Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Chapter 46
The next day. Korea Hunter Bank.
The insurer shall pay the agreed insurance amount for injuries or death sustained by the insured (Hunter) during gate subjugation.
① Perfect Subjugation Refund
If the insured achieves 1st place contribution in gate subjugation without sustaining any injuries and completes the subjugation, 800% of the paid premium will be refunded.
② Conditions
Based on the official contribution measurement system
Confirmed injury-free via medical examination
① Multiplier Increase System
First achievement: Existing premium × 2x refund
Insurer cannot unilaterally cancel
The deputy branch manager's hand trembled as he gripped the corner of the paper, smoothing out its wrinkles.
Soon, he stared at me sipping the herbal tea prepared as welcome tea, his eyes wide in astonishment.
"I-Is this... really...?"
"Ah, you're talking about the witness."
His gaze demanded someone to notarize that I was truly the top contributor in the Greenbelt Gate.
I pulled out my phone and called someone.
"H-How can you make a call here?!"
I'd forgotten—the VIP room blocked signals.
It didn't matter to me since I owned a mana stone SD card, but anyway.
No obligation to explain, so I just summoned the witness.
The door creaked open.
The deputy branch manager's stunned eyes darted left and right.
Because of the man who entered.
"I need you to explain the contract details on my behalf."
"......"
The man sat at a distance from me, his face twisted like he'd eaten shit.
Even as he spoke, his hand twitched toward his throbbing left eye patch.
"This man, Seo Wonseok, was indeed the key to conquering the Greenbelt Gate."
"......!!"
The deputy branch manager looked utterly incredulous.
Which made sense.
The guild master of North Ocean Corp., infamous for his personality, was vouching for me.
'Strictly speaking, a doppelganger.'
A bank deputy like him, far removed from gates, wouldn't know the difference.
"Per the contract, the reverse insurance payout I should receive comes to about 120 million won in cash equivalent."
I eyed him.
No—my new subordinate.
"I've fulfilled the contract."
I told the deputy branch manager, who had doubtless sucked the lifeblood from countless hunters.
"Now I want to hear from the bank's side."
Spit out all the blood you've drunk until now.
......A few hours earlier.
North Ocean Corp. guild building.
Namgung Hyuni's mouth was parched dry. Because of the man across from him.
Seo Wonseok.
His relationship with this enigmatic hunter was bound to be awkward. After all, this man was the one who'd sent the original body to Paju.
Namgung Hyunil's clone and original body.
They were two yet one.
But the longer they were separated, the stronger the clone's sense of self grew.
To the doppelganger, the original was like a parent. Separation stirred deep-seated fear within.
"......Do you have business with me?"
He opened gruffly yet politely, a tricky balance.
"I don't think there's any more business between us."
"I settled things with Namgung Hyunil in Paju, but I haven't had a proper chance with you."
"......? I am Namgung Hyunil."
"No. You're Namgung Hyunil's doppelganger. You'll be living separately for nearly a decade now—better to separate your egos."
Seo Wonseok continued.
"The limit has come."
The doppelganger glared with wide, resolute eyes.
But even as the guild master shot to his feet, no employees glanced over.
North Ocean Corp. was essentially in bankruptcy proceedings.
Hunters were stuck in Paju, admin staff packing up.
'No attachment to a sinking ship.'
Whether the boss stood on his head or whatever, they didn't care.
The doppelganger let the reality sink in deeper, raising his voice.
"You force a life apart and now talk of ego separation? You kidding?! You think I'm weak just 'cause I'm a clone? I'm still better than most B-ranks!"
"I've never looked down on you."
"Wha...!"
"If I had, would I treat the original and clone as separate beings?"
Seo Wonseok's eyes were like chips of ice.
The doppelganger deflated.
'That gaze...'
The Surprise Texture Mask was a fraudulent item that fooled even epic or mythic grades—a marvel of civilization.
Even an A-rank couldn't keep poker face against it.
'Damn it.'
Under the mask, Seo Wonseok was sweating bullets.
'I need this guy for the bank.'
He'd come to secure cooperation and aid for his plans.
But the reception was ice cold.
'Thought he'd be thrilled.'
Independence from the original should be a win for the clone. Their bond was tighter than expected.
'Not quite telepathic, but...'
Catching the doppelganger's unexpected agitation, Seo Wonseok tensed, palms sweating.
He clenched and unclenched his fist.
"......Hah."
The doppelganger slumped back onto the sofa.
Misinterpreting the hand motion as a taunt—like "bring it if you dare."
"Just say what you came to say. The Seoul branch is as good as dead anyway. Original's stuck in Paju by force, and I'll be left paying rent on this empty shell. Even if I wanted to make an offer that'd tempt you, I can't."
The sad state of North Ocean—straight facts, no sugarcoating.
"An offer that tempts me?"
"Article 1. Didn't you say that?"
Right.
He'd forgotten in the heat.
"I'm not here to squeeze more from North Ocean."
Seo Wonseok shook his head.
"Just seeking cooperation."
"Didn't you hear? No resources left for cooperation."
"It won't cost you anything."
"......"
"Hear me out?"
Back at the bank.
"This man, Seo Wonseok, was indeed the key to conquering the Greenbelt Gate."
"N-No... "
"You."
As the deputy branch manager reflexively denied out of habit, the doppelganger finally snapped.
Already frustrating being jerked around by this cold-blooded hunter.
Now some non-awakened punk trying to interfere? Flames shot from his eyes.
"You calling me a liar?"
"M-Misunderstanding! N-Never meant to withhold!"
The deputy hid behind a coat rack, trembling. He stretched out an arm in excuse.
"W-We will pay! B-But... this was a special rider between Hunter Seo and myself, so reporting to HQ and getting approval will take some time..."
"One-line summary."
The doppelganger cut him off.
"By day after tomorrow! N-No, by evening at latest, we'll get approval...!"
Now's the time.
My cue.
"No need."
"What...?"
"Hand over that sum right now, and it'd be a huge bump in your career, Deputy."
"......"
"Wouldn't it?"
The deputy's lips flapped like a goldfish.
"This was a lucky break. I didn't expect to achieve the reverse insurance I proposed myself."
Seo Wonseok said.
"But it's still mighty tempting terms for me."
......Is he insane?
Excited over an insurance betting his own life?
"So I want this contract extended."
"What do you...?"
"Since we're at it, how about doubling down each time? Same clauses."
"......Injury-free top contributor gets 800%...?"
"Yes. But it doubles every time."
The deputy clenched his fist under the desk.
"What do you say?"
Seo Wonseok asked impassively.
"Does this need HQ approval too?"
"N-No way!"
The deputy, thrilled, drafted the addendum.
But his eager pen soon halted.
"Apply this insurance contract to the North Ocean guild master as well."
"......Guild Master Namgung Hyunil?"
The deputy doubted his ears.
He glanced at Namgung Hyunil.
Silence.
'This poison pill clause?'
Flabbergasted, the deputy still wrote another copy.
Just before parting on the street.
The doppelganger couldn't hold back from Seo Wonseok. Too nagging otherwise.
"Is this really the revival plan for North Ocean's Seoul branch?"
"You've got insurance under the North Ocean name. Prime chance to squeeze 1.5x from it."
The doppelganger's terms mirrored Seo Wonseok's.
Top 3 contributor? 1.5x paid premiums.
"At least secures guild operating funds."
"Isn't this scamming the bank?"
"Hasn't North Ocean scammed plenty of abyss entrants? Bank's no different."
"......"
Speechless, hit in the vitals.
"But you still need top 3 contribution."
"You said it yourself—even as a doppelganger, you crush average B-ranks. Show your stuff."
"......Easier said."
"If you're not confident, join the abyss gates I raid. Top 3's doable."
"......"
"See you, Namgung Hyuni."
Seo Wonseok turned away.
The doppelganger stared at his retreating back, then checked the contract again.
Not the bank one—the prior Eternal Pact Contract with Seo Wonseok.
Next to his blood thumbprint: a name.
Not Namgung Hyunil.
"Namgung Hyuni (No. 2)."
"A name... "
Namgung Hyuni sank into strange emotions, then shook his head.
Don't get lost in it.
Keep an eye on that one, even with one eye.
'Seo Wonseok is our enemy.'
Our.
He mulled the word anew. Lest he forget he was a mere doppelganger.
Seo Wonseok headed straight to a deserted alley.
Sparkle peeked from his inner pocket, watching the rear.
"The presences have completely disappeared!"
"Good... "
Seo Wonseok sighed in relief, leaning against the wall to scan the Eternal Pact Contract.
Namgung Hyuni. He stared long at the red thumbprint beside.
Inked stiffly in the rep office—'hunter-style,' slicing thumb crude.
Then Namgung Hyuni's blood smeared the wound.
Eternal Blessing formed with subordinate Namgung Hyuni 2.
Almost fainted.
Thank god for the Surprise Texture Mask.
'How...'
Pondering all the way to the bank VIP room, one possibility flashed.
'Blood donation.'
Seo Wonseok had donated semi-regularly since college. Frequently.
Likely, Namgung Hyuni had unwittingly received his blood transfusion.
As a clone.
'Original used him for scouting, etc.'
No picky about dirty work for a doppelganger.
Constant heavy bleeding, injuries. Death hits original too, so transfusions timely.
'Must've gotten mine then.'
As an awakener, his blood supplied to hunters.
"What a coincidence."
Another familiar, subordinate added.
The head of the guild he'd pushed to bankruptcy brink.
A doppelganger, no less.
"......"
Seo Wonseok moved on.
Time to test at the 64 Building.
The true reward from Greenbelt Gate.
Tall Goblin.
Term for goblins reaching adult male chest height, appearing in mid-10th floor Chaos Gates of the 64 Building.
Gatekeepers blocking hunters from proper 20th floor entry.
Tall Goblins surrounded me.
Unlike regular goblins barely chest-high, their presence differed.
Just a head taller, yet the pressure so thick? I preferred the exciting height gap of normals.
"It's fine. I've gotten stronger."
I muttered aloud to hype myself.
Chaos Gate.
No audience.
"Kek, krrk!"
Thinking me off-guard, two charged.
Taller meant sturdier builds. Leaps lightning-fast compared to normal goblins!
Relatively speaking.
Fists flew from both sides. I crossed arms, gripped their jaws tight.
Caught mid-charge, momentum slowed. Twisted arms like wringing a rag.
Krrrk!
Bones pierced skin. Comrades who'd angled attacks scattered—not frontal, but rear and flanks.
Grown smarter proportional to height, it seemed.
Fists, clubs, notched blades rained. Knee-kicked the jaw of the one whose arm I'd crushed.
Splat—goblin head flattened like tofu. Whipped it like a flail.
Smashed goblins aiming left flank and blind spot with goblin.
They didn't die, but flew off.
I squeezed another snarling goblin's arm harder.
Shoved a kick into its dislocated shoulder chest.
Oncoming right-side goblins tumbled into the armless one.
I tilted neck. Pointed blade grazed ear with a hiss.
Drew dagger, Blood Shadow.
Fed fingertip blood. Crimson sheen coated blade.
Consumed 1 ■ to activate Blood Slash.
Seo Wonseok (A)'s status: ■■■□□
Effect: Coat weapon in blood to boost cutting power.
Application: Scales with blood amount—even severs steel!
Kwachak!
Bloody halves stitched stickily by goblin guts.
Clean cut, no resistance.
Okay. This much blood cleaves monster flesh and bone.
Wiping eye-area blood, I gauged by glance.
Opened eyes. Gazed past bisected corpses at goblin.
Its pupils quaked. If before was 5.0 quake, now 7.0.
I activated another skill unfatigued.
Consumed 1 ■ to activate Blood Pulse.
Seo Wonseok (A)'s status: ■■□□□
Effect: Synchronize heartbeat with target for 10 seconds.
Application: Induce calm, excitement, knockout, etc.
Muscles twitched, clashing.
Head heated.
Hot enough to pop the lid if he had one.
Bent knees.
Straightened.
Shwaaaaa!
Air clung thick to skin.
Like full sprint into industrial fan.
Body smashing air barrier forward.
At end: two Tall Goblins backpedaling.
Distance closed to eye-stab range.
Hemo, morphed as my clothes, poked out a red stripe.
One of the five directional colors: Red.