Chapter 33

Chapter 33

“What do you think?”

“Pardon……?”

“I asked what you thought of the post Supernova wrote.”

“Hmm.”

Captain Im thought for a moment before answering.

“To be honest, I am not sure.”

“Why?”

“The very idea that there could be a 10-Star Hunter who has remained unknown until now is questionable. As you know, if a Hunter had grown to 10-Star, then it would only be normal for someone to know their identity.”

“I suppose so. The higher the Gate, the more Role Categories it requires. But his Hunter Link rank is 10-Star, so is there not almost no chance that he is fake?”

“There is also the possibility that the Hunter Link system is wrong.”

“You mean a bug?”

“Yes.”

“Of course, we cannot rule out that possibility either.”

“At present, even his authenticity is uncertain. If we carelessly trust the posts he has uploaded, we do not know what may happen. Though the tips he posted were useful, of course.”

Captain Im inwardly swiped the Hunter Link board aside as he spoke.

“To be honest, the idea of predicting a large-scale Transference Crisis is simply……”

“I think the same. But if it is true, then things will become rather troublesome.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“For now, we will have to review it while keeping all possibilities open. There is always the one-in-a-million chance.”

Minister Ahn put a cigarette in his mouth.

“When will I be able to quit these damned cigarettes? Hoo.”

A deep sigh, disguised as cigarette smoke, escaped him.

This had become truly troublesome.

Because the large-scale Transference Crisis that Supernova had warned about was, of all places, on Jebudo, which was territory of the Republic of Korea, Minister Ahn had no choice but to think deeply about the matter.

Ignoring it felt unsettling, but responding to it meant that an entire nation would be swayed by a single post uploaded by an unidentified person.

It was an awkward situation in many ways, so it was only natural that Minister Ahn’s thoughts grew complicated.

“Supernova…… what exactly is your intention?”

A mutter filled with complicated emotions slipped from Minister Ahn’s mouth as he looked out the window.

Supernova.

A 10-Star Hunter who predicted the future.

The post he had uploaded was confusing even a First-Generation Hunter and the Minister of Defense Strategy of the Republic of Korea.

***

On my way to the restroom in a hurry.

“Trainee Cha Eunseong.”

Of all people, I ran right into Instructor Kim Sangeung in the hallway.

“Yes, Instructor.”

“Do not call me Instructor.”

Instructor Kim Sangeung let out a quiet snort, then gave me a gentle smile.

“Have you been well?”

“Pardon?”

“I am asking if you have been well, you brat. What, does seeing your uncle after so long make you feel awkward?”

“Ahaha……”

“You little rascal.”

“Have you been well too, Uncle?”

“Yes, I have been well. What about you?”

“You already know……”

“Yes, I just asked. Is your father doing well?”

“Yes, he is doing well.”

“I keep saying I will visit him, but I do not even know how many years it has already been. I think it has been about three years.”

“Come visit us once this Cohort is over. Father will be happy too.”

“Can I?”

“Why would you not be able to? You are not some stranger, Uncle.”

Instructor Kim Sangeung was someone who remained quite vivid even in my childhood memories, so I did not feel the slightest reluctance about inviting him.

“All right. Then I will contact your father.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“And one more thing……”

“Yes……?”

“Please stop dozing off. What are you, a reservist? Dozing off from the very first day of entry?”

“I-I am sorry.”

“You do not have to apologize to me. The training is all for your own good, so you should be sorry to yourself.”

This was entirely my fault, so there was no room for excuses.

Though contrary to my will, my body kept growing lethargic, and drowsiness kept pouring over me.

“Well, as long as your evaluations are good, your attitude during training does not really matter.”

“Still, I should show proper courtesy. It is courtesy toward the instructors who are teaching us.”

“You rascal. Yes, you were always such an upright kid even when you were young.”

Instructor Kim Sangeung smiled faintly.

“All right. I will be expecting great things from you. Enjoy your lunch.”

“Yes. Please enjoy your meal too, Uncle.”

Instructor Kim Sangeung lightly tapped my shoulder as if encouraging me and walked past.

His hand was rough and coarse, but I felt warmth in his touch because of the familiarity behind it.

‘If the large-scale Transference Crisis happens, Uncle Sangeung will die too.’

I remembered my mother attending Uncle Sangeung’s funeral.

How much anguish must she have gone through?

Not long after sending off her husband, she had to keep attending the funerals of her husband’s seniors, juniors, and colleagues.

‘The Minister needs to listen to Supernova’s warning.’

The possibility would not be very high.

Moving the military and Hunters based on information that was not even certain would not be easy.

Moreover, it was not something the Minister could decide unilaterally, so there would be many obstacles in various ways.

‘If it does not seem promising after watching for a day or two, I will have no choice but to apply more pressure.’

As I walked while thinking that, I had already arrived in front of the restroom.

There was no one inside, and only the stall at the very end was closed as if someone was inside.

Knock, knock.

“Occupied.”

My own voice came from beyond the door.

“It is me.”

“Ah, Master.”

Helkiyan opened the door for me.

“Did you attend training properly?”

“Of course.”

“You do not think you were caught, do you?”

“That friend called Ra Sihyeon kept staring at me, so it was somewhat burdensome, but I do not think she noticed.”

“Just ignore her. Do not pay attention to her. She is doing that on her own.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Good work. I will ask you again later.”

“Call me whenever you need me.”

Helkiyan grinned, then returned to the form of a card and entered the Deck of Infinity.

Soon after, the memories of what Helkiyan had experienced while transformed into me seeped into my head.

‘Nothing much happened…… you little bastard, seriously.’

Once I learned how Helkiyan had actually behaved, my head throbbed.

‘Hey, you were just dozing off the entire time?’

• I merely acted like Master.

‘That does not mean you should do nothing but doze off the whole time.’

• You ordered me to act exactly like Master as much as possible.

‘Even so, you should at least show the minimum sincerity. How could you openly sleep?’

• ……I was only following orders.

‘Urgh.’

No wonder Instructor Kim Sangeung had nagged me. It seemed Helkiyan had imitated me too well.

‘Do it in moderation next time. It is troublesome if a person is too consistent.’

• Understood, Master.

‘Fine. In any case, you did well. Rest.’

No sooner had my conversation with Helkiyan ended than Jeong Hobin opened the restroom door and poked his head inside.

“Eunseong?”

“Yes?”

“It is time to assemble for meals. Let us go eat.”

“Ah, yes.”

I hurriedly washed my hands and headed to the Cage with Jeong Hobin.

***

When we entered the cafeteria, the gazes of the Prospective Hunters who had arrived first and were already eating lunch focused on our team.

“Huh? Is that not Jeong Hobin?”

“Are they Bravo Team? The one where only the biggest aces of every Cohort get assigned?”

“Is that not Cha Eunseong next to him? You know, the one who was active during the TechnoMart incident last week.”

I heard their murmurs.

Since it was the first day of entry, it was only natural for them to gossip about famous peers, so I did not particularly care.

Bravo Team was destined to become the center of attention in every Cohort anyway.

Jeong Hobin did not show much of a reaction either. Since he had been an idol, he was probably used to this kind of situation.

Why did he wear a mask when he came here to eat, though……?

‘I should eat quickly and think about a response plan.’

I picked up a tray and stood in line, but some guys approached me and spoke.

“Are you Cha Eunseong?”

“That is right. Who are you?”

“I am Park Gibaek, Team Leader of Alpha Team. Let us talk for a moment.”

“Why?”

“If I say let us talk for a moment, then talk. Why are you running your mouth? What, are you scared?”

“Haa.”

A sigh came out on its own.

No matter how excited they were, I wondered if they really had to do this even during mealtime.

“Huh? Are they going to fight?”

“Are they going to have a match?”

As murmurs rose here and there, I felt gazes filled with anticipation.

“Brother Eunseong, I will handle this, so please enjoy your meal.”

Oh Taegwon stepped forward as if he had been waiting for this chance.

“What do you mean, you will handle it? Forget it. During mealtime, we should eat. You hurry up and get your food too.”

“But……”

“I said forget it, so stay out of it. It is not as though you are my subordinate. I will handle my own affairs.”

After saying that, I swung the tray I was holding without hesitation.

CLANG!

From top to bottom, the corner of the tray struck Park Gibaek on the crown of his head.

“Guh!”

Park Gibaek coughed up blood and collapsed to the floor.

I smoothly pulled a long ladle from the soup container filled with mushroom soup and swung it.

THUD, THWACK, THWACK, THUD THUD, THWACK!

“Guhk! S-Stop! I was wrong…… Kyaaaak!”

Instead of answering, I struck Park Gibaek with the ladle.

Then I struck him again.

The ladle was dented beyond recognition, but I did not care.

“Uh?”

“Is he planning to kill him?”

The watching Prospective Hunters seemed to think this was getting dangerous, and they shifted anxiously in place.

“Urgh!”

“Wow, he is completely insane, is he not?”

The guys on the same Alpha Team seemed to have been terrified by the first real violence they had ever experienced, and even though their Team Leader was being beaten, they did not dare step forward.

The instructors merely watched with their arms crossed and did not stop me.

The instructors at the Special Force Training Center did not interfere in fights between Prospective Hunters.

CLATTER.

The ladle I tossed aside carelessly rolled across the cafeteria floor.

“Guuuuuh……”

Park Gibaek rolled his eyes back and trembled violently.

Seeing white foam at his mouth, it looked as though he had suffered a seizure while being beaten.

“His durability is not very good. Is he a Ranged Damage Dealer?”

After leaving that brief impression, I picked up a new tray and filled it with various foods.

King crab, LA galbi, egg salad, and so on.

The cafeteria had become frighteningly quiet, which was a little uncomfortable, but I was not someone who would be shaken by that.

This was good.

I had made an example of him in a public place, so most people would not dare bother me.

Of course, there would still be some who could not come to their senses, but when that happened, I could simply leave them lying in the hospital for a few months.

“Your Team Leader has been defeated, yet you do not even think of avenging him and merely stand there watching. Is that right?”

Instructor Kim Sangeung appeared and brought the situation under control.

“Should you not at least check his condition and take him to the infirmary? What exactly did you learn this morning? What are you all doing? Move quickly!”

“W-We are sorry!”

The Prospective Hunters belonging to Alpha Team carried the unconscious Park Gibaek on their backs and headed to the infirmary.

Quite a few people were being carried away today…….

‘At least the food is worth acknowledging.’

CLACK.

Remembering the taste of the food I had eaten at the Special Force Training Center in the past, I lifted my fork, but someone placed a tray in front of me.

When I looked to see who it was, it was Ra Sihyeon.