Episode 72. My Hyeong (1)
There was no need to use the Heavenly Eyes or track him with the Ki I had trained for in the last two years. Kim Seung-hyun appeared in front of me by chance, just like when I met him while I was jogging in my past life.
“Thank you so much…….”
The five golems were no match for me, and the children were safely rescued. The support team showed up and quickly cleared up the Rift, so there weren’t as many casualties as expected.
But all of that wasn’t my concern.
“You don’t need to thank me.”
Right now, this man here who was bowing for 30 minutes to say thank you for saving him, his teammates, and the children; this man, who introduced himself under the familiar name of ‘Kim Seung-hyun’, was the focus of my attention.
“Mr. Zhang Wei? Can you heal this person here? He hurt his leg a lot.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Hunter Zhang Wei? I-I’m your fan. It’s an honor. But it’s okay. There are a lot of hurt people aside from me. I’m an awakener, so I can manage. You should take a look at other people…….”
“Stop moving, or your bones will heal all wrong.”
“Oh, okay.”
Looking at Kim Seung-hyun worrying about others while blood was pouring out of his leg, Zhang Wei smiled and spoke sharply. Kim Seung-hyun became silent, and within a few seconds, the blood stopped and the long, ripped wound disappeared. No matter how many times I saw it, his healing was always phenomenal.
I looked at Kim Seung-hyun while he turned his ankle around in wonder and spoke quietly.
“You did a great job today. If it weren’t for you, all of those young children would have died.”
“Oh, no. I just did what I had to do. And if you didn’t come, it would have been a big disaster. It’s all thanks to you. Hahahaha.”
He was just as humble as the Kim Seung-hyun I knew.
But right now, Kim Seung-hyun had a warm heart. The Kim Seung-hyun, who was called the Martial God during the Five Hero days, spoke stiffly in a stern voice and seemed somewhat worn out.
“No, a lot of hunters abandon civilians when they’re in danger. Not everyone can do what you did, Mr. Kim Seung-hyun.”
“…….”
“So, I was really impressed by you. So much that I’d love to work with you sometime, as long as you are capable.”
“Oh, it’s an honor.”
“Can I have your number, please? You don’t know what might happen.”
“Oh, of course. Yes.”
I exchanged numbers with Kim Seung-hyun, who kept thanking me.
He saved my number as ‘Hunter Jeong Si-woo’, and I saved his number under ‘My Hyeong’.
* * *
My daily life didn’t change much since I found Kim Seung-hyun. When Rifts appeared, I joined the raids and added them to my track record. And sometimes, I discovered dungeons based on my memories of the future and won peoples’ applause. They said that Jeong Si-woo could solve everything, that I was a lucky symbol.
However, after the brief encounter, my schedule did change a bit.
“Were you training again today?”
“Oh, Si-woo. You’re here.”
Whenever I had time, I visited Kim Seung-hyun and watched him train. It was my new routine.
‘He’s definitely a lot less skilled than I remember.’
I had met him earlier than I was supposed to. Naturally, he was different from what I remembered.
‘But his basic skills are really solid.’
His strong points were still the same. The basic skills he slowly built up. And his unique martial arts that was being developed soundly based on them.
Thanks to his basic skills, the Martial God never stopped progressing, although his progress was sometimes slow. That was Kim Seung-hyun’s biggest advantage.
“But aren’t you busy? Is it okay for you to come here this often?”
“It’s okay. I’ve made enough money, and emergency Rift situations don’t happen every day.”
Kim Seung-hyun seemed uncomfortable around me at first. But since I visited him so often, he started to treat me like a close younger brother and talked comfortably. I liked it better this way. His friendliness was a lot better than him stiffly saying “Yes, Mr. Analyst,” as he did in the past. And it would also help Kim Seung Hyun’s characteristics to be fully activated.
[But does he really have that characteristic written on the memo?]
“Yes.”
The Traveler asked, and I replied in a whisper so Kim Seung-hyun wouldn’t hear.
[Hm, hm. What a peculiar characteristic. What kind of disposition must you have to manifest a characteristic like that? He must have been born with a good heart.]
“…….”
[And the Ki coming from him and his physique are quite extraordinary. He would have become a great warrior if he was born in Moorim.]
The Traveler seemed to like Kim Seung-hyun among the five heroes especially. Well, he was a very likable person.
“Ugh, umfh!”
“Oh, Seung-hyun Hyeong!”
I was distracted and talking with the Traveler when Kim Seung-hyun groaned and sat down. He had been swinging his shield and turning his waist.
His shield fell to the floor with a clang, and he frowned and breathed heavily.
“You shouldn’t swing your shield that hard. I said you could get hurt.”
“Oh… I thought this would work better.”
“Don’t put too much force into it. Swing it smoothly, as if you are deflecting an attack…….”
I took his shield and showed him by demonstrating myself. Kim Seung-hyun spoke in wonder.
“Wow, you’re like my old mentor.”
“…….”
“I heard you are an amazing Analyst, and I guess it was true. How could you use the shield so perfectly after watching me a few times? Incredible.”
‘Sorry, but I actually trained for two years.’
I held back from telling him. And I asked Kim Seung-hyun, whose eyes were sparkling, a question.
There was something I wanted to know.
“Your mentor? You had a mentor who taught you how to use the shield?”
His relationship with Chun Myeong-suk, which he didn’t properly tell me about when I was an Analyst.
“What kind of person is he?”
All I heard was a fraction. Chun Myeong-suk said he took pity on Kim Seung-hyun and simply taught him a few techniques. And Kim Seung-hyun didn’t tell me anything decisive. But wouldn’t the current Kim Seung-hyun tell me something?
“He was just a good person.”
But he was no different now. I frowned, unsatisfied with the ambiguous answer. And watching me frown, Kim Seung-hyun smiled and added.
“And someone who forgave me for my big mistake.”
* * *
I helped Kim Seung-hyun’s training for a bit and then returned to the lodgings. And I approached Han Yeon-soo, who was lying about as usual, and casually tossed her a document.
“What kind of document is this? It’s been a while since we lived together. Are we finally getting married?”
“No.”
Unhappy with my firm reply, Han Yeon-soo blew up her cheeks. Then, she began to read the document slowly. Her face soon turned pale.
“You’re applying for the Monster Field?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
Han Yeon-soo’s hands shook slightly.
“Even experienced hunters become disabled or end up dead after a week in the Monster Field. I hunted there for a while back in the day, and I left because I didn’t think the place fit for anyone.”
“I know.”
“Is it because you want to be a hero? You already are. You’re the lucky symbol, the best rookie—Jeong Si-woo!”
“No, it isn’t that.”
“Then what is it? You don’t need any more money.”
“I need to build up my track record to become a 1st class hunter. And I need more experience to become stronger quickly.”
“At this rate, you’ll get promoted in two more years. Why are you in such a hurry?”
Tap tap.
I tapped the table a couple of times.
“I’m going to establish a big guild.”
“…What?”
“Unless it’s a small- or medium-sized guild, the guild leader must be a certified 1st class hunter or a hunter with more than 15 years of experience to create a big guild. Or the leader has to be an outstanding person who the Association vouches for.”
“I know, but you suddenly want to create a big guild?”
“Yeah.”
“You need at least 100 members. What, are you going to hire regular hunters?”
“If I gather all the talented people I know, I’ll have over 300 members, not 100.”
Han Yeon-soo bit her lower lip. It wasn’t that I didn’t understand how she felt. She had experienced the Monster Field herself, so she knew how dangerous it was.
“Han Yeon-soo, do I look weak enough to die at the Monster Field?”
“To be honest, yes, you do. I think you’ll die in less than a month. On the internet, people won’t stop saying that a rookie unfortunately died. And I can already see myself crying alone on the floor.”
“Ha, hahahaha.”
“Why are you laughing?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Yeah, right now, the Monster Field was the most dangerous area in the world. But I survived places three to four times worse when I was as weak as a civilian.
The hunters around me used to ask me how on earth I survived.
“I won’t die. Unless a monster shows up that can blow up half of the world as soon as it appears and can destroy a country with a single motion, I won’t die.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ll find out later.”
Leaving a confused Han Yeon-soo behind, I smiled quietly. I had always planned to go to the Monster Field.
The Monster Field.
A land where an unusual amount of Rifts appeared that was abandoned due to its poor environment.
Just like its name, it was the territory of monsters.
Parts of North Korea, Africa, Greenland, and Antarctica…….
The reason why I wanted to go to the land people called the hunters’ grave was simple. If I didn’t reduce the Monster Field right now, it would cause big trouble later on.
And establishing a big guild was essential to keep talented people in my grasp.
Additionally, if I became a 1st class hunter, I could have some say in the Association.
It was risky and dangerous, but there were numerous advantages if I succeeded.
“And why are you so worried? I’m not going alone.”
“You’re not going alone? Then who are you taking with you?”
Han Yeon-soo glanced at me.
“Don’t worry. It isn’t you.”
“I didn’t expect it.”
Han Yeon-soo had begun to grumble lately. She hmphed.
“So, who is it?”
“Just someone.”
I laughed softly at the question.
“Someone I’m training these days.”
“……?”
“Soon, he’ll become the best hunter in the world. He’ll reach the very top.”
I couldn’t take him with me right now, but if I trained him just a little… Then, after clearing a few Monster Fields, Kim Seung-hyun would be more famous than me in Korea.
“Oh, who is it? What’s their name? Tell me!”
I ran away from the clinging Han Yeon-soo and took out my cell phone to make a call.
“Oh, Seung-hyun Hyeong. Do you have any future schedules set?….. Oh. I have something to say to you in person. I’ll be right there. Wait for me.”
Before establishing a big guild, I needed to make a star hunter.
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