Chapter 159
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 159
A few people here recognized the name ‘Hunter Seo Gio.’
– It’s Hunter Seo Gio!
– Hunter Seo Gio ㅠㅠㅠ Are you finally showing your face?
– Our Hunter is a public figure now. It really is him.
These were civilians who had been rescued during the S-Rank Dungeon ‘Deep Sea Temple’ incident.
– Is that Hunter’s name Seo Gio?
– OP, can you confirm this is right?
– Is it legal to just post one picture of a guy that devastatingly handsome?
– Hey, why does nothing come up when I search for him?
– Unofficial Hunters always act like they’ll die if their faces get out…
– Hunter Seo Gio is affiliated with the Collector. Has there been any reaction from them?
– Why is everyone making such a fuss over someone’s face?
– Tsk tsk, typical Koreans, fawning over anyone just because they’re good-looking.
And soon after.
[Title: Sunlight Spirit Hunter’s profile is up on the Collector’s site]
[Body: Title says it all.]
Hunter Seo Gio’s personal profile was officially uploaded to the Collector’s website.
– What’s a Sunlight Spirit Hunter?
Those who read the post immediately rushed to the Collector’s website and found the poster’s words to be true. A photo, just as clear as the one previously verified by Choi Ra-on, had been uploaded.
Some people were baffled.
– Hey, is this really all the information they’re giving us?
– This is my first time getting into a Hunter. Is it always like this? ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
The profile was sparse, providing only his name, height, and age. However, since it was a long-standing tradition for South Korean Hunters to keep their personal details private, most people understood and let it go.
Still, some were absolutely thrilled.
Does this mean I can officially be his fan now?
Did the government just validate my obsession??
It was basic etiquette to leave unofficial or underground Hunters alone, but once they started appearing in public, that boundary was bound to crumble. Those who had been keeping an eye on Seo Gio since the ‘Deep Sea Temple’ incident rejoiced.
Among them was Choi Ra-on, who had been teased at work all day as the “Splat Girl.”
I’ll never see a face like this again in my life.
Returning home from work, her fingers twitched with anticipation.
“A fan cafe… If I make a fan cafe… we can share photos and schedules…”
Displayed on Choi Ra-on’s outdated computer screen was the two-shot photo she had taken with Hunter Seo Gio. For this late hour, it was a rather gloomy, obsessive-looking scene, but her intentions were genuinely earnest.
…A face like this is rare enough, but a personality like that on a face like this is practically nonexistent.
The only reason South Korea managed to maintain public order was not because its people were inherently good, but because a web of strict laws and novel punishments forced them to behave. In an era where the average level of morality was so low, treating humans as mere tools was taken for granted.
Consequently, the character of the public figures who became objects of fan adoration was nothing like it had been before the Great Catastrophe. This was especially true for Hunters—if they were popular enough, they could kill someone in broad daylight and people would just shrug and say, “Well, things happen.”
Of course, plenty of Hunters suppressed their nasty tempers and acted sweet and gentle to maintain their popularity, but Choi Ra-on was confident.
I know a thing or two about reading people, and this one is the real deal… He’s like pure, clean water drawn from the deepest well on earth.
Her instincts, honed by years of following countless celebrities and Hunters, were screaming at her: this was a scoop she couldn’t afford to miss. A living natural monument. She even felt a sense of duty welling up inside her.
Wasn’t it fate that I ran into the Hunter that day?
In reality, it was a 100% man-made fate crafted personally by Gio, but Choi Ra-on had no way of knowing that.
Perhaps because the photo was taken under the yellow glow of a streetlamp, the platinum blonde hair on the screen looked almost silver. His wavy hair looked as soft as silk, and his smile, which radiated warmth just by looking at it, truly resembled sunlight.
“His face is absolutely insane…”
Choi Ra-on, who had seen him up close, recalled that moment. The cool, refreshing aura that seemed to carry the scent of a forest, and the bright, cheerful smile he gave as he bid her farewell.
Yes, that’s the key.
Hidden beneath Hunter Seo Gio’s gentle, priest-like appearance was the refreshing, citrusy vibe of a sports team captain.
“Sigh.”
In a life that was already so dry and exhausting, one needed a little light and salt to endure.
My last ‘light and salt’ crashed and burned after a massive personality scandal.
Because Hunters lived such harsh lives, it was difficult for many of them to avoid character controversies. Most of the time, the rumors were exaggerated, but it was still draining to watch one’s favorite get dragged through the mud.
I know I’m more sensitive than others… but the moment I’m disappointed by my favorite’s character, my feelings just vanish. What can I do?
Choi Ra-on was the type whose affection cooled instantly if she saw a flaw in her beloved favorite’s character—like bullying others or killing someone for a trivial reason.
Before the Great Catastrophe, it would have been unthinkable for even ordinary people, let alone public figures, to commit such acts. But this was the post-Catastrophe era. The moral standards Choi Ra-on expected were considered exceptionally strict.
“…I mean, it’s not like I committed a crime. Right? A person can be a little picky.”
As a result, Choi Ra-on had a long list of former favorites. The moment a flaw in their character appeared, her heart would wander.
In fact, her last “light and salt” had been taken from her by none other than the Black Cloak. Although the majority of his fans still loved and waited for him, Choi Ra-on simply couldn’t bring herself to support someone who had been officially branded as evil by a monster—especially when she preferred good people and hated bad ones.
“…”
Staring so intently at the computer screen that her eyes were practically glued to it, Choi Ra-on muttered softly.
“…But with a face like this…”
Even if he had a few character flaws, it would probably just feel thrilling.
“…Yeah, how hard must it be to live as a Hunter? Things happen.”
Most fans who followed Hunters didn’t lose interest over a few controversies. In truth, Choi Ra-on was the unusual one. Given the nature of a Hunter’s job, it was impossible to always speak kindly and act perfectly.
However, the threshold of Choi Ra-on’s tolerance for her favorite’s flaws was directly tied to their face and behavior. To be precise, it was mostly about the face.
In that sense…
She probably wouldn’t be able to let go of this new “light and salt” even if he had sixty-six consecutive personality scandals. If he had a face like that and a bad personality, it would just mean God was being fair.
But what if his personality is amazing, too?
Then he would be a once-in-a-lifetime natural monument.
“I hope some new content drops soon.”
In front of her monitor, Choi Ra-on wore a pleased smile.
* * *
Meanwhile, Ju-hyeon, who was in the middle of a handover, was feeling flustered.
“Of all the times, why are you handing this work over to me now?”
“I’m busy enough handling the ‘Black Cloak’ situation alone. And as you know, ‘Mr. Seo Gio’ is your responsibility, Ju-hyeon.”
“The Collector is the one who started this mess, so why are you dumping it on me?”
“It’s a pity. If you were affiliated with the Collector, you’d be even busier than this.”
“Come on, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“It can’t be helped.” Yoo Seong-un handed over a stack of documents compiling reactions from various online communities, expressing his regrets. “I stepped in this time because the initial setup required a major overhaul, but from now on, whenever ‘Hunter Seo Gio’ has public activities, you need to be by his side, Ju-hyeon.”
“Because a Hunter and their manager are a set package. I know that, but…”
“It seems you learned well at the Chief Secretary’s office. And as you know, right now is when the buzz is loudest and all eyes are on him. Besides, I am an unofficial, underground Hunter.”
An unofficial Hunter was one who did not publicly reveal their identity, while an underground Hunter was one who did not operate in the public eye.
“Someone like me cannot be listed as ‘Hunter Seo Gio’s’ official manager.” He already had an overwhelming amount of work. “If that happens, I’ll literally have to become a human who doesn’t sleep.”
“…Just how much work do you do?”
“Always remember that the more competent a Hunter is, the more they get ground down.”
“But I’m a Non-Awakened.”
“Hunter Seo Gio isn’t, though.”
“Ah.”
“The Religious Order seems very interested, too… Soon, collaboration requests will start pouring in.” A high-profile Hunter gets work even if they do nothing. “As you well know, Ju-hyeon.”
“Yes, I learned that much.”
Since he had the looks, broadcasting stations might contact him. And since a rare Tamer had newly appeared in the country, requests for joint raids to verify his abilities would surely come pouring in.
Yoo Seong-un smiled awkwardly.
“The Chief Secretary’s office will filter out the minor inquiries. They’ll handle things that aren’t even worth passing on to Hunter Seo Gio, but you’ll have to deliver the rest yourself, Ju-hyeon.”
At that, Ju-hyeon asked, “I’ve been wondering, how am I supposed to go see ‘Hunter Seo Gio’…?”
“I’ve already discussed that part with Gio.”
“May I ask what exactly you discussed?”
“Gio will drop by our apartment hallway every day at exactly 12:00…”
“…” Ju-hyeon wore a resigned smile. “So Guild Master Bisabeol has finally decided to dispose of me.”
“No, no, it’s not like that. Calm down. There’s a good reason for it.”
“I would very much like to hear that reason.”
“To begin with, humans have no way of contacting Gio.” It would be ridiculous for a mere human to contact a god whenever they pleased. “To put it simply, we can’t exactly install a telephone in Gio’s house.”
“That’s true. It must be in an entirely different dimension.”
“So I also used to meet Gio at a set time.” Around 4:00 AM, to be precise. “Other than that, if Gio wanted to call me, I would receive a letter and travel there.”
“I receive letters too, but I can’t read them. And above all, it would be difficult for me to go to the Collector’s Gallery…”
“As a Non-Awakened, it would be hard for you to handle the energy of the Basement Level 5 Gallery.”
“So you arranged for Mr. Gio to come here instead?” Ju-hyeon asked with his signature polite smile. “And not because the Guild Master hasn’t given up on his dream of having a roommate?”
“On that point, I really have no excuse.” Yoo Seong-un smiled bitterly. “I’m in Unit 1, you’re in Unit 2, and Gio is in the hallway between us… Perfect.”
“Is it really okay for the Collector to just occupy the entire 46th floor like this?”
“We’ve already purchased all the residences on the 46th floor, so legally, there’s no issue.”
“But an Evil God or a monster is going to be standing in the middle of our shared hallway.”
“Gio has always gone wherever he pleased anyway. The law can’t do anything about that.”
“Ah, that’s not wrong, but… ah.” Ju-hyeon felt a bit stifled. “I feel like I’ve become part of a plot to overthrow the world…”
“It could be an overthrow in a good way.”
“You’re not even denying that it’s an overthrow.”
“It’s just a possibility. It might not actually happen, so don’t worry too much.”
“Now I’m even more anxious.”
“It will be fine,” Yoo Seong-un offered with a calm smile. “Under normal circumstances, no one would visit the 46th-floor hallway at exactly 12:00.”
It was an apartment building with only two units per floor. Anyone visiting a floor that wasn’t their own at exactly midnight would be suspected of having malicious intent.
“So even if an accident happens, we can write it off as self-defense.”
“What exactly are you trying to write off?”
“This is the power of a major corporation,” Yoo Seong-un chuckled. “And in the first place, even if someone tries to use the stairs, they can’t access the floor unless they are a resident of that specific level.”
“Ah, so it’s the same as the elevator. I didn’t know the stairs worked that way too.”
“Most people who have never used the stairs themselves don’t know. But even the stairs require a keycard for that specific unit to grant access.”
“Then we won’t have any victims fainting from accidentally running into the Black Cloak.”
“If they did, it would have to be a deliberate scheme disguised as an accident. Unless they planned it, it’s impossible for an innocent bystander to enter this floor.”
Of course, apartment maintenance staff or inspectors could enter, but such visits never occurred at exactly midnight. Since it was a strictly managed apartment, they wouldn’t leave any room to disturb the residents’ rest.
“So, as I was saying, you don’t need to worry too much.”
“Mmh, I understand.”
“Thanks to this, my meeting time with Gio has been moved up as well.”
“Ah, you too at 12:00, Mr. Yoo Seong-un…?”
“The Guild Master suggested it would be more convenient to handle everything at once.”
“…That…”
“Is indeed a scheme.” Bisabeol was a superior Yoo Seong-un respected, but he had to call a spade a spade. “It seems he wants the three of us to form a closer relationship.”
“May I resist with all my might?”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine either way. Let’s do our best together.”
And so, in his absence, Seo Gio’s life as a Hunter was being mapped out.