Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Dignity of a Senior Hunter #2
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"W-Why."
Do-yoon shot back as if retorting, feeling unnecessarily prodded.
Jeong A-hyeon approached, huffing through her nose.
'Did I hit a nerve?'
In truth, there was plenty for the hunters to discuss among themselves.
First off, the fragment of the Object's power that belonged to him.
What kind of reaction would they have if they knew about Eira's existence?
It might be good news for fellow professionals gaining great strength, but on a human level, it could feel unsettling.
Honestly, he didn't think their gaze toward the Tower was anything positive.
'Even me, right now.'
Even Do-yoon didn't view the Tower's existence favorably.
The Boss Mob Gallery members were kind for now, but they were essentially ticking time bombs that could explode at any moment.
"...Do-yoon oppa."
"..."
The tense standoff dragged on.
"D-Do you have time t-tomorrow-?!"
Jeong A-hyeon, who had been mumbling to herself, bit her tongue hard and clamped her hand over her mouth, her face flushing bright red.
"...?"
"H-Huee..."
She'd bitten it so fiercely that tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she whimpered in pain.
"Tomorrow? Why tomorrow?"
As Do-yoon asked in confusion, A-hyeon finally composed herself and looked at him with renewed determination.
"If you have time tomorrow, do you want to hang out?"
Suddenly?
It hadn't been long since they'd cleared the Tower.
Shouldn't they be swamped with follow-ups and reports?
"What about the Tower raid?"
"Oh dear! Are you already thinking about raiding it again?!"
"...?"
What it meant to be a hunter...
You had to know how to protect your own body.
That included training it to survive. And—
"Hunters are required to play and release the mana buildup in their minds."
"Uh..."
"As you know, Do-yoon oppa, operating inside the Tower is mentally taxing in itself."
She wasn't wrong, now that he thought about it.
In fact, without showing it, Do-yoon had felt a strange heaviness in his mind while active in the Tower.
Resonating with other hunters, fighting, facing trials.
Each was a confrontation with a threat, leading to mental strain.
A-hyeon's point was that they needed to relieve that accumulated stress from the Tower's interior.
And so...
"Yes?"
Before he knew it, Do-yoon found himself strolling through downtown Seoul with A-hyeon, who was dressed to the nines.
A-hyeon was a woman of quicker action than he'd expected.
"Do-yoon oppa!"
A-hyeon, dressed vibrantly, approached him with a smile as bright as the morning sun.
"Whoa, crazy."
"Who? A celebrity? Oh."
People around them recognized her and whispered.
Perhaps due to mana adaptation, he could hear voices from distances where he shouldn't.
Do-yoon felt a bit burdened at first but soon smiled as A-hyeon arrived.
"You're here?"
"Y-Yes...! Why'd you come out so early?"
"I live close, so I can just head out right away. More importantly..."
Do-yoon eyed A-hyeon carefully before speaking.
"You look stunning. Should I take fashion tips from you today?"
He said it straight, genuinely impressed.
A-hyeon pondered his words for a moment, then her cheeks lightly flushed.
"H-Huh? Oh, no! I dressed super casually since I'm just meeting a close oppa..."
It didn't look casual at all—she'd clearly put in effort, obvious even to him.
"People are staring."
"Th-That's because I'm on TV so often..."
'Because she's a hunter, huh.'
Do-yoon felt anew the prestige her name carried.
In Korea, plagued by a shortage of talent, hunters like A-hyeon were constantly in ads and TV shows, not to mention commuting to Association facilities.
She must be living a busier life than any celebrity right now.
'On top of raiding the Tower?'
It made sense now why other hunters didn't look kindly on the government and Hunter Association higher-ups.
"A-Anyway, shall we go?! I like this place. It's quiet even on weekends..."
Do-yoon glanced around at her words.
The buildings exuded such luxury that even a stranger would think, 'This is a ritzy neighborhood.'
The passersby had an air of refinement about them.
True to her word, it was serene for a weekend.
"Yeah, it is."
"Right, right? That's why I love it...!"
Following A-hyeon's lead, Do-yoon headed to a café first.
They set a loose plan there—clothes shopping, a famous restaurant, dessert café, and cultural outings.
Not to brag, but he was surprisingly looking forward to it.
For him, young people's fun had meant PC bangs and dramas at best.
"Ah, um. I can carry that..!"
"It's fine. You're guiding me today, A-hyeon, so let me handle this much."
Sensing the moment, Do-yoon snatched her shopping bag and followed her through the city streets.
A-hyeon subtly scanned him with appreciative eyes as they spent time together.
As they wandered, the sky began to glow crimson.
"Wow...! Wasn't it really delicious?"
"Totally."
After dinner, they sat on a nearby bench sharing their thoughts.
"I had so much fun, time flew by...!"
"You showed me all the good spots."
"R-Really?"
A-hyeon glanced sideways at Do-yoon again, shrinking a bit.
She'd worried he might be tired and barely slept fretting over it.
But Do-yoon seemed genuinely enjoying it, his face bright and lively.
'Phew, good...'
Thank goodness.
Today was about relieving Tower fatigue, at least somewhat.
Not hers, but his.
'And a little...'
It included her tiny personal desire to hang out with the cool senior hunter.
"Oppa, um..."
And now.
Seizing the moment alone, A-hyeon decided to voice what she'd kept buried deep.
"Yeah?"
"In the theme stage... did anything happen...?"
Anything.
The word held too much; he didn't know where to start.
Honestly, that vagueness annoyed him too.
"Yeah, it did."
"I-I figured."
A-hyeon wasn't stupid.
She'd experienced it firsthand there.
"I was gonna show you in the training room anyway."
"P-Pardon...?"
"I got this... intriguing thing. Not exactly a skill."
"Oh."
It was just a small chain now, but with effort, he could surely manifest Eira in her full form again.
"Can't wait to head back in."
Countless EXP and rewards awaited him.
From floor 5 on, no other hunters from his world, just his own domain unfolding.
"..."
A-hyeon watched him with a strange look.
"Oppa, do you enjoy operating in the Tower?"
"Hmm... it's weird, but half yes."
"Aha..."
A-hyeon trailed off, unsure how to respond.
She knew other hunters' fates, bound to enter the Tower.
Half go mad, half die.
It was accepted wisdom; their futures were hopeless.
Yet the world they grew up in—the government—shoved them into that hell.
Could anyone stay positive in such an environment?
A-hyeon felt an odd disconnect from Do-yoon.
No one enjoyed conquering floors like that.
"From floor 5, you and the other hunters can't enter with me anymore."
"Right."
"So I gotta rush in and adapt quick."
"...Do-yoon oppa too."
That's why A-hyeon wanted to know.
Why was he changing so much?
Or was 'changing' even accurate?
It was like dormant potential awakening through his chance at power; he seemed to be sprinting madly now.
Even if via floors 1-5.
'Too fast, way too fast.'
A-hyeon felt uneasy deep down.
That he might vanish before her eyes, never looking back.
"Like other hunters, you have similar goals... right?"
Money or fame.
Hunters got national support, at least.
Minimum guarantee and compensation for being semi-forced into hell.
But.
"Eh... haven't thought that specific yet."
"Whaa...?"
Do-yoon lacked even the basics to enjoy such things.
As a child, the Gate Break took everything.
Family, memories, his entire upbringing.
Blood ties from hazy recollections—all severed then.
His life turned colorless.
Just existing.
But perhaps he'd secretly yearned for more in this life.
Gazing at the massive Tower that brought his misfortune.
Wondering if answers lay there for why he lived like this.
"I don't want more people like me."
He knew from experience.
It was truly miserable, hopeless.
"..."
Of course, half was impulse too.
Boss Mob Gallery folks were kind, always guiding him.
With them alongside, he pushed forward without much thought.
"Got something to show you."
Ignoring A-hyeon's stunned silence, Do-yoon stood with a grin.
His gaze always held that Tower yearning.
"See you tomorrow."
This had to come first.
#
The next day.
-Ching...
"...Ah."
Do-yoon displayed the blood-red chain coiled around his left hand before the hunters.
"This is Eira, part of the Object I got from the Tower."
"B-Back then, we thought it was just a skill..."
"That's partly right. Uh... it's complicated."
It nuzzled his cheek like a living being.
Something indescribable flickered in the hunters' eyes as they watched.
"Hee hee hee."