Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Dover Clash
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Han Sang-ah arrived in Dover and came face-to-face with Dangun's descendants who were wrecking the harbor.
"You're that Geumyang Group's daughter bitch, huh?"
It was true, but...
"Daughter already implies woman. No need to tack on 'bitch'."
Just calling her Geumyang Group's bitch or Geumyang Group's daughter would've been fine. Where the hell did "daughter bitch" even come from?
Han Sang-ah drew her sword. There were five of them facing her, and none looked like pushovers. This was going to be a tough fight.
At least, that's what she thought. And honestly, the Dangun's descendants facing her thought the same.
"...?"
But not even thirty seconds into the fight, Han Sang-ah sensed something off. Two of the Dangun's descendants attacking her already had their heads separated from their bodies.
This fight can't possibly be this easy.
"W-what the hell are you?"
The Dangun's descendants were visibly rattled. They'd figured this scrap would be even at best—or tilted in their favor.
Yet here they were, getting absolutely demolished by a single hunter. And not even the ones they'd marked as threats, like Lee Se-eun or Yoo Chan-seok. It was Han Sang-ah—the one relatively underrated once you stripped away her "Geumyang Group heiress" title.
"Han Sang-ah."
They hadn't asked her name. She tossed back the dry reply anyway, then lunged like lightning at the next opening. With that charge, another Dangun descendant's head rocketed off its body into the air.
A precise, clean strike. Speed and power beyond their resistance, with zero mana wasted.
The training paid off. Han Sang-ah felt a surge of elation now that she was certain. All that time poured into training was finally shining through.
She mopped up the rest, then caught her breath.
"You think too damn much. Focus on the fight when you're in one."
Yoo Chan-seok's voice came from behind.
"How long you been watching?"
"Just got here."
Yoo Chan-seok's expression was complicated.
"What? Got some critique?"
"Nah, you did great. Don't sweat it—I was just distracted. Anyway, that's a barrier, right?"
Out in the waters off Dover stood a shimmering translucent blue wall. Yoo Chan-seok stared at it briefly and let out a small sigh.
"Comb-pattern pottery, huh."
Han Sang-ah shot him a look at the words. Comb-pattern pottery? Out of nowhere?
Seeing the barrier generator in action, I gave it a simple verdict: comb-pattern pottery. Bluntly put, it was crude as hell.
Not that the barrier was weak. The problem was they were brute-forcing shitty cost-performance with sheer volume.
And they weren't even mass-producing these at this level—they were just at clinical trials? My heart ached.
Unfortunately, magic wasn't my forte. In science terms, I'm a racer who drives the car, not the engineer who builds it.
I can tell you a ride's performance and how to handle it in a heartbeat. But tearing it apart and upgrading? Totally different ballgame.
"Anyway."
We'd succeeded in defending the barrier generator. The raid with Kim Ji-hyun as the spearhead was basically a bust now that she was dead.
Dangun's descendants fled, chased by Dover's defending hunters and soldiers.
I didn't pursue. Things were settling down for now.
"Oh, you're here?"
Lee Se-eun sat perched on a chunk of busted concrete, pipe in hand. She took a drag, puffing out smoke. Like flipping a switch, a massive exterior panel dangling precariously from a nearby building crashed down with a thud.
Corpses littered the area around her.
"You went hard on cleanup, huh."
"If they'd been a tad better, I could've kept my composure."
I agreed. But that wasn't the point...
I started to continue, then lost my words. Shit. How do I even explain this?
If I spilled everything I knew, Lee Se-eun and Han Sang-ah would hit me with the obvious: "How'd you know that?" Then I'd have to recount my long, brutal journey before returning to Earth.
Explaining's easy enough. Just say it.
'Truth is, I went to another world, saved it, got Earth as a reward. But Earth's a mess, got fired from my job, so I became a hunter.'
Who'd buy that crap? Even if they humored me, it'd end with psych eval referrals. Only an idiot would swallow it.
Lemme think. Back in that world, there were those oracle bullshit lines from the priests, right? Maybe tweak that nonsense and repurpose it.
"Fighting Kim Ji-hyun, I got wrapped in black smoke and heard a voice."
Lee Se-eun perked up at my words.
"A voice? What'd it say?"
I'd just made it up on the spot, so... I scrambled to flesh it out.
"Doom approaches. Beyond the veil of darkness, know that we await. He wears robes woven of brimstone flames, holds a black golden chalice filled with bitter wormwood juice..."
I rattled off random apocalyptic drivel. Point was to hint there were shadier bastards lurking behind Dangun's descendants.
Seemed plausible enough. Priests peddle this garbage for donations all the time—they've got the knack.
"Sounds like something's up with those Dangun descendants."
"Can't just dismiss 'em as some extreme nationalist club."
Thankfully, Han Sang-ah and Lee Se-eun bought the angle. Lee Se-eun pondered, then spoke.
"Thought we'd just smash what we see and call it done. But this feels like the wasp nest is hidden somewhere in the house, not just a few stragglers."
"Any measures we can take?"
Lee Se-eun nodded at my question.
"Transfer market opens soon."
Oh, right—forgot. I nodded back. The hunters' transfer market was coming up. But why bring it up now?
Lee Se-eun eyed me.
"Transfer market's not just hunters switching companies."
Hunter company reps and big names flock to the Association, swapping intel.
"Means we can spread word on Dangun's descendants."
A hunter like Lee Se-eun speaking up? Others couldn't ignore it.
For now, play it by ear. Transfer market, though...
Made me think of my Taebaek buddies. But Yoon Sung-hyun forcing me in now? Tough. Googling my name pulls up every damn article.
I'm kinda famous. Minus the always-famous types, I'm probably the fastest riser in months.
"Still, they'll probably hassle me."
Yoon Sung-hyun's half-threat invite lingered. And from what I'd dug up, it wasn't just him—it was Taebaek's deep-rooted culture.
Those types don't let fish slip the net easy. Hurts their rep.
"Transfer market doesn't force every hunter to the Association, of course. Yoon Sung-hyun, though..."
Lee Se-eun cleaned her pipe and continued.
"He'll come to England to see your face."
"What a pain this popularity is."
Han Sang-ah, listening nearby, quipped back.
"Hunter Yoon Sung-hyun's already married. To a woman, even."
I made a tragic face at her words.
"No way. I fell for him at first sight!"
Han Sang-ah glanced at Lee Se-eun, who gave a slight nod. Han Sang-ah sighed softly. She'd realized she got played again.
"It's fine. And you don't scam people anyway."
Han Sang-ah's shoulders slumped further at Lee Se-eun's "comfort." Not much help there.
"You're not the type to get duped wherever you go."
Han Sang-ah wasn't naive or overly trusting.
Someone begging for a loan guarantor with puppy eyes? She'd explain personal bankruptcy procedures instead. Pitch her a shady MLM? She'd dissect its flaws and send 'em packing.
Me? I'd just tell 'em to fuck off.
"Yoon Sung-hyun won't come alone. And Zanabi picking a fight with Taebaek does us no favors."
This was my mess to handle solo. I replied to Lee Se-eun's warning.
"It's fine. This is my problem anyway."
Han Sang-ah chimed in.
"Worst case, we could sic Geumyang Group on 'em."
I snorted at that.
"Yo, does Geumyang Group not need hunter cooperation?"
Even the almighty Korean government can't ignore three hunter companies: Zanabi, Taebaek, Mugunghwa.
No matter how massive Geumyang was, they wouldn't poke Taebaek's bear. Not even for an owner's kin like Han Sang-ah.
"I'll handle it. Don't worry. Focus elsewhere."
Them meddling in my Taebaek beef gained nothing. Asking favors on "goodwill" alone? Thug shit.
In a room draped with red curtains, thick incense hung heavy. The man in a bright red shirt and black pants set down the violin he'd just been playing.
"Yoon Sung-hyun. You have words for me."
"...I'm sorry."
As he carefully stowed the violin in its case, he flicked a finger at the bowing Yoon Sung-hyun.
A choking gasp escaped as Yoon Sung-hyun's massive frame floated into the air.
"This isn't about hearing apologies."
His tone was soft. The act wasn't.
"Sorry... but the bastard got way more famous than expected."
A thud—his thigh caved like it'd hit a spike. Yoon Sung-hyun's eyes bulged as he stifled a scream.
"Never asked for excuses."
Said you'd do it? Deliver. He hadn't.
"Sung-hyun. Can't handle this right, what'll people think of Taebaek? Of me, Taebaek's owner?"
The man released his grip. Yoon Sung-hyun crumpled to the floor.
"No more weak talk. Bring results. If he won't join Taebaek, make him join unwilling."
That was it. A wave of the hand, and Yoon Sung-hyun flew toward the door like a ragdoll. It swung open on its own; he tumbled out and rolled across the floor.
A heavy thud as the door slammed shut.
"You... alright?"
The guarding hunter's question got a grunt from Yoon Sung-hyun as he rose.
"Scram."
One word spat, he dragged his unresponsive leg and left. Taebaek's rep—the owner—was pissed. Botch this, and it wouldn't end at anger.
"Fucking bastard."
He had to recruit Yoo Chan-seok in England during transfer season. No choice.