Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: 1-1. The Hyena Dreaming of Retirement
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***
Rumble rumble.
Along with a foul stench, sticky filth poured down.
It felt just like a garbage truck carrying rotten food waste flipping over and dumping its contents onto the road.
"Hey! You fucking idiot!"
A curse flew out immediately.
But there was no need for me to step in. One of the veterans next to me kicked the newbie right away.
"You crazy bastard! Who told you to do that without asking?"
The smell was no joke.
Everyone was in a frenzy, covering their mouths and noses.
"Let's pull back, quick."
I gestured for everyone to retreat.
This wasn't just a matter of dirtiness. Piercing a monster's camouflage meant taking on risks far beyond that.
Once you sliced open the camouflage like this and the revolting smell spread everywhere, other monsters within a few kilometers would react.
Large monsters sometimes vomited up what they'd eaten, and that was prime food for smaller monsters. So they were bound to be sensitive to the scent of large monster stomach acid.
The silver lining was that we'd already confirmed no monsters within several kilometers thanks to the gunfire.
Nothing would show up right away, but it still wasn't a good situation.
I knew plenty of hyenas who'd gotten greedy rummaging through one monster's guts and ended up in another's.
It was downright bizarre.
Imagine frowning at a massive pile of shit in the hunting grounds, only to spot a familiar hyena embedded in it. Sure, the flesh had melted away, but the gear around the bones was unmistakably recognizable.
In cases like that, even praying for their soul felt impossible.
"Pull back! Pull back!"
The deputy team leader shouted, and we boldly packed up our gear.
The equipment we'd laid out while dismantling the large monster vanished magically into special pouches.
It was a type of subspace pocket, common in fantasy novels. After magic appeared to combat monsters, bizarre items like these emerged too.
Thanks to them, we could haul away the byproducts of a dismantled giant monster without a truck. Otherwise, we never would've come this far. The hyena job would've been stuck scavenging risky scraps just a few kilometers inside.
"Ready? Hey, what's this?"
While hurrying the team, I grimaced. A human arm was sticking out from the disgusting stomach contents.
Ha... fuck.
What a mess.
We were trying to get out quick, but this was awkward.
My instincts screamed to ignore it and go, but I couldn't suppress my curiosity.
"Deputy, hold up. Get the kids ready to move and wait."
There was no unwritten rule among hunters or hyenas to recover corpses.
Once you entered the hunting grounds, bodies turned to mincemeat or ended up in monster guts—who had the luxury for that? Picking up a dead guy's finger would earn you praise for loyalty.
My interest in this body was for intel.
Plus, this dead guy wasn't a hyena—he was a hunter. You could tell from the chewed-up, shattered gear.
Hunters usually had higher-grade info than hyenas. Who knew what I'd find searching him.
I yanked hard on the hand protruding from the muck. Out came the corpse with a sluuuurp. Covered in sticky gastric juices, it was a gruesome sight.
Our job's just that shitty, plain and simple.
Looking around, I spotted a subspace pocket and quickly pocketed it. Luckily, no one saw.
Pretending nonchalance, I kept searching when the deputy approached.
"What is it?"
He couldn't hold back his curiosity, it seemed. I startled at having snuck the pocket but played it cool. Ten years in, swiping one pouch wouldn't show. Team leaders ate like this to make up for the grind, right?
The rest were waiting, though they kept glancing over curiously. I yelled to shut it down.
"Watch the perimeter!"
Things were going smooth, and they'd gone slack. Did they forget where we were? We'd sliced the gut, drawing every stray monster nearby.
"I told you to watch the kids—why're you back?"
"Sorry, sir. Haha."
He laughed it off at my scolding. Looking down at the body, he acted like he recognized it.
"This guy... Ha, we meet again like this."
"You know him?"
The corpse was intact, limbs and all. Not bad, considering.
Shit-ejected ones were awkward to return to family.
Couldn't scoop a spoonful of crap and say, "Here's your daddy," with a pad lip.
"Well, how many hunters do you think I know? I'm just a hyena."
"Then?"
"Drank with him once in Ansan by chance. My little bro's a servant in the Ruhiel Family, so I tagged along. Hmm... Heard he went on recon and didn't come back. Who'd have thought we'd meet like this. Anyway, this guy's a weird type. His class is Wind Walker."
"Wind Walker?"
Even I, a ten-year hyena vet, had never heard of that hunter class.
Hunter classes were diverse, but I knew most...
Seeing my puzzled face, the deputy explained.
"What is it... I heard an explanation, but I don't know exactly. He's just good at solo recon in hunting grounds."
"Solo? That's dangerous."
"Yeah. But he said Wind Walkers are safer alone due to class traits. You know Ruhiel governs wind, right, boss? Probably turns into wind or something for recon."
"Hmm..."
Then he must've gotten hit during recon.
To solo in this hunting ground meant he was no ordinary guy—what happened?
With the deputy's help, I searched the Wind Walker.
Some gear looked pricey but mostly shattered. Intact stuff? Left it. Taking it could raise flags.
If the Ruhiel Family investigated, trouble. Plus, I'd already swiped the pocket.
The body itself? No worries.
By tomorrow or the next day, everything spilled from the gut would be in other monsters' bellies.
So, no traces—search for more goodies discreetly.
"This?"
Jackpot. A DSLR camera, busted but memory chip intact. I yanked the chip and stashed it in my vest. Found a notebook full of notes too—pocketed that. Wallet otherwise.
Two million won in cash.
Carrying a lot, huh.
Twenty fresh 100,000-won bills.
I shoved all the cash at the deputy.
"Buy the kids food. And keep quiet about searching the body. No good blabbing."
"Of course. Can't see it anyway."
The corpse was hidden by the filth pile and us two from the prepping team.
They'd think we found something, but not specifics. Curious ones might wonder, but long-timers in this biz don't ask needless shit.
Splash two mil for comfort—no one'd care.
"Let's go. Get the kids moving."
"Yes, boss."
The deputy gestured in the air, and the waiting team moved out with perimeter watch. We followed at a slower pace.
Walking, I glanced back and gave a light nod to the dead Wind Walker.
Rest in peace.
***
Anyang City.
A military city and forward base blocking monsters.
Also a satellite city to Ansan, South Korea's de facto capital.
"Hey! Team Leader Yoo!"
Drinking soju at a Anyang bar, a friendly voice called from behind.
Turning, it was Team Leader Kim and Team Leader Huh, both leading hyena teams. We were acquaintances; meeting today to swap intel and catch up.
"Heard you hit it big? Congrats."
"Congrats to you too."
They grinned and congratulated me.
Infiltrating even Dongjak safely netted big bucks.
I got about 300 million won; team got 100 mil each. Top hunters'd scoff, but for hyenas, a win.
"Drinks on me today—bottoms up."
Feeling flush, I poured rounds.
Post-retirement, no more seeing these guys.
No one knew yet—planning a surprise announcement. Settle somewhere quiet.
Tired of daily hunter envy.
"Congrats! Let's drink! Haha!"
"Next big tip, take our team too."
Mood rose fast, rowdy. Noisy, but bar—fine. Next table heated up too.
But every spot has pricks.
"Hey, quiet down?"
Sudden voice shut us three up. We looked over. Hot-tempered Kim started, "What prick..." then clamped shut.
Huh beside scowled.
"Hunter. Bad luck..."
Of all places, hunters. Taking shit like this? Laughable.
I apologized first.
"Sorry."
Grown-ups brush off lightly. Huh smiled apology, grabbed snacks. Onlookers turned back to chatter—passed.
But the hunter wasn't satisfied.
"Empty carts rattle loud—shitflies even worse. Why's it smell like crap here? Huh?"
His buddy hunter cracked up.
Always that type. Hunter superiority complex? Can't live without flaunting. Especially hostile to us hyenas. Strut before civilians, no beef; but us same-ground folks? Scum.
What can ya say.
We're civilians too—civvies strutting in hunting grounds annoys?
Ten years, seen endless types. Empty carts? Real rattlers are them. Hunters harvest cores; we enable byproduct flow.
Smart hunters respected us.
Top hunter Im Cheol-woong treated us polite. New power high—annoying strut phase. Booze fueled it. Probably always dicks, amplified drunk.
Low-rung 9th-10th graders, obvious.
Hunters: 1st top, 10th bottom. Over 1st? S-rank separate.
Only Im Cheol-woong, Korea's pinnacle, S-rank.
"Just drink quiet and go."
I felt no need to respect more, said it. Tried mature pass, but that line? No more patience.
Kim and Huh beside clicked tongues. Faces screamed "trouble tonight." No active stopping though.
Outsiders'd find odd: civilian hyena clapping back at superpowered hunter.
"What? What'd you say?"
Hunter stood, snorting like waited.
I rose too. Casually stroked belt back—tools always hung there.
"What? Drink quiet. Stop clowning."
My unexpected slur blanked their faces.
Nice. But better coming—anticipate.
Glanced their badges.
Sui'el Family guys.
Worthless family. Leader, 'Champion of Sui'el,' maybe 7th-grade hunter. Champion 7th? No need more words.
Obvious body-enhancers both.
I grinned.
Beating types like them? My specialty.