Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: I Became the Last of the Giant Clan
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Aaaargh!”
With a scream, Na Hyun-wook fainted.
At the same moment, Park Je-woo jolted in surprise and let out a hiccup.
“Hic, hic!”
In the meantime, the man who had knocked Na Hyun-wook out turned his gaze.
And he began walking toward him.
The closer the distance grew, the worse the hiccups became.
“Hic, hic! Hic, hic!”
But there was nowhere to run, and in the end, he came face-to-face with the man.
Park Je-woo squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head.
And the moment he braced himself for the incoming pain...
“Nice to meet you, Blacksmith Park Je-woo.”
His body stood up straight, against his will.
Startled by this, Park Je-woo snapped his eyes open.
Then, unlike moments before, he blinked as he took in the man's face—now without the mask.
‘Huh... this face looks really familiar...’
As he muttered to himself, forgetting the situation entirely in his puzzlement.
Images flashed through his mind: newspaper articles, news reports.
The back of the man whose S-rank Talent had recently shaken the world.
The instant those matched the face before him now.
Park Je-woo realized the man's identity and cried out in shock.
“K-Kang Hyuk!”
The incident wrapped up in an instant.
Hunter Association officials arrived after being notified, arresting and handling Na Hyun-wook's gang under Hunter Clause Law.
“Thank you for your hard work, Team Leader. We'll take care of the rest.”
Kang Hyuk nodded at the clean aftermath.
‘In situations like this, being with the Association definitely has its perks.’
Truth be told, this mess had plenty of potential issues.
He had resorted to violence, after all.
But as an Association Hunter, that violence was justified.
‘Hunters are superhumans who transcend human limits. The only place with the authority to wield public power and violence against those superhumans is the Association.’
A privilege unique to Association Hunters.
Of course, things got complicated with major guilds, but as long as legitimacy was proven, Association Hunters had on-site arrest rights.
‘That's why I joined the Association. So I don't have to hold back against scum like this from now on.’
With that thought, Kang Hyuk turned his head.
Park Je-woo, standing beside him, flinched and trembled.
Gazing at him, Kang Hyuk slowly spoke.
“Don't worry about the aftermath.”
“......”
“They broke the law first, and the on-site CCTV proves our side was justified. I hear the contract was forced through shady pressure too—that'll be resolved soon.”
Park Je-woo flinched again at the explanation.
Then he bowed his head, eyes welling with tears.
“Thank you... Thank you so much.”
“It's just what any Association Hunter would do. No need to be so grateful.”
At the calm reply, Park Je-woo broke into sobs.
Those cries reminded Kang Hyuk of Na Hyun-wook's vile deeds.
Violence, threats, fraud, extortion.
All the crimes that could land someone in prison—he'd done them to Park Je-woo.
‘He spotted Park Je-woo's talent and trapped him meticulously.’
Muttering to himself, Kang Hyuk glanced at Na Hyun-wook being dragged away.
The man who had reveled in using force now trembled in fear of that very violence.
‘...Not every Hunter is a good one just because they're a Hunter.’
As he turned his gaze again.
Park Je-woo stopped crying and spoke.
“This favor... how can I ever repay it?”
Kang Hyuk subtly lifted the corner of his mouth at the question.
He pulled an item from his pocket and placed it before him.
Red Drake leather.
A Lv. 2 Rare-grade material from the warehouse.
At the sight of this treasure that would light a fire in any blacksmith's eyes, Park Je-woo stopped crying and widened his own.
“R-Red Drake leather?!”
“Yes. Instead of repaying the favor, I'd be grateful if you could craft some decent gloves or gauntlets from this.”
Park Je-woo's jaw dropped.
Then he stammered in fluster.
“N-No, entrusting me with something this precious... I'd be honored, but a blacksmith of my meager skill might ruin it.”
Kang Hyuk shook his head at the hesitation.
“Even if you ruin it, that's fine.”
“...What do you mean?”
“Just give it your all, and I'll be thankful.”
“......”
“I came to you with my own conviction. That even if you ruin the item, you'd deliver the best possible result for me.”
Kang Hyuk explained.
It was a bit embellished, but true enough.
“I happened to see an Association artifact with a special stat.”
“...!”
“I was blown away that it wasn't a drop, but crafted by someone. Attaching special stats... even skilled blacksmiths struggle with that, but they said you make them effortlessly.”
Park Je-woo looked flustered.
“W-Well, that's true, but... the special stats on my items are random. With material this good... what if a useless one attaches...?”
Kang Hyuk cut in swiftly.
“That's why I'm asking you to give it your all.”
“......”
“This one might not turn out great. But getting acquainted with you through this? That's a win in itself. In other words...”
Park Je-woo's eyes widened.
He gaped, deeply moved.
“I'm not commissioning the current Park Je-woo. I'm betting on the future Park Je-woo.”
“......”
“So think it over and let me know. If you're uneasy, we can forget it.”
Afterward, he averted his gaze without realizing.
Gulp.
Seeing the Red Drake leather—one of the finest materials for blacksmiths—he swallowed dryly.
‘Crafting that would elevate my skills even further...’
Combat Hunters grew via monster soulstones.
But crafting Hunters, blacksmiths especially, advanced by creating masterpieces.
Great materials drastically boosted those odds.
Whatever he made from it, his skill would improve.
‘But... it's my benefactor's item. Will greed produce something good?’
He pondered.
His benefactor's potential disappointment weighed heavier than his own desires, so he judged carefully.
Finally, meeting Kang Hyuk's unwavering eyes, he answered.
“I'll do it!”
Kang Hyuk grinned.
“I'll give it everything... No! I'll stake my entire blacksmithing life on crafting the ultimate item!”
The day the crafting was complete.
Kang Hyuk clocked in at the Association, then headed to Yongsan during lunch.
“Hup!”
He spotted one of his team members, Kang Na-eun, swinging a spear in a passing training room.
Watching briefly, Kang Hyuk stroked his chin.
‘Kang Na-eun wielded a bow in the future, not a spear. Called Divine Bow, piercing everything with her archery.’
Yet here she was with a spear.
No other Hunter matched her unique build and strength, so this was definitely that Divine Bow Kang Na-eun.
‘...Why the spear? Is there some backstory I don't know?’
Muttering, he quietly approached.
She kept swinging, unaware of him.
“...Team Leader?”
Sensing his presence, Kang Na-eun wiped sweat from her jawline and asked.
“Heading out?”
“Yeah, some business.”
She nodded.
Silence settled naturally.
“......”
The recent incident had warmed their relationship, but it hadn't progressed further.
Now, alone in this team-member-free space, awkwardness took hold.
‘...Hmm.’
Kang Hyuk pondered.
Asking about the spear in this vibe wouldn't work.
‘Guess I'll offer some advice.’
Kang Na-eun became a pillar of Korea's future Hunters.
And that pillar excelled more with a bow than a spear.
Meaning she should use a bow now.
‘Considering the feats she'll achieve throwing herself into battle... a little meddling like this is fine.’
With that, he spoke.
“How about trying other weapons besides the spear?”
“...?”
“You don't seem tied to it.”
Kang Na-eun tilted her head.
“What do you...?”
“Felt it in our last spar. Something else might suit you better than a spear.”
“......”
“Like, say... a bow. Might be overstepping.”
Her eyes widened.
“A bow suits you more than a spear, Kang Na-eun.”
She furrowed her brow.
Realizing his slip, Kang Hyuk smacked his lips.
‘...Went too far. Telling a lifelong spear user a crude explanation like "bow suits you better."’
High-level Hunters had ironclad pride.
Kang Na-eun's especially.
‘...Saying more now will just make it awkward.’
He wrapped it up concisely.
“Just advice. Feel free to ignore it.”
He turned and left the training room.
Staring at his back, Kang Na-eun muttered incredulously.
“A bow suits me better than a spear?”
Grumbling, she gripped her spear again.
Resuming practice right as...
“......”
Coincidence or fate.
A recurve bow in the corner caught her eye.
“In-Incredible!”
The excited blacksmith Park Je-woo handed over two items, unable to contain himself.
“I-I know I'm the one who made them, so saying this might be odd, but it's seriously amazing!”
Kang Hyuk's eyes gleamed as he took them.
At the same time,
[Red Drake Leather Gloves]
Grade:Rare
Leather from a failed dragon, reborn as a masterpiece by a skilled blacksmith. Imbued with mystical power and boasting drake-worthy durability.
Special:Aura of Fire
[Steel Beak Goblin's Mask]
Grade:Magic
Infused with new power by a master blacksmith's hands. Cunning magic has been enchanted upon it.
Special:Change Self (Illusion Magic)
The status window confirmed his words weren't empty hype.
Kang Hyuk muttered in admiration.
‘Rare grade. But... the special effect is fire-attribute magic-related?’
Among special stats, combat-applicable offensive magic was top-tier.
And among those elites, a fire-related one had landed.
‘Rare grade, but this effect? At least Unique value. Maybe even high-end Unique pricing.’
Startled, he looked up to see Park Je-woo smiling sheepishly as he explained.
“When I handled the drake leather, this weird feeling hit me. So I hammered, tanned, and crafted day and night—then bam! A light flashed, and the path opened up.”
Kang Hyuk nodded.
“A breakthrough, you mean?”
“Yes! After finishing and getting re-evaluated, it jumped to D-rank.”
He grinned.
‘Luck and skill combined for perfection.’
His gaze shifted to the other item.
The Steel Beak Goblin's Mask he'd used before.
‘Monsters ahead will outclass goblins. So I asked for an upgrade...’
The result was no joke.
From the future master Park Je-woo, it gained a special stat: [Change Self].
A face-altering spell.
‘More like a subtle illusion warping your true appearance. Better than expected... way more useful than the goblin mask.’
A smile crept onto Kang Hyuk's lips.
Generously, he handed over payment to Park Je-woo.
“4-4 billion?!”
“Advance payment. I'll settle the rest once funds are ready.”
“N-No... I didn't expect this much...”
“You have to take it. These items are worth it. And...”
Gazing at the flustered Park Je-woo, Kang Hyuk's eyes shone.
“This is also a sign I want to keep a good relationship with you going forward.”
“......”
“Please accept. For me, a skilled blacksmith trumps money. And you are that blacksmith.”
Park Je-woo's eyes welled up again.
Staring at the bank transfer on his phone, he pondered before muttering.
“Th-Then I'll make you something extra.”
“...?”
“I want a deeper bond with a good client too... Yes! On the house!”
Kang Hyuk smiled.
He extended his hand.
“I won't say no.”
Park Je-woo shook it, smiling for the first time.
Leaving the forge, Kang Hyuk's eyes gleamed.
‘Scored a good ally. Items from Park Je-woo will far outclass what I have now.’
He mulled future plans.
‘This way, four months from now, I can stably block the Seoul Station Gate. Not just that—in a year, I can prevent the Gwangju disaster that wiped out half the city with my own power...’
As he walked out.
His thoughts snapped; his body froze.
“...!”
He whipped his head around in shock.
A man with bizarre tattoos on his head brushed past him, heading somewhere.
That familiar silhouette clicked slowly.
‘Shadow of Swiftness. The assassin who tried to kill me?’
Unforgettable.
Kang Hyuk's jaw dropped.
As he stifled his presence to tail him instinctively.
“好的 知道了.”
An unexpected language from the Shadow of Swiftness.
Luckily, from his Association President days, he'd picked up Chinese by osmosis.
“Yes, understood...”
He widened his eyes at the meaning.
“找到了 正在准备去那里.”
“Found it. Preparing to head there.”
The five national-level Hunters who invaded Korea in the future.
“Understood. Dragon God Xiao Lan.”
One of their names had slipped from the assassin's lips.