Chapter 2
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Black Shadow's Bounty
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[Think of it positively.]
Breaking Army Star's upbeat tone made Sejin pout.
"What do you mean?"
[It means the other gods haven't been found yet because they're pouring everything they have into holding back Cheonmyeong's seal.]
What was that supposed to mean? That the deadline for destruction had been extended? Sejin tilted her head with a sullen look on her face.
[Originally, the seven gods had Cheonmyeong's soul bound tight. But now that I've broken free, the others will awaken one by one soon enough. Cheonmyeong too.]
Once Sejin claimed the final god, Cheonmyeong's seal would shatter completely.
As if cautioning her about the bloody storm to come, Breaking Army Star lowered his voice.
[Right now, all we can do is wait for the other gods to awaken.]
His own release was proof enough. Cracks were already forming in the seal.
[In the meantime, you need to master wielding my powers—and those of the other gods—freely and get comfortable with combat.]
How nice it would be if it were as simple as leveling up in a game.
The power Sejin would wield was vast enough to avert the world's end, but how effectively she used it would all come down to her own skill.
Sensing Breaking Army Star's worry, Sejin let out a secret sigh and nodded.
"I know."
That's why she was out there closing gates left and right, even while being hunted as an unregistered hunter. She clamped her mouth shut before a grumble could slip out.
To Breaking Army Star, even that probably looked pathetic compared to the old Cheonhui.
But she was doing her level best with what she had.
'Sigh, if only hunter registration worked. Why won't it?'
She clenched her trembling fist, leaving crescent-shaped marks in her palm.
She had a hunter's power, but as an unregistered hunter, she couldn't get certified.
That was Sejin's awkward spot in the world right now.
Stealthily closing gates while always watching her back—what was the point? The Seven Stars Gods she was waiting for never showed, and all she got was the nation on her tail.
Her own miserable situation drew a heavy sigh as she furrowed her brow.
"I swear, doing this crap is gonna give me a heart attack."
Strictly speaking, it wasn't even wrongdoing. Yet the government was dead set on catching unregistered hunter Sejin.
Well, she couldn't exactly blame them.
'This is such a pain.'
Who else could understand the thrill of being chased by government hunters?
She wasn't breaking laws—just quietly sealing gates and slipping away—yet she was always on the run.
Last time, she'd nearly gotten nabbed for real.
The chilling memory had Sejin gulping down the cold water in her cup.
[Tsk.]
As if reading her mood, Breaking Army Star held back his usual lecture.
Good. Conscience intact.
Long ago, gates had appeared out of nowhere, spewing monsters.
Humanity fought back with their weapons, but it wasn't enough against the creatures.
The sudden catastrophe halved the population.
Then hunters burst onto the scene like shooting stars.
For some reason, people weren't dying off—they started awakening to battle the disaster.
Some spat fire or water from their hands; others shifted boulders without lifting a finger.
They were called hunters.
Their awakened combat prowess was beyond imagination.
As hunters sealed gates one by one, the collapsing world slowly found its footing.
The tide turned on the creatures, and humanity laid down rules to manage the hunters.
That's why hunter registration was such a big deal.
If hunters went rogue, gates or no gates, the fragile new society could crumble.
The powerless both idolized the hunters who slew emerging creatures and feared them.
She got what worried them.
Registered hunters fell under strict government oversight.
'Can't be helped. Great power, great responsibility.'
People weren't all saints, and neither were hunters.
Criminal hunters rotted in special camps, their civilian body counts etched in records.
Sigh. But why couldn't she register? Was she defective?
"If I could just register as a hunter, I wouldn't have to worry about this."
Sejin irritably raked back her hair.
[That machine's busted.]
"Busted? It worked fine."
Everyone else registered no problem—except her. What was wrong with it?
[It can't handle someone born with Cheonhui's soul.]
Even his gentle coaxing failed to soothe her.
Was she a hunter? The day she turned adult, Sejin had rushed to the test full of hope.
Breaking Army Star should've stopped her.
After blowing 200,000 won five times over, she finally quit.
'No, why won't it freaking work!'
Raging at the vanished fees, Sejin stomped around like a lunatic.
Breaking Army Star just tsked pityingly.
It was a half-baked machine, only screening those with diluted bloodlines.
'No way!'
He pep-talked her—they were knockoffs, she was the genuine article—but her million won stayed gone.
'My money...'
The thought soured her stomach instantly.
Every penny scraped from grueling part-time gigs. Sob.
That's why Sejin hid her identity while clearing gates.
Ah, damn it—she couldn't just quit. If she did, everything fell apart! World ends! Argh!
Trembling with frustration, her grip dented the stainless steel cup ever so slightly.
[Now, now, easy.]
As Sejin huffed and puffed, a steaming bowl of gukbap appeared on her table.
She calmed right down—gukbap to the rescue.
Sejin's eyes sparkled at the piping-hot bowl.
Diamond Mountains look better after dinner. She needed to fuel up before hitting the next gate.
"Looks tasty."
As she fished out meat chunks and seasoned with shrimp sauce, her gaze drifted to the news on the shop TV.
The opening shot showed a blurry back view, speculating on height and gender.
"Gasp."
Sejin froze mid-bite, eyes wide.
Bounty: 200 million.
"Cough—almost ruined my meal."
But thankfully, the gukbap still hit the spot.
[200 million? Already up!]
Breaking Army Star's proud cheer had Sejin chewing her mouthful of meat in sheer disbelief.
"You happy about that?"
[Uh, ahem.]
"Real proud of me, huh?"
Her sarcasm drew multiple fake coughs from Breaking Army Star.
[Oh, look—there's Han Kitae. Nice face, shame about the guy behind it. Tsk tsk.]
Sure enough, on the massive TV, Han Kitae appeared with his striking features.
"He really is gorgeous."
Sejin slapped a hand over her mouth at the unintended words. Breaking Army Star's scolding was instant.
[Handsome face means zero brains!]
"No... he is handsome. Fact."
Pale skin that suited his icy vibe. Piercing silver eyes sharp against jet-black hair. Straight nose tip, firm lips below.
Handsome textbook material.
He'd hold his own against any celeb.
'Yup, gorgeous.'
Every time that gorgeous face name-dropped her, his chiseled jaw clenched blunt.
'He wants me bad, huh?'
A chill ran through her; Sejin swallowed hard.
-"The Hunter Promotion Agency will not stand idly by while the hunter known as 'Black Shadow' runs rampant. You surely haven't forgotten the atrocities unregistered hunters inflicted on civilians in the past."
Han Kitae gripped the podium mic, his face a mask of ice as he spoke.
Sejin gnawed her chopstick ends.
His menace pierced the screen; she drained her steel cup of cold water in one go.
Her throat burned anyway.
-"To prevent repeating those mistakes, the Agency works around the clock. The unregistered 'Black Shadow' will be apprehended soon."
Not a single hair out of place, pomade-slicked perfection—his gaze chilled her even through the broadcast.
'Scary as hell.'
Because the 'Black Shadow' he hunted was her.
The rice in her mouth tasted like sand.