I was Mistaken for a Noble Hunter Chapter 86

Purification (6)

 

‘This is a bit annoying.’

After realizing that Belfam was targeting him, Kang Ian became more cautious in his movements.

Unlike the minions of evil that had been warned about through quests, ordinary villains gave no prior notice.

No matter how strong Kang Ian was, a surprise attack would still be dangerous.

So he had to stay alert at all times.

Fortunately, the Association had increased his security.

—Please don’t worry too much. It is only natural that we take responsibility for the safety of hunters.

Special forces personnel were stationed on the rooftops of buildings surrounding Kang Ian’s apartment.

On top of that, they said a hunter would also be assigned.

‘…Does the Association usually put in this much effort for protection?’

It was well known that the Association lacked hunters, yet they were assigning one just for his security?

It felt strange, but there was no reason to refuse.

The next day, Kang Ian headed early to the Happiness Office.

While reviewing the request list Shim Junseok had given him, he considered what to take on.

There were definitely many good requests.

Several C-rank gates are suitable for his current level, and even a few B-rank gate requests.

Anywhere would be fine.

‘Of course, hunting villains would be the best right now…’

Since he had accumulated a lot of Evil Souls in the U.S., what he needed more now was Nobility.

But since Shim Junseok was strongly against it, it didn’t feel right to insist.

‘Fighting villains really is dangerous… I should test the waters first.’

When he arrived at the office, he ran into Lim Gayeon again.

“Hello?”

“Yes, hello.”

“Um… is something going on?”

Kang Ian asked carefully.

The expressions of Shim Junseok and Lim Gayeon, who had been talking, looked serious.

They exchanged glances before Lim Gayeon spoke.

“Yesterday, I told you I was fighting a villain organization, right?”

“Yes.”

“It turns out they were also involved in human trafficking. The representative just found out where the kidnapped people are being held.”

“!”

The Nobility system had a rather strict condition.

Simply defeating those labeled as villains didn’t grant Nobility.

It was only awarded when saving victims from their wrongdoing.

And if kidnapped victims were being held somewhere…

“I’ll go too!”

“No… Hunter Kang Ian.”

“I understand, sir. I’ve thought about it seriously. But after hearing this, how could I just sit still?”

“……”

For a moment, Shim Junseok was overwhelmed by Kang Ian’s intensity.

‘Well… considering his personality, it would be stranger if he stayed still after hearing about human trafficking.’

Shim Junseok looked at Lim Gayeon.

She gave a slight nod.

“…Alright. Go with Hunter Lim Gayeon. But you must be careful.”

“Understood.”

“Please. I’m begging you. You understand, right?”

As Shim Junseok clasped his hands and pleaded, Kang Ian felt a bit strange.

Of course, he planned to be careful… what did they take him for?

 

***

 

The villain organization Lim Gayeon was dealing with was called ‘All Wars’.

“But after fighting me for months, they’re practically wiped out.”

She exhaled vapor from her e-cigarette as she spoke.

Vroom

The two were driving toward Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.

The human trafficking base of All Wars was located there, information that Shim Junseok had uncovered.

“How did he find that out?”

“Our boss is quite capable. When it comes to gathering and compiling information, he’s the best.”

Lim Gayeon gave a thumbs-up.

Kang Ian nodded in agreement.

Shim Junseok truly was excellent as an office director.

‘Though he worries a bit too much.’

Before they left, Shim Jun-seok had repeatedly warned Kang Ian not to charge in recklessly, no matter how angry he felt.

Naturally, Kang Ian intended to stay cautious.

The main reason he accepted this mission was because of Lim Gayeon.

A B-rank hunter and ultra-long-range sniper who had already pushed All Wars to the brink of collapse.

With someone like her, as long as he was careful, there shouldn’t be much danger.

“We’ll go up here.”

They arrived at Deokryeong Mountain.

“Their base is in this mountain?”

“No. It’s over there.”

“?”

She pointed not at Deokryeong Mountain, but another mountain about 2 km away.

“It’s called Garang Mountain. They’re disguised as a construction site halfway up.”

“…Snipers really are impressive.”

Even from this distance, she could attack.

“This is actually too close. Ideally, I’d prefer around 10 km, but there weren’t any good vantage points nearby.”

Shrugging, she began climbing.

She then took out her sniper rifle, assembled it quickly, and took position.

Lying prone, she looked through the scope.

“I’ll start.”

As casually as if she were going for a stroll, she pulled the trigger.

Pshhk

Pshhk

The sound was surprisingly quiet, likely due to the massive suppressor.

‘No… even with a suppressor, it shouldn’t be this quiet.’

Especially for a sniper rifle.

It was probably her skill.

After firing two shots, she paused.

“Hunter Lim Gayeon?”

“Yes? Do you have a question?”

“Did those two shots just now hit enemies?”

“Yes.”

She nodded.

He thought she might be calibrating, but she had instantly taken out two targets.

“Wait a moment. Take this before continuing.”

Kang Ian briefly touched her shoulder.

“This is…?”

She looked surprised.

A faint flame appeared at the muzzle of her rifle.

It was Kang Ian’s ‘Blessing of Judgment Flame’ buff.

“I’m a buffer too, so I wanted to help, even a little.”

“…Thank you.”

She was genuinely touched.

She usually worked alone, so no one had ever supported her like this.

Of course, Kang Ian had his own motive.

‘Maybe I can share in the Nobility this way?’

Villains weren’t monsters.

Defeating them didn’t grant Evil Souls.

But Nobility could be earned… so he applied the buff, hoping to share in it.

‘It’s not very useful since sniper rifles are one-shot anyway… but thankfully she’s not complaining.’

He glanced at her, but she said nothing.

Pshhk!

Pshhk!

More shots rang out.

A bright smile spread across Kang Ian’s face.

Ding!

 

[You contributed to defeating evil]

[Nobility +9]

[Nobility +8]

 

‘Yes! This is it!’

He clenched his fist.

But the moment didn’t last long.

Lim Gayeon stopped firing.

She remained still, watching through the scope.

After a long silence, Kang Ian asked carefully.

“Is something wrong?”

“They’ve taken cover. After being hit so many times, they’ve learned to hide after a few casualties.”

“I see… then what do we do?”

“We wait.”

She answered calmly.

Patience and persistence were essential for a sniper.

Wait endlessly, and the moment the enemy exposes themselves, put a hole in their head.

‘Hmm…’

But that wasn’t Kang Ian’s style.

“Sorry for asking again, but how long do you usually wait?”

“The last time, I operated continuously for 28 hours.”

“……”

This wouldn’t do.

It was too much of a waste of time.

Kang Ian quickly proposed another plan.

“How about this? I’ll show myself in front of them. They’ll have no choice but to come out and engage me… then you can cover me.”

This was a classic tactic when working with a sniper.

If one person openly advances, the enemy is forced to respond, breaking their concealment.

Then the sniper can operate freely.

But there was a problem.

“Are you sure? That would put you in danger.”

“It’s fine. If things get risky, I’ll fall back immediately.”

“…Alright. Let’s try it.”

With her approval, Kang Ian ran down the mountain.

Then he dashed toward Garang Mountain, where All Wars was hiding.

 

***

 

“H-He’s here!”

“Damn it! Hide!”

“That guy.”

That was what All Wars called the sniper targeting them.

A monster is relentlessly hunting them down.

Yet they had never seen the sniper.

No matter how hard they searched, they couldn’t find them.

Instead, anyone who exposed themselves just died.

Eventually, the organization was nearly wiped out.

Only a few remained, including the boss.

“He followed us all the way here… damn bastard!”

The boss, Choi Daehyun, cursed while hiding.

“Did you contact them?”

“Yes. They’ve already set out.”

“Good. We’ll hold here until then!”

“Heh… let’s see what that bastard looks like this time.”

They weren’t completely helpless.

Based on previous encounters, they had analyzed the sniper.

Operated alone, the range is around 10 km, with near-perfect accuracy and absurd firing speed.

A monster.

So they set a trap.

They deliberately moved their last operation site… a human trafficking base, to Garang Mountain.

The only viable sniping point nearby was Deokryeong Mountain.

So the sniper would definitely take a position there.

They secretly sent some members to Deokryeong Mountain.

Once sniping began, they would eliminate the sniper.

‘Until then, we just need to keep them from leaving the mountain.’

Choi Daehyun peeked briefly…

Pshhk!

‘Damn!’

Even that split second nearly got him shot.

‘Heh… just wait. You’re finished.’

Their plan:

Kill the sniper, get revenge, then sell the captives to China and escape.

‘Huh…?’

But then…

A man in a suit was walking toward them.

There shouldn’t be anyone here.

Who was that?

At that moment…

A shield suddenly appeared in the man’s hand.

He hurled it with full force.

WHRRRR!

Blades extended from its edges as it flew at terrifying speed.

CRUNCH!

The hidden members were instantly torn apart, blood spraying as they collapsed.