The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 230

229

“Ugh…….”

“Kkeueuk…!”

A cabin deep in the mountains.

From inside the shattered building, barely recognizable as a cabin, came the strained groans of many.

“…….”

I stared silently at the ten hunters sprawled on the floor.

At first, whether it was due to overconfidence or simply wanting to show off their skills, they had rushed at me indiscriminately… But such a disorganized attack could never work against me.

What surprised me, however, was what came next.

After realizing that fighting individually was hopeless, they divided their positions by class and began to coordinate their attacks.

All ten of them were strangers to each other today. They had never been on a raid together, nor did they know what skills each of them possessed.

Without any prior information or practice, they quickly assessed each other’s strengths and perfectly executed their roles.

‘So, even when rotten, a dried crucian carp is still a crucian carp…’ [An idiom meaning that someone retains their skills or qualities even after a long period of decline.]

Perhaps because they were former members of the operations team, their sense for combat was definitely good.

Above all, they didn’t hesitate to use their strength.

Well, they were already criminals who had crossed the line, so it was only natural.

The individual combat power is only about C-grade level, but that’s not really important.

Because what I’m trying to create isn’t an operations team.

‘If I train them well, they could be useful.’

Of course, I can’t end it with just this.

This is just education, after all.

I need to firmly imprint the hierarchy so that they don’t even think about baring their teeth at me.

“Is this it?”

So I deliberately provoked them.

“Frankly, you’re far below my expectations. Were you just bluffing when you said you’d kill me with just this?”

“Keuk…!”

“What the hell? Who is that bastard…….”

“There was a guy like that in the Association…?”

Their faces were mixed with bewilderment, anger, and complex emotions.

“I can’t help but feel disgusted when I think that you were intoxicated with a sense of superiority, as if you were something special, and committed crimes with that pathetic power……”

I openly criticized them for being pathetic.

“In the end, you can’t even make a peep in front of someone stronger than you.”

“……!”

“Y-you bastard…!”

As expected, they reacted immediately.

They rose again and took a fighting stance.

I smiled.

[Unique Skill: Demon King – Dictator]

Black currents began to erupt.

[Creates a disposable skill based on the caster’s thoughts.]

[Skill creation in progress.]

[Skill creation complete.]

[Panic Room]

The black currents that flowed out wrapped around them, creating a small space.

They were momentarily bewildered by the unfamiliar space.

[Unique Skill: Ghost Sword – Hyakki Yagyō] [Hyakki Yagyō refers to a Japanese folklore concept of a nightly parade of demons.]

[Unique Skill: High Enchant]

[Unique Skill: Master of Voodoo]

The skills poured out at me.

[Unique Skill: Demon King – Awakening]

[Awakening skill has been activated.]

[From this moment on, the caster transcends the existing class.]

[Awakened Class: Absolute Monarch]

In response, I swung my hand like a knife in the air.

Saaak—!

“……!”

“……!!”

Their heads were separated from their bodies.

[Panic Room – Effect terminated]

[All events revert to before the Panic Room.]

“Keoeok…!!”

“Heoeok, heoeok…….”

“Cough, cough!!”

Soon, the black currents that had enveloped them disappeared.

Regaining their senses, they clutched at their necks and vomited. Some were shedding tears, and others had wet their pants.

Perhaps because they had indirectly experienced death, they were all completely stunned and trembling.

‘This should be enough.’

Having tasted death, fear must be etched deep into their bones.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you attacking?”

“…W-wrong…….”

“I-I’m sorry…!”

“I’ll follow you no matter what!”

As expected, the effect was good, and they all lowered their stance, having lost their will to fight.

I smiled in satisfaction at the sight.

But only for a moment.

“By the way…….”

I shifted my gaze to the man who had been sitting far away with an indifferent expression since earlier.

Unlike the other hunters, he didn’t seem interested in the hierarchy, and he didn’t participate in the battle, only watching to see how things would turn out.

“Aren’t you going to fight?”

“I’m good.”

He waved his hand as if he had become Hong Du-sik [Referring to a character known for being a jack-of-all-trades and not particularly ambitious].

“Why waste energy before the work even starts? I can tell you’re stronger than me, so I’ll just pass.”

“You’re wiser than you look.”

“Don’t sugarcoat it. I’m just scared.”

He chuckled.

Well, that’s what he said.

I can tell just by looking.

That man is much stronger than the ten here.

‘He was even the leader of the operations team…’

It’s absurd to say that such a person is scared.

He’s just not interested.

‘I wanted to see his skills on this occasion.’

Too bad.

But I can’t force someone who doesn’t want to fight to fight.

“Well, let’s end the first training here.”

It seemed that the hierarchy had been established to some extent, so I moved on to the next step.

“The next course is practical training.”

“…Yes, yes?”

“Practical training, you say…….”

The hunters wore puzzled expressions.

“For the next month, you will be dispatched as dungeon and street cleaners.”

“……?”

“…Cleaning?”

“Well, cleaning is, in my experience, the fastest and most effective way to rehabilitate.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I recalled my year of memories.

“Once all the training is complete, you will be reborn as new people.”

I can guarantee it, as someone who has done it before.

***

“No matter how I think about it, this doesn’t seem right.”

Cheongwadae [The Blue House, South Korea’s presidential residence], the President’s office.

Justice Minister Oh Myung-jin carefully conveyed his opinion to President Cho Hyun-min.

Creating a hunter organization made up of criminals is clearly illegal.

With Assemblyman Jung Hoon already arrested on the same charges, he couldn’t understand how even Kim Jun-woo could have allowed this.

“It’s already been decided.”

However, President Cho Hyun-min’s attitude was firm.

“How could you issue such a permit without consulting me! What if it gets out to the press?”

“Don’t worry about that.”

“No, even if you hide it well, they’re still criminals. How can you trust those guys? They’re bound to cause trouble in some way!”

“Wouldn’t CEO Kim take good care of them so that doesn’t happen?”

“……Haa.”

Minister Oh Myung-jin eventually sighed softly at the President’s stubborn answer.

“What is it about that man that makes you do this much for him? At best, he’s just…….”

He paused for a moment, glancing around, before lowering his voice and continuing.

“…a former janitor…….”

“…….”

At those words, President Cho’s eyes flashed sharply for a moment, but it didn’t last long.

President Cho opened his mouth in a calm voice.

“Of course, it’s true that I trust CEO Kim, but that’s not the only reason.”

“Yes…?”

“You may or may not know, but Karma Corporation is currently at war with the International Association. It’s an invisible fight where they’re eating each other.”

President Cho Hyun-min’s expression was more serious than ever.

“In order to gain an advantage over the International Association, we ultimately need to be recognized by other countries and people. It’s a simple and easy goal, but on the other hand, it’s also very difficult.”

“That’s why you implemented the rank system reorganization. To weed out those who don’t meet the hunter qualifications…….”

“That’s the problem.”

Minister Oh Myung-jin’s eyebrows twitched at President Cho’s answer.

“Currently, our country’s rank assessments have all been completed, and assessments are being conducted for each country’s association, but there are more dropouts than expected.”

“W-what do you mean…?”

“Up to 10% of the personnel in each association are being dropped. This is a figure that is impossible to understand logically.”

“…….”

“The shortage of hunter manpower directly affects subjugation, which naturally threatens national security. Perhaps because of this, each country’s association is currently requesting support from our country.”

Minister Oh Myung-jin’s expression grew increasingly stiff.

He, too, could tell that this was not a natural situation.

Something was definitely happening.

And something very ominous.

“The problem with the International Association is not simply a dispute between businesses.”

At that moment, President Cho Hyun-min spoke again.

“This issue is directly related to the lives of citizens not only in our country but all over the world. The problem is that we currently don’t know what the International Association will do.”

“W-well, that’s true, but…….”

“However, one thing we can be sure of…….”

He pointed to the floor with his finger and continued.

“Whatever the International Association does, it will start right here! In the Republic of Korea.”

“…….”

Minister Oh Myung-jin bowed his head instead of answering.

There was not a single point where he could raise an objection.

“If we can stop that, what can’t we do?”

“But what if something goes wrong…….”

“That won’t happen, but. Well, if something like that happens…….”

President Cho Hyun-min smiled slyly.

“I’ll take all the responsibility.”

***

Minister Oh Myung-jin had a very complicated expression as he left the office.

Of course, the President’s words were not wrong.

No, they were a hundred times right.

Ever since the International Association seized the rights to subjugation around the world, everything has been flowing in an unusual direction.

If they freely wield the rights to subjugation, the whole world will become a sea of fire.

To put it mildly, they have the power to destroy humanity.

Of course, if we can stop that, we have to do anything…….

‘But that’s not my role…….’

I am only the Minister of Justice of one country.

Saving the world can be left to others, but preventing illegal hunter organizations is my role.

From the beginning, I can’t agree with the idea that the International Association’s schemes can be prevented with criminals.

No matter how well they are trained, criminals are still criminals.

They are heinous trash who have committed heinous crimes, intoxicated with their sense of superiority and power.

Of course, CEO Kim Jun-woo is not the kind of person who would take them and do bad things like Assemblyman Jung Hoon, and he said that he would thoroughly educate them in his own way…….

There’s no way that educating ten pieces of trash will rehabilitate them.

In the first place, it is impossible for CEO Kim Jun-woo to perfectly control them alone.

It’s obvious that they’ll cause an accident someday.

‘This won’t do…….’

I have to go and see the situation myself.

I will look directly and if it seems impossible to control, I will have the project scrapped even if it means disobeying the orders of the higher-ups.

Because that’s my role.

Minister Oh Myung-jin made that resolution and got into the waiting car.

Soon, he left Cheongwadae and entered the city, and soon he had no choice but to tilt his head.

“Huh…?”

Familiar faces were seen on the street.

It was none other than the ten criminals chosen by CEO Kim Jun-woo, the trash.

“Th-those guys are just walking around the streets like that?! Without a manager?!”

What is this if not madness?

This is too much.

I have to send them back to the isolation facility right now…!

“Hey, mister!”

At that moment, one of the hunters raised his voice to a passerby.

‘That guy is…….’

Isn’t that the guy who was arrested for assaulting civilians while drunk?

Damn it, something’s happened.

First, quickly call the police…….

“How can you just throw trash on the floor like that?”

“……Yes, yes?”

“Pick it up quickly. And there’s a trash can over there, so throw it away there.”

“Ah, yes… I’m sorry.”

“Geez, a man who should know better…….”

Minister Oh Myung-jin doubted his eyes and ears at the sound of that conversation.

And belatedly began to examine the situation in detail again.

Brooms and garbage bags.

And the fluorescent vests they are wearing as a group.

The word ‘service’ written on the back and chest.

Don’t tell me those guys are…….

‘A-are they cleaning…?’

Minister Oh Myung-jin couldn’t close his mouth at the shocking sight.