Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Tower of Repentance
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Chapter 197
6-level Mission Gate 'Tower of Repentance'.
Jeong-hyeon and a group of people had gathered inside the tent set up in front of it.
"Hoo..."
They were about to enter the gate to start the raid, but for some reason, Jeong-hyeon let out a deep sigh.
Coincidentally, the timing was right after he had glanced over the members of the party who would be entering the gate with him.
"Ah, I'm so thrilled to finally go on a historic first hunt with Jeong Hyeon, the supernova of Korea's hunter world. Lately, it's been a stable period, so opportunities like this don't come often. It reminds me of a long time ago when I was in New York..."
Hwi-gon, who was still as talkative as ever.
Jeong-hyeon hadn't really wanted to bring him along, but the man had insisted so stubbornly on joining that he'd ended up including him anyway.
In fact, Jeong-hyeon had even sent an SOS to KP Guild Master Chang-su.
- Treat the vice guild master like he's just from HJH. Use him however you want, haha. Feel free, feel free.
But when Chang-su just laughed and said that, there was nothing to be done.
It wasn't like he hadn't understood Jeong-hyeon's point, so it was practically an admission that Hwi-gon was his own man.
Perhaps it also meant he had solid confidence in his skills.
No matter how annoying he was, Jeong-hyeon didn't want to see the vice guild master die a dog's death in someone else's Mission Gate raid.
'Won-ho hyung and Ji-myeong are one thing...'
Hwi-gon's presence was so overwhelming that the other two barely registered.
As always, Won-ho was silently checking his axe and armor.
Since HJH lacked a tank lately, Jeong-hyeon had bought him a shield and suggested practicing the tank role, and it seemed he quite liked it.
Ji-myeong was also checking his gear alongside Won-ho, his face tense.
Jeong-hyeon had hinted that he could enter the gate, but he still didn't fully believe it.
That was only natural.
The common knowledge that hunters above the level limit couldn't enter gates wasn't something that broke easily.
And on the surface, lacking magical firepower, Pyo Seung-jun, the B-rank level 6 fire mage loaned from Somyeong Guild, kept stealing glances at Jeong-hyeon.
He'd claimed to be Jeong-hyeon's fan after getting an autograph and even taking a photo earlier, and he still seemed unable to believe it was real.
From what Jeong-hyeon had overheard, he'd volunteered first upon hearing Jeong-hyeon needed a fire mage.
He'd wanted to bring Ji-hee, which would have been perfect, but she wasn't keen, and the association had said Mission Gates were still premature.
"Wow, is this the 'Dark Pickaxe' that blew away all the sirens' pots?"
When he recognized the pickaxe on Jeong-hyeon's back and said that, it had annoyed him a bit.
Still, meeting an unexpected fan had put Jeong-hyeon in a pretty good mood inwardly.
'Seeing this, I guess I've become pretty famous.'
He'd had civilians recognize him and ask for autographs or photos a few times, but this was the first time another hunter had gone this far.
Thud, thud—
That made five including Jeong-hyeon.
'Tower of Repentance' was a 6-man gate, so one spot left.
And that final member was someone Jeong-hyeon knew well, and one whose presence didn't pale next to Hwi-gon's.
He was walking toward them right then, too.
"Hunter Jeong Hyeon."
"Ah, Team Leader Cha."
Jeong-hyeon replied to her, who called out to him with a terribly sour expression.
None other than Cha Ye-rin.
The reason for her bad mood was extremely simple.
Ye-rin approached Jeong-hyeon and whispered in his ear.
"Could you please tell that person that if he doesn't shut up right now, something very unfortunate might happen?"
Of course, the content didn't suit a whisper at all.
"Haha... I'll try."
He didn't need to ask who she meant.
From the start, Hwi-gon was the only one talking here.
It had been over 30 minutes since he arrived, and he'd been yapping nonstop, so it wasn't strange that Ye-rin had exploded.
"Min-ji!"
"Yes, boss?"
When Jeong-hyeon raised his voice to call Min-ji, she poked her head in from outside where she'd been waiting.
Confirming her, Jeong-hyeon quickly gestured.
He pointed at Hwi-gon once, then at Ye-rin, straightened his hand, and sliced across his throat with a squeak.
The motion was fast, but Min-ji wasn't one to miss that signal.
"Ah, damn..."
Grumbling about getting stuck with another annoying task, she still grabbed Hwi-gon's arm and pulled.
"Come out for a sec!"
"Huh? What's up? Ah, Min-ji, do you want to hear about that unbelievable thing that happened to me in New York too...?"
"Not interested!"
Min-ji looked at the relentlessly talking Hwi-gon like he was a cockroach.
'In that they won't die no matter how much you stomp them, maybe they're similar.'
Tall, handsome, A-rank traits, good education—he was the type who wouldn't lose out anywhere, but that mouth was the problem.
Thanks to Min-ji's sacrifice, the tent finally quieted down.
He'd have to see his skills in action, but he was the type of person Jeong-hyeon absolutely wanted to avoid hunting with under normal circumstances.
"Tch, anyway, Team Leader Cha, you're really free today, right?"
"These days, I'm practically unemployed."
Ye-rin replied, returning to her normal expression now that she could breathe.
Actually, Ye-rin was a master of poker faces to begin with.
It took a truly heinous criminal to make her frown, so in a way, this proved Hwi-gon was impressive.
Anyway, upon hearing about the Somyeong Guild request, Ye-rin had immediately said she'd join.
Guarding the department alone was boring, she'd said.
- Then who's watching Investigation Division?
- Team Leader Seok-woong's been running around nonstop lately, so I figured I'd give him a break.
She had her own plans, so Jeong-hyeon had let her handle it.
With her joining, considering her skills he'd seen in the Centaur Plains last time, Jeong-hyeon actually owed her thanks.
And then, Min-ji, who had dragged Hwi-gon out, stuck her head back in.
"Boss, the guild master is here."
"Ah, got it. Tell him to come in."
Jeong-hyeon's face, which had held a faint smile moments ago, hardened instantly.
The 'guild master' Min-ji mentioned was naturally Somyeong Guild's Gu So-myeong.
With Jeong-hyeon's permission, So-myeong appeared right away.
"Hunter Jeong Hyeon. Long time no see. Doing well?"
"You too, Guild Master?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
After the perfunctory handshake, Jeong-hyeon quickly checked Ji-myeong's reaction.
Sure enough, the moment So-myeong's name came up, he was stiff and unfocused.
Jeong-hyeon turned his attention back to So-myeong.
A face exactly like Ji-myeong's.
But the vibe was subtly different.
Unlike the somehow suppressed Ji-myeong, this man exuded confidence from every pore.
'Even more of a bastard than I thought.'
Jeong-hyeon recalled visiting Somyeong Guild after accepting Ji-myeong's request, to nail down a solid contract.
***
"Oh, Hunter Jeong Hyeon. I've been waiting. Honored to meet you."
When Jeong-hyeon entered the guild master's office, So-myeong made a huge fuss like he'd been waiting.
At a glance, he seemed affable and innocently kind, but Jeong-hyeon sensed it right away.
'A con artist.'
Having bounced between orphanages and workshops, how many 'scammers' had he met?
Plenty approached with smiling faces to suck the poor dry.
Jeong-hyeon, scammed out of pocket change a few times, could roughly judge people's true nature by instinct.
He'd need more talk to be sure, but So-myeong was definitely not a good type.
Far from the public image of humble and respected.
"I heard Ji-myeong was rude, but you kindly accepted the request. Thank you. As you know, the cost of him reaching level 7 is huge."
"Must be tough."
So-myeong prattled on, Jeong-hyeon gave short replies—the pattern repeated until So-myeong's eyes changed slightly.
He'd sensed Jeong-hyeon wasn't buying into his fuss.
"Ahem, anyway, about the request—you asked for party composition authority, right?"
"Yes."
"I know HJH only has you and one other... You'll fill the rest from the guild?"
"Four from our side. Support the remaining two—a fire mage first."
So-myeong listened attentively, jotting notes.
But the next part shattered his composure too.
"And one is Hunter Gu Ji-myeong."
"Pardon?"
Must have misheard.
So-myeong's doubtful expression said it all, but Jeong-hyeon calmly repeated.
"I'm taking Hunter Gu Ji-myeong."
"Uh... Hunter Jeong Hyeon. Hunter Gu Ji-myeong is level 7. And 'Tower of Repentance' is level 6."
"I know."
"Huh..."
So-myeong's reaction was much like Ji-myeong's when he first heard he could enter.
Disbelief at first, then bafflement.
But from the next moment, their attitudes diverged.
"By any chance... do you know some information I don't?"
So-myeong's eyes gleamed as he asked.
From some no-name gate office with no track record, he'd have kicked them out, but this was Jeong Hyeon.
A rookie who'd cleared Mission Gates at unprecedented speed.
If he said that much, there had to be grounds.
As he guessed, Jeong-hyeon nodded.
"I know a way."
"Perhaps—"
"I can't tell you."
"Hahaha! I have some shame. It's just worry for my brother's hunter career..."
Jeong-hyeon cut him off sharply, as if predicting it, and So-myeong naturally made excuses.
'Worry for your brother's hunter career, my ass.'
It was an outrageous lie to Jeong-hyeon.
If he really cared, he wouldn't smile like that.
He'd kneel or bully the info out.
Especially for a brother who'd sacrificed so much for him.
This was a man who calculated only personal profit and loss.
No point pressing further—he'd backed off quick.
"Anyway, you're as amazing as they say. A way to bypass gate level limits..."
Actually, Jeong-hyeon didn't have any special method.
Ji-myeong could enter a level 6 gate right now; no one had just thought to try.
So-myeong probed again, subtly.
"Then, after this raid, would you share the method with us...?"
"Can't do that."
"As expected."
This time a convincingly regretful face, but obviously acting.
"My brother worked so hard for me, and the price is suddenly level 7. As his brother, I feel so sorry."
Trying to tug heartstrings now?
As he spoke, So-myeong dabbed at his eyes.
'Oh really?'
Rumor had it he doted on his brother— was this why?
'Should I play along a bit?'
The thought crossed Jeong-hyeon's mind.
He made a pitiful face toward the tearfully acting So-myeong.
"If you care that much for your brother, no choice."
"Yes? Then perhaps?"
Where'd the crying go?
Impressive acting chops.
'I'll acknowledge you if you take this.'
"On the condition Hunter Gu Ji-myeong transfers to HJH, I'll let him continue hunting. How's that?"
"..."
So-myeong gaped, unable to reply instantly.
Only natural.
The reason he kept sending Ji-myeong into gates was simple.
A selling guild where most hunters left for big ones upon growth.
Somyeong Guild had been propped up almost single-handedly by Ji-myeong.
Sure, So-myeong had secured gates for that brutal schedule, but managing hunters' condition was his job too.
Especially his own brother.
Transferring Ji-myeong in that situation?
No way he'd accept.
"Haha... My brother's so lacking, I'm not sure he'd function elsewhere. He relies on me so much..."
Beating around the bush, but refusal.
Watching So-myeong, Jeong-hyeon was convinced.
'You're done for now.'