The Hunter of the Other World Who Is Being Misunderstood – Chapter 74

Ch 74: Post-Contract

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m happy to die at 34, so please come here for a moment. I’m about to be assassinated right now.”

Out of the blue, he says he wants to make a deal. And that an F-rank like him has an assassin on his tail.

The following conversation was quite bewildering. Even Kang Changho was speechless for a while.

━…….

But the silence didn’t last long.

━Wait.

Soon after, Kang Changho ended the call with a short word.

◈◈◈

Raising my eyebrows with my frontalis muscle, contracting my zygomaticus major and orbicularis oculi muscles to pull up the corners of my mouth.

I mimic the smiles of Earthlings by manipulating a few muscles.

And then I said this.

“Thanks to you, Changho-ssi, I really survived.”

Considering this was a place prepared to promise my death in 10 years, it’s quite a contradictory sentence.

“As expected, S-rank hunters are different. To knock down that strong awakened one in one shot.”

To get straight to the point, I decided to accept Kang Changho’s offer.

━Hunter Kang Changho! But before we talk, could you catch one of the awakened ones nearby?

━Awakened one?

━I’ll tell you the location on my phone.

Of course, the nuisance of the uninvited guest was taken care of long ago.

With the Great Magician’s mana detection ability and the S-rank hunter’s power combined, there was nothing we couldn’t do.

━Wow! A human body can bend like that.

During the subsequent interrogation, the S-rank showed off the art of folding the assassin’s waist in half. Well, that’s not very important, so let’s move on.

“Hmm.”

This was a Japanese restaurant in Gangnam introduced by the S-rank hunter.

Luxurious wooden interior.

Neatly arranged food.

And a tightly closed lattice door.

It was certainly a good place to talk quietly.

‘Of all people, I’m sharing a table with an S-rank hunter with a history of assault.’

Thud.

My appetite gone, I put down my spoon.

“Are you done eating?”

Seeing this, Kang Changho also put down his chopsticks and got to the point.

“Then, let’s talk about the promise…….”

Immediately after, what Kang Changho presented was none other than a piece of parchment.

“Have you seen this before? This is an item called 『Knight’s Oath』.”

“Knight’s Oath?”

“It’s the highest grade among contract scrolls.”

A one-time use magical tool that can be obtained by defeating a monster that appears in a certain gate in Europe.

Its function was truly simple.

“If you break the promise, it comes back with an instant death penalty.”

I was surprised by that and hurriedly checked the parchment. But thankfully, I didn’t find anything too complicated.

Wait a minute…….

+

Contract Details

1. Kim Giryeo, on the year he turns 34, （20XX-01-01 （GMT+9） 00:00 standard）, transfers all rights to his body to Kang Changho, and Kang Changho does not use the transferred rights for anything other than the activation of Enhancement Skill.

2. If Kim Giryeo voluntarily enters a gate, he must report it to Kang Changho first.

2-1. If Kim Giryeo voluntarily travels abroad, he must report it to Kang Changho first.

3. Kang Changho is obligated to accompany him to the dungeon reported in 2.

（However, this obligation can be waived with Kim Giryeo’s permission. Also, the standard for accompaniment here is…….）

+

There are some questionable parts, though.

“Number 1 is fine, but what about the rest?”

When I asked, Kang Changho opened his mouth.

“Most of it is to protect you. It would be a big problem if you died alone somewhere I can’t see.”

“Ah.”

The S-rank hunter, having said that, continued his explanation calmly, as if he had more to say about the contract.

“By the way, it’s best to be careful when interpreting the word ‘voluntarily’ here.”

“Yes?”

“For example……. If you ask someone to kidnap you overseas, even if you leave the country while unconscious, it’s a violation of the contract.”

“Then.”

“It means don’t try any cheap tricks. If you don’t want to die.”

Kang Changho threatens me with a sharp glare.

But I was unfazed even after hearing that. It wasn’t a difficult request to ask to be contacted when going somewhere anyway.

“And the details of what to do if you encounter a monster outside, or how to protect the contractor……. I deliberately omitted them.”

“Deliberately?”

“The more complicated the clause, the higher the chance of dying by mistake.”

The fact that the contract details were somewhat loose was essentially an inevitable choice.

“But don’t worry. Even though I couldn’t put it here, I’ll do my best to guarantee your safety.”

Soon, the S-rank’s dimples slightly dent.

“Of course, since you’re giving me your life, I have to guarantee these 10 years.”

Kang Changho, sending a look of interest, soon said.

I want to say that I’ll protect you 24 hours a day, but I already know that’s realistically impossible.

You wouldn’t want a system without privacy either.

So, let’s flexibly balance protection and freedom from now on.

It’s a very considerate tone, but I’ve been through too much to fall for such sweet talk.

“This is like signing a contract trusting only in Changho-ssi’s conscience.”

No matter how high the risk is, the only thing you can trust in such a deal is the effect of the magical tool.

But in this case, isn’t it possible for that S-rank to abandon me at any time based on the conditions?

“Let me ask you one thing. What if I get a serious illness before I turn 34?”

“What?”

“Or if a dungeon break occurs that even you can’t handle and I’m in danger…….”

There wasn’t even a clause in this Knight’s Oath that said you couldn’t kill the other party before the deadline.

“…What do you think I’d do?”

It was a situation where that S-rank might activate Enhancement Skill halfway through.

But even so, I accepted his offer without question.

“But Kim Giryeo, just in case, you don’t think you have a choice, do you?”

About 3 seconds later.

That’s because an undeniable direct statement came out from the other side.

“I’m telling you in advance, I can kill an F-rank anytime without this procedure. The only reason I haven’t done it so far is because of a slight bit of pity.”

The sad words didn’t end there.

“Besides, you already rejected this deal once. Instead of being grateful for another chance…….”

“Th, thank you.”

“Just with words?”

Kang Changho rolls his eyes into the air as if he’s pondering something.

“Last time, I was the one begging, but this time it’s a contract you’re asking for, Kim Giryeo, so let’s revise the conditions a bit.”

It seems that this S-rank wants to hold me accountable for a minor offense.

“I’m sorry, but don’t expect any financial support.”

“What did you say?”

“Well, you shouldn’t have been so cold to me.”

He doesn’t want to give money to the person who rebuked him, and he’ll just keep my lifeline attached until I’m 34.

Kang Changho scrapped the former condition of money and protection, and the former condition of money.

‘I knew it would turn out like this.’

A drastically worsened treatment.

But it’s a penalty that I can fully accept.

The core of this deal is securing immediate safety in exchange for my lifespan.

‘Just taking care of that uninvited guest was already worth it.’

In the meantime, Kang Changho rolled a fountain pen he took out of his pocket towards me.

“Here, now you sign too.”

But as mentioned before, there’s no other option for a weakling like me.

The other side is a top-tier sorcerer who can blow up an F-rank at any time if he wants to.

In other words, this contract is just a minimum insurance for him.

‘If my life is going to be targeted anyway, it’s better to write this quickly and gain something.’

Swish, swish.

I wrote Kim Giryeo’s name in the signature field of the contract.

With this, the 『Knight’s Oath』 was activated.

Flash.

A strong blue light signaling the start of the contract seeped into the skin of the subjects.

‘Huh?’

But when I belatedly raised my head, Kang Changho’s reaction was a bit strange.

He wasn’t happy at all, but rather had a surprised expression.

‘Did he notice something strange?’

That I was an alien, or maybe…….

I tried to think of a few possibilities and changed the subject to hide my bewilderment.

“I have a question. If I die due to a contract violation, what happens to the Enhancement Skill?”

I squeezed out a topic of conversation, but it was a low-level question for a Great Magician.

“Then I’ll be the one who killed you. I’m the one who proposed the contract, after all.”

Well, the guy who even stalked me to use the skill wouldn’t have failed to think of that.

“Right.”

At that moment.

Was it a coincidence?

That S-rank hunter started talking about the exact same topic that I had just thought of.

“Come to think of it, there was something I wanted to say about your surveillance.”

He brought up the stalking incident himself.

“Actually, what I did wasn’t as grand as you’d call stalking.”

“Yes?”

“I was originally going to tell you last time, but then our Hunter Kim Giryeo got up first…….”

He tapped the table regularly with his index finger.

“Shall I tell you something interesting?”

The following statement was half expected.

But as it went on, the strange sounds increased…….

“I can see other people’s mana with my naked eyes.”

“Is that a power of the Dragon’s Eye?”

“Yeah. But out of all those awakened ones, only one person looks different.”

Kang Changho points at me with his index finger and says lightly.

“Do you know that your mana is always fluctuating greatly?”

My mana is fluctuating?

There’s no reason for that.

“Thanks to that, it’s easy to pinpoint your location. If I go up to the rooftop and scan the city, only one spot flickers.”

I had no idea what he meant by fluctuation.

Even though he and I were speaking the same language, our knowledge was fundamentally different.

‘Is he seeing the movement of particles that occur when mana circulates in the body? No, if that were the case, all Earthlings should look like they’re fluctuating…….’

Unlike the numerous awakened ones, it’s a problem that only occurs in one person.

And the biggest difference between me and other awakened ones is.

‘Soul?’

It was at that moment.

Kang Changho, as if something was still bothering him, scratched his neck and continued the sentence.

“Anyway, this was to say that I won’t interfere with your privacy more than necessary, so you can rest assured…….”

The deep blue Dragon’s Eye looks at the center of the table. Right where the oath was placed.

“Why didn’t you mention this topic first?”

“Yes?”

“Honestly, I thought you’d try to negotiate a lot before the deal. Add a clause to the contract that prohibits surveillance, or…….”

Well, and so on.

“But in reality, you accepted the deal quite obediently.”

Less resistance than expected.

Kang Changho leaned his upper body forward, resting his arm on the table.

And said, as if testing me.

“Kim Giryeo, what are you up to?”

But there was only one answer I could give.

“No, like I said on the phone, I just needed help.”

“Hmm.”

“If someone wasn’t protecting me, today would have been my death anniversary. I really didn’t have a choice.”

“That’s right.”

“Besides, when I asked if you could extend the deadline to around 15 years before coming here, you said absolutely not.”

Now what’s with the negotiation?

I tried my best to express that I was wronged.

Then, Kang Changho pondered for a while and then backed away again.

“Okay.”

Anyway, it’s certain that I signed the oath, so further questioning is meaningless.

“Anyway, please take care of me from now on.”

Swish.

I extended my hand to Kang Changho for a handshake. Then the other party clasped my hand without suspicion.

Finally, this unethical contract was concluded.

‘Hahahaha!’

Of course, I won’t keep the promise!

‘What am I up to? Of course I have something planned! Why even ask?’

That’s right.

In fact, I had no intention of moving according to Kang Changho’s wishes from the start!

I already knew from my prior research what Earth’s hunters use when making important contracts.

‘You’re calling this rag a contract?’

The 『Knight’s Oath』 is none other than a magical tool based on a curse skill.

It puts a strong suggestion on the contractor—even an S-rank can’t escape it—to induce brain death when the clause is violated.

But as you know, I am the best magician of Alpha Uri.

‘Hahaha!’

I am not affected by any formulas of brainwashing, paralysis, or curses.

I will break all the clauses of this contract from now on.

‘You inferior mammals.’

But the 10-year time limit itself will be surprisingly effective.

If it’s discovered that the contract was ignored, Kang Changho won’t stay still.

10 years.

Sometimes it’s not bad to set a goal for myself.

‘I must regain my past power within that time.’

A little later.

I stirred the sherbet that came out for dessert and scanned the awakened one sitting across from me.

“Kang Changho-ssi.”

His inherent mana is decent.

With that amount of muscle mass, physical activity would be much easier.

“Excuse me, after the meal, could I borrow a cigarette?”

“Cigarette?”

“I just ran out of the ones I was smoking.”

“No. I don’t smoke.”

And finally…….

He’s a non-smoker.

“Ah, is that so?”

After thoroughly examining the Earthling named Kang Changho, I came to a conclusion.

A ruffian who seeks the lives of others for his selfish skill called Enhancement Skill, and who doesn’t hesitate to use violence on fellow hunters.

Where could there be better conditions to take over a body?

I moved the dead skin to mimic the appearance of a human again.

‘Wait for me, Kang Changho. I’ll split that skull open soon and switch to an S-rank body.’

And so, silent plans piled up within me.