Chapter 37: Proposal (2)

Proposal (2)

“First of all, I will not ask you how you learned about the Busan Crack.”

The attack on the Busan crack does not even have an established schedule yet within the Sabangshin Guild. A lot of members do not even know about such crack; only members of the tactical squad that would be deployed have been briefed.

However, Kim Hyun-soo had already given up understanding the cadet in front of him. All things considered, he knew that the cadet was extraordinary just by the fact that he was maintaining a relationship with Han Yeon-soo.

Probably, he had the means to obtain critical insider information from the three major guilds.

“But I need to know, do you have detailed information about the Busan Crack?”

“To some extent.”

“Are you hiding your true awakener abilities?”

“I have not revealed all of them, but I can’t say that I am hiding them.”

Kim Hyun-soo frowned slightly. Jeong Si-woo has shown an outstanding performance during the examination process, far exceeding the level of a cadet.

But was it enough to fit in with Sabangshin at this point?

No, he thought. Jeong Si-woo was not at that level yet.

“I cannot accept your proposal,” he shook his head.

He didn’t want to put promising young players at the risk of getting killed; he didn’t want to cause a distraction in the perfectly coordinated Sabangshin attack.

He made that decision as an active hunter, and as a deputy guild leader.

“Well, that’s fine.”

Surprisingly, even after being rejected, Jeong Si-woo nodded calmly.

Did he know that it was such an absurd proposal when he offered it?

A cadet with such foresight wouldn’t have made a blind offer and intervene with an organized attack.

“What would be the minimum requirement to join the raid?”

It seemed that Jeong Si-woo was not giving up. His expression seemed to say that he could satisfy any condition.

“First of all, you must fit in with the Sabangshin raid style. No matter how good a hunter is, if he was not a fit with the established team dynamics, it would be impossible.”

“…”

“In high-level crack attacks, the hunters are not measured as solo mercenaries. It’s the sum of the team that matters. Of course, one must be able to survive alone in a third-class crack and should have the level of skills that will be recognized by active second-class hunters. That should be the minimum expectation.”

The ability to survive alone in a third-class crack, and to be recognized by second-class hunters.

The conditions were ridiculous. To be recognized by second-class hunters would require someone to be at their level, or on the verge of being promoted to first-class.

The condition that Kim Hyun-soo gave him was a specification that was comparable to the conditions of being a team leader in Sabangshin. He wanted to give an incredible requirement to make Jeong Si-woo comprehend that he was being rejected for the mission.

However, even after hearing those words, Jeong Si-woo did not back down.

“I see… To survive alone in a third-class crack… skills that could be recognized by active second-class hunters. The former is a little difficult, but with the remaining time of three weeks…”

“Cadet Jeong Si-woo?”

“Huh? Ah, yes, sorry. I have a habit of talking to myself.”

What did I just hear? Kim Hyun-soo swallowed his saliva unconsciously. Jeong Si-woo looked as if the absurd conditions he just said were worth trying.

“Then, let’s stop talking about this for now,” Jeong Si-woo smiled, “and let’s get to the main point you wanted to discuss.”

“Ah… oh, yes. As I said earlier, I wanted to discuss the contract. As you know, Sabangshin is among the top 3 guilds globally…”

Kim Hyun-soo began to make his pitch.

It was a sight to behold. If any member of the Sabangshin guild watched it, they would be stunned to see a first-class hunter being dragged back and forth by a cadet.

* * *

I knew it.

As expected, Kim Hyun-soo declined the offer. However, it was not final. He just tried to make it so by putting such enormous conditions to discourage me.

First of all, passing the hunter exam will be my priority.

I had three weeks left. To prevent the second disaster, I have to participate in that raid, and for that, I had to qualify first.

The Association’s Hunter Examination was in a week’s time.

The deadline was close.

These are the tasks that I had to accomplish.

First, prepare for the exam and obtain a formal license.

Then, survive alone in a third-class crack.

Doing so, an incredible feat for a rookie, it would draw attention around the world and would allow me to be recognized even by second-class hunters.

If anyone knew my thoughts, they would be laughing at me, saying that it was a nonsense plan.

However, I am serious.

It is a plan that makes sense and is worth trying.

Now, my level is… without Link, an average third-class hunter.

With Link, I would be between the upper third-class to mid-second-class.

If I exhaust all my means, I would be able to exceed Instructor Park Hyun-seok, who was a famous second-class hunter before he retired.

I need to grow more.

Even though I have grown rapidly, it was still not enough to meet my standards.

In fact, the ‘warriors’ that I had trained grew at a much superior rate than mine.

But first, the hunter examination…

I didn’t think I need to prepare much for it.

When I became the chief analyst of the country, I made the questions for the exam.

As I filled out the hunter examination application form, the Traveler spoke to me.

[Your plan is so grandiose. I am excited to see you grow.]

Don’t make it sound so noble. I’m cheating right now.

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[Ha ha ha ha ha.]

Then-

“You bastard, why are you applying for this?”

I turned around and saw Kim Hyun-tae, holding an application form in his hands. He looked angry that the new kid, the one who skipped a year, was taking the hunter test with him, who went through the whole three years in Hwayeon.

“Well, you’re doing it, too,” I replied.

“… I have a lot to contribute to the field.”

He was trying to look strong but ended up being completely funny.

I laughed and completed my application.

I took out the hunter exam preparation materials from my bag and started to review the answer key.

It was too easy.

Maybe later, I thought, I would make the questions for this exam again.

The quality of the current examination seemed to be too low.

* * *

“I have always looked forward to your growth. One day, you would become a top hunter in Korea, or even in the world…”

“Would you consider signing a contract with our guild? We will support you as much as possible. The same treatment that first-class hunters get…”

“I know it won’t be much for your level, honey… Be careful, though. Something unexpected may come out. I don’t want you to get hurt…”

“Wow, are you really taking the exam already? Awesome! Me, I’ll take it right after graduating. That would be a year from now… our difference would be too big by then.”

“Are you really taking the examination already? It’s amazing.”

One week. I had several visitors during that time.

Prof. Lim Seong-Hyun, a third-class guild representative whom I didn’t catch the name, Han Yeon-soo, Yoo Ji-yeon, and Seong Hyun-woo spoke to me.

The seven days I had before the exam passed quickly.

Everyone thought that I had been preparing for the examination.

No one knew I already applied and was just waiting for the examination date.

Oh, except Kim Hyun-tae, of course.

I had mixed emotions.

In my previous life, I didn’t take the hunter exam.

When I topped the analyst exam, I was congratulated, but I didn’t feel happy.

On the day of the hunter’s examination, I watched those who were taking it, and I felt jealous.

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I wanted to be in the front lines. I don’t want to watch my colleagues dying while I sit in a safe and comfortable room. I wanted to fight and risk my life next to them. I wanted to kill all the damn monsters and smash the cracks they came from.

It took a long time for those feelings in my heart to fade away.

Now, I have the chance to do it myself.

The past will never be repeated again.

I raised my head towards a photograph by the window.

Mom and Dad.

It was the last trace they left in the world.

There were scratches here and there, and the corners of the old faded photograph had bloodstains.

-Si-woo, run! Mom and Dad will be fine…

-Ah ah ahhh!

-Help! Help me… Ugh…

It was all still vivid in my head. It never goes away. It was like a video that plays when I close my eyes.

Long, ugly toes with sharp claws.

Human flesh all around me, blood that filled the living room.

The sticky saliva dripping from a monster’s mouth to the floor.

The strong scent of blood that mixed with the smell of kimchi Mom prepared for dinner.

The screams that echoed from all sides. The awful sound of bones breaking.

The cockroaches that crawled on me as I hid under the bed.

The eyes of a reptile-like monster staring at me.

And…

-Are you okay?

The face of the hero who destroyed it and saved me.

“…”

I closed my eyes. My parents were smiling brightly in the photograph.

Only

“Mom, Dad.”

The sadness is overwhelming. My nose is sore, and my throat is hot.

However, no tears came out. It had long dried up.

“Now, I’m going to save kids like me. They will not lose their parents. They will not hide under their beds.”

I saw my younger self in the photograph, making a funny expression.

“This time, I will make sure of it.”

I took a deep breath and stepped out of the room.

Three hours left before the hunter examination.

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