Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: 9. Whether Even One Person Exists (8)
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Hobgoblin's death.
The balance crumbled further.
The undead who had been revived by Reviver collapsed like puppets with their strings cut upon the death of their host.
Swish.
In truth, it was over.
But Kang San didn't let his guard down.
Just because the boss monster was dead didn't mean all the threats before his eyes had vanished completely.
"There are still plenty of monsters left, so stay focused."
He roughly wiped away the blood trickling down.
Physically speaking, his stamina had fully recovered, but a wave of dizziness hit him, likely from lingering mental fatigue. Even so, he didn't show it. A variable could mean dying to a regular goblin's arrow even after taking down the hobgoblin, and he was well aware that he was the pillar holding this party together. Until every last danger was eradicated, Kang San would show no weakness.
Thud!
Kieeeek.
The battle continued from there.
After about thirty minutes of fighting, there was finally no living creature left before the group.
Stagger.
Thud.
Kang San collapsed right there.
He usually wanted to check on the others first, but with his mind darkening, he could no longer stand on his own two feet.
"I can't pass out..."
He gritted his teeth.
The moment he desperately clung to consciousness.
His strength gave out completely.
In the end.
He had succeeded this time too.
It was a proving ground where he demonstrated that no matter how perilous the trial, he could protect himself and his comrades. In a battle that could become a turning point in his life, Kang San emerged victorious. Finally, he could relax. Now he could stand side by side with the others. Even if misfortune struck, he had the power to protect them.
Beyond his fading consciousness.
"Kang San!"
"Ah! Are you okay?"
Gazing at the people rushing toward him from afar, Kang San blacked out.
If one side had won.
It meant the other side had lost.
In the awkward atmosphere, Yeon Gyu-seong faced Yeon Woo-bin and broke the long silence with a complicated expression.
"Woo-bin."
"...Yes."
"I've lived with genuine gratitude toward those who live as hunters. Without them, the world would be far more dangerous, and someone like us might lose family. That's why the hunter emergency center I run prioritizes treatment over amassing more money or wealth—it's a group dedicated to the public good. But."
Their eyes met.
Beyond the complex gaze, love for his son shone through.
"That doesn't mean I wanted you to become one of those great hunters. If someone had to sacrifice, I wished it was others, not that all the burdens of heroism fall on my family. Some might call me selfish—a doctor, no less, one who saves the most lives in Korea. Prioritizing my own peace might seem repulsive. But I don't care about such criticism. If you'd chosen to live safely within my protection, as always, I'd have been your shield."
He sighed.
Rubbing his face, he asked one final time.
"Do you really want to be a hunter?"
"...I'm serious. Not for others, but to grow strong for myself and those around me."
"Alright. I understand."
He made his decision.
The intent pleased him.
For himself, not others.
Yeon Gyu-seong finally accepted reality.
"Watching you fight today gave me some realizations too. Your talent is extraordinary. Most say surpassing D-Rank is talented enough, but despite my interference and without enough time to train, you showed tremendous magical ability. It would be foolish to let that go to waste. Very well, I permit it."
"Dad!"
"But on one condition."
Yeon Woo-bin jumped from her seat.
To her beaming face, Yeon Gyu-seong showed a resolute gaze.
"I'll accept any condition."
"Two conditions. First, accept my full support. Not half-heartedly hunting like others—you'll use my resources thoroughly for training and hunts. No nonsense about going it alone; I won't allow it."
"Got it. I wasn't planning to ignore a ready advantage anyway."
"And second."
This decision.
There was a decisive factor.
Even if she accepted the first, without this second, Yeon Gyu-seong would retract it anytime.
"Raids must be in parties with Kang San only. No one else. If you're risking yourself, only he can protect you—that's my judgment."
The conversation ended.
Yeon Woo-bin accepted both conditions, leaving Yeon Gyu-seong alone in the spot where he'd sent off his son.
"...Was this the right choice?"
He still wasn't sure.
Living as a hunter meant danger was inevitable, and his son would surely get badly hurt someday, wrenching his heart. Even so, there was no other way. From this test, Yeon Gyu-seong realized his son's will was unbreakable and his talent exceptionally unique.
A nail that would poke out eventually.
Better under his control than sneaking off and risking everything.
And.
"The secretary said it. Kang San is a very special person."
Just before.
As the battle neared its end, the secretary explained with an admiring face.
"As someone who was once a hunter myself, the details from that Kang San are truly astonishing. The reason Woo-bin young miss's party endured this disadvantageous fight is because Kang San bore all the risks. Attacks from all sides, including blind spots, and he never faltered once. And their positioning—always in a straight line. Meaning Kang San constantly tracks Woo-bin's position, shielding her from frontal exposure with his body."
The secretary was a former B-Rank hunter.
As both secretary and strongest bodyguard, he read Kang San's finer details.
"He seems to calculate the mage's cooldowns too—whenever Woo-bin casts, he herds monsters to one side for efficient attacks. Where did such a skilled person come from? His listed rank is E-Rank, but what we've seen is at least C-Rank level. Even C-Rank tankers couldn't guarantee holding that."
He clicked his tongue.
Kang San.
A talent impossible to deny.
But the reason both the secretary and Yeon Gyu-seong acknowledged him wasn't just skill.
"To be frank, if Woo-bin young miss becomes a hunter someday, there's no better choice than Kang San. Sure, others might have superior skills. But typical tankers don't readily risk their one life—Kang San threw himself for Woo-bin whenever needed. Because of that, the hobgoblin shifted from targeting the rear to him. A top-tier tanker with such sacrificial spirit for comrades is exceedingly rare."
He acknowledged it.
The point Yeon Gyu-seong noted.
Kang San, whom he'd called a comrade, hurling himself to protect his comrades.
It was fate.
With his son in his stormy youth, a comrade like Kang San appearing—nothing else explained it.
"Dear, please protect Woo-bin."
Decision made.
No turning back now.
Support him fully to minimize risks.
Yeon Gyu-seong immediately summoned the secretary.
"Prepare the best plan for Woo-bin from now on."
How much time had passed?
Kang San wearily opened his eyes.
Drip, drip.
"...Ugh."
A groan escaped involuntarily.
What he saw was a luxurious hospital room and mana IVs being steadily infused into his body at intervals.
Memories returned.
The moment he succeeded the mission and passed out.
'The reward?'
He checked his stats first.
Kang San inwardly exclaimed at the stark changes from before.
'Wow.'
The eighth trial.
The base reward was +5 to all stats, plus additional gains from the special Burning Time event. Comparing to before, Strength and Agility, Reaction Speed up by 3; Magic Power by 2; Stamina and Mental Strength by 5. An unbelievable outcome. With Agility breaking 50, he'd entered D-Rank average territory, and the rewards felt more than sufficient based on stats alone.
And astonishingly.
The rewards didn't end there.
★★★ Skill: Dummy
1. Summons a dummy embodying 50% of the caster's abilities. Position is freely designated; the dummy, which can't recover, vanishes when HP depletes. (Cooldown: 30 min)
2. Number of dummies increases with Mental Strength stat.
3. Current dummies: 1
★★★ Skill: Pain Sharing
1. Absorbs damage taken by a designated target. (Cooldown: 1 hour)
2. Pain Sharing lasts 1 minute; absorbed damage is applied at 1.5x multiplier.
"...Should I be happy about these or not?"
The two skills.
Even a rough roadmap showed the sacrifices ahead.
Dummy would ease solo burdens, and Pain Sharing was a skill no saint could wield lightly. Taking damage in another's stead wasn't simple—1.5x amplified, it could lead to dying in their place.
Truly.
Azmun's intent was obvious.
Building him up step by step into the ultimate sacrificial figure.
'Still, as a tanker, no skill tree could be more perfect. Whether by choice or force, these are undeniably strong skills.'
Not bad at all.
This life.
He'd already accepted it.
Having proven himself, he genuinely needed solid protection skills.
A deep sense of satisfaction welled up emotionally.
Had he failed this test or failed to protect his comrades, Kang San would have accepted the trials but operated solo. The fact that someone might get hurt because of him was unbearable pain. Unless a psychopath or sociopath indifferent to others, he needed this one chance to prove and confirm himself—like he had.
And this party.
An unexpected gain.
Yeon Woo-bin proved explosive talent, but the other two fulfilled their roles perfectly too.
'If we run this party fixed and grow together, someday we can break the chain of evil karma.'
His mind was at ease.
From childhood to now.
Constant suffering and a hazy future finally felt clear.
For now, he rested.
Intending to recover fully with the IVs, the door suddenly opened, revealing a familiar face.
"You're awake?"
Yeon Gyu-seong.
He entered the room alone.