I Became a Hunter with the Heavenly Slaughter Star Trait. - Chapter 7
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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 7
Episode 7
The home I returned to was surprisingly ordinary.
All my belongings were still there as well.
Perhaps because there was still some time left before I’d be kicked out for unpaid rent.
A space that was familiar.
And equally painful.
I lay down on the floor and stared up at the ceiling.
The debt was gone.
But that was all.
What remained in my hands was still nothing.
Penniless.
No debt, but no home either.
I didn’t even have money to rent a gosiwon.
All I had was enough money for a meal or two.
“…”
Should I start doing manual labor?
No, wouldn’t it be better to just climb the Tower instead?
‘The Management Bureau also talked about the Thousand Deaths trait as if it were incredibly good.’
I could feel it.
The fact that the Management Bureau wanted to hold onto me.
However, the petty bourgeois mindset still remaining in me.
Just made me hesitate to answer.
‘It wasn’t just ending with debt forgiveness.’
At the time, I was only thinking about suicide so I didn’t realize.
But now that I’m back in reality, even finishing the tutorial leaves me just as lost.
Let’s look at this coldly.
I’ve escaped from a suicide-worthy life.
But it’s still true that it’s a hopeless life.
It’s true that my body improved during three months of training.
But what’s the point if I wear it down with manual labor?
Rather…
“It would be better to enter the Tower.”
I was startled when I unconsciously muttered without realizing it.
It would be better to enter the Tower?
Even though I might die?
‘But I didn’t get hurt even a hair in the tutorial.’
Two voices began fighting in my head.
A voice shouting whether it was okay to die.
And a voice shouting whether this was really living.
What resonated more with me now was…
“Right. Is this really living?”
Overwhelmingly the latter.
It’s not like I have to enter the Tower every day anyway.
I don’t have to climb high floors every time either.
Three or four times.
Just clear the lower floors a few times until I get decent items.
Meet the tax exemption conditions.
Make money selling items.
Then wouldn’t my future life be smooth sailing?
The moment that thought occurred to me.
I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a business card.
Kang Min-a.
The business card of that Management Team civil servant from earlier.
-Ring ring.
As soon as the dial tone rang once.
-Yes. Talent Management Team, Kang Min-a…
The other party answered the phone.
Since we’d already met, introductions wouldn’t be necessary.
I got straight to the point.
“I’ll do it. The contract.”
-Yes, yes?
“I said I’ll sign the contract. However, I have a condition.”
Please find me a room.
* * *
“What a shame…”
“He was a rookie we hadn’t seen in a long time.”
“That’s right…”
“Should we have pushed a little harder?”
“No. That’s absolutely not allowed.”
“But still…”
“It’s work that risks your life. We can’t force anyone.”
“Sigh, even if he really seemed like he’d make it?”
“Forcing someone has severe side effects. Absolutely not allowed.”
“That’s true, but…”
The woman who had been glaring at the documents with a regretful expression hung her head low.
He was talent we couldn’t afford to lose.
All he had to do was sign his name!
But the Team Leader’s will was firm.
Absolutely NO to coercion.
“Still, he’s definitely talent we can’t afford to lose.”
“Right?”
“We need to find a way to persuade him somehow.”
“Is it money after all?”
“Well. If he’s that skilled, he probably won’t be motivated by money.”
“Then what?”
“First, we need to put our hearts into it.”
“Our hearts!”
“Let’s try approaching him with sincerity.”
“Sincerity!”
But easier said than done – what exactly are heart and sincerity supposed to mean?
How can you put your heart into it and approach with sincerity?
Just as the woman was about to tear her hair out.
-Ring ring ring.
A monotonous bell sound rang out.
“Yes. Talent Management Team, Kang Min-a…”
Her expression changed instantly upon hearing the voice.
“Yes, yes?”
It was rare to see Kang Min-a flustered.
As her expression changed, the Team Leader also looked at her with a serious face.
“Yes. Yes. Yes.”
A phone call with nothing but repeated “yes”es.
“Yes. Of course. Naturally. As much as you need.”
Kang Min-a only shouting YES unconditionally.
“We’ll come to escort you right away!”
As soon as she hung up, Kang Min-a packed the documents she had spread out into her bag.
“Team Leader!”
“Who on earth was that?”
“Lee Tae-pyeong!”
“What?”
“He’ll do it!”
“He, he said he would?”
“Yes!!”
The Team Leader jumped up following Kang Min-a.
“Wait, the conditions. What about the conditions?”
“Team Leader, conditions aren’t important right now.”
“What? Then?”
“First, he asked us to get him a room.”
“A room?”
“Yes. Don’t you remember? He’s the rental scam victim case.”
“Ah!!!”
The Team Leader’s face, which had been colored with surprise, soon changed to bewilderment.
“…That’s really all he wants?”
He had been organizing all sorts of grand conditions in his head.
But he’s asking for just one room.
Not even a house, just a room.
Right before signing a Hunter contract, no less.
It was the most absurd condition he’d heard while working in the Talent Management Team.
But it seemed that wasn’t important to Kang Min-a.
“Yes! So let’s hurry up and go.”
She raised her voice to urge the Team Leader.
“Uh, okay.”
“This is when we need to show it. Sincerity and genuine care!”
* * *
Babel Tower Climber’s Dormitory.
Unlike the applicant’s dormitory inside the Management Bureau, this was an entire building.
The exterior looked like a rigid government building.
But the interior was decorated like a hotel.
The difference from a hotel was that security was thorough.
Ordinary people couldn’t even set foot inside.
Since I was still an ordinary person, I was accompanied by the Talent Management Team Leader and Ms. Kang Min-a.
There wasn’t really anything for me to do.
The two officials were just busy.
“I’m sorry, but opening Zero Section for first-time residents is impossible.”
“I know that well. But this person is a special case.”
“We also have to follow regulations…”
“It absolutely has to be Zero Section, I’m telling you.”
Ms. Kang Min-a beat her chest as if frustrated.
“…Second Section is possible.”
“Secoooond?! Are you kidding me right now…!”
After several rounds of arguing, the manager finally threw up his hands.
“Understood. We’ll open First Section for you. However, we need the Team Leader’s signature…”
“Of course he’ll sign!”
Even so, Ms. Kang Min-a still had a dissatisfied expression.
“Um, I won’t be staying that long anyway, so any room is fine…”
When I quietly spoke up, the Talent Management Team Leader shook his head with a stern face.
“No. We cannot allow that.”
“…”
“We absolutely must guide you to the best facilities.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you…”
The best, huh. It feels a bit burdensome.
I’m planning to bail anyway…
“Sorry it took so long.”
Ms. Kang Min-a, who had been frowning deeply just moments ago.
Returned holding a card key.
A sparkling golden card.
“Ta-da! This is Lee Tae-pyeong’s exclusive First Section card!”
“Th, thank you…”
I awkwardly received the card.
“It’s regrettable that it’s not Zero Section, but for someone like Lee Tae-pyeong, Zero Section will open up soon.”
“Um, what is Zero Section?”
“It’s the space for top-tier Hunters.”
It turned out the dormitory had grades for different areas.
Third Section.
Second Section.
First Section.
Zero Section.
Four grades total.
Third Section is a space open to all Hunters.
From private rooms to training rooms and so on.
It’s where Hunters who just started climbing the Tower stay.
Second Section is one grade higher than that.
A space open to Hunters who regularly clear the Tower.
The private room quality gets better, and you can receive management in various ways.
Up to here is a normal level.
From First Section onwards, it feels like a different dimension.
First, you get assigned a secretary to handle personal tasks.
The biggest difference is that most things can be handled through the secretary.
Actually, it still doesn’t feel real yet.
A secretary…
‘This seems a bit excessive.’
Who am I, anyway.
I wasn’t even a webtoon artist, I was just an assistant.
An assistant.
I’m more accustomed to supporting someone else.
I’m not used to being supported.
However.
If I said ‘First Section seems a bit excessive,’ Kang Min-a wouldn’t stay quiet about it.
She’d probably shout ‘Of course! Zero Section is what Lee Tae-pyeong deserves!’ and march off to fight the administrator.
Honestly, from my perspective, even Third would be more than enough.
Second is already excessive.
First is, well, unimaginable.
Then what level would Zero even be?
‘I am curious though…’
Contrary to Kang Min-a’s wishes.
I’ll just take what I can from First and leave this place.
Anyway.
Everything proceeded smoothly after that.
While I was listening to the contract terms and signing.
All my belongings from the rented apartment were moved to the dormitory.
Though there wasn’t much to call belongings anyway.
“Well then, get plenty of rest today!”
“I do hope it’s to your liking, Lee Tae-pyeong.”
Kang Min-a and the Talent Management Team Leader returned with bright smiles on their faces.
‘First, let me check out the room.’
I got on the elevator and held up the gold card.
-Ding!
With the notification sound, the word FIRST appeared on a small screen.
The elevator rose quickly.
Zero Section is on the top floor.
First Section is right below that, they said.
So I’ll be staying quite high up.
Finding the room wasn’t difficult.
My name was already attached to the door.
A golden nameplate.
‘This is excessive, too excessive…’
When I opened the door and entered.
I couldn’t close my mouth.
“This isn’t a room, it’s a house!”
That’s right.
What I had imagined was at most something better than the candidate dormitory.
Since the candidate dormitory was like a new studio apartment.
I figured this would be like a new two-room apartment.
But the scene unfolding before my eyes was completely different from my imagination.
Like something you’d see in a movie…
An incredibly huge space.
It takes forever just to get from the entrance to the living room.
I don’t even know how many rooms there are.
“This is insane…”
The living room is as big as a sports field.
The bathroom was bigger than my old room.
“Is this a dream?”
Thud.
Feeling my legs give out, I collapsed onto the sofa and pinched my cheek.
It hurts.
“This is supposed to be temporary accommodation?”
No way.
I could live here for the rest of my life, couldn’t I?
After wandering around and finishing my tour, I headed back outside.
It was so spacious that just touring took over an hour.
I had gotten hungry in the meantime.
‘First floor is the lobby, second floor is the dining hall, third floor is…’
Actually, from the third floor up isn’t that important.
What I need right now is a meal.
I pressed the button for the second floor.
The door opened, and when I showed my gold card, a staff member guided me to a seat.
Is this technically a company cafeteria?
It’s quite fancy for a company cafeteria.
It’s buffet-style, and there seems to be a place that takes separate orders too.
They have everything.
And all of this is free?
‘This is heaven. Heaven.’
No need to be self-conscious either.
I immediately started piling on the food.
Since going back and forth is bothersome, let me take everything at once.
And so, at my table for one, there were five plates.
“Ahem.”
I’ll eat all this and then eat more.
First, let me start with eggs so my stomach won’t be shocked.
The moment I loaded a spoonful of crispy bacon and scrambled eggs into my mouth.
“Oh? Lee Tae-pyeong?”
Someone called my name.
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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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