episode_0447

Referred to as the antithesis of S-rank hunters, the S-rank villains.

Their existence did not come about overnight.

For various reasons, they had to step outside the boundaries of society.

Turning the world into their enemy, they faced countless crossroads of life and death.

And miraculously, with each survival, they gained strength.

The birth of enormity typically follows such a pattern.

Survive, survive, and survive again.

Only those who have stubbornly survived against the world for an excruciatingly long time earn the right to threaten the world.

Those who transition from being S-rank hunters to villains are not as numerous as one might think.

Wealth, fame, power.

They hold all the elements that stimulate human greed, but why?

However, just as there is no such thing as ‘absolute’ in this world, there are also those who abandon everything and make the transition.

For instance, those influenced by dangerous ideologies or those who have gained enlightenment in the wrong direction.

And one more thing.

Those who knowingly engage in profoundly wicked methods yet find the growth process irresistibly appealing.

Kim Taeyang falls under this last category.

“Seeing this really cracks me up.”

Suddenly, Shin Yoojeong, lying naked next to him, blurts out a random comment.

Curious, I sneak a peek at his smartphone he was staring at, only to find articles related to Kim Taeyang.

I reach out and lightly grasp his chest, asking, “What’s so funny about it?”

To which he responds, “Well, you see. If you’re S-rank, you have plenty of money and considerable power.”

“But?”

“Why would someone be so greedy on such a topic and end up ruining themselves?”

“Hmm, well…”

Even in online communities, various stories circulate regarding Kim Taeyang, mostly harboring doubts like Shin Yoojeong’s.

Why would someone become a hunter and resort to murder to become stronger?

However, my thoughts, as well as those of other S-rank hunters, differ.

“I can somewhat understand.”

At my words, he swiftly turns his head, looking at me with widened eyes.

“…Understand? That bastard?”

“Yeah.”

To others, S-rank signifies the pinnacle.

Since there is no higher rank, it’s understandable why they might think that way.

In fact, even among A-rank hunters, many believe that reaching S-rank is all that matters.

I used to think the same when I was A-rank.

But once you actually reach it, your perspective changes.

“S-rank isn’t the end; it’s a new beginning.”

“A new… beginning?”

“Yes.”

S-rank is a ticket to a unique perspective.

A world only accessible to those who have reached S-rank, unseen by others.

It’s a pass to step into that world.

“But the steps there are incredibly slow.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you have to pioneer solely with your own strength.”

As the hunter society expanded, various knowledge accumulated in the world.

Methods focused on enhancing the abilities one desires or techniques specific to each profession.

Junior hunters comfortably walk the path polished by the mistakes of senior pioneers.

Modern-day hunters grow faster and more comfortably than the first-generation hunters for this reason.

“But from S-rank onwards, no one else’s knowledge applies.”

“Why is that?”

“Because everyone’s paths diverge completely.”

Even if they are seemingly similar mages, even mages who have mastered the same attributes, their paths do not intersect.

While they may seem to be heading in a similar direction at first glance, upon closer inspection, they are distinctly different.

You might ask, can’t they share knowledge since they are somewhat similar?

No, they cannot.

Just like how using the same mathematical formula yields different results with different numbers.

The path S-rank individuals tread is no different.

Subtle yet significant differences spawn countless variables.

Following blindly might lead one astray, wandering for a long time without finding their way.

The puzzled individual scratches his head, clearly failing to comprehend.

The lad may lack understanding in theoretical matters, but this time, it’s not entirely his fault.

Just as a frog living in a well cannot empathize with tales of the world beyond, the current situation is no different.

“Well, that’s how it is. Once you reach S-rank, you’ll naturally find out.”

At my words, he pursed his lips and shot me a skeptical look.

“…Unlucky bastard.”

“……”

I wasn’t trying to deceive you, kid.

Anyway.

For these reasons, I can somewhat understand his feelings.

Already struggling with a stagnant growth rate, losing so spectacularly in a promotion match against a dark horse junior must have been infuriating for someone with that temperament.

Thus, I can somehow grasp his state of mind.

However, there’s still one thing I can’t quite comprehend.

Who exactly taught him that method?

And why precisely when his desire for power was at its peak?

That’s what needs to be investigated now.

Who is responsible for leading him astray?

Which circle of sin do they belong to?

But before that.

“Have you rested enough now?”

“…Don’t know. Feeling bad, so I won’t do any more today…♥”

As if anyone cares.

My slightly chilled body quickly warmed up, suffusing the entire room with heat.

The severity of Kim Taeyang’s punishment for the heinous crime of serial killings was swiftly debated.

There were several reasons for this.

One was the overwhelming public focus on this case.

【Kim Taeyang’s foreseen downfall.】

【An S-rank Hunter’s S-rank crime.】

【’Special Serial Murders’ by Kim Taeyang, what level of punishment?】

Provocative articles kept pouring in.

Journalists who had remained silent under Kim Taeyang’s intimidation finally began to speak out.

This only fueled the already intense public interest even further.

The only way to cool things down was to swiftly conclude the case.

The second reason was Kim Dojin.

He went around meeting association board members and high-ranking government officials, boldly declaring, “I don’t want anything else. Just make sure he pays for his crimes.”

He could have been assassinated if desired.

But that wasn’t done out of hatred for Kim Taeyang; it was to show the families of the victims and everyone else that justice should be served proportionately to the crime.

For this, Kim Dojin stood firm.

“You might not know, but I’ve been getting a lot of international calls lately.”

“W-what does that mean…?”

“They’re saying that if I change my nationality and close my eyes, I could live a life incomparable to the present.”

“……!”

While said as a threat, it wasn’t false.

Indeed, the number of countries contacting him has been increasing.

If he changed his name from Kim Dojin to Muhammad Dojin, he could live like a king.

“Of course, I take pride in being born Korean, so I politely declined…”

He chuckled.

“Who knows what the future holds, right?”

“……”

With an S-rank Hunter responsible for Korea’s future, there was no easy way out.

A brutal criminal arrested as a current offender, and an S-rank Hunter whose stock was soaring daily by apprehending criminals.

It’s clear whose side one should be on.

And so, after a month, Kim Taeyang’s sentencing day arrived.

Bound tightly in specially crafted chains, Kim Taeyang appeared drastically changed within a month.

His once robust muscles deflated like a balloon, his hair turned black.

Most notably, his expression was lifeless.

In a way, it was to be expected.

Arrested as a serial killer and having lost an arm in the process, Kim Taeyang faced the ultimate downfall when even his last resort, Sejin Group, turned its back on him.

In other words, there was no one left in South Korea to stand by him.

Completely isolated, he stood in court with a vacant expression.

“The verdict is in.”

He thought nothing really mattered anymore.

Having lost everything already, what did the length of his sentence matter? What was important?

But he was unaware.

Beneath what he considered rock bottom lay an even deeper abyss.

“The defendant, Kim Taeyang, is sentenced to 30 years in the special detention facility ‘Prison Belt.’”

“W-What…!?”

As the judge’s pronouncement ended, Kim Taeyang reacted with a jolt of fear.

“P-Prison Belt.”

Prison Belt.

It was a vast artificial island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

With a large main island at its center, surrounded by smaller islands interconnected by thick chains.

The sole purpose of this island was to house villains who had committed heinous crimes.

It was also known by another name among criminals.

‘The Hell of Criminals.’

No one truly knew what went on there due to a perpetual mist shrouding the island, preventing any glimpse from the outside.

Those who experienced it and returned to the outside world?

They didn’t exist.

Official records might show individuals released after serving their sentences, but they never resurfaced in society.

People always wondered.

Did they really get released?

Or perhaps they met their end on that island, only to be recorded as released.

Apart from those tight-lipped officials, no one knew the truth.

This ambiguity made it all the more terrifying.

“T-This can’t be happening…! I’ve saved so many people in this country, how can they do this to me?! Huh?!”

Overwhelmed by his infamous reputation, Kim Taeyang began to protest.

“I saved thousands! Doesn’t that count for something, even if I’ve killed a few?! Damn it!”

Silence and anger filled the courtroom at his words.

“That lunatic…!”

“Where does he come up with such excuses?!”

Amidst the scathing glares, Kim Taeyang knelt before the judge.

“Please, I’ll beg if I have to, just spare me from that place…! I’d rather face life imprisonment, but please don’t send me there!”

A desperate plea.

Yet once a verdict was set, it was near impossible to overturn.

The judge, with a colder demeanor, spoke up.

“Take him away.”

The officers waiting nearby immediately grabbed his arms and escorted him out of the courtroom.

Forced out of the courtroom, Kim Taeyang finally erupted in anger.

“You bastards…! I’ll kill you all! I’ll find a way out of there and come back to destroy every single one of you, no, I’ll raze this country to the ground! Huh?!”

A menacing declaration of revenge.

But his vengeance would likely never come to fruition.

Because that place…

“You can’t escape from there.”

In the past 20 years, not a single person had successfully escaped from that place.

Quietly leaving the courtroom, Kim Dojin eventually came face to face with someone.

“Kim Dojin Hunter, as expected, you’re here.”

Approaching him warmly was a man named Park Sejun.

The individual who played a crucial role in aiding the arrest of Kim Taeyang.

Thanks to him, Sejin Group managed to evade public outrage.

If not for him, Sejin Group’s stocks would have undoubtedly plummeted by now.

“A 30-year sentence in Prison Belt… It’s called 30 years, but practically, it’s no different from a death sentence.”

“That’s right.”

The extreme severity of this punishment wasn’t solely due to Kim Dojin’s influence.

“I heard that Sejin Group also made efforts from their end.”

Sejin Group exerted its influence behind the scenes, much like oneself.

“Haha, I asked for it to be kept a secret… in such a manner.”

Park Se-jun blurred his words with a puzzled expression.

Ever since learning this fact, Kim Do-jin had been curious all along.

“Why did you do that?”

By swiftly cutting ties, Sejin Group’s stock price was safeguarded.

Afterwards, whatever happened to Kim Tae-yang became irrelevant to them.

Yet why did he use Sejin Group’s connections to push Kim Tae-yang into deep ruin?

To which he replied, “I did it out of fear of revenge.”

“If it’s revenge….”

“Even if an arm is cut off, isn’t he an S-rank Hunter? I thought he could escape from prison easily enough.”

It wasn’t a wrong statement.

Given even a slight opening, an S-rank Hunter could escape from any prison.

And Kim Tae-yang was especially capable of that.

With his abilities, breaking through prison walls would be child’s play.

‘Not wrong, but…’

It certainly sounded plausible.

However, it didn’t sit right in the heart.

It felt like hearing a preconceived story meant to make oneself understood no matter what.

Hence, suspicion kept glancing towards Park Se-jun.

‘Perhaps.’

Could it be that the person in front of him was the culprit who led Kim Tae-yang astray with improper methods?

As the vague suspicions gradually sharpened into focus like mist turning into a sharp blade.

“I’ll take my leave now. Let’s meet at a more comfortable place next time.”

“Yes, please do.”

“Haha, you agree? I’ll be in touch soon.”

Well then.

Leaving with these parting words, Park Se-jun departed.

Kim Do-jin watched his retreating figure until it completely disappeared from sight.