Chapter 360: The Fetters of Karma (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 360: The Fetters of Karma (2)
Lately, a string of bad news has been hitting the headlines.
Namely, the rising crime rate.
After the Hunter society entered a period of stability, the crime rate, which had been decreasing year after year, began to creep up again starting this fall.
I don't know the reason.
However, I heard that the actions of the villains committing these crimes have become much more refined.
They achieve their goals quickly, then systematically vanish from the scene.
As a result, while the crime rate has soared, the arrest rate has slightly declined.
"I have a very bad feeling about this."
I fell into thought for a moment, watching the flames that soared as if to touch the sky, engulfing the entire building.
A large building with heavy foot traffic, like a department store, is required to have at least five defensive magic circles.
This is enough to easily block one or two advanced spells that could turn three or four ordinary buildings to dust.
"For a fire this big to start in a building like that..."
That wasn't the only strange thing.
Starting a fire of this magnitude would consume an enormous amount of mana.
That means the mana density around the terrorist must have spiked to an incredible level for a moment.
Seoul is dotted with detectors that sense changes in mana density.
For a fire large enough to cover an entire building, the detectors should have sensed it in advance, allowing for a much faster response. So why did they remain silent?
As I was slowly piecing together the suspicious parts, a firefighter ran up to me.
"Hunter Kim Do-jin, the rescue operation is complete!"
"Good work. Please tell everyone to retreat to a safe distance, just in case."
I was about to take a step forward when he spoke again.
"Uh, um... are you sure you can handle that huge fire by yourself?"
His suspicious gaze fell on me.
It hit me again.
The difference between when I was Son Si-woo and now.
The weight of the trust they placed in me was completely different.
When I turned my head with a stoic expression, the firefighter flinched and waved his hands frantically.
"Ah, um...! I-I wasn't doubting you, Hunter..."
He looked terrified, as if he thought I might hurt him.
Among those who work together at these scenes, Hunters don't have the best reputation.
Many have been burned by arrogant bastards who rely solely on their abilities.
Of course, very few of those types last long in the field.
If you're going to be an asshole, you'd better have the skills to back it up, like that bastard Kim Tae-yang. But that's not exactly easy.
I gave the flustered firefighter an "I'm harmless" smile and replied.
"Just trust me this once. I'll wipe it out completely for you."
"Yes? Ah, yes, yes...! W-well then, I'll be counting on you."
The firefighter turned and hurried away, as if afraid I'd change my mind.
"Jeez... I told him it's fine."
What can you do?
One person makes the mess, and another has to clean it up. That's the bitter reality of this world.
"...Time to get to work."
I started walking again.
Fwoooosh!
The intense heat washed over my skin as I got closer.
The preparations were complete.
My mana had grown even denser since becoming the 'Apostle of Gluttony.'
While the rescue was underway, I had converted all of it to the water attribute.
What's the best thing for putting out a fire? Water, of course.
But I wasn't done.
I activated 'Gluttony,' targeting the surrounding mana that was being helplessly devoured by the fierce flames.
[The user's greed voraciously devours the surrounding mana.]
[Your Mana stat increases.]
The flow of mana, which had been drifting elegantly through the air before being consumed by the fire, now turned toward me.
For a moment, I felt a sense of ecstasy as the mana seeped through every pore of my body.
[You are in a state of Predation.]
A feeling of fullness washed over me, different from the satiety of a full stomach.
It was a signal that all preparations were complete, but also a warning.
Feeling the unspoken pressure not to consume any more, I stopped Gluttony.
This would be more than enough to quell those raging flames.
With the water-attribute mana filling the space around me, both inside and out, I created a current.
A single vortex spiraled up from the ground, with me at its center.
"Whoa...!"
"W-what is that?!"
From earth to sky.
People watched in awe at the transparent stream of water spiraling upward.
But it was too early to be impressed.
The real show was just beginning.
I added a delicate touch to the stream of water, which was merely following the current I had created.
Shimmering scales appeared, flashing red whenever they reflected the flickering flames before turning transparent again.
Those dense scales formed a pattern along the rising stream, and at its tip, poised to soar into the sky, I carved a ferocious face that inspired terror at a mere glance.
In an instant, the simple vortex of water became...
Kurarararara-!
A single dragon, roaring at the heavens.
"As for a name, let's see..."
It's a dragon made of water, so...
"Water Dragon... doesn't sound right."
An Eastern dragon.
I couldn't give a creature born in Korea such an American name.
In times like these, simple is best.
「Mul-yong-i (Water Dragon).」
Bestowed with an affectionate name, the creature roared.
Kuuuuoooooh-!
And then, rain began to fall from the sky.
Swaaaaaa!
"...If you don't like it, just say so, you punk."
Not that I'd change it, of course.
Hmph-!
As if sensing my thoughts, the creature snorted indignantly.
Pshhhk!
Pshhhhhh...!
Each time, a torrent of water that would put a large fire truck to shame poured out.
"That's enough sulking."
The performance was over. It was time to put out the fire.
I pointed my index finger at the building engulfed in flames and gave Mul-yong-i a command.
"Blast that thing with a good, strong stream of water."
Krrk!
That Bing-dak-i fellow last time, and this one too. They're definitely tsunderes.
They act like they won't listen to a word I say, but the moment I give an order, they follow it to the letter.
Kuuuuooooh...!
Its head lifted toward the sky.
An immense amount of mana swirled around its wide-open mouth.
A mass of chillingly blue and transparent energy.
Then, its eyes flashed sharply, and the mass gathered at its mouth shot out as a gigantic stream of water.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!
The moment the torrent of water hit the burning building, an enormous cloud of steam erupted.
Pshhhhhhhhh...!
The thick steam was like dozens of smoke bombs going off at once.
「Wind.」
I created a light breeze to clear away the dense steam.
My vision cleared.
The flames that had been soaring toward the sky just moments ago were gone without a trace.
But the building had vanished along with the fire.
"Uh, um."
Cleanly, without leaving a single trace.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The building had vanished without a trace, along with the raging flames.
"You've worked so hard!"
Fortunately, no one seemed to be pointing it out.
I mean, a building might disappear while you're putting out a fire. If people made a fuss over something like that, a person would get discouraged and couldn't show up to the next scene.
"Everyone, move it!"
Firefighters and Hunters from the association moved busily across the soaked ground.
I moved quietly through them, following a single trail.
The faint remnants of mana, like dying embers, visible only to me.
I followed the faint red line drawn in the humid air.
In the middle of the bustling city, with so many people coming and going.
The line, scattered by the pedestrians, continued on and on.
"...Look at this bastard."
He set a building on fire and then had the nerve to escape into a crowd?
"Well, I'll be."
The faint red line even led into a dilapidated building tucked away in a deserted alley.
Did he really run and hide in there?
"Hoh... look at this guy."
Was his plan to hide for a while and move again once things quieted down?
I followed the red line down a flight of stairs leading to the basement.
The red line passed through a thick steel door at the end of the second basement floor.
I could sense a human presence beyond it.
From the light footsteps, the culprit was a woman... no, a man with a slender build.
I discreetly drew up my mana and enveloped my feet.
「Silence.」
My opponent was a villain who had demonstrated enough firepower to set a department store ablaze.
I didn't know what tricks he might have up his sleeve, so I needed to approach as cautiously as possible.
One step, then another, my footsteps completely silenced.
I finally reached the steel door.
It was firmly locked, so opening it silently seemed impossible. That meant I had to break it.
I spread my mana wide, meticulously scanning the area around the building.
"Hmm, good."
I was now certain there were no other exits beyond the steel door.
"In that case, I won't hold back."
I kicked out forcefully, smashing the door.
KWAANG-!
The steel door crumpled violently and clattered across the floor. Beyond it, a room came into view.
A dust-covered sofa.
A bone-thin man, who had been sitting there staring blankly at an old TV, shot up in shock, his hostility directed at me.
"W-who are you! H-how did you get in here...!"
Messy, overgrown hair.
Long dark circles under hollow eyes.
Shiny cheekbones that stood out even more because of his gaunt cheeks.
"...Is this an arsonist or a hikikomori?"
He looked just like the Kim Do-jin of the past, who used to be cooped up in his room playing games all day.
Just the vibe, of course. Only the vibe.
As I stared at him with a pathetic look, he summoned flames in both hands and barked at me.
"I asked who you are!"
His eyes were filled with terror at the appearance of a stranger.
His arms and legs, wreathed in flames, trembled uncontrollably.
Strange.
No matter how I looked at him, he didn't seem to have the guts to commit a major crime like arson...
"You're the one who set fire to the department store, right?"
At my question, another emotion mixed with the fear in his eyes.
Anger.
Finally recognizing me as an enemy, he swung his flaming arms wildly.
"D-die!"
A fireball the size of a human head shot out from his swinging arm.
"That's some decent firepower."
To be able to shoot a fireball of that size on such short notice, his trait rank must be at least B-class.
What a shame.
To think a guy who could have lived a comfortable life as a Hunter chose the path of a criminal.
"Tsk..."
I caught the incoming fireball with a mana-clad hand and simply crushed it.
The man stared in shock as the flames scattered into the air.
"H-hiiik...!"
I had only blocked a single fireball, but he seemed to have lost all will to fight, backing away while breaking out in a cold sweat.
I walked straight toward him until he hit a wall with nowhere else to retreat. As I stood before him, I heard him muttering under his breath.
"Th-this can't be happening... He said I'd be safe here... H-he definitely said so...!"
Just as I thought.
It seemed he had a backer.
An expert who had told him how to start the fire and where to flee afterward.
He couldn't even meet my gaze, his eyes darting around as he trembled. I called out to him.
"Hey."
Only then did his gaze slowly rise.
I met his hollow eyes, which reminded me of a dead fish's, and asked.
"Spit it out. Who's the bastard who told you to run here?"
You'll be in for it if you don't.