Taming the Tyrant 2
The polite speech slipping from Kwon Si-hyuk's mouth instantly froze the air in the hospital room. The broken pride of the S-rank hunter known as the "Tyrant." Ieliya stared back and forth between Kwon Si-hyuk and me, as if she couldn't believe it.
I savored her reaction, looking down at Kwon Si-hyuk with a satisfied smile.
"You know this sister? Who?"
At my question, a flicker of bewilderment crossed Kwon Si-hyuk's face.
"…Even if I told you her name, you wouldn't know her."
"Not this nun next to you, by any chance?"
"My name isn't 'nun,' it's Ieliya."
Oh. The blonde beauty speaking Korean so fluently was a bit surprising.
Ieliya crossed her legs and slowly worked her lips. She seemed to have read my surprised expression.
"I've lived in Korea for a long time."
"K-Pop?"
She flashed a grin at my question. Her plump lips drew the eye especially—red and luscious, like ripe fruit.
"I'm with the American Hunter Association."
The information that soon came from her mouth turned my suspicions into certainties.
"The woman who gave Si-hyuk the Awakening Fruit—her name is Nam Seohee. The Korean government, the Hunter Association, and even our American Hunter Association are all tracking her."
It lined up with what I'd expected. There wasn't a single distribution route for the Awakening Fruit in Korea that Nam Seohee wasn't involved in. She was the mastermind, after all.
With my conviction solidified that Shin Serin and Nam Seohee were Baal's minions, a weight lifted from my mind. Even if they begged for their lives, I could kill them without a twinge of conscience.
I turned to Team Leader Gu Kang-chul. There was no need or reason to explain the massive truth of Baal's schemes to these people. Even if they knew about demon kings and dimensions, there was nothing they could do.
"So it all connects back to Nam Seohee and Shin Serin."
Gu Kang-chul nodded gravely at my words, his eyes saying he'd already pieced it together.
"Actually, the reason we gathered Hunter Park Woojin and Hunter Kwon Si-hyuk here is precisely because of Nam Seohee."
Gu Kang-chul stood and unfolded a portable tablet monitor. The screen played footage of Nam Seohee walking through a crowd, wearing her signature white hat. Her distinctive hips swayed as provocatively as ever.
"This was filmed in Japan. After being repelled by Hunter Park Woojin, Nam Seohee liquidated all her bases in Korea and fled to Japan to join Shin Serin. We believe she's operating under the protection of the Japanese Hunter Association."
Damn, so Nam Seohee bolted to Japan. That meant Japan was a better dopamine farm than Korea. Easier to spread drugs there, too.
At that moment, Kwon Si-hyuk shot to his feet. His face had gone pale.
"No way… Does that mean Director Byeon Gi-tae is taking orders from Seohee noona… I mean, Nam Seohee?"
Seohee noona? Kwon Si-hyuk's connection to Nam Seohee ran deeper than I'd thought.
"That's right. We've captured evidence of funds from Nam Seohee flowing to Director Byeon Gi-tae. The Korean Hunter Association is effectively a puppet organization of Japan at this point."
"Fucking hell…"
Betrayal and despair twisted Kwon Si-hyuk's face. That wistful expression suggested it went beyond mere admiration.
Gu Kang-chul continued in a resolute voice.
"I couldn't stand by and watch this country rot any longer. The judiciary, finance, media, Hunter Association… It's nearly impossible to find any organization free from Japanese influence. That's why like-minded people and I founded the 'Love Our Country Guild.'"
"……"
"The Love Our Country Guild is technically under the Hunter Association, but it's a gathering of the awakened."
His gaze turned to Kwon Si-hyuk.
"Hunter Kwon Si-hyuk… We hope you'll join us. Hunter Park Woojin here is also a hidden ally of our guild. A 'transcendent S-rank' hunter who surpasses all existing ranks."
Ah… So they want to use me as the poster boy? It irked me a little, but the intent wasn't bad, so I let it slide.
"Transcendent S-rank? You mean SS-rank?"
Kwon Si-hyuk and Ieliya's shocked gazes locked onto me.
"Team leader, I'm… just B-rank."
As I played dumb, Gu Kang-chul gave a knowing smile.
"Yes, Hunter Park Woojin says so himself. He is a B-rank hunter. Hunter Kwon Si-hyuk, who clashed with him, would know best."
Kwon Si-hyuk nodded, now looking at me with eyes full of respect.
Ah… This sudden 180-degree attitude shift is a bit much.
"And Hunter Park Woojin is the only person in the world who can control mana rampage."
Gu Kang-chul slammed his palm on the table, launching into a passionate speech. Kwon Si-hyuk nodded as if he'd experienced it firsthand, while Ieliya's lips parted in disbelief.
In truth, this whole script had been coordinated with Gu Kang-chul. Positioning me as the "sole healer" for mana rampage would draw high-rank hunters to me like moths to a flame. Hunters from America, Japan, the world over would offer up their mana to me.
Free mana and influence in one fell swoop—the perfect springboard. Stab the male hunters with my blade, fuck the females. Get the bosses' favor, score some highs, stab some fools, and harvest mana.
"I knew it… So that's how it is…"
Kwon Si-hyuk's gaze bordered on worship. I swear I could see hearts in his eyes.
"Then… Woojin hyung. Does that mean… I can raid S-rank gates freely and grow?"
The "hyung" came out naturally.
"Yeah. Do whatever. Just contact me before heading into a dungeon. I've got a schedule too, you know."
"Of course, to receive Hunter Park Woojin's support, you must join our 'Love Our Country Guild.'"
Gu Kang-chul timed it perfectly, whipping out a contract. This had been hastily agreed upon earlier.
The Love Our Country Guild could use me—the mana rampage controller—as bait to recruit top-tier, upright hunters en masse.
"I'll join right now!!"
The tyrant hunter Kwon Si-hyuk, who'd sworn never to join a guild, signed up on the spot.
"Um… If I join the Love Our Country Guild too… would you treat my mana rampage if it happens?"
Ieliya, who'd been quietly observing, asked cautiously.
Jackpot!
I furrowed my brow in feigned reluctance and shook my head. Kwon Si-hyuk panicked more than she did.
"Hyung, Ieliya is my fiancée. She's basically part of me, so of course she'd join the guild too…"
"That's exactly the problem."
Sensing something, Ieliya pressed.
"Don't tell me… treatment isn't possible for female hunters?"
"The dagger method doesn't work on women. There is a way, but… it's not something I can easily say out loud."
Even Gu Kang-chul eyed me curiously.
"Is the treatment for female hunters that different?"
"Yes, fundamentally."
I paused for effect. How to package this absurdity convincingly?
"Is it something too embarrassing to say? Something… very explicit?"
At sharp-witted Ieliya's question, I nodded silently.
"It's fine. Tell us everything, no holding back."
I fell silent a moment, then spoke in the most detached, clinical tone I could muster.
"I get my dick hard, shove it in her wet pussy, thrust in and out a bunch of times until I fill her womb with cum. Creampie, basically."
Blink. Blink. Blink.
The three of them stared at me, dumbfounded.
"That's a joke… right?"
Ieliya's voice trembled faintly.
"No joke."
Her face flushed crimson in an instant.
"I… I'll never get mana rampage. Never ever."
She muttered it like a vow to herself.
Hey, keep that up and I'll force a rampage on you.
I didn't mention that quitting drugs spikes mana rampage risk from dopamine deficiency.
Suddenly, a devilish idea bubbled up.
"Our Love Our Country Guild rejects drugs entirely. Right, Team Leader?"
"Yes, exactly. Some members are still in the quitting process, but we encourage each other through it."
I turned to Kwon Si-hyuk.
"Si-hyuk, you've quit drugs too, right?"
"Yes, hyung. About two weeks now."
"And you, Ieliya?"
"Me…? Yeah… I'll quit too."
"Great decision!"
Damn, I answered too brightly without thinking. Good for her health, and future fun for me.
Ieliya evoked the saintesses from fantasy novels. Anticipating her white horse ride, I gave silent thanks for her virgin ass.
In the end, Ieliya joined the Love Our Country Guild on the spot too. Gu Kang-chul, now with two S-rank hunters, beamed happily as he continued the briefing.
"According to recent intel, Japan's 'Oni Guild' is planning to distribute a new drug in Korea."
"Oni Guild?"
Kwon Si-hyuk frowned. First I'd heard of it.
"Japan's largest hunter guild—and de facto shadow government. They've allied with Nam Seohee's cartel to spread a new drug far more potent than before."
Gu Kang-chul turned the tablet screen toward us. It showed a glass vial filled with red pills.
"Codename 'Oni's Blood.' Intel says one Awakening Fruit can produce thousands of these."
Gu Kang-chul swallowed hard before continuing.
"Using the Awakening Fruit?"
At my question, he let out a long sigh.
"A drug that slowly turns humans into demons. Users fall under extreme lust, eventually lose their minds, become demons, and vanish into gates. Most street hookers and tachinbo in Japan lately are victims."
Chills ran down my spine. Nam Seohee and Shin Serin's efficient Japanese dopamine harvest: human sacrifices.
"Fucking bitches…"
I worked my lips and sighed lightly.
"Intel says Oni's Blood has entered our country. If a hunter gets addicted, mana rampage hits faster and deadlier."
Right then, Ieliya's hand trembled violently. A red pill rolled out from her spilled belongings, identical to the Oni's Blood on screen.
"Team Leader Gu Kang-chul… Is this drug 'Oni's Blood'?"
He nodded, and Ieliya clamped her mouth with both hands.
"Ah… So that's why… that's why…"
Tears poured from her eyes like a waterfall.
"What do I do… Si-hyuk. This drug turned me into a slut. You know I'm not like this normally…"
Kwon Si-hyuk was speechless in shock.
"A cleric channeling God's power… eating a drug that turns you into a demon… God won't forgive this… I'll be excommunicated… excommu—hngh!"
Holy power erupted from her body, mingling unstably with dark crimson energy. Her bones cracked and twisted with grinding sounds.
"Hunter Ieliya! Calm down! Mana rampage would be bad. Empty your mind… relax. Just take the pill now."
"Nooooo!!! I… can't take the demon drug… if I become a demon… kkhii!"
"Shit… mana rampage."
With Gu Kang-chul's shout, Ieliya's eyes lost focus and rolled wildly. Her habit strained against unreal curves as she began mutating into something inhuman and sinister.
"Hunter Park Woojin!! Please save my fiancée Ieliya!"
Kwon Si-hyuk clutched my pant leg, screaming.
"You know what that means, right? You heard the treatment earlier. Creampie your woman. Whip out my dick and plunge it in her pussy."
"I know! Please… better than letting God's priest become a demon…! Save her, I beg you."
"Then both of you get out. I don't let anyone watch the treatment."
"Then… please."
Gu Kang-chul nodded solemnly at me. I returned the gravest look I could muster, forcibly suppressing my rising smirk.
"Don't worry, Ieliya. I'll definitely stop the mana rampage."
As Gu Kang-chul and Kwon Si-hyuk rushed out and the door clicked shut, only she and I remained in the room.