Chapter 362. No Way (4)
But one puzzling thing is why soone who, up until last year, had been so considerate of others suddenly revealed an intangible bulk.
"That video creator, Han Jehoon, was right. Since Kim Giryeo is that kind of person, that's why I fainted in the middle of the street."
The hunters inside the auditorium stole wary glances at the nacing S-rank, like people bracing against a raging typhoon. All the man who appeared at the entrance did was sit down with a stern expression, finding an empty seat. Yet the damp tension that spread through the air did not ease for a long ti.
"Hunters! Thank you for waiting so lo---... heuk?"
What's more, a mont later, even the person who ca into the auditorium to give an explanation flinched when they looked toward the audience. It ant that the aura of the S-rank was so overwhelming that even an Association mber—soone used to encountering high-level espers on a daily basis—was startled.
"I, I'm truly sorry for being late. I didn't an for it to happen... I'll give you a brief forecast explanation right away."
To be honest, it was the kind of situation where the phrase "Please spare " ca to mind on its own. Yet the aura he unleashed, which had intimidated so many people, actually had a rather trivial background.
"My retirent... is canceled?"
To think that the alien creature which had thrown everyone into terror was, in fact, ntally feeble. Kim Giryeo appeared in public for the first ti after about two months of absence. But as was plainly evident from the turbulent mana swirling around him, he had, for so reason, lost the ability to control it.
"Even after reincarnation—living what's basically my second life—I'm still a penniless beggar with hundreds of billions in debt and not a single cent in savings?"
This was the secret behind his intense appearance.
"Ugh."
The alien creature, uncharacteristically, swallowed back tears as it looked at the PPT in front. By the way, this man, dressed in a suit from neck to toe, looked like the embodint of a working man, and all he could think about was, "I want to go ho."
***
But since it was an issue he couldn't avoid.
Paying taxes is a process one must go through to beco a complete Earthling. That's why I made up my mind and ca all the way to the Hunter Association like this.
"I'm planning to start earning money in earnest from now on. But I can't just ignore the looming disaster and chase only personal profit, right?"
I barely held back the urge to sob as I took out my phone.
"If I were to do sothing like that, my precious na, Kim Giryeo, would really end up making big headlines."
After a few minutes of waiting, I finally received all the guidance from the Association staff. I opened my phone's calendar—sothing I'd only recently learned to use—and added an event titled Red Gate Rush. From now on, it's not the ti to sit down and grieve, but the ti to overco the trials set before .
But before planning ahead, there was sothing I needed to consider for a mont.
"The money I need to earn isn't just a simple 30 billion. Since I bought an expensive house, I'll also have to steadily cover property taxes and maintenance fees from now on."
After all, a thorough plan is fundantal to the life of a freeloading loafer.
"I can't just pay off the taxes, including living expenses, I'd realistically need around 40 billion."
Soon, the calculation was done. The amount of money I needed to earn from now on was an enormous 40 billion. It seed difficult to resolve in a short period of ti. After all, even in this world, being an S-rank Hunter doesn't an you can pull infinite money out of thin air. Especially as an individual, not a corporation—how could I possibly handle that just through labor alone?
"Besides, as an alien, it's really hard for to even make investnts..."
It's sudden, but at this point, soone's greatness cos to mind. The top-ranked Hunter, Jung Haseong, had once managed tutoring fees amounting to a staggering 6 billion per month. So, if I assu earning money at a similar pace, could the 30 billion in taxes really be settled in just five months...?
The problem was that his inco fell into a very exceptional range. Enduring a situation where 6 billion in cash lted away every month? That was only possible because the person in question was soone like Jung Haseong. With that kind of diligence, practically a national hero, even a bit of luck with items would have been enough to repay hundreds of billions in debt in no ti.
However, I was naturally different in temperant from that hero.
"I don't even know how many tis I've thought this already, but I hate working! Especially in winter, I absolutely don't want to go outside!"
I don't even have the confidence to achieve 0.1 of what Jung Haseong could do, let alone all the fun thing.
"If I end up working a five-day week like the mammals on this planet, I'll quickly get tired of everything in life."
Therefore, after much deliberation, I made a decision. Since there was still ti before the tax paynt was due, I would start working today and clear dungeons at a pace that wouldn't exhaust .
"Right. I'm already out anyway..."
Then, with the conclusion reached, there was no reason to hesitate. I manipulated the phone in my hand and opened the public service application.
"Should I clear one dungeon before heading ho?"
Then I moved my thumb to reserve entry for one or two gates.
"It's sowhat fewer than two months ago, but still, quite a number of A-rank gates remain."
For reference, this was also why I ca all the way to the Seoul Association. This matter, called the Red Gate Rush or sothing, had also held briefings near my residence. Still, the capital had the largest number of high-difficulty gates that were actually profitable.
"To think I have to leave the warmth of my ho because of sothing as trivial as work."
In the middle of the capital, where aliens on Earth gathered, I suddenly felt like wiping my eyes. But true to my nature as an aquatic creature with no concept of tear glands, not a single salty tear ca out.
[Ting]
As ti passed, all that erged near my pocket was the familiar sound of a notification.
[Gate entry request has been approved.]
But what was this situation supposed to an? It was around the mont when my phone sounded the signal indicating that the request had gone through properly.
Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
A commotion broke out from sowhere. To put it taphorically, it was the tension of a herd of savanna elephants charging forward. But it wasn't the approaching figure's weight that caused it.
"That's right! So don't take the monsters!"
This ti, it was the appearance of Seo Esther. However, it was a reunion with a slightly unusual twist. When I looked around, Jung Haseong was holding a phone with a video call active.
"Judging by the fact that the model's changed, it looks like they broke their phone again while working..."
Anyway.
"And what was that just now, capturing an A-rank gate in Seoul? Wasn't Hunter Kim Giryeo supposed to be retiring?"
I spoke to the woman who was pressing her face against the cara.
"From what I've heard, it seems that my saying I'd take a break sohow reached you through Jung Haseong."
"Ah, yes."
"Then it's easy to explain. I've finished taking care of myself, and starting today, I've decided to just return."
Of course, overturning what I said in the past would quickly bring up issues regarding my promise with the top-ranked Hunter. But well, by now, accompanying soone like that would be no problem at all.
"Other than the fact that we have to share the profits, there's no reason to refuse--"
I lightened my thoughts and did so eye exercises. But the reaction I got in return was beyond anything I had imagined.
"A, as expected, was it because we were lacking that you made that choice?"
"Ugh."
"But how can we send Hunter into a dungeon? Please, reconsider!"
"I absolutely cannot send you into a dungeon until dirt gets in my eyes. I said I won't send you!"
Jung Haseong and Seo Esther, the two Earthlings, suddenly shouted as if pleading. From my sense of it, it seed to be an objection, though fortunately for a positive reason.
"Hmm?"
From the perspective of soone on the verge of becoming a 40 billion tax evader, it was honestly a rather awkward situation. I checked whether there was a flowerbed with dirt nearby and, for now, focused on the conversation right in front of .
***
Why were Korea's top S-rank espers suddenly acting like that? To explain this, he first had to delve into the events of the past two months. A clue was that, even though the famous Hunter Giryeo had been in seclusion, the whole world had remained unusually quiet.
[Official Governnt Announcent]
[Gate accident fatalities today: '0'. A historic record... Hunter teams responsible for public safety are set to receive presidential comndations.]
What's only now coming to light is that the past two months were actually the safest period for this country. South Korea had gone through an ideal season with not a single B-rank or higher dungeon break occurring. And, naturally, behind this phenonon, the efforts of two individuals had been at work--
"Haseong-ssi, do you know about that?"
"I don't."
"I've been checking the internet every day lately to monitor the news. Netizens are joking, saying that after seeing our recent activities, when did the number of dungeon-running machines suddenly double?"
"Ah, yes."
"By the way, excuse , but are you perhaps neglecting conversations with the opposite sex just because of your appearance?"
"No, it's not that. It's just that I went to all-boys middle and high school..."
The undisputed celebrities of the Korean Peninsula exchanged a few words. This encounter happened shortly after the Hunter Giryeo went on a break, and in fact, Jung Haseong and Seo Esther had t frequently enough over the past two months to build a certain level of familiarity.
"Anyway, does this an that all the A-rank gates that occurred this ti have been dealt with?"
"That's right. The campaign was successfully carried out even at our Magic Tower guild branches, so I can say with certainty that there's hardly any left now."
And the reason their relationship changed so abruptly was simple. In short, they were actively supporting a certain esper's rest.
"Hunter Kim Giryeo cares deeply about public safety... to the point that he even thoroughly investigated fringe groups that no one paid attention to, like the Rakshasa Temple..."
"-_-"
"But if dungeon breaks are happening all around, there's no way he'd go through with retirent, right?"
"I understand, since I once had the sa disposition. It's obvious he would."
They wanted their fellow awakener to rest without worry. So, they voluntarily tried to create a suitable environnt and carried out this plan nearly to perfection. Various TV channels, rather than reporting on the hidden blond man, ended up praising the peace that had arrived.
"It's perfect that the COAT happens to be going on right now--"
Esther, wiping away the valuable sweat earned from labor, began to think.
"With this, no matter how much we focus on safety managent, they won't feel it as favoritism!"
Honestly, this level of high-intensity managent couldn't last forever, but she was reasonably satisfied with the results she had produced for now.
"Let's just maintain it like this."
After all, the goal was to showcase an industry standard that could easily withstand the absence of even one S-rank Hunter. The two hunters continued their efforts so that the patient, Kim Giryeo, could focus on recovery.
"What? Is that true?"
"Yes. The article was imdiately taken down to protect privacy, but it seems that the content itself was true."
"Finally, Giryeo-ssi has abandoned that shabby house and signed a contract for a villa! There's no doubt he's planning to properly recuperate!"
And after two months had passed, by the ti this season with swirling snow arrived, he thought it was all settled.
.
.
.
.
.
But how long had it been since he was so happy? How could things change in just a week?
"I've just decided to return starting today."
Let's set aside trivial issues like the summon order being accidentally triggered. To get to the point, this statent ca as a major shock to two particular people.
"Hunter Kim Giryeo is returning?"
To think that soone with an extrely rare disease—whose tumor could spread unpredictably (an awakened-non-small cell carcinoma case)—would return without hesitation instead of resting.
The man in the suit before conveyed his aning politely and gently. But to the Earth natives, the words of this alien sounded like this.
Looking at the state you all are in, I absolutely couldn't rest in peace. I'm just going to return to the industry.
That's why the two S-rank Hunters shouted almost to the point of tears. They even began to argue, questioning what had been lacking in the results they had achieved so far.
"What is this? What's wrong with you?"
Of course, from the alien's perspective, this was naturally quite bewildering. So Giryeo imdiately explained to the Earthling in front of him.
"No, I don't know what you're saying right now. You have nothing to do with this decision."
"Yes!"
"I just ca out to work because I need to earn a living----"
But he couldn't finish the sentence.
"An S-rank worried about making a living?"
"A top-tier awakened human doesn't have any money?"
The reason was that both Jung Haseong, who was right in front of him, and Esther, who was connected via video call, glared fiercely as if staring at a liar as soon as they heard the topic.
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