The Hunter of the Other World Who Is Being Misunderstood - Chapter 55:

Jung Haseong’s nightmares always begin with this sensation.

That day was no different.

It was a day when he overslept and missed going to school by chance. A dungeon shock occurred, resulting in a tragedy where all his friends from school were killed.

Haseong sometimes wondered.

If I had gone to school that day, could I have saved everyone?

The awakening phenomenon typically occurs in stressful situations where one feels a threat to life. He had experienced awakening himself. So maybe, if he hadn’t overslept that day… He could have been exposed to monsters with his friends and awakened faster.

“….”

Haseong still often dreams of his friends from his school days. Every time that happened, he would feel indescribable regret. Although his past self did nothing, in fact, this body has the potential to become an S-Class hunter. In other words, he had the ability to protect his friends.

But how can a person predict their own future?

The probability of someone awakening as a hunter was always extremely low. So, Jung Haseong also never expected himself to become one of those rare awakened people.

He lived prioritizing safety for a while after the dungeon shock. He paid attention to government disaster alerts and conducted evacuation drills thoroughly. It was a relatively ordinary life.

However, it all ended a few years later, thanks to the kraken encountered some years ago.

One day, Jung Haseong awakened. He became Korea’s first S-Class Hunter.

Right after awakening, it was truly chaotic. Special reports in the news, visits from high-ranking officials from the Blue House whom he had only seen on TV…

Then he became a Hunter.

At first, there was a sense of burden from the sudden responsibility thrust upon him, but once he actually started the work, it wasn’t as bad as he had thought.

Is it because the awakening rank is so high? The hunting itself wasn’t particularly difficult, and the more monsters he captured, the more everyone appreciated him.

“Phew, thank you. Thank you so much!”

“I really survived thanks to Hunter-nim!”

Pride? Confidence?

He thought something like that happened at that time.

But one day.

The incident occurred.

“Wow~ the smell of truffles.”

A few years ago now.

Jung Haseong was sitting in a restaurant. In his mid-20s, he had come into a substantial amount of money, so what else would he do but spend it? He was dining out with his mother for the first time in a while, and he had just ordered a pasta dish that cost 150,000 won.

-Driiing.

[Association President☎]

However, just as he was about to have a bite to eat, he got a phone call.

“Hello?”

If he received a call from the association, there was usually only one reason.

“Ah, a gate? What grade? Ah, about B-Class.”

A request to handle a Blue Gate has come in. Due to the late discovery, there’s a gate near the dungeon break, so they’re requesting it be closed.

“Yes.”

At that time, the dungeon break conditions had not yet been properly explained. Many scientists thought “time” was the issue, but in reality, “density” was more crucial.

“It will explode in about a day? All right. I’ll be right there.”

The Association and Jung Haseong, unaware of the truth, became mistaken about the timing of the dungeon break. In a way, this became the starting point.

‘Let’s just eat and let’s go.’

Jung Haseong finished the pasta on his plate, feeling that there was no need to rush.

“Mom, what should I order for dessert…”

However, that was the moment. After finishing the meal, the phone rang again.

[Association President☎]

Without much thought, Jung Haseong answered the second call. But the content of the conversation that followed was shocking.

“The gate? Now?”

Dungeon break occurred. In just a few minutes.

The scene he hurriedly arrived at was as grim as expected. Collapsed buildings, people screaming, and the smell of iron mixed in the air. But above all, what was most horrific was the sight he saw the moment he set foot on the street.

“Aaaakh!”

At that moment, the black monster bit the person. Jung Haseong discovered this and ran straight away. If he uses the skill hastily, even the citizens will end up caught in the flames.

“Kieeng!”

He approached at an incredible speed and grabbed the monster by the snout. Soon, a scene unfolded where a neat-looking young man tore the monster apart with his bare hands. However, what emerged were screams, not cheers.

“Aaaaghhh!”

Heukgh.

Turning around, Jung Haseong involuntarily held his breath for a moment. The citizen he had rescued was screaming in pain. It was likely because of the pain from the injuries sustained by the monster’s bite. However, it was already too late to give treatment….

“Keugh…”

“A, are you alright? Wait, I’m sure I have a healing potion.”

Despite his trembling hands, Jung Haseong managed to take out the potion. He poured the expensive medicine onto the citizen’s abdomen, but the result remained unchanged.

“Heuk, heuk…”

This potion couldn’t repair a body that had been severed in half. In the end, the citizen couldn’t hold on for more than a few seconds and passed away. Yeah, in just a few seconds.

“….”

Jung Haseong paused as he watched the growing puddle of blood. Someone had just died right before his eyes. Just now. If only he had arrived a little sooner. If only it had been a few seconds earlier. Would this person have survived?

“Ugh…”

He broke into a cold sweat. Fortunately, he had snapped out of shock thanks to the association staff who had followed him, but what did it matter now?

After hastily resolving the dungeon break, Jung Haseong learned of this news at the joint funeral for the victims.

The man who died in front of him in just a few seconds… He was a person who had momentarily come out onto the street to buy the red bean bread that his pregnant wife was craving.

‘I.’

An unknown woman clutches her swollen belly and cries like a beast at the portrait. Somehow, it felt suffocating.

‘I must be crazy. I was crazy because I ate at that time. If only I had answered the phone and gotten up immediately, by now…’

In just a few seconds, that regrettable gap was exploited like a dagger. Looking back, it was around this time that he began to feel like he was being chased by something.

But, well. at least the last part of the nightmare wasn’t related to time.

“There was definitely an evacuation order.”

The problem is that this scene appears most often in dreams.

“Why are there people in the building…”

The power of an S-Class awakened person is often likened to a wave. No matter how much he carves and refines it, it creates unexpected ripples. That’s why when an S-Class is called upon to handle a dungeon break, they make sure to thoroughly evacuate the citizens.

“Just how.”

Did the civilians know they would die in such an event? Just for one wallet, they ignored the evacuation alarm. It wasn’t even a luxury item. Please, if government officials say something, just listen. Please…

“Ack!”

A young man’s screams rang out in the spacious hospital room.

“…Heuk.”

Waking up from the nightmare, Jung Haseong exhaled heavily. It seems like his body isn’t in good condition. Did he fall asleep again in the meantime?

“Missed call…”

He checked his phone, but there were no additional messages. Nevertheless, his heart didn’t stop pounding. It’s been like that every day lately.

‘It’s easier to stay inside the gate.’

The dungeon-running machine. That’s nice. At least while working, he didn’t have any thoughts, just like a machine.

After earning that nickname, strangely enough, his heart gradually dulled as well. So, feeling such intense anger like this is rare for him these days…

‘9am.’

Jung Haseong checked the time on his phone and then immediately put on his coat.

***

Seoul Indoor Gymnasium.

Dungeon Terror Refugee Shelter.

‘Interesting!’

In conclusion, Kim Kiryeo’s house collapsed. Well, not entirely, but halfway. Anyway, it’s a precarious situation where we don’t know when another collapse might occur, so I ended up being homeless for a while. Fortunately, the country provided temporary accommodation for people like me.

‘So this is a tent.’

Let’s see. According to the landlord, even if they hire awakened construction workers, it will take quite some time for the restoration…

‘I haven’t been doing magic research for a while.’

Srrrk.

I lay inside the tent.

I’ve made up my mind. For the time being, let’s focus on gathering information about Earth.

‘Anyway, as an alien, I’m always overflowing with curiosity. It’s just that time is always running short.’

But then.

Suddenly the smartphone screen changed. At the top, a familiar name appeared in white letters.

“Huh.”

This is a call from Hunter Seonwoo Yeon…

At this early hour? It’s rare.

“Hello?”

– Hunter Kim Kiryeo, can I talk to you right now?

As soon as I received the call, I had one thought.

“Has the culprit of the park attack finally been caught?”

I asked in a cheerful voice, but Seonwoo Yeon’s tone when she answered lacked energy.

– No. The police will contact you separately about that.

“Yes?”

– Anyway, what on earth have you done?

The atmosphere is unusual.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden…”

– About Jung Haseong. Jung Haseong! That person, since this morning, has been causing a commotion at the Association. He was just about to find out your home address, but I barely managed to stop him.

Oh my.

– He seems completely out of his mind.

“Hmm.”

– Moreover, because of the Hunter, I also heard something. Suddenly collapsing and demanding a reexamination… it was all so chaotic. 

It’s coming.

“I’ll explain it to you later… Anyway, Jung Haseong is in the association now, right?”

– Ah, yes.

“Okay.”

It’s something I imagined well enough. I was prepared from the moment I knocked out my opponent.

‘He’s not contacting me through the number I gave him before… Is he trying to come find me and pick a fight?’

I quickly prepared to leave. The current Jung Haseong was like a spark itself. I had to unravel the situation as quickly as possible.

“Ha, I’m not confident in my skills…”

Anyway, how did this happen?

In my past life, I solved most problems with my own strength. But can I be good at persuasion now?

‘When Earthlings beg, how do they usually do it?’

Yeah. Since it turned out like this, there’s nothing I can do about it. First of all, as soon as I see Jung Haseong, let’s hit him in the head!

I made a firm resolution and left the tent.

There was no other choice.

***

10 a.m. Hunter Association building.

‘When will he come!’

Seonwoo Yeon’s heart sank.

As soon as she arrived at work, didn’t she receive a scolding from the top-ranked Hunter? And to top it off, wasn’t it because of that F-Class Hunter that made Haseong angry?

‘The situation is unusual.’

Her head is pounding. The person involved is on their way here to handle the situation, but…

“Hmm.”

Seonwoo Yeon glanced briefly towards the back door. There stood the top-ranked hunter with a murderous look.

‘Will this ever be resolved?’

It’s a situation where she can’t simply leave the scene out of fear that a major accident might occur.

At that moment, a taxi pulled up near the annex alley. Shortly after, a familiar face got out from the back door.

“Kiryeo-ssi!”

Seonwoo Yeon ran straight to the opponent. And she whispered softly.

“What on earth is going on?”

Then the blonde hunter stopped bowing and spoke calmly.

“Actually, I forcibly knocked out Jung Haseong yesterday.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, it kind of happened.”

He muttered dryly, as if it were no big deal.

But Seonwoo Yeon couldn’t keep quiet. S-Class hunter, Jung Haseong, fainted…

Suddenly, an article from the past comes to mind.

“Again?!”

Now that she thinks about it, this guy is not a first-time offender!

Seonwoo Yeon found herself raising her voice without realizing it.

But no answer came back. The awakened person merely glanced at her with a bored expression. Because he stayed silent.

‘Ah.’

Soon, Kim Kiryeo walked toward the S-Class. Seonwoo Yeon thought as she watched them getting closer.

From what she had seen so far, both men had pretty good personalities.

Perhaps they will have a serious conversation with each other from now on. For a moment, she  had that hope.

-Hwiiik!

But right after this.

A gust of wind swept through the narrow backyard of the annex.

“Ugh!”

It was an attack from Jung Haseong.

As soon as Kim Kiryeo appeared before him, he released his attack without hesitation.

Seonwoo Yeon felt eerie as she saw the red traces left in the air. She hadn’t seen a sword being drawn, so where did it come from?

However, what was even more surprising was the response from the opponent.

A surprise attack that the B-Cass hunter wasn’t even aware of….

Kim Kiryeo responded flawlessly.

He lowered his stance in that brief moment!

“He avoided that…?”

Kim Kiryeo paused for a moment with his head bowed and knees bent in half before slowly raising his body.

“I did hold back my strength to test your abilities, but I never expected I wouldn’t even scratch you. Just who are you?”

Despite this attack, there was no sign of being shaken at all. Kim Kiryeo remained silent, didn’t even make a sound of breathing and just kept his eyes on Jung Haseong.