Chapter 130
Chapter 130
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: 67. Hero (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Our hunters' combat results are all recorded.
Among the countless records, the most meaningful one is undoubtedly the kill score, known as the kill count.
Since one kill can hold several times the value of another, kill records aren't just simple numbers. They break down the types of monsters or mutations you've slain in detail.
Otherwise, a hunter who just sprayed a machine gun once in a zombie-overrun area would get a higher rating than one who lost comrades in a warzone taking down a mid-sized beast.
I think there were about 62 subcategories in those kill counts.
Mutations by species and their variations, otherworldly creatures, and monsters.
Not an official name, but people called it the kill compendium.
Not to brag, but I'd racked up kills in nearly every entry there.
From small types to large ones.
Meaning there wasn't a single one I hadn't killed.
Of course, new species kept popping up after that, so Park Gyu's compendium probably isn't at 100% right now.
For starters, I hadn't taken down the general-type I'd discovered.
It's probably added as a subcategory by now, though.
But humans aren't included in those kill categories.
Not just ethically—it'd be a problem—but because we're the ones fighting non-humans: monsters and their derivatives.
Awakened are treated differently, though.
They fall under the somewhat vague "Unclassified" category.
According to the records, our team had taken down 36 unclassified monster types.
All 36 were Awakened.
"I'm a former army sergeant. Served on the front lines, full 33 months."
Yang Sang-gil kept stressing he could fight.
No plans to hand him a gun.
I requested supplies from Kim Min-ho.
"I don't know about Yang Sang-gil, but Song Yu-jin was personally sent by Director Woo Min-hee. Can't afford to lose her."
"Your direct superior...?"
"Military secret."
"Lend him to me for a bit. Just give me what I asked for. If we can't handle the Awakened anyway, we're all dead meat either way, right?"
Kim Min-ho was lukewarm, so Song Yu-jin stepped up.
"Hunter Park is the top of the old-school hunters, even in retirement."
Kim Min-ho glared at me over her shoulder, eyes half-lidded.
"You ever killed an Awakened?"
I nodded silently.
"Hah, really?"
Kim Min-ho didn't hold us up anymore.
He quickly reorganized the troops, set up defenses, and supplied what I needed.
What I'd asked for: three grenades.
Handed them to Yang Sang-gil.
"You know how to use 'em?"
"Of course. What's next?"
"We'll talk on the way."
The golf course isn't flat.
Short-cropped, fresh green turf gives the illusion, but it's full of bumps, hollows, and curves that make the course.
Those undulations, unnoticeable back in golf days, stood out now with dead grass overgrown by weeds and shrubs.
Plenty of hiding spots and blind angles everywhere.
The Awakened was advancing leisurely toward the smoothest area with the best sightlines.
No rush on their end either.
Chinese mid-sized drones circled overhead like eagles eyeing prey, surveillance locked in. They'd encircled us, just needed to tighten the net for the kill.
"Hide here. When I signal, toss a grenade. No need to show yourself. Don't aim to hit—just make it threatening. Got it?"
I explained his mission to Yang Sang-gil, watching his face closely.
The biggest uncertainty wasn't the enemy or allies.
It was this man's intentions.
That's why no gun for him—betrayal risk.
Grenades are risky too, but easier to counter quick than a firearm.
"Just those three around the Awakened?"
While Yang Sang-gil fiddled with the grenade, recalling use, I sent Song Yu-jin to scout.
"Y-yeah! Just three."
Song Yu-jin stared into space with faintly glowing eyes and replied.
She had x-ray vision and minor detection skills.
Detection range maxed out at about 30m focused.
Not a wide area.
Hence the Level 2 rating.
"Any other ambushes hiding?"
"Nope!"
"Good. Head back."
"Already?"
Song Yu-jin gave me a slightly sulky look.
"You said you're not combat branch."
"But..."
"You've done your part. Go help the soldiers from the rear. Gunfire's going on back there."
"Got it! See ya!"
After she left, I turned back to Yang Sang-gil.
He'd been raising his hand like he had something to say.
"What? Forget how to use it?"
"No."
Yang Sang-gil shook his head and glanced up at me slyly.
"My job... it's bait, right?"
His cold stare demanded an answer.
No need to lie to a guy like this.
I nodded.
"Yes."
"Think I'll die?"
"High chance."
"If I quit now..."
"Don't want to? Go ahead. Won't stop me from killing them without you."
Yang Sang-gil suddenly burst out laughing at my words.
"You? Kill an Awakened? And you're not even one?"
I stared him down calmly.
"How many monsters you think I've killed?"
"What's that got to do... Ah!"
Yang Sang-gil's face lit up in realization.
"...Professor!"
"..."
"I'll do it!"
He pocketed the grenade and spoke.
"...I used to have nightmares. The whole world coming to kill me."
He stood, climbed the slope, and peeked over.
Bang!
A sharp gunshot rang out, grazing his hair.
Yang Sang-gil tumbled down in panic, slammed into the ground, but scrambled up quick, grimacing up at me.
"Dream or not..."
Yang Sang-gil yanked the grenade pin.
I drew my pistol, aimed at his head. He gritted his teeth and hurled the grenade up the slope.
BOOM!
A heavy blast and enemies' startled yells echoed from the blind spot.
Dust from the explosion pattered down like rain as Yang Sang-gil said coldly.
"...This fight ends with my death, right?"
He knew his fate.
Yang Sang-gil flattened himself on the slope.
His determined eyes matched the soldiers behind us.
Decided to trust him. I sprinted silently, as fast as possible, ducked behind cover, and checked presences.
Yang Sang-gil stayed put, crouched low clutching another grenade, straining to gauge the dirt-hidden situation.
"We see you hiding there."
Voices from beyond the ridge.
"Up top. See him?"
That's why I'd picked here—totally blocked from enemy sightlines.
Raised my gun to the sky.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Single shots at the drifting drone.
Anti-drone fire has abysmal accuracy.
Targets are farther on average than ground ones, trajectories are 3D unlike flat paths, no tracers so no bullet trails, no impact marks—tons of hurdles to hitting.
Without AA gear, it's rarely done.
Plenty of ammo and time? Maybe. In combat, it just wastes bullets and splits focus.
Skilled drone pilots exploit that, "tail-chasing" ground troops.
Kim Daram, our best shot, downed drones easy, no matter the gun.
She once shared her trick.
"They're controlled by people too, right? When they dodge like crazy, that's your sign you're hitting close. Means your shots are threatening."
On my 15th single shot.
The lazily flying drone suddenly banked hard.
Switched to burst, fired where instinct pointed.
Rat-tat-tat! Rat-tat-tat! Rat-tat-tat!
Crack!
The drone's wing snapped; it lurched wildly.
Cheers from the soldiers.
It spiraled down.
We'd blinded them.
Retaliation followed, as expected.
Black specks appeared beyond the ridge.
Bad spot.
No cover nearby.
Chose this open spot for AA fire—now it bit me.
Luckily...
Rat-tat-tat!
I had allies.
Kim Min-ho's crew especially—they'd repositioned fast to cover me.
Raiders without their Awakened? Nothing.
Four or five cresting the ridge got swiss-cheesed, slid down dead.
Light nod to distant Kim Min-ho in thanks, then bolted to the ambush point.
Yang Sang-gil still lizard-flat on the ridge, eyes only on the approaching Awakened.
Posture ugly, but his focus? Explained his success among peers.
"Professor, as expected."
Yang Sang-gil said without looking.
"No wonder those fancy saviors watch you warily."
"..."
"Principal Jang said it: If the academy could train more like you, no need for risky Awakened."
"Quiet."
"Sorry. Got chatty. Facing death and all..."
Presence incoming.
Enemy.
Awakened closing in.
I'd set the ambush along its path—flat, clear sightlines, per its habits.
Had an original plan, but seeing Yang Sang-gil's dedication, time to adjust.
"Can you chuck a grenade that way in 30 seconds?"
"30 seconds? From now? Or...?"
"On my signal."
"Yes."
"Where's my family?"
"Watching from back there."
Lie.
His family huddled rearward, heads down.
Yet Yang Sang-gil showed fight.
"Good."
"Let's start."
Sprinted up the ridge full tilt.
Through the wildly bouncing view, enemies appeared.
Four armed soldiers, one short-cropped sporty-haired scrawny guy unarmed.
The sporty hair was the Awakened.
Soon as I showed, gunfire.
Bang!
Before the shot rang, shockwave formed—obsidian-black reflective barrier like a monster's, right in front of sporty hair.
The bullet pierced it, emerged from a rift in space before me, flew straight.
But only grazed my temple.
Intimidation shot.
Threat fire on monsters only.
As this shows, downing monsterized humans isn't much different from monsters.
Monsters can't tell killing intent from play—easy for humans? I say no.
"You son of a bitch?!"
Count hit 15 seconds inside.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Guards beside and behind Awakened hosed my way, but I was already under their line of fire, charging forward.
20 seconds.
Ducked another ridge, erased presence, glanced at Yang Sang-gil.
He wasn't watching me.
Still stuck flat, counting aloud softly.
I counted with him.
Who he was, his crimes—irrelevant in this moment's flow.
...28, ...29, 30!
Time.
Yang Sang-gil popped up, yanked pin.
Next instant.
Weeeeen—
Something black dove from the sky.
Suicide drone.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Direct burst.
Hit drone wobbled drunk-like, passed us, crashed into Yang's family tent, small boom.
"Professor!"
Yang Sang-gil yelled, beaming.
Bang!
Shot from an unexpected angle.
"Huh?"
Yang Sang-gil's head tilted slow like a wooden doll.
Another soldier popped from Song Yu-jin's cleared spot, shot him.
Bullet dead-center torso.
But he didn't drop.
Might've been mercy if he had.
BOOM!
Grenade already pinned exploded in his hand.
Saw his shredded hand fly with shrapnel as I vaulted the ridge again.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The soldier who'd killed Yang fired.
Distance, cover, luck shielded me.
Over the ridge: four soldiers facing front.
Charged straight down the slope at them.
They spotted me late, glanced at Awakened—but no help there.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Too close for its barrier.
Mopped them up, closed on Awakened.
Short-cropped Awakened glared in shock.
"Y-you son of a..."
Its eyes flashed.
Prepping another power, probably.
My axe was closer.
Chop!
Axe cleaved its skull.
Checkmate.
King down.
Pawns next.
"Awakened's dead!"
"Attack!"
Led by Kim Min-ho, Korea's soldiers unleashed fierce counterattack.
Leaderless raiders scattered like chaff.
Soldiers pursued far, torched all vehicles, massacred raiders.
The slaughter lasted till evening.
*
"Sorry for the rudeness. Truly apologetic. How to make it up..."
Kim Min-ho apologized privately.
Told him it was fine.
No battlefield to sweat small slights.
Situation was dire; tons of soldiers dead.
Troops loaded dead comrades, superiors, subordinates onto trucks.
"Instructor."
Song Yu-jin came to say goodbye before leaving.
"Sorry. Wanted dinner together."
"Know you're sorry? Don't come next time."
"No, that's not fair."
I smiled wistfully at her, hinting.
"Look back. They're all waiting."
"Next time."
She bowed with a grin.
Probably the first.
Most polite goodbye from my half-month pupil.
Song Yu-jin boarded the truck.
Shotgun, no less.
Bed crammed with grim soldiers, savoring victory with their stories.
One of two trucks carried bodies.
No soldiers there—instead, Yang Sang-gil's family filled seats.
They'd decided to head back to Incheon.
"Salute our hero, Hunter Park Gyu!"
Before leaving, Kim Min-ho led all soldiers in salute to me.
Not hunter etiquette, but I got their hearts—returned military style.
Brief eyes full of emotion exchanged, then trucks rolled out.
Familiar silence settled on the old golf course site.
Yang Sang-gil's body wasn't loaded.
Left dumped in a bunker with raiders' corpses, half-covered in dirt.
No proper burial, like the raider I'd killed before. No mourners, no flowers.
Miserable end for a man who'd once swayed Korea.
At least to his family, Yang Sang-gil was a hero.
Should've been.
Even becoming a devil to keep family form.
Yet none claimed or buried the patriarch's body.
That's why, perhaps.
Yang Sang-gil rose again.
With a mangled face unrecognizable to kin, the zombie staggered into the wasteland.
Seemed like a trick of the mind, but it followed the trucks' tracks.
Bang!
"..."
Clumsy family's clumsy end.
In the twilight haze, things drifted softly from the sky.
Snow.
End of 67. Hero (5)