I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 26

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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 26. Settling Old Debts
After concluding my contract with the Branch Director, I spent a comfortable day recuperating at the Hospital before being discharged the very next morning. I then headed straight to the Seohwa Group Headquarters Building with Seo Mi-na.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say I was half-dragged there. She practically kidnapped me into the car when I tried to head home.
I barely had time to admire the ultra-high-rise building towering over a hundred stories before finding myself seated in what appeared to be a Conference Room, surrounded by stern-faced individuals in formal attire. I scratched my chin, bewildered.
‘What is this…?’
I had so much to do—visit my younger brother, deal with those company bastards, update my rank, learn magic from the Spell Caster—yet here I was, caught up in whatever this was.
And there was something unsettling about the atmosphere in this room; these people seemed to regard me with subtle disdain, even outright hostility.
My confusion was quickly resolved when the man in the highest position stood and began his briefing.
“Then I’ll begin my report on the matter you requested. First, we’ve conducted informal but forceful protest procedures against the Seongun Guild. From what we’ve gathered, it appears the Scout Team Leader acted unilaterally, and since the Guild Master is known for preferring clean operations, that Team Leader will likely face severe punishment. Given our influence, they won’t be able to ignore us, so he should receive quite a harsh penalty.”
Revenge against those who had tried to kill Seo Mi-na and me. I had planned to handle it myself immediately after leaving the Hospital, but she had beaten me to it.
That Scout Team Leader was unlucky enough to have Seo Mi-na and me enter the Hidden Stage together, which made him look like a madman who sent assassins to kill the Seohwa Group’s princess.
No matter how large the Seongun Guild was, this situation was impossible to cover up. In fact, the Seongun Guild was famous for operating without a single blemish. Having created one, the guild itself would punish him far more severely than merely covering it up.
Moreover, their apologies and compensation would be not merely sufficient, but excessive.
‘Free is always good.’
I committed the face of that Scout Team Leader—the root cause of all this—to memory, then turned my attention to what came next.
“Next is information regarding the Loan Shark Company, commonly called the company. This place… truly amounted to nothing. Why they targeted the young lady, I have no idea…! I’d like to kill them all on the spot, but I’ve been given orders to wait.”
“So what kind of place is it?”
“Just a garbage operation dealing in money and human trafficking while committing all manner of illegal activities. They operate in a small region near Seoul, buying power with money and living like petty kings. It’s infuriating that they borrowed money and caused the young lady trouble….”
“Director, that’s enough.”
“My apologies. In any case, we’ve severed all their connections by exerting our influence. All that remains is for you to finish them off. Shall I contact the Association right now to have them processed?”
I frowned. They were mine. These were my old debts to settle, and these damned connections needed to be severed by my own hand.
“No. Just contact the Association’s Inspection Division and hand over the files. Shin Ju-ha and I will handle that place directly.”
“No, I’ll do it alone. Don’t interfere.”
“That’s dangerous. The Boss of that company was graded [E-] before retirement and is currently estimated to be an E-rank Hunter. Regardless of being the top candidate of this year’s class, know your place. If the Chairman and the Boss find out, they won’t stay quiet.”
I looked at the man who was so blatantly dismissing me and let out a scoff of amusement.
Just days ago, I would have nodded at whatever this Director said and kept my head down, but not anymore.
“So after all that time and effort, he’s only an E-rank Hunter. Regardless, I’m going. Please contact the Association’s Inspection Team in about three hours. By then, it’ll all be finished.”
“…Well, if you insist. A vehicle is prepared downstairs. Since you’ll be coming to our Seohwa Guild anyway, it wouldn’t hurt to learn defeat early.”
He thought his muttered comment was too quiet for me to hear. Sorry, but I caught every word.
Seo Mi-na showed no intention of mediating the conflict between the Director, his subordinates, and me—she simply observed. In other words, she was silently giving me permission to do whatever I wished.
“Is that so? Want to make a bet? Will I win or lose?”
“…If that sounded insulting, I apologize. I was genuinely concerned. In my work managing the Seohwa Guild’s operations, I’ve seen many Hunters who overestimated their abilities and got themselves killed. I didn’t want to lose talented personnel, so my emotions got the better of me.”
“It seemed like you disliked me from the start, so there’s no need for excuses. So, are we betting or not?”
“…Very well. However, if Shin Ju-ha fails to eliminate all of them as I suggested, then Shin Ju-ha will sign a contract with our Seohwa Guild. Minimum five-year contract.”
“Fine. If I win, I want one Rare-rank or higher Quest that the Seohwa Guild possesses.”
Once you enter the Abyss, the Quest System opens in earnest. Quests assigned by the natives or NPCs living in the Abyss, as if it were a game itself—one of the ways Hunters could grow stronger.
“Agreed. Those terms are well within my authority to accept.”
“Excellent. Then let’s depart immediately. Please contact the Association in exactly three hours.”
With that, I left the Conference Room, climbed into the vehicle, and headed toward that damned place I would never forget.
***
At that very moment, on the Association’s top floor, more than ten people had gathered in a space prepared for only one.
Considering that each of them wielded tremendous influence over South Korea, anyone could discern that the discussions emerging from this clandestine gathering were far from ordinary.
“So what is the reason you’ve summoned us, Association Chairman?”
“If this is some trivial matter, you’ll need to take responsibility for it.”
“Damn it~ I just came out of the Abyss after so long, and now I have to gather with these old geezers?”
For people whose every second was currency, whose every asset was treasure, the criticism directed at the Association Chairman for this sudden forced summons was fierce.
Yet the Association Chairman simply listened to all their grievances in silence. When he, who would normally have easily placated their complaints, maintained his silence, those who sensed something amiss quietly closed their mouths.
Once silence settled, the Association Chairman finally broached the subject.
“With the exception of three who had unavoidable circumstances, all eleven have gathered, so I shall explain why I’ve summoned you. Yesterday, a certain deranged employee within the Association illegally accessed the identity of one person.”
“Association Chairman. Get to the point already. My patience is wearing thin.”
While all eleven gathered here were indeed remarkable individuals, they were not equals. There was a clear hierarchy, and the Association Chairman held the lowest rank among these power brokers.
Fully aware of his position, the Association Chairman bowed his head slightly to the person seated beside him before immediately proceeding to the main matter.
“That person’s identity, which the employee accessed, had Zero-Grade security clearance attached to it. You all understand what Zero-Grade security means, I presume. It is a classification granted to only seven individuals in all of South Korea—a grade that effectively obliterates information so that no one may know of it.”
At the Association Chairman’s words, all eleven exclaimed in shock.
And with good reason. To impose Zero-Grade security required the consent of at least five power brokers capable of exerting tremendous influence over the nation, plus countless other procedures.
In other words, it meant that someone in this room had a connection to the subject of this Zero-Grade security.
“Unfortunately, this security clearance was imposed before I assumed the position of Association Chairman. It was placed at least fourteen years ago. To my knowledge, there are only two individuals under Zero-Grade security: one crazed S-Rank Hunter who terrorized North Korea seven years ago, and another who has since retired and vanished. So I’ve gathered you here to ask how I should proceed regarding this security subject.”
The Association Chairman paused to collect himself before speaking again.
“The subject of identity verification is… a twenty-year-old male named Shin Ju-ha.”
At those words, silence fell. More than half of those present had their expressions harden, while the remainder observed the situation with apparent interest.
The Association Chairman seized this moment and poured out everything he had been curious about.
“Is this Shin Ju-ha the child of those two I’m thinking of? The reason the previous Association Chairman had no choice but to step down?”
However, ten people subtly evaded the question, their silence conveying tacit affirmation.
“Hehehehe. To hear that name again. So that child is still alive after all.”
“Yes, upon investigation, it appears he awakened recently while living a miserable life, and he achieved top rank in this year’s class.”
“Hehehehe! How amusing. How very amusing. So that blood doesn’t lie, does it?”
An elderly man who appeared to hold the highest position stroked his white beard and opened his eyes sharply.
“Leave him be. After all, he’s merely a lowly F-Rank Hunter, isn’t he? There’s no need to overreact and make this situation worse. Nothing about Shin Ju-ha’s parents must surface.”
“I agree. Information about those two must never resurface in the world.”
“We went to great lengths to erase them from society. We cannot afford to do that again.”
“Besides, despite being the child of those two, he only awakened now that he’s come of age, didn’t he? He won’t grow to be particularly strong. After all, he has a younger sibling. From what I’ve heard, that one is half-crippled? He has clear weaknesses. It’s best to leave him alone.”
At their words, the Association Chairman inwardly clicked his tongue, his body shuddering at their repugnance. Yet he harbored no intention of defying their will.
He still lacked the power.
He knew all too well that his predecessor, the former Association Chairman and his mentor, had been executed for opposing their will.
So he bowed his head. He would listen to everything they said and wait for his moment.
‘And when I’ve gathered strength. Then I will strike them down.’
The Association Chairman’s gaze turned to the man in the documents he held. The child of those once called heroes of South Korea. The moment the Zero-Grade security code was first accessed and the alert rang on his phone, he heard the name Shin Ju-ha and understood.
That this man would become a great source of strength for him. That he would become the sharpest blade turned against these wretches.
So he immediately convened this meeting.
‘They are people of considerable pride, after all.’
Their caution ran just as deep and formidable as their power—these were the true wielders of authority.
Knowing they wouldn’t dare touch Shin Ju-ha, they had orchestrated this very gathering.
The Association Chairman concealed his true intentions beneath a servile smile, bowing his head low.
“Then I shall see to it at once. Thank you for your guidance today.”
“Hehehehe! Our Association Chairman remains so humble. I’ve told you, there’s no need for such formality.”
“Well, it’s not so bad, is it? He’s obedient and useful enough. Certainly more efficient than that fool who came before.”
“Then we’ll be taking our leave~~”
They filed past the Association Chairman, bent nearly ninety degrees at the waist, and vanished beyond the Association’s doors. Only once they had completely disappeared did his expression shift—the smile evaporated, replaced entirely by a venomous, seething contempt.
***
Moments earlier, I arrived before a 10-story building that paled in embarrassment beside the Seohwa Group Headquarters Building. I quietly limbered up and instructed the Driver to wait at a distance.
As if he sensed what was about to unfold, the Driver hastily started the engine and fled the moment my consideration left my lips.
“It’s amusing how everyone in this company seems to have a screw loose, just like Seo Mi-na.”
I completed my preparations by floating The Sun above my head, still cloaked in invisible mode.
“Status window.”
『Status Window
Name: Shin Ju-ha
Title: World Destroyer [SSS]
LV 10 (0%)
Stats
Limitless (Mythic) F- (50+20/100)
The Sun (Mythic) F- (50+20/100)
Heavenly Fortune (Mythic) F- (11+20/100)
Misfortune (Legend) F- (12+20/100)
Indomitable (Legend) F- (16+20/100)
Remaining Points: 0
Authority
[Golden Tower LV2][Heavenly Fortune LV1][Noon Sun LV1]
Unique Abilities
[Curse of Misfortune (Legend) LV MAX][Limitless Celestial Meridian (Mythic) LV1][Supreme Soul (Mythic) LV1][Equivalent Exchange (Primordial) LV1]
Skills
[Wings of Arrogance (Mythic) LV1][Heart of the Colossus (Legend) LV1]』
All my stats had increased by twenty points thanks to the effect of [Divine Artifact: The Eye of the Most Exalted Sun], which radiated its halo behind my head.
A battle I simply could not lose. I entered the building without hesitation.
“Boss, come out!”
I provoked him without preamble.

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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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