TOP 25

Chapter 25

 First Experience

After the battle ended.

Jihyeon-woong had completely subdued the remaining members of the Gwangcheol faction.

It wasn’t a difficult task.

“Damn it.”

“What’s this, resistance?”

“…No!”

Although the men showed dissatisfied expressions, they obediently followed his control.

They knew that once the tide had turned, any rebellion would only lead to certain death.

Then, Jihyeon-woong gave orders.

“Advance directly to the Gwangcheol faction.”

He intended to storm the Gwangcheol Guild headquarters.

The battle had been won, but the war was not yet over.

To end the war neatly, they needed to seize the enemy’s main base.

“Ugh, I’m dead tired.”

“Ughhh! I want to rest!”

The Hyunwoong faction hunters groaned.

But even they quietly carried out their duties, a faint smile on their faces.

‘Better this than everyone dying.’

They understood this as well.

The exhaustion they felt now was the kind that could only be experienced by those who had survived.

“Everyone, hang in there! Once this is over, I’ll make sure you get a proper rest!”

“Yes, sir!”

Encouraged by Jihyeon-woong’s words, the hunters gathered their strength.

‘Yeah. This is only possible because they’ve always done well.’

A deep trust between them was evident.

Then,

“Don’t move!”

“Al-already…!”

“Those who resist will die. Drop all your weapons!”

“Ugh.”

Jihyeon-woong stormed the Gwangcheol faction and took control.

He suppressed the minor resistance from hunters remaining at the headquarters and occupied all major facilities, including the equipment storage and recovery rooms.

“Who…ugh.”

“Long time no see, Team Leader Yong Taesu.”

“You…!”

“Subdue him.”

Amidst this, Jihyeon-woong also encountered Yong Taesu, who was still recovering from his injuries.

Since his injuries hadn’t healed properly, he couldn’t put up much of a fight.

Being a 4-star hunter, if he had resisted, it might have been troublesome—but fortunately, he didn’t.

And with Gwangcheol faction’s quartermaster, Lee Sehan, suffering a bit of bloody revenge…

“Deputy Team Leader Yoojin.”

“Yes?”

“You need to come here immediately.”

A call came from Jihyeon-woong, heading to the office of a high-ranking Gwangcheol official.

His voice was very serious.

Curious, I went there.

“…What happened to Ma Gwangjin?”

“He ran away.”

“Hmmm…”

Ma Gwangjin, head of the Gwangcheol personnel team.

He was someone who had clashed with me in many ways before leaving the Gwangcheol faction.

But now, he had escaped.

“Why aren’t you chasing him immediately?”

It was obvious that letting him go would cause trouble.

He had been a high-ranking official and Ma Gwangcheol’s brother.

He wouldn’t choose a quiet life, so he would surely attack us at some point.

“That’s exactly why I called you.”

“Do you know where he went?”

“…Actually, he left that for us to find out.”

“Then isn’t that enough? Why aren’t we going immediately?”

I didn’t understand Jihyeon-woong’s approach at first.

But then he said…

“He asked you to come alone.”

“Huh?”

“…He’s in the slums.”

“…….”

“At the Peace Supermarket there.”

“Damn.”

I understood instantly and jumped out the window.

Thud!

Falling from the seventh floor made my body feel strained for a moment.

Still, it was bearable.

‘This is faster.’

There was no time to leisurely descend the stairs.

After quickly absorbing the impact, I sprinted toward the slums.

【Yoojin? Why all of a sudden…?】

“Wait. Let me think.”

Frill asked, surprised by my sudden actions, but I didn’t have time to answer leisurely.

I needed to organize my thoughts while moving quickly.

First, where Ma Gwangjin went.

The Peace Supermarket in the slums.

The purpose was obvious.

‘Grandpa Kim Pyeong.’

The Peace Supermarket was where Grandpa Kim Pyeong, my benefactor, was.

Currently, one of the few people truly precious to me.

‘I don’t know how he found out…’

Probably planning a hostage situation or something similar.

Even if Ma Gwangjin was just a 1-star hunter, an elderly civilian would have no chance against him.

“Phew.”

I continued forward quickly, cooling my heated mind.

I tried to remain calm.

In situations like this, reacting emotionally only lets the opponent control you.

I had to act rationally.

Once my mind cooled…

‘It might not be as serious as I thought.’

Perhaps the situation wasn’t as bad.

First, Ma Gwangjin was only a 1-star hunter.

His strength would be comparable to a moderately fit civilian.

I didn’t know of any special physical training, so his combat ability was probably poor.

And…

‘Grandpa has Kim Anbin with him.’

The grandson of Grandpa Kim whom I had “awakened” before, Kim Anbin.

He was a 2-star hunter.

Of course…

‘But we can’t expect much from him in combat either.’

He was untrained and had only killed a single monster as a newbie.

But the important thing was that, in any case, I had enough strength to fight Ma Gwangjin.

‘Please do your part, Anbin.’

I hoped the situation there would be as positive as possible.

And…

‘If Grandpa really becomes a hostage and I face a choice…’

I imagined the worst-case scenario.

My life or Grandpa’s.

If I had to choose between the two…

‘…….’

My heart sank.

If that situation came, my choice would be…

<Peace Supermarket>.

I arrived.

From outside, there was no sign of anything unusual.

I cautiously opened the door and entered.

And…

“You’re here.”

“…Ma Gwangjin.”

I came face-to-face with Ma Gwangjin, holding a knife to Grandpa Kim Pyeong’s neck.

“Yoo…Yoojin!”

“Shut up, old man!”

“Ugh.”

Blood seeped out as the knife cut the neck.

“What do you want?”

I asked Ma Gwangjin while scanning the surroundings for Kim Anbin.

‘Anbin… over there.’

He was crouched behind Ma Gwangjin, groaning.

Judging by his condition, he had been beaten quite badly.

‘Foolish.’

Although he was likely stronger, the injuries suggested he had been beaten almost unilaterally.

He hadn’t even thought to resist.

‘Well, he’s only killed one goblin before.’

Realistically, there was nothing he could do, but it was disappointing.

If only he had resisted, Grandpa wouldn’t have been so easily captured.

Ma Gwangjin demanded:

“First, throw your sword here.”

“Sword?”

“You’ve probably obtained some sort of pocket space by now, right? Don’t play dumb.”

“…….”

I took out the Myeon-nyeon Seori Sword and threw it.

It was indeed a tempting sword.

“The ring too.”

I tossed the pocket space ring without complaint.

“If I see even a hint of you using a skill, this old man dies instantly. Understood?”

“…Understood.”

He remembered my previous trick using Frill to catch Yong Taesu off guard.

It seemed difficult for me to surprise him using Frill again.

“Then now.”

Ma Gwangjin rolled something like a small orb toward me.

Roll—

“Place your hand on it.”

“Is that enough?”

“Yes. Then the old man will be safely released.”

I stared at the orb.

‘What is this?’

A mysterious orb.

It definitely wasn’t ordinary.

As I hesitated, feeling an unfamiliar unease…

“Yoojin, no!”

“Old man. Stay still if you don’t want to die.”

“I’ll do it instead…!”

“Hah.”

Thud!

Grandpa Kim Pyeong tried to resist but was knocked out by Ma Gwangjin.

He slumped.

“Damn, this old man is troublesome. What are you waiting for? Put your hand on it.”

Ma Gwangjin urged again.

Instead of grabbing the orb, I asked him:

“Why are you doing this? Revenge?”

So far, I had obediently followed his orders, so delaying a bit was fine.

I needed to know his purpose.

It didn’t feel like simple revenge.

“Don’t you know whose sword you’re holding?”

“If you tell me, I’ll do as you say.”

After a moment of thought, Ma Gwangjin accepted my offer.

“Fine. I’ll make your choice easy.”

“……”

“That orb will copy your unique ability.”

“…Copy?”

“Yes. No harm will come to you. I have no intention of revenge. I only took a hostage just in case, but if you do as I say, the old man’s life is guaranteed.”

He spoke as if performing a generous act.

‘So that’s it.’

I hadn’t sensed any grudge from him.

Although his brother and sister had died at my hands and his cherished guild had been destroyed, his interest was only in his own success.

‘He thinks my unique ability is amazing.’

One day, a laborer awakened.

Upon awakening, he defeated 4-star hunter Yong Taesu brutally.

If he thought my unique ability was worth copying, he was mistaken.

‘He’s mistaken.’

My unique ability isn’t that great.

It only becomes overpowered in combination with the “One Punch” skill; otherwise, it’s nearly useless.

Of course,

‘I’ve figured everything out.’

I had no intention of following his instructions.

I gave him the sword and ring, but I had no plan to be manipulated by him.

Was there any guarantee he would keep his word?

None.

And what if this “copying” was actually “stealing”?

‘I can’t trust that it won’t harm me.’

So it was time to reveal my real plan.

“What are you waiting for? Put your hand on it! Let’s finish this and go our separate ways.”

I made a subtle move.

Bending as if to grab the orb…

‘Now!’

I signaled Frill.

—Waaahhh!

“What the hell?”

Instead of using a skill, Frill screamed loudly for everyone to hear.

If he reacted to a skill, he might stab the hostage, so we chose a completely unpredictable method.

Startled by the sudden shout, Ma Gwangjin reflexively looked back.

Thump!

I lunged forward from my bent position.

‘I’ll finish this in one blow.’

I extended my fist before he could react.

But…

“Ugh.”

Ma Gwangjin dodged my punch, hiding behind Grandpa Kim Pyeong.

However, he didn’t seem intent on killing the hostage.

Maybe he knew that if the hostage died, he would die too.

“Stop immediately! Damn it…!”

I didn’t stop.

I had already decided in advance what to do if I had to choose between my life and Grandpa’s.

‘If it’s absolutely unavoidable, my life comes first.’

A selfish conclusion.

But there was another conclusion before that.

‘I’ll catch both rabbits.’

I wouldn’t give up anything.

I would find a third, unpresented option.

“Damn it!”

Ma Gwangjin stabbed Grandpa Kim Pyeong in the chest.

Not life-threatening, but enough to show he could kill the hostage.

I paused.

Stopped my charge.

“Ha…haha. This bastard must have lost his mind. I’ll─”

Ka-bang!

Ma Gwangjin’s head twisted grotesquely and flew off as he laughed weakly.

“Foolish.”

Why I stopped?

Nothing special.

I just didn’t need to get closer.

“Huff! Huff! Haak!”

Thud.

Ma Gwangjin flew, and Grandpa Kim Pyeong collapsed to the floor.

Behind him, Kim Anbin stood, trembling and gasping.

His hands were clenched until the veins popped.

“Kim Anbin.”

“Y-Yoojin… I-I…”

He seemed shocked by his first experience of killing, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

I met his gaze calmly.

“Well done.”

“……”

Kim Anbin’s legs gave out, and he collapsed.