Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: A Hero Among Rogues (1)
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Hero Guild.
"…That's all."
The headquarters chief's report had concluded.
Baek Jincheon skimmed through the well-organized report on the related matters.
It summarized the articles and media coverage lavishly praising Kim Gunja and Sin Yeji's exploits at the amusement park, along with public opinion trends.
—A rookie Hunter less than half a year into the game single-handedly stops a Gate Break?!
—From the Homunculus lab to the Gate Break! The Hunter who appears in every crisis, Kim Gunja! Who is he?!
—Unprecedented! S-Rank Hunter Sin Yeji, the goddess who deployed flight for the first time among her rank to save lives!
The coverage was overwhelmingly positive.
While the Hero Guild had pulled some strings, this time the momentum was so strong they hadn't even needed to intervene much.
It was inevitable.
The location was none other than an amusement park.
Unlike the Homunculus lab, it was a place teeming with onlookers, packed with families and couples.
Most of those saved by the two were precious loved ones—family or partners.
That gratitude shone vividly in broadcast interviews and online posts, resonating straight with the public.
Their recognition was skyrocketing as a result.
Baek Jincheon set the report down and spoke.
"What do you think?"
This was the headquarters chief's most agonizing moment.
He had to decipher the intent behind Baek Jincheon's utterly vague question.
Racking his brains to the limit, the chief cautiously replied, assuming it was about the pair going to the amusement park together.
"Kim Gunja and Sin Yeji are both alumni of Park Chunduk Academy. They're reportedly quite close, training together daily. Considering how many witnessed them together during the Hunter license exam, it's not all that strange."
In other words, guys and girls who hang out that much are bound to spark rumors.
Fortunately, it was the right answer.
Baek Jincheon tapped his desk thoughtfully in response.
After a brief contemplation, he spoke up.
"Shall we launch the project?"
The chief's face registered surprise.
He knew exactly what project Baek Jincheon meant.
It was the plan to groom Kim Gunja into one of the Hero Guild's flagship Hunters.
"…Isn't it a bit premature?"
"The wind is blowing our way. No reason to delay."
Baek Jincheon had planned to wait two months, but passing up the buzz Kim Gunja had generated felt like a waste.
You couldn't manufacture public fervor like this on demand.
Waiting for perfect ripeness was wise, but timing was everything in these matters.
"…Understood. I'll select suitable expeditions and schedules for his involvement."
"And while you're at it, gauge his interest."
In other words, float some options to probe his inclinations further.
"Yes, sir."
Baek Jincheon wanted to confirm something this time.
Whether the kid's true face was that of a hero… or a scoundrel.
"I wonder which it is."
Tapping his desk, Baek Jincheon wore an intrigued expression.
Late at night, Park Chunduk Academy.
Unlike Sin Yeji, Kim Gunja had sustained no serious injuries and was discharged after just one day.
He'd notified Pentagram of his recovery, and Monjiro showered him with praise for his feats.
Honestly, he hadn't expected much.
Just hoping for something useful to convert into points in the Customizing Room.
'This it? Came quick.'
A package addressed to him had arrived in the director's office.
Kim Gunja opened the box and examined the artifact.
'A dagger?'
The description didn't immediately click.
To test it, Kim Gunja gripped Zarathu and channeled a bit of mana.
The dimensional dagger absorbed his mana like a sponge.
A faint hum resonated: zing.
As if recognizing its master.
And then,
With a deep whirr— the air warped, and Zarathu vanished into it.
"Huh…?"
Even Kim Gunja, not easily surprised, was taken aback.
It had vanished perfectly.
Invisible to the eye, intangible to the touch.
As if transported to another dimension.
Yet intriguingly, he could still sense its presence.
Infused with his mana, it lingered nearby.
Awaiting his call.
Kim Gunja willed it back into his hand while channeling mana.
Whirr—
Zarathu emerged from thin air into his grasp.
"…Impressive."
The admiration slipped out naturally.
He ran a few quick tests right away.
Whoosh—thunk!
A casual toss embedded Zarathu in a striking dummy.
From out of reach, he channeled mana and summoned it.
…Nothing happened.
'Of course… it'd be broken if it did.'
As he approached to retrieve it manually, an unexpected result unfolded.
Whirr—
Zarathu vanished from the dummy.
And reappeared in his mana-channeled hand.
Transcending space.
"…Whoa."
There was a slight delay, but even accounting for that, its utility was insane.
An artifact excelling in throws and recalls.
For someone wielding shadow arts, it was hard to imagine a more perfect dagger.
'Gotta thank Monjiro properly this time…'
It was that spot-on.
Kim Gunja's lips curved upward at the stellar gear.
He sent Zarathu into subspace and headed to the mana training room.
First order: intensify training in Heaven-Shattering Divine Art and Heaven-Shattering Sword.
This stemmed from info he'd gleaned from Austin during the Customizing Room upgrade.
Increasing stake tied directly to Sync Rate, as expected.
Shadow Lord Stein.
Forcing him to use powers was likely Stein's ploy to boost Sync Rate and reclaim stake.
For his own ends.
If Ma Ilcheon gave freely like a bountiful tree, Stein felt like pure "negotiation" for his goals.
Thus, Kim Gunja felt no fondness for him.
He had no intention of heeding Stein's urging.
'For now, sink points into mana circuit balance, and master Heaven-Shattering Divine Art and Heaven-Shattering Sword.'
He aimed to wield Forms 7 and 8 freely at minimum.
Building power while raising the odds of Ma Ilcheon regaining investor status.
Beyond Stein being the sole friendly investor, Kim Gunja owed him debts aplenty.
'Ramp up Sync Rate fast.'
Arriving at the mana training room, Kim Gunja checked the time.
1 a.m.
Recalling his appointment with Geum Jinung tomorrow, he calculated and entered.
'Out by 3, catch some shut-eye, then move.'
Thanks to Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, his average sleep was down to three hours.
Seated in lotus position, he circulated the art, crimson haze rising from his body.
A tributary of the Mississippi River in America.
Vroooom—
A speedboat surged through spray, pursued by others.
The lead boat's interior was strewn with corpses and blood, but the man at the helm beamed brightly.
No, he was thrilled.
"Yeehaw! This is the life!"
The tattooed man bellowed.
His eyes bloodshot red.
Pentagram's Andrey and Jerina rode the chasing boat.
Despite the boat's wild pitching at high speed, Andrey stood firm at the bow.
Spotting his pursuers, the tattooed man spat curses.
"Annoying bastards!"
He thrust his right hand forward.
His ring gleamed earthen brown.
Trees and vines along the banks exploded in rapid growth.
Crack, crunch.
In moments, massive plants writhed like serpents, blocking the river.
"Crazy! Insane! Haha!"
His boat slipped through; the path sealed behind.
Andrey frowned, mana bursting from his hands.
Shrrrk—
Invisible wind blades shredded the plants midair.
Seeing them sink whole, the man gunned the engine harder in panic.
"Irritating."
Andrey muttered.
Could've just killed him outright, but persuasion had backfired—irksome.
Understanding his frustration, Jerina at the wheel swept back her whipping hair.
"Don't be too harsh. The boss is trying his best. It's a rule he set himself."
Their mana-laced voices cut clear over the roar.
"…I know. Where's the boss?"
"Blasted ahead."
As her words ended,
Crack—
The river froze, forming a massive ice wall.
"Goddammit!"
Boom—!
The man's boat smashed into the ice and exploded spectacularly.
As he flew airborne, his ring flashed again,
Squelch, crunch.
Riverside trees stretched tendrils to snag him.
From atop the towering ice wall, Chris gazed down impassively.
Andrey, on the slowed boat, declared,
"Talk's broken down."
"Still, good we caught him before full mastery of the Master Ring."
"Not confirmed as a Master Ring yet."
Andrey cautioned against assuming.
"Subdue him first."
"Ha! You punks dare—gurk!"
The man writhed atop the plants, clutching his throat.
Andrey had manipulated winds to cut off the air.
"Boss."
Chris nodded at Andrey's call.
A killer who scoffed at one last olive branch.
With permission, dozens of invisible blades materialized around the man.
Sensing them, he yelled desperately.
"Wait…."
"Too late."
Slice! Slash!
His dismembered body splashed into the river.
Ting— A ring bounced off a blade toward Chris.
Chris caught it and pressed it to his own ring.
Keiiiing—clang!
A piercing ring and repulsive force erupted, as if rejecting each other.
"It's a Master Ring."
Andrey and Jerina brightened at Chris's words.
"Finally."
"Phew… was sweating it if this wasn't it."
"Good work."
Chris glided down the ice, blonde hair flowing.
Boarding the boat, he said,
"Head back."
"Boss."
"…?"
Chris turned to Andrey.
"I'll hold onto it."
The Master Ring.
Chris nodded.
Only one per person anyway; they'd share ownership.
"No contracts."
"Naturally."
Andrey pocketed the ring Chris handed over and inspected it.
"Plain as ever."
Like Chris's, it looked utterly mundane.
But only on the surface.
Ding!
A Myth-grade artifact harboring powers to surpass Awakener limits.
Jerina asked Andrey,
"No description on that one either?"
"Just 'No. 6'."
"Confirms at least six, then. Didn't even know how many with Chris's No. 1."
"Means at least six can enter Bloody Gate."
"If we snag 'em all. Sigh."
Andrey slipped the ring on as Jerina sighed.
A resonant voice boomed in his mind.
Just one phrase, yet Andrey was certain.
The voice's owner wielded single-number-level power—or beyond.
Such a being lay in his grasp.
A faint smile crept across Andrey's lips as he felt the Master Ring.