Chapter 23
“You're harboring a dangerous misunderstanding...”
The section chief tilted the teapot, refilling his cup. After savoring the aroma for a moment, he spoke.
“I'm loyal solely to R&Y and the chairman. My ambitions serve R&Y's prosperity.”
“What a buzzkill.”
“Hamin. We're R&Y—the top Hunter guild in Korea. We have a duty to scout any standout Hunter.”
Jeong Hamin propped his chin on his elbow, replying curtly.
“That's HR's job, not yours, Section Chief.”
“It's a direct order from the chairman.”
“The axe you trust most is the one that chops your foot.”
“That's crossing the line, Hamin.”
“Like that's anything new.”
Jeong Hamin uncrossed his legs.
Stretching his upper body fluidly, he rolled his shoulders and said,
“I appreciate your devotion to R&Y and all, but like I said, I can't tell you. Can't even say why.”
“......A pact?”
“Think whatever you want. If you're that curious, put a mark on him. Not me. Won't make a difference anyway.”
“No one in our guild has time to tail someone. You're the only one with any slack, Hamin...”
“Come on, that's not true.”
A cold smile tugged at Jeong Hamin's lips.
“There's someone else handling side gigs with me.”
“Biyeol?”
“One of my seniors knows Seo Hunter a bit.”
Plus, Han Biyeol hadn't been at the scene, so he was free from the Eternal Pact.
Whether Han Biyeol— who had a dozen snakes in his belly—would deliver intel to the section chief was doubtful.
The EXP-obsessed bastard might bite if offered the right reward.
Either way, Jeong Hamin planned to watch from a safe distance.
Han-sunbae crumbling.
He'd been pondering how to screw over the guy who smoked joints nonstop.
Then Seo Wonseok showed up like a godsend.
Seo Hunter for the win!
Jeong Hamin gulped down his cold tea.
“Don't try bribing me with Credits, Section Chief. Who do you think I am, a beggar? No matter how high you go, I won't mark Seo Hunter.”
He wiped the pale green drips from his chin, laying down the threat.
“No amount's worth more than my life.”
“......?”
Jeong Hamin was convinced after the COEX Gate.
Seo Wonseok was a prime suspect for possessing Instant Death.
Even if not.
Korea's top guild? Please. They just kiss up to America. They can't handle talent like him.
Seo Wonseok was.
On another level from the dime-a-dozen scrubs rolling around like pebbles.
He'd only glimpsed fragments of his power, but Seo Wonseok would shake things up.
Beyond this tiny peninsula—to the whole world.
If I snag a Hunter like that and ship him to America?
My own stock would skyrocket.
“Heh heh...”
* * *
“......?”
What the hell.
Sudden chills in front of the grill...
“Uncle! The meat's burning!”
“Sorry, Naeuni.”
I rushed to rescue the suffering hanwoo.
Too late—charred to death.
“Wonseok, even if you're swimming in cash, how can you burn hanwoo like this? I can't even bear to eat the good stuff.”
I slid it onto my brother's plate.
“Repaying kindness with charcoal. My stomach's burning up!”
The savory fat aroma wafting through the air—this was the Majeongdong Meat House. Reasonable prices for top-grade hanwoo, owned by my college buddy.
I'd promised to treat him for his retirement.
“Hyung donates too much. Is it right to give away everything but living expenses?”
“Don't worry. Naeuni's college fund is steadily saving up.”
“Put some in a hanwoo fund too. She loves it this much.”
“You little punk!”
Laughing, I flipped the meat.
Sunset draping lazily over the skyscrapers in the evening glow.
I glanced at the cheap cylindrical chair beside me. A shopping bag sat on it.
If the KBC haul was my ledger.
This was Hunter Seo Wonseok's total balance.
Two pickups.
I'd snagged the long-coveted Surprise Texture Mask and Blood Draw Sticker on-site. Shelling out for two of the three kept items felt liberating.
Potion Ring...
Too pricey to buy.
Even scraping together every Credit from the COEX Gate left me with 31. Nowhere near the 81 target.
31 million won from one gate ain't bad, but...
Tears in my eyes, I held off on buying.
Thankfully, one extra Credit extended the reserve period by a week.
On the subway to Majeongdong, using the QR code I'd screwed Jeong Hamin with, I logged in and reluctantly dropped 3 Credits to push it three weeks out. Refundable on purchase, supposedly.
After 11 Credits spent, my account sat at 20.
Cashed out 8 into regular money too.
Gotta live somehow.
Overdue bills were piling up.
8 million won vanished in a blink.
Money's a scary thing.
Is this what a golden future feels like?
Keep Hunter-ing, and my sense of money'll go numb.
“Uncle! Meat's burning again!”
“Ah, crap.”
“Ugh, you klutz.”
A hand swooped in, snatching the tongs from me.
“What's the point of slicing diligently if you burn it all?”
The owner of this place.
24, my college dongsaeng.
“Hunter life's got you flush—don't waste it. Donate to us poor small-business folk.”
She's loaded.
“Small business? You inherited four chains on Majeongdong's prime spot.”
“That's Mom and Dad's money, not mine!”
“......”
Apron-clad, she'd joined us, distributing perfectly grilled meat.
“Now that's skill. Learn from it, Wonseok.”
“Me versus a pro?”
“That's the point.”
Hyung and Naeuni devoured the hanwoo. They eat well—easily ten portions worth.
Scrape.
“Enjoy.”
She stood.
I left the two and followed her out.
We sat on the waiting bench, two fists apart.
Silently watching the sunset.
Friends reunited transcending time and space, yet it felt like days ago. That's friendship.
We shared common ground.
The pain of the same loss.
After healer Awakeners emerged, prepping for the national exam, our futures were stolen.
Harsh truth.
We were the rejects of the superhuman era.
She peeled off her work gloves with a snap.
“You quit, huh.”
Cynical as ever.
“Yeah.”
“Good call. A scalpel guy parachuting into broadcasting? If you're Awakened, go Hunter.”
“Nearly died in my first Abyss Gate.”
“That's the payout. Earn big, FIRE early.”
I wanted that sincerely.
If not for tomorrow's must-hunts.
Days like today? Perfect.
“How about you? Suits you?”
“It's fine. Lately, inheriting the family biz feels like a win.”
“Lucky you.”
“Reading beast entrails beats people ones.”
Tough as ever.
“You're reading monster guts.”
Made my own future sound gross.
“Anyway. You seem well-off—show your face more. No med school means no dongsaeng reunions. Use Seo Boseok Hunter's autograph for some marketing.”
“Sure. But not anytime soon.”
“Straight to the field? Then this is bribery for my niece and half-bro. Can't show up for a bit.”
“Pretty much.”
I chuckled.
“Thanks. Great meal.”
She grinned back.
“382,000 won including VAT.”
“......”
“Receipt?”
Brutal, brutal world.
* * *
Time for a key revelation.
COEX Gate Special Reward!
The Surprise Texture Mask and Blood Draw Sticker are market items.
I leveraged future knowledge—they'd become scarce later—but others own them too.
But the COEX Gate perk? Mine alone.
A conquest reward from an anomalous ∅∅-grade Abyss Gate among paranormal phenomena.
I snatched it; no leftovers.
Bound to me—others touching it spells trouble.
Claimed it...
Now what?
Test it for real.
My cramped studio wasn't ideal for swinging around.
Time to enjoy Hunter society's infrastructure.
The training spot all Hunters use.
Back to the Chaos Gate where I got Red Slime.
Focus on self-improvement for a few days.
Rumors say guilds are digging into me. Source: Hunter Net.
Net gossip's mostly rumors.
But I had a verifier.
Gija-ryeong.
Too much aggro.
Not planning to hide forever.
But too soon. Too weak.
Abyss Gates barely let me survive solo. I'd relive my past life's end before goals met.
Self-cultivation.
Build inner strength.
Chaos Gate's perfect.
“Time to use this.”
Entering Yeouido, I donned the Surprise Texture Mask. Hydraulics hissed, adhering perfectly to my skin. Selfie check: some stranger's shocked face.
Flawless.
Pinched my cheek. Stung. Real skin.
Even hyung wouldn't recognize.
Hunter Association HQ or Chaos Gates? Hunter card suffices.
No special inspections for esteemed Hunters.
Prepped, I passed the revolving door.
Seoulites ignored me, as expected.
Smooth to the turnstiles. Swipe card, elevator to Chaos Gate.
Fleeting moment.
Info desk noisy.
......
Them again.
Yuneobyeon team leader and Han Biyeol. Arguing.
Hm. Was gonna dip after business.
Couldn't ignore the heated voices. Eavesdropped amid Hunters.
“Am I asking much? Just track a specific Hunter's location.”
“Does that Hunter have a criminal record?”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it does!”
“Haa... so frustrating...”
Han Biyeol sighed heavily. Dark circles like he'd pulled an all-nighter.
Nothing major.
Hunters are commonplace.
Swiped at turnstile, boarded elevator.
Ding...!
Floor 2.
Chaos Gate's basement. Testing gear—no need for risks.
Hallway of doors.
At 278, I pulled out Blood Mirror.
The blade's core, meant open, held a glinting golden die.
◈ A universal die that modifies gate acquisition items or stats (choose one) based on the roll!
◈ ※ Usable once per gate! Must roll upon entry for effect.
My special reward.
Fitting byproduct from the golden goblin.
Ruler-slaying prize—performance was top-tier.
......
......
Joker! Risk luck—or worse misfortune!
1: 10x loot & -10 stats (random)
“Please... not a 1.”
First try—too brutal.
My hand gripping the golden die was slick with sweat.
Creak.
Even pushing the door, I inwardly prayed pathetically.
“Please, high roll.”
* * *
One hour later.
Association HQ lobby.
Bored Hunters went their ways.
Yuneobyeon and Han Biyeol, mid-spat, hit deadlock.
Or so it seemed.
“Not asking much.”
Han Biyeol initiated again.
“Just tell me where Seo Wonseok—Seo Hunter—is.”
“I don't know! Even if I did, why tell you?”
“It's a special directive from R&Y leadership!”
“Haa... Even with higher-ups, I don't know means I don't... You've been repeating the same thing...”
Then.
“Ooooooh!”
Chaos under the big screen.
Yuneobyeon's weary eyes flicked over instinctively. More commotion...
“Gasp!”
He covered his mouth.
“Talking right in my face...”
Han Biyeol glanced at the board too.
Incredible feat achieved!!
“......”
“......”
They stared at each other.