Chapter 27
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Good-for-Nothings
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Today, I woke up again to that damn mushroom cloud.
Afterward, as always, it was horrific. Overwhelmed by the rage and depression gnawing at my mind, I shed tears nonstop, waiting for these negative emotions to leave my head as quickly as possible.
Even after calming down a bit, my body still felt utterly drained.
Damn it, starting every day like this is just pure hell.
I picked up my phone with hands still trembling and opened HuntWeb. I was about to hit "Write Post" but ended up focusing on the screen instead.
YYY: "Hunter Kim Geuk" Leads Incheon Reclamation Project, Achieves "1/7 Major Success" in Just Three Months
It really hit me how much I've been killing it lately. I was just about to post something for attention, and here was an article about me already up top.
I checked out the attached article.
It was praising the results from my recent activities.
Claims like fully clearing 1/7 of Incheon's danger zones in just three months, zero casualties from wild monsters in the operation areas and nearby for years, Hunter Kim Geuk more than justifying his 52.5 billion contract fee in under half a year...
Even amid the torment, all the praise and attention felt sweet.
As I scrolled through the full article, my eyes naturally drifted to the comments.
Saw the Incheon redevelopment announcement? Building owners in the zone reclaimed by Kim Geuk bro hit the jackpot;; They're bulldozing villas, multi-family homes, detached houses—no matter the build year—and putting up fortress-style apartment complexes.
First time I saw this guy's interview, I thought some thug crashed the party and muddied everything. But damn, the more I watch, the more impressive he gets. Respect from a fellow A-rank!
Four ops a week? That's brutal. How many died?
Total of 3. One on day one, then two more KIA over the next three months.
There's my follower too. O My Jesus—my fan who's been around since about three months ago.
? Why so few deaths? Can't be just three with that many ops.
Buoyed by the results, Incheon City ramped up equipment support big time. First death shocked Kim Geuk bro, so he stepped up hard afterward, shouldering the risks for everyone.
Even with bro's efforts, couldn't avoid all deaths—two more went down. But every time, he shelled out massive condolence money.
How much?
Dunno the exact amount. Bro made the families promise to keep it secret. Didn't want to set a precedent that'd burden other Awakeners.
The fallen team members chipped in too, but the families clung to bro sobbing—bet he gave a ton.
If I were running Incheon like my domain, I'd have made that guy lord of Ganseok-dong and knighted him for Ganseok-dong articles. What a shame. Why'd democracy have to steal my rightful privileges?
Anyway... ah...
I could feel the good energy flooding back into my body.
Basking in that vibe, I reassured myself. In this perfect world, that nuke blast couldn't happen—it was all just a bullshit dream. No need to suffer every morning.
Seemed to work. Fully recharged, I chugged a protein shake.
With breakfast done, I showered off the sticky cold sweat clinging to my skin and headed out.
Another day of hunting ahead.
The operations over the past three months had produced tangible results.
Not to brag, but even to me, they were unprecedentedly impressive.
As the articles praised, we'd wiped out monsters from 1/7 of Incheon's designated danger zones—plus areas not even marked as such—and nearly eliminated wild monster attacks nearby.
Naturally, real estate prices in my op zones and surroundings skyrocketed. Villas and multi-family homes that were dirt cheap with no hope of rising? Their values multiplied. Hope of redevelopment into apartment complexes, even for worthless structures.
Reports of reviving commercial districts in some areas or droves of residents returning? Not surprising at all.
Thus, the plaques from the city and flower bouquets from resident reps had piled up so much I was seriously considering moving just for space.
My popularity was through the roof. Now, whenever we gathered for hunts, it wasn't just officials—fans, locals, reporters swarmed in too. People coming to cheer us on.
This time, fans, residents, journalists, and more crowded the rally point—somehow they'd gotten word.
One of my girl fans shouted,
"Oppa! Remember me?"
"Ah, the one on the Dongyang Apartments rooftop? I remember you spamming KakaoTalks. Last messages, right? Hope you weren't too embarrassed later?"
"Super embarrassed... Anyway, oppa, I was worried you'd talk all weird in person like online, but you're normal IRL? Total relief!"
"Ah, YYY?"
"How'd you know!"
I flashed a smile, signed her phone case with "Incheon Forever!" and all.
Noise from one corner. I glanced over and subtly frowned.
"Naito-san, over here!"
Damn it. In this perfect setup, one thing bugged me.
Naito-san—that fucking non-Awakener scum—his popularity and fame rising too.
Makes sense. He'd joined my ops religiously, posting videos. So people think even with just me it'd suffice, but he's contributed too—as one of Incheon's saviors.
Horrific. Truly.
He had fans clinging to him now. Fewer than the locals and owners on me, thankfully, but fans at all? Disgusting.
Our team's beauty Baek Dam-bi had none, yet this trash had followers?
Glanced at Baek Dam-bi—yep, she looked pissed. Her tight lips said it all.
Today, a reporter showed up for once.
Some woman shoved a mic at me.
"Hi, Kim Geuk! You're the hero reviving all of Incheon, right? Honored to meet you!"
The interview started with praise—not bad. Routine stuff like next op location, then dumb questions on my contract renewal next year being historic and if I'd stick with Incheon.
I answered sincerely until an annoying one popped up.
"Kim Geuk, you're hailed as the top Awakener Hunter ever, beyond Incheon! Contrast that with Matsumoto—who's a non-Awakener yet delivered these results... So-called Naito-san. Lots say it's intriguing!"
Why drag in that non-Awakener trash?
"Is that so?"
I strained to keep smiling. Tough.
Next question hit extra hard.
"Top Awakener Hunter vs. top non-Awakener Hunter—internet calls you rivals! Thoughts on your teammate Naito-san?"
Felt my smile vanish.
Best I could do was not show rage. Barely held back asking if she was from Incheon or Seoul, then spoke.
"Matsumoto's skills are legit. He'd have crushed in sports, not just hunting. Beyond experience and marksmanship—something more. Reflexes, composure... Not trainable. Innate excellence. Ops with him, I'm often stunned how."
"Got it! Thanks for the detail..."
"But weight classes in MMA aren't arbitrary, right?"
I forced a laugh. Eyed Naito-san, mentally flipping him off, continued.
"No matter his experience, reflexes... How calm he stays in crisis... He's 50kg vs. my 700kg grizzly bear class. Gap between us."
"What do you mean..."
"I'm way stronger. No comparison."
Last bit came out like a growl.
But she was clearly Seoul—missed my disgust entirely.
"Whoa, fierce rivalry! That passion the secret to success? Now, your resolve for this hunt..."
Incheon Forever chants ended the annoying interview.
Seong Mun-yeong, who'd listened behind, sidled up with a worried look.
"Hyung, why so pissed?"
"Not pissed."
"Looked mad as hell. Veins popping on your fist like spiderwebs—started when Naito-san came up."
"Did I?"
"Yeah. You got his apology last time—why still hate him?"
Tough to answer. How?
I picked words carefully, not to sound insane.
"They keep harping 'non-Awakener, non-Awakener'."
Marvel, DC, Japanese shonen—always a no-powers guy stands out amid powered folks.
Popular despite it, author favoritism lets him outshine powered chars by miles.
Seeing Naito-san, I hate those chars now.
Batman, Hawkeye—normies should know their place, munch popcorn while supers shine.
"Why's that bad?"
"Emphasizing how great he is despite no Awakening? Implies my greatness is just cuz I'm Awakened. Same conditions, he'd outshine me—downplaying me."
"Nah, overthinking. He's non-Awakener matching Awakeners— that's impressive..."
I sighed.
HuntWeb rated Naito-san the same: "non-Awakener but," "even as non-Awakener," "non-Awakener yet."
Naito-san got special props just for being non-Awakened.
Matching Awakeners sans Awakening, landing Awakener-level contracts—true human triumph. Better than lame Awakeners.
Unfair as hell. Especially with Baek Dam-bi, underappreciated Awakener on our team.
Baek Dam-bi, that Ice Awakener, contributes more than non-Awakener Hunters despite HuntWeb's cold takes.
No flashy plays, but always tanks the riskiest spots. Did so past three months.
Her silent baiting helped my desperate save-everyone efforts hugely.
Objectively, Naito-san's skilled but no wonder weapon—less impact than her, despite gear.
Yet look: She dolled up in makeup and crop top for attention—zero.
I grabbed reporters, explained her huge role—they shrugged. "Awakener gets paid, so expected." Token praise in articles, done.
With Naito-san here, even an A-rank would get her treatment—not her fault.
Protest? "Awakened but underperforms vs. non—your fault," they'd say, flaming her.
Makes me mad.
If I could change it, ban non-Awakeners from hunting. Three months, three weaklings died uselessly. Better prohibit.
His "B-rank Hunter" title to underdog Awakeners like Baek Dam-bi—crowds cheering them.
Non-Awakeners overreaching? If not Incheon folk, beat 'em down...
Lost in thought, Naito-san approached. Grinned, yelled,
"Let's crush it today too. Like that? Incheon Forever!"
If I foresaw him as treacherous bastard plotting against me, relief...
But my unreliable prophecies didn't show it, so I nodded reluctantly.
"Yeah. Incheon Forever."
Not super enthusiastic, but he grinned anyway, led his team off.
Knowing my hate's irrational, I deep-breathed.
Tried soothing my hard-to-explain feelings.
Thought rationally.
Naito-san contributed to Incheon, no harm vibes, teammate for now.
With that prickly ally, I headed to Manwol Mountain.
Teeming with monsters, spawned slums in Bupyeong and Ganseok-dong. Clear it, residents return, land and commerce revive—Eurasia's prime spirit mountain.