Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Unexpected Reunion
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After that, the world erupted in chaos just like the first day gates appeared. On top of that, since one of the towers had spawned in Washington, USA, demands to eliminate it as quickly as possible came flooding in.
‘But attacking the tower would just make monsters pour out.’
The teal-haired guy’s words. Clear it like a gate, and the tower vanishes. I couldn’t believe it completely, but right now, there was no other option.
The World Hunter Alliance first assembled hunters from every country. Gathering hunters was easy. All you needed to be was a ‘hunter.’ More precisely, anyone who had manifested a pattern could enter the tower. Whether hunter, technician, or just some ordinary pattern manifester living a normal life—as long as you had a pattern, anyone could go in and out of the tower.
‘Only those qualified can enter, huh? And the qualification was just having a pattern?’
Well, whatever. It was still better than me not being able to go in.
“But why do I have to be stuck doing this?”
Clang! I lightly kicked off a streetlamp and dropped to the ground.
When I learned even my brother knew nothing about the tower, I couldn’t hold back my amusement—I collapsed laughing, then quickly tilted my head back, pretending it hurt. By the time Yoo A-han checked me over, there was nothing physically wrong, so she said it might be mental and ordered me not to raid dungeons for a while.
‘Of all things, I had to fake being sick.’
I couldn’t raid dungeons, but with the tower appearing, an S-Rank sitting idle would only heighten public anxiety. So, I ended up on patrol duty for a bit—light work.
‘This is a first.’
First time was fine, but there was nothing to do. No hunter riots, no incidents—a peaceful afternoon. In the end, I wasted two hours.
‘Especially around here, it’s a million times more peaceful than other places.’
This area was packed with well-known guilds, so nothing big ever happened. Even if something did go down—and it wasn’t an S-Rank causing trouble—it’d get handled without me.
‘Guess I should head somewhere else.’
I was staggering off, ignoring the people who recognized me, when—
Flash.
“Huh.”
A flash of light came from a nearby alley. Too bright for a phone, too random for a flashlight.
‘No, the feel of it was different from the start.’
It was brief, but the light itself felt off.
‘Hunters fighting?’
Thud. I closed the distance to the alley in an instant.
Up close, I saw one A-Rank hunter and a bunch of B- to C-Rank ones. The shocking part? The A-Rank was being intimidated by the others.
“…Ah.”
I got it. Scamming a newbie who’d just manifested their pattern.
“Who the hell are you?”
One of the guys—pretty skilled, apparently—spotted me approaching without a sound.
Well, if they couldn’t even notice that, they couldn’t pull off thug crap like this.
“Hey, isn’t that Han Ji-eon?”
“Why’s Han Ji-eon here?!”
“Looking at him, seems like he’s just passing by. Shit… talk about bad luck.”
Scanning the group, my eyes caught a paper crumpled on the ground. I strolled over, picked it up, and read. Anyone could see it was a scam contract—no benefits for the signer.
‘Solid evidence.’
I folded the contract casually and pocketed it. The almost-scammed A-Rank was slumped on the ground.
“To think there are idiots who scam so blatantly.”
Maybe I just didn’t know because I rarely dealt with this stuff, but nah—they were just stupid. In a guild-heavy district, in broad daylight? Idiotic.
“Hm?”
I’d barely paid them any mind, but these morons still hadn’t run.
‘They’ve got something to rely on.’
As I stared silently, the hunters intimidating the A-Rank nodded with growing confidence.
‘Ah, is it this?’
I glanced down. A faint yellow honeycomb pattern glowed dimly on the ground.
‘Neutralization ability?’
They thought it worked because I wasn’t reacting.
‘It does work, but…’
This neutralization only blocked offensive abilities. My overall stats, strength, speed—all intact.
‘Big rank gap causes glitches like this? Offensive skills… yeah, I can still use them. How big a gap does it take?’
Ssshh. Through the sand pattern on the floor, I heard faint footsteps approaching from others. Looked like they were about to pile on.
“Oh.”
No sooner had I thought it than all sorts of abilities flew at me.
Boom! I dodged sideways, and the attacks veered toward civilian areas.
“Ah. Right.”
“What the—? Neutralized for real? He dodged that?”
I needed to end this quick. I scooped up a handful of the sand spread on the ground.
Then the hunters charged me directly. At that speed, running would just get bystanders hurt.
Whoosh! I hurled the sand hard—their skin tore where it scraped.
“Crazy! What was that?!”
As they hesitated, I launched myself like a bullet, subduing them in a flash. With the anticlimactic fight over, I pulled out my phone.
‘Let’s see. Association number…’
Just as I was about to hit call, the intimidated A-Rank bolted up and ran.
“Whoa.”
But his escape attempt was pointless—he got caught immediately.
“No need to run. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“L-Let go!”
“Huh?”
His random outburst made me release my grip, and the A-Rank collapsed limply.
“Ow!”
“Ah, sorry… Huh?”
The face I glimpsed looked familiar.
‘Do I know anyone around here who bleached their hair?’
To check closer, I pretended to help him up and tilted his head back.
“…Ahh.”
No wonder he was hiding his face.
I let go and stared at the shaking bleach-yellow nape.
“Ma Heo-yun?”
“……!”
The guy who ditched me and ran like hell the day gates first appeared.
‘So he became a hunter.’
Calling his name made Ma Heo-yun flinch.
“Why so jumpy?”
An A-Rank, and still this scared… Ah, maybe.
“You didn’t report your pattern manifestation, did you?”
He flinched again before I even finished.
“Hah.”
No wonder just a flash of light and he couldn’t handle weaker hunters.
“When’d it manifest?”
“…A week ago.”
“Today makes exactly a week—cutting it close. Gotta report by end of day. Go get it done and get ranked.”
“…I’ll handle it.”
“Yeah, you do that.”
“What?”
“What?”
“…Nothing.”
Ma Heo-yun hung his head. Guilt, maybe—but every time I moved, he flinched visibly.
‘Anyway, Ma Heo-yun… an A-Rank pattern manifester.’
Valuable info. He hadn’t existed in past loops.
A-Rank hunters aren’t common, so if he’d awakened as one, my hunter-obsessed friend would’ve told me right away—especially since I knew the guy.
The friend not knowing meant… Ma Heo-yun must’ve gotten scammed here, died quietly, or fled abroad.
‘Stumbled into a win.’
One change ripples into ten—new events kept popping up.
“Ma Heo-yun.”
“…….”
“You feel bad about ditching me?”
“Of course I…!”
“Yeah?”
He had some fire, yelling like that, but guilt too, apparently.
“Well… I was pissed back then, but we were both desperate to survive. It happens.”
“What?”
“You ran to live. No big deal. Plus, you feel bad, right? So we’re good.”
Ma Heo-yun gaped. I didn’t say more and called the Association to report.
‘Can’t let an A-Rank slip away.’
Afterward, Ma Heo-yun and the other hunters were hauled off by Association arrivals.
“Back to patrol—”
Bzzz! My phone vibrated hard. Hitting the button brought a familiar voice.
—Where are you right now?
It was Ji Hwa-yeon. I gave my exact location.
—Wait there?
Call ended.
Ten minutes later, a familiar car pulled up. Driver only, but definitely from Ji Hwa-yeon.
“Hello.”
Short greeting to the driver, then I got in. Destination: Hwajin Guild, naturally.
“Ah. You’re here.”
In the reception room, besides Ji Hwa-yeon, there was one other person.
“Bro?”
“…….”
My brother on the sofa looked sulky, like something irked him. What now?
“This is our second time gathered like this, I think.”
“What’s this about?”
Click. A massive screen lit up with a familiar sight. A tower in garish colors. Showing this meant…
“Felt like I should get your input too, Han Ji-eon.”
“Input on what…?”
“Want to go to America?”
“Huh?”
“Ji Hwa-yeon.”
My brother called her sharply, annoyed, but she ignored it.
“Of course I’ll explain.”
Ji Hwa-yeon stretched her arm, pointing at my brother’s sofa. I sat down in confusion, facing her.
Confirming I was seated, she began.
“First off, you know three towers appeared. The one in America opened first.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m heading there. The water one—Ryu Cheon-hwa’s got it whenever it opens. The upside-down one’s Seung-hyeon.”
“…Wait, did you call me because…?”
She nodded with a grin.
“Yeah. ‘America’ means this tower. I could go solo, but the bigwigs want to show goodwill—minimum two S-Ranks.”
“But why me…?”
“Planned to go with Han Ji-un there, but… he doesn’t seem like he’ll listen to me.”
“Huh?”
“Not just us. We’ll pick skilled applicants to join.”
“No, no—hold up. You’re saying you added me because bro won’t listen?”
“Yeah.”
Thanks for the spot, but that reason? Total BS. No way me going makes him listen, and she can’t assume I will either.
‘Dunno what’s up, better keep quiet.’
Talking might backfire—could even cancel my trip. Silence was safest.
As I stayed mum, my irritated brother spoke.
“If I won’t listen, why drag Ji-eon into it?”
“Then you’ll follow my lead quietly?”
“Can’t say for sure, but probably.”
“That’s why. Last S-Rank dungeon, you soloed the boss.”
“That… cleared it fast, so it worked out, right?”
“You went to train your team, and you wiped it solo. Even after I said it was for practice. Karma.”
Crack. The sofa armrest under my brother’s hand crumbled. Oof. Really pissed. I mourned the sofa.
Then, Ji Hwa-yeon muttered.
“Should be here soon…”
“Hm? Who?”
“Oh, Ryu Cheon-hwa insisted on bringing an A-Rank from his guild.”
“Ah.”
On-yeon Guild A-Ranks—I probably knew them. All top-notch, no issue. More help, the better.
“Conveniently nearby, so briefing today—”
Before she finished, the reception room door burst open.
“Hello!”