WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Arsène
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ How an A-Rank Hunter Lives ◈
Chapter 105: Famous Hunter Kim Geuk - [3]
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I was flustered by the unexpected situation, but only for a moment.
So the thing that was bound to happen someday had finally happened. Han Hee was far too frightened, so at least I needed to stay calm.
“Should we deal with the bodies first? I'll take care of it.”
Han Hee blinked at my words, then muttered softly.
“No, I can't let you...”
What did he mean, he couldn't let me?
Was he saying he couldn't drag me into a crime like this and cause me such ridiculous trouble? But he'd called me, someone who could use Spatial Teleportation, to this crime scene for help. He had to have wanted me to dispose of the bodies.
He wanted me to erase the evidence of the murders, but he apparently felt uncomfortable admitting out loud that he wanted me to become an accomplice. I understood that subtle bit of psychology.
I didn't criticize him for it. In a life-or-death situation, I could forgive someone for being cowardly without even knowing what they wanted.
Pretending not to hear him, I gathered the bodies in one place and used Spatial Teleportation with them.
I repeated the teleportation several times, choosing only places without people or CCTV cameras.
After arriving at a wooded hill around eleven kilometers away, I used the strength of an awakened person to dig a deep hole in an instant, then buried the bodies inside.
The five Special Forces members would now be listed as “missing.”
The good thing about being missing rather than dead was that nobody these days ever tried to find missing people. An investigation into a disappearance ended the moment it began.
They said that some awakened people could easily be identified as perpetrators of paranormal crimes through the presumption of guilt, while the reckless crimes of ordinary thugs who killed someone and roughly buried them in the hills behind town had become harder to uncover. There was a reason public safety had gone to hell.
After that, I stopped by a nearby store and bought a broom, dustpan, rags, bleach, and a bucket. I filled the bucket with tap water, then returned to the warehouse with the supplies.
When I teleported inside, Han Hee was still looking around in terror.
I handed him the broom and dustpan.
“Clean this up. Use your acceleration ability and do it as fast as you can.”
Then I spread out my mental net and searched the area. I watched for anyone approaching while also checking for anything nearby that looked like a CCTV camera.
Han Hee finished cleaning perfectly in only two minutes. He even diluted bleach and washed the floor. I couldn't say whether that would erase every trace of evidence, but it was better than doing nothing.
Either way, we'd done everything we could for now.
I put a hand on Han Hee's shoulder and used Spatial Teleportation.
After bringing him to my house, I made him a cup of cocoa.
“Drink this first and calm down.”
“Huh? Okay...”
Han Hee accepted the cocoa and began taking small sips, but his hands trembled so violently that it looked like he was using his acceleration ability. Cocoa spilled over his mouth and hands.
It took another ten minutes or so before Han Hee calmed down enough to talk to me.
“How did that happen? I can sort of imagine what happened, but...”
Just as I expected, his answer came back.
“When Behemoth attacked. Me getting involved then became a problem...”
“Damn, they found out about that too?”
“Yes... I was going to receive a pretty sizable reward for it this time, so the seniors must've wondered what I'd done to be getting so much more money than them. They dug into it again...”
“And after finding out what you did, they started bitching again? Saying Special Forces shouldn't be deployed to hunt Monsters and asking why you had to set a bad precedent?”
“That was it... They said I was trying to screw over the Special Forces, that I must feel superior if I hurt the organization over some pathetic hero complex...”
I frowned and rubbed my forehead. Those half-crazed idiots.
I had emphasized Park Juheon's contributions in the interview because I was worried this would happen. I hadn't even dared mention Han Hee's contributions. I had only given the National Security Ministry a detailed report so he could be rewarded separately.
And those Special Forces bastards had dug into it anyway, just to find something to complain about?
It seemed they hadn't stopped at complaints, either.
According to Han Hee, when they found out that he'd killed a Deathclaw during the Seoul Gate incident, they beat him all over. They had planned to do the same thing this time.
“Five seniors dragged me into an empty warehouse. They yelled at me to get down and hold a push-up position, like they were about to beat me properly. But this time, I felt like resisting...”
His body shook as he spoke, but he continued.
“...No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't take it this time. Honestly, I hadn't done anything worth getting cursed at for, but they cursed me anyway... I ignored their order and just stared at them. I guess that pissed them off. One of them tried to slap me...”
“Of course you should ignore an order like that. Then what?”
“I... I got angry. He was too slow for me to just stand there and take the slap. I dodged it and punched him once. The bastard I hit lost his teeth right away.”
“You did well. And then?”
“The rest saw that and got angry. They were about to swing their swords, sheaths and all, so I reflexively pulled my sword. Then, when I came to...”
As I listened in silence, Han Hee began shaking again.
“What am I supposed to do now...?”
I answered him.
“What do you mean, what? Just keep living the way you were.”
“How can I do that?”
“Why can't you? Don't worry so much. You only killed Deathclaws.”
“Deathclaws? What are you talking about...?”
“Yes, Deathclaws. Didn't you see my interview? Those Special Forces bastards acted just like Deathclaws...”
“I saw it! But they weren't really Deathclaws!”
Han Hee shouted, and I answered firmly.
“No. They were Deathclaws.”
Then I explained.
The Special Forces were vicious scum who executed awakened people on the spot without even giving them a chance to stand trial, calling them criminals. Unlike Park Juheon, who had devoted himself as a Hunter, the other Special Forces members had never killed a Monster to protect people. They were murderers who had only ever killed people.
Then I asked Han Hee, “What about you?” He had already killed Monsters and saved many people. With what he had accomplished during the Behemoth incident, hadn't he practically saved half of Seoul?
What moral problem was there with getting rid of bugs who tried to beat him as if all those acts of saving people were treason?
Of course, I didn't say that because I had some moral basis for it. I said it to lessen his guilt.
I didn't know whether my words had worked, but after hearing everything I had to say, Han Hee let out a small sigh and muttered.
“Even if Kim Geuk and I believe that, judges won't. The part about only killing Deathclaws...”
“Judges? Why, are you worried we'll get caught?”
“Honestly, yes...”
Then I said, “If the crime gets discovered, say I killed them.”
“Huh?”
“Say that bastard Kim Geuk killed them all. Isn't that an easy enough story? Want to get our stories straight beforehand? You called me because the Special Forces seniors were giving you hell and you were desperate for help.”
“No...”
“And Kim Geuk was already pissed because the Special Forces didn't show up during the Behemoth incident. So that bastard Kim Geuk with anger-management issues showed up in a flash with Spatial Teleportation when you called him, then killed all the Special Forces members without even being asked.”
“No... Kim Geuk...?”
“What, are you worried they won't believe even that? If they find the bodies, an autopsy might reveal that I didn't do it. But I hid them properly, so they're not likely to be found...”
“That's not it! Why would I be insane enough to pin what I did on you?”
Hearing the disbelief in Han Hee's voice, I waved a hand.
“It's fine. You can do that.”
“How is that fine?”
“If they ask me why I killed them, I'll say I thought they were Deathclaws.”
Han Hee still stared at me like he couldn't believe it.
I snickered and continued.
“So what if I killed them? They're not going to deploy police special forces, are they? Will the military line up a pile of mortars and bombard my house? Or will they mobilize the entire military and Special Forces for some huge operation until I collapse from exhaustion after teleporting around?”
I shrugged as I finished.
“Well, if the country really put its mind to it, it might be able to do that. But it won't. Even if it could, it'd be a pain in the ass and there'd be nothing to gain.”
“Are you really not worried at all?”
“Not really. The country's laws aren't laws of nature. They're literally like a dick. Even if you have one, you only pull it out when you're in the mood and leave it alone when you aren't. The law is the same.
“It isn't applied fairly to everyone. The country only swings it around when it feels like it. I don't think it'll put itself through all that trouble over five dead Special Forces dogs.”
I spoke with complete confidence. I showed no guilt, and I felt none inside, either.
Han Hee stared at me blankly, seemingly wondering how I could be this calm in a situation like this.
Honestly, even I was a little surprised by myself.
I had made terrorist threats against the country, and now I was helping dispose of human bodies while telling someone not to worry...
I was committing serious crimes I never could have imagined in the old world, yet I remained calm?
Was it because the influence of Terrorist Kim Geuk from my hallucinations had seeped into me, like it had during the incident at the police station? Or had I adapted to this changed world and begun acting however I wanted, only blaming all of it on the hallucinations?
At this point, I even thought it didn't matter which one it was.
Just like when I openly threatened the country in that interview, I didn't regret this either.
Because I knew nobody else would have stepped forward. I had only done what needed to be done for my own kind.
Han Hee pressed his lips together before suddenly asking, “Why are you helping me this much? It's not like there's anything I can do for you. You have far more money than I do, so I can't even offer you money in return...”
I answered him.
“We fought together with our lives on the line. We're comrades. Can't comrades do this much for each other?”
Then I bared my teeth in a grin, and Han Hee stared at me blankly again.
Only after a long while did he seem to come to his senses. He opened his mouth hesitantly.
“I'll never forget this... If there's ever anything you need me to do later, then definitely...”
“Forget it. You look like you're desperate to forget this ever happened.”
“Still...”
“If you really want to repay me... Are you going to stay in the Special Forces? You still have mandatory service time left, right?”
“Probably...?”
“Then if the Special Forces ever tries to screw me over, let me know beforehand. If orders come down telling you to join the other Special Forces members and kill me like last time, go easy on me. Got it?”
“Yes. I don't know if that day will ever come, but I definitely...”
“Fine, then relax. It's unfortunate that you'll have to keep serving in the Special Forces after going through this, but won't life be easier for you from now on?”
“Why...?”
“Special Forces members aren't idiots. The five seniors who tried to discipline you disappeared, so won't they use their imaginations? It obviously looks like you got angry and took them out. They might even imagine that you killed five people, then your father, the vice minister of the National Security Ministry, cleaned it all up and let you get away with it...”
After saying that, I patted Han Hee's shoulder.
“Anyway, don't be scared anymore. Seniority, my ass. You saw this time that those half-baked idiots aren't even a match for you if you fight them properly.”
“Yes...”
“I'll say it again, don't be intimidated! They should be the ones scared, okay? I told you last time. An ironclad doesn't need to cower just because there are a lot of little boats.”
I told him that if his seniors picked a fight with him again, he should beat them openly. If that got him kicked out of the Special Forces for assault, wouldn't that be even better?
I also told him that if he started life as a Hunter, I and my comrades on Huntweb would welcome him sincerely. Only then did Han Hee manage an awkward smile.
* * *
“Thank you. Really. Like I said, I'll never forget this. I don't know when the chance will come, but someday, I'll definitely...”
After awkwardly expressing his gratitude, Han Hee left my house.
Once I was alone, I didn't just rest. I had something I needed to do right away.
I had to prepare for the trip. The country would surely prepare supplies, but I gathered a number of personal items as well before going to sleep.
This time, I woke up feeling at ease and left the house.
When I arrived at the meeting place, countless people were gathered there.
People waiting for me.
“Kim Geuk! Kim Geuk!”
Several civil servants came into view first, along with Park Mihyeong and the mayor of Incheon.
There were also Incheon citizens who had come to support me, along with the second-class subjects from other regions. In my heart, I granted them honorary citizenship of Incheon. As they surrounded me, my name rang out from every direction.
“Kim Geuk! Kim Geuk! Kim Geuk!”
I knew why they were acting like this today.
Today marked one year since I began life as a Hunter. In other words, today was the day my contract with Incheon City ended.
And rather than renewing my contract with Incheon City...
Today, I was leaving for Soweol.
Sword World, like every land outside Incheon, was said to be a barbaric place filled only with poverty and desolation. I was leaving for that otherworld, home to every kind of Monster, to find Kang Jun-chi.
There was also an interpreter accompanying me on my journey.
It was the Soweol person who had become a Korean citizen, the one I met when I spoke with Usori, the Soweol lord.
Though the small man had already seen me before, he shrank back again, apparently overwhelmed by my muscles and size.
“It is an honor to serve you, Kim Geuk...”
The Soweol interpreter bowed deeply to me. I told him he didn't need to, but I didn't find it burdensome.
It wasn't just the Soweol people who should act this way. Koreans needed to do the same in the future.
Baek Dambi was also there with the others.
I thought she had come to open the Gate or see me off, but she had brought a huge amount of luggage. Why?
“Did the country tell you to come too, Dambi?”
I asked just in case, but Baek Dambi shook her head.
“I volunteered. Someone needs to open Gates whenever they're needed.”
I blinked at that. She had volunteered to come with me? Really?
There was already a separate Gate specialist brought in from overseas, so why...? Of course, Baek Dambi would be far better. In combat ability and every other way.
“But... Dambi, don't you need to receive the Golden Arrow Award? I heard the ceremony is in January.”
“Is an award really important in this situation?”
I didn't know how I was supposed to react. I didn't know whether I should thank her or worry about whether she was really okay with something this difficult.
In the end, I did neither. As I remained silent, Baek Dambi opened the Gate.
The three of us entered the violet space. Baek Dambi went in first, followed by the Soweol interpreter.
As I entered the Gate last, my name continued to echo behind me.
“Kim Geuk! Kim Geuk!”
Other voices mixed in with the cheers.
People said they had nearly died twice but lived thanks to Hunter Kim Geuk. They said that ever since Kim Geuk signed a contract with Incheon City, the prices of Incheon villas had shot through the roof and they were happy every day. They praised me as Incheon's savior, as the hero of all Korea, and so on.
For a moment, I turned back toward them, grinned, and raised one hand high.
When I struck my signature pose, the cheers grew even louder.
Shortly afterward, the Gate's violet color swallowed my vision.
* * *
Footnotes:
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