Chapter 137. Are Anti-Fans Still Fans?

Kim Giryeo's calm demeanor was incomprehensible from the perspective of the hunter-hate group.

"This old man is really strong..."

However, this situation could be interpreted immediately with just a slight peek into the other person's thoughts.

"With the strength of an F-rank, I should be struggling and trying to shake it off."

A moment later, Giryeo firmly closed his eyes and held back the tears that threatened to fall.

Who could have predicted it? The fourth 5-class hunter in Korea is a fraud who manipulated the ranks and is now being held captive by an ordinary person...

***

Do you know what the biggest difference between an F-rank Awakened and an ordinary person is? It's the use of abilities. In other words, unless an F-rank has awakened in a way that enhances their physical strength, there's surprisingly not that much difference in physical power between an F-rank and an ordinary person.

So if you get caught by someone who has been working hard on strength training, you could be in big trouble. Just like right now.

"Damn it."

These are the words of the lowest-ranking hunter. I was suddenly grabbed by the collar by the blackmail group and couldn't even run away.

"How could such a miserable thing happen..."

Of course, I have a reinforced defensive ring, so I won't get hurt. But still, there's my pride as an archmage. When something like this happens, it aches my heart too

"Please let this go."

I swallowed my sadness and asked them for a favor. However, as soon as I spoke, the man in front of me looked surprised and subtly released his grip on my collar.

"Wh, what are you thinking?"

"Yes?"

"No, if you don't want to give me money, then you can just leave. W, why are you sticking around here like this?"

The blackmailers seemed eager to hear an explanation, but honestly, it was difficult to reveal the truth. The fact was that I was simply the weakest Awakener, unable to resist.

"Hmm."

So, before sprinting away at full speed, I searched for a convenient excuse.

"You said earlier that you really hurt your arm, right?"

"What?"

"Hmm, but if I, an 5 rank, were to try to shake off your grip while you've already fractured a bone for the sake of your self-harm blackmailing..."

Tuk.

I pressed my bent index finger with my thumb, making a series of sharp cracking sounds from my joints. I didn't add any further comments, but a gesture like this should be enough for them to understand.

S, for now, let's go with the premise that I, as an 5-rank, am holding back out of concern that a frail ordinary person might get hurt."

A desperate bluff! I lied to avoid revealing myself as a rank fraud. But even if this bluff somehow works, it won't improve the situation much. If those three decide to jump me all at once, my true abilities would be exposed in an instant.

"Damn it."

This is exactly why I should've always carried the [Surprise Box]. I lamented my lack of caution as I glanced back down the alley. Originally, my plan had been to run for it, putting as much distance as I could between us.

"—...Huh?"

But at that moment, Suddenly, a single voice rang out from across the alley.

"— Uncle!"

Everyone present turned their heads in unison. What came into view was a person whose height barely reached half of Kim Giryeo's stature.

"Wow! It's really that Uncle!"

It was a face I remembered.

"Hello!"

Wasn't this the little Earthling the archmage had met on his first day of reincarnation?

"Hmm? You're..."

"Doyu-ah! Mom said you'd get hurt if you ran like that!"

But this time, he wasn't alone. As I looked up late, I noticed an adult woman who seemed to be the child's mother standing beyond the alley. With a witness now present, how would the self-harm blackmail group react?

Taak!

They exchanged glances, and before anyone could say a word, they hurriedly exited the alley. It seems like they didn't have the courage to act up in front of a fellow non-awakened person.

***

Since I didn't respond, the child greeted me again.

"Hello!"

Oh, yeah. You might not understand because you're still young, but I'm actually not in a good situation.

"Ugh, ugh... Ah, hello! You're Hunter Kim Giryeo, right?"

I was looking at the backs of the escaped criminals, and in the meantime, the child's mother approached me with hurried steps.

"B, but what just happened...? Should I call the police?"

With my wrinkled clothes and a missing button, my appearance was far from normal. She asked her question cautiously, sensing something was off, but unfortunately, I had no one to turn to for help.

"How can I reveal that an 5-class hunter was grabbed by the collar by a normal person..."

So I just told the passerby not to worry about it. But at that moment, the child who was standing among the adults suddenly grabbed my pant leg and said.

"Mom, come to think of it, we aren't supposed to say 'thank you' to that uncle!"

Then the young woman added with a smile.

"By the way, Hunter Kim Giryeo, there was something I always wanted to tell you! If I ever got the chance to meet you... Thank you so much for what you did the other day."

"Yes?"

"I heard from the police that Hunter-nim saved our child once..."

Is she talking about the Beginner Killer incident? Well, I did try to help the child. But it all went wrong when it turned out I couldn't use magic.

"Did he recognize me?"

"Of course. Even a child remembers things like that."

The young Earthling's mother bowed to me as she said that.

"Anyway, thank you so much. It's all thanks to Hunter-nim that our child is safe."

After that, the woman continued, saying that since that day, she never lets her child wander alone. She went on about how frightening it is to raise kids because of the monsters, but it wasn't a topic I was particularly interested in.

"Mom, but this uncle stole my ice cream?"

"How should I repay this..."

"I told you Uncle ate my ice cream."

I looked down at the chattering child and blurted out.

"There's no need for repayment."

As someone said, I already received the promised reward.

"Your name, Doyu!"

"Yes, Kim Doyu!"

For a moment, it seemed like he was getting taller. I observed the small life's changes for a while, then prepared to leave with some kind words.

"Since you've survived this time, take care of yourself from now on. Study hard."

However, as I was about to move, Doyu's guardian called me over in a hurry.

"Wait a minute!"

"Yes?"

"Oh, that, I... don't have anything prepared, but I happened to be on my way back from grocery shopping."

Smirk.

She then pulls something out of her shopping basket. It was a glass bottle filled with organic tangerine juice.

"I, it's small, but please accept this."

She said as she handed over the juice bottle.

Thank you for saving my child. I will always be cheering for you, Hunter, so please take care of yourself every day.

"This is really rich in vitamin C... I heard that colds are popular again these days, so it will be good for your health. Oh, but do awakened ones not catch colds...?"

Her voice trembled so much from the tension that I could barely understand her, but still, her intentions were clearly conveyed.

"Awakened ones get sick too."

When I met the self-harm extortion group, my anger towards Earthlings soared to the limit.

"Thank you. I will drink it well."

It's good to have an attitude that doesn't forget kindness. Thanks to this small gift, I thought to myself that even if I recover my lost power in the future, I shouldn't wipe out all the Earthlings.

...Not yet.

***

Tak.

The protestors, who had escaped to the distant road where cars passed by, breathed heavily for a while.

"Damn it, what's that kid doing messing things up over there?"

They were frustrated when their plan to provoke an 5-class assault failed, but one person's reaction was a bit different.

"I think the situation would have been the same even if that kid hadn't come..."

The skinny man holding a high-end camera glanced disapprovingly at the three who had rushed out. He seemed dissatisfied with something.

"You all saw it, right? Kim Giryeo didn't lift a finger even when he was being treated that way because he was worried you might get hurt."

This middle-aged man was a third party who had secretly positioned himself at a distance to film the scene of an 5-class assaulting a civilian.

"I wondered why he didn't step back, but it turns out he didn't move and just endured it because he was afraid that his broken arm might get worse."

However, after experiencing what just happened, his thoughts changed. It was an obviously unreasonable argument, yet Kim Giryeo was still willing to protect the civilians even in that situation.

His personality is completely different from his appearance.

He usually has a strong dislike for hunters, but this time, he couldn't help but feel differently.

"Hey, it was because we went too easy on him earlier. If we push harder, he'll definitely show his true colors!"

However, the perpetrators remained confident. They started plotting to pour alcohol on the hunter next time, saying that the method was just bad.

"If you're going to do that to him, count me out!"

"Why? Why?"

"No, it's obvious that the outcome will be the same no matter how many times we try. What would be the point? We're not idiots."

The cameraman clicked his tongue as if he was fed up. Anyway, he didn't come here because he was fooled by the words that he could change society.

"Wait, if you're not here, who will do the filming?"

"Oh, just call someone else from the chat room for a meet-up. Anyway, I'm out."

As he left without hesitation, the remaining protesters twisted their expressions in frustration. However, their enthusiasm had not faded. In particular, the person who had even broken his own arm for the sake of framing others had considerable experience.

"Alright, everyone, don't worry; let's schedule the next date."

"Is it really okay? He must have remembered our faces."

"Oh, it'll be fine. It'll be fine."

The leader of the anti-hunter group said with a confident expression.

"You all know, right? I'm the one who received a settlement from Jung Haseong."

"That was during the Dungeon Break incident, right?"

"That's right. I even rushed into a place that was in chaos from the flames and laid down in the middle of it. With this kind of courage, what can't I do?"

Tap, tap.

He continued speaking while thumping his chest.

"Don't worry; just keep an eye on Kim Giryeo's movements. Make sure to observe where he goes frequently, just like today."

But at that moment, someone who had been quiet until now suddenly threw out a new suggestion.

"...Wouldn't it be better to target another hunter?"

The voice that joined the conversation was extremely low.

"Instead of Kim Giryeo, there's also an 5-class who seems likely to react well if we provoke him."

"Ah, could it be Kang Changho?"

The leader shrugged at those words.

"As I mentioned before, that person lives in a very strict household. The security is too tight; it won't work."

But why are the reactions of his colleagues in front of him so strange? Suddenly, their mouths dropped open, and they stared blankly upward as if they had seen a ghost.

"Wait, who was I just talking to...?"

Hik.

The group leader felt an eerie feeling and quickly checked behind him. Soon, a shocking sight came into view. A figure whose physique made even his own relatively good build look small.

"What!"

Kang Changho was standing there, and the man took a step back in surprise.

"No! Why are these 5-class people walking around this neighborhood without making a sound...?"

Normally, there should have been a physical reaction just from the presence of a top-class Awakened person.

Now that he looked at it, Kang Changho had a ring on every finger on his right hand. In other words, he had suppressed his magical power with items to approach this close.

"I tried to imitate Kim Giryeo, but my limit is about C-class."

The hunter with dragon-like eyes took out a red potion from the hip pouch at his waist and glanced toward a certain alley. It was in the direction of Kim Giryeo's studio apartment.

"By the way, I came to check on him after he entered the country. I didn't expect him to stay still in that situation."

Is he too kind? Does he have some other hobby? Or perhaps...

"Hmm."

Kang Changho pulled the cork out of the vial, deep in thought. Meanwhile, the members of the anti-hunter group remained frozen, as if the bold attitude they had just shown was a lie, but that silence didn't last long.

The 5-class soon gave a warning to those standing in front of him.

"Stalking others is useless."

Ugh!

That was their last conversation. After that, the only thing that came to mind was the sticky feeling of the bone and flesh of the nose being crushed by the fist.

.

.

.

Whoosh.

Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. A familiar shape of a pathway emerged over the western yellow sandy beach.

An unknown gate emitting blue light. It was the emergence of a dungeon. The gate, located on a secluded beach, had