I was Mistaken for a Noble Hunter Chapter 94

Promotion (2)

 

The difference before and after using sword aura was stark.

Slash!

The Red Troll was a monster classified as B-rank.

Considering its immense strength and regeneration, it wasn’t an easy opponent.

Even Kang Ian, back when he used a mace, was the same.

If he had to face it without sword aura, using only a mace and shield…

‘No… even without sword aura, I don’t think I would’ve lost.’

He would’ve probably still won.

Anyway…

Thanks to the sword aura, it was certain that taking it down became much easier.

In a single strike, he severed both of its arms.

Bubble, bubble

The Red Troll was faster, stronger, and had better regeneration than normal trolls.

Among those traits, its speed and strength were easily covered since Kang Ian himself was faster and stronger.

The problem was its regeneration.

Even though its arms had just been cut off, bubbles formed from the flesh as if it were about to regenerate immediately.

Given a little time, it would regain perfectly fine arms again.

If it wasn’t finished in one blow, it would keep reviving like an immortal monster.

There was a reason it was classified as a B-rank.

Shaaak!

However, even after seeing its regeneration, Kang Ian wasn’t the least bit hurried.

If the first strike cut off both arms, the second would be the neck.

Whether undead or troll, once the head was gone, death was inevitable.

Kang Ian grabbed the floating head, and for the third and final strike…

He opened its mouth and cut out the molar he needed as proof for the evaluation.

Slash!

With that, he had used sword aura three times.

A considerable amount of mana had been consumed.

Looking at the battle result, it was fast… but not entirely satisfactory.

‘It would’ve been best to finish it in one strike and take the molar with the second.’

But that was impossible at his current level.

The power of the sword aura was incredible, but the issue was Kang Ian’s weapon mastery.

He had upgraded [Valhalla’s Concentrated Proficiency] to mid-level enhancement.

Because of that, he could handle any weapon above a certain level, but that didn’t make him a master of swordsmanship.

Rather, compared to awakened individuals with specialized swordsmanship skills, his pure sword technique would fall short.

‘I need to gather more Evil Essence and Nobility.’

He still had a long way to go.

Meanwhile, Robert, who was watching from behind, had his mouth wide open.

‘Wait… he took down a Red Troll in just a few seconds?’

For a B-rank hunter, it wasn’t a particularly difficult opponent…

But wasn’t Kang Ian still C-rank?

That relaxed attitude and even the follow-up handling…

It was perfection itself.

“E-Excellent… Outstanding, Hunter Kang Ian.”

“Is the evaluation finished?”

“There’s nothing more to evaluate. It was the best.”

As Robert gave a thumbs up, Kang Ian smiled slightly.

“Then… would it be alright if I walk around here alone for a bit?”

“Pardon? May I ask why…?”

“I was thinking of taking a look around the dangerous zone. I finished the Red Troll so quickly that I have some time left.”

Kang Ian spoke casually.

In reality, he needed to distance himself from Robert to find the source of evil.

It wouldn’t be a problem to go together, but the black smoke that appeared when destroying the source of evil was the issue.

If someone nearby inhaled it, it could cause problems… so he planned to move alone from the start.

“Hmm. I see. Alright then. I’ll wait below.”

Robert nodded willingly and turned around.

As he walked down the path, his eyes sparkled.

‘Looks like he’s planning to purify the dangerous zone. It’s a shame I can’t watch that up close.’

Still, he had expected something like this.

He could always confirm it later.

After that, now alone, Kang Ian began wandering around the mountain peak.

Beep, beep, beep

When the wave detector in his arms started ringing, he smiled slightly.

How much benefit had he gained from this device?

‘I should visit Researcher Lee Naeun later and get her a gift.’

It was a bit difficult to explain exactly how he was using the detector,

but at least he could repay the favor in some way.

 

***

 

Shim Junseok, the head of Happiness Office, didn’t actually spend much time at his own office.

The reason he could make a living running a small office was due to his extensive connections across the industry.

Connections weren’t something that lasted forever once made.

If not maintained regularly, they would quickly disappear.

Because of that, Shim Junseok spent far more time outside than in his office.

However, while he happened to be in the office, the door opened and someone wrapped tightly in a robe walked in.

Their face was hidden, but their build was small and slight.

Either a woman or a child.

Anyone could tell they looked suspicious, so Shim Junseok was surprised.

“Huh?”

But his voice was unexpectedly bright.

“Chaewon. Long time no see?”

“Yes, Director.”

The mysterious figure was someone he knew.

After responding in a soft voice, she removed her robe, revealing a face with short silver hair.

Necromancer Lee Chaewon.

A B-rank hunter affiliated with the Happiness Office.

“What’s the occasion? You actually came outside.”

“Anyone listening would think I’m a hikikomori.”

“You are. A hikikomori.”

“……”

She couldn’t refute it… because it was true.

“Is this your first time going out in almost nine months? Your record was ten months. You should’ve held out a little longer.”

“…Please stop teasing me, Director.”

“Haha, alright. So? You came to ask for a job?”

“Yes. I ran out of money.”

Lee Chaewon nodded.

“Is there anything suitable for me?”

“There are too many jobs, that’s the problem. But are you going alone?”

“No. You know my ability. I want to go with a decent frontliner. Can you find one?”

“There’s someone perfect. A hunter from our office, Kang Ian. I think you’d get along well. Have you heard of him?”

Anyone who had seen recent news would’ve heard Kang Ian’s name.

And since the hikikomori Lee Chaewon spent a lot of time online, she had definitely heard of him.

“I don’t think we’d get along.”

She rejected the idea outright.

“You know I only act for money, right? But that guy… there’s all this talk about him being kind and noble.”

A person with a cold heart who only moved for money.

That was how Lee Chaewon saw herself.

And now she was being told to work with a noble hunter?

Was this a joke?

“Hmm… sure, Kang Ian is very kind, but I have a feeling you two would get along.”

Since Shim Junseok insisted this much, she couldn’t ignore it.

After all, her director was extremely capable.

“Wasn’t he a C-rank hunter?”

“He went for his promotion test today. He’ll definitely pass, so once he returns, there won’t be any issue sending you two on a job together.”

“I didn’t say I’d go. I’ll meet him first and decide after talking.”

Even as she said that, she was certain.

There was no way someone like her… who only cared about material gain, could get along with a hunter known for being noble.

It would be a miracle if they didn’t fight.

 

***

 

Kang Ian only descended the mountain after a long time had passed.

He had set out early in the morning, but by the time he returned to the Association, it was nearly midnight.

Manager Jeon Jaewon was still there, welcoming Kang Ian and Robert.

“Welcome back. You both worked hard.”

“You haven’t gone home yet, Manager?”

“I couldn’t very well leave before you returned, could I? Haha.”

He smiled.

“More importantly… how were the results?”

The manager glanced at Robert, looking slightly uneasy.

It was understandable.

Kang Ian had taken much longer than expected.

‘Even when he rescued Hong Dasom and Ryusei, it took less than an hour. Why did it take so long this time?’

Was there a problem?

Or was the Red Troll a bad matchup?

Such cases did exist.

Sometimes, hunters struggled against specific monsters due to compatibility issues.

He didn’t think Kang Ian would have trouble with a Red Troll… but who knew?

“The results were excellent. Among all the C-rank hunters I’ve evaluated, Hunter Kang Ian is unprecedented.”

“…?”

At Robert’s praise, Jeon Jaewon tilted his head.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Honestly, I wondered why he hadn’t been promoted sooner. Even in the U.S., I would’ve given the highest evaluation.”

“…Then why did it take so long? I thought maybe the test was unusually difficult.”

“Oh, that’s because Hunter Kang Ian, um… went for a walk. A stroll.”

“?”

Robert struggled to phrase it.

Because it was true.

Defeating the Red Troll had taken only moments.

The problem was afterward.

Kang Ian hadn’t come down for a long time.

At first, Robert thought the purification of the dangerous zone was taking time.

But as night fell and Kang Ian still didn’t return, he began to worry.

He even considered going up to find him… but just before he did, Kang Ian came down.

 

“H-Hunter Kang Ian?”

“I’m sorry. Did I keep you waiting long?”

“Not at all. But… that was quite a long walk.”

“Yes. There was something that didn’t go as I wanted.”

 

Kang Ian’s expression hadn’t looked good, so Robert didn’t ask further.

The reason for the delay was simple.

‘I can’t believe the wave detector malfunctioned. This is a problem.’

The detector wasn’t functioning properly.

It was made by Researcher Lee Naeun as a hobby project, so its durability wasn’t great.

Even though he had been careful, it seemed to have broken already.

He went to locations where it reacted, but couldn’t find any source of evil.

After several false leads, he kept searching…and finally found one at the end.

Ding!

 

[You have destroyed the source of evil.]

[Evil Essence +150]

[Nobility +150]

 

The rewards were quite nice,

but if this kept happening, it would be troublesome.

‘I should visit the researcher soon.’

For now, that thought ended there.

Kang Ian looked forward.

“Well… since the examiner evaluated it that way, we’ll conclude the promotion test here. Your certification will be issued soon.”

Manager Jeon smiled.

“You both worked hard. Please head home safely.”

“Aren’t you leaving, Manager?”

“I still have documents to review.”

He tapped the papers with a wry smile.

He had stayed not only to wait, but because he had work to do.

Kang Ian’s gaze unintentionally moved to the top of the document.

[Regarding the aftermath of the Jeonju Gate Outbreak Incident]

“Gate outbreak?”

Kang Ian muttered.

Manager Jeon responded.

“Six hours ago, a gate outbreak occurred in Jeonju. Fortunately, it was resolved, but we now have to handle recovery for evacuated residents. That’s giving us a headache.”

Recovery work.

Kang Ian’s eyes lit up.

“Manager. You said before the Association would provide me with conveniences, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

Jeon nodded.

Thanks to Kang Ian, the diplomatic issue with Japan had been resolved.

Repaying that favor was only natural.

“Then this recovery effort… please let me join.”

“…Excuse me?”

No… isn’t that basically asking for punishment?