Chapter 3 - Deok-su, Aren't You Going to Use Your Skill?
Since I wasn't making any gestures, President Kim Cheol-su urged me through the microphone.
A subtle standoff unfolded between me and the Hunter Association president.
He must have thought I couldn't use my skill.
But that wasn't the case.
'If I use it, everything goes to hell...'
Using Abyss of Hell here would shatter the glass windows in an instant, turning the president inside into a human roast.
'Human roast? The minotaur just vanished from existence.'
Please use your skill.
'Sigh...'
I raised my hands high, forming a big X.
"No way! I mean, I can't!"
"..."
The president looked at me impassively and raised one hand.
Then the men who had been escorting me earlier surged into the test room like a wave.
"Wh-what?"
I panicked. Their polite demeanor was gone; they slammed my head to the ground.
"Gah!"
One clung to each of my limbs, pinning me down.
"Mmph!"
The men ignored me completely.
"Fuck... I said mmph."
The pressure on my head garbled my speech.
After a moment, President Kim Cheol-su came down from the control room above.
One of the cops who'd been playing bodyguard spoke up.
"Kang Deok-su, you're under arrest for the murder of Joo Tae-su. You have the right to remain silent—"
Me, suspected of murder.
Click!
They cuffed my wrists.
I never imagined I'd get arrested for murder in my life. I'd been a law-abiding citizen forever, and now tears of frustration welled up.
"Wait! There must be some mistake here."
I tried to explain calmly, but they wouldn't listen.
"Ha..."
"Huh?"
I shook off the men's hands forcefully and stood up. At level 21, I could snap these cuffs if I tried.
"Hup!"
No good.
"These are mana stone cuffs for grand awakeners. Mr. Kang Deok-su... it'd be best if you come quietly."
A red aura emanated from the president's hand.
Kim Cheol-su was an A-rank hunter. If he got serious, I wouldn't stand a chance—unless he was trying to kill me.
"W-wait! Is this how things work in a democracy? Just hear me out."
I spoke clearly, pretending to be a total normie. Which I basically was.
"What is it?"
Kim Cheol-su eyed me coldly, already convicting me of murder.
"It's not that I can't use my skill—it's that I won't. If I do, everyone here might die."
"Everyone dies?"
He smirked, thinking it was my last desperate bluff.
"Do you know how many S-rank hunters have used their skills in this test room? Even Joo Tae-su was tested here. And you think your skill can't handle it? You're overly full of yourself."
'Mine isn't S-rank; that's the problem.'
I opened and closed my mouth like a fish.
Should I tell him? That my rank isn't S—it's EX. Maybe then he'd get it.
No... They'd hype me up as the greatest hunter ever, humanity's savior, and push me to climb the tower.
I hated that life. Living in constant fear of death, no matter how much money I had. To me, climbing the Magic Tower was like gambling with your life. You only stop when you die.
"Phew..."
As I flopped like a dying fish, Kim Cheol-su sighed.
"Fine, I get it."
"If you're worried about the power, try it with these mana stone cuffs on. That should settle it, right?"
"With the cuffs on?"
"Yes. They reduce skill power by about 30%. Even then, you wouldn't hold back out of fear of killing everyone, would you?"
30%... that should be enough.
No backing out now. I'd end up on trial for a murder I didn't commit.
"Okay. I'll give it a shot."
"Hm..."
Kim Cheol-su seemed slightly thrown off that I'd agreed so readily.
"Five minutes. If you can't use it in five, you come with us."
"Sure, fine."
The president returned to the control room, and the cops who'd startled me filed out.
"Fuck, that scared me."
A minor hiccup, but we were back to square one.
Please use your skill.
'Fine, if you insist, I'll humor you.'
I extended my arms forward.
Abyss of Hell
And activated Abyss of Hell.
Then—
"BOOOOM!!"
The silent test room erupted in a deafening roar.
Rumble rumble...
My vision filled with flames, and Kim Cheol-su panicked.
'An... earthquake?'
No way.
"Wh-what the hell..."
The result was astonishing. In just three seconds, the 150-pyeong test chamber's walls were grotesquely warped, barely containing the power. The floor had melted unevenly, unable to withstand it. And the reinforced glass now had 2-3 clear cracks.
"Urk..."
In the center, Kang Deok-su staggered, nose bleeding, on the verge of collapse.
"Kang Deok-su!"
As Kim Cheol-su rushed over calling my name, I glanced at him and blacked out.
"Ugh..."
I woke up in the hospital again.
"My arms!"
I checked my arms first—they were intact and moved normally.
'Phew... lucky. Some burns, but not like last time—no numbness.'
Still passed out again. I thought I'd be fine this time. Level 1 before, now 21. Strength, mana, defense—all boosted. Yet my body still couldn't handle it.
'When will this get better...'
They wouldn't drag me to the station now, right?
As I thought that, the ICU door opened, and the president entered.
"How's your body, Mr. Deok-su?"
Gone was the sharp tone; Kim Cheol-su was surprisingly gentle.
"Yeah, better than last week."
"I'm sorry..."
He glanced at me, mouth flapping.
"You're truly an S-rank hunter. I shouldn't have doubted you."
From his perspective, suspecting me of lying was reasonable. When I wouldn't use the skill, it must've turned to certainty.
"No big deal. So no police station? You really scared me."
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Let me apologize again."
"Okay."
An awkward silence passed before he spoke.
"But... what was that?"
"Huh?"
"How did you wreck the test room like that? The glass nearly shattered."
'It didn't break? Bummer... I was kinda hoping.'
"S-rank power's just strong, right?"
Playing dumb was best here.
"No. I've seen other S-ranks use skills—even Joo Tae-su's. But that... it wasn't even the same skill. What are you hiding?"
I flinched.
"Hiding? Me? Haha."
"Sorry, but could you open your skill window?"
"Skill window? Sure."
'Skill window.'
"Opened it."
"Read the skills out loud as they are?"
"Huh?"
'Who does this guy think I am, an idiot?'
"I don't have to disclose my skills, right? It's not in the Hunter Regulations."
"Ahem. Sorry, I was rude again. Mind if I confirm a few things?"
"Sure, that much."
This guy loves double-checking...
"Does your skill have a cooldown?"
"Yes."
No shit...
"I see. How many seconds, if I may?"
"That's... not short."
"Right... so you've definitely used it once."
He must've suspected chain explosions mimicking multiple uses.
"What's the skill name?"
"Skill name? Obviously Flame Fury."
I answered nonchalantly.
"Right. Joo Tae-su's was definitely Flame Fury."
He eyed me suspiciously.
"Finally, the rank?"
"Rank? Obviously S-rank."
"Definitely S? Not SS or S+... exactly one S? Check closely."
Man, his instincts are sharp...
I nodded.
"Yeah, just one S. Wish it was S+."
"I see..."
"So what's the problem..."
He rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
"Sorry, Mr. Deok-su, could you come to the test room once more next week? We'll prepare properly—no cuffs. We can use that old industrial complex site..."
"Hey, President."
Time to push back hard.
"You've got some thick skin. You had the guy who came all this way slammed face-first, cuffed him, and told him to get a lawyer."
"Am I an idiot? Go back there?"
No grudge against Kim Cheol-su, but EX-rank stays hidden.
It landed; his face stiffened.
"You're right. I got ahead of myself... The Association will compensate you separately for today. Medical bills are covered."
Obviously...
"And we'll issue your S-rank hunter license soon."
"Yeah, good."
Finally, the license.
"So, when do you start climbing the tower...?"
What?
This guy's crossing lines again.
"President."
"Yes."
"When did I say I'd climb the tower? I have no plans for that."
I'd thought about the tower, but not telling the Association.
"Remember what I said last week? Me being S-rank is absolutely secret. Don't tell a soul. If it leaks, I'm done with the Korean Hunter Association."
"Th-then where?"
"Who knows? China, America maybe."
"Th-that can't happen!"
That rattled him? He shot up then sat back down, embarrassed.
"Yeah, so keep it secret."
"Phew..."
He sighed.
"Got it. Rest well. I'll visit again."
'Visit again? This is the last time I see you, old man.'
Kim Cheol-su gathered his things and stood.
"I'll be going then."
"Yeah, see yourself out."
Shoo shoo... finally alone. Time to rest.
He trudged out like a defeated soldier.
Ring!
My phone buzzed soon after.
"What now?"
Ah... how'd this old man get my number?
This is why dealing with organizations is a pain...
Phew... can't ignore a thank-you. Gotta dodge his calls...
I fiddled with my phone.
Hm... bored. Might check the hunter community.
Wonder what they're saying about the 50th floor. Probably nothing good.
Yep. The content was wild. Claimed the data collection team had an awakener who sabotaged Joo Tae-su on purpose.
What? I'd die too—how?
Sorry to Joo Tae-su, but I didn't expect this. Blame the Association's handling more.
Comments were worse.
"Hm..."
Some truth hurts more.
Oh well. I didn't want to kill Joo Tae-su. I nearly died too—I'm a victim.
"Phew... whatever."
EX-rank ain't all great. Twice in a week at a hospital I'd never visited before.
No more risky stuff!
My skill Abyss of Hell was the riskiest. Never using it again!
Back in his office, Kim Cheol-su reflected on the day's events.
Knock knock.
"President, may I come in?"
It was his secretary, Han Ye-rin.
"Yes."
"Did you wrap up today? Handover to prosecutors by now—"
She cut straight to it.
"No... not that."
He shook his head.
"I totally misread it."
"Misread?"
"Not Ripley syndrome. He really used Joo Tae-su's skill."
But was it really Joo's skill? A slight doubt crept in.
"So skill transfer is real?"
"Seems so. You should've seen it. Power that defies logic."
"I see."
He shook his head again.
"Phew... dunno. Anyway, all S-ranks responded to the summons?"
"Yes. Gil Su-bin and Han Tae-seong declined. The rest entered Korea and will attend tomorrow's meeting."
"Tch. Han Tae-seong's unavoidable."
Tomorrow, he'd convene all Korean S-rank hunters for a meeting.
The void left by S-rank Joo Tae-su. Not just any S-rank—the forefront of Korean Magic Tower climbs.
His death meant busyness ahead.
"Tomorrow's big. Prepare thoroughly."
"Yes sir."
Another day faded.