Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Qualifications (1)
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Kim Gunja stared briefly at Hwang Siho's trembling hand before opening his mouth.
"You're not denying it."
"...There's no reason to deny the truth."
Hwang Siho answered as if it were obvious, but Kim Gunja knew full well it wasn't that simple.
Homunculus.
They were people who relentlessly pursued ever more perfect and robust bodies, willing to commit inhuman or immoral acts if it meant reaching their goal of creating a new humanity.
That was why the world viewed them as public enemies.
No matter how much it was in the past, having their true nature exposed in such a situation was something they'd want to avoid.
Even if they were one of the Eleven Alchemists.
But Hwang Siho didn't dodge it.
In fact, his expression was one of complete resignation.
"Whatever decision you make, Layman, this monk will accept it."
Kim Gunja tilted his head.
Decision?
"What do you mean by that?"
"Whether you report to the Association or the Hero Guild that I'm a homunculus, or settle a personal grudge against this monk right here—I won't refuse."
Hwang Siho saw it as only natural.
Even if it had happened under the watch of his father, Kim Gongja, he had lived for over twenty years with distorted memories because of his own abilities.
It was impossible not to harbor resentment.
And that wasn't all.
He was a homunculus, despised by the world.
Even if he had spent years repenting for those past deeds, the sins he committed wouldn't vanish.
'This must be karma...'
He considered hoping for a good end to be mere greed.
That resolve was what allowed him to keep his promise.
Hwang Siho closed his eyes and waited for Kim Gunja's next words.
Watching him, Kim Gunja scratched the back of his head.
He hadn't brought up those words intending to create this situation.
"It seems... there's a bit of a misunderstanding."
Doubt flickered across Hwang Siho's face as he opened his eyes.
A misunderstanding...?
That couldn't be.
The Yeuiboju was a Mythic-grade artifact, after all.
It had perfectly restored his distorted memories—there was no room for error.
"Layman. What do you... Could it be...?"
Had some variable arisen that neither he nor Kim Gongja had anticipated?
An anxious expression crossed Hwang Siho's face, and seeing it, Kim Gunja gave a faint smile.
He didn't know exactly what kind of person Hwang Siho had been in the past or what wrongs he had committed.
But one thing was clear.
It had been over twenty years.
Even after all that time, he was a 'person' who knew loyalty and kept his promises.
Not a homunculus consumed by desire.
"I asked those questions to verify if the memories you'd recovered were accurate. Not to hold you accountable for anything."
Perhaps grasping the meaning behind those words...
A small twitch ran through the corners of Hwang Siho's eyes.
"Besides, I don't have the standing to do that anyway."
He was someone his father had acknowledged.
Someone who had bestowed a favor and kept his word.
What right did he have to judge someone who had fulfilled his duties?
"Layman..."
Kim Gunja smiled faintly and looked outside.
The sun had already passed its zenith.
His friends, Sin Yeji, and Choi Seyan were waiting.
That was where he belonged.
With his own acquaintances, not just ties from his father's past.
"We've taken up quite a bit of time. I'll come visit again. Next time, I'd like to chat about things we couldn't today. Would that be alright?"
That was his way of saying:
I have no intention of revealing you're a homunculus.
I don't resent you.
Next time, let's talk about something more pleasant.
Hwang Siho—no, Jeong Hye—pressed his palms together in gratitude for Kim Gunja's consideration and bowed his head.
"If it's you, Layman Kim Gunja... you're welcome anytime."
Kim Gunja returned the gesture with his own palms together and bowed.
Then he turned and retraced his steps without lingering.
Jeong Hye watched Kim Gunja's retreating figure and chanted a quiet prayer.
Wishing blessings upon his path ahead.
Descending from the temple, Kim Gunja sought out Choi Seyan.
'She said she was wandering the temple grounds.'
Finding her wasn't hard.
Or rather, there was no need to search.
She was right there in plain sight.
"Oh...? Look over there! Choi Seyan! Choi Seyan!"
"No way! It's really her?"
"Unnie! Sorry, but could I get an autograph...?"
"Noona! Could we take just one photo together?"
"Sure, one moment."
Surrounded by worshippers visiting the temple, Choi Seyan smiled without a hint of irritation, signing autographs and posing for photos.
'Well...'
She was a visual stunner at the peak of her popularity as an actress.
Temple or not, of course people would recognize her.
A chuckle escaped him.
'No wonder she couldn't get lost in nostalgia from her childhood with all that.'
It was at that moment he reflected that fame wasn't all upside.
Choi Seyan's eyes met his.
A smile bloomed on her face, utterly different from the one she'd shown the crowd.
"Gunja! You're here?"
Her usual affectionate call.
But this was a pretty public spot.
"Huh...? Gunja? Hunter Kim Gunja?"
"Whoa, it's him! What, did they come together?"
"No way..."
Half-curious, half-skeptical gazes locked on instantly.
Resigned, Kim Gunja let out a light sigh and stepped forward.
He nodded politely to those requesting handshakes or trying to chat, making his way to Choi Seyan.
"Everything go okay?"
True to her profession, she handled the focused attention with effortless poise.
She was so casual, he couldn't very well be the only one formalizing things, so he stuck to their usual dynamic.
"Yeah. Sorry for keeping you waiting so long, but looks like you weren't bored."
Seeing the crowd around her, he meant she hadn't been bored at least.
"Even in a remote place like this, so many people recognize me—I'm grateful."
She was saying her looks drew this much attention.
Kim Gunja couldn't help but laugh at her boundless confidence.
Guess that's what makes her an actress.
"So, heading back now?"
"Yeah. We've been here longer than expected."
Choi Seyan flashed a bright smile and bowed her head toward the direction Kim Gunja had come from.
Jeong Hye, who had descended with him, returned the greeting with palms together.
After exchanging farewells with the head monk, Choi Seyan extended both hands toward Kim Gunja.
Understanding the gesture, he scratched his cheek.
"......Here?"
"You're heading down, right?"
"True, but..."
There were plenty of eyes around.
She was a famous actress—last thing he wanted was some scandal from this causing her trouble.
His concern must have shown on his face, because Choi Seyan flapped her outstretched hands and said,
"What's the big deal? I'm fine with it. And last time, there were way more people watching?"
"That was the situation."
"There'll be plenty on the way down anyway."
Fair point.
"Alright."
Kim Gunja scooped her up lightly and leaped.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
The two sped away toward the base of the mountain.
The worshippers pulled out their phones, snapping photos nonstop to capture the sight.
And standing behind those worshippers was a woman.
She was so alluring that a man glancing her way swallowed hard.
"Mmm, quite the tempting pair..."
The woman licked her red lips.
An enticing couple, for sure.
But touching celebrities without a plan was foolish, so she didn't follow.
Her purpose in visiting the temple today wasn't that anyway.
With that, she turned and headed toward where Jeong Hye, the head monk, was.
"Long time no see? Took forever to find you. Who'd have thought you'd hole up in a place like this?"
Jeong Hye, on his way back to his room, froze at the sound of the woman's voice.
His expression hardened completely.
For an entirely different reason than when he'd received Kim Gunja's call.
Kim Gunja and Choi Seyan quickly returned to the campsite after leaving the temple.
"Yo, you're back?"
"Uncle!"
His friends and Sin Yeji greeted them, clothes damp from playing in the water.
As they exchanged casual hellos, the savory aroma of grilling meat wafted from nearby.
It was mouthwateringly good.
"Whoa, smells amazing."
"Heh, told you earlier. Texas brisket, king of barbecue. It'll be done by dusk—just hang in there."
Hangil replied confidently.
Kim Gunja grinned, eyeing the sunset sky.
"Damn, you got reason to brag? Can't wait."
He nudged the guy's shoulder with his elbow amid laughs, and Hangil proudly stuck up a thumb.
As Kim Gunja bantered with his friends, Sin Yeji sidled up with an incredulous look and whispered,
"Uncle... your body..."
Oh, right.
The others might not notice, but Yeji with her Demon Eye would spot how drastically his state had changed since before the temple.
He whispered back to her.
"I'll explain everything later."
Her surprised expression melted into a beaming smile in an instant.
"Okay!"
In that warm, cheerful atmosphere, Kim Gunja instinctively scanned the surroundings.
Staying overnight anywhere triggered his habit of checking for safety.
That's when he noticed something different on the opposite mountainside, midway up—unlike before heading to the temple.
"A gate...?"
It was quite a distance, but even normal eyes could make it out.
When did that appear?
As he stared toward the gate, Byunghoon caught on and spoke first.
"Oh, that. About two hours after you left? It popped up outta nowhere. Yeji already reported it to Gate Management..."
Byunghoon trailed off, pausing before whispering uncomfortably,
"That thing caused a bit of a commotion."
A commotion?
He was about to ask what that meant when—
"See? Told ya! What'd I say? Kim Gunja! You're a hunter, right?"
He glanced over at the loud voice.
Despite the early hour, a group of young men, already tipsy, approached.
Kim Gunja answered curtly.
"Yes, that's me. What's this about?"
One of them, face reddest, glanced at Choi Seyan and Sin Yeji before raising his voice.
"What do you mean? Look at that gate over there! We came camping to have fun, but seeing that makes us too nervous to enjoy it! Right?"
He got the point.
The gate was bothering them—they wanted it cleared.
'So that's what he meant by commotion.'
Sin Yeji had some recognition from her own incidents, so they'd spotted her and approached.
But Kim Gunja had no intention of clearing it right then.
He wasn't here to hunt today—he was here to spend time with friends and acquaintances.
If at all, not now.
He replied brusquely.
"The gate's already been reported. Hunters will be assigned soon enough."
"Aw, c'mon. Don't be like that. Playing hard to get. Y'know, guerrilla hunting! If you clear it within 24 hours, it's all legal—we know that much?"
The guy snickered, acting knowledgeable, probably from something he'd picked up.
Then he shoved his phone in Kim Gunja's face.
Articles praising him as a devoted hunter filled the screen.
"You're famous, right? Super civic-minded and all. What, was that all just PR? Ah, kinda disappointing then..."
Do as they say, or risk bad rumors.
Watching them, Kim Gunja was certain.
'Entitled pricks.'
One of the downsides of fame.
People exploiting celebrities' image-consciousness for subtle power trips.
They didn't want much.
No material rewards—just the thrill of dominating a celebrity, that superiority rush.
Knowing that, Kim Gunja let out a scoff.
"W-what? Laughing? Hey, you mocking us civilians right now?!"
Ignoring the outburst, Kim Gunja made a call.
No need to engage these types personally and drag himself down.
He had the perfect person for handling trash like this.
—Yes, Mr. Kim Gunja. What can I do for you?
Choi Jinseung.
Kim Gunja summed up the situation in a few words and handed the phone to the guy.
"My personal lawyer. Take it."
The man's flushed face drained pale by degrees.
No need to hear—he knew Choi Jinseung's specialty was in full swing.
The guy really was a specialist at this.
Even crap had its uses as medicine sometimes.
After dealing with the troublemakers, Kim Gunja and his friends enjoyed a lively barbecue party and campfire before turning in.
Deep into the night.
Listening to his friends' snores—passed out from pleasant buzz—Kim Gunja quietly rose, careful not to wake them, and slipped out of the tent.
Thanks to Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, his sleep needs were abnormally short compared to others.
Sss... Haaa.
Inhaling the crisp night air, his gaze turned to the gate.
'B-rank, she said.'
Info from Yeji when she'd checked it for the report.
Perfect rank to test his newly S-rank status.
He glanced at the time.
'3 a.m.'
Ideal timing.
Stretch his legs, clear it, back before anyone stirred.
Without hesitation, Kim Gunja launched himself forward.
'Ilya.'
Whoosh—
His figure soared high into the night sky.
As he closed in on the gate—
'Hm...?'
From his elevated vantage, Kim Gunja spotted odd movement.
Deep night, midway up a mountainside civilians couldn't access.
Yet a woman was descending slowly, clutching something in her hand.
Sensing something off, he veered toward her.
Thud.
He landed lightly in front of her after dropping from above.
A shock for most, but the woman stayed utterly composed.
In fact,
"Oh? Now this is an unexpected windfall."
She smiled as if delighted by his arrival.
All while exuding a thick, sticky scent of blood.