Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Justice Implementation
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Chapter 15
Chapter 15
[Justice Implementation
Show the true taste of justice to the villains trying to harm you.
Reward: 5 coins]
[With Overwhelming Power?
Win a fight against a hunter two ranks or higher.
Reward: 5 coins]
Lying on the stretcher as they exited the gate, Jeong-hyeon blankly reviewed the details of the hidden achievement that had generously tossed him a whopping 10 coins.
He knew achievements existed.
They had different criteria for each person, so repeating the same action wouldn't unlock them, but if you happened to trigger one by chance, the reward was sweet.
Most rewards provided proficiency points equivalent to near-guaranteed level-ups.
And for Jeong-hyeon, they seemed to be converted into coins.
'Well, it wouldn't make sense for an EX-rank proficiency to level up from something like this.'
The trait shop was like teaching someone to fish, not just handing them a fish.
The value of proficiency level-ups was incomparable to normal traits.
At first, the 10 coins felt like a fortune that left him dazed, but as his head cooled, it started to feel like a matter-of-course reward.
'After all that near-death struggle to catch a D-rank hunter. What? 10 coins? What if I'd died? You only give 10 coins?'
Jeong-hyeon had found a miraculous path to survival with just 3 coins.
But that didn't mean 3 coins were worth a life.
Coins had meaning in the living world, not something to brag about before the King of Hell.
He'd rather grind out 10 coins by killing 200 zombies.
"Han Jeong-hyeon, we're exiting the gate now. Once you're out, you'll get proper treatment, and you need to write your statement today—please cooperate just a bit more then too."
Seok-woong's words as he walked alongside the stretcher.
"Cooperate?"
Jeong-hyeon's tone sharpened a little.
What more cooperation could they want from someone just carried out of the gate?
Public servants sure knew how to handle paperwork.
Noticing Jeong-hyeon's displeasure, Seok-woong added with a kind smile.
"They were a duo... well, the two that Jeong-hyeon killed are pretty notorious guys, so the bounty will be substantial. Not a huge amount, but if you want it quickly, you need to write the statement as soon as possible."
"Of course. That kind of cooperation? For the nation, I could do it for two straight days."
Jeong-hyeon switched attitudes in the blink of an eye, as if the thorns in his words had never been there.
If money was involved, he should have said so sooner.
He didn't know the exact bounty, but after barely hunting due to villains, he needed every penny.
'10 coins plus bounty— not bad at all.'
Jeong-hyeon's expression as he passed through the gate was far too bright for someone who had crossed death's door multiple times.
"Ha, I really thought we'd never make it out."
Emerging outside, Ji-yoon shielded her eyes from the bright sunlight and spoke.
Jeong-hyeon could wholeheartedly agree.
How welcoming the fine dust and exhaust-filled air of the real world felt.
But the gate area, which had only a single temporary association outpost when they entered, was now bustling with quite a crowd.
At minimum, there was the response team that entered with them, plus the additional blockade team dispatched.
And reporters who had heard that villains specializing in hunting newbies had been caught.
"Villains entered the gate with two rookie hunters—have you assessed the current situation?"
"What are the association's plans for ensuring the safety of rookie hunters...? There they are!"
A woman in a suit stood before the reporters.
With her back to the gate, Jeong-hyeon couldn't see her clearly, but the way she commanded all attention made it obvious she was in charge.
Of course, the story changed entirely once Jeong-hyeon and Ji-yoon emerged.
"Step back! You can't cross the tape!"
A clash erupted between reporters trying to breach the blockade line and the association's blockade team stopping them.
The reporters were fierce, but against a team of hunters, it was like eggs hitting a rock.
Watching, Seok-woong shook his head as if it gave him a headache just to see, then said,
"I knew this would happen... Who's leaking the info? Han Jeong-hyeon, I'll report to the chief. They'll move you to a vehicle here and take care of you."
Seok-woong then approached the woman Jeong-hyeon had noticed.
She was clearly the 'chief' he mentioned.
Ji-yoon and Jeong-hyeon moved to an ambulance parked inside the blockade line.
For safety, medical staff hadn't entered the gate.
Inside the ambulance waited an older doctor wearing a gown with blue points indicating a C-rank healing trait.
'My body's valuable enough to show to a C-rank hunter now...'
C-rank healing traits were rare even in general hospitals.
Normally, the treatment cost would be enormous.
Jeong-hyeon newly realized how deep a mess he'd been in.
"Ah... I'm not hurt much—treat him first."
Ji-yoon, entering first, sat and cleared space for the stretcher.
The doctor nodded and examined Jeong-hyeon.
"Oh dear, this arm—goblin spear puncture? It's broken too, and your ribs aren't good."
Not only did his middle-aged appearance suggest experience, but he pinpointed Jeong-hyeon's injuries at a glance.
Then, as expected, he activated his healing trait.
Light from the doctor's hand bathed Jeong-hyeon's wounds, drawing an involuntary gasp.
"Wow..."
'C-rank healing is "Healing that even reattaches severed limbs," right? Insane.'
Of course, it had limits like time since amputation or permanent nerve damage, but it was generally seen as magical.
Her proficiency level must be insane too.
The pain he'd endured with E-rank natural healing vanished in an instant.
He wondered how he'd borne what he'd thought he'd grown used to.
"I've treated everything I can. It's not full recovery, so rest up completely for a week."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"......?"
Jeong-hyeon grabbed the doctor's hand as she calmly gave aftercare instructions.
'Doctor' felt fitting for her.
A week of rest was acceptable.
If he'd gone to a hospital himself, it'd have been a month of admission.
The doctor glanced puzzled at their hands, then smiled warmly.
"No need to thank me. You caught villains too—I should thank you. Huge rank gap, they said. My son is a hunter too, so it hits close to home. Thank you."
'Ah, so dazzling...'
It was the ambulance fluorescent light, but it felt like a halo shone behind her head, blurring Jeong-hyeon's vision.
***
"What? Say that again."
Inside the association command vehicle.
Seok-woong couldn't meet the incredulous gaze of Investigation Division 3 Chief Cha Ye-rin.
"We... when we entered, Han Jeong-hyeon and Nam Ji-yoon had already killed the two."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I don't believe it either."
Hoo.
Ye-rin lightly tapped the desk with her fist and sighed.
Newbie hunters were experts at targeting hunters—especially green rookies.
Among them, the Masked Duo Hee-soo and Ju-cheol not only used signature face changes but were masters at disguising as accidents.
They stayed at level 2 only because they preyed on the weak—not from lack of experience.
And two rookies killed them?
One even had a healing trait, Ji-yoon.
'Han Jeong-hyeon—an unregistered?'
"Yes."
At Seok-woong's curt reply, Ye-rin, pondering, asked casually,
"Doesn't something smell off to you?"
"Pardon?"
"Unregistered. In this situation, what else could be the variable?"
Seok-woong looked troubled at her serious tone.
He'd thought about Jeong-hyeon too.
Especially that blazing gaze from his fallen form.
But statistical experience from years at the association made Ye-rin's words seem far-fetched.
"Unregistered are mostly F-rank, as you know. High-rank unregistered are urban legends now."
Precedents existed, but only from the chaotic past before systems solidified.
Why hide a high rank when it guaranteed a bright future?
Even E-rank was better revealed for benefits.
"Plus, even if a high-rank unregistered, why come to a goblin gate like this?"
Solid logic.
But it didn't sit right with Ye-rin.
"So, an F-rank hunter and E-rank healer just took down two D-ranks? Initial investigation says the healer only intervened with a single wooden shard."
"Argh, even so, I don't know. We'll get details from Han Jeong-hyeon and Nam Ji-yoon."
Seok-woong shook his head vigorously, shedding stray thoughts and stress.
Either way, it gave him a headache.
Watching, Ye-rin teased,
"Tsk tsk tsk, no spirit. Why not say they won with manga-style willpower?"
"What are you saying? We don't know the details yet."
Ye-rin grinned.
Seok-woong shuddered involuntarily.
An A-rank trait holder who could join top overseas guilds, with exceptional skills beyond rank, Cha Ye-rin had rocketed to Investigation Division 3 Chief young.
Having worked with her long, Seok-woong could guess from her expression what was coming.
"Ch-Chief. I don't know what you're thinking, but reconsider."
"Seok-woong."
"Yes?"
"Writing statements is a pain, right?"
A faint, ominous, sinister laugh.
But Seok-woong's body was honest.
"...It is."
"I'll write them this time—big decision."
"Really?"
A bit uneasy, but hunches could be wrong sometimes.
Seok-woong steadied himself and nodded.
"No take-backs? Then I'll check on Han Jeong-hyeon and return!"
He bolted out.
Ye-rin didn't watch him go, lost in thought.
The incident defied common sense.
No casualties was lucky for a villain crime chief, but unraveling it was her job.
And it intrigued her.
Her eyes gleamed.
'What are you hiding, Han Jeong-hyeon?'