Chapter 39
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Astonishing Rumors (1)
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The world, struck by the unprecedented emergence of Monoliths, Awakeners, and Gates, was naturally plunged into extreme chaos.
Though not officially named, people unanimously called this era the "Age of Great Upheaval."
True to its grandiose name, all sorts of upheavals were indeed taking place.
However, having been exposed to novels, dramas, and hyper-realistic movies fueled by advancements in science and technology that stretched the imagination, people adapted to these changes remarkably quickly.
And blocking the enigmatic threat of Gates through Hunters—specialized hunters—had become an utterly commonplace affair.
Yet, in the world's only divided nation, a small country in Asia—South Korea—the society that had been adapting began to creak under strain due to the "C-rank Gate Grade Fluctuation Incident."
The problem manifested most severely in South Korea, where the incident had occurred.
"Good work, everyone. That's already the fifth one. I'll make sure you get your leave and rewards, so rest up plenty before then."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Thank you for your hard work, Captain!"
The members of the Gate Warfare Special Forces, composed entirely of soldiers, saluted Han Si-yeon—both a Hunter who personally led them in hunting Gates and an officer in the unit—before withdrawing like the ebbing tide.
"Whew."
Confirming that all the troops had left, Han Si-yeon rubbed her dry face with her hands.
It had been a month since the B-rank Gate was cleared at the cost of countless Hunters' lives.
Hunters were starting to resume activities on a small scale, but most were still gripped by fear from the "C-rank Gate Grade Fluctuation Incident."
Even those who had returned were only willing to hunt Gates at least one rank below their own Awakening level, and their activities were inconsistent.
As a result, the Gate Warfare Special Forces—formed specifically to handle Gates—were pushed to the brink of exhaustion.
From F-rank to D-rank Gates.
Days dragged on with maximum available personnel stuffed into every hunt.
Even with healers swiftly patching up wounds, humans inevitably grew fatigued.
If not for the Hunters still active, multiple Gate Breaks would have occurred long ago.
Glancing over the list of currently active Hunters, a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"Everyone's hanging in there."
Amusingly, most Hunters who had frozen in fear of Gate grade changes were those who hadn't participated in the B-rank Gate.
Conversely, the diligent ones were those who had fought there alongside her.
And above all.
"What an incredible person."
In a time when everyone shrank back, one Hunter walked the opposite path.
Having cleared the most Gates solo, his name was constantly on the lips of the media and public. Seeing it, Han Si-yeon smiled softly.
The man who, when all had given up and accepted death, alone kindled a spark of hope for survival in people's hearts.
And by demonstrating overwhelming power to annihilate enemies in seconds, he had planted admiration and respect deep within them.
"Hunter Kang Sa-hu."
Han Si-yeon murmured his name quietly.
Lee Yu-rim smiled contentedly as she slowly read the top real-time news article on her phone.
Recently, the spotlight in domestic news was fixed on one person.
Unprecedented Immeasurable-Grade Awakener, EX-Rank Hunter Kang Sa-hu. Who Exactly Is He?
Hunter Kang Sa-hu Hunts 8 Gates in a Single Day, Enters Guinness World Records!
Lee Yu-rim happily scrolled through articles lavishing praise on her Party Leader.
But the moment she checked the comments below.
Her face, blooming like a flower in joy, hardened.
I know Kang Sa-hu's true identity.
It was a typical troll comment, the kind seen everywhere, yet strangely pinned at the top.
Seeing the title, Lee Yu-rim clicked it with fury in her eyes.
Kang Sa-hu, that bastard's life turned around with Awakening. Before that, he was nothing. Corpse-obsessed freak who spent all day cleaning bodies at a funeral home as a Corpse Cleaner. Seeing people suck up to him now, he really struck gold with Awakening. Lucky corpse pervert bastard.
"How dare...!"
Killing intent flickered in her eyes.
Her rage was directed at the one badmouthing her leader, Kang Sa-hu, but also at the netizens who had upvoted it.
Her leader was leading by example, clearing Gates day and night that other Hunters feared to touch, and yet people agreed with this trash?
Feeling as if humanity had lost its compassion, she scrolled down.
"Huh?"
She tilted her head, seeing more dislikes than likes.
Likes were only around 20, while dislikes hit 999+.
Confused, she checked the replies, finding a barrage cursing the commenter.
Who asked? Sick fuck?
Thank goodness. The EX-rank Awakener isn't some retard like this, it's Hunter Kang Sa-hu.
What's wrong with being a funeral director? Writing comments like this? Occupational discrimination much.
We call this inferiority complex.
Public sentiment is savage lololol
Watching the flood of hate toward the commenter, a warm smile returned to Lee Yu-rim's lips.
"Yu-rim, what're you looking at?"
Bae Deok-ho, who had approached unnoticed, sat on the bench and asked curiously at the smiling Lee Yu-rim.
"Just reading news articles about the Leader."
"Again? Sheesh. If a fan club pops up later, you gotta be the president, Yu-rim."
"Naturally."
"......"
It was a joke, but her matter-of-fact response left Bae Deok-ho speechless.
As Lee Yu-rim stood from the bench, Kim Ho-myeong returned with drinks.
"Good work."
"It's not over yet. Still, the Leader's something else. Sweeping through Gates like these solo."
Bae Deok-ho stretched, glancing back at the D-rank Gate they had just cleared.
The Dragon Guild Hunters who had joined them nodded as their eyes met; Dragon Guild Master Maeng Yu-na bowed politely.
Returning the greeting with a wave, Bae Deok-ho chuckled, thinking of Kang Sa-hu.
'Just like the Leader said.'
After the B-rank Gate incident, Kang Sa-hu had outlined future plans through Bae Deok-ho.
'Most Hunters will avoid Gate hunting out of fear for a while.'
Not mere speculation, but spoken with conviction in voice and eyes—his leader's words.
The tasks entrusted to him numbered three.
'Given my abilities and need for growth ahead, I'll hunt solo. In the meantime, please take Kim Ho-myeong, Lee Yu-rim, and... Ji-ye hunting with you.'
'Also, alongside forming the guild as discussed, share any key intel from the NIS, even briefly.'
Having issued precise orders—even providing guild master contacts from the B-rank Gate in case things got tough—his leader had since been a whirlwind, rarely seen.
Trusting Kang Sa-hu completely after he revealed all truths, Bae Deok-ho resolved to follow sincerely.
"At first, it was just orders, personal curiosity, and gratitude."
Approaching under NIS orders.
Curious as a fellow Hunter about his power and responsibility.
Realizing he was the benefactor who saved his son from a Gate Break at the hospital—he hadn't expected such deep trust.
But hunting together revealed calm judgment in directives.
Even noticing deception, he waited, forgave honest apologies with magnanimity.
Impossible not to trust and follow.
'The Leader's reliable.'
The NIS role was mere inertia from pre-Awakening days for livelihood.
Following someone he truly trusted was a first.
He could tell Kim Ho-myeong and Lee Yu-rim felt the same—grown strong, proven capable, ignoring headhunting offers to heed Kang Sa-hu faithfully.
"Man, miss the Leader~"
"Yeah. He seems insanely busy lately."
"If you're curious about the Leader, check this news article."
"I have a phone too, you know."
"Tch."
Chatting about Kang Sa-hu to unwind, the trio soon departed for the next Gate.
Inside a certain Gate.
With only the boss and a few monsters left—clearance imminent—Kang Sa-hu paused hunting, pulling a Soul Core from his pocket to inspect.
Blue and green glows overflowed like smoke, rippling in its eyes, revealing full info.
"The end's finally in sight."
Satisfied at the Troll Soul Core's durability rising from 8 to 94, Kang Sa-hu noted it wasn't fully restored yet.
He pulled out gathered Soul Cores, placed them with the Troll's in his palm, and clenched his fist.
Skill: Soul Core used.
Consuming selected Soul Cores to restore 'Troll's Soul Core'.
As he clenched and restored the final Troll Soul Core, Kang Sa-hu checked his pouch.
"Giant Hounds: 30, Corpse-Eating Apes: 70... and with this, Trolls: 59."
Having used nearly all other Soul Cores, the last Troll Soul Core hit 100 durability. Satisfied, he pocketed it.
Unlike his summons targeting vitals to minimize damage, Hunter-killed Trolls were in dire states.
Some were shredded beyond Soul Core creation; even the best had single-digit durability.
Unable to discard powerful B-rank Trolls, he invested all gathered cores into restoration.
And now.
After countless Gates—too many to count—he'd consumed nearly everything, finally restoring the last viable Troll Soul Core. Achievement surged.
But this was just the starting line.
The real work began now.
"A Troll's body is near-perfect as is."
Cannibalistic Devourer didn't suit Trolls, who needed flesh and blood to maintain regeneration and immense strength—risking loss if they devoured superiors.
Trolls required elevation to a higher existence.
Top of mind: Death Knight, rivaling strongest summons.
"But no Spirit means Death Knight's impossible."
Next best: right below.
"Draugr..."
High difficulty like Death Knight, needing reagents and magic—hundreds rare in Korea.
Kang Sa-hu concluded.
"Time for a visit."
The world's sole place stocked with every Necromancer spell and material.
Recalling the Necromancer Society he hadn't visited in ages, Kang Sa-hu rose.