Chapter 242, Gluttony Incident (6)

[Web Message] Hunter Kang Changho, this is a notification regarding the abnormal mutation within the S-rank gate. Below is reference material related to the gate raid plan. If you are able to take action, please respond to the agency number provided.

The S-rank hunter who appeared on the scene showed no sign of urgency. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Right after finishing the Gate clearance for the nameless Cave, Kang Changho turned his phone back on. He had received some kind of information from the Hunter Association. As he glanced around, he noticed that, no matter how much he looked, he couldn't spot the flashing signal of his contractor. He quickly realized that the blonde hunter had entered the problematic dungeon. However, despite this, the atmosphere remained strangely calm.

"Huh!"

"Take the exit right now. Exit!"

"Hunter Jung Haseong!"

"They're the raiders."

"Oh, oh! Thank God! Our Neo Guild members are safe...!"

Of course, he also secretly knew that Kim Giryeo was alive.

If the contractor were to die, the [Knight's Oath] would immediately relay that fact to everyone linked to the item. Of course, that's assuming the artifact was functioning properly. In any case, Kang Changho was fully aware that the other party hadn't died.

"Ah! Hunter Kim came out too!"

After a brief wait, as expected, he proudly walked out from the exit, further confirming his survival.

"Huh?"

Shaking.

Kang Changho waved his hand in a typical Earthling greeting. While prominent Korean hunters like Jung Haseong and Seo Esther were explaining the situation to the crowd, he gestured for Kim Giryeo to come over and began a private conversation with him.

"Hello."

"Ah, yes. Hello, Hunter Kang Chang..."

"But I'm sorry, I don't recall receiving a report that you were heading here."

The alien answered as if it had been waiting.

"It was a mistake to enter. I was just standing near the passage when a monster inside grabbed me and dragged me in."

Aha. Entering the gate involuntarily?

"Really?"

"Then how could I possibly lie about this?"

Kim Giryeo argued his innocence based on the conditions of the 'Knight's Oath' and the witness, Lee Cheongryong. However, even though he must have known that it was structurally impossible based on this evidence, the man suffering from body dysmorphia for some reason looked down at the target in front of him with his back to his chest. He seemed to be continuously questioning something in his mind.

"Look at the size..."

His physique was truly intimidating. Giryeo avoided eye contact with the superhuman, who created a shadow with nothing but empty hands. He had already sensed what the other person disapproved of, so he began explaining in an attempt to prevent the situation from escalating into an assault.

"I know. Even though it all started as an accident, I could've easily dealt with the tentacles and gotten out. But you're upset because an S-rank Hunter was hesitating, right?"

"_ _"

"I'm sorry. To be honest, I knew you'd react like this, but I intentionally didn't leave the dungeon. Back then... I truly thought there wouldn't be time to discuss things separately."

"_ _"

"I don't know if you're aware, but the person who was stranded, Ahn Yoonseung, is a friend of mine. But when I actually went in, I found that there were traps in the dungeon, and at that time, I happened to have the [Appraiser] skill."

The sentences that came out soon.

"...Ah, just hit me a few times to vent. This time, I intentionally deceived you, so honestly, I don't have any excuse. I'm sorry."

In his past life, how many times had he said the word "I'm sorry"? He couldn't remember the exact number, but he knew deep down that, from a young age, he had been a soul reluctant to apologize. Therefore, for an archmage like him to express such humility was, in fact, a very unfamiliar act. Yet, despite the fact that this arrogant soul had lowered his head first...

"Uhm...?"

The other person didn't react. With his hands clasped behind his back, Kang Changho stood still, motionless and expressionless, as he had been since earlier. The silence of an S-rank awakened. Why does this feel more unsettling than a fist being thrown?

"Are you really angry?"

Should he stop it? With so many eyes watching, surely he won't let his pride burst out here, right? Is today the day that this ex-convict will break Article 250 of the Criminal Act?

"No, but as you can see, I'm perfectly fine... Honestly, I'm confident I can avoid danger and survive, so that's why I even entered there. I definitely didn't face an S-rank monster..."

"_ _"

"...What are you doing right now?"

The alien creature, unable to attempt any human-like expression of emotion, pointed to its magically crafted appearance with a blank face and pleaded silently. "Look, I returned without a scratch on my suit. Isn't this enough to prove there's no issue?" Giryeo, who said this, had already made arrangements with the relevant parties inside the dungeon, fully aware that this kind of situation was inevitable. He had pleaded with everyone not to disclose the details of his injuries, giving various reasons for why it should be kept a secret.

However, despite Giryeo's desperate struggles, there was still no response from Kang Changho. Unable to endure the unnatural silence any longer, the alien finally asked, struggling to find the right words. The contractor responded.

"Thinking."

Even though it was just a single word, it was enough to evoke a chilling sense of fear.

Thinking.

I repeat, Kim Giryeo had not yet recovered his magic to see others' thoughts, and despite that, it was clear to him what the S-rank Hunter with his hands behind his back was contemplating. In Kang Changho's mind, there were likely only two options at this moment: whether or not to activate the skill.

Seeing the flow of the situation, Giryeo hurriedly tried to say something. However, it was only at this point that the super-powered individual in front of him finally started a proper conversation.

"Did you ask if I was angry earlier?"

Kang Changho tilted his head and glanced down at the offering.

"I haven't truly been angry at anyone since awakening, at least."

"Yes?"

"Whether it's Jung Haseong, Choi Jin, or even some driver, there have been times when we've had brief disagreements over opinions or stances, but ever since then, it's rare for me to get so worked up like I did when I was a student, with blood rushing to my head."

People usually say that once puberty passes, sensitivity fades with it. Maybe that's why, the S-rank Hunter's eyes briefly drifted upwards to the left, as if recalling the past. He took a moment to choose his words before finally speaking.

"Anyway, let me make one thing clear. I've never really been angry."

Changho stretched his arm toward the other person's shoulder. He then lightly moved his right palm, calmly brushing away the remains of the dungeon that had been stuck to the seam of someone's suit.

"So far."

A certain word, pronounced clearly as if for emphasis. Sensing a subtle pressure in the other's words and actions, Giryeo asked his question in a rather tense manner.

"Are you saying that I might become the first annoying Hunter to actually make you angry?"

Surprisingly, Kang Changho denied it again here.

"No."

Tuk, tuk.

Kang Chang-ho continued after brushing off all the dust from Kim Giryeo's shoulder seam.

"What I just said was simply a list of facts. Honestly, I really don't know what's going to happen next."

"Huh...?"

"At first, I did get annoyed, but now, when I watch what people do, I think I just find it fascinating. Oh right, this just came to mind, so let me ask you something."

What followed was a tone that genuinely conveyed curiosity.

"Hunter Kim Giryeo, do you perhaps enjoy being in danger?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have a masochistic streak or something?"

In a way, it was a fundamental question.

"When you see people get surprised or flustered... do you maybe feel a thrill, like you've gained control over their emotions or something?"

"What on earth are you..."

"Isn't that strange?"

Korea's fourth S-rank hunter, Kim Giryeo. He always wore a calm expression, like someone peering at a lab rat from beyond the test cage. At twenty-five years old—an age when most are too busy laughing and chattering—he instead cloaked himself in an ocean-deep stillness, using it as a second skin in his dealings with people. What's more, despite being a top-tier superpower in the ecosystem, he was the kind of hunter who holed up year-round in a run-down home, leaving everyone wondering just what kind of thoughts brewed in that mind of his.

"But from an objective perspective, that's exactly how Hunter Kim Giryeo is."

Kang Changho pointed out the abnormality of the blonde man. Kim Giryeo, as per his evaluation, was a stoic figure with little interest in the secular world, often showing that a self-sacrificing philosopher and sent their respects. However, to the majority of ordinary evils, including Kang Changho, would always doubt the existence of such a righteous sage in this world, believing that someone like him could never truly exist.

What could that cold person possibly be using as his driving force?

"Uhm."

The iron-masked face of the blonde awakener. Kang Changho stared at his industry colleague for a while, then opened his mouth. As a final touch, he moved his hand from his chin and lightly tapped the shoulder of the other's suit.

"Anyway. Since the neck is attached, that's fine for now."

"Yes?"

"Recently, I've gotten busy with something, so it's been hard for me to focus on contracts. So, if Hunter Kim still has any consideration, it would be really nice if you could refrain from going out for a while."

The third S-rank Hunter of Korea said those words without hesitation and turned his back to leave. Not long after, the sound of an Italian engine roared, accompanied by the distinct vibrations of a motorcycle. As Kang Changho's magical presence dissipated, the atmosphere near the dungeon's exit lightened considerably.

A long time later.

The fake S-rank, who had just received various warnings from the contractor, stood alone, deep in thought.

'Even after causing this mess, he's still letting me go?'

What's wrong?

Honestly, it wouldn't have been strange if Kang Changho had immediately activated his Human Skill Stone right there in the field, given how pissed off he was just now. Yet, this awakened individual, with a criminal record for assault, knew very well that the target of the [Knight's Oath] had exploded an accident caused by tentacles—but still chose to turn a blind eye to everything?

'Hoo, if it's like this...'

Kim Giryeo quickly changed his attitude, as if all his earlier humility had been a lie. He started to roll his eyes and began contemplating something. However, as he shifted his gaze, he inadvertently gathered new information.

'...So, regarding this dungeon... the result... depending on that, we should immediately proceed with closing it."

Click, click, click.

As the reporters arrived and burst the white light of their strobes, focusing on their shots, the image of the hero in the viewfinder shifted momentarily. Jung Haseong glanced briefly in the direction of his mentor before refocusing back on the camera.

"That concludes my report."

Just because someone is S-rank doesn't mean they shoot radiation-like beams from their eyes. Normally, there's nothing special about making eye contact, but...

'Just by drawing unnecessary attention, making people suspect good or evil, and continuing the contract with Kang Chang-ho, the damage that follows has become too much."

There's a reason why the saying "You can't touch pitch without being defiled" exists in this world. Thinking about it quietly, with the Hydra and the Sacred Tree Seeding, he has accumulated some degree of strength. Through extracurricular activities, he has also gathered enough wealth. So now, in reality, he is just sucking up the benefits of S-rank security, and it's not the same as it used to be.

There are plenty of reasons he could list. First and foremost, the original cause of all these relationships, the Rakshasa Temple, has long since collapsed. Moreover, now that he has changed his body, it's become difficult to easily discard his status...

"Yeah. Looking at that human behavior, I think it would be better to do that."

A moment later, Ahn Yoonseung, who had finished testifying to the guild, hurriedly runs toward this side.

"Hey, Yoonseung~ Come slowly. No matter how fast you come, you're the one who has to pay the cancellation fee for the reservation at the steakhouse."

Kim Giryeo waved his hand enthusiastically at the Earthling, then silently thought to himself. It seems like the time has come to resolve this unnecessary lifespan limitation quickly.

Author Thoughts

Hi, from now on, I will update this novel 3 chapters/week. Thank you for all your support so far:)