Evolution Theory of the Hunter

“It’s not as large as I thought.”

Han Joon-suk said so as he came into the house.

“It’s not big? This plot of land was a school you know?”

“Since you’re getting one anyway, you could have gotten a larger place. That field and gymnasium is all going to be used for Team Delta no?”

“That’s true.”

“Then it wouldn’t be bad thinking about how it’s going to increase in size. Well, you can just move next time though.”

“How far ahead are you thinking?”

“Korea’s greatest raid team.”

This guy had a lot of ambition.

I was originally a porter and if I had a dream it would be becoming the greatest hunter…… This was also a great ambition but a top raid team was a whole other story.

The difficulty was worlds apart from an individual reaching the top and a group reaching the top. Was he saying that we were going to rise to the top surpassing the raid teams that have been piling up assets over 50 years I wonder.

“Well, I hope that we can get there someday.”

“It will happen. We have party leader with us after all.”

“Me?”

“Party leader’s role will increasingly become more important. Unlike us.”

“…… That’s true.”

I nodded my head.

I had grown explosively in the last month.

Not long ago, my hand would tremble at holding money at the tens of billions but I just sold a total of 2t after all.

However, that was something that was only possible because I sweeped up the Chungho Group. It would probably be different from now on. It wasn’t a good thing to constantly face 10,000 people at once too.

Now that I think of it, China had still not mentioned anything about the Chungho Group. Seeing how they’re still ignoring them after 10,000 came and got close to annihilation, it seems like it’s possible that they really aren’t related to the government.

It was possible since each region had a lot of power. Since it’s said that each region is raising hunters for tactical use there’s a high possibility that it’s one of them.

After everyone gathered, we all went to the living room.

Come to think of it, I could understand what Han Joon-suk meant about the house being small.

Even if it was 100 pyeong with the first and second floors combined, there was no good place to hold meetings with 20 people.

It couldn’t be helped so I had only Jang Moon-bok participate from team 2 while the rest stood by outside.

The meeting didn’t take very long. Because it was almost decided that Jong Sa-won would become the leader of team 2, it was only a matter of getting his agreement.

It was decided that team 2 would go around the Yellow Sea region a bit more with Jong Sa-won as the center. There were still remnants of the Chungho Group and since level 4 monsters appeared as well, it was the perfect environment for team 2 to hunt in. If they got experience and earned money like that, I’m planning on upgrading team 2’s items as well.

Jong Sa-won and Jang Moon-bok left the conference room to discuss the upcoming expedition.

I also distributed level 10 items to the rest of the party members.

Soo-ah held the level 10 no name longsword and cheered.

“Are you really giving these to us?”

“I’m not giving it to you, it’s a loan. You can think of all that as part of the team’s fortune. You have to return it later so you can’t ever lose it or something.”

“Don’t worry. I will even sleep while hugging it.”

“No, don’t do that. You have bad sleeping habits.”

Giggling could be heard from here and there. There was no one who didn’t know how bad her sleeping habits were after all.

A level 10 items was given each to 8 people including me. Even if it was a no name, since main equipment started at several hundreds of billions it was a decision that couldn’t be helped.

Instead, a shield to Cho Young-gu, a sword to Soo-ah, equipment appropriate for each one’s role was given. I replaced my broken armor with a level 10 no name plate armor.

Everyone was equipping or swinging their newly distributed items with excited faces.

Now seemed to be the most suitable time to say it.

“With this much I believe there will not be many problems going around a level 9 dungeon. It might even be possible to deal with an irregular.”

“That certainly seems so. However, why are you saying it so weirdly? It’s like you’re saying that you won’t be going.”

This girl really notices things quickly.

“That’s right. I’m planning on moving on my own for a while.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Soo-ah’s eyes went wide as she looked at me.

“It’s a matter that I have already talked about with Han Joon-suk. Me staying in the team does not help very much with everyone’s growth.”

Their sights all went towards Han Joon-suk. The one that talked about this first was actually not me but him.

At some point, my growth had overwhelmingly surpassed the growth of my party members. Because of that, my existence was a hindrance to the party members’ growth.

If they got more indolent there’s a possibility their ability falls. Hunters were people that hunt as the word says. Of course, it’s best to have good equipment but there was no way to hunt beasts without sharpening one’s abilities.

It would affect Team Delta on the long term if they continue to rely on me.

I couldn’t help nodding to his words.

More than anything, I could feel his affection towards Team Delta. It seemed like he wanted our group to not be a small gathering merely tangled with human relationships but a real raid team.

It didn’t mean that I was all comfortable separating with them just because it’s me.

From what I see, there were people that lacked ability, and people that didn’t have the mental fortitude of a hunter.

Also, it was true that I was uneasy thinking about the possibility that someone would get hurt or even killed.

However, the moment I thought about that, I understood what Han Joon-suk was trying to say. These people were not my children or something and they were not people that I needed to protect either.

These problems did not appear on the surface until now but if it continued this way, because of my soft personality there was a high possibility they would have a tendency of relying on me.

Something done in good faith did not always lead to a good conclusion.

In that sense, what Han Joon-suk had been saying was correct to say a hundred times.

Also, I thought that it was my good luck that I met with someone like this.

Our meeting was only a coincidence but I didn’t think that we would still be together for so long.

“It was a decision that I made after thinking for a long time so I hope that you will all agree to it.”

However, I couldn’t do anything about feeling sorry.

It can be seen as me throwing them away after all. I even thought that they might abhor me.

However, the party members that were looking back at me did not have a dark or depressed expression at all.

“Hm…… It seems everyone doesn’t have particularly shocked expressions. I was about to become sad.”

“Well, I did think that such a day was going to come after all.”

Cho Young-gu said so with a light laugh.

“It got difficult for me to chase after you because I’m so old. I should be able to take it easy now.”

“I will have Manager Kim do shooting practice for a while. If you can’t get a hit rate of over 90% from a 20 meter distance I’m never going to let you in on the expeditions.”

“Buy why?”

“I’m the leader of team 1 now.”

Han Joon-suk said so as Manager Kim grumbled.

“Jeon team leader. Is it really okay to leave team leader to this guy?”

“Yes. I believe he is the best figure to lead the team as of now. If not well, is Manager Kim going to take up the position?”

“No…… That’s not it but. Eh. I was thinking that it was going to get easier.”

As Manager Kim grumbled laughter resounded. He had always grumbled in discontent but he was actually a person that had quite a big role in our party.

“It’s not like we can’t meet at all right. I will wait so please come often.”

Yeon-gyeong said so and lowered her head. I didn’t know which part she was embarrassed about but I stroked her head.

“Don’t play around because I’m not around. I will leave Kelby behind so take good care of him.”

“Yes. I will think of him as party leader.”

“…… No, that’s a bit.”

Bark!

Kelby who was being hugged by her lightly barked at Yeon-gyeong.

The meeting ended with this. Should I say that it was unexpected among all expectations that Soo-ah who I had worried about the most accepted it calmly.

She didn’t seem to have much of a change even after the meeting ended.

“So where is seonbae oppa going to go?”

“New Alaska. I’m going to search the ruin in that place. It seems to be related to Delta after all.”

“It must be boring to go all the way there on your own.”

“I’m planning on taking Edward with me.”

“That guy?”

“He’s only a parasite if he’s in the house anyway. He’s useful to use as recon, useful to use as a night guard, he works as a morning call and also has uses for this and that.”

“Are you thinking of me as some kind of alarm clock?”

Edward who was chewing on potato chips on the sofa on the other side grumbled.

“Now that I think about it, you seem to have gained some weight recently.”

“What are you talking about? Vampires don’t gain weight.”

“No. Really. There’s a scale so should we try?”

“I don’t need it.”

He said so and took a long sip of the cola in one hand. He seemed to have gotten into junk food even though he doesn’t need to eat. Then again, he does need to stay in the house all day so he wouldn’t have any pleasure of living otherwise.

Even so, I don’t think a fat vampire is right. I’ve never heard of such a thing.

“What are you all doing! We gathered for the first time in a while so we should have a drink no?”

Manager Kim charged into the living room and called us.

***

“Ueegh!”

“Hey…….”

I patted the back of Soo-ah who was throwing up everything she had eaten.

Normally, the opposite scene was natural normally. I died first and this girl would get me to my house after all.

How much did she eat?

Looking around, there was almost no human that was sitting properly alive.

The one that could be called relatively okay was only Yeon-gyeong. She was nodding off with Kelby on her lap though.

Sway.

Thump.

Cancel that.

I put Yeon-gyeong who was lying on a long wooden chair in her room. I had left the room when Soo-ah was right in front of me after coming back at some point.

“Do you feel okay now?”

“I’m not going to go.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m not going to follow after seonbae oppa.”

“I never told you to follow after me though. I’m only going to take Edward in the first place and if you’re gone then team 1 doesn’t have any melee attackers.”

“That’s right. That’s why I’m not going. Seonbae oppa told me to follow but since team 1 needs me…….”

What is she saying?

I think the gibberish has long passed overdoing it.