Damn Hunter Life 68

Damn Hunter Life Chapter 68

A towel?

It took some time for Yoon Cha-on to recall something from long ago that even he had forgotten.

Yoon Cha-on’s gaze became distant for a moment, then he soon nodded.

Since Gyeon Gang-hyeon hadn’t said anything at the gym and didn’t separately look for the towel’s owner, he thought it had just been used and thrown away or forgotten.

Gyeon Gang-hyeon made a languid expression as if relieved. The mystery that had lasted for months was finally solved.

Changing his attitude completely over just that one thing, he casually covered Yoon Cha-on’s shoulder with his hand as if they were close friends.

“Good thing we met. Take that towel with you. It was really annoying being a different color by itself.”

Yoon Cha-on let out a small laugh.

Strange. What’s so special about him remembering just one towel that makes it feel meaningful? Really, what is this… why does the Dog Successor seem like an even more peculiar person?

Yoon Cha-on slightly twisted his body, smoothly slipping his shoulder from his hand.

“Just keep being annoyed by it.”

“Why are you talking so cheekily?”

“Anyway, thank you, Gyeon Gang-hyeon Successor-nim.”

“Kids these days are really bold, just like they say.”

Without giving Gyeon Gang-hyeon a chance to grab him, Yoon Cha-on ran straight outside. Even forgetting to greet Hae Mi-jun.

* * *

When the article first went up, Yang Pyo couldn’t bring himself to click or read it.

So Gyeon Gang-hyeon read through all the uploaded articles and summarized the public opinion for him.

====

Earth attribute hunter Kim XX admitted to his crimes, but simultaneously caused a big stir by pointing to the Sheep Successor as an accomplice.

However, this was revealed to be false. The Sheep Successor had never agreed with Kim XX’s actions, and it was discovered that he had actually been continuously warning his friend Kim XX to stop the violent behavior.

Additionally, the Sheep Successor revealed in his video call statement with police that Kim XX had been threatening him for a long time. When asked if his recent sluggish stage performance was related to discord with Kim XX, he also answered positively to that question.

====

“The article came out well. There are no articles suspecting you as a perpetrator. I can’t stop the comments from being crazy, but… just ignore those bastards. They’ll die down after you fight magnificently a few times.”

Yes, I know. That’s what Gyeon Gang-hyeon hyung kept saying. Don’t get too distracted by comments and public opinion.

Yang Pyo recalled the words he had said while lost in thought.

Woo Sae-geon, the leader of the Twelve Zodiac, collected points from the successors and built a separate small dormitory behind his quarters.

It was essentially an isolation facility.

A space created to confine and monitor the perpetrators of this incident. Kim Sang-ju also packed his belongings from the regular dormitory he’d been staying in and moved there.

Moreover, he was said to be stripped of his hunter position for a certain period.

Yang Pyo watched his friend, whom he would never see again, from a distance. It felt like something he had to do one last time.

To wrap up his long suffering.

Kim Sang-ju spotted Yang Pyo and approached. Thanks to Woo Sae-geon personally escorting him, Kim Sang-ju was grumbling but didn’t throw punches.

“Fuck, only I’m screwed like this…? How much did you pay the reporters? Did Ja Hyeong-woo exclude just you when filing the complaint? Fucking powerful bastards…”

Yang Pyo calmly faced his ruined friend. Now, even looking at Kim Sang-ju didn’t make his heart turbulent at all.

“You’re going into isolation because you did wrong. I didn’t do it, you did it all.”

Kim Sang-ju, who had been giggling like he’d lost his mind, soon looked up at Yang Pyo.

“Stupid bastard only lived through luck… The guy who used to beg to sleep together because he couldn’t sleep at night with that big build… Should I spread all this around?”

Yang Pyo didn’t bat an eye.

Kim Sang-ju’s words couldn’t affect the current Yang Pyo at all.

“It already came out in some articles. That I developed monster phobia. I said it myself, with my own mouth.”

Yang Pyo was okay. He could confidently tell himself. I’ve gotten better.

“I’m actually improving. But do you think it’s thanks to you? No. It’s not you—”

Yang Pyo was about to carelessly say it was thanks to Gyeon Gang-hyeon hyung but stopped with an internal gasp. Because Woo Sae-geon behind him was scary.

“I, I did well on my own!”

It was something he blurted out in confusion trying to cover up, but looking at it, it seemed like something he could say to himself.

‘Right. I worked hard too.’

The sky he looked up at after sending Kim Sang-ju away was refreshing. Yang Pyo unconsciously thought to himself.

That he felt like he could live now.

* * *

However, since Hunter School was a special space, police couldn’t directly search it. Because of this, the question arose: ‘Are the materials provided by successors sufficient as legal evidence?’

Can evidence transmitted through the Gate System be trusted? Can it be proven that the data wasn’t altered or manipulated? If this can’t be proven, wouldn’t only student testimonies be effective in the end?

Moreover, since dispatching investigative personnel to the gate where Hunter School is located was impossible, these were natural questions.

Therefore, there were initial difficulties in the investigation. This was a topic that would have had to be addressed someday once Hunter School entered our society.

And the National Assembly passed the relevant bill.

Around that time, Woo Sae-geon, the president of Hunter School and leader of the successors, announced Hunter School’s official position.

The Hunter School security guards introduced this way would later have their name changed to ‘Student Council.’

But as if this was the right time, netizen interference poured down. ‘Increase surveillance cameras,’ ‘Investigate all hunters’ past records and expose those unqualified to the media,’ etc…

Hostile opinions gained strength.

[“…Therefore, we believe it’s inevitable to increase the number and range of surveillance cameras following public opinion. However, additionally installed cameras will not be disclosed to citizens, and only our Association will monitor them.”]

Association President Kim Jae-moon conveyed his opinion to Woo Sae-geon through video call.

Veins bulged at the twenty-four-year-old’s temples. Nevertheless, his expression remained surprisingly calm.

“Do you know what privacy protection laws are? Are you thinking before you speak?”

This bastard and Gyeon Gang-hyeon both. Kim Jae-moon hid curses behind his eye smile.

[“Even knowing how much the Association has been stirred up by a successor’s internal expose, you still say that?”]

“So, are you going to make me take responsibility for this too? Is there anything to catch students while only taking responsibility? I didn’t hear the surveillance camera talk.”

[“…Understood. If you insist, we’ll go with Woo Sae-geon Successor’s opinion.”]

But suddenly Kim Jae-moon’s eye whites flashed. His mouth whispered poison-like words to Woo Sae-geon.

Words he wouldn’t say to other successors.

[“The world is made of responsibility. I’m also taking responsibility, which is why I’m saying this to Woo Sae-geon Successor. When you come out of that school, you’ll understand then.”]

BANG! As soon as the call ended, Woo Sae-geon kicked over the table.

Setting that table back up became the job of Sa Ye-ho, who came to sneak a peek at him shortly after.

* * *

The chaotic school atmosphere was gradually being restored.

“Hey, your insomnia got much better, right? The professor looking after you said so.”

I was a bit late in submitting a request to the system to change my sobok to summer fabric. While doing so, I had my phone by my ear.

The person on the call was Yang Pyo.

[“What? Confidentiality of counseling content is prohibited! Why did the professor…!”]

“Can’t I even hear whether it got better or not? I’m your guardian.”

[“Guardian…”]

He seems to be clearly showing that he doesn’t want someone like me as a guardian, but I ignored it. I had something else to say.

“Then now you can sleep well without me, right? Even after going to gates. Is that right or not?”

[“It is, but… uh, yes.”]

His voice doesn’t sound refreshed. He seems regretful too.

He doesn’t have to stick next to an annoying hyung to sleep anymore. He should be dancing with joy, so why?

‘Ah, is he still anxious?’

Then I’ll provide one last service.

“No, just come visit my house sometimes even if nothing’s wrong. If you want to.”

Yang Pyo, who hadn’t answered for a while, said after a long time.

[“Are you saying this because hyung misses me?”]

“What are you talking about? I’m doing this for whose sake. This bastard doesn’t even know gratitude.”

It was kind of warm when sleeping though.

Anyway, this concludes the publicity incident. However, one question remained.

‘How did Ja Hyeong-woo continue to not know about such things in the original work? Even until the middle part I read.’

Now I guess.

Because Woo Sae-geon handled everything alone from start to finish.

Even if I had just left it alone, it would have been a bit later, but Woo Sae-geon might have eventually caught both Ha Gwon-yeong and Kim Sang-ju.

Of course, if that had happened, there would have been more victim students in the meantime. I can’t estimate how much more suffering those students would have endured.

So I wasn’t wrong.

‘Come to think of it, I increased Ja Hyeong-woo’s workload and reduced Woo Sae-geon’s work.’

Anyway, since it’s a beneficial result for Woo Sae-geon, maybe Woo Sae-geon won’t torment me for disobeying his words…

The hope I had just in case completely disappeared due to a communication from Woo Sae-geon that evening.

[“You made the report, but Ja Hyeong-woo held the press conference… I see.”]

“I made him do it because it was bothersome. Why?”

His sudden mention of Ja Hyeong-woo was ominous, but I responded as lightly as possible.

However, there was no escape route.

[“I noticed Ja Hyeong-woo looks after you quite a bit.”]

“I wonder? I don’t really know.”

[“If rumors spread that the Mouse Successor would prioritize Gyeon Gang-hyeon over citizens, that guy’s image would be concerning too. Moreover, since you’re weak, such a moment might actually occur.”]

I shouldn’t show silence here. I hid my emotions.

“You’ve got the wrong person. Ja Hyeong-woo would naturally save citizens.”

Even though I argued against it, Woo Sae-geon seemed already convinced. Instead, he let out a scornful laugh.

[“I was just saying. Handle it yourself.”]

He didn’t threaten me with some pretext either. He just reminded me.

Since the Dog among successors is too self-assertive, he wants to put on an appropriate leash.

“Ha.”

Things were going well, then I got completely caught. My throat was parched, so I gulped down cold water.