Murim Login - Chapter 212
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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 212
“Transfer to our Guild. I’ll take responsibility and make you a star Hunter, Tae-kyung.”
I blinked.
“A star… Hunter?”
“Yes, a star Hunter.”
Won Myung-hun continued with unwavering conviction.
“Times have changed. People are captivated by Hunters and envy the abilities we possess that they don’t. You understand that, don’t you, Tae-kyung?”
“I suppose that’s true.”
“When I was in elementary school, do you know what the kids around me dreamed of becoming? Presidents, astronauts. But nowadays? Children and adults alike—everyone wants to be a Hunter.”
Wealth and fame.
Most people understand the profession of Hunter through these two words alone.
They refuse to acknowledge that even now, decades after the Great Calamity ended, hundreds of Hunters die in Gates each year.
“You have everything the public desires. Appearance, marketability, a fresh character unlike anything seen before.”
Won Myung-hun’s face flushed with excitement, his voice burning with fervor.
“But how long will it last? The public ignites quickly and cools far more rapidly.”
“Elder Brother.”
“If you miss this opportunity, you won’t even become a fleeting star. Fortunately, it’s not too late yet. If you start receiving professional management now and begin image-building through TV appearances, then…”
“Wait, wait a moment. Elder Brother.”
“Hm? Yes, go ahead.”
Won Myung-hun fell silent for a moment, and I scratched my chin.
I hadn’t expected this conversation to come up, but I should clarify things now while I have the chance.
“You said you wouldn’t make recruitment offers. You told Choi Team Leader the same thing.”
“That’s true. But Tae-kyung, this is a really good opportunity.”
“Well, I’m sorry, but I have no intention of transferring Guilds.”
Won Myung-hun’s mouth opened as if to protest, but he soon nodded.
“Right, at your age that’s certainly understandable. Then let’s forget the Guild transfer ever happened. But surely an Entertainment Agency would be acceptable? It’s quite common these days.”
“An Entertainment Agency?”
“Yes. I’m a major shareholder in one.”
Dual Guild contracts are illegal, but other social activities pose no problem.
As he said, it was no longer unusual for most high-ranking Hunters to have their names listed with Entertainment Agencies or management firms.
But I answered without hesitation.
“No, I don’t need an agency either.”
“What?”
“I’m satisfied with how things are now.”
“…Satisfied?”
“Yes.”
Won Myung-hun’s face twisted in frustration.
“Tae-kyung. I don’t think you understood what I just said.”
“You mean if I miss this opportunity, I can’t become a star? That’s fine. I never did this for something like that.”
“I know. I know, but think about it once more. Just a few regular TV programs and a few major advertisements could bring in tens, or even hundreds of billions. Look at me—don’t you see?”
Won Myung-hun spread both arms wide. From head to toe, he was adorned in luxury brands whose names and prices I couldn’t even begin to guess.
Suddenly, an internet article I’d seen in the past came to mind.
‘A-rank Hunter Won Myung-hun. Acquisition of hundreds of billions of won building in Cheongdam-dong.’
The protagonist of that news article I’d endlessly admired and envied was now standing right before my eyes.
“From the interview, it seemed like you lived pretty busily. Don’t you think it’s time to enjoy life now? You said your dream was to become a building owner, right?”
“That’s true.”
It had changed somewhat, but it remained one of my goals nonetheless.
Won Myung-hun smirked at me as I nodded readily.
“Then wouldn’t it be faster to join an Entertainment Agency than do Guild activities? You wouldn’t have to fight monsters in dangerous Gates. You’d just need to put in a few hours in a comfortable studio. Though full makeup might feel a bit stuffy. Haha.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. You just need to get used to smiling brightly in front of the camera and delivering your lines.”
“Then I think the Gate would be better for me. I’m the type who uses my body, so I don’t really like feeling confined.”
“…Huh?”
“Plus, I curse pretty frequently in my daily life. It doesn’t fit broadcast standards. If I try to draw attention for no reason, only my family suffers like they are now.”
“Tae, Tae-kyung.”
I continued speaking as I watched him, clearly flustered.
“And about becoming a building owner—you can definitely do that without needing broadcasts or advertisements. It’ll just take some time.”
“What are you talking about? It’s true that A-rank Hunter income is high, but do you know how expensive Gangnam real estate is?”
“Gangnam?”
“Yeah. Do you even know what the current price per pyeong is there….”
I blinked blankly for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.
“Gangnam? I could just buy a small commercial building near my neighborhood.”
“Huh?”
“A three-story neighborhood shopping complex would make me a building owner. I never even considered Gangnam.”
“…A neighborhood shopping complex?”
“Yeah. It’s convenient since it’s close by, and I’d get steady monthly rent. If my mom says she’s bored since she quit working, I could even set up a Korean snack shop for her.”
“A snack shop?”
With each word I spoke, Won Myung-hun’s face grew increasingly distorted. Had I said something wrong?
“Brother?”
….
“Myung-hun, are you okay?”
Won Myung-hun’s lips trembled as he exhaled a shaky breath.
“Tae-kyung.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Can you… can you really be satisfied with that?”
“You saw my interview. Just a few months ago, I was F-rank. Even without working as frantically as I did then, I’m earning tens of times more. What’s the problem?”
I had no debt, and I’d reclaimed my home.
People’s attention? Fame? I’d already experienced enough of it in both the Martial World and reality.
Especially now I understood how exhausting and unpleasant the spotlight in reality truly was.
I’d come to know what kind of life would bring greater happiness to me and my family.
“So this should be enough. Choi Team Leader already showed me a ton of advertising offers, but there are too many. I’m just going to pick a few to film and then focus back on the Guild.”
I could earn plenty of money without pursuing entertainment industry work.
Won Myung-hun, who had remained silent for a long time after I finished speaking, finally parted his lips.
“I see. Understood.”
“I didn’t upset you by refusing, did I?”
“…That couldn’t be.”
Just as Won Myung-hun answered in a subdued voice, the phone on the table vibrated. There was no need to check—it was definitely Choi Team Leader.
Checking the time, I realized the promised thirty minutes had already slipped away.
“Elder Brother, I think I need to get going.”
“Really? Sounds like you’re busy.”
“The Hunter Association contacted me about taking a rank reassessment today. Since I got your number today, I’ll reach out again soon.”
“Then let’s meet next time. It was great seeing you.”
“Next time let’s go to a coin karaoke together. I’ll practice your song.”
“Coin karaoke? That sounds nice.”
Just thinking about him hearing my signature song’s live original performance made my heart race. Should I ask Elder Brother Jin Ho to join us too?
“Then I’ll be going. Don’t forget what you promised.”
I nodded at Won Myung-hun, whose smile was faint, and left the cafe.
The black sedan parked on the shoulder honked its horn with a sharp blare.
* * *
“Sir, shall I clear your cup?”
Won Myung-hun gave no response to the Cafe Clerk’s question. He stared silently at the empty coffee cup before suddenly opening his mouth.
“Do you happen to know who I am?”
“Pardon?”
“Won Myung-hun. Haven’t you heard of me?”
“Of course. You’ve released quite a few famous songs.”
The Cafe Clerk continued with an awkward smile.
“Actually, I just searched you up. You’re much more famous than I thought. I only saw you a few times on TV when I was young, so my memory isn’t very clear….”
“Searched.”
At the parched, sandy tone of his voice, the smile that had been forming on the Cafe Clerk’s lips slowly faded.
Not long after the Cafe Clerk quietly retreated to the counter, a familiar melody began playing throughout the store, and Won Myung-hun’s lips twisted.
His own music, released ten years ago. All of it had become relics of the past.
“That bastard, who does he think he’s mocking….”
His barely audible words were buried beneath the music, and Won Myung-hun rose from his seat.
His mind was consumed by a single person.
Jin Tae-kyung—just a few months ago, a mayfly Hunter wandering through F-rank Gates.
But now, someone who received public attention and affection.
“Coin karaoke, damn it… this lucky bastard doesn’t even know his place.”
Won Myung-hun muttered darkly and put on his sunglasses.
Passersby’s gazes were drawn to his elegant and luxurious attire, but no one recognized him.
* * *
“Congratulations, Jin Tae-kyung.”
The middle-aged Association President of the Bucheon Hunter Association, his face beaming with genuine warmth, extended a card toward me.
The card, roughly the size of my palm, gleamed with brilliant silver light.
Platinum—crafted from actual platinum, this card was something everyone dreamed of possessing, even in their sleep.
‘Because it represented the acquisition of immense wealth and prestige.’
But perhaps because I had fully anticipated this moment.
Click, click. Pop!
As countless camera flashes erupted around me, I accepted the card from the Association President’s hands with complete composure.
‘I’m a peak master, so an A-rank Hunter is nothing, really.’
Still, my mood was quite excellent.
I flashed a grin at the cameras and waved, when the Association President asked me in a robotic tone.
“So, Jin Tae-kyung, how are you feeling right now?”
Obviously fantastic.
I was just about to answer.
Ding.
– Achievement,
[A-rank Hunter]
has been achieved.
– You receive an Achievement completion reward.
– Level Up!
– You have obtained 20 bonus points!
– Your fame increases significantly!
“Oh damn. Shit.”
“…!”
“…!”
“…Ah.”
Right. There were cameras here.
Looking at the Association President’s face frozen in shock, the broadcasting crew members doubting their own ears, and Choi Team Leader with an expression of utter despair, I thought to myself.
‘I’m screwed.’
This was a broadcast disaster for the ages.
My throat felt parched as I whispered urgently to the Association President.
“This will be edited out, right? You absolutely have to edit this.”
“Edit? Jin Tae-kyung, are you out of your mind?”
The Association President muttered in a heavy, sunken voice. His expression suggested he wanted to grab me by the collar right then and there.
“Edit nothing. This is live. What do you call it… YouTube live streaming.”
“What?”
“Don’t you see the monitor in front? Over 50,000 people are watching right now.”
“….”
Damn, it’s really happening.
With so many people and equipment around, I hadn’t noticed, but now I could see five or six monitors installed below the podium displaying my image and the Association President’s.
The chat window beside the screen was on the verge of exploding with frenzied activity.
“Uh, what do we do about this?”
“What do you mean what do we do? We need to apologize right now!”
Just as the Association President snapped at us with his face flushed crimson, the camera director standing at the front opened his mouth.
– The response is actually good, though?
“Huh?”
“What?”
What was he talking about?
I glanced at the chaotic chat window. Hundreds of messages—no, thousands—scrolled up in mere seconds, but my exceptional dynamic vision caught every single detail.
Haha
Lol Tae-kyung’s lost it lol
Tae-kyung’s such a bastard lolololol
This is an unprecedented feeling lol. Usually people start with religion or family and end with “I’m also grateful to Minsik, Changsu, and Hyerim.” But why doesn’t it end like that lol.
There’s no such thing as a dress code for Sybil. I knew she was the real deal from the moment she showed up to work in slippers and started beating down ogres lol
??? : Oh man, Tae-kyung.
Look at the Association President’s expression lol, the old man’s lost it.
Hey Tae-kyung, nobody cares anyway so just do whatever you want lol. I’d probably just laugh it off even if you made fun of me.
May your parents live long and healthy lives.
? What is this guy.
It was chaos, but one thing was clear.
The broadcast accident I’d inadvertently caused had become a massive hit.
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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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