Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 235: A New Monster (1)

There were still more events scheduled even after Han-Yeol arrived at the Golden Palace.

The next event on the agenda was a party attended by reporters and VIPs, and it appeared that Egypt was using this opportunity to display its influence on a global scale. Naturally, the magnitude of the party was enormous.

[Hahaha! I’m extremely happy that the hero who saved Nepal is none other than the vice leader of the Horus raid party!]

Tak! Tak!?

President Phaophator exclaimed while smacking Han-Yeol on his back.

‘Ouch… That hurts, you know…’?Han-Yeol thought.

President Phaophator was a Master Rank Hunter, and his strength made it difficult to believe that he was turning seventy-six years old this year.

Han-Yeol enjoyed the party, except for the few times when President Phaophator would pat him on the back a bit too hard.

Of course, there were a few people who appeared disgruntled for some reason...

***

The atmosphere was quite pleasant, but not everyone was enjoying the party. After all, where there is light, there are bound to be shadows.

[Damn it… Why do I have to be overshadowed by some commoner?]

[You’re right, brother.]

[Ha! He might be a Master Rank Hunter, but he is still a commoner in the end. I wonder why father is doting on him so much?]

[Yes, you’re right, brother!]

Gulp! Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!?

Houssam and Issam, the two sons of Phaophator, grumbled and quickly downed their drinks. They despised the fact that Han-Yeol was receiving more attention than they were, regardless of his Master Rank Hunter status.

[Ha! What’s so great about that bastard?!]

[You’re right, brother!]

The elder brother, Houssam, held more power between the two, so his younger brother, Issam, did his utmost to gain favor with him.

[But have you heard of that rumor, brother?]

[What?!]

Houssam was in an extremely bad mood today.

[Father plans to marry Tara off to that commoner.]

[Yeah, I heard that too. Damn it! I know incest is not allowed, but they could’ve made an exception for us royalty!]

He was admiring Tayarana, despite her being his younger sister. Contrary to what one might expect, it wasn't solely because of her exceptional beauty.

.

[You are correct, brother. It's widely known that Tara is the next in line for the presidency.]

[Yes, that's precisely why I, the descendant of the pharaoh, should be her spouse!]

Houssam lacked the courage to become a Hunter. He had once led a raid party into the hunting grounds when he was younger but witnessed the Hunters and Porters getting slaughtered by monsters, leading to the development of severe trauma.

His monster-related trauma was so profound that he refused to go anywhere near a hunting ground or face a monster. Meanwhile, Issam was simply a coward who couldn't even shoot a gun from a distance.

Both of them chose not to become Hunters due to their fears, and Phaophator had cast them aside for their cowardice.

[I need to teach that arrogant commoner a lesson…] Houssam said with frustration.

Despite not being a Hunter himself, he took pride in being the owner of not one, but two mid-sized raid parties in Egypt. The fact that someone else was receiving more attention than him wounded his pride deeply.

[But brother, he's still a Master Rank Hunter, so how do you plan to teach him a lesson? You'd need a Master Rank Hunter at the very least, and even that wouldn't guarantee a hundred percent victory. Besides, the collateral damage from their fight would be catastrophic, leading to issues of responsibility. Where would you find a Master Rank Hunter willing to go through all that trouble just for money?]

Issam raised a valid point, despite his occasional foolishness.

[Who said I didn’t know about that?!]

Pukeok!

[Ouch!]

Issam cried out in pain after being punched by Houssam. His voice was quite loud, but nobody at the party seemed to even glance in their direction.

Houssam knew that despite his superior royal bloodline compared to Han-Yeol, a commoner, there was nothing he could do against a Master Rank Hunter, regardless of their lineage. He was well aware of the capabilities of a Master Rank Hunter.

Egypt had nine Master Rank Hunters, totaling eleven when including the two royals, Phaophator and Tayarana.

None of these Master Rank Hunters faced government intervention in their actions, as their status equaled that of royalty. Of course, they still had to adhere to the laws and were ineligible to run for the presidency. However, the fact that they were treated as equals to royalty bestowed upon them significant power.

[Ha! Just wait and see. I’m going to find that bastard’s weakness and make him kneel in front of me!]

[Yes! You will definitely do that, brother!]

[Shut up!]

Gulp! Gulp!?

***

"Wow!" Han-Yeol stretched his tired body and exclaimed while standing on the roof of the palace where he was staying.

He felt a bit tipsy from drinking so much, but he decided not to use his mana to burn it away this time because he was enjoying the tipsy feeling.

"Hmm... I had a great time today," Han-Yeol mused, genuinely enjoying his time in Egypt. "The party was quite fun too."

Of course, he relished the opportunity to be with Tayarana as much as he wanted, even more so than being with President Phaophator. She typically dressed casually when with him, but tonight, she wore a revealing dress that made her quite the sight to behold.

"Haa... Tara was really pretty today..." Han-Yeol couldn't help but reminisce about her appearance and hoped she would appear in his dreams tonight. He figured that since he had no chance with her in real life, he might as well indulge his desires in his dreams.

"I will be able to touch her smooth skin...!" Han-Yeol admitted, acknowledging his desires.

"N-No! I shouldn't! I can't do that to Tara!" he exclaimed while scratching his head.

Despite being a Master Rank Hunter, Tayarana was the princess of a country, the Goddess of Africa, and the object of desire for all men. Han-Yeol believed that her father, President Phaophator, would find a more suitable man for her, someone far better than him, who had nothing else to offer apart from being a Master Rank Hunter.

"Ah... Just thinking about it is making me feel depressed," Han-Yeol grumbled before jumping onto the bed.

Thud!

“I should just sleep…”

His mood soured after thinking about Tayarana, so he decided to call it a day, but...

Knock! Knock!?

"Hmm?"

Han-Yeol wasn't using his mana at the moment, so he didn't sense anyone approaching the door. However, that didn't matter because the security in this palace was airtight, and the soldiers protecting this place were highly trained individuals. They would undoubtedly detect any intruders, and Han-Yeol could easily pick up any sounds of battle thanks to his heightened senses.

In other words, Han-Yeol knew that the person knocking on his door was someone trusted by the soldiers.

‘Who is it? Is it room service?’?Han-Yeol thought before he opened the door.

Creak…

“What?!”

The person who appeared on the other side of the door completely caught him off guard.

[H-Hello…]

[T-Tara?!]

It was none other than Tayarana, and she was wearing the exact same dress she had worn at the party.

[Can I come in?]

[Y-Yeah, of course.]

‘I’m grateful if you do… Wait… Am I dreaming right now?’?Han-Yeol wondered if all of this was just a dream.

However, he could tell that all of this was really happening, judging by the powerful mana he could feel emanating from her.

‘No, there's no way a dream can recreate the mana of a Master Rank Hunter…’ he thought to himself.

Tayarana entered the room, and the only sound that could be heard was the soft rustle of her steps and her dress fluttering.

[S-So, what brings you here at this hour?]

[Why? Aren’t I allowed to visit you at this hour?]

[Huh?!]

Tayarana's innocent yet seductive eyes gazed into Han-Yeol’s, feeling as if they were peering right into his soul. She exuded a surprisingly provocative aura today, quite different from her usual self.

'I guess she's drunk too. Did she want to get drunk like I did?' he wondered, observing her flushed cheeks.

Han-Yeol sobered up almost instantly after seeing Tayarana, not because she was beautiful, but because he was simply too shocked. However, it didn't mean she wasn't beautiful at that moment; her slightly unfocused eyes were extremely seductive and alluring.

"N-No, you're always welcome anytime," Han-Yeol stammered, telling the truth.

There was no way he could refuse a visit from the woman blessed by the gods.

[Really~?]

[Y-Yes!]

‘Ah… This is killing me…!’

Han-Yeol's heart started pounding wildly after witnessing Tayarana acting cute while under the influence of alcohol.

[Han-Yeol.]

[Yes?]

[I'm going to ask you a serious question, so you better reply seriously!]

[Y-Yes!]

Tayarana appeared both cute and commanding simultaneously, and Han-Yeol found himself utterly captivated by her charismatic authority.

Han-Yeol wasn't usually the type to be overwhelmed by someone else's charisma, but Tayarana was bending the rules by blending it with her adorableness.

Tak!

‘Haap!’

Tayarana suddenly seized his hands. Han-Yeol couldn't react quickly because his Sixth Sense didn't activate, as there was no imminent danger.

[What do you think of me?]

[Huh?]

Han-Yeol was taken aback by her question.

[I asked you, what do you think of me?!]

[T-That is…]

‘I like you…’

He had these words right at the tip of his tongue, eager to say them.

‘I like you. I love you.’

Still, he hesitated due to the gap in their social statuses. But a part of him yearned to claim her as his own. He wished to bring her into his bed and lose himself in her until daylight, but he couldn't allow himself to do so.

‘I'm just a commoner while she is a princess…’

The world might have evolved, but social classes still divided people. Unfortunately, Tayarana occupied a much higher rung on the social ladder compared to him, deserving someone better.

"T-That is...!"

Just as he was about to respond, at that very moment...

Thud…!

Snore… Snore… Snore… Snore…?

[Hahaha… There goes my luck…]

Tayarana collapsed and fell asleep on his chest. Han-Yeol simply chuckled and carefully carried her to the bed. Even though he could have easily sobered her up using his skills, he chose not to.

Snore... Snore... Snore... Snore...

She appeared to be peacefully asleep, and he didn't want to disturb her rest.

Seuk…

Han-Yeol sat beside the bed, gazing at her peaceful sleeping face. It was a visage he never grew tired of and, in fact, seemed to grow even more beautiful the longer he looked at it.

"How can a human being be so beautiful?" he wondered.

Normally, Tayarana carried an air of aloofness around her, but today he had witnessed a completely different side of her.

"Hmm... I guess her weakness was alcohol. Haha! I wonder if anyone else knows about this?"

The Tayarana he was acquainted with wasn't much of a socialite, so there probably weren't many people aware of her vulnerability.

"I suppose Mariam might be an exception, though..."

Suddenly, he remembered that Mariam, who was always at Tayarana's side, was nowhere to be found.

It was at that precise moment that a voice unexpectedly echoed in his head.

[I will personally kill you if you dare lay a single finger on Tayarana-nim.]

It was Mariam communicating with him through her telepathic ability, and she was currently issuing a rather ominous threat.

‘Don’t read my mind!’

[…this is an unavoidable situation.]

‘Mariam!’?Han-Yeol roared inwardly in anger.

Then, he suddenly said, ‘Ha! I'm not going to do anything; I'll just gaze at her all night long!’

[…]

Han-Yeol wasn't certain whether Mariam could not or simply chose not to respond, but she remained oddly silent. It appeared that her silence was her way of signaling her approval for him to proceed as he had suggested.