Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: The Noon Mercenary
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The bayonet had targeted me for a full fifteen minutes. In the meantime, Jeong No-hun naturally kept up his gunfire, attacking me relentlessly. Finally, when the bayonet lost all its propulsion and clattered to the floor, I swept my hair back.
"Ha. That was tough."
"And with that, I've lost. Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, you're every bit the monster they say you are."
I took a deep breath and looked at him.
"You look like you could fire off three more rounds at that level. If you're interested, join us."
At my words, he flashed a grin despite his heavy breathing.
"You know that, right?"
Switching to casual speech all of a sudden?
"What, that the sword lying there on the floor can still fly around some more?"
The bayonet on the ground still had mana left in it. Enough to go for my life one more time.
Jeong No-hun shut his mouth at my words.
"Next time, just try it. Don't talk first."
Who announces themselves before a sneak attack? Seriously. Jeong No-hun let out an incredulous laugh and looked at me.
"A Rank-1 Erosion Core? I haven't even attempted one yet. And you said the team you're forming isn't the Academy."
"Ah, think of it like an internship program."
Interns and students feel different. Both involve teaching something, but one gets paid to teach, while the other pays to learn. The value's worlds apart.
That's the original intent of internships, anyway. I know full well how they're treated in reality.
Well, I've snagged one member this way. I was planning a small elite team anyway. Pulling in just one from over three hundred Hunters isn't bad. And hey, it didn't cost me a dime.
"Oh, by the way, something you should know upfront. Give me money, and I'll do anything."
I stared at Jeong No-hun as he said that.
"Anything?"
He nodded at my question.
"Most people call me 'Noon Thing' behind my back."
"Impressive nickname."
Still grinning, Jeong No-hun continued.
"Simply put, if someone offers better pay than working with you, I'll ditch you in a heartbeat."
"Now I'm even more curious why you're being so upfront about it."
"So you can't complain later that you didn't know."
I clicked my tongue and said,
"I heard there are some cats in the Association's underground parking lot. A few kittens too."
"And?"
I extended my thumb, clenched my right fist, and flipped it downward.
"Kill them all, then cut off their heads and bring them to me."
Jeong No-hun snorted and replied,
"Why make such a big deal out of something that simple? Sure, whatever."
He slung his rifle over his shoulder. Watching him, I smirked and said,
"Why lie? You're not the type who'll do just anything for money."
Jeong No-hun stopped in his tracks and turned to me.
"What're you talking about?"
"Guys who'll do anything for cash don't react like that."
His expression cooled a bit.
"Oh, really? So what reaction should I have?"
"You should've asked how much I'm paying."
Someone who lives for money wouldn't take a job without checking the pay? Come on.
"You're not some 'pay me and I'll do anything' guy. You're just pretending to be."
I clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"You've got some other goal. Money's just a means to that end. I don't know what it is, and honestly, I don't care."
They say there are four hundred reasons to make money for every hundred people.
"Anyway, you're in. Just know that."
Thinking about it, we needed a ranged attacker. I use a spear, Han Sang-ah uses a sword. Even if Lee Se-eun joined us, she'd wield a greatsword.
Jeong No-hun could provide sniper support from kilometers away, with devastating power. No reason to pass him up.
"What if I had..."
"Yeah?"
As I handed him my contact info, he took it and spoke up.
"...asked how much you're paying? What then?"
"I'd have thought you really are in it for the money. Nothing changes."
Of course, I'd adjust the pay to match someone money-driven like him. He's not the type you let slip away to others.
"But personality matters too, right?"
I scoffed and said,
"I spent a while in Europe, remember?"
"Who doesn't know that?"
It was public knowledge before. Europe just confirmed it again.
"Those people used to champion culture, political correctness, social justice—all that stuff."
I clicked my tongue and went on.
"Now, most Europeans would slice open their pregnant neighbor's belly for a bag of dried food waste scraps."
And it's not because they're hypocrites or morally loose.
"Personality's like home decor."
Make it pretty, and it's nice. People come over, compliment how lovely your place looks. You feel proud decorating it.
Tweak this, try that... remodel to match trends.
But it doesn't really help with daily life.
When things get tough financially, it's the first thing you ditch. Personality and decor have that in common.
Oh, and both start with "in."
"So, you despise personality as all fake?"
I gave Jeong No-hun an exasperated look.
"Never said I despise it. What's wrong with sprucing up your place nicely when you can afford it?"
What a weird guy. No middle ground?
"I try to be good and moral when I've got the luxury. When I don't, I drop it."
Clinging to morals and personality while starving to death?
Those types scare me more. No different from some psycho grabbing display figures first when nukes hit.
"Pay?"
His next question. I chuckled and looked at him.
"Finally bringing up money. You get paid based on what you do. We focus solely on clearing Erosion Cores, so main income's from selling monster byproducts and Core bounties."
And we'll split it fairly.
"I thought these things usually pay based on performance tiers."
Jeong No-hun asked after hearing me out.
"Figured you'd hog too much, so I'm yielding. No need for thanks."
He let out an "I see."
"Turns out you're the type who swapped talent for luck."
"If you want straight pay, we can do that."
He shook his head immediately.
"I said you're unlucky, not wrong-mouthed."
I eyed him up and down, then said,
"Tomorrow, 9 AM, Room 207 training hall at the Association. Show up if you're in."
"Tomorrow?"
I nodded.
"At your current level? No chance."
"I'm that weak, huh... You wound me."
Jeong No-hun dramatically clutched his chest, feigned a sad face, then thumbs-upped.
"See you tomorrow then."
He left. Han Sang-ah watched him go, then turned to me.
"His skills are a bit lacking."
"It's fine. I can bring him up. Scared he'll catch up to you?"
She shook her head.
"I'm hungry. Haven't eaten properly since Donghae."
"You ate the ramen and kimbap your grandpa bought."
"But the commotion cut it short. There's an Oduak cafe in the Association building. Wanna eat there."
Come to think of it, I hadn't eaten either. As Han Sang-ah and I headed for food, someone waved from afar.
"Hunter Yoo Chan-seok!"
Turning, I saw Choi Seung-gi of Daebak Scrap Dealers, suited up and waving enthusiastically.
"President Choi Seung-gi."
"Man, it's so hard to see you. I've been waiting days in this Association building."
He said that, then bowed deeply to Han Sang-ah beside me.
"Ah, first time meeting. Choi Seung-gi of Daebak Scrap Dealers. I have a contract with Hunter Yoo Chan-seok."
Han Sang-ah nodded.
"So you're a collaborator."
At her words, Choi Seung-gi clenched his fist passionately, thumping his chest.
"You bet! For Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, I'm grinding bones to dust, loyal to the nation—running my soles to shreds."
"So, what's up? I got the items and payment you sent."
He grinned and held something out.
"Well, after you two stirred things up, word spread like wildfire in Korea. One person really wants to meet you..."
He handed me a business card.
"Sa Seung-hee?"
"Owner of the Oduak cafe franchise, runs the flagship store too."
Han Sang-ah seemed to know her. Oduak's main branch is in Ikseon-dong, Jongno. Hunter-only cafe chain, members and up to three guests.
Choi had gotten me a membership before. Guess he has connections with this Sa Seung-hee.
"Why does she want to see me and Sang-ah?"
"Couldn't say... Sa Seung-hee's got that snake-like—no, deep insight."
Snake-like personality. I nodded anyway.
"She'll feed us, right?"
We're starving. He nodded eagerly.
"Flagship Oduak is on another level. Sa Seung-hee cooks herself—ingredients don't last a day they're so popular."
Cafe's open 8 AM to 10 PM; solids sell out by lunch.
"That's true. My sister's been headhunted for four years straight by Seoul Artua Hotel's F&B division consultant."
Four years of love calls means failed. Anyway, famous person, got it.
"Understood."
No way she'll bait-and-switch with food promised. Choi brightened and made a call.
"Alright, let's head out."
Choi led us to Oduak flagship.
"Honestly, hearing your Donghae interview eased my mind."
"If I focus elsewhere, Daebak Scrap Dealers would be in a bind."
He laughed, scratching his head. Scrap dealers extract valuables from Erosion Zone monster corpses for sale.
If your contracted Hunter skips Zones? Income dries up.
"We wait hoping you'll hit one someday, or beg in person. That's how I survive."
"No worries working with me."
"What a relief."
Mid-conversation, we arrived quick. Even if Korea's better off than others, not everyone has a car like before.
Seoul now? Yeouinaru or Yeoksam-ro, you can push 80 km/h easy—no traffic jams.