[What happens once I have finished the mission?]
[The host will die.]
[Why? Even though I saved the world.]
[That's the payment for the host's reincarnation.]
[Reincarnation, you say? HAHAHA! What a load of bullshit! I didn't lead a good life and I still need to pay for it.]
[Hahahahahaha!]
[So cruel...]
[But I guess there's nothing free in this world.]
[I was able to watch him grow and support him silently.]
[It's enough.]
[If that's the case, then I will create the best ending.]
[An ending where he will be revered by all,]
[...even if I have to be the villain.]
[Mission progress: 99%]
...
As the thunder struck in the distance and the rain continued to pour, a group of high-ranking hunters stood on one side, facing a single hunter.
"Hunter Han, what do you mean by that?" Yoon-Ho asked with a frown.
Jong-In couldn't help but say, "This is not the time to be joking around. There are still other ant monsters here."
'Although he did say he was planning something, I didn't expect it to be this... crazy. What is he thinking?'
"Haha, calm down guys. I think Hunter Han is just joking." Dongwook tried to lighten the atmosphere with a forced laugh.
"I don't know about you guys, but this is my first time meeting him," Tae-Gyu muttered with a wry smile.
But the tension in the air refused to dissipate, and Jong-In turned to Jin-Woo who was silent the whole time.
'The two of them are close with each other... but it seems like hunter Sung Jin-Woo is also surprised. What's going on with these two people?'
'There are a total of seven of us right now. But Cha Hae-In is unconscious, the A-rank hunter wouldn't be able to face an S-rank hunter and Sung Jin-Woo is close to hunter Seung-Eun... only four of us can fight him.'
'Because he didn't fight with The Ant King, I don't know how strong he is.'
'Did he purposely wait for us to finish the raid before trying to kill us?'
Seung-Eun pulled out the sword from the scabbard on his waistband.
"You don't need to know why. There's no use explaining to people who are going to die anyway."
Seung-Eun launched the first attack, rushing forward toward the hunters, and swung his sword downward. The ground shook as a crater formed where the hunters had stood just moments ago. Everyone quickly evaded the attack, including the A-rank hunter who was swiftly grabbed by the scruff of his neck by Yoon-Ho.
"How unfortunate," Seung-Eun muttered in disappointment.
'So fast! I barely manage to dodge with the skin of my teeth.'
Jong-In retorted in irritation. "If I knew this is what you were planning, I wouldn't have let you join the raid."
"Do you like the surprise?"
Jong-In only became more angry and cautious.
"Hey, why is he attacking all of a sudden?" Tae-Gyu asked while getting his bow and arrows ready.
"I don't know what his motives are... but one thing for sure is he's being serious."
Yoon-Ho was shaken as a sudden realization settled in. "So, you didn't save Byung-Gu because you were planning to kill us?"
"I wonder..." Seung-Eun replied nonchalantly. 'The healer is dead in the original plot of the manhwa anyway.'
As the situation became more heated, Dongwook spoke up, saying, "I am extremely disappointed right now. I'm not sure why you're attacking us, Hunter Han, but I'm not going to let you hurt any of us. I'll take him while you guys get out of here as soon as possible. First and foremost, we must get Hunter Cha to safety."
Dongwook prepared his posture by spreading his legs apart and his arms outstretched in front of him. However, seeing the sight of the confident muscular man only made Seun-Eun annoyed.
"You just got better after taking the potion. But didn't I say I was going to murder you all? Do you believe you can defeat me by yourself?!" Seung-Eun said with a scoff. "Don't underestimate me!"
Dongwook readied himself for combat, but Seung-Eun's power proved to be overwhelming. He dashed forward toward the bigger man who had his arms crossed in front of him to block the attack. Dongwook was sent flying with a powerful kick, crashing into the trees behind him.
Boom!
The other hunters could only watch in shock.
'Hunter Ma Dongwook was taken down single attack?!'
The sole A-rank hunter was trembling as he watched the fight, and the director communicating with him was constantly yelling trying to make him explain the current situation that was being broadcasted to the whole country. 'Ugh, I don't know what's happening either...'
"One down," Seung-Eun remarked, his voice laced with chilling confidence. His smile was unnerving. "Who's next?"
...
"What is this brat thinking?! Is he trying to single-handedly end this country?!" The chairman of the Korean Hunter Association massaged his temple in frustration.
'It's over...'
"Quickly, find out more about him. We need to find a way to solve this problem," he told the subordinate in the room.
"Understood, Mr. Chairman."
...
As the thunder continued to rumble in the background, the other hunters watched the broadcast of Jeju Island in bewilderment and disbelief.
"Hell nah, who let a lunatic join the mission?"
"He's the newest S-rank hunter, right?"
"This one is crazy, trying to fight all of the S-rank hunters all at once. He must have lost his mind."
"I thought the mission was already over."
Song Chi-Yul and Lee Joohee recognized the person on the screen. They looked at each other in disbelief.
"That's hunter Han Seung-Eun... right?"
"Seung-Eun, what is he doing?"
In the distance, Chi-Yul caught a glimpse of a familiar face who looked directly at him.
"Song Chi-Yul-ssi." Hwan Jae greeted the man with a solemn face. The commotion around them made everyone aware of the situation.
"Hwan Jae, you know Han Seung-Eun at school, right?"
"Yes, but he hasn't attended class for a while."
"I see," Chi-Yul replied with a frown. "I was surprised when he was suddenly awakened as an S-rank hunter. Although it wasn't that I knew him, I didn't expect that he would do this..."
"Jin-Woo-ssi, Seung-Eun Hubae, and I always went to the dungeon together," Joohee said. "He would always help us when we are in trouble, so... there's no way he would be someone evil."
Hwan Jae also had some hope for him. "Maybe there's a misunderstanding between them."
But they didn't know that all of them were fooled by Seung-Eun.
...
As the live stream of the intense battle on Jeju Island continued, the three girls were completely engrossed in the action. Their eyes were glued to the screen, and they couldn't help but cheer and gasp when the familiar person appeared.
"UWOOOOOOOH It's Seung-Eun ah! What a badass! Did you guys see that move?"
"He took down the hunter without breaking a sweat! As expected of our powerful sho- cough!"
"Choke me with that thigh!"
"Ugh, you're crazy!"
...
"Hyung, what's Seung-Eun doing?" Hyun-Su stormed into the dimly lit bedroom, his eyes wide with curiosity, and looked across at his brother, Hae-Seong, who was huddled under the blanket.
"What?" Hae-Seong yanked his head out from under the covers. His face looked tired, with black circles under his eyes.
"He... I think he's fighting the other S-rank hunters," Hyun-Su responded with slight excitement.
Everyone at school was so excited about the live broadcast that he had to watch it because his brother's friend was there. However, his older brother was uninterested in watching it.
Hae-Seong appeared bewildered for a time, but his frown deepened as he considered the scenario. "I have no idea what he's doing there. Don't bother me any longer."
Hae-Seong returned to hiding under the duvet, sealing himself off from the outer world, with that contemptuous statement.
Hyun-Su returned his gaze to his phone, which was displaying the live stream of the Jeju Island raid.
"Seung-Eun hyung hasn't taught me to draw for a while..." Hyun-Su mumbled to himself, as he became engrossed in the footage on his phone.
The fight between Seung-Eun and the other S-rank hunters was all that was visible on the screen. However, to Hae-Seong, the noises from the live stream were the beginning of his nightmare.
...
Jong-In cast multiple fire spells, aiming toward Seung-Eun. However, the eerie smile on Seung-Eun's face remained unfazed as he responded with a magic spell of his own. Thunder rolled out from around him, crackling as it surged toward Jong-In. Jong-In reacted swiftly, forming a fire shield to block thunderous power. The clash of elements illuminated the stormy sky.
"You're not the only one who can use magic here."
While Jong-In was blocking the attack, Seung-Eun leaped forward. However, his path was intercepted by Yoon-Ho, who had transformed and rushed in from the side, trying to tackle him down.
Before Yoon-Ho could reach him, Seung-Eun left his vision. In the blink of an eye, the figure reappeared above him, his sword already descending. Yoon-Ho's instincts screamed at him to move, to dodge the impending strike, but it was too late- The blade pierced through his abdomen, impaling him to the ground below.
Pain surged through Yoon-Ho's body, and he couldn't help but spit out blood as he gasped for breath. He desperately tried to muster the strength to fight back, but the wound was too severe, leaving him powerless.
Jong-In watched in horror, paralyzed by the brutality of the scene unfolding before him.
The atmosphere grew heavier with tension as Yoon-Ho's life hung in the balance.
Seung-Eun looked down at Yoon-Ho who was struggling. His once friendly demeanor had been replaced by an eerie and cold presence, devoid of any empathy or remorse.
"Such a shame," Seung-Eun said, his voice void of emotion. "If the healer had been made as hyung's shadow monster, then he could have healed you. Unfortunately..."
"Cough! You... I won't... let you kill-" Yoon-Ho's efforts to speak were met with more blood, choking on his life force as his body grew weaker. He desperately tried to grasp onto the muddy ground, his claws digging into the earth. "
While Seung-Eun was occupied, Tae-Gyu shot out his arrows imbued with magic, which was deflected by the shield that materialized around him.
'He's too fast and the long-range attack is not working either. Does he have no weakness at all?' Jong-in thought.
"The Ant King let you live... but I'm not as merciful as him." Seung-Eun sneered. "Which one do you think is faster, your arrow or me?"
Watching the person that prepared his stance with the sword in his hand, Tae-Gyu was paralyzed, as though the grim reaper itself was coming towards him.
'Damn it! Is this the end?!' Jong-In turned his gaze to the figure standing at a distance.
"Hunter Sung!"
Seung-Eun leaped forward, his sword slashing toward the marksman, but something blocked his sword. Jin-Woo was standing in front of Tae-Gyu with two daggers in each hand. They faced each other amidst the pouring rain and crackling thunder.
"Heh, you're protecting them...?" Seung-Eun stepped back, creating a distance between them.
In the distance, the other hunters watched with bated breath.
Looking at Jin-Woo standing to protect the hunters, while facing him as an enemy, Seung-Eun couldn't help but feel something strange.
Seung-Eun questioned Jin-Woo with a sly smile, "If they die, you'll only be the hunter in this country, hyung. You'll gain popularity and be revered by many... Isn't that the best ending for the protagonist?"
"......"
"I don't understand what you are saying, Seung-Eun," Jin-Woo replied. Many questions were swirling in his mind that he didn't know where to begin.
Jin-Woo fell silent for a moment before responding, "Why... would you think that way? I don't need that kind of thing."
He never wanted popularity, only to be strong enough to protect his family. Just like how initially he didn't want to join the raid to spend time his family.
Seung-Eun lamented, "Yeah, it must be difficult for you to kill another 'innocent' hunter since you only kill monsters after all. But to me, humans or monsters, everyone is all the same."
'What...?'
Jin-Woo couldn't recognize the person before him-the one who used to accompany him when they were still low-ranked hunters. Seung-Eun's words and actions were now a stark contrast to the person he used to be.
The people around Jin-Woo said that he had changed, he became stronger, taller, and braver. But he felt like he was not the only one who changed.
"You are not the Seung-Eun I know..."
Jin-Woo felt torn between his memories of the past and the reality of the present.
"I've never changed since the beginning, hyung. It's you who never knew me." Seung-Eun smiled, his expression void of any emotions.
"You've asked before whether I was a player or not. You were close."
"Let me introduce myself once again. I am Han Seung-Eun, the administrator of the system. Nice to meet you, player Sung Jin-Woo."
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A/n
Y'all probably forgot who my OCs lmao.
My fifth sem starts today and uh... It's been only one day but I had to go to class starting from 8 am until 4 pm and we have hw every day so it's tiring that I want to pass out.
And tbh I've already written the ending on May 23, 2021, but life happens *sigh*