Became the Transcendent Monarch of the Corner of the Room - Chapter 38

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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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Episode 38

 

Click. Click. Click.

 

Lee Hyung-jun and Ji Min-gi, who had returned from their business trip to Manwol.

 

They sat facing each other with a small table placed between them.

 

And then, with half-dazed expressions on their faces, they repeatedly pressed the button of their ballpoint pens.

 

Click. Click.

 

“This is… what’s going on?”

 

His mind was in chaos.

 

According to Ji Min-gi’s previous report, the newly appeared EX Ranked Hunter.

 

The story that he might be Choi Hyun-min had already been half-verified.

 

‘If I couldn’t verify it with my skill… he’s definitely SSS rank or higher.’

 

Looking at it up to this point, it was definitely Choi Hyun-min.

 

However, the notification that appeared when they left his room.

 

The moment they received the message that the record of the 12th Floor of the Labyrinth had been updated.

 

All of that was turned upside down.

 

‘But Choi Hyun-min is here?!’

 

Someone who has been breaking all the labyrinth records lately.

 

People, and even the Awakening Management Agency, firmly believed that person was an EX Ranked Hunter.

 

But for such a message to appear…

 

‘Don’t tell me there’s more than one EX Ranked Hunter?!’

 

Lee Hyung-jun’s pupils shook violently.

 

He mulled it over himself, but it was an absurd story.

 

SSS rank rankers were already powerful enough to fight against entire nations one by one.

 

Multiple hunters beyond that level appeared at the same time?

 

No matter how much he thought about it, this was-

 

“Um… Team Leader?”

 

Was he having similar thoughts?

 

Ji Min-gi, who had been chewing on the tip of his pen.

 

He cautiously opened his mouth toward Team Leader Lee.

 

“By any chance… did you see anything from that person?”

 

What did he see?

 

At those words, Lee Hyung-jun’s words got stuck.

 

If he, who had the nation’s top-level investigation skill, couldn’t see anything.

 

If he said that, would Ji Min-gi really be able to understand?

 

“…I couldn’t see anything.”

 

“What do you mean by that? You couldn’t see anything…”

 

As expected.

 

The sight of him tilting his head was reflected in Team Leader Lee’s eyes.

 

Sigh-

 

Team Leader Lee slightly raised his head and let out a sigh toward the ceiling.

 

“I couldn’t see with my mana.”

 

“Huh…?”

 

At the complicated sentence, Ji Min-gi had a blank expression for a moment.

 

Then, the moment Team Leader Lee’s words began to assemble like blocks in his head.

 

“A-are you being serious?!”

 

Thud!

 

Ji Min-gi immediately stood up from his seat.

 

Because of that, the gazes in the office turned toward them.

 

But he didn’t seem to care at all.

 

“Yes.”

 

Though he was speaking calmly.

 

Lee Hyung-jun, who always maintained consistent composure.

 

This wasn’t how he usually looked.

 

And Ji Min-gi read that.

 

“But surely Team Leader, you’ve even caught SSS rank hunters-”

 

“Probably… I think you’re right.”

 

“Then Choi Hyun-min, that person being an EX Ranked Hunter-”

 

“Shh. It’s not certain yet, so don’t speak so loudly.”

 

After all, that was still in the realm of circumstantial evidence.

 

Of course, if we’re talking about probability, maybe 95%?

 

Team Leader Lee Hyung-jun held his cigarette-

 

No, he put the ballpoint pen in his mouth.

 

Then he lowered his voice considerably as if someone might hear.

 

“Hey, Min-gi.”

 

“Yes, Team Leader.”

 

Officer Ji, who was also whispering as if conducting an intelligence operation.

 

Seeing that, Team Leader Lee picked up his phone.

 

“From now on, you need to gather all the rumors and information about EX Ranked Hunters, whatever you can get your hands on.”

 

“Th-then-”

 

“There might not be just one. If any plausible stories come up, all of them. You know what I mean, right?”

 

Not just one!

 

Already there were rumors that ‘EX rank’ wasn’t one person but eleven.

 

Or that they were new ability users operating as a team.

 

Ji Min-gi was also well aware that various rumors were circulating.

 

And the moment Team Leader Lee said those words here.

 

To his ears, it sounded like ‘the Awakening Management Agency officially recognizes this.’

 

“Understood, Team Leader!”

 

“And Manwol. I’ll talk to the section chief about that, so you take charge of it exclusively.”

 

“Ma-Manwol?”

 

“It’s called Manwol, but… you just need to focus on Choi Hyun-min alone. If that person really was granted EX rank… you know what I mean, right?”

 

Of course he knew.

 

Currently, even S rank and above hunters were being treated as national VIP level.

 

And someone several levels higher than that appeared?

 

Without any exaggeration, above the president-

 

The national protocol ranking order might change.

 

That’s how much top-tier rankers were beings that needed attention and management.

 

If not, at some point they might receive a better offer and betray the country, leaving without a trace.

 

‘How many hunters and rankers we lost that way.’

 

Such a thing must never happen again.

 

Lee Hyung-jun unconsciously clenched his fist.

 

“Just in case, I’m telling you this, but you absolutely cannot talk about this anywhere. Got it? If we talk about it, it becomes an official statement from the Awakening Management Agency.”

 

“Under…stood…”

 

Ji Min-gi bit his lips tightly with his pounding heart.

 

It felt like conducting a secret operation-

 

He unconsciously tried to make a solemn expression, but he couldn’t help the grin that kept leaking out.

 

“…I already have a feeling this is going to fall apart.”

 

Lee Hyung-jun shook his head seeing that.

 

But it probably wasn’t visible to Ji Min-gi at the moment.

 

***

 

-S-sorry, Master…

 

-We thought Master would like it more if we did this…

 

-We’re sorry, Master. We went ahead and conquered the maze on our own…

 

Right after the people from the Awakening Management Agency left.

 

Choi Hyun-min was startled by a new record-breaking notification.

 

‘Don’t tell me these guys conquered the 12th Floor by themselves?’

 

Until now, the Block Toys had conquered the maze under Choi Hyun-min’s commands.

 

In that process, Choi Hyun-min had played the role of commanding them.

 

But this 12th Floor was conquered without any management of those guys at all.

 

‘Of course, just looking at this itself, it’s not a bad thing…’

 

Simply looking at the results, it couldn’t be more convenient.

 

But Choi Hyun-min thought he had to prevent any situation—

 

That is, he had to stop them from going beyond control and committing unpredictable actions.

 

‘If it were just me, it might be different, but those guys are ultimately my creations… And I belong to Manwol.’

 

Getting into fights with other Hunters.

 

Or damaging reputation?

 

That wouldn’t simply end as just those guys’ fault.

 

Choi Hyun-min.

 

Furthermore, it would become something that would tarnish even Manwol’s face.

 

“Do you know what you did wrong?”

 

-We, we moved on our own…

 

-We won’t do it again.

 

-We’re sorry, Master.

 

Fortunately, it seemed those guys also knew it was wrong.

 

Unlike usual, they hung their heads low, only fidgeting with their toes.

 

“Good. I’ll let it slide just this once.”

 

-Re, really?

 

“Instead, bread and sausages are forbidden for a while.”

 

-Wh, what?!

 

-That’s ridiculous, Master!

 

Thud!

 

At Choi Hyun-min’s words, the Block Toys collapsed as if the world had ended.

 

Thanks to their light weight, rattling sounds could be heard from on top of the desk.

 

No, more than that, I never knew the Block Toys’ expressions could be this dynamic.

 

“Since you did wrong, you have to be punished.”

 

-Th, that’s true, but…

 

-It seems too harsh, Master.

 

“If you work hard from now on, I’ll give them back to you—”

 

-Hard! We’ll work hard!

 

-I was working harder than him, Master!

 

-Ahem, hmm… I haven’t been here long, but I’d like to say I did my absolute best…

 

Choi Hyun-min stared at the noisy toys.

 

Then, as if something suddenly came to mind, he turned his head to the side.

 

“Dehof. Why are you so quiet? Do you think you did nothing wrong?”

 

Though they hadn’t known each other long.

 

If it were Dehof, that guy would surely shout noisily.

 

Or raise his voice and argue back.

 

But—

 

-Sob! Sob! So, so, sorry… Waaah!

 

“….”

 

-I, I didn’t know it was such a big mi, mistake… Huuuh…

 

“St, stop crying…”

 

-I, I won’t do it again… Sob! Hic!

 

No matter how I look at it, I can’t get used to this.

 

Looking like he’d tear apart a tiger if one attacked.

 

And tear a bear into four pieces if one charged.

 

Yet crying like a four-year-old child.

 

“Dehof.”

 

-Hic! Sob…

 

“Stop!”

 

-Hic!

 

“Don’t cry over something like this from now on.”

 

-Bu, but… Hic!

 

“This is an order, understand?”

 

At this point, I need to make it clear.

 

At Choi Hyun-min’s firm words, Dehof’s words cut off abruptly.

 

With his lips tightly bitten, his body trembling…

 

He’s probably holding it in, right?

 

‘Looking at that appearance, who would think he’s the one who crushed maze bosses with his bare hands.’

 

At Choi Hyun-min’s small sigh, Dehof wiped his tears with his thick palm.

 

Then slowly nodded his head.

 

-Hic! I, I understand… Hic!

 

Fortunately, not only the existing Block Toys.

 

But even Dehof seemed to follow orders well.

 

“Good. Then let’s rest a bit today and climb the maze again starting tomorrow.”

 

Today, fatigue must have accumulated quite a bit, so let’s let them rest.

 

Instead, Choi Hyun-min picked up a wooden sword rolling on the floor.

 

‘Today… let’s just do about 1000 front strikes lightly.’

 

Since the day he decided to become a Hunter as a child.

 

Until now when he awakened as a Hunter, he had never missed a single day of training.

 

Grip.

 

The heavy feel of the wooden sword was transmitted through the hard calluses on his hands.

 

The stance was horse stance.

 

After slowly regulating his breathing, he raised the sword above his head.

 

Striking down powerfully from top to bottom—

 

Knock knock knock!

 

“Yo, Young Master!”

 

A familiar voice could be heard from outside.

 

Secretary Kim.

 

Unlike usual, his voice seemed urgent about something.

 

Choi Hyun-min, still holding the wooden sword, silently opened the door.

 

Click.

 

“Young Mas… Gasp!”

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

Secretary Kim, startled by the suddenly opened door.

 

He quickly scanned Choi Hyun-min’s appearance and let out a small sigh.

 

“Were you training?”

 

“No, I just started, so it’s fine. More importantly, what brings you—”

 

Since it’s not mealtime and he knocked on the door like this, it must be quite important.

 

Or urgent.

 

“Well… I think it would be better if you changed clothes first.”

 

Clothes?

 

At his words, Choi Hyun-min unconsciously looked down at himself.

 

Pajamas worn to tatters.

 

He spent most of his days wearing light blue pajamas.

 

Secretary Kim knew this well, so for him to say that meant—

 

“Clothes?”

 

“Well… Master is asking for you, young master.”

 

“Father… No, the chairman is?”

 

His eyes shot wide open the moment he heard those words.

 

Why?

 

Even as he wondered this, he frantically threw off his pajamas.

 

Let’s see… where did I throw my suit?

 

Perhaps because he dressed so hastily.

 

His clothes became disheveled and crooked.

 

Secretary Kim hurriedly approached and straightened his clothes.

 

“He’s waiting in his office right now, just for you to arrive, young master.”

 

To that extent?

 

Was this something serious?

 

Choi Hyun-min felt his lips go dry.

 

Even for fairly important matters, private meetings weren’t that common.

 

Especially when it wasn’t with a key figure of Manwol.

 

And when the other party was himself, who had only just emerged from seclusion…

 

“I’ll escort you, young master.”

 

Was Secretary Kim nervous too?

 

As soon as he finished changing clothes, he walked ahead with a completely frozen expression.

 

Click. Click. Click.

 

The friction sound created each time his shoes hit the floor rang sharply in his ears.

 

‘Why is he calling for me? Why? For what reason?’

 

All kinds of thoughts swirled through his mind.

 

Though this was certainly his own home that he knew well.

 

During the walk to the office, his head became confused and complicated.

 

“Please go in, young master.”

 

And the moment Secretary Kim, who had been walking ahead, opened the office door for him, a deep baritone voice could be heard.

 

“You’re here.”

 

His heart began pounding as if it would burst.

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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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