Chapter 12 - The First Throne (權座) (1)
The First Throne (權座) (1)
“First of all, I would like to sincerely thank you for stopping the terror attack.”
Kim Baek-dong bowed his head.
It was a posture unimaginable for a man known to countless people as a villain hunter—
a man both respected and feared.
Rather, it showed that Kim Baek-dong was truly grateful to Lee Jeon-seok.
Regardless of intent or reason…
“If it hadn’t been for you, Hunter, there would have been far greater civilian casualties. As an Association Supervisor, I thank you once again.”
Lee Jeon-seok scanned Kim Baek-dong.
Even as he bowed, his body was stained with blood and dust.
None of it was Kim Baek-dong’s own blood.
The corpses and pools of blood scattered around them—
While Lee Jeon-seok fought the villain, Kim Baek-dong had likely been racing through the scene, saving civilians.
‘Come to think of it, this man was pretty honest too.’
Should he call him kind?
It was hard to put into words, but at the very least, he wasn’t a bad person.
“Shall we continue our conversation?”
“Let’s.”
At Kim Baek-dong’s question, Lee Jeon-seok nodded.
Afterward—
The two returned to the café.
They handed over the site cleanup to the police.
Inside the café, they paid for the broken glass and spilled drinks, then placed the same orders as before.
“Ah… yes, understood…”
Perhaps she was a part-timer.
The woman spoke nervously.
A villain had appeared out of nowhere—
And these two had resolved it.
It was only natural for her to be shaken.
On the other hand—
“Supervisor Kim Baek-dong! May we have a brief interview?”
The reporters approached without fear.
They barged into the café without even ordering coffee, shoving microphones forward.
Some of them directed questions at Lee Jeon-seok as well.
Was he an Association-affiliated hunter?
When did he awaken?
What was his rank?
Watching them, Lee Jeon-seok thought—
Reporters of this era were just as empty-headed.
“Please request a formal interview through the Association.”
Unable to tolerate it any longer, Kim Baek-dong finally spoke.
Perhaps due to the pressure he exerted—
“Ah… understood…”
“We apologize for the intrusion, ahem.”
The reporters left the café with hunched shoulders.
In the meantime—
Their orders arrived.
One cup of coffee and one drink.
The mango latte was Lee Jeon-seok’s.
Kim Baek-dong, meanwhile, sipped his Americano.
“Well then,” he said, opening the conversation.
“I’ll believe that you possess a precognitive trait, Hunter.”
He had no choice but to believe it.
The villain had appeared exactly as Lee Jeon-seok predicted.
Even the trait matched perfectly.
However—
“I took a brief look at the villain’s body.”
Kim Baek-dong continued with a suspicious gaze.
“The sword wounds carved into the body resemble those found on a corpse discovered at a certain department store some time ago. Of course, it could be my imagination, but still… there’s one thing I’d like to ask you.”
Kim Baek-dong looked directly at Lee Jeon-seok.
His eyes were sharp beyond measure.
A gaze that would have intimidated anyone else.
“Did you also foresee the dungeon rampage on Bukhansan and go there in advance?”
The question hung in the air.
Lee Jeon-seok fell silent.
But only for a moment.
Soon, he nodded.
“Yes. I saw it through precognition and went there. I knew many people would die.”
He couldn’t say that he had regressed.
Even if he did, no one would believe him.
Instead, Lee Jeon-seok carefully constructed an explanation.
That he had awakened some time ago.
That it was difficult to openly reveal a precognitive ability, so he had no choice but to lie.
And—
“I couldn’t bring myself to ignore what I saw, as if it were none of my business.”
Lee Jeon-seok spoke lies calmly, wearing a shameless expression.
Putting on a mask was something he was better at than anyone.
Fortunately, Kim Baek-dong didn’t seem to notice.
“So you went alone to such a dangerous place?”
At the quiet question, Lee Jeon-seok nodded.
Kim Baek-dong looked at him in disbelief.
Should this be called bravery?
“You could have died.”
“But I didn’t.”
“You can’t judge everything by the result alone…”
There were far too many uncertain variables.
However—
“I believed it was worth attempting. Precognition isn’t the only thing I awakened with.”
Lee Jeon-seok cut him off with those words.
Kim Baek-dong was visibly surprised.
‘…A dual Awakened.’
He had suspected as much.
No matter how powerful precognition was, such actions wouldn’t make sense otherwise.
And then there were those dark crimson flames.
Considering the hunter exam as well, Lee Jeon-seok might possess at least three—perhaps even four traits.
Future precognition.
Flame ignition.
Combat specialization.
And even something related to the undead.
‘Unbelievable.’
Kim Baek-dong swallowed a hollow laugh.
It really was absurd.
Traits were difficult to obtain even one of.
Two were exceedingly rare, and those with three could be counted on one hand worldwide.
Yet four?
Even if it was just speculation…
‘At the very least, he’ll reach S-rank.’
That was considering precognition alone.
Factoring in his combat prowess, even SS-rank was well within reach.
The way he overwhelmed villains far larger and stronger than himself—
While saving civilians, Kim Baek-dong hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Lee Jeon-seok.
For just a moment, he had even thought the sight was beautiful.
That realization sent chills through him.
Goosebumps rose.
Future precognition and exceptional combat talent.
This went far beyond being merely “talented.”
Lee Jeon-seok—
He was already complete.
A jewel that required no further polishing.
A diamond with a dull, dark crimson hue.
If the world were to learn of his existence—
‘They might have a collective seizure.’
But what made Lee Jeon-seok truly stand out wasn’t precognition or any other trait.
It was his altruistic heroism—the desire to save others of his own volition.
That alone shook Kim Baek-dong the most.
‘…You really can’t trust physiognomy.’
Kim Baek-dong let out a dry laugh.
Lee Jeon-seok’s emotionless gaze—
He had long suspected it was due to his trait, but facing him directly left a different impression.
And so he reached a conclusion.
‘I must recruit him.’
If that wasn’t possible, then he had to keep him as close as possible.
“For now, let’s keep your precognitive ability confidential. There’s nothing to gain from revealing it.”
With that said, Kim Baek-dong moved on to the main point.
“And regarding the ‘420 casualties’ you mentioned earlier—I’d like to hear more details after we sign a mercenary contract. Would that be acceptable?”
Four hundred and twenty casualties.
Information Lee Jeon-seok had mentioned at the start.
A villain purge operation currently being conducted in utmost secrecy.
He couldn’t state it outright, so he had spoken indirectly.
Fortunately, Kim Baek-dong seemed to understand.
Lee Jeon-seok nodded.
“That’s fine. That’s why I revealed my abilities to you in the first place.”
On the surface, it sounded noble.
But did Kim Baek-dong know?
That it was nothing more than a lie—
A deception to accumulate good karma.
Of course, there was no need to spell that out.
Soon after—
Lee Jeon-seok parted ways with Kim Baek-dong after some light conversation.
He was told they would be contacted again regarding the mercenary contract.
That roughly wrapped up the day’s business.
The same went for his short-term goals and plans.
It would take about two months before the Association launched a large-scale villain purge.
Until then, Lee Jeon-seok planned to grow as strong as possible—and accumulate good karma.
And as the sun dipped low in the evening sky—
“I’m home.”
“Welcome back, son.”
Upon returning home late, his mother—Han Yuri—greeted him.
The savory aroma suggested dinner was doenjang soup.
“Where are Dad and Ji-hye?”
“Your father said he’d be late due to a company dinner, and Ji-hye said she already ate with friends.”
“I’ll help.”
“Did you do something wrong behind Mom’s back?”
Han Yuri asked quietly, surprised by Lee Jeon-seok’s uncharacteristic filial behavior.
“I just want to help.”
“My goodness.”
Han Yuri laughed warmly.
Lee Jeon-seok washed his hands and helped out.
He couldn’t cook, but he was good with a knife.
“Oh my.”
Han Yuri looked surprised as he effortlessly sliced meat and vegetables.
“Did you practice cooking to help Mom?”
“Well… um, I watched a bit of YouTube.”
Lee Jeon-seok replied while deliberately avoiding eye contact.
Knife skills learned from cutting people…
‘I can’t say that.’
Even if he did, she wouldn’t believe him.
Afterward, Lee Jeon-seok finished what felt like a quiet dinner date alone with Han Yuri, then returned to his room.
‘Good thing I wasn’t found out.’
His clothes were relatively clean.
Barely any dirt.
He had gone to great lengths to avoid getting blood on himself during the fight.
Fortunately, it paid off.
‘I’ll keep the hunter thing secret for now.’
If they knew, they’d worry endlessly.
He didn’t want to make his parents worry.
Having finally returned to the past—
He wanted this house to remain peaceful.
Of course, he’d have to reveal the truth someday.
But it didn’t have to be now.
“Then…”
Lee Jeon-seok sat down on his bed.
“Status window.”
He called up his information.
The trait he gained from killing the villain—
It was time to check it.
※ ※ ※
“Good work, Team Leader.”
Right after Kim Baek-dong got into the car—
The intern in the driver’s seat spoke.
A moment later, he handed something to Kim Baek-dong.
“This is the villain’s personal information investigated by the police.”
Documents stained with blood and dust.
It seemed the intern had been running around just as much as Kim Baek-dong.
Given the scale of the incident, it was only natural.
Kim Baek-dong reviewed the documents.
—
Kim Man-sik
Age: 42
Male
Awakened two years ago and became a hunter, but retired early due to a trait that lowered his intelligence with each use.
Afterward, he accumulated thousands in debt and lived in hardship.
Confirmed to have received medication for years due to various mental disorders, including hallucinations and auditory delusions.
—
Motive…
‘An impulsive rampage caused by mental instability.’
Considering the intelligence-reducing trait, it was likely.
“Any connection between this villain and Hunter Lee Jeon-seok?”
“None.”
At Kim Baek-dong’s question, the intern shook his head.
They had investigated the possibility of collusion.
But that didn’t seem to be the case.
“Just in case, we rechecked Hunter Lee Jeon-seok’s past activities. There was nothing suspicious.”
Kim Baek-dong swallowed dryly.
‘Then it really is precognition…’
Unbelievable, yet undeniable.
“More importantly—did your conversation go well?”
The intern asked quietly as Kim Baek-dong continued reviewing the documents.
He was clearly referring to Lee Jeon-seok.
“More or less.”
Kim Baek-dong replied briefly.
“You might be getting a junior.”
“Oh?”
“Well, maybe a junior who won’t stick around long.”
“If he’s a junior, he’s a junior—what do you mean he won’t stick around?”
The intern’s expectations rose at the word junior, only to sink again moments later.
“He’d only be joining as a mercenary for a while.”
Kim Baek-dong said, placing the documents down and pulling out his phone.
Then he dialed a number.
A rough ringtone echoed.
“Have you been well, Chairwoman?”
“Huh—?!”
Chairwoman.
At the word, the intern straightened his posture in shock.
The head of a massive organization.
The first SSS-rank hunter in Korea, and a world-renowned powerhouse.
It felt like standing before a military commander.
Yet Kim Baek-dong remained calm.
—
Yes. Baek-dong, you’ve been well?
“Yes, I have.”
I didn’t expect you to call first. Did something happen?
“Nothing serious… I’m contacting you because there’s a hunter I’d like to recruit.”
Hmm? That should be well within your authority.
“I want to be thorough.”
That impressive, huh?
“Yes.”
For you to be that confident… now I’m curious.
A laugh came through the receiver.
Kim Baek-dong continued.
“If possible, I’d like director-level authority regarding this recruitment.”
He had no intention of mentioning precognition.
But to recruit Lee Jeon-seok, at least director-level authority was necessary.
At least, that was Kim Baek-dong’s judgment.
However—
Baek-dong. You know even I can’t hand out that kind of authority lightly.
“Yes.”
Then convince me. Explain how valuable and beneficial this hunter would be to our Association.
The Chairwoman’s tone was probing.
It was an expected response.
Yeon Seon-hwa.
The first woman to become Chairwoman, and one of the few SSS-rank hunters in the world—
Known by the epithet Sword Saint.
What was needed to persuade her?
Kim Baek-dong already knew the answer.
“The hunter I’m referring to is Lee Jeon-seok, who recently placed first in the hunter examination.”
Calmly, he began laying out his argument.