Chapter 41

Chapter 41

When Cheon Myeongguk first heard that Choi Junho had ordered the helicopter to head toward the Black Wyvern, his heart dropped.

Using the sky route to approach was an absolute taboo when dealing with flying monsters.

Ever since monsters appeared, the sky was no longer humanity's territory. The speed, attack power, and defense of flying monsters far exceeded all limits — you couldn't travel through the sky at all unless it was a verified flight route where they didn't appear.

A Harmful-class Level 7 monster was, quite literally, a living fighter jet.

Its attack power might be lacking, but its durability, vitality, and stamina were overwhelming.

If the helicopter were attacked and crashed, even a Level 8 transcendent wouldn't walk away unscathed.

"Why didn't he land at a distance instead of going straight into the swarm..."

Cheon Myeongguk clutched his head, but what was done was done. What if Choi Junho died? Just imagining the fallout was terrifying.

Then, not long after, astonishing news arrived.

Choi Junho had hunted the Black Wyvern.

"......"

Cheon Myeongguk watched the footage of the hunt and was left speechless.

Choi Junho hadn't just hunted the Black Wyvern. He had caved in its skull with a single blow. And afterward, he walked away as if he'd just been out for a stroll.

Was what he was seeing even real? Was this not a movie?

Only then did every action Choi Junho had taken make sense.

"...My behavior must have been laughable. So that's what it was."

All the worrying about whether the hunt might go wrong, whether he might suffer some psychological shock — every bit of it had been pointless.

Suddenly, he recalled something Jung Juho had said while drinking.

That the most pointless worry in the world was worrying about Choi Junho.

Jung Juho had stressed over and over that worrying about him was a luxury in itself, and that the best approach was simply not to stress.

And that same man was stressing so much his hair loss had accelerated.

"Then again, coming from someone who's been through the wringer, I've got no room to talk."

He scratched his head for no reason, and as the next thought occurred to him, a sigh escaped.

It had been revealed that Choi Junho couldn't hunt — no, that he simply didn't.

The problem was the demand for the list of people who had called him half-baked.

Professionally speaking, he had kept track of who held what opinions, but... the problem was the aftermath once that list fell into Choi Junho's hands.

Did he really think the man would just look at it? A passing dog would laugh at that.

"He's proven his skill, so the President will support him too. In the end, this is an unavoidable typhoon."

His stomach was churning. Would taking something help? He resolved to lean a little more on the power of medicine as he moved on to the next item.

This one was more serious.

"A Harmful-class Level 7 monster has left its territory. This is absolutely not a normal case."

There were two main reasons a monster left its territory. First, when a major change occurred in its domain. Second, when a predator appeared.

The first didn't apply here. The Black Wyvern's original territory had shown no changes.

That left the second reason. If it was a predator higher than a Harmful-class Level 7, there was only one.

"Harmful-class Level 8."

This was a disaster capable of bringing the nation to ruin.

Even if it was only a possibility, they had to prepare.

* * *

The helicopter landed near the Black Wyvern's corpse at high speed.

"Contact me and I'll fly right over!"

The pilot spoke with a level of military discipline incomparable to before, then vacated the spot.

I began walking toward where the Black Wyvern's body had fallen.

This hunt had taken more effort than expected, but that wasn't a bad thing.

For one, I'd been able to reveal that I was capable of hunting monsters before Nuri appeared. Being summoned in an emergency and acting to clear up suspicions were two very different things.

And since the footage had been recorded, I could shut up the naysayers whenever I wanted.

This would come in handy when deciding the order for hunting Nuri.

"I was hoping to let it simmer a bit longer and draw them all out, though."

Should I just close my eyes and pretend not to notice?

If I did that, even my position as a transcendent might become precarious.

Since I was quite satisfied with the current situation, I needed to put in effort to preserve it.

More than anything, I wanted to check what Nuri's gift was.

"Hm?"

On my way to the Black Wyvern's corpse, I couldn't help but stop.

Ahead of me, I could see monsters gathering along with the sounds of battle. They'd been drawn by the scent of the predator's blood.

I clicked my tongue.

"They certainly know a good meal when they smell one."

The Black Wyvern. Its meat wasn't tasty, but that sharp, tingling venom flavor was exquisite. If you're looking to diet, I highly recommend it. It seemed like it'd be helpful for Berserker, but since he manages his own meals just fine, I'd put it off.

Anyway, this mission involved not just hunting the Black Wyvern but also rescuing the hunting team.

If they were all dead, there was nothing I could do, but there was a chance some were alive, so I needed to move quickly.

Without hesitation, I leaped into the midst of the monsters.

* * *

The Hellhound hunting team had been exhausted from retreating while being chased by the Black Wyvern during their monster hunt. When monsters swarmed them indiscriminately on top of that, they left the Black Wyvern's corpse behind and formed up.

Bang!

"Keuk!"

Han Jungseok was pushed back by an Owl Bear's attack. He could taste blood rising in his throat. He was so exhausted that even an Owl Bear — normally not a difficult opponent — felt overwhelming.

Thoom!

It was Lee Changsu who pushed back the Owl Bear as it charged again.

"Jungseok! Are you all right!"

"Yes! Team Leader!"

"Save your stamina! Just hold out a little longer!"

"Yes! I'll hold!"

Until moments ago, there had been nothing but despair, but now there was hope.

He'd seen it during the retreat. The battle taking place up in the sky.

No — it was one-sided violence. A Harmful-class Level 7 monster that he'd thought absolutely untouchable had its life snuffed out in a single blow.

That was no human feat. Today, the Hellhound hunting team had witnessed what transcendent power truly was. And they'd learned just how absurd the rumors circulating about him were.

"Just hold on a little longer! If we hold, the transcendent will come!"

"Yes!"

At Lee Changsu's shout, Han Jungseok curled up tight and endured.

The wait, which had felt like an eternity, was rewarded.

Shhaaak!

Someone was approaching, unilaterally cleaving through the wall of monsters gathered on all sides.

A young man with a somewhat short dandy cut, a charcoal-gray suit, and a single vest armor over it — every time he passed, monsters fell in droves.

It was the transcendent, Choi Junho.

Every time his hand swept past, every time his shoe-clad foot kicked out, monster hides burst and tore apart. It was like popping balloons.

The monsters, over fifty of them, were annihilated in less than five minutes. The few that survived fled desperately with eerie cries.

When the monsters were gone, only Choi Junho and the Hellhound team remained.

Lee Changsu, thoroughly exhausted, forced himself to his feet and approached Choi Junho, bowing his head.

"Thank you for saving us. I'm Lee Changsu of Hellhound, a government-affiliated hunting team."

"Choi Junho. I came in response to a rescue request — are these everyone?"

"Yes, the other teams scattered, so they should be far away by now."

"You volunteered as bait. That's impressive."

"We were just unlucky."

"It's not easy to stay composed when you become the one chosen to be sacrificed. And besides."

Choi Junho's gaze turned toward the Black Wyvern.

"Thanks to you, I was able to secure the Black Wyvern's corpse safely."

"It was simply what I had to do."

"I feel like I should repay you somehow. What would be good..."

Choi Junho trailed off and fell into thought for a moment. Watching him, Han Jungseok felt his chest tighten. Even though the man was merely standing there in silence, the pressure was enough to make his heart stop.

'This kind of transcendent can't hunt monsters......?'

He resolved that if he made it back alive, he'd smack the head of the friend who'd ranted at him so passionately.

No — the fact that he'd believed those words was a problem too. He barely suppressed the urge to smack his own head.

Just then, Choi Junho gestured toward the monster corpses scattered around.

"What about the monsters here?"

"Pardon?"

"Their condition is poor since I handled them quickly, but I think they'd make a small repayment for those of you who protected the Black Wyvern's corpse."

"Even so, that's too much of a reward."

Lee Changsu declined, but Choi Junho's voice was firm.

"I'm the one who decides what that repayment is. Please accept it."

"...Thank you. I won't forget your grace, Transcendent."

"Protecting Hunters who work for the government is my job. And."

Choi Junho pulled a pill container from his pocket and tossed it to Lee Changsu.

"It's a recovery potion."

"Why give something so precious..."

"You're exhausted. You won't be able to move properly until you take it and recover."

He was big. He was so very big as a person.

Pill-form recovery potions had a slow recovery rate, but they prevented injuries from worsening into critical condition. For the Hellhound team, exhausted from one fierce battle after another, it was absolutely necessary.

The sight of him giving it without hesitation moved Han Jungseok. He would praise Choi Junho for the rest of his life.

On top of that, he learned just how absurdly groundless rumors could grow and spread.

He vowed to only believe what he saw and experienced with his own eyes from now on.

"Thank you, truly thank you."

Starting with Lee Changsu, the entire Hellhound team took the medicine without exception.

Choi Junho, who had been watching expressionlessly, tossed out a single remark.

"There's one thing you need to do for me in return. I'd like you to keep today's hunt results confidential."

"I'll follow your words, Transcendent. My team and I will keep it secret."

Lee Changsu answered without hesitation, but Han Jungseok was different. As someone who, until just moments ago, had viewed Choi Junho's hunting ability skeptically, the Black Wyvern hunt was an achievement that would silence the rumors.

Hadn't he himself disparaged Junho, saying his hunting skill might be lacking?

Spreading this incredible achievement far and wide would wake the idiots up.

"Transcendent, may I ask why you want to keep it confidential?"

"There are people calling me a half-baked transcendent who can't hunt monsters. I'm going to catch them and deal with them whenever I please."

"......!"

"Ah, Director Cheon told me to keep it confidential. Pretend you didn't hear that."

Han Jungseok, struck right in the sore spot, trembled — and so did the entire hunting team, who had heard the same thing.

"I'll let them keep flapping their mouths while I secure the list. Ah, I told Director Cheon I'd just keep it in mind. Saying it like this means it could get out anyway. The fortunate thing is, once the rumor spreads, it'll be obvious who the culprit is."

Choi Junho swept his gaze across the hunting team. In that moment, the Hellhound hunting team instinctively understood that they would have to carry this secret for the rest of their lives.

Even though he hadn't emphasized it further, each of them nodded vigorously.

"Then let's break it down."

Choi Junho approached the Black Wyvern's corpse, borrowed the hunting team's equipment, and began dissecting it.

* * *

The return trip was smooth. After handing over the Black Wyvern byproducts, I returned to the Blue House by helicopter.

Cheon Myeongguk's gaze on me was a mix of astonishment and complicated feelings.

"You've worked hard."

"It was about as strenuous as a light walk."

"You never fail to surprise me, Transcendent."

"I don't particularly have a hobby of surprising people."

That aside, I steered the conversation to another matter.

"I'd like to keep the Black Wyvern hunt confidential for the time being."

"But this is a golden opportunity to overturn the bad rumors from before."

"The rumors have already spread everywhere — is there any reason to correct them right away? I'll reveal it at the moment I choose."

"The moment you choose..."

"The National Guild Alliance Conference. I'll reveal it there."

"......"

The place with the most people badmouthing me was the guilds.

Gathering them all in one place and setting it off seemed like it would be fun.

Cheon Myeongguk shut his mouth. He avoided my eyes and let out a sigh.

"What is your intention?"

I'd never gone out of my way to hide that I hunted monsters. But the people who looked at me unfavorably had spread rumors and agitated others as they pleased, creating the current situation.

They'd built this game, so I'd let it grow until they couldn't back out. And I intended to cut off at least the wrists of those who'd put up the stakes.

Not literal wrists.

"I'm going to secure the list while I have the chance."

"......"

"You've been compiling it, haven't you?"

"I have been keeping track."

"Good."

As expected of Cheon Myeongguk — he was reliable when it came to work.

"It's the perfect place to reveal it, with all the guilds gathered. You're going to discuss the Harmful-class Level 8 monster Nuri there, aren't you?"

"How did you..."

"For something like the Black Wyvern to leave its territory means an ecological shift has occurred, and the only monster capable of causing that shift is a Harmful-class Level 8."

"Hah!"

So Cheon Myeongguk knew as well.

He must have received reports, so it wouldn't have been hard to guess.

"Even if I reveal the Black Wyvern hunt, those who won't acknowledge it won't acknowledge it. The large guilds with their eyes blinded by profit will be even worse."

"That's likely true."

"What I want is the right to hunt when they fail. Simply put, I'm giving up being first and taking second."

"Do you believe the large guilds will fail, Transcendent?"

"Who knows. We'll see. Let's call it insurance, just in case."

The large guilds would fail to hunt Nuri. And I would step in and catch Nuri.

Once that happened, what followed would be very entertaining.

That was exactly the picture I wanted.

"For the video, please go with nationalist clickbait vibes. That stuff is impossible not to click."

"......"

"'The hunting method of the youngest transcendent — China is stunned, Japan looks up in awe!' How about something like that?"

I suppose it's because I'm not a professional — it feels a bit lacking.