Chapter 53
The gallery, where the Admin (Real) was supporting the Hunters’ battles, suddenly plunged into chaos.
A Bureau agent rolled across the ground, Lycan and Cyclops swiftly approached, targeting the evacuating civilians.
And to make matters worse, Balrog descended from the sky.
Faced with this situation, the “Admin” thought to himself.
To be perfectly honest…
S***! This is doomed!!
This is way beyond my expectations! How could anyone predict this?
“Haa…”
A sigh naturally escaped.
The woman rolling on the ground was clearly the elite Bureau agent responsible for aerial combat.
To think she rolled all the way here.
The orangutan in my head spoke. So what now? How would I know?
This is a whole different level compared to taking down goblins.
Should I pick up a stone? Yeah, let’s pick up a stone. No, wait! I should try using C-rank equipment myself!
But… would my body in this world, comparable to a C-rank Awakened, move as I intended?
I don’t even have combat skills.
Even if I know their weaknesses, it’s useless if I can’t exploit them…
But wait… since when did I start considering things like this?
“Ah… no…”
“I don’t want to die here…”
“Kid, close your eyes!”
As the civilians screamed, my feet reacted instinctively.
My legs moved on their own, leading me forward.
“When have I ever fought knowing I’d win?”
I only bragged about being a former hero.
I’d forgotten why I was called a hero. Was it because I was too strong? No.
I became a hero the moment I decided to protect someone.
I’m more aware than anyone else that I can’t handle those monsters in my current state. But.
It’s like knowing you’ll be exposed to radiation but still clicking on Cass images to view and delete them.
Heroes are meant to fight, even knowing they might die.
Before I knew it, I’d turned my back to the civilians and was facing the A-rank monster, Cyclops.
“I never imagined it would come to this.”
Now, I need to become the “Hero.”
In my left hand was Korea’s traditional, enduring weapon—a stone.
Don’t assume its eye is the weak point just because it’s one-eyed.
Its crotch is a much more fatal weakness.
It’s too late to activate the barrier generator. I’ll dodge once! Then aim for the weak point.
But.
ROOOOAAAARR!!!
Balrog, who must have approached me at some point, let out a battle cry.
Chomp, chomp!
Cyclops smacked its lips, eyeing me.
Growl!
Lycan bared its ravenous teeth.
This is terrifying. Damn it.
Three is a bit much. Anyway.
“Your opponent is me.”
Not the civilians, you bastards.
On the contrary, this might be good. Dying valiantly while facing three A-rank monsters would be epic.
If I die, who’ll become the next Admin worthy of the role?
What was that cool hero line again? Ah, this one sounds good.
“Move. If you don’t want to die.”
Valkkyaaahhhh!!!
“Huh…? Move—”
Sakkiyaaaahhhh!!!
“Don’t want to di—”
Rakkiyaaaahhhh!!!
“…”
They scurried away…
***
Park Seo-yoon thought to herself.
That red-haired man… was he a Hunter…?
No. More importantly, what just happened? What in the world did I just witness?
When he met their gaze, the three A-rank monsters screamed and fled.
This is a skill unheard of before.
Awakened Ones can sense each other’s mana.
The greater the disparity in power, the harder it is to sense the opponent’s mana.
A D-rank Awakened can’t possibly sense an A-rank Awakened’s mana.
But I couldn’t sense any mana from this man.
Then, what level is this red-haired Hunter? His level feels incomprehensible.
Cyclops, who was waddling away, turned back to confirm the man once more.
Sakkiyaaaahhhh!!!
Balrog, who was about to flap its wings, instead planted its head on the ground, seemingly resigned.
Lycan fled so quickly it became a mere speck in the distance.
That terrifying Balrog knelt down, rubbing its hands together, pleading for mercy before the red-haired Hunter.
While Park Seo-yoon was utterly shocked…
The monsters were equally so.
The reason for their flight can be summarized in one word.
PTSD.
Let’s take a look inside Cyclops’s mind.
On that fateful day, Cyclops was sleeping soundly with his one precious eye tightly shut.
When he opened his eye, the western wall of the Demon King’s castle had completely vanished.
The surrounding area was engulfed in flames, a mere bonus.
Through the flames, he appeared. The Hero.
“Move. If you don’t want to die.”
Cyclops moved and thus became the sole survivor of the western wall.
He still has nightmares about it. What if he hadn’t moved?
But why is that Hero here now? Why? Just why?
Suddenly, his breathing quickened. His heart pounded as if it would burst—or rather, stop entirely.
Sakkiyaaaahhhh…
Cyclops succumbed to a heart attack from PTSD. He was 236 years old.
What about Balrog?
Before becoming a mid-tier demon, he was a scout.
One day, a man appeared.
It was the Hero. When the Hero flicked his forehead, the western wall vanished. Balrog thought.
Danger! Report this immediately! He flapped his wings twice to turn around.
But by then, the Hero had already obliterated half the Demon King’s castle.
That’s why Balrog was now groveling before the red-haired Hunter, begging for forgiveness.
And as for Lycan, the poster child for furry cuteness? You can probably guess.
Anyway, back to Park Seo-yoon.
Cyclops, who had cornered the Hunters, suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed to the ground.
She realized.
The red-haired Hunter had killed Cyclops without lifting a finger.
He had made Balrog kneel and sent Lycan fleeing.
How could someone like this have remained hidden all this time?
No, with his level, he must have been capable of concealing himself entirely. No one could have sensed his existence.
“Someone that powerful… really exists.”
She realized how far she still had to go. How truly arrogant she had been.
She stood there, utterly shocked, her mouth agape.
Pop! Pop!
Suddenly, someone began running forward.
“Guildmaster Timothy…!”
Slash!
Timothy’s blade swung toward Balrog’s neck, who was frozen in panic.
Roaaaarrrr!!! … Thud…
For a moment, there was a flash of light, and Balrog fell to the ground, split cleanly in two.
Finally, the cheers of the Hunters began to echo.
“Follow Timothy!”
“Protect Yongin!”
“Handful Squad! Handful Squad!”
The Hunters hadn’t retreated after all.
They had only needed a moment to regroup. Now, they were rushing forward to protect the civilians.
The red-haired Hunter stood silently.
It was as if he was saying that now that he had done this much, finishing off the remaining Lycan was up to them.
Park Seo-yoon staggered as she pulled herself up.
***
Instructor Gorg was heading to assist after hearing about the A-rank Gate opening, bringing along a group of rookies.
Clearly, this was not a place suitable for rookies or himself.
The rookies were trembling with fear.
It seemed like he needed to reassure them.
“Rookies! Don’t worry too much! We’ll be stationed at the rear, evacuating civilians!”
“Yes, Instructor Gorg!”
“Evacuating civilians is part of your training! If things get dangerous, I’ll handle it myself, so don’t worry!”
“You’re amazing, Instructor Gorg!”
“Instructor! Look over there!”
One rookie shouted in a relaxed voice, filled with excitement.
To think they’d loosen up so quickly after just one reassurance! Time to set them straight.
“Rookie! This is a real battle! I didn’t tell you to completely let your guard down!”
“It’s the red-haired Hunter from before!”
What? The red-haired Hunter…?
Instructor Gorg still remembered that day.
The day the red-haired Hunter casually threw a rock to kill a goblin.
The day Gorg mistakenly believed he was some hidden master.
In reality, the Hunter was just a novice, but Gorg had praised him in front of the rookies to save face.
And now, the red-haired Hunter was in front of him again.
No. No way.
Gorg squeezed his eyes shut and prayed he wouldn’t draw attention.
“It’s really him! The red-haired Hunter! And he’s holding a rock again, just like last time!”
Another rookie shouted.
No! Please don’t attract attention!
That guy is just a nobody! He doesn’t even know “that” skill! He just threw the rock, that’s all!
“That red-haired Hunter… took down Cyclops….”
“Killed an A-rank monster…?”
What?
Gorg slowly opened his eyes.
The rookies were right. Cyclops was lying dead, and the red-haired Hunter stood tall in front of it.
“That red-haired Hunter must’ve used ‘that’ skill with the rock! He didn’t just throw it last time!”
A rookie exclaimed, thrilled. This kid still doubted me!
“He must have suppressed Balrog with Fear Aura!”
Another rookie replied.
C-Could that be true?
Gorg studied the red-haired Hunter closely.
But that guy’s legs were shaking ever so slightly, just like the rookies’. He was scared!
There were no traces of “that” skill being used. He was simply holding a rock.
As I thought… that guy really is nothing.
“Of course! Instructor Gorg’s eye for talent is unmatched!”
The rookies exclaimed as the civilians began approaching one by one.
“You knew that Hunter was this strong all along?”
Uh… no, that’s not it. That guy’s just a novice.
“That Hunter saved us!”
“Oh? Come to think of it, isn’t that Instructor Gorg?”
“See! Instructor Gorg always has an eye for talent! I heard he trains rookies so well too!”
“Everyone! Let me introduce Instructor Gorg, who recognized the true worth of the red-haired Hunter from the start!”
“Instructor Gorg is the best!”
The rookies shouted to the civilians.
No. Damn it. Stop it. Please.
“Instructor Gorg! I’m Park from Hunter Daily! Before interviewing the red-haired Hunter, can I ask you some questions?”
“Huh…?”
“What is the red-haired Hunter’s ability? Please explain in a way even non-Awakened can understand how incredible he is!”
Gorg’s eyes flickered briefly before his expression turned serious.
His eyes now carried a deep wisdom, and his voice took on a weightier tone.
“…The Hunter’s ability is Fear Aura. And yes, he can use ‘that’ skill.”
“!!!!”
“I’m from Close Hunt magazine! Instructor, one question!”
Thus, the butterfly effect created by Instructor Gorg began to grow rapidly.
***
Cyclops clutched its chest and collapsed, and Timothy suddenly appeared to cleanly sever Balrog’s neck.
“It’s dead!”
“They’ve hunted Lycan!”
“Unite and fight together!”
“We’ve always been allies!”
From afar, the Hunters’ victorious cheers could be heard. It seemed Lycan had been hunted down.
Silence fell over the surroundings. The civilians began to understand the situation.
And they realized.
It was over. Once again, they had overcome a crisis.
The civilians, who had been frozen in tension, began moving toward one person.
“He… saved us….”
“If it weren’t for him…! We’d all be dead…!”
It was the red-haired Hunter.
“Thank you… Hunter….”
“Truly, thank you…. I don’t know how to repay you….”
“You’re a hero….”
The civilians surrounded the red-haired Hunter, expressing their gratitude.
“The heroes are the other Hunters and agents.”
He replied.
“Kyaaa!”
“He’s so strong and handsome! And humble too!”
“Where can you find someone this perfect?!”
“Excuse me… Hunter… just a personal question… where do you live?”
The civilians erupted into cheers, causing a commotion.
But the Admin stood alone, sulking.
The monsters ran away just by looking at his face….
Does that mean my… my face is ugly?
Suddenly, memories from before he became a Hero resurfaced.
“Wow… this guy’s face is hideous.”
“Why is he so ugly?”
“You might as well get reborn, dude.”
After becoming a Hero, he hadn’t heard such things anymore.
The Admin was suddenly overwhelmed with PTSD.
“No… no way…. That can’t be true…. I’m not ugly anymore! Aaahhh!”
He was… a little depressed. Maybe a lot.
—
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