Volume 1, Episode 19
019
Tap!
I Seojun rushed like an arrow toward Iron Turk.
“Kuwuaaaaaak!”
Soon, as the distance closed, two tearing sounds that ripped through the air overlapped and boomed out loudly.
They were.
Swhaaaak!
I Seojun’s fist.
Booooong!
And Iron Turk’s massive fist.
Kwaang!
As the two fists drew closer to each other, an explosive roar soon rang out.
“Kuwuak!”
Iron Turk clutched his abdomen and let out a roar filled with agony.
Kuung!
Pushed back with a bewildered expression, he reflexively dropped to one knee on the ground.
The impact from I Seojun’s fist had ruptured his internal organs, robbing him of the strength to stand in an instant.
Hooooong!
A fierce tearing sound rang out in succession.
“……!”
At that, Iron Turk hurriedly raised both massive arms above his head.
At that moment.
Jiiiiiing.
A grayish energy swirled over both of Iron Turk’s arms.
This was the solid defense that Iron Turk boasted.
Kwaang!
I Seojun’s leg clashed against Iron Turk’s guard, sending out a shockwave.
Kwaang!
Once.
Kwaang!
Twice.
Kwaang!
And just as the explosion was about to ring out a third time.
“Kuwuaaak!”
Iron Turk released a rough roar.
And after blocking I Seojun’s incoming kick with a guard stance.
Kwaang!
He swung his arm with all his might, sending I Seojun flying backward.
“Keuk.”
I Seojun frowned and let out a groan.
Sent flying through the air, he spun and landed on the ground.
“Those arms. Quite troublesome.”
I Seojun looked at Iron Turk and muttered to himself.
—At this rate, my mind will collapse first.
Muttering to himself was a habit born of necessity, a desperate struggle to keep from going mad on the lonely planet of Lumere.
It had lasted until now, becoming an indelible mark that could not be fixed.
Sswish!
I Seojun quickly moved somewhere.
“……!”
Where he headed was a Hunter who had been watching this scene.
Tap!
I Seojun drew the sword from the man’s waist and rushed at Iron Turk.
Booooong!
Iron Turk’s fist swung toward I Seojun.
And moments later.
“Keuk!”
The moment a groan burst from I Seojun’s mouth.
“Kuwuaaak!”
Iron Turk clutched one arm and let out a roar filled with excruciating pain.
—Puk!
Iron Turk’s guard, which was quite formidable.
To prevent that, and to make the guy think his attack had succeeded, I Seojun deliberately let his fist graze him.
Then he plunged the sword he was holding deep into the fist.
After that.
Ssswhack!
Iron Turk’s once-solid guard was never seen again.
It had been completely sealed by I Seojun’s unique fighting style.
Srug!
And soon, a chilly cutting sound rang out as one of Iron Turk’s massive arms was severed.
“……!”
Those who were watching.
‘A beast.’
The Hunters of Tyrion thought of a single word.
Though there were not many high-level individuals among them, they were experienced, having seen and heard much.
But none of the Hunters they knew fought like that.
“Kuwuaaaaaak!”
Iron Turk clutched his severed arm and let out a roar of pain.
Puuuuk!
I Seojun plunged his blade deep into Iron Turk’s chest.
Eyes and movements that feared not getting wounded, thinking only of killing the opponent.
They had already been overwhelmed upon seeing a fragment of the power I Seojun possessed.
But now, they were overwhelmed in another sense.
Boss monster.
“Kuwo, uuuak.”
Iron Turk.
The one who had always been tirelessly hunting his prey was now showing fear as he was being hunted.
It was only natural.
His specialty, his solid defense, had been completely sealed.
Kuung!
And soon, Iron Turk closed both eyes and collapsed powerlessly to the ground.
“…….”
A silent stillness.
Many were watching this scene, but no one could easily open their mouths.
They had been overwhelmed by the battle I Seojun had shown.
“R-really….”
After a brief moment, one Hunter spoke with a trembling voice.
“Did he really do this alone?”
The Gate’s rank was C.
The skill I Seojun showed was close to A-rank.
It was not strange for an A-rank to deal with a C-rank boss monster, but.
“How much time has passed?”
“Te… no, seven minutes…”
It was not something that could be hunted in such a short time.
Especially since Iron Turk was originally an opponent that required five or six Hunters to swarm for an hour.
“…….”
I Seojun did something toward the fallen boss monster.
I Seojun did not look very pleased.
“……!”
Just as everyone was in shock.
“Ha….”
There was one who was filled with delight.
“Haha….”
It was Yun Hyeongi.
A newbie who had just become a Hunter and finished the tutorial, I Seojun.
The overwhelming power such a Hunter had shown.
“Good work.”
If that guy was there, it might truly be possible.
—The thing called a sovereign.
Even the guild master of Tyrion, who had thought it a vain dream.
* * *
After the Gate raid ended and they came outside, the raid leader Yun Hyeongi gathered everyone in one place.
“…….”
The reason Yun Hyeongi had gathered them.
“Now that the Gate raid is over, we need to settle what we’ve obtained.”
This was what the raid members had been waiting for the most.
“Since there are fewer people, each person’s share will be larger than usual.”
The economic activity of Hunters.
It was accomplished through what was obtained from the Gate.
Sswish.
Yun Hyeongi pointed at the things laid out on the ground with his finger and spoke.
“I’ve sent the item list and quantities to the Tyrion guild, so once it’s settled, it will be deposited into each person’s account soon.”
Iron Orc leather, Iron Orc armor fragments, and other basic things obtainable from a C-rank Gate.
“Huh?”
But the most important thing was missing.
Among the things obtainable from a Gate, the one that could be sold for the highest price.
Something created when the mana within concentrated in one place as the Gate was cleared.
“But where is the magic stone?”
Magic stone.
It was nowhere to be seen.
Just as questions were rising on the raid members’ faces.
Thump. Thump.
Yun Hyeongi strode up to someone.
Sswish.
And he took something out from inside his clothes and held it out.
“Here.”
Yun Hyeongi handed the glowing green magic stone to I Seojun.
Normally, the magic stone should have been sent to Tyrion and divided among everyone here, but this time it could not be helped.
—Hand over the magic stone.
The contract he had made with the one who bound him.
Since I Seojun wanted the magic stone, he had to hand it over.
Sswish.
Everyone’s gaze turned to I Seojun, who was holding the magic stone.
They naturally knew the value of the magic stone.
Tremble. Tremble.
Because of that, their pupils shook slightly.
The fact that this was being handed over to I Seojun.
Gulp.
It meant the money that would have entered their pockets was now going to I Seojun.
“…….”
But none of them voiced any complaints.
No.
“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he cleared it alone.”
They could not voice complaints.
Because I Seojun had hunted many monsters alone and even slain the boss monster.
They could not deny Yun Hyeongi’s words.
“…….”
Bathed in everyone’s attention, I Seojun put the magic stone inside his clothes with a blank expression.
“Shall I give you a ride?”
Seeing that, Yun Hyeongi spoke to him.
At that, I Seojun shook his head.
“Do you have somewhere to stop by?”
Looking at the silent I Seojun, Yun Hyeongi thought.
‘Is he going to buy some jellies or something?’
The unusual card usage history.
Since it was an appearance unbefitting of the guy, he might not want to show it.
Nod.
I Seojun nodded slightly as if annoyed.
And just as he was about to leave.
“Wait a moment.”
Yun Hyeongi grabbed I Seojun and spoke.
“You don’t have to worry about the raid members.”
The unsavory incident that had occurred inside the Gate.
“I can handle that much myself. As you showed, now it’s my turn.”
At the confident voice, I Seojun finally opened his mouth.
“You should.”
His heart, which had been burning with anxiety, sank.
“A warning?”
Because I Seojun’s words sounded like a warning.
A warning to prove your usefulness, or else you could be discarded at any time.
“Interpret it however you want.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
He must not forget.
That though the hierarchy was set, the subordinate also had much to gain.
‘This is just another business.’
Just a business with a lot at stake.
“Go safe.”
Yun Hyeongi spoke, looking at I Seojun’s back as he left.
Thud.
I Seojun passed through the noisy street and entered a dark alley.
No one could even tell where his destination was.
As he continued forward.
“…….”
He arrived at an alley where even the common streetlights were few in number.
Late at night, it was so quiet that one wouldn’t think this was Seoul.
To the point where someone could be buried without anyone knowing….
Whiiing.
The only thing ringing in his ears was the sound of the wind.
It was then.
Sneer.
The corners of I Seojun’s mouth curled up.
Behind him.
Ssswhack!
Sharp noises poured down.
Crack!
And the sound of flesh being struck rang out.
I Seojun’s hand, transformed into a Hobgoblin’s arm, held the sword enveloped in blue energy.
“As expected….”
A voice came from the opposite side.
And flickering eyes.
“Your Awakening rank is D-rank?”
It was another predator.
“How do you get things done?”
Kim Seungmin, team leader of the Hunter Management Department, was glaring at I Seojun.
* * *
Not yet. There shouldn’t be many who noticed him yet.
Even if it was inevitably revealed, he had to delay that time as much as possible.
—Silla Research Institute.
Before finding out those guys’ true nature, he must not show his own.
So he had refrained from revealing his strength as much as possible to hide his identity.
—If even the smallest thing leaked….
If he revealed his power, attention would surely be drawn.
If that happened, the chances of becoming the research institute’s target would be high, and in the end, the probability of his identity being revealed or colliding with them would increase….
—Those guys definitely know.
Therefore, until he grew his weak body, he had to hide his identity.
Because the time was not yet ripe.
—It will be nearly impossible to find out.
He had even made a few manipulations through I Hyeonu.
Since he had infiltrated even government agencies known for their excellent security, he had shown confidence in his abilities.
He believed in the certainty of his words and the binding force of the contract.
If so.
‘So his instincts are sharp.’
Such guys exist everywhere.
On the planet Lumere or anywhere else, those with sharp instincts who see what others cannot.
Those who realize hidden things.
Sswisk.
I Seojun’s narrowly opened eyes turned to Kim Seungmin, who stood facing him.
Click.
Then Kim Seungmin sheathed his weapon and spoke to him.
“Excuse me.”
A polite tone unlike before.
“I am Kim Seungmin, team leader of the Hunter Management Department under the Republic of Korea Hunter Association.”
He even spoke while lightly bowing his head.
“You are Hunter I Seojun, correct?”
Moreover, he asked even though he already knew everything.
“I don’t think that’s something you ask after attacking me out of nowhere.”
At that, I Seojun spoke, sending a sharp gaze.
Sneer.
But Kim Seungmin smiled.
“Do you know how serious a crime it is to falsify one’s Hunter rank?”
He did not back down.
‘That’s right.’
There are people like this.
Those with astonishingly good instincts.
Those who thought they had become something by devouring countless prey with that instinct.
Their words were always one of two things.
“You.”
Either become great.
“Just what are you.”
Or die.
It was a dark night, and as mentioned before, an eerie night where someone could be buried without anyone knowing.
The greatest villain of all time had returned.