Ch.134134. What Was Promised

Team Leader Kim Jin-hyeop had contacted me before entering the dungeon.

“Many hunters have been harmed after getting involved with Hunter Kang Seong-jun. It seems you’re clashing because of YouTube content, but I think it would be better if you avoided contact with him.”

Perhaps it was a natural call, considering that one must report to the Hunter Association before entering a dungeon.

“Do you normally contact people in advance with warnings like this?”

“It’s not just because it’s you, Suhyeon. Hunter Kang Seong-jun is currently under intensive monitoring by the Hunter Association.”

“But I’m curious—if he’s clearly causing harm to others, isn’t there any way to sanction him?”

If there were cases of harm and actual evidence that an S-class hunter was injured to the point of struggling with their hunter activities, there should be clear evidence.

“The other side conveniently never has video recordings. I suspect Kang Seong-jun’s side deliberately deletes them, and the videos they do submit are perfectly captured to make it difficult to prove intent—rather, they make it look like accidents, making punishment difficult.”

“The Hunter Association doesn’t have it easy either.”

“…Both of you are hunters that the Association finds difficult to discipline hastily.”

Hunters are the privileged class in modern society.

If dissatisfied, they can immigrate to other countries with better conditions.

Especially high-ranked hunters are so privileged that they can practically ignore laws.

As such, disputes between high-ranked hunters are difficult for the Hunter Association to handle rashly.

Without clear evidence, punishing them could alienate high-ranked hunters.

That’s why they warn instead.

“He has a lot of experience in this area. Even if you’re SSS+ rank…”

“But you know what?”

I got a hint from there.

“…Yes. Please continue.”

“Unavoidable accidents—incidents where it’s difficult to prove intent—even if they’re recorded, they’re hard to punish, right?”

“Yes… currently… all I can do is advise you to avoid such situations as much as possible…”

“No, I mean, if Kang Seong-jun were to lose limbs or become disabled in an unfortunate accident, it would be fine as long as there’s no evidence, right?”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s an A+ rank dungeon, so such things could happen, is what I’m saying.”

“Ah. Of course. That could happen.”

Team Leader Kim Jin-hyeop seemed to have waited in front of the dungeon after that call.

“What did you do?”

“What do you mean?”

“…”

His right arm and left leg were severed but perfectly healed.

He must know about my healing magic.

I just played innocent.

“We were competing, and I felt at a disadvantage, so I stole the monster he was hunting, and he went berserk chasing me. At some point, I realized I was separated from my party. When I tried to keep my distance, he started throwing bombs at me. While dodging, I retreated briefly, and then he was fighting 1:5 alone. By the time I went back to help, his limbs had already become monster snacks. As good as my healing magic is, I can’t recreate what’s already been digested.”

“…”

Team Leader Kim Jin-hyeop nodded.

“I underestimated an SSS+ rank.”

“You could do it too, Team Leader.”

“No. The reason we can’t easily touch Kang Seong-jun isn’t just him but because his entire party consists of highly skilled individuals. If I were to face them alone, I’d be on the defensive until I was overwhelmed.”

The difference between A+ rank and S- rank is like a massive wall.

In a 1:1 fight, Kim Jin-hyeop would dominate and crush Kang Seong-jun.

But in a situation that’s not 1:1, even A+ damage is more than enough to break through an S- rank.

Rank isn’t everything.

But overwhelming rank is everything.

“Kang Seong-jun’s side claims that you intentionally let him be eaten by monsters. Since you say you have video evidence, please submit it separately, and we’ll review and make a judgment.”

“Yes.”

Well, I’ve recorded the footage carefully, so Kang Seong-jun’s insistence won’t work.

No, part of me actually hopes his insistence would work.

What will happen?

Kang Seong-jun’s side won’t have evidence to prove their claim.

Even if they did, he threw bombs at me first among the monsters, so they’d have to omit that part, which would invalidate their evidence.

The reason I disappeared was because he threw bombs first.

Crucially, the monsters attacked him because I intercepted his second wave of bombs in mid-air—would that even be captured?

Even if only that was recorded, which side would the Hunter Association support?

A+ rank Kang Seong-jun with a criminal record?

Or me, an SSS+ rank desired by America?

Curious, I asked Team Leader Kim Jin-hyeop.

“Ah, right. Team Leader.”

“Yes.”

“What you mentioned before. About giving me a hundred billion if I stay in Korea.”

“…Yes.”

“When will it be deposited? It’s not like a maturity contract where I have to complete 10 years or something, right?”

“Of course not. As soon as you sign a simple document, we can arrange for immediate deposit…”

“Is it over once I sign? What if I take the money and go to America?”

“..We would claim damages, of course, but that wouldn’t mean much to you.”

“I’ve already rejected America’s offer. I told them I might consider if they bring many SS-rank items, but otherwise, I have no intention of going.”

“Thank you.”

“If Korea can provide useful SS-rank items too, I might not join the Hunter Association, but I could help as a mercenary when things get really dangerous.”

“Hahaha… SS-rank items… do they actually exist in this world?”

Well, it’s half a threat.

I can leave Korea anytime.

Though for now, I’m staying.

It’s a different story, but there’s no way he wouldn’t see the connection to the current incident.

As if understanding, I showed something to Kim Jin-hyeop while he watched Kang Seong-jun screaming and convulsing.

“Here.”

“Yes?”

“Take a look. An SS-rank item.”

“…Gasp!”

I let Kim Jin-hyeop examine the sacred ring on my finger.

From what I’ve seen, Kim Jin-hyeop is a serious person.

Upright, yet pragmatic enough to compromise with reality.

The fact that he contacted me to prevent a clash with Kang Seong-jun shows he judges which side is beneficial and tries to prevent trouble even using his authority.

That might be why I find him somewhat likable.

It feels like I could use him conveniently if I play it right.

“…”

Plus, he’s an S- rank hunter himself.

Where. How.

He must be curious, but showing an item itself is a huge sign of trust to a hunter, and his hesitation is clearly visible.

“I got it from America. Not from the Hunter Association.”

That’s all I revealed.

That’s also why I showed the item.

To make him tense.

Even if not through the Hunter Association, America and I have a connection.

Whether I bought, obtained, or received an SS-rank item.

A connection through an SS-rank item could be quite strong and close.

“I’ll report this and arrange for the deposit as soon as possible.”

He really understands well.

And so I returned home.

———————–

“Ugh, so annoying. Those bastards took my camera and broke it all.”

“What? It’s gone?”

“Not gone. Do you know how expensive that was?”

Kim Sujeong grumbled as soon as she got home.

From what I heard, when she was filming Kang Seong-jun with his severed limbs, his party members came and took all her filming equipment and destroyed it.

Apparently, they tried to take the memory card too, but she desperately prevented that by destroying it herself.

When I asked how the footage survived, she said her expensive equipment had a backup storage device.

“It’s equipment meant for when filming gear breaks during dungeon runs, but who knew it would be useful in this situation.”

“It’s not like we’re going to upload it anyway, so what does it matter?”

“Still, they might file false reports against you.”

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen.”

Kang Seong-jun won’t be able to act up anymore.

No one can continue being a hunter without limbs.

Or can they? Since Kang Seong-jun is a ranged dealer, maybe he could still enter dungeons with just one leg.

That would make for interesting YouTube content in its own way.

“If he makes videos about that, I might actually subscribe.”

“…You’re really something else.”

Putting that aside.

I decided it was time to prepare to go back.

“We need to buy a lot of things to take back this time, so start shopping early.”

“Okay. Oh, oppa, have you seen this?”

With an extra mouth to feed now, we had more to pack, and with the money we earned, there was more to buy. While looking for items, Kim Sujeong showed me some personal items listed on the Dungeon Association site.

“This. Doesn’t it look like chaos energy?”

There was an item listed:

[Mirror of Chaos]

– Rank: B

– A mirror containing unknown energy. It seems special effects will appear if purified.

“What is this?”

Anyone can see that the “unknown energy” is chaos energy, and “purification” likely means putting it in the Chaos Stone Purification Cauldron.

“Contact them quickly.”