Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Black-Haired Beast (6)
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Sa-yoon passed through the main gate leisurely at the front, and Geon-ju, who had been dazed, snapped out of it upon Jong-sik's urging and followed behind.
"…Is it really okay to just go like this?"
"What."
"…Someone died."
"In this line of work, do people only die once or twice?"
Sa-yoon replied in a tone that was refreshingly straightforward, swallowing a sigh as he glanced at Geon-ju's incredulous face.
Newbies are such a pain.
It was easy to sync up with guys who'd rolled around in the hunter world a few times, but rookies who hadn't been stained by it yet—still clinging to their half-baked sense of morality—made conversations like this one impossible.
Strong live, weak die—that's the rule here. People could be scarier than monsters sometimes, which was why you had to instinctively preserve your life around the powerful. Like those guards earlier: stick your neck out all stiff, and you had no grounds to complain if it got lopped off.
The government rarely stuck its nose in—it ran purely on hunters' unwritten rules. So for Sa-yoon, Geon-ju's knee-jerk repulsion over a single death was beyond frustrating.
Sure, murder's a crime. But you're whining about it after joining a crime guild?
Pulling up his quest window, Sa-yoon confirmed the relationship had shifted to hostile and wary, then shot Jong-sik a look. Handle the explanation. Jong-sik nodded and clapped a hand on Geon-ju's shoulder.
"Hyungnim's always been good at killing people, so get used to it."
"…?"
This bastard?
Sa-yoon had sent a glare meaning explain it so he gets what this world is, but Jong-sik was busy packaging how utterly broken his own personality was. Naturally, Han Geon-ju's expression soured by the second—and Sa-yoon's did too.
"That said, he doesn't go around grabbing innocent folks willy-nilly and killing them. But if they piss him off like this time, he does—so don't piss off hyungnim…"
"Argh, you little shit!"
Smack.
Sa-yoon swung his hand down on the back of Jong-sik's head. When the guy whipped around with baffled eyes, Sa-yoon—still pissed—hit him twice more and scowled.
"I said explain what the hunter world's like. What the hell are you explaining? You're the one pissing me off, Jong-sik. You."
He knew the guy lacked tact, but leaving it to him on the assumption he'd handle it? Mistake. As Sa-yoon balled her fist like she might really lay into him, Jong-sik rubbed his slightly swollen nape and put on an aggrieved pout.
"Hyungnim told me to explain!"
"Did I say that? Whatever—my fault for trusting you with it."
Sa-yoon sighed theatrically. Jong-sik's face crumpled further. She considered one more smack but relented at his pitiful eyes. Instead, she shoved Jong-sik aside—the guy who'd probably start lecturing on the twelve ways not to annoy her—and took his spot.
The twenty-two-year-old rookie hunter stared at the smacked Jong-sik in bewilderment. Sa-yoon snapped her fingers to snag Geon-ju's gaze.
"That idiot can't explain for shit, so talk to me, pretty."
"About what."
"What else? The kinda world you've stepped into."
Draping an arm over the rookie's puzzled shoulder, Sa-yoon lowered her voice.
"No hunter who's done the job hasn't killed at least once, pretty. This ain't the safe, wholesome place you imagine."
"What're you talking about?"
"Exactly that. One day—betrayal, ambush, or just some psycho—you'll have your life targeted by another person. Everyone hits that moment eventually. Survive it? Kill 'em. The longer you're in, the more it'll happen."
"…."
"You're smart. No way you thought hunters really just hunt monsters."
Step into a gate, and it's lawless territory. Even a newbie like him had cleared a beginner gate, so he knew the basics.
The most common thing in beginner gates? Using a teammate as monster bait to bail.
No ability to kill monsters yet, so they flail to survive somehow. That's how most hunters went official.
That was the world.
The hunter world.
Not the tough, mystical realm civilians romanticized—but filthy and cold. Indulgent to the strong, brutally cruel to the weak.
"Gates prove it. 'Died to a monster' covers everything nice and neat. Perfect for offing someone and hiding it."
Sa-yoon's parents and the uncle who'd taken her in had drilled morals and decency into her. But after years grinding in the hunter scene, she'd become a cynic who bought into human nature's evil.
People were rotten at core. Gates—with no laws or norms—let them bare it shamelessly. A saintly teacher outside turns merciless killer inside. Or some freak with twisted fetishes.
"You won't get it yet. Can't fathom killing someone?"
"…."
"A few more gates, and you'll see. Easier to swing at people than monsters."
Geon-ju stayed silent—no rebuttal, no denial—just confusion. Sa-yoon happily guided her pretty boy.
"Think, pretty. Some hunter threatens your life outta nowhere? You'd kill him too. Gonna just take the knife?"
"…I get the point, but guild leader's thing and your example? Different degrees."
"How so."
"…Huh?"
"Hadn't killed that guard, his knife might've ended me."
"You don't seem that weak."
"Overconfidence is the real killer."
Geon-ju scowled at her refusal to budge. Sa-yoon's eye twitched at his you don't get it face—then she yanked his arm, hauling him close.
Their faces snapped inches apart with brute force. Breaths mingling, Sa-yoon shoved hers right up to his.
Mysterious blue eyes locked with murky ones. She pinned his gaze—trembling slightly from shock—and murmured low.
"Advice, pretty: the stronger you are, the crueler your hands. Keeps the underlings from crawling up expecting pity."
"…."
"No betrayal thoughts, even."
She ground out the words, paused a beat, then let go. Barely a moment's hold, but a stark red handprint bloomed on his wrist.
Favor probably tanked more. Sa-yoon pictured a fat –10 popping over his head, reminded herself why she'd snagged this pretty one, and slowly traced the mark with her index finger.
"Wanted a spotless life forever? Shouldn't have become a hunter."
"…."
"Live ordinary, like before. Jumped in to make your own cash? Adapt, pretty."
Like it or not, you will someday.
Had he never dipped a toe in? Fine. But he'd started as a hunter—caught her eye. All that was left: dye himself in her colors. How saintly or selfless he was? Irrelevant.
Even if he hated killing, couldn't hack it, begged to go civilian.
Sa-yoon cared about unlocking The Resistor trait—not coddling Geon-ju. So like it or not, he'd stick by her side.
That was the life she'd scripted for him. Eyes narrowing, her gaze met his suspicious downward stare. Chuckling at his height advantage, Sa-yoon shrugged.
"Yeah, words won't click yet."
People only truly get it after it hits them. Seeing beats preaching a hundred times. She dialed back her unconsciously radiating aura and released his arm.
"And drop that dead guard. Not worth your headspace."
"Meaning?"
"Guys who know my face—or skills—their vibes scream shady. Common thread, pretty?"
"…What?"
"Shitty bastards, all of 'em."
"…."
"Murder, black market deals—criminals, period. Criminal offs a heinous crook. Why sweat it? Just mud vs. shit."
No point wasting sympathy. Patting his shoulder like reassurance, Sa-yoon pressed deeper into Yongho Guild, Geon-ju trailing. A few steps in, alarms blared building-wide. Guards' radio alert finally kicking in.
Sensing a dozen presences close by, Sa-yoon offloaded cleanup to Jong-sik and kept moving. Yongho elites poured from the opposite hall—but footsteps screamed mediocre. Ignoring, she strode on; Geon-ju glanced back, fretting the fight.
"No need to help?"
"Can't solo that? Time to ditch Night Rat exec."
"…Really trusted, huh."
"Long time together. Looks soft? S-rank. Won't fold to a pack with one or two A-ranks."
"Ah."
"Jong-sik's tame-ish, but Night Rat powerhouse. Guild's in—watch and learn, ready or not."
No one cleans up like him.
Wouldn't hand exec or secretary gigs without skills and loyalty. Post-advice, Sa-yoon eyed more incoming Yongho grunts.
Sending members despite knowing she was here? Chun-bok flinching hard.
"Gahk!"
Sa-yoon snatched an attacker's throat mid-leap, hurled the flailing guy into the mob. Crashes as some tumbled. Big noise, zero glance her way—she subdued the rest the same.
Barely a brawl. No skills, no weapons—pure fists. Simple moves dropped them easy. A word flashed in her mind; she chucked her collared grunt at Geon-ju.
"Krrk!"
Geon-ju gawked at the thudding body by his feet. Sa-yoon grinned at her newbie.
"Almost spaced it. Right?"
"…?"
"C'mon, pretty. Initiation time."
Subjugate him.
Geon-ju blinked at the curt add-on.