Hiiik! What are you doing!

Of course, the inside was different from the outside.

Gulp.

Kiryeo secretly swallowed dry saliva. If he hadnt immediately bowed his head to apologize, he wondered what would have become of him by now.

Jung Haseong-ssi. Please calm down.

He hurriedly raised both his hands so that his palms were visible. It is a clear expression of surrender.

Im really sorry. Ive come here to apologize today.

However, even after hearing those words, Jung Haseong didnt put away his weapon.

If apologizing could make everything forgiven, there would be no law in this world.

Thats true, though.

Kiryeo rolled his eyes busily. He had to somehow calm down the anger of that S-Class hunter. So, he poured out his heart to explain the situation, however

Uhm, you know. I definitely dont have any ill intentions. At that time, I was genuinely worried about your health

How can I believe that?

Yes?

On the subject of making someone unconscious, to me, the suicide bomber and you both look the same.

Haseong-ssi.

Be honest. Didnt you have some other intention?

Jung Haseong brushed off every sentence as if mocking it, which was frustrating.

Intention? Thats what I want to ask you. Haseong-ssi, what on earth is your purpose?

So instead of apologizing, Kiryeo asked a fundamental question.

Why are you always so impatient?

I looked it up on the internet. You were breaking gate closure records every year. It may seem impressive on the surface, but isnt it just a sign that youre not getting enough sleep, running dungeons day and night?

Jung Haseong was silent.

Plus, like a pathetic person, you just hand over the items you get from the gates to the government. It doesnt seem like youre benefiting much from it yourself.

So its okay to take a break when youre feeling unwell, right? Why are you so obsessed with hunting monsters?

However, it seems that even this question cant be ignored. Eventually, Jung Haseong responded naturally.

Something I must do.

Must do?

I went to a school built with tax money and lived on roads built with tax money, but cant I do this much for the country?

Its a great mindset.

However, whether one can empathize with that statement is another issue.

You act like that just out of a sense of duty?

Kiryeo tilted his head as if he couldnt understand. In truth, the series of questions was a test to uncover Jung Haseongs motives. He thought that knowing why he works so hard could also help with apologizing.

How can someone not have personal desires? What do I have to offer as a bribe?

Kiryeo faced a difficult situation. But that wasnt the only problem.

Hunter Kim Kiryeo. Why do you keep talking nonsense from earlier?

Huh?

Now that I think about it, you dont seem very sorry.

A new crisis has arrived. A blank expression doesnt always imply positivity. Jung Haseong thought that this F-class had no regrets about yesterdays incident.

N, no. Of course, Im sorry. I just had something bothering me, thats all.

What do you mean something is bothering you?

Serving the country is good, but usually people dont go that far.

Moreover, even if Jung Haseong takes a day off, it wont make a big difference, so theres no need to push yourself that hard, isnt it?

As soon as Jung Haseong heard those words, he was shocked.

Huh!

It doesnt matter what the other person says once anger sets in; it just seems like nonsense.

Oh, so you think without you, Korea would collapse or something? Why are you making such a fuss? I see what you mean now.

Yes?

Why dont you say the same thing to the families of the victims who died because I didnt show up yesterday!

No.

Of all people, why does a brat like this get awakening abilities?

The voices gradually become louder.

Hunter Kim Kiryeo. How long are you going to keep playing around? Do you think this matter will end with a simple assault charge?

I guarantee you, people like you will never be able to work as hunters again!

This was an ultimatum to expose his crimes one by one and strip him of his hunter qualification altogether. It was a threat to show the full extent of his wrongdoing from a legal standpoint. However, at this moment

What did you say?

The F-Class standing in front of him began to interpret this sentence with a completely different meaning.

How are you going to make my Hunters job impossible? C, could it be he wants to kill me?

Jung Haseong is currently in an uncomfortable state. Because of this, the magical power ran rampant along with his emotions, and for Kiryeo, this was a situation that was no different from life and death.

As expected, he plans to kill me and make it so that I can never enter the industry!

Hiik!

He knew it from the moment he wielded that sword, like a greeting!

Kiryeos face turned pale, and he closed his mouth. And in that moment, did he know what exactly was crossing Jung Haseongs mind?

Hes a thorough criminal who could deceive even the new awakening inspectors. He might suddenly run away, so we should arrest him in advance.

One step.

Two steps.

Jung Haseong has narrowed the distance.

Kiryeo was frozen in place with tremendous fear.

Im going to be murdered!

As misunderstandings escalated between them, someones voice flashed through Kiryeos mind like a flash of light.

-Thats how hunters fight each other.

-People are different from monsters, so they often hide their abilities.

This awakened person is hiding something As long as the other person thinks that way, friction will not easily arise.

Yeah.

Come to think of it, A-Class hunter Ahn Yoonseung gave this advice not long ago.

Kiryeo thought about the past conversation several times. Then a breakthrough appeared.

Perhaps

If he pretends to have a secret here, will he be able to avoid the fight?

Thats about 0.2 seconds until this point.

What would happen if he boasted enough to make even an S-Class hesitate?

Thats about 0.3 seconds until this point.

But what exactly should he say to deceive the opponent?

Thats about 0.7 seconds until this point.

He thought intensely for less than a second.

Do you know how many people died yesterday because of you, because of what you did!

And this worry came to a conclusion because of Jung Haseongs resentment that erupted afterwards. Because the S-Class hunter poured out his emotions without hesitation towards the reluctant awakener who knocked him out.

Anger, resentment, and hatred.

Confronted with this, Kiryeo shouted loudly, driven by survival instinct.

Come to your senses, Haseong-ah!

By the time everyone held their breath at the loud voice, the next word followed immediately.

A serious mistake that will affect his future life.

Youre x-Bab! (T/n: Its x but actually the meaning is someone who lacks intelligence, ability or skills.)

It was the beginning of a bluff.

***

There is no twist more surprising than when a person who has always been polite and respectful suddenly changes his attitude.

Jung Haseong flinched. However, Kim Kiryeo didnt stop his words.

Even if you let your guard down, with skills only sufficient to be ambushed by a mere F-Class, do you even think youre something?!

Its a shout as sharp as frost.

Yeah. Haseong-ah. Korea is not going to fail without you.

Someone who knows this so well shouldnt be angry at someone like me!

He inflated his chest and took a deep breath. His gaze was venomous.

Moreover, even if the country really collapses, how is that your responsibility? Huh?

W, what do you mean

Im telling you not to act up or cause trouble!

But, huh?

At first, he was just trying to stay alive by randomly criticizing Jung Haseongs skills. Surprisingly, this criticism was effective. Because Jung Haseong is frozen and not doing anything.

Oh!

This is the time.

He took advantage of the flow of the conversation and said a lot of things that might provoke him.

Should I tell you clearly? You, this b*stard. It seems like youve lost your taste because people have been praising you as a hero or something.

In my eyes, youre just an ordinary person in your twenties. Even if you were awakened, youre still just a powerless person.

Moreover, in a subject matter where you were so easily defeated by me, but what? Do you have peoples lives in your hands?

Kiryeo pointed at the opponent with his index finger and lowered his voice.

Cant you judge properly right now?

This should be enough to show off his strength!

From now on, its time to use both the carrot and the stick appropriately. Just criticizing too much could backfire and sharpen his temper.

Haseong-ah, do you know that you always seem very unstable?

He slowly threw the bait.

Arent you obsessed with the gate all day? Dont you abuse your body without even thinking about it? In my opinion, thats a disease.

Just how gentle are his words?

If he does this, he can complain that he is worried about his health and, if necessary, put Haseong in the hospital.

Then, at least during treatment, there wont be any fighting.

To be honest, I think you need professional treatment.

He concealed his dangerous intentions and gently persuaded.

You are a high-level awakened person, so you wont take medicine very often, but at least you can get counseling.

Huh? Its not like youre just going to work as a hunter for a day or two.

Its ridiculous that he has been scolding him so much until now, but now he is pretending to take care of him.

You should get some rest too.

Nevertheless, Kiryeo played with his tongue with a shameless face. Then, he opened his closed eyes and looked at Jung Haseongs mood.

Huh?

But wait a moment.

Instead of improving his mood, this guy..

D, d, did I go too far with my words?

He was so caught up in showing off that he didnt realize until now. Since earlier, the S-Class has been looking at him with a tense jaw, barely able to hold back anger.

It seems like hes only getting angrier

Frightened by the serious expression on Haseongs face, Kiryeo trembled with fear.

***

On the subject of being ambushed by F-Class.

A guy without skills.

Please judge properly.

Abusive language pours out. Hearing this, he feels like he has to refute it right away. But why?

Jung Haseong was strangely speechless.

-Haseong-ah, do you know that you always seem very unstable?

Looking back, its been a while since he was treated so coldly. Honestly, who would dare to make such bold remarks in front of an S-Class awakened person?

Even the workaholic attitude. The way he doesnt spare his body. Until now, everyone has praised him as truly heroic.

Am I nothing?

So, until just now, he firmly believed that he was doing well.

Actually.

Although he was a hero, he wasnt truly a vessel worthy of being a hero. Because he was not strong by nature, he would easily stumble over even the slightest feeling of guilt.

He needed help.

However, there was no one to help. Especially after his mother, his only family member, collapsed from magic poisoning symptoms.

-Arent you obsessed with the gate all day? Dont you abuse your body without even thinking about it?

Simply because S-Class are scary.

Blinded by the profits generated by S-Class.

Or because they believe sacrificing themselves will make them safe.

The people he had met up until now had not criticized his obsession for various reasons. Rather, they urged him to enter more and more Gates, pushing him to rank first.

Even Esther, who is also an S-Class, acknowledged me.

But now youre telling me Im not normal? No, do I even look like a crazy person?

-I think its a disease.

You are wrong. I am contributing to this society. Unlike lazy people like you.

If it were usual, he would have already made such a proud remark. However, somehow, his throat felt blocked, and no sound came out.

He simply couldnt pretend anymore.

And, as a result, he suddenly realized.

Its not like youre just going to work as a hunter for a day or two.

Maybe these rude accusations might actually be what I wanted all along.

You should get some rest too.

Rather than praise as a hero,

In fact, I received this sharp criticism telling me that youre nothing special, so dont act all high and mighty