hotmtlnovel Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Upon seeing Yoo Han-ul, Estella smiled gently and detached herself from the wall.
At the same time, she removed the piercing from her lips.
[It’s just a simple scouting offer. Why don’t you show some courtesy when you enter the room?]
It seemed that the piercing she had in her lips was functioning as a translation device.
The awkward mechanical tone disappeared, replaced by a smooth, soft English voice.
Though the content wasn’t as smooth.
Yoo Han-ul glared at Estella before stepping closer to my bedside, standing guard as if protecting me.
His attitude was surprisingly aggressive—something not typical of him.
“Jeong Da-on Hunter is still undergoing mandatory service. Isn’t this the very duty clause you created yourself? Telling us to at least honor the basic loyalty to one’s home country.”
This was a bit surprising.
Yoo Han-ul had explained it to me before. Hunters from countries that are part of the Hunter Association are required to complete mandatory service, and if they don’t, the countries within the association won’t accept them.
But to find out that Estella was the one who created this treaty was unexpected.
Estella clicked her tongue, looking at Yoo Han-ul with a bored expression.
[Young people these days.]
One of the piercings in her ear seemed to work as a translation device, and even though Yoo Han-ul spoke in Korean, Estella seemed to understand.
[That was a treaty created to prevent global problems in that era. But as always, the laws need to change as the times do. If you stay stagnant, you’ll rot.]
“Some things don’t change, though.”
[What’s that?]
“When you suddenly welcome an unwelcome guest, it’s natural to be thrown off guard.”
[Oh, you’ve grown a little.]
Yoo Han-ul had delivered a clever remark, but Estella’s smile didn’t fade from her face.
[Don’t be so wary. I just came to greet you.]
“Do you really think it’s reasonable for you to come all the way here for just that?”
[Is it reasonable to be dragged into a dungeon break four times just three months after awakening? Wouldn’t everyone be curious to know what kind of person you are?]
“That doesn’t mean you should just barge in like this...!”
“So?”
I cut him off, and Yoo Han-ul turned to look at me, clearly surprised.
I didn’t understand why he was so surprised. I was the one being interrupted.
“How was your impression of observing me?”
It was me who asked that question.
Estella blinked in surprise for a moment, then smiled and put her piercing back in her lips. There was something unusual in her gaze as she looked at me.
“Currently, East Asia is a battleground for hunters. China has swept up talents from all over the world with money, Japan is trying to counterbalance China while trying to swallow up Korea, which has many high-quality hunters despite its size... Meanwhile, Korea has been lucky so far, but hasn’t been able to prevent talent drain very well.”
“Estella.”
“Until now, thanks to a few exceptional talents like Han-ul here, who didn’t want to leave their home country, the balance has barely been maintained.”
Estella spoke while staring directly into my eyes.
“But now, a divine magic user suddenly appears. Whether it’s greed or jealousy, it’s more than enough to break the balance that has been maintained.”
In short, it was ‘understandable’ that I had attracted attention.
Han Jae-young had also mentioned that foreign governments might target me, but hearing it from an outsider gave me a more objective sense of credibility.
‘There are many situations Orbis could take advantage of.’
In Korea, there were cult leaders, illegal moneylenders, and even people who tried to throw me into dungeons. And now, international matters were this bad.
I had to admit, I was clearly in a vulnerable position.
‘I must look like an easy target.’
The so-called "divine magic" sounds impressive, but it's just a façade.
Whether Orbis is involved or not, it feels like everyone is just trying to prod and poke at me, believing that they can easily handle me.
Even if I return to Korea, it’ll be the same.
This is infuriating.
“Don’t worry too much.”
Estella smiled at me, as if reassuring me.
“If it’s the World Hunter Association, to be more specific, the headquarters, we can protect you safely. No one would dare to touch a hunter under my protection.”
“So, I’m still under mandatory service...”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“...I already have a contract with a guild.”
“Hm, by the way.”
Yoo Han-ul hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“I hope you don’t misunderstand, but... I’m not trying to meddle with someone else’s contract. Going to the U.S. is, of course, your choice. But, I recommend you reconsider signing with Estella.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s a dangerous individual.”
Yoo Han-ul was ruthless as he spoke.
“Think about it. The item we struggled with during the Gwanghwamun Dungeon Break... the smoke that blocked the magic circuits, that was created by Estella.”
“Right. She created it to stop ability users.”
“Exactly, it’s very effective in suppressing ability users. And Estella is the leader of an organization that controls many hunters worldwide.”
Listening to Yoo Han-ul, I frowned.
“From the way you’re speaking, she sounds like a villain. Does she really suppress hunters who don’t listen to her with methods like that?”
The soul I observed through my sight didn’t give off any foul scent like that.
In fact, she had a soul very similar to Yoo Han-ul’s—a good one.
Could she really deceive my observation?
Yoo Han-ul shook his head.
“She’s not a villain. Honestly, I think she’s closer to a benevolent person. Most of the conditions she gave are likely sincere. Once she considers someone her person, she’ll completely cover for them.”
“Then why is she rushing in like a swarm of bees trying to stop me?”
“Estella goes too far.”
“Yeah, the offer is a bit excessive...”
It was more attractive than a prince’s hand in a fairytale.
She was offering to solve all the current problems immediately.
“Right. If you accept the offer and use some backdoor methods to join the World Hunter Association and get her direct protection...”
Hmm.
It wasn’t too hard to imagine.
“I’d probably get wings, since I’m a genius.”
“Exactly. And hundreds of ability users from the association will be watching your every move.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you think there are many talents Estella would go after like this? The answer is ‘countless.’”
Estella had made exceptional offers to countless talents, and that had become a great power for the association.
The problem was that the number of hands she extended was endless.
In the headquarters of the World Hunter Association, cooperation was practically nonexistent.
The prodigious genius Estella had brought in people who would compete to monopolize the light her sun cast on the ground.
“They’re not discouraged by the competition and even encourage it, saying it helps them improve,” Yoo Han-ul added.
“That's not wrong, but...”
“Usually, they end up forgetting either their morals or their sense of reality because of the competition.”
This aligned oddly with what Yoo Han-ul had said before.
These ability users were already more capable than regular people, and if they were placed in an environment where they were constantly competing against peers of the same level...
It was clear they’d be subjected to extreme organizational life, far worse than what we went through in basic military training.
“Honestly, I don’t want to go. I already turned her down.”
The only thing I had been curious about regarding Estella was whether she was Orbis’s reincarnation or not.
Since I confirmed she wasn’t, there was no need to approach her.
‘If her soul is similar to Yoo Han-ul’s, I wouldn’t want to get close to her either.’
Yoo Han-ul smiled as though relieved by my words.
I could see the worry in his eyes melting away.
“Yeah, I’m glad you thought it through. Honestly, I was worried about how good the offer was, but I’m relieved...”
As he continued, Yoo Han-ul suddenly paused and flinched.
“...That’s it. I’ll leave now!”
“Wait...”
Before I could stop him, Yoo Han-ul quickly left the room.
A sudden visit and a sudden departure—like a storm passing by.
And I realized something.
That guy, Yoo Han-ul, really didn’t call my name like Han Jae-young said!