The Hunter of the Other World Who Is Being Misunderstood – Chapter 71

Ch 71: Superiority, Suppression （2）

“Don’t act tough with such meager power. Jeong Haseong.”

Let’s see.

Okay, I instinctively blurted out those words as a defense mechanism, but how should I continue this?

‘Hmm.’

Frankly, an F-rank body doesn’t have any notable strengths.

Therefore, since I can’t boast with self-aggrandizing bluster, my options are limited.

‘I need to belittle the other side.’

I decided to criticize Jeong Haseong.

I couldn’t help it. I had to appear strong, even if it was forced.

“For an Awakened One like you to be the pinnacle of the Fire Magic lineage, the world must be ending.”

Tap, tap.

I nonchalantly brushed off the soot from the back of my hand and casually disparaged the other party.

“The truth is, you can’t even handle half of your own abilities…”

“What?”

“Isn’t it a bit arrogant to worry about being treated like a monster with that level of skill?”

However, the longer the conversation went on, the more I was cornered.

The young man named Jeong Haseong over there is actually a blessed being with very few flaws to pick at.

“Your skill in handling your powers is terrible for a Rank 1.”

His social status, too.

His innate mana quantity, too.

The only flaw of that S-rank, who didn’t lack in any aspect, was his control of magic.

So, I desperately clung to Jeong Haseong’s immature aspects, but…

“Honestly, if you look at your skill utilization, you’re no different from any F-rank on the street. Isn’t that right?”

So what if that’s the case?

It’s natural that Haseong isn’t good at handling his skills.

Compared to other S-ranks, his mana quantity was exceptionally outstanding.

Too much mana would have made adapting to his awakened abilities several times harder.

This flaw doesn’t affect Jeong Haseong’s combat power at all.

Conversely, it means that the S-rank is born with overwhelming firepower that doesn’t require trivial techniques.

‘He’s a real monster by Earth standards.’

I quietly became terrified.

But I didn’t show it outwardly.

“Don’t be complacent with the present, Jeong Haseong.”

Rustle.

I firmly grasped the plastic bag I had brought from the convenience store to hide my nervousness.

“That’s why you’re not improving. Do you think becoming an S-rank is the end of it?”

I’m saying things that a strong person would say, at least to the best of my ability.

“Don’t be pathetic and constantly think about getting stronger! If you’re an Awakened One.”

I rattled off criticisms about his skill usage and then quietly stopped talking because I had already run out of things to say.

Besides.

‘Huh?’

Because I was avoiding eye contact out of fear, I was late to realize it.

Jeong Haseong had been staring at me with a surprised expression since a while ago.

It must be shocking that an F-rank dares to talk back to an S-rank.

But anyway, the real problem is that he didn’t get intimidated at all even after I criticized him harshly.

‘D*mn it!’

Thanks to that, I was in a desperate situation.

Because I realized that my bluster hadn’t made Haseong wary of me.

“D-don’t take it badly! I’m just worried. You have so much potential to become stronger, but you’re too focused on work…”

I hurriedly added an explanation.

“I-I just mean, let’s think about the future!”

“The future?”

“You might be clearing any dungeon easily now, but you never know what might happen later, right?”

But there’s a problem here.

Because I lived as a Great Magician in my past life, I’ve hardly ever tried to please others.

I solved most problems with force.

So, it’s only natural that I’m clumsy at flattery.

“Don’t overdo it already. Take care of your health. Even for the sake of your future value.”

“…….”

“Do the doctors not tell you these things? Honestly, if I hadn’t forced you to sleep back in August, your hunter career could have been cut short. Then all your favorite relief activities would have gone down the drain, all because of a moment of stubbornness.”

“Is that so.”

“S-so, the conclusion is, I want you to… I hope you get treatment regularly…”

D*mn it.

Does my soul’s algorithm think that worrying about health will make me look kind?

I ended the conversation with a similar sentence as last time.

I started with confident bluster, but in the end, I became a groveling mess.

It was at that moment, while I was carefully watching Jeong Haseong’s expression and agonizing over how to end this conversation.

“Kim Giryeo Hunter!”

Suddenly, a voice like a savior flowed into my ears.

“Huh?”

It’s Seon Uyeon.

That B-rank Awakened One suddenly appeared and blocked the space between me and Haseong.

Come to think of it, Seon Uyeon’s appearance was natural.

The alley we were standing in was right across from the emergency room’s back door.

‘Did my voice reach the door?’

It wouldn’t have been hard to find me once they stepped outside. But the problem is why they came out of the emergency room.

“Is your treatment already done?”

“Ah, yes. It seems my turn came up faster than expected.”

Now that I see it, the Association Employee’s severed finger had been completely restored.

It seems like they met a healer in the meantime.

“But I wondered why the person who was going to buy barley tea was so late.”

Seon Uyeon took a breath and looked back and forth between me and Jeong Haseong.

“Why are you so eager to pick a fight with Jeong Haseong Hunter whenever you see him?”

“Huh?”

“I heard everything on my way here! You were talking trash to Haseong-ssi. Saying things like, ‘pathetic’ and whatnot.”

Right after that. Seon Uyeon grabbed my sleeve with all the color drained from their face.

“Please don’t fight!”

“Uh…”

“This is in front of a hospital. There are many elderly people who are vulnerable to mana.”

Personally, I think it would be better to stop that human weapon S-rank rather than a harmless person like me.

“Hmm.”

Well, it’s a good thing this happened.

I decided to take Seon Uyeon’s plea as an excuse to leave.

“That’s right. We shouldn’t fight. What could be worse than hitting someone?”

I hope Haseong will feel something after hearing this.

“Anyway, I’m sorry for being late with the errand. Here’s the barley tea. Let’s all go home now.”

“Uh, uh?”

“Oh, a vacant car is coming over there. Taxi!”

Quickly.

I ran out to the road without looking back.

Originally, I was planning to escape like water flowing.

“Wait a minute.”

But it seems the other party doesn’t intend to end the conversation like this.

Jeong Haseong, whom I had left behind, suddenly called out to me.

I awkwardly turned my head when I heard that voice.

“Why?”

But what was he going to say?

“The cost of the recovery potion you used on me before.”

“Huh?”

What?

Jeong Haseong brought up something unexpected.

“…I apologize for being late in saying this. I would like to pay you back now, could you give me your account number?”

I had completely forgotten. As he said, I had saved his life before.

It’s a relief to hear that he’ll repay the favor.

‘Suddenly?’

The question ‘Why now?’ popped into my head.

This Earthling had been ready to kill me for interfering with his work, regardless of whether I was his benefactor or not.

‘What’s his intention?’

Could this be some kind of scheme?

I was filled with distrust. So, I couldn’t easily accept the S-rank’s offer.

“It’s okay.”

“Yes?”

“I said it’s okay.”

Thud.

Soon after, the sound of the taxi’s back door opening rang out.

“If you’re really grateful, then cancel that assault lawsuit.”

Jeong Haseong wore a surprised expression after hearing that, but I didn’t talk any further.

It was getting to the point where I couldn’t keep up the bluster against an S-rank.

“Whew!”

Vroom.

Just as the taxi I had hailed was about to leave.

I leaned back in the back seat and wiped away the cold sweat.

‘I’m alive!’

There were some ups and downs, but it’s okay since I survived.

And this incident made it even clearer.

Jeong Haseong is definitely the type who is weak against bluster!

‘I said quite a few things that would make him feel bad, but in the end, he didn’t come at me.’

Heh heh. He’s such a coward.

I clasped my trembling hands together and made a resolution again.

That’s right. I’ll push forward with a strong image in front of that S-rank no matter what.

‘If I look weak, he’ll start swinging his sword again. And there’s no way someone like me can dodge an S-rank’s sword strike twice…!’

That’s the only way to survive.

◈◈◈

After Giryeo left.

In front of the emergency room’s back door.

“…….”

Jeong Haseong quietly watched the taxi carrying Kim Giryeo drive away, then turned his gaze.

His mind was complicated.

‘Think about getting stronger.’

Certainly, that was a perspective I had never considered.

Since awakening as an S-rank hunter.

I had always focused on suppressing and reducing this power.

‘I’m actually not even handling half of my awakened abilities. Is that what he meant…?’

Haseong looked down at his palm and smiled weakly.

Honestly, he couldn’t deny it.

His awakening power, if you only look at the pure numbers, was a level that reached 1.5 times the average of an S-rank hunter.

This enormous power was like a wild, untamed horse. And he had never properly taken hold of the reins of this horse.

Just being dragged around by the rampaging flow of mana. Clinging on.

‘Pathetic.’

At some point, I started trying to suppress this flame.

To think that I would hear someone else tell me not to be complacent with the present.

━Isn’t it a bit arrogant to worry about being treated like a monster with that level of skill?

It was the first time he had heard such an evaluation.

That he had no skill.

He clears A-rank gates like they’re nothing. He cleared the White Tower, which was so difficult that even other S-ranks hesitated to enter, all by himself.

‘Right.’

It’s a blatant criticism.

That’s why his eyes were opened.

‘Everything that person said was right.’

Overworking himself because of current tasks is just eating away at his future.

As he said, I was complacent with the present.

This shouldn’t have happened.

Chased by anxiety, or swayed by the encouragement of those around me, I fell into a strange self-flagellation…

━Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep beep.

Soon after, a familiar ringtone sounded from his pocket, but Haseong didn’t answer it.

『Association President』

Because he had checked the caller ID.

“…….”

The Hunter Association had been contacting him frequently recently.

Since he started going to the hospital and reduced his workload for a few days, they’ve been subtly calling.

Asking if he’s sick lately.

Asking why he’s suddenly reducing his gate reservations.

Then asking if he could just take on that A-rank dungeon he had promised before taking a break.

Anyway, they’ve been nagging him as if he owes them something…

“Should I stop?”

Hoo.

After a deep breath, Jeong Haseong came to a conclusion.

Let’s put it down now.

All this time, he had been afraid of the eyes of others, chased by the fear within him, trying to meet their expectations in any way he could.

Now, he had to follow the right advice. Even for the sake of his own life.

━Beep.

Jeong Haseong turned off his phone and started walking.

‘I should cut off the internet for a while…’

It was the moment when the pressure that had been tormenting him for years finally lost its weight.

『Jeong Haseong, Temporarily Halts Activities… Reason is Poor Condition』

『”No Promise on When He Will Return” Association ‘Dismayed’ by the Hero’s Statement』

And a few days later.

Articles about the Rank 1 were pouring out from all over the Korean newspapers.

◈◈◈

【 Anonymous Bulletin Board 】

『Title: Eyewitness Account of JHS Fight』

『Content:

Hey, I saw Jeong Haseong on my way here earlier!!

I didn’t see him up close, but I saw him talking to someone across the street, and he was clearly an Awakened One, which was kind of cool ㅇㅇ

But I was surprised.

Originally, I was looking at Jeong Haseong and wondering if I should cross the crosswalk and talk to him… or not, and then.

Suddenly, I heard someone shouting.

And when I looked, it turned out someone was cursing at Jeong Haseong ㄷㄷ

It was like some gangster-looking guy was yelling and pointing his finger at him.

At the time, I thought they were just arguing, but when I looked at the picture I took when I got home, that person has a burn scar on his hand.

It seems like Jeong Haseong fought with that person today;;

Well, people fight sometimes, so I don’t think much of it, but.

I was a bit surprised. Jeong Haseong looks like a saint on his broadcasts, but he also fights with other hunters.』

『Comments（12）』

『Anonymous: Who would be crazy enough to pick a fight with an S-rank LOL. Try to write something more plausible next time.』

『Anonymous: Proof ㅇㄷ?』

『Anonymous: It’s clearly a post written by some loser in their room who is jealous of the Shine Shine Shine guy.』

『ㄴAuthor: （Photo）』

『ㄴAuthor: I wrote that I took a picture in the main text, but I forgot to attach it.』

『Anonymous: Oh, the photo looks real.』

『Anonymous: So there’s proof.』

『Anonymous: No, who is that crazy person fighting with the Rank 1;;』

『Anonymous: Who is the hunter?? standing next to him? Anyone who knows their name, please tell me.』

『ㄴAnonymous: I’ve never seen them before.』

『ㄴAnonymous: No one who knows them is showing up.』

『Anonymous: Isn’t this an unauthorized photo? The faces of the ordinary people are shown as they are, the author should take down the photo.』

◈◈◈

◈◈◈

◈◈◈