Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Choice (3)
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One-time Hunter.
That was still the image people outside the Hero Guild held of Kim Gunja.
It had only been half a month since the exam ended, but people tended to remember only the flashy highlights anyway.
Not many cared about the backstory of a standout examinee.
That was why.
The Hunters were shocked to see Kim Gunja approaching the Association staff.
'How many times is that guy going for?'
'I've seen him at least five times already.'
'Is he really a one-time use? Not an Energizer?'
'I heard something about re-awakening...'
'But still... what the hell...'
Leaving the Hunters to their thoughts, Kim Gunja asked the Association staff.
"Are there any other teams with openings? My team's still resting."
As Kim Gunja said, the team—including Sin Yeji—that had hunted with him was utterly exhausted.
The staffer asked with a weary look.
"Uh... are you really okay?"
He had no choice but to ask.
Kim Gunja had just come out of a gate clearance not long ago.
The other teams were the same.
Seeing the fatigued Hunters resting in the back made it impossible not to worry if Kim Gunja was pushing too hard.
'Even if multi-gates only spawn C-rank or lower...'
It was still hunting.
Hunting always put your life on the line.
No matter how experienced you were, the mental fatigue built up—and that spilled over to the body, wearing you down faster with each repeat.
'But this guy...'
He showed no sign of major fatigue, as if he'd transcended fear of death.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Kim Gunja replied calmly.
After his deathmatch with Ma Ilcheon in the Customizing Room, Kim Gunja had grown numb to the terror of death.
His mental fatigue from hunting was thus minimal, and the resulting physical drain far less than others'.
On top of that, with artifacts like the Immovable Ring and the energy circulation of Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, he recovered mana and stamina several times faster than anyone else.
So while everyone else was collapsing, he stayed fresh—making it no wonder other Hunters thought he was an Energizer, not a one-time use.
"...Understood. Then head to the right side; 14th Association team is waiting. They need a Striker replacement due to an injury, so join them."
"Thank you."
Kim Gunja returned to his teammates and relayed the message.
"I'll be back soon this time too. Rest up a bit more."
"Mr. Kim Gunja, are you really okay? Wow, steel constitution."
"Ah, Uncle... me too...!"
Yeji tried to stand and follow, but Kim Gunja lightly pressed her forehead with his index finger, and she slumped back powerlessly.
"Ack..."
Her legs simply wouldn't hold her.
"Don't push yourself."
"Hng..."
Yeji was a rookie Hunter fresh off her debut.
Unlike Kim Gunja, her experience was overwhelmingly lacking, so tension had piled up massive fatigue.
The other Hunters weren't much different.
"I'll head out then."
With a goal in mind, Kim Gunja moved straight for the gate.
The resting Hunters' eyes followed his back.
Like they were watching a monster.
Thus, Kim Gunja was firmly etching the name "Kim Gunja" into their minds.
And that was one reason he kept so busy.
To become the hero who topples heroes.
Inside the C-rank gate.
The A-rank Defender wore a troubled expression.
"This boss fight might take a bit."
Kim Gunja scanned the surroundings at his words.
A dense forest of trees so thick it hindered movement.
And overhead, spider-type monsters and webs everywhere.
The lush canopy meant carving a path to the boss—while fending off ambushing spiders.
'Boss's position?'
He glimpsed a leg three times thicker than the others, covered in golden fur—but visibility was too limited to see properly.
Too many obstacles, bad angles; even shining light left blind spots untouched by shadows.
Direct assault would indeed be the only way.
'If I were me before Dagger Arts.'
Kim Gunja shared his idea with the team leader, the Defender.
The way to take the boss fastest.
"I-is that for real?"
"Yes. Make it as noisy as possible, please. In multi-gates, time is power."
"Got it."
The Defender led the team in a boisterous march.
Nearby spiders swarmed at the noise.
Shashat, shashashat!
Kim Gunja steadied his breath as the team halted and fortified defenses.
Stein-style Dagger Arts optimized for three modes.
Assassination. Defense. Throwing.
Kim Gunja focused on throwing over mastering all at once.
Highest utility for him now.
Black mana rose from his left foot, sticking to the dagger at his left waist like glue.
He drew and hurled it fiercely.
Toward where the boss leg peeked.
Then,
Zuuuuwook—
His shadow stretched slime-like along the dagger's path.
The physics-defying sight left teammates gaping.
"W-what the hell?!"
Ignoring them,
Kim Gunja focused on the dagger.
As it passed near the boss, he shifted his left foot, yanking the extended shadow.
The dagger's trajectory bent geometrically.
Toward the boss in the blind spot.
"Kieeeek!"
The Gold Spider screeched at the unseen dagger.
And simultaneously, Kim Gunja vanished from behind the team.
Reappearing atop the Gold Spider's head.
His pure white blade already shimmered with red haze.
Up, down, left, right.
A red cross slashed across the Gold Spider's torso,
Creeeak—
Splitting like a watermelon, spilling guts.
Kim Gunja flipped gracefully in the air, landing on a thick branch.
A satisfying alert popped.
With the boss down, the other spiders scattered.
Seeing his beaming teammates, Kim Gunja reviewed the hunt.
'Definitely high utility.'
Stein's Dagger Arts—throwing bound his shadow to the dagger.
Overcoming shadows' inflexibility by manipulating via dagger.
Precise control was still tough even for one, but simple extension? Up to three.
'Stein handled twelve freely at once.'
Kim Gunja imagined Stein as enemy.
Twelve daggers circling like snakes—impossible to predict where the real body strikes via shadow.
'...Nightmarish.'
Undefeatable.
Like a grim reaper.
A distant realm now, but one he must reach someday.
"Wow! Kim Gunja, right? Incredible!"
"You really just got your license? How are you so calm... wow...!"
Praise poured from the Association team.
Kim Gunja just smiled amiably.
The labyrinth multi-gate, started at night, ended only the next night.
After a full day of hunting, Hunters' dark circles hung to their knees—but faces were bright.
Due to Infinite Guild's Guild Master Mountain King's speech after clearing the S-rank gate, and his afterparty invite.
Even near-collapse Hunters jumped up to join.
Free booze was always welcome.
"Mr. Kim Gunja, you worked so hard!"
"Didn't know Hero Guild had someone like you."
"Thanks so much today."
"Kim Gunja. I'll remember that name."
Hunters and staff who'd hunted with him or seen his hustle showered thanks.
While exchanging greetings,
"Mr. Kim Gunja. Afterparty together, right?"
Han Juyeong approached, exhausted but beaming.
Kim Gunja shook his head apologetically.
He still had solo business.
"I'd love to, but prior engagement. Sorry."
"Ah..."
Han Juyeong looked deeply disappointed.
"Can't be helped. See you next time."
"Yes."
More invites followed, all declined.
He left mana stone distribution to Choi Jinseung, sent near-fainting Yeji home, then pretended to hit the bathroom—heading deep into Jirisan.
For Pentagram's mission.
A man moved cautiously along a valley ridge.
Kim Gunja, alone for Pentagram's mission.
He checked coordinates via portable GPS and nodded.
'Last spot.'
Pentagram flagged three suspicious sites.
Nothing at the first two.
If none here, their guess was wrong.
Frankly, better that way.
A Homunculus facility in-country was horrifying beyond imagination.
Like before, Kim Gunja picked a nearby stone and lightly tossed it at the cliff.
Then,
Whoosh—
The stone passed right through.
As if nothing there.
'Barrier...!'
Mongjiro had said Homunculus groups excelled at hiding labs with artifacts and mana stones.
As advised, Kim Gunja pulled a D-rank mana stone, spreading its mana.
As ambient mana thickened, the "cliff" glowed deep blue.
Vast area—whatever hidden wasn't small-scale.
'Definitely blocks sight and sound...'
Decision time.
Enter to confirm if they're still here?
Or report the barrier and bail?
'...Entering.'
After brief thought, Kim Gunja decided.
Mongjiro wanted lab confirmation and scale.
Barrier spotted, but no details from outside.
'Hoo...'
Relax muscles, brace for worst.
Black mana on dagger in left hand for emergencies; heated mana circuits for instant Dual Stream.
Thus, low stance—he stepped through.
"Ah, aaah, aaaaah—!"
"Hic, stop, please... stop..."
"Just... kill... me... plea...se..."
Childish groans and screams hit immediately.
Kim Gunja froze his breath.
Not pity, not horror at the glass tubes torturing kids.
Death.
The sensation he'd felt countless times surged through him.
"Ooooh—! Impossible! Perfect! Magnificent!"
Even the grating voice couldn't budge a finger.
Move, and die.
Instinct screamed wildly in his brain.
Near the entrance he'd used.
A pale, gaunt man in white robe spat foam in ecstasy, raving.
"Who, who made this masterpiece! Art! Beautiful! Aaaah! Puppet! You incompetent fool! And you call yourself one of the Eleven Alchemists?! Aaaaa!"
Patchwork skin like rags.
Hundreds, thousands of needle marks.
Face doubtfully alive.
And self-styled "Puppet."
Kim Gunja identified him.
Homunculus cadre.
One of the Eleven Alchemists.
'Puppet Alchemist: Manub!'
No way he could fight this.
"Ooh, no, wait! This is fate! God's gift for new humanity! Ki-hahaha!"
Manub's serpentine gaze locked on Kim Gunja.
A miracle, truly.
His instinctive Shadow Walker activation; Manub not going all-out.
Yet still,
Kuduk—
Manub's suddenly extended, retracted hand clutched a chunk of Kim Gunja's left shoulder.
Manub burst into mad laughter.
"Kahat! Kahahaha! What reflexes! What a specimen!"
Feeling the sickly mana pouring from him, Kim Gunja knew.
'Can't win.'
Fight meant certain loss.
Escape then?
He scanned desperately for paths.
Scattered lab tools.
Too-easily pierced barrier.
Puppet Alchemist traits: marionette-like.
'Probably... one shot.'
Survive.
Whatever it takes.
Kuuuuwook—
As Kim Gunja gripped his left dagger with resolve,
The Majesty Ring—never once prioritized itself—blazed intensely.
"...?!"
Descent...?
Unknown exactly, but life-or-death.
And Ma Ilcheon, the Customizing Room—never steered him wrong.
Kim Gunja willed acceptance—the ring flared brighter.
Even a fool could grasp it.
The price of descent.
"Kuh..."
From Kim Gunja's mouth—not his will, utterly alien—came a voice.
"——!"
Instinct.
Manub, oozing leisure, flung himself back desperately.
Yet,
Seogeok—
His neck slid diagonally, spraying blood.
Manub clutched it, foam bubbling as it reattached.
"Ki-hahaha! Who... are you?!"
Manub demanded warily.
Kim Gunja—no, Ma Ilcheon—gazed briefly at the moon, then turned, smirking.
"A freakish zombie, eh. I'd love to play, but this seat lacks time..."
Kuuuuwuuung—
Heavy whoosh—he vanished, reappearing before Manub.
His drawn sword gleamed with icy sword aura.
Under the night sky.
White sword aura wove a Milky Way net.
"Kit—?!"
Manub's body snagged, shredding like tofu.
Minced flesh chunks.
Ma Ilcheon looked down emotionlessly.