Chapter 58

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 058

Chapter Title: Special Forces Captain Han Hee-seok - [2]

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Kang Jun-chi's expression twisted. As he opened his mouth like he was about to protest, I continued.

"Sure, it's some bullshit worth cursing over, but it's not like any precursor to an assassination."

"Then what the hell is it?"

"It's just the higher-ups throwing a tantrum to dig into what you're thinking. Your safety is directly tied to national security, right? And here you are, refusing even the hotel food like some paranoid patient. They're just trying to figure out what exactly has you so pissed off."

Kang Jun-chi eyed me suspiciously.

"How do you know what the higher-ups are thinking well enough to explain it like that?"

"One of them called me before I came here. Some Special Forces Captain trying to pry out what we talked about."

"You didn't tell him, did you...?"

"Nah, I blew him off with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠some bullshit."

"...Good call."

"Anyway, I got the sense they're scrambling to figure out what's going on in your head. Point is, you can't keep living like a paranoid wreck."

Kang Jun-chi furrowed his brow like he didn't want to hear it, but I pressed on regardless.

"No matter how you slice it, it doesn't make sense for the government to try killing you. Without you, Behemoth would turn Seoul to ash—what would they be thinking?"

I told him this way of living was hurting him too, that it was ridiculous to stay in a five-star hotel and still have to go out for every meal instead of enjoying the delicious food they provided.

This was me speaking purely as a friend, tossing aside all that Awakener revolution or national overthrow nonsense.

I'd once hoped his growing distrust of the government might lead him to flip the country someday, but watching him suffer like this, I couldn't voice that scheming thought. No matter what, I couldn't just stand by and let him torment himself alone.

"So what? You want me to just let it slide, bugs and all?"

I answered his question.

"Protest properly to the government agencies so this never happens again. I don't know if it was the National Intelligence Service or someone else..."

While I was mid-sentence, Seok Jang-sil's voice cut in.

"I know who did it. Found another bug."

Kang Jun-chi's eyes went wide.

"Where?"

Instead of explaining, Seok Jang-sil pressed his finger against the hotel wall and poked.

The solid marble didn't repel his finger.

A tiny section of the wall crumbled like paper where his finger dug in, revealing the inside.

A small mechanical device was hidden inside the hotel wall—probably the bug. Even I was shocked and asked,

"How'd you find that?"

"I'm a rock ability user. Felt the marble structure and noticed a hollow spot. Looks like they hid the bug inside and thinly coated the wall over it. I know whose handiwork this is."

"Whose?"

"Han Hee-seok's."

"Han Hee-seok? The Special Forces Captain?"

"Yeah, that guy."

Kang Jun-chi asked,

"Why would the Special Forces bug me?"

"'Cause bro's acting like a psycho, and that Han Hee-seok guy's a psycho too."

Kang Jun-chi scowled, but Seok Jang-sil kept going without a care, and from that, I could tell the two were closer than I'd thought.

I also realized just how severe Kang Jun-chi's paranoia was—that even someone this close couldn't be fully trusted, to the point he'd called me in his moment of life-or-death crisis instead.

"This is Seoul, right? The Special Forces are the unit that keeps Awakener Hunters from running wild in the capital. Every Awakener Hunter operating here is under that bastard Han Hee-seok's watch... If you're convinced the government's out to kill you like some nutjob, then he's the opposite: a nutjob who thinks you guys are plotting a coup 24/7."

"Can you quit calling him a nutjob?"

"Go see a shrink, then I'll stop. Anyway, that other nutjob Han Hee-seok thinks even you Hunters grabbing coffee is a coup conspiracy meeting, so he grills everyone on your intentions... I've been bugged by him too."

"You?"

"Yeah, there's a rock ability user in the Special Forces. Last time, he hid bugs in coffee shops popular with Seoul A-rank Hunters like this. Didn't realize we'd caught on, and now your place too... So like Kim Geuk said, don't stress too much. It's just a crazy bastard doing crazy shit. No need to shake thinking it's only happening to you."

Seok Jang-sil was earnestly explaining for his big bro's mental health, but Kang Jun-chi didn't seem to be taking it in.

He zeroed in on one thing.

"So, to settle this, I gotta fuck up Han Hee-seok?"

"Pretty much, but you really gonna do it?"

"What, you gonna stop me too?"

"Hell no. I'd feel great if you did—why would I?"

Seok Jang-sil laughed, and Kang Jun-chi demanded Han Hee-seok's number from me.

I showed him my call log, and he bit his lip.

"That fucking bastard called you right after planting the bugs."

Fresh anger surged. Kang Jun-chi dialed Han Hee-seok, who picked up immediately.

"It's Kang Jun-chi. You've got thirty minutes—get your ass here. If not, forget Behemoth; I'm heading straight back to Busan, got it?"

Without hesitation, Han Hee-seok replied from the other end.

Less than ten minutes later, Han Hee-seok arrived. It was the same guy from the Special Forces Captain photos online.

He'd been rude to me on the phone—casual speech out of nowhere, then lowering his voice like he was interrogating me—but he didn't dare pull that with Kang Jun-chi.

The interrogation between Kang Jun-chi and him began, going something like this.

Did you order the bugs?
Yeah, I did. I got nothing to say for myself.
Why? Suicidal?
You've been rejecting the health check and hotel meals the country recommended, vanishing from your residence for hours without contact— I just wanted to know why...
Save the excuses. I'm about to beat your ass now—got any plans to retaliate later?

To the last question, Han Hee-seok squeezed his eyes shut and answered,

"None."

Then the 'proper education' from Kang Jun-chi's YouTube videos kicked off.

I watched as Han Hee-seok floated into the air, slamming repeatedly into the floor and ceiling. He only groaned softly instead of screaming, which seemed to piss Kang Jun-chi off more.

"Oh? Holding back screams? Still got pride in this situation?"

Han Hee-seok stopped holding back then. As his throat unleashed roars satisfying Kang Jun-chi's sadism, I stepped out of the hotel room.

Seok Jang-sil followed, speaking to me in a weary voice.

"Man, when I first met that bro, he wasn't like this. Now he's full-on psycho."

"What was he like back then?"

"We met when they rounded up Awakener reservists and formed special units. After things settled, we Awakeners chatted about making a living with our powers. I said I'd unload parcels with mine, and Jun-chi bro chimed in he'd do the same. We hit it off right there."

"You're a rock ability user, right, Seok Jang-sil?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Can you really unload cargo with that? I heard rock abilities boost strength too..."

"Turns out it's tough! Harder to control force than Physical Enhancement, so boxes kept breaking. Had no choice but to Hunter—it sucks..."

We'd been chatting amiably for about ten minutes.

Finally, Han Hee-seok stumbled out of the room. He was battered—eyes swollen, clothes torn—but he left on his own two feet.

He'd gotten off lighter than the usual 'education' victims on Kang Jun-chi's videos. Maybe he held back because the guy was a high-ranking official?

Neither Seok Jang-sil nor I paid the departing Han Hee-seok any mind. We focused on Kang Jun-chi.

His expression looked relieved at last, like the anger had finally vented. Seok Jang-sil asked,

"So, now what? Moving lodgings?"

"Nah."

"Then?"

A moment later, Kang Jun-chi led us somewhere.

We arrived at a rare empty lot in Seoul.

A construction site-to-be with nothing but sand. Standing in the center, Kang Jun-chi declared,

"Gonna live here for a while."

Before I could ask what the hell that meant, he unleashed his power.

That force field ability stronger than a nuke.

"Wh-what?"

The ground shook like a massive quake.

Leaves rained down. Trees and buildings swayed wildly as the earth screamed.

A dust cloud towering to the sky blocked our view...

After what felt like a long short time, a massive hole and a small mountain of dirt and granite had appeared ahead. The mountain was probably the excavated earth from digging that hole.

The pit looked bottomless at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a glance. Sensing its depth with my mental net, I freaked out.

Kang Jun-chi explained calmly.

"Dug a cavern 800 meters underground. I'll live there for now. No assassin can sneak in..."

In under three minutes, he'd created an 800-meter tunnel and a 200-meter underground space. Even in this era teeming with superhuman Awakeners, it was a miracle worthy of a god.

Should democracy continue like this? Are all people truly equal?

As I shuddered, Seok Jang-sil stared blankly before asking,

"800 meters deep... You planning an elevator?"

"Nah, can't install one—assassins could use it. I can levitate with my force field."

"Hooking up water and power would be tough..."

"Water and power? How the hell would I do that?"

"Call a contractor?"

Kang Jun-chi shot back firmly.

"No way. Can't trust contractors or anyone. What if they're bought by the government and plant bugs?"

"So you'll live without water or electricity?"

"Yeah."

"Bro, you're insane?"

Even to me, it sounded crazy. Living alone underground without power or water—like a prison cell?

I tried talking him out of self-inflicted suffering, telling him to rethink it, but no dice.

Kang Jun-chi wasn't convinced; he tried convincing me instead.

"Kim Geuk, now's not the time for you to be all carefree... I think you're in danger too."

"What?"

"From where I'm sitting, you're at just as much risk of assassination as me."

What the hell was this now?

"You trying to infect me with your paranoia?"

Amazed, I asked, but he spoke in a grave tone.

"No, to the government, you're as dangerous as me. Saw that video—you're badass. Taking down multiple Awakeners solo? Means you could punch through the Blue House security detail alone."

"So?"

"Grab a Hunter rifle and go on a shooting spree at the Blue House or National Assembly—no one could stop you... Plus Teleportation. Obvious you could start a bombing; they'd want you gone at the first chance."

So I shouldn't let my guard down either, always stay cautious—he implored me with absurd earnestness.

"I'm Physical Enhancement—poison won't kill me, so don't worry."

"They could send assassins. Think those muscles block force field blades? That's why I'm offering... Want me to make you one of these?"

"You mean an 800-meter deep cavern?"

"Yeah. Seal the entrance with your Teleportation—perfect safety. Your personal hideout ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no one else can access. 800 meters laughs at bunker busters or nukes..."

"No thanks, really."

"This carefree bastard... Think it over later, hit me up. I'll do it free."

I glanced at Seok Jang-sil; he just sighed.

That day's meeting ended like that.

"Great seeing you today—let's grab food next time, yeah?"

After shaking hands with Seok Jang-sil, I headed home.

On the way, regret hit me. Regret over how I'd soothed Kang Jun-chi today.

I'd missed the chance to wipe out Seoul and its non-Awakener scum. Anger boiled, but I shook my head to clear it.

Whether hatred for Seoul or its non-Awakener trash, these negative emotions had sprouted after seeing that bastard's hallucination.

I knew this hatred wasn't fully mine.

It belonged to another me: terrorist Kim Geuk. Acting as proxy for this foreign hate would ruin everything I had.

Someday Awakeners must rule Korea too—a plain fact beyond doubt—but I didn't need to lead it.

The next day, my phone rang again.

I recognized the number now.

I curtly replied to Han Hee-seok on the line.

"Special Forces Captain? What now?"

I thought he might be calling to vent yesterday's grudge, but no.

Flustered, I thought: Why's this non-Awakener scum suddenly like this? Not like he'd learned from getting thrashed by Kang Jun-chi today to bow to Awakeners...

Didn't seem sarcastic. Abruptly, this scum was even flattering me.

I realized why this scum flipped attitudes soon after.

Good thing I hadn't smashed the bug in the hotel room—he must've overheard us.

Hearing me soothe Kang Jun-chi, he figured I was soft on the government, worth cozying up to. Or maybe since I seemed tight with Kang Jun-chi, he thought he could control him through me.

Either way, damn, what a tough job. High-status guy takes a beating midday, then swallows pride to salvage things.

After hanging up, I opened HuntWeb with mixed feelings.

A new post caught my eye.

Kang Jun-chi, for once, not posting an education video but something else.

It was a lament.

This fucking guy?

As I tamped down my rage, more comments poured in.

I was starting to get that Kang Jun-chi had this habit of spouting bullshit online. Whenever something happened, he'd go 'Want me to flip it for ya?' but then just sit idle.

Probably the same this time. I closed HuntWeb thinking that.