Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Power-Tripping Hunter (2)
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Slide.
Seoul Black Tower, 40th floor.
Having incinerated twenty Giant Worms, Park Won-jun stepped into the boss room.
"Ah..."
Usually, you had to walk a few steps into a boss room to get a good look at the thing.
Not this time. He could tell the moment he entered.
It wasn't called "Giant" for nothing.
40th floor boss: Black Giant Worm.
It looked similar to a regular Giant Worm, but bigger, with patterns scattered across its body that screamed anything but user-friendly.
'Let's wrap this up quick.'
This was all being broadcast live on camera right now.
The viewers watching the footage—would they avert their eyes from this ugly bastard, or would they be hoping for an even more satisfying takedown?
Either way, best to burn it to ash, fast and clean.
'Time to test the power.'
Swoosh.
Won-jun extended the hand not holding his sword toward the boss monster.
The Black Giant Worm undulated.
Planning a ranged attack?
"Kuuweeeek!"
The boss spewed green liquid from its maw.
An acidic attack that would melt you down to the bone if you didn't handle it right.
"Blazing Palm."
Whoosh!
But Won-jun casually unleashed a technique from the Blazing Flame Divine Art.
His internal energy had grown even stronger lately, bringing the divine art close to the great success stage.
First came the Blazing Great Annihilation Strike with his sword, and now the palm technique, Blazing Palm. Just how strong would it be?
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from Won-jun's palm, incinerating even the green acid the boss had launched, then engulfing the boss itself.
"Hm... not bad."
Not quite on the level of the Blazing Palm at great success, but still impressive.
The Blazing Palm from the Blazing Flame Divine Art was the first technique Won-jun had used after returning to the martial world.
Compared to back then, it was on a whole different level.
Won-jun stowed the mana crystal in his inventory and checked the count.
"Hm..."
From the 40th floor, he'd harvested 400 mana crystals total. With the S-rank bonus, that meant normally it'd be 200.
'Kinda feels like a letdown.'
Won-jun tilted his head.
The 40s were supposed to be on a whole different level from the 30s, but only double the reward?
Sure, it wasn't just mana crystals.
Two Black Giant Worm hides, fourteen Giant Worm hides.
With the double bonus applied to materials too.
Only by checking the equipment crafting prices could he gauge the true value of the 40th floor.
Won-jun, whose sense of money had gone haywire after becoming filthy rich.
Regular cash barely gave him a dopamine hit anymore.
"Thank you."
"Take care out there, Hunter!"
Park Won-jun received a polite send-off from the staff at the management center under the Hunter Administration and stepped outside.
'Better than expected?'
After selling off his stockpiled mana crystals and materials, plus the haul from clearing Seoul Black Tower's 40th floor, he now knew his earnings.
40 million won from mana crystals, 42 million from equipment materials.
The materials, though fewer, brought in more cash.
Push to 41 or 42, and even if mana crystals trickle in, material values should skyrocket.
The 40s were a zone even top hunters in stronger hunter nations only tackled selectively.
'Maybe splash some cash more boldly?'
Income kept surging.
Time to get a bit more aggressive.
For his goal—banging as many hot women as possible—what did he need?
'From now on, I want famous ones.'
The rush from nailing a cheerleader with a huge SNS following was no joke.
Greed was building. Sure, fame meant top-tier looks, but the real draw was status and the stories.
If they were all pretty, great bodies, young—personality and prestige mattered.
"Hm?"
His phone buzzed, and Won-jun picked up.
"Yes, Park Won-jun speaking."
A polite but slightly formal tone.
Business call.
"Yes?"
Learning who wanted to meet, Won-jun replied with genuine surprise.
"..."
But then he grinned.
There was a reason for the smile.
"Neptune?"
Park Won-jun had entered Seoul Black Tower's 42nd floor.
Neptune—sounded familiar.
The Hunter Administration support team had sent monster data ages ago, but Won-jun hadn't peeked, wanting the thrill of surprise.
"Oh, right, right."
Striding coolly toward the boss room, monsters appeared.
Faces like fish-snake hybrids.
Human upper bodies, fish tails below.
Tridents in hand.
Ocean dwellers, clearly.
And huge.
"Fish, huh? Got the perfect technique for that."
Won-jun grinned, drawing Muramasa.
Neptune Warriors charged.
Won-jun assumed his stance: sword held horizontally in his right hand, left hand resting on Muramasa's stunning blade.
Crackle.
Lightning-like energy enveloped him.
The monsters closed in.
The moment they surrounded him with tridents raised—
"Heavenly Thunder Sword."
Won-jun called out the technique name.
From the Azure Palace Infinite Sword Art he'd gained from the Namgung family—a move perfect for crowds, but qi-intensive.
But with his supreme cultivation method of past and present, trained relentlessly even after return? No issue.
Swoosh!
Won-jun swung wide.
Boom boom boom!
Thunderbolts from his potent internal energy crashed down.
Enemies died without screams.
"Onward."
Tower climbing was ant-stomping easy for Won-jun.
But the changing monsters kept it from total boredom.
And the money was nice.
Slide.
Won-jun opened the boss room door.
"Hmm."
The boss revealed itself fast.
Black Tower 42nd floor boss: Neptune King.
Bigger than the Warriors, with a crown.
"King, huh?"
Won-jun snorted.
No intimidation at all. How's that a king?
'Good technique pick.'
Won-jun wasn't Namgung, but they flaunted kingly sword forms like Imperial Sword Sovereign, positioning themselves as regal.
"King vs. king, then."
Imperial arts vs. Neptune royalty.
Which stronger? Won-jun knew.
The Neptune King summoned water below and charged.
Won-jun raised his sword, leaning back slightly.
Crackle!
A thrusting stance.
Eyeing the trident, he'd picked his counter.
"Peerless Heavenly Thunder."
Won-jun named the technique, then thrust at the Neptune King.
Blue lightning swirled around him before launching.
Crackle crackle!
"Kraaaagh!"
The bolt charred the boss instantly.
Won-jun walked to the roasted Neptune King, pocketing rewards into inventory.
S-rank: 402 mana crystals, materials.
"Mmm."
Tower clear before an important meetup.
Easy work, but satisfyingly done right.
And the Azure Palace Infinite Sword Art? Flashy as hell.
Today, he was peak Special Hunter.
"What'd you order?"
In a building in Seoul's Cheongdam-dong.
Won-jun was heading to his appointment, on the phone with Park Min-ju.
"Chicken feet? Order something tastier, why that?"
-Craving it.
"Alright, enjoy. See you later, yeah?"
Like chatting with a lover, then he hung up.
They didn't live together, but dinner was usually shared unless something came up.
This time, something had for Won-jun.
A dinner invite he'd accepted.
This one from a guy, not a girl.
The spot: a top sushi omakase in Cheongdam-dong.
Pricey as hell nationwide. Even the loaded couldn't always get in without a reservation.
"This way."
"Sure."
Won-jun entered, greeting the suited man, and followed.
Slide.
"Welcome."
"First time meeting."
Luxurious private room.
Won-jun sat across from the man, bowing slightly.
The secretary slipped out.
"Hunter Administration Minister, Ma Tae-sik."
"Park Won-jun."
Minister Ma extended a hand for a shake; Won-jun took it.
Far younger, facing a minister—he showed respect physically, but no groveling vibe.
"Hope the trip wasn't too bad."
"No trouble. Cleared the tower from home and came straight over."
"Today too?"
"Yeah, I hit it daily at the same time."
"Hahaha, 41 yesterday—don't tell me 42?"
"Spot on."
"Unbelievable."
42 was about 13 floors above Korea's latest Seoul Tower clear at 55? No—wait, 55 minus 42 is 13 below, but text says 55 is recent, 42 is 10+ below? Anyway, casual.
A casual stroll to such heights?
"You make great use of your time, young man."
"Pretty much."
"Same here. Food comes slow anyway—dive into the main topic?"
"..."
Won-jun smiled.
'This guy's easy to talk to.'
White hair slicked back, raccoon-ish face.
Stern-looking, but not?
"Yes, sounds good."
Let's hear what he has to say.