A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 125

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 125: Today’s Fortune (1)

 

Eek.

 

I quickly lowered the volume on my mobile phone.

 

“Sister? What’s the matter all of a sudden?”

 

And I asked back, trying to act nonchalant. My ears were stinging, but I had to endure it.

 

[Where are you right now!]

 

“…Well, Korea… but not really.”

 

It was an international call anyway. I half-confessed the truth. The person on the other end shouted again at that answer.

 

[Of course it’s not! Wow, I’m really going crazy.]

 

“Haha… Please calm down.”

 

[How is it that you two never go a day without causing trouble? Both of you?]

 

She must be talking about Choi Yu-il. Soon I heard the sound of the caller, that is Yu-kyung, slumping down somewhere.

 

[I just went to clear a dungeon for a bit and saw an article about you leaving the country. I almost collapsed right there.]

 

Yu-kyung said with a sigh.

 

[Every time I come back from a dungeon, the news I hear is absolutely shocking. I should just quit fieldwork…]

 

“Come on, if Sister quits, how will Korean people survive?”

 

[Exactly! That’s why I can’t quit.]

 

I switched the mobile phone to my other hand and tried to think of excuses in my head.

 

‘I’m screwed. I can’t think of a single one.’

 

The reassuring words that came out smoothly in front of Choi Yu-il and Baek Kyul wouldn’t come out in front of Sister Yu-kyung.

 

‘Maybe it’s because I went through something worth worrying about.’

 

Meanwhile, Yu-kyung got to the main point.

 

[Anyway, so you’re in Japan.]

 

“…Yes.”

 

[How on earth did… Japan is one of the most chaotic countries right now.]

 

“They said a dispatch request came through the Association. The compensation wasn’t bad either, and it wasn’t a particularly tight schedule… so I accepted.”

 

[It was even voluntary participation?]

 

Oh my, the same sound leaked out. She was probably holding her head and sighing deeply.

 

[When are you coming back? I’d like you to return as soon as possible. I’m so worried I can’t even sleep.]

 

“I have a week left before returning. Sister, I’m really okay. Don’t worry.”

 

[Really?]

 

Yu-kyung asked again.

 

[Are you really okay?]

 

I pressed the bridge of my nose firmly.

 

“…No. Actually, something happened…”

 

There was no point in just saying I was fine in front of Yu-kyung. I accepted that and brought up the story.

 

It would be a long lament.

 

* * *

 

[…How terrible.]

 

A heavy voice was heard. Four young Hunters killed by one criminal. What’s more, though I’m only saying this now, their bodies were completely mutilated.

 

[Now that you’re a proper Hunter, I usually don’t want to interfere. But this is too… dangerous, Hae-dam.]

 

Yu-kyung said after hearing the whole story. I agreed with her.

 

[Can’t you just come back? Just say ‘I can’t do this!’ and quit!]

 

“You’d really get angry if I did that.”

 

[Of course. Because it would be irresponsible behavior.]

 

I let out a deflated laugh.

 

“I won’t do anything dangerous. I’ll just help as much as I can… and come back when my heart feels less heavy.”

 

[…Alright. I can’t cheer you on. I’ll just pray. For your safety.]

 

“That’s enough.”

 

I said that while fidgeting with the black robe I hadn’t washed yet.

 

‘I’ve really received so much from Sister.’

 

She’s fiery but kind. Precious too.

 

‘And they too… must have had precious people.’

 

How would parents feel knowing their child wasn’t killed in battle but murdered?

 

“I don’t know what that murderer’s purpose is. Of course, I don’t want to know either.”

 

When I muttered this, Yu-kyung expressed confusion.

 

[Why?]

 

“Pardon?”

 

[No, why don’t you want to know?]

 

“Well…”

 

Malice is obvious. It’s always the same. If I listened, they’d probably just recite their misfortunes a bit.

 

I didn’t want to realize again that someone died unjustly for such pathetic reasons.

 

However, Yu-kyung’s next words were unexpected.

 

[You need to find that out first. What its purpose is, why it committed such acts. Understanding motive is the first step in criminal investigation.]

 

“…”

 

[Even if it’s disgusting, you have to dig into it.]

 

…Ah.

 

I felt like I’d been hit in the head. That’s right, what’s important now isn’t sympathy for the victims but…

 

‘The perpetrator’s identity.’

 

The opponent’s Status Window I couldn’t see, their strangely powerful ability, and even the reason for committing such crimes.

 

Identifying them based on all that information had to come first.

 

‘Only then can I make them pay for their crimes.’

 

Yu-kyung hastily added.

 

[Of course! I’m not saying you should dig into it yourself, you know? Right?]

 

“Thank you, Sister.”

 

[Hey…! You know that, right? Huh?]

 

I ended the phone call without giving any particular answer.

 

“When you return home, let’s have a meal together after so long. It’ll be late due to the time difference, so get some rest first—.”

 

[What time difference is there between here and there! Even the existing time difference has been stolen!]

 

“Yes, please go in.”

 

Let future me deal with the consequences! I barely managed to press the end button.

 

“Phew.”

 

It felt like a warm storm had passed. I rubbed the back of my neck and spoke to the Mountain Lord.

 

“Why didn’t I think of this before? Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.”

 

You must know your enemy and know yourself to achieve victory. Would I fight something without substance?

 

Then the Mountain Lord answered in a monotone voice.

 

| The choice to look into evil is never easy. The abyss always reeks of decay. |

 

“….”

 

| Also, one fears being tainted and finds it unpleasant. But even so…. |

 

“We must look into it.”

 

| That’s right. |

 

The Mountain Lord moved his tail and eventually faced me.

 

| You must look into it. This isn’t a matter of choice. Dirty, frightening, and unpleasant as it may be, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Only defeat awaits those who turn away from their enemy. |

 

It was sound reasoning. And quite appealing reasoning at that.

 

Moreover, if I left such a dangerous murderer alone, they might even cross the sea to our country. I had to deal with this while my hands weren’t yet stained with blood.

 

“How about this method?”

 

What I eventually picked up were several daily newspapers stacked in front of the television.

 

| What might that be? |

 

“It’s called a newspaper. People read them a lot until 30 or 40 years ago. These days everyone has moved to phone articles, but I heard there’s still a large following for them in Japan.”

 

I’d start simply with something like this.

 

“Since I don’t know the exact details of the incidents, I think I need to know basic information first. Like when this Fox Mask started being active, and which areas they mainly appeared in.”

 

‘Something should come up if I read through these.’

 

I postponed my shower for a moment and turned my eyes to the printed text.

 

“Ah.”

 

But there’s a problem. This is a newspaper published in Japanese by a Japanese newspaper company.

 

I can’t read this, can I?

 

“Hmm….”

 

With an embarrassed expression, I fumbled around and turned on the phone translator that Choi Yu-il had taught me to use.

 

And after painstaking translation, the hint I obtained was truly unexpected content.

 

* * *

 

The funeral for the Hanako Guild members was held at the Hanako Guild headquarters.

 

“….”

 

Ren guarded the entrance of the headquarters that had become a funeral hall. His gaze in his pitch-black yukata looked only at the floor.

 

Was it boring? A little.

 

Was it hard? Somewhat….

 

No, nonsense.

 

He could do this kind of thing countless times.

 

If his departed colleagues could find peace. He could repeat this kind of formality countless times to wish them well.

 

“Your grief must be great.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Such a pity at such a young age.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

Twenty years old this year, or twenty-one. They were all young people who had come seeking only the vision of the guild that Ren led.

 

The elderly mourner in a suit clicked his tongue.

 

“To think they would experience such cruel things.”

 

“….”

 

“My goodness. The Hanako Guild’s stock price will also waver for a while, which is truly regrettable….”

 

Ren raised his dry eyes.

 

“…Please go inside. The weather is cold.”

 

It meant to shut up and get lost. Ahem. The old mourner who cleared his throat soon turned his steps away.

 

“Haa.”

 

It wasn’t just those people. Today, many reporters had also come to visit.

 

What kind of articles would be published. It wasn’t hard to guess. However, the position Ren’s guild stood in was originally such a place, so it couldn’t be helped.

 

Still…

 

If they said insulting words claiming this happened because they were incompetent and weak. He wished all that criticism would come to him instead.

 

That was all Ren wanted. Because everything was his fault.

 

“Ren-san?”

 

The next mourner?

 

Hanasaki Ren habitually raised his head. And as soon as he confirmed the other person, his expression immediately softened.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

There stood a Korean person wearing black cloth clothes.

 

* * *

 

Taking advantage of the lull in mourners’ visits, we moved to a quiet place.

 

“Eun Hae-dam-san’s personal information has probably been leaked to reporters one way or another. Let’s move somewhere else to chat.”

 

Clack.

 

The sound of Ren’s wooden clogs was slow.

 

‘The atmosphere has changed a lot from when we first met.’

 

Back then, he was more full of confidence, like a person looking down from above.

 

‘He definitely had that young master from a good family feeling.’

 

Remembering how he had unreasonably demanded to join our table just a few days ago, I smiled bitterly.

 

‘It means he’s been having that hard of a time.’

 

“Here. Please drink this.”

 

Ren, who had taken a seat near the wall, handed me something. It was green tea in a cup.

 

‘They really drink it like it’s part of daily life.’

 

“Thank you.”

 

I took it and sipped. Unlike the cool winter wind, the green tea was very warm.

 

| What a quiet house of mourning. |

 

“Indeed.”

 

When I muttered, Ren turned around. I shook my head and said.

 

“It’s nothing. The atmosphere of the funeral hall is quite different from Korea.”

 

“In what way?”

 

A hint of curiosity stirred in Ren’s previously dry eyes.

 

I searched my memory and answered.

 

“In Korea, people either cry loudly at funerals, or drink and laugh and chat. Usually the older the deceased, the more it leans toward the latter.”

 

“….”

 

“It’s a culture of warmly sending them off, saying they lived well enough… they worked hard.”

 

It was like that back then too. Behind the young shaman performing the Spirit Ritual alone, the adults warmly raising their glasses and throwing around various jokes… I don’t know why I’m only remembering this now.

 

I let out a sigh that was light yet not light.

 

“Of course, the younger they are, the closer it gets to this kind of quiet atmosphere. I suddenly remembered the old days. It wasn’t a good comparison.”

 

“…I see.”

 

Ren nodded with an expression of having learned something new. It was fortunate that some vitality seemed to have returned.

 

“Ren. There’s something I need to tell you…”

 

I finished the introduction and began to speak. However, someone arriving at that moment was unexpected.

 

“Excuse me…”

 

A cautious tone. It was a middle-aged woman wearing a modest black skirt.

 

Bow.

 

She hesitantly bowed toward Ren while holding her handbag.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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