Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Don't Kill Me
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"Th-the Angel's offspring?!"
"Yes. Thanks to it escaping from the research building, the entire Yeongdeungpo area is sealed off right now."
Entity name: Angel.
Even though this thing had been safely subjugated ten years ago, it still held the title of "Korea's first-ever National Disaster-grade Monster since the country's founding."
That alone was enough to trigger PTSD in every Hunter born and raised in Korea.
It was especially true for Sophia, who had witnessed its overwhelming power firsthand.
And yet, this was the Angel's offspring?
No, wait—before that, a humanoid monster got pregnant and gave birth?
"It was a top-secret research project, so it was kept hidden from all Hunters except you, Branch Chief."
"Meaning you can't keep it a secret anymore."
"Yes. Unfortunately so..."
In the sixth-floor briefing room, the researcher explaining things to Sophia.
Lee Hee-jung, with her arm in a cast, clicked her tongue but continued with a desperate expression.
"Even as an offspring, it's incredibly aggressive, probably because it's humanoid! In fact, one D-rank Hunter died because of it, and three B-rank Hunters are currently in critical condition!"
"So, you're saying three Korean B-rank Hunters lost to a monster offspring that's not even fully grown yet?"
"That's right! That's why we're really hoping you can capture it alive, Sophia Hunter."
Lee Hee-jung stepped closer and grabbed Sophia's hand without permission.
As if pleading for sympathy.
Sophia flinched at the sudden surge of disgust toward humans.
"Got it. I'll neutralize it just enough and bring it in alive."
Accustomed to managing her image, she forced a sweet smile and held it together.
'Phew... Almost slapped her.'
"So, I can head out right now?"
"Yes! We have high expectations since you're a Hunter from America, Sophia!"
"...Right. Then."
Sophia received only the basic info on the offspring monster and left the briefing room immediately.
A few seconds after the door closed.
"Haa... America, huh. I'm so jealous. I wish I could've been born in a country like that..."
Lee Hee-jung's sudden grumbling voice came through.
Meanwhile, down below.
Thanks to my enhanced hearing from monsterization, I'd eavesdropped on everything upstairs. I sank deep into thought.
The researcher Sophia met.
Hunters Blood was a fully voiced game, so I recognized her voice instantly as Lee Hee-jung.
I thought the Busan "Smiling Monster Incident" ten years ago had ended safely, diverging from the original story, but she was still aiming to be a researcher.
'She's still idolizing America like in the original...'
Does that mean her parents are alive and well, but she still has the potential to betray everyone?
However, the point where Lee Hee-jung turns villainous comes much later.
Right now, the priority was capturing the Angel's offspring, which doesn't even appear in the original story.
Estimated to be wandering around Yeongdeungpo after escaping the underground research building.
'Capture missions give better rewards than subjugation ones, but the difficulty spikes. Better for me to step in before more casualties.'
Even as an offspring, it was a ferocious monster that took out three Hunters in the top 5%—B-ranks.
If I neutralize it moderately and toss it out in plain sight on the roadside, the rest would be handled by other Hunters.
Nodding to myself with that plan.
"I-it's in there...?"
"For real?"
This was still the Hunter Association building, appearances aside.
A monster—let alone a National Disaster-grade—had been detected by the situation room ages ago.
"B-but why isn't it coming out?"
"Yeah... Maybe it's taking a dump?"
"No way a monster uses the toilet, even if it's humanoid!"
The entire remaining roster of armed Korean branch Hunters was tense on the fifth-floor men's restroom.
And finally.
Kurururu.
"...!"
"I-it's coming!"
The sound of a toilet flushing.
At the same time, a pitch-black monster emerged meekly from the stall.
"...! I-it's real! It matches the photo exactly!"
"The Jamsil Monster?! Wait, why is a monster in the Hunter Association building? And why from the toilet stall?!"
"I-is it alone?!"
Well, I'm still single, so yeah, alone.
Krurruk...
"Eek?!"
"I-it's too cramped here!"
"Hey, don't push!"
I figured it might happen, and sure enough, spotted.
Looking at the Hunters crammed up to the sinks, I sighed as expected.
Spying was best done here, but now what?
Barging straight out the front door... No way.
If I strutted out the main entrance, my notoriety would spread not just domestically but internationally.
Getting slapped with an international warrant would be a total hassle.
'Sigh. No choice...'
Felt like smashing the company I just got hired at with my own hands, but.
"...!"
"I-it's coming!"
"Damn, this is insane...!"
I pretended to step toward the Hunters, lifting my heel.
Sip...
Then shifted my center of gravity back instantly, kicking off from my pivot foot against the back wall.
Kwang!
'Kyokushin Karate - Back Kick.'
"Eek?!"
"Th-the building wall...!"
Anything but a massive impact, and it seemed a National Disaster-grade focused strike was too much.
A hole just big enough for me appeared in the supposedly impregnable Association building's outer wall.
'Whew. Time to bail.'
Seizing the moment while the frontal Hunters were stunned, I slipped through the hole I'd made.
And leaped down toward Yeongdeungpo to catch the hiding offspring monster.
"The Jamsil Monster?!"
Thwack.
"Another humanoid monster?"
Thwack.
"Nice to meet you. Jamsil Monster. I'm from the Korean Hunter Association..."
Thwack.
I came to catch monsters, but...
Why am I only knocking out people?
Thanks to the precious test subject escaping, Yeongdeungpo was a Hunter-infested field right now.
No matter how carefully I moved, I kept bumping into Hunters around every corner.
And inevitably knocked them all out.
I'd already done this nearly twenty times.
'Finally got a lead on the thing I should've caught ages ago...'
I stuck to back alleys mostly.
Because one of the offspring's habits was preferring tight, dark places.
Having just emerged from its mother's womb, it instinctively favored dark spots like the belly it'd been in.
Plus, being chased heightened its fear-driven hiding instinct.
A monster capture quest that would've taken days scouring the city for tiny traces.
But my hyper-sensitive monsterized senses caught even the faintest traces it left behind.
And at last.
'Sewer again...'
I reached the spot where its trail vanished at a manhole.
'Down we go.'
I lightly pried off the manhole cover and dropped straight in.
Yeongdeungpo's underground sewer was surprisingly spacious.
A massive pipe with faint sunlight and no flowing water.
Just as the monster's fishy stench hit my sharpened nose.
"Kraaa!"
I'd known a bit earlier, actually.
The offspring on the ceiling leaped at me, baring its sharp teeth.
But I simply snatched its neck and slammed the once-fierce thing to the ground.
"Kahak?! Kugh!"
Krurrr.
'Got it.'
Being a humanoid offspring, maybe.
It almost felt like dealing with a feral human elementary kid, just paler-skinned.
But it was still a monster.
Locking eyes with its blood-red, gleaming vicious pupils snapped me back.
It was humanity's enemy anyway.
Its human-like form stirred a bit of guilt, but I moved to break its arms and legs for neutralization.
Grabbing its right arm first.
"D-don't...!"
"Kruk?!"
The monster spoke human words.
Not impossible, but the sheer rarity shocked me into stepping back.
"D-don't... hit...!"
The offspring scrambled up, then tripped backward.
Looking up at me approaching, it started rubbing its hands together pleadingly.
"I was bad...! I'm sorry...!"
"......"
"D-don't kill... me! I wanna live...!"
What the hell was this?
In all my playthroughs, I'd never seen a monster beg for its life.
Let alone a child one so human-like.
'No. Don't waver. It's still a monster.'
One with a kill under its belt.
I couldn't let personal feelings make me release it.
My resolve shook briefly, but for this world's happy ending, I steeled myself and approached again.
Right then.
Crack!
"Kugh!?...Ugh!"
Crack! Snap! Cracksnap!
"Krurruk?!"
'Wh-what...!'
It suddenly held out one hand toward me, then started snapping its own fingers one by one.
Biting its lip to stifle screams, eyes squeezed shut in agony, it didn't stop until that hand was utterly ruined.
Finally, showing the mangled hand that could no longer grip, it begged.
"See...? I'm not... dangerous...! If I try... to fight... I'll break 'em again! If they heal... on their own... I'll snap 'em again...!"
"......!"
"So...!"
"P-please... don't kill me."
Its body trembled in terror, but its face forced a smile to appease me.
Tears still streamed from eyes full of fear.
...I knew that face all too well.
'Oh? Crying? Keep crying?'
'H-ha. Father. Hahaha. I was wrong. Hahaha.'
"...Damn it."
What to do.
I knew handing it over to the Association was best...
But that option's off the table now.