Chapter 9
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: I Became the Last of the Giant Clan
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"A few Butter Flies that escaped from Gwangalli have slipped into Bongnae Mountain. The hunters dispatched from Gangnam-gu Office Station, please take care of those Butter Flies."
Lee Yong smiled.
"Full access control is in effect, so feel free to use your abilities to your heart's content. Ah! Of course, if possible, I'd appreciate it if Team Leader Lee Yong could exercise some caution with his ability. In an emergency, there's no helping it... but starting a forest fire wouldn't do anyone any good."
It was then that Lee Yeon-hee tilted her head at his unusually cheerful demeanor.
"......"
Kang Hyuk let out a scoffing laugh.
He recalled the conversation he'd just overheard and muttered to himself.
'With full access control in place, there'll be fewer eyes around, so he'll use that opening to cook up something for me.'
If it was something he couldn't do under public scrutiny, the options were limited.
Especially for trash wielding power beyond their station.
'Violence. He'll try to force me into submission with brute strength, no doubt.'
It was hardly surprising.
He'd seen plenty of such scum during his time as Hunter Association President.
Lee Yong was practically tame by comparison.
That was why he felt no tension or fear.
If anything, he hoped Lee Yong would stick to his plan.
'Even as the on-site supervisor, a non-hunter like me is limited in where I can go. But Lee Yong's different.'
In gate-related field operations, no civilian could override a hunter's orders.
In other words, dispatched hunters held full authority on-site.
And once they arrived, Lee Yong, as team leader, would become the site commander.
There was no need to interfere with his scheme.
As long as that trash kept nursing his grudge, Kang Hyuk could slip easily into the Big Butter Fly's lair, his real target.
'Stick to that mindset from the start, Lee Yong. That way, when the critical moment comes, I won't hesitate either.'
Finishing his thoughts, Kang Hyuk lifted his head with a smile playing on his lips.
At that instant, whether by chance or fate, their eyes met—Lee Yong, who had been staring their way.
"......"
As if by silent agreement, both men curled up the corners of their mouths.
Time passed, and the next day arrived.
"Follow us to the site, you."
Before heading out from the hotel for the Butter Fly extermination on Bongnae Mountain, Lee Yong pointed at Kang Hyuk with a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"We need someone to guide us through the mountain. Even as hunters, we don't know the lay of Bongnae Mountain, do we?"
Lee Yeon-hee jumped in at his shocking declaration.
"Wh-what do you mean, 2nd Team Leader? Bringing a civilian to the site?!"
"Hey now, how is that place a 'site,' Lee Yeon-hee? We're not blocking a gate—we're out on a 'sweep.'"
"And the sweep target is monsters, Team Leader!"
"That's why we're here. Don't worry. Besides... uh, Kang Hyuk? He'll just guide us through Bongnae Mountain since we don't know it, and we'll send him right back down."
It was an explanation that rang hollow to anyone listening.
Lee Yeon-hee was appalled, but Lee Yong showed no sign of backing down.
"So, you coming or not? You know hunters hold all authority on-site, right?"
He even taunted Kang Hyuk directly.
Biting her lip, Lee Yeon-hee muttered.
'What kind of hunter needs a guide? And in this day and age!'
Smartphones had navigation apps.
And these were superhumans who surpassed ordinary humans.
It made no sense for them to need a civilian guide up the mountain.
In short, bringing Kang Hyuk to Bongnae Mountain meant ulterior motives.
'Obviously... he's out for revenge after Kang Hyuk kept poking at him these past few days. With the 2nd Team Leader's personality!'
Considering the vicious rumors swirling about him, she could easily guess what was coming.
She had to step up.
She couldn't just send her assistant to the wolves.
But.
"Very well. On-site judgment falls under the 2nd Team Leader's authority. If you're issuing the order, I can't refuse."
Kang Hyuk spoke first.
Startled, Lee Yeon-hee grabbed his wrist.
"Wh-what are you......"
"Heh heh... that's more like it. You're the type to live and die by the manual—think you can break it?"
The 2nd Team Leader burst into laughter and turned to board the van first.
Gazing at his back, Kang Hyuk murmured quietly.
"It's fine, Senior Officer. The 2nd Team Leader may be rude, but surely he wouldn't do anything to a civilian."
"How can you be so sure? He might! Especially given those rumors about him......"
"I'm not going in blind. The place we're heading is an ordinary mountain range—no gate has opened there. But monsters have infiltrated it. Which means......"
Kang Hyuk shrugged.
"There'll be CCTV monitoring the area. Or drones, maybe? Factoring that in, the 2nd Team Leader won't risk whatever you're worried about."
His nonchalant attitude left Lee Yeon-hee speechless.
Her shoulders trembled as she finally spoke.
"You still have to go?"
"I've been able to keep the 2nd Team Leader in check this far because of the manual. If I break it now, everything I've done to him gets invalidated."
Kang Hyuk replied firmly.
"That's not what I want. I'm confident in my actions so far."
Lee Yeon-hee forced her shaking shoulders still.
She took a deep breath and managed to say,
"Then I'm coming too."
Kang Hyuk's eyes widened.
"......Senior Officer?"
"On-site judgment is shared between senior and assistant officers. That's what the manual says."
Lee Yeon-hee declared.
"So I'll come along. To Bongnae Mountain."
"I don't even need Lee Yeon-hee, but you insist on tagging along?"
"Per the manual, assistants accompany seniors on all duties. So if you need a guide, I go too."
The 2nd Team Leader shrugged.
"Fine, whatever. Do what you want."
Lee Yeon-hee bit her lip in unease.
Kang Hyuk, watching her, fell into thought.
'A variable. Who'd have thought Senior Officer Lee Yeon-hee would step up.'
It must be the improved rapport from the USB incident sparking unnecessary meddling.
His original plan was derailed, forcing him to redraw the board.
After some deliberation.
"......"
Having considered every variable from Lee Yeon-hee's addition, Kang Hyuk unfolded his arms.
He nodded.
Her meddling wasn't so bad after all.
'......With Lee Yeon-hee along, the 2nd Team Leader might not care, but his team members will hesitate. One civilian is one thing, but harming two? Too much backlash.'
He glanced at Lee Yong in the front seat.
'That leaves the 'dungeon' interior as his only space to scheme. Having Senior Officer Lee Yeon-hee join might actually improve things.'
With his conclusion drawn, the controlled van sped along and soon came to a stop.
They had arrived at Bongnae Mountain, infiltrated by Butter Flies.
"Sir! We received word in advance."
Soldiers guarding the site snapped to attention with salutes.
The 2nd Team Leader casually acknowledged them and moved to enter the mountain, but the soldiers blocked the civilians again.
"And these people?"
Lee Yong turned.
And chuckled.
"Ah, our supervisors!"
"......Reports said six, but are these hunters by chance?"
"Nah, they're esteemed officials from Gangnam-gu Office."
The soldiers looked puzzled.
But they had no choice after the 2nd Team Leader's follow-up.
"We're taking them on-site judgment. No worries."
On-site hunter opinions trumped higher-up reports.
Thus, the 2nd Team Leader and Kang Hyuk entered Bongnae Mountain, leaving the soldiers behind.
"......"
The mountain path was rough.
They stuck to trails as much as possible, but it was still a mountain.
More concerning than the rugged terrain was the atmosphere.
'......No sounds.'
It was summer.
The season when insect songs should echo everywhere.
Yet not even birdsong reached them here.
Lee Yeon-hee swallowed dryly.
She handled hunter-related work, but had zero field experience like this.
"......"
Rather than cower at the vibe, Kang Hyuk focused all his senses on Lee Yong behind him.
Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
You obtain Giant's Ear.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.4%
To react instantly if he tried anything foolish.
Contrary to fears, Lee Yong showed no odd moves.
'Mindful of potential drones or CCTV, it seems.'
Even trash had a shred of common sense.
'But who knows. He might discard even that.'
As he monitored Lee Yong's movements amid his mutterings.
"......Aaaahhh!"
With Lee Yeon-hee's scream, something massive burst from the bushes beyond.
Kirururuk!
A monster that escaped the gate into Bongnae Mountain.
A Butter Fly.
Kang Hyuk's eyes gleamed at the grotesque beast with wings over 2 meters.
He reacted as if he'd been waiting.
"Senior Officer, this way."
Lee Yong, watching from behind, curled his lip.
Then ordered his team.
"Let's go! Hunting time!"
With that, the 2nd Team hunters surged forward.
Their average rank: E.
A bit tough for E-grade Butter Flies, but overwhelming numbers would take them down with minimal losses.
"You know what those butterfly bastards do? Paralysis poison! Paralysis poison! Hunt while watching for the venom!"
Lee Yong barked orders adeptly, forming up ranks.
Watching from behind, Kang Hyuk's eyes flashed.
'Not just one. There's more behind.'
He glanced back at Lee Yong.
A veteran E-grade hunter like him should sense this presence, yet he fixated only ahead.
'Trash-brained scheme.'
With a smirk, Kang Hyuk snatched the trembling Lee Yeon-hee's wrist in fear.
"Eh, eh?"
She yelped at the sudden grasp.
Kang Hyuk began counting silently.
'At this approach speed, paralysis venom in 5 seconds. Not lethal to me, but deadly to Lee Yeon-hee.'
After a deep breath, he activated his power.
Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
You obtain Giant's Footwork.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.7%
A massive surge emanated from his feet.
The bizarre sensation that he could leap anywhere made Kang Hyuk's eyes shine.
'5 seconds. Now!'
Sweeping Lee Yeon-hee into his arms, he rolled reflexively.
At the same moment, the cautiously approaching Butter Fly spat its venom!
Lee Yong's eyes widened.
'What? He dodged?'
Completely off his script.
But no time to dwell.
The venom shot past Kang Hyuk—straight at him in its line.
"Fuck!"
Cursing, Lee Yong rolled like Kang Hyuk.
Unlike him, though, he didn't evade perfectly—venom seeped into his shoulder.
"T-Team Leader!"
"Are you okay?!"
The team members facing the frontal Butter Fly cried out in shock.
Lee Yong swallowed his rising fury and yelled,
"Who cares if I'm okay! Focus on the fight! They're coming from front and back!"
The 2nd Team began battling the two Butter Flies.
As Lee Yong glared at Kang Hyuk through gritted teeth.
Kang Hyuk's eyes widened in surprise.
'......What?'
At the spot where he'd rolled to dodge the venom.
Exactly 50 meters away, he spotted a massive cave uncommon in Korean mountains.
Its familiar shape made Kang Hyuk mutter.
'That's......'
Old memories resurfaced.
Meanwhile, Lee Yong stared at the identical cave ahead and shouted.
'The Butter Fly dungeon!?'