Chapter 24
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 024
Chapter Title: B-rank Hunter Naito-san - [1]
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“Ah, hello everyone! As announced beforehand, we're heading out on a hunt today. Ah, but the Gate hasn't opened! If it were a Gate emergency, we couldn't be broadcasting this leisurely, right? This time, we're not defending—we're attacking! In collaboration with Incheon's Hunters...”
Watching the bastard blabber on, I thought to myself. Japanese trash speaks Korean pretty well.
His accent was a bit unique, but it was decent standard Incheon dialect. He was spouting that standard Incheon dialect straight at the camera.
He must be filming a video to upload to YouTube. Disgusting non-Awakener scum.
This guy was Naito-san. His real name was Matsumoto Masashi, but apparently he went by that because his streamer nickname was 'Knight-san' or something.
Anyway, I didn't like him. Streaming online during a life-or-death hunt? Was he joking? I had to fight the urge to smash his camera.
And look at that trash's outfit.
“What the hell is that getup? Cheap cosplay costume?”
Seong Mun-yeong answered my question.
“Probably a hoodie from the internet. Ignore the hood that looks like a medieval knight's helmet and the weird shoulder decorations meant to resemble pauldrons—it's just normal clothes otherwise. He's got a medieval knight concept, so that's why he dresses like that.”
Seong Mun-yeong seemed to say it casually, but it pissed me off.
I glanced at Baek Dam-bi, dressed in her usual style. Considering how that woman got called a crazy bitch who thought she was a celebrity just for wearing crop tops, I couldn't understand why this non-Awakener clown's playful costume was tolerated.
Anyway, I didn't like him. Every single thing about him.
As I stood there sullenly, Naito-san approached. Useless streamer lines poured from his mouth.
“Alright, everyone? This is the star of this project. Hunter Kim Geuk! A Physical Enhancer and Teleporter to boot! Wow, you can tell just by looking—his abilities shine brightly!
Most Awakeners have superior powers but mediocre skills! But you've probably seen his videos, so you know he's not one of them! With muscles honed to the peak like a former UFC fighter, unyielding fighting spirit, and flashy Teleportation use that's almost like he's filming a movie after rehearsing...”
Even as he praised me, I glared at him. I poured all my disgust at this revolting situation—a non-Awakener judging an Awakener—into my eyes.
Noticing my stare, Naito-san seemed flustered. He smiled unnaturally brightly and struck up a conversation with me.
“Kim Geuk-ssi, nice to meet you! I've seen you a few times on HuntWeb, but this is our first time meeting in person! Uh, did I do something wrong...?”
His last question was quiet. He was wondering why I was showing such obvious dislike from the start.
I couldn't exactly say it out loud—that I didn't want to treat him like a person since he wasn't an Awakener or even from Incheon. So, what excuse could I use to show him I hated him?
I dredged up a memory and opened my mouth.
“This isn't live, right?”
“Yes, it's pre-recorded...”
“Then let me ask something personal. Your HuntWeb nickname is GoodHunter, right?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes.”
“A year ago, you commented on a post about Baek Dam-bi, saying why not beat some manners into that bitch?”
I vaguely remembered seeing a comment like that, and it hit the mark.
Naito-san's eyes widened, and he stammered a response.
“I don't remember exactly, but that wasn't meant to say beat her because she doesn't listen...”
“And you posted something warning that ex-cons entering the Hunter industry would muddy the waters. That was aimed at trash like me, right?”
He couldn't respond to that right away. As he shut his mouth, probably thinking up an apology, I snapped at him.
“Get lost, you fucking mutt.”
Naito-san shrank back, bowing his head. “I'm sorry, I'll explain later...” he muttered before retreating.
Seong Mun-yeong, who had overheard beside me, asked.
“Did that guy really post stuff like that on HuntWeb?”
“Yeah.”
“How do you remember all that?”
“I've got a good memory. Thanks to it, I placed first or second in my class through middle school without any cram school.”
“I don't know if that's true or bullshit, but seeing you growl over petty grudges with that insane memory is pretty scary...”
After Seong Mun-yeong took a hit and grumbled off, surprisingly, Baek Dam-bi approached me.
“You don't like that Japanese guy? Looked like you cussed him out and chased him away.”
“Yeah, I really hate that bastard... Do you like Naito-san? Are you a fan of his streams?”
“No, I just wanted to say you did well. I hate that guy too.”
This girl has an eye for people.
Feeling a sense of camaraderie, I instinctively held out my palm. It was a high-five signal, but I was surprised at myself for doing it thoughtlessly.
Slap. Baek Dam-bi actually slapped her palm against mine.
I couldn't see her expression behind the sunglasses, but she flinched too, clearly surprised by her own action.
“Hm?”
Feeling like I'd gained something, I grinned at her, and Baek Dam-bi quietly returned to her spot.
Meanwhile, more Hunters were gathering. Naito-san now just watched me warily from afar, no longer approaching to act friendly. I was somewhat satisfied with the situation.
Park Mi-hyeong, who came to check preparations, didn't look pleased.
“What happened? I told you two to stick together, so why are you so far apart?”
“Old beef.”
“I don't know the details, but try to get along if possible, okay? I didn't bring him just for fun—his streams get massive promo value. Incheon paid top dollar to bring him in and spread the word about our projects.”
So that's why his fee was ridiculously high? More famous than most Awakeners, so better promo? Ridiculous, but I'd hold back. I could understand the promo value.
Soon, the 'Incheon Reclamation Project' began.
Riding in the official van, I focused my mind. After slaying three powerful monsters, I spread my mental net, now several times wider than before.
Objects within a radius over a kilometer started registering in my brain. I focused only on the moving ones.
That's a car, that looks like a homeless guy, and that one...
“Found it.”
I reported the monster's position I'd just detected, and the info spread to all the gathered Hunters.
The Hunters headed toward the location I'd marked.
Meanwhile, Naito-san kept yapping at his camera even while riding his silver bike.
“See that? Trash piled up like a hill in the alley, right? Viewers in Seoul probably don't see this often, but folks in the provinces will recognize it. When an area gets designated high-risk and trash trucks stop coming, but not all residents have left yet, you get piles like that.
It's not just Korea—Japan has tons of places like this too. Seoul's mostly well-managed, but in Japan, even Tokyo has slums forming like this...”
Hearing that made my hatred for him grow. Sneakily comparing Japan favorably to Korea. That subtle nationalism was even more disgusting. Probably his secret to popularity.
“Look there. See that square hole in the villa's outer wall? Cut perfectly straight like with a ruler—that's a Deathclaw slicing the wall with its force field blade to make an entry for its body. No matter how sturdy your house, it's useless.
That's why villas and standalone homes in Korea go for dirt cheap. When monsters attack, low-rise buildings get hit first—apartments are harder to climb. Around here, it's all villas and houses under three stories. Places like this have basically lost all value as normal housing in Korea. Even in Japan, mansion prices skyrocketed, but...”
Just as he said, there wasn't a sign of life anywhere nearby.
Villa complexes abandoned by everyone—no reason for those trashed houses to sell. Even near-new villas had lost all property value, reduced long ago to unwanted concrete piles.
Once deserted neighborhoods like this pop up, the bad effects spread to surrounding areas. Monsters nest in abandoned villages and buildings, then raid nearby residences.
So, just exterminating the monsters around here would surely boost property values for the whole area.
The Hunter team stopped. They took positions around the building I'd indicated.
“Alright, everyone to your positions!”
My team and I were assigned to the rearmost position. Only Baek Dam-bi was inside the encirclement—we were the reserves for any contingencies.
I'd planned to hunt as many as possible, so I grumbled at the unwanted setup.
“Ah, damn it. It'd be faster if I Teleported in and shot them all—why drag in a bunch of other Hunters...”
“Hyung gets fatigued Teleporting outside your line of sight. For a long op, this makes sense. Plus, we can't risk Awakeners getting hurt by charging in recklessly. Probably the second one's the bigger reason.”
Someone tossed something into the building.
Moments later, smoke billowed from the window gaps—tear gas or mustard gas, I didn't know exactly, but a chemical weapon to force the monsters out. We were sure they were inside, so it was safe to use.
“They're out! Everyone, fire!”
Finally, the monsters appeared.
Deathclaws, as I'd scouted. Four of them.
Normally, you'd concentrate fire on doors and windows expecting them to burst out there. But not these guys.
The Deathclaws popped out from the first-floor walls, second-floor walls. That's how they always were. Their fancy force field blades sliced concrete like butter, letting them emerge anywhere. That's why it took five Hunters to surround one tiny villa—you never knew where they'd pop out.
From their positions, the Deathclaws leaped toward the encircling Hunters.
Even under concentrated fire, one claw finally reached a Hunter's body.
The woman right at the front of the encirclement...
“Dam-bi noona!”
Seong Mun-yeong yelled in shock as the Deathclaw's hook-like talon slashed her throat. The Deathclaw hit the ground from follow-up shots after landing.
And Baek Dam-bi during all this?
Instead of blood gushing from her half-severed neck, ice particles scattered.
And that was it. Not even a word from her.
Baek Dam-bi just calmly poured bottled water over the slashed part of her neck. Like a spirit's regeneration mechanism, the water froze, filling the damaged tissue, and her neck healed in an instant.
Seong Mun-yeong gawked, dumbfounded. I was surprised too, but played it cool and spoke up.
“Why so shocked? You said last time, all fangirly, that her Ice Ability is so advanced she's basically an Ice Spirit now. She won't die unless her human form is utterly destroyed.”
“No, still... seeing it for real is wild. No wonder she stands at the front...”
My heart was pounding too. Damn it.
I realized one thing anew.
This is seriously dangerous.