I Became the Gate Summoner Hunters Obsess Over - Chapter 10

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Ceaseless

◈ I Became the Gate Summoner Hunters Obsess Over ◈

Chapter 10: Secret Was Exposed. Made an Offer.

──────

Kang Yul's dream was to become a Hunter.

It was a dream he had held since the days when he lived in an orphanage and was beaten by the teachers.

He had thought that if his life was so hopeless that he had no parents, family, or friends, he would have to stake even this miserable life to live like a proper person.

So even when he worked part-time jobs, he sought out high-paying work related to supernatural phenomena.

He rented a one-room apartment near an area where an Erosion phenomenon had occurred.

He thought that if he lived near a place where supernatural phenomena occurred, he might naturally Awaken as a Hunter.

Of course, to those around him, he looked like nothing more or less than a crazy young man desperate to die.

In any case, Kang Yul's desire to become a Hunter had been sincere.

Even now that he was a Hunter, his desire to live as one had not changed... but.

'I'd like to get this over with and go mining... Ah, should I buy some nutrient soil for Worm on the way back?'

Perhaps it was because he had some breathing room now.

Or perhaps it was because he had a pet bug living with him, even if it was not human.

Compared to his days as a crazy young man, much of Kang Yul's edge had faded.

Put positively, he had achieved his dream at a young age and become a successful self-made man.

Put negatively, he had become content with merely becoming a Hunter, settling into reality and letting his guard down.

However.

Today, even Kang Yul had no choice but to break out in a cold sweat and tense up because of a major incident.

“Nice to meet you. I am Team Leader Myo, the representative Hunter of Nowon District. I will be leading Hunter Kang Yul during this operation.”

“Ah, um, it's nice to meet you too, Team Leader Myo. But I have a question...”

“Please ask.”

“Will it only be the two of us, without any other Hunters...?”

“That is correct. Is there a problem?”

“...No, there isn't.”

Despite that answer, Kang Yul's mind had already begun to overload from the moment he greeted the woman who introduced herself as Team Leader Myo.

After all.

'Why would such an incredible Hunter come for me...?'

Why was a representative called a representative?

In most cases, it was because they were the most capable and experienced person in their district.

And such veteran Hunters often had their own powerful something.

Which meant that this Hunter called Team Leader Myo, silently watching Kang Yul with gleaming bright yellow eyes, was surely one of them.

'Why would such an incredible Hunter come specifically for me...?'

The more Kang Yul thought about it, the less he understood the situation. But nothing happened without a reason.

He desperately considered why a representative Hunter had personally come to lead him.

Then, suddenly.

'Ah, could it be that?'

A plausible reason came to mind, and Kang Yul quietly checked his phone.

[HT Bank] ₩3,000,000 deposited (Sender: Friendly Merchant)

'There can't be any other reason.'

Kang Yul became certain.

The reason Nowon District's representative had come directly to him was the record of a supernatural byproduct transaction received by a rookie Hunter with no Gate entry history.

#####

Having realized what was going on, Kang Yul rode in Team Leader Myo's car and thought.

He thought about how he could get out of this situation.

How a rookie Hunter with no Gate entry history had acquired supernatural byproducts of unknown origin.

And how he could make that sound believable.

Kang Yul only half-listened to the briefing as he focused on thinking.

“Then I will provide a brief briefing as we travel. Suraksan Gate. Its exact designation is ‘Erosion Containment Zone: Suraksan Mountain.’ A spore colony of supernatural lifeforms has settled inside, and its initial hazard rating was classified as C-rank. However, due to the Association's ongoing management, its danger level has now been reduced to E-rank.”

Should he say he had cooperated in exploring an unregistered Gate...?

...No, that would not work either.

They would surely interrogate him about the location of that illegal Gate.

A clumsy lie that made them even more suspicious would be the worst possible move.

“It is a supernatural lifeform in the form of eyeball-like mushrooms that has formed a massive colony and continually releases spores. If exposed to the spores, mushrooms will sprout and multiply inside your body. Please wear the Association-issued mask at all times until the mission is complete.”

Besides, they had probably already confirmed his transaction with Friendly Merchant.

The Association might have even learned the details of the Gate byproducts he had sold through that transaction.

If a supernatural being had been living among humans for years, there was no way the Hunter Association would not know about it.

“If you become mentally hazy after entering the Erosion Zone, or feel intense happiness or peace without reason, report it immediately.”

At least the things he had sold so far were not particularly suspicious.

They were merely soil and coal rich in mana.

Those were byproducts even a newly Awakened Hunter could easily gather, so they would not consider them especially strange.

Still, judging from the peculiar, observant gaze she had been sending his way, she seemed to be considering whether to subdue and interrogate him or wait for him to turn himself in...

“We have arrived at the containment zone. From here, we will proceed on foot to the Gate entry point. If you have questions or do not wish to enter, please say so now.”

...After pondering for a moment, Kang Yul finally made a decision.

The lesser evil was better than the worst outcome. If he could not hide it, then he would put on an act.

He would have no choice but to pretend he was an unregistered Hunter operating underground.

In truth, he had no other option.

Whether he confessed after taking a beating or turned himself in voluntarily, he would have to summon the Gate and show it to them to reveal its location.

Then he would be neatly folded in half and shipped to an Association laboratory.

With a note saying, ‘Fresh test subject has arrived.’

'I have to avoid that at all costs...!'

So he would confront this head-on.

To avoid suspicion, he had already resolved himself to reveal one of the cards he had been hiding, a skill.

The Hunter Association was always short on manpower.

He calculated that if he could prove his usefulness, they would coolly overlook his history of operating underground.

Having reached that conclusion, Kang Yul spoke to Team Leader Myo, who was walking beside him.

“There is something I am curious about.”

“What is it?”

Kang Yul mentioned something he had caught in the earlier briefing.

“I heard that the spore colony's danger level has been reduced to E-rank through the Association's ongoing management. Is there a reason you have not dealt with the source of the Erosion itself?”

It was a somewhat provocative question.

To Team Leader Myo, it must have sounded like this.

You people are damn incompetent. What have you been doing all this time?

And indeed.

“...”

Team Leader Myo stopped walking and looked at Kang Yul with her bright yellow eyes.

It was as though she was trying to determine why he had said such a thing.

'...She isn't suddenly going to attack me, right?'

As he trembled inwardly, worried that he might get beaten up and dragged to the Hunter Association, Team Leader Myo watched him silently for a long time.

Then she blinked a few times and answered his question.

“It is because we have not found the source of the Erosion. The only ability weakened in the Suraksan spore colony is Proliferation. Its Confusion ability, which erodes the surrounding ecosystem and transforms it into an illusory forest, remains intact. For this reason, the Association is seeking a Hunter who can explore the area while ignoring the Confusion.”

“So even you cannot do it, Team Leader Myo.”

“That is correct. The Suraksan spore colony is a unique specimen that strengthened its Confusion ability after its Proliferation ability weakened while adapting to this environment. As a result, it has been possible to contain the Erosion's range, but not eliminate it.”

Once she finished answering, Team Leader Myo silently looked at Kang Yul.

Her gaze seemed to ask whether that had answered his question, while also probing what he intended.

Kang Yul did not avoid that gaze.

He had to act like a capable underground Hunter.

If that was the case, he could not make a cowardly move like shrinking back and avoiding her eyes.

But.

'She's scary...! She's pretty, but scary!'

Not everyone could act and think exactly as they intended.

Naturally, Kang Yul was not such a perfect person.

In the end, with a fragile heart completely at odds with his actions, Kang Yul lamented his current situation.

After all, unless one was blind, Team Leader Myo was obviously a beautiful woman.

Just look at her.

A high nose, cherry-like lips, and a voluptuous figure completely at odds with her delicate frame.

And cat ears and a tail, which he assumed had grown due to a skill, stirring a man's sinister desires.

Team Leader Myo was a true alpha female of this era, a woman who would have had no trouble making a living even if she were not a Hunter.

'That's why she's even scarier...!'

And that fact made Kang Yul even more frightened.

It was burdensome enough for an ordinary man like him to be alone with a woman who seemed as though she would rank near the top of the world's beauty rankings.

How could he not be scared when she was staring at him with those catlike bright yellow eyes?

Wanting to end this awkward standoff even one second sooner, Kang Yul opened his mouth.

“I will find the source of the Erosion. In return, I would like you to bury the secret between us.”

Kang Yul was confident.

With the Gate Compendium skill he had acquired last time, he believed he could find the source of the Erosion.

So he made an offer. He would find the source if she covered up the records of his illegal transactions.

'She won't refuse, will she...?'

It might have looked like he had blurted it out without thinking, but his actions were based on his own calculations.

From the Hunter Association's perspective, this was an Erosion they had to manage while even bringing in rookie Hunters.

They would surely want to eliminate it somehow, and she had said they were actively seeking Hunters for that purpose.

So while he was only an unknown Hunter making a claim, there was still a good chance she would accept the deal.

Especially since a representative Hunter who had been through all manner of hardships would accompany him, they could prepare for any unexpected situation. She would at least be willing to try.

And as if proving that.

“...”

Her expression barely changed, but Kang Yul saw it.

Her eyes opened slightly wider, and her pupils narrowed like a cat's.

It had only lasted a moment before they returned to normal, but it was not a bad response.

He did not know whether it was good or bad, but at least it was a reaction.

“...”

After that, Team Leader Myo stared at Kang Yul for a long time.

Without a word. Without blinking even once. She simply continued staring at him.

One minute passed.

'Hm. She must have a lot to consider.'

Five minutes.

'Tsk... She's considering it too much. Was it an offer she didn't like...?'

After ten minutes.

'Ah... I think this has gone badly... Should I just open the Gate, call Worm, and cause a mess...?'

Kang Yul desperately considered how to escape this situation, determined to avoid becoming a test subject even if it meant using his tactical nuke, Worm.

Then Team Leader Myo gave her answer.

“I will accept Hunter Kang Yul's proposal. I will also transfer command authority for this operation to you. If you require my assistance at any point, please request my cooperation.”

At that moment, Kang Yul gained the authority to command a representative Hunter of an autonomous district.

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried