Chapter 65: Hadong
“Hmm….”
I took a moment to pick my words.
Of course, Kang Chang-ho, being the impatient Korean he is, didn’t wait for me.
“Well, your actual rank isn’t particularly important anyway.”
Wait, what?
“The requirements for enhancement can be temporarily raised with Gate equipment, you know.”
“Uh, really?”
“You can easily apply it even for F-Class.”
The standards are surprisingly low.
Kang Chang-ho kept rambling with his arms crossed. My hands started sweating again.
So, completing conditions is easy anytime.
“Then why hasn’t that been done until now?”
At that moment, a short question popped into my mind.
If he had S-Class power, forcing equipment into place and killing the other Awakened should have been easy.
Why has he kept me alive?
“Well, that’s…”
Kang Chang-ho raised an eyebrow as if asking why I was asking something so obvious.
“An ethical issue?”
What in the world now?
“You guys tend to treat people like they’re the worst scum, but I have a sense of ethics too.”
“…. ”
“Then how can I just kill an innocent Hunter?”
“Is that so?”
“When using enhancement, I intend to reach an agreement with the person as much as possible.”
That’s the most sensible thing I’ve heard today.
“What if the other party insists they don’t want it, even after trying to reach an agreement?”
To give an example of negotiations falling through, the true nature of the S-Class Hunter was revealed.
“That’s something to think about.”
Kang Chang-ho never mentioned giving up.
“I’ve never faced this kind of situation before. Hmm, I’ve never coveted another’s skill throughout my life.”
“Even with enhancement?”
“Actually, there’s a pretty tight limit on how often it can be used. Since I have to use it carefully, most abilities don’t seem appealing…”
What in the world does he think I am?
But whatever it is, denying it now wouldn’t convince him. Kang Chang-ho seems to have some form of conviction already.
If so, any further conversation would be meaningless.
With a deep sigh, I got up.
“Are you going to leave like this? So, what’s your answer to my proposal?”
Amidst this, the relaxed tone of the other party pierced my ears, but I ignored him and turned to leave the cafe.
Let him get angry if he wants.
After all, I have death looming close, so I can’t afford to care.
‘How long will Kang Chang-ho’s precious sense of ethics last?’
I started checking for ossuary reservations on my phone as I left the unpleasant coffee shop.
I might die soon, so I should secure a place in advance.
*
After Kim Gi-ryeo left.
Similarly, Kang Chang-ho stretched lightly after leaving the cafe.
It had been a long time since he’d tasted brand coffee.
‘I haven’t been to a place like this in a while.’
Indeed, at such times, he felt envy for the F-Class.
The staff wouldn’t be shivering and scattering change, and no one would faint from just a moment of distraction.
So this is why that Hunter drops his awakening level everywhere.
“Hah.”
Kang Chang-ho mulled over the earlier conversation.
Seriously, it was quite amusing.
To calmly endure the pressure of S-Class while steadfastly insisting on being a low-ranking Awakened.
‘Moreover, an F-Class at the absolute bottom.’
A true F-Class would at least pretend to think hard about the earlier proposal. They wouldn’t be able to talk carelessly out of fear of the S-Class.
But Kim Gi-ryeo?
He flat-out refused with glaring eyes.
‘So reckless.’
As Kang Chang-ho walked, he contemplated.
First of all, it was certain that Kim Gi-ryeo met the conditions for enhancement.
The problem was…
If he might be exceeding this condition to a significant degree.
‘He killed the Grid, so at the very least, he’s A-Class. But is that really all there is to it?’
Kang Chang-ho quietly replayed his opponent’s last actions.
-Whew.
-Are you going to leave like this?
With eyes as sharp as a dry birch, that Hunter had responded to his own question like this.
-….
As if deeming it not even worth replying, he let out a dry glance at him.
Because of that glare, Kang Chang-ho realized one fact.
That guy thinks he can handle an S-Class in his head.
Otherwise, there’s no way he would show such arrogance. Yeah, if someone with enhancement were to charge at him, it would be a big deal.
“Hmmm.”
The more he speculated, the more hazy the truth became.
What could Kim Gi-ryeo’s actual rank be?
‘He took down the Grid while simultaneously getting kidnapped by mere nobodies.’
Above the standards of enhancement?
Below?
Perhaps he could even reach S-Class levels.
‘No way that could happen.’
Kang Chang-ho decided to consider the possibility that he might be stronger than him.
*
A few days later.
“Is the repair already done?”
Inside the Temporary Shelter Tent.
As I was having a meal of boiled eggs, I received exciting news.
The renovation of the studio unit had finally finished.
To repair a building that had been half demolished in under a month? The Earth’s sorcerers are pretty capable too.
“Then I’ll move back in tomorrow. Yes! Please go ahead, landlord.”
After finishing the call.
As I quietly packed up, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
‘In the end, nothing happened.’
It had been a week since I rejected that S-Class proposal.
Contrary to expectations that the other party would strike soon, this week had been nothing but peaceful.
Yet I couldn’t entirely rejoice in this calm.
Kang Chang-ho would still be keeping watch during this moment!
‘A calm before the storm.’
What terrified me even more was the fact that I hadn’t figured out how he was monitoring me!
At least it couldn’t be like Seonwoo-yeon’s Seocher skill since that wouldn’t allow him to know the target’s condition.
But it was quite strange if you put it that way.
No matter how out of shape I might be, I shouldn’t be unable to notice even a primitive sorcerer following me.
‘In this vicinity, I can’t sense Kang Chang-ho’s magic. Not now, nor any time before.’
Unless he approached me himself, could he have used a tool?
Listening devices, tracking devices, surveillance cameras.
As Kim Gi-ryeo’s brain jumped from possibility to possibility, I shook my head.
“If something like that was stuck on me, I would’ve noticed much sooner.”
That leaves only two remaining possibilities.
First, he monitored me with Earth technology that I was unaware of.
Second, the ‘Dragon’s Eye’ is the problem.
“Hmmm.”
Personally, I leaned towards the latter.
Reflecting on the first meeting with Kang Chang-ho, I had a rough idea.
‘He’s “watching” something from Kim Gi-ryeo’s corpse. That’s how he’s pinpointing my location.’
If this hypothesis is true, there might not be as much invasion of privacy as I initially feared.
If he had to see it with his own eyes to find my location, then he must be on top of some tall building right now.
“Dragon’s Eye, huh?”
Tap tap tap.
As I folded my spare clothes, I fell into deep thought.
“If I could deceive that thing…”
Kang Chang-ho, for whatever reason, hesitated to activate the enhancement.
And I happen to know some good magic to use when escaping a tracker.
Isn’t this the perfect situation?
“Let’s go for it!”
I clenched my fists and reached my conclusion.
While the holder of that enhancement is distracted, I’ll make a run for it.
But there was a major problem with this plan.
“Ah.”
What the heck. I realized I didn’t have any magic boosters left!
“Why does it suddenly keep getting complicated?”
Well, considering I’ve been chugging them non-stop, it was about time they ran out.
‘It can’t be helped.’
Still, there’s nothing too concerning.
Most of the materials had some spare, so I’d only need to restock one or two types.
But what a disaster. One of those is already extinct.
“What?!”
I raised my voice suddenly.
The shocking result popped up as I searched for information through the Hunter Association app.
The gates, which were key to drug manufacturing, had all been conquered and disappeared!
‘No way! Without the [Nest of the Murder Hornets], I can’t complete the potion…’
My heart sank at that moment.
However, after changing the regional settings to all and searching again, the information I wanted came up quickly.
Phew.
‘What was I so worried about for no reason.’
It had just disappeared only in Seoul; other areas still had Murder Hornet nests left.
Let’s see. Then the detailed locations are…
‘Gyeongsangnam-do Hadong-gun and Gyeongsangbuk-do Gumi-si. One each, huh?’
Both places are unfamiliar. Well, I guess for an alien, any spot on Earth would feel that way.
“Hadong, Hadong.”
At that moment, for some reason, the term Hadong nagged at my mind.
‘I’m sure I saw the word Hadong somewhere while searching…’
But no matter how long I pondered, I couldn’t pinpoint it.
So, I just shrugged off the déjà vu and packed my bag.
Since I couldn’t recall it well, it was probably useless web surfing anyway.
*
On the way back to Kim Gi-ryeo’s studio.
Blink blink.
The traffic light flickers yellow.
‘Let’s go at the next signal.’
I came to a calm stop.
With an F-Class being so fragile that it could die from a gentle push, caution around the cars is basic common sense.
“…….”
And at that moment.
A familiar face came into my view as I waited for the signal.
“Hmm?”
Long black hair down to the waist. And that distinctive neat attire. No way I could miss it.
‘Seonwoo-yeon.’
An Association Employee.
I followed the Earthling with my eyes absently.
Then, I observed a somewhat unusual action.
That Earthling, across the intersection, was holding loads of packages in both hands.
‘Ah.’
Seonwoo-yeon spoke something to an elderly woman standing beside her.
The elderly woman nodded, and Seonwoo-yeon then knelt down to carry her on her back.
Afterward, well, as expected.
“I’m sorry. We should have fixed this quickly, but the road was all dug up, and it was uncomfortable for you, right?”
“Oh no, it’s alright. Thank you for your help, young student.”
“Can I leave the packages here?”
With Seonwoo-yeon’s help, the elderly woman successfully crossed the crosswalk. That was it.
Yet I couldn’t take my eyes off them.
‘The Earthlings still have a sense of conscience.’
My hometown. Alphauri.
Citizens of that planet have had their ethical sense wrecked in many ways.
It was hard to find so-called ‘kind’ people there.
Many social analyses have shown different reasons, but in any case, the advanced growth of magic didn’t just bring about good effects.
‘Our planet has long lost any altruistic genes.’
Thanks to this, I felt a surge of nostalgia every time I saw a scene like this.
‘How nice.’
I felt a small fondness for Seonwoo-yeon’s actions.
And at that moment, the traffic light turned green.
Crossing the street, I ended up face-to-face with Seonwoo-yeon.
She had been standing there all along, seeing the old woman off.
“Ms. Seonwoo-yeon, hello.”
“Uh.”
“It’s been a while. Where are you headed?”
I casually greeted her. Even I was amazed at my own smoothness.
Wow, who would suspect I’m an alien after seeing this?
“I’m just out to grab a meal. The association is on lunch break right now.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Today, all my team members went out, so I thought I’d grab a quick bite alone.”
As expected, Seonwoo-yeon responded to my greeting without issues. Her expression was a bit stiff, though.
“Kim Gi-ryeo Hunter, what brings you here?”
“I’m on my way home.”
“Then our directions are the same. I’m planning to go to that snack bar over there.”
After a short conversation.
It turned out our paths were similar, so we ended up walking together for a bit.
However, no further chitchat occurred. We weren’t people who often saw each other.
‘The conversation ended quicker than I thought.’
To break the awkward silence, I found myself examining the pavement.
It was in that moment.
“Hey, Gi-ryeo.”
After being silent, Seonwoo-yeon surprisingly spoke up.
I turned my head at her voice.
What I saw was Seonwoo-yeon, who looked strangely tense.
“Uhmm, this might come out of nowhere, but actually, I’ve had something to tell you for a while now.”
“Yeah?”
“Would you like to share a meal if you’re still not done eating…?”
That Hunter stammered for a while before finally managing to say something.
“Could you spare a moment?”
