Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: 93. The Man from Jeju (7)
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"I could take care of it. But why? Why should I be the one to do it?"
There were countless Awakeners in this lighthouse.
Powerful ones at level 5 or higher, capable of unleashing waves of energy, swarmed the place.
Even Jeong Ho-kyung, standing before me with a grim expression, was supposedly a level 8 Awakener.
So why not have them handle it?
They could crush the capsules—and the monsters inside—without even lifting a finger, using their Awakener powers.
In fact, I'd seen Awakeners on the front lines do exactly that, smashing capsules and flaunting it right in my face.
So why not here?
If it was about the kids being in danger, fine, I could understand that.
But what about Jeong Ho-kyung?
And weren't there soldiers here too?
Jeong Ho-kyung could just neutralize the defensive field, and it'd be done.
"There are dozens of people here who turned us Hunters into 'misters.' Why me? I'm not angry—I'm just confused. Give me a straight answer."
Jeong Ho-kyung trembled visibly and glanced around at the others.
He shot a look at the security chief and the military commander, signaling them to leave.
"Tch."
"Haa..."
They grumbled loud enough for him to hear as they filed out of the command room.
Now it was just me and Jeong Ho-kyung.
"...I'm actually level 4."
He said it with his head bowed.
I appreciated the quick honesty.
But level 4?
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Just level 4.
The bare minimum, overflowing with mediocrity.
What kind of treatment did level 4s get?
A cut above Scrap Awakeners, patrolling demon dens like Seoul on errands with their pet Scraps.
Yet this guy, same level, had risen to a key position in the National Crisis Committee right after school and toyed with the lives of tens of millions in Korea throughout the war.
Was this right?
I didn't know.
Didn't want to know.
But this was the reality unfolding before us.
"...I'm actually level 4, but for some reason, the readings always come out level 5 or higher. I don't know why. It's not that rare. The psychic resonance test is man-made, after all..."
I glared at him and cut him off sharply.
"Pull one of the teenagers here. Doesn't matter who—just someone trained to neutralize defensive fields."
Clearing multiple capsules in a 1-hour-30-minute window wasn't easy.
You had to risk your life verifying each one, then haul them out, braving threats that could turn you into monster bait like Park Sang-min.
So I had to demand what I needed.
"That's..."
Jeong Ho-kyung hung his head low.
"...All the kids here are combat-inept."
I let out a deep sigh.
"They've got the abilities, but they were all deemed unfit for combat at the Jeju school."
Now it all made sense.
The existence of this facility. Its history.
"Over-level-5 Awakeners are stronger than Old School, capable of mass destruction unarmed and alone, so only kids with stable minds, no fear of combat, and resilience to extreme stress get selected as regular Awakeners. The rest are dispo..."
"So."
I interrupted him.
"No one but me?"
"...I'm sorry. I'm not strong enough."
"Not one kid out of all those who can fight?"
I bellowed.
"..."
Jeong Ho-kyung kept his head down, silent.
The air froze like thin ice.
Click!
I raised my gun.
"...I'll verify them. You move them."
This fight wasn't for them.
It was for me.
*
The lead room sat in the center of the hexagonal underground bunker, topped by the watchtower.
No telling its original purpose, but bullet scars scarred parts of the walls.
"...They're probably in there."
Jeong Ho-kyung trailed behind me.
He'd brought his gun, but I'd already written him off as non-combat.
His only job was guiding.
"Here."
A massive black door loomed before us.
A bunker shelter, big enough for 300-plus.
Thud—
The door opened, releasing a musty stench.
Long unused, apparently.
That explained why they'd only just noticed the capsules.
"This is a special shelter built to defend against Kraken-type destruction beams."
Questions swirled, but I wasn't in the mood.
And my task was already presenting itself, no explanation needed.
In the dim, murky room, nine grayish-white eggs clung like repulsive fruits.
"Nine..."
I turned to Jeong Ho-kyung.
He averted his eyes.
I held out my hand.
"Gun."
"M-my gun?"
"Now."
Not a bullet to spare.
As he handed it over, the comms blared desperate updates.
"Kraken-type approaching! Bearing steady! Still on the lighthouse! No change!"
I switched off the comms.
"Step back."
I aimed at the capsule.
Bang!
"Gah!"
Jeong Ho-kyung jumped.
Hard not to, with instant trigger pull post-aim.
But that's how us Old School Hunters rolled.
And it worked.
A reflective field flared right after the shot.
Whoosh—
Return fire.
"Number one. Good. Move it."
"Me?!"
"Wasn't that the deal?"
Jeong Ho-kyung was a total sleazebag, but not rotten to the core.
He had his virtues.
Responsibility was one.
He shuffled forward nervously and hoisted the verified capsule.
I prodded him.
"Time's short."
He glared in protest, but this was our power dynamic now.
I gave the orders.
He got it, face flushed, and hauled the capsule out.
Once he was gone, I verified the second.
Bang!
Gunshot.
Whoosh—
Graze.
Waited for him, made him move it.
But something nagged.
Not Jeong Ho-kyung.
While he carted capsules, other adults had snuck in behind and just stood there gawking.
I turned.
They looked back.
"You moving it?"
I pointed at the verified capsule.
No one budged.
"If you're not helping, get out."
They smirked like it was a joke.
Figured I was one of them.
But to me, they were all the same.
No—these complainers behind him were worse than Jeong Ho-kyung's pinky toe.
"If you're useless, fuck off now!"
They finally left.
In the silence, I eyed the third capsule.
Quick but careful.
School-taught aiming.
Bang!
Another shot.
Whoosh—
Graze.
"..."
I picked it up.
Not my job.
Just wanted it done fast.
I won't deny a sliver of pity and respect for Jeong Ho-kyung fueled my help.
"Park Gyu...?"
Jeong Ho-kyung, drenched in sweat, froze at the sight.
"I'm a Hunter too."
I said flatly and brushed past.
Then collaboration began.
I verified; we two hauled to isolation, clearing the lead room threat.
Capsules vanished fast.
One left.
Final check.
Bang!
"...Hm."
Problem.
No reflective field.
Bullet ricocheted off the lead wall. I eyed Jeong Ho-kyung.
"This one's ripe."
Monsters linked to capsules deploy fields when they don't want to emerge.
Deploying's risky, but confirmation eases moving.
The dangerous ones show no reaction.
We call those "ripe" fruit.
This was ripe.
Summon imminent.
Jeong Ho-kyung denied reality.
"S-skirting? Try skirting it?"
"No. Useless. I don't want scratches."
"Then what? Park Gyu?"
He checked the time.
30 minutes left.
Almost out.
Too little to evacuate kids and mercs.
Had to clear or destroy it now.
"...Your stubbornness is something else."
I drew my two axes, eyeing him.
"Huh?"
"You might not admit it, but we're Hunters too."
"..."
"I'll show you. The ways of an era that dominated."
I'd thought one type to avoid.
Dancer type.
The reaper for close-quarters Hunters.
Dodge its blade-like forelegs and smash them hard enough to shatter—doable bluff if avoided.
Enlighten this pitiful man calling me "Park Gyu" to the end.
Axes in hand, I faced the capsule.
Stared, raised slowly, tossed lightly.
Axes over gun—for insurance if field deploys.
Slow toss, I could swat rebounds.
Watched the arc calmly.
Moment of impact.
Boom!
Intense wave erupted.
Simultaneously, a grayish-white form crawled from dimensional rift, rearing its head in roar.
That form.
"D-Dancer type?!"
Jeong Ho-kyung muttered.
Spot on.
Dancer type.
Even a hack like him knew live from die.
Seeing it, Jeong Ho-kyung bolted full tilt from the lead room.
But fleeing a Dancer's pointless.
Even success doesn't save us.
Kraken comes regardless.
Time to bet all on slim odds.
"..."
Fight only choice.
Not recklessly, though.
This time, truly steel for death.
"Hoo..."
I felt hatred's flames ignite within.
Let them burn me.
Only way to shake death's drowsiness at the end.
Felt it now.
Dead comrades beckoning from below.
"Come."
No comprehension, but I said it.
Killing Dancer close-up: one way.
Dodge blade-forelegs, strike to crumble them.
Human strength struggles even trained Hunters—but not all.
Cripple one leg, relentless assault, carry first-blood edge to end.
One slip, circus of death.
Thud—
It advanced, blade-leg swinging my way.
One chance moment.
Gauge distance.
Thud!
Advanced again.
Optimal range.
Suddenly, clear metallic chime from monster side.
Found source quick.
Dog tag with bullets.
PROFESSOR engraved.
Distracted instant—monster lunged.
In hatred's blaze, I glared, axes raised.
Crack—!
*
Far off, massive super-giant monster wreckage glittered darkly atop the ridge.
Surprisingly, lead room blocked Kraken-type destruction beam.
North Korea's best find on monster front, maybe.
Threat gone, Jeong Ho-kyung planned to relight lighthouse.
Kids from lead room returned topside.
100 lined hexagonal walls.
I stood with Jeong Ho-kyung on watchtower.
"I'm sorry. Truly. I knew you were PROFESSOR. The legendary Hunter."
Sole witness to my close-quarters Dancer slay.
"Never dreamed you'd dominate even a Dancer up close... Who'd believe it? But it happened..."
I said nothing.
Silently scanned sickly city lights, pristine night sea, moon waning from full to crescent.
Beep—
Buzzer sounded.
One kid on wall unleashed shockwave.
Boom!
Darkness traced faint trajectory.
Soon, another wall's kid followed.
Boom!
One South, one North side.
Waves erupted chorus-like, en masse, simultaneous across walls.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dozens burst in darkness.
No light from vying waves, yet they pierced dark like beams to me.
Lighthouse namesake.
Guiding us future-ward.
"Look!"
Jeong Ho-kyung showed tablet.
Drone feed: rift monsters turned northwest like ordered.
"All thanks to you."
He bowed 90 degrees, sincere.
No prior pretense.
"Hunter Park Gyu!"
Man from Jeju rose, beaming fresh smile.
"Thanks to you, this lighthouse shines eternal!"
*
After: as planned.
Chopper arrived, boarded.
Jeong Ho-kyung, kids saw off; chit-chat, unimportant.
Fellow passenger Lightning revealed name late.
"Lee Ha-yeop."
She and Awakeners knew my lighthouse deeds.
Admiration in eyes.
"Dancer type" whispers.
Lightning, center, smiled warmly—new.
"I'm from the North, actually. Defected during Pyongyang incident with family. Hide it 'cause I don't want North ears over South ones. My dad was die-hard Party member."
She asked.
"Find that kid I mentioned?"
Sadly no; asked relation.
"My sibling. Defected together. Didn't look much like me. Short. Remember them sulking smaller than South kids. Might've grown now? Three years gone."
Lee Ha-yeop smiled wistfully.
Seemed she'd accepted death.
"...Coming South, remember agreeing to claim Seoul origins."
"Seoul?"
"Yeah. But shallow knowledge then. Knew Gangnam richer than Gangbuk, but posing risked exposure. Checked map, saw Han River islands. Idea hit: name one!"
"Which?"
"I liked Bam Island, but they picked Saemit Ddeuddeum Island."
"...I see."
That Dancer I faced.
Humanity-ending legend for Old School, but anticlimax.
Clash moment: it froze.
Like awaiting death.
"..."
Lighthouse recedes.
Gazing unlit beacon, recall one boy.
I hope what I saw was wrong.