The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 107

106

Deep night, near the blockade.

I cautiously surveyed the area from behind a barricade made of stacked buses and cars.

The first thing I noticed was the swarming horde of monsters.

Hardly any of the roads or buildings within the zone were intact.

It had only been twelve hours since the dungeon appeared, but the scene was already so devastated that it was hard to believe it was Seoul.

‘Still, their aggression seems to have died down a lot.’

Holding my breath, I carefully observed the monsters.

Having had no targets for several hours, their activity seemed diminished.

Clearly, the quick blockade of the area was a very appropriate decision.

‘But… there are too many.’

At this rate, the zone would definitely be breached before the task force was even assembled, just as Choi Ho-sung had said.

「The current respawn rate is about one monster every five minutes. It’s been about twelve hours since the initial appearance, so there should be about 144 monsters in the zone.」

The voice came through the radio in my ear.

「Given the area of the blockade, the zone will be completely saturated if there are over 200 monsters. If we calculate, you’ll need to take down about 50 monsters before the task force is assembled.」

“That’s quite a lot.”

「Can you handle it alone? Why don’t you call Yubin?」

“Why would I wait? I can just quickly go in and out by myself.”

「…Suit yourself.」

She continued, sounding exasperated.

「Anyway, be careful. You might end up with all the monsters in the zone coming after you.」

“I understand.”

I leaped over the barricade.

Grrr―.

Several nearby monsters immediately reacted.

Keeping my eyes on them, I placed my backpack on the ground.

The weapons that Manager Lee Ah-young had hurriedly packed for me.

They’re all C-grade, but… well, it should be enough.

I quickly pulled out a sword from the backpack.

Kieeeeeek―!!

The monsters rushed at me as soon as they saw the weapon.

I took a deep breath.

[Acquired Skill: Limit Break]

[Temporarily exceeds all stats of the caster.]

[Acquired Skill: Over-Immersion]

[Greatly increases the effectiveness of all skills used by the caster during combat.]

[Acquired Skill: Fallen Angel]

[Temporarily greatly increases the caster’s magic power.]

[Magic power increase rate increased due to Over-Immersion skill.]

[Class Awakening]

[Unique Class: Magic Swordsman]

Soon, a blue light flashed on the sword.

[Acquired Skill: First Form – Sword Control]

[Acquired Skill: Destroyer]

Swish―

Kwaaang―!!!

With a light swing of the sword, a powerful explosion erupted in front of me, following the trajectory of the blade.

“One.”

Soon, an ear-splitting roar echoed throughout the zone.

***

Chief Director Choi Ho-sung was deep in thought, clutching his head.

He had been a bit stubborn in not wanting to call Kim Jun-woo, but the truth was, he lacked confidence.

After all, he had never been in charge of such a large-scale operation before.

But now, he couldn’t back down…

As announced during the meeting, he had the task force on standby.

All the guilds that had volunteered for the operation had also been assembled.

Roughly, the total number of personnel was about 250.

Considering the size of the operation zone and the number of monsters, it was still woefully inadequate, but… what could he do?

This was the only way.

All that remained was to enter that hell and proceed with the subjugation.

‘It’s almost time.’

As the operation time approached, Choi Ho-sung stood up from his seat.

Just as he was about to leave the office with a tense expression, Yoo Young-soo, his aide, urgently called out to him.

“C, Chief Director!”

“What is it? What’s wrong? Has something changed?”

“I, I don’t know if you’d call it a change, but…”

“……?”

“The number of monsters in the zone is decreasing.”

“……What?”

Aide Yoo Young-soo conveyed the information he had just received from the control team.

Chief Director Choi Ho-sung’s eyebrows twitched.

“What are you talking about? Why are the monsters decreasing? Are other guys already conducting a subjugation?”

“It’s possible that freelancers are moving in.”

“Those crazy bastards… don’t they understand the situation…?”

Chief Director Choi Ho-sung clicked his tongue.

To crawl into a zone where even the headquarters task force had retreated. Are they so blinded by money that they don’t value their lives?

“Those damn bastards. Deploy all the guys on standby right now!”

“Sir… shouldn’t we just leave them alone? If the number of monsters keeps decreasing like this, we can safely wait until the task force is assembled…”

“If casualties occur, they’ll blame everything on us! No, even if the freelancers succeed in the subjugation, it’s a problem. What will people think of the Association!”

Yoo Young-soo shut his mouth at Chief Director Choi Ho-sung’s outburst.

There was no room for argument.

Just as he was about to rush to the task force, someone called out.

“Just a moment!”

This time, Team Leader Hwang Dong-hui from the control team sought out Choi Ho-sung.

“What is it now!”

“I don’t think we need to deploy.”

“What?! Why are you guys talking nonsense since a while ago……”

“It’s not that freelancers are subjugating the monsters in the zone, but that the monsters are attacking each other.”

Choi Ho-sung’s eyes narrowed.

“What are you talking about?”

“Since there haven’t been any targets for a long time and the population is increasing, it seems like they’re fighting each other for territory.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I went to the site and confirmed it myself.”

Team Leader Hwang Dong-hui replied in a firm voice.

“So, I think we can hold out until the task force is assembled without having to force a subjugation.”

“……That’s a relief then.”

He said he confirmed it himself, so I guess I can believe it.

Of course, I felt relieved, but it was still too early to rest easy.

“Tell the task force to stay on standby, and Hwang Team Leader, keep observing the zone. Contact me immediately if there are any unusual circumstances.”

“Understood.”

As Team Leader Hwang Dong-hui left, Choi Ho-sung let out a sigh of relief.

Of course, he felt a sense of unease about the sudden, strange situation.

***

Team Leader Hwang Dong-hui, after leaving the office, let out a faint sigh.

He immediately took out his phone and made a call.

“I’ve stopped the headquarters deployment. You’ll be alone in the zone for a while now, so handle it without any mistakes.”

「What should we do with the cleanup?」

“Just throw them to the monsters as food.”

「Understood.」

After finishing the call, he moved again.

Hwang Dong-hui.

A member of the Seoul Headquarters Control Team and a direct subordinate of Team Leader Pyeon Chang-hyeon.

And a field worker belonging to the PB Corporation Balance Adjustment Team, the head of the Korean division.

Since he was in charge of managing and supervising the field workers in the Korean division, he rarely moved himself.

At most, it was just receiving instructions and monitoring specific individuals… but this time, the situation was different.

Team Leader Marc had entrusted this operation directly to him.

‘He must have been grinding his teeth for this operation.’

He recalled the meeting with Team Leader Marc a few days ago.

He handed over the operation file along with the processed anti-magic stone, instructing him to deal with Kim Jun-woo while the hunters were being assembled in response to the appearance of the respawn dungeon.

The judgment was that Kim Jun-woo’s personality would inevitably lead him to participate in the dangerous dungeon.

It was less risky and had the highest chance of success to handle it discreetly in the midst of everyone’s confusion.

Hwang Dong-hui began preparing for the operation by visiting each field worker, including Yang Min-ho, and delivering the necessary items.

But who would have expected the Association to blow up just before the dungeon appeared.

‘Who would have expected that, damn it.’

He had to somehow get Kim Jun-woo to participate in the operation, but even Choi Ho-sung was interfering, so there was no other way.

Just when he thought he would have to back down without even being able to do anything, an unexpected opportunity arose.

While checking the CCTV cameras remaining in the zone today, he discovered Kim Jun-woo conducting a subjugation alone.

Thinking this was the perfect opportunity, Hwang Dong-hui immediately decided to proceed with the operation.

Being alone in a blockade zone swarming with hundreds of monsters.

It was the perfect opportunity.

But Team Leader Marc’s reaction was somehow lukewarm.

-That guy is more dangerous when he’s alone. I told you before. He’s the type who would rather have someone provoke him.

-Besides, he’s an Irregular. We don’t know anything about his class or skills, so we don’t know what variables there might be.

Hwang Dong-hui couldn’t understand.

He understood that it was unsettling because he was an Irregular, but wasn’t that why they were provided with the anti-magic stone?

Since he was an ability user after all, everything would be useless in front of the anti-magic stone, so what was he so anxious about?

‘……Tsk.’

Well, it couldn’t hurt to be careful.

He took out his phone again.

“Are you on your way?”

Then he called Yang Min-ho.

「Yes. I’m almost there.」

“You pull out. I have something else for you to do.”

「What is it?」

“Well… I’m going to take out some insurance.”

Hwang Dong-hui conveyed several instructions.

Just then, heavy rain began to fall from the night sky, accompanied by thunder and lightning.

***

Blockade zone, near Seocho Station.

[Acquired Skill: Haste Railgun]

Zzzzz―.

Paang―!

At the same time as the blue beam flashed, the gun I brought shattered.

‘Tsk, that’s why you need to use good weapons.’

There was no time to complain for long.

I immediately took out the next weapon and moved my body.

“How many are left?”

「28 left.」

Wow, seriously, still?

‘I should have brought someone with me…….’

It had already been several hours since I started subjugating non-stop.

Of course, I didn’t think it would be easy… but it’s harder than I thought.

It’s not just my stamina, but the rain is narrowing my field of vision.

The situation isn’t great, but I can’t back out now…….

[Acquired Skill: Hyper Boost]

[Greatly increases the caster’s movement speed during combat.]

Paang―!

I accelerated as much as possible and deliberately lured the monsters into narrow paths.

Since I can’t handle dozens of monsters at once, I have to move a lot and proceed with the subjugation so they can’t swarm from all directions.

I moved between buildings, confusing the monsters.

[Starting the safety device release sequence for the S-rank skill.]

[Checking activation conditions.]

[Confirming caster identity.]

[Checking caster’s rank.]

[Checking combat status.]

[Activation conditions have been confirmed.]

[The safety device for the skill has been released.]

[Use the skill with caution.]

[Acquired Skill: Rolling Paper]

[The target designated by the caster will move according to the command for 10 minutes.]

“Bite anything that moves.”

As soon as the command was given, the surrounding monsters rushed towards their own kind.

Taking advantage of the gap while they were attacking each other, I quickly hid in an alley.

“Huk, huk…….”

I wanted to proceed as quickly as possible, so I spammed S-rank skills, which rapidly put a strain on my body.

‘Now 24…….’

As I recalled the number again, Lee Ah-young’s voice came from the radio.

「Hey! Are you okay?」

“…I’m fine.”

「I don’t think this is going to work anymore. Retreat now. Or I’m going to call for support!」

“Don’t do that, let’s do a little more.”

「You’re going to die!」

Just as I was hearing her agitated nagging, it happened.

Tat―.

A group that appeared from somewhere surrounded me.

‘What is this again.’

Looking at the six or so people, I asked Lee Ah-young.

“Did you already call for support?”

「No? What’s wrong? Is there a problem?」

“……Nothing.”

The only guys who would come looking for me in this situation without being called are…….

Well, there’s only one, right?

“Are you guys from the International Association?”

Of course, there was no answer.

Well, I thought they might come back since they failed once before…… but I didn’t expect them to come in such a large group.

“Judging by the looks of it, you’re not here to help me. Why, do you think you can kill me this time since I’m alone?”

“…….”

“…….”

Still silent.

「What is it? What’s going on?! Answer me…!」

I pulled out the wireless earphone and threw it on the ground.

I didn’t think I would have the time or the leeway to explain.

“The situation is a bit like this… but I have a lot of questions to ask you guys. Well, putting everything else aside… why are you targeting me?”

“…….”

“That’s right, damn it. I didn’t expect anything.”

Of course.

There’s no way they’d answer when they’re standing here with all their limbs intact.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

[Acquired Skill: Thunder Fist]

[Powerful lightning occurs with all of the caster’s melee attacks.]

As I got into an attack stance, what they took out was… guns.

Not ability-wielding guns, but regular guns.

Looking at the gun barrels pointed directly at me, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s ridiculous. What did you even bring……”

Without looking any further, I rushed towards them.

Blue lightning enveloped my entire body.

The moment I swung my fist with all my might towards one of them.

Taang―!

A single gunshot rang out in the air.

“……?”

I belatedly realized that something was wrong.

‘What the hell.’

I felt a tingling pain in my lower abdomen.

[Acquired Skill: Low Panic]

[Skill casting in progress]

The defense skill I had been constantly maintaining was still active.

Even though it was a low-level defense skill, there’s no way it couldn’t stop a bullet.

‘But how……?’

Then came the déjà vu [a feeling of having already experienced the present situation].

Yes.

I had felt this sensation before.

The day I died, just before the regression [returning to a previous state].

It was the same as when I was attacked by the thugs.

“Kill him.”

At that moment, someone opened their mouth.

[Unique Skill: Guillotine]

At the same time, a thug who took out two huge swords rushed towards me.

Swish―.

Something fell off.

[Hidden Skill: Karma]

[Skill effect activated]