Chapter 86
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 086
Chapter Title: Academy Enrollee Shin Mi-rae - [3]
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Even amid all that, Park Ju-heon couldn't tear his eyes away from me. He hemmed and hawed as he answered the question.
"No, I know her, but we're not exactly close or anything..."
Even after that, Park Ju-heon kept glancing at me nervously, and that awkward look of his must have seemed pretty amusing to the association Awakeners.
Sure enough, mischievous grins flashed across their faces. Kim Hyeong-man asked,
"Park Ju-heon, how've you been lately? I heard you left the Special Task Force?"
It was obvious from his playful expression what his angle was.
He was trying to get the upper hand and mock him, right? Maybe bring up how seven Special Task Force guys had jumped me and gotten embarrassingly wrecked, or pretend to ask if his severed arm was okay while subtly ridiculing him.
But in my view, there was no need to crush the guy's face in the dirt that badly.
Not because I was being especially generous, but because you couldn't humiliate an Awakener in front of non-Awakener trash.
Unable to stand it any longer, I cut in.
"Park Ju-heon, are you planning to teach at the academy too? Special training instructor?"
"Hm? Uh, yeah."
I nodded emphatically.
"From what I saw, all the pre-selected faculty were total nobodies... but there's at least one decent guy."
Kim Hyeong-man stared at me in astonishment at my words.
"You think that Park Ju-heon guy would make a good teacher? His name's on the HuntWeb instructor list, and he got absolutely trashed online for it?"
"I still think he's plenty qualified. Isn't it great to have a capable former Hunter like Park Ju-heon teaching?"
"Still..."
"The academy's faculty list was full of nothing but low-rent merchants not even worth the dirt on their shoes. I was seriously wondering if it was all a joke. But seeing at least one guy like him on there makes it seem like the government's putting in some effort..."
To make sure he didn't miss it, I enunciated "capable" extra clearly.
Glancing at Park Ju-heon's face afterward, he looked relieved. He even seemed a bit pleased by my words.
Well, sure. Praise from someone inferior is flattery, but from someone superior, it's validation.
With our pecking order established in that one fight, that's how things stood between me and Park Ju-heon.
"Why do you keep dodging the question? Why won't you give me a straight answer? So, how much are you conceding to the association?"
After that, the back-and-forth between Kim Hyeong-man and the bureaucrat dragged on, but from the start, Kim Hyeong-man showed zero intention of budging no matter what the guy said.
"Don't you even have the authority? Then get the person in charge out here!"
Such squabbles weren't something I could help with.
Still looking uncomfortable, I decided to get Park Ju-heon out of there and made him an offer.
"I've got some questions for you. Wanna grab a bite? My treat."
Park Ju-heon hesitated a moment before replying.
"Can I get Hanwoo?"
"Of course. You know I make bank—why even ask?"
With Kim Hyeong-man's permission—but without bothering to ask the non-Awakener bureaucrat trash—I took Park Ju-heon to a barbecue joint.
Sitting across from each other, I checked his expression, and he still looked sullen, so I asked,
"Why the long face? I brought you here for Hanwoo like you wanted."
He shot back curtly.
"You think I'd feel great eating with the guy who cut off my arm?"
"My arm got cut off too—why act like you're the only victim? It hurt like hell for me too."
"Oh, right?"
Park Ju-heon muttered, trying to play it cool, but my sharp eyes caught the subtle shift in his expression.
His face had relaxed. I could see it plain as day.
It was the reaction I'd expected.
The guy screamed strong pride. Losing unilaterally to me must've bruised it, so hearing straight from me that I'd been hurt too—and it wasn't one-sided—would help salve his ego.
I needed to give him that much face. I had a lot to ask him about, after all.
The meat arrived soon after. As we ate the staff-grilled cuts and chatted, the mood improved nicely. We even dropped the formalities after some back-and-forth.
Just as I felt his hostility easing up, I asked,
"That bureaucrat—was he from the National Security Department? What's with that shitty attitude?"
"Hm? Shitty attitude?"
"The association complains a bit, and suddenly a government suit shows up to negotiate? Doesn't that mean the government's taking our grievances seriously? But that bureaucrat sighs like we're frustrating him mid-talk, threatens to call in ex-Special Task Force guys like he's dragging in the PE teacher for a brat who won't listen... What makes him think he can pull that?"
It was utterly baffling. The higher-ups had sent a negotiator treating it seriously, but the guy they sent acted like that?
Well, I could sort of understand the bureaucrat's mindset.
He must've been baffled too. Kim Hyeong-man's negotiation style wasn't great even by my standards. The guy ran a little herbal clinic on his own—not some seasoned negotiator.
From the bureaucrat's view, some random neighborhood uncle shows up, won't engage properly, just blusters like "This street's in front of my shop, so it's my parking spot!" It must've been frustrating as hell.
Frustrated enough to call in a burly public service officer to subdue a troublesome complainer—only for the ex-Special Task Force guy to make him look ridiculous.
But that didn't excuse the guy's attitude.
Our Hunter Association was basically an armed group. Not a single Awakener there deserved to be dissed by non-Awakener trash.
So the bureaucrat should've treated every association Awakener like a superior.
Kim Hyeong-man, representing us all, deserved admiral-level deference, like someone on a goodwill tour.
But why hadn't he?
"Ah, that..."
"The top brass is taking it seriously, right?"
"Yeah. The leaked internal docs, plus association Awakeners biting back—it's got them rattled... I hear the minister ordered max humility for these talks."
"So why?"
I pressed, and Park Ju-heon answered.
"Inertia."
"Inertia?"
"Look at that bureaucrat. His department used to issue orders to the association from the National Security Department. Until a few months ago, he outranked them big time."
"So he kept acting like he's still top dog?"
"Pretty much? The association's been purged, so no more bossing them around like old times, but... Bureaucrats' mindsets don't flip overnight just 'cause of some order from above. Even with 'stay humble' instructions, they figure no need to grovel to the association—something like that..."
His words matched what I'd guessed, but I sighed anyway.
That damn inertia.
Gates had only been open about five years. Too many people couldn't adapt, kept clinging to the old world.
Like Han Hui, who despite her power fretted over far weaker seniors and fathers. Or non-Awakener trash lording it over powerful Awakeners just because of their social status.
Idiots who couldn't accept that raw personal power trumped all that social status bullshit. Non-Awakener trash we'd drag down eventually...
Fuming, I spat out my question laced with anger.
"So what's the point of this academy? Brainwash Awakeners before they get too big to control?"
"Not quite brainwashing."
"Then what? Rounding up soldiers and cult weirdos—what are they planning for the kids?"
"Cults? Oh, the Mystery World Center folks? Everyone knows they can't teach Awakeners jack. Bureaucrats just want 'em 'cause they're cheap labor."
"Cheap labor?"
"Yeah. Unqualified uncles and aunties with no real credentials, super cheap. They got some industry cred, so the government's using 'em to fake a solid Awakener program on the cheap. Hiring actual Hunter-experienced Awakeners costs a fortune..."
"And the soldiers?"
"Yeah, that's for control. Training 'em to obey from the start, sure."
"Isn't that brainwashing?"
"What can you do? Government's gotta do it."
What kind of nonsense was that? I narrowed my eyes.
Park Ju-heon explained defensively.
"This is Special Task Force briefing stuff, not my opinion... Right now, Awakeners popped up outta nowhere, no proper system, so we're running Hunters on a temp basis. Can't keep that forever, right? Hunters are basically civilians joyriding tanks and jets. From the state's view, that's nuts."
I thought to myself, Nuts my ass.
Park Ju-heon went on.
"Can't confiscate those tanks and jets, so minimum: make 'em follow rules. Even future wildcards need..."
I didn't care about the state's bullshit. I cut him off.
"So, lots of Awakener applicants?"
"Oh yeah, tons! Didn't realize we had this many Awakened kids... One you might know applied too."
"Who?"
"Shin Mi-rae? Girl with the force field exoskeleton. Remember her?"
Of course I did.
Shin Mi-rae, the girl pinned under that bear. How hard had I fought to save her?
And her mom had stuck by her side through it all, suffering plenty.
But that mom sent her kid to their academy? The woman who cherished her daughter so?
I swallowed my rising anger.
Well, from her perspective, it was probably best for her daughter.
Guessing from how she'd stayed in the Gate over a month to be with her, she had no real job. Government-subsidized apartments must've looked great in tough times—no need to ask.
"So why do you keep chasing bureaucracy, Park Ju-heon? Retired from Hunter work, joined Special Task Force—what's the deal? You made plenty."
"Enough to last forever."
"Then why?"
"Had cash but wanted something cool during downtime. Public service seemed pretty cool."
"Isn't being a Hunter way cooler than thug Special Task Force or hack academy teacher?"
"Eh, Hunter's basically self-employment? Less cool than a state-assigned spot. That's the vibe that pulled me into Special Task Force..."
Couldn't relate, but tastes differ, I guess. I let it slide.
Meal over, we headed back to the negotiations together.
At the table, seeing who sat across from Kim Hyeong-man, Park Ju-heon widened his eyes.
"Whoa, that's the National Security Minister?"
I recognized the face too.
National Security Minister. The old guy who'd come with congressmen to greet us when we Awakeners bused in for the protest last time.
Watching from the side, the minister seemed more serious than the earlier bureaucrat, actually listening to Kim Hyeong-man.
Kim Hyeong-man kept talking with him, they bowed, and stood.
Negotiations done. Kim Hyeong-man approached me grinning.
"How'd it go?"
I asked, and he grinned even wider.
"Got most of what we wanted! That earlier guy wouldn't budge, so I yelled for the boss. Boom—minister shows up. Chatted with him..."
He boasted proudly.
Right to send association folks to the Hunter Academy. Consulting gigs for fees. Board seats for the association, etc.
"External instructors were cult losers' turf before? Now ours! Pay's not great, but pocket money for retired guys?"
I asked,
"Can I volunteer as external instructor? Once or twice a month on the podium?"
"You, Kim Geuk? You're swamped already—got time?"
"Maybe next year. Incheon reclamation ends this year."
"You could do anything, but pay's literal pocket change for retirees. For active like you? Nada. Sure you want it?"
I nodded.
Not for money or fame—I wanted to see the academy's workings firsthand.
And if I didn't like it, interfere directly.
I thought of that little girl, Shin Mi-rae.
A kin I'd barely saved, controlled like a grunt under lowly non-Awakener trash? Sickening just to imagine.
I wouldn't let it slide. No way.
Kim Hyeong-man, unaware of my thoughts, figured someone like me teaching was ridiculous, so he promised a board seat. Even as instructor, the title would look good, he added.
Still months away next year—no rush.
Thus, we Awakeners got what we wanted again, and returned to our posts.
I tried for a taxi home, but Kim Hyeong-man insisted on driving me.
Chatting in the car,
"Hyeong-man, if the association purge failed, you planned a new group for Hunters, right? What kind?"
He answered while driving.
"Had a name in mind. Don't laugh?"
"What?"
"Dawn Guild..."
I raised one eyebrow. Guild?
"Guild? Like gamers banding together?"
"Original meaning's medieval guild, but... Yeah, inspired by game guilds."
"Isn't that too frivolous? Beyond light—downright trivial."
"Hey, don't mock. That's the point! Sound like a game guild, government underrates us, less scrutiny..."
Light changed; car stopped. He glanced back, chuckled.
"Yeah, kinda funny, right? Guild... Even I think it's a bit absurd..."
Our eyes met.
Then dizziness hit, a sucking sensation into somewhere.
Rare sensation.
Another future scene—not certain reality—invaded my mind.
"No way, uncle. Dawn Guild for our group? To replace the Hunter Association?"
Vision-me asked; vision-Kim Hyeong-man replied.
"Yes. Weird?"
"Obviously! Elite Awakeners' group named like that? You play too much Dungeon Fighter—can't tell game from reality?"
He laughed awkwardly, explained.
"Frivolous on purpose! Game guild vibe means government dismisses us, less pressure, and..."
"And?"
"How to put it... It pisses me off."
"Pisses you off?"
"Think: Why can't Awakeners meet without government okay? Casual hangouts, and Special Task Force crushes us. Suffocating.
We're normal citizens—should meet easy like game guild users. So, name for easy meets like in games..."
We form the group.
Dawn Guild. Game-like name; Kim Hyeong-man hoped government belittled it.
But no. Guild or not, they didn't care.
Two months post-founding, I attended Kim Hyeong-man's funeral.
Past two months, National Security warnings piled up. Special Task Force guy said minister-sent thrice: "Stop the seditious group."
Kim Hyeong-man paid for ignoring.
Slept at home; throat slit clean. Guillotine-sharp straight cut.
Obvious showy kill to brag who and how...
Snapping out, I fought not to gasp.
But my face must've looked off. Kim Hyeong-man asked, alarmed.
"Kim Geuk, why stop mid-sentence? Problem?"
"No, it's just..."
I turned his worried gaze forward, clenched my fist secretly. Thought:
Gang Jun-chi's psychotic guess was right.