The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 72

071

The dungeon where the exit disappeared.

The subjugation team, unaware of the situation, decided to wait quietly until communication was restored.

Of course, the dungeon didn’t grant them their wish.

[Acquired Skill: Footwork]

Swish—.

“Damn it…”

Kim Min-ju, wielding her sword, cursed under her breath.

A narrow passage.

Hundreds of monsters relentlessly surged toward the subjugation team.

It seemed all the monsters hidden within the dungeon were pouring out, triggered by the vibration from moments ago.

[Acquired Skill: Blizzard Rise]

[Acquired Skill: Atomic Sphere]

Bang, Kaboom—!!

The subjugation team frantically unleashed their skills.

However, their firepower was insufficient. The space was so confined that attacks risked harming allies.

‘I was going to save it until the boss fight…’

Kim Min-ju clicked her tongue, observing the dire situation.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly.

[Unique Skill: Thousand-Hand Guanyin – Awakening]

[One of the Six Guanyin]

Kim Min-ju’s body began to glow with a soft blue light.

Focusing intently and sensing the flow of energy, she drew her sword.

[First Strike – Holy Guanyin]

Swoosh, Swoosh—.

With two fluid sword strikes, like flowing water.

Thud, Thud, Thud—.

The heads of all the monsters before her tumbled to the ground.

“Hoo…”

Kim Min-ju took a long, steadying breath.

An awakening skill that allowed her to link six different stances from the basic ‘Six Guanyin’ form.

It demanded intense concentration and was physically exhausting.

She had intended to reserve it for the boss, but that plan was clearly no longer viable.

The dungeon fell silent once more.

Everyone seemed to relax, their shoulders slumping with relief.

“Don’t let your guard down! We don’t know when they’ll attack again.”

Her voice, unusually sharp, made the team members straighten up, startled.

Kim Min-ju was陷入苦惱 [陷入苦惱:陷入 (xiànrù) means to sink into, 苦惱 (kǔnǎo) means worries/vexations. So, it means to be deep in worries/vexations] again.

The passage behind them was a dead end.

Combat was difficult in the narrow space, and monsters kept pouring in.

Every aspect of the situation was the worst possible.

Above all, she was starting to run out of oxygen.

Remaining oxygen: 25%.

‘At most, one hour…’

This wouldn’t do.

“I have to try.”

Kim Min-ju made a swift decision.

“Huh?”

“What… what are you talking about?”

“The boss subjugation. I’m going to attempt it.”

“Isn’t it too dangerous?!

“Communication is cut off, and the exit is blocked. It’s too reckless…”

“I know.”

Kim Min-ju cut off their protests sharply.

“You guys stay here. If the exit opens, get out immediately.”

“You mean…”

“I’m going alone.”

A firm, resolute voice.

It sounded insane, but no one dared to dismiss it as a joke.

One of the hunters from the team quickly tried to dissuade her.

“No, you can’t! You’re a Red rank! Going alone is suicide! It’s better to go together…”

“What if we all fail, even if we go together? What will we do then?”

Kim Min-ju’s gaze pierced him.

“There’s no need for everyone to gamble.”

“…”

He was rendered speechless.

He saw a reflection of Kim Jun-woo, the head of headquarters, in her reckless determination.

The team members lowered their heads.

They realized they couldn’t stop her.

Of course, even amidst this, two of them seemed to harbor slightly different intentions.

“I’ll go with you!”

“Me too.”

Cha Seok-hyun, the representative of the Ares Guild, and Yoo Ji-woo, the representative of the Aphrodite Guild, stepped forward to join Kim Min-ju.

“You could really die, you know.”

“I don’t think I’ll survive here either. Hahaha!”

“Wouldn’t it be better to see the boss’s face before we die?”

Cha Seok-hyun and Yoo Ji-woo joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Kim Min-ju smiled faintly and shook her head.

She sensed that they were not the type to be easily dissuaded.

Soon, three hunters stood ready to advance.

And, as if on cue, monsters began to pour in from the front once more.

“We have to break through, right?”

“I’ll handle it.”

Cha Seok-hyun responded instantly, throwing a small robot dog forward.

A mechanic class’s exclusive weapon.

A transformable weapon that could take on various forms depending on the skill used.

[Unique Skill: Steampunk]

The moment Cha Seok-hyun activated the skill, the robot dog began to evolve.

[Transform: Punk Dog]

It transformed into a large, steam-powered robot in the shape of a dog.

Cha Seok-hyun skillfully climbed onto its back and held out his hand to the two women.

“Hold on tight.”

Immediately after everyone was seated.

Steam erupted from the dog’s mouth.

Paang—!

The robot shot through the passage at an incredible speed.

***

On the bridge not far from Incheon Port.

I still felt dizzy and looked around.

Fortunately, no one was around, thanks to 미리 [미리: In this context, it likely refers to a skill or ability used to clear the area in advance] controlling the area.

Just one bastard.

Except for Yang Min-ho, standing in front of me.

‘Why did that bastard suddenly pop out?’

As that thought flashed through my mind, I first checked the time.

One hour.

There was only one hour left before the subjugation team’s oxygen ran out.

I had to strike a deal with the International Association or do something within that time.

Whatever that bastard’s business with me was, I couldn’t afford to waste any more time here.

“I’m a little busy right now. If you leave me alone, I might spare you today.”

I said, trying to suppress my rising anger.

“That’s a bit difficult. I’m also working.”

“Someone must have commissioned you to kill me.”

“Someone who knows should ask that. Maintaining secrecy is essential for job security in this line of work.”

“Okay, I get it.”

I nodded and picked up the wiper that had fallen off the half-destroyed car.

“Like a cleaner, I’ll clean up the trash.”

“What a coincidence. I’m also nicknamed the cleaner.”

Yang Min-ho smiled.

Unfortunately, I had never worked with Yang Min-ho.

Honestly, I didn’t know much about his fighting style.

The only thing I knew was that his class was a mage.

‘Well, that’s enough.’

Basically, mages are similar in nature to sniper classes.

A position that stays in one place and launches continuous attacks from a distance.

Each skill is threatening, and, depending on how it’s used, it’s possible to launch more eccentric attacks than any other class.

Of course, if you close the distance where they can’t cast skills, it’s all useless.

I clenched the wiper tightly with both hands.

Then, I took a short, focused breath.

[Acquired Skill: Ultimate Sword Art]

“Swordsman… ?”

Yang Min-ho’s eyebrows twitched.

팟― [팟: Sound effect for quick movement].

I rushed toward Yang Min-ho at high speed.

The wiper flew toward his neck, drawing a blue arc.

Clang—!

An unexpected, dull sound echoed.

[Acquired Skill: Supreme Mirror]

‘A barrier?’

No, how can a mage have such a high-level defense skill….

“The compatibility is too good.”

A smile crept onto his lips.

At the same time, a left hook slammed into my side.

I wondered if I should try to avoid it.

A blue light flashed from the glove on his hand.

쾅―!! [쾅: Sound effect for impact].

The magic skill struck my abdomen directly at close range.

I staggered back from the unexpected attack and rolled on the ground.

“Keuk…”

[Acquired Skill: Low Shield]

[Partially defends against damage inflicted on the caster]

The defense skill that I always kept active was triggered, but it didn’t block all the damage.

This was a stronger impact than being hit by a truck earlier.

“Hoo…”

I slowly got up and looked at Yang Min-ho again.

“You were a combat mage?”

“…”

He flinched, as if wondering how I knew.

Well, it’s understandable, since it’s a rare unique class.

Combat mage class.

Unlike mages who generally cast wide-area skills from a distance, it’s a unique class that engages in hand-to-hand combat by imbuing skills into the body.

As it unleashes all kinds of magic skills at close range, its power transcends imagination.

A class that maximizes the advantages of the mage class and eliminates the disadvantages.

Of course, compatibility is not good with swordsman skills that purely rely on physical ability and strength.

I can’t maintain a long-range position against him either.

It will only create an opportunity for him to close in.

“Tsk, annoying.”

I picked up the wiper again.

***

Yang Min-ho was reassured by the previous attack.

That cleaner bastard was stronger than he expected.

He started by using skills that an ordinary swordsman class would have as acquired skills.

‘Above all, he recognized my class immediately…’

But that’s it.

No matter where he learned his skills, he can’t beat me, who is ranked 1st in the country.

Judging from his class, he is a swordsman.

If it’s a melee fight, it’s hard to imagine losing.

Besides, seeing him pick up his weapon again after being attacked just now, he has an eye for it, but he lacks combat experience.

A smile naturally appeared on Yang Min-ho’s lips.

It was unexpected that this situation had occurred, but Yang Min-ho was genuinely pleased.

Wasn’t he the guy I wanted to meet privately?

But since it had become a job, I was a little sad that I had no choice but to kill him in a boring way….

Now that it had come to this, I could deal with him privately as much as I wanted.

I had no intention of finishing it quickly.

I had to play with him as much as possible and see him kneel and beg for his life to make it worthwhile.

The moment I thought that.

탓―! [탓: Sound effect for quick movement].

Kim Jun-woo charged straight ahead again.

The skill he cast while raising his weapon was ‘Sword Art’.

스윽― [스윽: Sound effect for sliding/slicing].

Same pattern, slow attack.

‘He’s so stupid.’

[Acquired Skill: Supreme Mirror]

Block it like before and counterattack right away….

쩌적― [쩌적: Sound effect for cracking].

‘…!’

Yang Min-ho’s brow furrowed.

The impact was so great that the Supreme Mirror cracked.

The damage was clearly different from the first attack.

‘Did he control his strength in front of me?’

Yang Min-ho gritted his teeth.

Then, he immediately twisted his body and delivered a backspin elbow. At the same time, the skill directly struck his chin.

[Acquired Skill: Lightning Blow]

콰앙―! [콰앙: Sound effect for a heavy blow].

It hit properly.

He can’t get up from that….

“Oh, I almost dislocated my jaw.”

“…”

What.

How can he get up again as if nothing happened?

He didn’t take any damage at all?

No, that can’t be.

He’s just bluffing.

Yang Min-ho tried to convince himself and took his stance again.

Meanwhile, Kim Jun-woo raised the wiper again.

“What are you doing, block it.”

탓― [탓: Sound effect for quick movement].

The same pattern for the third time.

Yang Min-ho couldn’t understand.

I didn’t think he was this stupid.

Is he just relying on his toughness?

As expected, his origin is inevitable―.

쾅―!!! [쾅: Sound effect for a heavy blow].

“……?”

It happened in the blink of an eye.

After Kim Jun-woo swung his weapon again with the same skill, Yang Min-ho closed and opened his eyes just once, and then he saw the sky.

‘What…?’

Yang Min-ho didn’t understand what had happened.

It was only after a few seconds that he realized.

That it was not Kim Jun-woo who fell this time, but himself.

“Ha, hahaha…”

A hollow laugh automatically burst out.

“Who… what are you?”

Yang Min-ho asked as he got up.

But without time to hear the answer, his head was filled with all sorts of 잡념 [잡념: means distracting thoughts/random thoughts].

I was attacked by a swordsman now?

Even by a swordsman who was a cleaner?

Me, who is ranked 1st in the country?!

Yang Min-ho felt a deep anger boiling from within.

“Hey, you 개새 [개새: Short for 개새끼 (gae-sae-kki), a Korean curse word meaning son of a bitch]―.”

[Acquired Skill: Ultimate Sword Art]

I couldn’t even see it.

Again, the field of vision moved to the sky, and at the same time, a burning pain swept through my whole body. It felt like I was having an incomprehensible dream.

툭― [툭: Sound effect for something dropping].

Soon, his body fell helplessly to the floor.

“Keok!”

A lump of blood poured out of his mouth.

Wondering what had happened, he struggled to lift his head and looked around.

And he met Kim Jun-woo’s eyes.

“You’re holding on quite well. I guess you didn’t get 2nd place in the country through 요령 [요령: means trick/knack/know-how].”

“Not 2, not 2nd place… 1st…”

“No. You’re 2nd place.”

Kim Jun-woo smiled.

“What are you doing.”

The same murderous eyes as when we first met.

No, this time it was an eye that sincerely felt murderous.

“Block it again.”

The moment he raised the wiper again.

[Acquired Skill: Limit Break]

[All of the caster’s stats temporarily exceed the limit.]

[Acquired Skill: Over-immersion]

[The effect of all skills used by the caster during combat is greatly increased]

“Wa, wait…”

[Acquired Skill: Ultimate Sword Art]

Yang Min-ho sensed death.