Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 078
Chapter Title: Special Task Force Member Han Hee - [2]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A state must monopolize violence, no exceptions.
It has to crack down so dangerous weapons like guns don't spread to civilians, strictly forbid private sanctions, and keep armed civilian groups from running wild. No one outside state institutions should be allowed to wield violence.
Unless outsourcing it proves cheaper, of course.
As everyone knows, medieval city-states hired mercenaries to defend their walls not because Machiavelli hadn't been born yet to preach that standing armies are good and mercenaries bad. They used mercs back then simply because it cost less than maintaining a permanent force.
By the same logic, the state maintains the hunter system because it's cheaper that way.
Sending non-awakener hunters—who aren't soldiers—to fight monsters lets the state utilize surplus labor with no jobs while skipping compensation if they die.
And it doesn't conscript all powerful awakeners into the military because paying them handsomely without granting explicit authority keeps them serving the nation without resentment toward society.
Bundling all those awakeners into one military unit would just heighten rebellion risks, whereas treating them as civilians and hiring them out is cheaper in terms of social costs, right?
Conflicts between awakener hunters and the state arise because the state treats its own citizens like foreign mercenaries, yet clings to the idea that 'we still need to hold the reins...' and keeps trying to monitor and control them.
Overseas examples make the reasoning clear enough, but from the monitored side, it's hard to stomach.
Because we awakeners are the shepherds and sheepdogs.
Why should we, who protect and guard the sheep, be watched by the sheep instead?
After finishing my usual hunt and relaxing at home, my phone rang.
"Mr. Kim Geuk, you're swamped these days, right? Got any time to spare?"
It was Kim Hyeong-man. True to form as the guy raising an Elma, he was the type who loved bellowing in crowds, and now he wanted to meet up again.
Not for drinks or anything personal—it was for that 'association purge' he'd mentioned before.
"So... you're saying the Hunter Association president's election is coming up, and you want me there as a council member?"
Kim Hyeong-man explained over the line at my question.
"More precisely, we're forming a Fairness Committee to oversee the election process and an Awakener Committee to protect awakener hunters' rights!"
"Sounds complicated..."
"Think of it as gathering everyone from that bus ride, giving each a committee seat to keep an eye on association operations! We know you're busy, so if you really can't make it..."
"I'll make time. When should I come?"
And so, after taking the hunter exam, I set foot in the Hunter Association again after a long while.
I entered the conference room.
As Kim Hyeong-man said, it was mostly filled with the awakeners from that bus, and I was one of them.
"Alright, Brother Kim Geuk? The vote among the committee members is in. You're now Vice Chairman of the Awakener Committee!"
Seok Jang-sil pinned a 'Awakener Committee Vice Chairman Kim Geuk' nameplate on me as he spoke.
I asked,
"If I'm vice chairman, who's the chairman?"
"Chairman is Brother Kang Jun-chi, but he said he can't just leave his post, so he didn't come. Truth is, neither of you needs to do anything real. Just lend your names to add weight to the organization..."
Seok Jang-sil kept grinning as he explained, but now I couldn't see that affable demeanor as purely innocent.
This guy... was suspicious.
Really suspicious, but I had no plans to spread that suspicion to anyone else.
Because there was no hard evidence.
I suspected Seok Jang-sil because Kang Jun-man's testimony that 'the Special Task Force has no rock ability users' clashed with Seok Jang-sil's earlier claim that 'a Special Task Force rock ability user hid a bug in the wall, and I found it.'
It's hard to imagine why Kang Jun-man would lie, but easy to think of reasons for Seok Jang-sil.
For example, like this:
Suppose Seok Jang-sil is some Special Task Force secret agent who, along with others, planted bugs in Kang Jun-chi's hotel room.
Then, summoned by Kang Jun-chi, he finds multiple bugs already discovered, and in crisis lest his own—hidden in his unique rock ability style—be found too. To earn trust and remove it, he puts on an act with that explanation.
But reality isn't like detective novels. Common sense says it's far more likely one of them misspoke from a misunderstanding than deliberate lies.
I tried digging into Special Task Force members' backgrounds later, but with no public data, I found nothing. So for now, I'd keep the suspicion to myself.
Besides, even if true, spreading it wouldn't help. Kang Jun-chi would lose it, no doubt.
That guy was already tormented by all sorts of paranoid delusions. Giving him proof his suspicions were right would worsen it, not cure it.
He was already distancing himself from Seok Jang-sil anyway, so no need for me to stir things up preemptively.
And above all, I knew how repulsive it was to corner someone as guilty on suspicion alone.
Others might not get it, but with my sister thrown in prison without evidence, I couldn't do that. Never.
"Alright, is everyone here? It's been months since the bus, right? Great to see you all! I'm thrilled we're making that conversation a reality!"
From the podium, Kim Hyeong-man boomed to everyone, Elma-user style.
"I'm chairing the Fairness Committee, but I'm not here because I know more than you all. Anyone with opinions, speak freely..."
Thus, the awakeners from the bus—and notable ones absent that day but respected—gathered to hear his announcements. My round girl was one too.
Baek Dam-bi, standing beside me, whispered softly.
"I hope he doesn't catch flak later. People might say he's favoring me too much since I'm your team member..."
She seemed anxious, like a misfit wondering if she belonged. To reassure her, I said,
"Don't say that. Everyone on HuntWeb was raving about your performance that day."
"Sorry, what's HuntWeb again? I think I've heard it, but..."
This brazen Baek Dam-bi had snagged a committee seat too, and though she didn't show it outright, she seemed plenty pleased.
Because while she was in the bathroom just now, CyberMagneto had posted on HuntWeb hinting at her new role in a haughty tone.
Bro, I joined the Awakener Committee lol. They offered a seat to anyone with 2+ years as an awakener hunter, so I took it without thinking. Non-awakener trash can't do this, right?
It was a gathering where all the awakeners were thrilled.
Kim Hyeong-man continued announcing strict, fair new association rules, satisfying everyone.
"As you see, we specified two-plus years of hunter activity to qualify for president or committee roles! That way, us awakeners can snag seats post-retirement without issue!
Why? Non-awakeners drop dead or retire after a year or so, don't they? Majority vote would let them outnumber us, so we added this rule specially!"
"Solid, but what about someone like Mr. Kim Geuk? I hear he hasn't hit a full year yet—doesn't that bar him from committees?"
"Of course, we added an exception for standout performers recognized by a majority of committee members..."
Then came a dissonant note: a Special Task Force member showed up.
"Um..."
A scuffle erupted at the door.
Soon, an uninvited guest entered the conference room.
He wore the Special Task Force uniform. Under everyone's stares, he spoke.
"I don't get why you're trying to kick me out... Is there a reason I can't observe?"
This latecomer spouting that was someone I knew.
"Han Hee?"
Seok Jang-sil frowned upon recognizing him too, as the gathered awakener hunters glared. With many from Seoul, the uniform alone gave ample reason to hate him.
"Why's Special Task Force here? Can't you see it's a 'Hunter' association meeting?"
Sharp voices targeted Han Hee. He mumbled,
"I told you... I want to observe the meeting..."
"So what makes a non-hunter think he can observe?"
"I'm..."
"Obvious. You're here spying on us 'disloyal' awakeners from that show of force, thinking we're plotting something. Right?"
Someone nailed it, apparently.
Han Hee started to defend himself, lips twitching, then said,
"Not spying, but you do need to disclose what's happening to the outside. Can't have secret factions in the military either, right? To avoid suspicion..."
"We're civilians, not soldiers. And we're submitting minutes later."
"Still..."
"And observers should be proper officials—why send a rootless Special Task Force punk? Want to see you stab someone if things go south?"
The awakeners reacted this way for two reasons. They didn't want this equal-to-all-hunters-but-more-equal-to-awakeners meeting public. And everyone loathed the Special Task Force.
"If sending Special Task Force, why not Park Ju-hun? Ex-hunter with 2+ years—could've qualified for committee."
"That senior was expelled after the last incident..."
"So why send you? Oh, I get it. They know it's a spot to get chewed out, so they sent the office outcast. Scared you'll get beat by Brother Kim Geuk if you strut in like usual..."
Han Hee got verbally trashed by all, openly insulted, cut off mid-rebuttal, and mocked—just like on HuntWeb.
Watching the lynching wasn't pleasant.
If he'd brought a knife, I'd assume Special Task Force intimidation and drive him out at all costs. But he was empty-handed.
Seeing that, I figured he was just there to take the abuse for them, and pity stirred.
Though I saw the Special Task Force—under non-awakener Han Hee-seok's orders—as half-baked awakeners oppressing us, this guy was an exception.
Because Han Hee was strong.
Powerful awakeners deserve respect, no matter where or what they do.
As voices rose against him, I shouted,
"Enough! Quiet down a sec."
Like on HuntWeb, I had the clout among hunters to make them listen.
Sure enough, they hushed. I asked Han Hee,
"What'd your Special Task Force seniors say? Exactly what are you supposed to do here?"
Beat down by everyone, he replied weakly,
"Uh, just... watch what you talk about..."
"So report our meeting contents to Special Task Force? That's the mission?"
"Pretty much..."
"Then I'll explain it to you later. For now, let's get out of here."
"Pardon? ...Pardon?"
"Don't rile everyone up with 'spying.' Hang with me instead, yeah? Lunchtime anyway—let's eat. My treat."
"Pardon?"
"Dam-bi? You come later to our meet spot!"
I grabbed the stunned Han Hee's wrist and dragged him out.
Repeating the last time.
They clapped, thinking I'd personally booted him, sending us off warmly as we left.
Then I took him to a restaurant—the priciest I knew, perfect for feeding a pitiful junior.