Chapter 267 – End, And (2)

-Where has Deliveryman Lee Hyunbin gone?

-Is the apocalypse over? Has the second hand stopped, or is it broken?

Three months had passed since the end of the Siege of the Demon Realm.

The countdown that had been displayed to everyone across the globe, heralding destruction, had stopped.

No, the figure that had reached 99% was now dwindling below 30%.

Humanity had faced an unprecedented crisis.

In the face of extinction, the Siege of the Demon Realm had unfolded. And the hero who saved everyone by defeating the Great Demon King Agares, Deliveryman Lee Hyunbin—the Korea Monster—was nowhere to be found.

-The Administration has announced the complete disappearance of the gates that had formed in the skies worldwide…

The otherworldly gates through which the Demon King’s army had come were closed.

If so, Lee Hyunbin had to be somewhere. But he was nowhere to be seen.

Everyone had a premonition.

That Deliveryman Lee Hyunbin was dead.

Many mourned his death.

His sacrifice, shielding his comrades from the final, self-destructing explosion of the enemy, was heroic. The word ‘hero’ itself felt insufficient to describe him.

-Hunter Lee Hyunbin, the Deliveryman, to be recognized for his distinguished service to the nation…

For the first time, a hunter was being honored for distinguished service.

While hunters were objects of admiration, they were generally treated as people who made money by killing monsters.

Or, disparagingly, as miners who safely dug for mana stones in dungeons.

This was because some were jealous, believing they made a fortune with ease.

But that perception had changed.

This time, all the hunters and soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Demon Realm War were recognized for their service.

A grave for Lee Hyunbin was made in the National Cemetery.

There were those who cried out that he wasn’t dead, but after three years with no sign of his return, people were beginning to accept it one by one.

In truth, no one thought a person so grievously injured in such a massive explosion could have survived.

The Siege of the Demon Realm was over, but the fight against the gates was not.

Monsters still appeared in the cities, and it was the hunters’ job to deal with them.

“I am determined to join the Hanul Guild!”

“The reason I decided to become a hunter is that I want to be a hero like Deliveryman Lee Hyunbin.”

It had become a stock phrase in guild interviews.

The leader of Hanul’s Team 3. No, Kim In-ho looked at the aspiring hunters, their eyes shining during the interview.

“You want to be like Hunter Lee Hyunbin?”

“Yes!”

Kim In-ho gave a wry smile, looking at the hunter who admired him.

“How many times do you think I’ve heard that question?”

“Huh…?”

“Being a hunter isn’t a glamorous job. There’s a gap between ideals and reality.”

As he spoke, Kim In-ho looked at the new hunter’s resume.

Usually, if you awaken a decent ability, you get scouted by a guild naturally.

Those who aren’t scouted have to go out and look for themselves.

In other words, they join a guild to train under a structured system and receive equipment support.

High school dropout.

Hobby: Weightlifting.

No social or professional experience.

Kim In-ho had seen countless interviewees, and he had seen their ideals crumble quickly.

There were plenty of people who were all talk. And many who were actually decent but couldn’t express themselves well.

There were also many who seemed fine in the interview but turned out to have terrible personalities once you worked with them.

This is why companies look at resumes.

They serve as an indicator of how much effort a person has put in throughout their life, what kind of footprint they’ve left.

Unrelated things like TOEIC scores, certifications, or university grades have nothing to do with being a hunter. They are simply data points used as indicators.

“We don’t blindly trust resumes.”

The specs written on paper are just indicators.

You can’t ignore them, but you can’t blindly trust them either.

“I’ll give you a chance to participate in the guild’s training camp. We’ll make our decision there.”

The training system Lee Hyunbin had created washed out quite a lot of people.

“I’ll- I’ll do it! Just give me a chance!”

He’d seen many who said that, only to struggle from the first day and tell the instructor with a grim face that they were quitting.

“Very well.”

And so, Kim In-ho sent another one to Valhalla.

After the interview, Kim In-ho returned to his training room.

With Hyunbin gone, he had become the leader of his own team.

Only 24 years old.

Considering other guilds, it was a remarkably fast promotion.

But it was deserved; though his career as a hunter wasn’t long, his experience was by no means lacking.

He was Deliveryman Lee Hyunbin’s disciple and had experienced many battles alongside him.

Kim In-ho began his training.

Just as Lee Hyunbin had taught him, he always did his duty diligently.

Because that was his role in carrying on Hyunbin’s legacy.

* * *

-Is the Hanul Group Entering Politics?

-The Secret to the Hanul Group’s Success in the Hunter Industry.

The Hanul Guild, operated by the Hanul Group, was considered the top guild in the country.

It had surpassed the Shinhwa Guild, which had been the undisputed number one since the dawn of the hunter era.

-Hanul’s Kim Tae-yang Ascends to S-Rank.

-Kim Tae-yang Signs Contract Renewal with Hanul!

Kim Tae-yang had received his S-rank evaluation.

In truth, no one in the hunter community had doubted he would become an S-rank.

He specialized in PvP, but he was just as skilled in raids.

-Hanul Team 3 Leader, Hunter Kim In-ho, Awaiting S-Rank Evaluation.

Kim In-ho, who started at the same time as Kim Tae-yang, was also on the verge of his S-rank evaluation.

While Kim Tae-yang was dominant in PvP, many rated Kim In-ho higher in terms of leadership and strategy.

The two men, rocketing to S-rank at only 24, were great treasures for a Korea that had lost Lee Hyunbin.

-Special Feature: The Successors of Lee Hyunbin, the Hunter of Salvation.

The “Two Kims” were always mentioned as the ones carrying on Lee Hyunbin’s legacy.

-Seo Hyun-ji: The True All-Round Entertainer Who Excels in Singing, Dancing, Acting, and Even Hunting.

Seo Hyun-ji, though affiliated with the Hanul Guild, had returned to the entertainment industry as she’d wanted.

Her high profile instantly made her a hot topic in broadcasting.

In particular, she was the number one casting choice for many variety shows due to curiosity about her stories related to Lee Hyunbin.

-Hero Future Party’s Ria Kim and her Fitness Pledge.

“What in the world is this girl doing?”

The CEO of the Hanul Group, Im Jae-joon, put down the newspaper after skimming the article.

The pointy-eared elf with deep ties to Hyunbin, after serving as a prophet for the Church of Muscle, was now dabbling in politics.

She, too, was acting as one of Hyunbin’s successors.

“Good grief.”

Im Jae-joon smiled bitterly.

Hero Hyunbin.

His existence was always symbolic.

Everyone who met him changed.

“Olivier… some tea…”

Im Jae-joon started to speak to his assistant, then clamped his mouth shut.

The words had come out of habit, without him realizing.

Olivier was no longer here.

She had submitted her resignation, and Im Jae-joon had accepted it.

“CEO-nim, did you call?”

“Secretary Oh. Some tea, please.”

“Yes, CEO-nim.”

Im Jae-joon’s assistant had been replaced.

The new hire at Hanul Group was quick-witted and meticulous.

Even so, she couldn’t replace Olivier, his long-time colleague.

“I’ll prepare some for your guest as well.”

After the secretary left, Im Jae-joon looked at the person sitting on the sofa.

There was a white-haired woman, diligently devouring a donut.

No, the tips of her once-white hair were now sprouting black.

“Give me back my Mister…”

The woman, taking a hearty bite of her donut, stared at Im Jae-joon with dead eyes.

Hearing her resentful words, Im Jae-joon remained silent for a moment.

The white-haired woman, Karin, stuffed the last donut into her mouth.

“Why are you looking for your Mister here…”

Im Jae-joon sighed softly.

“It’s because of you, Demon King Mister, that my Mister isn’t coming back.”

“That damned bastard.”

Im Jae-joon muttered.

Im Jae-joon, who possessed the System of Baal, had fought a final battle with Hero Lee Hyunbin in the Demon Realm.

Countless demons desired salvation, and the Order System chose Im Jae-joon as Baal.

Im Jae-joon had been conflicted.

Between demons and humans.

Demons are beings who learn the law of the jungle from birth.

Their environment, the world they live in, makes them that way.

The high-ranking Demon Kings who orchestrated it all. Only by their disappearance could peace come to the demons.

To prevent them from becoming sacrifices to madmen caught up in the empty lust for power, the desire to become masters of all dimensions.

Sacrifices would be made, but he made a choice.

Of course, that wasn’t all.

He needed power to help the Hero.

Because he was a man who could not be allowed to die yet.

But Baal’s curse was stronger than he thought.

He could feel the minds of countless demons seeping into his body.

Im Jae-joon realized.

No, perhaps he had been prepared for it.

Baal would annihilate humanity. For all demons, no, on their behalf.

That was why Im Jae-joon intended to entrust his end to the Hero.

And the Hero, as if he had already sensed it, accepted the duel.

The two of them had fought fiercely in the Demon Realm three years ago.

And in the end, Im Jae-joon was defeated by the Hero.

The holy sword, scattering burning flames, was pointed at the neck of the fallen Im Jae-joon.

He was ready to peacefully entrust everything to him.

The Hero did not strike him down.

He placed a hand on his own chest, and a brilliant pillar of golden light erupted.

*I will shoulder even your contradictions.*

He heard the Hero, his eyes shining gold, say those words.

After that exchange, Im Jae-joon lost consciousness and never saw the Hero again.

“I, too, am curious where that fellow is.”

Im Jae-joon grumbled in dissatisfaction.

The Baal System was gone.

No, it would be more accurate to say Lee Hyunbin had devoured it.

“Do you really not know where he is, Saintess?”

“I don’t.”

Watching Karin answer, Im Jae-joon tapped his index finger on the armrest of the sofa.

“So, what brings you here today, Saintess? Surely you didn’t come just to raid the snacks in the CEO’s office.”

Im Jae-joon said, recalling last month’s snack bill, which had exceeded a million won.

“Oh, right.”

Karin spoke without a hint of apology.

“Pull some strings and get me a job.”

“…”

“My job search isn’t going well.”

Im Jae-joon was dumbfounded by Karin’s words.

“Don’t you have your own domain in the first place?”

“Yeah, I handle the work there through the system like this. Ah, but side jobs are trendy these days. I should have a job on this side too.”

“What are you good at?”

“Umm…”

Karin pondered Im Jae-joon’s question.

Her specialty was the power of healing, but she wanted to do something more ordinary.

“Eating?”

“Get out.”

“You won’t find talent like me anywhere else, though.”

“If all you’re going to do is eat, become a mukbang streamer or something.”

“Will you sponsor me?”

Im Jae-joon sighed at Karin’s words.

“I’m trying to stand on my own two feet now.”

Karin smiled, her golden eyes glowing faintly.

The child who had never left the Hero’s side, who couldn’t leave his nest, was finally outgrowing her childhood.

“Sponsorship.”

Im Jae-joon let out a sigh and chuckled.

“I’ll do it.”

“Yes! I’m gonna bankrupt the whole group.”

Watching the delighted Karin, Im Jae-joon had already finished his cost-benefit analysis.

The hunter-entertainer industry, spearheaded by Seo Hyun-ji, was showing results.

It was perfect timing, as they needed the next candidate.

‘If he wants to complain that I didn’t get a guardian’s consent, he’ll have to show up himself.’

Im Jae-joon snorted at the thought.

* * *

“Ahem… Our Raon Academy cultivates hunters with excellent records… Ahem… and guides students to become role models for others…”

The principal’s tedious speech droned on.

They used to have assemblies in the schoolyard, but those days were long gone.

Of course, none of the kids were paying attention to the speech.

They were sleeping, eating, or messing around.

Naturally, there should have been a teacher to control them.

But this class had no teacher.

Because their homeroom teacher had resigned.

The students of Class A were talents who could become the next golden generation.

But an ordinary teacher couldn’t handle them.

“Hey, Hwang Jae-hoon. I heard you called me a loser yesterday?”

The bald male student, Hong Jae-young, wore a fierce expression since the morning.

“Was I wrong?”

“What? You bastard!”

The blond-haired student named Hwang Jae-hoon looked relaxed.

It was only natural; he was number one in their year, while Hong Jae-young, who was picking a fight, was the eternal number two.

Their relationship was what you’d call a rivalry of the runner-up.

“Have you ever beaten me?”

Hwang Jae-hoon sneered openly.

At his words, Hong Jae-young’s face twisted in anger.

“A real fight would be different.”

“I think a real fight would be exactly the same.”

“Wanna go?”

“What’s the point of stomping a loser? It just makes me the bad guy. Know your place, eternal number two.”

“Eternal number two? You son of a bitch…!”

As the two looked ready to throw down again, the other students’ attention was drawn to them.

In the sparring matches held during class, Hwang Jae-hoon was dominant.

He was the nephew of Yeomje, Hwang Jae-yeon, who once held the number one rank, and they were famous for their resemblance.

“Oh, right. Kim Tae-yang is number one now, isn’t he? Doesn’t that make your uncle the eternal number two now?”

Thanks to the meteoric rise of Kim Tae-yang after becoming an S-rank hunter, Yeomje’s ranking had dropped.

At the mention of this, Hwang Jae-hoon’s brow furrowed.

The taunt had worked.

“I’ll stomp you just like you wanted.”

“I’m gonna rearrange your face today!”

Seeing the two burning with fighting spirit, the class president tried to stop them in a panic. But her words didn’t reach their ears.

Just then, the class president thought of someone who could stop them.

The girl currently sleeping with her head on her desk.

Han So-yul.

A child prodigy who, as an elementary schooler, had subdued a monster that invaded her home with psychic powers.

“Hey, So-yul. Can you stop those two?”

“Leave them be… Boys are supposed to grow up fighting…”

So-yul, suffering from chronic sleep deprivation, answered class president Min Ah-young’s plea with annoyance. She remained one with her desk, showing no interest.

Unable to rely on Han So-yul, the class president tried to intervene again.

“Guys! The new homeroom teacher is coming today! Stop fighting!”

“Fuck off!”

There was no one to stop the two.

Hong Jae-young charged, his fists turning to steel. And Hwang Jae-hoon sneered, unleashing flames.

This classroom had already replaced its desks several times. Because of those two.

While the class president was flustered, not knowing what to do, a man and a woman were approaching the classroom.

“See? I told you it would be noisy.”

The woman in a white coat and glasses pouted as she spoke.

“All the kids who’ve already awakened their abilities are gathered in there. They’re exceptionally talented, but there’s no teacher to lead them.”

The woman said, looking into the classroom from the window.

The classroom was already a complete mess. Because of the two boys’ fight.

“Ah, fuck! Let me get some sleep, you bastards!”

Finally, unable to stand the racket, Han So-yul extended her hand.

Hong Jae-young and Hwang Jae-hoon were thrown to opposite sides of the room, tumbling to the floor.

Thanks to that, the three of them were now growling at each other.

“Are you confident?”

The woman asked the man next to her, crossing her arms haughtily.

The slim-figured man answered with a smirk.

“My, my, the kids are sturdy. I like it. They won’t fall apart too easily.”

The man seemed to enjoy it, in fact.

He hadn’t changed at all.

“But why have you lost so much muscle?”

“I just changed my muscle type.”

“Well, it looks better this way. Better than being all bulky like before.”

He certainly looked slimmer than before, but his impression would change once he took off his jacket.

“But why are you the school nurse? It doesn’t suit you at all.”

The woman, Olivier, snorted and adjusted her glasses.

“You have no idea how much praise I get as the beautiful school nurse.”

“Even so, at heart you’re just a closet nerd.”

“Look who’s talking. What’s a teacher to you? Your specialty is wrecking things.”

Because of the existence with absolute power, there would be no careless invasions here.

If anything, others would have to walk on eggshells.

The future era of hunters will change.

And we will raise the next generation of hunters and create a systematic framework.

“Who could possibly be a better teacher than me?”

With that, Hyunbin smiled and walked into the classroom.

“Do as you please.”

Olivier smiled.

“I’ll be watching you until then.”

The three, who had been tangled up like a scene from the Three Kingdoms, paused when they saw the man who had just entered.

“Hello, my friends.”

The man, unfazed by the chaotic classroom, glanced over the students.

The class president’s large eyes quivered, pleading for help.

Students with defiant gazes. And students filled with curiosity.

There were even students betting on how long the new teacher would last.

These kids had no idea.

“May I begin whipping you all into shape now?”

Just how terrifying the muscle ending could be.

[Main Story End]