I Possess Too Many Characteristics

Chapter 12

“Phew, shall we take a break now?”

After about three rounds of combat, Hanseok was the first to speak.

Usually, it’s normal to take breaks in between for reorganization, but Garyeong’s magic was so effective, and Hanseok’s tanking was top-notch, so they were able to fight three times without any issues.

The party found a suitable clearing in the forest and sat down huddled together.

If they were facing stronger monsters, they would have needed to be on guard, but it didn’t seem necessary against Goblins.

As they had seen so far, could they even call it a surprise attack when these guys couldn’t even set up a proper ambush?

Jeonghyeon’s detection would pick them up much faster.

‘Have I earned 3 coins so far?’

He earned 1 coin per fight.

Hanseok had lured most of the mobs towards him, so he was able to hunt more than usual.

Anyway, it wasn’t a bad profit.

While Jeonghyeon was checking the newly acquired coins through the shop window,

“How was it?”

Hanseok asked, looking at Jeonghyeon and Jiyun.

Jeonghyeon pondered for a moment before answering.

“They’re quite fast. I’ve only ever hunted Zombies and Skeletons before.”

There was no need to brag here.

“It would have been quite difficult without Garyeong-ssi’s magic.”

The magic he saw for the first time was truly impressive, so as he praised her like they did to him, Hanseok immediately responded playfully.

“Huh? What about me?”

“Ah, of course, Hanseok-ssi too.”

A harmonious atmosphere.

This time, Garyeong asked Jiyun.

“How about you, Jiyun-ssi?”

“Ah…… Well, everyone fought so well that I didn’t need to heal much……”

Jiyun trailed off.

It wasn’t that she didn’t heal at all.

She had received healing for minor bruises and cuts on the spot.

Otherwise, there was a risk of infection, so it was better to receive a Healer’s help, no matter how minor the injury.

But it probably meant her contribution was a bit less compared to others.

‘Phew, I almost got caught because of Jiyun-ssi.’

It was a kind of dilemma.

Since he was trying to show a close battle, he had to get hurt to some extent, and every time he did, he had to sweat it out.

「Minor Physical Enhancement」 trait, although it didn’t feel significant until now, it was a trait that enhanced all physical abilities.

Naturally, it also included natural healing ability.

“Huh? The wound is shallower than I thought. I thought it was cut quite deeply.”

“Yes? Ah…… I’m an agility-type, you know. I dodged quickly, so it’s not as deep as it looks.”

Jiyun tilted her head, puzzled.

Because the wound had healed to some extent even during the short time it took to finish the battle lightly and show the wound to Jiyun.

If Jiyun’s level or experience had been even slightly higher, she would have seen through Jeonghyeon’s lie, but fortunately, she was a complete newbie.

‘Who would have known that natural healing would be included in physical enhancement?’

Jeonghyeon grumbled inwardly.

It was an ability he still had to hide.

Anyway, after hearing Jiyun’s answer, Hanseok nodded a few times and changed the subject.

“That’s a relief. Thanks to you two, the request is going smoothly. But I think we need to refill our water. Garyeong-ah, want to come with me?”

“Water? Sure. Why not?”

At first, Garyeong opened her eyes as if she didn’t understand what he was saying, but then she stared at Hanseok and nodded.

Jeonghyeon asked the two.

“Do you know where the water is?”

“Yes? Ah…… I’ve hunted here before. There’s a stream if you go that way.”

Hanseok answered, pointing in one direction.

Hunters have to drink a lot of water because of their intense physical activity.

They bring plenty of water when they enter, but it’s common to run out.

In such cases, they would also self-sufficiently find water inside the Gate.

“Then we’ll be back.”

The two soon disappeared in the direction Hanseok had pointed, leaving only Jeonghyeon and Jiyun in the clearing.

An awkward atmosphere lingered, as Jiyun had seemed quite timid from the beginning.

Jeonghyeon didn’t try to break the mood and lost himself in thought.

‘Why are they going together?’

This was definitely strange.

First of all, the current party’s power was clearly concentrated on Hanseok and Garyeong.

Then, at the very least, they should avoid Hanseok and Garyeong moving together.

An experienced Hunter, especially one who had done so much talent donation, would have known this risk, yet they casually left Jeonghyeon and Jiyun alone and left.

Moreover,

‘Did Hanseok-ssi drink that much water?’

Jeonghyeon, who had been vaguely mindful of Hanseok and Garyeong, knew that he hadn’t been drinking that much water.

He hadn’t specifically observed how many times he drank water, but it wasn’t something that stood out in his memory.

Clink━

Jeonghyeon shook the canteen hanging from his waist.

It was only about half empty now.

If he was like this, he couldn’t imagine that Hanseok’s canteen, who had fought much more comfortably than him, would be empty.

‘Well, maybe they’re thinking of getting it in advance.’

He couldn’t recklessly reveal his suspicions towards his party members.

The crime of falsely accusing someone of being a Villain wasn’t explicitly stated in the law, but it was punished so severely among Hunters that it was almost like being ostracized.

But wouldn’t it be better to check, even if it was a little unnatural, than to be constantly worried about their backs during the hunt?

Having reached this conclusion, Jeonghyeon subtly called out to Jiyun.

“Jiyun-ssi.”

“Yes?”

“Do you need more water?”

At Jeonghyeon’s question, she shook her canteen.

Then she shook her head.

“Ah, I hardly drink water. I still have some left.”

“Aha. I’m sorry, but I don’t have much water left…… Could you possibly go with Hanseok-ssi and Garyeong-ssi as well?”

“Ah, sure!”

Jiyun readily agreed to Jeonghyeon’s request and nodded.

Perhaps it would be better for her to do something rather than just sit still in an awkward atmosphere.

“Thank you.”

Jeonghyeon took Jiyun and went in the direction Hanseok had disappeared.

Naturally, he reduced his footsteps as much as possible.

“Um…… We don’t have to be that quiet, do we?”

“Just in case the Goblins see us. I don’t think we can fight them alone.”

“Ah.”

Jiyun seemed convinced by Jeonghyeon’s persuasion and became very cautious herself.

‘I feel bad for deceiving her.’

Perhaps Hanseok hadn’t lied about the stream, as they went a little deeper and could hear the sound of water along with Hanseok and Garyeong’s conversation.

“So, isn’t the boy a bit suspicious?”

“Well, he was getting hurt even by dying Goblins.”

“That’s true, but…… Let’s be careful.”

It was only three words he vaguely overheard, but it was enough to turn Jeonghyeon’s cautious suspicions into certainty.

First of all, hadn’t the way they referred to him changed?

Their tone was so fierce that it was unimaginable that it was the same Hanseok and Garyeong who had been so kind in front of them.

Their conversation continued.

“So you’re saying we should lure the mobs to the unregistered Hunter? How generous of you.”

“We can’t make it too obvious, can we? We have to do this if we want to leave safely. I’ll pretend to make a mistake and let a few more slip through, so let’s see how he reacts.”

“Ugh, I don’t know. You do what you want. Just give me a clear signal before you do it. Why bother with trash like them?”

Grit━

Jeonghyeon gritted his teeth unconsciously.

No wonder the conditions were too good to be true.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

It was just that the price this time was excessively cruel and heartless.

“Jeonghyeon-ssi, what’s wrong?”

Jiyun, who hadn’t heard the conversation, was startled by Jeonghyeon’s sudden change and asked.

Jeonghyeon quickly turned around and pulled Jiyun along.

“We have to go back now.”

“Yes? What……”

“There are Goblins ahead. I don’t think I can handle them alone.”

Jiyun followed Jeonghyeon, glancing behind her.

She couldn’t sense the Goblins, but since Jeonghyeon had always been the first to spot monsters, she seemed to accept it.

Jeonghyeon, who had rushed back to the clearing, grabbed Jiyun and spoke urgently.

“Jiyun-ssi, you need to get your head straight from now on.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Where should he start?

How should he deal with the Newbie Hunters who were about to carry out their plan?

No, he doubted he could even handle them, and now he had to explain it to Jiyun as well.

Ironically, it was Hanseok’s words that calmed Jeonghyeon’s mind.

‘Always be ready to attack, but don’t let the enemy know. Remember this. It’s the basics of fighting.’

Fortunately, he had learned of Hanseok and Garyeong’s plot first.

That alone gave Jeonghyeon a decisive advantage.

Of course, it wouldn’t be enough to completely close the gap.

Jeonghyeon tried to calm himself down as much as possible and began to speak to Jiyun.

“Jiyun-ssi, listen carefully. I can’t explain everything right now, but next time……”

◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈◈

“Argh!”

Jeonghyeon tumbled, clutching his right arm.

A Goblin’s spear was deeply embedded in it, almost piercing through.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry!”

“Oh no! Are you okay?”

Hanseok’s meticulous aggro control momentarily lost its balance, and two more Goblins had charged towards Jeonghyeon.

Seeing Jeonghyeon collapse, Hanseok hurriedly reorganized the formation, and Jiyun dragged Jeonghyeon to where the rearguard was and started healing him.

Garyeong immediately killed the Goblin that had stabbed Jeonghyeon.

“I’ll pull out the spear first. One, two!”

“Aaargh!”

Jeonghyeon twisted his body, his eyes bloodshot.

With Goblins’ smelting technology, it was impossible to make a smooth spearhead.

Naturally, it tore through the surrounding flesh, and the pain of pulling it out was indescribable.

But it couldn’t be helped for the sake of treatment.

“How is it? Is Jeonghyeon-ssi alright?”

Hanseok and Garyeong, who had quickly finished off the remaining Goblins, gathered around Jeonghyeon.

The wound was severe enough to expose the bone, and its shape was messy.

Jiyun made a crying face and used her healing trait, but soon took out gauze and bandages from her backpack and started wrapping the wound.

“My trait won’t work. I think we need to go outside and get proper treatment.”

The bandage wrapped around his arm was instantly soaked in blood.

She continued to use healing on top of it, but the situation was still unclear.

Hanseok and Garyeong, who were watching Jeonghyeon, who was still in pain, and Jiyun, who was busy with him, smirked.

Then, as if nothing had happened, they put on worried expressions again and trailed off, pretending to be troubled.

“What should we do…… We haven’t fulfilled the request conditions yet. What to do……”

“What are you talking about……”

Jiyun’s eyes widened as she looked up at them.

It was a situation where they should be worried about excessive bleeding.

How could they be so calmly worried about the request when a person’s life was on the line?

But Hanseok and Garyeong’s attitudes had already changed noticeably.

“I’m sorry, but it seems difficult to leave yet. Instead, since you seem to have trouble moving, I’ll bring the Goblins here. If you’re alive, I’ll split the reward as promised. No complaints, right?”

“Don’t be ridiculous━!”

“Garyeong-ah, keep an eye on these two, will you? We can’t have them getting hit by poison needles or something.”

“Okay.”

They were already ignoring Jiyun’s words.

Hanseok, with a chilling grin, disappeared in a flash. Garyeong looked down at Jiyun and Jeonghyeon with a leisurely smile.

“Now, we’ll give you a bus ride, so just stay put, okay?”

Who could look at them now and remember the kind people they were before?

Jiyun, her face pale, continued to pour her healing into Jeonghyeon’s wound.

“Oh my, Nam Jiyun-ssi. It’s not like I haven’t seen this once or twice, but E-rank healing won’t do. Even if it heals, I wonder if you’ll be able to move right away.”

A clear tone of mockery.

Jeonghyeon, who was the only one who could fight, was down, and all that was left was Jiyun, who seemed barely able to hold a sword properly.

It wouldn’t be strange if they let their guard down.

But, when dealing with a Hunter, letting your guard down was unacceptable.

“Jiyun-ssi, it’s okay now.”