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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 15: The Navigator and the Peculiar Spirit (4)
-You mean, Mulhoe?
"Yeah, Mulhoe."
In response to the question dripping with deep resentment, he nodded without hesitation.
Her tone had been cold and expressionless, which made him think she had no feelings.
But the moment he gave her a name, her expression flipped 180 degrees.
-....
Staring daggers at Yeonwoo with eyes burning with discontent, the navigator named Mulhoe.
"You don’t like it?"
-Owner.
"It’s Yeonwoo. Park Yeonwoo. Just call me Yeonwoo."
When he casually cut her off, she let out a sigh.
-I like it, Yeonwoo. It’s a very refreshing name.
Grit.
Clenching her teeth and glaring, she looked pissed, and Yeonwoo replied flatly,
"What is it?"
"Yeonwoo, by human standards, you’re very good-looking."
His eyes twitched at the sudden flattery.
Something felt off.
It was that anxious kind of feeling, like a bomb was about to go off.
-Are you by any chance a pedophile?
At her words, Yeonwoo's head snapped around.
That nagging discomfort he’d been suppressing finally exploded.
"What?"
-Didn’t you know? It varies by hunter, but the form I appear in is based on your ideal type. But four or five years old? I know human psychology is complex, but according to the data I’ve accessed, people attracted to those under age five are categorized as pedophiles…
Before she could finish, Yeonwoo shot her a fierce glare.
Even without power, the aura of a transcendent didn’t fade.
She flinched under the pressure as Yeonwoo growled lowly,
"Remember this well. I’m not a pedophile. I’ve got completely normal tastes, so don’t forget it."
His words carried desperate energy, as if trying to clear up a vile misunderstanding.
Yet Mulhoe didn’t drop her smile.
In fact, looking closely, it even had a hint of mockery.
-But I possess a body formed according to your ideal image. And this form, at best, looks about five years old. Just a snot-nosed little kid.
"That just means the Cube System is defective. And don’t go belittling your own form. No matter how it turned out, that appearance reflects the most beautiful person in the world."
-That’s…
At the unexpected compliment, Mulhoe flinched and stepped back.
She couldn't bring herself to speak, but her dissatisfaction was obvious.
Maybe out of pride, she’d already said she liked it, so now she couldn’t ask him to change it.
From Mulhoe’s perspective, this was pure injustice.
"Anyway, what are your functions?"
-I was born with a basic set of knowledge. I’m supposed to help you blend into society without issue and provide necessary information.
Puffing her cheeks slightly, she continued,
-My function is to check your current condition in place of the Cube System, and to provide information and advice necessary for your development as a master. In addition, I can identify monsters’ names, general characteristics and level, and also provide navigation.
"Navigation’s useful. I suck at finding my way around. I’ll be counting on you."
-It is I who should be grateful. First, I’ll explain the Master System. It includes details about hunters’ sub-stats and your current skills…
As what seemed to be a never-ending explanation began, Yeonwoo raised a hand to stop her.
For most people, in-depth knowledge about a hunter’s system is rare.
So the explanation is necessary, but not for Yeonwoo.
"I already know all that, so you don’t need to explain."
-You... do?
"I’m a reawakened case. I already have all that knowledge, so don’t worry about it."
Yeonwoo said it so nonchalantly that Mulhoe looked puzzled and stepped back in confusion.
-That... that can’t be. The Master System is engraved onto the soul. Some hunters awaken long ago and only now get their navigator, but awakening again from scratch is…
Mulhoe was clearly shaken, so Yeonwoo just chuckled.
"What matters now is you. Your existence."
-My existence?
Just a moment ago she was sulking, but now that she had something to answer, her eyes sparkled.
That’s a navigator for you, born for information.
"Back when I was active, there were no navigators like you. So why were your kind created? What’s the purpose behind the Hunter System?"
To that, she closed her mouth.
-That’s…
As expected, she couldn’t answer easily.
Yeonwoo sighed.
Having a navigator didn’t seem that useful after all.
They said they created personalities, but her’s seemed full of holes.
"You’re not allowed to say?"
-It’s not that... I just don’t know. That knowledge isn’t part of me. Probably not part of any other navigator either.
With her head hanging low, she looked dejected.
Considering what she was meant to be, her reaction made sense.
"Then give me a rough overview of the current Hunter situation. From when Hunters first appeared till now."
-Excuse me, may I ask why you want that information?
"I’ve been cut off from the world for a while."
His tone made it clear enough questions, just explain.
She quietly nodded.
-In 2020, what humans call monster appearances and the First Hellgate incident occurred. Are you familiar with that part?
"Yeah."
Maybe because she’d found a purpose, the corners of her mouth trembled upward in a tiny smile.
Yeonwoo thought Mulhoe was strangely unserious, but oddly not unpleasant.
-Records say the appearance of monsters caused tremendous damage to Earth. Though hunters existed, many were non-combat types, so the situation didn’t improve.
She continued, eyes closed, speaking slowly as if reading something.
-But everything changed in August 2023, three years later, with the Overdrive phenomenon.
"Overdrive?"
-That’s what humans call it. Didn’t you witness it? It was a massive multicolored explosion across a wide area.
At her words, Yeonwoo’s brow furrowed seriously.
A multicolored explosion, an event he could never forget.
Because it was the event that changed his life completely.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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