Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Hunters Close In
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“Then what should we do? Shall I call the ‘Gangnam Ace’ folks?”
“No, that won’t be necessary. It’s just one E+ grade Hunter punk—my private guards can handle him just fine. I’ll take care of the cleanup myself, so you all go take care of your business.”
As one of the companies that had sponsored the Seoul Guild, Chairman Bae Jeong-su had secretly hired private Hunter bodyguards.
Thanks to the convenient excuse of Scavengers, they were permitted to carry weapons, and with the Seoul Guild managing the Hunters, there were no issues whatsoever.
“Understood, Chairman.”
“Secretary Yoon, gather Young-hoon’s belongings, and you prepare the funeral. I’ll call in Chil-seong and have him drag that scum back here right away!”
“Oh, got it, honey! You have to catch that filthy bastard. We can’t let the guy who killed our Young-hoon get away with it!”
The staffer stared at Bae Young-hoon’s parents with utter disbelief, but what was even funnier was that their instincts were spot on.
In any case, Bae Jeong-su immediately summoned his bodyguard Hunter known as Chil-seong.
A stern-faced man with a hulking build around two meters tall appeared and promptly bowed.
“I’m truly sorry about what happened to the young master, Chairman.”
“Yeah, it’s a real kick in the teeth. Go catch this guy. Here’s the info— he’s just an E+ grade Hunter. Should be a piece of cake for you, a B-grade.”
“Of course, Chairman.”
Kwak Chil-seong. His father hailed from New Gangnam, but because his mother was from outside, he couldn’t land a key position in the Seoul Guild.
Still, thanks to half New Gangnam blood flowing in his veins, the Seoul Guild had invested in him, pushing him to Lv. 60 and B-grade status. He’d taken a contact from Bae Jeong-su to become the leader of his security team. His main job was protection, but he occasionally handled “scum” that got in the way like this.
“Deadline’s tomorrow morning. Toss him in that usual basement cell.”
“Understood, Chairman. Just to be safe, I’ll bring Kyung-pyo and Seong-chan along.”
“Do that.”
He bowed.
With a curt nod, Kwak Chil-seong vanished.
Bae Jeong-su glared at the photo of Yoo Seongwon that the Seoul Guild staffer had handed him, his eyes burning with rage.
For a fleeting moment, he wondered if this wasn’t an unjustified fury. But he dismissed it—after all, some filthy outsider from beyond New Gangnam was perfect for venting his and his wife’s emotions.
Decades had passed since the New Gangnam Special Fortress was built. A massive wall stood between those chosen by New Gangnam and those who weren’t, as towering as the fortress itself.
***
Two hours later.
Near the Academia, at some mart.
I had 3 billion won in cash just from today, and adding the magic stone sales, that made 3.5 billion. Plus, my bank account was nicely padded with rewards from the D-grade dungeon clear today, among other savings!
It was an amount I couldn’t have dreamed of back when I was an Academia staffer, and excitement started bubbling up. But money only means something when you spend it. Thinking about that gave me a headache.
“But first, time to celebrate surviving the day.”
I loaded up on booze, even grabbing all the wines I’d always wanted to try, stuffing my inventory to the brim.
I trusted Akaron’s cooking skills, so I piled in meat and ingredients galore.
“La la la~ This should do it? Not sure if I can call the knights, but I could toss ’em in the sanctuary and let them party on their own, right?”
It was modest fun for such a haul, but hey—who cares? As long as I’m happy.
Humming a tune with plans to relax completely today, I rode the elevator to my dorm floor.
But something felt off about the scene.
“What the hell? Those guys?”
Three strangers in black suits stood at the entrance to my dorm room.
A bad feeling hit me, so instead of stupidly walking up, I hung back and observed from afar.
I’d decide my move based on how one of them reacted when he turned toward me.
“Hey! Boss! That’s him over there…”
‘Bingo! Not cops or prosecutors—time to bolt!’
If it were official business like police, prosecutors, or the Association, they wouldn’t use terms like that.
No need for further judgment. I vaulted over the dorm hallway railing in a flash.
“Damn it! That guy’s sharp!”
“Hey! Wait! We’re…”
“Gahhh! Scavengers! Save meeee!”
I heard their voices behind me, but I bolted like a total panic case, screaming about Scavengers.
I didn’t know who they were, but this would cause a commotion around us, and whatever their goal, it’d put these guys after me in hot water.
“Ayoung? Where are you right now?”
(Huh? Me? Obviously in the Heaven Class dorm right next to you.)
“I’m heading there now, so put on your uniform or something identifiable and come down.”
(A midnight rendezvous request?)
“No, it’s not like that! Uninvited guests showed up~ Can’t fight here anyway.”
(Oh! Got it. Be right there!)
I gave her the quick rundown, and she seemed to get it, agreeing to my request.
A quick glance back showed them staring like dogs chasing a chicken.
I flipped them the bird and bolted straight to the Heaven Class dorm.
***
“Ah, so that’s how it went. Please avoid causing any more disturbances.”
Thanks to Yoo Seongwon’s Scavenger panic, the three men got nabbed by Academia security for questioning. But they talked their way out and were released with just a warning not to make a scene.
“Damn, that was close.”
“Weak Hunters don’t survive without sharp instincts. So what now, boss? He bolted to the Heaven Class dorm. Matches the info—probably with Miss Shin Ayoung from Baekya Guild. Tough to handle quietly now.”
Heaven Class dorm. Where Korea’s future stars gathered, packed with promising talents that even mid-to-large guilds coveted.
They were treated like royalty, so outsiders couldn’t just barge in—a resident student had to come out and escort you.
The security Hunters guarding it were all veteran B-grades or higher, making infiltration impossible for Kwak Chil-seong and his crew.
“What do we do? Honestly, it’s beyond us.”
“Obviously. Trouble here, and even the Chairman can’t cover for us.”
“Pull back then?”
“No way. Chairman’s special orders—we succeed no matter what. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.”
Kwak Chil-seong pulled out his phone and made a call.
To get inside, they needed pull from a Heaven Class student—and to mess with Shin Ayoung, it had to be someone with even more clout.
“Young Master Seong In-woo? Yes, it’s me. The guy working under Chairman Bae… Ah! Thank you for recognizing me. I’m at Academia right now…”
Fortunately, their connected Seoul Guild was one of Korea’s Big Three.
Climbing its network a bit led straight to current Academia students—easy as pie.
“Good news. Young Master Seong In-woo’s helping us out. Lucky he’s at Academia.”
“Isn’t he the current student council president?”
“Yeah. Heard he’s here dealing with the academy director issue.”
The Big Three Guilds used their influence to recruit Heaven and Earth Class students, taking turns holding the student council presidency.
This term, it was third-year Seong In-woo from the Seoul Guild side.
After a short wait, a bespectacled, intellectual-looking male student approached them.
“Long time no see, Hunter Kwak Chil-seong. How’s Chairman Bae? So, what’s this about?”
“Oh! You came, Young Master In-woo. Well, it’s like this…”
Kwak Chil-seong jumped right into explaining the situation to Student Council President Seong In-woo.
The death of ‘Gangnam Ace’ Bae Young-hoon, a Seoul Guild core member; Chairman Bae Jeong-su’s rage; and how they’d come for the scum who’d partied with him, only for the guy to flee to the Heaven Class dorm.
“Anyway, if we don’t drag that party scum back, the Chairman and his wife’s anger and grief won’t settle. You… get it, right, young master?”
“Yes. I understand completely. If that scum has to die to ease their rage and sorrow, then so be it. Hell, he should offer his neck gladly—fleeing is just insulting.”
“Oh! As expected of the next ‘Gangnam Ace.’”
Having heard the full story, Seong In-woo shed his model student mask, his eyes gleaming with arrogance as he joined their cause.
He wore a thorough facade at this academy, but he too was pure-blooded New Gangnam, born into a legal family from the three districts that produced judges and prosecutors.
With A-grade Awakener potential, he’d join Seoul Guild’s ‘Gangnam Aces’ right after graduation—and like them, he saw outsiders as scum.
“I get it all. I’ll bring him out now. Since he’s male, him being in Miss Shin Ayoung’s room is already a violation—easy to drag him out.”
“Thank you.”
Seong In-woo headed straight to the Heaven Class dorm, joined by two fellow Seoul Guild students, making a beeline for Shin Ayoung’s room.
Kwak Chil-seong snickered with his crew at the solid backup.
“Kekeke, no matter how much scum thrashes, it’s still scum.”
“The world’s divided into highs and lows—should’ve gone quietly instead of tiring everyone out.”
“That’s why it’s scum, right?”
***
At the same time.
Shin Ayoung’s dorm room was worlds apart from a typical high school girl’s.
Packed with workout gear, walls plastered with bromides of ripped guys and Viking-like hunks.
Already chaotic outside, the room’s vibe made Yoo Seongwon want to lose it.
“…Is this a gym? A bedroom? No one yells if you work out here?”
“Soundproofing’s top-notch, so no worries. But is that what you should be fretting about now? What’d you do this time, old man?”
“I don’t even know. Just partied in a dungeon once… Damn it!”
Yoo Seongwon still hadn’t pinned down who those mystery suit guys were.
Only that they weren’t official authorities. In the midst of the confusion, an unwelcome visitor rang their doorbell.
Ding-dong!
(This is Student Council President Seong In-woo. I’ve received a report that student Shin Ayoung has a male in her dorm. Here to confirm.)
‘Student council president? Seoul Guild? Or just checking?’
He first suspected Seoul Guild, but he’d handled that too cleanly—no way.
With Yoo Seongwon silent, Shin Ayoung assumed it was legit and headed to the door.