The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 1

“Hunter Kim Junwoo! How do you feel about achieving the world’s first SSS-rank?”

“You reached the top of the world in just one year after achieving the No. 1 hunter ranking in Korea! What are your future goals?”

“I heard you received a scout offer from the International Hunter Association. Is that true?”

“I heard this dungeon is classified as ultra-high risk. Can you say something about your determination before the subjugation [dungeon clearing]?”

“If you could give a word of advice to the junior hunters who are looking up to you, Hunter Kim Junwoo?”

I cleared my throat in front of the microphones rushing at me like crazy.

It had been a while since my last operation.

I don’t remember telling everyone about it, but the front of the dungeon was already crowded with reporters gathered like a flock of birds.

It was quite rare for me to participate in subjugation in the past year, so today must have been an opportunity they couldn’t miss.

“I’m sorry. I will provide detailed answers through the association later. I want to focus only on subjugation for now.”

The reaction was as expected.

It wasn’t the answer they wanted, but their expressions were satisfied.

Just being able to have my voice on the media would be a great achievement for them.

Of course, it wouldn’t be polite to end it like this.

“One thing I can clearly say is that my team and I prioritize the safety of citizens above all else. This will not change in the future.”

A model answer delivered in a serious voice.

The reporters looked at each other and then put away the microphones they had been pushing forward.

“Then, goodbye.”

With that one word, they eventually hesitated and opened the way.

My subordinates and I, Team 1, approached the dungeon entrance along that path.

The surroundings, which had resembled a marketplace, had become solemn at some point.

No one blocked the way or asked questions anymore.

Well, it was only natural.

The 16 top-ranked hunters in Korea selected for today’s subjugation.

The heavy tension lingering among them.

No one could dare to stop those who risked their lives to protect the citizens…….

“Hunter Kim Junwoo! Do you have anything to say about the recent ‘cleaning team assault incident’?”

A loud voice from behind broke the silence and flew towards me.

“……Excuse me?”

I doubted my ears at the voice containing very embarrassing content and reflexively turned my head.

“You know, the incident where you assaulted a dungeon cleaning team employee. I heard you slammed him against the wall?”

“What are you…….”

“Hey~ I understand you want to pretend you don’t know, but I’ve heard about it too. Well, the person who got hit by the hunter is someone I know.”

A young man smiled with anger.

“Wow, but being the world’s No. 1 is amazing. To beat up someone old enough to be your father and not even have a single article about it.”

“…….”

I unconsciously tightened my eyes.

The gazes of the remaining reporters all focused on us at once.

I immediately put on a calm smile.

“That’s an unpleasant rumor.”

I barely managed to spit out an answer and turned away.

I tried to ignore the young man and stepped into the dungeon as if running away, but…….

“Anyway, good luck with today’s subjugation, Hunter Kim Junwoo.”

His voice followed me to the end.

***

The Korea Otherworld Dimension Management Association.

Commonly known as the Association.

An organization established to protect the country and its citizens from emerging dungeons and monsters.

The association gathered talented people with otherworldly powers and created four teams for dungeon subjugation.

Among them, those who are in charge of actual subjugation are the operation teams, commonly known as hunters.

Among them, the most elite is ‘Operation Team 1’.

A total of 50 members.

Each team member is a hunter competing for the top ranks in Korea.

The strongest team in Korea, boasting a 100% success rate.

And the leader of that team is…….

「World’s First SSS-Class Hunter Kim Junwoo, Actually an SSS-Class Assault Hunter? – See Full Article」

“Who is that guy?”

A furious voice echoed in the car speeding down the highway.

“What’s wrong? You finished the subjugation well.”

A short-haired woman sitting in the driver’s seat.

Director Lee, a member of the support team and my exclusive assistant, glanced at me through the rearview mirror and opened her mouth.

Her tone was still flat, without any emotion.

“Are you asking because you don’t know? I told you not to let that out, didn’t I?”

“I did.”

“But where did the story leak from?! The internet is all messed up!”

“…….”

I threw the phone I was holding onto the passenger seat.

Even so, Director Lee stared straight ahead without blinking an eye.

「World-Class Hunter, Personality Controversy」

「Verbal Abuse and Assault on Dungeon Cleaning Team! Kim Junwoo, What’s His True Colors?」

「Not the First Time? Testimonies Pouring Out」

「Acting Like a ‘Hero’ in Front, ‘Bullying’ Behind」

「‘World’s Strongest’ on the Chopping Block, Association Consistently ‘Didn’t Know’」

「Center of Controversy, Kim Junwoo. Concerns Over Failure of International Hunter Association Scout」

Articles with sensational titles filled the phone screen.

However, it seemed that they had not yet investigated the details, and only speculation and suspicion were rampant.

But the tens of thousands of comments showed a consistent reaction.

Criticism and insults poured out on me as if they had made a promise.

In just a few hours, my job had changed from a hunter to an ‘X-ter’ [someone who has done something controversial].

“Which media does that reporter belong to? Korea Daily? Central Daily?”

“He’s not a reporter.”

“……What?”

“He’s not a reporter, he’s an ordinary citizen.”

“What are you talking about? How does a non-reporter know about that?”

“I heard he’s the son. The son of Park Geuntae, the leader of the dungeon cleaning team.”

Damn it.

I swept my hair back as if squeezing my head.

“The problem isn’t just this incident. Testimonies about previous incidents are pouring out, fueled by the current public opinion. It will probably continue to worsen. Rest at home for a while. Anyway, there are no operation schedules for the future, so think of it as a vacation…….”

“Director Lee.”

I leaned forward and made eye contact with Director Lee through the rearview mirror.

“You know, I hate guys who block my way the most.”

“I know.”

“If you know, solve it somehow. It’s over if things get any bigger here.”

“……I’ll try.”

She answered with a nonchalant tone and a face that still showed no reaction.

Ugh, it’s not like I’m talking to a machine…….

“Okay, what does the association president say?”

Since there was nothing more I could do at the moment, I immediately brought up another story.

“He doesn’t say anything special. He’s busy with the International Association scout. Well, he’s trying to wait until things calm down…….”

“That’s ridiculous. The fact that he doesn’t say anything means he just doesn’t want to talk to me. Who knows? He might cut ties soon.”

“……Is that so.”

“Ha, how many achievements have I stuck in that guy’s throat? If he comes out like this, I won’t stand still.”

“Nothing will happen. No matter how bad public opinion is, the rank won’t change. The scout won’t fail.”

“Of course, it should.”

I threw my back against the back seat and answered.

I stared blankly at the streetlights passing quickly outside the window.

When I checked the article right after the subjugation, I felt an indescribable anger rising up.

The team members were busy stopping me from finding the reporter, forcibly pushed me into the car, and even asked Director Lee to go straight to the association without going astray.

I’ve calmed down a bit since then, but that doesn’t mean my anger has subsided.

The youngest hunter in Korea.

The first S-class in Korea.

The world’s first SSS-class.

No. 1 in Korea, No. 1 in the world.

Even the scout offer from the International Hunter Association.

The modifiers I had completed over several years had become scraps of paper in an instant, so it would be strange if I could hold back my anger.

Still, I admit he has guts. To think of blocking my way.

Of course, the price will definitely be…….

“So, why did you do that?”

In the midst of being lost in thought, Director Lee broke the silence and opened her mouth.

“I told you. That guy grabbed me by the collar first, didn’t he?”

“I mean, why did you get grabbed by the collar? You didn’t usually have a good opinion of the cleaning team, but you’ve never clashed so directly.”

“……I don’t know. I don’t even remember.”

Director Lee didn’t answer.

Looking at her expression, she didn’t seem to have any intention of asking more.

“Anyway, when we get to the association, that Park… Park……. Ah, what’s his name?”

“Team Leader Park Geuntae.”

“Yeah, that guy. Bring him to me.”

“……Any reason?”

“I need to fix the appearance. I need to create a justification that we agreed.”

“Okay.”

“Tsk, this guy and that guy, they don’t leave the talented ones alone…….”

Momentarily looking at the front.

“Hey, hey!! In front!!”

A truck driving in the opposite lane crossed the center line and rushed towards us.

Screech―!

Director Lee’s curse and the ear-splitting sound of brakes were heard together, and my body leaned sharply to one side.

The moment the headlights of the truck rushing in at a terrifying speed completely devoured my vision.

“Time out!”

[Acquired Skill: Time Out]

[Skill Activated]

Bright light emanated from my fingertips.

At the same time, the truck stopped abruptly in its place, and Director Lee barely managed to turn the car in the gap.

“Haa, haa…….”

Even the almighty Director Lee was genuinely embarrassed this time, constantly letting out rough breaths.

It wasn’t just close, it was not enough to describe it.

If it had been a second later, I would have been covered in blood on the asphalt.

No, first of all, aside from that…….

That truck didn’t even think of stopping.

“What! Is that guy drunk?!”

“……I, I don’t know.”

“I’m already in a bad mood, so wait here. I’m going to see that guy’s face.”

I hurriedly got out of the car and slammed the door shut.

I strode towards the truck that was stopped diagonally in the middle of the road.

Bang!!

Suddenly, the world turned upside down.

The ground seemed to be in the sky and the sky seemed to be on the ground, and at first I thought it was dizziness.

‘Uh……?’

It felt like a few seconds had passed.

The world was still upside down and the dizziness didn’t seem to be getting better.

Only then did I realize what had happened to me.

‘What……?!’

I was floating in the sky now.

Whether my body was turned or my neck was turned, my vision was spinning.

Then, what came into my eyes was another truck that crossed the center line and rushed in.

‘Did they all take drugs together today?’

The moment that thought flashed through my head.

Bang, bang.

Bang, bang, bang.

Five?

Or maybe six.

My body continued to fly in the air according to that number, and as soon as I barely touched the floor after a short flight.

Tang―

Kwaaang―!

Peobeobeobeong―!!!

All kinds of firearms, including guns and bombs, poured out.

“……Keuheok.”

Still, seeing that my consciousness was not turned off, I thought that I was not dead.

I fought more than a thousand times in dungeons where life and death came and went.

I don’t die with this much.

I seriously thought so.

Click―

A blue muzzle aimed at my head.

Until I saw the subjugation-use otherworld operation firearm ‘Titan’ [a powerful weapon].

‘That’s a bit dangerous……!’

The gunshot was not heard.

Blackout as it is.

***

In the dark darkness that seemed to swallow everything.

[Fatal damage detected to lungs, heart, liver, brain, and other organs]

[Cardiac arrest confirmed]

[Calculating resuscitation probability]

[Resuscitation probability: 0%]

[Your death has been confirmed.]

A voice that digs into my head rather than my ears.

[Due to your death, the hidden skill acquisition condition has been met.]

[Hidden Skill: Karma]

[Returns to 10 years ago due to hidden skill]

[After regression, the job will be assigned according to the karma of the previous life.]

[Assigning job]

[Job assignment completed]

[Your job belongs to the Korea Otherworld Dimension Management Association]

[Assigned to the dungeon cleaning team.]