Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Dungeon Survival
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A fist came flying toward my face.
I immediately used Moment.
Eun Sang-min had become a C-rank hunter not long ago. Even without mana infused into his punch, I couldn't deny that his physical abilities surpassed mine.
On top of that, I never imagined he'd swing at me right here. Without Moment, I wouldn't have dodged that punch.
...Should I just take the hit?
It'd make dealing with the aftermath easier. I could claim he threw the first punch.
But let that asshole hit me? Fuck that.
No matter how convenient it might be later, my pride wouldn't allow it.
I clenched my fist and dodged Eun Sang-min's attack. Then, channeling lightning and mana, I swung at his face.
BAM!
Eun Sang-min went flying. The cafe's glass wall shattered as his body burst outside, rolling across the ground several times.
"Y-You crazy bastard... You wanna go for real?!"
Eun Sang-min rose, trembling with rage. One side of his face was flushed red, blood streaming from his mouth.
He gets back up after that? C-rank lives up to the hype.
Since he could wield mana, my lightning hadn't electrocuted him. If our physical stats were equal, he'd be out cold by now.
"You swung first. I was just defending myself. You piece of shit."
I stepped out through the broken glass wall. I ignored the surroundings. The cafe had been empty anyway. Barely any customers.
"Fine, you fucker. Let's settle this today."
Eun Sang-min clenched both fists. Sharp thorns began sprouting from them.
That was his ability. He could grow thorns on his body or objects. He could even create and hurl them through the air.
The guy bragged about it nonstop, so everyone in the department knew. I'd even seen it in action before.
"Wipe that blood off your mouth. You already look like shit—someone might mistake you for a zombie."
Crackle.
Lightning writhed around my right fist.
His physical stats were superior, but I didn't think I'd lose.
From a distance, Eun Sang-min swung at me. Stone thorns formed in the air and shot toward me. I stepped through footwork to evade them, closing in on him.
No sword? Doesn't mean I can't use Yeongcheon-ryu footwork.
We clashed in close quarters. True to a C-rank hunter, he showed some martial arts training. But to my eyes, it was amateurish. Clear signs he'd never really used his fists much.
I used Yeongcheon-ryu footwork to dodge his punches and kicks, launching a one-sided assault.
"Aaaargh!"
Eun Sang-min bellowed in fury. I spotted the ground nearby writhing.
I immediately used Moment.
The ground morphed into thorns, rising slowly toward me. I leaped up, dodging them, and kicked Eun Sang-min.
"Gah!"
He collapsed. Perfect timing for a mount, but if he turned hedgehog-mode with thorns everywhere, it'd be game over. No charging in.
"C-rank hunter, my ass. Why are you this bad? You really C-rank? Did you bribe your way in?"
"You fucker!"
The moment Eun Sang-min started rising again.
"Stop!!"
Han Ha-rin activated her ability to intervene.
Gravity field.
Stronger gravity pressed on me and Eun Sang-min. But it was nowhere near enough to halt us.
Just as his mana resisted my lightning's shock, it granted resistance to her gravity. Han Ha-rin's power couldn't subdue us. It just slowed us down a bit.
A long thorn extended from Eun Sang-min's hand. He swung it like a sword—far more skilled than his awkward punches.
This asshole... crossed the line.
Bare hands versus weapon. The weight was worlds apart.
I used Moment to pull back distance first.
I didn't draw a weapon. Wanted to keep my inventory secret, and with Moment, bare hands were plenty.
I've hit him enough. Knock him out and end it.
He couldn't react to my Moment. A proper C-rank might have, but he was a fresh, half-baked one.
I closed in again with footwork, exploiting gaps in his slowed movements.
I saw his eyes.
The moment I met those rage-filled pupils, old memories surfaced.
It was a voice I'd overheard from college classmates in the hallway.
'Fuck. What's the point of an ability that stretches my body? Can't even go beyond 30cm. What the hell am I supposed to do with this? Life sucks. Maybe I should quit being a hunter.'
'Hey, hey. It's still better than no ability. You can become a hunter. Look at Sung Yu-jin. Guy hasn't awakened, but he still drags himself to the department. Honestly, isn't saying he has potential not entirely a lie?'
'Kekeke. Yeah, better than nothing like him.'
I knew they pretended to care upfront but treated me like a retard behind my back.
The subtle disdain in their eyes, the mockery out of sight.
I knew, but I was powerless. No strength to fight back. I'd debated quitting the hunter path midway and living as a normie countless times.
'Hey, you're that hunter aspirant in our department? Been a year and still no awakening? Why's a normie in the Hunter Department?'
'Sang-min, you're drunk. Calm down.'
'Ugh, let go. Did I say something wrong? Huh? If you're talentless, just admit you're not cut out and fuck off. Why pollute the department? Embarrassing as hell that a loser like you is my junior.'
'Yu-jin, ignore him. He's just drunk.'
'Hey, this is what ability looks like. Scared? Why you shaking? I just brushed past. A hunter wannabe scared of this...? Dude, hunters gotta embrace death always. Can't be a pussy like you.'
'Eun Sang-min! What the hell?! He's a normie without powers! You lost your mind?!'
'Fuck... It was a joke. Joke. Making a fuss over this...'
Crunch.
Eun Sang-min's arm snapped in an impossible direction.
"Gaaaaah!"
Hearing his scream, I relaxed my left hand and raised my right. Black demonic energy swirled around it.
I smirked at him. Trembling, collapsed on the ground, looking up—his eyes brimmed with fear.
"A C-rank hunter shaking over this...? Didn't you say hunters must always embrace death?"
To kill Eun Sang-min, I invoked Heavenly Demon Asura. It was a hand technique from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. He'd die honored.
"Kill me... Huh?"
Suddenly, my vision cleared. My mind had been consumed by killing him, but those thoughts vanished, reality snapping into focus.
Like gulping ice-cold water on a sweltering summer street, drenched in sweat.
I stared wide-eyed at the Heavenly Demon Asura in my hand.
Sh-Shit. Demonic energy? Why the fuck now?
The black demonic qi on my right hand shrank and vanished without a trace.
No, wait. I never intended to kill this fucker!
Yeah, he pissed me off. Yeah, I had grudges. But not enough to kill over.
If this were the Playful World, I'd have ended him without hesitation. But this is reality. Killing him here means I can't handle the fallout.
I'd only provoked him because I knew I could manage the consequences.
Why would I try to kill him...?
The question cut short. Someone rushed from behind, grabbing my arms and pinning me instantly.
"Urk!?"
"Don't move! Hunter Association!"
I reflexively resisted but relaxed upon hearing that. No point fighting back. They had authority, and could execute hunters on the spot.
"What the hell are you idiots doing brawling in broad daylight? Crazy bastards?"
"......"
"Get up! Use an ability or move mana, and you're dead. Quietly into the car!"
???
I ended up in a holding cell at the Hunter Association's Seoul Southern Branch. This was a hunter-grade iron-barred cell. I'd already been questioned by staff and was waiting here.
I glanced at the opposite cell. Eun Sang-min was locked up too. He looked fine now. An Association healer had patched him up.
This'll end with a fine, probably.
Outcome aside, he was C-rank, I was E-rank. Hunter laws favored the higher rank heavily. Even though I'd beaten the crap out of him.
Han Ha-rin had given a witness statement and left. From the vibes, she hadn't called it in—the cafe owner had.
Eun Sang-min and I would settle with an agreement. Hunter laws sucked: fighting in reality outside dungeons meant punishment regardless of aggressor or victim. Basically assumed mutual fault.
Best to agree, pay the Association fines, and wipe the slate clean.
Leaning against the cell wall, I sank into thought.
Never mind trying to kill Eun Sang-min... I used Heavenly Demon Asura in reality.
I'd unconsciously used the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Impossible. Excluding that one instance, I'd never succeeded with it in reality even once.
Unconsciously pulling it off mid-fight? With my talent? No way.
No reason for this to happen out of nowhere.
Serious issue. Could happen again.
Suspicion points to... Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Only thing that fit. In novels, its essence was demonic art.
I'd rampaged, trying to kill him with it—the art I'd never used in reality before.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art came from the Demon King of the Demon Realm. Probably a literal demon. Fits his antics.
My conclusion: the Demon King tampered with it.
Computer analogy.
I'm a beastly PC. The art's beastly porn. But infected with a virus taking over.
Once swapped PCs over a virus. Mom reamed me, but got the latest model.
Not feasible. Can't swap myself out.
Complete Recovery won't purge the virus either.
Virus source is the art itself. Remove it, or viruses keep coming.
...Viruses need vaccines.
I had one vaccine trait.
Mental Resistance.
Not certain, but... maybe some effect.
Couldn't level it now. No points.
Need to head to God's Atlantis world, dig into the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Demon King of the Demon Realm. Untrustworthy fucker.
As I inwardly cursed him.
A man approached the cells. Mid-30s, sharp-jawed handsome guy. Round glasses.
He eyed me inside. Sharp black suit, high-end. Not Association staff. I met his gaze steadily.
"Brother-in-law! Over here!"
Eun Sang-min called out. I clocked it. Only one who fit as his brother-in-law.
Han Su-ri.
Master of Han Su-ri Guild, A-rank hunter, mage.
Ignoring his brother-in-law's call, he spoke to me.
"I'm sorry. My brother-in-law caused you trouble."