Chapter 259 – The Year 2022

A week after Adam’s death, Min Do-jun attempted to converse with Adam’s soul.

‘Adam.’

[Huh? Wh-what is this?]

Adam was startled—suddenly his vision returned, as if a light had been switched on, and a voice rang out.

[Am… am I alive?]

The sudden return of sight made Adam momentarily think he was alive.

‘No. You’re dead.’

Min Do-jun told him the truth.

‘You died instantly in the dungeon when my magic pierced your heart. And now, your soul is collateral, bound by my Soul Exploitation skill.’

[Dead? You killed me?]

‘What, did you think you wouldn’t die?’

[Why! Why did you kill me? If you killed me, you wouldn’t be able to leave the dungeon! Did you not care if Korea was destroyed, you cold-blooded bastard!]

‘I could leave, actually.’

[What?]

Min Do-jun explained how he escaped the dungeon.

‘I have the ability to steal the traits of those I kill. After killing you, I gained your mind control trait.’

[W-what…!]

He went on to explain how he immediately mind-controlled James, teleported out, and stopped the monsters.

He told Adam everything—there was no need to hide the truth from a soul.

[So you killed me, left the dungeon right away, and stopped the monsters?]

‘Yeah. There were some casualties, but I blocked it without major damage.’

[It’s already been a week since then?]

‘Yeah.’

[…]

‘If you don’t believe me, I can show you the news.’

Min Do-jun showed Adam articles on his phone.

[It’s… it’s true?]

‘Now you see? Your plan to destroy Seoul failed.’

[…]

Adam was speechless.

He hadn’t imagined Min Do-jun could have a trait that steals others’ abilities.

It seemed even more overpowered than his own mind control.

Adam finally understood what Min Do-jun had said before killing him.

[My downfall was not figuring out your trait, just as you said.]

He also realized how Min Do-jun had become such a monster.

[You killed hunters and collected their traits. That’s why your Karma score was in the tens of thousands.]

‘Was my Karma really that high?’

Since he couldn’t see his own Karma, Min Do-jun was curious.

[Yeah. I remember it was over 12,000.]

‘That is high…’

Given the number of people he’d killed, it made sense.

[With your level of power, even the Drake King would have been nothing to you.]

‘Yeah. Took me about 20 seconds.’

[…]

Adam fell silent. If he had a face, he would have looked appalled.

[So, why are you telling me all this? Are you just here to gloat about your victory?]

‘Not really. I wanted to hear your story.’

[My story?]

‘I know you tried to take over Korea’s hunters and start a coup. But I don’t know why.’

[You want to hear my side now? What does it matter, now that it’s all over?]

‘If you don’t want to talk, don’t.’

[…]

After a pause, Adam spoke quietly.

[Just know I held a grudge against Korea.]

‘Alright. I didn’t really care to know anyway.’

With that, Min Do-jun cut off the conversation and used Soul Explosion to erase Adam’s soul through the window.

‘He’s not going to cooperate, so talking more is a waste of time. He could even lie on purpose.’

But Adam’s reaction had already given Min Do-jun the information he wanted.

‘He didn’t deny the coup, so he really was the mastermind.’

Adam had already admitted it before, but Min Do-jun wanted to confirm it one last time.

He wanted to be sure Adam had really planned to use the hunters for a coup.

‘Judging by his reaction, Adam was the ringleader. There’s no deeper villain.’

At first, Min Do-jun had thought Shin Kyung-min was the leader of the coup.

Anyone would, given the situation before his regression.

But it never made sense that proud hunters would all unite for a single cause.

‘But if mind control was involved, it’s a different story.’

Adam’s emergence completed the missing piece of the puzzle.

‘A man with a grudge against Korea tried to rally the hunters for a coup.’

If you want to destroy a country, the best way is to use its own hunters.

That’s why Adam tried to use Korean hunters, not his own forces.

‘On the day all the hunters were gathered, Adam must have appeared using stealth, trying to secretly mind control them.’

Hunters with high Karma like Seo Jin-cheol would have been controlled instantly, but not Shin Kyung-min or Kang Hyuk-su.

‘That’s why he kidnapped Shin Hye-ri and Jeong Hye-won, to force them into murder and raise their Karma for mind control.’

He probably used the same method before Min Do-jun’s regression.

‘Back then, there would have been more targets for mind control than now.’

Shim Jin-seop, Jeong Tae-sik, Kang Cheol-gyu, Yang Seung-hyun, Gil Chung-su, Kim Bedro, Lee Se-yoon, Pet Master, Lee Min-ji, the twin brothers, Seo Jin-cheol, Kang Hyuk-su, Shin Kyung-min, etc.

All 14 who participated in the coup were mind-controlled by Adam.

‘If you count Ahn Gwang-hyun, it’s 15, but he wasn’t part of the coup.’

The Black Sea Guild master was just a revenge target, not part of the coup.

‘Wait, what about Gil Chung-su?’

He was a psychopath and should have had a strong mind trait—he should have been immune to mind control.

‘Did he join of his own will?’

Either way, Min Do-jun had killed a lot of people.

Now, aside from monsters, there were no more revenge targets left.

‘To think I completed my revenge in just two years…’

Originally, he had planned to finish within five years.

‘But I did it three years earlier than expected.’

He hadn’t expected to grow this fast.

‘Looking back, it was a good thing I didn’t join Overlord Guild.’

When the Overlord sales manager first visited Guardian Guild, Min Do-jun had declined, even with a 400 billion won signing bonus.

‘I thought there was no rush, so I held off…’

If he had joined and faced Adam, it would have been a disaster.

‘If Adam realized mind control didn’t work on me, he might have tried to kill me.’

At the time, Min Do-jun’s level was 2,600.

Strong enough to clear S-rank dungeons, but not strong enough to face all of Adam’s forces.

‘I probably would have died before even wearing legendary items, let alone getting revenge.’

In hindsight, holding off on joining the guild was a stroke of luck.

‘Now that revenge is complete and the real mastermind is gone, Ye-rin should be safe, right?’

Peace had come, but Min Do-jun was still uneasy.

‘The coup was supposed to happen in 2030. Right now, it’s the day before 2022.’

There were still over eight years to go until 2030.

‘I’ll only be able to relax if nothing happens in 2030…’

He wished he could fast-forward time, but he had no such power—even if he had been given the miracle of regression.

‘For now, I should get ready for tomorrow’s medal ceremony.’

Min Do-jun, having altered his face so he wouldn’t be recognized, went shopping for the first time in a while.

He couldn’t show up to an official event looking shabby.

—

### * * *

The main auditorium of the Korea Hunter Association was packed.

Everyone was there to watch the medal ceremony.

“We’ll finally get to see Hunter Min Do-jun in person!”

“Should I ask for an autograph?”

There were many young people, but also many elderly citizens.

Even grandparents who didn’t know celebrities knew the name of the hunter who saved the nation.

“Take as many photos as you can the moment he appears. We’ll pick the best ones later, got it?”

“Yes, senior.”

A reporter teaching a junior how to use the camera moved to a different spot for a better angle.

“Hey, he’s here!”

At someone’s shout, the reporters reflexively pressed their shutters.

Clickclickclickclickclick—

But the person who appeared on stage wasn’t Min Do-jun, but the President.

“Huh? The President’s here too?”

“Is he going to present the medal himself?”

The shutter sound died down for a moment.

But when Min Do-jun finally appeared, the noise and cheers reignited.

Clickclickclickclickclickclick—

The sound and excitement far surpassed when the President appeared.

“Wow!”

“Min Do-jun! Min Do-jun!”

Amid the cheers, Min Do-jun faced the President on stage.

“Hello, Mr. President.”

“Nice to meet you, Hunter Min Do-jun.”

After a brief greeting, the two sat in the seats prepared for them.

“Now, we will begin the 2022 Medal Ceremony.”

Following the host’s announcement, the ceremony began.

Since it was an event solely for Min Do-jun, he was the only recipient.

“Hunter Min Do-jun, please stand.”

The President personally handed Min Do-jun the medal.

“Thank you for protecting our country, Hunter Min Do-jun.”

“It was nothing.”

“And happy new year.”

“Happy new year to you too, Mr. President. I hope you continue to serve the nation well.”

As they shook hands, the reporters’ shutters went wild.

Clickclickclickclickclickclick—

The head of state and the nation’s strongest hunter.

Photos of the two together were soon all over the news.

“With this, the 2022 Medal Ceremony is concluded.”

As the event ended and Min Do-jun stepped down, citizens rushed forward.

“Hunter! Please shake my hand!”

“Look over here, Hunter!”

Reporters swarmed as well.

“Hunter Min Do-jun! How do you feel about receiving the medal?”

“Was it hard to defeat the Drake King?”

“What did you talk about with the President just now?”

“Would you consider an interview with our newspaper?”

“Please, just a word!”

Just as Min Do-jun was about to respond, someone intervened.

It was Park Dong-yun.

“Everyone, please step back. The Hunter is uncomfortable. We won’t be taking any questions now. If you want an interview, please make a formal request to Guardian Guild!”

He pushed through the crowd and escorted Min Do-jun to the waiting car.

“Whew! Finally some peace.”

“I’m glad I brought you, Team Leader Park.”

“Oh, really? I’m glad I could help.”

Park Dong-yun grinned as he took the wheel.

“Heading to the guild?”

“Yes.”

Min Do-jun watched Park Dong-yun drive.

“Seeing you drive reminds me of old times. You used to pick me up every day for dungeons.”

“Haha, it’s only been two years, you know.”

“Really? It feels much longer.”

“You’ve worked hard, that’s why.”

That was true.

He had run himself ragged for revenge.

“Driving with you like this, it feels like old times. When I first met you, I never imagined you’d become so successful.”

‘Success, huh…’

If success meant wealth and fame, then yes, he’d succeeded.

‘Now that I’ve finished my revenge and found peace, is this true success?’

Yet, he still felt empty inside.

‘It must be because Ye-rin isn’t here…’

The emptiness was from the absence of the one who completed him.

“You’re a real superstar now, Hunter.”

“I know. I can’t even walk around freely anymore.”

The support of the Korean people couldn’t fill the emptiness.

Only one person could do that.

‘I miss Ye-rin.’

If only he had Parasite on her, he could at least check on her, but he couldn’t.

“Now that you’ve saved Korea and are ranked #1, what’s next?”

“Didn’t I say before? I have to reach world rank 1.”

That would be easy for Min Do-jun now.

“And after that?”

At Park Dong-yun’s question, Min Do-jun hesitated.

‘Now that revenge is over, what do I do?’

He’d never thought about life after revenge.

After a moment, he replied,

“What else is there for a hunter but to hunt monsters?”

“Even after reaching rank 1, you’ll keep hunting?”

“I can’t let anyone else take the top spot, can I?”

“You’ll wear yourself out at this rate. Take it easy.”

There was no need to worry—Min Do-jun’s stamina stat was over 60,000.

“We’re here.”

They arrived at the guild and went up to the office.

There, they ran into two unexpected visitors.

“Hello, Hunter Min Do-jun.”

“Oh, hello.”

It was Cha Seung-hoon and Cha Ye-rin.

‘Ye-rin…?’

Seeing her just when he missed her, Min Do-jun couldn’t help but smile.

Then, worried he looked foolish, he quickly straightened his expression.

“Ahem, what brings you two here?”

“We were waiting for you, Hunter Min Do-jun.”

“For me?”

He looked at them curiously, and the siblings spoke with serious faces.

“We wanted to thank you properly.”

“Thank you so much for saving our lives.”

They both bowed deeply, and Min Do-jun scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“No need for that…”

“Now that we’ve thanked you, we’ll be going.”

“Already?”

“Yes. Oh, and congratulations on your medal.”

“Congratulations.”

They smiled and turned to leave.

It seemed they had really just come to thank him.

“…”

As he watched them go, Min Do-jun couldn’t help himself.

“Wait a moment.”

“Yes?”

Avoiding Ye-rin’s gaze, he spoke to Seung-hoon.

“Have you joined a guild yet?”

“Ah… not yet.”

“Then would you like to join ours?”

“What?”

Surprised, Seung-hoon hesitated.

“If you have a trait related to Magic Swordsman, I can give you some advice.”

Seung-hoon’s face lit up—he had been debating whether to pursue that path.

“That would be great, but…”

He glanced at his sister.

“I promised to let Ye-rin look after me…”

“No need to worry about that. Ye-rin can join our guild too.”

“What?”

Ye-rin looked at him in surprise, and Min Do-jun quickly looked away.

“You can join as our guild manager. Since you’re studying for it, you’re more than qualified. You just need to graduate first, of course.”

“Oh, then there’s no problem.”

She had no reason to refuse, especially if she could be with her brother.

“Thank you so much, Hunter! I mean, Guild Master!”

Seung-hoon answered energetically.

He had really wanted to join Guardian Guild.

But he didn’t know—it was all because of Ye-rin.

‘Now I can keep Ye-rin close.’

He accepted her for selfish reasons, but there was nothing improper about it.

‘I just want Ye-rin to be safe.’

Even with the coup stopped, new threats could always arise.

‘As long as monsters and hunters exist, it’s never truly safe.’

It was a dangerous world for someone like Ye-rin.

‘If I can keep her close, I’ll feel at ease.’

Besides, he couldn’t be certain the coup threat was gone for good.

‘What if Adam wasn’t the only mastermind…?’

He was pretty sure Adam was, but only time would tell if the coup would never happen.

‘If there’s no trouble in 2030, then I’ll finally be able to relax.’

There were eight years until the scheduled coup.

‘For now, I’ll just watch how things go.’

And so, eight years passed.