The Regressed SSS-Rank Supporter Who Turned Dark - Chapter 111
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
#Episode 111
Becoming a member of the Hall of Glory Rest Area was a matter of great pride even among Hunters.
To gain membership here, one needed a high win rate, an impressive record, and a special ‘achievement’.
Simply having the qualifications to enter the Hall of Glory Rest Area was enough to be recognized as a skilled individual without requiring verification, so anyone who could would want to become a member.
The problem was that the threshold was absurdly high.
Among the tens of thousands of Hunters in South Korea, only dozens had successfully become members.
Of course, many Hunters treated the Arena as a rite of passage, building up a respectable record to show others before ignoring it entirely.
But even those Hunters would nod in acknowledgment if someone mentioned being a member here—such was the prestige of the place.
‘I could never have dreamed of this in the old days. Though I’m no longer a supporter.’
Eun-sung recalled the bitter days of his time as a supporter, lost in private reflection.
No matter how skilled a 10-Star Hunter was, supporters were always treated as second-class.
It had gotten so bad that even when everyone gathered for drinks, I was stuck doing the cleanup.
Of course, the members clearly hadn’t accepted Eun-sung yet.
“Hmm.”
I could feel suspicious glances from all around.
“Tsk.”
There were even scoffs.
‘Yes, I understand.’
Eun-sung was well aware of the negative looks directed at him, and he fully acknowledged their reactions.
This was ultimately the limitation of a qualification match.
A qualification match was a competition format where Hunters couldn’t use their abilities as Hunters.
Since neither Ether nor Spirit Blades could be used, achieving Royal Road didn’t necessarily mean one was exceptional as a Hunter.
In other words, Eun-sung had earned the right to enter the Hall of Glory Rest Area, but couldn’t yet be considered a full member.
An associate member.
That was exactly where Eun-sung stood now.
But while I was aware of it, I didn’t let it bother me.
In the end, I just needed to prove myself, so why worry about such trivial gazes?
“How beautiful.”
“Like an angel and a demon.”
Several male members stared entranced at Seria and Serka.
“He has it all. Walking around with such attendants.”
“So handsome men really do end up with beauties. Tsk.”
Some were envious of Eun-sung, smacking their lips.
The beauty of the sisters Seria and Serka was that striking and mysterious.
It was only possible because they weren’t human, but rather Card’s Faction.
“I shall show you the way.”
Lorenzo guided Eun-sung’s party to a massive lounge sofa positioned in the center of the rest area.
That seat was reserved only for new members entering the Hall of Glory Rest Area for the first time.
As a new member, it was a spot deliberately arranged so they could receive the attention of as many people as possible—a kind of initiation rite.
Or perhaps
It was also an occasion to imprint the new member’s face firmly in everyone’s mind.
Depending on the person, it could be quite burdensome.
“If you need anything at all, you may call for the attendants and make your request. Should you find anything uncomfortable, please summon me.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Then, I hope you have a pleasant time. I shall take my leave….”
“I hope you enjoy your time at the Hall of Glory Rest Area.”
Lorenzo withdrew quietly.
I reclined against the massive lounge sofa.
Plush yet not excessively soft—the texture was exquisite.
One could immediately sense it was crafted from the finest materials.
“Wow, what a magnificent space.”
Seria let out a small gasp of admiration.
“It’s decent enough, I suppose.”
Serka feigned indifference.
Positioned at the center of the lounge, our location naturally drew the gazes of those around us.
“To serve a master, one must at least have a place like this.”
“Thank you so much for bringing us here, young master.”
Seria and Serka chattered away.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
The lounge attendants approached and respectfully placed an array of dishes, beverages, and wine that looked extraordinarily expensive on the table before me.
“But I haven’t ordered anything yet.”
“Ah, it was sent by the member over there.”
The attendant gestured politely toward a middle-aged man in the distance.
Even while sitting motionless, he exuded the aura of a beast that had reigned at the apex for countless years.
It felt as though I were gazing upon a lion king who had defended his throne for decades.
‘Ah.’
I immediately recognized who that man was.
Jang Tae-san.
Call sign: Titan.
A 7-star Hunter with the highest win rate and most recorded matches in Korea.
Jang Tae-san smiled toward me and raised his glass.
I responded with a subtle nod.
* * *
Thirty minutes earlier.
“Kahahaha! Yes! That’s it! Excellent! Absolutely excellent!”
Jang Tae-san laughed heartily, striking the table with resounding thuds.
Crash!
The premium stone table crumbled to dust under that tremendous force, yet Jang Tae-san paid it no mind.
“Where did such a thing come from? A proper one has appeared after so long. After such a very long time. Heh!”
Jang Tae-san had become completely captivated by the rising Hunter challenging the Royal Road.
Cha Eun-sung.
A rising star who appeared like a comet.
At first, I thought he was just another rookie hunter who showed up when his time came.
It was common for emerging talents to gain attention.
The public, people in general, always craved fresh faces.
But it was no exaggeration to say that genuine talents among the countless rookies were few and far between.
Most were mayflies that flickered briefly before withering away.
How many of them disappeared without a trace after being called monsters or geniuses?
Some died to monsters.
Others broke when they hit their limits.
Still others perished here in the Jamsil Colosseum.
And if they possessed a handsome face, they often garnered attention beyond their actual abilities.
So at first, I didn’t take him seriously.
Just another mayfly.
A name that would vanish within a few months at most.
But Eun-sung, whom I witnessed with my own eyes, was fundamentally different from those mediocre pretenders.
Setting aside his technically rough edges, Eun-sung was an almost flawless gem in the rough.
An indomitable fighting spirit.
Stamina that never seemed to wane.
Brilliant instincts.
The cunning to seize control of a fight.
And an absurd tenacity—even unconscious, he refused to fall.
The Eun-sung that Jang Tae-san witnessed was a genuine monster without a single flaw.
The moment Eun-sung achieved Royal Road.
“Krraaagh!”
Jang Tae-san trembled.
And he instinctively sensed it.
That this monster would grow into something far more terrifying, rewriting the very history of the Jamsil Colosseum.
“At last, an ecosystem-destroying species has emerged. Heh heh. This should be entertaining for a while.”
Jang Tae-san wished he could peer into the future.
Like that mysterious 10-star hunter Supernova who claimed to prophesy the future, he was desperate to glimpse Eun-sung’s destiny.
The expectations Jang Tae-san harbored for Eun-sung transcended imagination.
“Jang Tae-san is interested in that guy?”
“Didn’t he only show slight interest when Lee Hyun debuted?”
“They say monsters recognize monsters….”
The members of the Hall of Glory Rest Area were quite surprised to see Jang Tae-san display such keen interest in Eun-sung.
For someone who rarely showed any reaction, his inability to hide his excitement was unprecedented.
Yet there were those with dissenting views.
“Hunters aren’t actual gladiators. What’s the big deal about fighting with just a single weapon?”
“Besides, his actual abilities as a hunter might turn out to be nothing special.”
It wasn’t an unreasonable opinion, so Jang Tae-san paid it no mind.
After all, he believed it was only a matter of time before Eun-sung proved himself.
Moreover, unless he were a non-combat type, someone displaying this level of talent couldn’t possibly lack ability as a Hunter.
At least, that’s what Jang Tae-san believed.
Twenty-one consecutive victories in qualification matches.
Official record: 923 matches, 858 wins, 65 losses.
A god of the Arena maintaining a 92.96% win rate.
That’s how the man known as the Arena God appeared to others.
“This should be entertaining to watch for a while. If he grows well, he could become a worthy opponent… but how long will I have to wait for that… Sigh.”
Jang Tae-san suddenly turned his head to glance at the adjacent table.
“You must be quite fired up too, aren’t you? Thinking about raising a rival to bring me down?”
The other person didn’t respond.
In this very moment.
His eyes and ears were entirely focused on the rising Hunter who had successfully achieved a Royal Road.
* * *
A chill ran down my spine.
I had locked eyes with Jang Tae-san without thinking, and I shuddered involuntarily.
‘What… what is this?’
An inexplicable sense of unease washed over me.
It felt like an uncomfortable sensation, as if insects were crawling across my skin.
Of course, it was probably just my imagination…
A sharp grin spread across his face.
Jang Tae-san lifted his glass again with a wide, unsettling smile.
‘Ugh.’
Without realizing it, I turned my head away.
Beyond the fact that Jang Tae-san had a menacing appearance, his gaze was far too burdensome.
‘I feel like I’ve caught the attention of a dangerous man…’
Just then.
The sharp click-clack of red high heels echoed clearly.
A woman adorned in a fur coat and lavish jewelry stopped before me.
From the crown of her head to the tips of her toes, luxury and extravagance radiated from her.
A thick wave of perfume washed over me, accompanied by a dangerous aura.
It wasn’t a scent with physical substance, but rather a warning sent by instinct itself.
The woman held an elongated cigarette holder at her fingertips, smiling seductively.
“Could I trouble you for a light? Hehe.”
“I don’t smoke.”
“Pardon?”
“If you’re going to smoke, I’d appreciate it if you did so elsewhere.”
The moment my words ended, Serka growled menacingly.
The moment Eun-sung finished speaking, Serka let out a growl.
“How dare you point that filthy stick at my master?”
“W-what?!”
“Put it away. Before I break those fingers. Or would you prefer I ruin your entire life?”
A dangerous smile played across Serka’s lips.
“It’s fine, so please don’t say such harsh things.”
Eun-sung wiped cold sweat from his brow as he tried to placate Serka.
If you say things like that, it actually feels like they’ll come true…
Serka was a goddess of misfortune.
It seemed like she could utterly devastate someone’s life if she so chose.
“Yes, master.”
Serka became as docile as a lamb, as if she had never been angry at all.
“I-I see your attendant has quite the temperament. I was rude. I would be grateful if you could overlook my rudeness.”
“Yes, well. I’m fine with it.”
“Thank you. Ah, I’m late with my introduction. My name is…”
As she began to introduce herself and subtly tried to take a seat, a thick hand suddenly blocked her way.
A large, middle-aged man with a slick voice abruptly interjected.
A gleaming bald head.
Gold rings stacked on every finger.
A thick gold chain around his neck.
Anyone could see he reeked of nouveau riche.
He grinned and spoke.
“We can’t start business before setting the mood, can we, Veronica?”
“You seem equally impatient yourself, Nusret.”
The woman called Veronica flicked her cigarette holder with clear displeasure.
At that, the bald man burst into raucous laughter.
“Seems there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m simply protecting my new client from a praying mantis.”
Nusret naturally plopped himself down on Eun-sung’s sofa.
The sofa groaned under the weight.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Nusret.”
The bald man extended his hand, displaying his gleaming gold rings.
“You’re quite skilled at sniffing out mone—”
Smack!
Veronica swatted Nusret’s hand away.
“Are you really offering your unwashed paws to my client?”
“A client-devouring praying mantis has no right to talk. Do you think you can say whatever you want with that gaping mouth of yours?”
As Veronica and Nusret snarled at each other.
Whoosh, swish.
People suddenly swarmed toward Eun-sung’s table as if they’d been waiting.
Their purpose was singular.
A contract with Eun-sung alone.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————