Chapter 29. The Hunt (1)

Haaa. So basically, all they need to do is take me down.

Their daily quota was five thousand points, which meant taking down a hundred deadly Venomous Sky Tigers just to meet the target before the end of their shift.

[The Crow from the Bureau of Management says to screw it and wipe out anyone coming his way.]

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation clicks his tongue saying even the best can’t take on five hundred opponents.]

[An anonymous observer wonders how this situation will be resolved.] This was bad. Eun-Ho had unwittingly become the ultimate prize. He was basically a walking lottery ticket that could fulfill someone’s quota in a single go.

“Now what, Hyungnim?” Jae-Hyuk asked.

“It would be best to avoid people,” Ji-Eun replied quietly.

Apparently, Ji-Eun and Jae-Hyuk were thinking the same thing. They exchanged anxious glances.

Eun-Ho wanted to believe that not

everyone

would stoop to murder just to hit their point quota. However he soon realized that that was wishful thinking.

“Hey, you guys over there!”

A group approached, led by a big, hulking man. He looked like he had done some serious lifting in his time.

The tag above his head displayed 1,500 points, while the two scrawnier guys flanking him had 800 each.

“You guys can fight,

huh?

And you too, Miss,” one of them said, sizing them up with a smirk.

They had watched from a distance, waited for the trial announcement, then swooped in.

What a textbook thug,

Eun-Ho thought.

Jae-Hyuk and Ji-Eun were being sized up with greedy eyes. It wasn’t just small talk.

Ji-Eun picked up on it too. Her tone shifted, suddenly cold and uncharacteristically sharp. “What do you want?”

“

Oh

, we were just passing by, thought we’d say hi,” the brute said, feigning innocence. “No need to be so unfriendly.”

Then, the man started approaching Ji-Eun.

“Enough,” Eun-Ho said, stepping between the man and Ji-Eun.

Besides, Eun-Ho hated that sleazy grin.

“If you’re just passing by, then keep going. We’re busy.”

They really

were

busy.

“Jae-Hyuk, grab your backpack. Ji-Eun, you too.”

“Got it, Hyungnim!”

“I’m already packed. Let’s go.”

They needed to move to somewhere secluded before they became sitting ducks. There was no time to deal with every street punk hoping to cash in.

“What’s your deal, stepping in like that—”

However, before the thug could finish his sentence, system messages blared to life. There came the cold announcement, almost mocking in its tone.

[The first trial of Project Hunt is starting.]

[You have ten minutes. Please evacuate to the safe zone before time runs out.]

[All individuals outside the safe zone will be eliminated.]

[Anyone outside the safe zone after the time limit will be affected by restructuring.]

“Did it say Safe Zone!?”

Everything changed in an instant. The game had stripped away any chance of hiding, forcing everyone together just like predator and prey alike. There was no more running or dodging fate. They were all trapped now, penned into a kill box.

[The Crow from the Bureau of Management says it’s a good chance to wipe out clustered enemies.]

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation nods and says killing five hundred targets one at a time makes survival possible.]

[A safe zone has been generated.]

“What do we do? There’s more than one safe zone!” Ji-Eun said quickly.

“Most are near Samgakji and Itaewon. Let’s head toward Namsan,” Eun-Ho decided.

They were already near the base of Namsan, so the nearest safe zone appeared to be an open space. Based on its size and location, which was halfway up the mountain, it could be an old bus stop.

[09:10]

Not only did they have enough time, the safe zone was located pretty close to them. Besides, despite the morning fight, they still had enough stamina.

On paper, it all seemed manageable, but that wasn’t the real problem. The real problem was the people.

Just a few steps behind, the three men followed, whispering to each other in low, constant tones.

“... can go... and ...”

“

Oh...

Shall we...?

“... the dark one... maybe... red mark... him?”

“... could be... the girl...”

Dark one, red mark, and the girl? Ah. So that’s what this is about,

Eun-Ho realized.

They’re thinking either Jae-Hyuk or Ji-Eun is the red circle.

Only three people had been within a hundred meter radius when the trial was announced. However, the men clearly hadn’t figured out which of them was the five thousand point target.

They must’ve seen just the two of them fighting earlier,

Eun-Ho thought.

So they’re guessing it’s one of them.

The leader jerked his chin toward Ji-Eun, then toward Jae-Hyuk, silently prompting his buddies. The two scrawnier men squinted, scratching their heads, murmuring to each other.

Eun-Ho could practically hear the gears grinding in their skulls.

So what happens when you figure it out? Then what?

“

Huff

... We made it!”

[02:27]

With just over two minutes left on the clock, Eun-Ho, Ji-Eun, Jae-Hyuk, and the three men stepped into the green-tinted safe zone.

“

Aaaah!

What do we do? It’s still chasing us!”

“We’re almost there! Just run!”

“My heart’s gonna explode!”

“If it does, I’ll patch you up! So just hurry!!”

Two very familiar figures tore up the hill, skirts flying in the wind. It was Sol-Ah and Yeo-Jin, still wearing their plaid school uniforms.

“

Oh

, hell no. What

is

that?!”

Trailing behind them was something monstrous.

“

Hah

... We made it...” Sol-Ah gasped, barely standing.

“Sorry! It just kept following us!” Yeo-Jin cried.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

Thunderous footsteps shook the ground as the two girls stumbled into the safe zone. They collapsed in a heap, gasping for breath, just as a massive shadow loomed over them.

“

Grrrrr...!

”

A towering beast the size of a delivery truck emerged into view, covered in a coarse, dark brown fur that bristled with raw menace. Its limbs were thick and squat, each muscle heavy with untamed power. The creature’s mouth hung open, revealing jagged rows of teeth that gleamed like broken shards.

A bear?

Eun-Ho thought, eyes narrowing.

“What the hell did they bring here?!”

“It’s coming this way!”

“

Kraaargh!

”

The monster’s bellow rattled the air itself, metal-tinted and high-pitched with hunger, as if it had caught the scent of soft, tender prey.

[00:57]

“We have one minute left!” Ji-Eun shouted.

“This way. Hurry!” Eun-Ho waved them in.

“Okay!”

Even as the two girls trembled with fear, their steps remained hurried, desperate to escape.

Swoosh—!

Suddenly, the three men who had been eyeing them with obvious displeasure stepped forward, blocking their path.

“Summon,” one of them barked.

Then he raised a long, spear-like weapon, its tip catching the light with a menacing gleam. He was undoubtedly dead serious.

You’ve got to be kidding me,

Eun-Ho thought.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Yeo-Jin cried.

“Move!” Sol-Ah screamed.

One of the people at the safe zone asked accusingly, “So those monsters chased after you guys, right?”

“Well...” Yeo-Jin hesitated, glancing between the sharp spear and the safe zone.

“Then take them somewhere else. Don’t drag them in here!”

“W-what did you just say?!”

“Move, you psychos!” Sol-Ah screamed with fury.

In front of them was a wall of weapons, while a raging monster closed in from behind.

[00:30]

Besides, they just had thirty seconds left. If they couldn’t make it into the safe zone in time, they’d be deleted.

“Do you think we still get the reward if they die?”

“Probably not. We didn’t kill them ourselves.”

“Then what if we kill them? They’re gonna get deleted anyway.”

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation asks if the hunt has finally begun.]

[The Crow from the Bureau of Management’s eyes gleamed, saying they should start the hunt by killing those girls.]

Damn it. What do I do with these idiots?

Eun-Ho thought.

“Move these damn things right now! Or I swear, I’ll—”

“Stop, Sol-Ah.” Eun-Ho stepped forward, calming her down.

There was no time for arguing.

“We need to act fast. Ji-Eun! Draw the monster’s attention!”

“Got it!”

Swoosh—!

Ji-Eun’s blue dagger rose into the air with a resonant hum. Her face, pale from fear and fatigue, contorted in grim concentration. The blade tore through the wind like a missile, going straight toward the monster’s forehead.

Babababam—! Boom! Boom! Thud!

It was just a dagger, and to a beast that size, probably no worse than a fly bite. However, it was enough to get its attention.

Annoyed by the swarming attacks, the massive bear thrashed its head and swatted its heavy forelegs, trying to shake the nuisance.

“

Whoa!

That short-haired girl’s got some serious skills!”

“Damn... Again, that’s impressive!”

“Don’t you guys want to team up with u—”

Swoosh—!

Without a moment’s hesitation, Eun-Ho raised his sword, leveling it at the three men. In response, three spears gleamed in the dim light—crude but deadly, their razor-sharp tips mounted on thick, sturdy wooden shafts. Who knew where they had scavenged them from?

Clang—!

In a flash, the shafts were severed cleanly and effortlessly.

“

Eek!

”

“What the hell did you just do?!”

[Ten seconds remaining.]

Thunk!

The broken spearheads, which were meant to impale their prey, now laid pathetically on the ground.

“Y-you son of a—!”

“Why the hell are you getting involved!

Keugh!

”

“Get out of the way.”

Wham!

Enhanced by the skill Petrify, Eun-Ho’s fist crashed into the men, sending them sprawling. They hit the ground in a pitiful heap.

[The trial will end shortly.]

[5, 4, 3...]

“Get inside, now!” Eun-Ho shouted at the girls.

“Okay, Mister! Coming!”

Sol-Ah and Yeo-Jin sprinted into the green safe zone.

Thump!

As they entered, Sol-Ah didn’t forget to step on the men lying on the ground.

“

Keugh!

You bitch.”

[The trial has been completed.]

[Please choose your trial reward.]

***

“

Ugh,

damn it!”

Park Chul-Joong and his group stared in disbelief at the shattered remains of their spears. The prized spears they’d scavenged with such pride, from a rusty wrench to a chipped blade, were now reduced to these.

“Do you even know how hard we worked to get those?”

How many had they threatened? How many had they killed just to gather those three perfect weapons? With those spears, they had taken over the Huam Market and made it this far.

“What kind of bullshit sword can slice spears like paper with a single handwave?!”

These were spears that had pierced and killed countless people. Some had tried to fight back, and yet, not even the brawny son of the rice cake shop could snap it, no matter how hard he tried.

Who would’ve thought it would be sliced clean through like tofu!

“C-Chul-Joong... What do we do now?”

“He’s not normal. We can’t fight someone like that!”

The two lackeys trembled, glancing between Chul-Joong and the ruined spears on the ground. Every now and then, they also sneaked a glance at the man who was worth five thousand points. He was calmly facing off with the bear, not even sparing them a thought.

“I can’t believe you guys are getting all worked up over this.”

Pathetic. You guys made it all the way here just to fall apart now?

Chul-Joong thought.

Then, Chul-Joong clenched his jaw, lighting a cigarette.

Click. Click. Click.

“Shit. Why isn’t my lighter working?!”

The lighter made nothing but dry sparks. His hands were shaking too much.

“Fuck!”

Not a long after, he threw it to the ground in frustration. Not being able to light a damn cigarette made him want to scream.

If he really wanted to, he could’ve taken our arms,

Chul-Joong thought, looking at Eun-Ho.

Just the thought made his insides go cold.

“Hey! You got a light?”

“Y-yeah! Here!”

Huff—

He dragged the smoke deep into his lungs, letting the burn settle his nerves. It barely helped, though.

“We better not go after him.”

He thought Eun-Ho was on a whole different level, not like the usual bottom-feeders they dealt with. Pick a fight with him, and they would be wiped out in a single blow.

“Y-yeah! Good call, Chul-Joong!”

“Let’s get outta here! Once he’s done with that bear, he might come for—”

“But.”

Chul-Joong crushed the cigarette against a tree trunk. His eyes had gone cold.

“We

are

taking those girls.”

“W-what?!”

He had not gotten a clear look before, but now he knew that those cocky schoolgirls were two thousand points and twelve hundred points each. They were prime targets, as all that mattered to them was the number.

“Now is the time! They’re too focused on the bear. This is our chance.”

He wasn’t leaving empty-handed, not with such tempting prey just waiting to be taken.

***

“

Kaaaargh!

”

Raising his gleaming sharp Razor Beak Blade, Eun-Ho stood firm before the raging bear.

Thud! Smack! Baaam—!

Thanks to Ji-Eun’s interference, the beast was furious, thrashing wildly and smashing trees and debris in every direction. Its presence was like a natural disaster, overwhelming and relentless.

The bear was massive, yet wasn’t agile like the doppelgänger, nor cunning like those carnivorous plants Eun-Ho encountered earlier.

“Hyungnim! Let me help you!”

“Don’t bother! I can easily get this one on my own.”

It wasn’t a particularly difficult opponent. However, the real problem was the muscleheads he’d thought had already run off. Now they held Sol-Ah and Yeo-Jin at knifepoint—jagged, broken spearheads trembling in their grasp.

“

Aaaah!

”

“S-Sol-Ah! Yeo-Jin!”

“You bastards! Let go of us right now!”

“What the hell are you doing?” Eun-Ho growled, ducking beneath the bear’s swinging paw and glaring at the men.

One of them smirked slyly and replied, “We’re just hunting. Isn’t that what we’re all doing here?”

“What?”

“You go after monsters. I go after girls. Same thing, isn’t it?”

“... You’re proud of that garbage logic?”

“Well, let’s see if it’s garbage or no—

aaargh!

”

At that moment, Sol-Ah had whipped out a surgical scalpel and jabbed it into the man’s thigh. It was a solid attempt, but thanks to his bulk and some decent strength upgrades, the blade barely grazed before falling away.

Thunk.

“You little bitch!”

“

Kkhh—!

Hunting humans? That’s insane!”

“Humans or not, if you’re weak, you get taken. That’s how this world works, alright?! You think you’ll last long even if we don’t kill you now? Huh?!”

God. That’s the one thing I hate hearing most,

Eun-Ho thought.

Clack!

The three of them started to retreat, dragging the girls like hostages, trying to make their escape while Eun-Ho was busy with the monster. They were cowards, strategizing while someone else held the line.

However, they weren’t off the hook, just a lower priority.

“I was going to deal with you guys after I dealt with the monster, but you’ve crossed the line.”

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation sighs at the sheer idiocy of their plan.]

[The Crow from the Bureau of Management narrows their eyes, saying people only learn after a beating.]

A streak of blood appeared along Sol-Ah’s pale neck due to a shallow cut. If that was how they wanted to play, Eun-Ho was ready to deal with them immediately.

“Acceleration.”

“Miiiisssstttteeeer!”

Swoosh—!

Using a nearby bench as a springboard, Eun-Ho launched himself into the air and landed squarely on the bear’s thick, shaggy back.

Swish—!

[You have defeated the Hungry Brown Bear!]

[You have earned 100 Welfare Points.]

It was a single, perfect strike with nothing more and nothing less.

Thud!

The massive bear’s head slammed into the ground, sounding like a dropped engine block. It was gone in an instant.

[Acceleration(Lv. 3) has been upgraded to Acceleration(Lv. 4).]

[Upon casting, one second will be extended to 20 seconds.]

It was the reward from the last mission, which gave Eun-Ho twenty times normal speed. Twenty seconds probably sounded short, but if one stood still and felt them pass, it was an eternity.

“Petrify.”

Hence, there was plenty of time for Eun-Ho to reduce the three men into useless wrecks. The next moment, he twisted the wrist gripping the broken spearhead.

Crack.

Then, he carefully pulled the girls to safety, his hand tightening around the sword's hilt.

You think they’re getting hurt because they’re weak? Fine then,

Eun-Ho thought.

“Then you can be the weak ones now, you sickfucks.”