Chapter 4: F-rank Human Shield (4)
When he opened his eyes in the hospital,
Kim Chun-sik stared blankly at the white plasterboard ceiling, dazed by the fact that he was alive.
‘…I really survived.’
He was dumbfounded.
The moment the Mage ran away and the Nols attacked him, Kim Chun-sik thought there was no way he could live.
But a miracle happened.
The colleague he thought had run away for sure.
He had risked his life to help him.
Although his memories of that intense moment were fragmented, his colleague had enough time to escape, yet he risked his life for him. Why did he make such a choice? He couldn’t understand it at all, but thanks to his help, he survived.
“Oh my, Chun-sik!”
“Grandma.”
A grandmother with a wrinkled face came running at the news that Kim Chun-sik had regained consciousness.
“What were you trying to do, doing such dangerous work! You said you were going to work at a construction site? Did you want to see your grandma die with you? Oh, I should have died when I got old. I didn’t know my grandson was suffering like this, I’ve been living comfortably with the money that should have been for my grandson’s life.”
The grandmother held Kim Chun-sik’s hand tightly and cried as she stroked his injured areas.
Living as a Hunter.
It was actually a secret from his grandmother.
Knowing that his grandmother would naturally oppose it, Kim Chun-sik had been lying and leaving the house.
“I’m okay.”
“What do you mean you’re okay! Your face has become half its size.”
“But I’m still alive and well.”
Kim Chun-sik grinned.
Age 30.
It was an age where he was treated as an adult in society, but in front of his grandmother, he showed a childlike smile.
His heart ached.
His grandmother’s face was stained with tears.
Thinking about his grandmother who must have suffered because of him, he wondered if he had made a mistake by choosing the path of a Hunter.
‘No. This is the only way to make up for the money we’re short. It would take too much time for me, with my poor education, to earn money through ordinary work. And Grandma’s illness won’t wait for that time.’
He strengthened his resolve.
She’s his only family in the world.
For his grandmother, he can do anything.
That afternoon.
The doctor who visited the hospital room told him something unexpected.
“It’s truly a miracle. Your ribs, broken during the battle, pierced your internal organs, causing severe bleeding, but thanks to the appropriate first aid you received early on, we were able to successfully complete the surgery. It’s a blessing in disguise. The fact that there was someone at the scene who could treat injuries must mean that the heavens helped save you, Kim Chun-sik.”
‘Ah.’
Treatment.
First aid.
There was only one person related to those words.
His human shield colleague.
It seemed that the person who saved his life also provided first aid.
He was truly grateful.
It was unfortunate to have met an irresponsible Mage, but as the doctor said, the fact that he had such a colleague by his side might have been divine providence. If it wasn’t for his help, he would have been torn apart by Nols in a mere F-rank area. After confirming through the doctor that his benefactor’s name was ‘Kang San’, Kim Chun-sik decided that he would visit Kang San as soon as he was discharged and express his gratitude.
But the next day.
There was another person who came to visit Kim Chun-sik.
“I’m Jeong Man-bae, a detective from the Hunter Management Bureau.”
The purpose was to investigate the crime of negligent homicide.
In order to punish Moon Seong-min, who intentionally abandoned his party, the testimony of a witness who was present at the scene was needed.
This was what Kim Chun-sik wanted as well.
Actively cooperating with the investigation, Kim Chun-sik was able to confirm a video from Jeong Man-bae.
“This person named Kang San, he’s really amazing. As you can see in the video, there was a considerable distance between him and the Nols, so escaping rather than fighting was the appropriate judgment for his own safety. Even if I take off my detective hat, honestly, I’m not sure if I could risk my life in that situation. But Kang San risked his life. An F-rank human shield who earns, at most, a few hundred thousand won a day, tore a Sharpness Scroll, which currently sells for a million won, to save you. He’s a really cool person, isn’t he?”
Throughout his life.
Kim Chun-sik had never received a favor from anyone.
It was a life where only he and his grandmother lived, so receiving help from someone was unfamiliar to him.
But now, at this moment.
‘Kang San.’
That name was deeply etched in Kim Chun-sik’s heart.
His body hadn’t fully recovered yet.
But as someone who had received a great favor, he couldn’t just lie in the hospital room and waste time.
So he went to find Kang San.
The moment he saw Kang San leaving the Hunter Management Bureau, Kim Chun-sik, regardless of his age, prostrated himself on the ground and bowed.
“I greet my benefactor!”
“Benefactor, you say.”
“Kang San-nim, you saved my life. I, Kim Chun-sik, grew up without much education, but I was taught that a man who doesn’t know gratitude is trash. If you have any wishes, please tell me. I’m ready to do anything for you, Kang San-nim, with this insignificant body of mine.”
He was a truly humane person.
In this age where we’ve lost our sense of compassion, a person who doesn’t hesitate to bow down to express his sincerity.
It’s difficult.
Moreover, anyone could see that Kang San wasn’t that young.
Kang San, with a flustered face, quickly helped Kim Chun-sik up.
“No, it’s really okay. I did it because I wanted to.”
Saving Kim Chun-sik.
Honestly, Kang San didn’t have a grand reason like justice.
It’s more accurate to say that he made an ‘investment’ because there was a clear reward for accepting Azmoon’s Trial.
But to be called a benefactor.
His conscience pricked him.
The situation where someone older than him was bowing down was burdensome for Kang San.
“You truly are a person with upright character.”
Perhaps Kang San’s humility was misconstrued.
Kim Chun-sik’s eyes shone with admiration.
The benefactor he had imagined in the hospital room showed an even more ideal attitude than he had imagined.
Kang San said.
“There was no special reason why I saved you. In the Other World, there’s no one to help us but our colleagues, right? Because I knew that if I ignored your danger and left, you would die, I couldn’t help but step in because of the guilt. That’s all. To be honest, I struggled a lot while making that decision. I was really scared too. I’m not a great hero like you think, so please stop looking at me like that.”
He made a plausible excuse.
He couldn’t tell the truth.
Azmoon’s Trial is a privilege given to Kang San, so he has no intention of revealing the truth to anyone.
Then there’s only one justification to use as an excuse.
Goodwill.
At Kang San’s words, Kim Chun-sik nodded, muttering ‘as expected’.
‘Whatever happens, happens.’
They won’t see each other again anyway.
Seeing Kim Chun-sik accepting whatever he said as amazing, Kang San tried to leave.
“Then I’ll be going.”
That was when it happened.
The moment he tried to move.
『The second Trial and Tribulation has been assigned.』
『Kim Chun-sik’s grandmother is suffering from a rare disease. Donate 150 million won to them, who cannot afford the surgery due to lack of funds.』
『Reward: Strength, Agility, Divine Power +2, 1-star skill x1』
‘What?’
A sudden quest.
Kang San’s expression distorted.
After parting ways with Kim Chun-sik, Kang San checked his bank account.
『168,000,000』
One hundred and sixty-eight million.
His entire fortune.
The money he had desperately saved since his childhood, growing up without parents, doing all sorts of odd jobs. He didn’t have a specific purpose, but he saved it diligently, thinking that people need money to live. But now, Azmoon was making the absurd demand to give away his entire fortune. Unlike the first Trial, which could be easily solved with a single scroll and risking his life, Kang San couldn’t help but hesitate this time.
‘This is really too much.’
“Ugh.”
Scratch, scratch.
He grabbed his hair.
What should he do?
If he gives away all this money.
Kang San will be unable to financially cope with any variables that may arise in the future.
Money.
It’s an essential value in modern society.
Even though the world has become one dominated by force, those who wield financial power are still powerful.
“Sigh.”
His hesitation was great.
He agonized over it.
He wanted to refuse, but there was a reason why Kang San couldn’t help but worry.
‘From the moment I accepted Azmoon’s apostleship, I have no choice but to refuse the Trials.’
The Apostle’s duty.
Sweet rewards await if he overcomes the Trials, but if he ignores them, the consequences are severe.
He loses everything he gained through the Trials.
His skills and stats will disappear, and he, burdened with even heavier karma from his past life, will live a more miserable life than before.
A life that’s terrifying just to imagine.
He did the math in his head.
He needed to think carefully about whether it was worth investing his entire fortune.
‘A total of 6 stat points and one 1-star skill. There’s no mention of additional rewards this time, so I guess what’s mentioned in the reward is all there is. Is that worth 150 million? To be honest, it’s definitely not worth that much, but the problem is that I have too much to lose if I refuse. And if I fail the second Trial, I might be deprived of the opportunity for the third Trial that I’ll receive in the future.’
It’s not entirely negative.
Hunters.
Their strength guarantees immense wealth.
If he can develop further as a Hunter, 150 million is an amount that can be recovered later.
Initial investment cost.
Thinking like that, his painful emotions subsided a little.
He has no choice anyway.
He consoled himself that this wasn’t a reckless gamble where he’d lose his entire fortune, but an investment for a brighter future.
And even a 1-star skill is still a skill.
As a mere F-rank human shield, he doesn’t have the right to use the ‘Market’, so securing one more skill like this isn’t a bad deal.
“Phew.”
He let out a deep sigh.
Just a few days ago.
He never imagined that he would lose his entire fortune like this.
But what can he do?
To succeed as a Hunter, he needs to carry out the Trial missions to the end, even if it means giving up what he has.
And.
‘The rewards are guaranteed.’
The first reward.
It was extraordinary just from that.
He had faith that at least the god Azmoon was clear about give and take.
“Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll do everything you want.”
Kang San made a phone call.
As soon as he heard a voice on the other side, Kang San spoke calmly.
“Please connect me to the hospital administration.”
He made the donation anonymously.
He could boast about it, but judging by Kim Chun-sik’s reaction, he would probably make a fuss about repaying the favor.
‘My relationship with Kim Chun-sik ends here.’
His actions are not out of goodwill.
It’s a means to an end.
He hoped that Kim Chun-sik wouldn’t become a clown in the middle of it all.
Kang San completed the donation through the appropriate procedures, and as he checked his meager bank balance, his mood plummeted.
But it was only for a moment.
『You have passed the second Trial and Tribulation.』
『The promised reward has been given.』
The moment he checked the reward.
‘As expected!’
Kang San was convinced that his choice had been right.