Chapter 9

Fate-Seizing Hunter 009

Chapter 9

"Someone has to pass through there, but I can't do it because of the system. So, I think it would be best if the person who solved the problem goes... What do you think?"

"Me?!"

"Yes. Is there any problem?"

"No... I..."

Of course, the man still believed his solution was correct. However, just in case, if this was not the right answer, he had no idea what might happen.

This was not a game; it was the Central Continent, where death was real. Therefore, he couldn't risk going to even a slightly dangerous place.

"Um... so..."

Seeing the man's flustered eyes darting around, Han Soo-jung nodded as if she understood.

"I understand. And it's fine. I'll still give you the promised money even if you don't go there."

Hearing Han Soo-jung's words, the man let out a sigh of relief. He had been so scared that he almost regretted speaking up in the first place.

As the man flinched and stepped back, Han Soo-jung turned her head to look at Manager Kim. Manager Kim then awkwardly laughed and said,

"What is it?"

"Please go, Manager."

"Wh-What?!"

"Go, Manager!"

"Miss, what are you talking about?!"

Manager Kim looked at Han Soo-jung with a shocked expression, as if he had just witnessed his wife bringing a stranger into their bed.

"That's too much, Miss! Do you no longer need me?"

"What do you mean?"

"If you're not trying to get rid of me, why are you sending me to such a place...?"

In response, Han Soo-jung rubbed her forehead as if she had a headache and said,

"Why? Can't you go? You are the highest-ranking person in charge on this journey, excluding me. You have to do this."

"But... but..."

Manager Kim, with a pale face, looked at Han Soo-jung and the passage, then finally bowed his head in resignation.

"Alright, I understand."

"Don't worry. Something good might happen."

"Really? What do you mean...?"

"You'll find out when you pass through there."

With that, Manager Kim, looking like a cow being led to slaughter, slowly walked towards the passage.

On his way, he glanced at Han Soo-jung several times with a pitiful look, but seeing her determined expression, he bowed his head again and walked like a zombie.

Manager Kim entered the passage, and the people waited anxiously.

"..."

"..."

After a short while, when nothing seemed to change, Han Soo-jung began to wonder if something had gone wrong. Just then, a change occurred.

Rumble~

Suddenly, the passage sank, revealing a flat ground and Manager Kim, who had collapsed in relief.

"I'm alive!"

Manager Kim was still crying, overwhelmed by the fear he had experienced. The delay was due to his fear, which made him walk slowly.

Approaching Manager Kim, Han Soo-jung patted his shoulder and said,

"Good job."

"Sniff, sniff, it was nothing."

"Stop crying and say that."

Fortunately, they had passed the trial without any casualties. Despite the initial fear of the suddenly appearing green zone, the outcome was good.

Then, the next door appeared.

"River of Patience."

As Han Soo-jung read the inscription, a massive door opened, revealing a large river glowing green.

"What is this trial?"

In this space, there was nothing but a river about 20 meters wide.

The river flowed calmly, and there seemed to be no special features that would hinder crossing.

"Are there any man-eating fish in there?"

Han Soo-jung asked, and people checked the river below, shaking their heads.

"It's completely clean."

"Then what is it?"

The first trial was lava, and the second was a terrifying monster.

The third was relatively easy to pass, thanks to someone who knew the constellations well.

She didn't think the fourth trial would be this easy.

Just then, someone who had dipped their hand in the river jumped back.

"Ah!"

"What happened?"

The man who had dipped his hand in the river blew on it and shouted,

"This isn't ordinary water! It felt like I dipped my hand in acid!"

"What?"

The man still seemed to be in considerable pain, clutching his hand and curling up. Seeing this, Han Soo-jung approached him.

"Can I see your hand for a moment?"

"Huh? Oh, sure."

The man showed his hand to Han Soo-jung, still wincing in pain.

Han Soo-jung examined his hand carefully.

"There are no injuries. It doesn't seem to be acid, as your skin is not damaged."

"But it hurt like hell."

As he continued to complain about the pain, Han Soo-jung approached the river and tried to dip her hand in, but her extended hand was blocked as if by an invisible barrier.

It seemed there was a boundary again.

"It seems that once someone has passed, they can't pass again. I'm sorry, but can someone else try?"

Hearing Han Soo-jung's words, the people flinched, and one brave person stepped forward and dipped just their finger.

"Ouch! This really hurts!"

The man, who had only dipped his finger, acted as if he was about to die. Han Soo-jung approached him again and examined his finger, but found nothing wrong.

"It seems to be water that only causes pain. It doesn't seem to harm the body."

"Is that even possible?"

"Is there anything impossible in the Central Continent?"

Hearing Han Soo-jung's words, the others stared blankly at the river, finally realizing what this trial was about.

"So, you're saying we have to endure the pain and get to the other side? Are you crazy?!"

Even touching it with a finger caused excruciating pain. To cross a river that was at least 20 meters wide, one would have to submerge their entire lower body.

"This is insane."

Just then, someone confidently stepped forward.

"I'll try it."

The person who volunteered was none other than Choi Kang-hyun, who had been maliciously bullying Song Jin-woo.

"I'll cross for the guild."

Choi Kang-hyun smiled hypocritically, as if he was making a great sacrifice for the guild.

Of course, his true intentions were different. He looked at Han Soo-jung with a burning gaze, thinking,

'I can't miss this opportunity.'

Choi Kang-hyun had surprisingly marked Han Soo-jung as his potential partner.

She was a beautiful woman with a great figure and a wealthy family. From the moment he first saw her, he had been eyeing her, determined to make a move.

While others thought it was impossible, he had a different view.

No matter how proud a woman was, she was still a woman, and it all depended on the man.

'Just a little push, and it's over.'

He thought that with some sweet talk, he could seduce her and then everything would go his way.

If he could get her pregnant, becoming a son-in-law of the Han-Young Guild was not a dream.

Thinking about this, his groin tightened, but he maintained a serious expression as he looked at Han Soo-jung and said,

"Will you allow me?"

Han Soo-jung nodded calmly.

"Of course. If you succeed, the guild will provide appropriate compensation."

"Ha-ha, for the guild, what compensation do I need? It's enough that you remember my effort."

"Of course, I won't forget your effort. But it's only fair to receive compensation for your success."

"I understand. If you say so..."

With that, Choi Kang-hyun turned and walked towards the river, trying to look as cool as possible with a gentle smile.

"Alright, then."

Choi Kang-hyun walked confidently towards the river.

He had heard that touching the river would cause pain, but he didn't care. To get Han Soo-jung, he was willing to endure any pain.

'This is the beginning. With this, I'll get Han Soo-jung... hehe.'

Thinking about it, his lower abdomen tightened again. He dipped his foot into the river.

Splash~

There was a clear sound, as if he had dipped his foot into ordinary stream water. However, his feelings were completely different.

"Choke!"

He thought he could endure it, but the pain was beyond imagination.

It felt like someone was pressing a red-hot iron against his foot.

"Ugh!"

He let out a strange sound and tried to pull his foot out of the water, but his ankle twisted in the process.

Struggling in that state, his body started to tilt to the side.

Finally...

Splash! Choi Kang-hyun fell into the water in a pitiful manner.

"Ah!!!"

Overwhelmed by the intense pain, Choi Kang-hyun screamed like a pig being slaughtered and flailed in the water.

"Get me out! Please, get me out quickly!!"

The more he flailed, the more water splashed, increasing the area of contact. But Choi Kang-hyun was already in a state of shock.

The group had to watch this pitiful scene live, but no one stepped forward to help.

Choi Kang-hyun's flailing caused water to splash in all directions, making it impossible to approach.

Finally, after rolling around, Choi Kang-hyun managed to get out and collapsed on the ground, passing out.

Compared to his initial confident appearance, this was a miserable end.

"..."

The hunters looked at the scene in disbelief.

"What? He just pretended to be tough, but he's just a fool?"

"I thought he would succeed because he was so confident."

Everyone shook their heads, and Han Soo-jung stepped forward again. In her mind, Choi Kang-hyun was already erased.

"Is there anyone else who wants to try? If someone can pass through here, I'll give 200 million. Is there anyone who wants to try?"

At the mention of 200 million, people tried to dip their fingers in the river, but they screamed and fell back as if they had touched fire.

It was impossible to even dip an ankle in such a terrifying place. Seeing Choi Kang-hyun's state made that clear.

A person doesn't have to suffer a fatal injury to die. Intense pain can lead to shock and death.

This was that painful.

"..."

Just as everyone was hesitating, someone raised their hand.

"I'll try."

The person who raised their hand was unexpectedly Song Jin-woo, who was using a crutch.

When Song Jin-woo raised his hand, people initially looked at him with surprise.

It was a place that even a normal person would find difficult to cross, so they thought it would be even harder for Song Jin-woo, who had a leg injury.

The river was painful, so it would be best to cross it as quickly as possible.

But for Song Jin-woo, just not falling would be a challenge.

Han Soo-jung looked at Song Jin-woo with a worried expression.

"Are you sure you can do it? They say the pain is not ordinary."

"I've already dipped my finger in. I can endure it."

Everyone thought he couldn't do it, but Song Jin-woo's resolve was firm.

'With 200 million, I can do even more than this.'

He couldn't do the first and second trials because his body wouldn't allow it.

He failed the third trial due to a lack of wisdom.

But he could do this trial.

'Enduring pain is something I'm already used to.'

His leg didn't move well, but that wasn't the only problem.

He had often spent sleepless nights due to sudden, intense pain.

The pain was so severe that he sometimes wanted to bite his tongue.

Despite enduring so much pain, he had never complained to anyone.

He believed no one could match his ability to endure pain.

"Please let me try. I will definitely succeed."

"Alright. But if it gets too difficult, you can stop midway."

"That won't happen."