Chapter 105
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Famous Hunter Kim Geuk - [3]
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I was caught off guard by this unexpected situation, but only for a moment.
Eventually, the bomb that was bound to explode had gone off. That was my first thought. And since that idiot Han Hee was paralyzed with fear, someone had to keep a cool head—might as well be me.
"Let's handle the bodies first, then talk. I'll take care of it for now."
Han Hee blinked at my words, muttering softly.
"No, I can't let you..."
Can't let me? What did that even mean?
Was he saying it would be too much trouble to drag me into a crime like this? But he'd called me here—someone who could teleport—to the crime scene in the first place because he wanted help disposing of the bodies.
He wanted me to erase the evidence of murder, but admitting that out loud would mean conceding he'd asked me to aid in a crime. I could read that subtle psychology of his.
I didn't call him out on it. In a life-or-death pinch, it was easy enough to forgive someone for acting cowardly without even knowing what they wanted.
Pretending I hadn't heard, I gathered the bodies in one spot and teleported away with them.
I picked spots free of people and CCTV, repeating the teleport several times.
Finally arriving at a remote mountain about 11 kilometers away, I used my Awakener strength to dig a deep hole in seconds and buried the bodies inside.
With that, those five Special Task Force members would be written off as "missing."
And the upside of missing over dead was that in this day and age, no one seriously tried to find missing people. Investigations into disappearances ended before they even began.
That was why some Awakeners' blatant crimes got pinned on them easily through presumptive guilt, but sloppy murders by ordinary thugs—killing someone and dumping the body in the hills—were harder to crack. Public safety hadn't crumbled for nothing.
Afterward, I stopped by a nearby shop and bought a broom, dustpan, mop, bleach, and bucket. I filled the bucket with tap water. Then I returned to the spot with my haul.
When I teleported into the warehouse, Han Hee was still glancing around nervously, scared out of his wits.
I handed him the broom and dustpan.
"Clean up with these. Use your acceleration ability and make it quick."
Meanwhile, I spread out my mental net to scan the surroundings, checking for approaching people and any suspicious CCTV nearby.
And in just two minutes, Han Hee had cleaned spotless. He'd even diluted the bleach for a water mop-up. Whether that fully erased the evidence, I couldn't say—but it was better than nothing.
Anyway, we'd done all we could for now.
I placed a hand on Han Hee's shoulder and teleported.
Bringing him to my house, I mixed him a cup of cocoa and said,
"Drink this first and calm down."
"Y-Yes? Okay..."
Han Hee took the cocoa and sipped, but his hands shook so badly—boosted by his acceleration power?—that it spilled down his chin and onto his hands.
It took about ten minutes before he calmed enough to talk.
"How'd this happen? I can guess, but..."
My question got the expected answer.
"During the Behemoth raid. Me butting in back then came back to bite me..."
"Oh man, they dug that up again?"
"Yeah... I got a hefty senior-level bonus for it, so the seniors got suspicious about why I got so much cash and started digging..."
"And once they found out what went down, they flipped out? 'Special Task Force shouldn't be hunting monsters—why set a bad precedent?' Something like that?"
"Exactly... 'You screwing us over on purpose? Getting off on your wannabe hero complex and dragging the unit down?' They said crap like that..."
I frowned and rubbed my forehead. Those half-crazed lunatics.
I'd emphasized Park Joo-hyun's contributions in my interview to avoid this, steering clear of mentioning Han Hee at all. I'd only detailed the incident in a separate report to National Security so he could get his reward quietly.
And those Special Task Force bastards had dug it up anyway to nitpick?
Apparently, it wasn't just talk this time.
According to Han Hee, when they'd found out about him killing the Deathclaw during the last Seoul Gate incident, they'd beaten him black and blue too. And they'd planned the same this time.
"Five seniors dragged me to an empty warehouse. They ordered me to drop and take it like a man. But this time, I snapped..."
He shuddered as he spoke, continuing.
"...No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't take it anymore? It wasn't even something worth chewing me out for, but they did anyway... I just stood there staring instead of dropping. Guess that pissed them off. One went to slap me, so..."
"Ignoring an order like that is only natural. Then what?"
"I got pissed... really pissed. Their swing was too slow to just take it head-on. I dodged and punched him square. The guy's teeth flew out on impact."
"Good call. And?"
"The others lost it when they saw, swinging their sheathed blades at me. I yanked one out on reflex. Next thing I knew..."
I listened silently, and Han Hee shuddered again.
"What do I do now...?"
I answered him.
"What do you mean? Just keep living like before."
"How?!"
"What's the problem? Don't sweat it. You only killed some Deathclaws."
"Deathclaws? What're you...?"
"Yeah, Deathclaws. Didn't you see my interview? Those Special Task Force scum act just like them..."
"I saw the interview! But they're not actual Deathclaws!"
Han Hee shouted, and I cut him off sharply.
"No, they are Deathclaws."
I elaborated.
The Special Task Force executed Awakeners on the spot as criminals without trial. Unlike Park Joo-hyun, who'd bled for the Hunter cause, the rest hadn't slain a single monster to protect people—they were just murderers. Plain and simple.
Then I turned it on him. What about you, Han Hee? You've already saved lives by killing monsters, and your contributions in the Behemoth crisis saved half of Seoul's population, give or take.
So what moral issue could there be in offing vermin who tried to beat you for all those lifesaving acts?
Of course, I wasn't arguing from some ethical high ground. I just wanted to ease his guilt.
I don't know if it worked, but after hearing me out, Han Hee let out a small sigh and muttered,
"Even if you or I believe that, the judges won't buy it. 'I just killed some Deathclaws'..."
"Judges? Worried it'll come out?"
"Honestly... yeah."
Then I said,
"If it ever gets exposed, say I did it."
"What?"
"Tell 'em Kim Geuk killed them all. Easy scenario, right? Wanna rehearse? You called me in a panic because your Special Task Force seniors were flipping out."
"No..."
"Kim Geuk was pissed the Special Task Force didn't show during the Behemoth mess. So this anger-management case teleports in when called, and without asking, slaughters the whole squad on impulse."
"No... Kim Geuk hyung...?"
"What, you think even that's too far-fetched? Sure, an autopsy might prove it wasn't me if the bodies turn up, but I hid 'em good—no way they'll find them."
"That's not it! You want me to pin my mess on you? Are you insane?!"
I waved off his stunned voice.
"It's fine, really."
"No, it's not!"
"If they ask me why, I'll just say I thought they were Deathclaws and killed 'em."
Han Hee stared at me like he couldn't believe it.
I chuckled and continued.
"What if I did kill them? They won't send the police SWAT. Gonna roll out artillery and shell my house? Or mobilize the army and Special Task Force for a massive op until I collapse from teleporting?"
I shrugged and wrapped it up.
"The country could try if they really wanted, but they won't. Even if they could, it's too much hassle for nothing."
"You really have zero worries?"
"Yeah, well. The law isn't some law of physics. It's bullshit. Like how you whip it out when you're horny but keep it tucked otherwise—the law's the same. It doesn't apply equally to everyone; the country swings it when it suits them. You think they'll bust their asses over five dead Special Task Force grunts?"
I spoke with total confidence, showing no guilt—and feeling none inside.
Han Hee stared blankly, probably thinking, How can anyone be this calm?
Hell, even I was a bit surprised at myself.
Threatening the nation openly in an interview? Now helping cover up bodies and reassuring him not to worry?
In the old world, these felonies would've been unthinkable.
Was it the terrorist Kim Geuk from that police station hallucination seeping into me, like last time? Or had I adapted to this changed world, acting on impulse and blaming it all on the hallucination?
Either way, at this point, did it even matter?
Like when I'd straight-up threatened the country in that interview, I didn't regret this either.
Because I knew no one else would step up. I'd just done what needed doing for my kin.
Han Hee chewed his lip, then asked abruptly,
"Why go this far for me? It's not like I can pay you back. You're loaded compared to me..."
I replied,
"We're battle buddies who fought side by side, risking our lives. Can't comrades do this much?"
I flashed a toothy grin, and Han Hee went blank again.
After a long pause, he snapped out of it and stammered,
"I'll never forget this... If there's ever anything later, just say the word..."
"Forget it. You look like you wanna erase it from your mind."
"Still..."
"If you wanna repay me... you planning to stick with Special Task Force? Still got mandatory service left?"
"Probably...?"
"Then tip me off if they come after me later. Like last time, if they order other squads to hunt me down, give me a heads-up. Got it?"
"Yes. If that day comes, I swear..."
"Good. Now relax. Sucks you gotta keep at it after this, but won't it be easier from now on?"
"How...?"
"They're not idiots. Five seniors who tried to haze you vanish? They'll use their imaginations. Looks like you snapped and offed 'em. And with your dad the National Security Vice Minister cleaning it up, nothing happens..."
I patted his shoulder.
"Anyway, no more cowering. Seniors or whatever—they're half-assed punks who can't hang in a real fight. You saw that firsthand."
"Yeah..."
"Don't flinch! They should be the ones flinching. Like I said before, no need to shrink from ironclads just 'cause there are more rowboats."
I told him to straight-up deck any seniors who messed with him—getting booted for assault would be a win. And once he started Hunter life, HuntWeb buddies and I would welcome him with open arms. Only then did Han Hee crack an awkward smile.
"Thank you, really. Like I said, I'll never forget this. Someday, somehow, I'll..."
Han Hee expressed his clumsy gratitude and left my house.
Alone now, I didn't crash right away—I handled what needed doing.
Packing for the trip. The country would supply gear, but I grabbed my own stuff before sleeping.
I left home wide awake again, mind at ease.
At the rendezvous, a crowd waited. People here for me.
"Kim Geuk! Kim Geuk!"
Civil servants, Councilor Park Mi-hyeong, and the Incheon Mayor stood out first.
Then Incheon citizens cheering me on, plus supporters from elsewhere (I mentally knighted them honorary Incheonites). Surrounded, my name echoed from all sides.
"Kim Geuk! Kim Geuk, Kim Geuk!"
I knew why they were like this today.
It marked one year since I started as a Hunter—the end of my Incheon contract.
And instead of renewing...
Today, I was off to Sword World.
That savage land beyond Incheon, rife with poverty and ruin, homeland to all manner of monsters—the otherworld. I was heading there to find Kang Jun-chi.
One interpreter was assigned for the journey.
The Sowol native who'd naturalized in Korea—the little guy I'd met chatting with Lord Woo Sori last time.
Even having seen me before, he shrank under my bulk and muscles.
"An honor to serve you, Kim Geuk..."
The Sowol interpreter bowed deeply. I told him no need, not feeling burdened.
Sowol natives doing it was one thing—soon, Koreans would too.
Baek Dam-bi was there amid the crowd too.
I figured she'd open the Gate or see me off, but she had bags packed. Why?
"Did the country tell you to come along, Dam-bi?"
I asked just in case, but she shook her head.
"I volunteered. Figured you need someone to open Gates on demand."
I blinked. This woman volunteered to go with me? For real?
There were already foreign Gate handlers. Why her...? Though yeah, she was way better—combat skills, everything.
"But... don't you have the Golden Arrow award? Ceremony's in January, right?"
"Who cares about that now?"
I didn't know how to respond. Thank her? Worry about the hardship? I froze, saying nothing.
Finally, Baek Dam-bi opened the Gate.
We three stepped into the purple space. She went first, interpreter next.
As I entered last, my name rang out nonstop behind me.
"Kim Geuk! Kim Geuk—!"
Mixed in were all sorts of praise.
Survived near-death twice thanks to Hunter Kim Geuk. Incheon's villas skyrocketed after my contract, making life blissful. Savior of Incheon, hero of Korea—blah blah.
I turned, grinned, and raised one hand high.
My signature pose cranked the cheers louder.
Moments later, the Gate's purple swallowed my vision.