CHSE 18

Chapter 18

Thanks to the map function, I was able to hunt monsters freely without bumping into the Chinese hunters.

<About 150 meters to the left, there’s a lifeform reaction. Total count: four.>

“Chinese hunters. Let’s take a detour.”

Like this, I didn’t have to run into hostile hunters unnecessarily, which really made me realize just how convenient Save Earth’s map system was.

Not only could I check the positions of hunters from hostile nations, but also elite monsters and even rare resources found inside the Tower.

<All thanks to the grace of ‘Save Earth.’>

“Se-man.”

After collecting the thousand essences I had aimed for, I arrived at the village of the Snow Fairy.

“Hunter X.”

Chinese hunters were blocking my path as if they had been waiting for me.

Among them, Chen Shiyi—the one I had clashed with—wasn’t present.

But there was a familiar face I had once met at an international event long ago.

‘Wu Lei.’

A disciple of Master Chen Long and considered China’s rising prodigy, an S-rank hunter.

Soon after, one by one, hunters from the Dragon Spring Sect (Yongcheonmun) began appearing inside the village.

<Looks like we’re surrounded?>

‘It’s fine. I already expected this.’

The situation was tense, but I had my own reason for coming here.

‘NPC villages with reputation systems are safe zones. Hunters can’t fight each other there.’

An absolute neutral zone created by the Tower.

In villages where friendly races like the Snow Fairies lived, drawing a weapon against another hunter meant suffering rebound damage even greater than the intended attack.

Because that was the Tower’s rule, Wu Lei and the Chinese hunters could only stand there blocking the way.

Still, with dozens of them gathered, the atmosphere felt heavy and hostile even without weapons drawn.

Even the Snow Fairies of the village began gathering out of curiosity.

“Who are you?”

His icy gaze fixed on me.

Was it because he was an S-rank hunter?

Even though his face was expressionless, there was terrifying anger and oppressive pressure radiating from him.

“……”

“Not going to answer?”

I shrugged at Wu Lei’s words.

What, did he really expect me to answer after trying to intimidate me like that?

“Hmph. A hunter who defeated the Frost Queen and should have long moved to higher floors is still lingering on the 61st? You must be after the Elixir of Snow. It’s not too late, Hunter X. Confess your crimes and—”

“Move.”

I brushed him aside and walked toward the Snow Fairies.

The Chinese really were something else.

Was it because of their Sinocentrism?

Strong Chinese hunters especially had this awful belief that everyone had to follow whatever they said.

Well, not every Chinese person, of course.

<…He’s glaring daggers at us. Are you sure we’ll be okay?>

‘For now, yes.’

My nape tingled.

Once I stepped out of the Snow Fairy village, I had the feeling I’d be ripped apart.

<What’s your plan?>

My eyes scanned over the Chinese hunters.

‘One S-rank hunter, and many A and B ranks.’

Even with Infinity and the Blessing buff, this much of a power gap meant certain defeat.

But I wasn’t worried.

I had already accounted for this situation.

That’s why, boldly, I walked up to the representative of the Snow Fairies, “Snowflake,” who was in the village square.

Wu Lei rushed forward again to block me.

“Don’t purchase it, Hunter X. Not unless you truly wish to die.”

Unlike before, there was a hint of urgency in his voice.

<Why’s he panicking?>

‘Obvious. The one meant to consume the Elixir of Snow has already been decided.’

<What?>

It was bound to be Master Chen Long or Chen Shiyi.

But so what?

‘And what exactly are you going to do about it?’

It wasn’t my problem.

If they wanted it, they should’ve collected the essences first.

“Snowflake—!”

I called out obnoxiously loud. As if waiting for it, Snowflake came toward me.

“I want to use the essences.”

At my words, the fairies fluttered their wings and created a menu in the air.

Then, after pretending to consider it, I glanced at Wu Lei and said,

“I want the Elixir of Snow.”

“You bastard—! Grghh!!!”

One Chinese hunter couldn’t hold back and lunged at me—only to be repelled by rebound damage.

“No matter the situation, a hunter should always keep a cool head. If you’ve made it this far, you should know that.”

“Ghhk!”

I noticed veins bulging on a few of their foreheads.

“Did you bring the essences?”

“Of course.”

“Wow—! He really did?”

“So many ice essences—!”

“You’re our friend now, friend!”

“Here it is—! The Elixir of Snow, a once-in-a-thousand-years gift from us Snow Fairies! A present just for you!”

The fairies, cheerful as ever, handed me the Elixir despite the murderous glares all around.

The Tower’s residents didn’t care about human politics.

And the moment I received it—

“Tastes like cream.”

I downed it without hesitation, ignoring the piercing stares.

[You have consumed the Elixir of Snow.

Mana +2.

When using two or more mana circuits, each circuit’s mana consumption decreases by 10%.]

“Phew…”

A new flow of mana bloomed from my heart. I closed the message and deliberately shuddered for show.

It wasn’t that amazing, but I wanted Wu Lei and the others to see it.

A little teabagging, you could say.

<You… think you’ll survive this?>

Of course, I wasn’t about to leave the Snow Fairy village after provoking them like this.

And sure enough—

BOOOM!!!

Outside, S-rank hunters unleashed their power in a show of force, waiting for me.

Their twisted expressions made it clear: they would slaughter me the moment I stepped out.

“HUNTER X—!!!”

They even screamed my name in rage.

But I had no intention of leaving.

‘We’ll just go home.’

<…Oh! That’s right, you have that.>

I pulled out a scroll from my subspace bag. Tichi clapped her hands.

“–!”

Wu Lei spotted it and froze. Then his eyes widened.

“E-everyone, seize that from him—!”

The Chinese hunters charged at me.

But I only raised the scroll calmly.

[You use the Emergency Escape Scroll.]

[Returning to your hideout.]

[A 48-hour cooldown applies. You cannot use another Emergency Escape Scroll during this time.]

A feature unique to Save Earth, nonexistent in reality.

To their eyes, it must have looked like I logged out of the game—vanishing into thin air.

[This afternoon, on the 61st floor of Heilongjiang Tower, Yongcheonmun attempted to apprehend the globally controversial “Hunter X,” but failed.

Even with Master Chen Long’s disciple Wu Lei personally intervening, Hunter X disappeared after using an unknown item within the Tower’s safe zone.

Yongcheonmun strongly condemned Hunter X, claiming he was guilty of terrorist acts that endangered national security and global order, and announced plans to request that the World Hunter Association raise Hunter X’s danger level.

Meanwhile, William Quincy of the United States also voiced concerns, stressing that Hunter X and the organization behind him must be rooted out completely. —Beijing, Xinhua News.]

We must use this opportunity to further strengthen the hunter management system.
Wait, there’s such a thing as an Emergency Escape Scroll in the Tower?
Of course. Who knows how many Tower secrets are still hidden?
Hm, but wouldn’t that be useful in Named boss raids?
To find out, we’d have to capture this Hunter X first.

“Hmmm…”

Every time I came out of a Tower, I felt like a global celebrity.

Xinhua, People’s Daily editorials, Chinese hunter media, even Weibo—everything was filled with Hunter X stories.

Korean hunter communities, closely tied to China, were no exception.

Translations of Chinese hunters’ live reactions to me had even hit today’s top posts.

“Still… a bit disappointing.”

<What is?>

“I wanted to leech more out of the Heilongjiang Tower if I had more time.”

But the Chinese hunters had moved faster than expected.

<So what now? Planning to return there?>

Tichi sipped her cherry pepper soda while eyeing me across the big monitor.

“Not sure…”

There were still plenty of things left to plunder in the Heilongjiang Tower.

Like more hidden achievements that boosted hunter stats, or first-clear achievements on Named monsters.

‘Though getting those now will be nearly impossible…’

Named bosses on the 70th floor or higher were at least B-rank.

Just one tier above the Frost Queen, yet the difference was absurd.

I had barely managed to solo her with every buff I had. But a B-rank Named?

“Even Master Chen Long wouldn’t guarantee a win one-on-one.”

They were that monstrous. Which was why the Chinese never tried solo clears of them.

Unless they had a death wish.

Anyway, I hadn’t gained much from the Heilongjiang run.

To build influence, I needed to raid Towers or hunt many elite monsters—but instead, I’d wasted time grinding reputation on the 61st floor.

<At least you got a lot of Cold Marks. Have a drink.>

“…Yeah.”

Tichi lifted her soda can with a grin.

From slaying monsters like the Frozen Ancient Tree, I’d earned a mountain of loot.

But it was all exchanged for Cold Marks, so the actual profit was negligible.

“If I exchange them all, that’s… 2.6 million.”

<So?>

“The items I can buy with them aren’t worth it right now.”

Any hunter gear I could afford was only on par with or slightly better than my Oath of Frost equipment.

Consumables were no better.

Aside from the Emergency Escape Scroll, I didn’t really need any of them.

“So I’ll just save them.”

To meaningfully raise my specs, I’d need at least upper-unique or legendary gear.

Which meant tens of millions of marks.

‘That means I need to raid a new Tower for Cold Marks…’

Or hunt down more achievement rewards.

“It’s time to move to a new hunting ground.”

<New place?>

I turned back to the monitor.

If I cleared every Tower in Korea first, I could always go back to messing with the Chinese later.

Not out of spite, really.

But China, with its vast territory, had more Towers than just Heilongjiang.

One of them was—

[Uighur Tower – Monthly Rank: 494/500]

<That one’s dangerous too.>

‘That Tower causes erosion phenomena deliberately.’

On screen, the Uighur Tower glowed a dark crimson, just like Heilongjiang, marking it as a high-explosion risk.

If I started raiding it, Chinese hunters would never let me be.

But with enough preparation, I’d be fine.

[“Like a Flower Blooming in the Burning Desert” {Unachieved}
Survive for 1 hour in the middle of the desert during a sandstorm on the 10th floor of Uighur Tower (Taklamakan outskirts). (No external gear or buffs allowed.)
Reward – Endurance +1]

[“Crossing the Celestial Bridge of Tianshan” {Unachieved}
Cross the Cloud Bridge at the summit of the 50th floor of Uighur Tower (Tianshan’s Hidden Realm) without external gear. (Buff skills allowed.)
Reward – Agility +1, Luck +1]