The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 340

339. Side Story – Episode 17

“God damn it, why isn’t he here yet?”

“Fucking hell, seriously.”

“It’s already 9 o’clock…”

The dungeon entrance was located in an alley near Yongsan Station.

The subjugation team members, already fully prepared, stood there waiting for the one person who had yet to arrive.

“Minju, did you contact him?”

Then, one of the team members asked Kim Minju.

“Yes, yes. I just contacted him again, and he said he’s on his way and to just wait.”

“…What kind of bullshit is that?”

“What kind of nonsense is he spouting?”

“Damn it, what’s he going to do if he’s late for an emergency subjugation?”

The team members wore dumbfounded expressions at the absurd answer.

They glanced at their watches, growing increasingly anxious.

It had already been an hour past the original operation time.

Any later, and it would be truly dangerous.

“That’s it. We’ll wait five more minutes, and if he doesn’t come, we’ll enter on our own.”

Then, Hunter Lee Haktae said.

The oldest and most experienced hunter among the subjugation team members.

The man who could exercise command next to Kim Junwoo in case of an emergency during this subjugation.

“…On our own?”

“Are you sure that’s okay?”

“Then what else can we do! Are you going to take responsibility if the grade rises while we’re waiting for someone who might not even come?!”

“Still…”

Of course, the subjugation team members couldn’t readily agree with his decision.

After all, it was a Red-grade dungeon.

One that could rise to Omega-grade at any moment.

Entering such a place without Kim Junwoo was quite dangerous, and they didn’t have another reason to take on more risk, especially since they had already come prepared to risk their lives.

So, as everyone hesitated to make a decision, a vehicle stopped in front of them with a screech of brakes.

Screeeeeech―!!

And the one who emerged from the car was…

“Oh, he’s here!”

“Fucking hell! He’s finally here.”

The field manager and leader of this subjugation.

Hunter Kim Junwoo.

Kim Minju immediately grabbed his equipment and approached Kim Junwoo.

“Vice Team Leader! Why are you so late…!”

“Shut up and follow me.”

But Kim Junwoo didn’t even look at her, took the equipment, and immediately started walking towards the dungeon.

Kim Minju quickly realized that something was wrong with him.

He seemed quite rushed for some reason.

More than anything, his expression was angrier than she had ever seen before.

“We’re starting the operation right away. Grab your gear and follow me.”

Kim Junwoo said, brushing past even the waiting team members.

He skipped the final operation briefing, equipment check, and confirmation process altogether and entered the dungeon first.

The subjugation team members stared blankly at the dungeon entrance for a moment.

“Damn it, seriously…”

“He’s still doing whatever he wants until the end.”

With voices mixed with annoyance, they followed him into the dungeon.

Kim Minju also followed them last.

The subjugation began haphazardly like that.

Kim Junwoo entered the dungeon and checked the map file for a moment.

“We’re going to the boss room… via route A-1.”

He chose a completely different route than the one discussed during the strategy meeting.

“Y-Yes?!”

“What are you talking about! We agreed to go via route B-3 in the meeting! Route A-1 is an area where a large number of monsters are expected to appear…!”

“If we don’t delay, we can reach the boss room an hour faster.”

Kim Junwoo answered firmly to the team members’ objections.

“What’s so important about shortening the time! It’s not even settlement season [a period when hunters receive bonuses based on performance]!”

“That’s right! We already have a shortage of personnel; there’s no need to take unnecessary risks…!”

“…….”

The team members’ voices gradually grew louder, but Kim Junwoo stared at them silently instead of answering.

Soon, the team members, having confirmed his gaze, flinched and immediately closed their mouths.

That’s how strange Kim Junwoo was right now.

As everyone was watching carefully and holding back their words, Kim Junwoo opened his mouth again.

“I’ll lead the way, Seo Jeongwoon and Bae Suhyeok will confirm kills from the rear, and Kim Minju will stick behind me and provide support.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Understood…”

In the end, they couldn’t even say a word properly and started breaking through route A-1.

Kim Minju followed slowly, sticking to Kim Junwoo’s back.

But she couldn’t concentrate on the situation at all.

The subjugation started without preparation, and the route changed from the meeting.

All of those things were difficult for the still-young hunter to handle.

More than anything, even if it was Kim Junwoo, this was a Red-grade dungeon.

Even more so because it was an emergency subjugation, so the personnel and support weren’t sufficient.

No matter what was going on, this was definitely not a place to act emotionally.

Kim Minju continued to be overcome with anxiety, but…

[Unique Skill: Demon King]

Swish―.

[Acquired Skill: Extreme First Style – Sword Control]

[Acquired Skill: Time Out]

[Acquired Skill: Karmic Fire]

Thud―!!

It didn’t last long.

As soon as Kim Junwoo started moving, she quickly realized that her worries were unfounded.

Kieeeee―!!

Kaaaak―!

As they entered route A-1 in earnest and monsters began to appear, not a single word was exchanged among the team members.

Just.

[Unique Skill: Laser Pointer]

[Unique Skill: Combat Fire]

[Unique Skill: Thousand-Hand Guanyin]

Kugugugung―!!

Thump, Thump―!!

It was already too much to just keep up with Kim Junwoo’s pace.

As they relentlessly dealt with the constantly rushing monsters.

Thud―.

Kim Junwoo’s leading footsteps stopped.

Only then did the team members stop moving and raise their heads.

“…….”

“…….”

At the same time, the team members burst into laughter with absurd expressions.

1 hour and 12 minutes after entering the dungeon.

They broke through the most dangerous A-1 passage and finally reached the entrance to the boss room via the shortest route.

But.

“Huff, huff…”

“Haa…”

Whether it was because they had put too much effort into breaking through the passage, the team members were already very exhausted.

Seeing that, Kim Minju approached Kim Junwoo and carefully opened her mouth.

“The team members have strained themselves a lot breaking through the passage. It would be better to rest for a bit and reorganize before entering…”

“There’s no time for that.”

“…Yes?”

Kim Minju raised her eyebrows at Kim Junwoo’s incomprehensible answer.

Of course, even though it was an emergency subjugation, the grade increase report hadn’t been delivered yet.

More than anything, they broke through the passage in 1 hour, even though they had allotted 2 hours, so there was actually plenty of time.

But he said there was no time…

What on earth did that mean?

“What’s going on?”

“…….”

Kim Minju asked, but Kim Junwoo closed his mouth.

Instead.

Screeeeeech―.

“W-Wait a minute…!”

“……!”

“…I’m going crazy, seriously.”

He opened the door to the boss room without saying a word.

The team members were fed up with his solo actions, but with the door already open, there was no choice.

Because the boss would start moving.

They had no choice but to drag their tired bodies into the boss room.

Swish―.

Swish swish swish―.

“Crazy…”

“…….”

Everyone was speechless at the sight of the boss room that was revealed before their eyes.

The boss of this dungeon, Eggsphere.

A small larva the size of an adult male, but a monster with the characteristic of laying eggs to increase its population.

The thousands of larvae that filled the boss room revealed their presence.

“As planned, Hunter Lee Haktae will take the left, Bae Suhyeok will take the right, and Kim Minju will take the mother [the main Eggsphere] with me.”

“…….”

“…….”

Kim Junwoo spoke, but the team members couldn’t even answer at the shocking sight.

But Kim Junwoo didn’t have time to hear their answers.

Tap tap―!

He immediately rushed into the larvae.

‘Seriously…….’

[Unique Skill: Thousand-Hand Guanyin]

Swish―.

At the same time, Kim Minju drew her sword and started moving after him.

Thud, Kwakwang―!!

Swish―!

Swish swish swish―!!

The larvae had hard exoskeletons with sharp spears. They even spat out powerful acidic liquid.

Of course, each individual was a boss that didn’t even reach Blue grade [a ranking system for monsters and dungeons].

If time passed and they became adults, a disaster worse than the previous regen dungeon would unfold, but not right now.

However.

“Damn it, there are too many!!”

“Keep moving so you don’t get surrounded!!”

“Aaaagh!!”

There were too many of them.

There were over 3,000 confirmed individuals.

No matter how weak each one was, once they started surrounding you, you would melt away.

Kwakwakwang―!!

Thump, Thump―!!

All the team members continued to create distance and continue their attacks.

But Kim Junwoo was…….

[Unique Skill: Demon King]

[Acquired Passive: Excessive Bleeding]

[All stats are greatly increased as health is consumed.]

Thud―!!

Thump, Thump―!

He was charging forward like crazy, as if he had lost his mind.

“V-Vice Team Leader!”

Kim Minju tried to stop him from his dangerous actions, but it seemed like he couldn’t hear anything anymore.

But for a moment, Kim Minju realized that he didn’t need any words.

[Unique Skill: Demon King – Dictator]

[Creates a disposable skill according to the caster’s thoughts.]

[Skill creation in progress.]

[Skill creation complete.]

[Supernova]

Thud―!!!

“……!”

An explosion erupted with a light so bright it was blinding.

Kim Minju felt all the strength drain from her body at the sight.

Overwhelming skill that overturned her previous evaluation of him.

Amazing combat sense that was hard to believe for someone of a similar age.

More than anything, their ranks were only one grade apart.

But if that was A-rank…….

She felt like she would never be able to be promoted to A-rank.

‘That’s what a genius is…….’

It was a level that made her feel even inferior during a subjugation where lives were at stake.

Kim Minju soon put away her sword and just stared at Kim Junwoo.

He was still only looking at the monster in front of him and rushing in like crazy.

His eyes were already out of his mind, and his movements were even more beyond common sense.

But what Kim Minju saw in his actions was not simply a desperate struggle consumed by anger.

It was… close to desperation.

‘Why…….’

Kim Minju couldn’t understand.

And that wasn’t just her.

“W-What…?”

“Was that human that strong…?”

Other team members also felt chills at his crazy appearance.

Unexplained anger and desperation.

A terrible murderous intent was felt in every one of Kim Junwoo’s actions, as if he didn’t care about dying.

“Damn…….”

At that moment, Kim Junwoo was vaguely heard muttering to himself.

Only then did Kim Minju come to her senses and grab her sword again.

[Unique Skill: Thousand-Hand Guanyin]

Swish―!

She started moving after Kim Junwoo.

At that moment, Kim Junwoo was giving everyone there a stimulus they could never feel in their lives.

That’s why the team members followed him and made their own resolutions, but only Kim Junwoo himself didn’t know that fact.

The subjugation continued like that for several hours.

Before they knew it, only the corpses of thousands of larvae were scattered in the boss room.

“Hoo…….”

“Damn it, seriously… I can’t do that twice.”

“I know, right.”

The team members, as if the tension had finally been released, sat down on the spot.

They soon smiled and let out sighs of relief.

5 hours and 32 minutes.

A phenomenal record for a Red-grade subjugation.

But.

“…….”

There was still no sense of accomplishment or relief on Kim Junwoo’s face.

He was just standing there stiffly after the subjugation, catching his breath.

“G-Good work…”

As soon as Kim Minju greeted him, he immediately turned his back.

He quickly walked out of the dungeon and picked up the radio.

“Subjugation complete. I’m moving out right away, but what happened to what I asked the support team to do?”

「……Please return first.」

“He probably didn’t return to Seoul. It seems like he went to the Chungcheong Province area, and if we check carefully, we can definitely catch up…”

「Hunter Kim Junwoo.」

Soon, Team Leader Pyeon Changhyeon’s heavy voice was heard.

「You don’t have to do that.」

“……What do you mean?”

The answer was cut off for a moment.

「Employee Ha Eunhye has been found.」