Chapter 432: Promotion Match (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 432: Promotion Match (2)
Around the time Kim Do-jin, who had dropped a nuclear bomb out of nowhere and gone home, was finishing a whole pot of kimchi stew in one sitting and shouting, “Ah, now this is sex!” only to be devoured by the mother-daughter duo who had lost their minds…
The world was in an uproar.
【A New Star in the Hunter World? Kim Do-jin Announces, “I Will Apply for a Promotion!”】
【Countdown to the Youngest S-Rank Hunter! How Did Kim Do-jin Become S-Rank?】
【The Pride of South Korea, Kim Do-jin, About to Make Waves? Reveals Intent to Apply for S-Rank Promotion.】
A storm centered around his name raged not just in South Korea, but across the entire globe.
The reaction of those who heard the news was one of pure astonishment.
Before him, the youngest S-rank Hunter had been twenty-four years old.
The moment he succeeded in his promotion, he would break that record by a full two years.
But there was one person.
One person whose mood plummeted to the depths upon seeing this news.
“Ha, fuck.”
The man who spat out a curse as he carelessly tossed aside the smartphone in his hand was named Kim Tae-yang.
An S-rank Hunter of South Korea, and the man who, before Kim Do-jin, had been hailed as the future of the nation.
“This feels… shitty.”
He, too, was a talent among talents.
He had even been called the future of the country after being promoted to S-rank at the young age of twenty-eight.
From that point on, everything became easy.
Entering the Hunter industry was Hard Mode; his rise to the top was Normal Mode.
And after becoming an S-rank Hunter, it changed to Easy Mode, or perhaps something even less challenging.
The doors of possibility that existed all over the world all became automatic doors for him.
The moment he stood before them, they would open with a swoosh, without any resistance.
After that, he gradually began to change.
To a degree that the word ‘corruption’ truly fit.
Barely a day went by when he wasn't embroiled in some scandal.
Worse, these weren't the usual rumors that celebrities faced; they were a flood of stories based solely on facts.
Orgy parties with women, forcing a woman carrying his child to have an abortion, assault, drunk driving, and more.
Causing trouble by alternating between ethical and legal problems, he provided reporters with a bottomless well of stories.
After disappointing the public with such numerous issues, he was no longer called the future of South Korea.
Of course, even if he wasn't called that anymore, his life didn't change one bit.
He considered it nothing more than the barking of losers who envied his life and paid it no mind.
Until yesterday, that is.
“Kim Do-jin, Kim Do-jin…”
He was the type to quickly erase memories of other men, but this one remained.
The rookie who had participated in the Kraken raid as the Saintess’s escort upon her return to Korea.
“He was only at that level back then.”
It wasn't even a distant memory, but one from just last year.
He never dreamed that a kid he hadn't even given a second glance to would grow so quickly.
Perhaps that was why.
“Haa… I don’t like this.”
He was starting to dislike the sight of him succeeding.
To be precise, it was jealousy.
He felt as if the glory he had once enjoyed was now being enjoyed by him instead.
It wasn't as if it had been stolen in the first place.
His own improper conduct had left that position vacant, and Kim Do-jin had simply claimed it.
But human emotions aren't something one can look at so coldly, are they?
“I’ll need to put him in his place.”
He knew.
He knew exactly how Kim Do-jin, smiling brightly in front of the reporters, must be feeling right now.
‘He must feel like the whole world is his.’
As if he’s the only special person in the world, and the seniors ahead of him are just gateways or obstacles to be passed in a moment.
He would be brimming with the confidence that he could do anything.
He had been the same.
When he first became S-rank and everyone was praising him, he thought it wouldn't be long before he became the best.
Until he was trampled once by someone he had looked down on so much.
“Heh, hehehehe! Ah… now I get it.”
Why that man had done that to him back then.
“That was a senior’s duty.”
To smack the head of an arrogant junior, who was sticking out, oblivious to how high the sky was, and put him back in his place.
That was the duty of a senior.
Realizing that the time had finally come for him to fulfill that duty, he picked up the smartphone he had thrown aside and pressed the call button.
“Director, how have you been? Oh, come on, it hasn't been that long, I greeted you at the start of the year. Ah, it’s nothing much… You know about that big story going around, right? Yes, the promotion match.”
A meaningful smile spread across his lips as he continued.
“I can be the one to do it, right?”
*
I ate well, and I ate well.
I ate my fill of the kimchi stew Jeong-hee made, and then I ate my fill of Jeong-hee and Shin Yu-jeong.
I’m not lying. For three straight days, all I ate was kimchi stew, and all I ate were those two.
We went at it so much.
“Haa, haa…♥ I-I really can’t anymore… I’m gonna die…♥”
“Nnggh…♥ Oohh…♥”
It reached the point where the two of them, after days of pent-up desire, were begging me to stop.
I guess I did go a little too far.
Perhaps that was why.
“I’m sorry, you two…”
Jeong-hee had fallen ill.
I didn't know the exact cause.
She had a slight fever and body aches, and when I suggested we go to the hospital, she adamantly refused, saying she’d be fine after some rest.
“Are you really okay?”
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“I’d feel better if you went to the hospital.”
“Mmm… it’s not that serious. Anyway, what are we going to do about feeding our Do-jin?”
“Is that what you should be worrying about right now…?”
At times like this, she’s a natural-born mother.
Even while she’s sick, she’s talking like she’s more worried about her child skipping a meal.
I pull the blanket, which was already up to her stomach, even higher to reassure her.
“I can always buy food or order in. Of course, it won’t be as delicious as your cooking.”
I was trying to tell her not to worry, that I wouldn't be skipping any meals.
But then.
“That’s right, Mom. If it comes down to it, I can cook for him, so don’t you worry.”
“……”
Why is there a sudden assassination attempt?
I played with her nicely during the day, the night was perfect… I don’t think I did anything wrong.
“I took good care of him when you went on that trip before. Hey, I’m right, aren’t I?”
“…You did, I think.”
Right.
To be honest, Shin Yu-jeong’s cooking isn’t bad enough to kill you.
The problem is, it’s not delicious enough to be grateful for, either.
If I had to rank them, it would be Jeong-hee’s home cooking, eating out, and then Shin Yu-jeong’s cooking.
A lot more things could be added between the second and third options… but that’s how it is for now.
“Okay, I understand. I’ll leave it to you for a few days, sweetie.”
This is bad.
The tide is turning from eating out to Shin Yu-jeong cooking.
This can’t be happening.
Just as I was about to hastily change the subject.
“Oh, by the way, didn’t you say you were going to apply for your promotion today?”
Jeong-hee’s timely words left me speechless.
“Well, yes…”
“You should hurry up and go. If you’re going to break the record, you might as well do it a day sooner.”
“Mmm.”
Everyone, inside and out, was making a fuss.
Telling me that if I was going to apply for the promotion, I should do it a day sooner to shorten the record.
It’s only a difference of a day or two, I don’t know why it’s even newsworthy.
With no other choice, I got up without saying what I had intended to.
Of course, I hadn't given up.
I’ll bring it up again after I apply for the promotion.
“Let’s go, hurry!”
Led by Shin Yu-jeong, who was excitedly rushing me along even though she wasn't the one getting promoted, I got into the car.
But wait a minute.
“…Why are you in the driver’s seat?”
“Because I’m driving today.”
“The service is great.”
“Of course! It’s the day my husband becomes an S-rank… Ehehehe!”
“…I’m not your husband yet, and I’m only applying for the promotion today.”
When I pointed out the flaws in her statement, she glared at me with a dead-serious expression.
“Shut up. Are you a fucking T-type?”
“I was an F, wasn’t I? You’re the T.”
“If you’re an F, then shut up and just empathize!”
You just need to start the damn car…
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
After a series of twists and turns, we arrived at the Association.
Manager Kim Seong-tae… no, Director Kim, was already there to greet us.
I don't know when it happened, but he was so happy to have finally gotten his promotion.
“It’s been a while, Hunter Kim Do-jin.”
“Yes, Manager… no, Director. Is it because it’s been a while? You look much better than before.”
“Hahaha! Do I?”
It wasn't just flattery; he really did look better.
Maybe it was because he was freed from his overwhelming duties after becoming a director, or maybe he’d been eating well.
He looked a year or two younger than the last time I saw him.
Not that it changed the fact that he was a middle-aged man in his forties.
“Let’s not stand around here. Let’s get your promotion application filed first, then we can talk.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
As I followed him into the Association building.
I reached out and lightly patted the back and waist of Yoon Ji-an, who had come out to greet us as well.
“Have you been well?”
“…Yes.”
No, you haven't.
I can tell you’re pouting just by looking at your lips.
“I have been well. Even though you left for the operation zone without a single word, and didn’t even send a simple message to say you were back, leaving me worried sick.”
“Uh, um.”
Her gaze and tone were sharp.
I opened my mouth, thinking I needed to appease her quickly…
“Hehe… You should try to understand, Unnie. He’s been a little busy these past few days.”
Shin Yu-jeong jumped in, fanning the flames in Yoon Ji-an’s heart.
“The boy was so starved, he wouldn’t let me go. I thought I was going to die for three whole days.”
“……”
That shiny head of hers… is there any way I can secretly smack it just once, and no more?
I filled out the promotion application while enduring her piercing gaze.
After I filled in all the blank spaces and submitted the document, Manager… no, Director Kim Seong-tae delivered some unexpected news.
“You’re aware of the S-rank promotion exam, I assume.”
“I know it well.”
There is only one test one must pass to become an S-rank.
“It’s a duel with an S-rank Hunter.”
You have to spar with one of the domestic S-rank Hunters and receive a passing score.
It brings back old memories.
I broke out in a cold sweat taking the promotion test against that eccentric old man.
I wonder who will be my opponent this time.
“Normally, it takes quite some time after the application for the test to be held, as we have to consider the schedules of the S-rank Hunters. But this time, we’ve been saved the trouble.”
His words made my head turn on its own.
“Saved the trouble?”
“Yes. Thankfully, one of the S-rank Hunters volunteered.”
“Oh… really?”
That’s strange.
From Namgung-hyung to Kim Tae-yang, every time someone applied for a promotion, there was no one to do it, so I always had to take charge.
That moron would never step up, and there’s been no news from the eccentric old man.
That means it’s either Namgung-hyung or Kim Tae-yang.
In that case, it’s obviously Namgung-hyung.
Just as I was feeling certain, Director Kim Seong-tae continued.
“Hunter Kim Do-jin’s promotion examiner will be Hunter Kim Tae-yang.”
“……”
The sun must have risen in the west.
Either that, or my ears have gone crazy.