Chapter 18: The Executioner Saves the World (1)

‘Why is the Hunter Association here!?’

There aren’t any houses around here, so no one could have reported it.

Does that mean they found something at the school that could be used as evidence?

It would be quite troublesome if we got caught dealing with this.

Troublesome was secondary; I just didn’t want to get involved.

They ignored us when we needed them, and now they’re showing up late to the party!

There was another reason we couldn’t get caught.

Shin Ahyeon was kidnapped by hunters from abroad.

Even though two S-ranks and a large number of hunters entered the country, there wasn’t a single news report about it.

That means someone helped them enter the country secretly.

A large guild?

No, there was only one position that could pull something like this off.

Someone in a high-ranking position in the Hunter Association.

Someone with considerable power within the Hunter Association might be able to sneak hunters into the country.

‘If I get caught by the Association, the collaborator might kidnap Shin Ahyeon again under the guise of obtaining information.’

That was the worst-case scenario.

“I’ll take care of the Association employees, so please sneak out.”

“Huh? Is that alright?”

“Of course. Who do you think I am?”

It was such an obvious question that I burst out laughing.

“You’re the Guild Master of the Hongyeom Guild.”

The top organization that even the Association has trouble messing with.

Yoon Kang-hyun was more than capable of handling this situation.

He’s quite useful.

Yoon Kang-hyun straightened his clothes and paused with each step he took.

“Oh, and if possible, please say hello to my disciples. I’m dying here.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Come to think of it, Yoon Kang-hyun’s transparent skin looked a bit rougher.

It was a classic case of sleep deprivation.

A chilling sensation ran through my body.

Could those guys have done something?

I turned to look at Seo Han-soo.

“I don’t know anything.”

Seo Han-soo feigned ignorance and turned his head away.

That useless disciple.

I’ll ask about it later; right now, I need to get out of here before the Association employees swarm in.

I carefully held Shin Ahyeon and quickly left the scene.

★★★

Yoon Kang-hyun stared intently at Kim Onyu as he disappeared from the scene.

Only after he had completely vanished did he turn his gaze away.

“He’s a truly fascinating person.”

Yoon Kang-hyun smiled, stepping over the debris as he walked forward.

It’s a strange feeling.

The feeling that he resembled him so much was enough to bring satisfaction.

Yoon Kang-hyun was seeing someone else through Kim Onyu.

Someone he had wanted to see for a long time but couldn’t see now.

Yoon Kang-hyun softened his gaze and stood confidently before the Association employees.

“Yoon Kang-hyun? What are you doing here?”

“What do you think? I came to solve the problem.”

They didn’t seem to believe him.

It was a natural reaction, considering Yoon Kang-hyun, known as the best hunter, was suddenly standing there.

“…You solved the problem?”

“Of course. At the request of my precious employee, I neatly eliminated the outlaws.”

Woo Chan-hee glanced around.

The collapsed building and the remaining traces of mana clearly showed that a fierce battle had taken place.

Something only S-ranks could do.

“Are you talking about Kim Onyu as your employee?”

“Think what you want. All I did was take care of the outlaws that you incompetent people missed, so you should be thanking me.”

It was frustrating, but it was true.

They had come without thinking, but they couldn’t face an S-rank with this number of people.

“Oh, and if you interfere with Kim Onyu, you don’t know what I might do.”

The polite tone disappeared.

This was a warning.

A threatening warning that suppressed the prey with the fear ingrained in their instincts.

Woo Chan-hee sweated and clenched his fist tightly.

“Then, good work.”

Yoon Kang-hyun patted Woo Chan-hee’s shoulder and left the scene as he pleased.

Normally, witnesses should be taken to the interrogation room.

But who could stop that monster’s steps?

He was someone who couldn’t be stopped even by the laws of South Korea.

The Association employees had no choice but to step aside with stiff faces.

“Team Leader… what do we do?”

“What do you mean, what do we do! Start searching immediately!”

“Yes!”

Kim Onyu… I never imagined he would bring that person in.

‘Just what is his identity!’

Woo Chan-hee, who was excellent at detecting mana, gritted his teeth.

It couldn’t be true that an S-rank would move personally at the request of a mere subordinate.

Especially at the request of an E-rank hunter with plenty of others to spare.

‘He’s definitely not an ordinary E-rank.’

He had a feeling that there was a hidden story he didn’t know about.

Looking at the collapsed building, he couldn’t help but think that way.

“Team Leader?”

Even when his subordinate called him, Woo Hee-cheol let out a hollow laugh and fixed his gaze.

Ominous mana, mana with residual electricity, and other mana of unknown origin were mixed together.

Monsters they couldn’t even imagine had rampaged in this place.

★★★

[Congratulations!]

[You have completed the main quest.]

A quest completion window appeared with cheesy background music.

It’s like they’re making fun of me.

I had a lot to say, but I held it in.

The kids and the principal were in the car with me.

The kids had been sound asleep in the back seat for a while.

Seo Han-soo received Baal’s Eyeball and ran away as fast as he could.

That heartless guy.

I grumbled and clenched my fist for no reason.

I’ve been so good to him, and he just takes the artifact and leaves.

I leaned back in my seat and sighed deeply.

‘Baal’s Eyeball’s performance was just right.’

But it was better than getting Jormungandr’s Fang or Nemea’s Bracelet.

I should just think of it as giving a good item to my disciple.

…I wanted to be generous and move on, but it was still a waste.

[Quest rewards are being given.]

Can’t you read the mood?

It’s obvious you’re going to give me another weird skill.

Without any expectations, I pressed the accept button, and a strange book fell onto my lap.

It was an old book with a leather cover.

‘What is this…?’

Instead of a weird skill, you’re giving me an old book this time.

I felt the urge to curse the system.

The moment I turned the book over to check the title, I couldn’t help but be shocked.

A familiar book title greeted me.

[The Executioner Saves the World.]

The Executioner Saves the World.

It was definitely the book written in Kim Seo-gun’s status window.

You’re giving this as a reward?

The corners of my stiff lips slowly rose.

Yeah, you should have given me rewards like this from the start.

With this, I can know the situation Kim Seo-gun is in right now.

It was then that I placed my hand on the book cover.

The pages flipped quickly, as if a wind was blowing.

The pages continued to turn, eventually stopping at the last page.

As if to tell me the current situation, only one sentence was written.

[Kim Seo-gun, the youngest son of the Kangsan Group, sacrificed his life and transferred the ability to save the world from destruction to his brother.]

Huh?

Did I read that wrong?

I rubbed my eyes once and read it again, but the content didn’t change.

Kim Seo-gun dies.

That’s all the book was telling me.

“This is bullshit!”

“Kim Onyu? What’s wrong?”

The principal, who was driving, was startled and widened his eyes.

Crap! I accidentally cursed.

“Ah, I just remembered something bad… I’m sorry.”

I glossed over it, but I bit my lower lip and barely suppressed my anger.

Who knew it would be this kind of content!

The Executioner Saves the World.

Like the title of the book, I thought it was about Kim Seo-gun, who plays the role of an executioner, saving the world.

I shouldn’t have overlooked the title so much!

The world is saved based on Kim Seo-gun’s death? What kind of book is this!

I swept back my hair and frowned.

I know the Kangsan Group from the book well.

It was a clean, exemplary company and a leading conglomerate in Korea’s economy.

In the novel, the chairman of the Kangsan Group sacrifices his youngest son to save the world.

Exemplary company my ass, they’re thinking of killing their own son!

There’s no novel more messed up than this.

The world is saved if Kim Seo-gun sacrifices himself?

That’s bullshit.

If that were possible, Han Yoo-sung wouldn’t have had to regress multiple times.

Even if Kim Seo-gun sacrifices himself, he won’t be able to save the world.

It’s as if a screw from a novel was forcibly hammered into the real world.

It was nothing more than a novel written with only a part of the real world.

I need to read what’s in front of it.

Perhaps the next threat will come from Kim Seo-gun.

★★★

A few days after rescuing Shin Ahyeon, the principal was hospitalized.

It was a problem that he moved too much despite his old age.

He was full of bruises and had to stay in the hospital for a long time.

The collapsed school was decided to be rebuilt.

We can’t teach the children in the rice paddies.

However, the principal was contacted that the Hongyeom Guild would bear all the costs.

‘Yoon Kang-hyun must have done something.’

Not to mention dozens of workers, various equipment were mobilized in the peaceful rural village.

We asked for understanding from the elderly in the neighborhood in case they were uncomfortable. Everyone was generous and gave us food to eat with the children.

“It’s a place for the children to stay, so we have to bear it even if it’s uncomfortable.”

The elders always showed the same reaction and packed food for us to eat with the children.

I should return the favor with some delicious food next time.

Is it a forced vacation because the school is gone?

The answer to that was no.

“When will this all be done…”

The field full of red peppers filled the surroundings.

The pepper field that doesn’t disappear even when you pick it is hell.

[Harvest peppers to gain experience.]

[Level up.]

I roughly picked thousands of peppers and leveled up.

Wow… how exciting…

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have stayed in the hospital too.’

I shouldn’t have drunk the potion Yoon Kang-hyun gave me…

We were helping the elders with their farming instead.

It was all the principal’s conspiracy.

It started with the suggestion of helping the elders instead of class.

He’s under the cool air conditioner while sending us under the scorching sun!

My back hurts from bending over so much.

“Puhaha! Teacher! What’s with that look?”

Kim Seo-gun, who burst out laughing, started teasing me.

The boots covering his ankles and the scarf around his neck made him look like a farmer.

“Mind your own business.”

“Eek! Get rid of the bug!”

It seems Kim Seo-gun is afraid of bugs.

He screamed and ran away when he saw the bug on the branch Yoon Cheon-woo was holding.

Yoon Cheon-woo, who found something fun, giggled and chased after him.

‘When I see them like this, they’re just kids.’

But not those two over there.

Han Yoo-sung and Sung Tae-yoon were quietly picking peppers in the corner.

[“Farming is the first time since I helped my parents in my past life.”]

Sung Tae-yoon wiped his forehead with the back of his hand with a satisfied smile.

Is it because he’s a hero, but every action is sacred?

Even the peppers that touched Sung Tae-yoon’s hand seemed to shine.

‘It’s peaceful after a long time.’

When was the last time I felt this feeling?

As I was feeling happy, someone tapped me from behind.

An old woman with a kind smile looked at me quietly.

“You can’t be a young man who can’t use his strength, can you? Use your strength.”

As if demonstrating, she lifted several boxes of peppers that looked heavy at once.

…Shouldn’t we hire the elders here as hunters?

We could replenish our forces enough.

‘There’s still a lot of time left until the school is completed, right?’

Do I have to farm until it’s completed?

Many things have changed while experiencing this incident.

If I had to say who changed the most…..

“Teacher! I’ll give you this.”

Shin Ahyeon, who jumped out of the bushes, proudly presented a harvest that was several times larger.

“Wow, you picked a big one.”

As I praised her and stroked her head, Shin Ahyeon turned her head as if she was embarrassed.

Shin Ahyeon has changed so much that she’s like a different person.

The hostility she had towards me has now disappeared like a mirage.

+++

Name: Shin Ahyeon

Age: 9 years old

Characteristics: A talent who will save the world, a child loved by God. All living things follow her. Don’t make her angry or cry. Maybe she’ll be hated by the world?

Trust: 40%

State: Joy

[Stats]

Strength: 7

Agility: 12

Stamina: 4

Magic Power: 24

Senses: 8

Investment Limit: 10 points

Current Investment Points: 0 points

+++

I feel like I’ve finally been recognized, I could cry.

I wish the day would pass peacefully, but I know that can’t be.

If the contents of the book are correct, the next incident starts today.