Chapter 234 – You Want to Become a Magic Swordsman?

[Rank 5 Seo Jin-cheol, Past Record of Juvenile Detention Revealed.]

[Committed Crimes to Seek Revenge on Shin Kyung-min, Who Sent Him to Prison.]

└Wow, rank 5 involved in murder and kidnapping. Shocking.

└The world’s gone mad.

└Why would someone at rank 5 do this? He must have had plenty of money.

└Yeah, if it were me, I’d forget revenge and live well off the money I’ve earned.

└Do all S-ranks have mental issues? Lee Min-ji the healer, the twin hunters before, now this-all causing trouble.

└Seriously. The higher ranks seem worse.

└They should make it a law for S-ranks to take mandatory psychopath tests.

└By the way, who even is Seo Jin-cheol? Some no-name hunter?

Although the crimes committed by Seo Jin-cheol were exposed to the world through the news, the person in question was already dead and gone.

Or rather, not quite yet.

He still existed, in the form of a soul within Min Do-jun.

[You bastard! Why are you showing me this?]

As Seo Jin-cheol’s soul shouted, Min Do-jun closed the comments section of the article.

‘So you can see how people are reacting and reflect on your actions.’

[Reflect, my ass! Just let me go already!]

‘I’ll let you go when the time comes, but you need to answer my questions first.’

[I already told you! I’ve never even thought about a coup or anything like that!]

‘Even if your crime had succeeded?’

[Yes! What benefit would I get from joining a coup?]

‘Hmm…’

[And if it’s a coup led by that bastard Shin Kyung-min? Hell, no need to even discuss it. Though, I might join just to stab that bastard in the back!]

His anger toward Shin Kyung-min was genuine.

Thus, it was impossible to imagine the two reconciling.

‘So, you’re saying you wouldn’t join hands with him unless it’s to betray him.’

[Obviously.]

‘Then, was revenge something you’ve been planning for a long time?’

[Not exactly planned, but I did think I’d get revenge someday. The growing gap between us kept me from acting on it, though.]

‘So, you impulsively decided to take revenge and kidnapped Shin Hye-ri.’

[Something like that.]

Afterward, Min Do-jun asked a few more questions, but there was no significant gain.

[I’ve answered everything, right? Now let me go.]

‘Alright. I’ll grant your wish and make you disappear.’

[W-Wait. Disappear? You said you’d let me go if I answered properly!]

‘Disappearing is a form of release, isn’t it? You’ll be free from my grasp, after all.’

[What? You bastard, you lied to me…]

Before Seo Jin-cheol could say more, Min Do-jun used a skill in the air, extinguishing his soul.

‘Now, only three targets for revenge remain.’

Justin Walker, Shin Kyung-min, and Kang Hyuk-su.

Among them, only Justin Walker wasn’t infected with Parasite.

‘It’s a bit unsettling that I can’t monitor his actions.’

Though he hadn’t yet figured out what Justin Walker was planning to do in Korea.

‘He’ll show his fangs when the time comes.’

Until that day arrived, Min Do-jun decided to wait quietly.

To gather more concrete evidence.

* * *

Two months had passed.

[Hunter Min Do-jun, Though He Killed Seo Jin-cheol, Recognized Under Summary Judgment. Submits Recorder as Evidence.]

As expected, Min Do-jun faced no punishment for killing Seo Jin-cheol.

It was acknowledged that dealing with a hunter willing to commit murder required decisive action, and Summary Judgment was applied.

‘The recorder played a big role.’

If he hadn’t proven Seo Jin-cheol’s crimes with the recorder, the outcome might have been uncertain.

“You’ve arrived, Guild Master.”

Park Dong-yun greeted Min Do-jun as he arrived at the guild office.

“You’ve worked hard attending court.”

“It’s nothing.”

“So, everything’s settled now, right?”

“Yes. I’ll be focusing on hunting for a while.”

“What? With your level already so high, how much stronger do you plan to get…?”

Indeed, Min Do-jun’s current level had surpassed 4,400.

He hadn’t been idle over the past two months.

“If you’re worried about losing the 1st rank, you can take it easy. There’s already a 700-level gap between you and Hunter Shin Kyung-min.”

Even though Shin Kyung-min was growing quickly at level 3,700, he couldn’t compare to Min Do-jun.

Thus, Min Do-jun no longer cared about domestic rankings.

“If I’m going to aim for something, it might as well be world rank 1.”

“Ah…”

Park Dong-yun opened his mouth in awe at the grand scale of ambition.

“If it’s you, Guild Master, you can definitely achieve it. World rank 1.”

“If Team Leader Park keeps finding soloable dungeons like now, I’ll reach it in no time.”

The reason Min Do-jun had grown so quickly was because of soloing dungeons several times.

‘I’m not far from catching up to Justin Walker.’

Justin Walker’s level was in the 4,700s.

With only a 300-level difference between them, catching up was just a matter of time.

“By the way, have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“The Association has decided to apply priority rights to S-rank dungeons starting this week.”

It was news that wasn’t bad for Min Do-jun.

In fact, it was good.

With priority rights, he could reserve entire S-rank dungeons for himself.

“That’s great, isn’t it? Now, with priority rights, you can solo S-rank dungeons without worry. The only issue is that it applies only to domestic dungeons, but still, it’s not bad…”

“Team Leader Park.”

“Yes?”

“Take a look at this.”

Min Do-jun showed him a text message on his phone.

[You are hereby notified that due to your absence from the previous meeting, your eligibility to use priority rights has been revoked until next year.]

“Wh-What does this mean? Revoked eligibility?”

“It’s exactly as it says. I’ve been penalized for not attending the last meeting.”

“This is outrageous! It’s unfair!”

“Unfair? Not at all. They announced in advance that penalties would apply for non-attendance. Since I didn’t go despite that, it’s my fault.”

“But still…”

“I’m not the only one who didn’t attend, so there’s no need to feel too wronged. I heard there are four of us in total, including me. They must have received the same message.”

“Oh no… Will you be okay without priority rights?”

“Yes. Domestic dungeons are low difficulty anyway, so I’ve been focusing on overseas ones. Priority rights or not, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“If that’s the case…”

Not having priority rights didn’t mean he couldn’t hunt.

It just meant he couldn’t enjoy the benefits others received.

That was all.

It wouldn’t hinder his rapid leveling pace at all.

At that moment.

“Hello, is this Guardian Guild?”

A young man visited the guild office, and Park Dong-yun stepped forward.

“What brings you here?”

“Well, I’m an F-rank hunter who recently awakened, and I came to seek advice on becoming a Magic Swordsman and to join the guild.”

Park Dong-yun let out an inward sigh.

Even after the interview stating that not just anyone could become a Magic Swordsman, people still came.

“You want to become a Magic Swordsman?”

“Yes.”

“Unfortunately, becoming a Magic Swordsman requires a specific trait. Please head back.”

Park Dong-yun even opened the door for him, but the other party showed no intention of leaving.

“I don’t know what the specific trait for a Magic Swordsman is, but I think I have a trait that suits it.”

“Really?”

Countless Magic Swordsman aspirants had come by, but this was the first time someone claimed to have a related trait.

“Guild Master, what should we do? He says he has a Magic Swordsman-related trait.”

Park Dong-yun glanced at Cha Seung-hoon and whispered.

“To be honest, I think he’s lying. Should I just send him away with the excuse of guild membership?”

“No.”

Min Do-jun shook his head.

‘My brother-in-law isn’t the type to lie.’

He knew better than anyone that Cha Seung-hoon had a kind nature.

“I’ll handle it myself.”

As Min Do-jun approached Cha Seung-hoon, the young man’s eyes sparkled.

Then, he bowed at a 90-degree angle.

“It’s an honor. I never imagined I’d meet the legendary Hunter Min Do-jun in person…”

He probably hadn’t expected a figure like Min Do-jun to be at the guild.

After all, rank 1 hunters were known to be incredibly busy.

‘I never imagined I’d meet my brother-in-law here either.’

With a pounding heart, Min Do-jun extended his hand for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Min Do-jun.”

“I’m Cha Seung-hoon.”

“Congratulations on awakening as a hunter.”

“Thank you.”

“You want to become a Magic Swordsman?”

“Yes. I believe I have a trait that suits it.”

“I can offer advice. However, you cannot join our guild.”

“What? Why not?”

“We’re not ready to accept guild members yet.”

“Ah…”

Cha Seung-hoon’s voice was filled with disappointment, but there was no helping it.

‘It’s not the right time to get involved with Ye-rin or her family yet.’

In a situation where the threat of a coup hadn’t been completely eliminated, forming ties with Ye-rin’s family could put them in danger.

‘If I get close now, not only the family but Ye-rin herself could be at risk.’

Thus, this meeting couldn’t be considered entirely welcome.

He had deliberately kept his distance to protect Cha Ye-rin up until now.

‘Even if fate brought us together through the Magic Swordsman connection, this is as far as it goes. I have to cut this off coldly.’

However, even Min Do-jun, who usually maintained a cold demeanor, occasionally wavered.

“Oppa, are you still talking?”

That was the case now, as Cha Ye-rin appeared.