Chapter 9
“Huh…? Did the senior always listen to me? Since when?”
Confused by what Nara had just said, I slowly blinked.
“You probably never noticed. He always listened whenever it was you.”
I searched my memories of our days at the Hunter Training Academy.
But nothing came to mind.
It’s not like I had been close to him.
I could barely remember exchanging more than a few words with him.
“Leaving that aside… how am I supposed to meet him when even you can’t? Isn’t he staying on the top floor of the Hunter Association building?”
“You know our academy alumni reunion is held every February, right?!”
“He’ll come if you do.”
“…You want me to go to the reunion?”
The moment I heard the words “alumni reunion,” I instinctively sighed.
After all…
The people who used to bully me at the academy attended that reunion every single year.
“They’re still holding the reunion with everything that’s happening?”
Nara shrugged.
“When have Hunters ever worried about things like that?”
“We’re people who might die tomorrow.”
“It’s better to enjoy today.”
Seeing me hesitate, Nara suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me.
“I already told Kang Jinseo you’d be coming!”
“If you don’t come, I’m really doomed!”
“You already told Senior?!”
“Yep!”
“You know how long I tried to recruit him.”
“He refused because he hated the entertainment industry.”
“That’s why I even started my own guild!”
“…Do you really think Senior would attend a reunion he’s never shown up to before… just because I’m going?”
“I’d bet everything I own that he will.”
As far as I knew…
Since graduating from the academy, he’d never attended a single reunion.
I didn’t think he even kept in touch with his classmates.
So where was this incredible confidence coming from?
I simply couldn’t understand Nara’s expression.
“You’ll come, right?”
“You will, right?”
It wasn’t a favor I particularly wanted to do.
But it was the very first favor Nara had ever asked of me.
Considering everything I owed her…
I’d happily repay her ten times over.
“…Okay.”
“Thank you!”
“You’re the best!”
She covered her mouth with both hands to stop herself from cheering too loudly.
Then she glanced at her watch.
“Aah! I’m going to miss my flight!”
“Make sure you eat properly!”
“You’ve gotten even skinnier since last time.”
Just as she reached for the doorknob…
I hurriedly stopped her.
“S-Sister!”
“Hm?”
“Wait!”
“Just one minute!”
I dashed into the workshop.
Taking out a small spray bottle, I carefully filled it.
I wanted to give her the floral water left over from making the oil earlier.
I’d always felt indebted to her.
This was the perfect opportunity to give her something in return.
Besides…
The effect attached to the floral water seemed perfect for her.
“Here!”
I couldn’t help smiling.
The first item I’d ever created with my new skill…
Was going to the person I cared about most.
“The air inside airplanes is really dry.”
“Use this as a facial mist.”
Nara immediately opened the bottle and smelled it.
A bright smile spread across her face.
“Lavender?”
“Yep.”
“It’s your favorite.”
“Thanks, little sis.”
“I’ll use it well.”
“I made it in a hurry, so there isn’t much.”
“If you need more, just tell me.”
“You always give me gifts.”
“This is enough.”
“No.”
“This one’s a little different.”
Standing in the doorway, I waved goodbye as she left the shop.
High-Quality Byproduct (Floral Water) Completed!
Byproducts receive an additional skill effect.
Sight Lv.1: Remove
Removes visible imperfections from the area where it is applied.
Can be used on freckles, blemishes, small scars, wrinkles, and similar imperfections.
Meanwhile…
Hunter Association Headquarters
Top Floor
Although the sun had already risen…
Not a single ray of light entered the bedroom.
Heavy curtains completely blocked the morning sunlight.
The air itself felt oppressive.
The room contained almost no furniture.
Only a large bed stood in the center.
Surrounding it were rows of cutting-edge medical devices.
Thin tubes extended from the machines, connecting to the man lying on the bed.
His arms.
His legs.
His neck.
Even his forehead.
The transparent liquid flowing through those tubes shimmered with a faint blue glow.
It looked like tiny stars drifting through the Milky Way.
The liquid circulating through his veins…
Was Holy Water produced by an S-rank healer known as the Saint?
It was said to temporarily slow the progression of mana poisoning by cleansing mana residue from the blood and muscles.
Because of that…
Holy Water cost whatever its owner demanded.
The only reason this man could afford to have it continuously pumped through his body…
It was because he was Kang Jinseo, one of South Korea’s S-rank Hunters.
Whir… Whir… Beep… Beep…
The room was filled with the low humming of medical equipment.
The soft blue light from the monitors illuminated Jinseo’s pale face.
Even while asleep…
Pain showed in the deep crease between his brows.
The stronger he became…
The more severe his mana poisoning grew.
It had become chains he could never escape.
Slowly consuming both his body and mind.
“…Ugh…”
Memories from the Gate flooded his mind like lightning.
The screams of monsters.
The pain of flesh being torn apart.
The suffocating pressure.
The overwhelming tension.
Those memories returned vividly…
Again…
And again…
Carving into his mind.
Then…
The clock struck 7:00 a.m.
The curtains automatically opened.
Warm morning sunlight poured into the room.
Jinseo slowly opened his eyes, waking from the nightmare.
“…Haa…”
He sighed as he removed the needles connected to his body.
Cold sweat covered his face.
As he sat up…
The thin blanket slipped away.
His perfectly sculpted upper body was revealed.
Deep scars stretched across his side and back.
Countless smaller wounds covered the rest of him.
His body itself told the story of his life.
Just then…
The AI assistant spoke.
Emergency summons from the Chairman’s Office.
At the same time…
The television turned on automatically.
Breaking news was already playing.
Representatives from twenty countries, along with leaders of the world’s major guilds, have arrived at the Korean Hunter Association, demanding an immediate announcement regarding Korea’s support plans. As this was not an official diplomatic visit…
“I told them not to call me today.”
The Chairman asked me to apologize. He says the matter is extremely urgent.
A slight frown appeared on Jinseo’s face.
His right hand repeatedly clenched and relaxed.
The previous day…
He had solo-cleared an AA-rank gate.
Then spent several more hours fighting inside the maze gate.
The effects of mana poisoning varied from person to person.
For Jinseo…
It caused numbness in the ends of his limbs.
Only now was his body beginning to react.
In truth…
His mind had long since reached its limit.
Yet…
There was one reason he had managed to endure this long.
“Tell them to wait until I’m ready.”
Understood.
Jinseo rose from the bed.
Walking toward the enormous floor-to-ceiling window that occupied one wall…
He looked down over Seoul.
Far below…
He could see the Hunter Training Academy where he had grown up.
He had never been the type to enjoy looking out windows.
The reason he always stood there after waking…
It was because of someone who had once lived in that building.
Jinseo slowly inhaled…
Then exhaled.
For just a moment…
He felt like the young boy he had once been.
The boy who secretly watched a pair of small shoulders gently rise and fall beneath the green trees outside.
After checking the time one last time…
He headed for the shower.
A little later…
Fully dressed…
Jinseo entered the private elevator leading directly to the chairman’s office.
Although everything appeared normal…
A faint crease remained between his brows.
The headache that had begun the moment he woke up still lingered.
Even the elevator’s AI noticed.
It appears you are experiencing a headache. Sedatives can cause headaches and other side effects. Your current dosage has already exceeded the recommended limit.
“Get me something stronger.”
Higher dosages require a consultation with your physician.
“…Schedule one.”
An appointment request will be sent to Director Seong.
Jinseo walked toward the conference room where Chairman Maeng was waiting.
The moment Chairman Maeng spotted him…
He rushed over anxiously.
“I tried to make them wait!”
“But they insisted on seeing you!”
“I had no choice!”
“You understand, right?”
“It’s not like I wanted to interrupt your rest.”
“…”
“Could you at least go inside and tell them you’re reviewing their proposals?”
“Just that.”
“Nothing else.”
“Please.”
“Fine.”
The moment Jinseo entered the conference room…
Dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward him.
The noisy room instantly fell silent.
Jinseo smiled faintly.
Normally…
These same countries had looked down on Korea and treated Korean hunters unfairly.
Seeing them now staring at him with desperate eyes…
He couldn’t suppress a smile.
He finally spoke.
“I’ll help whichever country makes the best offer first.”
“What?!”
“So while the whole world stands on the brink of destruction…”
“You’re planning to make money?”
It was the Chinese representative.
Apparently…
He had forgotten that when Korea once requested emergency assistance…
His own country had openly demanded payment first.
Jinseo looked directly at him.
Then calmly replied.
“The ones in a hurry…”
“…aren’t Korean.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
Everyone stared at him.
This was Kang Jinseo.
The man known as the machine that cleared Gates.
The hunter who had always rushed to any gate without hesitation.
Yet now…
He was saying this.
Representatives from every nation, who had expected Korea’s help at a bargain price…
Fell speechless.
“S-So you’re saying countries without money should simply die when dungeon breaks happen?!”
“A good offer…”
“Doesn’t necessarily mean money.”
“…Then what?”
“It could be…”
“…a healthy knee.”
The conference room once again became so quiet…
It felt as though someone had poured ice water over everyone.
