Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: National Power-level Hunter Kim Hyun
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The first salvo was fired by the media.
As soon as the Blue House announcement ended, the press unleashed a torrent of breaking news. News outlets pumped out articles like there was no tomorrow.
President Han Sung-ho: "We've forged a new treaty... A green light for South Korea's security"
South Korea's first National Power-level Hunter? Who is Kim Hyun?
Treaty Hunter? What is a 'National Power-level' Hunter?
Lol, so Korea's finally getting a National Power-level Hunter too? Korea's not jealous of China or Russia anymore.
Russia's National Power-level Hunter rebelled and took half the country—what are you talking about?
Have the National Power-level Hunter reclaim North Korean territory!
You think a National Power-level Hunter is a civil servant? Lol
Even a civil servant would quit if you ordered that
But we do have to do something about the Pyongyang Gate. The military budget to stop monsters from coming south is insane.
More bullshit. Like Korea would have a hunter like that.
You think the president would lie outright? Use your brain.
At least an S-Rank Gate blowing up won't doom the country anymore.
We have to shower them with benefits to keep them in Korea. Another brain drain and we're humiliated.
And who pays those taxes?
Our. President.!! Great. Leader. Outstanding. Talent. Can't. Be. Unrelated... ^^!
Why is the article like this? Is this really President Han's achievement? Newspaper tone is weird. Time to shut them down.
The problem is he's still president after that Gangwon mess. Impeach him now.
Internet news wasn't the only thing blowing up—online communities were in chaos too.
So after National Power-level Hunter, next is World Power-level, right?
!! Hell yeah, the GOAT has descended!!
From today, this is the Kim Hyun Gallery
OK, I get it completely now
Breaking) National Power-level Hunter descends ...jpg
???: You're Korea's number 2 from now on
So why is Han Sung-ho strutting around like that?
From the famous Monster Hunter Gallery to every unrelated community under the sun, the emergence of a National Power-level Hunter set the internet ablaze.
Reactions generally split into four camps.
What even is a National Power-level Hunter?
Isn't this total bullshit?
Why is this President Han's achievement?
And finally...
So who the hell is Kim Hyun, weebs?
What no-name nobody pops up as National Power-level? Another returnee or something?
The Monster Hunter Gallery fully supports National Power-level Hunter Kim Hyun-nim
So who the hell is Kim Hyun???????
The big question: Who the hell is Kim Hyun?
Kim Hyun, who had suddenly been crowned a National Power-level Hunter, sparked curiosity across South Korea—who the hell was this person?
The protagonist of the controversy, Kim Hyun herself, was blissfully unaware of the buzz or her trending status. She was at home, scratching her belly and playing games.
[Defeat]
"Tsk."
Alright, decision made.
No more games from now on.
'Goddamn piece of shit game.'
Why was it so damn hard?
Her physical stats had definitely improved since becoming a demon, but climbing tiers was still a nightmare.
Maybe it was because only rank-game demons were left. Definitely not her fault. Yeah, that had to be it.
"You've been gaming a lot lately."
Chae Seol-ah, peeking over her shoulder at the screen, muttered that.
Kim Hyun shrugged.
"Eh, bored. Nothing else to do."
"Hmm. How about some content? Like shows or something?"
"Like what?"
Chae Seol-ah counted on her fingers.
"Movies, dramas. Webtoons too."
"Maybe."
She should probably enjoy that stuff.
But not right now. She'd savor it later.
Chae Seol-ah hesitated a moment, then gave an awkward smile and offered congratulations.
"Oh, right. Congrats on becoming a National Power-level Hunter...! The internet's already going nuts about it, Kim Hyun-nim."
"Hm. Is that really worth celebrating? No idea."
It was just one more rank up. Nothing major changed. And she hadn't even earned it through effort, so...
"Haha. Still, congrats are nice..."
Chae Seol-ah trailed off with an embarrassed look.
"Anyway, I got ice cream. Here."
"Not something inhuman again, right?"
"Pardon?"
Chae Seol-ah tilted her head, not getting it.
Kim Hyun quickly scanned the ice cream. No mint choco, thank god. Instead, plenty of her favorite chocolate.
She waved a chocolate bar and grinned.
"Akashic Manual really pulls its weight."
"Haha..."
Chae Seol-ah blushed and laughed.
Kim Hyun tore open the wrapper and took a bite. Sweet, rich chocolate filled her mouth. As she munched, a sudden thought hit her.
"Come to think of it, I never asked about that."
"About what?"
"The department store thing. They were after you, right?"
Chae Seol-ah's face stiffened a bit.
"...Yeah."
"Figured out why?"
"Hm."
Chae Seol-ah scratched her cheek, then gave an awkward smile.
"No. I still don't really know why they targeted me."
"No investigation results or anything?"
"Well..."
Chae Seol-ah sighed and explained slowly.
"Forensics said those two were wanted villains."
"Villains?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Hunters who commit crimes. Both had records in Korea and had fled to Siberian Russia."
"Eastern Russia?"
"Yeah. Siberia's the top destination for villains. They barely manage them there."
"Figures. Sounds like a total shitshow."
One hunter split the country in half. Proper management? Yeah right.
'Even North Korea couldn't manage it.'
Honestly, she wouldn't bother either. Already blacklisted worldwide, why care?
'Or they take in criminals to bolster their forces. Or just a haven for shit normal countries ban.'
That Gangwon guy, for instance.
Experimenting with monster control via vampire blood? Fed hordes of humans to vamps for it.
No normal country allows that. Only rogue states.
As Kim Hyun pondered, Chae Seol-ah continued.
"The Bureau thinks they were after my ability."
"Akashic Manual's power?"
"Yeah. They couldn't risk a method getting out, so they tried to kill me."
"Huh. Makes sense."
Kim Hyun nodded casually.
But somehow...
It felt too simple.
More like some other instinct said it was something else.
'Those guys didn't even know why they had to kill her.'
The Black Magician woman's memories showed no real knowledge.
'I think... it was the Manual's existence itself.'
If it was just, she'd have been targeted ages ago.
'Her ability isn't even that unique.'
Observation hunters were common enough.
Hers uniquely gave guides, but stat-checkers existed in every major nation.
'More like...'
The "outer world" origin nagged at her.
Rarer than observation, for sure.
"Hm."
Intriguing, but not worth the mental effort. Not urgent.
She scratched the back of her head and sighed.
"Anyway, stay safe. Don't die out there."
Chae Seol-ah giggled.
"Got it!"
Kim Hyun stared at her face and smirked.
"One day off and you look brighter already."
"Hehe. Gotta rest sometime."
"Don't slack too much. Back to the grind in two days."
"Yes!"
Kim Hyun ignored Chae Seol-ah's mock salute and surfed the web again.
Sure enough, her National Power-level promotion was everywhere. The internet would buzz with this for a while.
'Feels weird.'
Her at the center of it all.
Pre-demon her couldn't have imagined it.
...Actually, demon her hadn't either. Just whatever.
"They only released my name."
"On purpose?"
"Nah? Just said I wasn't coming 'cause lazy."
The Bureau must've interpreted it their way. Face reveal? Whatever.
Right then—
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang.
"Who?"
"Team Leader Lee?"
Chae Seol-ah stood.
Kim Hyun stopped her and rose.
"Hold up. House owner should check."
She shuffled to the door. Intercom showed a guy holding something, peering around.
"What the?"
She tilted her head and flung the door open.
The man startled at her face, then hesitantly offered something.
"Oh, h-hi. I'm K-Kim Hyun! Just moved into 702, so, uh, rice cakes. Haha."