Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Goodwill Tainted by Malice (4)
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Jungle-type S-rank gate.
The dense jungle, tropical climate, and swarms of venomous insects made it a nightmare for hunting.
But for Team 4, who were seasoned hunters, it wasn't much of an obstacle.
"Cover yourselves in mud first. It'll mask your scent and keep the bugs off."
"Judging by the gashes on the trees, this is bear wolf territory. They drop from above, so stay sharp."
"Is that a Demonic Flower, a type of man-eating plant? Rare ones... The boss might be plant-based too, so keep that in mind."
Kim Gunja could see why Team 4 were called hunting specialists as he watched them.
He'd hunted with plenty of teams before, but this was the first one that started gathering intel and devising strategies the moment they entered the gate.
Impressive... I've got a lot to learn.
They were the type to casually talk about hunting people, but their skills and knowledge were undeniably real.
Kim Gunja began filling in his own gaps by observing their words and actions.
"Everyone, assemble."
At Jo Changhwi's call, Team 4 gathered while scanning the surroundings.
Jo Changhwi quickly devised a precise strategy based on the intel from his team, and including Kim Gunja, Team 4 launched into the hunt.
The Asura Guild members provided flawless support, following Jo Changhwi's orders to the letter.
They had no choice.
They knew their own knowledge and skills fell short when it came to questioning strategies built on info they didn't even grasp.
"Stick to your assigned roles."
The man with the snake tattoo, Kensuke, issued orders to the Asura Guild members.
Now that they were inside the gate, cooperating fully was the only way to survive.
The Asura Guild were pros who'd seen it all, so they didn't let their discomfort with these companions show.
With no major conflicts, the two guilds focused on the hunt and encountered the boss in half a day.
Kiiiiieee—
It was a massive tree monster emanating an eerie aura.
"What a pain."
The boss: Evil Spirit Tree.
Its tough bark, whip-like branches that moved like snakes, and disorienting cries were problems enough, but the real issue was something else.
Gurgle, gurgle.
The branches swelled, and human-shaped fruits hung heavily from them.
The fruits rapidly grew to adult size, dropped to the ground with thuds, and charged at the hunters with ferocious momentum.
"Watch out. They've got high explosiveness..."
Before Jo Changhwi could finish, Kim Gunja hurled his Zara Tu.
The black-mana-wrapped blade arced under his control, piercing the heads of the oncoming fruits.
Kaboom!
They detonated in a chain reaction before they could get close.
The defender who'd stepped forward to intercept whistled at the sight.
"You're adapting fast."
"I've learned a lot from you seniors today."
Team 4 erupted in boisterous laughter at Kim Gunja's words.
"Listen to this guy sweet-talking us."
"What'd I tell you? He'll fit right in."
"Yeah, soak it all up! The bigger you get, the better for us."
And so the boss raid began.
Jo Changhwi led it as usual, but Kensuke sensed something off—something he'd never felt before.
He realized it soon enough.
Jo Changhwi was subtly positioning the Asura Guild members in the most dangerous spots.
That damn...!
But he couldn't protest.
Those roles had to be filled by someone, after all.
Hunting was a dangerous profession by nature.
Complaining about being assigned the riskier tasks didn't make sense—especially not for the Asura Guild, who'd come asking the Hero Guild for help.
...Bastard. Just you wait.
He had no choice but to watch his guildmates more closely.
But...
Exploding fruits detonating nearby, branches lashing like whips from all sides.
And the cries muddling their focus.
Keeping an eye on everyone else amid that wasn't easy.
And in the end...
Kensuke's divided attention left him too slow to spot the root surging from underground while he parried a branch aimed at his head.
"Kuh...!"
Too late to dodge.
Damn it all!
He couldn't just let it pierce his heart, so he hurriedly drew mana to at least deflect it with his bare hands—
Slash!
The root attacking him was severed by a red flash, spraying sap into the air.
It was Kim Gunja's Red Moon.
Thanks to his Shadow Brew, Kim Gunja could switch seamlessly between ranged and melee, keeping wide situational awareness even in combat. Spotting Kensuke's peril, he'd instantly used Shadow Walker to intervene.
"Wh-what...?"
Kensuke reflexively blurted it out upon seeing his savior.
Jo Changhwi's covert maneuvering had subconsciously made him view Kim Gunja—fellow Hero Guild member—as an enemy.
Kim Gunja, unaware of that, took the question at face value.
"That's a weird question. Helping out fellow hunters is just common sense."
He tilted his head, answered, and rejoined the front line.
Jo Changhwi watched Kim Gunja save Kensuke with a hint of regret.
Hm... Whatever.
He didn't think much of the meddling and didn't show it.
He already had a rough idea of Kim Gunja's character.
More importantly, he noted how the man fulfilled his role while maintaining broad awareness.
Not many hunters could keep such wide vision in battle.
It was a talent essential for a team leader.
Innate talent for combat, and great situational awareness too...
With proper nurturing, he could form a new team for the Hero Guild.
No, he definitely would.
The guild master was surely supporting him with that in mind.
Kang Inhyeok had been the same.
Team Kim Gunja, huh...
Curiosity flickered across Jo Changhwi's face.
Given the guy's track record, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of team it'd be.
This'll be fun.
Even as he thought that, Jo Changhwi's expert leadership continued, and the hunt progressed smoothly.
And finally...
#
The Hero Guild returned from clearing the S-rank gate loaded with loot.
The Asura Guild's first order of business afterward was investigating why the bombs hadn't detonated.
Asura Guild.
"Did you find out?"
"Yes, here it is."
Kensuke pulled out the mana stone bomb he'd retrieved.
Shizuku couldn't hide her shock at the cleanly severed detonator.
"...I can't believe it even seeing it."
"Same here. Who could have done this...? I never even imagined it was possible."
"You're sure? No traces at all?"
"Yes. No signs of disturbed earth anywhere."
"...Unbelievable."
It had been buried deep underground.
Removing the detonator without digging it up?
That required specific conditions in an awakener.
Sensitivity to detect mana stone bombs underground, power to pinpoint and infiltrate them precisely, and above all...
Exquisite mana control to excise just the detonator without triggering an explosion.
Impossible without all those traits.
And that pointed to only one conclusion.
"At least Magic Power level 9..."
"No one like that in Okinawa. Even the strongest, Jo Changhwi, is only Physical level 8, Magic 7."
Shizuku nodded, knowing it well.
"Someone that strong dropping from the sky to disarm bombs and vanish... Feels like a magic show."
Kensuke caught her implication and agreed.
The only person who could appear and disappear in Okinawa on a whim with Magic Power level 9+ was one.
The Single Number who wielded space freely.
Grand Magician Royan.
He could pull off something this insane.
"I think so too..."
No way to know why he'd come to Okinawa or his motives right now.
But no one else could have done it.
Shizuku spoke gravely.
"Our plan's ruined, and that's frustrating... but in a way, it's a relief. If he'd told the Hero Guild..."
It would've handed their ultimate enemy the perfect justification—the worst scenario.
They wouldn't be sitting here talking like this.
Dizzying to even think about.
Watching Shizuku sip hot tea to steady herself, Kensuke spoke up.
"I'll search a bit more, just in case some trace remains."
Shizuku hesitated, then shook her head.
"No. The hunt just ended. This is enough—time to rest. We cleared an S-rank without losses, even if we didn't hurt the Hero Guild. Worth celebrating."
At her words, Kensuke paused before mentioning something.
The help he'd received from Kim Gunja during the hunt.
"...That happened?"
"Yes. He said we're all hunters, after all."
The words stung Shizuku.
"Hunter" didn't suit them anymore, not after devoting everything to revenge.
"He's just like the rumors say. Unlike us..."
A touch of sorrow tinged her smile.
Inevitable to compare themselves—walking the path of Asura—with Kim Gunja, treading the path of the righteous.
"...Do you regret it?"
Kensuke asked pointedly.
Maybe it wasn't too late.
This unexpected interference had created an opening, and Shizuku had the talent to choose another path.
Shizuku stared at him firmly.
"I'm the Asura Guild master. Not for a single moment have I regretted my choice. Not since the day I learned of Baek Jincheon's atrocities."
Her unyielding resolve made Kensuke bow his head.
"Understood. I'll let the guild rest."
"Yes. And when someone helps you, it's polite to show gratitude."
Meaning send Kim Gunja a gift.
In Japan, it was customary to gift those you'd indebted yourself to.
"It won't be meager."
Kensuke withdrew.
Shizuku, who'd maintained her composure, toyed with her teacup for a while.
Her shoulders slumped—just a little, imperceptibly.
#
A week after clearing the S-rank gate.
Kim Gunja was following through on his plan to spend time with friends and acquaintances from the award ceremony.
In front of Park Chunduk Academy.
"You really not coming?"
Park Chunduk shook his head at Kim Gunja's question by the mid-size bus.
"Don't you know to strike while the iron's hot? Business is booming—taking a day off would be poison."
"Your greed for money's hit new heights. Congrats."
Park Chunduk grinned slyly.
"Man, you must've missed it?"
"Huh? Missed what?"
"Not long ago, someone whose greed skyrocketed stayed up all night hustling. You really don't know?"
"Ahem!"
As if he didn't.
He'd been the one running around nonstop for hunts and ad shoots.
Kim Gunja grinned.
"Money really is the best, huh?"
"No need to ask."
As they chuckled, friends aboard the rented bus poked their heads out the windows.
"Gunja! Everyone's here—let's roll!"
Kim Gunja scratched his head at Byunghoon's call.
"Ah, sorry. One person's still missing..."
"All your uncle friends are here, though? Byunghoon uncle, Jintae uncle, Hangil uncle, Giyun uncle. That's four."
Sin Yeji's words set Byunghoon laughing.
"Whoa, you memorized our names already? Unlike someone, your memory's sharp!"
"Eh, comparing me to Gunja uncle's a bit much."
"...I hear everything, you punks."
They were bantering noisily when—
"Sorry I'm late."
The voice drew every eye.
A woman towing a small carry-on caught her breath.
Kim Gunja's friends and Sin Yeji's eyes went wide.
"Choi... Choi Seyun?!"
The goddess in a dress, Choi Seyun, smiled brightly and bowed.
Her glossy black hair cascaded down.
"Hello. You must be Gunja's friends? I've heard so much about you."
From that one time I mentioned them...
Kim Gunja scratched his cheek and introduced both sides.
When he'd chatted alone with Choi Seyun, he'd asked about the head monk he'd indebted himself to.
She'd said he was still hale, so Kim Gunja mentioned visiting.
—Oh? Take me along then. It's been ages since I saw him.
There was a campsite nearby too, so he planned to hang with friends and pay respects at Cheokun Temple.
He'd worried at first if his ailing buddies would enjoy camping.
"My god... is this real?"
"Camping with Choi Seyun... Whoa..."
"Gunja, never been prouder to be your friend than today."
Seemed like needless worry.
Seeing his thrilled friends, Kim Gunja smiled brightly for the first time in ages.