Chapter 59. Forgive Your Enemies (4)
The arena, where viewership had slumped for quite some time—except for a few channels—and even the popular ones were starting to lose audiences due to repetitive programming, was buzzing with new life.
It was all thanks to Jeonghyeon.
Channel #31, which had covered Jeonghyeon, was known as the punishment channel. It featured Huxsli, the so-called Newbie Breaker, brutally crushing those who broke the West's rules.
Huxsli unilaterally dominated humans, publicly announcing each rule they'd violated, all while smugly reminding viewers that they themselves abided by the rules.
The viewers' community forums were ablaze for a good while. People started digging into Jeonghyeon's background, while others bet on matches without even knowing his opponents.
[And of course, that news would've reached the Jo family's ears too!!]
The excited drone buzzed its wings with a whirr.
"Yeah?"
Jeonghyeon, lying on the bed, rummaged through his inventory.
The lodging had been arranged by the channel owner and host, who owed him for the massive boost in viewership from his first day's exploits. It was the best they could offer on short notice.
Thankfully, the harvesting knife and Nus stored in his inventory were still there, behaving themselves.
Of course, the moment the inventory opened, Nus had started screaming, 'You bastard, how dare you not take me out—what the hell have you been doing?!' So he'd hastily sealed the entrance in case the drone overheard.
'Well, they probably figured a porter's inventory only has mana stones anyway.'
Porters were literally walking inventories—nothing more, nothing less. Checking each one individually would've been a hassle.
"I see."
Philip, who had been resting in front of Jeonghyeon, nodded and sipped his drink.
Some cocktail he'd mixed from potions and energy drinks.
Jeonghyeon had been certain Philip was training in an underground dungeon, but he'd still worried a bit. Seeing him perfectly fine was reassuring... and a little annoying.
[Anything else you want?]
The drone slyly approached Jeonghyeon.
"This is enough."
By this, he meant the lodging and Philip.
Normally, Philip would've been worked to death in endless dungeon runs, but at Jeonghyeon's request, he'd gotten a special day off.
'Not that I missed him or anything.'
Experience with Philip Park (subordinate) will be shared. A portion of the experience gathered by the subordinate through hunting will be converted to domination experience.
Remote status checks are now possible.
Simple commands can now be transmitted.
'Since he has to grind dungeons anyway, might as well make him pull his weight while I'm busting my ass here.'
That was the reason.
"But if a dungeon pops up around here, how many are we talking? Enough to run these hunters ragged like this?"
Curious about Philip's drink, Jeonghyeon gulped down a spare one he'd made.
'Ugh. Tastes like shit.'
"More than you'd think. Not high rank, though..."
[That's 'cause this is outside the Hunter Association's shadow.]
The drone chimed in.
"Outside the Hunter Association's shadow? Don't they have West admins too?"
[Look closer—all Jo family plants. They shelled out big to embed them in the Association.]
The drone spoke with exaggerated politeness, almost proudly boasting about its West branch affiliation.
"What for?"
[You know dungeons spawn more the more there are?]
"Yeah. They multiply."
Eventually overwhelming this dimension entirely, letting the Demon King's army stroll in like it was their backyard.
[The Hunter Association pretends not to know... or turns a blind eye to one massive dungeon in the West.]
"...!"
Jeonghyeon's face, mid-sip, hardened into ice.
"That bad, huh?"
"...Shut it."
His icy glare pinned Philip, who sheepishly bowed his head and listened quietly. The drone continued.
[A multi-floor underground behemoth. It's spawning dungeons all around.]
"So they send guys like Philip to clear the spinoffs, harvest the mana stones?"
[Yeah, and rack up Association contributions too.]
"What do Association contributions get you?"
Even Philip, packed with experience and trivia, seemed clueless about Association perks. Made sense—low-rank hunters rarely heard this stuff.
[Basically, cash...]
"Hunters or groups with high contributions get more support. Like Kingdom Guild auctioning raid spots for profit, or landing bigger gigs later."
The Association leeches sat pretty, sucking honey without lifting a finger.
In a way, these incompetent, self-serving bureaucrats' armchair decisions had probably hastened the dimension's doom by years.
[Not bad... you know your stuff.]
The drone sounded surprised.
[What are you, anyway? Fighter, knows his shit. Most porters grovel to hunters—here it's the hunters kissing porter ass...]
"... "
The drone's sharp probe hit home.
Right on cue, a beep chimed from the drone's body.
[Oh, next opponent's lined up already. Confident for six in a row?]
"How many more till I face those Jo bastards?"
[Your pace? Ten wins tops...]
"Good. Let's go."
Jeonghyeon left his sweet day's rest behind and headed back to the arena.
"Hey, Philip."
On the way out, Jo family goons waited for Philip. Before leaving, Jeonghyeon clapped his shoulder, pulled his head close, and whispered.
"Get cozy with them. Clear dungeons hard—treat it as training. Dig up any intel you can."
Philip's face lit up in surprise as Jeonghyeon pulled back.
'Shit, too tough a mission? They more dangerous than I thought...?'
"...A special ops elite on covert dispatch! Got it...!"
He looked thrilled, like he'd been handed a blockbuster assignment.
"Uh, yeah... sure. That."
"I'll make it happen, no matter what!"
Enthusiasm was good. Jeonghyeon watched Philip dash to the suited men like he'd been waiting, then headed to the arena himself.
'Comet Newbie on Punishment Channel! Will He Punish Seoul West's Jo Family?!'
Over a hundred viewers had gathered under the sensational title.
Jeonghyeon found it iffy that his channel topped out at a hundred, but the drone was ecstatic.
[Hehehe! Huge hit! Massive!]
"Fucking psycho."
With the fight looming, Jeonghyeon stretched and hydrated.
The surveillance was gone now. In the blood-scented locker room: just the drone and him.
"Whatever. You're Jo side, right? This title cool?"
[Dude, aggro sells. Jo family'll love it.]
"Huh."
Made sense. If they didn't crave drama, why watch arenas? Similar scum anyway—no issue.
"Next opponent's who?"
[Oh, sword user... Wait, no! Info embargo! More fun that way.]
"Aha. Sure, thanks."
The drone spilled the key detail mid-rant about secrecy.
Sword user to a former Swordmaster.
'Let's see what style.'
Just a human, no hunter. Jeonghyeon mastered swords.
[Fight's starting soon.]
"Viewers?"
[112. Year's high!]
"Nice."
Final stretch, then gauntlets on.
Proficiency: Low (31%)
Attribute Liberation: 1 (Low proficiency applied)
'No dice.'
Jeonghyeon eyed the small inventory pouch at his waist. Blood stench muddled focus, but Nus's presence was clear.
'Sharp kid.'
Handy when it counted.
Deep breath, then he strode out of the locker room.
"How to play this?"
[Huh? What?]
"Quick squash or drag it out."
[You can do that?!]
"Duh. Sword guy, right?"
Jeonghyeon flashed a sly grin at the drone.
No face, but guilty as hell.
[Tch... Fine. Toy with him max, then kill. That's what they're here for.]
"As you command."
Jeonghyeon opened the iron cage and marched into the colosseum.
Like a retired champ reclaiming the ring.
From Punished to Punisher! The man who slew Newbie Breaker Huxsli enters round two!! 'Punisher' Jeonghyeon!!
'How the fuck does it know my name?'
Jeonghyeon faltered mid-showmanship at the drone's casual name-drop.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
But his opponent burst in, demanding focus.
And facing the Punisher: Huxsli's master, wielder of myriad swords, the Sword Master! 'Executioner' Mamoru!!
Mamoru the Executioner dragged a chained arsenal across the ground, true to his myriad swords rep.
Japanese katana, greatsword, longsword, rapier, massive axe, chainsaw—looted a whole armory. Jeonghyeon whistled in awe.
'Brought every blade in existence.'
Arrayed on the ground, Mamoru uncoiled—tiny frame, Melani Wakin-sized.
"You my opponent?"
Mamoru cocked his head, eyes gleaming.
'Awakener...?'
Uneasy, Jeonghyeon triggered analysis.
Kaneda Mamoru
Rank: ?
Revealer:Extinction Island Dragon Chiu
Weapons: Immeasurable
'Tch. No hunter, sure—but didn't say no awakener!'
Still, Extinction Island Dragon Chiu was a weakling he'd barely heard of. Sword users' dragon or whatever—not a big threat.
Jeonghyeon gathered his breath short.
Fwoosh!
He kicked off, charging Mamoru first.