Chapter 487. Temporary Alliance (5)

The Hunter of the Other World Who Is Being Misunderstood

Chapter 487. Temporary Alliance (5)

'Seoul.'

Come to think of it, whenever the name of the city Seoul crossed his mind, a new suspicion naturally followed.

"The more I think about it, the more it feels strangely convenient that we ended up overlapping in the same country."

With so many borders in the world, how was it that he always ended up encountering the most irritating Hunter in Seoul of all places? It might have seemed like an unfortunate coincidence, but to Kang Changho, it felt almost like divine permission.

At this point, with suspicion piling up over and over again, wouldn't it be acceptable to just cancel every agreement and the other party outright? That was the kind of self-justification forming in his mind.

"At this rate, it'd honestly be more satisfying to see that Awakened die with my own eyes."

But in the end, it was all still just imagination. Kang Changho ended his deliberation and booked a late flight. This series of events was the reason the Republic of Korea's third S-rank hunter returned to the country.

***

[S-rank Hunter Kang returns to Korea today]

The sadists were all dead, and only after the surge in high-difficulty gates had completely subsided did a certain superpower return to the city. In response, television broadcasts harshly criticized the Hunter, accusing him of having gone off on a "vacation" by himself.

However, the person who returned paid no attention to public opinion. Articles that slapped his name into their headlines were empty if you bothered to look at them closely anyway...

OO Party's Oh Youngin: "I apologize for the extreme criticism I directed at superpower." An unprecedented change of stance

<Seolhan Daily> Assemblyman Oh openly criticized his party's course of action, claiming that he had realized many things through the EX-rank gate incident

He stated that "Kim Giryeo, who never lost the virtues of an awakened individual even in the face of rudeness," had given him great inspiration. The sudden change in stance by Assemblyman Oh—who had been consistently advocating for strict control over superpowered individuals—is expected to spark significant public debate, both for and against. With even a brief search, worthwhile information like this turned up easily enough, practically falling into one's lap.

'After badmouthing the superpower so fiercely, he changed his line just like that.'

For reference, the politician in question had already explained his experience in the EX-rank Gate like this at a press conference. At first, his pride wouldn't allow it, so he'd acted petty and spiteful toward the Hunter... But after witnessing Kim Giryeo's unwaveringly gentlemanly behavior, he was so moved that it completely changed his political outlook—or so Oh Youngin's main men claim.

'If he stays quiet, people will just criticize him for rejecting superpower even after being rescued by an S-rank Hunter... So maybe he just made the first move for his own benefit.'

However, Kang Chang-ho didn't think that Oh Youngin had held the press conference sincerely. Despite his short political career, he was already being called a "political turncoat" or a "bat."

'He seems like a typical opportunist.'

After all, that's how the creatures living on this land really are, at heart. But just as he was thoroughly enjoying the article in front of him,

Ahem.

Kang Changho lowered the 7-inch tablet he had been holding in time with someone else's cough. In fact, there was another person walking in the same hallway. This was inside the building where the [Kim Giryeo Guild] was operating, and the one who had coughed nearby was none other than that blonde, S-rank hunter.

"So this is why hometown hospitality is so great~ As soon as I return to the country, I get to enjoy drinks from the famous rookie guild!"

The awakened one with the rough, dyed hair had suddenly come all the way to the airport to pick him up. And in the past hour, ever since their faces met, all he had said was, "I'd like to exchange some information—do you have the time?"

Normally, he would have ignored someone who jumped straight to the point without even a single word of greeting. But Kang Changho accepted Kim Giryeo's request. Moreover, he had now stepped directly into another person's home ground—which could very well be a tiger's lair.

'Maybe he's flustered because the target came out too easily?'

Why wouldn't he be? After all, there was no benefit for either side in fighting in a space that wasn't even some otherworldly realm, so there was no reason to be intimidated—he could pick a place for conversation comfortably.

"If you'd like a drink, I can order it through a delivery app."

"Haha, no, it's fine. I was just joking."

The awakened one in front of him treated his guest with the same expression as usual.

"By the way, what exactly is it you want to ask that makes you act so stiff the entire time?"

But this reaction was a hundred times better than if Kim Giryeo had taken some aggressive action, so he relaxed a little.

"Anyway, just tell me what you want to say."

?uk.

Before the other side even suggested it, the guest had taken it upon himself to sit in the empty chair.

"The reason I came to find Hunter Kang Changho today—"

"Oh, right! I almost forgot, but there's something I should've said before we started talking."

As soon as Kang Changho sat down, he created a small friction. He cut off what Kim Giryeo was about to say and jumped right in.

"If we drag this out, you might misunderstand something. Before it turns into unnecessary trouble, I want to come clean about this first."

"Come clean?"

"The truth is I was the one who kidnapped Assemblyman Oh Youngin. Someone else carried out the act, but I'm the one who planned it."

After all, if he was going to explain the reason for returning to the country, this background had to be revealed anyway. Kang Changho finally spoke. He admitted that he was the one who had deliberately caused an empty EX-class gate to appear in Korea.

And that he was also the one who had dared to assault a politician and lock him up in another world. But the blonde hunter in front of him wasn't particularly shocked by this confession.

"So that's how you were controlling the entrance with the [Collapse Particle] item, just like when you destroyed my old studio apartment.

Kim Giryeo—despite that stern expression—lived like an innocent young man in most matters, yet whenever the topic turned to gates, he displayed frighteningly deep knowledge.

'Looks like he's already narrowed down the suspects in no time.'

The other man was glaring at him fiercely with his Sambaegan eyes, but Kang Changho paid no mind and went on listing his remaining offenses.

"Of course, most of those slanderous articles about you that have popped up recently? Yeah, I paid to have them made too."

"Ah, really?"

"All of this... it ultimately ties back to Oh Youngin. It was all part of a scheme."

"_ _"

"But compared to the effort I put in every day, the results were pretty meaningless."

He started by bringing up the issue of bribing the media—

"I kept wondering if you were the very one who caused the Dungeon Shock phenomenon, and that's why I've been suspicious at this time."

"_ _"

"But considering how he ended up right in front of those monsters, that kid Oh Youngin came back way too healthy, don't you think?"

Kang Changho went on to explain in detail the entire sequence of operations related to that EX-class gate incident. For the record, there was absolutely no hint of threat or any negative intent in what he said this time.

"So the moment I saw Oh Youngin's interview, I immediately got on a plane."

"Ah."

"Even if you knew I was a suspect, there was no reason for you to grovel to that shameless man."

"Shameless to a kidnapping victim...?"

"Not entirely wrong, so what?"

In the end, the important thing was that Oh Youngin had survived. And on top of that, the fact that the politician was being treated with such courtesy had eased his suspicion by at least one percent.

"Anyway, to get to the point, I was so surprised by your actions inside the EX-class gate that I came all the way here to apologize in person."

Kang Changho continued with a small gesture.

"I expected that even an ordinary person would react at least a little when provoked this much. But you... you were different."

Well. Of course, he still secretly suspected Kim Giryeo of being a somewhat alien presence. Yet he had taken responsibility for saving a victim who had fallen alone into the gate, weakened by depleted mana. Even when the other person lost his temper, he consistently treated him with the demeanor of a gentleman and showed consideration. Honestly, given the actions Kim Giryeo had taken during this EX-class raid, even if he really was a monster, he deserved praise. So finally, this sentence came out:

"I've learned a thing or two from Hunter Kim Giryeo's choices this time."

"_ _"

"Especially the deep consideration you showed to the politician—I was genuinely impressed."

"_ _"

"From now on, I'll avoid unnecessary quarrels and try to act a bit more politely. Besides, I accepted your invitation today as a way of atoning for past mistakes, didn't I?"

There were a few opinions that couldn't exactly be called lies. Just as he finished his sentence, the man with dyed hair, who had been standing by the window listening, spoke in a quiet voice.

"...The assessment that I was being 'kind' wasn't intentional."

Was this a confession? The victim, Oh Youngin, had said in various news outlets that he had received help, but in reality, it meant that the hunters hadn't exactly shown any particularly friendly behavior.

"Honestly, even the articles that Hunter Kang Changho saw—I really didn't want most of them to be published."

Seems like that was true.

Kim Giryeo didn't welcome the flood of favorable reports from the various media outlets. Seeing this, the third-ranked S-rank hunter in Korea quietly shifted his gaze.

'Oh my, this is making me go soft.'

Come to think of it, this guy had come all the way to Seoul, biding his time with a plan to build trust and then stab him in the back. Yet Kim Giryeo seemed utterly unwilling to publicize any of his previous good deeds, acting almost nonchalantly.

'He's acting unnecessarily virtuous even in a place like this.'

Kang Changho, thinking that the other person was showing humility, unexpectedly fell into a moment of self-reflection.

'I really didn't intend that.

Of course, the actual situation was quite different from the S-rank hunter's interpretation.

Why are those articles coming out of all of a sudden...?

At this point, it's worth considering the perspective of a guild master. Kim Giryeo was actually struggling to adjust to the new public opinion that had formed over the past few hours. The politician, who had acted like a jerk throughout the entire gate raid, suddenly took the lead in praising the hunter. And on top of that, the issue the guild's guest had just revealed was no small matter either—but he remained calm.

"_ _"

Oh Youngin was bait, prepared personally by a human. If someone knew this situation for certain, even an archmage wouldn't dare touch the target recklessly. It was essentially the same as deliberately triggering a trap that was obvious to the eye. So Kim Giryeo immediately abandoned his plan to take revenge on the annoying creature, swallowed his frustration, and forced himself to stare at the empty space.

"_ _"

The silence didn't last long.

"Anyway."

Anyway, neither side was particularly eager to spend time facing off against the blue-haired human. So Kim Giryeo quickly brought up the topic he needed.

"I wasn't actually curious about the reason you accepted my invitation."

"I see."

"What's important is whether you, Hunter, will answer the following questions properly or not."

"Why ask someone who's still adjusting to the time difference more questions?"

Kang Chang-ho had hoped that speaking sharply might at least stir a bit of the other person's magic, but... As expected, there was no significant change this time either. The expressionless man continued, answering in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.

"The one Hunter Kang Changho saw back then... the [Dungeon Shock culprit]."

Unable to speak intelligently, clumsy in action, and extremely hostile toward the inhabitants of this planet.

"And if possible, I'd also like to know why you suspected that the creatures showing abnormal behavior were connected to the gate's creation..."

"You want me to explain the process in detail?"

"Of course, you don't really like talking about gates, but on second thought, I think it's something we should compare carefully."

"_ _"

"To see if what I know really matches what Kang Changho-ssi knows."

In other words, it's practically like he's insisting that all information about the gate be revealed.

"Is that difficult?"

Normally, this should have been difficult. But the moment Kang Changho heard Kim Giryeo's question, he felt oddly relieved.

'If he were the one who created the gate, he probably wouldn't have asked this...'

That was roughly the reason.

'So he didn't rush to find me just to lecture me about causing trouble with the EX-class gate.'

Up until boarding the plane, Kang Changho had been full of skepticism toward Kim Giryeo—But it could be that the blonde man was just simply a very strange human? The trap he had set off unfolded in an unexpected way, and the S-rank hunter in front of him continued making choices that probed the consciences of living beings one after another. Slightly sentimental, Kang Changho finally replied.

"I've said this before, but it's not really information worth finding out."

A warning, offered with a hint of consideration. But Kim Giryeo, sitting across from him, didn't change his stance and continued pressing for answers.

"You'll probably get quite stressed once you hear it all."

"You're the type to worry about stress while manipulating public opinion overseas... Anyway, I'm fine."

So Kang Changho spent a few seconds thinking.

"What I saw is probably a different case from the 'talking monster' that Hunter Kim Giryeo knew about."

"_ _"

"Hmm, but since I also made some mistakes this time... I guess I'll just follow your lead."

The physically enhanced awakened one made up his mind.

"Though, to be honest, I don't fully understand the [gate] phenomenon either, so what I'm about to say is really just my personal speculation."

"What kind of speculation?"

"You might understand it better if you know what assumptions I was working with."

Kang Changho spoke as if he were determined that the other person could have nightmares for days and he wouldn't care.

"I was just... thinking that the kind of alien invasion you only see in sci-fi movies has already become reality."

Author's Thoughts

Hi, from now on, I will update this novel 3 chapters/week. Thank you for all your support so far:)