Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Northward Bound
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The reason I'd willingly sunk time into this ridiculous clown show from the start was the crown the Association had in storage.
—Sorry, but that crown is protected under the relevant agreements.
They seemed eager to say something like, "If you don't qualify, you can't have it."
"I'm the one compromising here right now. You know that, yet you're pulling these tricks—it doesn't sit well with me, the one getting screwed over."
If I insisted on claiming third place, I'd naturally gain ownership of the crown under the agreement, just as the Association President had blustered.
But here I was, deliberately letting Choi Yeo-reum keep her ranking while offering to snag just the crown and step back.
"Should I just strut around claiming third place is mine to the bitter end?"
—No, that's not what we want at all. We just need a little time.
I had weapons I hadn't claimed yet anyway.
"How much time exactly?"
—Two to three weeks.
That was plenty of time to wait. Two to three weeks. Plenty to keep me busy in the meantime.
"Northern campaign."
After successfully clearing Jaun Valley, a good number of hunters had set up an outpost in Harbin and were operating from there.
At the same time, the front lines against the monsters that had formed along the cease-fire line were gradually shifting northward in preparation.
Lee Se-eun's main area of activity was Cheorwon, one of the border regions naturally touching monster territory.
"Zanabi LLC helped us out quite a bit."
This was my chance to hang with Zanabi and pay back some of that debt. Even two or three weeks was enough time for me to get a lot done.
On my way back, I let Lee Se-eun know my intentions.
—Well, the thing is...
Lee Se-eun's voice sounded a bit hesitant.
"Something up?"
—It seems the government plans to prioritize national defense more, after this monster mutation incident in the foreigner residential district.
They were setting policy to station a certain number of skilled hunters in Korea permanently, to prepare thoroughly for any potential emergencies.
On top of that, strict monitoring of current foreign residents and thorough inspections for any new entrants.
Yeah, I figured they'd react that way.
"It's fine."
I answered while watching Choi Yeo-reum's flame dome gradually fade.
I had no intention of challenging the government's push on public opinion.
"We just need to make an exception."
Ramping up the percentage of skilled hunters stationed in Korea? Do whatever. Exceptions always get carved out in the real world.
And I'd be one of them. Not some impossible feat.
Once the flame barrier lifted, helicopters from broadcast stations appeared in the distance. Police, military, ambulances, and the like rolled in along the roads.
"Yoo Chan-seok Hun..."
The crowd tried saying something upon spotting me, then lost their words at the sight before them.
I sat perched on the pile of corpses, gazing down.
My expression was probably pretty grim right now. Hell, it should be. After descending from the mountain of monster bodies, I addressed the reporter right up front.
"1,500 people turned into monsters. And those monsters killed a staggering number of others, against their own will."
The reporter swallowed hard at my words. Even police, soldiers, and medics froze, staring at me, forgetting their duties for a moment.
"You all work hard as always. You didn't come here just to see me, right? Do your jobs, please."
I said it to them. They snapped to and moved to their tasks. Only the broadcast crew remained before me.
"Fuck, they're all dead."
Words you couldn't air spilled from my mouth.
"The monsters I piled up in this foreigner residential district? That's nothing. Several times that many people died—enough to make mountains like this."
What pissed me off more were the brainless idiots casually causing shit like this, then calculating what they could gain from it.
I was used to death. No one predicts when they'll die. Death comes suddenly, like a lender collecting on a loan, snapping necks without warning.
Not all deaths have value. Dog deaths are more common anyway. What bugged me wasn't that these were dog deaths.
The Association, the government, the hunters...
Not one of them gave a damn thought to the people who died here. They didn't have to empathize—just think about it a little.
Even I, who'd lived 35 years with death at my side, was at least thinking about those who perished here.
"Korea isn't safe anymore."
Up to here, my words aligned perfectly with the Korean government's goals. Korea wasn't safe. It needed more hunters to protect it.
"Why do you think it came to this? How did Korea, famous for being safe from monsters, end up threatened again?"
But from here, it wouldn't be what the government wanted to hear.
"Why do you think people died here? Corpses strewn everywhere. This horrific scene."
I faced the camera.
"Threats lurk everywhere outside Korea. Everyone knows it. And this is the scene created when fragments of those threats flow into Korea."
So, to prevent this from happening again, what should we do?
"Just protecting Korea isn't enough to stop this for good. Korea has done its utmost to shield citizens from Erosion Cores and monsters."
Deny it if you want. Denying me now means admitting the government hasn't done its job.
"Yet this still happened. In short."
I hesitated a beat, then punched the wall and growled hoarsely.
"Just busting your asses blocking isn't enough, you morons... How many times do I have to say it? How many cities have to end up like this, how many have to die before you get it?"
The choked-up tone was acting. A well-timed performance makes good lube when needed.
If you have time to save one person, kill one monster.
In my 35 years, I'd tried all sorts, and this policy yielded the best results. I believed in it.
I'd saved the world once following it. And it scaled up bigger.
If you have time to defend here, eliminate one more Erosion Core.
"While other fine hunters buy time protecting Korea..."
Just polite fluff. What I really meant came next.
"Headhunter and I will keep going. We'll eradicate the swarming Erosion Zones and monsters gnawing at us like maggots."
We'd keep at it. Government's policies could change all they wanted.
"Until the day we're all truly safe from monsters."
With that, I left. No plans to be some stationed guard in Korea. Plenty of hunters itching for that—let them.
"That's it. For the next two to three weeks, Headhunter including me heads to Cheorwon."
I bowed to the cameras.
"Just defending won't win the war. I ask for much cooperation from fellow hunters who share our cause."
This gave Zanabi a pretext to team up. Cheorwon was Zanabi turf—cooperation there would point straight to them.
"Um... so the showdown with Choi Yeo-reum Hunter?"
I smiled at the questioner.
"The match is suspended due to this incident. I didn't beat Choi Yeo-reum Hunter. Her spot should stay hers, naturally."
Nothing changed by her holding third. Might as well declare it cleanly since I was doing the favor.
I left after answering. Destination: Association building in Seoul.
"Aigoo, you kids should've booked a room. What were you doing in the training hall to sweat like pigs? So embarrassing."
Upon arrival, I heard Han Sang-ah and Jeong O-hun were in the training room and went there. Saw the two drenched in sweat, panting like dogs.
Jeong O-hun, heaving, flipped me the bird.
"Can't even joke anymore."
He stood, legs wobbling, at my words.
"You fought well. Made me worry I'd end up the baggage."
"That's why you're grinding like this?"
Han Sang-ah used her sword to stand.
"Useless tools or people get discarded."
True enough. But no need to worry like that. Or grind this hard.
I already had a training course planned for them. Didn't want baggage dragging my ankle either.
"Your self-efforts won't grow you fast enough."
"Slow, but not ineffective."
Couldn't call it ineffective. I'd gotten here solo—how could I?
Truth was, my planned training wasn't much different from what they'd done.
"Stuck here, you missed TV."
Han Sang-ah and Jeong O-hun nodded. Time to update them.
"Tomorrow, we head to Cheorwon."
"Kinda sudden."
I nodded at Han Sang-ah. It was sudden.
Wrapped up the deal with the Association for the crown. Needed two to three weeks to get it.
Plus time for the weapon I'd left with Choi Seung-gi to finish.
"Nothing to do in Seoul for two-three weeks anyway."
Go to Cheorwon, clear Erosion Zones, smash Cores, toughen these two up along the way.
"Not hunting elixirs to gift or anything?"
I clicked my tongue at Jeong O-hun.
"Got money? Buy with your own."
Didn't they know "my money, my buy"? Wrapped chat quick, then pinched my nose looking at them.
"God, smells like rotten fish oil. Go wash up, pack, sleep. Early start tomorrow."
Sent them to quarters, yawned. No plans lingering in Cheorwon long.
Once conditions aligned, get intel from Sa Seung-hee and tackle the next Rank-1 Erosion Core. Watched the door they left through.
"Let's see if you produce results by then."
No results, no team-up. This wasn't a class reunion.
Couldn't drag them on friendship or shared time if they couldn't hack it.
They probably knew. If not, tough luck.