I Awakened as a Dark History - Chapter 33

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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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Episode 33
A hunter I’d met before?
When had I seen Seo Il-hak?
I’d asked him stupidly in front of the appraiser before, but thankfully I caught myself this time.
It didn’t take long for the answer to surface.
“Ah, right…… back at the Sea Serpent dungeon, wasn’t it? That hunter?”
Seo Il-hak nodded.
“Yes, that’s correct. Since you possess skills effective for Area Suppression and Restraint, I’d like to request your assistance. Of course, it won’t be free.”
He ticked off his fingers and spoke quickly.
“The standard cooperative assessment fee from the Association is 15 million won. However, with my discretion, I believe I can assess an additional 5 million or so.”
So that would come to 20 million total.
‘That’s not bad at all.’
But it seemed Seo Il-hak’s thoughts differed considerably from mine.
“The Association’s cooperative fees are on the low side, so it may be difficult for you to be satisfied. So even if you simply lend your name to this matter, I’ll be grateful.”
Seo Il-hak rubbed the back of his neck as if embarrassed by his own words.
Even a chapter chairman doesn’t find these requests easy.
As an ordinary salaried worker, I carefully folded the request form and tucked it into my pocket.
“Yes, I’ll pass it along. If he agrees, I’ll contact you at the number on the business card you gave me before.”
“Thank you.”
Seo Il-hak bowed slightly at the waist.
I waved my hands to discourage him.
“It’s nothing. It’s not a difficult favor, after all. Oh, but could I ask you something too?”
“Of course. Anything at all.”
I pointed to the item I’d been examining.
“What exactly is this ‘Stacking’ you mentioned?”
Seo Il-hak let out a small exclamation as if remembering something he’d forgotten, then examined the item.
“Typically, items don’t stack when they share the same effect. So it’s better to have one item with a higher effect than to carry multiple items with weaker effects.”
“I see.”
In that case, it might be wiser to save money and wait for a higher-grade item to appear.
“However, there are items capable of Stacking depending on their properties. This happens when items are related to each other or when the mechanism of activation differs between them.”
As expected of a Hunter Association chapter chairman, his knowledge was extensive.
I carefully noted the matter in my mind.
“This can’t be determined by appraising each item individually. You have to wear them together to verify the effect. That’s why Hunter Ket also provides a certain level of effect verification. If you request a Stacking check, our staff will take them and confirm it for you.”
I turned my head toward the staff member.
“Is that possible?”
“Yes, it is. However, the Stacking verification service takes anywhere from one to two hours. Would you still like to use it?”
Since I had time to spare, waiting an hour or two to potentially get a 25% effect item was a good trade.
I nodded.
The staff member left only with the words “Please wait a moment,” and took the item with them.
“I hope it turns out to be an item that can Stack.”
“So do I.”
I answered reflexively to Seo Il-hak before suddenly coming back to myself.
“Ah, thank you so much for explaining about items. Would you like some refreshment or—?”
Seo Il-hak waved his hand.
“That’s kind of you, but I need to leave soon. Your goodwill is thanks enough.”
“Oh no, I’ve taken up your time. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all. It’s more important that hunters can fight better with proper items, so please don’t concern yourself.”
Seo Il-hak extended his hand to me. I grasped it in return.
“I’ll see you again next time.”
“Yes. See you then.”
His words about needing to leave soon didn’t seem to be a lie.
The moment he released my hand, Seo Il-hak strode away in swift steps and vanished in an instant.
Left alone, I turned slowly to find a place to pass the time.
* * *
Gasp…… gasp.
My vision blurred heavily, and the shapes before my eyes twisted into double images.
Even as my fingertips felt solid concrete, my eyes saw only crumbling, shattered ruins.
Which one was real?
“……Yeon! Just…… Skill, isn’t…?”
“The Association…… call them!”
Noise erupted from all directions.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
His hands pressed against his skull, and blood glistened in the slits of his barely-open eyes.
The blood flowing across the floor touched his knees, vivid and unmistakable.
“Why… why…?”
If the ruined wreckage was false, shouldn’t this blood be false as well?
So why were his knees growing wet from it?
Everything was a question.
But the greatest question lay elsewhere.
“Why are you trying to leave?”
His blurred gaze slowly lifted upward.
Sunlight streamed down like gleaming golden hair.
The one who possessed the sky gazed down at the top of his head.
“You and I… we made a promise. That when this moment came, you would surely……”
What promise was it? His memory had grown hazy.
Only an unfamiliar voice filled in the blanks of that faded memory.
―I haven’t forgotten.
What was this sudden revulsion welling up at that voice?
Toward whom did it rise, and why did it feel so strong?
―When the time comes, just once, you promised to choose for others rather than for me.
That’s right. You made that promise with me.
Both you and I feel that this moment is now.
But you turned your back on me.
―Yet what can I do? I’m so terrified. How can you give up your entire life for people you don’t even know?
You turned away from me and laughed.
The sunlight obscured your face—I couldn’t see it.
Not understanding why I wanted to see the face of a traitor, I reached out to you in my unconscious desperation.
You dodged my hand and fled forward.
―So then……
Forward.
You ran.
Leaving me behind.
Leaving me alone.
―I’m sorry.
* * *
I pouted at the shopping bags in my hands.
“Sigh.”
No Stacking.
I’d only managed to boost the sales of Hunter Ket’s cafés and restaurants.
If it had been a paid service, I’d have been furious, but since it was free, I just felt regret.
In the end, I’d purchased the Item that showed slightly better effects.
‘I’ll keep an eye on the auctions, and if a higher-grade Item with similar effects comes up, I’ll buy that instead. Then I can resell this one.’
It felt like waiting for the latest smartphone model.
That thought chased away the regret, and joy took its place.
‘I’ll just think of it as the latest phone I have until a better model comes out.’
More importantly, the fact was that I’d swiped a prepaid card for such a large sum.
My fuller bank account had made my heart feel lighter.
I carried that lightness with me as I left Hunter Ket behind.
Since I’d finished eating while waiting for the Item anyway, I was planning to head straight home.
I turned my steps toward the Subway Station.
Bang!
That was when the explosion sounded.
Boom-crash!
At the thunderous collision between a Demonic Beast and a Hunter, the people on the street shrank back.
“What… what is it? A Dungeon? Dungeon Saturation?”
“What’s happening?!”
People scattered throughout the street cried out, trying to assess the situation.
Fortunately, thanks to Hunter Ket’s presence, there were many Hunters in the area.
Several Hunters had already drawn their weapons and raised their voices.
“Non-Awakened, evacuate to the Hunter Ket building or the Subway Station!”
“This way, please!”
The Non-Awakened fled, following the Hunter’s directions.
Unable to achieve Synchronization myself, I bolted toward the nearest Subway Station.
Bang!
“Aaah!”
“Eeek!”
Shattered concrete shards came flying, destroying the station entrance.
A gust of wind carrying dust swept over us, and I instinctively curled inward.
As the station entrance was blocked off, the color drained from everyone’s faces.
The Hunters in front of Hunter Ket frantically waved at those who couldn’t take shelter in the station.
“Over here! This way, please!”
Those who’d run toward the station had no choice but to turn back toward Hunter Ket.
Despite being so close to the station, my anxiety made it feel impossibly far away.
“Debris! Deflect the debris!”
“Where is the Demonic Beast?!”
The Hunters in front of Hunter Ket intercepted falling shards above their heads.
As I ran, shielding small stone fragments with my arms, a shadow fell across me.
When I realized it and looked up, I saw the silhouette of a person filling my vision.
Why was someone falling toward me?
The question came first.
And understanding came second.
There was no time to dodge.
I squeezed my eyes shut by instinct.
“…….”
But no matter how long I waited, pain never came.
Had I died before I could even feel it?
Still lost in that absurd thought, I barely opened my eyes.
“…….”
“…….”
And I saw a scene that strangely felt like déjà vu.
‘Yellow eyes?’
No—looking more carefully, they weren’t yellow eyes at all.
Within pupils of black, I could see a golden light flickering.
And a youthful face as well.
‘Oh, I thought it was that Hunter who saved me before.’
I realized my mistake.
And I rolled my eyes to make sense of the situation.
Then I saw the person pinned beneath his feet.
It seemed to be the same one who’d been falling toward me.
Only then did I understand that he’d saved me.
“Ah, um… th-thank you.”
Instead, the other person’s expression twisted.
Unlike the Hunter who’d saved me in the past, his eyes weren’t that bright yellow, but the glimmering gaze was quite striking nonetheless.
Was it the effect of a skill?
But even at a glance, those eyes—endlessly shifting with light—held something unstable about them.
I bowed my head and turned toward Hunter Ket.
“I’ll head to safety now.”
But he grabbed my arm suddenly.
“Where are you going?”
“Pardon?”
I’d just said I was evacuating.
I asked back with a bewildered expression.
He had an appearance that was neat but difficult to approach—as though he might cry at any moment.
Yet there was no kindness in the face he turned toward me.
If anything, he seemed unable to suppress the anguish welling up inside him.
He clenched his jaw, then spoke with a trembling voice.
“You’re just going to abandon me?”
What? What is he talking about?

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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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