The All-Time Best Talent was F-Class Purification - Chapter 40

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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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40
Chapter 40 – An Elite Talent Awakened as an F-Rank Purifier
I sat alone in the living room. I dimmed the lights and sank deep into the sofa. Beyond the window, the dazzling neon signs of the Middle District glowed brilliantly. Just a few months ago, I had been that person down there beneath those lights, scraping by on instant ramen in a moldy single-room apartment.
F-Rank Hunter. Pack mule. Janitor. These were the labels the world had branded me with.
I gazed down at my palms. A faint white light shimmered across them. Purification. Ever since awakening this ability, my entire life had transformed. I earned money, founded a guild, gathered people.
But was this enough? Merely to eat well and live comfortably? To avoid being scorned by creatures like Dominion?
‘No.’
I felt an inexplicable thirst lingering in a corner of my chest. The Great Calamity ten years ago. The memory of that day when the world became corrupted. In that hellscape where people were devoured by monsters and the earth rotted away, I had been powerless.
My reason for reaching the summit was not mere wealth and glory. I wanted to prove with this ability that the scrap metal the world had discarded, the contaminated garbage—could actually become the most brilliant jewels. And someday, I harbored a vague yet colossal desire to cleanse the very source of this rotting world with my own hands.
“…The road ahead is long.”
The next morning, the brief peace shattered with a single envelope of documents that Park Jae-jung brought in.
“Director. It just arrived by courier.”
Park Jae-jung’s face had gone rigid.
“The sender is the Hunter Association… and it doesn’t look good.”
I took the envelope and tore it open. Inside was an official document stamped with a crimson seal.
[Conscription Order: Special Purification Operation in Preparation for National Emergency]
[Recipient: Guild Munglade]
[Notice: Your guild has been designated as a mandatory participant in the Ground Zone 9 contamination purification operation pursuant to Article 14, Section 3 of the Special Hunter Act.]
Seo Eun-ha’s expression twisted instantly as she read the document.
“Ha! This reeks of Dominion. I can smell it.”
“Dominion?”
I asked.
“Yeah. That Special Hunter Act Article 14, Section 3 written there. That’s an obsolete law. They only used it during the Great Calamity ten years ago, nobody touches it now. But that snake Kang Chang-gyung pulls it out whenever he wants to bury some mid-tier guild he doesn’t like.”
It was clear. Two days after Kang Chang-gyung’s visit, this death notice had arrived. Zone 9 was ground zero—even S-Rank Hunters avoided it. Sending a fledgling guild there was essentially a death sentence.
“What happens if we refuse?”
Han Su-jin asked nervously.
“Guild license revocation. And the guild master faces imprisonment.”
Lee Ji-young, seated on the sofa, answered coldly.
Today she had taken considerable care with her appearance. A white blouse hugging her figure, a black pencil skirt, and thin black stockings—the typical office lady ensemble, yet combined with her characteristic sharp aura, it exuded an enigmatic sexiness and intellectual charisma.
She adjusted her silver-rimmed glasses and continued.
“The Association Chairman’s seal is stamped on it. Dominion has lobbied all the way to the top. This is beyond my ability to stop.”
We were trapped between two impossible choices.
“…Zone 9.”
I unfolded the map. The Seoul Ruins—the deepest abyss among them all.
But defiance surged within me rather than fear.
“If we can’t escape it, we exploit it. Since we’ve already secured a healer anyway, we’ll strip that place of every resource.”
I set the documents down on the table.
“We’ll accept the conscription.”
“Are you insane? That place is hell!”
Seo Eun-ha cried out.
“I’d go to hell if I had to. It’s better than going to prison here.”
I spoke matter-of-factly.
“But there’s a personnel problem. With just the four of us—me, Park Jae-jung, Seo Eun-ha, and Han Su-jin—we lack sufficient analytical capacity. Zone 9 is like a labyrinth; if we get lost, we’re finished.”
That was when it happened.
“I’m coming too.”
Lee Ji-young rose from her seat. The sharp click of her heels echoed through the living room.
“Team Leader?”
I looked at her in bewilderment.
“You’re an Association employee. Going on a civilian operation—especially to such a dangerous zone—would violate regulations, wouldn’t it? What about your primary job?”
“My primary job?”
She chuckled softly and pulled out her phone. Without hesitation, she made a call.
“Yes, Director. This is Lee Ji-young.”
Her voice was businesslike, but her eyes gleamed with provocation.
“I’m not feeling well. Yes. I think I’ll need extended medical leave. I’ll use up all my vacation days and personal days. No, I’m not sure when I’ll return. Yes, thank you.”
Click. She hung up and tossed her phone onto the sofa.
“Problem solved?”
She folded her arms and looked down at me. The generous curves between her blouse buttons were impossible to conceal.
“No, but… doing it so recklessly… what if you get fired?”
“I won’t. Where else would the Association find an Appraiser as skilled as me?”
She removed her glasses and set them on the table, then swept her hair back.
“Besides, I’ve bet my entire life on you—this lottery ticket. I need to see if you’re a dud or a jackpot. You think you can break through the Zone 9 labyrinth without my eyes? Not a chance.”
At her confident declaration, Park Jae-jung and Seo Eun-ha stood slack-jawed. I let out a hollow laugh myself. She played the calculating type, but in truth, she was more audacious than anyone.
“…Understood.”
I nodded.
“I’ll have a blank check ready. When we return, write down whatever you want.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I surveyed my teammates. A tank, a dealer, a healer, and the finest analyst.
“Let’s prepare. In a week, shall we take a little trip to the worst contamination zone on the surface?”
11 AM. Sunlight filtered through the blackout curtains, tickling my eyes.
“Mmm…”
I lifted my heavy eyelids. An unfamiliar ceiling. Not the moldy, cramped ceiling of a goshiwon, but the high, refined ceiling of a penthouse. Time had passed, yet the dissonance I felt every time I opened my eyes remained.
The alarm clock showed past 11. Normally, I would have been awake since 6 AM, running core training and reviewing documents.
‘Sleeping in… how strange.’
I lay sprawled on the bed and sighed. My body felt impossibly heavy. The tension from Zone 99 yesterday and the energy I’d poured into treating Han Su-jin seemed to be catching up with me now.
I should get up, but I couldn’t muster the will to move a single finger.
‘Maybe I should just rest today.’
‘No, wait. In a week, I have to go to hell.’
As the angel and devil battled in my mind, a savory aroma drifted from beyond the door. The scent of butter and freshly brewed coffee.
Growl. My stomach’s alarm was honest. I scratched my disheveled hair and rose from bed.
As I stepped into the living room, a peaceful scene unfolded before me.
“Ah, unnie! The bacon’s completely burnt.”
“Quiet. I like it crispy. That’s my style.”
In the open-concept kitchen, Han Su-jin and Seo Eun-ha were cooking. Or rather, Han Su-jin was cooking while Seo Eun-ha stood beside her causing mischief. Seo Eun-ha gripped the frying pan wearing nothing but a loose box tee, while Han Su-jin fidgeted nervously in an apron, toasting bread.
“You’re awake, Director.”
Park Jae-jung, who had been watching a tablet at the living room table, greeted me. He must have already been to the gym—instead of sweat, he carried the fresh scent of cologne.
“Good morning… or is it lunch?”
I yawned and collapsed onto the sofa.
“Your face tells quite a story. You must have pushed yourself yesterday.”
Lee Ji-young crossed her legs on the opposite sofa, flipping through a magazine as she spoke. She remained impeccably dressed in formal attire even at home—so perfectly put-together it made you wonder if she ever relaxed.
“Don’t you ever sleep, Team Lead?”
“I’m a professional. Shall I brew you some tea to reduce the puffiness?”
“I’ll pass. I need caffeine.”
Just then, Seo Eun-ha emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate.
“Here, eat. I nearly starved to death waiting for the Guild Master to wake up.”
A rather impressive brunch spread was laid out on the table. Slightly charred bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, and salad. It carried the aroma of home-cooked food, not combat rations or convenience store meals.
“Thank you for the meal.”
We gathered around and began eating. Han Su-jin ate cautiously, still reading the room, while Seo Eun-ha ate voraciously with satisfied sounds. Park Jae-jung quietly chewed his salad, and Lee Ji-young sipped her coffee with elegance.
A strange feeling suddenly washed over me. Tank, damage dealer, healer, support. For a gathering of vengeful spirits united to destroy Dominion, this was far too ordinary and warm—a scene of simple family dining.
“This is delicious.”
At my quiet words, Han Su-jin’s face brightened.
“I’m so relieved. I was worried the seasoning might be off…”
“You made this, Su-jin?”
“Yes. Even when I was in Zone 99, whenever I could find ingredients, I’d cook sometimes.”
“It’s excellent. Hey, forget being a healer—become a cook instead.”
Seo Eun-ha gave a thumbs up, ketchup smeared at the corner of her mouth. Han Su-jin laughed shyly. In her smile, there was no trace of the shadows from Zone 99.
After the meal ended and we were drinking coffee, I had to return to reality.
“Well, we’ve eaten. Now we need to work.”
I set down my coffee cup.
“Zone 9 briefing. Let’s begin.”
The atmosphere shifted to serious in an instant. Lee Ji-young manipulated her tablet, projecting a holographic map into the air.
“Ground Zone 9. The old Gangnam District of Seoul.”
She pointed to the red area on the map.
“The biggest problem is the toxicity. It’s different from the gases in underground dungeons. The very atmosphere is saturated with radiation and mana contamination, so standard protective suits can’t withstand even an hour. It penetrates not just through the respiratory system but through the skin as well.”
“An hour…”
Park Jae-jung stroked his chin.
“So our combat endurance is limited to an hour. We need to find a safe zone or purify the area within that time.”
“And then there are the monsters.”
Lee Ji-young displayed several photographs. A two-headed wild dog, a massive cockroach with melting carapace, a mud creature in human form.
“They’re mutants. Most of them don’t exist in our current database, so identifying their weaknesses is difficult. And the terrain is a complete mess. It’s a forest of collapsed buildings—perfect for ambushes.”
The more I listened, the more my head throbbed. Environmental debuffs, insufficient intelligence, complex terrain. A comprehensive gift set of worst-case scenarios.
“Tae-hyun.”
Seo Eun-ha called out to me. We’d agreed to drop formalities in private.
“Will my flames work there too? If the humidity’s high or oxygen is scarce, my firepower gets cut in half.”
Her concern was valid. I closed my eyes for a moment, lost in thought. As a leader, I had to provide a perfect answer. It was my duty. But… honestly, this was my first time in Zone 9 too. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t afraid.
“…I don’t know.”
My honest answer drew everyone’s gaze. I let out a bitter laugh and ran a hand through my hair.
“I’ll be honest with you. I’m scared too. I can’t guarantee how effective my purification abilities will be there, or if my commands will be right. If I make a mistake, we could all die.”
Silence. The leader’s seemingly perfect facade cracking. It could have been a moment of disappointment. But Park Jae-jung broke the quiet with a soft chuckle.
“That’s only natural, isn’t it?”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“You’re human too, sir. You can’t know everything like a god. If we don’t know, we figure it out together. Are we subordinates? We’re teammates.”
“That’s right.”
Han Su-jin added softly.
“If you’re hurt, I’ll heal you. You’ll find the path, and Eun-ha and the vice-guild leader will handle the fighting. You just… trust us and go.”
“Exactly! If we hit a wall, we just burn through it and bail. When have we ever stuck to a plan anyway?”
Seo Eun-ha giggled.
Lee Ji-young said nothing, simply adjusted her glasses and smiled.
“That’s what I’m here for. To think for you when your head hurts.”
Something warm bloomed in my chest. I wasn’t alone. I didn’t have to carry every burden myself. These weren’t mercenaries I’d bought with money—they were a real team I could trust with my back.
“…Thank you.”
I spoke with genuine sincerity.
“Then let’s put our heads together. How do we flip the board that Dominion set up?”
2 PM. We left the Penthouse and descended to the third basement level, where Munglade’s exclusive workshop awaited.
The spacious workshop was filled with various tools and premium raw materials brought from the mines. The smell of oil and metal hung in the air, but compared to the stench of Zone 99, it felt almost nostalgic.
“Alright, let’s make a shopping list.”
I stood before the whiteboard.
“Number one: Custom protective suits for everyone. Not the standard Association issue—we’ll make our own. We’ll use the shell of the Purified Crystal Queen as material. Heat-resistant, acid-resistant, and physical defense all covered.”
“Ooh, that’s expensive stuff.”
Seo Eun-ha’s eyes gleamed.
“Number two: Respirators. I’ll embed my purification mana stones into air purification filters. Twenty-four-hour infinite purification without worrying about batteries. Number three: Transportation. Walking will exhaust us, so we’ll modify a special vehicle capable of breaking through terrain.”
I set down the pen and looked at my teammates.
“And the most important thing.”
I pointed to Han Su-jin.
“Equipment exclusively for you. The healer can’t be the first to die.”
“M-my equipment?”
“Yes. I’ll turn you into a walking fortress.”
I unfolded the blueprints lying on the workbench. This wasn’t mere protective gear. It was a Munglade-exclusive secret technique that would maximize a healer’s survivability while augmenting her support abilities.
“One week. We’ll need to work through the nights. Be prepared.”

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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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