IH Ch 59

Chapter 59

 

“Ugh, I’m dying, all crammed up in that tight space.”

He stretched both arms wide like he was boasting, but he wasn’t even 180 centimeters tall. His large build came not from height but from his considerable width. Wearing clothes that didn’t fit his bulky frame, he didn’t present an impressive figure. He pushed his sunglasses back up his nose as he looked at Hwang Jae-i.

“And who the hell are you? You acting out ‘cause you’ve got a death wish?”

As the man tried to intimidate him, another car door opened and two more men stepped out.

Adorned in tacky gold necklaces and bracelets that even low-rung gangsters wouldn’t wear nowadays, the two men exaggeratedly tilted their heads side to side as they glared at Hwang Jae-i. The man who had called for help swaggered again with renewed confidence.

“You’re screwed now, bastard! Go on, finish him off!!”

He thrust his baseball bat forward as he spoke, but the hunters who had stepped out of the car turned and looked at him. Startled by their scowls, the thug stammered.

“W-what are you staring at me for? He’s the one you need to deal with. Go on, get to it.”

The hunters immediately scowled and snapped, “Who the hell do you think you are, barking orders like that? Anyone would think you’re the one who hired us.”

“…”

“You couldn’t even handle that one guy and now you’re whining. Shut your mouth.”

The hunter barely lifted his arm, yet the thug flinched dramatically and quickly apologized.

“S-sorry. Still, we can’t waste more time here. The chairman said to take care of this today. If we fall behind schedule, we’re all gonna catch hell.”

The hunter clicked his tongue in annoyance and jerked his chin toward the smallest of the three.

“Hey, go finish it.”

The scrawny hunter, as if he’d been waiting for this, drew a knife and ran his tongue along the blade.

“Can I kill him?”

That question made the thug panic. With his bat tucked under his arm, he hurriedly replied.

“N-no killing. The chairman never said anything about that—urk!”

Suddenly grabbed by the collar, the thug found himself face-to-face with the hunter. Despite his small frame, he was still a hunter, and the thug couldn’t move an inch once grabbed, his face draining of color in fear.

“I do what I want. Got it?”

“Y-yeah, got it. Just—let go of me!”

“You bark big but fold quick, huh?”

The hunter slammed the thug to the ground and turned. Since earlier, Hwang Jae-i had been standing there casually, leaning on one leg, and the hunter found his long legs incredibly annoying. A plain, glasses-wearing nerd, but tall with broad shoulders—clearly way more popular with women. The hunter twisted his lips and muttered, “Let’s see how you look bent in half.”

Just then, a basket full of sweet potato skins was hurled at him. Caught off guard, the hunter ended up covered in vegetable scraps and froze in place. As he stood stiffly, an elderly woman climbed down from the porch and pointed an accusing finger.

“You think this kind of crap’s gonna get us to move an inch?! Think again! You wanna touch that man? Then kill us first! I’ll haunt you even in death, you little shits! Pretending to be gangsters ‘cause you can’t even enter a gate! Might as well cut off your dicks while you’re at it!!”

“…”

The strands of sweet potato skin draped over the hunter’s head swayed. As he trembled in fury, the other two hunters burst out laughing, clutching their stomachs.

“Damn! That old lady’s got fire! No wonder she’s still hanging on!”

“Bwahahaha! Looks like she’s a good judge of character! That one’s got nothing to cut off anyway. Probably this small—”

One of them held up his pinky. It was like pouring gasoline on fire.

“You crazy old hag…”

The hunter’s forehead bulged with veins from rising blood pressure. Shaking with rage, he suddenly turned and swung his knife at the old woman. The two elders on the porch scrambled to stop him—but someone else moved faster.

“Die!!”

The hunter shouted with bloodshot eyes, but just as he lunged forward, he was stopped cold by something firm and solid as a wall. Instinctively trying to recoil, he was too slow. Something slammed into his side.

It felt like being hit head-on by a multi-ton truck. A massive force he’d never felt before compressed and smashed into his ribs, and he couldn’t withstand the impact. Just as his eyes widened in shock, his body crashed into a nearby car, then bounced off and tumbled all the way to the edge of the roadside, finally slamming into a tree with a thunderous crack. The tree shook violently from the blow.

He lay there, impaled between cars, motionless. His body was twisted unnaturally, limbs limp, head drooping. Anyone could see at a glance just how bad it was.

“…”

Everyone was stunned into silence by the unbelievable scene. Even the elder behind Hwang Jae-i stood dazed, staring at the back of the man who had shielded him like a wall. He murmured,

“You…”

At the sound of his voice, Hwang Jae-i slightly turned his head. Behind his glasses, his black pupils seemed tinged faintly red.

“Stay back.”

“….”

With that curt warning, Jae-i took a step forward. That snapped the big guy out of it, and he started ranting again.

“What the hell?! You’re a hunter?! You damn sneaky bastard! Hiring a hunter now?!”

He spat foam in fury, stomping around, shouting that it didn’t matter what they did—they wouldn’t be able to keep this land. That the place already belonged to the chairman. That their stubborn resistance had already cost them dearly. As Jae-i closed the distance, the thug reached out hastily.

“Don’t come any closer! Y-you know awakened ones aren’t allowed to interfere in civilian disputes, right?!”

Funny, coming from someone who was also a hunter. But in his panic, the big guy wasn’t thinking straight. After that kick, he knew full well none of them could stand up to Hwang Jae-i and was paralyzed with fear.

While trying to keep Jae-i at bay, the big guy gestured subtly behind him. One of the hunters, positioned farther back, moved his hand quietly.

The big guy kept running his mouth.

“I don’t know who the hell you are, but if the Association finds out what you’re doing, you’re going straight to jail! You’ll never work as a hunter again! As for me, I’ve got a legitimate contract with the company…”

While he rambled, a sharp whistle of wind cut through the air. Seizing the moment, the big guy ducked as a hunter behind him flung something at Jae-i. It hit—Jae-i’s head jerked to the side, and his glasses flew off.

They skittered across the concrete. Seeing that, the big guy whooped in victory.

“Nice shot! Right to the head!!”

The hunter who had launched the attack looked smug. His skill was slingshot precision. Usually mocked, he now felt vindicated and grinned with satisfaction. But his smile wavered as his eyes registered what he was seeing. He frowned and reached out.

“Uh… bro…”

“What is it?”

Sensing the alarm in his subordinate’s voice, the big guy faltered. He turned and saw the man brushing his hair back.

He’d thought the shot had nailed Jae-i in the head. But it hadn’t. Fine golden blond hair slipped through his fingers, and the face beneath was flawlessly handsome.

He couldn’t take his eyes off that face.

“…”

Ask anyone in South Korea who the most famous person is, and at least half would name him. Hwang Jae-i. Even if they didn’t know the name, everyone recognized him. He had a face you couldn’t forget after seeing it once. And that very man now stood before them, brushing his hair back like a model.

The face. The glasses on the ground. After glancing back and forth about five times, it all clicked.

“It’s Hwang Jae-i!!”

“…”

As the man shrieked and pointed in horror, Jae-i’s face darkened. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. The hunter who heard that curse turned pale and shouted frantically.

“R-run!!”

He spun and bolted. Despite his size, he moved fast. Another hunter, who had been frozen in shock, gasped and also turned to flee. Watching them run, Jae-i narrowed his eyes.

“…”

This was bad. No matter the reason, it was never good for anyone to know he was here. He had hoped to resolve everything quietly.

Maybe he should just round them up and sink them into the ocean. Not a bad idea. After all, they were the ones who’d picked the fight. He could claim self-defense.

Just as he took a step forward, a tractor roared into view. It looked modified, with a massive shield bolted to the front. It sped toward the fleeing hunters and cast a net over them. Trapped in the net, the hunters rolled across the road, screaming. A young man stepped out of one of the surrounding tractors.

“Sorry we’re late, elders! Is everyone okay?!”

The man shouting wore a green cap labeled “Youth Council President.” As his frantic voice rang out, more people naturally moved to stand beside Hwang Jae-i. The elders, arms crossed or hands on hips, stared intently at Jae-i’s now-unmasked face.

Jae-i raised one eyebrow, and right then, a cheer erupted from behind him. Turning around, he saw the café owner and his son. The boy, hobbling on crutches, beamed with joy.

“Guildmaster Hwang Jae-i! Did you get my invitation?!”

“….”

Jae-i felt his composure slipping and averted his eyes, pretending not to hear.