Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 179: I Hate Anyone that Uses a Bow (5)

The praises of Han-Yeol slowly turned into disgruntlement toward the South Korean Hunters, and there were even some who compared them to foreign Hunters.

However, that was not what was important right now. A wind of change was blowing throughout the world with Han-Yeol's appearance.

Thud…!

Kim Tae-San stood up from his seat, still gnashing his teeth in anger, with his eyes filled with rage and killing intent.

"C-Chairman-nim...!" stammered the incompetent executives of the Hunters Assembly who only knew how to suck up to Kim Tae-San.

They immediately noticed his displeasure and began doing what they did best—sucking up to him.

"That kid just got lucky!"

"A Master Rank Hunter? Ha! What nonsense are they spouting? He's just a kid with a few skills!"

"Compared to you, Chairman-nim, he's still suckling on his mother's teats!"

Normally, Kim Tae-San would have relished their flattery, but his mood had already been soured by Han-Yeol. The rage that had erupted because of Han-Yeol now shifted toward Jung Soo-Hyun and Jung Woo-Hyun.

‘Those incompetent individuals! They have the audacity to seek my favor, yet they can't even accomplish a simple task like this? Henceforth, I shall mercilessly dismantle any raid party or guild associated with them.’?

Kim Tae-San gnashed his teeth and clenched his fists before he left the VIP room. He no longer had any reasons to stay here.

“C-Chairman-nim!”

Of course, the incompetent executives rushed after him.

On the other hand, the atmosphere of the crowd was completely different from the VIP room.

Whiiiii!

“Wow! We just witnessed the beginning of a new Master Rank Hunter!”

“How long do we have until the next Master Rank test?”

“I think around three months?”

“I can’t stand the thought of a Hunter becoming stronger than me, but it’s definitely good news that our country’s getting another Master Rank Hunter.”

“We are going to catch up to our neighboring countries!”

“Yeah! We’re going to catch up to those damn bastards!”

"I believe this match clearly demonstrated the disparity between a Master Rank Hunter and S Rank Hunters. I'm certain those who argued that the S Rank and Master Rank were merely one tier apart are now hanging their heads in shame."

The Hunters on one side sneered at those on the other side.

"Haha... Yes, we are all S Rank Hunters, but I wouldn't dare make such brazen statements. Tsk tsk...!"

The S Rank Hunters were divided into two factions due to various reasons, and one faction took great pleasure in sneering at the other.

"Well, thanks to this event match, we no longer have to tolerate those idiots. Hahaha!"

"I completely agree with you! Hahaha!"

"Moreover, I can't wait to see our neighboring rivals trembling in fear!"

"Oh, me too! Me too!"

It was evident that the relationship between South Korea and Japan remained strained. The world might have changed with the emergence of dimensional gates, but deep-rooted animosity toward Japan still persisted.

While South Korea and Japan were excellent trade partners that relied on each other, the same couldn't be said for their political and historical aspects.

Japan had been governed by the same political party for a considerable period of time, leading to the belief that the opposition consisted of a group of clueless individuals. The ruling party manipulated the social structure of the nation and diverted the attention of young people away from historical facts, focusing instead on other aspects such as fashion, food, animations, and so on.

Being one of the most developed nations in the world, Japan boasted fifteen Master Rank Hunters and over seven percent of its entire population consisted of Hunters. This made them one of the most powerful nations globally, as most developed nations only had five percent of their population as Hunters.

On the other hand, South Korea lagged far behind Japan, possessing only seven Master Rank Hunters. The situation in the country was so dire that it had become increasingly difficult to find individuals willing to work as Porters these days.

"But the best news is that Lee Han-Yeol, the Hunter, is not done growing!"

"Yeah, he achieved the Master rank in just a year, so I wonder where his limits are...?"

"I think they will have to create a new rank just for him!"

"That sounds really good for us, doesn't it?"

The top Hunters in South Korea held favorable opinions about Han-Yeol becoming a Master Rank Hunter. This was probably one of the few positive aspects in the fact that Hunters couldn't grow stronger than their current levels.

Although the Hunters still felt envious whenever someone awakened with a higher rank than theirs, they collectively regarded anyone stronger than them as one of their own, regardless of the circumstances. This was especially true when a Master Rank Hunter emerged, as it brought immense pride to the country.

Puk!

“Ugh…”

“Gwuoh…”

The Jung brothers were beaten to a pulp by Han-Yeol, and some in the crowd started to wonder if it would be possible for them to continue working as Hunters after enduring such a brutal defeat.

However, the crowd gave Han-Yeol a standing ovation despite witnessing the brutal display.

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!?

Whiiiiii!

They were congratulating him for becoming a Master Rank Hunter.

“Thank you,” Han-Yeol thanked the crowd after he vented his anger on the brothers, and then he turned to the referee and asked, “This isn’t going against the rules, right?”

“N-No, it is not. We only have one rule and that is not to kill your opponent. We do not care as long as both parties are alive,” the referee replied.

“That’s great, then I guess it’s clear who the winner is?”

“O-Of course…” the referee replied before he announced, “And the winner of this Fight Match is… Lee Han-Yeol Hunter-nim!”

The referee raised Han-Yeol’s hand and announced him as the winner.

“Woooow!”

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!?

The crowd cheered with enthusiasm at the announcement.

[Wow! This was so satisfying!]

[His swag is so cool!]

[You are the best, Han-Yeol-nim!]

[This is why I can’t help but fall in love with this channel!]

[You’re so cool!]

[Take me and make me yours, oppa!]

And, of course, the chat room was ablaze with excitement after Han-Yeol was announced as the winner.

After the match concluded, Han-Yeol no longer paid any attention to the brothers. They were carried away by other Hunters they were acquainted with. The brothers glared at Han-Yeol in anger, but they quickly flinched and limped away as fast as they could when Han-Yeol returned the glare.

‘They should be grateful I didn’t kill them,’?Han-Yeol thought as he did not feel guilty at all.

If they had encountered the brothers in the hunting grounds instead of this location, he would have disposed of them without a trace.

‘But is this the end of the event?’?

However, this was not the end. There was still a party to be held beneath the hall, where an even larger hall was located. This party served as a welcome celebration organized by the assembly for Han-Yeol.

He felt a bit concerned that Kim Tae-San or the other executives would confront him during the party. However, his worries proved to be unfounded, as none of them attended. Their absence helped him relax and allowed him to fully enjoy the party without any further concerns.

His mood was further elevated when he received the Dragon Bow and Blood Diamond as awards before the party commenced. Additionally, numerous renowned Hunters approached him to introduce themselves, adding to his excitement.

“Hahaha! I enjoyed your match today. You really taught those twins a lesson!”

"I am ashamed to have shown such a cruel side of myself simply because I got worked up," Han-Yeol replied.

"Not at all! Hahaha!"

The party continued until late at night, and it was only at daybreak that Han-Yeol finally arrived home.

"Thank you for your hard work," Purva said upon their arrival home.

Purva's eyes sparkled as he looked at Han-Yeol. Although not a Hunter or remotely connected to the industry, Purva had read extensively about Hunters and knew just how amazing Han-Yeol's accomplishments were that day.

"Not at all, you worked even harder than me today," Han-Yeol replied.

Han-Yeol truly enjoyed his time that day. Defeating two S Rank Hunters to a pulp made him realize that he had finally become a Master Rank Hunter.

‘I should try taking the Master Rank test this year…’?he thought of the test taking place three months from now.

‘I will become one of the strongest Hunters in the world if I officially become a Master Rank Hunter,’?he clenched his fist at the thought.

Han-Yeol was already famous in South Korea, but if he managed to officially become a Master Rank Hunter, his name would spread worldwide, making him a renowned Hunter on a global scale. If that happened, he would no longer be confined to South Korea alone.

"Please have a good rest, Han-Yeol-nim," Purva said.

"Yeah, you too, Purva," Han-Yeol replied.

Han-Yeol bid farewell to his bodyguard and went to wash up, preparing for bed. Due to his awakened state, he didn't require as much sleep as an ordinary person, but it was still beneficial for him to rest well and maintain optimal conditions. Besides, he personally enjoyed sleeping.

Han-Yeol settled into bed.

Meanwhile, while Han-Yeol was sleeping, videos of the live broadcast from the event, filmed by the Mulan film crew, were spreading all over the world.

[The once F Rank Hunter, Lee Han-Yeol, is now a legend after becoming a Master Rank in less than a year.]

.

[Is this the end of the growth for Lee Han-Yeol, the Growth-Type Hunter?]

[The Hunter Assembly that approved the two-on-one match. What kind of organization is it?]

[The Hunter Assembly has been exposed!]

[A new Master Rank Hunter appears!]

On a busy weekday morning, despite everyone's engagements, a flood of comments poured into internet news articles. Nearly every news outlet had already published a story on the matter, and the entire internet was consumed with discussions about Han-Yeol.

Some individuals even made absurd comments, claiming that this generation belonged to Lee Han-Yeol. However, it was unanimously agreed that a "Lee Han-Yeol syndrome" was brewing worldwide.

The birth of a Master Rank Hunter was already considered a blessing, but what if this Master Rank Hunter had once been an F Rank Hunter and achieved Master Rank in less than a year? What if this exceptional Hunter came from a humble background?

While Han-Yeol peacefully slept, numerous reporters tirelessly sought out people who knew him during his early days. They were already busy producing news articles that would contribute to his "legendary" story.

Ironically, the person who became extremely busy due to Han-Yeol's newfound fame was not Han-Yeol himself, but rather his father. Han-Yeol had cut off contact with almost everyone he knew, making it impossible for anyone to reach him as he changed all his contact information to ensure privacy. On the other hand, his father had been using the same mobile number and email address for nearly twenty years, making it effortless for people to contact him.

Furthermore, Han-Yeol's father had frequently boasted about his son since his childhood, so most of his friends were already aware of Han-Yeol's achievements.

Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring!?

“Hello?”

[Hi, hyung-nim! It has been a long time. How have you been? This is Cheol-Gab!]

“Ah, hi, Cheol-Gab. It’s really been a long time.”

[Hahaha! I should’ve called you sooner. I apologize, hyung-nim… As you are aware the economy is terrible these days, so…]

“Yeah, I understand, but why are you calling this early?”

[Hahaha… There is no particular reason, hyung-nim! I mean, we are close enough to call each other whenever, right?]

“Hoho! Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Han-Yeol's father maintained a friendly demeanor as he responded to Cheol-Gab, but deep inside, he wasn't feeling nice at all. Cheol-Gab had been someone very close to him, but he was also one of the first to sever ties when Han-Yeol's father had faced financial difficulties.

While Han-Yeol's father had experienced many people cutting ties with him during that time, the sudden calls from those individuals these days made it clear to him why they were reaching out all of a sudden.