The Returned Hunter Has Awakened to a Hidden Class - Chapter 27

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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27

Chapter 27

Recruitment (1)

“Hyaah!”

“Hiyah!”

 In Tebe Central District, there was a special training facility for Hunters.

 [Bongnam Gym]

 The owner of this place with its rough signboard was D-rank Hunter Park Bong-nam.

 A former fitness trainer, he realized his limitations early and chose to help other Hunters rather than conquer the Tower himself.

 He had purchased land in Tebe Central District to open this gym.

“No, no! That’s not the right posture!”

“Grrraaahhh!”

 Park Bong-nam was correcting the posture of a C-rank Hunter.

 Though levels and ranks had become absolute indicators since the Tower’s appearance, basic physical conditioning was still important.

 After all, there was the example of Valderion, who had reached the pinnacle of all warriors despite his low rank.

 That’s why many Hunters were willing to pay for coaching from Park Bong-nam, even though he was lower rank than them.

“Huff! Huff!”

 And in a corner of the gym.

 There was one particularly eye-catching presence.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

 Regular yet intense striking sounds.

 Kim Jun looked in that direction.

 In front of a special sandbag made from Lunarium, a boy was silently throwing punches.

 A young-looking boy who appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old.

 But the boy’s movements were anything but childlike.

‘Found him.’

 Kim Jun’s eyes flashed.

 Before his regression, this was the only person with the special class ‘Martial Artist’ rather than one of the five basic classes who had surpassed the 50th floor.

 Of course, back then he had already been an adult, but seeing him now, Kim Jun was certain.

 And most importantly, he was one of the few Hunters who had a deep connection with Kim Jun before his regression.

 Kim Jun observed the boy for a moment.

 Most other Hunters were busy practicing flashy skills.

 Breathing fire, creating ice, or shooting glowing sword energy.

 But this boy was different.

 He was pounding the sandbag using only his body and fists. 

 Yet the power from those simple movements was no less than most skills.

‘As expected, a genius is different from childhood.’

 Kim Jun approached the boy.

“Hello?”

“Wh-who are you?”

 The boy turned around, startled by the sudden greeting, and his eyes widened the moment he saw Kim Jun’s face.

“K-Kim Jun?!”

 Choi Do-heon nearly fell over in surprise upon seeing Kim Jun.

 Kim Jun.

 There was hardly a Hunter who didn’t know that name. It held especially special meaning for Choi Do-heon.

“You really are Hunter Kim Jun, aren’t you?!”

“Nice to meet you.”

 Kim Jun smiled as he watched the amazed Choi Do-heon. He remembered being like that when he met famous Hunters as a child.

“You’re my benefactor!”

Swoosh-!

 Choi Do-heon suddenly hugged Kim Jun tightly.

“Ah!”

 Forgetting he was soaked in sweat, he hugged Kim Jun, then realized his rudeness and hastily pulled away.

“S-sorry! I got too excited…”

“It’s fine.”

 Kim Jun didn’t mind. Sweat was the noble trace of effort.

 Kim Jun always liked those who shed sweat through hard work.

“But you said I’m your benefactor? Have we met before?”

“I never met you directly, but…”

 Choi Do-heon’s voice trembled.

“Thanks to you, I was able to become a Hunter.”

 A boy who lost his C-rank Hunter parents in the Yongsan Red Gate disaster three years ago and became an orphan overnight.

 But thanks to the ‘Hunter Merit Fund’ established by Kim Jun’s Han Guild, he was able to continue his studies and receive Hunter education.

“I want to become a hero like Hunter Kim Jun.”

 Choi Do-heon spoke with earnest eyes.

“Hunter Kim Jun always fights at the front, saves people… And I know you always take care of victims’ families after every incident!”

 Kim Jun listened calmly. Such things had happened more than once or twice.

 He had just done what seemed natural, but seeing people grateful like this always made him feel a bit embarrassed.

 But now he was rather pleased. 

 A child with outstanding talent had been admiring him since childhood.

 Could there be a better connection than this?

‘Before my regression, I only met him after he became an adult, but this time I met him early.’

 Kim Jun smiled as he looked at Choi Do-heon.

“Do-heon.”

“Yes!”

 Choi Do-heon reflexively straightened his posture.

“Would you like to try conquering the Tower with me?”

“R-really?!”

 Choi Do-heon’s eyes widened.

“Would… would someone inexperienced like me be okay? I’m only C-rank and level 10…”

 C-rank Hunter. 

 The rank of C-grade couldn’t be changed.

 But.

“This is the Tower. Not a Gate.”

 Kim Jun spoke with a confident voice.

 This was the Tower of Trials.

 Of course, even at the same level, differences based on rank certainly existed, but it wasn’t enough to despair over.

 In the Tower, with effort, experience, and the right direction for growth, anyone could surpass their limits.

 And Kim Jun knew that method better than anyone.

“So don’t worry.”

“…”

 What mattered most to Kim Jun wasn’t strength, but human connection.

 Knowing Choi Do-heon’s future, he was more than qualified.

“You have more than enough qualifications.”

“I’ll work hard! I won’t be a burden!”

“Good.”

*

Tap tap tap-

 Only the sound of burning echoed through the silent Heavenly Realm.

“What the hell is this…”

 Countless hunters were passing through the burning heaven with expressions filled with despair.

 Black flames were rising everywhere. The sight of monsters being instantly incinerated as soon as they respawned repeated endlessly.

“This is supposed to be Heaven?”

“Dear God…”

 There were no more monsters to hunt, no more experience to gain.

 All they could do was carefully pass by, avoiding those mysterious black flames.

Crack-

 Han Seo-jin, the guild leader of the Blue Dragon Guild, clenched his fist tightly.

“This damn…”

 His face contorted with rage.

 He didn’t know who it was, but he hated whoever had single-handedly hunted all the monsters from the 11th to 15th floors.

 It was a blow to his pride as the leader of Korea’s largest guild.

‘One step behind again. Who the hell is it?’

 Han Seo-jin gritted his teeth.

 He had been certain he could get ahead this time, but that mysterious existence was always one step ahead.

‘I can’t let them take anything else.’

 The first clear reward. He absolutely couldn’t miss that.

 Just looking at the rewards displayed in the system notification showed their value.

 This was a matter of the guild’s prestige—no, more precisely, his own prestige.

“Move faster! What are you doing!”

“S-sorry!”

 Han Seo-jin urged his guild members with a sharp voice.

 The guild members, intimidated by their guild leader’s demeanor, hurriedly quickened their pace.

“We’re going straight to the 16th floor. I won’t miss it this time.”

 Obsession burned in Han Seo-jin’s eyes.

 Then, a faint human silhouette appeared ahead.

“Huh? There’s someone over there?”

 One of the guild members pointed.

 It clearly looked human, but the status window showed it as a monster.

“It’s a monster. Was there still one alive?”

 Han Seo-jin looked at the being with cold eyes.

“Grrr… power… kill…”

 The unknown monster muttered something incomprehensible.

“「Frigid Wind」!”

 But he would simply kill it and move on.

 Currently, Han Seo-jin’s mind was focused solely on the ‘first clear reward.’

 And at the end of the 15th floor.

 After passing through the massive boss room, there was a giant circular hole in the center of the floor.

 Black flames surrounded it, and behind them stood a magnificent door.

 It was the entrance to the 16th floor.

“Good.”

 Han Seo-jin smiled briefly and approached the door.

“Finally, the first clear reward…”

 The moment he placed his hand on the door, a system notification suddenly appeared.

[16th Floor Entry Requirement: Party of 10 required]

[Current Party Size: 31/10]

[Please adjust the party size.]

“Ten people?”

“How do we divide this?”

 Instantly, the Blue Dragon Guild members began murmuring.

 The advance team currently gathered here totaled 31 members.

 Guild leader Han Seo-jin, vice guild leader Ryu A-ran—2 S-rank hunters, 28 A-rank hunters, and only one B-rank hunter.

“Why are you being so slow? It’s simple.”

 Han Seo-jin’s cold gaze turned toward the last remaining person.

“Hey, B-rank. You’re out. That makes it exactly right.”

“Huh? But I…”

 He was a loyal member who had taken on all the guild’s menial tasks.

 Supply transport, route scouting, even dangerous distraction missions.

 Han Seo-jin didn’t hesitate for even a moment.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said get out.”

 Han Seo-jin didn’t even raise his voice.

 He was simply calm, as if discarding an unwanted card.

“Guild leader, surely there’s another way…”

 Vice guild leader Ryu A-ran stepped forward.

Slap-!

 A heavy sound echoed.

 Han Seo-jin’s palm struck Ryu A-ran’s cheek precisely.

“My dear sister.”

 Han Seo-jin whispered in Ryu A-ran’s ear.

“Just because we’re family doesn’t mean I gave you the right to question my decisions, does it?”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“…I’m sorry.”

 Ryu A-ran’s cheek turned bright red. But she had a reason for stepping forward.

La-la-la-

 The moment they entered Heaven, a strange bar appeared in the corner of every hunter’s vision.

 The ‘Divine Corruption Gauge’—as the light filled it, their sanity crumbled.

 Each time hymns echoed, the gauge rose slightly.

 At first, it felt like their hearts were becoming peaceful, but once it passed halfway, their free will disappeared, and when it filled completely…

“I-I might die…”

“So what.”

 The countless statues standing throughout Heaven.

 They were all the transformed forms of those who had once been human but had completely succumbed to the brainwashing.

 Jo Min-jae would eventually become one of those statues too.

 What was even worse.

 In Heaven, ‘Bifrost’ was sealed.

 Normally, when in danger, they could immediately return to the 1st floor, but that was impossible here.

 To return, they would have to go all the way down to the Minotaur Labyrinth below the 10th floor.

 Without support. Alone.

 Before the gauge filled completely, through that path covered with monsters and flames.

 Ryu A-ran looked at Jo Min-jae with pity.

 He had loyally carried supplies and always led the way, opening paths for them.

 To abandon such a person.

 This was tantamount to a death sentence.

“It’s impossible…”

 Desperate muttering escaped from Jo Min-jae’s lips.

 His eyes were already filled with fear of death.

La-la-la-la-

 ‘Hymn of Brainwashing’ did not stop, and the gauge was slowly filling up.

“Let’s go now, shall we? Stop wasting time.”

 Han Seo-jin never once looked back at Jo Min-jae.

 All he could see was the 16th Floor clear reward.

Click-

 The sound of the door closing echoed.

 Jo Min-jae was left alone.

La-la-la-la-

 With the endlessly echoing hymn.

Ding-!

[Celestial Realm Assimilation Progress: 50/100]

[Upon reaching 100, you will become a glorious Guardian of Heaven]

[Not much remains until complete harmony with the Celestial Realm!]

“Ahhh…”

 The gauge in his head went up another notch.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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