Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131
Chapter 132
Chapter 133
Chapter 134
Chapter 135
Chapter 136
Chapter 137
Chapter 138
Chapter 139
Chapter 140
Chapter 141
Chapter 142
Chapter 143
Chapter 144
Chapter 145
Chapter 146
Chapter 147
Chapter 148
Chapter 149
Chapter 150
Chapter 151
Chapter 152
Chapter 153
Chapter 154
Chapter 155
Chapter 156
Chapter 157
Chapter 158
Chapter 159
Chapter 160
Chapter 161
Chapter 162
Chapter 163
Chapter 164
Chapter 165
Chapter 166
Chapter 167
Chapter 168
Chapter 169
Chapter 170
Chapter 171
Chapter 172
Chapter 173
Chapter 174
Chapter 175
Chapter 176
Chapter 177
Chapter 178
Chapter 179
Chapter 180
Chapter 181
Chapter 182
Chapter 183
Chapter 184
Chapter 185
Chapter 186 - Chapter 186
Chapter 187
Chapter 188
Chapter 189
Chapter 190
Chapter 191
Chapter 192
Chapter 193
Chapter 194
Chapter 195
Chapter 196
Chapter 197
Chapter 198
Chapter 199
Chapter 200
Chapter 201
Chapter 202
Chapter 203
Chapter 204
Chapter 205
Chapter 206
Chapter 207
Chapter 208
Chapter 209
Chapter 210
Chapter 211
Chapter 212
Chapter 213
Chapter 214
Chapter 215
Chapter 216
Chapter 217
Chapter 218
Chapter 219
Chapter 220
Chapter 221
Chapter 222
Chapter 223
Chapter 224
Chapter 225
Chapter 226
Chapter 227
Chapter 228
Chapter 229
Chapter 230
Chapter 231
Chapter 232
Chapter 233
Chapter 234
Chapter 235
Chapter 236
Chapter 237
Chapter 238
Chapter 239
Chapter 240
Chapter 241
Chapter 242
Chapter 243
Chapter 244
Chapter 245
Chapter 246
Chapter 247
Chapter 248
Chapter 249
Chapter 250
Chapter 251
Chapter 252
Chapter 253
Chapter 254
Chapter 255
Chapter 256
Chapter 257
Chapter 258
Chapter 259
Chapter 260
Chapter 261
Chapter 262
Chapter 263
Chapter 264
Chapter 265
Chapter 266
Chapter 267
Chapter 268
Chapter 269
Chapter 270
Categories Genre: Action, Adventure, All, Completed, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 270
Estimated words: 886135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 4431(@200wpm)___ 3545(@250wpm)___ 2954(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 886135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 4431(@200wpm)___ 3545(@250wpm)___ 2954(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 270 Page No. 269 Page No. 268 Page No. 267 Page No. 266 Page No. 265 Page No. 264 Page No. 263 Page No. 262 Page No. 261 Page No. 260 Chapter 32
Chapter 32: Chapter 32
Part 4. Rank B Kahng Tae-Sik
Kahng Tae-Sik felt like someone had hit him in the back of his head.
A b*stard that displayed the movement equal to his own speed, which was unmatched within the rank B, introduced himself as a measly rank E just now.
‘Is he trying to make fun of me?’
Kahng Tae-Sik gnashed his teeth.
‘No, hang on….’
Indeed, there was something odd here.
‘If he’s really a high-rank Hunter, there is no reason for him to be here, isn’t it?’
The jobs these bottom-feeder Association Hunters did were quite obvious. Their main role was to clear those Gates that Guilds and freelancers gave up on because of their low monetary values.
Their earnings were pathetically small compared to other Hunters, and they were not widely acknowledged by other Hunters, either. In other words, there was a very good chance that this b*stard really was an E-rank.
Only that, his abilities were anything but.
‘Still, a fake registrant wouldn’t brazenly work under the Association like this, so…’
Kahng Tae-Sik eventually arrived at the only logical conclusion.
‘….He’s a Re-Awakened.’
When he thought about it, he remembered the upper echelons of the Association getting a bit noisier with a rumour of someone going through a Re-Awakening somewhere nearby this location.
‘And, that person was supposedly a Hunter affiliated with the Association….’
He should’ve memorised that name back then.
As that matter happened only a couple of weeks ago, if this b*stard had been delaying getting a re-assignment test for some reason until now, it was very much possible for him to remain as an E-rank and assist the Association with their work.
Who could’ve guessed that such a guy would show up today?
Kahng Tae-Sik had made sure to perform thorough background checks on the Hunters participating in today’s raid, but he had missed the existence of this one.
‘I really have terrible luck, don’t I?’
That’s the only conclusion he could arrive at.
‘I should’ve asked for more money, if things turned out this way….’
Kahng Tae-Sik recalled the events of a few days ago while licking his dried lips.
***
A few days ago….
A cafe near the headquarters of the Association.
Kahng Tae-Sik asked the moment he settled down in his seat.
“What business do you have with me?”
The middle-aged man sitting his opposite side seemed rather haggard for some reason.
‘He said that he’s an owner of some company, didn’t he?’
Kahng Tae-Sik definitely did not know who this man was. However, he still decided to free up some time after this man continued to call him on the phone, sounding quite desperate and all.
The middle-aged man muttered as if he was speaking to himself.
“I’ve heard that no one knows what happens exactly inside dungeons.”
The man’s voice was so soft that Kahng Tae-Sik had to ask again.
“What did you say?”
“This is every cent I have in my name.’
The man suddenly presented his bank account book.
Kahng Tae-Sik alternated his gaze between the book and the man’s face, before confirming the bank balance printed on the book’s pages.
There was a substantial amount of ₩2,000,000,000 printed there.
“And why are you showing me this?”
When Kahng Tae-Sik formed a questioning expression, the middle-aged man’s head dropped lower.
“Among the criminals you’re in charge of, there is one who had hurt my little girl. Because of that, she took her own life, and my wife is still in the hospital from the shock.”
The middle-aged man’s voice became tearful.
“Yet, such a b*stard will be able to roam the streets again in a few years’ time…. You think I’ll be able to rest easy knowing that?”
The man raised his sorrow and rage-filled face.
“I’m sure you can already tell what I’m implying here.”
The man lowered his head again.
“I beg of you, Hunter-nim!!”
A deafening silence descended between these two men.
Kahng Tae-Sik leaned against the back of his chair and fell into a deep contemplation.
Only after a long while passed by did he open his mouth again.
“Can you guess why I chose to work for the Association’s Monitoring Division?”
“Pardon me?”
The middle-aged man raised his head.
Kahng Tae-Sik explained himself.
“As a B-rank Hunter, I’m considered as one of the higher ranked Hunters. Large Guilds continue to send their scouting offers in my direction all the time. Yet, can you guess why I persist in doing this job while getting a pittance in return?”
“I… I don’t know.”
The corners of Kahng Tae-Sik’s lips arched up.
“You see, I… I find it more enjoyable to fight against people rather than monsters.”
In that sense, the Monitoring Division was like the heaven-sent job for Kahng Tae-Sik.
Well, he could beat up other Hunters in the name of the law, after all. And he’d end up killing one or two due to unavoidable circumstances, too.
‘Due to unavoidable circumstances….. Eh.’
Kahng Tae-Sik inwardly smiled and spoke.
“Stepping on that insect you told me about isn’t going to be difficult at all. However, there will be other Hunters inside the dungeon besides the insect, as well. I might view that b*stard as an insect, but will other Hunters think that way, I wonder?”
The middle-aged man formed a disappointed expression after hearing Kahng Tae-Sik’s rather pessimistic-sounding words.
And here he was, thinking that he’d finally get to avenge the death of his little girl. It felt like the heavens were crashing down on top of him.
However, Kahng Tae-Sik formed a sinister smile as if to mock the other man.
“This money, plus one billion Won on top of that, to deal with the other Hunters as well. Can you do it?”
***
However, if a Re-Awakened Hunter was among those ‘other Hunters’, then the amount of 3 billion Won was not quite enough. Well, his own life was on the line, after all.
The self-proclaimed rank E Hunter was still emitting a sharp, observant air even now. He looked as if he’d seize any slight opening there was.
Kahng Tae-Sik swallowed his saliva.
‘I can’t take him lightly.’
Kahng Tae-Sik was confident of winning here. He had never lost a single one-on-one fight even before he underwent the Awakening process.
However, even though he could win, it would not be an easy victory at all.
Right now, he had to revise his plans ever so slightly.
With a nice timing, the rank E Hunters asked a question.
“Those convicts… Why did you kill them?”
“The father of a girl who was raped by those b*stards came to ask me for the favour. Those b*stards were animals worthy of getting killed. And I simply took care of animals that hurt other people, that was all.”
The rank E Hunter was listening without saying anything. It seemed quite likely that talking might work here. Kahng Tae-Sik went straight to persuading the other man.
“Although the matter had come down to this, I don’t wish to hurt you. How about ignoring today’s matter altogether? As long as we make this deal here, I promise I won’t try anything to you and your group.”
Of course, he couldn’t let a potential source of trouble fester.
That was why Kahng Tae-Sik was thinking. There was a chance that a head-on fight would result in him getting badly injured, so he’d get out of here first, wait for an opportune moment, and dispose of all the witnesses one at the time.
However, the rank E Hunter snorted derisively.
“You should’ve said those things before you tried your little tricks. You want us to ignore everything just because you failed your sneak attack?”
That man didn’t say anything wrong there.
Kahng Tae-Sik smirked in dumbfoundedness.
‘In the end, you want to have a go, is that it?’
Well, in that case, he’d have to go all out, then.
The light shimmering in Kahng Tae-Sik’s eyes became colder. His sharp glare quickly swept across the rank E Hunter top to bottom. And his forehead creased up for a second.
‘Where did he get his dagger from?’
Since before he had noticed it, the E-rank Hunter was holding a dagger.
‘Well… It shouldn’t be too important, is it?’
It didn’t matter where that weapon came from, indeed. What’s important here, though, was the type of the weapon.
Kahng Tae-Sik’s quickly concluded his assessment.
The class that used daggers and utilised quick movements; his opponent was a super-close type damage dealer.
Most likely, his speciality was ‘assassination’.
What a coincidence that their specialities happened to be the same.
However, this guy only underwent his Re-Awakening not too long ago. The difference in experience should be absolutely massive. He might not even be able to properly utilise the skills at his disposal.
“Let me teach you a thing or two as your senior.”
Kahng Tae-Sik extracted a knife from his hips and smirked derisively at the rank E Hunter.
“Can you do something like this?”
And then, Kahng Tae-Sik activated his ‘Stealth’ skill, thereby disappearing from the spot.
That caused the rank E Hunter to get flustered and he hurriedly looked around his vicinity. Kahng Tae-Sik could see his naked panic and confusion quite clearly.
‘But, that’s so obvious.’
The ‘Stealth’ skill didn’t only make one’s body go transparent.
The body, the sound, and even the smell!
The skill that cloaked everything about the person activating it!
That was the ‘Stealth’ skill in a nutshell.
There were only a handful of assassin-type Hunters who could use this skill in the entire world.
Utterly unrelated to one’s ranks, you just had to be a lucky few who unlocked this skill when going through the Awakening process.
‘Let’s end this in one hit!’
Kahng Tae-Sik swiftly moved to the rear of the E-rank Hunter. His back was wide open, unguarded.
‘This is the end.’
He was expecting to engage in a bitter battle, but it turned out to be a rather simple fight in the end. If the opponent was getting ready to counter the Stealth skill, then it’d not be this easy at all.
As expected, the difference in experience decided the victor today.
‘Die!’
Kang Tae-Sik’s knife aimed at the spot just below the E-rank Hunter’s ribs and powerfully stabbed forward.
However!!
Clang!!
Two daggers collided in the air and sparks flew off.
With his Stealth skill deactivated, one could now see Kahng Tae-Sik’s wide open eyes.
“What?! But how!!”
The E-rank Hunter’s dagger had accurately blocked off his own dagger.
Unable to hide his shock, Kahng Tae-Sik raised his eyes and looked up at the E-rank Hunter’s face.
And that Hunter opened his mouth with a totally unimpressed face.
“Oh, so now you decide to pop up.”
“Wha-what did you say?”
Unable to understand the words of this rank E Hunter, Kahng Tae-Sik suddenly felt this inexplicable fear in his heart.
***
Tti-ring!
[Emergency Quest: Kill all the enemies!]
There are lifeforms holding murderous intentions towards the ‘Player’. Kill them all in order to secure your own safety. If you do not follow this instruction, a corresponding penalty will be given.
The number of enemies left to kill: 1
The number of killed enemies: 0
Jin-Woo confirmed the Emergency Quest message and breathed a sigh of relief.
‘It wasn’t a waste of time.’
He was kinda worried, that if Kahng Tae-Sik didn’t take the initiative, Jin-Woo wouldn’t receive the Emergency Quest notification. It was quite unlike how it was with Hwang Dong-Seok and his gang back then.
That was why he tested the System out, and it was as he expected.
The moment Kahng Tae-Sik revealed his murderous intent, the message popped up.
He wasn’t just mindlessly chatting with the guy, or revealing his ‘panic’, or showing off openings for nothing until now.
‘I really didn’t know he could use Stealth, though….’
Actually, when Kahng Tae-Sik did disappear in front of his eyes, Jin-Woo was slightly taken aback.
Well, ‘Stealth’ was a pretty rare skill, after all.
But, when he concentrated a bit harder, he easily and accurately sensed Kahng Tae-Sik’s every movement. So much so that he could close his eyes and still find his target with no problem.
This was the effect of his enhanced Perception Stat.
He continued to invest on this Stat just so he could tell whether he should fight or flight, but today, he learned of a new use for it.
‘I got lucky.’
Thanks to that, Kahng Tae-Sik was getting shocked out of his mind as if he had seen the ghosts of his ancestors.
“But, how?!”
And now, when Jin-Woo takes care of this murdering b*stard, he’d be able to enjoy the quest’s delicious rewards.
‘If I’m going to fight anyway, then I might as well get everything I’m supposed to, no?’
It was his turn now.
From now on, he’d start attacking for real.
The two daggers locked in a deadly embrace continued to push against each other.
It seemed that their strength was about the same.
It was here when Jin-Woo’s eyes gleamed dangerously.
‘In that case, should I find an opening somewhere else?’
Jin-Woo’s leg moved in an instant, and he stomped on Kahng Tae-Sik’s foot.
STOMP!!
“Uwaahk?!”
< Chapter 32 > Fin.
Total Chapters in book: 270
Estimated words: 886135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 4431(@200wpm)___ 3545(@250wpm)___ 2954(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 886135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 4431(@200wpm)___ 3545(@250wpm)___ 2954(@300wpm)
______