How to Live as a Fencing Genius Hunter - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How a Fencing Genius Lives as a Hunter
Chapter 16
Rookie Hunter Jeong Jae-ha (2)
When I reached the director’s office, Hong Si-yu was already there.
I sensed movement from beyond a door nearby, and it nagged at me.
“Good afternoon.”
“You just saw me a moment ago—what’s with the formality? Sit comfortably, please.”
“Thank you.”
“I called you here because there’s something I need to tell you and something I need to ask. First, here are the results of your detailed medical examination.”
That unease scattered the instant I took the paper Hong Si-yu handed me.
“Am I fully recovered?”
“Yes. According to the doctor’s assessment, you’ve made a complete recovery.”
After finishing the Tutorial, I’d gone to a major hospital for comprehensive testing before returning.
It was only natural, considering how many bullets I’d taken.
While I was at it, they’d also examined my leg, and this was the result.
“The nerve activity in your right leg differs from your left by only 1.5 percent, they told me. Completely normal. They did say that if you overexert yourself, it could tear again, but… that would be more like simply reinjuring the same spot rather than a true recurrence.”
At last.
I let out a long breath.
It felt like I’d finally unlocked shackles I’d been wearing for years.
“Thank you.”
“That’s thanks to your own efforts, Jeong.”
“Honestly, it feels a bit unreal. I thought it would take several years.”
“If you hadn’t hunted that Amber Drake, it really would have taken months. Still, don’t ever do something like that again. One mistake and it would have been death.”
Hong Si-yu gave me a playful glare, then flipped her expression 180 degrees and smiled sweetly.
“Of course, I understand what you were thinking. You thought you could catch it, didn’t you?”
She shifted the subject with a “but anyway.”

“Do you remember Kim Gang-o, one of the trainees?”
“Yes.”
It was a name I couldn’t forget.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t known he was part of Winner Sports back then—in a way, that was fortunate.
Had I known, I might not have let him go unscathed.
“They found him. Apparently he’d gone missing during a hunt and was infected by a spore-type beast—he died from it. He seems to have survived for about three days, and during that time he suffered as neurotoxins paralyzed his body while his organs were eaten away.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
I spoke the words without meaning them.
“He would have envied Jang Young-jun—the trainee caught in that explosion—because even that suffering pales compared to the agony he endured.”
Hong Si-yu gave me a subtle, knowing smile.
“I suppose I should thank that explosion for avenging me in his place.”
In the end, I spoke my true feelings and laughed with an indescribable expression.
In the changed world, when I rose again with my sword, those who had broken me in the world before it changed had fallen into the abyss.
“But during the investigation of those men, we discovered a connection to remnants of the old Scorpion Faction.”
“Pardon?”
“More specifically, a thug who was a high-ranking executive of the Scorpion Faction formed a large raider group during the collapse. They called themselves the Scorpion Crew—infamous for a time. They had quite a few Awakened under their command.”
“What happened to them now?”
“The chairman smashed them, but… the executive cadre escaped alive. They’re still operating in the shadows.”
“How is that possible?”
Hong Si-yu informed me that there were still those who hadn’t fallen.
My right leg, which I’d just heard was fully healed, began to ache again.
In the end, it was those gambling thugs’ executive cadre that was the problem.
For their profit, they’d bribed the Fencing Association and manipulated me into defeat, sent thugs to cripple Chae-ha’s hands.
If I had my way, I’d pierce every last one of their hearts.
But apparently those bastards were still operating.
“The government’s public safety capacity simply isn’t that good right now.”
“To that extent?”
“To be frank with you, this nation is now closer to some third-world hellhole in South America than the Korea you knew.”
…….
“The president declares Martial Law whenever he gets the chance, and the National Assembly members don’t even understand the current situation—they’re just preparing to retake Seoul.”
Hong Si-yu sighed.
“Meanwhile, with soldiers falling in combat, stray firearms scattered everywhere, criminal guilds made up of former raiders, Awakened thugs, Gates opening left and right… just thinking about it makes you want to hold your breath.”
But only for a moment—then she laughed again, sweet and elegant like Hong Si-yu herself.
“That’s why I’d like to make a proposal to you as the director of policy coordination for the Special Cooperation Bureau.”
“Yes.”
“If we conduct an operation to arrest the Awakened members of the Scorpion Crew, I’ll make sure any requests for cooperation from the police or the Ministry of Justice are our top priority.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Given the government’s current capabilities, it’s difficult to arrest or neutralize Awakened criminals with police force alone. It’s common practice to request assistance from Hunters through the Fencing Association.”
Laughter and something close to bitterness rose up at once.
The same government that once exiled me—a world champion felled by a single bullet—to the margins.
Now they couldn’t even handle a gang of thugs without begging Hunters for help.
A strange sense of liberation and deep regret washed over me simultaneously.
“I’m not suggesting we use you for free.”
Hong Si-yu continued.
“Truth is, for something like this, I’d be willing to volunteer without compensation.”
“But the guild you’ve affiliated with will object. They’ll say we can’t set a precedent of using Hunters without pay.”
She rotated one of the monitors toward me.
“Since the government has no budget right now, I can’t offer you thousands per operation. Instead, I’ll reduce your sentence.”
“Reduce my sentence?”
“The mandatory service period for a Rehabilitation Hunter is three years. I’ll deduct one month for each time you cooperate with us.”
My incarceration documents were displayed on the screen.
“I don’t particularly feel any rush to quit Hunter work, but…”
The proposal was too vague to be called a proper trade.
If it were volunteer coaching out of goodwill, I’d do it happily. But coaching for minimum wage? That didn’t sit right.
It felt like I was degrading my own value down to whatever compensation I received.
“Oh, I haven’t explained everything yet?”
But Hong Si-yu made me understand exactly why I should be grateful in a single sentence.
“Under a Rehabilitation Hunter contract, no matter how many Beasts you hunt, there are limits to your promotion and transfer possibilities within the guild.”
“What?”
“The system was designed with the assumption that you’d retire once your mandatory service ends. We don’t promote temporary contractors.”
“I’ll run whenever you call.”
I nearly shouted the words reflexively.
So even if I hunted Beasts, I couldn’t advance.
It was like winning a competition only to be told you wouldn’t receive a medal.
I absolutely couldn’t accept that fate.
I’d hunt down every Awakened thug in the Scorpion Crew and wipe out my entire mandatory service period.
“Of course, I’ll need to get permission from whatever guild I’m transferring to. I’d appreciate your help with that.”
“Of course. I’ll let you know as soon as we finalize the arrest operation plan for the former Scorpion Crew.”
Hong Si-yu smiled with satisfaction.
“Even if it’s not a guild, they’ll give their approval. The scouts have all been quite impressed by you. Do you have any particular place in mind?”
She shifted the topic smoothly.
I wondered if this was the “matter” she needed to ask about.
“I was thinking about the Sambyeol Guild.”
“A guild?”
Hong Si-yu made a face like she’d bitten into a worm while eating a pomegranate.
“Is that not possible?”
I wondered if she’d received a commission from another guild or corporation to bring me their way.

“No, it’s not that it’s impossible. It’s just… surprising. I explained how high the mortality rate in that guild is, so I’m curious why you’d make such a choice—”
“Because even if it’s riskier, I want to aim for the best position.”
It was rare in fencing, but in sports and arts, it was common for stakeholders to engage in shady negotiations over which team received a promising newcomer.
“It sounds like you’d made up your mind long ago?”
“Yes. Actually, I decided the first day when I attended the orientation.”
“At the time, the guild didn’t seem like such an attractive option.”
“My sister works there in general administration.”
“Ah, so…”
“Yes. That sister from the news. The one who stopped playing guitar because of me.”
Fortunately, it didn’t seem Hong Si-yu had called me here to apply external pressure.
“You really are lucky, you know.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind.”
She exhaled softly, then turned toward one of the doors of the spacious office and spoke.
“Everyone come in now.”
Screech.
The door swung open, and a group of figures emerged into view.
The Status Window Ring vibrated, flooding my vision with holograms.
+
[Name: ???]
[Physical Enhancement (C+), Sword Aura (B)]
[Name: Su Seong-min]
[Physical Enhancement (C), Frost Binding (B+)]
[Name: ???]
[Physical Enhancement (C+), Telekinesis (B)]
.
.
.
+
They were all powerful Awakened hunters, no less formidable than Hong Si-yu.
“I’m Su Seong-min, personnel team manager at the Sambyeol Guild. Thanks. You’ve made the right choice.”
“Captain Yu from the Police Awakened Special Forces. It’s unfortunate, but I respect your judgment.”
“I’m the personnel director at Hwahan Defense. Here’s my card—if the Sambyeol Guild’s terms don’t suit you…….”
“I…….”
Now I understood what was happening.
The stiffness left my mouth, and laughter bubbled up naturally.
It seemed the scouts were having quite the bidding war over me.
This was the kind of treatment I used to receive.
“Didn’t you hear? All of you, get lost! He wanted to join the Sambyeol Guild from the start!”
Just then, the woman with the short grayish-blue hair I’d seen at the Gate came pushing past the other hunters.
By that point, it became clear.
My life, which had taken such a wasteful detour, was back on its proper course.
* * *
I moved into a conference room alone with the Sambyeol Guild scout.
[Name: Su Seong-min]
[Physical Enhancement (C), Frost Binding (B+)]
“I’m Su Seong-min, personnel team chief of the Sambyeol Guild. You can see that from the Status Window, right?”
“Yes, I can see it.”
She looked so young—maybe around Jeong Chae-ha’s age—yet she was reportedly an Awakened hunter as powerful as Hong Si-yu.
“I understand you want to sign with the Sambyeol Guild.”
“Of course I heard.”
Su Seong-min smiled with confidence and pulled out a contract.
I secretly thought it wouldn’t be strange if there were any unfavorable clauses.
The basics of negotiation are hiding your true purpose.
But since I’d already told her I had reasons to join the Sambyeol Guild, she wouldn’t need to dangle any sweet bait to hook me.
“No probation period, and the Kill Counter Bonus is paid the same as regular contract hunters.”
That expectation proved wrong.
“The dormitory in Incheon isn’t finished yet, so we can’t provide housing, but we’ll support your monthly rent instead.”
“Really?”
“Combat gear, swords, and firearms are provided as standard. If you want customization, you cover that yourself. Oh, and of course if you have personal weapons you want to use, that’s absolutely fine.”
Even someone like me, clueless as I was, could see it was generous treatment.
“And from what Si-yu said, it sounds like you’re planning to keep hunting for the long haul. Obviously, there’s no promotion during the Rehabilitation Hunter contract……”
“I understand.”
“I’m grateful you understand. Truth is, in this industry, everything below branch director level is more or less the same, so promotion doesn’t mean much anyway. Not to make excuses, but I’ll make sure your salary grade increases.”
It reminded me of my days as a national team representative.
“Your pay will rise naturally with your grade. Once the Rehabilitation Hunter contract ends and you’re officially hired, you can get promoted right away.”
I could feel Su Seong-min’s effort to accommodate my circumstances as much as possible.
“And obviously, if you want it, I’ll guarantee your right to formal employment.”
A B+-ranked, formidable hunter was showing respect for my abilities and dedication.
Maybe that’s the secret—success comes when you do work you love.
A natural determination to work harder for the Sambyeol Guild welled up inside me.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. To bring in the shortest-career Dragon Slayer on record, we have to go this far. If not for the Rehabilitation Hunter contract, your price would be much higher.”
“I’ll clear it quickly and re-sign.”
“That’s the one Si-yu mentioned, right? Cooperation with a capture operation? Good. I’ll add that to the contract. When you’re conducting activities at the government’s request, we can prioritize that side.”
This was something I genuinely owed them for as well.
For a talent scout, she seemed remarkably unconcerned with squeezing maximum profit from the company.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s nothing. I suppose I had some preconceived notions about scouts, having come from the performance arts myself.”
“We’re not like that. Sambyeol doesn’t grind up Hunters for cash. Our chairman threw our support behind protecting Hunters—he even went against the government’s directives. What did you think we were?”
Su Seong-min laughed with easy confidence.
“Anything else you need while I’m at it?”
I hesitated a moment before asking.
“My younger sister is currently working at Sambyeol. She should be in the administrative division. She said she started there around the time of a major hiring wave for general office staff two years ago.”
“So she’s already a company associate then? What about her?”
“Would it be possible to get her contact number? If that’s difficult due to privacy regulations, I’d at least like to pass along my own number to her.”
“Hmm?”
We lost contact before the Gate catastrophe, and I’m not sure if she changed her number. I haven’t been able to reach her since.”
“So the time you were… away is why contact broke off? I mean, not away, but—”
Su Seong-min’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment.
“It’s alright. It’s the truth, after all. And I’m not ashamed of it myself.”
I shook my head to reassure her.
“Right then, there’s no reason we can’t do this. What’s her name?”
“Jeong Chae-ha.”
Su Seong-min pulled out her smartphone and accessed the company’s internal application.
“Jeong Chae-ha? Nothing’s coming up.”
“What?”
And then she gave me an answer I never could have anticipated.
“She’s not here. Not in the main office, not in any of the branch offices. Obviously not registered as a Hunter either. I’ve checked everyone—past employees, contract workers, everyone. There’s no one named Jeong Chae-ha.”
No one.
It felt like the moment I drew my blade with complete confidence, the blade had slipped free from the hilt.
“Is it possible her information was entered into the system incorrectly?”
“Let me try just ‘Chae-ha’ instead. There are a few results. Take a look.”
Su Seong-min showed me several identification photos.
But my sister Jeong Chae-ha was not among them.
“None of them.”
“Then she never came to Sambyeol at all… Do you have a photo of her?”
I thought back to my old smartphone.
“I do have a phone with photos on it, but it won’t turn on now. It seems to have broken.”
“This is a real problem. Say, is it possible your sister… made it up because she was worried about you?”
“She wouldn’t do something like that. If she were going to lie, there’d be no reason to mention Sambyeol specifically. And every time she sent letters, she’d mention business trips too.”
Su Seong-min closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
“You don’t have anything particular to do today, do you?”
“No, nothing in particular.”
“Let’s go for a drive.”
“Where to, if I may ask?”
“To get a forensic analysis done. Once I see the photo, I’ll be able to tell.”

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