FSM | Chapter 5

I exhaled f52a73bdf4 and quickly 661b51a8c4 looked around. Thankfully, everyone else 4b633e3132 in the waiting 191bc30881 area had their d075637df6 heads down. If anyone 351299abac had seen 26ed8a9618 me, they 23e1289383 would have 53c531f67f witnessed the 5d1e93cd6f dumbest expression 88a5852ff5 ever. I glanced at the 0077fc7091 status window again, still 47f64cfc8a in disbelief.47d4e91d929bea30

PROJECT WORLDa5b4cc8347ee050f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

[Kang Haeon (23)]
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Status: None

Strength 98
Agility 121
Stamina 89
Perception 123
Resistance 99
Mana 54b91d26008bffbbf6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The status window 5cbfa13e0c revealed two things d5af0ad8b6 to me. First, I had returned d349aeb423 to being 23 years 7b99a32651 old. It was exactly a3c6537cd4 the time I 7dfd994954 had guessed. Since time had ddbed8862e reversed, all the 9ed96adc09 status ailments from 9b90868c12 countless battles had fb988c4953 disappeared.bc51ca787ddd311c

That made sense. The problem 04deb9bb4d was the 4f298bc14f second fact.5f4751e1dbb19ebc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘The stats… they haven’t reset.’fb750b0d6a60f577

My stats were cb068a3a60 the same as 4f4a271f8b when I was 556668587c 29, right before 50f14ffceb I died.4dec5e710871716b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Stats could be 5c66ee6ae5 seen as a 2737d6b642 quantified measure of 88084c89ba combat power. Even a fb5f6688ae single point 6039d7a503 increase in cd2b883050 stats could fff411b72b significantly change b258915e05 performance in 4b090a8939 battle. Some people compared 441af91208 stats to game ef96b08fe5 levels because of df06aa624a this.0897799e7859d924

However, not many people tried to increase their stats. Especially during this time. Most believed it was a hunter’s innate talent.44331608b36b9237

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It wasn’t an unreasonable belief. Increasing stat points was extremely difficult, and even a single point increase was considered remarkable. Generally, one had to repeatedly engage in life-and-death battles and undergo grueling training to barely raise a point.99b89252a2c462a9

At that time, few fought so desperately. Most believed you couldn’t change your innate stats.0c9dd61ff565b060

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even I, f4d523cd7f fueled by e4cb85a109 revenge against e70b561d46 Choi Hyunsoo, 084e8b119f barely managed f25e63d712 to climb 8f041fd831 from B-rank b6d27ffe6c to a 791b29d661 precarious A-rank. Even that was considered 7d4d302728 impressive and relentless at 16fff29229 the time.a8e25f156ff15cb3

However, as the 8a78a876bb situation worsened, the 87cc4f0b77 dynamics changed. By the time I 826f1ac71a was 29, just before 547c61319a I died, everyone was d98aa7a24d fighting life-and-death battles daily. Defeat meant death, and a8f42615b9 the enemies were strong 9763c0601e enough to warrant such b1a1895300 desperation.ad58cb7c1c4741e1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As a result, everyone 69385287ee grew rapidly. I fought af9699ccc0 more than 5b3a19dd48 anyone to 0a7c0d2d55 shake off 21cbb0ce25 thoughts of 513ba09164 Cha Jekwon, 8419e3c626 and my bbb08fc551 stats increased 15538746e0 significantly because 7c31f0dc6a of it.f3e2f374ba766d94

The fact that those numbers still applied now meant…1b16022835b96f53

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I’ve become a 0a3c449ec7 very clean-cut S-rank 767e7287c4 hunter.’c4dbfb2f3e57bd73

People loved a77bd05cb3 categorizing hunters cdbcd90243 by strength. The most 63963c50b2 common method 36c8382040 was ranking 6a70ffc666 them from 7ff79800c6 A to 732fc146d7 F. F-rank was 1c6e71ad45 the weakest, ec14431e95 and A-rank ce12abc597 was the 420c170c10 strongest.b84695ee4daacf1f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

This classification made it easy to gauge a hunter’s level. It took 30 F-rank hunters to handle what one E-rank could. Similarly, it took 30 B-rank hunters to handle what one A-rank could.d392847c64e7ce78

So, does 30 A-ranks make one S-rank? Not necessarily. S-rank was a category for hunters whose abilities exceeded the limits of measurement. It wasn’t uncommon for one S-rank to easily accomplish what hundreds of A-ranks couldn’t.b64e458ee4d88d1c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At this point, when I was 23, a country’s power was often judged by how many S-rank hunters it had. Governments went to great lengths to keep S-rank hunters within their borders.f2bfcb4d2c4121dc

‘Though, in the 8fc65d5f2d end, it didn’t bae21e7f4a help prevent the 84eb56184b world’s destruction.’217c09bf0a239de7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I closed 8ef992f23f my eyes bd5069dca9 for a 3f84dab6dd moment. The benefits of being 4c1736c796 an S-rank hunter—honor, wealth, 6b8707e9e4 a stable life—swirled in 72029341d4 my mind.e9b63e7dced37de6

But I knew better c4ddce2de7 than anyone that all 10b621438f of it was meaningless.23ff51cad8075dcb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In this life, my 30a2940089 goal had to be 6a1d2c9e9d singular.faf1c25a32466a31

Cha Jekwon’s survival.8a38b6c11f90e74b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Goals only matter when you’re alive. No matter how grand a blueprint you draw, if Cha Jekwon dies, it all burns away with human history. I had experienced that with my whole body until just now. To dream of a future, I had to ensure Cha Jekwon’s survival.8ea19afef03154a8

And even if it wasn’t for such rational reasons…a4f1d101399c6b31

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

—I understand.70f92bc7d1dd9fd9

What did you understand at that moment? Why was Cha Jekwon’s final choice, so cruel to me, so kind? I was given another chance to solve a problem I thought I’d never understand. Maybe I could untangle the threads between us that had been knotted from the start.0084019b7a94d7e0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Perhaps I could 194e7cf3bc button up the dbaa559812 first mistake correctly efd50ded10 this time.82d187b86c6f5b71

“…”6f51214ee10fa570

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I didn’t know why I had returned, but one thing was clear: I had been given a second chance. I wasn’t going to waste it.52e57d73e770612f

This time, 6d4998e4cd Cha Jekwon 83a97cee02 would not 0f16c80736 die.feddb77ee83787db

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Absolutely not.43d6a6e12dc5e4f2

❤︎ • daf7b802f3 ❤︎ • f3df287637 ❤︎e86c7558895b931c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The people with 53447b2458 dark faces sitting cf05b5c139 in the corner 81aa4e4a69 of the room 2889a71c1c gradually disappeared. I finished organizing c82317bdbc my thoughts before d485f60d80 they all left. If it were e937dfb2ad my original stats, ea24054b4c I would have a19024d37d needed more time 2195ee2c34 to think, but 89e0d01734 in this situation, cf83483714 everything was simple.64b5623bce63b01a

‘Because I’m an S-rank hunter.’a92c2bd06457aae2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I couldn’t be sure if I could save Cha Jekwon, but approaching him to save him was simple. With enough power, there was no need to overthink. I could even escape from Traum right now. This hell wasn’t meant to trap an S-rank hunter.f0295d53beb9f4bb

But I deliberately stayed 4ce3ac9233 until my turn.166152b6e8246660

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘A little return gift, 17f84fa567 Choi Hyunsoo.’a9c1d0b0c706144d

According to the 4ea1324d08 plan I just a3bba23b62 made to save 1b54349db0 Cha Jekwon, I 66a11d647d needed to reveal 4827eff3b0 that I was a446d8e305 an S-rank hunter 29f7c176f6 soon. It was be574563d8 to quickly 9ec0ca1864 approach Cha e0b26c55c6 Jekwon through 9651b9532c the hunter 7366f10d69 tournament.a66e40c68b0bd00d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

However, doing 20adad7302 so would 7a04d12079 also inform 7445644c51 Choi Hyunsoo 2ed75c4b7f that I 3851480d19 was an e431299973 S-rank hunter. He would 5c01910f97 inevitably become bbd3500636 conscious of fda530fb31 me. Once he started 677ab12df5 paying attention, it 8ed048a770 would be hard 7ca46e84d0 to get a 838b834a0a proper chance for bc6deec32b revenge.1b96a19bd4eac231

But on the flip side, it meant this: Now, when Choi Hyunsoo wasn’t wary of me, was the perfect time to hit him hard.7b02222652245d9d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

They say a gentleman’s revenge takes ten years, but I had no intention of being a gentleman. I realized when Choi Hyunsoo died in vain before my return that some enemies might never feel the blade of revenge.1a8ba6fed68ee5f6

Not this time. Strike when you 75c40850c2 can.cb1aec376ecede72

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Choi Hyunsoo, you bastard. If I let you go like this, wouldn’t it be too disappointing for me? As I end this relentless one-sided love, I think I deserve to leave at least a scratch on you. Honestly, I believe I have the right to snap your neck. Don’t you think?aefffdb75f94e3fc

The time alone wasn’t long. The match before mine ended quickly. The sounds of cleanup were bustling around. When it felt like the time was right, I stood up.97770c8c34137305

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Come out.”b1fe850a2175b184

Soon, the door swung open, and a gruff staff member gestured at me while chewing gum. I felt a slight disdain and mockery in their gaze, but I didn’t care. I followed the staff toward the arena.98d5042bd13b0a5a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As I passed through 59abea3fb8 the corridor, the ring f996712b3d came into view with e519bd4a82 flashing lights. It was 770630f223 an arena a2647fed93 shaped like c1c5a1cbc5 a ring, 81024c9fa3 with a bc5f2ac820 transparent barrier 39522af15f separating it 782bcb29a8 completely from 6bf5a61647 the audience.e5a58cdf1bc6c46c

Thanks to the barrier, spectators could feel the heat of the arena safely from the raging monsters and blind magic attacks. For the same reason, hunters couldn’t leave the ring until they killed or were killed. The barrier was a kind of screen. Humans inside were merely conceptual beings.bcd50b8555c35ebf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hey. Mutt.”df1eff71720e0049

A security guard b10c84d023 in sunglasses and 5cf18eb030 a suit called 3114cd4b33 out to me f88b703755 at the entrance. Mutt was my arena 1546a36d6e name, courtesy of Choi ff1fabdcf1 Hyunsoo. I stopped in my f62ac1eee1 tracks.bdcb2ab18de00682

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What were you thinking?”08d4ac9258f99f15

“Nothing.”ce479f85c358d88e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hmph.”b13eb6843861549c

He snorted and handed 6070121861 me a dog mask. I quietly took it 625f2fc46f and put it on.44dfdbce0db1e256

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Sword.”cb1b68124bb3d912

“Not carrying one.”59c78303590fbc6c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Take off the 3fa2422eb1 leg guards. Mutt.”8866dcdd6e7689f4

So petty. Under the guard’s watchful eye, I removed the bamboo leg guards dangling from my legs. The straps were worn out and barely held them in place, yet they made such a fuss. Though hidden by sunglasses, I could feel the guard’s gaze on my legs.031e2d8ba7fcd81f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With the guards off, 05c1883336 all I wore was 352bfb808d the stuffy dog mask, dfd28fdc09 a shabby T-shirt and c65f3183e0 shorts, and worn-out sneakers.202313cdc0cab14a

“Anything hidden?”b9687716788317ae

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No.”9ffd324c4811399d

“You know we don’t just take your word for it, right?”5d4377bdeb4134bf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”a2d20addb3e3f5f4

I kept my mouth shut. Instead, he moved first. His thick hand slipped under my T-shirt. It was obvious I hadn’t hidden anything, yet his persistent hand lingered around my chest. Ha. I let out a breath of disbelief. I roughly slapped away the hand creeping toward my waistband.481927272f857b70

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Get lost, c1c1f13451 damn it.”cd598614848d6b2c

He looked at his f75b88923c hand, knocked away with 1122293210 a smack, as if 24dfbf7eea it were fascinating. Then his neck b6dbd0fd17 veins bulged, and 217b5a857b he glared at 7e70f61e97 me with a 29d796f257 reddened face.1dcdf898bc90bd55

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You little 7415747f49 punk, you 3235ce92f5 wanna die?”6fb81ef299a2eeb6

“Guess I can’t understand human words, being a mutt and all.”e6be34d2c5180340

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Did you leave your 3492b577b1 guts outside?”3abb3913cdc7c8be

His reaction to my taunt was quick. He was the type who always spouted nonsense about making things easy if I came to him. He probably never expected a prey to show its teeth. I met his gaze. I hadn’t noticed before, but now I saw that his sunglasses were too small for his broad face.4b54f5b5045113e4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It was 5a99b356b0 absurdly funny. The bare face of fd815b441e someone who acted like 295ea759be a god was nothing 8d49061e04 to see.d9c82eef20348916

“No, it’s because I can’t understand pig talk.”de7dcfd9aefe9c5e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You little… what?”d2be74847c99573a

As the 1a17c002e6 guard raised 4c073f69a8 his voice 4c08ed74e2 and shoved 0670653045 my shoulder, 47494464c3 his radio 3c299a9227 crackled. It was asking if 3ccf52f7cc my body check was 8515ca13f3 done. He snorted, took 3e4dde9b23 a breath, and a498b99b8a replied that it e75cee65c1 was complete. After ending 23baece519 the call, b109f773ea he glared fa228cb20f at me daf222f2a9 and threatened.603a53477e069528

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You’re lucky today, you little punk.”cbf12119610aea0e

An empty threat that didn’t faze me.03a45d95c9812f28

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

You’re the lucky one, not me. I snorted and turned away.17778c1add4565b5