The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 108

“Kuh-ook…!”

With a painful groan, blood dripped from the stump where my arm had been severed.

[Acquired Skill: Supreme Art – Sword Control]

[Skill Activated]

The owner of that severed arm was none other than the assailant who had rushed at me.

“Wh-what… ?”

“How can he use skills…!”

“B-but he was hit accurately…”

The remaining assailants showed bewilderment, a mirror of my own confusion.

[Hidden Skill: Karma]

[Skill Effect Activated]

The moment the assailant rushed at me, an incomprehensible voice echoed in my head.

[One or more Bank Item effects are already active on the caster.]

[The effects of additional Bank Items are nullified.]

‘Bank Item…?’

Still clutching my bleeding stomach, I quickly racked my brain.

Mere bullets couldn’t penetrate my defense skills. Yet, the fact that they momentarily nullified my skills and struck my stomach… I could only think of one thing.

‘A Nullstone…….’

Following the Timestone and Dimension Stone, it was one of the Bank Items held by the International Association. [Bank Items are rare, powerful artifacts controlled by the International Association.]

An item with the ability to temporarily block abilities.

Only then did things start to fall into place.

Before the regression, when they fired weapons at me, I felt the same sensation.

The feeling of losing strength and becoming mentally hazy.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t even counterattack, let alone activate a defense skill.

Until now, I had just thought I was panicking…….

Now I knew for sure.

‘The weapons they poured on me back then were also Nullstones…….’

These bastards… they were really deploying Bank Items.

But now is definitely different from then.

Although the skill was momentarily nullified… seeing that I can still use skills even after being hit by the Nullstone, it’s not working properly.

And the reason is probably…….

‘The effects of additional Bank Items are nullified…….’

Unconsciously, a smile spread across my face.

The fact that the effect of a Bank Item was already active on me confirmed my previous hypothesis.

‘I thought it was just a useless skill… but it has its uses.’

Well, I already have a hole in my stomach…….

“Fire! Keep firing!!”

Bang, bang, ba-bang!

Even if it doesn’t do any damage, it can temporarily nullify skills… I should avoid them rather than block them to prevent more holes.

[Acquired Skill: Hyper Boost]

I quickly dashed forward and swung my fist at the one in the front.

[Acquired Skill: One Counter]

Crack—!

The attack landed precisely on the solar plexus. [The solar plexus is a network of nerves behind the stomach.]

I heard something burst inside, and the guy collapsed.

“D-damn it…!”

At that moment, a small man with a curse pulled out a bizarre sword from his waist.

[Unique Skill: Demon Sword – Apparitions]

A black aura flowed along the sword’s blade.

Clang—.

Clang, clang—!

I backpedaled, barely managing to block the attacks as he rushed in, swinging his sword relentlessly.

[Unique Skill: Demon Sword – Apparitions]

[Awakening – Duoksini]

Instantly, the black aura materialized into the form of a human.

Swish, swish, swish—!

Then, a terrifying joint attack followed.

A swordsman… no, a Demon Swordsman class.

‘If I get cut, I won’t die peacefully.’

I was barely dodging the attacks by increasing my speed, but…….

‘Damn it…!’

The pain in my abdomen prevented my body from moving as I wanted.

Inevitably, I leaped backward, creating as much distance as possible.

[Unique Skill: Mechatronic Ensemble]

[Transform – Moderato]

Streetlights and steel frames.

All sorts of metal objects around me began to transform with bizarre noises.

A class capable of attacking without a Transform Weapon, which is essential for Mechanic classes, Hyper Mechanic.

‘Is this bastard also a unique class?’

There are many talented people in Korea.

Boom, boom, boom—!!

Clang, clang—!!

Kaboom—!!

Robots transformed into various forms poured out weapons.

I still chose to dodge rather than block.

‘If I confront them head-on, I’ll be done for.’

Nullstone bullets are a problem, but facing multiple unique class holders head-on is no different from suicide.

[Unique Skill: Broken Puppet Show]

Tuk—!

‘What is this now…?!’

A hand suddenly appeared from the ground and grabbed my ankle.

‘Damn it, even a necromancer…….’

The moment my foot was caught and I faltered.

[Unique Skill: Demon Sword – Apparitions]

[Awakening – Eodukseoni]

Swish—.

The blade, not missing the opportunity, flew straight towards my neck.

“Kuh-ook…!”

Reflexively, I bent my back to dodge the attack.

Kaboom—!!

Everything in the rear in a straight line was cleanly cut off.

There was no time to just watch.

Taking advantage of the gap while they prepared to attack again, I quickly created as much distance as possible.

“…His dodging skills are S-rank.”

The man who seemed to be the leader of the group spat out his assessment.

“Thanks for the compliment. But well… thanks to you guys, there are only 15 left.”

“……What?”

When I smiled and opened my mouth, the assailants’ eyes narrowed.

“You don’t think I’m just dodging because I can’t kill a few of you, do you?”

Only then did the assailants look around.

There, the corpses of monsters, knocked down by their wonderful attacks, were scattered.

Even in this situation, I still have to do what I have to do, right?

It’s just that it seems difficult alone, so I just got some help.

“Try harder. I need to fill 50 before sunrise.”

“…….”

“…….”

Those who had been expressionless until now reacted for sure this time.

However, they only kept their distance and continued the confrontation, and didn’t seem to want to rush in like before.

‘They know how to use their heads.’

Continuing to attack against an opponent with fast movements is just a war of attrition for them as well.

Rather than that, they probably decided it would be better to wait for the right moment and rush in all at once to end it.

‘Well, I don’t think that’ll work.’

Two swordsmen, a necromancer, and a mechanic.

Well, let’s leave the swordsman with one arm alone.

From the looks of it, the mechanic and necromancer aren’t the main force.

The main one is just that swordsman.

He’s not the type to continue relentless attacks with quick movements like Kim Min-ju, but a guy who aims for powerful attacks one by one.

Of course, his movements were bound to be slow.

Those two are just there to create openings for the swordsman to attack.

That means he can’t do anything without support.

Tatat―!

Breaking the silence, as expected, the assailants rushed in all at once.

[Unique Skill: Ghost Sword – Goblin Parade]

[Awakening – Night Parade of One Hundred Demons]

[Unique Skill: Mechatronic Ensemble]

[Transform – Andante] [Andante: a musical term indicating a moderately slow tempo]

[Unique Skill: Broken Puppet Show]

[Awakening – Marionette]

Attacks that seemed like they were going to end it with this one go.

I stood in place, raised my finger, and opened my mouth.

“Everyone, hold your positions.”

[Acquired Skill: Rolling Paper]

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

“……!”

“……!”

At the same time, the puppets and robots stopped dead in their tracks.

Mechanic and Necromancer.

It was a possible method because both are basically summoning-type classes… but somehow, it wasn’t just the summons that stopped.

“……What? Why are you guys stopping?”

“…….”

“…….”

The assailants also stopped moving after rushing in.

Their expressions twisted.

Perhaps sensing that they couldn’t win like this, they looked at each other.

“……Retreat.”

They immediately turned their backs and left the scene.

I didn’t bother chasing after them.

There was no reason to.

More than that, recovery comes first.

I was trying hard to hold it in, but my condition isn’t good.

[Acquired Skill: Glory Cure]

[Acquired Skill: Anti-Bleeding]

Ziiiiing―.

“Hoo…….”

I took a deep breath while administering first aid with the few priest skills I had.

Okay, this should be enough for now.

Then shall we take care of what’s left?

I shifted my gaze downward and opened my mouth.

“Hey, are you alive?”

“…….”

He was looking at me with his mouth tightly shut, the guy who tried to attack first and had his arm cut off.

Due to his injury, he was left alone at the scene.

The reason I didn’t bother chasing after them was because this guy was left behind.

“I had a lot of questions to ask… since they all ran away, you’ll have to answer them for me instead.”

“……You want me to betray them?”

Ha, the moment he let out a hollow laugh.

He took out a gun from his waist, immediately aimed it at his head, and pulled the trigger.

Bang―!

Of course.

[Acquired Skill: Hyper Boost]

“Trying to die comfortably, you little bastard.”

“…….”

It was an impossible thing to do.

“I told you, I have a lot of questions to ask. You can’t die even if you want to until I hear them all.”

I picked up a pipe lying around.

The assailant was still unable to grasp the situation and was smirking.

“What, are you going to torture me? Don’t act tough. A nice guy like you wouldn’t be able to do much…….”

“Who says I’m nice?”

“Do I really need to hear it? Just by looking……!”

Thwack―.

A scream that tore through the ears echoed instantly.

“Who says I’m a nice guy?”

***

Pohang Branch, Operations Team 3 Office.

Kim Min-ju had already been here for a week, ever since she was transferred here due to the massive personnel reshuffle a few days ago under the guise of a change.

She also roughly knew the situation in Seoul right now.

It was said to be a very dangerous situation, but fortunately, they succeeded in sealing off the area without any damage.

Perhaps if the summons permission is granted, the situation wouldn’t worsen significantly.

As she was about to finish her work without anything special today, her phone rang.

“Hello…….”

「M, Ms. Min-ju! It’s a disaster! Junwoo went into the sealed area alone to carry out the subjugation, and then we lost contact with him……!」

A voice poured out urgently as soon as I answered the phone.

“W, wait a minute. Ms. A-young, calm down and tell me slowly. What happened?”

「Sniff…….」

Is she… crying?

That Lee A-young?

Only then did Kim Min-ju realize that something unusual had happened.

Soon, Chief Lee A-young tried to calm down and conveyed the current situation to Kim Min-ju.

Then, it was Kim Min-ju who became urgent this time.

“The teacher went to subjugate alone and then lost contact?!

「Yes, yes. I think something happened…… I went to the scene, but I couldn’t find him…….」

What on earth is going on?

‘Why is Teacher there…….’

No, aside from everything else, losing contact in an area teeming with monsters means…….

Even if I try to think positively, the situation isn’t good.

Of course, he would somehow survive.

If, just if, something happens…….

Kim Min-ju’s fist clenched tightly.

I have to help.

I have to lead the operations team right now to rescue him, or do something.

The problem is that the summons permission hasn’t been granted yet.

If I summon the operations team without permission…… I will have to cut ties with being a hunter for the rest of my life.

Of course, Kim Min-ju didn’t care about that.

「Ms. Min-ju. We’ve received a lot of help from you so far.」

“…….”

「You didn’t ask for anything in return, and you helped us even in situations where you could have lost your job.」

“…….”

「So…… this time, we…….」

“…….”

「……Ms. Min-ju?」

Only Lee A-young’s voice echoed emptily.

Kim Min-ju had already stormed out of her seat long ago.