Chapter 351. This Year's Winter Draws Near
"What did you say?"
This was a different kind of shock. If that were true, then the notoriously lazy Hunter Kang had gone into a dungeon solely on a colleague's recomndation.
"Heuk!"
At that mont, a past conversation flashed through Jung Haseong's mind.
"Sorry, but could you... maybe pressure Hunter Kang Changho into joining the raid...?"
It only now struck him, but he'd always wanted other hunters to be more active. He had even once lanted in front of another hunter, wondering if there was any way to get that guy Kang Changho to work properly.
"Could it be because of that casual remark I made a while back?"
Maybe Kim Giryeo had taken that acquaintance's grumbling quite seriously. After all, the mont a notoriously dangerous A-rank Gate appeared in Korea, he had contacted Kang Changho as if he'd been waiting for it.
"He even explained it himself just now—he only went on the raid because Hunter Kim asked him to."
The national hero's expression stiffened for a mont. Setting aside the fact that Kang Changho was several years older than him, the man before him was still a fully grown adult. And besides, he himself had made quite a few mistakes only about a year ago.
"Maybe it was because I was on edge from work at the ti... I even drew my sword in front of soone."
Back in the early days of his relationship with Kim Giryeo, Jung Haseong had once lost his temper and pressured that hunter, sothing he privately regretted. So afterward, he resolved not to openly slight soone he disliked, no matter who they were... but still...
Even so, dislike was still disliked. South Korea's third S-rank hunter, that mixed-race Awakener, hadn't committed just one or two wrongs in the past. Above all, he had multiple prior assault convictions. So Jung Haseong judged the chances of the man before him rehabilitating to be low, and, deep down, he simply felt uneasy about even talking to soone like that.
"Why the complicated look, Hunter Jung Haseong?"
Such an assessnt is one most Koreans who knew him would share. And yet, in this situation, a certain hunter had entered the Gate alongside Kang Changho. So how could his thoughts not grow complicated?
"If it's soone like him, then I'm sure he went in together with the best of intentions."
Honestly, he couldn't quite pin down the reason. Maybe Kim Giryeo was the type who valued controlling situations more than he'd thought. Or perhaps, as he often did, he had simply stepped in herself to keep soone in the industry from getting hurt. But whatever the truth was, the fact that Kang Changho had closed a particular Gate carried significant implications for Jung Haseong.
"Well, it looks like you don't have anything more to say. So I can go now, right?"
"..."
"Need a ride into the city, if you want?"
"No."
"Oh, you're being too harsh."
Of course, the other party was the complete opposite—there wasn't a single worry in his mind.
"This may not look like it, but it's a nice car."
From inside the tall foreign car, Kang Changho spoke lightly. From the start, there had never been much for him to think deeply about regarding this raid.
Why? Because the alibi he had just given was complete fiction. And yet, even after lying, he showed no sign of a prick of conscience. If anything, part of him felt downright confident.
"Saying it this way is basically acknowledging Kim Giryeo as strong."
To Kang Changho, this was actually his way of being considerate.
"No matter how it makes look, praising a Hunter like this should help their public image, right?"
Thus, the third S-rank Hunter went on to fabricate his alibi even more actively.
Didn't you hear anything back during the Beast incident? Even then, Kim Giryeo was loudly calling for him—all just to have soone run errands. Just like that, he's the kind of guy who bows his head the mont Kim Giryeo gives an order. And besides, that there's plenty more...
And so, by the next day, an article like this inevitably popped up.
Monday's report from Seonhan Daily is circulating online.
After wrapping up his business in Pixy, Kang Changho soon returned to Korea. Not long after entering the country, he began his dia play. As a result, the sea of information beca filled with stories like, "A Hunter ranked in the 500s clashed with so ranked around 50th and got thoroughly beaten," or "He's planning to lay low for a while because of the aftermath."
The sight of a forr convict—who practically walked around as the embodint of pride and self-importance—lower himself this much was shocking. The fact that an S-rank Hunter, known for his reckless use of violence, had been utterly humbled overnight by a newly erged powerhouse was more than enough to spark public curiosity.
Moreover, the gate-clearance rate of this problematic Hunter kept skyrocketing as ti went on. The fact that the person in question showed no intention of correcting the narrative also played a part to so extent. These events—what people would call a "satisfying twist"—spread quickly and struck powerfully, embedding themselves in everyone's minds.
The three-syllable na Kim Giryeo continued to rise in prominence even after autumn had begun.
In a way, it's a natural phenonon.
South Korea has highly developed internet infrastructure. And since people of all ages are online, nowadays, even the slightest hint of public criticism toward Kim Giryeo causes the seeds that were planted to start sprouting.
Things I had done unconsciously during the chaotic ti right after reincarnation, or the case when I saved a father and daughter near the one-room apartnt—people who had previously been helped by him ca forward voluntarily, simply out of goodwill, hoping that Kim Giryeo wouldn't be unfairly treated. And so, Kim Giryeo's standing continued to rise steadily, without any major setbacks.
In truth, the alien himself hadn't even intended it—it was more like seeds had been spilling from the holes in his pockets without him noticing... Nevertheless, the focus remained on the fact that the fruits continued to grow steadily...
Optimization of one targeted magic type has been completed.
Muscle Strengthening Research Completed
Stimulating muscle fibers with micro-electric currents to promote muscle growth in an inactive state.
Although it takes ti, it is expected to improve physical abilities with a small amount of energy.
If you're stronger, you can use less reinforcent magic — OK.
It had already been several days since he returned to the country after handling the matter with the Pixy Company. In the anti, a bit more ti had passed, and the weather was changing once again in the country known for its distinct four seasons.
"Hmm?"
A sharp wind was blowing in from outside.
"For this body, last week felt just perfect, but in only a few days, the weather is this unpredictable again?"
At this rate, will the snowy winter arrive soon too? Since I'm being from another world, I still haven't developed a proper sense of ti. So I just blankly stared at the calendar.
'Ah. Here it is. The one marked ipdong (Beginning of Winter) is right around this ti.'
As you can tell from the fact that I hadn't even noticed the weather outside changing, I'd been living a completely reclusive life for the past few days. I hadn't even been able to watch the news I loved so much for a while.
"Hmm."
But well, what can I do? As much as I hate to admit it, I suppose I do have a bit of a workaholic tendency by nature. That probably why, whenever there's still sothing left on my to-do list, I feel oddly uneasy and physically restless.
"My instincts are screaming at to march into the press conference and announce my retirent right this instant."
So then, what choice did I have? To get rid of this nagging discomfort, I had no choice but to focus as much as possible on the remaining plans.
Of course, having already handled the most troubleso case that required going abroad in advance, the following tasks were relatively easier. After about ten days holed up at ho, focusing solely on my favorite magic research, I found that I had achieved one of my goals.
"I've beco even stronger."
Now that the preparations are complete... In the small research studio apartnt where I had been staying since my discharge, I looked around the room before heading toward the nearby bathroom. Leaning on the sink and looking into the mirror, I found myself thinking:
'Not only did I beco an SS-rank Hunter, but now I can also use advanced magic again through research. Who would be the most satisfying person to share such a great achievent with?'
Talking to myself in front of the bathroom mirror?
"Well, as expected, it's family."
But I guess it's actually pretty common for soone living alone to talk to themselves.
"In this world, who else would celebrate a person's growth more than their parents...?"
So a sentence like this shouldn't be a problem. I continued my thoughts and stared silently at the mirror for a mont. Of course, unlike when my body was alive, there wasn't much change in my expression.
User Comments
0 comments from readers