two looked at the direction of the general store in District 7 at the same time.

 

***

 

“It’s me.”

Someone in a high voice knocked on the door.

Strange. The main character of this voice wouldn’t come out like this.

Ji-Ha said that it was okay to come in with a lunchbox.

All the hunters went into an emergency because of the dungeon of the outer giant so his shop was quiet.

Sliding-

The door opened and HwaYeon… No, a different version of HwaYeon appeared.

She wears a suit and kills heels as relatively ordinary outfit.

“Welcome.”

“I’m sorry, I came after the outer giant clear and that’s all you have to say?”

“Oh, you did it in the end. Good job.”

HwaYeon pouted her lips in response to Yoo Ji-Ha’s calm reaction and put her luggage on the table.

Beom showed interest and swung his forepaws, but he was repelled by her hand.

“I’m not going to give it to you, don’t be interested in people’s food, okay?”

It’s impossible for Beom to understand human speech, but it doesn’t seem to be the case when you look at his mandibles.

Yoo Ji-Ha asked with his eyes wide open.

“What did you bring?”

“What is this?”

Hwayeon looked at the lunch box on the table instead of speaking.

The lid is translucent, so she can roughly see what’s inside.

It was finished with kimchi, various side dishes, and boiled fish on plain rice.

He’s eating this?

A hunter with ancient language interpretation and ancient magic skills?

…Somehow, she felt depressed.

“It’s rice. Eating rice.”

HwaYeon puts out two lunch boxes on the table.

It was a very luxuriously packaged lunch box, which was different from what Ji-Ha ate.

The contents in which the land, sea, and air met were very luxurious.

It’s Ji-Ha’s first time seeing beef steak.

“Wow, that’s amazing. Rich people eat this.”

But it wasn’t a very envious tone.

HwaYeon gently pushed his lunchbox and opened the lid of the lunchbox she brought and handed it over.

“You said you didn’t need anything, but this is okay, right?”

“If you give it to me, I will eat it with thanks.”

Fortunately, Yoo Ji-Ha did not refuse to eat.

The two sat down and ate.

HwaYeon carefully watched Ji-Ha eat.

‘That’s enough…….’

He has the impression of a boy with a soft line.

No matter how he put his old-fashioned glasses, she thinks he will be called a handsome man.

She reached for the glasses and Ji-Ha was startled.

It’s inconvenient to do so when they do not have a good relationship.

Instead, she pouted and grumbled.

“It was very difficult to catch the outer giant, but he didn’t even ask me.”

If anyone asks a question, it seems like she is thinking of bragging about it.

Ji-Ha laughed and praised her.

“It’s a disaster grade, so it’s going to be stronger than I could ever imagine. You really did a great job.”

“…well, it wasn’t just me who did the hard work. But there was something interesting. Listen.”

“What is it?”

HwaYeon excitedly talked about what happened in the dungeon.

A story bloomed in a small general store.

 

***

 

That night. Yoo Ji-Ha took a walk in the garden with Beom.

“I thought it was a little wider than before, but it wasn’t, right?”

Wow. 

Not just a little, but at least several times wider.

The warm sunlight fell on the thousands of pyeong of land.

With a chirp from somewhere.

‘A bird is here.’

As the garden expanded, not only insects, but also birds and small animals roamed around.

Yoo Ji-Ha was amazed to see a small bird fly down and prey on the insects attached to the plant stems.

If this garden is a microcosm of Gehenna, it would be safe to say that it is in a process of ecosystem restoration.

‘But they don’t have a buff.’

Is it because he didn’t think he would eat it?

Everything found in the sea had a buff, but on insects and birds did not exist.

Seriously, where is that little bird getting something to eat?

The two walked around and found a small lake.

There was a sound of a waterfall somewhere, but he couldn’t see it.

‘The water is very clear. I can drink it.’

Beom got away from Ji-Ha and wandered around the lake.

He sometimes behaves like that when there is a space he likes.

Then, as if he had found a frog, he jumped up to Ji-Ha and hung on his back.

‘Butler! Do something about that!’ expression

As he got closer, he saw a large frog sitting.

When he put it on the palm of his hand and showed it to Beom, he started kicking and freaking out.

Do you have any memories of being abused in the past?

The two returned to the world tree after watching the fish in the lake.

As he looked at the large and lush grown sun apple tree, Yoo Ji-Ha had a different thought.

‘How about raising them on Earth?’

Sun apples also have seeds.

What would happen if he grew it on Earth? It was his curiosity.

He also wanted to grow earth’s crops in this garden.

Quite a variety of crops are grown in the garden next to the World Tree, but something is missing.

Peppers, lettuce, eggplants and cucumbers…There are so many things to plant.

If this garden has the power to speed up growth tremendously, it will grow in no time.

‘It’s not just me who eats it, but it’s good if I give some to the locals as well.’

He sighs that it is difficult to gather wild vegetables these days.

He wanted to see them happy because there were a lot of things that they usually take care of.

‘OK’

Let’s move if we’ve decided.

Yoo Ji-Ha rolled up his sleeves and started picking fruits.