LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 11: S-Class Hunter (2)
“…Hyung, do you know Hunter Kang Chang-ho?”
Well, who knows?
Maybe he knows Kim Gi-ryeo, but honestly, the chances are low. I decided to stay silent for now.
Yet, the gaze of the S-Class Hunter was fixed on me. Did he think I couldn’t look him in the eye?
As I tried to gather my courage, I examined the approaching Hunter, and as he got closer, some details I had missed before began to catch my eye.
Wow, are we the same species?
He stood around 190 cm tall.
His sharp eyes were so intense they almost revealed the crimson aura within. Even his nose had a distinct curve.
It was pretty exotic; it was clear he was mixed-race, but there was something more important to note.
It was those elongated pupils.
“Your eyes are unique.”
“Those must be the Dragon’s Eye. They say it’s a really rare item.”
While whispering with Yoon Seung-ah, before I knew it, the S-Class Hunter was right in front of us.
I looked up at Kang Chang-ho, who stood before me, and he was the first to speak.
“Hello.”
Such a strong entrance, yet the beginning was rather ordinary.
“Your name?”
“What?”
“Your name.”
This Hunter, having just met me, was bluntly asking for my name.
“Kim Gi-ryeo.”
It wasn’t a difficult question, so I answered.
“What’s your Hunter grade?”
Clearly unsatisfied with just a name, he immediately shot out the next question, prompting Ahn Yoon-seung to jump in between us.
“Ah, hello! Hunter Kang Chang-ho, this person is my helper, but is there a problem…?”
However, Kang Chang-ho seemed to only spare Ahn Yoon-seung a two-second glance.
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
His response was chilling.
He ignored an A-Class Awakened and focused back on me, asking again about my Hunter grade. Well, this wasn’t going to hurt me to say.
“F-Class.”
“Is that so?”
I answered willingly. But the response I got was ridiculous.
“Really?”
Kang Chang-ho raised an eyebrow mockingly.
Beside me, Ahn Yoon-seung was sweating bullets on my behalf.
But honestly, I felt the situation was straightforward. After all, it was clear this S-Class had exceptional magic handling ability.
He probably recognized the magic power inherent in Kim Gi-ryeo’s body.
The lung was merely an output organ.
Just because the respiratory system was damaged didn’t mean the total amount of mana in the body decreased.
An astute sorcerer could likely sense the faint signals leaking from the injured lung to gauge the other’s capacity.
“If you don’t believe me, I can show you my Hunter card?”
I thought to myself to try not to sound like an alien and instead kept my tone as normal as possible.
Yet, Kang Chang-ho smiled slightly.
“An F-Class Awakened looking me straight in the eye.”
Oh right, I remember.
Yoon-seung had mentioned he gets chills around S-Classes. So, F-Classes…
Huh? Do they usually not even lift their heads?
“Kim Gi-ryeo Hunter, if it’s alright…”
I got lost in thought for a moment, while Kang Chang-ho seemed like he wanted to propose something.
But then it happened.
“Gi… Gi-ryeo hyung! It’s time!”
“Huh?”
“We were just supposed to take a quick look. Shouldn’t we leave soon? If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late for our appointment…”
Ahn Yoon-seung interrupted Kang Chang-ho.
It was one thing to cut in, but what did he mean by being late for an appointment?
Wasn’t today’s plan just to check out this Gate?
I was puzzled for a moment, but soon the intent became clear.
For some reason, Ahn Yoon-seung seemed eager to get me away from Kang Chang-ho.
“Hyung! Let’s go!”
Looking at his expression, he seemed quite anxious.
To be honest, I didn’t want to leave such a rare opportunity to see an S-Class Hunter, but I ultimately went along with it.
“Right. Thanks for reminding me. I almost forgot I was busy.”
Then, Ahn Yoon-seung immediately grabbed me and hurriedly led me away from the area.
Kang Chang-ho quietly watched us. He didn’t seem to follow.
By the time we had run far from the Gate,
“Yoon-seung, why’d you do that just now?”
That was my first question.
Ahn Yoon-seung pressed his temples.
“Hyung, do you genuinely not know who Kang Chang-ho Hunter is? Were you overseas recently?”
“Well, I was away for a bit…”
Not knowing the situation, I felt a bit anxious, but I soon learned all the details.
“I didn’t want to say, but that Hunter… rumors are not good.”
“Rumors?”
“He has a record of assault.”
“…!”
“And nobody wants to go into a Gate with an S-Class criminal. Usually.”
So, Ahn Yoon-seung said he’d intended to give up on the Gate as soon as Kang Chang-ho appeared. He continued his explanation.
“Plus, even if you want to be lenient and say the record is old, his recent image is still…”
“What about it?”
“Do you know Hunter Choi Jin?”
“I don’t.”
“She’s the 3rd ranked A-Class Hunter. I occasionally meet her since she’s my cousin.”
Hmm.
For once, Ahn Yoon-seung frowned, making a sound of discomfort.
“Her story was that she was attacked after entering a Gate with Kang Chang-ho.”
It wouldn’t be surprising for violence to occur in a lawless area like a Gate, but the problem was that it was initiated by an S-Class.
“I heard he doesn’t look at weaker Hunters and only picks fights with strong Awakened.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Who knows? Why do you think?”
At last, he let out a deep sigh.
“Anyway, this isn’t just a rumor; it’s something a relative told me. I’m worried you might get involved and something bad could happen…”
After hearing all of that, I finally understood his behavior.
So, that crazy S-Class was trying to remove me from a potential mess?
“I got the gist.”
Such a thoughtful mammal.
I patted Yoon-seung on the shoulder.
“Then let’s call it a day for now.”
If such a dangerous Hunter was present in a new Gate, there was no way I would risk my life going in together.
“I can check out the rare plants later. If needed, I can just buy them.”
“Okay.”
Just as I was about to wrap up today’s plans,
I suddenly called out to Yoon-seung, who was about to head home.
“Wait a minute, Yoon-seung.”
“Yeah?”
“You mentioned earlier that the Dragon’s Eye was an item, right? If it’s an item, does that mean it can be bought and sold, like the shield you use?”
Yoon-seung nodded.
“They say it initially appears as a small orb. When used, I think you swallow it or something.”
If that’s the case, it means I might be able to obtain fresh organs through trade.
Ah, of course! Lungs are delicate organs, so I’d need a living one.
I’m a genius Mage, not a mad scientist.
I have no intention of committing unethical acts like extracting lungs from the living, but if they’re on sale…
“Yoon-seung, do you have a Dragon’s Lung?”
Does he even know how crucial this is for me?
“I do.”
“Where can I buy it? Is there any available for sale?”
“Um, let me check on that right now. Just a moment.”
Tap, tap, tap.
Ahn Yoon-seung took out his mobile phone and began searching diligently. Then he looked up.
“I can only see transaction records; it seems there aren’t any items currently on the market.”
Damn it.
“But lungs are not popular body parts, so they might come up sometime?”
“Why aren’t they popular?”
“Unlike eyes or hearts, they don’t enhance magic power. The liver can make medicine, but the lungs are said to have no real effects…”
They’re garbage items that Hunters undervalue.
“Can you look up the market price? You just said you had transaction records.”
This could work in my favor. I could get the lungs for cheap.
I waited eagerly for Yoon-seung’s response, trying to hide my excitement.
“2.6 billion.”
“Ah, okay. 2.6… what now?”
But if I’d known this response would come…
“It seems like the market price is about 2.6 billion. Wow, that’s cheap! You can’t even buy other body parts with money!”
I should have never asked in the first place.
*
The day after that incident.
I turned on my mobile phone to verify the story I heard yesterday.
[S-Class Hunter’s Shocking Criminal Record… “One-year Sentence for Assaulting a Driver”]
[Kang Chang-ho, Low-value Stock Sale Controversy]
However, when I looked up, the actions of this Kang Chang-ho were more extravagant than I imagined.
Before becoming a Hunter, Kang Chang-ho lived the life of a rich kid, the only son of a conglomerate.
Then one day, he ended up in prison for special assault.
It’s expected for someone who breaks the law to get imprisoned, but Korea has some peculiar cultural nuances…
Rich people tend to hire good lawyers and brush things under the rug, so the fact that he received a prison sentence is significant.
Anyway, the Internet is loaded with testimonies about Kang Chang-ho frequently beating people up.
But even that would be merely a side note compared to the scandal that followed.
“Hmmm.”
Years ago, during a Dungeon Break, his parents died…
And Kang Chang-ho reportedly sold all the shares he inherited right after the accident, essentially selling off his family’s company.
People murmured that he probably committed such a cruel act over money.
His awakening time remains unclear.
“That’s interesting.”
But the problem is, my goal is to acquire accurate information.
For an outsider like me, vague and scandalous rumors are the worst poison imaginable.
“Well, rumors are rumors.”
For now, I decided to forget all the extra information aside from the formal news articles.
After turning off my phone, I stepped outside.
“Ah~ I’m hungry.”
Today, I planned to visit a restaurant I had scouted in advance.
You gotta enjoy life. This is all about making a living.
“Taxi!”
As soon as I hit the main road, I flagged down a taxi that stood out.
“Driver! To the ○○ Noodle House, please.”
“Yes~”
Then, leaning back in the back seat, I read a review about the restaurant one more time.
Since it’s hard to eat hot food, I was looking forward to trying the sweet and sour pork they recommended…
Creeeak, bang!
“Ugh!”
But suddenly, with the driver’s scream, the car shook violently.
The previously smooth taxi collided with something, spinning half a turn, and I couldn’t hold against the acceleration, hitting my face against the passenger seat’s headrest.
“AAAH!”
A sharp pain shot through my nose, sending adrenaline coursing through me.
What on earth just happened?
“What the hell is that! Ugh, are you hurt?”
“Uh, maybe…”
“Let’s get out for now.”
In a daze, the taxi driver quickly exited from his seat.
I followed him outside, and to my shock, a red sports car had crashed into us.
“Hey, man! Did you drink all afternoon? You have to drive properly!”
A moment later, a relaxed man emerged from the driver’s seat of the convertible.
Bright indigo hair and dark sunglasses…
“Sorry about that. It’s been a while since I drove, so I mixed up the accelerator and the brake.”
The taxi driver might have been at a loss, but I already knew who this person was.
“Hello, Kim Gi-ryeo F-Class Hunter.”
Kang Chang-ho closed the driver’s door and walked towards me.
He halted in front of me, offering his phone and saying:
“I’d like to settle this. Can you give me your contact information?”
Is this guy crazy?