Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Reasons I Don't Like the Tournament
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There are several reasons why I don't particularly like these tournaments.
One of them is that the longer the history of the event, the harder it becomes to run it properly.
Especially when one team or country holds overwhelming influence.
"Bribes flow in moderation, and favors are doled out to acquaintances in moderation."
Fostering our budding connections by pushing and pulling.
We're just going to pick up weapons and clash anyway—what's the point of bribery or pulling strings with friends?
In a proper tournament, participants aren't supposed to know who they'll face. But with the right connections and enough cash, you can uncover info you're not supposed to have.
It mostly happens among Korean hunters.
Most hunter companies are based in Korea to begin with, and the host nation running the tournament is always Korea too.
—Of course, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok's skills are well-known, but this is still a tournament with top rookies from around the world. Wouldn't it be better to have some certainty in these matters?
"Yes, I'll think it over and get back to you."
That's why I keep getting these texts and calls.
—Hesitating too long might make you miss your chance. Opportunities like this don't come around every day.
"I said I'd think about it and call back."
Why are people so clingy? It's annoying as hell. I can tell the guy on the other end of the smartphone is about to keep yapping.
"Hey, you bastard, you know damn well what I'm saying, so why the fuck are you still pushing? Shut your mouth and fuck off."
I hung up right after saying that.
Looks like we've entered an era where you can't get what you want with polite words.
I tossed my phone onto the sofa and turned my gaze toward the window. Han Sang-ah was staring blankly down below.
"What're you doing?"
"There's a bird perched on the window frame."
"I can see it too."
Han Sang-ah nodded at my words.
"I've never thought you were blind."
Is this even a conversation? While making coffee from the capsule machine in the room, I said,
"Anyway, what's the association's response?"
"They said they'd investigate, but it's been three days with no action. Looks like they're not interested."
I sipped my coffee and nodded. That kind of reaction was expected. What I'd passed to the association through Han Sang-ah was simple.
The So-hwi incident from before.
There's no guarantee something like that won't happen in this tournament.
Getting a bank loan involves all sorts of hassle, but borrowing from loan sharks or private lenders is a breeze. And what comes easy carries risk.
"I didn't ask you to pass it on to the president expecting them to actually do something."
I've been backstabbed so many times in life that I don't hold high hopes for people anymore.
They're not acting for one of two reasons.
"Either the association doesn't see this as a big deal, or they've got their own dirty ties to it."
"It's weird they'd think it's no big deal. So-hwi caused damage even in Seoul. People die in all sorts of ways normally, but monster-related casualties like that haven't happened in years."
The association's probably in bed with the Korean government to some extent anyway.
"Who’s got the leash on who between the government and the association is anyone's guess, but one of them is the mouthpiece for the other."
Han Sang-ah tilted her head slightly and replied,
"They could just be business partners."
"That concept exists in theory, but not in reality."
Business partners, my ass. In the real world, people shake hands with smiles while waiting for a chance to devour each other.
A mutually beneficial partnership? The second your partner slips, you eat them whole for even bigger gains. Who the hell would pass that up to keep playing nice?
The association and government's relationship is probably the same.
"Even if neither has fully become the other's puppet yet, there's definitely a hierarchy."
"So, what's the problem with that?"
"It means we can't be sure yet if Dangun's heirs are the association's hunting dogs or the government's."
Are they unleashed by the Hunter Association, or by the government?
"It's not a huge issue right now."
Han Sang-ah's assessment is spot on. But just because it's not urgent doesn't mean we can ignore it forever.
It's a question to keep in the back of my mind.
"Grab your sword."
"Okay."
Han Sang-ah gripped her sword at my words. I took the spear I'd rented from Daebak Scrap Dealers and stood in front of her.
"You're good enough to make the list."
"Yeah."
Han Sang-ah nodded. Her innate talent had blossomed into true skill, backed by plenty of real combat experience.
Jeong Oh-hoon was the same. I couldn't be certain, but both of them could probably rank in the top 20.
"You bragged about taking down Rank-1 Erosion Cores."
For the picture to look good, all three of us need to crack the top 20.
"Gotta live up to the hype."
Our trio under Headhunter was at peak popularity right now. We were turning down nonstop offers of every kind.
"Lots of enemies."
More like potential enemies. Dangun's heirs were the only ones openly hostile, but plenty of groups could turn against us depending on how things played out.
Fame and skill keep those potentials from becoming actual foes.
"We have to win."
As I spoke, Han Sang-ah raised her sword into position and said,
"You think you can beat Choi Yeo-reum?"
"We'll see when we clash."
The moment the words left my mouth, Han Sang-ah's body lifted slightly into the air. She'd formed a magnetic field under her feet.
"You're getting good at it. All that practice paying off."
Moving like that was fast. But it required laying magnetic rails on the ground, so you usually had to choose: let the opponent predict your path, or blanket the whole area in fields.
The first was too risky, the second a massive mana drain.
"I've put in the time and effort."
But Han Sang-ah could now finely control her mana. With it completely under her command, she could lay fields without tipping her movement.
"So, can you show me where you're going?"
"I'm the exception."
I drew a line in the air with my spear. It perfectly matched the path of the magnetic rail she'd secretly laid.
Han Sang-ah's expression soured immediately.
"Keep working at it."
Instead of replying, she dropped to the floor with a thud. No point riding the rail if the opponent knew the route—it was just mana waste.
She kicked off the ground, sword in hand, and charged me, swinging. Lightning infused in her blade crackled viciously around me with each strike.
"Still, none of the guys you'll face will spot that magnetic rail ahead of time."
"You did."
As I blocked her onslaught, I smacked her gut with the spear shaft and sent her flying.
"If you're gonna flail around pissed off like that, go take a nap instead."
After rolling on the floor a few times and standing, Han Sang-ah caught her breath. We sparred for another 30 minutes before stopping.
"I could do more."
"Manage your condition."
The tournament wasn't far off. This wasn't a sudden brawl—it was scheduled. Prep what we could and keep our bodies in top shape.
"It's not a fight or a war."
It was just sports. Deaths were rare, and the goal was victory, not killing.
Evaluating people who risk their lives against monsters with something like this?
"Where's Jeong Oh-hoon?"
"Dunno, probably went shooting last night."
Last night? Better drag his ass back.
Both Han Sang-ah and Jeong Oh-hoon were overflowing with drive. Young folks tense and grinding before a big event was admirable, but they needed reining in.
Heading to the shooting range, spent shell casings rolling on the floor greeted me first.
"Jesus."
How much had he fired? I watched Jeong Oh-hoon shoot for a bit before saying,
"Jeong, that's enough. Rest."
He set down his gun at my words. I nudged the casings with my toe and noted the heavy dark circles under his eyes.
"Did I overdo it a bit?"
"A bit? Don't make me knock you out. Behave."
These guys who stayed chill heading to Jaun Valley were losing it over one tournament.
"Chan-seok, this isn't small potatoes. Making Hope's List is huge. Even just challenging it changes how people see you."
Jeong Oh-hoon plopped down, wiped sweat from his brow, examined his hands, and bandaged a cut.
"Damn, it'd be weirder not to be tense."
"It's not that big a deal."
He shot back curtly at my assertion.
"Sorry, I can't see it your way."
He didn't need to. I got why they saw it as important.
The pressure from the tournament itself seemed heavy for Han Sang-ah and Jeong Oh-hoon.
"I get the nerves, but wrecking your body over it is stupid."
Jeong Oh-hoon replied,
"Can't sleep. Fucking insomnia."
He was more wound up than Han Sang-ah. I clicked my tongue, then used Paradox Flame to burn away his fatigue and whatever else.
"Go eat. No appetite? Force it."
With the tournament so close, an upset stomach tanking performance would keep him up worse.
"You know why I'm so tense?"
I answered simply as he stood.
"No clue. And I don't really care."
Why he was tense. Why he craved cash so bad. Honestly, not my business. Countless people chase their own goals.
And I'm not interested. We won't understand each other anyway. One thing matters.
"Our reasons differ, but right now, we're in it together."
Running the same road for now. But who knows later.
Not everyone on a Seoul-to-Busan train is headed to Busan. Some switch at Gwangju, others stop at Daejeon.
We travel together until paths diverge.
"You said you need money? Hit your goal, quit anytime. No hard feelings."
We're not in this for life.
I waved goodbye to Jeong Oh-hoon as I left the range.