When I Returned to Farming, National-level Big Juniors Flock - Chapter 87



Only Krnovel

87. An unexpected encounter

“I’m already getting dizzy just looking at the clogged roads. I don’t know how I used to live in Seoul.”

Oh Hyun-seong muttered with a deep sigh.

From the looks of it, it looks like the signal has to change four times to get through there.

Of course, there were also fully loaded cars beyond that.

Looking at the jammed traffic ahead, I feel like my speed is at a standstill.

‘It’s been a few months, but my constitution has already changed. I don’t feel like coming up unless I have something to do.’

He leaned his head back, his grip on the steering wheel loose.

This terrible traffic jam isn’t over.

A fantastic parking crisis awaited him in Seoul in the 2040s.

Parking was always a problem when he was young, but the current parking problem is on a whole other level.

The biggest reason cited is that the gates have also led to stricter regulations on underground spaces.

Even though the management agency’s detection network covers the entire country, it was relatively difficult to detect the gate underground.

Accuracy is low and the margin of error is large.

As underground spaces increase, such as by building underground parking lots, the manpower and resources required to properly manage and monitor them also increase.

Even without the gate safety issues, the population density in the metropolitan area has skyrocketed due to more people flocking to the area, and since parking lots cannot be built properly, a huge parking shortage is bound to occur.

In particular, Seoul’s population structure, which boasts an ultra-high density, has caused various social problems.

The main reason why Oh Hyun-seong avoided coming to the city was not traffic congestion or parking difficulties.

‘Now, whenever I come to a big city like this, I just feel like my energy is being sucked in. It’s also frustrating.’

He had become accustomed to the leisurely pace and leisureliness of Changyeong-ri.

In contrast, Seoul basically had a very high population density.

As you walk through the quiet village and along the forest paths in nature, you can’t help but feel dizzy seeing people everywhere you look.

Also, when I was in Changyeong-ri, which was wide open on all sides, I felt very suffocated seeing the concrete walls that were right next to each other blocking my view.

“Still, this time there’s nothing I can do.”

Oh Hyun-seong headed to Seoul this time too.

This was already the second time in a row that I had gone up to the city.

As someone who has already started farming, I don’t plan on continuing to come up to the city like this, but I have to build a foundation first, so I’m willing to take some risks.

The place he was heading to while crossing Seoul was the mercenary office he had visited last time.

Although it was not convenient that it was located too close to the city center, we did not move it to another location because we did not have to go through a new registration process.

It might have been easier to move around if he had just used a fake identity, but he didn’t use one at the last scene.

It would have been perfectly possible to use a fake identity, but in the long run it could have been a hassle, so he used his real name.

In any case, there are hardly any hunters left in all of Korea who know his name, and it is unlikely that you will encounter one in a mercenary office like this.

Also, there was no reason for hunters working in Seoul to come down to Changyeong-ri.

It was a decision made with the judgment that nothing would interfere with his farming life.

But, one thing.

If he moves around Seoul in the future, there may be someone who knows his face.

For example, like the men in front of you now.

“Why did you show up again?”

“…”

Jeong Tae-woon said with a bewildered expression.

Team members Lee Young-jae and Kim Jin-su also had puzzled expressions on their faces.

Of course, Oh Hyun-seong also did not expect it.

The situation is that I was reunited with the three hunters that I had caught as a team last time.

‘Should I change offices?’

I chose this because it was said to be the largest two-story office in Seoul, but I never thought I would run into it again like this.

Even though the percentage of people working as freelance mercenaries at high ranks like 8th and 9th ranks was small, I thought it would be rare to encounter them twice in a row.

But this is the situation we are faced with.

It was even more difficult because we met at the site, not at the office like last time.

The retreating hunters began an emergency meeting.

“This is a bit much. I’m not going to a regular scene, and I can’t bring the guy who caused the accident last time along with me.”

“But this time, the minimum requirement for the site is the same as that of an A-rank gate, so we need to fill it with 4 people.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to wait a little longer and go with a good guy?”

“No, that’s impossible. Did you forget that you have to clean the assigned area and fill the quota by the end of today? If the office asks you to find a new person and send them, it’ll take at least a day. And if you fail this contract, you’ll be out no matter what.”

The two men let out a sigh at Lee Young-jae’s words.

For mercenaries who make a living by taking on commissions, the existence of clients is essential.

The clients ranged from wealthy businessmen to overseas clients, but the biggest benefactor was the government.

Usually, the government prefers to contact major agencies and easily obtain cooperation from private hunters, but when there is a shortage of manpower, there are many times when they even call in mercenaries to handle the situation.

As it was a larger organization than any other client, the number of cases coming through the office was incomparable.

Especially in a proper case like this, the scale itself was different.

“This is a big contract that I got, and if I blow it here, I won’t be asked to do big things again.”

“That’s something you should avoid.”

“Then there’s nothing we can do. We have no choice but to go in together.”

“By the way, how did that guy get permission?”

“I know.”

The hunters grumbled.

His appearance at the scene last time would have been so bad that it wouldn’t have been strange if he had been banned from the office.

But, to the point where they were immediately deployed to such a large-scale project, I wondered if there was some kind of huge backing.

“Is everyone finished talking?”

“…follow me.”

The hunters take the lead, winking at Oh Hyeon-seong.

Then he snickered and followed me.

‘I’m sorry for causing trouble this time too, so I guess you’ll have to cooperate quietly.’

Any high-ranking hunter above rank 10 was required to report to the government.

So I registered at an appropriate level, but then I had to adjust the number of people, so this somewhat annoying thing happened.

‘I’ll have to tell Jeong-il later and ask him to recruit additional personnel.’

They entered the boundary of the restricted area.

At the perimeter, where soldiers and hunters were stationed and controlled, they entered the restricted area after proving that they had permission.

After passing along the winding forest path for a while, a city appeared with a stuffy air.

A view of a city that was abandoned long ago and became ruins.

“Whew, is it starting?”

The hunters all look nervous.

This was something I hadn’t seen at the last gate scene.

“Don’t disappear like last time. If you get left behind here, I won’t care if you die or not and I’ll leave.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Oh Hyun-seong nodded.

Although his eyes were still cold, Jeong Tae-woon, who had nothing to say, started to move forward.

As the team leader and a detection hunter, it was a familiar position for him, but it felt completely different now.

The A-rank gates they usually attack were also dangerous.

It was no match for the S-rank Gate, the natural enemy of humanity, but aside from that, it was the greatest threat that a normal Hunter could face.

In fact, it was also a class that consistently caused numerous casualties worldwide.

But the current situation was completely different from that.

Field, not gate.

Although the scene was set up with a minimum A-rank standard, you could encounter monsters of S-rank at any time.

This was also the reason why he, as a detection system hunter, had to be more alert than ever.

Of course, the only one among those here who didn’t show much vigilance was Oh Hyeon-seong.

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.’

Oh Hyeon-seong looked around and took in the sight of the ruins.

The city looks noticeably different than when I visited it last time.

A space that was once filled with the vitality of people has become a thoroughly polluted space filled with only death.

Since it wasn’t a very large place, it seemed certain that the site would be long, and I had packed a lunch in advance.

I cooked with the newly harvested potatoes and felt full.

The hardest part was holding back from tasting something I wanted to try right away.

Indeed, this is why combat rations all over the world were so terribly tasteless.

“I feel a horde of monsters ahead of me. Their level is not very high, and there are about ten of them, which is a reasonable number.”

“Then shall we catch it right away? And fill up our quota as well?”

“No, if we push ourselves too hard here, something might go wrong. Let’s just take a detour.”

Jeong Tae-woon said, shaking his head.

Then Oh Hyeon-seong nodded inwardly.

It may be tempting to be greedy, but it was a good decision.

No matter how easy the enemy was right in front of you, it was better not to engage in battle before reaching your assigned area.

In areas that the government has not properly identified, there may be completely out-of-level irregulars.

It was no different from gambling with one’s life.

Hunters crossing the city while avoiding monsters.

“stop.”

At that moment, Jeong Tae-woon raised his hand and stopped everyone.

“what’s the matter?”

“There are signs that a battle took place there.”

“It’s true.”

“Was there a sweep operation here too?”

“No… This isn’t a monster. It’s a mark of a fight between hunters.”

“… what?”

His words caused a moment of silence among the team members.

‘That’s true.’

Oh Hyeon-seong approached and stared at the traces.

There were broken pavement blocks and bloodstains from the battle, but these were all traces left by humans.

It’s a fight between Awakened people, not hunting monsters.

“A fight between hunters… We haven’t even heard of it?”

“I don’t know who these crazy guys are, but we have to be careful.”

Jeong Tae-woon swallowed and got up.

I don’t know how this fight broke out, but the first priority was to get out of here.

But the moment they try to leave the scene.

First memory.

There were signs from both sides.

A situation where they were already surrounded without even knowing it.

“What, what are you guys doing!”

“Wait a minute, stop.”

Jeong Tae-woon stopped Kim Jin-soo from trying to swear.

They appeared from the shadows and I didn’t notice them right away, but I could tell who they were by looking at their faces.

It’s not because I have great observation skills.

They were all famous hunters and Aegis hunters, so much so that it was impossible not to know them.

“Hey, Aegis?”

“It would be easier if you found out first. I’m just trying to check your identity, so cooperate. If you cooperate, I have no intention of fighting you.”

“Wait a minute, why are the Aegis Hunters, and not the Management Bureau, going around checking up on other people’s identities? And who would come into a place like this?”

Jeong Tae-woon asked with a slightly trembling voice, as if he was nervous.

He was also a 9th-rank hunter who was treated well wherever he went, but now, they were all high-ranking 10th-rank hunters.

It wasn’t just a one-grade difference, like 8th and 9th grade.

It’s a completely different level of stats, worthy of being classified separately as a high-level hunter.

Although I pretended to be strong due to my long experience as a mercenary, I had no choice but to cower.

“What’s going on there?”

But then, a young voice was heard.

When they turned their gaze, the mercenaries, including Jeong Tae-woon, opened their eyes wide in surprise.

None other than Joo Ji-hye appeared among the hunters.

‘That Ji-Hye Joo was there too?’

Others are also famous hunters.

But compared to them, Joo Ji-hye was a separate entity.

Recently, she became a Rank 11 Hunter, breaking the list of top Hunters in Korea.

Although he was more famous to the general public for his career as a top star, after being promoted to rank 11, he was solidifying his position within the domestic hunter industry by producing dazzling gate conquest results.

One of the best signs of Aegis, true to its name.

‘This could be a big problem.’

Jeong Tae-woon swallowed hard.

Joo Ji-hye was rumored to have a dirty personality within the industry, and he knew about those rumors.

Of course, it was a story from the past due to the precursor symptoms of psychosis, but it still took some time for the rumors to be corrected enough for outsiders to know.

“uh?”

At that moment, Joo Ji-hye approached them with her eyes wide open.

The mercenaries flinched in surprise at her approaching them without a word.

If a high-ranking hunter, not even an ordinary high-ranking hunter, but a high-ranking 11th-rank hunter, were to start running wild, no one here would be able to handle it.

However, Joo Ji-hye just passed by them without even giving them a glance.

And then a high-toned voice filled with joy followed.

“Master!”

She ran towards him and was suddenly held in Oh Hyeon-seong’s arms.

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