Chapter 26
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Shadow of Swiftness
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When gates first opened and monsters appeared,
ironically, the region that suffered the most damage worldwide was the Middle East.
The irreplaceable energy resource known as oil had become obsolete with the discovery of magic stones supplied from the gates.
Because of that, the Middle East today was a place where wars and conflicts raged endlessly, just as they had in the past.
From one of those war zones came
the infamous mercenary known as the Shadow of Swiftness—an assassin dispatched in the future to kill him.
‘But... to run into the Shadow of Swiftness like this?’
Coincidence. Fate.
Whatever it was, he couldn’t help but be astonished.
But the name that burst from the Shadow of Swiftness’s lips was even more shocking.
“Yes, Dragon God Xiao Ran.”
A national-level hunter—one of the five who would bring South Korea to ruin in the future.
It was the name of an S-rank hunter currently serving as one of China’s Twelve Martial Gods.
For a moment, he wondered if he’d misheard, but Abdullah repeated the name precisely.
“Yes, yes. We’ll head out as soon as preparations are ready. It looks like the dungeon’s already formed, so we won’t be able to enter without a sacrifice. Still, we should break through smoothly. I’ll bring the item back soon, Master Xiao Ran.”
After a few more exchanges, Abdullah ended the call.
With a heavy sigh, he slipped on his sunglasses and bellowed,
“像鸟一样 狗崽子! Fucking bird-dog bastards!”
Muttering curses, he pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and strode out of Yongsan.
Kang Hyuk stared blankly for a moment before snapping back to his senses.
He furrowed his brow and pulled out his smartphone.
—...Kang Hyuk? Is that you?
“Yes, Mr. President.”
—Hmm? What’s going on? Calling out of the blue?
He resumed his halted steps.
Glancing at Abdullah in his line of sight, his eyes flashed sharply.
“I’m afraid I’ll need to take some vacation time, Mr. President.”
“Na-eun.”
“Yeah?”
“Heard? Team Leader took vacation.”
Same team member.
At Lee Ye-sol’s words, Kang Na-eun tilted her head.
“You mean 1st Team Leader?”
“Yeah, our team leader.”
“...What’s up with that? That workaholic suddenly taking time off?”
Ye-sol shrugged.
“No idea. But we got orders from HQ Chief: 1st Team Leader’s on leave, and 1st Team’s on standby for now.”
Kang Na-eun averted her gaze at the explanation.
She gulped down her iced Americano and replied,
“Something urgent must’ve come up.”
“Maybe.”
“Makes sense. He’s an S-rank, but he’s been way too low-key, just clocking in quietly. Other S-ranks are always busy shooting ads and stuff.”
At that, Lee Ye-sol picked up a bar of 92% pure chocolate.
She shoved the pitch-black lump—utterly devoid of sweetness—into her mouth and thought of their newly appointed 1st Team Leader.
‘...’
He was an odd one.
Even someone like her, who couldn’t care less about others, took notice.
As Kang Na-eun had just said, 1st Team Leader was an S-rank hunter.
A superstar with potential shared by only thirty-six people worldwide.
Yet he showed up for work every single day.
Not the earliest bird, but always within the allotted time, punching in without fail.
Then he tackled his duties diligently, plain for anyone to see.
Association hunters, unlike guild ones, had a mountain of administrative tasks.
Kang Hyuk handled them all personally.
And with impressive efficiency.
It seemed perfectly normal in one light—but baffling, given his S-rank gifts.
‘Why bother?’
With his influence, spotlight, and perks,
he didn’t need to live like this.
A fat salary could fund luxury; soul stone rations could build power effortlessly.
But Kang Hyuk bucked the trend.
He lived more disciplined and rigorously than anyone.
Lee Ye-sol couldn’t wrap her head around it.
‘...Why pick the hard road when easy street’s wide open?’
She muttered and cocked her head.
A ripple of emotion stirred within.
Her B-rank ability, gained post-awakening.
Even with her emotions dulled by Heart Demon’s curse, this wave made her lips twitch upward.
And as she reached for another piece of chocolate—
“Hey, Ye-sol.”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t use a spear, right?”
“...What’re you talking about?”
“Can’t use a spear?”
Lee Ye-sol blinked at Kang Na-eun’s out-of-nowhere question.
“Heatstroke hit you hard, Na-eun?”
“No, it’s just... Hmm... Ah... Forget it. Pretend you didn’t hear.”
Muttering, Kang Na-eun chugged more iced Americano.
Lee Ye-sol narrowed her eyes but held her tongue.
“...”
Meanwhile, Kang Na-eun stared at her hand.
A vivid scene flashed unbidden.
Herself, gripping a bow.
A bullseye, crystal clear.
A bowstring more natural than any spear haft.
“...”
The memory hit, and she clenched her fist without thinking.
Shaking it off, she grumbled,
“Sigh... Beats me, honestly.”
A twist of chance and luck spawning fresh variables.
Anger boiled within.
Yet the fiercer it burned, the cooler Kang Hyuk’s reason grew.
‘An assassin gunning for me, tied to one of those five future Korea-wreckers: Xiao Ran.’
It was opportunity.
A golden chance to flip impending doom into hope.
‘No wonder it felt off. Shadow of Swiftness, Abdullah—he’s notorious, sure, but breaching Arena’s defenses solo? No way. I figured a backer, and Xiao Ran fits perfectly.’
Sorting facts methodically, he drummed his fingers.
‘Why send this killer to Korea now? Another hit?’
He shook his head.
Abdullah’s heading didn’t match.
Straight opposite the Association.
‘...Need to observe longer. Too soon to act.’
Decision made, Kang Hyuk shadowed him silently.
Abdullah’s car blazed down the highway before screeching to a halt.
Screeech!
Gangwon Province, Chuncheon City.
The Daejeoncho Base—nest to freelance hunters.
“Whew!”
Abdullah slammed out, sighing heavily.
He strode into Chuncheon with practiced ease.
Kang Hyuk trailed warily, slipping inside.
The city’s bizarre vista hit him.
Crumbling edifices.
Shanties peeking between.
Folk clad like medieval fantasy extras, milling about.
Backward at first glance—yet a stark emblem of modern flux: a hunters’ haven.
“Hey, you cleared that orc pack, right?”
“Tribe, technically. They’d set up camp in Sector 1, breeding whelps.”
“Whelps? Rich types love taming monster babies these days—good cash. You snag ’em?”
“Not even for money would I capture monster spawn.”
Snippets of chatter explained Chuncheon’s fall—from Gangwon’s crown jewel to this.
‘Early outbreak. Gangwon gates went unchecked. Monsters fled to Taebaek Mountains, turning most of the province uninhabitable save Chuncheon.’
Ecosystem shifts breed upheaval.
Freelance hunters swarmed here, drawn to Taebaek’s dungeon dens.
‘Unaffiliated hunters struggle for soul stones and magic crystals without gates. Gangwon’s unique: supply sans affiliation, gates aside.’
Big guilds skip dungeons.
No profit.
Freelancers thrive on clears.
Handsome payouts.
‘Why Chuncheon for Abdullah...? Dungeon run?’
Kang Hyuk looked up.
Abdullah ducked into a bar.
He weighed his next move.
‘Future Shadow: C-rank. Five years early now—nowhere near peak.’
His power could handle it.
Even factoring assassination specialty.
‘Priority: uncover Xiao Ran’s orders. What’s the target?’
Assassins like him pack anti-interrogation wards, spells, curses.
Torture yields zilch.
Thus, striking now? Reckless.
Kang Hyuk reined in his pulse and followed inside.
Ding~
The Texas-style beer hall owner skipped hellos for,
“Beer? Food?”
“Beer, please.”
“Cass or Terra?”
“Terra.”
The owner nodded, turning away.
Kang Hyuk feigned scanning ahead, sharpening his senses.
The Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
You obtain Giant's Ear.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 3%
Suddenly, the bar’s clamor flooded his ears.
He filtered it masterfully, zeroing in on Abdullah—alone in the corner, awaiting someone.
“...Here’s your Terra.”
The owner slid over the beer.
Kang Hyuk downed it in one, clunking the glass down.
The owner, eyeing him closely, spoke up.
“Say, you...”
“Yes?”
“Don’t folks say you look like someone?”
“Not really.”
“Huh. That powerhouse blowing up TV lately... Kang Han? Kang Hyuk? You give off his vibe.”
Kang Hyuk deflected smoothly.
“Now that you mention it, I’ve heard that a bit lately.”
The owner shrugged and retreated.
Kang Hyuk adjusted the Steel Beak Goblin’s Mask, fresh from blacksmith Park Je-woo’s forge.
📿 Steel Beak Goblin's Mask
👑 Grade:Magic
✨ Description:A goblin mask empowered by a master blacksmith's craft. Infused with cunning magic.
💫 Special:Change Self (Illusion Magic)
Mechanically munching the peanut side dish, he kept eyes on Abdullah.
“...Hello.”
Someone approached and sat before him.
“Ah! Come on in!”
To Kang Hyuk’s surprise, fluent Korean spilled from Abdullah.
“So, decided? Heading inside?”
The newcomer pondered.
Then balled a fist and replied,
“Yes. We’ve decided. My whole guild’s going in. But...”
The man’s voice trembled uneasily as he asked,
and Kang Hyuk’s gaze sharpened.
“You’re certain, right? That a legendary item—one of only a hundred worldwide—is in Gangwon-do?”