Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Fame (1)
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Conference room of the Korean Awakener Association.
"A commendation?"
Lee Youngsik, who was leading the meeting, frowned slightly.
He quickly recalled that the attendees were the association's president and board of directors, switching back to his professional smile.
In response to Lee Youngsik's question, a young director chuckled and continued.
"Yes, a commendation. Kim Gunja's done something worthy of praise, so isn't that only right? What's the association for if not to honor outstanding talent like that with an award? Haha."
Haha? Yeah, haha, go freeze to death.
Lee Youngsik suppressed the urge to punch the young director in the face.
Fine. The intent was good.
It wasn't without justification either.
Everyone acknowledged that Kim Gunja had recently acted with the spirit of sacrificing oneself for righteousness.
'But why bring it up right now of all times?'
Pentagram had just informed them of signs pointing to a third Bloody Gate.
That's why the association president and all the directors had gathered for this critical matter.
And before they could even wrap it up, this out-of-left-field talk of a commendation?
Lee Youngsik, perceptive as ever, could guess why the young director was rushing this on an official occasion despite it not being urgent.
'Looks like he's been bought off.'
Obvious.
The Kim Gunja in question belonged to Hero Guild, so they must have put in a word.
Otherwise, there'd be no reason to push it so openly.
And given Hero Guild's nature, it probably wasn't just one young director.
Sure enough, as predicted, once one stepped up, voices of agreement rose from around the room.
"That's a good idea."
"It's been a while since we had a proper Hunter. We should do at least that much."
Lee Youngsik swallowed a bitter smile inwardly.
A proper Hunter, huh.
As if these money-grubbing philistines had any right to judge.
Though that's what he felt, he couldn't ignore the directors, so he glanced at the president.
The president, Han Seung-gyu, who had been listening to the directors, slowly spoke up.
"With all the recent incidents, it wouldn't hurt to lighten the mood that way. Besides, the evidence for a third Bloody Gate is still too thin. It's premature, so let's wrap it up here."
With the president on board, a few directors jumped in excitedly.
"Exactly. It's just a minor Slayer stir and some demonization appearances."
"Announcing it now would only cause social chaos. With such scant proof, there's nothing we can really do anyway."
"That's why Pentagram quietly tipped us off without any solid countermeasures themselves."
And so, the Bloody Gate matter concluded with directives for stricter gate management and raising awareness about demonization.
No sooner had the Bloody Gate agenda ended than the young director picked up on the commendation again.
"Since it's come up, let's nail it down. How about holding the ceremony next week?"
"Strike while the iron's hot. Sounds good. Oh, right, there's the memorial next week?"
He meant the joint memorial for Hunters who died in association-led expeditions.
As the directors' eyes turned to him, Lee Youngsik checked the schedule from his aide and nodded.
"Yes, the memorial is next weekend."
The directors lit up.
"Perfect. Let's do the commendation then too."
"Make Kim Gunja the main event, and throw in a few supporting Hunters who suffered alongside him."
"Let's see... Ah, these folks would work. Sin Yeji, who helped stop the gate break with him, and Han Juyeong and Cha Gangju from the multi-gate incident. What do you think?"
"Great visual. They're all around the same age too."
"Haha! Seems like this year's full of talent."
Lee Youngsik clicked his tongue inwardly at the directors syncing up so seamlessly.
Normally, they'd bicker endlessly over even minor gains.
Yet here they were, proceeding like clockwork, as if scripted.
A situation impossible without shared interests.
The young director, beaming with satisfaction, added more.
"As the president said, things have been rough lately. Why not scale up the memorial into something fun for everyone, like a festival? Invite celebrities and actors too."
"Great idea! Who's into stiff, formal heavy events these days?"
"Wow! Being young, you really get the trends."
"Haha! You're too kind."
"If you're scouting actors, I recommend this actress Choi Seyeon lately. Not just her looks—her voice is perfect for the eulogy..."
Lee Youngsik just gave up on them.
In this atmosphere, it was as good as decided.
Turning memorials into festivals happened abroad sometimes, so no big issue.
Just not the usual way, so whoever got stuck as planning lead would have a headache.
As Lee Youngsik silently pitied the future person in charge, the agenda wrapped up.
"Then it's settled. Plan it like a festival everyone can enjoy. Draw lots of attention."
"Agreed."
"Who should handle it?"
"Someone reliable with paperwork. It's important."
"Decent rank, no major screw-ups before."
"Even better if quick on emergencies."
With that, all eyes turned to Lee Youngsik.
The obvious choice.
And the president agreed, nodding as he spoke.
"No one better suited than you. Take care of it."
Lee Youngsik inwardly shed tears, screaming.
Damn it.
Late evening.
Near Park Chunduk Academy.
A man jogging up a steep hill froze under a streetlamp, witnessing a dizzying sight.
"W-What the hell is that...?"
Wondering if exhaustion was making him hallucinate, he stopped, rubbed his eyes—but the scene remained.
"My God...!"
He finally let out a cry of shock.
It was that precarious.
A steep, narrow hill road.
Sharp incline, with fences on the cliff side to prevent accidents.
Yet a man was riding a bicycle up it—balanced on the narrow fence itself!
'Is he insane?!'
The jogger almost yelled if he had a death wish, then hesitated.
Scared that calling out might break his focus and cause a crash.
Internet extreme sports videos flashed in his mind—people leaping between skyscrapers without safety gear.
This guy seemed the type.
'Tch, out of his mind. If you wanna die, what's stopping you...'
He'd heard they did it for attention.
So he tried ignoring him, feigning indifference as he descended—but his eyes kept drifting back.
With anxious stares, sweat beading unnoticed.
But Kim Gunja, biking on the fence, ignored the jogger entirely, focused solely on his ride.
'This is more impressive than I thought...'
To test Abel's ability from the special quest, he'd borrowed his brother Chunduk's bike.
The effect exceeded expectations.
War hero Abel had innate mastery over all mounts.
Not just horses or chariots.
He'd tamed monsters like griffons and wyverns, even divine beasts and phantasmals like pegasi and unicorns.
But modern Kim Gunja had no chance to ride such things.
'Not like I'm taming beasts to ride.'
Too wasteful to ignore, he whimsically grabbed the bike—and the results were stellar.
Techniques impossible with raw physical level alone flowed effortlessly.
Anything rideable worked, confirmed in an instant.
He instinctively knew how to maneuver the bike as desired.
Kim Gunja, racing along the fence, hit the brakes—the rear wheel lifted, front wheel planting firm.
From there, he spun dazzling wheelies like sky-high bunny hops on the fence.
Heights and tricks impossible for normals.
'Now...'
Thud, clack.
Sliding down magnetically, Kim Gunja powered his legs.
Kagagak!
Pedals screeching oddly, the bike blasted past zero to a hundred.
Climbing the hill, yet accelerating wildly.
Screeech—!
Tires smoking, carving long skid marks.
Yet dodging rocks and obstacles with fantastical flips and turns.
Tremendous speed, exquisite control.
Kim Gunja's high physical level synergizing perfectly with Abel's Riding.
'This... feels insanely good?'
Just a bike, yet exhilarating, chest bursting open.
He got why biker gangs formed.
If ground rides thrilled like this, what about Abel's flights on griffons or wyverns?
As Kim Gunja craved more, pedaling harder—
Crack!
"Huh?"
Something snapped; he floated mid-air.
The bike shattered under his power.
Kagagak!
Half-wrecked frame scraping ground; Kim Gunja flipped casually, landing lightly.
Staring at the wreckage, he grimaced.
His parting advice echoed:
—Handle it gently. It's been my buddy for ten years.
"Gonna catch hell for this..."
Scratching his head, Kim Gunja tenderly gathered the auto-disassembled parts.
Hoping for mercy.
Park Chunduk Academy.
A storm of grief from Park Chunduk blew through.
Promising a new bike calmed him into a laughing exit; Kim Gunja sighed emptily.
"The sorrow of capitalism..."
Finally free, Kim Gunja flopped exhausted on the sofa.
Sin Yeji approached giggling.
"Gen.ius. Un.cle. I'm heading out too."
"...Yeah."
He half-replied to her teasing farewell.
Today had been rough.
Kim Gunja couldn't escape Yeji's sly glances.
Hero Guild rumors spread.
Others might not know, but Yeji did: he wasn't a genius.
—He's a genius.
Spear Dragon Jo Changhwi's words had rippled hugely; his subsequent deference amplified it.
After showcasing Thunder Dragon Star Spear, the senior treated Kim Gunja warily.
Others mistook it for awe at genius; Kim Gunja knew better.
'His Unique Trait is Character-based.'
—Character-based Unique Traits influence the Awakener's personality and habits, as you know.
Words Kim Gunja once told Mongjiro to hide Customizing Room.
Jo Changhwi using White Dragon Spear meant a Character Trait linked to Abel.
'So after seeing Thunder Dragon Star Spear, instinct made him wary. Unknowingly swayed by the Character influence.'
An unexpected wrinkle, but unavoidable.
Like enduring the absurd genius label.
—In a fortnight, the Japan S-Rank Gate... You can hunt or train with us until then...
Obviously, Kim Gunja chose both.
Training mattered, but farming magic stones for Customizing Room points too.
He opened his status window.
Staine's looted inner core pushed Heaven-Shattering Divine Art to 7 Stars.
New Riding from Abel didn't list separately, like Ma Ilcheon's Archrival.
Until the S-Rank Gate, focus on hunting, Heaven-Shattering Sword, and Divine Art.
But first, one thing to handle.
Confirming Yeji gone, Kim Gunja pulled out his phone.
Riiiing—.
Long tones, then cutoff.
"As expected, no answer."
He'd called Mongjiro.
Wanted his side before selling the Master Ring, but no contact for days.
Pondering, Kim Gunja drew the Master Ring from his coat.
Decision made.
Experience the 'contract' himself.
'Might be risky, but...'
Insurance in place.
A clever idea struck; Austin confirmed.
—Master, a mere contract won't restrict Majesty Ring. Points conversion anytime you want.
It hit him.
Majesty Ring converts Master Rings to points—contract or not?
No.
Irrelevant; Majesty Ring works regardless.
Test contract; if bad, convert to points.
'Kinda sneaky, but...'
Couldn't waste it over that.
Shallow breath, Kim Gunja slowly slipped on the Master Ring.
To contract with Illya.