The Protagonists Are Murdered by Me - Chapter 41
Due to some copyright issues. I changed some word such god=Ā supreme-ruler. /divinĆ©=Ā supreme. And some Chinese words etc, all of this to avoid copyright *.*
A novel by the same Author of nano machin and the same universe:
https://novelrare.com/novel/myst-might-mayhem-novel/novel/
There was a time when ordinary hunters were called heroes.
A tale from 30 years ago during the Great War.
The emergence of strange monsters.
Those who calmly hunted strange beings far stronger than them during war.
Not affiliated with any group, they were the very first hunters who wandered the battlefield.
Places where the military couldnāt reach, dungeons and cities where fighter jets and tanks couldnāt enter, and places that nobody cared aboutā¦they went around such battlefields saving lives.
People called them āheroes.ā
āThatās all in the past.ā
Lee Junseok smiled bitterly as he looked down at the master swordsmen from the VIP seat.
It was funny to him that even though he has nothing to do with swords, he was given a VIP seat just because heās a S-Rank hunter.
āItās supposed to be a swordsmanship debate, so why make a big deal about superhumans.ā
He calmly raised his head and saw Yoo Seodam sitting in the Constantini family section.
Ordinary hunters, once seen as heroes.
The kind of people who used just a knife or gun against giant monsters.
But, everything changed once superhumans appeared.
Being able to subdue monsters cheaper, more efficiently, more perfectly, and more brilliantly, they are in every way superior to ordinary hunters.
F-Rank?
Such a rank doesnāt exist for superhumans in the first place.
All superhumans are ranked starting from E-Rank.
Thatās to say, F-Rank is just a way to group ordinary hunters.
Peace was restored, the military rose, and enterprise started up again.
And superhumans became the perfect means of business.
They were able to hunt monsters more efficiently and gather āaether crystals,ā while dazzling the world with their brilliant abilities.
However, the number of superhumans were small and there were mostly only F-Rank hunters who needed time to grow at the time.
Thus, the first āHunters Associationā started hiring a large number of ordinary hunters.
They had only one goal.
Create a hunting guide using the huntersā experience.
And as expected, the hunters without superpowers provided the most insight and were vital to the development of the hunter industry.
Just, their use was only that.
Lee Junseok still remembers.
When he first gained superpowers and became a D-Rank hunter.
And what a F-Rank hunter who was 9 years his senior said to him.
āā¦They decided to send you to this D-Rank dungeon instead of me.ā
āWhat? Didnāt you say it was your turn?ā
It was odd.
The distribution of dungeons was supposed to be equal within the guild.
āYeah. It was. However, the guild decided that sending you is more efficient.ā
āAhā¦ā
At the time, Lee Junseok had only hunted three times, while his senior was a 9 year veteran.
The reason was because ordinary hunters wasted too much money each hunt.
Compared to a superhuman who could finish a mission with just one aether dispenser.
After that day, the senior hunter who had taught Lee Junseok quit the industry.
From that moment, Lee Junseok, faced with the reality that the veteran F-Rank hunters who have been protecting him since young would slowly disappear, he began to have a strange feeling.
āEven though they donāt have superpowers, stillā¦ā
āJunseok. Iāve decided to quit this time.ā
One by one, his idols, the ordinary hunters, began to leave the industry.
Guilds and corporations gave ordinary hunters almost no work, and in a world where peace has been established, it was difficult finding a hunting job alone.
These hunters who once put their bodies on the line for humanity did not even receive a single word of praise after retirement.
They were slowly forgotten by everyone.
Just like that.
It became a natural occurrence.
Every morning there would be news of a F-Rank hunterās failure and articles suggesting they were useless.
F-Rank hunters may have been the salvation of humanity during the Great War, but now they were of no use in this peaceful era.
When Lee Junseok finally became a S-Rank hunter, he was able to use his influence to move within the Hunters Association.
That was when he realized.
āā¦Were they purposely given these missions?ā
The F-Rank huntersā mission success rate was falling exponentially because they were purposely given āimpossible missions.ā
In other words, they were sent into dungeons with statistically low chance of clearing.
Also, when a F-Rank hunter accomplished something great, it was only covered a little bit by the media.
It was as if to hide their achievements.
And, it wasnāt just one corporation.
Many national Hunters Association did the same.
He had brought up the case to the current president of the Hunter Association at the time.
What the president of the association then said to Lee Junseok still lingers in his mind.
āTheyāre useless now anyway.ā
āWhat?ā
āThatās why theyāve fallen off. This era is for superhuman hunters, not ordinary ones.ā
The president of the association had also called F-Rank hunters āmoney-sucking ants.ā
And, ever since the establishment of the Superhuman Academy, the need for ordinary hunters continued to fall.
āItās just the natural flow of life.ā
Looking at the president of the association who acted as if everything was fine, Lee Junseok gave a defeated laugh.
Who put you in the position you are in now?
Who stood up to save humanity?
Who gave up their life so you can live?
Who the hell was it?
Lee Junseok didnāt have the courage to say it then, and itās been years since.
Now everyone in the world is aware.
F-Rank hunters are no longer needed.
How many years have you been a veteran on the battlefield?
Itās certainly great.
But only great.
Thatās all.
Itās very rare nowadays for anyone to see ordinary hunters as special.
But even if they did, they would still be disregarded.
In the end, there is almost no active F-Rank hunter left, and itās safe to say that there are none that have been active for more than 10 years.
So Yoo Seodam is a very special case.
He also survived the politics of Lost Day, and is a person who has gone to Hell Gate and back.
āRather, I wish I could bring him to our guild.ā
Lost Day, Velvet, and every other guild were afraid of the Associationā influence, so they were reluctant to recruit a F-Rank.
Even if itās a 15 year veteran.
However, when Lee Junseok looked into Yoo Seodamās eyes today, he realized.
āThis guy, thereās something.ā
āThereās no way he doesnāt know how heās treated unless heās a fool.ā
Yet, he still remains in the hunter industryā¦like heās aiming for something.
āā¦Are you going to make a guild? Do something political? Business?ā
Heās certain, one way or another, Yoo Seodam will do something big in the future.
In the meantime, if he can somehow involve himself with Yoo Seodam.
Pah!
Thwak!
āHeup!ā
āHead!ā
The sparring had begun and numerous masters were competing with their real swords, but Lee Junseok did not give them a single glance.
However, the Costantini familyās section.
For a long time, he looked at Yoo Seodam.
Most superhumans are the āstrengthā type.
They had the simple ability of strengthening their body.
This worked well with the use of aether blades against monsters.
However, how could anyone who has never used a sword be able to swing it properly just because they held one?
Thus, swordsmanship clans with a long tradition that span hundreds of years began to teach their swordsmanship to superhumans.
Thatās how the first swordsmanship debate started, but now, its original purpose has blurred.
Superhumans no longer want the teachings of ordinary people.
Rather, they wanted to learn from their senior superhumans who have wielded the swords for years.
So thatās why master swordsmen worked even harder, butā¦
āItās bullshit.ā
The swordsmanship debate had already become a āsocial event.ā
One by one, superhumans began to replace the swordsman clans as āmaster swordsmen.ā
And then they would talk and laugh among themselves.
Now, superhumans are no longer interested in the swordsmanship of ordinary people.
They saw no need for it.
Taylor sneaked a side glance.
Yoo Seodam.
She was wondering what he was thinking as he silently watched the ordinary master swordsmen sparring.
For some reason, Taylor began to feel nauseous, so she got up from her seat.
āWhere are you going?ā
āItās over.ā
āThe main event with Celeste is about to start.ā
āOh. Iāll be back before that. Iām going to have a smoke.ā
She didnāt want to smoke in front of Seodam, so she just said that and left.
In the end, itās a friendly competition among master swordsmen by showing off oneās disciple.
Thatās to be expected.
However, it has nothing to do with Seodam, and Taylor didnāt care about it either.
There were quite a few people wandering around the corridor since it was break time.
Like Taylor, some people were smoking, while others went to the bathroom or were socializing in the corridor.
And, among them was Aren.
A S-Rank superhuman with a big ego for being in the Master Swordsmen Association.
Although heās not from a prestigious family, he has a very good reputation for his sword skills and performance in the hunter industry.
Just, he looked at the weak with contempt.
He was talking to the competing swordsmen, but unlike him who was smiling, they looked very uncomfortable.
āOf course. As a master, this level of success is nothing.ā
A superhuman among ordinaries.
Heās probably enjoying some sense of superiority.
However, Taylor, who knew Aren well, is certain thatās the case.
It was obvious why the ordinary master swordsmen would have an uncomfortable look.
āAh, shit.ā
Taylor turned around in a hurry, but unfortunately it was too late.
āOh, Taylor!ā
āā¦Ah, fuck.ā
Thinking that today couldnāt get any worse, Taylor glared at Aren.
Excusing himself from the master swordsmen, he approached Taylor, and unlike the master swordsmenā expression, she had a blank expression.
āSay what you have to say, then fuck off.ā
āHaha, why are you so cranky? I heard you came here, but I was too busy to find you. Did you have lunch? Should we get together for a meal later?ā
Taylor, with a puzzled look, asked.
āMe? With you? Why?ā
āThereās a restaurant around here, and Iām familiar with the chefā¦ā
āHey.ā
She took a pack of cigarettes out of her pocket and sighed.
āIām so damn tired right now and donāt have time for this. So shut up and fuck off.ā
āā¦Really?ā
Aren stared at Taylor, and with a stiff look, asked.
āYoo Seodam. Heās here this time as well, isnāt he? As the Constantini familyās sword instructor.ā
āWhat?ā
āRight? Itās Yoo Seodam, isnāt it?ā
Taylor stopped fiddling with her pack of cigarettes and looked at Aren coldly.
However, he continued to speak.
āYou know youāve been acting strange, right?
Aren is now a 12 year veteran.
When he was a rookie, Taylor had already been working as a hunter for three years.
Even though it was only three years, Taylor at the time was bolder, more courageous, more determined, and a better leader than anyone else.
Aren knew that her harsh words and actions were just a means to unite her teams.
Perhaps Aren became interested in Taylor since then.
So he had approached her several times because it didnāt matter to him whether she was dating or not as long as she truly didnāt fall in love with someone else.
However.
āEver since meeting Yoo Seodam. Havenāt you grown tired of him?ā
Taylor was never the same again and did not look at anyone else.
Since 12 years, no, 15 years ago when he first debuted.
Taylor had said she only wanted to follow Yoo Seodam.
He couldnāt understand it.
There are many talented and outstanding people, so why Yoo Seodam who has no superpowers?
Taylor smiled and asked a question.
āHey.ā
āTell me.ā
āThen let me ask you, whoās better than Yoo Seodam?ā
āWhat?ā
Aren, who was bewildered by Taylorās question, tried to answer but.
āSuperpowers? Wealth? I donāt need any of that. You know why? Because I have it all.ā
āTaylor.ā
āI donāt need everything. It doesnāt matter if itās a F or S-Rank superhuman. And just because Yoo Seodam is a F-Rank hunter, is his value as a person F-Rank?ā
On the contrary.
āS-Rankā¦arenāt you only a S-Rank superhuman?ā
āā¦ā
Taylor almost spat out her words.
āYou. I used to think you were annoying. Iāve changed my mind.ā
She always spoke with a foul mouth.
However, when she was really angry, she didnāt swear at all, but rather, she smiled.
A pretty lively and refreshing smile.
āYouāre just revolting.ā
Said Taylor with a pretty smile on her face, then she walked away.
For a long time, Aren stood there as he clenched his fists, lost in thought.
āā¦Yoo Seodam.ā
Ultimately, this is an era where ability meant everything, so he couldnāt understand why Taylor was obsessed with Yoo Seodam.
Someone who has less āabsolute worthā than himself.
āRather, if only I could thoroughly crush Yoo Seodam.ā
With a stiff expression, he returned to the stadium.
As he was trying to silently find his seat in the Okamato familyās section, he thought the atmosphere was strange.
[Celeste Costantini VS Sanagi Okamoto]
āOh, has it started already?ā
Thinking that he might have been late after talking to Taylor, he looked down at the stadium.
Initially, he wasnāt interested in the battle.
He taught Sanagi swordsmanship himself, and Celeste was lower rank in the first place, so she was not a match for Sanagi.
So most people thought it was like a waterfall falling upwards, and everyone had predicted the outcome.
Such a reason.
Strangely, the stadium was quiet for some reason.
āā¦Huh?ā
Haap!
Thuk, chaang!
Everything was still.
Only the sound of the two womenās voice and their swords colliding filled the stadium.
With trembling eyes, Aren continued to watch.
Sanagi Okamoto.
She was losing to Celeste Constantini.
A C-Rank was losing against a D-Rank.
āThisā¦does it make any sense?ā
The difference between D-Rank and C-Rank is like the difference between a bicycle and a car.
Even if the car is driven slowly, you can never lose.
Or, like a battle between a child and an adult?
No, it was more like a battle between a rat and a cat.
But now.
The rat has bitten the cat.
The bicycle has crushed the car.
Such an unbelievable thing was happening.
Is it because Celeste had suddenly awakened to C-Rank?
No.
Everyone in their seat could see.
She was still just D-Rank.
Then, there is only one reason why Celeste was dominating Sanagi.
āCelesteās swordsmanship is overwhelming Sanagiās swordsmanship.ā
Enough to make up for the difference in their physique ability.
However, last time, Celeste did not overwhelm Sanagiās swordsmanship, and instead it was about even.
So what is the explanation for her sudden growth this year?
Some who have reached that thought, looked at the āmasterā who was sitting in the Costantini familyās section.
There, sitting was a F-Rank hunter with no superpowers.