Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Rising Expectations
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In truth, a Grade 3 Erosion Core isn't all that impressive. The real issue is that a rookie Hunter is an even less impressive existence.
"The government must be thrilled."
"For now, they plan to keep observing his movements. But if that kid shows anything beyond what he's done already..."
If that Hunter surpassed his position as a promising rookie...
Korea could wobble a bit, and it wouldn't matter. The tests they were running would continue without pause.
"Gyodongdo aside, what about the other sites?"
"The Daemado experiment was a success. The remaining nineteen failed."
The hooded man let out a deep sigh.
"This is awkward. At least it's a relief that the success came in Japan."
A success rate of barely 5 percent. Still, they'd extracted useful data. With one success under their belt, they could analyze what went wrong in the other nineteen failures and boost the odds next time.
"Prepare for another round."
"Is that wise? Maybe we should space them out a bit..."
"By the time we're ready, that Yoo Chan-seok guy will probably have racked up even better results."
But what if he doesn't? The reporter muttered under his breath without realizing it.
"If he doesn't deliver, he'll just be a shooting star that burned bright for a moment—nothing special. No change there."
"S-sorry."
The two men vanished into the back alley.
Taking down a Grade 3 Erosion Core solo. Old pros do it over breakfast.
But when the guy who did it is a total newbie who just became a Hunter? It turns into something practically impossible for just anyone.
"Feels like I'm that kid from the prodigy discovery show."
The buzz about me was pulling in massive attention across Korea. And this wasn't some local storm confined to Korean soil.
Korea wasn't exactly a small player anymore, after all.
"This is just the beginning."
All eyes were on me. Kicking things off this strong had everyone counting down to my next move.
Once the hype outpaces your actual skills, you can't live up to it. The moment you falter, that attention flips to mockery from the disappointed masses.
Deliver, though, and expectations turn to cheers. And those watching my every step right now? They'd have stacks of cash ready to hand over.
"Won't take long."
Without Lee Se-eun's help, grabbing this much spotlight so fast would've been tough. Thanks to the Gyodongdo gig she hooked me up with, I cleared a Grade 3 solo.
But I didn't need her assistance anymore. From the start...
"Top 10 worldwide? She's got to be swamped. One favor's plenty."
Hope's List, they called it. Like a hunter hall of fame. Run by the Korea Hunter Association headquarters, updated periodically with the top Hunters.
A roster of 100 names. A global ranking of Hunters from around the world.
"According to Korea Hunter Association data, there are about 70 million Hunters worldwide right now..."
Out of them, exactly 100.
I glanced indifferently at the list on my monitor.
Thirty-seven of those top 100 were Korean. In simple terms, Korea was the Hunter superpower. That's the clout that kept other countries quiet and locked in our title as leaders in clearing Erosion Zones.
Anyway, it was like archery in Korea. When a talented rookie archer pops up, folks don't hope for silver at the Olympics.
"Gold or bust."
Dominating nations set sky-high bars for their new stars.
In other words...
At minimum, landing on that list turns expectations into solid belief. For real recognition, you've got to climb into the top ranks.
Fall short, and you're just another hyped-up Hunter who fizzled out with the nobodies.
I checked my outfit one last time and headed out.
The media, catching wind of the rumors, had requested interviews. Today was the day I faced them.
"No one but the grand senior's done it, right?"
No other Hunter had soloed a Grade 3 on their very first request since Hope's List began—except the legend who's held the top spot ever since.
"Even calling it his 'first request' doesn't fit the grand senior."
The first thing he cleared after becoming a Hunter got retroactively classed as Grade 3.
Point is, what the media—and the people—wanted wasn't some fresh-faced rookie.
I stepped through the door, faced a sea of mics and cameras, and spoke.
"Nice to meet you all. Yoo Chan-seok."
No reason to be nervous. I'd stood before way bigger crowds. Sure, no fancy gear like this in that other world, but it doesn't make much difference.
No sooner had I finished than one reporter jumped in.
"We heard you handled the Grade 3 Erosion Core on Gyodongdo all by yourself."
They already know, so why ask? Still, hearing it straight from me versus hearsay? Worlds apart.
"That's right."
I skipped the "by luck" or "somehow" qualifiers.
"Must not have been easy to decide and pull it off. What were you thinking at the time?"
"I thought I could do it, so I did. And standing here yapping about it proves I wasn't wrong."
Arrogant's fine. Results will dress it up as class anyway.
Say, "I saw the sheet music and knew I could play it—anyone would, right?" Coming from someone who only knows Chopsticks March? Laughter.
Mozart says it? Everyone goes, "As expected..." in awe.
I'd set a record with just one precedent worldwide. This interview style? No issue.
"IHC has set the transfer window for 65 days from now, lasting 10 weeks. Any companies you're eyeing?"
Hunters can only switch companies during transfer windows.
Requests take time, and if one quits mid-job with a casual "peace out, folks," it causes chaos.
Newly selected Hunters get a one-month grace period post-selection, but I'm past that.
"No plans to join a company yet."
Would they latch onto "yet" or "no plans"?
Questions kept coming. Another thirty minutes of back-and-forth...
"Everyone's watching your next moves, Hunter Yoo. As a Hunter, any resolve or mindset you can share?"
Wrapping-up time. This question, one more, then press conference over.
What to say?
Saved the neighbor's house, came home to mine on fire?
They wouldn't get it anyway.
"I'll deliver more than you expect."
Nothing else to say. After the brief conference, I was summoned to meet the Association President.
"You handled that like a pro."
"Glad it came off that way. My hands were sweating bullets."
"Were they?"
He brushed it off casually, then turned to me.
"Got any requests lined up?"
"Yes."
I'm basically a freelancer. Slack off, and you're an unemployed bum.
Of course I've got a few in mind. The president spoke in a measured tone.
"When picking requests, consider all the factors."
He showed me his smartphone as he said it. A few requests on screen.
"Recommendations?"
"Some requests are more important than others."
His phrasing piqued my curiosity. The relativity of "importance" didn't seem tied to danger.
"Take this one..."
A freighter from far-off America docking briefly in Busan, then heading to Nanning via Zhanjiang to unload. I'd join in Busan and guard the cargo to Nanning.
"What, daily necessities or something?"
China's in rough shape. If Hunters have Hope's List, Erosion Cores have the Great Eight.
The world's eight deadliest. One, the Gonzalo Rock, sits in Beijing.
"Gonzalo Rock was one of the first Erosion Cores to spawn simultaneously worldwide, thirteen years back."
The kicker? One hit China during the Communist Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People.
Top brass wiped out. Unlike Korea's swift first response birthing the original Hunters, China botched it.
Chaos ensued. China got smashed like dalgona under a truck tire.
"Nanning's basically China's capital now."
Even rotten, it's still bonito. China didn't fully collapse.
Survivors fled south from Beijing's spreading Erosion Zone around Gonzalo Rock, rallying around the People's National Salvation Party in Nanning.
"More importantly."
I checked the cargo manifest, then stared at the president in disbelief.
"No matter how I look, this ain't necessities."
While I was rolling in another world, did Chinese tastes go extreme? Swapping tomato-egg stir-fry for grilled mink fur with brandy?
Fur and brandy aside, high-end furniture, cars, clothes, watches—all luxury cargo.
"Not everyone needs just the basics, you know that."
I pulled up a recent article on China without argument: food shortages, no proper rations.
"Not sure what you mean, but China's screaming for actual necessities right now."
The president sighed softly at the article.
"True, many nations suffer from Erosion Zones. But international politics hasn't crumbled that far."
So, this is diplomatic grease to keep ties smooth. I pocketed my phone.
"I don't plan on getting tangled in politics."
No time for small-time power cling-ons scrambling in a crumbling world.
"The Korean government sees this as important."
"I don't."
He looked exasperated.
"Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, rude as this is... you're a fresh debut. Looks like the hype's gone to your head."
This wasn't some neighborhood uncle—it was the Association President. Plenty of Hunters would quake and regret their words.
As I opened my mouth to respond, the door suddenly flew open.