The Regressed SSS-Rank Supporter Who Turned Dark - Chapter 109

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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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#Episode 109
News of Eun-sung achieving Royal Road spread through HunterLink in real time.
[Breaking News] Cha Eun-sung Achieves Royal Road (4,312)
Just stole the opponent’s flag and won;;;
And then collapsed standing up;;;
That guy is seriously insane, no joke.
Thousands of comments flooded in within seconds.
[Anonymous] Wow… This is insane…
[Anonymous] He achieved Royal Road???
[Anonymous] That’s absolutely crazy;;;;;;;
└ [Anonymous] For real
[Anonymous] Kyaa~~~ He’s totally lost it;;;
[Anonymous] First time in history, right?
└ [Anonymous] Yeah
└ [Anonymous] Yep
└ [Anonymous] First ever
[Anonymous] Can’t even imagine how strong he’ll become…
[Anonymous] He’s like a manga protagonist… And he’s even handsome…
The news even spread to forums of other nations within HunterLink.
[Anonymous] WTF???? RR??? OMG!!!
[Anonymous] Did a rookie hunter really achieve Royal Road in Korea? I’m incredibly shocked!
[Anonymous] Why does the brightest star always rise in Korea?
[Anonymous] Is Korea a blessed land? How can such a beginner exist?
Hunters from around the world reacted similarly to the Korean hunters.
Why?
Because fewer than five people in the entire world had achieved Royal Road.
The record Eun-sung set this time was a remarkable Achievement that applied not only to the Jamsil Colosseum but to all Colosseum-style Arenas worldwide.
In fact, achieving a 29-win streak in a single tournament without using hunter abilities and without rest was nearly impossible.
It required not only skill but also fortune to accomplish such a feat.
Thanks to this, Eun-sung’s name gradually spread beyond Korea to hunters across the entire world.
Cha Eun-sung.
His name was becoming the icon of the next generation of hunters.
* * *
Baek Do-hyuk, the head of the Incheon Alliance, also learned of Eun-sung’s achievement.
Incheon, Yeongjong Island.
Paradise City.
“Royal Road, huh.”
After closing HunterLink, Baek Do-hyuk murmured with interest, then casually asked his subordinates.
“Does anyone know anything about this guy named Cha Eun-sung?”
“Yes, Chairman. I know a bit about him.”
One of Baek Do-hyuk’s subordinates stepped forward.
“Tell me what you’ve found.”
“We haven’t gathered all the details yet, but we’ve confirmed he’s a promising newcomer the Defense Strategy Department values highly. There’s talk that during the Jebu Island incident, they tried to rescue him first.”
“So the old man’s picked up a new lapdog.”
“Yes, well. That would be the case.”
“What’s the likelihood he’ll defect from the Defense Strategy Department.”
“Slim.”
“Why.”
“According to the intelligence we’ve gathered, he was born into a military family. His grandfather and father are both Navy Special Forces veterans.”
“So he’s a mad dog born into a military family.”
A cold smile played across Baek Do-hyuk’s lips.
For Baek Do-hyuk, a former fighter-turned-organized crime boss, soldiers were deeply irritating and repugnant.
Police could usually be swayed with bribes, but soldiers didn’t respond to such methods.
Moreover, Baek Do-hyuk had lived his entire life committing illegal acts as casually as breathing, so he instinctively despised those who pledged loyalty to nation and people.
If such an antisocial figure actually liked those in uniform, that would be far stranger.
“There’s also word that Wi Tae-woong has been eyeing him.”
“The greedy bastard. Wasn’t it enough that he poached Lee Hyun from the Defense Strategy Department.”
Baek Do-hyuk frowned as if the mere thought irritated him.
That meant Wi Tae-woong was quite the thorn in Baek Do-hyuk’s side.
In fact, Wi Tae-woong was a 6-star Hunter, yet he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with 7-star Hunters.
After all, a Hunter’s strength couldn’t be evaluated by rank alone.
“Well, there are plenty of other drooling fools besides Wi Tae-woong. Make contact anyway. Offer the highest terms and conditions you can.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“If it doesn’t look like it’ll work….”
A murderous smile crossed Baek Do-hyuk’s lips.
“Kill him. Quietly, without a trace.”
“Sir, you really mean kill him.”
“You bastard.”
Baek Do-hyuk grabbed his subordinate by the hair and yanked him close.
“If I take a hit, should I just sit back and do nothing?”
“That’s not what I meant… Ugh!”
“How long do you think you’d last in this business if people saw you as a pushover? Huh? If you take a hit, you repay it without fail. That’s how everyone learns to fear me. You understand?”
“Y-yes…!”
“And if the old man’s brought in a tiger cub, should I wait around for its claws to fully grow? Should I?”
“No, sir.”
“Don’t spout cowardly nonsense in front of me again. It makes me want to kill you.”
“I-I’ll keep that in mind!”
The subordinate shouted with all his might.
“Get out.”
Thud!
The abandoned subordinate collapsed to the floor.
“Pathetic bastard.”
Baek Do-hyuk uttered the words coldly and turned his gaze away.
The phone’s screen.
There was a photograph—a captured image of Eun-sung.
“Cha Eun-sung, huh? If our old man loses even this new dog he picked up, he’ll be in quite the foul mood. Don’t you think?”
Baek Do-hyuk murmured while picturing Minister An’s face.
* * *
Eun-sung was not carried out.
The moment the arena was restored to its original state and ether became usable again.
“Master!”
“Young Master!”
Seria and Serka, the Faction Spirits of the [Fortune & Misfortune] Card, appeared simultaneously and supported Eun-sung on both sides.
They were not the end of it.
“Young Master!”
Undina, the Faction Spirit of the [West Wind] Card, revealed herself.
“Please wait just a moment!”
Whiiiiiii!
A healing wind enveloped Eun-sung.
Soon, the visible wounds began to close at a terrifying speed.
“…Now summoning too?”
Wi Tae-woong, who had been about to pull out an etherium ampule and IV bag for Eun-sung, wore an expression of utter bewilderment.
He had thought Eun-sung possessed the warrior role class, but summoning as well?
‘This bastard… What exactly is his identity?’
At this point, even Wi Tae-woong, who had taken an interest in Eun-sung, was thrown into confusion.
As a result, Wi Tae-woong, Lim Lieutenant Colonel, the Defense Strategy Department hunters, and even the magicians belonging to the Arena who had been rushing over from afar suddenly found themselves with nothing to do.
Why?
Because Eun-sung’s eyes opened shortly after.
“Huh.”
Eun-sung, regaining consciousness, glanced around and wore a slightly bewildered expression.
“You’ve come to, sir.”
“Lim Lieutenant Colonel, what brings you here….”
Wi Tae-woong answered instead.
“What brings me? We came rushing over because we were worried those horny dogs might get fresh with our esteemed junior here.”
“We meet again.”
Eun-sung’s expression turned sour.
He still seemed displeased about the prank Wi Tae-woong had pulled using the Broadcast Spirit.
Besides, Eun-sung had never viewed Wi Tae-woong favorably to begin with.
‘It feels like my stalkers are multiplying.’
Eun-sung wore an awkward expression.
The Defense Strategy Department had already been assigning personnel to shadow me, which was irritating enough on its own, but now that Wi Tae-woong had attached himself to me as well, my annoyance had begun to tip into genuine irritation.
‘I should have hidden my identity from the start.’
Yet such thoughts were ultimately meaningless.
Concealing one’s identity while operating in this world was far from simple.
The Hunter’s realm was a place where scheming and betrayal ran rampant—those whose identities remained uncertain were systematically ostracized.
“Cha Eun-sung!”
From across the Jamsil Colosseum, Aurelius, the proprietor of the Arena, called out my name.
“Champion of great Achievement! Come forth!”
Before his words had even finished echoing, a crimson carpet unfurled from the competition ground all the way to the central dais where Aurelius sat.
Clang! Clang!
Soldiers stationed throughout the Arena simultaneously raised their spears.
Attendants draped in crimson cloaks rushed out and lined both sides of the carpet, scattering rose petals.
“Open the way!”
Boom!
Massive doors swung open, revealing musicians clad in golden armor.
Pwooooooo—!
A magnificent trumpet fanfare shook the entire Jamsil Colosseum.
“Cha Eun-sung!”
“Cha Eun-sung!”
“Cha Eun-sung!”
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap—!
Tens of thousands of spectators chanted my name and rose in thunderous applause.
It was a triumphal procession worthy of welcoming a war hero.
And I was indeed deserving of such honor.
Royal Road.
An Achievement no one in the history of the Jamsil Colosseum had ever accomplished.
Today’s victory had already become legend.
From this moment forward, the name Cha Eun-sung would be etched into the Hall of Glory of every Colosseum-type Gate across the world, to be spoken of for all eternity.
“Excuse me.”
I excused myself from those who had rushed to my side and began walking forward.
Seria, Serka, and Undina followed behind me.
Yet even in this glorious moment, my expression remained composed, my eyes sharp and focused.
‘I have it.’
My gaze was fixed solely on the emerald orb resting before Aurelius.
The Fourth Pearl.
The Dragon Lord’s fourth orb.
In my eyes, nothing else existed.
* * *
Aurelius offered me brief congratulations and then distributed the reward for achieving Royal Road.
And the reward was far from insignificant.
[You have obtained the Dragon Lord’s Orb of Wishes.]
The Orb of Wishes granted to those who achieve Royal Road, of course.
[You have obtained a 4-Star Red Etherium.]
[You have obtained a 4-Star Red Etherium.]
[You have obtained a 4-Star Red Etherium.]
The Red Etherium awarded to each tournament champion had also fallen to Eun-sung.
“Cha Eun-sung. Your name shall be inscribed upon the Hall of Glory, and that honor will be remembered for ages to come. Furthermore, as one who has entered the Hall of Glory, all facility usage fees across every Arena shall be waived for you.
“Thank you.”
Eun-sung bowed respectfully in acknowledgment to Aurelius.
Thus the formal awards ceremony concluded simply.
“Indeed, I look forward to it. You shall become the greatest and most popular gladiator responsible for our Arena’s prosperity.”
In Aurelius’s gaze upon Eun-sung burned an unmistakable anticipation that words could scarcely capture.
“I shall do my utmost to live up to your expectations.”
Though Eun-sung felt somewhat burdened by this, he had no intention of spending his life buried in the Arena, so he offered a measured response.
“Then, since the match is concluded, why not retire to the Hall of Glory Rest Area for some respite?”
I had heard of it before.
A luxurious rest space that only Hunters who had achieved a certain level of Achievement in the Arena could access.
“Outstanding gladiators and many agents await you there, I’m sure.”
“Agents, you say….”
“They are those who broker matches for gladiators and manage their schedules. Since you seem unfamiliar with them, allow me to explain—your value will fluctuate depending on which agent you employ. Therefore, you must choose very carefully whom to hire.”
Aurelius offered a meaningful smile.

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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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