I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 176

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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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Chapter 176. The Knot Unties (2)
‘What a fool.’
Watching Shin Ju-ha soar away, Dangun Ji-hyuk smiled with a hollow expression—one that mingled disbelief with amusement.
I disliked being forced into such a sudden, momentous decision, yet I couldn’t refuse it either.
A monster. One powerful enough to stand alone against the entire world was forcing my hand.
‘To think he’d become this strong.’
He had transcended the confines of alphabetical rankings. In mere weeks, he had transformed into a monster.
The Tower of Ascension. I had experienced it myself, but it was clear that whoever held 100% ownership would gain far more than I ever could.
Naturally, if that happened, countless Hunters would covet the Tower of Ascension in his possession. Until now, lacking strength and authority, they had remained silent beneath the surface. But circumstances had changed.
What should I do?
It goes without saying—establishing a nation? Shin Ju-ha spoke and decided as though it were simple, but I knew better. It was a dream bordering on the impossible.
Nations don’t establish themselves so easily. Though if a one-man state counted as a nation, there would be no problem.
Yet Shin Ju-ha didn’t seem like the type to give up. Knowing who his target of vengeance was, the South Korean Government would never willingly surrender to him.
Conflict was inevitable. What remained was choosing a side.
The answer was already decided. I had to stand with Shin Ju-ha. To be honest, if I set my mind to it, I could single-handedly bring down a small nation like South Korea.
It would be grueling and cost me my life, but the mere possibility—wasn’t that what mattered?
If I could do it, how could he not? His true strength was beyond my comprehension, so I believed he could even stand against the entire world.
My deliberation continued. Even with the answer predetermined, doubt lingered. I would have to abandon my homeland and everything I had enjoyed until now.
Choosing Shin Ju-ha meant starting from nothing, from scratch.
Of course, I meant power in the political sense, not raw strength. With that thought, Dangun Ji-hyuk reconsidered.
‘No, that’s not it.’
I pondered. Did Shin Ju-ha truly believe establishing a single nation would be so simple?
There would be so much needed—the fundamental institutions required, necessary laws, personnel…
‘Could it be?’
One thought led to another, and I arrived at the answer.
“The madman. He’s planning to devour South Korea itself.”
The end of a divided nation. Unification would be achieved by the hands of that monster. Though the name North Korea would vanish in the process.
He would establish a nominally independent nation, then swiftly and cleanly conquer South Korea by striking at its leadership, consuming the entire country as spoils of war.
Little would change. An absolute ruler reigning over democracy. And territory expanded more than twofold—that would be all.
Only the leadership would shift. There would be casualties, but I couldn’t deny it was the most ideal scenario for Shin Ju-ha.
“If that’s the case…”
I should settle my position early. Now I understood just how enormous a favor it was that he came directly to offer me this opportunity.
He was sparing me from death among the ruling powers that would fall!
‘And on top of that—life extension surgery, the Black Market, the Tower of Ascension.’
Opportunities not to be missed! He possessed every single one of these immense privileges, any one of which would be extraordinary.
As Dangun Ji-hyuk finished making his choice, the rooftop door burst open, and those who had served at his side since his rise to this position rushed in.
“Are you alright?!”
Yes, I was a king in this place. An absolute monarch who answered to no one. A great and mythical ruler wielding the immense power granted by the title of South Korea’s Rank 1 and the world’s Rank 2.
He sought to become such a king as well. The only difference was scale. I had become an absolute existence within a single guild, but Shin Ju-ha intended to wield his power over an entire nation.
Over the nation that had driven me into suffering.
Dangun Ji-hyuk raised his hand to calm them, then moved into action. There was no time. If he was to make a lasting impression on the newly ascendant Emperor, he needed to bring back spoils of war.
“We’re going to Cheong Wa Dae. Contact the President. Tell him I want to meet with him now.”
The complete rights to the Former North Korean Territory. He had to reclaim it. It was the command the new Emperor of this age had given as the price for the deposed king’s life.
Dangun Ji-hyuk moved without further hesitation.
***
I folded my wings in the sky and descended to the ground. Before me loomed a structure so colossal that the Dangun Guild building appeared shabby by comparison.
The Seohwa Group. An immovable first place in the financial rankings. A conglomerate that wielded the lion’s share of this nation’s wealth. So dominant that South Korea was jokingly called the Seohwa Republic—the Group’s influence permeated society so thoroughly that there was scarcely a sector it hadn’t infiltrated.
And it was the group operated by Seo Mi-na’s grandfather.
“Hmm.”
I passed by lightly. The number one stands alone, aloof and arrogant. Perfect in its very existence, it harbors no schemes.
Naturally, I knew the Seohwa Group had not a single connection to my parents’ incident. Rather, I’d heard they had departed with disdain for the masses of inferiors who attempted their petty machinations.
Seohwa. Changsung. Sungwun.
Three great stars in South Korea’s financial firmament. One of those stars had already collapsed under owner risk—I had orchestrated its fall. From second place to thirty-ninth; the story was complete.
Through that collapse, Seohwa remained steadfast and greedily reaped the rewards. It had absorbed the prime subsidiaries of the shattered Changsung Group.
It doesn’t scheme, but neither is it merciful enough to leave prey before its eyes untouched. That’s how it built this kingdom.
A kingdom entirely different from the Dangun Guild. I stepped into that kingdom.
“Welcome. What brings you here today?”
I bowed slightly to the receptionist greeting me kindly and stated whom I was looking for.
“Is Seo Mi-na here?”
It had been quite some time since I’d seen her. Seo Mi-na had entered the Abyss with the Seohwa Group’s team and secluded herself for months, while I too had been occupied with various matters, our schedules perpetually misaligned.
At my question, the receptionist tilted her head briefly before realizing who I was asking for, then hurriedly asked in return.
“May I ask what your relationship is with Director Seo Mi-na?”
Outside Director. Our group’s only princess certainly had an impressive title.
“A comrade who has shared life and death?”
We had crawled through the Pyramid and nearly died there, so it wasn’t a lie. As I let a hint of power show toward the receptionist, whose expression had turned bewildered, she immediately recognized I was a Hunter and hastily attempted to call someone. When she turned pale and alternated her gaze between me and the phone, I could tell at a glance that whoever she’d just called wasn’t Seo Mi-na.
The receptionist, her face drained of color, began to guide me after looking between me and the phone.
“Th-this way.”
The receptionist guided me to an executive-only elevator that ordinary employees could never access. Watching her, I nodded inwardly.
I didn’t know who had called, but one thing was certain: there was no longer any need to go through Seo Mi-na to find what I sought.
The elevator ascended at high speed and finally arrived at the top floor.
As I entered the space prepared for only one person, the receptionist hastily let me out and she immediately fled back down to the first floor.
“The Chairman’s Office.”
The Chairman of the Seohwa Group. A legendary giant of the financial world. Standing alone in aloof arrogance, yet a great figure who had overcome every external pressure.
Impressive, certainly, but nothing to be intimidated by.
Today I had come to offer them an opportunity.
Creak.
As I opened the door and stepped inside, an elderly man came into view. Eyes piercingly cold and composed fixed upon me.
Had I not awakened, or had I been in the early stages of awakening, I would have cowered and bowed my head before such charisma—the kind rarely seen in ordinary people.
“So you’re the one?”
Speaking in casual speech right off the bat. Though he certainly had the standing to do so.
“Yeah.”
That didn’t mean I had to bow to him.
“…What did you say?”
“I’m right. I don’t know what you were thinking when you called me here.”
Watching the Association Chairman’s face shift from bewilderment to sheer absurdity, I settled naturally onto the sofa.
“You’re insane. You seduced our granddaughter and filled her head with nonsense. No wonder. Do you even know who I am?”
“Do you know who I am?”
When I responded with equal rudeness, Seo Gwan-su’s face flushed crimson with rage—veins bulging across his forehead—and he shot up from his seat, planting himself directly across from me.
“Shin Ju-ha. Son of two heroes who died long ago at the hands of those vermin.”
“Correction. They didn’t die. They’re alive.”
I just don’t know where.
At my words, he showed genuine interest for the first time.
“So you know? That’s why you’ve been quietly concealing your power and sharpening the blade of vengeance?”
“The blade is already sharpened. All that’s left is to sever their necks.”
With those words, I released my power. Darkness flooded the Chairman’s Office.
Even an S-rank Hunter should tremble with fear, yet Seo Gwan-su—a mere ordinary man—held my gaze unflinchingly, his mind unwavering.
“Impressive.”
Seeing that, I immediately withdrew my power. Displays of strength meant nothing to such a man.
“A monster, then. Dangun Cheonje. Even when I faced him, I didn’t feel quite like this. Fear. Such terrifying power. Tsk tsk tsk. The day those vermin, corroded by inferiority, lose their heads draws near. You’ve already disposed of one, haven’t you? Thanks to that, I’ve profited handsomely.”
He meant Changsung Group. I didn’t answer. He couldn’t be subdued by force. But that didn’t mean I had no way to draw him in.
“I’ll grant you full authority over development of the Former North Korean Territory.”
“Does that land belong to you?”
“Yes. The great Hunter who slew the Imoogi alone. That’s me.”
At those words, the Chairman’s eyes transformed—greedy and cold. Like a man entering business mode.
“What do you want?”
“Come to the nation I’m building.”
“You’re insane. Do you think a nation is built so easily?”
“With my power, nothing is impossible. If I wished, I could erase the entire world and forge a single nation from its ashes.”
As he met my eyes, the Chairman’s gaze trembled for the first time. He’d recognized the truth in my words.
“Even so!”
“I’ll demonstrate that my power is supreme, establish a nation in name, then immediately consume South Korea. No problem then. I’ll reign, but I have no intention of ruling. Democracy? That worthless wrapping—put it back on or don’t. Handle it yourselves.”
The so-called giant immediately grasped my true meaning and began to laugh. My proposal pleased him.
“For such an undertaking, Seo Gwan-su must take the lead!”
“I’ll also commission you to build the world’s most expensive and perfect house on the Former North Korean Territory.”
“As much as you like. But are you confident? Can you stand alone against South Korea?”
At that, I rose from my seat and spoke.
“I already told you. I’ll win even against the entire world.”
I am already divine. Insignificant creatures pose no problem.
With those words, I left the Chairman’s Office.
Power. Authority. Justification.
Of the three factions I needed to secure to establish a nation, I had already brought two under my control. What remained was legitimacy.
“I’m going to the Hunter Association.”
I would secure the Association Chairman—the idol of all South Korean Hunters.

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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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