Berserker was excited at the prospect of gaining Complete Immunity.
“Complete Immunity. With this alone, we can have a more heated showdown...”
The guy with a crazed expression on his face laughed. His eyes were now full of competitive spirit.
Should I ask if he wanted to do it now?
I was about to say that I was ready to face any challenge. The Complete Immunity had ignited my desire.
However, the guy regained his composure faster than my response.
“...No, there’s no reason to commit suicide right now.”
What a stubborn guy.
Anyway, after the sparring, Berserker packed his things and said goodbye.
“I’ll be in touch if you need anything. That lamb’s got quite a bit of talent, and I’m willing to work with her so I can see another moment of the stars. Plus, unlike others, I seem to have a talent for teaching. Kekeke!”
Could it be that the one who benefited the most from this meeting was Berserker?
I turned to Jung Da-hyun, who was watching the departing Berserker’s camper van with a blank expression, and said, “Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
The two of us headed to Seoul.
“......”
During the car ride, there was no significant conversation. Jung Da-hyun seemed to have a lot on her mind.
As for me, I took some time to think about the Complete Immunity. While the idea of stealing, it was mostly a joke, it was astonishing how the guy’s past actions had created a possibility for such a Gift to be unlocked.
I wish I had carved out such a possibility for myself.
However, the Gift engraved in my blood couldn’t be read. Why was that?
Then, a bitter smile crept onto my face.
Even though I had over ten gifts, I was still greedy.
As we entered Seoul, Jung Da-hyun snapped out of her reverie and spoke up.
“Berserker was a more interesting person than I thought.”
“Really?”
In my opinion, he’s just a lunatic.
“It made me think twice about villains. If you take away the preconceived notions, he’s just a fun guy.”
“Being a villain doesn’t necessarily mean being evil.”
There were many ways to become a villain, such as being swept away by your surroundings, being swept away by people, being swept away by your family, or making a mistake in the heat of the moment.
However, even if a person wasn’t evil at first, once they became a villain, they would eventually become tainted by evil. I, the Blood Master, and the Berserker were all evil, unless the world accepted us.
I went back to a time before I became evil, but once someone stepped into evil, it’s not easy to step back.
“I feel like my sense of justice has been blurred, and I’m having trouble telling what’s just and what’s evil. I can’t help but question myself.”
“Trust what you see and feel, because your standards are unwavering.”
“Yes. And...”
Jung Da-hyun seemed to have something she wanted to say.
“What is it?”
“How is it possible to have a dual Gift?”
A dual Gift refers to an awakened individual with two Gifts. This could happen with an extremely low probability.
“It’s inherently difficult. Awakened individuals are specialized in their Gifts by default. Awakening another Gift reduces efficiency.”
So, there were very few awakened individuals with dual Gifts who reached a high level.
“Then, what about you... No, I asked something unnecessary. I’m sorry.”
“I’m a different case.”
I had ten Gifts, but all of them had been specialized by ‘someone’.
To put it nicely, it’s copying; to put it badly, it’s plundering.
“Focus on making your Intuition level 7 right now. Once you grasp the feeling, you can immediately level up.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Jung Da-hyun nodded resolutely, her eyes shining.
***
It was something I felt when I looked at Yoon-hee, but her On/Off switch was very clear.
When she’s in the Sacred Guild, she did her best in everything, but at home, she was always attached to the sofa.
I probably was very different from Yoon-hee in that aspect. I felt like I was always walking around with a switch on, and that probably only had gotten stronger since I had been recognized as a Level 8 and the way I was treated has changed.
My current situation was somewhat satisfying. But now, it’s the honeymoon period, and I was enjoying the position of a newly recognized Transcendent. Soon, the duties I had to fulfill would come.
The country invested enough in me to make use of my abilities, and I agreed to it.
I had no intention of imposing one-sided losses on the other party, even if there might be some give-and-take in deals.
By the way, how should I handle that?
When I was contemplating taking her off the sofa, she noticed it like a ghost and shouted.
“Stop it! Are you trying to nag me right now?”
“Are you a ghost?”
Did she unlock Stubbornness as a Gift instead of Indomitable?
“Where can you find someone who trains harder than me from the beginning? I’m very Indomintable! Indomitable! Didn’t you even call my Gift ‘Indomitable’?”
It seemed like she wanted to pretend like she had discovered or learned something impressive, even if she hadn’t actually done so.
That said, Yoon-hee’s resistance was stronger than expected.
If I were to force her now, it seemed like she might explode. However, when I saw the intense emotion in her eyes, I decided to not do it.
“Have you found a decent place to live?”
“Yeah, I talked to the real estate office, and after listing a few conditions, they immediately recommended one. You just need to have the money ready.”
“I’ll have it ready soon.”
“Some prepare meticulously and hunt with great effort, while others just go out and get it like they’re going for a walk. The world is truly unfair.”
“If you want to be like me, just work hard.”
But in return, she had to live quite a dynamic life.
Then, the mischievous Yoon-hee cautiously asked me.
“But are you going to catch the demon by yourself?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Oh, nothing. Just wondering if anyone’s been talking about you hunting demons.”
“I haven’t heard anything.”
“Really? Well, that’s good.”
As she said that, Yoon-hee seemed to have something to say to me, but she never opened her mouth.
What could she want to say?
Her reaction indicated that she definitely wanted to inform me about something, but found it hard to put into words.
It seemed to be related to the demon, so I decided to create the right atmosphere to ask later.
“I’m going.”
“Okay.”
Leaving the unanswered questions behind, I checked the time and headed outside. I had plans with Lee Se-hee today.
Today, there was an event by the Sacred Group, and Lee Se-hee, who had prepared in advance, appeared more splendid than usual.
Meeting for business, they went straight to work.
“The value of the demonic heart that Mr. Jun-ho handed over is superior in terms of efficiency at the same level. It was triple last time, but with a premium, it can go up to five times.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“Yes, in that sense, how about partnering with us in business? If we monopolize this crafting method even for a short time, we can make a lot of money.”
As Lee Se-hee spoke, I learned that the crafting I had studied was an advanced technology, but it couldn’t be monopolized for long. So, the goal was to solidify the brand during the time ahead and become the top in the industry in demon heart crafting.
“But not anyone can do this.”
“Yes, but all the craftsmen in our group are top-notch.”
Although I didn’t mention it, this required a natural sense. I had activated it with an enormous amount of Force because I lack that innate sense.
As expected, the original was needed.
“Let me introduce you to someone who can handle this technique better than I can.”
“There’s someone like that? Why didn’t I know until now?”
“Because they’re in the Black Market.”
“Oh, the Black Market...”
I promised Lee Se-hee that I would bring the Heartworker, someone I met from my previous life, to her soon.
Since he passed down the skills to me, I should repay him in this life. He’s a well-connected guy, but when I heard the scale of the business Lee Se-hee was proposing, I knew I could satisfy his greed.
Although she showed a hint of disappointment when I suggested continuing the business discussion later, she nodded.
“And how were hunting demons lately?”
“Hunting demons?”
“Just wondering if it’s not too difficult.”
“No?”
“Well, that’s fortunate then.”
“Is there some kind of problem?”
I was puzzled because it was something I hadn’t thought about before.
“No, there’s no problem. It’s fortunate that there are no issues. Shall we go then?”
Lee Se-hee pretended to hurry and turned away from me. Just like Yoon-hee earlier, Lee Se-hee’s behavior also felt suspicious.
Today, the Sacred Group was opening a premium gallery at the Sacred Department Store for awakened individuals.
I was invited to this event and decided to escort Lee Se-hee.
“But...”
“Is there a problem?”
“You want a ride in my car? Hmm, not that it matters.”
Riding a compact car while wearing hundreds of millions of won in jewelry, would that be alright?
I also worried that the hem of her long dress might get caught.
Lee Se-hee said with a bewildered expression, “Of course, we should go in my car.”
***
The Awakened Gallery in the Sacred Department Store was organized by Lee Se-hee, and it contained all the supplies needed by an awakened individual.
Starting with the armor one would need to take on demons, they would find a wide variety of weapons, Force healers and antidotes, as well as various disposable items and survival supplies.
In addition, they had set up a store where one could buy demonic hearts and byproducts, allowing awakened individuals to purchase everything they needed in one place.
Among them, the highlight was the armor created in collaboration with world-renowned luxury brand designers. It captured the attention of female awakened individuals with its practicality and beauty.
Now, it had become the era of thinking about fashion while wearing an armor.
Lee Se-hee was the centerpiece of the event, filling in for Chairman Lee Young-mun, who had recently refrained from public appearances due to health concerns.
I stood off to the side and watched as she basked in the spotlight from all sides.
“What do you think?”
“Anyone who has an Awakened partner will come here, right?”
“Correct. That’s what I aimed for. Now that the playing field is leveled, it’s just a matter of how pretty one should be.”
It would definitely work, at least for the female awakened.
And just like good-looking rice cakes taste better, male awakened individuals also preferred something more impressive, even if it was a bit more expensive.
It was an era with tens of millions of aspiring hunters. The government wanted the public to see Hunters as heroes rather than enemies. If enough people became Hunters, the nation would be stronger.
So, highly skilled, handsome and beautiful hunters enjoyed more popularity than most celebrities, and the design of equipment became increasingly important.
If it was me, I wouldn’t want to stand out... No, this was the mindset of a villain on the run. As long as I was in the spotlight as a Level 8 transcendent, I should like colorful things.
Looking at it again, it seemed pretty.
Lee Se-hee handled interviews skillfully and cleverly, explained the activities of the Sacred Guild and what the Sacred Group aimed for.
“Huh?”
At that moment, a voice called out from the other side, and a well-dressed young man approached. He looked to be in his late twenties, with a friendly smile but a hint of sinisterness in his eyes.
“It’s been a while, Se-hee. Have you been well?”
“...What brings my brother here?”
The person offering a friendly greeting was Lee Se-hee’s older brother and the eldest son of the Sacred Group, Lee Se-chan. They were in competition for the Sacred Group.
“It’s not every day your little sister achieves such impressive results.”
“Thank you for coming.”
Even though it was a conversation between siblings, there was an awkward atmosphere. Lee Sechan, who had left Lee Sehee, approached me and introduced himself.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Se-hee’s older brother, Lee Sechan.”
“I’m Choi Jun-ho.”
“I already know. The youngest Transcendant, Choi Jun-ho.”
There was a hint of mockery in his voice.
I shook hands with Lee Se-chan, and I could see the veins in his hand bulging as he exerted some force. It was a firm grip, just enough to gently scratch, but his expression was strange when I looked at him.
“Our Se-hee lacks experience with men, so her judgment of people is not very reliable. The guys around her try to make a good impression, but they’re all empty shells. Se-hee lacks the ability to distinguish. If she listens to her older brother, she might improve.”
It seemed like he’s trying to test me.
I was quick to pick up on things.
“The team leader is the most capable person I’ve seen. People see what they want to see, but those with narrow vision often fail to understand someone with bigger intentions. It’s a clear difference in competence.”
Lee Se-chan’s expression twisted.
“Are you saying that to me right now?”
“Let the listener judge.”
“This half-baked...”
Half-baked? What did he mean by that?
Could it be a new nickname for me? I already didn’t like being called a head breaker, and now half-baked? Was it maybe because I folded someone in half or something?
I decided not to dwell on it.
“And.”
I lightened my grip on the guy’s hand, which was trembling from the excessive force.
“Argh--!”
“Those in high places are deluded and think they’ll never come to any harm. I have a medical condition, and whenever I see an idiot like that, I have the urge to trample them into submission.”
If I apply more pressure here, Lee Se-chan’s hand would shatter into pieces. I felt an improvement in my control as I looked at his hand, barely maintaining its form.
“Do you want to see it once?”
“Ugh! Hmph!”
Lee Se-chan barely shook his head. As I released my grip, he wobbled and almost collapsed.
“Managing Director!”
“L-Let’s go.”
A crowd of people gathered around Lee Se-chan, huddled around him so that he wouldn’t be seen in a state of disarray, and left the room.
In any case, he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Lee Se-hee, noticing the strange atmosphere, approached.
“Mr. Jun-ho, did something happen?”
“It’s nothing.”
I didn’t understand why people always had to experience things firsthand to come to their senses. At least demons left behind a heart and byproducts when they died, but humans couldn’t even do that.
I gestured to Lee Se-hee to pose for the camera.
“The journalist over there is taking pictures. You should shine brighter today.”
“Yes.”
As soon as Lee Se-hee heard my words, she naturally struck a pose.
***
After the event, I met with Cheon Myeong-guk to report on the villain’s subjugation mission.
I wondered if there was something wrong with his health, as he was a bit gaunt on the first day, but he soon recovered and became active.
“From the villain cleanup operation to various events. You’ve really gone through a lot.”
“It was what I had to do.”
“But the foreign villains...”
As I watched him trail off, I felt puzzled.
“Hasn’t it been resolved?”
“There’s a high likelihood of various complications.”
“Well, before killing them, how about issuing a citizenship card and registering their residency?”
“Citizenship card and residency?”
“Then they’re our country’s citizens.”
“...It’s a very tempting option.”
Cheon Myeong-guk murmured with a mixture of admiration. I couldn’t understand why he was worried that this would be difficult.
“How has it been for you as a Transcendent these past few days?”
“Satisfying.”
“When you need to leave the busy city, we have a helicopter on standby.”
“It would make it easier to move to the operation area.”
“We’ll do our best to provide what a Transcendent needs. And as a Korean Transcendent, you also have a role to play.”
Cheon Myeong-guk stopped talking and looked at me quietly. It was a face expecting my answer.
“Of course, I’ll fulfill the role assigned to me.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s a mutually beneficial transaction, after all.”
“However...”
I said to Cheon Myeong-guk, who seemed to be hesitating.
“You may speak.”
“In fact, there have been recent concerns regarding Choi Jun-ho as a Transcendent.”
Concerns about me? Could it be that news of my actions as the Eraser had come to light?
The only people who could guess my true identity were Lee Se-hee and the Berserker.
Did that Berserker go around tattling or something?
“State-affiliated Transcendent defend state power from external and internal threats and protect citizens from the threat of villains.”
“I know.”
“And finally, state-affiliated Transcendent must protect citizens from the threat of demons.”
“......”
Cheon Myeong-guk said to me while looking at me, but I wasn’t sure what the problem was.
It’s only natural to hunt demons.
“It’s fine to eliminate villainous organizations and protect the nation’s power, but state-affiliated Transcendent truly shine when they hunt demons.”
Demon hunting, he said, was the reason why large guilds had grown to the point where they could overtake state power.
In the end, it’s about money. The spoils of hunting demons turned into money.
With that money, they invested and made equipment with the spoils, and their influence grew.
But why was he telling me all this?
“There have been rumors about Choi Jun-ho’s ability to hunt demons in certain circles.”
“What are you talking about?”
“They say he’s a half-baked Transcendent who can’t hunt demons...”
So that’s why Lee Se-chan called me a half-baked earlier.
Good. I thought I had one of those weird nicknames again.
So that’s why Yoon-hee acted that way towards me.
Now, it made sense.
“Please tell me more.”
“It’s just a rumor floating around in the background. I hope you didn’t pay it any mind.”
“Understood.”
What followed was truly bizarre fabrication.
Although I became a Level 8 Transcendent, my experience was limited to capturing lower-level villains, and my greatest achievement was defeating the Puppeteer, who was famous for his immortality but had relatively low combat power.
Especially the part about me not going demon hunting was because I had ‘demon phobia’. The government made a sucker deal to catch a Transcendent who couldn’t even hunt demons.
The evidence was that I didn’t participate in demon hunting.
Officially, I had never participated in demon hunting even once.
Cheon Myeong-guk cautiously tried to gauge my reaction.
“If you have a secret about not being able to hunt demons, please let us know. We will do our best to assist.”
It seemed this gentleman also believed that I had a hidden reason.
It’s just absurd.
When I was the Blood Master, they exaggerated that I would destroy the world, but now they’re treating me like a half-baked who couldn’t even catch a single demon.
I could only smirk.
“I’ll prove it soon.”
I remembered from my past life.
One month later, the 8th demon, ‘Nuri,’ would appear in Seoul. That’s when everything would be revealed.
Cheon Myeong-guk’s expression brightened slightly at my words.
“And, Director.”
“Yes.”
“Starting from now, can you prepare a list of people who have been spreading rumors? Can you give it to me when I capture the demon?”
“......”
“Just out of curiosity. I’m just curious. I’ll just take a look.”
“......”
He didn’t seem to believe me at all.
This made me feel like I had to live up to expectations.
“Please, just...”
Cheon Myeong-guk’s complexion turned ashen, and he clutched his stomach.
