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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Flesh Hunter's Trap
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[Chapter 17]
"The target's heading into the dungeon."
[Good. Got it. Share his location in the chat.]
"Got it! Whew~"
Kim Jinseong, the Academia student tailing Yoo Seongwon, let out a sigh of relief.
A Level 45 D-rank Awakener of Earth Class, he'd hit the limit on his Strider class, but thanks to its utility, he'd caught the eye of the Blue Dragon Guild and now worked under Go Seongjun.
"This won't cause any issues if I don't report it, right?"
Right now, pale-faced, he stared at his surveillance target, deep in thought.
As the watcher, it was obvious he shouldn't get spotted by the target.
He also needed to report any actions if he was made, but as he'd just witnessed, Go Seongjun was a brutally harsh leader to anyone who failed.
"He's fiddling with his phone, doing something... It sure looks like he's onto me..."
But reporting it would prove he'd been made on the tail, which was a problem.
If he spoke up, he'd likely pay the price for his screw-up, just like that other guy who'd gotten beaten down earlier.
Too scared to admit his mistake, he decided to cover it up and pretend the target hadn't noticed.
'They already think I'm a low-potential D-rank in stats... If I mess up on top of that?'
It could torpedo his hard-won Blue Dragon Guild recruitment.
Joining one of the top three guilds was an immense honor and opportunity—he couldn't lose that.
'Nothing major will happen anyway. The target's C-rank, and Seongjun's a B-rank Awakener with two more C-ranks in tow...'
With Go Seongjun's overwhelming firepower, he rationalized it away and resolved to keep quiet to the end.
If this job went off without a hitch, it'd all blow over.
And so, hiding his blunder, he fed Go Seongjun only Yoo Seongwon's movement route, skipping any mention of his actions.
***
An hour later.
Go Seongjun and his crew reached the dungeon entrance where Yoo Seongwon was presumed to have entered.
To avoid tipping off their Blue Dragon Guild affiliation, they'd disguised themselves as regular Hunters with generic gear.
Even the top guilds couldn't openly commit crimes like Scavengers or Demons—that shit was illegal.
"This the place?"
"Yeah. Got photos of the dungeon opening and him going in. Here."
"Hmm, good. We wait here, then."
Go Seongjun checked the phone his subordinate handed him, confirming Yoo Seongwon had entered this dungeon.
The background matched perfectly—it was definitely the spot after he'd gone in.
Once he cleared it and came out, he'd have to pass right here. No rush; they just waited patiently.
"Speaking of, where's that Jinseong guy? He didn't follow him in, did he? Just sent messages?"
"Says he's laying low 'cause Scavengers scare him."
"Puhaha! D-rank errand boy's gotta be terrified of Scavengers. Smart move, actually."
His two subordinates chuckled leisurely, but Go Seongjun wasn't amused.
Trained to a level far beyond Academia students as the guild master's son, he couldn't shake the bad feeling about this setup.
He sensed something off and was about to warn his men to stay alert when it was already too late.
"Everyone, be ca— Tch!"
"Gah!"
"Urk!"
Go Seongjun clocked the anomaly and tried to shout a warning, but his two companions were already dead, heads pierced clean through.
A shot flew at him too, but a cut above the others, he snatched it out of the air with his hand.
"Damn it! Who the hell? What bastard... This an arrow? Scavengers!"
Examining the intercepted projectile, Go Seongjun identified their ambushers.
A crossbow bolt—modern tech, stealthier than guns, amped up by Awakener stats and skills. Scavengers' go-to for hunts.
As he blocked and pegged them, the snipers started revealing themselves one by one.
"Told ya. The boss-looking one's got some moves."
"Gotta be that level to take out those two."
"Kekekeke. Looks like we hit the jackpot today."
"Shut your traps, all of ya~ Hup."
One of them dropped from a tree, phone in hand, striding up to Go Seongjun.
A burly guy in his early thirties, face etched with blood-like tattoos, giving off a vicious vibe.
"Scavengers, huh?"
"Puhahat! Check out this newbie dialogue. Face looks weathered like mine, but talks like a total rookie. That's why they sent a Strider-class punk after us."
"So Kim Jinseong sold us out to you..."
"Yeah, spot on. Sneaking into our turf all sneaky-like? Sent him straight to hell. Don't need this anymore~"
Crack!
The leader Scavenger smashed the phone while answering, confirming Go Seongjun's suspicion.
At the same time, laughter erupted from Scavengers hidden in the surrounding trees, leaving him rattled.
'Damn! What the hell? Scavenger territory? But why're they so prepped?'
He sensed at least thirty presences around them.
Guild briefings had said Scavengers usually hunted in small teams.
Groups this size were rare.
For Scavengers to mass like this, it'd take serious beef or some big event.
"No way... How the hell did this..."
"What's 'how'? We're the ones who squirm when stepped on~ You set bait and hunted our boys pretending it was Scavenger extermination."
Exactly. Unbeknownst to Go Seongjun, this was all Yoo Seongwon's design.
It stemmed from the recent incident where he'd wiped out Scavengers targeting him.
Others from the same crew, investigating their vanished comrades, had combed nearby dungeons.
Spotting unremarkable Yoo Seongwon and realizing he had a tail, they got suspicious, alerted other groups, and dozens converged here.
"Wait, hunting? We didn't...!"
"This area's all E-rank dungeons—no D-ranks even show. Then C- and B-ranks wander in? Obvious. Anyway, we're collecting for our boys' blood. Know that much."
'Could it be...! That bastard?'
Go Seongjun glanced at the dungeon entrance, thinking of Yoo Seongwon.
His stats were C-rank or higher.
Solo dungeon Hunters drew Scavenger heat, and he recalled the record of him entering alone.
Which meant Yoo Seongwon had likely hunted other Scavengers here.
And he'd been lured right into the pissed-off swarm.
"Wait! I'm new here today. We haven't hunted shit around here."
"Hmm? Oh~ Right? Puhahat! Should we be like, 'Oh, okay! Left for home!'? Think so?"
'Damn it!'
"Even if it's right, or wrong, whatever~ Why pass up prime meat right in front? Puhahaha! You look like you've never done real Hunter work, but those stats scream Academia brat. Nailed a good one."
The Scavenger leader loaded a fresh bolt into his crossbow, laughing huge as he aimed.
Tension thick as razor wire.
Go Seongjun was at a loss.
'Shit! Fight and the odds suck... Plus, my gear!'
If only he could equip his inventory-stashed signature gear and fight proper, but no way they'd wait.
Best he could do: don his hero-grade gauntlets, Blue Dragon Fang.
"Boys, time to show this Academia princeling what Hunter life's really like. Teach the constellation-picked golden boy it ain't all sunshine!"
"Damn! No choice! Here I gooo!"
Clack!
No more hesitation.
He equipped Blue Dragon Fang and charged the Scavenger leader, aiming for the throat.
A trail of blue battle aura arced behind as he closed in at insane speed, before the leader could react.
Still a B-rank Awakener and top guild heir, he'd drilled for scenarios like this.
'Only way to flip a bad spot: crush the leader outright. One-shot to break their morale.'
Textbook best play here.
Scavengers were thieves and parasites—weak bonds, selfish to a fault. Show strength, they'd shatter.
"Hahat, moron."
"Wha... Guh!"
Clack!
But veteran Scavengers knew that theory cold.
Mid-max acceleration, fist cocking back—agony exploded in his right leg, sending him crashing down.
"Urgh! What the—!"
On the ground, Go Seongjun checked his leg in pain.
A blood trap clamped like a living thing, sucking his blood.
And not just blood—his blue aura flowed into it too.
Boom! Boom!
He hammered it with fists, strained to yank free.
But the more he fought, the tighter it bit, accelerating the bleed.
"Damn, honestly spooked me. Didn't expect Blue Dragon Guild's famed Blue Dragon Warrior. But you're not the only one blessed by constellations. I've got a patron too!"
"Th-then... D-Demon?"
"That's your label. We just~ picked different constellations. Anyway, formal intro: Jeong Min-su, apostle of the great Slaughter King—one of 'em. That trap on you? Blood Trap. Bought it with points from grinding his trials and missions."
"Sl-Slaughter King?"
One of Korea's three top threats.
The demon constellation ruling North Korea and northern Manchuria.
Naturally, humans betrayed humanity for his power and blessings—Jeong Min-su among them.
Humans called them Demon hybrids, monsters in man's skin, but they saw themselves as honest folk.
"Damn it!"
"That's why Academia brats can't hack it! Hahat! Guess the Association splits stats rank from Hunter rank for a reason. B-rank stats mean jack if your experience and smarts lag monsters! FYI, I'm C-rank Awakened."
"You bastard... Grgh!"
Rage at the insult fueled Go Seongjun's thrashing, but spine-searing pain from his leg locked his body.
Dizziness hit as strength ebbed. Blood and aura drained—no power left.
'This damn trap... Argh! Hurts! Hurts! Worst pain ever...'
He had to move, but his untested body and mind crumbled.
Prime base stats, Blue Dragon blessings—a charmed life meant zero grit from hardship or pain.
"Uaa... Uaaaaagh! Uuugh!"
"Really a pretty shell with no bite. Sucks to be you. Wonder what blessings and points Slaughter King'll drop for B-rank Awakener and Blue Dragon meat?"
"N-no... I... I can't... end... here... like this..."
Go Seongjun flailed to rise, but Flesh Hunter Jeong Min-su wouldn't loose his prey.
Laughing at the pathetic sight, he aimed his crossbow at the forehead and pulled the trigger.
A pitiful end, unworthy of Blue Dragon Guild's heir.