abcnovels
Chapter 193
Chapter 193
Chapter 193
“Cough!”
No matter how much they controlled their strength, hunters still easily surpassed ordinary people in physical ability.
“You... You dare hit me?!” the bewildered rich man, who had never even been hit in his entire life, shouted. Choi Yeonseung clicked his tongue.
“You should knock him out in one hit, not just hit him.”
“I’m sorry. it’s hard to control my strength...”
“I’ll teach you how to do it later. Learning martial arts will give you an advantage in this area.”
“Really?”
“Hey! What are you doing? I will officially protest to the US government!” the rich man exploded when the rude hunters paid him no attention. Such a threat could frighten a low-grade hunter, but there were only B-grade hunters here. The stars among the hunters weren’t affected by such threats.
“Are you serious? Do you think the US government will listen to you?”
“It’s weird saying this myself, but in my opinion, the US government is a bit of a gangster. It nonchalantly ignores protests from other countries, so you’ll only embarrass yourself.”
The US government was notorious for making its hunters’ protection its top priority. While the American hunters were thankful for such treatment, having them protected despite the trouble they caused naturally angered other countries.
-You are supposed to be the world’s policemen! Repatriate those criminals!
-Hunters are talents that benefit the United States. We can’t send them to other countries.
-No, give us that criminal! Why are you behaving like China?!
-Isn’t that too harsh? Are you a Russian spy?
“Are you just going to stand around?” the rich man shouted at his bodyguards behind him when his threat didn’t work.
“... What can we do against A-grade and B-grade hunters?”
His bodyguards were much more rational than him. Even if they all attacked the hunters at the same time, they could all be torn apart.
“Knock them out quickly and get moving. We don’t have time for this.” Choi Yeonseung sounded annoyed.
“No, this is—Cough!”
“Move! Everybody, get inside! If I see you on the streets acting silly, don't expect me to save you!” Choi Yeonseung shouted as he moved.
Frightened, those who came out to watch rushed back inside.
“Hey! Name your price! I’ll pay you to protect me even for just a few ho—Kuaack! Why did you hit me? I didn’t come out!” a rich man’s son asked.
Choi Yeonseung answered, “I hate people who only think about themselves.”
“... You je—kuack!”
Before Choi Yeonseung could even speak, the hunter behind him had already punched the man.
“D-did I make a mistake?” the hunter asked, embarrassed.
“No. Well done. Let’s go!”
***
-The A-grade hunter, Choi Yeonseung has arrived in Paris. He is doing a raid with other hunters.
-Paris’ 10th and 15th districts have been secured. We officially declare the monsters to have been wiped out.
-Isn’t that fake news?
-Don’t believe the news of broadcasters. Trust social media.
-Wow. You really are a genius! I think so as well.
-I saw it myself. The hunters are cleaning up the monsters. That A-grade hunter is extraordinary.
Videos were already rapidly circulating on French social media. The moment the hunters stepped up, rumors naturally spread. Nevertheless, people didn’t believe them.
-Isn’t this a manipulated video?
-Maybe it’s a video from last year.
-The 10th district being secured first doesn’t make sense. That neighborhood is for beggars.
-Aren’t there a lot of Koreans in the 15th district? If there are, then I would understand why they prioritized it.
-Where can you even find a person who would save their countrymen first? He should prioritize protecting the areas where rich people live.
Paris was divided into twenty rich and not-so-rich districts. The wealthy districts could secure themselves since they could handle monsters on their own, so Choi Yeonseung focused on the districts that couldn’t instead. The people couldn’t believe he would do that, though.
-Look at the video here, you blind bastards! What do you even have eyes for?
-Paris’ 7th district has been secured. You can come out now.
-It was terrifying. A monster was just in front of my house.
However, testimonies and videos kept piling up. Those who were still skeptical had their doubts cleared when they saw the hunters passing by outside their window. To their surprise, they were really fighting!
-What did the government do to make foreign hunters fight for them?
-Is the government really capable of doing this?
The French needed clarification. No matter how hard they thought about it, they couldn’t find a reason for foreign hunters to step up.
-The president made this possible. All those who doubted his ability should reflect on themselves.
-Uh, didn’t the president get kidnapped? I even heard that the palace has been taken over as well.
-......
-That isn’t the point right now. Foreign hunters are beating up the people of Paris!
-What?! Is this true?!
-Yes! I was sitting in front of my house, which I have the full right to do so, yet they beat me up and locked me inside!
-Whoa! That’s really... Eh?
-Isn’t that your own fault?
-They beat you up because you’re a crazy bastard. Monsters are running around the area. If you go outside and attract the aggro, monsters will come and kill everyone.
-Don’t talk nonsense. That is fake information. Either way, I have the legitimate right to be outside...
-Shouldn’t we let bastards like him die for the sake of humanity’s future?
-I can’t believe he’s a Parisian like me. Please take this opportunity to die.
-Why don’t the hunters just kill bastards like him?
***
Social media and the news were making noise about Choi Yeonseung and the other hunters, but they didn’t have time to check it. That was how busy they were. The hunters stationed in Paris when the collector’s household member appeared had all fallen or escaped.
Choi Yeonseung’s group was doing what the French government should be doing, so they were naturally busy. Even so, it was quite surprising that nobody complained about it. It wouldn’t have been strange if one of the hunters asked, ‘Why do we have to do something so ridiculous?’
Surprisingly, however, no one did. Choi Yeonseung, who led by example, inspired them. Unlike bosses, who gave orders from behind the task force, Choi Yeonseung was a leader—the type to lead from the front.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“No! You’ve done most of the work, Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”
The angel looked at the hunters with disdain. Instead of fighting the household member of the collector constellation, they were pathetically wasting time. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but be amazed by the sight.
Choi Yeonseung gathered the unruly hunters—people who usually acted on their own—under his command to reclaim the city. It was a very strange ability for the angel, who had met several A-grade hunters already.
‘Does he have persuasive skills?’
“Let’s go.”
“You must be tired. Can you still fight the household member?”
“I thought you would’ve been prepared for this much,” Choi Yeonseung replied, making the angel look displeased.
He had been caught. The angel wasn’t foolish enough to just fight the household member with the hunters alone. His master had given him power.
“......”
[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ has blessed you.]
[The ‘Dragon Hunter’s Protection’...]
[‘Great Celestial Wings’...]
[......]
A constellation’s power.
Mortals couldn’t even dare match the protection bestowed upon the hunters using the power of existence. The hunters present couldn’t read the message windows, but they were still thrilled by the sudden rise in power. They had never felt such great power before! It was so amazing that they even started developing a sense of faith.
“Is this okay?”
“It’s fine. Let’s go. Ah, before that...” Choi Yeonseung stopped.
“?”
The angel turned around, seemingly asking why Choi Yeonseung called him.
“What’s your name? I can’t just call out ‘you’ when talking to you, can I?”
“I am Illaphael, human.”
“I see.”
“And your name is…?” Illaphael asked.
“We have already talked a few times, yet you still don’t know my name. That’s kind of a problem.”
Illaphael was furious. What an annoying human being!
***
The moment they entered, pitch-black darkness immediately enveloped their surroundings. Created with magic power and power of existence, the darkness around them far differed from the darkness of night.
[You have discovered the ‘Veil of Ominous Night,’ the power of the ‘Noble Crown Collector.’]
[The power uses magic power to...]
[......]
[......]
The barrier Marcaidel had opened was almost like a dungeon. Through the power of the collector constellation, the space was filled with rules that differed from reality.
-It’s a fairly complicated magic.
-Can you decipher it?
-Successor, if you want to open it through force, then you will have to use quite a lot of your power of existence.
-My powers are too blatant. I don’t have any excuse that can help me get away with using them.
-No. It might be okay in here.
-?
-Like a dungeon, this place blocks the eyes of constellations.
The collector constellation used a powerful household member to ensure their operation would be successful. Moreover, to prevent any possible disturbances, he also created a barrier that constellations couldn’t see through. Although not even the collector constellation could see past it, he had no reason to worry since his household member was inside it.
-... So I can use my powers as I please?
-You should block the eyes of the angel next to you first.
Choi Yeonseung immediately extended his index and middle fingers, making the goddess cry out in a hurry.
-I didn’t mean for you to poke out his eyes!
-Is that too much? It can’t be helped, then.
“Damn. As expected, there are a lot of undead here.”
“So the rumors were right. He’s adept in using black magic.”
The hunters raised their equipment and sighed. Some dungeon monsters were easier to deal with than their rating, while others were harder. Black magic was often the latter. After all, it could summon more monsters with just a bit of time, turn fallen hunters into allies, and mess with dungeon raids using various unique skills. Although they were already informed beforehand that they were up against a black magician, it was still unpleasant to face one in person.
Illaphael stood still and observed as the hunters dealt with the undead. The hunters were far too strong for ordinary undead to defeat. After all, they had a lot of experience, good equipment, and divine protection. In addition, they had become used to cooperating with each other to some extent while traveling around the city with Choi Yeonseung. With a solid composition, they unleashed unbelievable prowess and firepower, annihilating the approaching undead.
‘They fight better than I expected.’
Illaphael’s raised his faith in humans a little bit. The evaluation standard of the Abyss meant that even A-grade hunters would hear something like, ‘At least you know how to fight.’ In that regard, Illaphael’s assessment was quite highly rated.
“Are you not going to fight?” Confused, Illaphael asked Choi Yeonseung, who was just standing around. The human dragged all the aggro like a madman earlier, making the angel think of him as the fairly aggressive type of combatant. Now, however, he stood still in a very calm manner.
“I’m waiting for the household member to make his appearance so I can deal with him.”
“... Bah.”
Choi Yeonseung had the same idea as Illaphael, which displeased the latter. For some reason, he felt as if he lost.
“Wait. Illaphael, stop,” Choi Yeonseung said while pointing behind Illaphael. Something was strange.
“Are you kidding me?” Illaphael asked incredulously. He didn’t sense anything, yet the human seemingly did. It would be nonsense if Choi Yeonseung had sharper senses than Illaphael. He had to be joking...
“Stop for a bit.”
“I’m not human like you, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. I won’t forgive such trivial—ugh!” Before Illaphael could finish, a black shadow protruded from the ground and grabbed him.
Choi Yeonseung saw it and shouted like it was absurd.
“What are you doing?” Choi Yeonseung asked when he saw what happened. He looked as if he found the situation absurd.
“......”
Illaphael’s face turned red.