Chapter 30

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 30

Chapter Title: 【Chaotic Fight Club】

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Tak.

"Ah."

The moment I landed on the ground and looked around, my eyes widened involuntarily.

'This is around my house?'

Yet this is where I have karma to resolve... I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was.

Thwack.

"So why the hell did you lose, you punk?!"

At that moment, the unmistakable sound of violence pierced my ears.

This neighborhood might be old and rundown, but the security wasn't that bad.

A chill ran down my spine, making me freeze in place.

I slowly turned my head toward the source of the noise. Deep in the alley, I could see the backs of several people.

"We bet on you as the next Fight Club hotshot, and what? KO'd in three seconds?"

"Fucking bullshit."

Two? No, maybe three guys? The one taking their verbal abuse was a small-statured man cowering on the ground, trembling violently.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

I couldn't just walk by. I strode into the alley and planted myself in front of the thugs. The cowards took a step back at the sight of me, glaring alternately between the man and me.

"And who the hell are you? You know this guy?"

"Doesn't matter. I'm asking why you're ganging up on him."

"Ha, this punk's got some balls too..."

"Sis!"

One of the guys in the group grabbed the arm of the woman right in front of me.

"Isn't that hunter? The SS-Rank...!"

"What? A hunter?"

'Oh great, this is gonna be a hassle.'

Using skills on civilians is strictly forbidden for hunters. Even threatening to do so means instant license revocation.

I hadn't planned on using skills on these idiots anyway, but now I'd have to be extra careful not to give them any openings.

"Well, well, if it isn't the almighty SS-Rank Hunter. Why you sticking up for this pathetic loser? What, you some kinda hero?"

I ignored her words and brushed past. Immediately, my arm was grabbed.

"You gotta listen when someone's talking to you."

"......"

"I really wanna see an SS-Rank skill in action. Mind showing us one?"

This woman was totally unhinged.

She knew damn well I couldn't use skills on them.

If skills were off the table...

"Let go."

The woman gripping my arm yanked her hand back and plastered herself against the wall.

I locked eyes with her, and her shoulders visibly shook.

"Don't live your life bullying people weaker than you."

"......"

"You look like the type who'd grovel to anyone stronger anyway."

"Hey, let's go!"

"Huh, we're leaving?"

"Yeah. Let's go, you fuck. Follow if I say follow. Quit yapping."

The woman was trying to act tough, but I knew the fear she felt.

The group turned and bolted out of the alley.

Hey, that counts as a non-violent resolution, right?

Only after they'd vanished could I properly look at the man collapsed on the ground.

"Hey! You okay?!"

"Ugh......"

"Should I call an ambulance?"

"No... I'm fine."

The man slowly got to his feet. Luckily, no major injuries.

'In the previous timeline, did I not help this guy?'

No way I would've ignored him. So why did the mission bring me here?

"Thank you for the help... You're Shin Ji-ui the hunter, right?"

The man gave an awkward smile as he spoke.

"Ah, yeah."

"Whoa, SS-Rank..."

He stared up at me in awe.

Clatter.

"Oops."

His phone tumbled out of his pocket and rolled toward me. The screen was shattered from heavy use, and the hard case was long past its prime. I bent down to pick it up, and suddenly the phone lit up.

"...Huh?"

Hunter Association logo on the background, Hunter Net icon smack in the center.

Wait, no way...

"You're a hunter?!"

"Huh? Yeah... Haha."

I nearly dropped the phone again from the surprise.

I'd assumed he was a total civilian!

"C-Rank Hunter... Choi Jae-yoon."

Choi Jae-yoon Hunter smiled awkwardly as he introduced himself.

"C-Rank hunter, but... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠without skills, I'm no different from a civilian. As you can see, small build and all..."

"I, I see."

Choi Jae-yoon Hunter took the phone back, stowed it in his inventory, and let out a long sigh.

"It's all my fault anyway. They probably lost money because of me..."

"Money? Did you borrow cash from those guys?"

"Huh? Oh, no, not that..."

He averted his eyes, mumbling evasively.

Come to think of it, they called him a Fight Club prospect earlier.

"Anyway, I didn't live up to their expectations. With my shady looks and all..."

"Why's that your fault, Choi Jae-yoon Hunter!"

He flinched at my outburst, the dark circles under his eyes quivering.

"Their violence isn't justified just because you didn't meet expectations."

"Ah..."

"It's not your fault, so don't blame yourself."

Huh? I didn't mean to plant a seed, but Choi Jae-yoon Hunter's reaction triggered an unintended opportunity.

'Yes.'

After planting the seed, a spark of determination lit up his previously listless eyes.

"I feel reenergized thanks to you."

"Glad to hear it."

"You're right! I can't mope around in a place like this!"

Choi Jae-yoon Hunter clenched his fist, suddenly burning with resolve all on his own.

"This time, I'll definitely beat that guy and prove who I really am!"

"Uh, that Fight Club thing..."

"Thank you, Shin Ji-ui Hunter! I'll be off now!"

I tried to ask what Fight Club was, but he was already striding out of the alley with purpose.

Thump.

My guts twisted again. That sensation overwhelming my body whenever faint past memories surfaced.

'Do you know Choi Jae-yoon Hunter?'

'The guy in front of you earlier?'

'Yeah.'

The ego responded right away for once. It pondered, drawing out its words.

'No clue.'

'What? If even you don't remember, why'd my mission trigger?'

'Huh?'

The ego sounded baffled.

'Something tells me Choi Jae-yoon Hunter met a really bad end...'

I stood there motionless until his back vanished completely.

"Unni, do you know what Fight Club is?"

"Huh? You don't know Fight Club?"

Min Ji-ho Unni's eyes widened in surprise as we ate at the Association cafeteria.

'Good, she knows.'

I'd figured she might, given her trend sensitivity and wide hunter network. Spot on.

"It's Fight Club. A place where you watch hunters duke it out."

"Wh-what?!"

So that's what Choi Jae-yoon Hunter meant by Fight Club prospect...

"They run it like a pub normally, but weekends they hold Fight Club underground. Wasn't big before, but it's blowing up lately."

"Is that even allowed? Can't they just do real combat training?"

Min Ji-ho Unni shook her head, clenched her fist, and suddenly glared fiercely.

'What's with that look?'

"...Ji-ui."

"What? What's up?"

"In Fight Club, you can use offensive skills directly on other hunters."

Her already big eyes bulged harder, like they might pop out. Her lips slowly curled into a grin, and goosebumps prickled my arm.

"Doesn't that sound thrilling?"

Unni's face flushed red with excitement and mania.

"You... like it that much?"

"The thrill is insane. One misstep in combo setup, and boom—opponent seizes control!"

Clink.

She dropped her chopsticks mid-rant, praising Fight Club to the heavens.

'Hold on. Listening to this...'

"You've fought in Fight Club?"

"...Ahem."

This unni lives wilder than I thought!

I gawked at her, mouth agape, but she pretended not to notice, shoveling a huge bite of mapo tofu rice into her mouth.

"From the Association's view, we can't just ignore Fight Clubs. Never know when an accident might happen."

She added while chewing.

"Wait, the Association knows?"

"Yeah. But no regs to shut 'em down, so we let it slide."

She sliced her last dumpling in half.

"Anyway, why Fight Club? You interested?"

"Not exactly interested, but..."

Saying I was worried about Choi Jae-yoon Hunter would spark massive misunderstandings.

"Yeah, kinda. Wanna check it out once for the experience."

"Sweet! Friday nights are the hottest!"

Unni tapped away on her phone, grinned wickedly, and shoved it at me.

"Picked the spots with matches tonight."

All names so quirky.

I tapped the top one, 'MAD DOG'.

Center of the promo image: silhouettes of J and S. True to 'Dark Fairy,' J was slender and petite...

'...Wait.'

"This ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time, I'll definitely beat that guy and prove who I really am!"

Choi Jae-yoon Hunter's words flashed through my mind. I knew instinctively.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'Dark Fairy J is Choi Jae-yoon Hunter.'

I looked up straight at Min Ji-ho Unni.

"Let's go to MAD DOG."

"Whoa~ Min Ji-ho Hunter! Long time no see! Why no registrations lately? Our staff misses you so much~"

"No way, Min Ji-ho Hunter's here?!"

The second we entered, every staffer's eyes locked on Unni.

'This unni's no rookie here.'

I stared at her, but she dodged my gaze, chatting with the counter guy. He clasped his hands, fawning shamelessly—mostly begging her to register as a fighter.

Makes sense; a famous hunter draws crowds.

"Anyway, VIP seats for one tonight. Draft beer for me, what you want?"

"Uh... lemonade for me."

"No, no—you're Shin Ji-ui Hunter! First time, right? We'll throw in free snacks~! Shame we don't take S-Rank+ registrations anymore. But you're always welcome—come anytime!"

"Y-yeah."

His nonstop chatter was already draining me. He tapped the screen a few times, and an iron door beside us swung open, revealing stairs down amid blasting music.

"Guide bot'll seat you downstairs! Food and drinks coming right up. Have a great time~"

The music swelled as we descended, bass thumping through my body. Dim interior, flashing multicolored lights.

Classic club vibe, but center stage was a massive glass cube instead of a dance floor.

'Bigger than I expected.'

Cinema-style seats ringed the cube, packed with more people than I'd thought.

"Min Ji-ho-nim, Shin Ji-ui-nim. This way, please."

The guide bot led us to our seats. VIP was legit. Plush red sofas that looked insanely comfy, fronted by a table. Close enough to see right into the cube. No idea the price, but worth it.

"They remodeled the field, huh."

That's the field, eh.

"Order up~ Placing your food and drinks!"

Mid-scan of the arena, staff set down beer, lemonade, and melon topped with ham.

"Ham melon is ser.vice! Come back often, hunters!"

"Thanks!"

She chirped cutely and headed back up.

Unni must be a top regular. Anyway...

'What to do about Choi Jae-yoon Hunter.'

If my gut's right, he'll either die here or barely survive catastrophic injuries. Can't ignore that after planting a word seed.

Slurp.

"Hm?"

Reaching for my lemonade straw, a slender finger beat me to it, stabbing it into my cup.

"Running into you here—destiny, maybe?"

"Ha Mi-jun Hunter?"

Looking up, there was Ha Mi-jun Hunter, ten times flashier than usual. Short-sleeve silk shirt embroidered with mystery patterns sparkled under the lights; eyebrow piercing matched with a blue gem.

Did this guy hoard every color in existence?

A shadow loomed behind him. Tearing my eyes from the dazzle, I glanced aside—and bolted from my seat.

"S-Se-bin?!"