The Assassin Hunter Stops Time
Only a blank white screen.
Every time a voice echoed out, the screen flickered.
“SW Technology… appears to have made its move again.”
“Has Chairman Gu Jinmo finally decided he wants to die? He seems to have forgotten that warning from back then.”
Those were the words of the men who had been watching SW Technology’s recent deep incursions.
After all this time of standing still, he would move again.
Could it be…?
“This time, the death of Kang Seungho has nothing to do with it.”
“That seems to be the case. Chairman Gu Jinmo has been backing Hunter Ha Dojin.”
“What a pitiful old fool. He should have simply lived his life comfortably. Now he’s rushing his own end.”
They spoke openly of their scorn for Gu Jinmo.
Yet it was nothing more than a minor annoyance.
It would not interfere with their grand designs.
As always.
After all, they would never be able to find him.
“But before something even more troublesome arises, we should give Chairman Gu Jinmo another warning.”
“I agree. The old man has gotten quite close to our territory before.”
“Senility, perhaps. Or does he think he has nothing left to lose?”
SW Technology had already become one of the most respected corporations in the world.
Even if the family had little left.
“It is said he has a grandson more precious to him than his own life.”
“You mean the one who was afflicted by the curse and then awoke from it.”
A person with a weakness still remaining could be so reckless.
“We shall simply offer a greeting.”
“Gamma. This matter shall be left to you.”
What was more special than that?
The screen of the man once called Gamma flickered for the first time.
“Understood.”
A flat, emotionless voice.
The one who had led the meeting spoke.
“There is nothing special at present, but for the time being we shall simply watch the atmosphere. We shall continue with the ongoing matters, but once Chairman Gu Jinmo’s affairs are settled, we shall begin something new.”
“I agree.”
“I agree as well.”
“I agree too.”
One after another, the voices of agreement.
Finally, the meeting ended, and a chilling silence fell.
And that silence stretched toward…
* * *
“Grandfather!”
Gu Jinmo smiled brightly as he watched his grandson Joonse run toward him, calling out.
Joonse had already been awake for nearly two years.
Because of the curse’s aftermath, he had not fully recovered his health at first, but now he was no different from other children his age.
Sometimes he would even come to the company and act cute.
“Hehehehehehehehehe!”
One of the most joyful moments in Gu Jinmo’s life.
Joonse spoke.
“Grandfather, today at school!”
Joonse spoke of the time he scored a goal while playing soccer with his friends and the time he had a minor quarrel with one of his close friends—his everyday life.
Gu Jinmo listened to Joonse’s story, laughing sometimes and looking concerned at others.
Kim Gyeongtaek watched the scene and smiled with nothing but pure delight.
Because he knew better than anyone how much Gu Jinmo had longed for such a life.
And the two of them chatted for over two hours while eating.
“I will escort you home.”
“Hehe, our puppy. Go to sleep soon.”
“Even today it’s late?”
“Still, you must go to sleep before your grandfather. Say hello and good night, understand?”
“Yes!”
Cheerfully answering, Joonse headed home with Kim Gyeongtaek.
Gu Jinmo watched his grandson’s back and smiled with pure joy.
But about thirty minutes later…
“Chairman!”
A secretary rushed into the chairman’s office, his face urgent.
His words made Gu Jinmo’s expression harden instantly.
* * *
[Cruel Shadow’s Hideout]
—8 members maximum.
Clear Condition.
—Defeat Shadow Killer (0/99)
—Defeat High-Rank Shadow Killer (0/33)
—Defeat Ultimate Shadow Killer (0/11)
The atmosphere was eerie.
It resembled a medieval village one might find in a fantasy world.
Yet the streets were empty, and inside the crumbling houses, ghosts seemed ready to burst forth at any moment.
“This atmosphere is nice.”
“Ha… What exactly is the Master thinking…?”
Hunter of the Firebird Guild’s main combat team, Gang Min sighed as he looked at Sohee standing a bit apart.
A dungeon of over 100 levels.
Monsters near 150 levels, and even they were difficult to defeat.
But…
“What? Even a hunter who hasn’t received the second special training can enter?”
Gang Min scanned his surroundings and spoke.
In a dungeon limited to only eight, what would happen if such a person joined?
But…
“It was a request from Hunter Ha Dojin. That’s all I can say.”
“Hey, Min-ah. Pay attention.”
Other hunters stabbed Gang Min in the side and spoke.
Only then did Gang Min stop speaking, having seen Ha Dojin’s reaction, though his expression was full of discontent.
“Hunter Ha Dojin. May I lead?”
“We will match our teams organically.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Leader of the Firebird Guild’s main combat team, Jang Hyungmin nodded at his teammates.
He signaled that they would depart.
Soon the main combat team hunters slowly entered the village.
At the gate, they immediately checked above and confirmed the presence of Shadow Killers.
Creatures that could appear anywhere in the darkness.
So even a single moment of carelessness could be fatal.
“U-um… Uncle.”
“Speak.”
“Why… did you bring me here?”
In this tense atmosphere, the one feeling the greatest burden was none other than Sohee.
Sohee understood the atmosphere.
Especially since the line spoken by the main combat team’s dealer hunter earlier had not been wrong.
But Dojin’s short reply to Sohee was:
“I needed you.”
“…What?”
“And you will gain a great experience. Shadow Killers are incredibly dangerous creatures.”
They attacked with a threat far exceeding their level.
But the words were no help to Sohee.
No, they only added to her burden.
Since Dojin called them dangerous.
“Just… how dangerous are they?”
Dojin did not speak empty words.
Sohee swallowed hard and forced her heart to calm.
Just as the group entered the village entrance…
“Move along the main roads as much as possible while searching for the creatures. Do not chase them even if they flee into the alleys.”
“Okay.”
“Understood.”
All nodded at Leader Jang Hyungmin’s command.
But at that moment.
Fabang!
Swish!
Thin blades the size of palms flew in from all directions.
Jang Hyungmin shouted.
“Shadow Killers!”
“Iron Shield!”
Main tank Joohyung stomped the ground with his right foot.
Kwang!
The floor sank, and a shield appeared in the shape of a hemisphere.
An opaque shield of light enveloped the entire group.
Clang! Clang clang clang clang clang clang!
The sound rang out like rain on windows.
Just how many had appeared to fire dozens of blades?
Once Joohyung’s skill disappeared, Jang Hyungmin quickly looked both sides and said.
“Three, three! Take them out first!”
“Haa!”
Fabang!
The feeling of teamwork was clear.
Almost simultaneously, the hunters scattered to both sides targeted the Shadow Killers.
But before they could get close…
Whish!
The Shadow Killer vanished into the shadows in an instant.
It had happened in the blink of an eye, but…
“Haa!”
Kwarurung!
Gang Min’s extended sword energy swept through a Shadow Killer.
The main dealer of the main combat team’s attack.
But that was the end of the gains.
“Damn these rats!”
Gang Min exploded in frustration.
But…
“Watch your side!”
A Shadow Killer that had emerged from the shadow beside him rushed toward Gang Min.
In an instant Gang Min stepped back desperately and raised his sword.
However, the Shadow Killer’s attack was even faster.
Slash!
Thud.
Next to the fallen Shadow Killer on the floor, Jang Hyungmin frowned at Gang Min.
“Don’t be careless. Their speed is no ordinary.”
“T-Thank you.”
Since his attack power was so excellent, he had joined the main combat team, but he sometimes made such mistakes.
Following Jang Hyungmin’s warning, Gang Min swallowed hard.
Because the creatures’ attacks had been faster than expected.
But then…
“Whoa!”
“…Insane.”
The main combat team’s hunters who had moved to the opposite side exclaimed in the same direction.
Jang Hyungmin and Gang Min turned their heads with bewildered expressions.
And…
“…What is that?”
“Heeeeal!”
Gang Min jumped in shock and shouted loudly.
Jang Hyungmin could not hide his surprise either.
Thud.
A Shadow Killer lying beside Dojin and Sohee.
The number was…
“Nine… in such a short time?”
“We all missed it… but…”
How was that possible?
But Dojin approached the team without a care and spoke.
“Then, may I lead from now on?”
At this question, Jang Hyungmin nodded without realizing it.
* * *
The hunter world was truly complex and mysterious.
There were unique special skills obtained every 50 levels, as well as skills found in dungeons with very low probability.
But there was one peculiarity: skills obtained in this way could only be used by hunters who had contributed at least a certain percentage to defeating monsters.
Because of this, possessing skills other than unique ones was difficult, and having skills similar to one’s own was even harder.
Yet Sohee’s “Binding Veil” was truly one of the dream skills for tankers.
A skill that formed a veil within a 10-meter radius, stopped enemy movements, and raised the user’s defense.
Of course, the user could not move while using it, but…
Slash!
Thud.
In this situation, it would show the greatest effect.
“…Amazing.”
Gang Min, who had defeated the Shadow Killer, muttered softly.
This was why, upon entering the dungeon…
“They gave me a panic attack even though I wasn’t 100 yet… I became a fool.”
At the moment the Shadow Killers rushed in, Sohee used the Binding Veil.
Then all the Shadow Killers that had been charging froze in place, unable to breathe or flee.
The combat team’s hunters would simply kill the stopped Shadow Killers.
Of course,
Crack!
There were also Shadow Killers that did not enter the range, but they posed no threat to them.
The reason was one.
Thud.
Because Dojin had already dealt with them the moment they appeared.
“What level is that person…?”
“Don’t bother asking. The association decided not to disclose it publicly.”
“Still… since he defeated Kang Seungho, he must have received the 250-level special training…?”
Theories about Dojin flooded the place.
Because he had achieved many feats in a short time, the hunter association had not released accurate information about him.
Of course, it was also possible because of the pressure from SW Technology.
But that was not the important part.
[You have cleared the Cruel Shadow’s Hideout.]
In just one day.
No, in just three hours, they had cleared the dungeon.
We had thought it would take at least two days.
The main combat team left the portal with dazed expressions.
And…
“Thanks to you all, we were able to clear the dungeon safely.”
Leader Jang Hyungmin bowed his head toward Dojin, who had come out last, expressing his gratitude.
Next to him, Gang Min spoke.
“…Hunter Han Sohee. I am sorry about earlier.”
“No, it’s fine! I would have done the same. It’s okay.”
Having received a polite apology from Sohee.
There was no reason for a bad atmosphere after a perfect elimination with no casualties.
But…
“…”
Dojin’s expression hardened as he read the message left on his phone.
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