Chapter 450 — Name (1)
“The blackmailer, who is believed to be the same person as the terrorist, was apparently concealing their face, and even their voice was altered.”
“And what about tracing their route?”
“At minimum, a mid-rank, but probably a high-rank Awakened person.”
Director Song replied. Then that meant it was practically impossible to find them.
Seoul was full of CCTV cameras and car black boxes, so it was hard to avoid all blind spots—but that was only true for ordinary people moving around on foot. Just having a flight skill made it easy to avoid the cameras, and even leaping between buildings was possible for a high-rank combat-type Awakened person. Even I, with the Wildcat Boots, could run along walls.
“In effect, identifying the terrorist is impossible.”
Director Song said that, his voice carrying a trace of fatigue.
“Korea may be almost an island, but for a high-rank Awakened person, illegal entry is not difficult.”
It was sea on three sides, and North Korea to the north. At present, there was still an armistice, and relations weren’t bad either.
“Even if they don’t have a flight skill, they can simply cross by land. It’s even possible to swim from China or Japan.”
It would take quite a long time, but it would also leave no trace whatsoever.
“So as of now, there is no effective response.”
At best, all they could do was ask the public to report any suspicious high-rank Hunters. But even if they wanted to put someone on a wanted list, there was no information to go on.
“He said he was Director Song’s fan. Director Song, can’t you think of anyone?”
At my question, Director Song’s brow narrowed, and Sung Hyunjae tapped the desk with the tip of a finger.
“There are quite a lot.”
“There are?”
“In many ways, he’s the sort of opponent who inspires people to challenge him.”
That much I agreed with. The thicker and higher the wall, the more some people burned to conquer it. Especially high-rank Hunters who were all too aware of how capable they were.
“If we narrow it down, the most likely suspect would be an S-rank Hunter.”
“Director Song, I would like to nominate Sung Hyunjae-ssi as the prime suspect. That bouquet is particularly suspicious.”
“…He has a clear alibi, so that’s not possible.”
“If he hadn’t been right beside me, it’d be one hundred percent him. So then, the list of S-rank Hunters who are fans of Director Song?”
“There is no such list. That is merely Hunter Sung Hyunjae’s one-sided claim, and this incident itself may also be intended to confuse the investigation.”
Director Song said that firmly. He was a trustworthy man, but on this point alone, I couldn’t quite bring myself to believe him.
“In any case, the odds that an S-rank Hunter known to both me and Director Song Taewon would move so openly are extremely low. The one who moved directly was almost certainly an unfamiliar face.”
“The sniper too? You couldn’t find any trace of them either, right?”
At my question, Yoohyun, who had been listening in silence, tightened his mouth in displeasure. He clearly didn’t like the fact that the Hunter who had attacked me had gotten away.
“Even if it had landed squarely, it wasn’t at a level that would have killed Han Yoojin-gun instantly. That made it all the harder to notice.”
“Yes. Since it wasn’t threatening, the detection came late. I apologize.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
He said that if it had been an attack severe enough to cause a serious injury even from a graze, they would have noticed much more quickly.
“It was likely an ordinary bullet, not a skill or item, with a perception-lowering skill layered on top of it. That made it something you could only really detect through direct visual observation.”
…And he saw that in that short span?
“There were two shots, and the interval between them was almost nonexistent. It seemed closer to firing from two separate weapons than a burst from one.”
“Head and arm. The force of the two also differed. Both, however—”
“Wait a second!”
“Hyung?”
Yoohyun looked at me with an expression that said, So that’s why you suddenly put that cardigan on for no reason.
“Show me.”
“It was treated. It’s fine.”
My younger brother got up from his seat and came over to me, and in the end he really did check my arm. Seeing no trace of the wound, he furrowed his brow.
“I told you using potions is bad for your body.”
“Well, it was my arm. Given the situation, I needed to be able to use my arm. That’s why I left the cut on my face alone.”
The wound on my cheek had simply been disinfected normally, treated with ointment, and covered with a bandage. Yoohyun swallowed a sigh and sat back down. As if nothing had happened, Sung Hyunjae continued where he had been interrupted.
“Both shots merely grazed him, but the wound on the arm was relatively larger. So it’s difficult to think of it as a burst fired from the same gun.”
Then had they fired one in each hand? Or perhaps it wasn’t a sniper rifle—or it was, and the shooter was skilled enough to fire one accurately with one hand. If it was a high-rank Hunter, then probably the latter. Or perhaps it had been two people.
“There is also a high probability that the attacker was someone capable of adjusting the trajectory of the bullets. How did it seem to you?”
At Director Song’s question, Sung Hyunjae gave a light nod.
“For shots fired from behind a wall, the angle was strange. Considering Han Yoojin-gun’s height, the wall height, and the distance, it would have been impossible to target the arm from that direction.”
“So that really was the case. No wonder we couldn’t find the sniper’s position.”
To summarize, it meant the attacker was an Awakened person who could alter the direction of a fired weapon and attach perception-lowering effects. They were almost certainly a long-range combat type.
“Mr. Han Yoojin, for the time being, please always use a damage-protection item while outdoors.”
“It’s not like they can kill me anyway.”
The moment I said it, disapproving looks rained down on me.
“…Even though Eunhye barely needs mana replenishment now, still using it constantly is a bit much. It’s not like my mana comes out infinitely.”
If I failed to use it properly when I actually needed it, that would be a problem.
“A D-rank should be sufficient. Of course, that assumes you are accompanied by an A-rank or above, ideally an S-rank Hunter.”
Director Song said that if an attack was strong enough that a D-rank couldn’t stop its lethality, then an S-rank Hunter would take care of blocking it anyway. If it was only D-rank, then using it for a long time should be fine.
“Absolutely do not go anywhere alone.”
“Don’t worry. I can’t leave the house by myself anyway because of Park Hayul.”
There was no way to know when or where he might reappear. And right now—
I turned off my Fear Resistance skill. The presences of Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon suddenly pressed against my skin, strong and cold. At the same time, the worry for Park Hayul that had been lying in the back of my mind vanished completely.
“If you happen to find Park Hayul, please dispose of him in a way that leaves me unable to know who did it.”
“So that Han Yoojin-gun doesn’t find out?”
“Yes. Even if Park Hayul dies, there’s a possibility the skill won’t be lifted. Then I’ll end up harboring negative feelings toward the person who harmed Park Hayul.”
But if I didn’t know who had killed him, then it wouldn’t matter. It seemed that while I still wanted to trust Park Hayul and follow his words, I didn’t care enough to seek revenge for him. If I had, I would have been trying to find him already, now that he was missing.
“And even if the skill isn’t undone, that’s okay?”
“At this point, I think it’s fine. Even the whole ‘don’t run away’ part doesn’t make me want to obey at all now, probably because there’s nothing left of Nosando. And his other nonsense has weakened too.”
Park Hayul’s ability was a skill that raised people’s favorability through appearance and made them strongly influenced by his actions. Because of that, it seemed inevitable that it would weaken when he was no longer in sight and no longer near. And people also continued to receive other influences from those around them.
If someone really wanted to brainwash another person properly, they’d probably have to keep them shut away without outside contact and influence them continuously.
“So even if there are a few side effects left behind, it’s better to get rid of him. Before Chatterbox got involved, maybe not, but now no one can guarantee my safety.”
In the past, since my usefulness had been so great, there had been no need to worry about staying alive. At worst, I might have been treated the way I was in China. But the Filial duty addicts weren’t after using my abilities.
“If he is found, I will deal with him immediately.”
Director Song said it calmly.
“Not immediately. Secretly, without telling me.”
“I don’t mind.”
…And what exactly was that supposed to mean?
“I mind a lot. I don’t want to end up avoiding Director Song because of someone else.”
“Your safety is more important.”
“So as long as my body doesn’t get hurt, that’s all? Emotional wounds are wounds too. And what about Songi? What if I start feeling uncomfortable about Songi too?”
At the mention of the lamb, Director Song flinched and closed his mouth. After a short time spent thinking, he spoke as though he had no choice.
“Understood. But in an emergency, I will be the one to step in. It would be better for you to grow distant from me than from the other S-rank Hunters.”
“How would that be better?”
That wouldn’t be better at all. Swallowing down a sigh at his unchanging stubbornness, even though he’d softened a little compared to before, I changed the subject. I turned Fear Resistance back on as well.
“As expected, let’s bring the overseas S-rank Hunters together once.”
On the way back from China, it was something I had said publicly. Sung Hyunjae showed interest at my words.
“You said it would be some kind of kiseungsu-related gathering. Are you throwing a Christmas party?”
“Christmas is still far off. And besides, that day’s already reserved for Yoohyun. I mean literally something related to kiseungsu. I’m planning to release information about them.”
I continued speaking as I stroked Peace, who was sprawled across my lap.
“I mean the methods for raising baby monsters. Of course, even if people know the methods, that doesn’t mean just anyone can do it. In Peace’s case, Flame-Horned Lions can only grow with the help of an adult of the species.”
“In practice, then, it would be impossible for anyone except Han Yoojin-gun to raise one.”
“Yes. Sorok’s case is ambiguous. It said growth happens under the protection of the leader of the herd. If the leader doesn’t have to be the same species, then unexpectedly, it might actually be easy.”
If all the Snowfield Deer cub needed was to recognize someone as its leader, then anyone might be able to raise one.
“And in Blue’s case—the griffin—it grows by consuming a certain kind of monster. More precisely, by consuming meat from 마수마 of at least a certain rank.”
I had verified that with the 마수마 Hyuna-ssi had caught for me. When I fed it meat from an S-rank 마수마, it grew even without training. By contrast, an A-rank 마수마 had no effect at all.
“How many S-rank 마수마 do you think would be needed?”
“Mm, if we account for the effect of my skill too… at least five hundred?”
“Then even a Golden Griffin would be hard to raise without you, hyung.”
That was true. Even if an S-rank dungeon spawned three or four S-rank 마수마 as bosses, it would still mean clearing over a hundred S-rank dungeons. At a pace of one a month, that was close to ten years. It would be quicker if they bought up S-rank 마수마 meat from all over the world, but then competition would likely arise for that too.
“Still, it’s better than there being no possibility at all. The A-rank monsters have conditions that are relatively easier to meet.”
“So Han Yoojin-gun is going to become the only S-rank kiseungsu breeder, then.”
“It’ll lighten my burden just a little too.”
Just a little. Even the A-rank conditions weren’t easy. Still, since they were possible for large S-rank guilds, it would be valuable information.
“This is something I’d like to discuss with Sung Hyunjae-ssi after all.”
“You’re welcome any time.”
Sung Hyunjae looked delighted, while a shadow fell over Director Song’s face.
“…Are you planning to hold it domestically?”
“I can’t go overseas, can I? Mm, should I try chartering a cruise ship?”
“If possible, I would strongly prefer that.”
The entry of S-rank Hunters into the country couldn’t really be helped, but if it was out at sea, it would be somewhat safer. A cruise ship… how much did those cost? It seemed like I’d have to be mentally prepared for it to get wrecked, too.
It probably wouldn’t do much good, but we decided to keep searching for the terrorists anyway, and then got to our feet.
“Yerim’s probably still at school, right? Yoohyun, you head back first with Peace.”
“And you, hyung?”
“I’m going to collect the price for the Pegasus and then go home.”
“I can wait for something like that.”
“I know perfectly well how much work you’ve got. Go on, hurry up and get back to the company, and leave early too, Haeyeon Guild Leader.”
The Hunters from China, the monsters, the items, and all the work that had piled up while he’d been away. It was obvious he was just as busy as I was. After coaxing my younger brother into leaving, I went up to the rooftop together with Sung Hyunjae. Since not just the Hunter Association parking lot but the whole area around it was still a mess, it was still under restriction.
“Sung Hyunjae-ssi, shouldn’t you start thinking about getting a kiseungsu yourself soon? Our Yoohyun had Peace, so he went straight back.”
Evelyn’s car, which had already driven off after dropping me off, had survived, but Sung Hyunjae’s car had of course been wrecked. How many cars was that now?
“At this rate, your cars really aren’t going to last.”
“My insurance rates will go up again.”
“You care about things like that?”
“I’m more frugal than I look.”
That was such nonsense it deserved to rank high among the biggest pieces of bullshit I’d heard all year. On the rooftop, a helicopter was already waiting. Really frugal, sure.
“For the sake of your frugality, Sung Hyunjae-ssi, should we go down and take a taxi instead? Or how about a bus or subway? I wonder if you can even use a transit card.”
“…Doesn’t any card work?”
Dear God, so he really had never used one.
“You’ve really never ridden one? Seriously? I mean, I know it seems unlikely, but really? Not once?”
“A taxi, yes. As for a bus… I have ridden on the roof of one.”
So you were riding without paying? It really was hard to imagine Sung Hyunjae tapping a card and getting on a bus. I did kind of want to put him on one once, but we’d probably end up side by side on the portal search rankings, so I got into the helicopter instead. Seseong Guild wasn’t even that far away, and still this kind of extravagance.
“About that name I mentioned earlier.”
I said that over the loud noise of the helicopter.
“Don’t try to match me, okay? Actually help me.”
Since I felt sorry toward the changeling in various ways, I wanted to give them as good a name as possible. Even if my own sense wasn’t actually that terrible.
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