Chapter 212
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 212
Chapter Title: The First Hunter's End
Even after burning through most of his lifespan in the fight against me, the old senior had no strength left to take on Han Sang-ah.
More precisely, he didn't have the time left to fight. Only a few minutes remained. And for someone like Han Sang-ah, holding out against him for those few minutes wouldn't be all that hard.
Even if he twisted his body in every way to battle, there was no chance he'd take her out and then finish me off before his time ran out.
"It's over."
He seemed to know it too—there was no fight left in him. All that remained was to quietly reflect on his life and wait for death.
"A quiet end for someone with the flashy title of the First Hunter."
Then again, death was always like that. You couldn't expect it to be spectacular just because your life had been.
"Want me to whip up a coffin or something?"
In response to my words, he flipped me the bird.
"Words of the victor. Watch for a bit, then forget me."
"If that's your wish."
I watched idly as he rummaged around and pulled something out. Where the hell had he scavenged that makgeolli?
He uncorked the bottle, chugged it down, wiped his mouth, and looked at me.
"Make sure you fail. I'll be laughing from hell."
"Wow, so you know you're headed to hell yourself?"
He glanced at the remaining makgeolli and gave a simple reply.
"I devoted myself to the nation and did things no man should."
Including embedding black ore into foreigners' bodies—he'd sacrificed others without a second thought.
"I lived for Korea's glory. I knew it would land me in hell, and I was prepared for it."
"I just can't fathom why you're so obsessed with patriotism."
He replied coldly to my words.
"I'm a soldier. Loyalty to country is a soldier's duty."
That single phrase—"I'm a soldier"—didn't seem enough to explain such intense devotion. But if it was sufficient for him, I had nothing to say.
Truth be told, obsessions didn't need grand reasons anyway.
"One request. Don't let anyone know I'm dead. I don't want my death causing chaos in Korea."
"Jo Won-hoon will find out."
He nodded at my words.
"The president will want to keep my death secret too."
Yeah, he would. The president had no reason to announce it. And once I wiped out the Saturday Club and headed back, he'd have a hard time functioning as president anyway.
"I can do that much."
It wasn't a big deal. He drained the rest of the makgeolli from the bottle, closed his eyes, and muttered.
"I'm worried about Korea's future."
That was it. He hadn't just closed his eyes—his heart had stopped too. I stared at his corpse for a moment, then leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.
My body wasn't in great shape either. Like chewed-up gum torn apart by a grizzly.
I felt relieved seeing sand mixed with blood flowing out of my wounds on its own. Good—at least it wasn't sealing the wounds with sand still inside.
Still, I couldn't let my guard down. Healing was healing, but this was the heart of enemy territory. A mid-boss weirdo had popped out and given me hell, but it was still an Erosion Zone.
I ignited Paradox Flame to burn away the pain and waited for my wounds to heal.
"I can handle most things."
Han Sang-ah had said that. I nodded and used mana to speed up recovery by drawing out the sand embedded in my wounds.
"Ugh, this hurts like hell."
Sand mixed with blood poured out of my body. Meanwhile, the desert landscape shimmered like a mirage and reverted to the barren theme park we'd started in.
The deceased's powers rarely lasted forever.
"Better dispose of the body first."
He didn't want his death announced. The fewer people who knew, the better for keeping it hidden. Better bury him quick before the other hunters returned.
"Still, leave it findable later."
After digging a hole and placing the corpse inside, I hesitated, then buried one of the items I'd acquired earlier with him.
If I ever needed to find it, I could track the mana signature easily.
I pondered his ability in silent tribute, then smacked my lips.
"Idiot. If it were me, I'd have bought cryptocurrency."
So easy. Ask, 'Should I invest in XXX to make money?' White side up, buy. Black side up, flip the coin and buy. Money printer go brrr.
As I wrapped up my moment of silence, the hunters who'd scattered began returning one by one.
"You all look like hell. What, did you hit up a spa?"
Choi Yeo-reum—suddenly sporting a bob haircut for some reason—replied to my comment.
"You don't look like a fashion icon either. Looks like you went on a crash diet in the meantime?"
Damn, she fired back well. Lucky everyone returned intact. I extinguished the Paradox Flame burning my pain and incinerated the madness lingering in their minds.
"I'd love a break, but..."
"Turkey now. Resting means a long way to go."
Everyone nodded at Han Sang-ah's words. Still a long distance ahead.
"Two options."
Jeong Oh-hoon responded.
"Smash this freakish amusement park's owner and take the easy route."
I nodded at Jeong Oh-hoon's words.
"Or ignore it and just keep pushing."
Sung Si-hoon shook his head at my suggestion.
"If this keeps happening, we'll wear out fast. Detour might seem longer, but taking out the guy behind this mess would be better."
Choi Yeo-reum looked at Sung Si-hoon and said,
"How do we even find him? We could waste all our time searching. Then these folks spend next Chuseok abroad?"
Sounds good? Celebrating holidays overseas is peak success vibes.
She had a point. Failing to find him would delay us too much.
"One more thing. Better decide here."
Sung Si-hoon looked at me.
"Land or sea?"
Sea was much shorter. Plus, we had the all-purpose blacksmith Sung Si-hoon. Toss him scrap metal, and he'd psychokinetically mold it into a boat.
The problem? Crossing the Mediterranean, shared by two Great Eights: Ristorante and Saturday Club.
"Sprinting across super fast won't cut it?"
"Come on, you think that'll work?"
I shook my head at Jeong Oh-hoon's idea. No way that nonsense would fly.
Two Great Eights overlapping nicely? Speed wouldn't get us through without resistance.
"But it's closer, right? Antalya to Tel Aviv across the Med is about 500 km."
Land route hugging the coast? 1,200 km. Less than half the distance.
"Even with overlapping Erosion Zones, that gap..."
Honestly, worth a shot.
"It's a month anyway."
Actually, less than a month now, with time spent getting here.
"If we hit Israel in two weeks somehow, perfect."
500 km sea in two weeks? About 36 km a day. Land? 86 km daily.
Minimum daily distance differs by 50 km.
After mulling it over, I decided.
"Mersin first."
Land or sea, we'd pass near Mersin anyway.
Arrive there, check the sea, decide then—not too late.
"But max speed through."
Choi Yeo-reum replied,
"So, this theme park?"
Jeong Oh-hoon answered her question.
"Checked it out—sprawls endlessly. Smashing and flooring it would be way faster."
Jeong Oh-hoon's aerial view was reliable. Decision made: Drag out the park owner, beat him down, shut it down, race to Mersin.
"But how do we find him?"
I answered Han Sang-ah's question.
"Got a direction. But how far? Not sure."
Jang Tae-seok replied,
"That's enough! Just charge that way!"
As he spoke, he revved his prized jet-engine tonfa. The roar was brutal. Tell him the direction, and he'd blast off.
"Sung Si-hoon."
I eyed the jet engine, then him.
"Airplane?"
He caught on, asking back. I nodded. Mount that tonfa as engine, and he could cobble together a six-seater plane-thing.
Fly straight in the direction I'd sussed out. After hearing my idea, Choi Yeo-reum asked,
"What if attacked mid-air? Tonfa on plane, fine."
I looked at Jang Tae-seok.
"Check those muscles."
They clung to him like medieval plate armor—solid.
No tonfa, he couldn't go full power, but he wouldn't turn useless.
"True."
Choi Yeo-reum eyed his muscles and nodded agreeably.
"Haha! My real weapon is this honed body!"
Thrilled his muscles got props, Jang Tae-seok's flexed like eels writhing.
Watching made my stomach churn.
We opted to improvise transport with Jang Tae-seok's tonfa. Sung Si-hoon ripped walls and junk in seconds.
"Yo, this stuff's decent."
Local scraps: colorful pavement blocks, grotesque dolls, mannequins.
"Could refine it more. But it'll fly fine now. No need wasting effort?"
I shook my head. Just the creepy doll faces peeking from colorful block masses bugged me.
"If it flies, no issue."
Sung Si-hoon replied,
"Flight guaranteed. Ride comfort? Nah."
It flies. Who cares about comfort? Not car shopping here.
"Let's go."
Once airborne, retaliation would hit soon.
The freak making this colorful, creepy madhouse wanted to bog us down max.