Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Connection (2)
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Hero Guild headquarters office.
"An A-rank Elite Gate boss... all by himself...?"
The stern-faced man, Jo Changhwi, echoed in disbelief.
At his reaction, the headquarters chief let out a smirk.
"It's been a while. I haven't seen you look that shocked, Changhwi."
Spear Dragon Jo Changhwi.
An S-rank Hunter and one of the Hero Guild's core forces, he led Team 4 out of their five elite teams. He was one of the few people the chief treated casually outside of formal settings.
Jo Changhwi, who possessed a unique character trait, was also called the "Reincarnation of Zhao Zilong" for his handsome features and his ghostly mastery of the spear.
In response to the chief's teasing words, Jo Changhwi replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"...I'd say it would be abnormal not to be surprised."
The chief scratched his chin, looking a bit embarrassed.
He wasn't wrong.
The boss of an Elite Gate was far more special and powerful than a regular gate boss.
That made taking down an A-rank Elite Gate boss solo something even an S-rank Hunter wouldn't find easy.
Yet Kim Gunja, who had taken his Hunter exam less than three months ago, had pulled it off. It was only natural for anyone to be shocked.
But as the saying goes, humans are creatures of adaptation—and the chief had grown accustomed to Kim Gunja.
'Well, this isn't the first or second time something like this has happened...'
If someone else had done it, he probably would have been plenty surprised.
He would have been amazed, in fact.
But when it was Kim Gunja? Now, his instinctive thought was just, 'Ah, well, if it's that guy...'
The kid had done so many outlandish things by now.
As Jo Changhwi stared at him questioningly, the chief shrugged.
"Yeah, you're right. It is something to be surprised about."
His bland reaction felt a little off, but Jo Changhwi had a more pressing question.
"How'd he take it down?"
It was something he considered impossible, so curiosity about the process was inevitable.
"He said it was 'good luck.'"
"...Luck?"
Jo Changhwi's eyes narrowed. He wasn't one to put much stock in luck.
The chief summarized the report he'd received.
"He was luring the Giant Snake for his team and ended up in a pinch where it was about to swallow him."
"Luring? So he didn't plan to fight it solo from the start."
"Exactly. He was buying time but got himself into a do-or-die spot. Then, out of nowhere, he thought—what if he targeted the boss from the inside?"
Jo Changhwi looked utterly dumbfounded.
"And he... just went for it?"
The chief nodded.
"The odds were low, but he figured it was his only shot at survival. So he ditched evasion, charged right into its mouth, dodged the fangs and venom, slipped inside, found the heart, and destroyed it."
Even recounting it, the chief let out a hollow chuckle in disbelief.
Who in their right mind would willingly dive into a monster's mouth?
That was movie stuff, not real life.
And Jo Changhwi was thinking the exact same thing.
"...That's insane."
"Anyway, that's what I heard. Teams 6 and 8 went in with him, but they didn't do much, so yeah—he soloed it."
"And he's no ordinary madman, either."
The chief burst into loud laughter at Jo Changhwi's assessment.
Madman.
Thinking back on everything Kim Gunja had done, it didn't feel like an unfair label.
"Definitely not right in the head."
With that, the chief gave him a quick rundown of Kim Gunja's exploits.
Jo Changhwi, the leader of Team 4—which handled most of East Asia's S-rank gates—was a training fanatic who paid little attention to outside affairs. He'd only returned to the country yesterday, so he didn't know much about Kim Gunja.
After hearing the key incidents, Jo Changhwi came to a conclusion.
"...Just good luck? Bullshit."
Luck could explain it once. But repeatedly? That was skill.
His calm, swift judgment was impressive, but turning it into action with that kind of boldness went beyond impressive.
Jo Changhwi had been on countless hunts.
With Hunters who had the experience and skill to tackle S-rank gates.
But he'd rarely seen anyone with decision-making guts like this kid.
And the guy had been a Hunter for less than three months.
"...When the Guild Master told me to bring a three-month rookie on an S-rank gate hunt right after I got back, I was skeptical. Now I get it a bit."
Jo Changhwi had met Baek Jincheon immediately upon returning and gotten orders to add Kim Gunja to his team. Then he'd come down to the office with the chief.
"If he's really that good, I'd love to hunt with him at least once, if only out of curiosity."
"He won't hold you back."
"We'll see after the test."
The chief didn't mind the talk of a test, even amid the praise.
That was just how he was.
The chief knew Jo Changhwi well—he only trusted what he saw and experienced himself, no matter what anyone said.
"Whatever. Do what you want."
If Kim Gunja didn't impress him in the test, joining Team 4 could get delayed.
Jo Changhwi was one of the few in the Hero Guild who could voice opinions to Baek Jincheon directly.
'But for someone saying that...'
His face was full of anticipation.
He wasn't even trying to hide it.
The chief couldn't help but smirk at the sight.
This was the guy who hadn't associated with rookies since Kang Inhyeok.
Yet here he was, showing favor before even meeting the kid. It felt refreshingly different.
"He's tougher than he looks, so go easy on him."
"Vicious, huh? Even better."
Jo Changhwi's lips curved into a wider grin at the chief's words.
As if he couldn't wait for his meeting with Kim Gunja soon.
#
Late at night.
Park Chunduk Academy.
As Kim Gunja quietly opened the door and stepped in, Park Chunduk greeted him.
"You're here."
"Yeah. Still up? You're pretty busy these days, huh?"
Park Chunduk waved a hand dismissively at Kim Gunja, who was taking off his coat. His eyes looked hollow with exhaustion.
"Busy enough, but I've gotten used to it... Anyway, I'm late today because Yeji asked me to look into something for her, not the students."
"Yeji? What'd she ask?"
"Beats me. Training room, bunker, or family home—which is it...?"
Kim Gunja tilted his head at the bizarre string of words that didn't fit together at all.
Park Chunduk suddenly found him annoying, knowing full well who Yeji was putting all that effort into the training room for.
"Anyway, whatever. You come straight from your friends' place again?"
He eyed Kim Gunja, who looked more drained than usual.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Man... you're something else."
Park Chunduk clicked his tongue in admiration.
Kim Gunja made a point of meeting his friends weekly to treat them regularly. On those days, he'd come back utterly wiped out.
He knew better than anyone the destructive potential lurking in his sacred brainpower.
So he was always on guard against any mistakes during treatments, and that mental strain was unavoidable.
But even with all that effort, their conditions didn't improve or get cured.
It was just a temporary measure to ease the pain a bit.
Yet Kim Gunja never skipped, even knowing that.
"Eh... Anyone in my shoes would do the same."
"Doubt it."
Park Chunduk was certain.
There weren't many people who cared for each other like Kim Gunja and his friends.
So many folks prioritized their own survival first when things got tough.
Park Chunduk stood, hurriedly getting ready to head out.
So Kim Gunja could rest sooner.
"Anyway, take care of yourself. There's some ginseng tonic in the fridge—a gift. Have one."
"Stingy with just one?"
"Tch... Drink 'em all or none."
Kim Gunja grinned at Park Chunduk's grumpy response.
"Thanks. I'll enjoy it."
Park Chunduk waved over his shoulder as he left the academy.
"Whew..."
As Kim Gunja, looking fatigued, pulled a drink from the fridge—
Bzzz—
His phone buzzed.
He checked the screen and answered.
"Yes, Mr. Geum Jinung."
—Mr. Kim Gunja, sorry for the late reply. I was doing a more thorough investigation on what you asked, so it took a bit longer.
It had only been a day since clearing the expedition, so it wasn't really late.
"No problem. I prefer accuracy even if it takes time."
A chuckle came through the phone, followed by an "As expected."
—I heard from Hunter Jang Geunhwan, who was on the expedition. First off, thanks for your exploits and generosity.
He meant leading the expedition to success and fairly dividing the byproducts.
Without Kim Gunja, it really would have failed.
—As you suggested, I made contact with Yoo Sangjin. He was wary at first, but he dropped his guard quick once I mentioned you sent me.
He was referring to Yoo Sangjin, who worked at a Hero Guild mana stone factory under them and contracted mana sickness.
He'd ranted about their brutality and, as part of a victim group, had a ton of related data.
Geum Jinung used that as a basis, tapping into Geumsan Group's info network to uncover the Hero Guild's mana stone processing factories and their colluding connections.
The tails of those covering up the guild's dirty work and mutually benefiting from it.
—I'll send the related data by email. But... are you sure about this? It might blow up bigger than you can handle.
"If I was scared of that, I wouldn't have started. And."
Kim Gunja downed the ginseng tonic and continued.
"The bigger the festival, the better. Even more so if it shakes the whole country."
A brief silence, then booming laughter.
—Guess I am cut out for business after all. Your words excite me more than scare me.
Kim Gunja got the point immediately.
When a big whale dies, the surrounding fish feast.
Geum Jinung was one of those fish—closest to the whale.
He was in a position to predict and prepare for what was coming.
So excitement outweighed fear.
No better time for a businessman to grow than in predicted chaos.
"Yes. It'll be a great opportunity for you too, Mr. Geum Jinung."
Assuming his plan succeeded, of course. But Geum Jinung's voice stayed bright.
—Looking forward to it. And thanks again for your generosity.
Geum Jinung emphasized the expedition again before hanging up.
Kim Gunja smiled faintly.
'He knew.'
Besides building recognition, Kim Gunja had divided the byproducts equally out of consideration for Geum Jinung.
It was his first investment as a full-time entrepreneur.
Not in the contract, but Kim Gunja had accommodated him by sharing evenly with the participating Hunters.
A gift to the newly minted businessman.
'I figured it didn't matter if he knew or not.'
Pure goodwill.
But Geum Jinung had noticed and expressed repeated gratitude.
That explained why he felt even more cooperative and friendly lately.
Kim Gunja had given up material artifacts but gained public recognition and Geum Jinung's solid trust.
Two birds with one stone.
After checking the email from Geum Jinung, Kim Gunja pulled out an inner core from his coat.
The murky inner core from the Elite Gate's Giant Snake boss emanated a substantial amount of mana.
"...Better absorb it before showering, huh?"
Recalling the Shadow Pill incident, Kim Gunja grabbed a mop and headed to the mana training room.
To absorb the inner core.
#
The next day.
Kim Gunja headed to the Hero Guild early in the morning.
The chief had summoned him.
Choi Jinseung tilted his head as Kim Gunja got in the car.
'What the...?'
He looked like he'd slept so deeply his skin was practically glowing.
A stark contrast to Choi Jinseung's own dull complexion in the rearview mirror, sparking a twinge of irritation.
"To the Hero Guild."
"Got it."
Choi Jinseung drove off at Kim Gunja's words, while Kim Gunja circulated the Heaven-Shattering Divine Art nonstop in the back seat.
The car soon arrived at the Hero Guild.
As Kim Gunja entered, the reception desk staff relayed a message.
"Mr. Kim Gunja. They said go straight to Team 4's dedicated arena."
The top five teams had their own private training facilities, unlike the others.
Kim Gunja headed to Team 4's annex building.
Inside the sparring arena surrounded by reinforced glass, one man was sweating as he swung a spear.
Spear Dragon Jo Changhwi.
Warming up before testing Kim Gunja through sparring.
Kim Gunja's steps halted as he watched.
The spear's trajectory and footwork looked awfully familiar.
No sacred brainpower, and a few awkward spots, but it unmistakably resembled the spear art he knew.
'...Thunder Dragon Star Spear?'
Kim Gunja's eyes narrowed as he resumed walking slowly.
To get a clearer look at his opponent's spear technique.