Only I Am A Reader

'Their growth was stunted quite a bit, but they are still a pain.'

Whether he wanted it or not, the move of a protagonist like Geochin could never end up as something normal. Using a resource that no one else had to raise a group with the end goal of creating his very own force, all kinds of hidden and neglected talents just had to surface through this opportunity.

Although Leo's act of collecting more gold and resources in preparation for the right moment had decreased the value of Geochin's resources, the effect was limited. Aside from a small fraction that started to act independently or discovered new routes through other teams, Leo still heard about most of the famous names within the rising Murim League as he roamed the Murim during his monster extermination journey…

"I really wanted to crush that annoying face of his."

Cheon Yong's face looked indifferent, but the words that came out of his mouth spoke of an entirely different story. Under Leo's influence, he had slowly learned to reign in his battle thirst. However, a leopard can't really change its spots.

"We both know that the guys who watched while he made that ruckus were waiting for you to do just that. They have been long waiting for an excuse to drive us off, Yong."

Cheon Sohee patted the 'Phoenix Storm' on his back. Ever since people started calling them the Four Heavenly Beasts, his supposed title had taken a very different turn.

With the help of the initial Blood Serpent Pill, both he and the 'Elegant Roc' only took a few months after the Mount Hua Sword Conference to become Peak Martial Artists themselves. Although there was a subtle difference in who was closer to the next wall, the members of the First Demon Hunter team registered with the Association were all Martial Masters!

"They sure like being petty, as if the pills we take are making as much of a dent as the greedy Murim League, right Yeon unni?"

No matter how one looked at it, the Murim League had to be the highest beneficiary of the Monster Hunter Association's venture. Cheon Sohee was only bringing it up because she felt a dangerous aura looming around the silent Yeon.

"Indeed, perhaps we should search for a silent spot to dispose of them?"

An eerie smile rose on Yeon's face as she turned to her junior sister. Having shed off the last hint of childeishness with the passing of the last three years, she possessed adult-like charms despite just turning 18 recently, but Leo could only ignore that alluring face upon hearing the words coming out from it.

After accompanying her for this long, Leo had long reconfirmed that the attraction was mutual. She was the 'character' that he had gotten close to the most throughout both journeys that he could no longer regard her as one. She was the closest thing to being his companion in this foreign world… If only she wasn't someone that he would be forced to leave.

'Her tendencies are as extreme as ever.'

The stronger she became, the faster her outer shell broke as she matured. Not only did she speak and interact more with people, but she had also started being honest. Within her beauty lied the dangerous allure of a yandere, something that Leo… wasn't exactly against.

Although Leo didn't require her protection, just knowing that there was someone feeling angry or jealous for him, standing up for his sake was gratifying! Having someone like that by his side gave him a long-needed sense of self-validation, that he was an inseparable part of someone else's life, someone he shared similar sentiments with!

"Now, now, I don't think we should escalate it that far. We don't have the time for that, you know?"

Since he stared at Leo with some killing intent mixed in, Leo knew that Yeon would likely act on her words even though she appeared to be joking. However, even if they did have time, he didn't want Yeon to get unnecessary blood on her hand just because of that clown. Geochin would make sure to do the job anyway.

"If you say so, Ho. Are we going back now or…?"

The ominous aura disappeared as Yeon's smile turned flowery. As if she had been forced into the position of the team's leader in the novel, she had been letting Leo make the choices as she carefreely wandered around by his side. Most would argue that roaming the battlefield made one's soul weary, but Yeon felt like she was getting better by the day…

"Let's look for a place to absorb our spoils first and rest for the day."

"Works with me."

As Shanxi housed one of the larger branches of the Monster Hunter Association, quite a few inns had been erected throughout the city. It was often crowded, but finding a place to stay wasn't too hard.

"Four rooms please."

As honest as Yeon and Leo had become about their feelings, they had completely retracted their habit of sleeping together. It was okay to do so when they were still children, but Leo found it hard to ignore his physiological reaction now that he returned to being a teen. It didn't help that Yeon's body had only grown more…

As a reader that had often avoided 'smut' novels, and Yeon who lacked education even more than him, both of them kept things at the emotional level for the time being. Although… things might be different if this was back on Earth.

'It might be hard to marry at this age though.'

Falling into the paradox of an incompatible body and mind, Leo pushed his thoughts away as sat cross-legged on his bed, silently observing the sapphire-like pills before throwing them into his mouth!

As the cloudy energy dispersed through his body, Leo's breathing adjusted as scarlet mixed with blue. Once again, it was time to digest the exemplary loot of his latest hunt!