The Berserker opened the door of the dilapidated warehouse
that wouldn’t be strange even if it collapsed right away. The interior reeked
of blood and musty odors that assaulted his sense of smell, but it was
something that he had already gotten used to.
His steps halted in front of a corpse whose head and limbs
had been torn off and whose chest had been blown open. It had been artistically
torn apart.
“A foolish death befitting a fool.”
That was the blunt comment that came out of his mouth.
The other had acted so superior, but now he faced such a
ridiculous death.
“No, it might be a testament to how formidable the Head
Breaker is.”
The fame of the Puppeteer, known as the immortal, was not
fake, so it would be right to say that the Head Breaker, who found and killed
him, was remarkable.
“......”
Standing in the room, Berserker closed his eyes and let the
residual Force flow through the room. He could see the scene in the room hours
ago. He could see the Puppeteer controlling the puppets, the blue eyes piercing
through the room, the lightning bolts piercing through the signals the
Puppeteer had created.
It was an unimaginable amount of murderous intent.
A madness that could drive someone insane just looking at it.
“Kukuku!”
Berserker laughed, shaking off the madness that threatened to
consume him.
“I don’t know how much of what I’ve seen is real.”
Everything was pure chaos.
The Puppeteer wasn’t foolishly caught and killed. What were
the eyes that appeared in the room, and what was the lightning bolt that
penetrated the flow of Force?
No matter how many times he read it, he couldn’t understand
everything.
In the end, he gave up and left the abandoned house, arriving
at a place about 5 kilometers away.
In the wake of an intense battle, Berserker tried to sense
the flow of the battle between the Puppeteer and Head Breaker.
However, this time, it went awry. The Head Breaker fought
with lightning that destroyed everything it touched. But there was no sign of
it here.
Instead...
“...Why do I smell the scent of the Eraser?”
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t
understand. He couldn’t sense the Head Breaker’s combat style, and it was only
the presence of the Eraser that filled the air.
“Are the Eraser and Head Breaker the same person? How could
that be possible?”
Did a government hunter have a reason to impersonate a
villain? He tried to piece together the puzzle with various clues, but the
pieces didn’t fit, so he gave up.
Instead, he assumed the opponent to be the Eraser and
accepted the flow of Force.
...!!!
Berserker’s eyes widened as he felt a dull slap to his chest.
A massive, incomparable surge of killing intent and madness swept through him.
Was this truly something a person could have? All Berserker
could do was take a deep breath as the creature’s mere presence threatened to
consume him.
“...All the more reason to see the Head Breaker.”
He couldn’t wait to see who the hell this guy was.
Pushing his thoughts aside, Berserker shouted toward the
dense forest.
“Come out.”
“...”
“How long do you plan on watching?”
“...It’s just a contact liaison.”
What appeared was a man dressed as an ordinary office worker
with an ordinary face. However, what he sensed from the other was a level of
skill that could be active in a top-tier guild, reaching Level 5.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t come across someone
like this.
Smiling, Berserker thought that something interesting was
about to happen.
“Where are you from?”
“I’m from the General Operations Team of the Sacred Guild. I
am Assistant Team Leader Lee Young-tan.”
“Did they send you to monitor me?”
“I’m only instructed to directly deliver a message to you.”
“Speak.”
“It’s a message from Head Breaker. He said Berserker will be
here, and that I should contact him once I meet you.”
As they spoke, he took out his smartphone and extended it
towards the Berserker.
“...”
Berserker looked at the phone and reached for it. A moment
later, the phone rang. He didn’t know how to connect the call, so Lee Young-tan
told him to swipe to the side. A voice came from the other side of the phone.
-Berserker.
“Is this the Head Breaker? Do you have something to say to
me?”
-I will kill you soon, so don’t make any arrangements and
stay put.
“What?”
-Set a date and time of your choosing, and I’ll make it worth
your while. Lastly, have a quiet meal and contact me again. You can use text if
you prefer. You know how to use it, right?
The call was then disconnected. The Berserker, who had been
blankly staring at the smartphone, burst into laughter.
“Heh, hahaha! He’s insane!”
Crack!
The smartphone shattered into pieces.
“......”
Berserker stared at the shattered phone. Lee Young-tan,
unfazed, pulled out another smartphone and held it out. Berserker looked at it
wordlessly and accepted it.
To prevent it from breaking and losing a means of
communication, he put it in his pocket.
He regained his composure and laughed again.
“Hehehe, it’ll be fun.”
Crazy bastards.
Whether it’s the guy who’s trying to attack Berserker,
believing that he wouldn’t get killed.
Or the guy who’s laughing at the idea of him being killed.
Both of them were the same.
Only Lee Young-tan, caught in the middle of the crazies,
tasted death.
***
After dealing with the Puppeteer, I headed to the Sacred
Hospital where Yoon-hee was hospitalized. Choi Yoon-hee, single room. Even if
it’s not a major injury, it’s a prioritized benefit. I guess this is why people
want to join the Sacred Guild.
When I walked in, I saw her dressed in patient clothes and
blushing bright red.
She told me not to call our parents, and I listened because
her injuries weren’t serious. It wasn’t like her intestines had ruptured or her
stomach had split open and spilled out.
I heard from the nurse that she ate three full bowls of rice.
One bowl alone was impressive. Even the meals and side dishes I cooked at home
would run out quickly. When I asked if she had eaten them all, she would make a
fuss, as if she was being accused unfairly. It’s like the culprit’s habit of
loudly protesting. I put down the fruit basket.
“Are you okay?”
“Huh? Why are you here? I’m getting discharged tomorrow,
anyway.”
“My little sister got hospitalized, so I came to see if she’s
breathing.”
“Should you say that to your injured little sister? But
thanks for coming. If it weren’t for you, I would have almost died.”
I shook my head at the awkward way she said it.
“No, you did great. You held out really well.”
“Still, I feel how useless my abilities are. Should I have
worked harder? No, cancel what I just said!”
Yoon-hee tried to take back her slip of the tongue, but I
heard everything.
“When you get discharged, I’ll train you even harder.”
“No, I misspoke. It’s already enough.”
“I don’t think so.”
“The training is already enough. I was talking about Gifts.”
“Gifts?”
“I’m just ranting because I think it would be different if I
had a Gift. Not everyone has them.”
The percentage of hunters with Gifts was very low. However,
most top-tier hunters possess Gifts.
Gifts could grant special strength to hunters.
In the early days of the Awakening, some nations resorted to
human experimentation to unlock Gifts, but the results were unsuccessful. I was
probably the only one who could determine an Awakened’s type of Gift through
blood consumption.
I watched Yoon-hee and threw out a bait.
“What would you do if there was a way to have Gifts?”
“Is there really such a way? Seriously?”
I pretended to ponder for a moment before nodding my head.
“There is.”
“Then tell me! I want to have a Gift too. I want to become
stronger.”
“It’s a somewhat dangerous method.”
“It’s okay.”
Perhaps it’s because of her desire for strength. It slightly
bothered me, making me remember of the time I yearned for power before becoming
the Blood Master in my past life.
No, that desire would disappear if I kept on training her.
When she let go of power, other desires would also fade away. I should use the
pretext of Gift awakening to do that.
“For now, focus on getting proper treatment and improving
your condition. Let’s talk about it again later.”
“Okay. I remember everything you said, so don’t say you don’t
remember later.”
“Sure.”
When Yoon-hee had a Gift, she would be an even better Hunter.
But I have to draw blood from near her heart. Wouldn’t she
freak out?
I decided to think about the aftermath later.
“Oh! By the way, did you really watch it?”
“Huh?”
“Were you watching me fight with the puppet?”
I thought she was half-unconscious, but she remembered the
situation accurately at that moment.
“No.”
“It seemed like you were watching.”
“......”
Her narrowed eyes relentlessly pursued me. I could try to do
this a few more times in the future, so there’s no reason to reveal it so soon.
“Well, there’s no evidence. Are you sure you didn’t imagine
it?”
“No, it was real! And take that.”
Yoon-hee pointed at the large pot on the table.
“What is it?”
“Open it.”
I took the lid off and checked the contents.
Greeting me with a delicious smell was an Aul Boar’s head.
Its pupils followed my gaze.
It was a miso hot pot made with the head of an Aul Boar. How
was this here?
“Sister Dahyun brought to improve my health. Didn’t Brother
recommend it? Are you crazy? Are you insane? Are you out of your mind?”
“This is a nourishing dish.”
“Although I’ve had rice soaked in broth before, I can’t stand
the eyeballs that follow along. Sister Dahyun said that the eyeballs are the
most delicious, but how can I eat those? Brother, you eat them.”
“Sure.”
I went home with a bowl of Aul Boar head miso hotpot at
Yoon-hee’s insistence.
It was an unexpected significant gain.
***
As I returned to the National Security Agency, news broke out
about Kim Yong-hwan’s death, causing the overall atmosphere in South Korea to
become somber.
It was the death of a Level 8, none other than Kim Yong-hwan.
Although he had weakened with age, his shadow loomed large, causing significant
repercussions.
Consequently, stories about Jung Ju-ho’s responsibility emerged,
but it subsided when it became known that I had captured the Puppeteer.
However, within the demoralized government organizations, it was lamented that
control had completely shifted from the government to the large-scale guilds.
According to their opinions, it had become practically
impossible to capture the Berserker without the cooperation of the large-scale
guilds. Although the government promised to allocate funds for the cultivation
of Level 8 Superhumans, the money would merely end up in someone else’s
pockets.
Once I obtained the non-arrest privilege, I would crush them.
Anyway, the situation was moving as Lee Se-hee said. At this
rate, I would have a lot to demand when the negotiating table was set.
“Come in.”
In the brief interval, Jung Ju-ho’s face had somehow become
thinner. The only reason his expression wasn’t completely dark was that the
puppeteer had been eliminated, preserving his dignity. My only fault was that I
didn’t bring the body.
Should I go and get it now? It had been a few days, and it’s
too late. Next time, I would remove the head beforehand.
No one would recognize the Puppeteer’s face even if I brought
it back, anyway.
“So, it’s true that you eliminated the Puppeteer?”
“Yes.”
“No, I mean... He’s called the Immortal, so how did you
defeat him?”
“The Puppeteer used the wavelengths of the Force to
manipulate puppets. I found the source of those wavelengths and he was there.
The physical strength of the Puppeteer was insignificant.”
“Did you bring the corpse?”
“I smashed its head. If necessary, Lee Se-hee can testify.”
“Was it necessary to go that far? It’s regrettable, but I
suppose I have to accept it.”
Jung Ju-ho, who was scratching his head, said,
“Still, I’m alive thanks to you. It was chaos when Minister
Kim Yong-hwan died. That person too. When you get older and your skills
decline, you should retire gracefully instead of being greedy, tsk tsk!”
“It’s fortunate that it was handled well.”
Jung Ju-ho was officially my backup, so I hoped he would stay
motivated and help me for a long time.
“Anyway, I owe my life to you. I wonder how it would have
turned out if you’re not there.”
“The atmosphere seems serious.”
“The government side wanted me dead. It’s true that Kim
Yong-wan’s character was not the best, but he was still reliable in a way. If
he’s going to die so hopelessly, he should at least solidly groom a successor.
Tsk tsk! From my perspective, it will be hard to find someone else from
elsewhere.”
“......”
“On the other hand, if you reach Level 8 now, your value will
increase. It’s not bad for you. It’s funny that someone’s death can benefit
someone else, but that’s how it goes.”
He smiled bitterly. While he was relieved that the annoying
human was gone, he knew that he would be at a disadvantage in any future
battles for dominance with the larger guilds.
“Chief.”
“Yeah, what?”
“If I reach Level 8, can you help me with negotiations?”
The probability of refusal was high. Jung Ju-ho had lived his
entire life as a public servant and remained loyal to the country, so he might
think that my actions infringed the national interest.
However, to my surprise, Jung Ju-ho raised the corner of his
mouth.
“Jun-ho, honestly, I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”
“What?”
“Honestly, where can you find someone as knowledgeable about
the government as me? I’ve been a government hunter my whole life, and there’s
nobody above me that I don’t know. Those elites, where did they come from and
what have they been up to? They’re all hiding something.”
“Please share that information later.”
I already found potential targets to eliminate.
“...I take back what I just said about knowing what they're
hiding. I now can’t remember it. As one grew older, they not only lose their
hair but also their memory. Anyway, since you asked for my help, I’ll support
you wholeheartedly. Aren’t you from the National Security Agency? I’ll take the
lead.”
I could have obtained that information. It’s a shame.
But if I provoke a few more times, the necessary information
would probably pour out.
“I thought you were going to say it was against the national
interest.”
“Never mind. If you don’t get it, the others will. Did you
see the money we’ve allocated for Level 8 training this time? It’s all blind
money, and I’d much rather spend it on wooing you than going into those
assholes. I’ll make sure the government gets it right this time. Just trust
me.”
“I trust you.”
This guy had a lot on his plate.
“By the way.”
“Yes?”
“I’m planning to capture the Berserker.”
“You haven’t given up yet?”
Jung Ju-ho, who was laughing cheerfully, was shocked and
grabbed his head.
Did he think it couldn’t be done?
***
The connection between Berserker and I went back to my
previous life.
He was a lunatic who wanted to create his own world based on
different criteria from others.
He did not reveal that he was Level 8, nor did he reveal his
Gift until right before his death.
This time, the fact that he was Level 8 was revealed,
although the information about his Gift did not.
However, I remembered the words he said to me, which made me
think he was an unusual guy.
“He called it a moment of the stars.”
Berserker chased after talents that could inspire him.
Perhaps it was because of that he chased after the traces of
the Eraser. He said to face something more terrifying than death itself and
even dared to embrace death in order to catch a glimpse of that ‘moment of the
stars’.
I didn’t know if he saw it until the moment of his death.
However, his obsession with power was real. He was 60 years old when he died.
He had hidden various tricks to become stronger instead of deteriorating in
skill.
Berserker - When will you come?
Berserker - I’ve already arrived.
Berserker - Waiting is boring. Perhaps this is also a
seasoning for enjoyment. Hehe!
Berserker - [Attached photo]
Berserker - If you have time, you can come early.
I wonder if it bothered him that I asked if he knew how to
send a text.
He had been sending me texts for the past three hours.
Why did he send a selfie of himself? The photo size was
ridiculously large.
I departed exactly on time.
When I arrived at the designated location, I saw Berserker
sitting on a tree stump, just like in the attached photo.
“You’re on time. I was getting tired of waiting.”
“Why did you come early?”
“I couldn’t contain my excitement.”
“Crazy bastard.”
“Hehehe!”
He laughed even when insulted. Maybe Jung Ju-ho’s words were
right. This guy was truly insane. If I spent time with him, I might become
tainted as well.
“Did you fill your stomach with enough food?”
“Plenty. I also have something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“Are you the Eraser?”
The craziest encounter. Time to see whos maddnes is stronguer.
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