CHAPTER 56: ABOVE THE LAW

AN EGG.

Wonhee was surprised when the snake skeleton suddenly shrank and turned into a big egg the size of an ostritch egg.

It was jet-black and, frankly speaking, it reeked.

[Like a rotten something.]

"What is this, Tannie?" Wonhee asked curiously. "Is the animal inside this egg alright?"

Tannie: The thing inside that egg is a monster and not an ’animal.’ To be precise, it’s a dead monster.

"Oh."

She didn’t like scary stuff, but her reaction was lukewarm because her Fear Resistance skill was still activated.

If it wasn’t for that skill, she could have dropped the egg from shock.

Tannie: Hunter Song Moonho can explain what happened to the snake skeleton because the System already notified him of his punishment.

"But why is Hunter Song Moonho being punished?"

Tannie: Don’t fret the details, Chu Wonhee. What’s more important is that you’ve beaten the snake skeleton and unlocked one of your skills!

Another Status Window popped up.

Irresistible Face: S-Grade

Description: Wink away monsters with A-Grade levels and below into submission!

"It only works on A-Grade monsters and below?" Wonhee asked nervously. "Will I die if I meet an S-Grade monster then?"

Tannie: Well, since you’re a Guide, it’s unlikely for you to meet an S-Grade monster since you’re not required to raid dungeons.

Right?

"But I didn’t expect that an S-Grade ability only works on A-Grade monsters and below. Is it pretty weak because I’m a Guide and not a Hunter?"

Tannie: Chu Wonhee, it seems like you don’t know the difference between a natural S-Class Hunter and a normal S-Class Hunter who only got their status through leveling up.

"I know that the natural S-Class Hunters are stronger than ordinary S-Class Hunters."

Tannie: Natural S-Class Hunters are stronger than the normal ones because all of their given skills are at least S-Grade.

"Oh. So, that means there are skills higher than S-Grade skills?"

Tannie: Of course. Naturally awakened S-Class like you are special! The System won’t give you cheap skills!

"I see. So, what’s a Grade higher than an S-Grade?"

Tannie: It’s S-Grade -- SS-Grade -- SSS-Grade -- L-Grade!

"Ohh. So, I can still upgrade my S-Grade skills."

Tannie: Of course. The System continues to upgrade the Awakened People’s skills and abilities, so we can’t even say that the L-Grade is the highest grade. It is for now, but that can change anytime. The Awakened People are growing continuously, after all.

She wasn’t surprised to hear that.

[After all, humans evolve and adapt fast.]

Wonhee ended up with one conclusion, though. "Being a naturally awakened S-Class is amazing, and yet scary."

Tannie: Well, living and surviving in this world should be challenging!

That was true, and that was why she wasn’t complaining.

[After all, an Awakened Person has a higher chance of surviving during a Crack than a Civilian.]

Her trains of thought were interrupted when she heard cracks spreading all over the place.

Tannie: The System is sending you back to reality, Chu Wonhee!

"Okay," Wonhee said, nodding while carefully hugging the black egg in her arms. "See you later, Tannie."

The blinding light that exploded in the room forced her to close her eyes.

And when she opened them...

Wonhee blinked while absorbing the unusual "scene" before her.

Yejun was obviously confronting Song Moonho.

Ahyeon was helping Yool maintain his balance as if Yool couldn’t stand on his own.

And Geon immediately checked on her from head to toe.

"Hee-ya, are you alright?" Geon asked worriedly. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Wonhee shook her head in response to her brother-in-law’s question, then she raised the big egg in her arms. "I’m not sure what happened, but the snake skeleton has turned into this..."

"Ah, it’s my punishment," Song Moonho said, smiling at Wonhee while looking at the black egg in her arms. The old Hunter’s eyes were unfathomable, though. "The System punished me for unnecessarily putting you in harm’s way, Chu Wonhee-ssi."

Oh, Tannie was telling the truth then.

[The System really notified Hunter Song Moonho of his punishment.]

"Isn’t it interesting?" Song Moonho asked while looking at Wonhee with glowing eyes. "The System is being overprotective of you, Miss Chu. It’s strange because the System usually ignores the petty crimes committed by the Big 4. As long as it doesn’t affect humanity on a large scale, we pretty much get away with everything."

Perhaps it was because Wonhee’s Fear Resistancewas still in effect.

But she found herself smiling at Song Moonho while being sarcastic towards him.

"I don’t think putting the first S-Class Guide in the world in harm’s way is a light offense, Song Moonho-ssi," Wonhee said, smiling. Her smile and voice were both sweet, but her tone was definitely sarcastic. "Please don’t do that again."

Geon smiled as if he was proud of Wonhee.

"Heh," Yejun smiled smugly. "You heard our first and only S-Class Guide, Song Moonho."

Fortunately, Song Moonho just smiled and nodded. "Can I have my snake back, Miss Chu?"

Well, Tannie said that Song Moonho was already punished, so...

"Please take care of the snake, Song Moonho-ssi," Wonhee said while handing the black egg to the Hunter. "Tannie said the snake is already a dead monster. But since you’re a great Necromancer, I’m sure you can revive them."

"Her name is Bonnie," Song Moonho said while taking the black egg in his arms. "I’ll bring her back once the egg hatches."

Wonhee nodded, and then she changed the topic. "Hunter Song Moonho-ssi, why are you bothering my friend Yool?"

Since they caught Yool strangling Song Moonho, one thing was clear.

[It’s Hunter Song Moonho who threatened Yool’s life.]

Poor Yool wasn’t good at dealing with high-class Hunters since he was only a Civilian.

[He can’t even stand without Ahyeonnie’s support...]

"I’m merely performing my duty as the Guild Master of the Autumn Guild, Miss Chu," Song Moonho explained calmly. "My brother’s ability was leaked when only the members of our guild were supposed to know about it. I just wanted to know who told Gong Yool-ssi, a Civilian, about Song Sunho’s ability. He’s not just my brother, after all– he’s also our Vice Guild Master."

Wonhee turned to Yool for confirmation.

Yool’s trembling pupils and the guilt in his eyes told her everything he needed to know.

Even Ahyeon looked awkward.

[Yool definitely used the knowledge that he got from reading the BL novel that tells the love story of Graham and Ahn Kisoo. Since Song Moonho and Song Sunho were the main antagonists of the story, it’s not surprising that Yool knows the brothers’ secret abilities.]

Her Transmigrator friend was usually careful, but Yool couldn’t help it this time.

[Yool had to do it to save Ahn Kisoo because we need Ahn Kisoo to help me save Graham. We need to succeed in order to change the original story and avoid Geon Oppa’s death.]

But that didn’t mean they should reveal Yool’s secret as a Transmigrator.

[Not in front of Song Moonho.]

"I was the one who told Yool about Song Sunho-ssi’s secret ability, Moonho-ssi," Wonhee lied with a straight face. She didn’t like lying, but it was something that was easy for her to do. After all, it was just like acting for her. "The System asked me to save Hunter Graham. In order to save Hunter Graham, we need to get Song Sunho-ssi out of the picture. Because if Song Sunho-ssi succeeded in trapping Ahn Kisoo, then Ahn Kisoo wouldn’t be able to help Hunter Graham once he goes on a rampage."

She didn’t want to reveal everything in front of Song Moonho.

But she needed to stop Song Moonho from bothering poor Yool.

"The System told you all of that, Miss Chu?" Song Moonho asked. He was smiling, but there was definitely a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "Even my brother’s plan to trap Ahn Kisoo by faking his death?"

"Yes, Moonho-ssi," Wonhee lied again confidently. "To be precise, Tannie told me. You haven’t met him yet, but I guess you’ll meet him soon since you’re also a member of the Big 4. Tannie is the System’s administrator in charge of my well-being."

"Is that so?" Song Moonho asked, obviously not believing a thing that Wonhee was saying. "Too bad I didn’t have the Lie Detector skill, huh?"

It took Wonhee all she got not to flinch after Song Moonho implied he knew she was lying.

"Stop picking on my Guide, old man," Yejun said, standing in front of Wonhee protectively. "Wonhee isn’t a liar like you."

Ouch.

[Thank you for the trust, Yejun-ah. But you’re only making me feel guiltier...]

"And you just admitted that Song Sunho really tried to fake his death in order to trap Ahn Kisoo," Geon said sternly. "We have the recordings of Song Sunho’s conversation with you, of course. But your confession right now is the final nail in the coffin."

"What are you going to do about it, Geon-ssi?" Song Moonho asked confidently. "Arrest me?"

Geon couldn’t say anything back since it wouldn’t be easy to arrest Song Moonho if he was "only" an accomplice to Song Sunho’s crime.

[In fact, only Yejun has been arrested among the members of the Big 4 yet.]

And it was only because Yejun had gone on a rampage that hurt many Civilians.

[Aside from that, the members of the Big 4 are practically above the law.]

Wonhee was starting to feel that it was unfair when, suddenly, her Status Window popped up in front of her.

When she looked up in the air blankly, everyone turned to her curiously.

[Ah, I should be discreet about checking my Status Window next time.]

Chu Wonhee, the System gives you the right to decide Song Moonho’s punishment.

"Can I do that?" Wonhee wondered out loud, then she looked at Song Moonho. "The System said I get to decide Song Moonho-ssi’s punishment."

***

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