Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Faded Hill
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Faded hill.
A lone man standing atop it turns his head.
"Have you come, descendant?"
Kang Hyuk's eyes widen at the question.
A memory slowly surfaces in his mind, and he blurts out urgently,
"Are you the one who spoke to me back then?"
"Indeed. I am the owner of that voice."
Kang Hyuk narrows his eyes at the response.
But the man's face, shrouded in the red glow of sunset, remains hidden.
The moment he tries to step closer, the man extends his hand.
"That's far enough."
"...?"
"For now, that is your limit."
Kang Hyuk falters in confusion.
Sensing it, the man speaks again.
"You must have many questions. But descendant, there's no need to rush. As long as you possess that power, you and I can meet anytime. It's simply not the moment yet."
He turns away again.
"So do not hurry, descendant. The power you wield... the moment you fully master it, all your questions will be answered. Right now, your priority isn't hearing the full story—it's learning to control that power."
With that, his consciousness begins to fade, the scene before him blurring.
Kang Hyuk shouts, but no sound comes out.
The man's voice, however, rings vividly in his ears.
"It is not yet time to use Giantization."
Sensation returns to his body.
"To fully control that power, you must at least wield 20% of the Giant's strength. If you activate full Giantization before then, you'll lose your reason and become a monster that destroys everything."
When his eyes open again, he sees Black trembling in his arms.
"Thus, the time has not come for a meeting—or for Giantization, descendant. Hone and temper yourself a bit more."
Kang Hyuk looks up and surveys his surroundings.
"... ."
Built just a day ago.
In that single day, the underground bunker lay in ruins.
Fortunately, the Hunter Association's security personnel on standby nearby prevented any major incident.
But with the ground fractured, remodeling was inevitable, so Kang Hyuk relocated to a nearby five-star hotel.
Meooow!
Black flits around its new temporary home, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Kang Hyuk sinks into the sofa, replaying the events of the previous night.
First to surface: the half-destroyed training room in the underground bunker.
'A training space crafted by the Hunter Association with special alloys and layered barriers from a C-rank mage.'
That heavily fortified room had been shattered while he was unconscious for mere moments.
'No wonder I couldn't believe it... Even at peak power with Partial Giantization and the Giant's strength, breaking a C-rank mage's barriers should take time.'
In other words, the destructive force of full-body Giantization exceeded his expectations by far.
His lips curved at the unexpectedly positive outcome, but issues remained.
'...I don't remember how I wrecked that training room. Which means... it's still a power beyond what I can handle.'
As he mutters, another memory resurfaces.
The conversation with the voice right after Giantization.
'The difference from the first time... This time, I saw a new scene—a memory or vision.'
Piles of corpses.
A red sunset.
A man drenched in blood.
Considering it all, the man standing on what seemed a battlefield had told him,
'Not yet. Neither for Giantization nor for the truth.'
And warned him.
Using full-body Giantization in his current state would lead to rampage.
'...Listening to that man, it seems I really did rampage. Unable to control the power.'
With that thought, Kang Hyuk opens his eyes again.
He ponders the voice, but no easy answers come.
'Who the hell is that man? If he's the owner of this power... someone from beyond the gates?'
He hadn't heard or seen anything like this, even with his foreknowledge of the future.
As questions pile up, complicating his mind, a flash of insight strikes with Black's cry approaching him.
Meooow!!
Kang Hyuk realizes,
'Am I going to find answers by worrying now?'
He shakes his head.
'Then... should I jump to conclusions rashly?'
Another shake.
Hasty conclusions would only breed more questions.
'For now, shouldn't I build my power as the man said?'
This time, he nods.
Something clicks open in his mind, lifting the corners of his mouth.
'Right, nothing's changed. Keep growing, keep gaining strength like always. Eventually, I'll uncover all the answers.'
His mood lightens, and he gazes down at his body.
'So what I need to focus on now is the potential of full-body Giantization.'
Though brief, the sensation during full-body Giantization was on another level from before.
If he'd merely wielded the Giant's power while cloaked in human form until now, back then he'd transcended humanity itself to unleash it.
'Even if I can't recall it, that power I felt, however briefly... I can become stronger than now. Hell, maybe I can master the full extent of it.'
In his previous life's journey, he hadn't even tapped half of the Giant's power.
But mastering full-body Giantization might let him surpass that—perhaps reach its limit. A vague hope stirred.
'If even half this hope pans out... I can achieve the revenge I've dreamed of that much sooner.'
His eyes gleam with resolve.
Still just potential, but realizing it wasn't pipe dream ignited new determination.
Meooow!!!
As if sensing his mood, Black cries out.
That was when a day had passed.
"... ."
Finally, the commute to work arrives.
Kang Hyuk heads out with renewed mindset and spirits.
"... ."
Not as the lowly newbie at the Gangnam Station Hunter Management Office.
But as the Hunter Association's 1st Team Leader, Kang Hyuk.
On his way to work with his new title.
No sardine-can subway this time—he drives the assigned personal vehicle into the Hunter Association grounds.
"... ."
Countless stares prick the back of his head.
Korea's first S-rank ability user.
Curious gazes directed at that very figure.
Yet no one approaches.
Because of the aura radiating from Kang Hyuk.
'Kinda scary to approach.'
'Is it 'cause he's so tall?'
'Nah, probably that intimidating face...'
Tall stature.
His black suit wrapping broad shoulders—wider than average—exudes a unique, unapproachable vibe.
Even having spotted the rumored S-rank, Association staff hesitate to draw near.
'S-ranks... probably nastier tempers than A-rank talents.'
'Hunters all have dogshit personalities anyway.'
'Don't they only act nice on camera?'
Lurking beneath were subtle prejudices and misconceptions.
Thus, Kang Hyuk begins his first day under focused scrutiny, guided to a room.
"This will be your office from now on, Team Leader."
The secretary he'd met before—Kang Cheol-woo's aide—explains.
Kang Hyuk glances around.
'Pretty damn nice for a mere team leader's office.'
Having memories of working as Hunter Association President, he knew the layout, org chart, and trivia inside out.
In that light, this room was less a team leader's office and more like the HQ chief's, overseeing five teams.
'They went out of their way for me.'
He chuckles softly, approaching his desk to inspect it.
Then turns to Lee Ye-rin, Kang Cheol-woo's chief secretary.
"Can I meet the team members today?"
"Yes. They'll gather here in about an hour. Four in total—all seasoned field experts."
Kang Hyuk turns.
Asks once more,
"Before that, one thing I'd like to confirm."
"Of course, go ahead."
"It's in the contract, but just to be sure—my assigned district is definitely Gangnam?"
Lee Ye-rin nods.
"Yes, confirmed. Of course, with Tusinjeon basing there, gate monopoly rights depend on who arrives first. But on paper, 1st Team Leader's zone is Gangnam. Other gate rewards prioritize you as well."
Kang Hyuk's lips curve.
'Perks of the S-rank title. Straight to team leader and prime Gangnam turf.'
Unproven research aside, gates statistically spawn in dense population areas.
Thus, Gangnam had become a symbol of successful hunters.
'High-density Gangnam—one of the top gate hotspots. At that rate... no more soul stone worries.'
He drums his fingers.
'But I need ironclad permission. Words can change in a heartbeat.'
Hence, confirmation here and now.
He finishes his thought and asks,
"Command structure is fully under me, right?"
"Yes. Though for field variables, there might be cases to report to HQ Chief first... ."
Kang Hyuk cuts in.
"That 'variables' range is vague. Field situations are unpredictable, aren't they? Judging right and wrong amid chaos—what's that about?"
"Just common-sense reports. If you see this as needing a report... ."
"That's exactly it—what counts as 'common sense'?"
Lee Ye-rin falls silent.
"Vague answers lead straight to field risks. You know I was at Gangnam Station Hunter Management Office before this power. From the desk job, I felt the Association's reporting has too many unnecessary hoops compared to guilds."
"Th-that's... ."
"So when I joined, my first demand was full autonomy and on-site decision rights. Now telling me to report variables slyly circumvents the contract."
Her lips seal at the sharp point.
After deliberation, she replies,
"...My apologies, Team Leader. Seems the command chain isn't fully set. I'll report to the President and correct it immediately."
"Thank you. I got sharp-tongued, but understand—desk jockey thrown into the field."
Lee Ye-rin subtly lifts her head.
"... ."
She eyes him oddly.
Truth be told, she'd worried endlessly.
Having endured spotlighted newbie hunters' atrocities firsthand.
'Can't blame 'em. Superhuman power, money, life turned around. Wanna try that 'power trip' they've never tasted.'
For Korea's first S-rank newbie, she couldn't even imagine the outrages.
Braced for the worst, yet his first demand was... reasonable.
'Too sensible—it's suspicious.'
Demands like "fetch a supercar" or "gym in my office"? Absent.
Pointing out contract gaps? Outside her expectations.
Too normal to anticipate.
'Civil servant background...?'
She nods crisply.
Such reasonable requests? Happy to oblige.
"Anything else you need? Office layout not to your liking?"
"It's perfect."
"...Understood. I'll prioritize reporting this as requested."
As Kang Hyuk nods,
Knock knock.
A knock, then presence.
"Ah! Looks like your team members are here!"
Lee Ye-rin brightens, grasping the door handle.
Kang Hyuk turns, eyes widening at the faces.
'...What?'
Simple reason.
'Those people... on my team?'
Figures who shouldn't be here stood at the door.