Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Ulterior Motives
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Korean Hunter Management Corporation.
The national agency responsible for everything from hunter qualification exams and registration to management and training.
Established under the Awakener Safety Management Special Act, it oversees the rights and duties of hunters.
But even this corporation couldn't stand up to a certain faction...
The Korean Hunter Talent Development International Council.
This private organization, commonly known as 'the Council,' was centered around veteran hunters from the old generation.
Composed mainly of A-rank and higher elite hunters, along with those capable of frontline combat, the group wielded significant influence over Korea's hunter society through their experience and connections.
Recently, under pressure from the Council, hunter licenses were changed to provisional licenses, restricting new hunters' activities and sparking various issues.
However, even these self-important old-timers—who acted like nobility—faced an unexpected problem.
It came from an internet streamer.
More precisely, they'd underestimated her influence.
Anyone else stuck with a provisional license right now? | Anon (223.32)
(Meme of a random 2D character unrelated to the post)
Wtf is up with this provisional license switch?
Mine's provisional cuz I haven't hit a year yet, but my rank's pretty high?
But they won't let provisional holders into gates? Does that even make sense?
It's not even a dangerous spot—just a tourist gate that foreign kids visit on school trips—and they still won't let me in.
They let in the non-hunter cleanup crew uncles but not me. Wtf???
Anyone else dealing with this?
What bullshit, why can't hunters enter gates?
New policy change.
?? What...
Provisional or not, you can go if you're with guildmates.
They might not be in a guild.
This isn't about you, it's about Ga-eun, right?
OP: Whoa
OP: Busted...
Go to Streamer Gallery.
This is just hunter talk lol.
Wtf do these kids know? Is the whole world onto me?
A few others sniffed it out earlier.
OP: Lol oops
Anyone using those hardcore fan memes in Hunter Gal was sus from the start.
OP: Fml
Ga-eun drama aside, her viewers are all simps lol.
She's like the chill big sis who plays along with the simps.
How do you know?
(Ga-eun hi con)
(Ga-eun thumbs up con)
Ffs real talk
It's obvious bait but insiders know it's sus | Working Late Again
Structure blatantly targets one specific person.
And some spots got direct orders not to let them in.
Quit today? Ballsy.
I never named names or places or anything?
Genius?
Council or whatever tf it is sucks, upvote if agree lmao | Anon (1.01)
(Meme of Council sign photoshopped onto a ruined building)
Me first lmao
(Upvotes) 👍 99 (Downvotes) 👎 9
You crazy bastard
At least try hiding your manipulation.
Wtf I only hit 20.
Only 20? You're gonna die irl.
I did 30 for you.
OP: Thx
Both die
Not manipulated, I upvoted 30 myself.
That's what manipulation is you psycho.
I hate people 30x more so it's fine.
Skip the manipulation, but yeah Council sucks.
Council straight up sucks | Arigato Mystic
(Photo of an old hunter license.)
Anyone in rear support who's been around a while will get this.
Discrimination started even during training, let alone gate entry.
They'd say frontline fighters make battles possible and spout plausible excuses—that was fine.
But then they used it as an excuse to give us crap gear, benefits, training, and didn't even bother with headcounts so some couldn't even get that.
Later they treated us like meat shields for frontline hunters to make bank, calling us demons.
Life was hell til I settled in a guild...
I'm one who got hit hard by their bullshit, but tons will relate. Insiders especially.
Thank god Seo Na-rin fixed our image.
Otherwise we'd still be trash-tier paid trash-treated piles.
Now my monthly take is 600x higher even with paid leave and min wage hikes.
600x???? Wtf you guild master or what
Average among folks like me. That's how bad it was.
Supports are nobility fr ;;
Grateful but that's separate from Council sucking.
You call her noona but your license starts with 1? Shouldn't it be 5 or 7?
OP: (Frog with mouth open glaring sideways meme)
OP: (Shivering cabbage meme)
They're retired so why still hanging around | Anon (1.02)
Made their money, got their fame—go raise grandkids quietly. Why keep sticking their noses in young folks' business?
Makes me wanna load up the truck fr.
A nation that forgets history has no future...
So they didn't forget and keep reminding us.
They take punches for 'past favors' daily.
But wasn't that manipulation earlier?
OP (1.03): (Smirking frog meme)
?
Yo why's your IP jumping?
Inside a lavish conference room.
The elderly men seated around the table like knights of the Round Table wore clear looks of discomfort.
"...What happened? This isn't what we discussed."
A bearishly massive old man broke the silence.
"In-hwan, you were too hasty."
Another elder chimed in reproachfully, prompting the skinny old man to snap irritably.
"Tch! You all agreed back then, and now you wanna back out? Too late! And you're the one who suggested pressuring the kid's circle first!"
"Ahem, no, I didn't say anything about the methods..."
Jang Tae-won recalled a conversation from a few days prior.
Specifically, the moment that friend In-hwan ordered a subordinate.
"Um... People aren't idiots. Won't they notice if you keep targeting just one person?"
The young subordinate—relative youth here meaning early 40s—asked cautiously.
Unlike the Council's elders, he'd lived through the golden age of internet streaming.
"You dare question my will? Our will?"
"The situation with Seo Na-rin Hunter is a bit different. The young generation's attention span..."
"Hmph, these kids are all flash-in-the-pan types, arrogant without experience. They don't even try to grasp the deeper meaning—just swallow the surface without chewing!"
"W-Well, true."
"Any issue will fizzle out quick. Think we don't know that? We thought it through, so quit whining!"
"...Understood."
Jang Tae-won shook off the memory and returned to the present.
Having silently watched his colleagues pass the buck, he finally spoke.
"Quiet, everyone."
The room fell silent in an instant.
"No need to worry. We can turn this into an opportunity."
It was indeed beyond expectations.
But not a major problem.
"We're doing that thing with Camellia Guild soon, right? Let's use it."
"The rookie training camp?"
An Jung-bong tilted his head.
"Think I'd throw support funds at them out of the goodness of my heart? Listen up."
"Mm..."
"Classic Jang Tae-won."
"Indeed, reliable as ever."
Jang Tae-won, the longstanding anchor of the old-guard hunters.
Every hunter in the room leaned in to listen.
At that moment.
Tap tap-
"Hee hee hee."
"Master..."
"Burn that mustache meme? Upvote~. Oh Ye-rin, switch IPs next?"
"...Sigh."
Kim Ye-rin clutched her head with a sigh.
What Jun-hyeok was doing was classic sockpuppeting.
Camellia Guild wasn't so desperate that its rare S-rank had to do this personally.
Ye-rin alone could handle simple opinion-shaping.
She'd come up thinking he needed her power for something...
This was unrelated to the daytime op—just Jun-hyeok having fun.
"Get a grip, please!"
Whack-smack!
Boom!
"Kyaoow!!"
A supersonic back-smack landed, sonic boom following belatedly.
Rustle, rustle.
A small room.
Tiny Su-hyeon sat in the middle.
And a relatively huge backpack.
Su-hyeon was diligently packing her school bag.
Her stubby fingers folding clothes as compactly as possible looked adorably mature.
"This much... Hmm, one more...? Just in case!"
Towels, clothes, toiletries, water, emergency rations, snacks, notebook, pocket money...
Su-hyeon pondered each item, folding fingers and stuffing them in.
Her round face beamed with excitement.
The problem was overthinking it.
Clothes: 7 outfits including spares.
Pajamas: One per day.
Underwear: 8 pairs.
Towels: Two per day for hair and body.
Plus one extra to lend a roommate.
Thus, every towel in the house.
Way overkill for a 2-night, 3-day camp.
Why was Su-hyeon packing now?
To explain, backtrack to Jun-hyeok's office the other day.
"Huh, camp? Me...?"
Su-hyeon pointed at herself.
"Yeah, minimal cover. For Camellia sponsoring you."
Jun-hyeok replied while watering the money tree.
Following Su-hyeon's method, but its leaves turned fang-like, gnashing at his hand.
Watering method wasn't the issue.
"...Scary."
Su-hyeon admitted, eyes darting.
Hang with strangers—rookie hunters—for 3 days?
Ridiculous.
Chilling home, sunbathing, daily quests made her happy.
"I'm not becoming a hunter... No other way?"
"Simplest method. And how long you gonna hide as E-rank? You don't look E-rank. Avoid suspicion later—let us fake it right, live high-rank."
"Eeeh..."
Hmph. Elves handle everything. Such a hassle.
Su-hyeon's lips pouted.
"Go like a school trip. You missed yours. Ga-eun's joining too."
"Really...? Then, maybe... go?"
Familiar face mention drew Su-hyeon's eyes sneakily.
Her drooping leaf-ears perked up.
"Yeah. Rookie training, so young kids. Might make friends?"
"...Friends like this?"
"Who knows? Schedule's fine—no one'll notice your condition."
"But then bedtime 9pm, up at 5am?"
"Gate scouting at night's insane. Who'd argue?"
"Oh... Right."
A kid-friendly schedule tailored just for her!
This much care deserved going.
"Hmph!"
Su-hyeon huffed, peeking from the bag.
"Seems packed. Brüel, this okay? What do you think?"
Su-hyeon turned.
Behind her: Instant tent from chair, drying rack, blankets.
Under it, Brüel crouched cat-like to avoid collapse.
"Hm, survival gear looks sparse. Add survival knife, rope, portable purifier, tarp."
Brüel listed professionally despite pose.
Su-hyeon's face darkened.
"What do... We don't have that stuff..."
"Don't worry, Su-hyeon-nim. Spares from our gear."
"Really!?"
The bag ballooned near bursting.
Hard to tell if Su-hyeon walked or the bag did.
Next day.
"I'm off...!"
"Take care, Su-hyeon-nim..."
Leaving fidgety Brüel, Su-hyeon heaved upright with a grunt.
Months of sun had strengthened her; legs shook but she lifted it!
Though barely 20cm off ground.
But before camp departure.
"What the hell are you two doing?"
"...Hing."
"...Mm."
Ga-eun's anger left them heads bowed, silent.
Like owner, like pet—their sulky faces matched.
At the meetup, pre-bus, horrified Ga-eun grabbed Su-hyeon, dumped useless stuff, repacked.
"Why so many clothes and towels? It says they'll provide."
"Just in case... Hunter seminar promised but didn't..."
"That's cuz it's retired hunter NewTube content! And what's this? Knife, rope, cloth...?"
"Tarp..."
Helmeted Brüel answered.
"You burying a body? Convention center—why need this!?"
"Eugh, my survival tools..."
Su-hyeon reluctantly removed them.
"Brüel, why didn't you stop her?"
Arrow turned to Brüel.
"I thought better overpack than lack..."
"Sigh, my fault for trusting."
"..."
Post Ga-eun approval: Toiletries, one towel. Two underwear, two spare outfits, one pajama.
More shocking: On bus, only Su-hyeon had a bag.
"Hmph, how do they survive this harsh world..."
Su-hyeon grumbled by window.
Leaning on sill, chin propped—her pale steamed bun cheek puffed.
"Talking nonsense again."
Poke-
Ga-eun, who'd stowed the bag, prodded Su-hyeon's cheek.
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