Chapter 115
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: The Newbies - [1]
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"...reports of a disturbance at the National Assembly building."
Watching TV, I saw the news about how I'd caved in the roof of the National Assembly. It even mentioned that the riot was a protest related to the Awakener Anti-Discrimination Act. And that was it.
Nothing about the far graver issue—Awakener Kim Geuk kidnapping and threatening lawmakers.
Was the government worried that if word got out they couldn't punish an Awakener for threatening constitutional order, it'd embolden more unsavory elements to challenge the regime, seeing it as weak? So they buried the incident entirely?
That's how the media operates these days. They never air news that might make people anxious or reveal just how precariously the current system is hanging by a thread.
That's why folks who don't follow international news closely still think the only difference between the pre-Gate world and now is slightly higher grocery prices.
When Kang Jun-chi uploaded that video a few months back announcing his departure to Someol, the idiots in the comments grilling him about whether he had government permission probably came from that mindset.
A lot of people still believe the government has everything under control. And apparently just as many think it's only natural that even the strongest Awakeners answer to the authorities.
Whatever. Doesn't matter to me.
I know full well these days that public opinion is worthless. An Awakener's power isn't decided by popularity contests.
But maybe the new Hunter Association Chairman cares about that stuff?
Choi Yong was on TV, saying:
"Yes, that's correct. In protest against the failure to enact the promised Awakener Anti-Discrimination Act, Association Awakeners gathered once again..."
Ah, Choi Yong, that guy. Lying so shamelessly.
Wasn't the real reason he charged into the National Assembly roaring because he hated the contract terms for the newbie Hunters—and because the Association got sidelined on the deal?
Yet somehow, the broadcast framed it as a demonstration over the Anti-Discrimination Act.
Probably figured it looked better to claim they were protesting for Awakener rights than admitting billion-won Hunters were rioting over less money.
Pointless nonsense, but I didn't bother calling it out.
I've got my own hands full.
I've rested from Hunter work long enough. Time to get back in the field.
I visited the Association again to sign a new A-rank Hunter contract.
Underwent the same Awakener evaluation I got for my debut. Confirmed once more that I'm the second-strongest Awakener in the country.
The Association staffer handed me my new ability test results, compared them to my first evaluation, and spoke in a bewildered tone.
"This is on a whole other level from a year ago. You practically seem like a different person. There's no record worldwide of anyone growing this much..."
"How much have I grown?"
In a grave voice, the staffer explained.
"If every stat here jumps another elevenfold, you'd be a proper S-rank."
I frowned.
"...Guess I'm still a ways off, then."
"A ways off? Reaching S-rank comparison levels in just one year is insane! To reiterate, there's no precedent for this kind of explosive growth. Most Awakeners hit their growth cap close to their initial awakening power..."
The staffer and the scouts gathered there were floored by my rapid progress, but I wasn't.
Not pretending to be nonchalant—I was genuinely disappointed in these results.
I'm still far from where I need to be.
If even average S-ranks are this distant, the gap with Kang Jun-chi—who's among the highest-output S-ranks—must be even wider.
To do what I want, I need to grow way more. To shake the regime he's tacitly propping up, I'll need to match his level.
That means hunting more monsters. And as soon as possible, naturally.
The day I took my evaluation, not just local government officials but hordes of foreign scouts swarmed me with offers.
Not just piles of cash, either.
Some overseas scouts promised "de facto immunity—unlimited freedom," which shocked me. Apparently my Incheon reclamation feats impressed them too.
"Mr. Kim Geuk? Come and do what you did in Incheon, and you can do whatever you want. Anything!"
More than one scout from abroad offered that if I just came and worked for their country, they wouldn't prosecute me even for beating someone to death on the street. (And they admitted it wasn't special treatment for me—they'd already given up punishing powerful Awakeners' crimes at home.) Honestly, those offers were tempting.
Wasn't that the exact freedom I'd craved as a superhuman? Reveal a teacher's real name? Snap a training instructor's leg? Beat them to death? True liberty under the law, no irrational pressure.
Such countries already existed for Awakeners. Multiple scouts offering it proved that.
But I signed with Korean local governments again.
Like my first contract, this one hit the news and papers big-time.
"Hunter Kim Geuk" Sets New Record Highest Contract Ever (Excluding Kang Jun-chi)
Hunter Kim Geuk Signs Simultaneous "Incheon-Seoul" Contracts, A Korean First (···)
"You're going to be active in both Seoul and Incheon at the same time?"
I nodded at Jeong Jin-yeong's question.
"Yeah."
"Why? Simultaneous contracts with two regions—that's unprecedented, right?"
I sighed.
"I wanted to stick with just Incheon. But they say they don't really need me there right now."
"Incheon doesn't need you? What kind of nonsense is that?"
"To be precise, they do need me in Incheon, but not to actively go hunting. They said as long as I hang around Incheon, laze about, and keep the monsters from coming out, they'll pay me."
It wasn't just me and Jeong Jin-yeong here.
For some reason, he'd brought along the newbie A-rank Hunters—the ones who'd pissed off Choi Yong by contracting directly with Seoul City, bypassing the Association.
"Whoa... they'll pay you just to sit around? For real?"
One of the newbies asked in disbelief, and Jeong Jin-yeong launched into a detailed explanation like he was my spokesperson.
About how I'm famous not just with people but even among monsters inside Gates. So famous that my mere presence deters them from emerging, with massive suppressive effects. And so on.
"And since you keep dragging out and killing even the monsters hunkered down in Gates! Now even those resting inside freak out and bolt when they sense you nearby. That's how Incheon's gotten so peaceful—with Gates getting cleaned out internally!"
Jeong Jin-yeong ranted on, drawing awed exclamations from the newbies.
Then one piped up.
"Then couldn't you have taken that offer, bro? Get paid big without even hunting..."
I shook my head.
"What I want is to be a Hunter. Not some monster-repelling totem."
"So you signed to work both Incheon and Seoul? Can't hunt if you're stuck in Incheon?"
"Roughly, yeah. Priority dispatch if something pops in Incheon, but it's been quiet there lately, so I'll mostly hunt in Seoul."
We were chatting leisurely like that.
When everyone's phones buzzed.
Considering we were all Hunters here, it was obvious what was up.
A newbie checked his phone, eyes widening.
"A Gate...?"
Damn, why mutter it so calmly?
"Gate confirmed—everyone, gear up quick!"
I urged them, but they all hesitated. Why?
As far as I knew, these newbies were contractually obligated to deploy starting this month.
Harsh, given they'd barely finished basic training and rifle quals, but a deal's a deal.
Yet they just sat there frozen, not budging. No clue what was up.
I almost yelled, then forced a calm tone.
"Oh, right—is this everyone's first real deployment?"
"Y-Yes..."
Well, natural for total rookies to be tense.
But why was Jeong Jin-yeong—who'd Huntered with me for a year—frozen up with them?
Pointing it out in front of the newbies would embarrass him.
So I looked at each frozen newbie in turn, avoiding Jeong Jin-yeong.
"Don't freak out too much. I'm deploying with you. Different zones, right?"
"Y-Yeah, probably..."
"No worries. You all know radio protocol? Call me without hesitation."
One newbie stared blankly.
"Call you, Kim Geuk?"
"Yeah, call me. I'll come running the second you do. Got it, everyone?"
I repeated it a few times, then Teleported out for my own deployment.
"Hyung's here!"
Baek Dam-bi and Seong Mun-yeong waited by the transport chopper, with my new Hunter team.
I gave my round girl a quick nod greeting, then eyed the new team.
Some faces I didn't know, some I'd seen at the gym during academy visits... but all looked awkward.
I greeted them awkwardly.
"First time working with me, right? Nice to meet you all."
Seong Mun-yeong yelled in frustration.
"Argh, just drop the formalities! No one's older than you here."
True, they all looked young. They said they'd send only aces from the academy—no Im Hyeong-taek, not even anyone Jeong Jin-yeong's age.
That fact felt off. Eerily so.
We all boarded the transport.
As it flew to the site, the new team members chatted enthusiastically. Always admired me, so grateful to join the team, etc.
I spoke up.
"No need to stand on ceremony, just..."
Everyone focused on me as I cut it short.
"Don't die. Please."
Then I gazed out the chopper.
It crossed over Seoul. The scenery below was pure Seoul.
Until recently, Seoul was Hunters' top pick, right?
Not just the highest pay, but way safer than the provinces.
Safe for Seoul residents and Hunters alike.
With the most money and resources, Seoul secured the most Awakener Hunters. Monsters, wary of them, hesitated to open Gates there.
No more.
Beyond the half-ruined cityscape, violet shimmers flickered everywhere.
"What the hell is this...?"
Gates opening across all of Seoul.
Not one or two—dozens in over ten districts, all at once.
Behemoth's rampage had made this Seoul's new normal. Not even shocking anymore.