S Chapter 50

‘Am I really creating a narrative?’

…Hmm. They’ll attach crazy titles like ‘used abilities unconsciously to save the children,’ ‘one of the rare natural manifestors,’ ‘scheduled to awaken at 18,’ and so on. Then even my father won’t be able to touch me. The whole nation will be watching, and the Hunter Association will step forward to act as my guardian.

‘I just need to pass the final blow appropriately.’

Experiencing turning a crisis into an opportunity this way. Shin Jukyeong smiled slyly.

Meanwhile, while Shin Jukyeong was concocting various schemes, outside, as expected, chaos had erupted.

A newlywed couple’s child, a Hunter Academy student’s younger sibling, and two other teenagers had successively been swallowed by the Dungeon, making it perfect for media attention. The younger and more helpless the victims, the greater people’s sympathy. It would be very suitable for crafting sensational headlines. Already, complaints were resounding from all sides.

Hunter A, in charge of the sector, felt like biting his tongue and fainting. He thought it would be better to enter the Dungeon and get beaten by monsters. Right now, he was stomping his feet, on the verge of madness, wondering what to do.

Furthermore, incident piled upon incident, and soon real-time articles like were appearing. People reacted immediately. From ‘incompetent Association’ to the stigma of ‘murderer training group’ – the criticism escalated.

Hunter A turned his head toward a booth set up on one side. It was the waiting area for the victims’ families. It was also where ‘Mr. M,’ the subject of the article, sat handcuffed.

“You’re going through a lot.”

“Senior!”

Hunter A brightened and greeted his senior, Hunter B, who had just arrived at the scene. However, Hunter B’s expression was grim. He roughly ran his hands through his hair as he began to speak.

“We’re screwed. The pushed-in victim’s identity has been confirmed… Ha, he’s the only son of UA Group.”

“What?”

Hunter A’s face turned pale.

“The higher-ups are in a meeting too. It’s gotten complicated. It’s hard to say this, but…”

Hunter B glanced at the crowd of reporters surrounding them and lowered his voice.

“It wouldn’t be strange if a Dungeon elimination order had already been issued, but it keeps getting delayed. It’s all pressure coming from UA Group.”

“Then what do we do? We can’t even enter the Dungeon anyway.”

At his junior’s words, the senior made a face that said he was dying.

“I don’t know. There’s no way. We just have to eliminate the Dungeon and have someone take responsibility.”

“Surely not the Sector Chief…? Or the Association Chairman, gasp-!”

“Be quiet! You idiot!”

While the Hunters were racking their brains, the internet reaction was also heating up.

HOT!

Comments 999+

– OMG; victims keep increasing

– Why aren’t they saving them? What is the Association doing?

Because they’re incompetent, lol

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ They’re playing rock-paper-scissors and making a fuss, seems like no one wants to go in~~

I was at the scene, and the Hunters are trying. But they can’t enter the Dungeon. Please don’t invent facts and spread rumors. Don’t the Hunters also work hard to save you in emergencies?

– This is what happens when the leader is a . Is it the first or second time the Association has done a crappy job? Sigh, lol

– Aren’t they going to eliminate the Dungeon?

?????

It’s true that it should be closed before more victims appear.

They’re talking carelessly because it’s not their family.

Are you an Association official? Haha

– (Link) Look; they say one of the Dungeon victims was assaulted by another victim’s family and pushed into the Dungeon?

OMG

Yeah ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

It’s a Hunter Academy student (Link) Article out

The world is going crazy, seriously.

Before long, the Sector Chief Hunter, who managed the local district, appeared. He bowed his head to the many reporters and then briefed them on the current situation with clear pronunciation.

The briefing stated that despite persistent attempts, entry into the Dungeon was impossible, and considering that non-manifested individuals could suffer more damage, the Dungeon would be sealed and eliminated for public safety starting exactly at seven o’clock in the evening.

“Nooo!! Sob!”

“Sealing it?! No one has been rescued yet! Sealing it?!”

The victims’ families screamed in despair, and public opinion was split down the middle, igniting a fierce debate. Mostly, it was ‘Are they telling them to die like dogs?’ versus ‘It’s right to eliminate it before more sacrifices are made.’

Just then, another post appeared on the bulletin board.

Comments 1, 2, 3… 999+ NEW! The response was explosive. Subtly, everyone had been waiting for him. A mysterious problem-solver who could brilliantly resolve this frustrating situation.

“It’s boring.”

Yang U-dam, who was walking beside him, whined uncharacteristically.

“The smell is awful, and the ground is squishy.”

Complaints poured out non-stop. Shin Jukyeong scratched his cheek awkwardly.

‘Had he thought Dungeons ended in 5 or 10 minutes?’

A C-grade Dungeon usually takes about one to two hours to clear. And if you assume an ordinary person with no abilities goes through it, it would take twice as long.

‘Surviving before that is the problem, though.’

Anyway, only an S-rank or higher Hunter like himself could finish it in a short course. For reference, Shin Jukyeong’s shortest record was 36 seconds for a B-grade Dungeon. He blew it up as soon as he entered. He hadn’t done it on purpose; Eve had been thoroughly angry that day and had done it as an outlet for her frustration.

‘I want to do that even now… Damn it.’

As he walked silently, feeling regret, a serious fishy odor that stung his nose was detected. It smelled like fermented skate… Anyway, it was a foul smell.

Ugh! There was an immediate reaction from beside him. He turned to see Yang U-dam frowning. He bowed his head, his fine brow deeply furrowed. His nose must have been stinging. Shin Jukyeong understood. The pungent smell was quite potent. But if even that look felt cute, was he beyond help?

「Bro-con! Shin Jukyeong is going to be teased for being a bro-con now, nyah nyah!」

‘Oh, really? That’s what I wanted.’

A “Proud” thought bubble appeared over Shin Jukyeong’s head. Only Eve made retching sounds. That’s when it happened.

“What is this? …Damn it, ugh!”

Yang U-dam eventually covered his nose and mouth with his hand. It wasn’t him being overly sensitive; it was a perfectly normal reaction. In fact, enduring that much meant he was doing well. Some rookies who had just started their Hunter life had gagged upon smelling this. It was that kind of smell, hard to bear if you weren’t used to it.

To give an example… right. It would be like falling into a garbage can or a cesspit? And to the extent that it’s filled with piles of rotting fish.

‘They’re certainly terrible when it comes to smell.’

Shin Jukyeong knew the source of the stench. ‘Poisonous Toads.’ These monsters frequently appear in C-grade Dungeons, characterized by their fishy, rotten smell, and they are as fierce as they are dim-witted. They also possess a potent venom that can cause immediate death if a non-manifested individual, who has no resistance to poison, is bitten. Their cries are not a creepy “ribbit, ribbit” but rather “Hwaak! Hwaak!”

‘Ugh, how disgusting. There’s not a single thing I like about them.’

Shin Jukyeong frowned at the forms that appeared in the distance. Why did they have to come in a swarm?

“Step back.”

“…”

He waved his hand at his brother. Yang U-dam looked at him with a bewildered expression.

“Don’t forget they’re monsters, even if they look like that. You don’t want to die like a dog here, do you? Run to the other side.”

“Just me?”

‘Yes. Just you.’

‘…I want to say.’

Honestly, I’d like to wipe them all out. But then, it would seem strange to my brother. And if he went to Father or somewhere else and blabbed, ‘My brother caught all the Poisonous Toads,’ I’d be on the successor express train.

Damn it, just imagining it gives me chills. I can’t leave such a dishonor on my reputation as a compulsive liar. Shin Jukyeong brainwashed himself.

I am not healthy.

I am weak-boned.

I am not a Hunter.

‘Don’t act up, Shin Jukyeong.’

Always remember your uncooperative attitude towards a respectable life.

“No, together! Run!”

He hastily grabbed his brother’s wrist and ran. He felt pathetic for running away from mere Poisonous Toads, but he had no choice.

「Scaredy-cat? lol」

Ignoring Eve’s mockery, he ran enthusiastically. As he did, he subtly put Yang U-dam in front. Whenever Yang U-dam tried to look back, Shin Jukyeong would shout, pretending to be urgent, “Go faster!” or “Are you trying to kill me?” Yang U-dam, clenching his teeth, ran with curses as Shin Jukyeong bellowed.

‘Yes, you’re doing well. You shouldn’t look back.’

Shin Jukyeong, who had been watching his brother’s reaction, instantly turned his body. Whoosh! His left foot arced in a circle, and his upper body moved dynamically. In the dark Dungeon, only Shin Jukyeong’s eyes gleamed menacingly.