Chapter 284

“I think that’s enough.”

I hadn’t expected that.

The voice from behind me sent a chill through my mind, as though someone had dumped ice water over my head.

When did he get there?

I hadn’t sensed his presence. Even considering that I’d been in the middle of a fight, that should have been impossible.

If he had slipped past senses honed to the very edge of Peak, there was only one answer.

A Supreme Peak master.

I slowly turned around. A man stood amid the rubble of a wall brought down in the fighting, gazing steadily at me.

“Nice to meet you.”

He was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his early forties, with bold features drawn in strong brushstrokes and a solid build that even his clothes couldn’t conceal.

And…

He’s strong.

The moment I sensed the qi coiled within him, my heart sank. At the same time, all my accumulated experience and keenly honed instincts whispered a warning.

The middle-aged man before me was a Supreme Peak master beyond anything I could handle in my current state.

“Young man, you’ve got good instincts. Better than I expected.”

The middle-aged man looked me over with interest, then suddenly tilted his head.

“Or is it because you recognize my face?”

“Both.”

His appearance had shaken me badly.

I tried my best to look calm, but I couldn’t hide the crack in my voice or the tremor in my eyes.

“Well, it’s not as if my face has only been plastered around once or twice.”

The middle-aged man nodded as if it were nothing and strode forward.

He crossed the wrecked office and held out his hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Jungryong.”

A short, simple introduction.

But the meaning and influence carried by the three characters of Lee Jungryong’s name were anything but short or simple.

He was the kind of man who could use his face and name as identification anywhere in the world, not just in Korea.

The second-in-command of Ares Guild. And one of Korea’s two S-rank Hunters.

That was Lee Jungryong.

A powerful man who wielded absolute authority over Ares Guild in place of its Guild Master, the other S-rank Hunter.

Ares Guild was said to rank among the top five Guilds in the world. Its influence over Hunters was immense, to say nothing of politics and the economy.

People even said that Korea had two Blue Houses.¹

Why had someone so powerful appeared here of all places, at this exact moment?

Fuck. It’s obvious.

Suddenly, the conversation I’d had with Park Tae Seop flashed through my mind.

“Who is he? That bastard earlier only called him ‘that person.’”

I can’t tell you. Even if I did, you’d only resent me later.

Why make such a big deal out of it? Is that person Asmodeus or something?

If you made him your enemy, it would be better if he were the Demon King. At least then, the whole world would fight alongside you.

The answer had already formed in my mind.

If Lee Jungryong was the “that person” Park Jihoon had mentioned, and Ares Guild was behind this whole affair, every piece fell perfectly into place.

This is turning into a real goddamn mess.

The unexpected arrival of such a major figure made my blood run cold.

Unlike me, frozen stiff, Lee Jungryong smiled gently and spoke.

“I’ve heard a great deal about you. You look much better in person than you do on television.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t look happy to see me at all.”

“How could that be? You’re an S-rank Hunter recognized throughout the world.”

“It’s an empty reputation. I’m nowhere near the Guild Master. Anyway…”

Still wearing his distinctive smile, Lee Jungryong opened and closed his outstretched hand.

“When are you going to shake my hand? This is starting to get embarrassing.”

Watching his good-natured smile and listening to the easy joke, I had one thought.

This man has at least a hundred snakes coiled in his belly.

And I hated snakes.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have a hand free right now.”

“Is that really a problem? Just put down whatever you’re holding and it’ll be easily resolved.”

“I can’t drop a problem that needs to be dealt with right now just for a handshake.”

I tightened my grip on the weapons in each hand.

Swish.

With a faint sound, thin lines of blood appeared across Park Tae Seop’s and Park Jihoon’s throats.

The two men had closed their eyes and pressed their lips tightly together the moment Lee Jungryong appeared. Even so, I could sense something like resolve from them.

“I hear you’re quite close with these two gentlemen. Why don’t you at least say hello?”

“Close? Me?”

Lee Jungryong let out a hearty laugh.

“I’ve known Guild Master Park since the Great Cataclysm, so we’re at least acquainted. Isn’t that right?”

Park Tae Seop, Guild Master of Myeongdong Guild, bit his lip before answering.

“It’s been a long time, Vice Guild Master Lee Jungryong.”

“Yes, it has. But what happened here?”

“There was an unpleasant incident… I apologize for letting you see me in such a sorry state.”

“I don’t know what sort of misunderstanding there has been, but surely it can be settled through conversation. And who is that young man beside you?”

“He’s a member of my Guild. He’s been with us ever since he completed his training center course.”

Park Jihoon spoke in a trembling voice.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Park Jihoon of Myeongdong Guild’s Team 1.”

“……!”

I wasn’t surprised that Lee Jungryong spoke down to Park Tae Seop despite looking at least ten years younger than him.

I was surprised by their shamelessness.

Everyone here knew that Lee Jungryong was the one who had given Park Jihoon his first orders.

Yet the exchange I had just witnessed between the three men could mean only one thing.

The lizard’s tail.

The old lizard, already prepared to cut off its tail, smiled gently at me.

“See? I’ve never even met that young man before, and Guild Master Park and I merely exchange the occasional greeting.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

“By ‘exchanging greetings,’ do you mean secretly sending Black Hunters to cut off the arm of some innocent person?”

“Black Hunters? Enough. Your delusions are getting out of hand. In any case, regarding Guild Master Park…”

He shook his head and continued.

“I think I may be able to help a little with that problem.”

“Help?”

“Yes, help. The problem needs to be resolved, doesn’t it?”

My earlier thought had been only half right. The lizard wasn’t planning to cut off its tail just yet. He wanted to clean up the mess.

Lee Jungryong’s gaze met mine. A bead of cold sweat that had formed at some point trickled down my neck.

This was both an offer and a warning.

Let these men go.

But…

“It’s a personal matter, so I don’t think that’ll be possible.”

I would decide whether I stopped here or kept going.

I had already made up my mind.

“Hmm? Ha ha.”

Lee Jungryong laughed aloud and regarded me with amusement.

“Young man, you’ve got quite a bit of grit. Plenty of nerve, too.”

“I hear that fairly often.”

“What about arrogant?”

“I hear that even more.”

“High-spirited young men are often misunderstood.”

“I think so too.”

“Yes. I’m glad you understand, but…”

An unreadable light flashed in Lee Jungryong’s eyes.

“Don’t you think it’s time you changed?”

“How?”

“You’re a well-known public figure, and you’re nearing thirty. It would be best to avoid those sorts of misunderstandings.”

“I appreciate the advice, but I’m not planning to change yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because the people who tell me that are always fucking idiots whose only achievement is getting older. There’s no reason to run away just because a few neighborhood mutts are blocking the road.”

“You wouldn’t enjoy being bitten by a vicious dog.”

“No matter how vicious it is, a dog is still a dog. No offense, but I consider myself at least a wolf.”

“A wolf… Then what would you do if the creature blocking your path wasn’t a dog, but a tiger?”

The corners of Lee Jungryong’s mouth curved gently upward.

He was the tiger.

A tiger blocking my path. A predator with teeth and claws capable of killing a wolf.

“I’d run. A wolf can’t beat a tiger.”

“Exactly.”

“But add a few details to the setup, and the wolf might still attack.”

“Details?”

“Yes. For example…”

I continued slowly as I looked at Lee Jungryong.

“What if that tiger was the bastard who badly hurt the wolf’s friend? Something like that.”

He studied me with a peculiar expression.

“It seems the wolf’s friend was badly hurt.”

“Both his legs were cut off. How could he not be? He has a young child, too.”

“That’s an awfully detailed setup.”

“I came up with it while trying to make the setup plausible. It’s only hypothetical, so don’t worry about it.”

“If that’s all it is.”

Lee Jungryong shrugged.

“Still, a wolf taking on a tiger for his friend… He’s certainly loyal.”

“You’d understand if you watched a documentary about wolves. Their loyalty is no joke.”

“But it would be reckless.”

“Why?”

“Because attacking a tiger would get him killed.”

I let out a quiet laugh.

“You never know. Maybe a young, strong wolf could beat an old tiger.”

“……A tiger losing to a wolf? That doesn’t sound like a very well-made documentary.”

“I enjoyed it. The part where every animal in the mountains came running to feast on the tiger’s corpse after the wolf won was especially memorable.”

“……”

For the first time, the smile vanished from Lee Jungryong’s face.

Naturally. He had understood the meaning behind my words.

Watching his face stiffen felt like finally dislodging the formula that had been stuck in my throat since infancy.

“You’re irritating. More than I expected.”

After a brief silence, he spoke again.

Lee Jungryong slowly withdrew the hand he had kept extended until now.

“What do you want?”

I answered without hesitation.

“An apology and compensation. And one person’s life.”

“A life?”

“Yes. I want one person’s life.”

Park Jihoon’s neck twitched.

A tremor traveled through the dagger pressed against his throat. He hadn’t made a sound since Lee Jungryong appeared, but now he was trembling with fear of death.

“That’s out of the question. I can’t allow it.”

“I’m not asking for permission. I’m making a demand.”

“Learn to distinguish courage from recklessness. I’m a patient man, but I’m also quite fickle.”

“I’m short on basic decency, so I can’t rest until I’ve paid back at least as much as I received.”

“Your demand is excessive. The compensation should already be more than enough.”

“Who settles for getting back the principal? I want the interest too—compound interest.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Do you remember the documentary I mentioned?”

“……!”

“Tiger hide or not, do you really think a wolf’s teeth won’t sink into it?”

Lee Jungryong’s gaze sank heavily as he looked at me.

In the strangely tranquil silence, his mouth slowly opened.

“You truly don’t know how frightening a tiger can be.”

WHOOSH!

Before he had even finished speaking, a palm wreathed in red aura shot toward my chest.

Only five steps separated us. I made my decision in an instant.

White Flame. Unequip.

As White Flame was stored in my Inventory, I thrust out my freed right hand.

Disperse, compress, release.

The fire dragon that had been waiting for its chance to awaken transformed into blue flames and settled into my palm.

Flame Divine Palm, with everything I had.

Our palms collided.

BOOOOOOM!

A deafening roar left my ears ringing as the entire building shook like it had been struck by an earthquake.

I took the brunt of the impact.

I danced three steps backward and coughed up a mouthful of blood surging from deep within my lungs.

“Cough!”

Through the pale dust falling from the ceiling, I saw Lee Jungryong standing firmly in place.

“You…”

His eyes were filled with surprise.

But I was just as shocked.

I had felt him manipulate qi in a way I never could have encountered in the modern world.

He’s different. He’s no ordinary Hunter.

We had exchanged only a single blow, but that was enough.

Lee Jungryong’s strike had resembled the palm technique of a Supreme Peak master. He didn’t merely know how to use his qi properly. He could do far more than that.

So this is an S-rank Hunter.

The power I had felt in that brief instant rivaled the great fiends I had encountered at Shaolin, the Yin-Yang Twin Ghosts.

What kind of monster is this?

I had never expected to experience anything like this in the modern world.

Lee Jungryong stared wide-eyed at me as I swallowed the blood in my mouth, gripping Park Jihoon in one hand and the dagger in the other.

“How could someone as young as you know that method…?”

That method?

He was probably referring to an internal energy cultivation technique in those terms.

I was about to answer, but instead I bared my bloodstained teeth in a grin.

“I’m taking what I demanded.”

At the same time, I plunged the dagger into Park Jihoon’s chest.

Shnk. Shnk-shnk-shnk!

A scream burst from his mouth along with a spray of blood.

“Aaaaargh! Master!”

I’d wondered how this bastard knew about it. Now I saw—they were master and Disciple.

“Stop!”

Even as he shouted, Lee Jungryong couldn’t easily take a step forward.

Every time he tried, I pressed the dagger tight against Park Jihoon’s throat.

“Now, now. If you want to save your adorable Disciple, you’d better stay right there.”

“……!”

Shnk! Shnk-shnk!

Without hesitation, I drove the dagger down again and again. I hacked indiscriminately at his upper body, avoiding his heart, then tore through the muscles of his thigh.

Slash!

I cut down along his calf and severed the tendons in his ankle. Then I straightened my back, which I had briefly bent, and slashed diagonally upward through his shoulder.

Slash! SPLASH!

“Aaaaaaargh!”

A horrific scream.

Uncle Kkeokjeong must have screamed like that too. He must have passed out from the unbearable pain and woken again, over and over, screaming each time.

And that wasn’t all. The wife who saw her husband return without both arms had her heart butchered as well.

“Save your screams. There’s still one left.”

“……!”

Slash! Thud!

Park Jihoon’s body, now missing both arms, trembled violently.

“Ghk… guh…”

He had screamed so much that his voice had gone completely hoarse. Only strange noises escaped his throat.

I seized him by the hair. His once-neat, waxed hair was drenched in blood.

“P-please… spare me…”

My blood was boiling hotter than ever, but the voice that slipped through my lips was colder than ice.

“Jihoon.”

“Please. I’m sorry…”

“I had to move away so suddenly back then that I never got to say this.”

I stared into his bloodshot eyes and delivered a congratulatory message ten years past its expiration date.

“Congratulations on graduating, you fucking bastard.”

I hurled him aside.

Thud.

Lee Jungryong picked up the sprawled man in his arms. His eyes burned fiercely.

“You bastard!”

“I left him alive. Whether he’ll ever be a Hunter again, I can’t promise.”

“Do you truly want to die?”

“How about we keep going? Bring down this entire building and let half of Korea find out what happened here. That doesn’t sound so bad to me.”

Lee Jungryong’s face twisted hideously.