Chapter 29
Chapter 29
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Legendary Hunter Appears (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Park Won-jun scratched his head upon reaching the 32nd floor of the tower.
"The names..."
Something felt off about the regular monsters and the boss monster's names not matching up.
"Eh, probably just snakes, right?"
Still, he could tell from the names that they were snake monsters.
Shaaaa!
As always, Won-jun strolled toward the boss room door like he was on a walk, when snake hisses echoed from all around.
Far larger and more sinister than ordinary snakes, vibrant Cobalt Snakes slithered toward him.
"Your debut, huh?"
Shing.
Won-jun drew his sword from its sheath.
The Meteor Sword, equipment provided through his Special Hunter qualification.
Its beautifully Eastern-styled blade gleamed into view.
"..."
He pondered which sword art to unleash, but there was one issue.
'It broke last time.'
He'd snatched a sword from the Black Knights and used the Namgung clan's Azure Palace Infinite Sword Art.
But it had shattered right away.
That was fine for a one-off, but things were different now.
He was a newbie Special Hunter, after all. Breaking national property wouldn't fly.
"For now..."
Maybe hold back on the flashy martial arts?
"Shaaaaak!"
The Cobalt Snakes let out even more chilling hisses as they surrounded him.
It was as if all twenty were hunting as a pack, ready to coil and crush him to death.
Whoosh!
In that instant, Won-jun swung his sword.
[Cobalt Snake defeated!]
[Cobalt Snake defeated!]
One slash severs six snakes clean in half!
Whoosh!
[Cobalt Snake defeated!]
[Cobalt Snake defeated!]
Whoosh!
[Cobalt Snake defeated!]
[Cobalt Snake defeated!]
Won-jun kept swinging his sword. The enemies were a bit spread out, but it was no issue at all.
'At this rate.'
His internal energy was still lacking compared to right before returning from the martial world.
But generating sword qi strong enough to dispatch these monsters effortlessly? No problem.
Rumble.
Won-jun entered the boss room.
The monsters meant to block intruders had failed utterly.
"Shaaaaak!"
The boss of Seoul Tower's 32nd floor: Cobalt Anaconda.
Larger than the Cobalt Snakes, with striking black patterns.
"Boss looks even uglier up close."
Monster appearances could be human-friendly or the opposite.
By Won-jun's standards, some looked cool, others repulsive—this was the latter.
Whoosh!
Sword qi launched from a slight distance.
Too fast for the Cobalt Anaconda to dodge.
"Kreeeeaaak!"
It let out a pathetic screech for a boss as its body split in two.
[Cobalt Anaconda defeated!]
Mana crystals poured out, along with materials for equipment crafting.
'This counts as national service too, I guess?'
Won-jun chuckled. Technically, it was a partnership.
The Korean government wasn't a volunteer group—if they gained more from his activities than the massive sums he took home, it was a win for them.
In the end, Won-jun's annual "work" racked up billions, far beyond a mere hundred million.
"Why stand when your legs hurt? Sit."
"Ah, yes!"
In the office of the Minister of Korea's Hunter Management Department.
Kim Jong-dae, head of the screening division, was sweating buckets despite it not even being summer yet.
The man at the pinnacle of the national hunter oversight agency sat right in front of him: Minister Ma Tae-sik.
"The newest Special Hunter registration came with some interesting reports."
"...Yes."
'Knew it.'
Kim Jong-dae knew exactly why he'd been summoned here.
First, the shocking debut of 23-year-old Special Hunter Park Won-jun.
To him—no, to any veteran in the department—Won-jun's potential was off the charts.
Even the bare minimum for Special Hunters: soloing past 30 floors. No country ignored that. Not the US, China, Japan—none.
Only crazies with eyes glued to 50+ floor raids mocked endless 30F clears.
And second.
"..."
Director Kim eyed Minister Ma Tae-sik's shock of white hair.
At 61, Ma had held his post through regime changes.
Still sharp and vigorous despite his age, but lately, he'd been through hell.
Korea's tower raids lagged behind other nations.
Won-jun's emergence. The minister in a slight pinch.
That explained a solo visit to a minister's office he rarely entered.
"Hunter Park Won-jun shows tremendous promise, per reports. That composure beyond 30 floors—even our top hunters can't match it easily. If I'm right, he'll represent Korea."
"Hahaha, music to my ears after so long. Wanted to hear it from you. Can we look forward to more?"
"Of course."
"Shouldn't keep a busy, capable man."
Ma Tae-sik waved him off with a warm smile.
'No law says good guys finish last.'
In most advanced nations, like Korea, the Hunter Management Department held special status.
Ma grinned, unwilling to relinquish his seat.
Young at 23, overwhelming skill.
May Park Won-jun become the department's pride.
If he could be their hidden ace, nothing would be too much.
Hell, if pushed to extremes, he'd pull any strings possible.
"Legs don't hurt?"
"They're fine."
"Yeah?"
A park bench in Seoul.
20-year-old Kim Dong-myeong scratched his head awkwardly.
He wanted to do more for his lovely 20-year-old girlfriend, Park Si-young, but had no clue what she wanted.
She'd suddenly dumped him, leaving him wrecked. He'd clung desperately, and they'd gotten back together.
Now, he was dead set on heading to Seoul constantly.
"..."
Dong-myeong gazed at Si-young blankly surveying the park.
'So pretty.'
Was there ever a girl this beautiful?
Oversized sweater hiding her slim frame—stylish, even. University had refined her face. Yet he still saw that teenage Si-young from memory.
To him, she was a one-of-a-kind goddess.
'But.'
One thing he still couldn't bring up.
He'd gone to surprise her at home and seen it: her stepping out of another guy's car, hugging him.
Luckily, Si-young hadn't looked lovestruck—just fidgety.
What the hell was going on?
Thinking of pure Si-young, he worried it wasn't anything bad.
He'd held back till now, but time to ask.
"Hey, Si-young."
"Yeah?"
"Y'know..."
Dong-myeong proceeded cautiously.
"Other day, missed you so much and had stuff to tell you, so I went to your place."
"What?"
Si-young whipped around, staring.
Eyes locking, Dong-myeong nearly clammed up but pushed through.
"So, uh, saw you with some other guy outta nowhere."
"...Yeah?"
"Don't misunderstand! Not thinking weird stuff. I just—"
Staying with Si-young was priority zero. Regret hit, but water under the bridge.
"As your boyfriend, it's natural to wonder. Unless you're not just friends—like, yeah! Maybe a guy you dated briefly while we were apart."
He couldn't straight-up ask why hug a guy, so he skirted. It got awkward fast anyway.
"Kinda."
"Ah..."
The hunch he'd dreaded.
Dong-myeong's heart sank.
'R-Right.'
Si-young was gorgeous, super popular. Could've dated someone briefly. But she's mine now. We got back together.
"So you're breaking up with him? Got it. Sorry, Si-young. Looking back, I showed up too sudden. Probably overwhelming..."
"Haa."
"Huh?"
Stammering apologies froze him at her deep sigh.
"..."
Si-young was on the verge of exploding.
A guy tiptoeing around her feelings.
Would fake death if she asked.
Why no gratitude? Just irritation?
Dong-myeong wasn't some chick-magnet pretty boy, but decent looks, good personality.
Just lost his mind around Si-young.
'Frustrating.'
Secret thing with Won-jun.
Rationalized fantasies, shattered.
Exposing Won-jun, his nonchalant reaction.
Since then, her chest felt suffocating.
And now, with boyfriend.
Button pushed.
"Haa, does it bother you?"
"Huh?"
Si-young looked up smirking.
Dong-myeong gaped at this unfamiliar girlfriend.
"It's not bothering me, uh, you handle everything fine anyway."
"Stop beating around the bush. It bothers you, that's why you're asking what our relationship was."
"S-Si-young."
"Haa."
She sighed heavily before speaking.
"Did you sleep with that oppa?"
"...Huh?"
"I slept with him."
"..."