Chapter 25 – Count to Three Hundred

‘S-class?’

It was an S-class dagger item. Thanks to that, Hee-na temporarily forgot her worries about her brother and her hands trembled.

“Since Miss Hee-na’s brother is in trouble, we cannot leave like this.”

Kang Jin-hyun knelt on one knee and slowly spoke to Hee-na, whose eyes had grown round.

“Sit here and slowly count to 300. Also, this dagger is given in case of emergency, and you won’t actually have to use it.”

“Hunter Kang Jin-hyun?”

“I will resolve this matter quickly and return. Even if you hear unpleasant noises, it would be better not to look back.”

“Pardon?”

Before Hee-na could fully understand his words, Kang Jin-hyun stood up.

“Do not worry.”

And in an instant, he vanished, as if blending into the shadows.

*Bang!* At the same time, the sound of something exploding rang out.

“Ack!”

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

Painful screams tore through the air. Hee-na squatted with her back against the rock, blinking as she listened to the sounds.

‘What is going on?’

She was shocked, then saddened, then flustered, and now left alone. So many emotions had swept past in an instant that she was dazed.

“It’s an intruder! Block him!”

Only after hearing someone shout that Kang Jin-hyun was an intruder did Hee-na snap to her senses.

‘He plunged into the middle of enemy territory to save my brother.’

Gratitude and worry mingled together. Hee-na perked up her ears, tightly gripping the S-class Dagger of Protection Kang Jin-hyun had given her.

Kang Jin-hyun had said he would return by the time Hee-na slowly counted to 300.

Although it sounded like a bluff, hearing the brutal sounds of battle and the screams of people from behind, it did not seem to be complete nonsense.

‘Just how is he dealing with so many people?’

Torn between anxiety and curiosity, Hee-na hesitated whether to look back or not.

Her hesitation did not last long, because her brother’s voice was heard.

“It’s an ally! Let’s go and help too!”

Her brother’s voice rang clearly throughout the open-pit mine.

Although Kang Jin-hyun had told her not to look back, she had no choice but to turn around upon hearing that voice. Her affection for her only remaining blood relative was too deep.

Hee-na hid behind the rock and watched the situation.

‘Brother!’

Her brother was there. He was shouting while supporting a collapsed man over his shoulder.

The worn-out pickaxe looked inadequate to stand against the watchmen’s powerful weapons, but her brother attacked the opponent skillfully.

“Bring it on!”

“Let’s escape from here!”

Since Hee-na’s brother started moving first, the laborers rose up one after another. Although their bodies were exhausted, the hope that they could escape made them strong.

‘Where is Hunter Kang Jin-hyun?’

Meanwhile, Hee-na turned her gaze here and there, looking for Kang Jin-hyun.

However, fitting for an S-class combat Hunter, he was not easily spotted. Instead, pools of blood gathered where he passed by.

Kang Jin-hyun was like a grim reaper.

‘It seems as if hands stretch out from the shadows and crush the people.’

It was a brutal sight. Once a shadow brushed past someone’s back, that person met death without fail.

Their heads exploded, or a part of their body turned into black ash and crumbled. It was an ability unbelievable to belong to the strength of a human being.

Since it was like computer graphics in a movie, it did not even feel realistic.

“Argh! I don’t want to die—!”

“Spare me!”

“Aaargh!”

The open-pit mine turned into a pandemonium in an instant. As about ten armed Hunters were helplessly defeated, fear crept into the enemies while hope dawned on the allies.

“We can get out!”

The laborers ambushed the watchmen from behind.

Hee-na’s brother also joined one of the groups to suppress the enemies. Hee-na watched the sight with a racing heart, worried that her brother might get hurt.

‘I want to help somehow too!’

In her heart, she wanted to rush out right away and join that group. However, being a D-class non-combatant with stats at the level of an ordinary person, Hee-na was bound to be a burden rather than a help even if she went there.

For Hee-na, there was no choice but to stamp her feet and watch the chaos.

‘Huh?’

It was then that she discovered a sniper aiming at her brother.

The sniper was hiding not far from Hee-na, shooting down the rioting people one by one.

It was not very strange that he aimed his gun barrel at Hee-na’s brother, who was actively participating in the situation.

The muzzle pointed at her brother, and his finger twitched as if it would pull the trigger any second.

And all these scenes appeared to Hee-na like slow motion.

‘No!’

Hee-na screamed internally.

Something was needed to stop the sniper. At least, she had to make the bullet go off course.

As soon as that thought arose, her hand moved on its own. There was no time to think.

“Brother!”

Hee-na threw the S-class Dagger of Protection in her hand with all her might. At the same time, a system window popped up in front of her eyes.

*Whoosh!*

The dagger that left Hee-na’s hand flew rapidly, cutting through the air.

It was a speed, power, and accuracy impossible with stats of 8 Stamina, 5 Strength, and 6 Agility.

It was the effect of the ‘Pest Extermination’ skill calibration.

“Geok!”

The sniper aiming at her brother was hit on the temple by the handle of the flying dagger and rolled over. Then, his body trembled a few times, and he lost consciousness.

“I did it!”

Hee-na clenched her fists tightly in joy that she had saved her brother.

Of course, she later remembered the fact that what she had thrown was an S-class item, but still, the S-class item was less precious than her brother’s life.

“Why is there a woman here?”

Meanwhile, a rough voice resounded from behind the rejoicing Hee-na. A chill ran down her spine.

“Gasp.”

Turning around, she saw three or four armed men standing there. They appeared to be one of the groups that had scattered to escape Kang Jin-hyun and the laborers.

“Is this bitch also in cahoots with that monster?”

The rough man brandished a sharp blade. Facing the unexpected threat, Hee-na froze completely like a mouse in front of a snake.

‘What should I do!’

She had just thrown away the dagger that Kang Jin-hyun had given her to protect her body.

When her brother was in danger, her body had moved automatically, but when she faced danger herself, her mind momentarily went blank and her body froze.

“Let’s finish her off quickly and go!”

A voice urging them on was heard, and the blade flashed. Hee-na closed her eyes tightly, anticipating the oncoming pain.

‘At least my brother is safe, so it’s fine!’

Just as she covered her face with both hands with that thought.

With a sharp whoosh of wind, a death scream resounded.

“Ack!”

And then, the sound of something collapsing with a thud was heard. It sounded as if a dismembered corpse was rolling.

‘Ugh…’

Hee-na flopped down, unable to take her hands away from her eyes. Soon, she felt a warm hand touching her shoulder.

“Are you alright?”

A familiar voice was heard. Only then did Hee-na slowly lower her hands and look ahead.

“Hunter Kang Jin-hyun…”

It was Kang Jin-hyun. His clothes were heavily stained with blood, though it was unknown whose it was.

“Where did you leave the dagger I gave you, and how did you become so defenseless?”

Kang Jin-hyun hid his blood-splattered clothes and grabbed Hee-na’s shoulders to turn her around. It was to prevent her from seeing the bloodbath created by slaughtering the people.

He was reluctant to show his brutal methods to civilians. It was because he worried that he might look like a monster rather than a human.

However, Hee-na did not find his appearance scary. Hee-na knew that the faint worry in his eyes was directed at her.

“The dagger… someone was trying to attack my brother, so I threw it at him. I didn’t lose it. It’s over there. If it got scratched, I will compensate you somehow.”

Instead, she felt intense guilt for using an S-class item like a throwing stone.

Hee-na pointed at the unconscious sniper.

“Because of that person, I was in such a hurry…”

Kang Jin-hyun looked down at Hee-na, who was acting like a restless puppy, and let out a low sigh.

“I was not saying that because of some cheap item. The lives of innocent people like Miss Hee-na are more important than some item.”

Then he reached out his hand and suddenly pulled the squatting Hee-na up.

“I have roughly sorted out the situation. Now, I plan to gather the forced laborers and head out to the gate together.”

Hee-na followed Kang Jin-hyun down the slope. The people belatedly recognized that the person who saved them was S-class Hunter Kang Jin-hyun.

“It’s Kang Jin-hyun!”

“Did he come to save us?”

“Who is the person behind Kang Jin-hyun?”

The shabbily dressed people whispered and glanced at Hee-na and Kang Jin-hyun.

However, they did not seem to have the courage to approach. It was because they had witnessed Kang Jin-hyun’s terrifying martial prowess right before their eyes.

Hee-na hurriedly moved her steps, not even noticing the people’s gazes. Only her brother, who looked significantly gaunt, was in her eyes.

“Brother!”

As she ran out calling her brother, the man who was examining his colleague’s wound raised his head abruptly. His eyes went wide.

“Hee-na? Why are you here…? No, am I dreaming right now?”

At that sight, Hee-na burst in frustration and shrieked.

“Hey, you fool, Lee Hee-won! Why are you the one here doing this?! You said you went to make money! But why are you staying here in this state?!”

“H-Hee-na?”

Hee-na’s brother, Lee Hee-won, stammered, and Kang Jin-hyun raised his eyebrows as if surprised by Hee-na’s appearance, which was like an excited Chihuahua.

Hee-na grabbed the collar of her brother, who was wearing rags, and shook him while crying.

“I really can’t deal with this! Since it’s fine if you just play and eat at home, quit all this Hunter nonsense or whatever from now on! Forget about money, I almost lost you, too, Brother! I can’t endure this anymore!”

“You worried a lot. I’m sorry, Hee-na.”

Hee-won carefully reached out his hand and patted his younger sister’s back.

At that familiar touch that used to soothe her since childhood, Hee-na finally burst out crying.

The Homemaker of the Dungeon