Infinite Evolution Hunter - Chapter 81

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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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81
I felt sorry toward Bae Na-young, but I shoveled the rice into my mouth with earnest dedication. While traveling with Eres, I’d enjoyed several fine meals, yet over the past five months, the number of times I’d eaten could be counted on one hand. As my ability to absorb and utilize life force grew more efficient, the necessity for sustenance had nearly vanished—yet I hadn’t forgotten the pleasure of appetite or the joy of eating.
After finishing the meal, I returned home. Mother, reassured by my safe return, had fallen into a deep sleep she’d long been denied.
I placed my hand gently over Mother’s hand, which gripped mine so tightly even in slumber.
“I thought she’d be happy to see me come back… I even left a letter saying I’d be gone for a while…”
Bae Na-young spoke, her spirit thoroughly dampened by the scolding she’d received.
“She is happy. She’s just angry because of it. I’ll head to the Awakener Management Bureau, so try to lift their mood while I’m gone.”
“Oppa, are you abandoning Mom and running away?”
“…No. I need to close the Gate, don’t I?”
“Hmph. Fine.”
I dropped off Bae Na-young and Mother at the house, then fled as though escaping. Before visiting the Awakener Management Bureau, I headed toward the Rigen Research Institute.
“Chairman! Thank goodness you’ve returned safely! How was the Core?”
Jae-in asked after my wellbeing and inspected my chest before I could even answer.
“It ruptured.”
“Pardon?”
“I drew too much power from it, and it went berserk. If I’d been alone, I could have controlled it, but I was attacked while trying to suppress it, so it burst.”
Had it not been for the roots of the World Tree, the underground would have collapsed entirely from the explosion.
“That… that can’t be…”
“You didn’t make any more, did you?”
“…”
“Jae-in.”
“Hahaha, I thought it was a success, so I made a few more just in case? I was just about to begin testing them.”
“You haven’t mixed in the catalyst yet, have you?”
“No. I figured it would be too dangerous without you here.”
“It’s impressive you waited five months without experimenting.”
“You’re not someone who returns easily, Chairman. I was planning to do it together once you came back.”
“Still, five months must have felt long? Judging by how eager you are to experiment.”
“Hahahaha…”
“Still, thank you for trusting me. Let’s conduct those experiments together gradually.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll head to the Awakener Management Bureau first. Once they’re ready, they’ll call me to close the Bridge Gate.”
“I’ll prepare everything.”
I turned the car toward the Awakener Management Bureau.
“…You hadn’t returned after all?”
“I’ve come back.”
Sono Rim was waiting.
“Don’t worry. We’ll close the Gate from now on.”
“Thank you. But perhaps we should leave one open?”
“Pardon? Why?”
“To oppose the Destruction God, wouldn’t cooperation between the two worlds be necessary?”
“I don’t believe they’re the type to permit such a thing.”
“…You’ve met them?”
Sono Rim’s eyes widened.
“Well, it just happened that way.”
“Throughout Tellus history, no one has ever had a direct audience with them, yet an Earthling manages it first…”
Sono Rim wore an expression of frustration mingled with regret.
“Closing one Gate won’t significantly impact Tellus. They’ll understand that much.”
Sono Rim was the type to act first and sort out the details later.
“And if Earth and Tellus grow stronger through technological exchange, wouldn’t that benefit both worlds?”
“To withstand the Destruction God’s invasion force?”
“You’ve heard of that too? What did they say about it?”
“That it’s an inevitable tide—impossible to stop. The next invasion will come. Though they said it might be ten thousand or a hundred thousand years away.”
“Haha, that aligns with what we’ve discovered. So if we can just hold the line this time, surely some solution will present itself, no?”
“Let’s do our best together.”
I clasped hands with Sono Rim.
Following Sono Rim’s request, I closed all the Bridge Gates except one.
“I’ll visit periodically for continued exchange.”
“Then, we look forward to working with you.”
Sono Rim and Director Baek Young-shin of the Awakener Management Bureau shook hands, and the moment was broadcast worldwide.
It was the instant Korea transformed from a minor Hunter nation into one possessing the sole foothold to Tellus.
The pressure from the great powers was immense, but since we held the key, we could afford some audacity.
“Hunter Lee Ji-seok, please clear your schedule for next week.”
In the Director’s office of the Awakener Management Bureau, Director Baek Young-shin sat in his chair, speaking while reviewing the schedule.
“What’s this about?”
“Representatives from nations worldwide will be dispatched.”
“Why?”
“Officially, it’s to prevent those who might abuse the Bridge Gate or any potential threats from Tellus. But I suspect the real intent is to monitor Korea.”
“And why do I need to participate?”
“You’re the central figure in this incident and one of only two S-rank Hunters in Korea. Your participation is essential.”
“Wait, I’m S-rank now?”
“Indeed. You were promoted to S-rank following the Franklin incident.”
Director Baek Young-shin presented me with a Hunter License crafted from dragon scales—an item produced by the World Hunter Alliance, issued only to S-rank Hunters. Beyond its astronomical cost, its defensive properties are extraordinary. The story of a Hunter whose life was saved when they kept one in their chest pocket, deflecting a fatal blow, is legendary.
“Wow.”
I’d only heard tales of it; seeing one in person was a first. Judging by its weight, I should use this as inspiration to upgrade my armor again.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. So I should come by next week?”
“I’ll contact you with the details. There are several other matters to arrange beforehand.”

“What?”
“Now that you’ve become an S-rank Hunter, you should lighten Jung Min-gi’s burden a bit.”
Baek Young-shin placed dozens of file stacks on the desk with a bright smile.
“Shall we go through them one by one?”
The files contained mountains of work—rescuing Hunters trapped in A-rank Gates, searching for missing Hunters in North Korea, international aid, and more.
“Has Jung Min-gi been handling all of this alone until now?”
“It’s the sorrow of a nation with only one S-rank Hunter. Still, thanks to Jung Min-gi’s steadfast dedication all this time, our country has been able to grow this much.”
“No wonder he always looked exhausted. And frankly, if he wanted to emigrate, he could have left anytime, right? It’s so like Jung Min-gi to stubbornly protect the nation.”
“… He can’t emigrate?”
“If you were afraid of that, you shouldn’t have given him this much work in the first place, should you?”
“That’s….”
“I’m not going. I’m not. Give me the files.”
I pulled the files from the concerned Baek Young-shin’s arms.
There was nothing particularly extraordinary about them. It was simply sending an S-rank Hunter to handle tasks that might be somewhat dangerous for A-rank Hunters.
To complete the missions in the files, I made trips to North Korea and continued rescue operations at Gates. Thanks to Eres’s training, my skills had improved, making everything feel surprisingly easy.
“Huh?”
While conducting reconnaissance near the North Korea-China border, blood suddenly burst from the back of my hand.
“I wasn’t even attacked, so what is this….”
It was strange, but the wound was small and already healed. My hand moved without any issues, and there were no enemies nearby. I shook off the odd feeling and continued the mission.
“Lee Ji-seok!”
When I returned, Jung Min-gi’s expression brightened noticeably as he approached and embraced me.
“Thanks to you, I finally got some rest. Thank you, thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
This man needs to live long—he’ll be helpful when we fight later. He can’t collapse from overwork.
“My daughter wanted to thank you too. So, would you mind training my daughter Jang-mi a bit?”
“Me? Training her? All of a sudden?”
“My daughter is a Hunter too. But the kids in my Guild tend to be too lenient with her because she’s my daughter. I thought you’d be able to train her properly without worrying about my opinion.”
“Haven’t you seen how I train my other friends?”
“I have.”
“You want me to train your daughter like that?”
“Train her.”
The smile faded from his face as he answered seriously.
“I think I’ve been too lenient raising her…. She has no discipline. I’ll take a few more of your tasks, so please do this for me.”
“Understood.”
In the future, Jung Jang-mi dies too. I don’t know how, but if I train her now, her survival rate should increase. That way, Jung Min-gi will be more motivated as well.
“Good. Then I’ll leave these with you.”
I handed over a stack of mission files to Jung Min-gi.
“…That’s not a few?”
“Weren’t you handling all of them alone before?”
“That’s true. Sigh…. Alright then. Please take good care of my daughter.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll send you a proper person.”
“P-please go easy on them.”
“I’ll give them a thorough attitude adjustment before sending them over.”
I left without acknowledging the regretful expression on Jung Min-gi’s face.
* * *
“…Heh heh heh….”
The moment I saw Jung Jang-mi, a hollow laugh escaped me. Standing with one leg propped up, chewing gum, her face buried in her smartphone—her entire body screamed that she didn’t want to be here.
“Since you’ve seen my face, can I go now?”
Jung Jang-mi spoke without even glancing at me.
“Go where? Aren’t you entering the Gate?”
“Ugh, this is so annoying. Am I supposed to do everything Dad says? I’ve got friends to meet right now.”
As I was about to respond, Yang Sang-heon grabbed my arm.
“Brother, she’s still Hunter Jung Min-gi’s daughter. We can’t be too harsh.”
“Is that what you wear into a Gate? No matter if she’s a mage, isn’t this too much?”
She was entering a Gate dressed in hot pants and a tank top.
“Brother, you don’t wear anything either. At least Jang-mi brought a staff.”
“Don’t call that reasoning. Is she like me? If she gets hit, she’ll die, won’t she?”
“Brother, we can’t treat her like we treat ourselves. Even if Hunter Jung Min-gi said that, he probably doesn’t truly wish for us to be harsh with her.”
“That’s probably true.”
“Then you’ll go easy on her, right?”
“No. I need to fix that attitude of hers.”
“Why?”
“So she lives longer. If she enters a Gate acting like that, it’s suicide. This is for Hunter Jung Min-gi’s sake. That’s probably why he sent her to me.”
I walked toward Jung Jang-mi.
“We’re entering the Gate now.”
“No, I said I don’t have to go! I’ll tell Dad not to scold you, so don’t worry.”
“A… mister?”
How many years younger was she than me? It felt like a mental attack had pierced through my S-rank resilient spirit.
“I’m leaving~”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
I grabbed her wrist.
“What?! Let go!”
Jung Jang-mi swung at my cheek. My face must look easy to hit these days.
Thwack.
“Ow!”
Jung Jang-mi cried out as pain shot through her hand.
“Stay quiet and follow me.”
I dragged Jung Jang-mi’s arm toward the Gate.
“Let go! I won’t let go!”
She kicked and bit, trying to break free, but a D-rank mage like Jung Jang-mi couldn’t even tickle me.
“Let go!”
Then she kicked at a vital point. It wouldn’t have hurt me much, but my body’s reflexive response caused my legs to clench.
“Aaaagh!”
Jung Jang-mi’s leg collided with mine and snapped.
“Tsk… Ye-seul, could you heal this for me?”
“… Is this really okay? I’m having a hard time approving of this.”
“It’s all for this friend’s sake. What if she keeps acting like this and gets hurt by bad people later? And what if she enters a Gate in that mental state and dies?”
“But doing it so roughly like this….”
“Ah! Just shut up and cast your heal!”
Jung Jang-mi thrashed on the ground as she screamed.
“The Chairman does have a point.”
Watching Jung Jang-mi cry out despite her pain, Ye-seul steeled her resolve.
“Let’s go.”
I hoisted the healed Jung Jang-mi onto my shoulder.
“Kyaaah! He’s a kidnapper! A rapist! Someone help!”
Jung Jang-mi shrieked at the top of her lungs.

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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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