READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 308: Deep Ditch (3)
Well, the injured organs were just the intestines and some bones, so speaking wasn’t a problem.
“I heard this thing stops only when it hits someone.”
But I wonder if there’s a problem with this explanation.
Gi-ryeo stared at the blue crystal that had turned his human condition into something resembling skewered entrails.
‘This might reveal my physical abilities are lacking.’
If it got out that I’m F-Class…
The situation would unravel, showing how I’ve inflated my worth, reaped 3 billion won monthly, and dared to insult and degrade someone six ranks above me, all while distorting perceptions like a sweet potato vine.
‘Hah, considering the altruism I exhibited back on that Incheon beach, Jung Ha-seong isn’t the type to kill someone just because he got tricked!’
My worries continued.
‘But it seems like he would file a proper lawsuit…’
It was a moment I feared, given Ha-seong’s tendency to distinguish between public and private matters.
I’d heard that South Korea had lenient penalties for fraud, but if it was investigated properly, I might have to cough up all the hundreds of millions I had swindled.
‘Hmm.’
And considering I’m currently broke after spending all my money in Japan…
It was painful to my conscience, but there was nothing I could do.
I decided to earn the settlement money to prepare for any worst-case scenario before revealing the truth and put my worries aside.
‘Let’s recover a bit and call it a day. And I need to hurry home to eat some bibimbap.’
But then something unexpected happened.
“Mr. Kim Hunter!”
“Huh?”
The national hero’s face turned pale in shock.
He managed to restrain the spear embedded in his body from being pulled out with great effort.
Next, Ha-seong rushed to hospitalize his partner using a horizontal carry method straight out of a trauma management textbook.
*
Just over ten minutes later.
“I’m fine.”
In front of the open gate.
“I really am fine. Hey, Number One Ranked. Do I have to knock you out for you to stop doubting me?”
The exit of [White Tower] appeared like a distant world, an entirely different location than the entrance in Sejong City.
Night had fallen. In a dark, damp forest, it felt like a moment where the phrase ‘Peter, do you truly believe you can walk on water?’ would echo.
Currently, South Korea’s fourth S-Class was suffering from the distrust of his opponent.
“I used a potion. Look! My spine is functioning well. I could play around while nailed down like this.”
First of all.
I had anticipated negative reactions from Ha-seong when seeing my injuries.
After experiencing so many examples on Earth, it would be foolish not to learn the pattern.
It was merely a mechanical response he’d memorized.
Even if I couldn’t grasp their nature, it remained baffling.
‘Is it really that shocking for a hunter to get hurt catching a beast? Why are they panicking to the point of losing their rationality?’
At this flow, I almost felt pity for his fragile mentality.
After recovering, I opened one eye slightly to adjust my focus.
Finally, around the time my thoughts were somewhat organized.
Swish.
The blond man suddenly leaned forward, asking,
“Are you crying?”
The tone was devoid of empathy, sounding almost antisocial, which made Ha-seong react vigorously.
“Is this a matter to bring up like that?! The hunter who went into the battle with me got his guts pierced and fell over, so of course, people would freak out! No, they have to freak out!”
“My bad.”
For reference, when rulers of Earth get angry, the secretion of rage increases.
“If the emotional skill’s results turned out that way, you should have told me. I would have tried my best to minimize the damage. Uh, what…”
A young man momentarily paused his words, choked up.
“How did the spear…”
He couldn’t finish his sentence.
The image of his fellow countryman still pierced and collapsed on the ground kept flashing in his mind. How could anyone calmly recall such a scene?
“I don’t know if I should say this…”
“……”
“But you really seem a bit crazy, Hunter. I mean, really.”
In truth, for an Alphauri, it felt like Ha-seong’s emotional swings were veering towards insanity.
Of course, he didn’t express this.
The other challenger seemed too shocked.
“Jung Ha-seong.”
I intended to deflect the situation with some small talk.
I aimed to reassure him that I was fine, waiting for him to calm down a bit before planning to head down.
“Well, I guess that’s enough? I’ll head down first. By the way, I’ll be home late tonight.”
“Huh?”
“……I just want to stop by the Hunter Association for a bit.”
Though it was already nighttime in South Korea, the Hunter Association had night staff across all branches, so it wouldn’t matter.
‘Since it crossed my mind, I should check on the Pixy machine in Sejong City. After all, the Aw score can be obtained down to the decimal with an old measuring device. Plus, as much as I hate to say it, I need to confirm my hypothesis right after such an occurrence…’
But I found myself unable to start the experiment I had planned.
“Why are you going?”
The Number One Ranked, whom I’d thought had calmed down, blocked my way again.
“Are they asking for a report from you or something? Look, just don’t and go to the emergency room first.”
“The emergency room?”
“Go to a proper hospital and get a spinal nerve examination. Mr. Kim Gi-ryeo! Hurry! No matter how good the potion is, you never know. I can give you a ride…”
Hospital.
To Kim Gi-ryeo, places like that were downright terrifying.
Re-discovering a tumor in the lungs was somewhat expected.
But here? With the mysterious pilot manipulating others’ bodies magically, there was a high probability that a detailed examination would reveal some differences in biological mechanisms.
In short, I’d be exposed as an alien.
‘And not just a few, but perhaps to an indeterminate number? That’s troublesome.’
So, to avoid forced hospitalization, I decided to start persuading my opponent while gripping his shoulder.
“Ha-seong.”
To avoid naturally breaking a promise made in the past, this was a declaration I had to make sooner or later.
“Let’s not beat around the bush anymore; let’s separate this out properly.”
“Huh?”
“Here’s what I think: The body is ultimately an area the person should control, and even after I explained enough why I’m fine, why can’t you understand and insist on your own claims?”
“……!”
“In your eyes, do I look like someone with X?”
Choosing stronger expressions like this was just an added tactic to convince him more effectively.
“Uh? So are you worried I’ll have to return to that state?”
“N-No! Never.”
“But listen, Ha-seong. I read somewhere that the goal of education in this world is independence.”
“Independence?”
“Even if your tutor dies right now from sepsis, and even if you somehow end up in a regular team later on…”
“……”
“Chances are, there aren’t many lifelong ties in this world. It’s best to avoid overly worrying about others and prepare for self-sufficiency early.”
I subtly hinted that the situation of being in a regular team could swiftly resolve.
“…should do so. It seems like you believe something about me is a unique milestone or something.”
Being a scholar, my observation skills are quite decent regarding repetitive situations.
Thus, as time passed, I began to deduce closer to the truth.
“Without such reasons, you wouldn’t make such a fuss over the injuries of someone you don’t even know.”
“That…”
“But don’t live your life like that.”
The concluding remark felt slightly aggressive, though it didn’t carry a hurtful meaning.
“Don’t depend too much on others; you might get backstabbed and end up dead—I’ve seen someone die that way.”
Perhaps in this world.
Aside from beings as absurd as aliens, this could be the only statement acknowledged.
I concluded that I had communicated enough to ensure they wouldn’t forcefully admit me to a hospital.
So, I patted Ha-seong’s shoulder and thought he would take my advice as understanding and set out to go down.
Well, I intended to head down, at least.
However, I had one more important topic remaining to discuss.
“……Hunter?”
Thud thud thud thud.
The always similarly bleached blond Korean hurriedly returned.
Standing before Ha-seong, I avoided making eye contact and spoke.
“Um… But, even though I said that just now, can your family stay just a little bit longer?”
“Oh, my family…”
“I need to consider the feng shui of my place and all, so it’s taking longer than usual to move since I have to hire experts on top of that.”
“Huh?”
“……Never mind, just forget it. I was kidding.”
Damn it.
A random chat AI I stumbled upon on the internet surely suggested this would work. Is it still a scam site?
*
And just like that, a day passed.
“Yawn.”
This was the Administrative Welfare Center within Mapo District.
After the [White Tower] expedition in Sejong City, I headed to the Hunter Association later in the evening to analyze the magic within my body.
Following the data collection, I returned to Seoul.
And today was the next scheduled location I had come to after concluding all this.
Well, it wasn’t really urgent, but since I had some spare time, I was multitasking.
‘It feels like autumn is already knocking at my door. Once the cold wind starts blowing, I’ll definitely skip out on magic studies to avoid class formation. Maybe I should pull Seo Esther into the mix so she’d think I need to handle the class? I could ask for just a six-month delay…’
At least it was a weekday.
The time slot was awkward for working-class folks, so the Administration Welfare Center was quieter than expected.
Nowadays, automation devices and applications had developed so much that few people showed up just to get paperwork, which might have contributed to this.
But can you guess the commonality between an 80-year-old and an alien?
‘Digital illiteracy.’
But still, in the past, just changing clothes used to be enough to avoid recognition.
Currently, wearing a black tee from the SPA brand acquired at Seoul Neo Hospital’s inpatient ward, I had caught the attention of a few who recognized me despite not in a suit.
“Hey! Isn’t that Kim Gi-ryeo S-Class Hunter?!”
Additionally, even the staff sitting in the integrated civil affairs section jumped up to greet me.
‘No matter how I think about it, I’ve become way too famous.’
If I had my way, I’d instantly change my face and disappear, but regrettably, I still hadn’t completely grasped the beauty standards here, and aside from that, flipping my appearance wouldn’t yield good results.
Even if the plastic surgery succeeded, there’d still be issues.
‘Sigh…’
Honestly, how can I trust Kang Chang-ho?
That mammal’s character is such that it wouldn’t be odd if he suddenly switched attitudes and said he wouldn’t get involved after all.
Plus, if he caught wind of me trying to change my face magically or conceal my identity, there’s a good chance he’d come back again, thinking ‘You’re Ki-simche’ and smash my skull.
For various reasons, it was tough to act recklessly at this moment.
All my plans were halted due to a lack of power. Halted. Halted. Halted.
“Hmm.”
But a routine action like this shouldn’t seem too strange to Kang Chang-ho.
“Hello. Nice to meet you. I’m just here for some paperwork.”
I asked the seated staff a few questions, and he answered affirmatively on all types of information I could obtain.
Soon, I was holding papers labeled residence registration certificate, basic residence registration certificate, and family relationship certificate.
I learned through searches that due to the intricate laws on Earth, even obtaining such documents by coming in person could fail to ascertain the other party’s address.
‘So, they get paid for the visit. I’m glad I brought my wallet.’
Even if I failed this time, there were countless ways to pinpoint the other party’s coordinates.
Above all, there was already a wealth of tracking information left in this bloodstream.
Overall, it was bound to be easy.
Just like when they visited me initially.
[Name]
[Lee Hwa-young (李花榮)]
We’re family.
“Hmmm.”
However, given that my magic level was only F-Class, there wasn’t much I could do if I were to meet them immediately.
It would require quite a bit of magic to create an atmosphere for the reunion I envisioned.
Thus, I need to reclaim my status as soon as possible.
I concluded my thoughts with a strange smile.
‘It’s an oddly complicated foreign language, but I seem to understand all its meanings. That Kim Gi-ryeo is slyly remembering a lot of these characters.’
Apparently, I might have stumbled onto a plausible method through recent research.
As a result, I wouldn’t be able to quit this damn hunter job anytime soon.
‘With this level of brain function, if only I had the time, I could’ve passed the correctional officer exam!’
For now, since I had completed my tasks for today, I should go grab some real food and relax.