Trait Hoarder – Chapter 84

Hunter Association — Part 2

“What are you talking about? You took it yourself.”

“You should’ve stopped me!”

“There wasn’t even time.”

“Why do you even have something like that? Are you trying to poison people?”

“I was curious about the taste. They say some people actually like it.”

“They must have broken taste buds.”

Director Kang went on a rant, hurling insults at the licorice candy.

It seemed he was completely fixated on it now.

He kept going on about it all the way to Cheorwon, while I just kept popping one licorice candy after another into my mouth.

“Do you actually enjoy those?”

“Not at all.”

“Then why do you keep eating them?”

“I bought them, so I have to finish them.”

“Why don’t you just throw them away?”

“You don’t waste food; it’s bad luck.”

“Why would that bring bad luck? There’s no shortage of food here.”

I guess they don’t have that saying in this world.

Then again, with all the abundance created by magical science, it makes sense they wouldn’t.

While driving, I forced myself to chew down more of the licorice candy.

Each bite was torture.

Every breath brought that ammonia stench to my nose.

Why won’t my sense of smell just numb to it already? Normally, if you smell something long enough, it stops bothering you.

At least there was some progress.

By the time I saw the sign for [Cheorwon State], my tongue was practically numb, and the saltiness, sourness, and bitterness jabbed my taste buds even more harshly.

“Ptuh! Ptuh!”

I quickly rolled down the window and spat out the chewed licorice candy.

As I tossed the candy bag onto the back seat, Director Kang let out a chuckle.

“Giving up now?”

“Yes. I’m done. I’ll just throw them away.”

“Good call. Those aren’t fit for human consumption. Who makes something that tastes like that?”

If I offered you a trait in exchange, you’d be shoveling these down with a backhoe.

There’s just one more trait left to obtain with this.

The licorice candy came with a set of cosmetic samples. They were stashed in my golf bag for now, but I planned to use them soon to gain the [Sensitive Skin] trait.

We finally arrived at the location for the team-building event.

“This is the place?”

“Yes. It’s been a while since I was here. It must have been years.”

“It’s supposed to be an exclusive hunting ground for the association?”

“That’s true, but the Yeoncheon faction mostly controls it. Just approaching the area usually makes them scowl at you. Look, there are already plenty of them here.”

The place was filled with SUVs.

It seemed like they’d gathered every SUV in existence.

Most of them looked like regular SUVs from the original world, but a few stood out with unusual designs.

There was one SUV covered in steel spikes.

Another was decorated with the spine of a massive beast.

And yet another had what looked like a rocket launcher mounted on it—though I couldn’t tell if it was a model or functional.

I took a good look at the three SUVs, intrigued.

“They must have magic-powered engines installed. I can feel the mana fluctuations.”

“It’s a ridiculous waste of money. Adding that stuff doesn’t actually increase speed—it just makes them prone to flipping over. People in the Yeoncheon faction are always so flashy. If it were me, I’d get a flying car instead.”

“Those are expensive, aren’t they?”

“Oh, very. Honestly, even I can’t afford one easily.”

There were plenty of hunters around.

They were armed with heavy sniper rifles and shotguns.

Most of them were Reinforced types, though there were a few Warriors scattered among them.

One hunter, who had been wandering around the campsite, quickly approached us.

A familiar face.

He was the same hunter who’d bought the Mountain King’s corpse from me.

“Hunter Kim! I heard the news. You joined the association?”

“Hello. Thanks for the referral. It made joining much easier.”

“It was your skill that made it possible, really. I didn’t do much. Director Kang, it’s been a while.”

“Ah, Hunter Jung. Long time no see.”

The hunter seemed somewhat distant with Director Kang.

They exchanged only a brief, awkward nod.

“Director, would it be alright if I borrowed Hunter Kim for a moment? I have some things to discuss about his branch membership.”

“Hmph, you need privacy just to talk about branch matters? Nothing shady going on, is there?”

“Nothing like that.”

“Do as you please. It’s not like it’s the first time the Yeoncheon faction has tried to exclude me.”

Director Kang whistled nonchalantly and turned away.

I followed the hunter a short distance, and he leaned in to give me some advice.

“Hunter Kim, I’m saying this because you’re someone I referred and you’ve got a lot of skill… but it’d be best if you don’t get too close to Director Kang.”

“Why not?”

“There are… reasons.”

The hunter held back, glancing briefly toward Director Kang before asking me a question.

“I’ve heard there are factions within the association. That’s understandable, of course. I take it you’re worried I might align myself with Director Kang?”

“So, you’re aware?”

“I heard it straight from the Hunter Association President himself.”

“That damn Director Kang…”

The hunter looked at Director Kang with a look of contempt.

“He’s the type who gets caught up in the process and misses the big picture. What’s a few illegal activities here and there if they serve a greater purpose?”

“You mean the exclusive hunting zone?”

“Of course. And that’s just the start. A third legion! Isn’t that an exciting vision? I admit it’s a long road ahead, but if we keep walking, one step at a time, I believe we’ll get there. The first step is securing an exclusive hunting zone.”

As if that’s actually going to help…

Even if the association gets an exclusive hunting zone, that won’t suddenly make it skyrocket in power.

Just then, my eyes fell on something unsettling—yellow irises.

The pupil was black, but the sclera was tinted yellow.

When I’d sold him the Mountain King’s corpse, I’d thought he looked familiar.

Seeing him up close now, I finally understood.

Add a prosthetic arm, cover his face with scars, and he’d be someone I know well.

[R Wolfclaw]

One of the key figures in the assassination organization.

He was even a recruitable character in certain quests and summons.

Now it all made sense.

The exclusive hunting zone was just a front.

The real objective was to secure a region that the Hunter Association—or more precisely, the Yeoncheon faction, the precursor to the assassination organization—could freely exploit.

They could do anything there.

Manufacture illegal drugs? Trade slaves? Produce implants?

They could even bury high-ranking officials’ secrets there.

Just like how the Cleaner Association had hidden their secret base in the forbidden zone of Geonwoobong Mountain.

“Still, he seems like a good person.”

“Hm, well… he is a good guy.”

“He’s got a pleasant personality, and, most importantly, I don’t get the sense he’d stab anyone in the back or hide any dark secrets.”

“Wait. You… like him?”

“Yes. The more I talk to him, the more genuine he seems. If it weren’t for his chatter, I’d honestly consider him a brother.”

I showered Director Kang with praise.

I described him as family-oriented, humorous, and a man’s man.

The hunter’s face twisted with discomfort.

When he bought the Mountain King’s corpse from me, when he first made overtures… he definitely wasn’t expecting this.

But isn’t it obvious?

Every character affiliated with the assassination organization is deeply flawed.

In the game, I could use character cards to make use of them, but these people would betray me without hesitation in real life.

How could I trust people like that?

Even if it ruptured my eardrums, I’d rather stick with the Easygoing President (the real one, anyway).

“Sigh. I understand. It seems you’ve already made up your mind, Hunter Kim.”

“I just joined today; it’s not like I know much. But at the very least, he doesn’t seem like the type to stab someone in the back.”

“…Fine. Do what you want. I’ve done my duty as the one who referred you to the association.”

With those words, the hunter turned and walked away.

Watching his retreating back, my expression hardened.

Something felt off about all this.

No way… could something actually be happening today?

“What did he say?”

“He told me not to side with you.”

“My side? Haha! After trying to poison me with licorice candy, you’re saying you’re on my side? Even an ant passing by would laugh at that. If anything, I should be trying to side with you, not the other way around, Hunter Kim.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Heh, I already know. You’re going to reach Level 5 soon, then Level 6, and eventually soar to Level 7. Just don’t forget me when that happens. Oh, right. They say the meat of a spirit deer around here is especially delicious. Care for a taste?”

Vrrr, clack.

Director Kang raised his arm and twisted his wrist.

His right hand folded back, revealing a muzzle.

Then, a barrel extended out from his arm, and a crossbow bolt gleamed inside, ready to fire.

Boom!

With a loud explosion, he fired, sending everyone around into a frenzy.

“What the—!”

“Ah! That scared me!”

“There he goes again.”

“Can you at least give us a warning before you shoot?!”

The bolt vanished into a trail of smoke.

Director Kang squinted through his magical eye, scanning the distance, and then clenched his fist.

“Bullseye! Haha! This thrill is why I can’t give up hunting. Mind if I borrow your car for a minute? I’ll just bring the deer over.”

“Uh, go ahead.”

This guy really is something else.

Just in case, I grabbed my golf bag from the SUV.

With a moment to spare, I pulled out the cosmetic set and started slathering it on, drawing curious stares from nearby hunters.

“What’s he doing now?”

“No idea. They say he’s taking Director Kang’s side.”

“Apparently, he’s a promising superhuman from the backstreets? They say he’s the one who took down the Mountain King, and now he’s joined up with Director Kang?”

“So I heard.”

“Birds of a feather, huh.”

“First, they snipe a deer with a cannon, and now he’s putting on cosmetics…”

“Maybe it’s sunscreen?”

“No way. Can’t you tell by looking?”

“Glad he didn’t join our side. What’s his deal?”

It’s because of you guys.

If you all didn’t seem so suspicious, I wouldn’t have to do this!

I piled on the dry skin products, wiped them off with cotton pads and cleansing water, and repeated the process.

Of course, there was no way I could remove it all properly.

But I didn’t have time to care about appearances, nor did I have enough time to do it thoroughly.

I quickly cycled through all four types of skincare products—dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, and sensitive skin.

“Hunter Kim? What on earth are you doing?”

Director Kang returned with the deer loaded into the SUV, looking baffled.

“I’m taking care of my skin.”

“What? What kind of skin care is that? It looks more like torture than care.”

“It’s definitely care.”

Because with that, I finally acquired the last trait.

Acquired the trait: [Sensitive Skin].

My face was red and swollen as if I’d broken out in a rash.

In the game, [Sensitive Skin] helped detect toxins and contaminated mana.

It also provided bonuses to tracking-related traits.

Though, aside from being a high-level trait combination ingredient, it wasn’t used all that often.

[Sensitivity] [Bright Eyes] [Keen Ears]
[Keen Nose] [God’s Tongue] [Sensitive Skin]

As Director Kang busied himself butchering the deer and preparing sashimi right on the spot, I slipped back into the SUV.

It was time to combine the traits.

I split and reassembled my mana circuits.

My entire body, especially my eyes, nose, ears, and tongue, heated up like they were being scorched.

My skin felt hot too, but not as intensely as those senses.

It was like my face was being seared with a hot iron.

Fortunately, it didn’t last long.

Electric sparks began to race from my senses, traveling along my mana circuits, igniting my skin in flames that surged toward my brain as an entirely new power.

A new level of perception opened up.

It was like the whole world had been stripped bare, exposing all its secrets to me.

A godlike omniscience, as though I could sit in a room and view the entire world, piercing through hidden truths.

“Ah…”

I couldn’t hold back a sigh, intoxicated by the sensation.

A figure approached, a bright, clear aura shaped like a human, offering something fresh and clean.

“This is rainbow deer sashimi. Care for a taste?”

“Thank you.”

I’d equipped the [God’s Tongue] trait on purpose before tasting the deer sashimi.

It was… delicious!

Lean, tender, and bursting with umami. The texture was so soft it practically melted on my tongue like ice cream.

If I paired this with soju, I could easily down a few bottles.

But I couldn’t fully enjoy the delicious sashimi.

Because through my heightened senses, I could perceive the entire team-building event headquarters.

It was seething with a sinister, blackened malice.

A stark contrast to the bright and clear aura of Director Kang.

And it wasn’t just the headquarters.

The hunters around us.

The event staff preparing things over there.

They were all in on it.

Their hearts, their intentions, their very souls were pitch black—blackened with deceit and malice.

“Director? Is it only Yeoncheon faction members here today?”

“Of course not. There are quite a few people I know. Hey! Chief Choi! Chief Park! Chief Lee! Come have some sashimi!”

“Haha, we’ve been waiting!”

“We were wondering when you’d call us.”

Several hunters who had been lingering nearby rushed over.

They were likely members of Director Kang’s faction.

On the surface, they looked overjoyed, smiling from ear to ear.

Director Kang was all smiles too, slicing the deer meat into thick pieces and handing it out to the hunters, who accepted it with glee.

But even as I watched this cheerful scene, I couldn’t bring myself to smile.

Chief Choi.

Here, he seemed to be ranked just below Director Kang.

A Level 4 Reinforced-type superhuman.

Unlike the other Chiefs, his aura was completely black.

With [Insight] equipped, the truth became even clearer.

There was a stench.

A revolting odor so vile it made me want to gag just thinking about it.

The unmistakable scent of betrayal.

–TL Notes–
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