A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 99

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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 99: The Magpie Who Repaid a Favor (3)

 

“Wow…”

 

As we entered, a splendid space caught my eye. I let out a small exclamation of admiration.

 

“It’s quite different from the outside.”

“That’s right.”

“Did you intentionally make it like this?”

“Yeah.”

 

I looked around.

The interior of the abandoned factory resembled a hotel lobby. Softly glowing chandeliers and a soaring high ceiling.

The floor was made of black marble, and the gleaming walls were also jet black, giving off a luxurious feeling.

 

‘It feels like I’ve crossed through Lee Cheong-ryu’s gate.’

 

It was completely different from what you’d expect inside an old abandoned factory.

 

“But what’s the reason for making it like this? Other places are flashy from the outside.”

 

I asked out of sudden curiosity.

Eden’s headquarters gleamed golden in the heart of Seoul, and Blue Dragon’s Busan Branch also had blue glass windows that were clearly visible from afar. Red Dog’s headquarters was definitely unique in form.

Hong I-jo spoke while walking at a leisurely pace.

 

“Revenge.”

“…Excuse me?”

“….”

 

It was an ominous word. I closed my mouth with none of my questions resolved.

 

‘Could it be that he wants revenge instead of repaying a favor…’

 

I glanced at Hong I-jo’s scars.

Perhaps the reason he brought me here was to kill me quietly in the mountains where no one would know.

What would my chances be if I fought Hong I-jo… I couldn’t get a feel for it since I’d never faced an S-rank being before.

 

‘Nonsense.’

 

It’s not right to have prejudices based on appearances alone. That was something Grandfather had drilled into my ears until I was sick of hearing it.

 

‘Let’s relax.’

 

He definitely said he came looking for me to repay a favor.

 

‘Let’s… relax.’

 

I shook off my worries and continued walking.

 

“Oh, Guild Leader!”

“Hello! Are you just arriving?”

“Guild Leader, I saw the news! Fighting in the middle of the street. But did you beat Lee Cheong-ryu?”

 

Those were the voices of other Hunters who were in the lobby.

 

“Yeah.”

 

‘It was a draw though…’

 

It seemed their fight had already made the news. Knowing how the incident actually ended, I shook my head.

 

“As expected of our Guild Leader. So cool!”

“Oh, I put the last report up in your office.”

“Yeah.”

 

The Hunters each threw in a comment before leaving.

They were all dressed in black, looking like secret agents or anti-terrorism special forces.

 

“This way.”

“Ah, yes.”

 

Hong I-jo passed by them and guided me. The Red Dog Hunters looked at me standing next to their Guild Leader with curious eyes.

 

“Oh, I’ve seen that person before. Isn’t that the one who completely turned the Academy upside down last time?”

“Did you see that in person? Man, you should say you saw it on the news.”

“It’s similar enough.”

 

There were still people who recognized me. It was a strange feeling.

 

“Gasp. Then they’re not here to join our guild, are they?”

“Wake up. It’s that person. You know, the one who helped when our 2nd squad went missing last time…”

“Really?! Then, shouldn’t we at least greet them?”

“The Guild Leader will handle it well. He’s reliable when it comes to these things.”

 

While I was listening intently, a familiar face caught my eye.

 

“Oh, Wi Seo-jin?”

“Eun Hae-dam! I’ve been waiting for you.”

 

A mature-looking female Hunter with mixed black and bright red hair greeted me warmly.

It was Wi Seo-jin, a member of Red Dog’s 2nd squad and the Vice Guild Leader.

 

“You’re truly welcome here. Was there any inconvenience on your way here?”

“…I arrived comfortably.”

 

I told a white lie as I shook hands with her.

Wi Seo-jin continued with an awkward expression.

 

“That’s a relief. Well, no matter how much we searched, we couldn’t find anything suitable to your taste… We had no choice but to escort you personally. I’m sorry for the trouble.”

 

Oh, come to think of it.

 

 

We had that conversation.

 

‘I didn’t think she’d actually follow through.’

 

I realized what had happened and smiled bitterly.

 

“Ah, we shouldn’t be standing here! Let’s hurry up! I’ll explain the details inside.”

“Yes, understood. I’ll be in your care.”

“Oh please. We’re the ones who should be grateful that you came.”

 

Wi Seo-jin made pleasantries as she guided me to the elevator.

 

Flutter.

Flap flap.

 

Meanwhile, Hong I-jo flew up toward the high ceiling.

 

“Th-that’s because we’re going to the Guild Leader’s office. That’s the shortest route…!”

 

Wi Seo-jin tried to explain, but I gave up understanding and made a face of enlightenment.

 

* * *

 

Eventually we arrived at the top floor.

Walking through the corridor, I asked Wi Seo-jin once more.

 

“It was quite fascinating on the way here. The outside is an abandoned factory but the interior is really nice… Is there a reason it was built this way?”

 

And what exactly does revenge mean… I barely held back my most curious question.

 

“Ah! Usually hunters who join for the first time ask about that the most. Unless you’re one of our affiliated hunters, it’s almost impossible to even find the location of our headquarters.”

 

Unlike Hong I-jo, Wi Seo-jin gave a very long answer. I listened to her words in silence, moved.

 

“Um, to explain this, it would be better to start with the characteristics of our guild.”

 

Wi Seo-jin began her explanation like that.

 

“Our Red Dog does quite a lot of unique work. Do you know that when Awakened appeared, the rate of special crimes increased tremendously as well?”

“…I know.”

 

‘Early special crimes.’

 

I nodded.

 

‘Because of that, many people came to the Shaman House too.’

 

Before both spiritual power and customers dropped drastically, when Grandfather was still working.

Twenty years ago when dungeons and hunters first began to appear, and for several years after that when social order hadn’t been established yet.

In the chaos, it was naturally criminal organizations that grew fat. The damage to ordinary citizens by them was beyond description.

 

‘Since everyone was dying from strange abilities, they thought it was the work of ghosts and came to the Shaman House.’

 

In the end, neither I nor Grandfather could provide any help.

But the faces of those people who desperately sought help back then still came to mind often.

 

Wi Seo-jin continued her explanation.

 

“Yes. So Red Dog not only conquers dungeons, but also puts effort into catching criminals who misuse awakened abilities.”

 

Her eyes sparkled. She seemed to have great pride in this work.

 

“The number of criminals we’ve caught and locked up… no, arrested in cooperation with government agencies is truly countless.”

 

I think I’d heard something about it too. That there was a guild that caught awakened criminals.

 

‘I didn’t know it was Red Dog though.’

 

I thought of the fierce scars carved on Hong I-jo’s face and his tired, cynical impression.

But in contrast, their main work was crime suppression. It was quite unexpected.

 

‘Indeed, you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance alone.’

 

“You do amazing work.”

“Haha. Not at all.”

 

Wi Seo-jin waved her hand and sighed lightly.

 

“Whew. Anyway, because of that, there are many who hold grudges against us. After living a few years and getting released… they suddenly come looking for our headquarters saying they want revenge.”

“…”

“Since that kept happening, we eventually had no choice but to move our location to a place like this.”

 

‘Ah, so that’s why…’

 

I nodded as if I understood.

 

“I see. It’s the same context as detectives frequently being victims of retaliatory crimes…”

“Yes. That’s right. Well… of course, we’ve never actually been harmed so far.”

 

She shrugged and made a gesture of slicing her throat with her hand.

 

“They all died by the Guild Leader’s hand.”

“Ah.”

 

Hmm, okay.

It didn’t seem like it would be a gentle arrest, from what I could tell.

 

“Ah, here it is!”

 

Soon we arrived in front of a black door. I didn’t ask any more questions and stepped inside.

 

“Hello.”

 

Hong I-jo had already arrived first in the Guild Leader’s Office.

 

“Guild Leader. Isn’t it unfair to go ahead first?”

“You’re slow.”

“You’re just exceptionally fast, Guild Leader.”

 

Wi Seo-jin grumbled quietly and then guided me.

I sat down on the black leather sofa and faced Hong I-jo.

 

“Tea?”

“Ah, yes. I’d appreciate it.”

“Mm.”

 

He got up directly and headed to a corner of the Guild Leader’s Office.

 

…Then he carefully brewed herb tea and made hand drip coffee.

 

In the awkward silence, only Wi Seo-jin seemed accustomed to this scene.

 

“Here.”

“…Thank you.”

 

I received the tea cup. With his height that seemed to be at least 190cm, he kept clattering around. The brewing looked quite proper.

 

‘Hmm.’

 

…From what I’ve seen so far, it matches the divine star of Three Wonders.

Usually when that happens, they either have great ambitions or are outstanding in various aspects. Competent.

I glanced at Hong I-jo’s Status Window.

 

 

‘But it’s Calamity Kill.’

 

Calamity Kill is one of the Three Calamities. It’s an ominous star that means losing everything you have regardless of your own will.

 

‘How strange…’

 

I took a sip of tea and put down the tea cup.

 

…The fragrance was a bit strong.

Job’s tears tea or barley tea suits me better after all…

 

In the brief silence, Hong I-jo, who had been drinking black coffee, soon opened his mouth.

 

“Welcome.”

 

Wi Seo-jin, sitting beside him, quickly spoke up.

 

“He says welcome to Red Dog Headquarters once again!”

 

Ah, so she’s the narrator.

 

“Not at all. Thank you for inviting me.”

 

I gave a formal response. Hong I-jo muttered briefly.

 

“Must…repay.”

 

Right. The reason I came here. Repayment for saving Red Dog 2nd Unit.

I paused for a moment and brought up the topic that had been bothering me.

 

“First, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Mm.”

“He says to tell him anything!”

 

I hesitated, then opened my mouth.

 

“…About saving your colleagues. I really just happened to enter that place by chance, and happened to discover Wi Seo-jin’s party by chance. It wasn’t something I accomplished alone from the beginning either.”

“….”

“If you’re going to repay me, I can’t refuse… but anyone else would have done the same thing.”

 

I needed to make this point clear. People shouldn’t covet more compensation than what they deserve for their actions.

Divine punishment is a fearsome thing.

 

“No.”

 

But Hong I-jo shook his head.

 

“No.”

“…?”

“People are…evil.”

 

Wi Seo-jin hesitated, then soon provided commentary.

 

“…I also agree with the Guild Leader’s words. People are evil. Humans are very ugly and… often dirty.”

“….”

“Especially Hunters with power often show unimaginably terrible depths within the special space called dungeons. We’re people whose job it is to face that.”

“….”

“So regarding your statement that anyone would have saved us the same way, yes. It’s difficult to agree with that.”

 

She added one final sentence.

 

“Monsters wearing human masks are scattered everywhere.”

 

My lips were dry. I had no choice but to pick up the tea cup again and drink the herb tea.

 

“Is there?”

“?”

“Something you want.”

“…Well.”

 

When I didn’t give a particular answer, Hong I-jo asked again.

 

“The building?”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, if you want it, they say they can give you this building too.”

“…Pardon?”

 

Cough, cough.

 

“No, wait a minute.”

 

I looked at the two of them with a flustered face.

 

‘What are they talking about?’

 

However, they looked at me as if asking what the problem was, as if they were ready to draft donation documents right now.

Stare.

 

“….”

 

I broke out in a cold sweat.

 

“No, well, yes.”

“Well then, let’s prepare the transfer right away….”

“Wait!”

 

I grabbed my forehead and desperately racked my brain.

 

“Th-there is one thing I want.”

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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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