Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Trash Reporter
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"Then, Grandma, Grandpa. I'll come visit again next month."
"Oh my, why come so often? We won't drop dead without you here, kiddo."
"Aw, still..."
"Come here for a hug first, my little pup."
After spending the night at her grandparents' house, Ji-yeon shared a warm embrace with Grandma at the front door that morning as a farewell.
Once she'd hugged Grandpa too, he unusually gave her a stern talking-to.
"Grandma's right. Don't come around for a while."
"Huh? Why? Did something happen?"
"...What do you mean, something happened? Your exams are right around the corner, that's why. Don't come until they're over."
"But still..."
"Hey now."
Grandpa's attitude felt oddly off, but Ji-yeon couldn't press further. She wasn't the type to boss people around like her brother.
Patting his slightly downcast granddaughter's head, Grandpa slipped an envelope into her hand.
"What's this?"
"What else? Pocket money from your grandparents. You'll need it for college and all... Sorry we can't give you more."
"No...! I mean, thank you. Really..."
"Don't tell that big brother of yours you got this from me. That punk'll throw a fit again."
"...You two are exactly alike."
"Hm?"
Grandpa tilted his head.
Ji-yeon just chuckled and brushed it off as nothing.
The envelope from her brother had already been secretly passed to Grandma the night before.
With a grandfather and grandson so alike, surely a day would come when they'd meet with smiles.
She was just about to head out.
"Oh my... Oh dear! What's this...?"
Grandma squinted at something shocking on her smartphone and showed the screen to Ji-yeon.
"Ji-yeon, isn't this Ji-woo...?"
"Uh, y-yeah, looks like it... What the hell is this?!"
An article about a man who looked like her brother Ji-woo was making the rounds online.
Back home, my sister thrust her phone screen at me before I could even ask about the grandparents.
It showed some interview article.
But the content was utterly ridiculous.
The Ugly Truth of the Hunter Industry Turned into Cheap Cash-Grabbing: Is This Okay??
— Lee Wan-yong, Hunter Daily —
Well, well? A familiar name.
The bald reporter I'd met once thanks to that Choi guy and given an interview to.
I hadn't told him much—barely enough for an article—yet this was no embellishment. It was pure fiction, a complete fabrication from the skeleton up.
To sum it up:
1. Sure, during the Tower-Climbing era, we've lived safely and grown our economy thanks to top hunters like Han Su-ho. But what about the lower-tier hunters who aren't top-ranked?
2. Hunters who aren't high-rankers or even on the leaderboards, just parking on some mid-floor of the Challenge Tower to farm magic stones for a living—are they just freeloading?
3. Brave reporter Lee Wan-yong boldly interviewed one such low-tier hunter.
4. The bottom-rung hunter he met was Kim something-or-other (23), living near the Tower district. Originally a directionless day laborer with no future plans, he awakened by chance.
5. But instead of anything risky, all this Kim guy does is park on the ultra-low floors with zero danger to scrape by. So safe he might as well still be doing his pathetic manual labor.
6. Lately, we've got this historic rookie '3026' in Korea. Is it right for some irresponsible young punk with zero sense of duty as a hunter to hog a precious awakener slot with that kind of potential?!
7. Not content with that, this Kim guy even started dragging around wild mountain squirrels after seeing the nickname 'Squirrel Enthusiast' on 3026—hoping for a quick buck, abusing animals in the process! Shameless fiend!
8. While emphasizing he doesn't wish death on low-tier hunters to free up slots, Lee Wan-yong concludes that it's bitter reality they're just occupying them.
I finished reading and could only let out a disbelieving laugh.
The content was absurd, but my photo in it was hilarious too.
That young guy with a squirrel on his shoulder? Obviously me.
The full face and torso shot had a lazy eye mosaic for "privacy," nothing else.
My sister blew up, demanding we report it to the police right away. Thunder joined in the outrage.
"Chit? Chit chit...?"
Me? Eh...
"So what? It's just some third-rate tabloid trash. Even media outlets skip Hunter Daily."
"Excuse me, Kim Ji-woo. That's the problem—some folks don't skip it. This article's blowing up online communities, and you're getting trashed everywhere...?"
A quick scroll through communities confirmed it: my article topping hot posts on multiple sites.
Stuff like my brain's rotten, parents must be an odd couple, might as well die and free up the slot.
Harsh words.
And our parents aren't odd—they're zero.
Well, not exactly zero. More like ambiguous?
Hard to pin down mathematically.
"Ugh, those rotten jerks... Talking crap without knowing jack."
"Let it slide. Community randos flip-flop anyway. No spine—they pile on because others do. New drama hits, and poof, forgotten."
Not tough-guy act. I genuinely didn't care.
I'm no idol living off fame.
Besides, even if it's trending online, nobody IRL recognizes and hassles you over it.
Most are keyboard warriors.
Watching me, my sister just sighed.
"You've always been like this, bro. Worry about everyone else, say you're fine. Zero f*cks about opinions... Total my-way-or-highway life."
"Nah, not that bad. Lately I've been..."
"Hm? Lately?"
"N-nothing. Forget it."
Close call. Almost casually confessed I'm that attention-wh*re from Tower Climbing Gallery, the persistent villain 'Squirrel Enthusiast.'
Still a secret from sis.
I brushed off her suspicious stare, said I was off to the grind, and headed out.
Even at the door, waving goodbye, she nagged once more.
"Anyway, be careful from now on. What if some psycho recognizes you and tries something?"
"I'm fine. No idiot does that IRL."
I chuckled off her worried plea.
...Never dreamed real idiots existed.
Today marked a big event in Korea.
National treasure, Ranking 1 Hunter Han Su-ho had just conquered the Tower's top floor and returned.
The sudden blockbuster news drew broadcasters and print reporters racing over.
The hotel conference room packed with journalists, dozens of cameras and mics at the ready.
As everyone held their breath, a beauty with sleek black bob hair stepped lightly onto the empty podium.
"I'm Korea's hunter Han Su-ho. I've just returned after climbing our Tower's top floor."
A voice firm yet clear as a bell.
Before camera flashes, thunderous applause erupted first.
Journalists first and foremost as citizens.
Unstinting thanks to the hunter who'd risked life and limb on the top floor for Korea's people.
As Han Su-ho's greeting ended, flashes exploded, and questions flew under the moderator's cue.
"Yoon Suk-min from @@ Daily. You returned after 12 days—far exceeding your average clear time. Due to the top floor's brutal difficulty?"
"Tower-climbing is always tough. But the delay wasn't difficulty—it was the challenge's unique nature. Can't disclose details here, but it was an S-rank clear."
"Park Eun-hye from ## Daily. Your climb leaves Korea just 7 floors behind America. Any plans to speed up and overtake them if you have leeway?"
"Top-floor climbs tie into national pride, sure. But it's not about competition. Protecting citizens, max prep for max rewards, building base for the next floor—that's key. Schedule aligns with government after penalty deadlines."
"Lee Min-jun from $$ News. Light one: Actor Yoon Jin-seok named you his ideal type recently. Thoughts?"
"Grateful for the kind words... But my body and soul are devoted to protecting Korea's people. No thoughts of romance, no plans."
Flawless eloquence, model answers.
Her striking looks under the neat bob only amplified national pride in our Ranking 1.
Fresh off the top floor, no fatigue; suit revealed flawless pale skin, no scars on hands.
Of course, as top hunter, potions galore... Still, minor injuries only.
Common for top-floor climbers to return maimed.
Han Su-ho had plenty of room to spare.
Journalists' eyes shone with admiration, voices laced with praise.
Gasps at each answer; every word headline fodder.
Such is the stature of a modern nation's Ranking 1 Hunter.
A living legend.
—Except.
"Testing, one-two. Lee Wan-yong from Hunter Daily."
Not every journalist.
"Thoughts on Hunter No. 3026, who's shattering your Challenge Tower speed records one by one?"
"..."
Silence blanketed the room.
Hunter 3026.
Nickname: Squirrel Enthusiast.
Popped up months ago, smashing Han Su-ho's records in sequence—a hot prospect.
Yet no one dared mention him before her.
She'd been busy with the top floor; pressers rare. But mainly, it was rude.
Hunters are touchy about records.
Worldwide taboo to compare hunters face-to-face—especially to a national treasure like Ranking 1.
Though 3026 chatter never ceased nationwide... No one asked her. Someone muttered, "Is he nuts...?"
"..."
Han Su-ho's face unchanged, no reply.
Just stared at Lee Wan-yong.
The moderator jumped in.
"Uh, Han Su-ho needs rest after the climb—heading home now."
"Hah. Knew she couldn't answer."
Pretending a whisper, but loud enough—a mocking snicker.
As Han Su-ho turned to leave per her manager, her step halted.
She took the mic.
"...I'll answer."
The room buzzed.
"Great prospects emerging in Korea? Always welcome. Heard someone topped my old records—thrilled. If a floor stumps me someday, glad another talent's here for it. I wholeheartedly support Hunter 3026."
"...Thank you."
Han Su-ho capped it with a sweet smile.
Lee Wan-yong's face soured like it bored her.
The rest praised her as 'truly Han Su-ho'—a hunter sincere to her nation.
No one saw Han Su-ho's eyes chill to razor sharpness as she left.
"What the hell was that reporter?! How can someone be so rude? Anyway, no more Hunter Daily invites—ever! Su-ho... you okay?"
"Of course. Didn't faze me."
In the limo back home, Su-ho's female manager fumed harder than she did.
Pride as Korea's top hunter's manager, after all.
Clenching her fist, the manager declared:
"No matter how hot 3026 is, how long can it last?! Nobody grasps how grueling your climbs are!"
"Doesn't matter. Whoever climbs how fast... I don't fail."
"Y-yeah... Right."
Don't fail...
That mantra of hers always sent a chill down the manager's spine.
Meant for Korea's safety, burning with passion... yet why eerie?
Shaking off the irreverent thought, she searched the rude reporter's name on her phone.
Time for some gossip venting.
"Check this. What a lowlife—slamming hardworking hunters with baseless trash articles... And this? Squirrel-raising hunter?"
"Squirrel...?"
Oddity piqued; Su-ho turned from the window, eyes heavy with post-climb fatigue.
They widened huge at the article photo.
"W-wait!"
"Eek?! W-what?!"
Manager yelped as Su-ho snatched the phone, staring blankly.
"Kim... Ji-woo...?"
No way.
A hunter?
Since when?
No... Photo not conclusive.
Five years passed; eyes crudely masked anyway.
...Must confirm.
"Manager... Can we meet the reporter who wrote this?"