Chapter 149
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: If You Want to Live
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“...Ha.”
A hollow laugh burst from Park Jong-ik's mouth.
He looked up at me slantingly, twisting the corner of his lips.
“I was going to treat you with some senior respect, at least...”
His eyes sharpened.
“Your words from the get-go are a bit rude, don't you think?”
I chuckled and pulled out a chair.
Then sat down naturally in front of them.
“That's just how being a Hunter Counselor is, you know? It's a pretty new qualification... and I haven't been studying it for that long myself.”
I said with a smile.
At my suddenly softened attitude, a flicker of doubt crossed the faces of the two who had been on edge.
They listened quietly to my words, wearing expressions that said they couldn't fathom my intentions.
“Even so, I remember the qualification requirements being... pretty high.”
I remember it exactly.
When the initial selection criteria first came out... the prevailing opinion was that 'the Association actually doesn't want to hire Hunter Counselors.'
'They set impossible conditions from the start because they don't want to hire any?'
That was the common consensus.
Not only did you need the counselor's certification... but also A-rank Hunter-level performance in combat ability, plus internal Hunter grievances or practical experience. The hurdles were sky-high in every way.
Those were the initial requirements.
Meaning, this wasn't a position made just for people to play word games.
“That's why I was worried. Even as we requested more staff from the Association, I wondered if we were lowering the bar too much.”
It was a thought that crossed my mind every time a relevant person brought it up.
I looked back and forth between the two of them.
Nothing else.
It's because it's really dangerous.
I'd been surprised when people who didn't meet the criteria passed, and even more shocked to hear that applicants had passed in this public recruitment.
“Seeing the two of you now, it looks like my worries came true.”
I drove the point home.
“That's what I meant.”
Park Jong-ik, who had been glaring at me with narrowed eyes, let out an incredulous chuckle.
“You should know when to stop trying to set the mood.”
Park Jong-ik tilted his head back arrogantly and continued slowly.
“You talk a good game, but so what? Are there actual cases of Hunter Counselors getting hurt? Be straight with me—has a counselor ever really been injured by a client?”
He spat out words designed to get under my skin.
“That kidnapping you went through last time... wasn't it just stalking by a former colleague?”
There's one thing they're misunderstanding.
If an attack from a client actually happens...
It's already too late.
Counseling failure means death.
Every mushroom can be eaten once. Just once.
If I had failed in counseling, it would have made the news.
What's the point of feedback after my throat's already been slit?
However.
I had no desire to continue this conversation with them.
“How much Hunter experience do the two of you have?”
So I asked lightly.
They hesitated, exchanging glances.
“...”
Choi Jong-hyuk ultimately kept his mouth shut and hung his head, but Park Jong-ik reacted sharply, as if his pride was wounded.
“...That's not the point...”
“It is important. How much?”
I cut him off without mercy.
In the end, he answered in a shrinking voice.
“...Top graduate of the Academy.”
“M-Me too... I completed the 12th class at the Academy.”
Choi Jong-hyuk chimed in cautiously from the side.
In the end, they confessed.
Hunter Academy... I'd heard of it vaguely.
A private training institution that quickly turns ordinary ability users into certified Hunters.
It's called an academy, but in reality, it's a program for mass-producing Hunters.
I remember there being a lot of talk about it.
Like driver's ed crash courses.
They just train you to pass the test, but don't actually develop real Hunter skills.
It's funny that he's bragging about being top graduate...
“So...”
In conclusion.
Their Hunter ranks as of now.
“E-rank, right?”
Physical abilities no different from a regular civilian.
Still more familiar with monsters from TV than from the field.
Only good for civilian evacuations or carrying gear.
This is insane.
I could laugh in disbelief.
How did they even select people like this?
“Um, Senior. The Academy's curriculum has been revamped lately, and the level is much higher now. Plus, Jong-hyuk here was top graduate...”
Choi Jong-hyuk tried to defend himself indignantly, wrapping it up nicely, but...
I didn't feel like listening to any more of this.
I had no intention of dignifying it with a response, so I pulled a thick bound booklet from my bag and tossed it onto the table.
- Thud.
“Take a look.”
I sat back down and tossed the report their way.
It was material I'd seriously prepared to give my juniors—packed with all kinds of information and advice.
I'd been collecting it for a while and hastily compiled it that morning.
All the things I'd studied and learned diligently.
The two men picked up the booklet with strange expressions.
What's in it?
No counseling tips or anything like that.
Park Jong-ik flipped the first page indifferently.
And then.
“...!”
His hand froze. Choi Jong-hyuk, peeking from the side, had his pupils shaking like an earthquake.
[Incident No. 23-04: Counselor Kim XX, Room 3]
[Cause of Death: Multiple full-body fractures and organ rupture from PTSD episode triggered by client (A-rank). Died on site.]
[Incident No. 23-07: Counselor Lee XX, Sector 5]
[Cause of Death: Encounter with Red-grade Otherworlder. Crossbow bolt through the head, instant death.]
Records of the dead.
[Incident No. 23-04: Delta-grade defense fields now provided in all counseling rooms for precaution.]
[Incident No. 23-07: Emergency signal buttons provided against Red-grade Otherworlders. Transparent shields and in-ear devices supplied.]
And the rules written in their blood.
Because someone died with their bones crushed, defense fields were born.
Because someone died with their head pierced, emergency bells were created.
“...”
The pages turned.
Neither of them could speak.
Before Hunter Counselors existed, the records of counselors who died are unknown to the public.
Because it wasn't a spotlight position—they were just seen as expendable.
Yet they piled up legacies through endless trial and error, uncaring.
Their reactions prove it.
Park Jong-ik's hands trembled with a panicked expression.
“B-But... since it became Hunter Counselors, it's gotten a lot safer. No incidents... my dad said...”
It was a pitiful story coming from a man over twenty.
Dad said so, huh.
I swallowed a hollow laugh and stood from my seat.
Word fights are pointless. Persuasion too.
Sometimes, one real experience beats a hundred words.
I headed straight to the conference room window.
- Creak.
I flung the window wide open.
I stretched my hand out into the open air beyond the window.
And then.
- Tap tap.
I lightly knocked on empty space.
A hard sensation transmitted from where nothing should be.
- Hummm...
Transparent ripples spread like waves from where my fingertips touched the air.
“Delta-grade defense field.”
I explained dryly without turning to the two with their mouths agape.
“A defense field provided to protect counselors upon their first Otherworlder encounter.”
Moreover.
The pinnacle of humanity's cutting-edge magic engineering, enveloping key guild and Association buildings.
Maintained 24/7.
Currently, humanity's most advanced shield.
“I hear it can withstand tank shells or even most monster suicide attacks.”
I tapped the field again.
A solid sound rang out.
“Looks sturdy, right?”
When I asked with a smile, Park Jong-ik nodded as if entranced.
No wonder—it's humanity's greatest shield.
“Shall we see?”
I extended my hand just like that.
And plunged my fingers deep into the shimmering transparent surface.
I gripped hard, squeezing like I was crushing it.
- Crunch...
A sound that shouldn't be echoed through the conference room.
- Crackle...
The blue hexagonal pattern tinted red around my fingers, flashing wildly.
Break it? Fine. It's not integral—just repair the conference room side.
“Wh-Wha...?”
The field hummed in overload to prevent collapse...
But I poured on more grip strength regardless. That's when.
- Bang!
The door burst open.
“What's going on!”
Mare rushed into the conference room.
She must have come running after a report of impact on the field.
She immediately approached the two men.
- Whoosh...
Mare's killing intent filled the room in an instant.
“...These kids?”
“Hik... Hiiik...”
Choi Jong-hyuk crumpled into his chair under the pressure.
Park Jong-ik didn't look much better.
S-rank Hunter. Passing out wouldn't be surprising.
Yeah.
Perfect timing.
Mare swept her pale-faced duo with a bug-like glance, deemed them no threat, and turned expressionlessly toward me.
“These guys don't seem...”
She started to say something, then tilted her head at my posture.
“...Seon-woo, what are you doing?”
“Ah, good timing.”
I released the field and welcomed her.
I could do it myself, sure.
But Mare would handle it better.
“This.”
I pointed to the field, now blue again.
“Can you pierce it?”
“...Huh?”
Mare blinked in confusion.
“...”
But she didn't ask why.
Sensing the mood, she turned her head.
She glanced at the two trembling in their chairs.
Looked back at me and nodded.
“If you want.”
Seeing me standing there unwilling to step back from the field.
“...Come hewe.”
She lightly wrapped around me, spun, and sent me behind her.
“Dangerous.”
She glanced back, stuck out her tongue, and grinned playfully.
After that.
She approached the shimmering field.
With an indifferent expression, she just extended her index finger.
- Poke.
Humanity's greatest field.
Was pierced like paper by Mare's white fingertip.
The finger went clean through, poking out the other side into empty air.
“...”
And then.
Soon.
- Crack... Craaack...
Cracks began spiderwebbing across the sector's field enclosing the conference room.
And then.
- Crash!!
With a deafening roar like massive glass shattering.
The field enveloping the entire conference room exploded into shards.
Energy fragments scattered, falling to the floor.
“...”
Silence blanketed the room.
Park Jong-ik and Choi Jong-hyuk slumped in their chairs like their legs had given out, staring blankly at the surreal sight before them.
Mare must look like a monster.
But.
“Brr, cowd.”
The wind blowing through the breached field was chilly, so Mare shivered and ran to me.
“Wets go~”
She burrowed into my arms.
I opened my coat and wrapped her up.
Then slowly turned my head to look down at the two.
“...”
I don't expect much.
No intention of lecturing.
Just.
“Think it over.”
If you want to live.
Running away would be best.