I Became a Hunter with the Heavenly Slaughter Star Trait. - Chapter 36

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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 36

 

Episode 36

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

I looked at Kang Min-a with a bewildered expression.

 

“This is a request from none other than South Korea’s top Hunter. Plus, China happens to be in a position where they need our help.”

 

“….”

 

“From what I can see, we have sufficient justification to demand ‘Jie.'”

 

Because Kang Min-a spoke so confidently,

 

I found myself thinking she might be right.

 

‘I’m actually tempted…?’

 

Judging coldly,

 

there was absolutely no way for me to obtain ‘Jie’ on my own.

 

The Management Bureau wouldn’t go out of their way to get ‘Jie’ for someone like me who isn’t even a top Hunter.

 

And it would be difficult for Lee Tae-pyeong as an individual to negotiate with an entire nation.

 

I’d been thinking of various methods all this time,

 

but there hadn’t been any particularly clever solutions…

 

‘…This might actually be possible.’

 

Even though absurd things like the Tower, System, and monsters had appeared,

 

this world still required something called ‘justification.’

 

No,

 

perhaps it was a world that needed justification even more than before.

 

“….”

 

I fell into thought for a moment.

 

If I was lucky, I could obtain ‘Jie,’

 

and even if unlucky, there would be plenty to gain.

 

Honestly,

 

no matter where I ended up,

 

I had no confidence in failing.

 

It wasn’t arrogance,

 

but if someone had obtained talent like mine…

 

anyone would think this way.

 

In that case,

 

there was no reason not to do it, right?

 

“…Sounds good.”

 

Even without me,

 

this was a raid where South Korea’s top Hunters and China’s top Hunters would participate together.

 

Even if I didn’t pull my full weight,

 

if I just slipped in quietly,

 

‘Jie’ would be in my hands!

 

It was practically getting it for free.

 

“Then, my condition is…”

 

“Obtaining ‘Jie,’ right?”

 

Kang Min-a smiled as if confident.

 

“Would negotiation be possible?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“I heard China wants ‘Dan’ too.”

 

“That’s also true. But this time, they’re not in a position to refuse.”

 

“Because of Hunter Choi Mu-ryeong?”

 

“Exactly.”

 

Kang Min-a nodded as if it were obvious.

 

Among China’s top 5 Hunters, only one was in the world’s top 10 rankings,

 

and even that was only 8th place.

 

The gap with Choi Mu-ryeong, who ranked 3rd,

 

was something China would understand better than anyone.

 

“Am I really in a position to make such a demand?”

 

Kang Min-a thought for a moment, then nodded.

 

“Honestly, the Chinese side doesn’t know much about you in detail…”

 

“Won’t they think I’m being presumptuous?”

 

“They might if it were your personal request. But if this gets approved from above, it’ll be received as Hunter Choi Mu-ryeong’s demand.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Because he specifically nominated you by name.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“They’re probably already expecting you to make ‘conditions.'”

 

“In that case…”

 

“I’d say it’s a sure thing.”

 

My thoughts aligned with Kang Min-a’s.

 

If it was Choi Mu-ryeong’s request,

 

especially for ‘Jie’ that even China had no viable way to utilize,

 

even knowing I already possessed ‘Dan,’

 

they would have no choice but to agree to this condition.

 

They could console themselves with the fact that at least they weren’t handing it over to their rival Japan.

 

“By any chance, do you have other conditions? Like compensation…”

 

“No. Just obtaining ‘Jie’ is enough for me.”

 

“Really? We could negotiate monetary aspects too…”

 

“It’s fine. There will be reward chests from there anyway, and that’ll be sufficient.”

 

“You’re not greedy enough…”

 

Is that so?

 

Seeing Kang Min-a’s somewhat disappointed atmosphere, I scratched the back of my head.

 

“Just getting ‘Jie’ might already be too much.”

 

“But you never know what might happen.”

 

“That’s exactly why it won’t work. If the synergy between ‘Dan’ and ‘Jie’ is too good when they meet…”

 

“….”

 

“The Chinese side will definitely try to find fault with it.”

 

“That could happen…”

 

“So the simpler and more straightforward the demand, the better.”

 

Kang Min-a nodded as if convinced.

 

“Then I’ll go convey the condition…”

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

I stopped Kang Min-a as she was about to get up after finishing our conversation.

 

“Doesn’t Hunter Choi Mu-ryeong have any conditions for me?”

 

At my question,

 

Kang Min-a made a troubled expression.

 

“Well, that’s…”

 

What kind of condition could it be to make her react like that?

 

After rolling her eyes for a while, Kang Min-a spoke.

 

“Hmm, that’s…”

 

What on earth are the conditions that make them act like that?

 

Kang Min-ah, who had been rolling her eyes for a while, speaks up.

 

“…He said he would speak directly.”

 

Directly?!

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

I was summoned by the Management Bureau and went out.

 

When I arrived at the meeting room,

 

“Oh, Tae-pyeong!”

 

Ban Hae-yeong and,

 

“Hello, Hunter Lee Tae-pyeong.”

 

Han Si-on, and.

 

“….”

 

Choi Mu-ryeong.

 

Three people were waiting for me.

 

“I’ve heard about the conditions.”

 

Oh.

 

Skipping pleasantries and such,

 

Getting straight to business?

 

I like this.

 

I plopped down in any chair,

 

And looked at Choi Mu-ryeong.

 

“I will demand ‘Jie’ from the Chinese side.”

 

Now that’s what I wanted to hear.

 

If it’s a demand from Choi Mu-ryeong,

 

China would find it hard to refuse outright.

 

Pretending to consider,

 

Making various adjustments.

 

They’d say okay when they think the cost-benefit analysis works out.

 

Actually,

 

Considering Choi Mu-ryeong’s abilities.

 

Handing over ‘Jie’ might not be a big deal?

 

“That’s fortunate.”

 

At my calm tone,

 

Choi Mu-ryeong’s eyebrow twitched for a moment.

 

But it was really just a moment,

 

So I think only I noticed.

 

“If you successfully complete the mission.”

 

“….”

 

“I’ll make sure ‘Jie’ is handed over to you.”

 

Well, that’s obvious.

 

No matter how much it’s an S-grade weapon,

 

No one here wants ‘Jie’.

 

It only has meaning if you have ‘Dan’.

 

No.

 

These three in the first place,

 

Are already Hunters with S-grade weapons.

 

“However.”

 

Oh.

 

“There’s a condition.”

 

Finally, the condition talk came up.

 

What kind of condition will Choi Mu-ryeong set?

 

“I heard you’re about to tackle the 20th Floor soon.”

 

Does he know even that?

 

Isn’t he too interested in me?

 

‘Is he going to say he’ll take me if I finish the 20th Floor conquest in record time too?’

 

Or,

 

That they’ll help me clear it quickly?

 

“Before participating in the mission.”

 

“….”

 

“Complete the conquest of the 30th Floor.”

 

Wait.

 

What did he say?

 

“30th Floor?”

 

I wasn’t the only one surprised.

 

Ban Hae-yeong asked back in a shocked voice,

 

And Han Si-on was also looking at Choi Mu-ryeong with surprised eyes.

 

“The deadline is one month.”

 

Only Choi Mu-ryeong,

 

Was speaking in a dry tone.

 

‘What kind of bullshit is this now?’

 

30th Floor.

 

And the deadline is one month?

 

‘It’s impossible.’

 

It’s not that conquering the 30th Floor itself is impossible,

 

But meeting the deadline is impossible.

 

Because….

 

“If you fail to conquer it within the deadline.”

 

“….”

 

“I’ll take ‘Jie’.”

 

Well.

 

He has a talent for spouting novel bullshit.

 

In that case.

 

“Go ahead.”

 

I have no choice but to respond with bullshit too?

 

* * *

 

The 20s are a grinding section anyway.

 

A grinding section where orcs and trolls appear.

 

The Tower is built up that way from the start.

 

Get a rough feel fighting goblins in the 10s,

 

Then in the 20s, it’s a section for leveling up by grinding against orcs and trolls.

 

In other words,

 

It’s a section where you just need to mindlessly slash.

 

It’ll be tough,

 

But I just need to climb like crazy.

 

Grind,

 

Open boxes,

 

That’s how you break through the level plateau.

 

Whether we could pass through this section or not,

 

would essentially determine our future Tower climbing.

 

If we couldn’t break through the 20s,

 

we’d just be slashing goblins on the 10th floors.

 

Or making a living selling items obtained from lower floors.

 

If we broke through the 30th Floor,

 

we could officially receive care from the Management Bureau.

 

Our dormitory would also be upgraded to the Second Section,

 

and various guilds would make recruitment offers right around this section.

 

In Cha Ye-rin’s case,

 

her leveling speed was so fast that contact came early.

 

In my case,

 

I deliberately didn’t disclose information to prevent contact.

 

Since I only lived within the Management Bureau,

 

guilds had no opportunity to approach me.

 

So, officially, I had received no offers.

 

Anyway.

 

Conquering the 30th Floor,

 

when you think about it, wasn’t impossible.

 

It would be tough,

 

but we could climb like crazy.

 

Unlike most hunters who control their conquest floors and speed,

 

I had planned to climb from the beginning.

 

So there was nothing to worry about…

 

The problem was,

 

the ‘deadline.’

 

From the 30th Floor onward, undead would appear.

 

This was also the reason why most hunters

 

would drop out in droves.

 

Of course,

 

I already had the Undead Achievement, so I had nothing to worry about.

 

However…

 

‘The problem lies elsewhere.’

 

That’s right.

 

‘The Lich King.’

 

The final boss of the 30s was none other than the Lich King.

 

We’d face him in earnest on the 39th Floor.

 

So shouldn’t that not be a concern?

 

Well…

 

‘I’m fucking worried.’

 

When conquering the 10th Floor,

 

the Goblin Shaman from the 19th Floor appeared and cast a curse.

 

The 30th Floor was the same – the Lich King from the 39th Floor would appear and cast a curse.

 

That curse was exactly the problem.

 

If you’re hit by the Lich King’s curse,

 

you become consumed by madness and turn into his puppet.

 

Enemy or ally,

 

you become a killing machine that swings its sword without distinction.

 

“…”

 

Anyone would find this troublesome,

 

but in my case, it was especially problematic.

 

‘Who knew being able to kill everyone would become a problem…’

 

If I went solo, I’d be consumed by madness and never return,

 

and if I partied, I’d obviously be consumed by madness and kill all my teammates.

 

Either way was utterly horrific.

 

‘This wasn’t the original plan.’

 

For the 30th Floor challenge,

 

I had planned to slowly level up Cha Ye-rin and Ujeongmin in the 20s.

 

And grind until I obtained mental defense items.

 

Since I needed to level up anyway,

 

and obtain items too.

 

I had planned to climb slowly…

 

‘The deadline is one month.’

 

It had become impossible.

 

‘Then…’

 

To block the madness curse,

 

mental defense items were essential.

 

Or, I needed a mage who could use mental defense magic.

 

However.

 

Mental defense items

 

were ridiculously expensive.

 

No,

 

being expensive wasn’t the problem.

 

The problem was that even if expensive, they couldn’t be obtained.

 

Because there were no items for sale.

 

This was a worldwide phenomenon.

 

Then,

 

I needed a mage who could use mental defense magic.

 

This too

 

was as difficult to find as the items.

 

Han Si-on would be capable of it.

 

But,

 

would Han Si-on really help me?

 

In the first place.

 

Choi Mu-ryeong had set up this game

 

to make me ask for ‘help.’

 

Abandon your team

 

and come over here.

 

“…”

 

I’d rather die than do that.

 

Unless Choi Mu-ryeong joined my team as support.

 

Then what method remained?

 

Enduring with pure real mental strength.

 

But would that work?

 

‘…Honestly, I’m not confident.’

 

Should I try to obtain mental defense items,

 

even through illegal means?

 

Or,

 

should I ask Cha Ye-rin and Ujeongmin

 

to grind two runs every single day?

 

“….”

 

Neither option was viable.

 

The black market either wouldn’t have mental defense items, or they’d have severe side effects.

 

If we ran two dungeon runs a day, Cha Ye-rin and Ujeongmin would be completely exhausted.

 

“Haah….”

 

And here I thought things were going smoothly.

 

My chest felt tight.

 

“…I’m going to do some random solo runs.”

 

This won’t do.

 

I need to cut down something.

—————
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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