Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: The Limit Breaker's Despair
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Chapter 193
193
“Things are still blowing up, huh?”
“That’s to be expected. It’s the first change since stabilization.”
“This article reminds me of something. Back when I was studying law in New York. About self-defense in incidents before stabilization...”
Correction.
It wasn’t that Hwi-gon went quiet while watching TV. It was just that their attention wasn’t focused on him for once.
Jeong-hyeon and Min-ji lightly ignored Hwi-gon’s mumbling and tuned into the news.
The reason was that the trait possession in the monster Jeong-hyeon had spotted in the ‘Centaur Plains’ last time—which had put the Association on high alert—had finally been officially acknowledged.
The Association announced that cases of monsters possessing traits were being reported in increasing numbers, centered around high-level gates, and the trend was gradually spreading to low-level gates.
- Taking this discovery as a turning point, the Association has announced several countermeasures. What regulations are coming into effect next week?
- Yes. First, the minimum entry for general gates is increasing significantly from the current 5 to 8 people. What was previously recommended—having at least one hunter with a healing trait—is now mandatory. For quick response in emergencies, all party members, not just the party leader, must register before hunting.
These were measures that didn’t stray far from Jeong-hyeon’s expectations.
And they were necessary.
Up until now, the focus had been on deploying as few hunters as possible across as many gates as possible. From now on, the priority had to shift to minimizing accident rates.
- Frontline hunters aren’t exactly welcoming these measures, saying the Association is overreacting with overly strict rules based on cases that haven’t even been fully verified, especially since they’re a tiny fraction of overall hunts. The Association issued emergency countermeasures in response, right?
- Yes, the National Hunter Union recently released a statement opposing the regulations. The gist is that unpopular gates will be ignored even more, and the risk of breaks can’t be dismissed. They believe the threats outweigh the stability gained from compliance. In response, the Association is allowing same-day registration via branch offices and bolstering government subsidies for unpopular gates...
Next week sounded far off, but it was Friday today, so the regulations would kick in right after the weekend.
Even if it was for safety, the sudden major restrictions were bound to cause chaos.
A necessary evil.
“Anything else?”
“Oh, aside from the regulations, this is it.”
Min-ji seemed to have already cycled through the channels once, pressing the remote buttons with familiarity.
It wasn’t the news anymore; a morning info show filled the screen.
- Yes, a hunter with a truly unique trait has emerged, sparking a huge buzz. Have you heard of spirit arts, everyone?
- Spirit arts? You don’t mean those spirits from the gates, do you?
- Exactly! We caught up with the lucky one right away. Let’s take a look.
“Spirit arts is definitely a trait that’s never appeared before. Back when I went into the ‘Distorted Valley of the High Spirits’...”
Traits that had never been reported before were being registered one after another.
Not just the spirit arts on the broadcast, but magic of entirely new attributes too.
‘Even a firearms trait holder showed up?’
Jeong-hyeon recalled the internet news article.
The firearms trait that had briefly thrown him off.
A hunter who awakened that exact trait had appeared.
Not in Korea, and it was only F-rank, but talk of using guns inside gates had the internet in a frenzy.
‘Rumor has it they got snatched up by the Ministry of Defense for nonstop testing...’
It wasn’t human experimentation—just endless weapons testing all day—but it sounded grueling.
Of course, countries worldwide were putting in serious effort to figure out the utility of not just firearms, but spirit arts and new-attribute magic awakeners too.
- There’s no one in Investigation left but me. They all went out on support duty.
Korea was no exception.
Ye-rin had even called saying it was the quietest since joining the Association.
Fortunately, the skyrocketing reawakening rate had stabilized. Otherwise, he’d have been dragged out for support too.
Experts unanimously called this period the ‘Second Cataclysm.’
Jeong-hyeon, who knew this series of events was driven by the system’s acceleration, agreed.
They were shifting from stability back to chaos.
Screeech—
“Oh, Uncle Won-ho’s here—huh?”
At that moment, the office’s creaky door swung open with a racket.
Min-ji, thinking it was Won-ho arriving, greeted warmly but tilted her head at the unfamiliar face.
“Min-ji, we have a guest.”
“Oh, come on in!”
Only then did Min-ji brighten and greet him.
“Hey, who’s that—”
“Hwi-gon, one more word and I’ll report you for business interference.”
As expected, the moment Hwi-gon opened his mouth, Min-ji jabbed his side and threatened him.
‘Nice catch, Min-ji.’
No idea what he’d say, but based on past experience, it wouldn’t be useful.
“...”
And in the somewhat chaotic atmosphere, a man who silently scanned each face.
It had been a while since they posted the notice about taking visit requests on the homepage, but guilds rarely showed up in person anymore—the Panser Guild being the last—so this little drama unfolded.
But the guest’s expression was oddly grave.
The man, around Jeong-hyeon’s age or a bit younger, wore despair so perfectly it was almost artistic.
“Are you... Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon?”
He asked after confirming Jeong-hyeon’s face.
‘A hunter. And a strong one.’
Jeong-hyeon instinctively gauged his strength.
Despite the despairing expression and cowed posture, the aura he exuded was extraordinary.
‘High-level B-Rank at least... no, A-Rank?’
B-Rank and A-Rank felt similar in power due to level differences, but their auras were subtly distinct. This guy gave an ambiguous vibe that fit neither.
It was even stranger since most clients were non-hunters from sales or HR.
Anyway, that wasn’t important right now.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I’ve come to... request your services.”
“Please, come inside.”
He looked more in need of a hospital than a gate office.
Jeong-hyeon had seen plenty of scared people, but this was a first, leaving him a bit flustered. Still, a client was a client.
He guided the man to his room in the corner of the office.
“Ugh... Couldn’t you just do it out here?”
“You know that’s not an option, Min-ji.”
Meanwhile, Min-ji balked at the thought of being left alone with Hwi-gon, but that only made Jeong-hyeon more determined to deny her.
The office already had plenty of deterrents; adding Hwi-gon would kill any chance of business.
‘And Won-ho hyung’s coming soon—that’d be the final nail.’
For Jeong-hyeon, who wanted to maximize walk-in requests, reducing variables was key.
Thus, he successfully led the dark-faced man into the room.
“Don’t you know him...? That...”
Outside, Hwi-gon was still mumbling.
‘Gotta soundproof before we move offices.’
Money pits always multiplied no matter how many you fixed.
“Coffee?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Jeong-hyeon awkwardly smiled, grabbing a mix packet, but the man shook his head.
They sat facing each other, and he introduced himself.
“I’m Gu Ji-myeong from Somyeong Guild.”
Gu Ji-myeong.
The name rang a bell, making Jeong-hyeon think.
‘Gu Ji-myeong... right.’
Somyeong Guild was a decent mid-sized guild with some recognition.
Especially famous for having a civilian guild master named Gu So-myeong.
Then it clicked.
“Ah, the guild master’s brother!”
And why Gu Ji-myeong’s name felt familiar too.
“B-Rank level 7!”
It had been overshadowed by recent hot topics, but in normal times, it’d be headline news.
Gu Ji-myeong had broken through the supposed B-Rank limit of level 6 to reach 7.
- Somyeong Guild’s Gu Ji-myeong Breaks B-Rank Limit!
- Somyeong Guild Master Gu So-myeong: Brother’s Tireless Effort Achieves Feat...
On the day Jeong-hyeon signed with KP Guild, Somyeong Guild had loudly announced their star hunter and guild master’s brother hitting level 7.
Buried by other news, but still major—articles flew out fast.
Just didn’t hit portal mains.
Jeong-hyeon, who kept up with news, had heard.
Hearing Gu Ji-myeong reached B-Rank 7, Jeong-hyeon had thought:
‘How the hell?’
He’d recently tried breaking his limit with a level-up ticket—system-imposed level cap—and got blocked.
Even his EX-rank trait couldn’t do it. How did a plain B-Rank manage? Unbelievable.
Hwi-gon’s earlier reaction was probably from remembering that news.
“Congratulations. Breaking the limit level—world’s first, right?”
“Yeah, well...”
But for some reason, despite Jeong-hyeon’s sincere praise, Ji-myeong just vaguely nodded.
World’s first limit break. World’s first B-Rank 7.
Every angle was a global first, yet he looked too grim for it.
‘Come to think of it, he’s been like that since he walked in.’
If he’d come beaming with achievement, Jeong-hyeon might’ve recognized him instantly.
“Something wrong?”
Jeong-hyeon asked carefully.
Crunch—
Ji-myeong bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
“Whoa!”
As Jeong-hyeon jumped up to stop him.
Ji-myeong’s outburst didn’t end there.
“Please help my brother!”
He shot to his feet, knelt by the empty chair spot, and shouted.
“Boss, what was that...? Uh... never mind.”
The sudden yell startled Min-ji; she peeked in, then backed out.
Boss reaching out, client kneeling head bowed.
Perfect setup for misunderstanding.
“No, Min-ji! It’s not—get up, why are you doing this?!”
“Please... please help...”
Flustered Jeong-hyeon yelled at the closed door and tried lifting him, but Ji-myeong wouldn’t budge.
He bowed deeper, even choking up.
“Stand up first and explain, then I can help or not—ugh, this is nuts.”
Level-ups were blessings for hunters.
Sure, circumstances varied, but what story could the first to surpass the limit have?
“Boss apparently...”
“Gasp! For real, Min-ji? Never pegged Han Jeong-hyeon for that...”
Outside, Min-ji’s shocked voice echoed with murmurs.
“Hm? What’s going on?”
Won-ho had arrived too.
This misunderstanding was about to snowball.
‘No, you idiots!’
What started as a peaceful morning commute spiraled further with Gu Ji-myeong’s arrival, amplifying Jeong-hyeon’s panic and woes.