Chapter 29
“Did the association get involved this time too?”
“Somehow, it turned out that way.”
“Huh.”
Mom had learned the whole story.
The reason was the association staff who had barged in on Yena during her hospital visit.
Because they mentioned my name and took her away, Mom found out everything that had happened to me. Naturally, she was quite angry.
“What did the association say?”
“They said there’s no problem. Everything went well.”
My skill had been fully verified through the duel. I passed the doping test, and there was no suspicious sign even in a one-on-one duel, so even the association staff had no choice but to acknowledge it.
[For now, Hunter Joo Hyuk’s magical energy is far below the standard threshold, so raising your rank is difficult.]
I had hoped my rank might increase, but their answer was firm.
Even if there is a fixed standard, making exceptions could create controversy in future rank assessments.
However, the association staff immediately proposed a new alternative.
[Are you familiar with “Irregulars”?]
Irregulars.
Even when I was at the academy, I had rarely heard the term, but I had caught it once or twice.
[There aren’t many people like Hunter Joo Hyuk who show abilities far beyond their magical energy, but a few exist.]
Hunters who can perform well in gates above their rank due to experience-honed skills.
The international association had created the “Irregular” system for such people.
In South Korea, there had never been a single one—until now.
Now, there was one.
Joo Hyuk casually replied to Mom, who looked gloomy.
“From now on, I’ll be able to enter higher-ranked gates easily. The association recognized it too.”
“Well, aren’t you something.”
Her face was full of complaint.
She started venting at her son, who spoke about the association so casually.
“If you got dragged to the association, it must’ve been serious. Why didn’t you tell me anything?”
“I didn’t know either. My phone was off, and who would’ve thought they’d come to the house without any notice?”
“Hoo~ bragging.”
Of course, she wasn’t happy that her child constantly got into dangerous situations.
Fortunately, she didn’t blow up like the last time we ran into trouble at a gate, but with me running around causing all sorts of incidents, there was never a moment of peace.
“You don’t join a guild, you enter B-rank gates… you only pick things I told you not to do.”
“….”
As we talked, her emotions seemed to rise.
Her voice was steady, but her lingering resentment from the last incident was palpable.
Seeing this, Yena, who had been quietly keeping silent between us, cautiously intervened.
“Please don’t be too upset, ma’am. Joo Hyuk did it all while thinking about you.”
“I know. I’m not unaware of that…”
Even knowing that her son had grown stronger, a parent’s worry never disappears.
She wanted to say more, but with Yena stepping in, she couldn’t continue scolding.
“You already vented last time, so I won’t say more, but at least reduce the dangerous stuff. Don’t give me another stress-induced illness.”
“Okay.”
“Hurry and go. You need to train hard if you don’t want to get hurt.”
“I will.”
The situation was finally calmed.
‘At least she didn’t scold me all day like last time.’
When the video first went viral, she had scolded me non-stop until my ears were ringing. This time, since it was a continuation of the previous incident, she didn’t get that angry.
Joo Hyuk stood up and continued.
“Like last time, I’ll be stopping somewhere, so I won’t be back for a few days.”
“Again?”
The upgraded training room needed to be used, and he had to focus on training. He wouldn’t be able to visit for at least a week.
Mom, however, still showed a trace of dissatisfaction in her eyes, as if the resentment hadn’t fully faded.
“What is it this time… never mind.”
But it didn’t last long.
Mom sighed deeply, looking at him, and said,
“You’re going to lump it all together anyway, so why ask?”
“You know your son well.”
It had become a familiar pattern.
Mom didn’t ask further and quietly saw him off.
“Be careful and come back safe.”
Then she turned to Yena.
“You must be tired from our son. Go on in.”
“Hehe, alright~ I’ll come again tomorrow!”
“See you tomorrow.”
The two now casually spoke about tomorrow, a sign that Yena had become a familiar face through her daily visits.
“Let’s go.”
“Alright, head on.”
Out of the hospital room with Yena, she spoke first in the elevator.
“It’s a relief you weren’t as worried this time.”
“Better than nothing, I guess.”
When the video had spread before, I had gotten up despite my painful knee and come running. This was definitely easier in comparison.
“Please take care of my mom while I’m gone.”
“I’ve already planned to, no need to ask.”
Her reply came without hesitation.
It had become natural, but that didn’t stop me from trying to appreciate it.
‘I should prepare a gift next time.’
Though she claimed she was repaying a favor, I felt that the countless hospital visits over the past months were already more than enough.
Yena always gave more strength to Mom than I could.
I couldn’t let her leave empty-handed.
While thinking about what gift to give, Yena said,
“You’ll go into a gate right after training, right?”
“That’s the plan.”
“I’ll check out a B-rank gate in advance, then.”
She playfully nudged my shoulder.
A slight smile appeared, her dimples like sunflowers.
“You don’t have a guild, so no one to find a gate for you anyway.”
“….”
Right in the truth.
Even though I had received a lot of help already, she wanted to help more.
‘She’s right; I can’t argue.’
Even if you’re famous, there’s no reliable place to request a gate.
You could wander and find a gate party, but gates have as many human problems as monster problems.
Finding trustworthy gate members is never easy.
For a famous hunter, people trying to take advantage would be even more common.
‘But I can trust her with this.’
If asked who was the most trustworthy in hunting, I wouldn’t hesitate to say her.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
After leaving the training room, it seemed necessary to prepare a proper gift.
[Consume the magic stone to absorb mana.]
The taste of the stone was unique.
The texture of glass filled the mouth, signaling that it shouldn’t be eaten.
[Mana replenishment for training room upgrade and operation: 58/100…]
Still, I swallowed it.
Even when the size made me gag, I forced it down.
[Mana replenishment for training room upgrade and operation: 82/100…]
The numbers in the message rose steadily.
[Would you like to enter now?]
Finally, the awaited message appeared.
“Let’s go.”
I said and lay back, closing my eyes.
Feeling the world twist, a new wind soon blew.
Through my slightly open eyes, I saw the subway interior.
I was briefly surprised by the familiar modern setting, but my gaze fell on the wooden sword beneath my feet.
‘Where is it?’
No dolls were in sight, no matter how I looked around.
Could it be like a zombie movie, attacking once I grab the sword?
Or maybe some hidden mechanism?
I racked my brain, but staying still wouldn’t give an answer.
‘Let’s just grab it.’
In a space where death didn’t exist, I decided to take the risk.
When I gripped the sword, a message appeared:
[Defeat Transparent Doll 1,000,000 times 0/1,000,000]
“Huh?”
Transparent doll.
As soon as the message appeared, a tiny scratching sound came from behind.
Kki-kki-gik…
I knew the sound well.
The same sound I always heard in the training room.
Turning around, no one was there.
Only a faint sound of wind cutting through—
“Ugh!”
A strong hit to the forehead.
I saw nothing, but the intense strike made my head spin.
Finally, I understood the situation and quickly raised my sword.
‘A transparent doll? Completely invisible?’
I’d seen swordsman or archer dolls, but a transparent one?
I had expected the next to be a different-class monster, like a magician, but this unexpected appearance overturned all assumptions.
‘What now?’
Worry surged.
I had no mana-detecting skills or enhanced senses.
As a hunter, my only skills were athleticism and senses beyond ordinary humans.
In short, I had to strike the invisible doll’s back a million times without any assistance.
“Ha…”
I couldn’t help but sigh.
Anyone would react the same in this situation.
But I didn’t waste time complaining.
Finding a solution quickly was far more productive.
Besides, many monsters use invisibility, so this was good practice.
“Let’s do it.”
Changing my mindset to see the situation positively, I quickly assumed a stance and began swinging the sword frantically, relying on my senses.
