Chapter 23

Chapter 23

“Who goes there!”

Kim Younghwan’s eerie, horizontally slit eyes swept across the conference room.

The public service Hunters who met his gaze couldn’t withstand the pressure and hurriedly stepped aside. Naturally, Kim Younghwan and I ended up facing each other.

“You seem to have gone senile. How about retiring and resting at home?”

“Is that your last will?”

“I’ve heard a lot of last wills, but I’ve never actually written one. And also.”

I smiled at Kim Younghwan.

“I’ve never seen anyone who talks about sacrifice actually sacrifice themselves.”

“You dare!”

Unable to contain his rage, Kim Younghwan reached out. Though it wasn’t his primary weapon, the sword, it was a surprise attack that bore the mark of someone who had grabbed plenty of people by the throat.

“Minister!”

Before Jung Dahyun’s startled voice could even fade, Kim Younghwan’s right hand had reached my face.

Smack!

I lightly flicked his hand away and reached out to grab him by the collar in return. Kim Younghwan twisted his body, pushed my hand away with his left, and swung his right hand with everything he had. When I caught it, it writhed like a snake coiling, then clashed against the force of my grip.

Boom!

As Force and Arc Mine tangled, a violent explosion rang out. The Hunters watching flinched and backed away. I tried to let go, but Kim Younghwan wouldn’t release me and forced a contest of strength.

He probably intended to crush me with his overwhelming amount of Force, but engaging in a battle of strength with me—someone who carried all of Blood Lord’s experience, Force, and gifts—was suicide in itself.

Kkkeuk—

The surrounding air trembled, and a fierce wave of energy spread in all directions.

The superior side revealed itself before long.

He held out on equal footing for a brief moment, but Kim Younghwan, having hit his limit, began to flush red.

“Ughhh!”

“……”

Trampling the Force writhing inside him, I fell into thought.

How should I handle this? End it here? Finishing off an old man who can barely muster half his prime strength due to aging was an easy task for me.

In the past, I would have killed him without hesitation.

But since the operation had already been established, I decided to grant him mercy.

“If you kneel and apologize, I’ll let it slide.”

“…You bastard!”

This much should count as a generous sentence that even spares his life.

If he wouldn’t take it that way, there was no choice but to deal with him.

Kwaaaang!

As my Arc Mine began to seep into his bones, Kim Younghwan’s eyes quivered. He endured the pressure with the mighty Force he had accumulated over a lifetime, but that was all—his bones were warping, and if it progressed further, they would shatter into dust.

It was when Kim Younghwan’s face had turned red as if about to burst.

“Haha! Minister! Let’s stop here. Choi Junho, you too.”

Jung Juho, who had intervened, separated Kim Younghwan and me. I considered pushing further, but after seeing the flashy footwork and expression on Jung Juho’s face, I stepped back obediently.

His pride was already crushed, and his arm was half-crippled anyway.

“It seems there was some misunderstanding.”

“You heard what that bastard just said, and you can still say that?”

Kim Younghwan shouted, forcibly supporting his limp arm.

Jung Juho wore a pitiful expression.

“You know kids these days don’t listen. That one doesn’t even listen to me properly. And frankly, there are quite a few problems with your request too, Minister.”

“What?”

“There are ways to catch both the Berserker and the Puppeteer while minimizing casualties. As long as you give it your full strength, Minister.”

“……”

When the plan to conserve his own strength and reap the spoils was laid bare, Kim Younghwan shut his mouth.

“We all work with a sense of duty, but when you dig a pit for us to die in and tell us to jump in, it’s not that simple. Please put in a bit more effort, Minister.”

With that, Jung Juho looked at Kim Younghwan. If moments ago he had been currying favor with a genial smile, now he wore the face of the Director of the National Guard Bureau, determined to protect his subordinates’ lives to the end.

Kim Younghwan glanced around, his lips twitching, then turned.

“…I’ve lost my appetite. Do as you please!”

“Thank you!”

Jung Juho drove the nail in as Kim Younghwan headed out. Relieved, he looked at me, and his eyes slit horizontally just like Kim Younghwan’s.

“Phew! Everyone out except Choi Junho!”

The National Guard Bureau Hunters who had been stealing glances at me filed out of the conference room.

“What on earth were you thinking?”

Did he figure out I was about to kill him? As expected of the Director—his intuition is uncanny.

“Well, I wasn’t going to kill him…”

“He’s a greedy man by nature. He was trying to establish his position with this operation. It was reckless, but thanks to you, there won’t be any meaningless sacrifices. Thank you.”

Huh? Seems his line of thinking was different after all. I’d grown some tact too, so I didn’t finish my sentence and just nodded in agreement.

“Right. But if you’re going to do it, do it after being recognized as Level 8. Then the government will have a replacement, and no one can say anything. But the best thing is to go about it reasonably and smoothly. You know that, right?”

“That’s what I’m doing now.”

“Don’t bullshit me.”

I’m serious, though. If I weren’t going easy, I would’ve snapped his neck right there.

These days, it seems no one understands my sincerity.

“Honestly, there seem to be too many things I’m told not to do.”

“That’s the reason organizations hold together.”

“It’s difficult.”

“At home, your parents tell you don’t do this, don’t do that too, right? No, wait—why am I the one who has to teach you this from the start? Am I your nanny?”

“I think you’d be a great nanny.”

“I have no intention of being one. Get out.”

I was practically chased out. The National Guard Bureau Hunters who had been going about their own business all turned their eyes to me. Was it because I’d manhandled Kim Younghwan like a rat? Their looks were different from before. Amid them, Jung Dahyun approached me with worry written all over her face.

“Junho, could you spare a moment?”

“Yes.”

We headed to the café on the first floor. After our drinks arrived, Jung Dahyun fidgeted with her mug, hesitating, then bowed her head to me.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“As your senior partner, I should have raised the objection first. Instead, I let you step forward.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“No, Honorary Minister Kim Younghwan is a petty man. Now that you’ve clashed with him, he’ll try to get revenge.”

To me, the word “revenge” was on the same level as the word “suicide.”

Of all the people who came to take revenge on me, not a single one returned alive.

If a bothersome old man wants to come die, I have no reason to refuse.

“What kind of revenge are we talking about?”

“All sorts of things. He’s always been a man of many controversies regarding his lust for power and his nasty disposition. He’ll likely try to put brakes on your work process or promotions.”

“Neither would affect me at all.”

Since receiving the recovery potion from Lee Sehee, the excessive force incidents had noticeably decreased, and I had no particular ambition for promotion.

I just thought that rather than quietly staying as a Grade 9 public service Hunter, it might be about time I received treatment befitting my ability.

“It’s embarrassing to admit, but this isn’t my area of expertise, so it’s hard for me to help you, Junho.”

“It’s fine.”

“But I think Sehee could give you some advice.”

“Team Leader Lee Sehee?”

“Sehee is excellent as an Awakened, but she’s also highly capable, wielding the greatest influence in the Shinseong Guild. How about talking to Sehee?”

Jung Dahyun’s eyes were steeped in guilt and worry.

I really didn’t care, though.

But if it was the capable Lee Sehee, she might be able to help with the concerns I currently had.

It wouldn’t hurt to ask for her advice.

“Alright.”

“I’ll contact Sehee for you.”

* * *

Separate from the clash at the National Guard Bureau, preparations for the operation to capture the Berserker and the Puppeteer were complete.

I was classified as reserve force rather than strike team. It was a measure taken out of concern for unnecessary conflict on-site, given that I had clashed with Kim Younghwan, the greatest fighting force.

But I broke his arm—can he even fight properly?

It’s his own problem, so he’ll figure it out, but since he might try to pick a fight with me, I should insist that the old man’s bones were just too weak and that’s why they broke.

Apart from the mobilization of state-employed Hunters, the hunt reduction plan ended in failure. It was the result of the large guilds mobilizing all sorts of negative words—economic recession, unemployment crisis, management crises, and so on. Instead, they agreed to contribute to the mobilization of reserve forces and cooperation in establishing the encirclement.

So Yunhee ended up going on her hunt as scheduled.

“Be careful.”

“I know.”

As the two villains’ names rose to prominence, the villains lurking in the city outskirts also grew more active. As the number of raids increased, each region’s villain response team grew busier.

It got to the point where an official document was issued stating that lethal force was authorized on-site if they resisted.

“If anything happens, send a signal.”

“You should be hoping nothing happens. If you keep saying stuff like that, it sounds like you want something to happen.”

“That’s not it.”

“I know. Anyway! I’m all grown up now, so I’ll make my own way with my own strength. Have some faith in your little sister, you old man.”

“Alright.”

Watching Yunhee’s spirited demeanor, I thought she’d really grown up, but at the same time, I couldn’t shake my worry—such was the heart of an older brother.

She just needs to marry well.

Nothing more, nothing less—I’d like her to bring home a boyfriend who can block exactly three of my attacks.

Yunhee and I, having finished our preparations, headed out together. Today, we had the same destination.

“But what’s the sudden business for you, oppa?”

“I have an appointment with Lee Sehee.”

“What for?”

“Personal counseling. Why are you making that face?”

Yunhee’s expression as she looked at me was bizarre.

“You? Counseling?”

“Why?”

“No, it’s just—the you I know would just use your fists first without needing any counseling.”

“That’s for villains.”

“That’s been your mode of operation until now.”

“I guess you don’t know that I’ve caught more villains than anyone at the National Guard Bureau.”

“There aren’t many people who know you as well as I do. Anyway, good thinking. Team Leader Lee should be able to guide you onto the right path.”

Calling her own brother a villain. She spends too much time around monsters and says whatever she wants.

Meanwhile, the car we were in arrived at the Shinseong Guild. After parking and heading up, Jung Dahyun, who had arrived first, came over.

“Oh, Dahyun unnie?”

“Hi.”

“Why are you here too? Is something really going on?”

“It’s nothing. Just some simple counseling.”

“Oppa didn’t do something terrible, did he?”

“……”

“Hmm?”

I don’t know why Jung Dahyun is staying silent there.

“Ah, no. It’s nothing. Trust me.”

“Unnie, haven’t you heard that you’re a terrible liar? You’re being super suspicious right now.”

“It’s really nothing……”

“If you weren’t heading up right away, I’d grill you, but I’m busy so I’ll get going. Tell me later, okay?”

“Got it.”

Once Yunhee disappeared, Jung Dahyun let out a sigh of relief. Then she checked her smartphone and spoke to me.

“Sehee says we can come up right away.”

We headed to Lee Sehee’s office.

Unlike before, Lee Sehee—who had done full makeup from early this morning—greeted us.

“Welcome. I was quite surprised when you two suddenly said you wanted counseling.”

“Sorry to bother you when you’re busy. But you’re the only one I could ask for advice.”

“I don’t mind being trusted. And I was curious about what’s going on with you, Junho.”

“It’s nothing major.”

“It is major. It’s a huge incident. Enough that you need to brace yourself.”

“Hmm, is that so? But before that.”

Lee Sehee glanced at Jung Dahyun and wore a mischievous smile.

“Like I said last time, just be comfortable like usual. No one here is uncomfortable with it.”

“Is that okay?”

“Why not? Dahyun, you don’t mind, right?”

“…I don’t.”

Despite her words, Jung Dahyun’s expression looked somewhat uncomfortable. Is it because she dislikes casual speech? I should be more polite to Jung Dahyun.

“Now then, would you tell me what happened?”

I told her about the clash with Kim Younghwan. The conflict arose because I put a brake on a somewhat unreasonable operation. And when I mentioned that Jung Dahyun was worried about future retaliation, Lee Sehee wore a dumbfounded expression.

“Wait, you’re the one who caused the incident, and you’re the one who’s more relaxed about it? Aren’t you worried?”

“Not particularly.”

“That aside, it’s more surprising that you went head-to-head with a Level 8 transcendent. Honestly, I thought you’d reach Level 8 within a few years. I was even bracing myself for it. But you were already Level 8?”

“It hasn’t been measured yet, so I’m Level 7.”

“…Does that even make sense? I’ve never heard of a Level 8 in their twenties.”

“There’s a first recorded case in America.”

“That person was thirty in Korean age. I knew you were amazing, but I never thought you’d go toe-to-toe with that nasty old man.”

Lee Sehee drank her tea repeatedly, as if her throat was parched.

I considered mentioning that I’d slowly crushed Kim Younghwan’s arm bones, but I held back because Jung Dahyun looked like she might faint.

“Junho, you need to answer my question honestly. Really.”

“I’m not a villain.”

“I never even thought that. Anyway, why did you become a public service Hunter?”

Two pairs of eyes fixed on me, full of curiosity. I traced back to the moment I returned to the past, recalled why I’d chosen to become a public service Hunter, and answered.

“It was my mother’s request. My father agreed too. And I chose it because the work seemed easy.”

“……”

I answered honestly, but what came back was a gaze full of disbelief.

“I’m serious.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

“When you could easily have pocketed billions in signing bonuses whenever you wanted?”

“You have to work as much as you’re paid.”

“W-well, that’s true, but at your level, it wouldn’t have been that hard.”

Lee Sehee let out sigh after sigh. Even Jung Dahyun, who had brought me into the National Guard Bureau, wore a blank expression. Was it really that surprising?

“I thought there must have been some tremendous reason I couldn’t even guess at. Dahyun, did you know?”

“I didn’t know either. I just thought it was an excuse he was deflecting with, and even if there was a reason, I figured there must be some kind of story behind it…”

“And that story was his parents’ recommendation.”

Lee Sehee looked somewhat deflated.

“Since you were told to do it, you probably don’t have much attachment. It hasn’t been long since you became a public service Hunter, anyway.”

“Sehee, don’t tell me you’re…”

Ignoring Jung Dahyun’s interjection, Lee Sehee spoke to me.

“There are two solutions. First, quit being a public service Hunter. Second, get officially recognized as Level 8 under the National Guard Bureau as soon as possible. Those two paths will look very different. The direction gets decided by what you want, Junho. So what’s the thing you want most as a Hunter?”

“……”

What did I truly want?

What I wanted out of life was a peaceful life for my family. That was already in progress, so what I needed most was the authority to carry out official duties freely as a public service Hunter.

I wouldn’t mind fewer work hours either.

And so, if I wanted to do things my way, everything came down to one thing.

“Immunity from arrest.”

With that alone, I felt like I could really do my job well.