Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 027
Chapter Title: Mad Hunter: ??? (11)
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18.
“This fucking bastard!”
The two hunters flanking Jin Han-baek on both sides.
They charged in, swinging their spear and blade. Their unique skills manifested in the sharp glints.
[Lv: 22].
[Lv: 23].
Judging by their levels…… these guys must be executives. On par with Nightmare Hunters.
But only in terms of level.
Their attacks were massive, flashy, and utterly pathetic.
These clowns…… supposed to be in the same 20s level range as Hong Byeong-gyu’s group?
──Chaaang!
The Dawn Sword’s blade tore through the air in a brilliant arc, snapping the spear-wielding executive’s shaft and cleaving his torso clean in half.
The fight was decided in one clash.
As one crumpled to the ground, the other’s face drained to a sickly blue. His whole body trembled as he staggered back.
“Cr-crazy…… impossible.”
“I’m the one who’s baffled. What the hell have you been hunting all this time?”
“U-uwaaaah!”
That was when he dropped his blade and tried to flee.
──Shiiiiiik!
The moment I instinctively ducked.
A whip sliced past my head, scattering a chilling frost.
The whip coiled around the executive’s neck, and in an instant, ice crystals spread from there over his entire body.
“Such a pitiful sight.”
Jin Han-baek yanked the whip, and the executive’s body shattered like glass.
“Well done.”
Jin Han-baek scowled at me from across the way.
“How dare you ruin everything I’ve built─”
Before he could finish, I kicked off the ground.
I’d had enough of his yapping.
Time to let my fists do the talking.
“Crazy!”
Shock flashed across Jin Han-baek’s face for a split second, but he quickly countered with his whip.
The level 32 [Strength], [Dexterity], and ice-based unique skill made the whip lethally swift.
It might’ve landed if it was real skill earned from hunting.
──Chaaang!
The moment the Dawn Sword flashed.
Sparks flew in midair as the whip was repelled.
That’s when Jin Han-baek burst into laughter.
“I knew it!”
Just as I was recovering my stance.
The whip twisted like a snake in the air, coiling around the Dawn Sword’s blade.
A blue chill surged along the whip.
Not bad? Aiming to destroy my weapon. But.
“《Instant Freeze》! Hahaha! It’s over! Now your sword should freeze solid…… too…… huh?”
He’d underestimated the Dawn Sword far too much.
In that instant, the Dawn Sword blazed blood-red.
Vast clouds of steam billowed white around the blade. The ice melted, then the water vaporized.
“……H-how?”
“The difference in unique skill performance.”
“You fucking─!”
Jin Han-baek hastily retracted his whip. I seized the opening and closed the distance in a flash.
“Your wind-up’s too damn big.”
Right before he could swing again, I leaped into the air.
A level 38 [Strength]-powered jump.
As the whip swept massively over where I’d been, I landed behind Jin Han-baek and brought my sword down.
──Puhaak!
The sensation of severing muscle and bone traveled up the blade.
Jin Han-baek’s right arm clutching the whip.
The limb shot into the air, spraying blood, before crashing to the ground.
Jin Han-baek screamed.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
‘Stars’ Healing’ began sparkling with starlight from the stump, but unfortunately, ‘Stars’ Healing’ wasn’t instant regeneration.
“Alright, now let’s have a proper talk.”
“What…… the hell…….”
“You gangsters only loosen your tongues after a good beating.”
Jin Han-baek clutched the stump with his left hand, gasping for breath.
“Our levels are…… so close…….”
“Levels? You think yours and mine are the same?”
I grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head into the ground. Held it there for five seconds, then yanked it back up.
“My level comes from hunting nightmares. Not from preying on the weak like you.”
“Hunting people……? Heh, heheheh, hunting people…….”
Jin Han-baek spat mud-mixed saliva at me.
His eyes swept over Hong Byeong-gyu’s group finishing off the White Society members. He sneered.
“What makes you any different? Your crew’s murdering nearly sixty people right now.”
Murdering. Murder.
“Must’ve rattled your brains. Where’s the murder happening?”
It was laughable.
In all my police service, vicious criminals were always the same.
Guys who’d forsaken their humanity begged for human treatment the moment justice came knocking.
“All I see is pest control.”
“You crazy fuck──”
“──If you had even a shred of conscience left, you wouldn’t dare utter the word ‘murder’ right now.”
I slammed his face into the ground again, hard, then lifted it after three seconds.
“Ha…… haa…… hahaha.”
Broken nose, missing front teeth. Face a bloody mess. Jin Han-baek laughed maniacally.
“Fun…… that’s why people are fun…… You, who despised rationalization…… doing it so masterfully.”
“You still think of yourself as human?”
“Kekekek. To you lot…… we must look insane…… holing up in the rear with civilians. But you know what? To us, you’re the insane ones.”
I paused just as I was about to smash him down again.
“That beautiful world went mad…… How else do you survive without losing it?”
“…….”
“Monsters popping up outta nowhere, and they tell us to hunt them? Things that make your whole body shake just looking at them? How do you stay sane without drugs? Hey, you fuck! I’m asking you!”
I didn’t answer.
He started ranting in a scream.
“You’re the psychos. Still don’t get it? Joyfully fighting monsters just ‘cause that Star Messenger bitch says so?”
Joyfully? Us?
“Level up like that, then come back here strutting ‘Oh, you evil bastards.’ Ahahaha! We’re not the crazy ones, you──”
“──Jin Han-baek! You’re rationalizing yourself to the bitter end.”
I released his hair and drew Jeong Ha-kyeong’s pistol from my waist.
“Does the world going to shit give you the right to torment others? How the hell is venting on the weak ‘normal’?”
I aimed at the back of his head.
Fired without mercy. Again and again.
Bangbangbangbang──ping…… clickclick…… clickclickclick…… clickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclick.
“……Kim Baek-jun!”
At some point, warm hands gripped my gun hand, gently lowering the barrel.
……Huh?
When I snapped out of it, my body was drenched in cold sweat.
The pistol I’d been trigger-happy with was empty, slide locked back. Jeong Ha-kyeong held it with both hands.
“You back to your senses?”
I blinked, and she let go.
“It’s all over. You can…… stop now.”
I exhaled and looked around.
Jin Han-baek’s head a bloody pulp.
White Society members blanketing the street in blood. Deathly silence.
“……Ah.”
Through it all walked Hong Byeong-gyu’s group.
Kim Gye-sang headed alone toward the checkpoint. Needed to fetch the knights from the outskirts.
Fortunately, no casualties on our side.
“Let’s head back and rest first. Yeah? You look beat.”
“No…… one last thing left.”
My head throbbed.
Jin Han-baek’s final scream still echoed in my ears.
It wasn’t a cry against impending death. It was……
Never mind. Stop thinking.
I stepped into the street.
Crowds murmuring around the scene.
Hunters and civilians mixed, faces a mix of emotions.
Terrified ones.
Satisfied ones.
Dazed ones.
“Six of them…… wiped out the White Society.”
“Serves those fuckers right.”
“But should we be happy? Now those guys are…….”
The crowd fell silent one by one as I approached.
I hesitated briefly.
What tone? Authoritative would work best.
Half-reluctant, but informal would hit hardest.
“I’m Lead Hunter Kim Baek-jun. To all you hunters.”
Eyes locked on me instantly. I met each gaze and spoke.
“From now on, live however you want. Want to slack off in the Hunting Zone? Do it. Want to drink and play every day? Go ahead. And…….”
- How do you stay sane…….
“Keep doing drugs if you want. Prostitution? Up to you. No restrictions. No tolls either.”
Murmurs rippled through.
They’d doubt it, of course. Even my crew looked puzzled, expecting some smart cleanup.
I cleared my throat and got to the point.
“But only as long as it doesn’t infringe on the following.”
One. Intimidating other hunters without just cause.
Two. Expelling citizens from Paradise without just cause.
Three. Forcing drugs, prostitution, or unwanted acts on others.
“Live free, but respect others’ freedom.”
Silence blanketed the area.
Half-believing, half-skeptical, or eyeing the rough hunters. So I added firm insurance.
“If anyone breaks these, come find me in the east. I’ll come judge right and wrong myself.”
Some hunters’ eyes flashed discontent.
Not dumb enough to voice it, though. I stared them down and said.
“Any complaints? Step up.”
They averted their eyes slyly.
“Not now? Then come assassinate me later. You’ll need resolve. No mercy.”
Stunned silence.
Hunters just blinked in disbelief.
“Want to live lawlessly like before? Kill me first.”
I shouted.
A warning to those types.
A promise to those afraid of them.
“All western citizens are under my protection now.”
The next moment.
A massive roar erupted.
Ears ringing, drowning out everything.
“Kim Baek-jun!”
“Kim Baek-jun!”
In the chaos, Jeong Ha-kyeong grabbed my arm. I gave a bitter smile and pulled away.
I know full well.
What crown I’m trying to wear right now. But.
“From now on, I, Kim Baek-jun──”
If my one life in danger.
Can gift safety to all these people. Can lay a cornerstone in this crumbling world.
──“Am the law of the west.”
This crown of thorns.
I’ll gladly place it on my head.
19.
“This was the White Society’s headquarters.”
The headquarters resembled a temple.
Grand colonnaded entrance. The stone building painted pure white was massive and imposing.
“Former Bukgajwa 1-dong ward office.”
……A ward office.
I gave a wry smile.
Turning a place for residents’ convenience into one of exploitation.
“No more guiding needed.”
I headed for the entrance.
Jeong Ha-kyeong walked beside me, Hong Byeong-gyu’s group following.
A dizzying scent lingered from the entrance.
Happy pills……?
As expected, the first floor held clusters of drugged-out citizens.
No hunters in sight.
“Byeong-gyu and Geon-woo, can you move these folks outside? They can’t even walk.”
Hong Byeong-gyu and Yoon Geon-woo were warrior-type hunters.
Their stats invested mainly in [Strength], perfect for heavy lifting.
“Let’s wrap this up quick and go. Place gives me the creeps.”
The rest of us headed to the second floor. Looked like a happy pill factory.
Workbenches.
A dozen citizens fiddling with bright yellow powder or rolling it into cigarettes. They panicked at our entrance, dropping to their knees and begging.
“W-we’ll meet the quota. Promise. We’re filling it. All done by tonight.”
A young man covered head to toe in powder.
Seemed like the foreman speaking for them. Coughed raggedly with every word.
“No need to fill it anymore.”
My deep voice must’ve sounded like a threat.
The young man slammed his forehead into the floor.
“We’re sorry. Please…… sorry. We committed a grave sin. Sorry. Spare us. We beg you.”