NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 108: Fourth S-Class
In this moment, a conversation from some shopping mall suddenly comes to mind.
– “Don’t worry about this side. I’m going to run as well.”
– “Huh? What did you say?”
– “What did you think an F-Class Hunter would do in such a situation?”
Right.
I never believed that he was going to run away to begin with.
The Kim Gi-ryeo I knew wasn’t someone who would abandon the city’s dangers, and he was strong enough to protect himself even in a Dungeon Break situation.
– “So don’t give me that weird look and take care of yourself, got it?”
‘This side’ was also going to run away.
‘You too’ should be careful with yourself.
He tried to reassure both himself and his conversation partner, but in the end, he broke that promise himself.
Instead of running away from the monsters, he was actively hunting them down.
How could such a serious person tell a lie?
Then what did that Hunter really want to say?
– “Yoon Seung-ah, ambiguous people should retreat early. It’s for their own good.”
Ahn Yoon-seung, despite knowing the answer, pretended not to.
Of course, compared to someone like Kim Gi-ryeo, he was just a rookie.
But still, I am an A-Class.
I’m an Awakened who falls in the top 3%.
I can at least do something. If a terror attack happens, I can give my brother some help, even a little.
With that thought, Ahn Yoon-seung quietly stepped into the elevator.
However, that resolution was nothing but his own arrogance and folly.
Kim Gi-ryeo effectively blocked any participation of an A-Class without even seeming to read their thoughts.
‘While I was inside the Gate… did the Imugi get caught?’
Ahn Yoon-seung turned his fully charged phone off and back on without thinking.
But no matter how long he stared at the screen, nothing changed.
‘I didn’t get any contact.’
Why hadn’t that person who promised to let me know immediately when they found the location of the unavoidable malice texted me yet?
From Ahn Yoon-seung’s perspective, the Hunter Kim Gi-ryeo appeared to be a fantastical superhuman with no gaps in his every action.
Because of that, he couldn’t imagine the ridiculous picture of the other side forgetting a promise while being pursued by the unavoidable malice.
At least in Ahn Yoon-seung’s opinion, Kim Gi-ryeo was someone who could casually text even if an Imugi suddenly appeared before him.
Yet, the fact that such a person ultimately didn’t inform him of the Imugi’s emergence meant…
‘He doesn’t trust me that much…?’
Ahn Yoon-seung’s expression hardened.
He felt that he was deliberately excluded from the situation.
– “Why not just run if a boss shows up? From what I see, a grown Imugi looks dangerous for you too.”
Thus, Yoon Seung was in a daze as he began to deal with the aftermath.
But even while working, he couldn’t shake off the distracting thoughts.
How does Kim Gi-ryeo Hunter see me?
How unqualified must I be to not even be allowed to watch the fight?
Hearing that a big incident would happen, he bought new equipment and didn’t slack off on training.
I prepared hard too.
Although not as much as before, I’ve gained quite a bit of confidence by now.
“So what you’re saying is that I didn’t call you, and that’s why you’re feeling betrayed?”
“No, it’s not betrayal.”
Ahn Yoon-seung, who had been lost in thought, returned to reality and quickly shook his head.
“I guess I just felt really pathetic about myself…”
“What?”
“Even now, there’s a part of me that feels proud about being an A-Class, but after this, I’ve snapped back to reality.”
“….”
“In front of a person like Gi-ryeo, I’m just a hindrance with no real skill. Really, so trifling…”
Ahn Yoon-seung murmured in a dejected voice.
“So I was just thinking a lot these days. It’s not that I’m particularly upset.”
“Yoon Seung-ah.”
“Rather, I should be grateful. You’re worried about me getting hurt.”
But at that moment.
Kim Gi-ryeo, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth with a surprised look.
“No, I don’t know how many times I’ve had to say this this week, but that’s all a misunderstanding.”
After hearing the late explanation, it seemed that the Dungeon Break which occurred on the 11th was something he hadn’t anticipated either.
With eyes that pierced through everything, that Hunter firmly closed his eyelids and quietly apologized.
I’m sorry.
He really forgot to inform about the Imugi’s location because the situation was so urgent.
How could I ever want to exclude you? And other things too.
“Don’t feel so inferior. Hmm? From what I see, you’re an excellent Hunter.”
Kim Gi-ryeo took enough time to explain his position, and soon Ahn Yoon-seung realized that his assumptions were wrong.
The reason he couldn’t participate in subjugating the unavoidable malice was purely coincidental.
“Is it really true?”
“Of course. Seriously, if I had my wits about me, I would have called you first.”
His expression brightened.
‘He didn’t ditch me because I was a bother!’
Ahn Yoon-seung gained strength from Gi-ryeo’s clarification.
Of course, there were still small doubts remaining, like why the person who said he would run away ended up defeating an S-Class Monster directly.
But now, who cares about such details?
“Phew, you always manage to surprise me. I thought there was some big issue going on.”
Thump Thump.
Kim Gi-ryeo playfully tapped Ahn Yoon-seung’s shoulder.
Of course, Yoon Seung’s reaction was positive.
When someone he respected treated him so familiarly, all the tension melted away.
“Then please take a rest!”
“…Your guest room is bigger than my house.”
“Haha! You really are funny, brother!”
With that final exchange, Yoon Seung left the room.
Thud.
With that, misunderstandings were cleared up, so there should be no more silly thoughts…
Huh.
In Yoon Seung’s mind, a strange conclusion was emerging.
‘Fortunately, it ended up being a misunderstanding this time, but something similar could happen any day now.’
Who was that Awakened sitting in the guest room?
He was a nameless powerhouse who was predicted to be Korea’s fourth S-Class.
In other words, he was a being with a gulf of a difference in birthright from himself.
‘Don’t get complacent, work hard!’
Ahn Yoon-seung made a new resolution right there.
To be of help to that Awakened, he would need to at least build enough skill to not be a hindrance—and so he vowed to continue training without delay.
‘Should I go exercise after dinner?’
What a diligent miscalculation that was.
The reality was that the only truth was the overwhelming distance between him and that man.
While Kim Gi-ryeo was just casually breathing…
In a corner, yet another striving monster was being forged today…
*
The next day.
“Brother! The meal is ready!”
Yoon Seung ordered enough breakfast to break the table in preparation for the guest.
But despite calling out so loudly, there was no response from the corridor.
“Brother?”
Yoon Seung briefly shifted his position, feeling something was off.
However, what was flowing from the guest room was…
– “Hahaha.”
What was that laughter?
‘What is it?’
The door to the room was already half open, but Yoon Seung knocked again.
Knock Knock.
From inside came the same voice as before.
– “Come in.”
It seemed he had indeed just heard Kim Gi-ryeo laughing.
“Excuse me…”
“Has the food already arrived?”
“Yes, it’s already set on the table.”
“Sorry, I’ll wrap up this call and be right there.”
The Awakened greeted him in much the same manner as yesterday.
Dressed in a white shirt and black vest.
The quintessential formal outfit.
The only difference was he was holding a phone in one hand.
“Hello?”
Yoon Seung, out of curiosity, briefly eavesdropped on the call.
“No, there’s nothing happening. Just got told breakfast came. Yes, yes. I need to hang up soon.”
However, it was impossible to understand the conversation by only listening to one side; he could only vaguely guess.
“Thank you for the information, anyway. I’ll take care of it from here.”
Based on the voice coming from the speaker, it seemed the person he was talking to was female.
“Yes. Please take care. And make sure to recuperate well.”
‘Recuperate?’
“I heard just taking a recovery potion doesn’t mean you’re completely healed. Esther looks so thin and frail…”
Gasp.
Ahn Yoon-seung, leaning against the doorframe, was taken aback when he heard that name.
‘If it’s Esther, then that Esther?’
Now that he mentioned it, Kim Gi-ryeo had been texting with the Magic Tower Guild Master before, hadn’t he?
Even though he already knew it, he felt surprised once again.
An S-Class Hunter was originally an extraordinary individual that you couldn’t even dare to approach for a conversation.
‘The Hunter who crushed Kang Chang-ho is now in our house, isn’t he…?’
Gasp.
Yoon Seung covered his mouth, reminded anew of just how incredible this Awakened was.
But at that moment, the other person called out to him at the same time.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Huh!”
Kim Gi-ryeo had finished the call and was now out in the corridor.
Yoon Seung quickly continued the conversation.
“Uh, well, I was just wondering what kind of call you were on for a moment…”
But to his surprise, Kim Gi-ryeo casually revealed the content of the call.
“It was about the Association.”
About the Hunter Association?
“No, it’s just that Esther keeps wanting to help me, so I asked if she could check something for me, and I found out that there was quite an interesting matter regarding the Association.”
“The Association?”
“Yeah, so today I’m going to make a brief appearance at the Hunter Association.”
Ahn Yoon-seung instinctively said.
“Coincidentally, my parents left the car behind, so should I give you a ride?”
But Kim Gi-ryeo politely declined the offer.
There was a reason he had to go alone.
“Well, it’s probably better for you not to come.”
The formally dressed Hunter calmly responded.
“I’m going to stir up some trouble there.”
*
Meanwhile.
Korean Hunter Association Main Building, 5th Floor.
“Reporter Yang really has quite the skill in writing.”
The President of the Hunter Association lounged deeply into the sofa while flipping through the newspaper.
The newspaper he was reading belonged to a pro-government media outlet, featuring satisfying articles from the first page.
[Are hunters’ arrogant attitudes acceptable?]
[Kim Gi-ryeo, silent on the ‘grade disguise suspicion’ question.]
What good would hiding do?
The one who leaked Kim Gi-ryeo’s address was none other than the association president himself.
And there were two major reasons he summoned the reporters to write that Hunter’s article.
First, to make a big deal out of it.
No matter how thoroughly the other side disguised their grade, if the world doesn’t recognize him as an F-Class, then manipulating his Awakening Level is essentially meaningless.
‘What a fool to hide.’
The president had a mixed feeling, wanting to make things difficult for the arrogant Hunter and also wanting to end the grade disguise.
Additionally, drawing attention to Kim Gi-ryeo would bring extra benefits.
This way, it might highlight the risks posed by Hunters.
‘No comments on questions? As expected, he shows a lack of foresight.’
The more the high-ranking Awakened acted recklessly, the more concern the public would feel.
If public opinion continues to move in that direction, strong calls for sanctions would soon arise everywhere.
So as the Association’s authority gradually rises.
“Are you really okay with this?”
However, the other executives watching this looked worried about the president’s hardline approach, their expressions darkening.
“Seeing him not flinch even when reporters bombard him makes me think the other side won’t readily acknowledge him as an S-Class.”
“That could be the case.”
“Isn’t it better to soften the approach at least now…”
Thud.
The president slammed the newspaper down harshly.
“Oh come on, are we really having this conversation?”
“Oh.”
“People like that, once you start giving them an inch, they’ll take a mile. There’s no point in bowing down to them first.”
“But…”
“But what? Haven’t you seen how things went with people like Kang Chang-ho?”
Even if they don’t get a confession this way, it wouldn’t matter.
The media keeps saying that the number of Awakened is equivalent to national power, but that’s only when Hunters are cooperative, right?
“S-Class, after all, aren’t the kind of people you can control simply by sweet-talking them. Thus, you need to crush the seeds of trouble early on.”
“Eh?”
“Otherwise, they can just go and find a foreign land for themselves.”
“Uh, um.”
“Awakened ones, while they may share the same skin as us, they are ultimately terrifying creatures. If you pamper them, letting them do as they please, it would only be harmful to the country…”
Just then.
Knock knock knock. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in!”
Soon to enter was a mid-level manager of the Hunter Association.
Even in the middle of winter, he was sweating profusely, and then the employee relayed some news.
“Ah! Just now, I received a call from Hunter Kim Gi-ryeo. He wants to have a brief meeting with you, President.”
Well, of course.
No matter how much of an Awakened he is, he’s still just a rookie who’s barely over twenty.
‘Looks like this kid has finally gotten his head in the game after being hit by the media. Is he finally going to correct his grade?’
With a smile curling his lips, the president spoke. He would gladly hear him out for a conversation, so he instructed them to bring him in immediately.