Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Greatest Hunter Appears (3)
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“Take your time writing it.”
“Yes, sir.”
Park Won-jun, in the midst of completing the final Special Hunter registration procedure, nodded.
Section Chief Kim Jong-dae was telling him to go slow since they were running a bit late.
But Won-jun couldn’t decide easily.
“...”
It was the question of what type of hunter he belonged to.
‘What type am I, exactly?’
He hadn’t given it much thought before.
The main techniques he’d used while conquering the tower were the extreme yang martial art, Blazing Flame Divine Art, and the extreme yin martial art, Ice White Divine Art. Did that make him a magic type?
In truth, he’d used Finger Magic even more, but writing “flick type” would just be ridiculous.
‘No.’
Won-jun grinned.
Why overthink it? He was using martial arts, so he’d just go with Martial Artist.
“Huh?”
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing, haha.”
Section Chief Kim Jong-dae looked puzzled as he watched Won-jun write with his pen, but he didn’t say anything.
[Melee Hunter.]
Won-jun wrote that he was a melee hunter.
‘Yeah, that’s right.’
My foundation is swordsmanship.
Won-jun had learned various martial arts to reach the pinnacle of martial prowess, but the first and longest one he’d mastered was swordsmanship.
He hadn’t shown it much, but since he’d fought the boss barehanded in the 31st-floor conquest video he’d submitted, they’d buy it.
However, those in the examination department who knew about Won-jun, including Section Chief Kim Jong-dae, were more drawn to his flashy area-of-effect martial arts, so they found “melee” surprising.
Where in the world was a melee hunter with those kinds of abilities?
“All done.”
“Thank you. I thought the Hunter Management Division would be intimidating, but everyone’s so kind.”
“Hahaha, is that so?”
Won-jun behaved quite politely toward the man who was easily twice his age.
Most Special Hunters were arrogant, so inwardly, Section Chief Kim Jong-dae took a liking to the mild-mannered Won-jun.
He was physically fit, neatly dressed, and handsome—if he had a daughter around Won-jun’s age, he’d want to introduce her.
“Would you like to head to the support division right away to pick up some gear? Of course, you can always contact us for ongoing support.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
He didn’t really need equipment, but why turn down free gear?
Won-jun decided to grab some while he was at it.
“This way.”
Park Won-jun, now an official Special Hunter, was being guided by a staff member from the Hunter Management Division’s support department.
They’d arrived at the equipment display area.
This was where the state loaned out gear officially approved for hunters to use.
“...”
‘Honestly speaking...’
Once there, Won-jun lost interest.
He’d gotten a brief explanation on the way: not special abilities, just sharper weapons, tougher armor, accessories that boosted magic power?
It would’ve been fun if there were flying shoes or an invisibility cloak.
Of course, even if he stored them in his inventory, he couldn’t use them in reality.
“Amazing, right? Weapons made from powerful monsters’ teeth are just fancy scrap metal outside the tower.”
“Yeah, amazing.”
Won-jun replied in a soulless tone.
‘Even so...’
He still wanted a decent sword for his swordsmanship.
Last time, the monster’s sword he’d snatched broke quickly.
“If nothing catches your eye, we can help import something. Though you’d have to pay for it...”
“No, it’s fine. Exchange rates are brutal these days.”
“Ah, right.”
There had to be a usable sword made in Korea, right? Won-jun figured he wouldn’t need to worry about imports.
“Hm?”
Then, a sword caught Won-jun’s eye.
“...”
A sword with dragon patterns.
Eastern-style, just like ones he’d seen often in the martial world.
“They call that one the Meteor Sword. Imported from China a few months ago, made from a Nightmare’s tooth conquered on the 38th floor of Sichuan Tower.”
“Meteor Sword, huh.”
Won-jun nodded.
“Can I borrow this one?”
“Go ahead. It’ll last up to the 39th floor.”
“And after that?”
“If... you conquer up to 39, you’ll need gear made from 40th-floor materials afterward.”
“So 39th floor requires 30th-floor gear strictly? Why not provide top-tier stuff from the start?”
“Well...”
The staff member hemmed and hawed.
Of course, if he complained properly, this wasn’t the guy’s call. Higher-ups would handle it.
“There must be a good reason. I’ll take this sword.”
“Excellent choice, haha.”
Won-jun smiled.
‘Doesn’t matter either way, but...’
The Hunter Management Division—no, the state—seemed intent on controlling hunters tightly.
Hunters wanted to conquer safely too, lives weren’t infinite.
Gear as a control mechanism? They had plenty of surveillance methods already, but they layered on more.
‘Come to think of it...’
Mainstream media didn’t cover it much, but in most advanced nations, governments gained power once they could control their hunters.
Mana crystals from towers were unprecedented resources, and fighting tower collapses gave them justification.
‘In that case?’
Won-jun pondered. In a world where government power was strong, how mighty would an individual be to bully the state?
A lot of fun things could happen.
“Armor’s over here.”
“No need.”
“Pardon? What do you...”
Won-jun gazed fondly at his new sword and gave a vague reply.
“Having 38th-floor weapons doesn’t make you invincible. If they don’t connect or you get injured mid-fight, they’re useless.”
“Is there a rule saying you must take both weapons and armor?”
“That’s...”
Won-jun eyed the staff member.
He looked troubled.
No sane person would take weapons but skip armor when both were available.
This was like riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
“Alright, show me the armor then.”
“Uh? Yes, of course.”
Won-jun flashed a gentlemanly smile to accommodate him.
‘No harm in it.’
Stash it in inventory, don’t wear it. Done.
No need to argue with staff after coming all this way.
Won-jun was the type adults liked wherever he went, and he avoided unnecessary trouble.
“Was the trip here tough?”
“Not at all.”
A café near Park Won-jun’s house.
Won-jun had called Park Si-young nearby since she’d contacted him recently.
Going all the way to her neighborhood was a hassle.
“So why’d you want to meet?”
“Uh...”
Si-young, who’d asked to meet first, hesitated to speak.
It could come off rude.
“Oh, right, I have something to say first. I’m done with school.”
“What?!”
“It’s getting annoying now.”
“...”
Won-jun’s sudden dropout announcement.
Si-young was flustered, but given his quirky habits, it wasn’t that shocking.
“Um, by any chance...”
“Yeah?”
“Is it because of the rumors?”
“Rumors?”
“Well...”
Si-young bit her lip.
She had to say it somehow.
“There’s this nonsense going around that you’ve been messing around with a bunch of girls at school...”
“You sure know how to sugarcoat it nicely.”
“Huh?”
Won-jun chuckled.
How did she package it so neatly?
“It’s true.”
“...Oppa.”
“But that’s not why I dropped out. College was getting boring anyway.”
He said it casually.
Si-young was so shocked her hands shook.
More than him fooling around, it was him saying it so calmly to her face.
He didn’t see her as a woman with feelings at all.
“Oppa, you stopped contacting me a while back.”
“True.”
“Are you just tossing me aside?”
“Hm?”
Si-young, staring down, spoke up.
Pretty bold rebellion from her perspective.
“Tossing someone aside? That’s a bit harsh.”
“...”
Si-young squeezed her eyes shut at his absurd response.
What would her parents think seeing her treated like this?
“You’re great, Si-young. I was thinking of you recently and called. Couldn’t follow through, though.”
“Sigh.”
“Not today, though. Got plans tonight, can’t hang out. And if you don’t want to see me anymore, I’ll respect that. You’ll find a good guy, for real.”
Won-jun spoke like it was final and stood.
Her expression said they wouldn’t meet again.
He’d even given well-wishes—nothing more to say.
Si-young was pretty and great in bed, but not desperately so.
If he wanted her badly, he’d have kept her.
“Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
Si-young grabbed him.
“I want to keep seeing you...”
“What?”
“What do I have to do to keep meeting you?”
Si-young spoke with trembling lips. Tears seemed imminent.
“...”
Won-jun could tell she wasn’t in her right mind, but it was a new experience, so he wasn’t against it.
“Hmm.”
Won-jun, who considered himself somewhat feminist, pondered uncharacteristically.
Maybe her desperation softened him. No woman had begged like this before.
“Si-young, listen to me then.”
“Yes...”
“Try working at it from now on.”
“Work at it?”
“Yeah.”
Won-jun smiled.
He’d thought of something good.
“Make me want you more. Work on your life, become prettier and more interesting. Oh, no plastic surgery. If I find out, I’m done with you.”
“...”
“I’ll call when I think of you.”
Won-jun patted her head and left.
‘Me, too.’
Too soft on women.
Remixing official site videos had strict rules.
But even short clips of Won-jun’s feats were shocking.
Werewolf Lords were what even magic hunters who breezed through 31F avoided up close.
Yet Won-jun flambéed 20 werewolves with flashy skills, then overwhelmed the boss barehanded.
A shocking debut.
No other hunter came to mind who could shake the gallery like this with a 31st-floor clear.