085. Change
Sometime during that, the atmosphere had grown tense. After the winner was announced, sparse applause faded, leaving a brief silence in its wake. Perhaps the others, catching the murmurs from the audience hunters, realized I'd been about to step forward. Everyone held their breath, watching intently.
But it didn't last. Someone gestured for me to hold back and stepped up instead.
'Kang Jun-hyuk...?'
It was Kang Jun-hyuk, freshly awarded the Korean Hunters League MVP of the Year.
He shot me a look that said don't sweat it, then casually struck up a conversation like we were old pals. "Hey, Lee Chang-hyun. Great match."
Kang Jun-hyuk grinned.
We'd never even exchanged greetings before, yet he acted like we'd been brothers for years.
That's when something amusing happened. The grumbling about me snagging Rookie of the Year died down.
In its place rose a ripple of curiosity and surprise.
"Kang Jun-hyuk, who's ruling the top of Division 1, watched a Division 3 match? What's so great about it? Division 3's got nothing worth seeing."
"They said he was all flash no substance... guess there's something there."
"That promotion via survival match wasn't luck... no other teams came up recently."
In the current Korean Hunters League, Kang Jun-hyuk's star power was that of Division 1's emperor. His single comment flipped the noisy crowd sentiment positive.
'Especially since most of the loudmouths are Division 2 guys...'
Kang Jun-hyuk's words were practically law to nearly every hunter idolizing him. The mood had no choice but to shift.
But as the buzz quieted, Kang Jun-hyuk smoothly took the Rookie trophy and ceremonial gold plaque from the host and approached me.
"I'm looking forward to it, Lee Chang-hyun. Keep growing and light up the Korean Hunters League."
With that, he offered a handshake.
I had no idea why he'd suddenly covered for me.
'A top Division 1 player wouldn't watch Division 3...'
From my pre-regression memories, that held true—I never even glanced at lower league highlights.
So why say that?
As I pondered his intentions, Kang Jun-hyuk closed in to hand over the plaque and gold stick. That's when I felt it.
The exact opposite of the jealousy and disdain from those Division 2 punks moments ago.
Yes, it was jarringly different—enough to make me pause. Quiet eyes burning with unmistakable fighting spirit.
And sure enough, as he leaned in to pass the items, he whispered so softly only I'd hear, even with enhanced hunter senses.
"Wish you'd been born three years earlier."
'Heh, he saw something, alright.'
I couldn't help but chuckle. I'd pegged him as just a gentleman, but nope—looks like a guy whose insides were raging like an inferno, itching to set the world ablaze.
A type like that? I could get behind him.
Definitely not like those clueless fools belittling me or the pathetic whiners hiding in the crowd.
As Division 1's hottest player, he saw what he saw.
'Interesting guy.'
Ignoring a line like that without a retort would be rude.
"Why? Think you won't face me in the league while you're still kicking? Give it a year. We'll meet soon enough."
Not too loud, but loud enough. Anyone tuned to the stage chatter would've caught that something passed between us—and likely heard my reply.
The hall stirred.
Kang Jun-hyuk smirked, taking it as newbie bravado. "Fine. I'll be watching. Waiting in Division 1."
Yeah, one year down. The next one was coming.
As he brushed past off the stage, he paused and spoke again. "Oh, right. Who'd have thought I'd see President Lee Geun-taek's relic on a rookie like you... Has he picked you as successor?"
"Ah... so that's why."
"Not quite. I do think you might be the one to follow me someday. But..."
"But?"
Kang Jun-hyuk laughed heartily. "Wearing President Lee Geun-taek's relic—and to a place packed with hunter insiders... just caught me off guard. Enjoy the rest of the night."
'More famous than I thought...?'
I'd worn the relic for its benefits, but things were unfolding differently than expected.
Maybe every hunter-in-the-know or association bigwig now realized I had Lee Geun-taek's relic.
Eh, not a big deal.
But soon, I'd learn that was naive.
Once the ceremony wrapped, Lee Geun-taek himself took the stage.
***
The Hunter Association president and first-generation hunter ascending the podium wasn't odd in itself.
But him taking the stage at the Hunters Day party? That was a first, surprising many.
"Something big this time?"
"Haven't heard anything major."
The hall buzzed with unexpected murmurs.
In the chaos, Lee Geun-taek steadied himself with his long staff and stood at the mic.
Then he lightly lifted and tapped the staff.
A casual gesture from his gripping hand.
But the result was anything but.
Boom.
A heavy mana wave swept through, silencing the room instantly amid the din.
How many here could pull that off, among Korea's elite hunters?
Obviously, it reaffirmed his audition showing was just a fraction of his power.
'That old man's something else...'
Even if I fully regained my pre-regression prowess, gauging his depths now seemed impossible.
Impeccable mana control beyond measure.
In the weighted hush, Lee Geun-taek's voice rang clear and resonant.
"Esteemed hunters. Good to see you. I am Lee Geun-taek, first-generation hunter who founded the Korean Hunters League and has upheld it since. I'm here today for one reason: I've found a gem of true talent."
Murmurs intensified at his opener.
It sounded like announcing a successor.
Unlike other first-gens, he'd mentored but never named a prized disciple or heir.
Ignoring the stir, he pressed on. "What is a hunter? What is the Hunters League? Many have diluted, forgetting the roots. Recounting history now would be pointless—oblivion has its meaning. I've never spoken of it before. But seeing that gem, I realized: even as those gathered here forget that history and drift from the hunter's spirit, some still carry that will."
His gaze shifted toward where I sat.
"Challenging. Growing. Fighting. All of it."
Mana gathered in his hand, emitting blue light.
"This old man plans to step back now, watching the hunter world's future unfold."
The light linked to the cravat at my neck—his relic—then rippled outward from me in blue waves.
"That's my message: entrusting the future to the next generation. Thank you again."
With that, Lee Geun-taek stepped down, done with his piece.
The hall exploded far louder than before.
Naturally, the hot topic was me, now revealed as his relic heir.
"Whoa... that's Lee Geun-taek's relic?"
"He wore it publicly before—think the old government gave it for first-gen merits..."
"So he's saying watch out for that kid?"
"Handing over a relic... basically naming him successor."
My table was no exception in the chaos.
"What the—? You've been meeting President Lee Geun-taek a lot, but when'd this happen?" Kim Do-jun grilled me.
"Guys, we kinda guessed when you kept hanging with him," Yoon Han-gyeol chimed, claiming foresight despite my own surprise.
"Man... you're on another level," Yi Gil-han marveled.
Reactions varied wildly.
But I looked the most baffled.
'Like this?'
I vaguely knew what inheriting the relic meant.
But announcing it here, publicly? Pre-regression, I'd had zero personal ties to him—no such event.
Being someone's official successor. Publicly declared.
First time.
But... it didn't feel bad.
Team vibes were stunned overall; other hunters showed jealousy, envy, shock, awe, resentment—you name it.
Kang Jun-hyuk's nod had stirred things; this was a whole new level of unrest.
Not full acceptance, though.
"Still hearing whispers—'Why pick a fresh Division 2 promotee?'"
"Hey, if he flops the promotion, the relic drops, and we get a shot?"
Whatever—imagination's free. But one truth: more eyes on me now, wary, sizing up my player potential.
I liked it.
Yeah. This was it.
No more blatant interview trash-talk like before. With my existence acknowledged and watched, no need.
Just prove it on the battlefield.
Felt like slipping back into my pre-regression arena.
Hairs standing on end, senses sharpening—it thrilled me.
And at that sensation's edge, not just old instincts stirred.
'The relic...?'
Awakened fully, influenced by Lee Geun-taek's mana infusion moments ago.
The relic at my neck was coming alive. Completely.