Chapter 275

The previous day’s comment, “You’re naive,” still lingered in his mind.

Sitting in the caregiver’s chair next to the bed, Jin Taekyung stared blankly at the mist coming from the humidifier. Suddenly, he muttered to himself, “No, it’s not about being naive.”

The world of Murim was one where the phrase *dosan geomnim* (刀山劍林), a forest of swords and blades, perfectly fit. Bloodshed was a common sight, and death was a daily occurrence. In that world, power was justice, and survival was victory. [1]

Every time he witnessed the brutal side of Murim, it made him think of the modern world.

A world with systematic welfare, laws, and a highly developed civilization far superior to Murim. But he realized he was wrong.

“It’s not naivety, it’s stupidity.”

Murim practitioners carried swords at their waists, while modern people hid daggers in their sleeves.

Monsters weren’t just inside the gates; they were outside as well. They hid behind good clothes and benevolent images, ruling over the forests of buildings. Those who began revealing the daggers hidden in their sleeves were the monsters outside the gates.

“Just like Won Myunghoon.”

He had been too soft until now.

Despite knowing that the world was unfair and messed up, he hadn’t let go of his complacency.

After all, this was the modern world. A democratic society in the 21st century. There might be fierce battles to prove one’s abilities, but he thought events like today wouldn’t happen.

“And this is the result.”

He gazed at Im Jik-jung, who was still asleep. His arms, severed below the elbows, had been treated by a high-ranking healer’s recovery magic and advanced potions.

While he wouldn’t have much trouble with everyday life… returning as a hunter was uncertain. After all, potions weren’t a cure-all.

“Who the hell did this?”

Cold thoughts swirled in his mind.

Who sent the Black Hunter, and for what purpose? The act of cutting off Im Jik-jung’s arms might have been a warning to stop, or it could be the signal for something bigger to start.

“I’ll find out soon enough.”

But he wasn’t planning on waiting idly until then. Neither was Chief Choi.

“Rest well, uncle.”

Just as he was pulling up the blanket over Im Jik-jung, his smartphone lit up in the dark with a vibrating sound.

A short message from Chief Choi: “To the guild house.”

Without hesitation, he left the hospital. Deep in the night, when everyone had already left the guild house, two people were waiting for him.

“Ah, Jin Taekyung.”

“You’re here.”

Chief Choi and Song-yi. As expected, Butler Kim wasn’t there.

Chief Choi noticed his gaze and spoke first, “He’s stepped out for a moment.”

“Is that so?”

It was unusual for Butler Kim, who usually stayed by Chief Choi’s side like a shadow, to be absent, but that wasn’t important right now.

Taekyung got straight to the point. “What’s going on?”

“Before I explain, I should at least offer you a cup of coffee… but first, take a look at this.”

Instead of a coffee cup, Chief Choi handed him his smartphone. On the screen was the homepage of the nation’s largest portal site.

With a touch of his long finger, various categorized news articles appeared.

Scanning the top articles, Taekyung’s eyes settled on one.

“[The judiciary bows before the fame driven by the public. Where is the fairness?]

[Unity Party’s top member, Assemblywoman Yoon Seoyoon, criticizes:

‘A death caused by reckless actions. Won Myunghoon should have faced the judgment of the law.’]

[Was it self-defense or murder?]”

The political and social sections were filled with these articles. Although no names were mentioned, it was clear who they were talking about.

“When did this go up?”

“An hour ago. But it’s already got 100,000 views and over 5,000 comments.”

“An hour ago? Around 4 a.m.?”

“Netizens are more diligent than we think. Or maybe they’re paid trolls?”

“Interesting.”

Chief Choi took a sip of coffee that was as cold as the smile on Taekyung’s lips and said, “There’s something even more interesting.”

“More than this?”

“Scroll down a bit more. It’ll be beyond what you expect.”

Chief Choi was right. As Taekyung scrolled, his finger stopped unconsciously. He stared silently at the bold headline.

“[Exclusive pre-release interview with former colleague K: ‘Famous Hunter J is a vile human being.’]”

When he touched the article, a three-minute pre-release interview video appeared. After a 15-second cosmetic brand ad, the screen was filled with a well-dressed, potbellied man.

Although his face was slightly pixelated, Taekyung recognized him instantly.

“Hah.”

A dry laugh escaped his lips as he realized the identity of the middle-aged man, or rather, his “former colleague.”

It was an all-too-familiar face. He never expected to see that person again.

“I didn’t think I’d see him like this.”

Song-yi, who had been looking at the phone over his shoulder, asked, “You really know this person?”

“Know? How could I not?”

“If he’s doing such a trashy interview, you must have had a bad relationship with him.”

“No.”

“So, were you close?”

“Not exactly…”

What word could describe his relationship with that man? After thinking for a moment, Taekyung spoke.

“It was shitty.”

“Ah.”

That word fit perfectly. Their relationship was that bad. Considering everything that had happened, it was surprising they never came to blows.

He stared at the man’s now fatter face.

“Kim Sang-shik. It’s been a while.”

Kim Sang-shik. A former team leader of the Sopoong Guild.

He was the one who incited the guild leader to fire Taekyung when he was still an F-rank hunter. The last time they met was when Taekyung went to the association for a re-evaluation… He never imagined he’d see him again like this.

“I heard he got kicked out of the guild afterward.”

Kim Sang-shik was a man whose ability was lacking, yet his greed knew no bounds. Despite his name, common sense was something he sorely lacked, leading to his dismissal after a series of foolish actions.

Being such a petty person, it was clear that he had been harboring a grudge against Taekyung all this time. That must be why he agreed to this interview.

“Let’s see what nonsense he’s spouting.”

Right on cue, the video cut to the reporter’s question.

“I heard you have something to say about the now-famous Hunter J. First, is it true that you were former colleagues?”

Kim Sang-shik nodded with an overly serious expression.

“Absolutely true. I was Jin Tae… no, I mean J’s direct superior.”

“Specifically?”

“He was my team member. After the gate incident two years ago, I became the team leader. I was also the one who informed J of his dismissal earlier this year.”

“Oh, really? Was there a reason?”

“There were more than just one or two.”

Kim Sang-shik then started pouring out his reasons for firing Taekyung, his voice filled with resentment.

Each reason was a masterpiece of nonsense, but the final exchange with the reporter was the icing on the cake.

“I was unjustly accused of employment fraud and kicked out of the guild where I’d spent over 20 years. But firing J was not for any personal gain.”

“So, was there another reason?”

“Yes.”

There was a reason for releasing this three-minute pre-release video. With a solemn face, Kim Sang-shik finished dramatically.

“Two years ago, during the mutated gate incident, J threw his teammates to the monsters and fled. He’ll do anything to survive, no matter how vile and filthy…”

Taekyung could barely hear the following words.

Even after the video ended with a caption saying the full interview would be released soon, Taekyung kept staring at the screen in silence.

It was as if he was waiting for Kim Sang-shik to jump out of the screen at any moment.

Chief Choi’s voice broke the heavy silence. “What do you think?”

What do I think?

Well. His head felt numb, he found it funny, and his gut was boiling with anger.

“It’s very interesting, just as you said, Chief.”

“I laughed when I first saw it, too. Knowing what kind of person that Kim Sang-shik is. The problem is…”

“The public won’t find it very funny.”

“Exactly.”

The comment section was already on the verge of exploding.

With over ten thousand comments, there was no need to read them all. The top comment with the most upvotes caught his eye.

*****

(Best Comment) I knew it. I heard some things, and I had a feeling this would happen sooner or later.

*****

‘What bridge are you crossing, and what do you mean by something was bound to happen?’

‘Whoever that bastard is, he’s lucky he’s not in front of me. If he were, he’d be listening to the next tabloid from the other side of the river Styx.’

“I don’t think I need to see any more of this.”

Taekyung chuckled dryly as he closed the comment section.

Chief Choi, after receiving his phone back, folded his arms loosely and spoke.

“This was orchestrated. Sending the Black Hunter was deliberate from the start.”

“And the ones stirring up the public backlash are the same people.”

“Humans are like that. Once the water starts muddying, it’s hard to find solid ground.”

“And I bet there’s not a single line about Uncle Jik-jung’s attack in the articles.”

“You know it well.”

“If I didn’t, I’d be a fool. Has the investigation team handling the case said anything?”

Chief Choi shook his head slightly.

“Are they in on it too?”

“It seems like external pressure is at play. The CCTV footage is in their hands as well.”

“Weren’t there witnesses?”

“All three have gone off the grid.”

That’s just perfect.

He didn’t even notice his fist clenching so tightly that he could hear the joints cracking.

“This is pretty thorough.”

“It seems like they’re determined to isolate you completely. The interview with Kim Sang-shik is just one part of it.”

This wasn’t some third-rate tabloid. It was a major media outlet, one of the top ten in the country.

Even ridiculous nonsense could be wrapped up nicely and presented convincingly. And in the process, money and power would add credibility.

For example… with testimonies from people who knew him well.

“I guess I’ll be seeing the faces of some old colleagues again. Ah, but with the pixelation, it’ll be hard to recognize them, won’t it?”

Taekyung asked as he looked at Chief Choi, who was staring at him with an unreadable expression.

“What’s the matter?”

“I remember that you had a good reputation within the Sopoong Guild.”

“I got along with everyone. The guild was tiny, after all.”

“Then why do you think this way?”

“Because money talks.”

He pinched his thumb and index finger together and wiggled them.

In the end, it all comes down to money. For hunters who risked their lives to earn it, the temptation of money was even greater.

“Maybe it’s because I’ve been blindsided twice in a row, but I can’t bring myself to trust the people I’ve been smiling with for the past seven years…”

A few days ago, he might have naively trusted his old colleagues.

But not anymore. The world where dreams, friendship, and common sense existed had vanished from his mind.

“Seeing articles in the political and social sections makes me think they’ve probably greased the palms of some politicians. If they can buy off a few struggling low-rank hunters, it’s a piece of cake.”

“Obviously. I’ll be the ultimate villain, torn apart on the internet, with my carefully built image crumbling. And our guild will fall along with it.”

Chief Choi, who had been wearing a peculiar expression, let out a small laugh.

“You’ve improved a bit. You can think like a jaded adult now.”

“Are you taking back what you said about me being naive?”

“I’ll decide that after seeing what you do from now on.”

“What?”

“We can’t just sit back and let this happen.”

As he spoke, Chief Choi’s finger pressed the smartphone screen. After a moment, someone answered the call.

“We’ve found it. The tail.”

Butler Kim’s low, smooth voice echoed through the speaker.

***

Footnotes:

[1] Dosan Geomnim (刀山劍林) is a Korean idiom that literally translates to “a mountain of knives and a forest of swords.” It is used to describe a situation or environment that is extremely dangerous, treacherous, and filled with life-threatening challenges. This phrase is often employed metaphorically to depict a world or situation where one must constantly be on guard, as danger lurks at every turn, similar to the perilous world of Murim in the story.