Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Academy Preparations
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Although we obtained vast territory from China, organizing and fully absorbing that expansive land would take a long time. Therefore, rather than opening it up completely from the start, we planned to maintain the borders and manage it individually for the time being.
“As Hunter Lee Jiseok said, we did manage to obtain it, but is everything really okay?”
Bureau Chief Baek Youngshin expressed concern over the gates that had multiplied several times over.
“It’s fine. We’ll start running things properly from now on.”
“Who do you mean?”
“The hunters. Please build an academy south of the World Tree.”
“Ah! Training while receiving life force will boost efficiency. I’ll get it underway immediately.”
Even those without talent grow to a certain extent through relentless training, as proven by the Oh brothers. With the World Tree, that growth would be even greater, and the time required much shorter.
“And please build an academy for hunter trainees in the south as well. Even if they can’t awaken, they can still gain physical abilities comparable to hunters, like Hye-cheol. Finally, a hospital. With life force permeating the area, just being admitted should heal patients.”
Bureau Chief Baek Youngshin hurriedly jotted notes in his notebook.
“But you really don’t plan to claim rights to the land?”
Some voices suggested that I, not the Korean government, should govern the territory I had acquired this time.
“No, what would I do with all that land? As I mentioned before, just allocate me some land near the World Tree.”
Better to receive a moderate portion of prime real estate. Taking responsibility for all that territory would only bring unnecessary hardship. Becoming a king was never my dream anyway.
“We thank you for your efforts, Hunter Lee Jiseok. As the Communicator of the World Tree, I guarantee your share of the profits generated.”
Nothing beats reaping rewards without the responsibilities.
“That sounds good to me, but is that something you can decide, Director?”
“If they refuse, just say you’ll emigrate, Hunter Lee Jiseok. It’s not like the money would come without you anyway, so they shouldn’t get greedy.”
“Ah, right. If they don’t give it, I can always emigrate.”
“...You’re not actually going, right?”
“We’ll see.”
Even knowing it was a joke, Baek Youngshin looked worried. With all that anxiety, his already numerous white hairs would only increase.
* * *
“Eres.”
“What?”
“What’s an administrator?”
“Administrator?”
I told her what I had learned by rummaging through the Succubus Queen’s mind.
“Administrator... Administrator... I don’t know. The monsters aren’t subordinates of the Destruction God?”
“How do you know about the Destruction God, Eres?”
“I... heard it from Aiter.”
“You mean the Incarnation of Light we met before?”
“That’s right. I’ll ask him next time.”
“But... aren’t you leaving?”
“Why? Would you like me to?”
“No, aren’t you busy?”
“Not busy. Bring some liquor. Let’s try this country’s drinks.”
“I’m not sure if there’s anything strong enough to satisfy you.”
Without any preparatory motion, Eres flew at me. Before I could even be startled by the physics-defying movement, her dainty hand approached my forehead. Anyone else might not be intimidated by her tiny hand with the middle finger hooked over the thumb, but having been hit multiple times before, cold sweat broke out on me.
I leaned back to dodge, but an intangible force pressed my body down. It wasn’t like increased gravity or being pinned by aura, which I could resist with strength—this couldn’t be resisted with strength at all. Like how even the strongest person’s knees buckle if struck behind them.
Snap!
She flicked my forehead as I fell to the floor. My head rang.
“Hey?! Why?!”
The flick felt similar to the force that had pinned me moments ago. No defense worked, and my skull throbbed.
“Backtalk.”
“...I’ll get the liquor.”
I had a rough idea why Eres was picking on me deliberately. She was probably trying to teach me something, like back on Tellus. That didn’t stop it from annoying me, though.
“Oh, and talk to the World Tree as often as possible and spend time with it.”
“Yes. I was planning to anyway.”
Passing the World Tree Academy and hospital sites, where groundwork was already underway, I entered the shade of the World Tree.
The thick fog remained, but sensing my approach, the World Tree kindly parted the black mist in the center, opening a path for me.
[Why’d you come so late?]
With its short arms on its hips and cheeks puffed out, it looked adorable. Hard to believe this was the spirit of a tree weighing tens of millions of tons.
“Sorry, I’ve been busy with outside matters. Were you bored?”
[Bored. Animals can’t come in here either.]
“Ah, right. I’ll visit often. Need anything else?”
[Something I need? Like what?]
“How about this?”
I held out the handheld game console I’d brought.
[What’s this?]
It showed interest but couldn’t grasp it properly. Not passing through like a ghost, but more like touching a very dense gas. Being a spirit, did it exist in another dimension and couldn’t touch objects from this one?
It had felt similar when I petted its head before.
“Sorry. I didn’t think it through.”
[It’s okay.]
Tree roots sprouted from the ground, cradling the game console and pressing the buttons firmly.
“There are lots of games in here. Play when you’re bored.”
I showed it the game list and demonstrated how to play briefly.
[Hee...]
Its eyes locked onto the game in an instant.
“This is food. Try it.”
Since it looked like a child, I’d brought plenty of snacks and food just in case.
I’d asked Eres what the World Tree might like, only to get scolded that you don’t feed trees. So I’d brought whatever came to mind.
[Thanks.]
The World Tree spirit devoured the food with roots while keeping its eyes glued to the game. It didn’t seem to care much about the taste. Next time, more games instead of food.
“I have a favor to ask. Could you sprinkle a bit more life force on the construction sites ahead?”
[Sure. I’ll do that.]
Still focused on the game. I couldn’t stay with it all the time, and it seemed bored alone, so the game hit the mark—relief.
* * *
Instructor Heo Oseong had been fired from the academy for excessive violence and accepting bribes. Afterward, he tried working as a C-rank hunter, but beating up newly awakened trainees like at the academy didn’t translate well to monster hunting.
With a naturally uncooperative personality making parties hard to find, Heo Oseong was dungeon-crawling low-rank gates when he heard the World Tree Academy was hiring new instructors and applied.
After submitting his resume, contact came in just one day. Surprised by the speed but pleased, he interviewed immediately and was hired on the spot.
“Finally, they recognize my true worth. Fired me for disciplining worthless brats? Bastards. That kid didn’t even get hurt. Ptui!”
Heo Oseong spat as he exited the temporary airport.
Lee Jiseok becoming an S-rank hunter was something he’d never imagined. Were S-rank hunters common? Since the gate incident, Korea had produced only one. Now with Lee Jiseok and his girlfriend both reaching S-rank, there were three in an instant, but globally, there were fewer than a hundred S-rank hunters.
Heo Oseong recalled his World Tree Academy instructor interview.
“We aim to conduct training far more intense than before. Is that clear, Hunter Heo Oseong?”
“Of course. My long-held belief is that harsh training forges strong hunters.”
“And what are your thoughts on trainees enduring great pain, potentially suffering severe injuries during training?”
Though brief, Heo Oseong sensed the interviewer shared his philosophy, so he answered candidly.
“Hunting is a noble profession. It means risking your life to protect your party members and the public. Child’s play training won’t suffice for that duty. Pain and injuries are inevitable, of course. But I believe only by overcoming them all can one become a true hunter.”
Heo Oseong answered with his shoulders proudly squared.
He’d dressed it up well, but truthfully, Heo Oseong had always derived pleasure from bullying the weak. Becoming an instructor again meant legally kicking and throwing wooden daggers at fresh-awakened fledglings. Just thinking about it thrilled him.
The interviewer glanced at the mirror behind Heo Oseong and nodded. Curious, Heo Oseong turned to look, but saw nothing.
“You’re exactly the talent we’re looking for. We look forward to working with you.”
He signed the contract on the spot. Days later, at the request to head to the academy early for pre-opening preparations, he boarded the plane and arrived here.
“Instructor Heo Oseong?”
“Ah, yes.”
Guided by a suit-wearing Awakener Management Bureau official, he entered the temporary World Tree Academy.
It was a barren, leveled field with a few black residential containers and a sagging fence.
Heo Oseong frowned. After summoning him, this was the treatment?
“This is a temporary setup for planning training. The actual academy is still under construction.”
The official pointed to the adjacent construction site.
“Ah, I see. You startled me.”
“Long time no see, Instructor.”
Heo Oseong turned at the voice from behind.
“...Hunter... Lee Jiseok.”
“Been well?”
“Ah... Yes... I’ve been fine. I’ve heard a lot about you, Hunter Lee Jiseok. Congratulations on reaching S-rank.”
For a moment, cold sweat dripped as the man he’d tormented throughout training appeared, but seeing Lee Jiseok’s smiling greeting eased his mind.
“I owe my position to your training, Instructor Heo.”
Lee Jiseok spoke sincerely. If he hadn’t been beaten by Heo Oseong at the academy, his skills wouldn’t have leveled up days after awakening, saving him a month.
One might dismiss a month, but having raised other stats in that time, the actual time saved was far greater.
“Training starts tomorrow. Rest well today.”
“You’re training the trainees yourself, Hunter Lee Jiseok?”
“Of course. It’s my job. See you tomorrow.”
Lee Jiseok greeted and left.
“Impressive, isn’t he? An S-rank, yet handling everything without rest.”
“Yeah.”
Heo Oseong bristled at the official’s praise. An S-rank had stamina to spare, so of course they could—it felt like excessive flattery.
* * *
“Are they all here?”
“Yes. Everyone has checked in.”
“Then shall we begin?”
Five male and female hunters stood in the square before the containers.
“What the hell is this?!”
Heo Oseong, dressed in the same eye-catching orange uniform as the other four, pointed at me accusingly.
“You’re all here because you have sins to atone for.”
“Sins?! This because I kicked some academy punk once?”
“That’s not even a sin. Truth be told, I’d forgotten about you. But then I got word you applied here. So I looked into your past, just in case.”
Cold sweat beaded on Heo Oseong’s face. He knew full well how much dirt would come up if investigated.