Leveling Up Alone

Red One reached a conclusion that only he knew and looked at one of his subordinates who specialized in neutralizing trap doors.

[Y-Yes, sir!]

The agent immediately sprung into action after understanding what his captain wanted from him.

This agent, James, was a very plain-looking average American. It was impossible to tell what the agent looked like, as his entire body was covered by the special agent suit, but he was without a doubt caucasian by descent.

He grew up in poverty and did not graduate from a good college, which made it difficult to find a decent job, and he had an ailing mother and twelve younger siblings to take care of. Becoming a Porter was his only means of providing for his family.

He was not brave enough to face monsters, nor was he brave enough to become a special agent. One day, he stumbled upon fortune by awakening as a Hunter, but the cruelty of fate made him awaken with skills incompatible with hunting monsters.

After wandering around for a long time, the United States government eventually recruited him. He trained under them and joined the RC Squad.

Han-Yeol raised a brow after seeing the agent approach him. ‘Hmm? I don’t think this is something they can open with their level.’

It was understandable why Han-Yeol would be perplexed. There were a few A-Rank Hunters among the Venezuelan army, yet they failed to open the bunker door. Then, how was the weakest one among the RC Squad members planning to open this door?

[E-Excuse me...]

James could not look into Han-Yeol’s eyes after nearly dying from asphyxiation. He kept his gaze down and walked past Han-Yeol to reach the door. Then, he opened his hands and pointed them toward the door.

’Well, I guess I’ll let him do what he wants and watch for now.’ Han-Yeol was not in a rush, so he decided to observe for now. He did not mind if the mission dragged longer, as he would get to spend more time around P and study his flow of mana.

‘But how long do I have to stay like this...?’ he wondered.

He truly coveted P’s spatial attribute, but he had yet to obtain a single hint regarding it so far. The fact that he was loitering around P without gaining any hints made him feel quite frustrated, as it seemed like he was wasting his valuable time for nothing.

‘Haa... Let’s be patient... When your head can’t understand things, it’s best to make your body work for it.’ He believed ignorance was a sin that the body paid for. [1]

Wooong!

James conjured his mana and directed it at the door while Han-Yeol was busy thinking about something else. His blue mana flowed out from his hand and slowly started to unlock the door bit by bit.

‘Oh?’

[That is quite amazing. It seems his ability has the power of retrogression.]

‘R-Retrogression?’ Han-Yeol was shocked by what he heard.

He initially thought the agent’s ability was something similar to dispel, but he did not expect it to be retrogression.

[Yes, his ability is not simply dispelling but reversing the very mechanism of the skill. In short, it is like making the skill count down from ten to zero. Well, his mana is too weak for it to be noticeable.]

‘I-Is that so?’

[But it is a pity... His ability is worthy of becoming a Master-Rank Hunter but his mana capacity is too small to make proper use of it. Tsk... What a waste of a good skill.]

Karvis rarely expressed herself, yet she ended up clicking her tongue out of frustration after assessing James.

However, this served as a wake-up call and a reminder for Han-Yeol not to underestimate the United States.

‘Whoa, the United States is truly worthy of being the most powerful country in the world. They have so many Hunters who possess extremely rare skills we can’t find in South Korea...’

[I agree. However, I believe this was caused by the prevalent mindset of South Koreans thinking that firepower is the best. We have plenty of combat-type S-Rank Hunters in South Korea, but the United States seems to put greater importance on a balanced mix of Hunters rather than firepower alone.]

‘Yeah, you’re right. Hmm... I think we should visit the United States more often from now on.’

Han-Yeol was no longer intrigued by combat skills. The skills he possessed were far stronger than most combat skills out there, and he could even combine his skills if the ones in his possession were not enough. He preferred to obtain P’s spatial attribute rather than having another combat skill, but the ability the agent showed just now was something he coveted even more than P’s ability.

‘Hold on... Retrogression... Retrogression... Retrogression...’ Han-Yeol continued to repeat the same word in his mind while the agent was busy unlocking the door.

James’ skill required a long time to take effect, so Han-Yeol had all the time in the world to think right now.

[Is something wrong, Han-Yeol-nim?]

‘Wait, don’t talk to me.’

[...]

Karvis was upset by Han-Yeol’s curt response, but he could not afford to get distracted right now, as he could feel he was onto something important.

‘Ah!’ Han-Yeol exclaimed inwardly as if he had witnessed a miracle.

[...]

Karvis remained silent and did not utter a single word.

However, she was not important right now, as Han-Yeol had witnessed a miracle, and that miracle was definitely something amazing.

‘Karvis! Karvis! This is a miracle!’

[What?]

Karvis was still sulking, but she ended up responding out of loyalty. However, she made it known that she was upset through her tone.

Unfortunately, Han-Yeol remained oblivious to her emotions and only continued to exclaim that a miracle happened.

‘Karvis! Think about it! Retrogression! That’s related to time!’

[Ah!]

Karvis’ mood instantly shifted after she understood what Han-Yeol was referring to and what he was planning to do now.

[Then that means...?]

‘Hohoho! The hint related to time and space I have been searching for is right in front of my eyes! P is a national treasure of the United States, so I can’t do anything to him, but it’s different for this guy. He’s just another American in the eyes of the United States government, so there won’t be any problems if I abduct him!’

[Abduct? Did you just say you will abduct him?]

Karvis was taken aback by Han-Yeol’s choice of words. She did not expect him to use such aggressive words, but this was not the time for him to be diplomatic.

‘Hohoho! Yes! He isn’t getting any recognition from the United States government. Sure, he might be a secret agent, but he’s no different from a bottomfeeder being put in a squad like this.’

[Still...]

‘Hmm, I guess it could get noisy if he suddenly goes missing. Why don’t we run checks on him and see if there’s anything he needs? That should make it easier to convince him, right?’

[Phew... That sounds like a better plan.]

‘Haha! You worry too much, Karvis!’

[Ugh...]

Han-Yeol had already thought of dozens of ways to poach this stupid-looking American. He did not even bother coming up with plans for P, as he was the United States’ national treasure, but it was different for this agent.

‘Hohoho! What a haul! The American Dream is still alive! The land of opportunity!’

Han-Yeol was definitely misusing the phrase, but the United States was indeed giving him countless new opportunities recently.

Thud!

[I... I am finished.]

Clack!

[Good job, Red Twenty.]

[Haha... Thank you, captain.]

Red One tapped Red Twenty’s shoulder and praised him for his efforts as if he were trying to show him off.

However, Red One was no longer trying to pick a fight with Han-Yeol. This was his way of trying to appeal to him that their squad could prove useful in many ways, and was trying to curry favor with him before the mission ended.

Unfortunately, Red One was adept at picking fights with others but was inept when apologizing and making amends, so it ended up looking like he was trying to start another fight with Han-Yeol.

P completely misunderstood that they were trying to pick a fight with Han-Yeol once again. ‘That moron is at it again? Ah, I have to do something about this. I’ll have to request these RC Morons to get re-educated once we get back!’

Han-Yeol was not simply a guest his superiors tasked him with. He was a friend and someone he could confide in. Such a friend was quite valuable to him, as he had to live in the shadows, making it difficult for him to tell his tales to others. Han-Yeol was the perfect confidant for P, as he knew everything even though he was not affiliated with the United States.

Of course, this was well within Han-Yeol’s calculation, as he exploited P’s desire for a friend to get close to him. Han-Yeol was able to unexpectedly benefit from his friend, as making James’ life difficult would make it easier to convince him to jump ship.

Ironically, Red One was the one who set up the whole thing perfectly for Han-Yeol, but he was completely oblivious as to what was going on.

[Alright, let’s move in.]

[Yes, sir!]

The RC Squad members enthusiastically replied at P’s command and entered the bunker.

Thud... Thud...

There was nothing more for Han-Yeol to do from here on out. Thus, P and the RC Squad members led from the door. Han-Yeol was the last to enter the bunker and just closed the door when he suddenly got a strange feeling.

‘Hmm?’

[What is it, Han-Yeol-nim?]

‘Hey, Karvis. Don’t you feel something’s off?’ Han-Yeol asked but even he could not really put his finger on it.

[Hmm... No, I do not sense anything.]

Karvis was an Ego system, so she was incapable of sensing these kinds of things.

‘Hmm... I guess I’m just being too sensitive.’

The strange feeling lasted only for a short while, so Han-Yeol decided to shrug it off and follow behind P and the RC Squad.

The underground bunker lived up to its name. It was just one long corridor with rows of incandescent lights illuminating it.

Whoosh...!

[Geez... What’s wrong with this place?]

[It feels like we’re going to run into a ghost...]

Red Twenty, or James, was quite scared of places like this.

[Shut it or else I’m going to rip your mouth.]

[Y-Yes, ma’am!]

James instantly straightened his back and covered his mouth after Red Two fiercely growled and threatened him.

‘Sigh... I got scolded again...’ he lamented.

He was scolded often by his superiors thanks to his timid personality and lack of common sense. He was proud of himself when his captain praised him earlier, but his mood was instantly dashed after getting scolded once again.

James was a timid person who enjoyed listening to music and drawing. The life of a soldier was incompatible with his personality, but he had no choice but to continue this career due to his family's financial plight.

Meanwhile, Han-Yeol flashed a smirk after noticing the sudden change in Red Twenty’s mood, and his eyes glimmered like a predator eyeing its prey.

1. This is a saying in Korean that goes ‘your body will suffer if your head is stupid.’ ☜

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