Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: One Exchange with the Top Hunter
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No hunter in the world would fail to recognize that face.
After confirming the man’s identity, Kang Jin-hyuk turned to the Hunter Union president for verification.
“That’s Cheon Sang-ho, right?”
“Indeed. I figured you’d know him.”
“Of course. It’s not like he’s just anyone…”
Cheon Sang-ho was a figure in a league of his own, even among S-rank hunters.
He was one of the world’s elite, with no rivals in Korea.
The Union counted itself lucky that he preferred solitude over forming a guild.
The president had dangled every benefit imaginable to recruit him, and eventually succeeded.
Once Cheon Sang-ho became the president’s right-hand man, those who’d dared defy the Union vanished as if by magic.
Even the major guilds backed down, removing all obstacles to the Union’s growth.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say Cheon Sang-ho had built the Union as it stood today.
“But that guy wants to see me?”
It was common knowledge that Cheon Sang-ho cared little for people, devoting himself solely to hunting and training.
Unless that image was a deliberate fabrication, there was no reason for him to seek out Kang Jin-hyuk personally.
“This is the first time I’ve gotten a request like that. Seems he was deeply impressed by your video, heh.”
“Maybe he’s summoning me out of suspicion.”
Everyone who’d seen Kang Jin-hyuk’s fight footage had doubted him.
Kang Jin-hyuk assumed Cheon Sang-ho was no different.
“No, I doubt it. I’ve worked with him long enough to be certain.”
When the president had shown him the video, Cheon Sang-ho’s eyes had lit up like a child’s—full of eager anticipation.
That was no look of suspicion.
Despite the president’s confident reply, Kang Jin-hyuk still looked dissatisfied.
“Fine, let’s say he really wants to see me. What’s in it for me?”
“Some hunters would be thrilled just to spar with Cheon Sang-ho.”
“Do I strike you as that type?”
The president shook his head side to side in firm denial.
From what he’d seen, Kang Jin-hyuk wasn’t like the average hunter idolizing Cheon Sang-ho.
He was pragmatic, weighing every gain and loss.
The president knew exactly what kind of incentive would sway him.
‘Hunters like him need a practical reason.’
Having served the Union for years, the president was determined to convince Kang Jin-hyuk for Cheon Sang-ho’s sake.
“This is an opportunity for you too.”
“Opportunity? Don’t tell me it’s some cringe line like ‘the experience of facing a true powerhouse.’”
“Of course not.”
The president glanced over at the executives in the stands.
“Those folks trust Cheon Sang-ho implicitly.”
“And?”
“If you hold your own against the man they revere, even those skeptics will have to believe in you.”
“…”
“It’s not about a full fight—just one exchange. No downside for you.”
The president’s pitch was compelling.
Kang Jin-hyuk was well aware of Cheon Sang-ho’s fame.
Putting on an impressive showing against him would silence the Union executives’ doubts for good.
After a moment’s thought, Kang Jin-hyuk accepted.
“Alright. One clash, then.”
“Good call.”
The president nodded toward Cheon Sang-ho in the distance.
Cheon Sang-ho caught the signal that things had gone smoothly.
A faint flicker of joy softened his stoic expression.
“But something in what you said bugs me.”
As Kang Jin-hyuk headed back to the arena, he spoke casually.
“I don’t think I need to just ‘hold my own.’”
The president realized he hadn’t explained clearly enough.
“Of course dodging counts too.”
Kang Jin-hyuk flashed a mischievous grin at the clarification.
“What if I land the first hit?”
The president stood speechless for a stunned moment.
Only after three seconds of silence did he grasp Kang Jin-hyuk’s meaning.
“Kehahaha! If you can manage it, go right ahead.”
Laughing heartily, the president watched Kang Jin-hyuk enter the coliseum.
“Landing a hit on Cheon Sang-ho… Heh heh.”
Arrogant words, but if the skills in that video were real, it wasn’t impossible.
Deep down, the president hoped Kang Jin-hyuk would exceed their expectations.
A hunter rivaling or surpassing Cheon Sang-ho would be an unqualified boon for Korea.
“Whew.”
Kang Jin-hyuk sighed at his predicament as he stepped onto the arena floor.
He wasn’t some Roman gladiator—how had he ended up in this spectacle?
Part of him wanted to blow off the Union’s trust and be done with it.
But as guild master now, he couldn’t act alone anymore.
Severing ties completely carried unknown risks, so complying with the president was the smarter play for now.
‘At least pretending to be pissed got him to back down a bit.’
Settling for that much, Kang Jin-hyuk faced Cheon Sang-ho across a 50-meter gap.
Cheon Sang-ho gave a curt nod, lips pressed tight, in greeting.
His weapon was a single ring-pommel saber at his waist.
Amid S-rank hunters dominated by hidden classes, he was virtually the only normal-class user.
A total eccentric, he’d skipped 2nd and 3rd advancements, sticking to his 1st-job ‘Swordsman’ build.
Without further jobs, he had only three skills.
Draw Slash, Cross Slash, Spinning Slash.
With so few, all his info was public knowledge online.
He’d shouldered every penalty imaginable.
“I’ve always wondered how someone with such a trash-tier concept holds the top spot.”
Even with everything exposed, Cheon Sang-ho outclassed other S-ranks.
Countless hunters admired his steadfastness and skill.
Some had ruined their careers mimicking him as a role model—that said it all.
“Thank you for indulging my request.”
Cheon Sang-ho drew his saber while expressing his gratitude.
“I won’t waste any more of your valuable time. I’ll end it in one strike.”
“Cocky much? Think you can take me down in one hit?”
“Not at all. I don’t expect to win.”
Kang Jin-hyuk was caught off guard by the unexpected reply.
It was shocking that Korea’s unrivaled top hunter spoke so humbly, without a trace of arrogance.
“I asked for this exchange to gauge your strength.”
“Hah, are you a hunter or a warrior from some ancient tale?”
Kang Jin-hyuk never imagined hearing lines straight out of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in real life.
The man felt like he’d been born in the wrong era, a thousand years too late.
“Fine. Since it’s quick, let’s wrap it up.”
Kang Jin-hyuk pulled a baseball bat from his inventory and advanced on Cheon Sang-ho.
Cheon Sang-ho matched him, step by step, closing the distance.
When the 50 meters halved, they both broke into a sprint without a signal.
Their attacks launched in perfect sync, down to the second.
As Kang Jin-hyuk swung his aura-infused bat, Cheon Sang-ho slashed twice in a blur, tracing a cross.
Other hunters had noticeable gaps between strikes, but not him.
His two slashes landed almost simultaneously, too fast to track.
The bat met the cross-slash, unleashing a massive shockwave that roared like a gale toward the stands.
“Uwaaak!”
“Huhk!”
The Union executives watching the clash were hurled backward by the wind.
Not a single escort hunter stood firm.
Those who barely kept their footing gaped in disbelief.
‘He blocked the aura?’
Kang Jin-hyuk was equally stunned.
Cheon Sang-ho had effortlessly withstood an attack that Jo Won-cheol and Kang Jun-tae could never endure.
The golden aura, which shattered everything, failed to advance past that single blade.
“Hup!”
Kang Jin-hyuk poured denser aura, and Cheon Sang-ho met it with a sharp kiai, holding firm.
The deflected aura raked the arena like blades.
Escort hunters whipped out massive shields to protect the executives.
‘Not the top hunter for nothing.’
Kang Jin-hyuk realized the hype about him being a cut above other S-ranks wasn’t exaggeration.
Without the temple’s power, he wouldn’t have even reacted before losing his head.
Victory burning in his veins, Kang Jin-hyuk prepared to dump all his remaining MP into the aura.
But then Cheon Sang-ho did something utterly unforeseen.
“…I yield.”
Mid-clash, he withdrew his saber and declared defeat.
Kang Jin-hyuk felt like someone who’d sneezed halfway—thoroughly unsatisfied.
“Why surrender out of nowhere?”
When Kang Jin-hyuk demanded an explanation, Cheon Sang-ho lightly flicked the saber’s flat with a finger.
It snapped with a sharp crack.
“In anything but a one-strike duel, my saber couldn’t have withstood your follow-ups, Mr. Kang.”
Cheon Sang-ho admitted it cleanly and stepped back.
Korea’s number one showed no qualms about defeat.
Relieved as if cured of indigestion, he left the arena.
The lingering unease fell to Kang Jin-hyuk.
Even as victor, he felt no joy.
Winning on gear difference rather than skill was pointless.
No way to brag about that.
‘“I was bested.” Something like that.’
Setting aside the awkward outcome, Kang Jin-hyuk had gained something valuable.
As the president predicted, crossing blades with Cheon Sang-ho shifted the executives’ gazes dramatically.
Once distrustful no matter the evidence, they now fawned over him like a treasure.
It drove home Cheon Sang-ho’s stature in the Union.
For someone of that standing to harbor zero regrets in defeat.
Kang Jin-hyuk wondered if he could ever match that mentality, then dismissed the thought.
He might catch up in skill someday, but that mindset? No chance.