## Chapter 2719 – 2719. Dragon Hunter
The reason I can run amok in this world, physically and economically wrecking several cities, and still walk around unscathed is basically because this world is screwed.
You say it isn’t? That even with dragons, everyone’s living fine?
No, from my perspective, it’s definitely screwed.
‘The wars wiped out all the countries. A considerable amount of time has passed since then, but no new countries have emerged.’
Twelve years since the Great War.
Certainly not a short time.
Even if all the countries had been destroyed, that’s more than enough time for new ones to arise.
Yet, no new countries have been created in this world.
‘There’s information that briefly appeared in the original story. The involvement of Dragon King-level dragons behind the Great War.’
The civilization of this world was steadily advancing. To the point where Dragon King-level dragons, beings considered natural disasters, felt anxiety about the future. It’s understandable. If this world had just possessed nuclear weapons, all the Dragon King-level dragons would be dead. And during the Great War, humanity’s science and technology were roughly at the 1900s, the modern era. It was only a matter of time before they created nuclear bombs.
‘In a ruined world, what matters most is ultimately power. The reason the Hunter Association can control cities and maintain a minimum level of order is because no other force possesses as much power as the Hunter Association.’
It’s also why I don’t suffer any repercussions even after causing chaos.
But lately, the atmosphere is strange. Hunters who used to avoid my gaze are now subtly trying to make eye contact.
‘Is it because of the battle footage with the Thunderclap Dragon?’
In the video, I was weaker than people thought. Of course, I was actually holding back. It was a video for the sake of giving the Thunderclap Dragon’s heart to Hytera.
Correcting people’s perception is simple. Just find a decent A-rank clan and crush them. Then, they’ll be groveling at my feet as if nothing ever happened.
But I received interesting information from Oswald.
‘The vice-chairmen, who haven’t been moving until now, have started to stir. They must have judged that I’m weaker than they expected after seeing the video.’
The chairman, who I wanted to move first, is quiet. That’s a bit unsettling, but…
‘It’s not too late to deal with the vice-chairmen first.’
I can’t make the first move. Unless I have a justifiable reason, I’ll end up fighting the entire Dragon Hunter Association.
‘My goal is to take over the Association, not destroy it.’
The vice-chairmen will fall into two categories.
Those who will die and those who will become my slaves.
• • •
There are a total of six vice-chairmen in the Dragon Hunter Association. Each is an S-rank hunter who governs a major city.
Where people gather, politics arise, and where there’s politics, factions are born. The six vice-chairmen are no exception.
The standard for factions is the chairman. Three who are friendly to the chairman. Two who oppose and check him. One who claims neutrality and profits from it.
This is why Chairman Do Hwang Baek Jeong-su has been able to maintain his position. But there are no eternal allies.
Virgo Gartonne.
Vice-chairman of the Dragon Hunter Association. The de facto ruler of the southern metropolis, Derdan. He’s known as one of the three vice-chairmen who support the chairman, but in reality, he had other plans. And his plans had recently encountered difficulties. Due to external circumstances.
“Virgo-nim. The Draconian Project has been temporarily suspended. Even if we wanted to continue the project, we don’t have any Saint Dragon-level dragon hearts, which are the raw materials. We have Lesser Dragon-level dragon hearts left, but as you know, Lesser Dragon-level dragon hearts have no effect on the Draconian Project.”
A researcher wearing round glasses reported. Virgo frowned.
The Draconian Project.
A plan to create Draconians, Dragon-men (龍人), by transplanting dragon hearts into human hearts instead of eating them.
Why bother becoming a Draconian? The reason was simple. Power was one thing, but the most important goal was eternal life.
Dragons of Ancient Dragon-level or higher don’t have lifespans. Theoretically, they can live for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. The Draconian Project ultimately aims to become a dragon and gain eternal life.
“We have a separate unit operating to procure dragon hearts, don’t we?”
“We lost contact with them a while ago.”
“…Did they betray us?”
“We found traces of battle. They appear to have been annihilated. According to a witness nearby, lightning struck continuously.”
“Kwang-rye. That crazy bastard did it.”
Due to Kwang-rye, procuring Saint Dragon-level or higher dragon hearts has become extremely difficult. Kwang-rye didn’t hesitate to attack A-rank hunter clans if it meant obtaining dragon hearts.
Buying dragon hearts from hunters has also become difficult. That’s because Kwang-rye buys dragon hearts at a higher price than the market rate. The source of Kwang-rye’s money is the Plack Merchant Guild.
‘The Plack Merchant Guild has become too big. I can’t touch them directly.’
The Plack Merchant Guild supplies over 90% of the food supplied to Derdan, the metropolis he governs.
They do have their own food supply, but its quality is significantly lower compared to the food sold by the Plack Merchant Guild. Citizens who have already raised their standards wouldn’t be satisfied with low-quality food.
‘I assigned people to find out where the Plack Merchant Guild gets its high-quality food from, but… they were annihilated by Kwang-rye. Kwang-rye and the Plack Merchant Guild should be seen as one and the same.’
It’s difficult to kill Kwang-rye with force, and it’s impossible to pressure him economically. It was a difficult situation where he couldn’t do either. That’s when the battle footage between Kwang-rye and Thunderhoof spread.
In the video, Kwang-rye was weaker than he had heard in the rumors. It’s impressive that he fought the Ancient Dragon-level dragon, Thunderhoof, head-on in a 1-on-1 battle. But that was something even S-rank hunter Virgo could do if he set his mind to it.
‘Kwang-rye’s power level is at least Do Hwang-level or higher. What if that wasn’t true? If it’s not the minimum but the maximum, similar to Do Hwang’s level… I can kill Kwang-rye.’
The method is simple. Join hands with another vice-chairman. Or, cooperate fully with the chairman only on Kwang-rye’s matter to deal with Kwang-rye.
“It’s time to proceed with the postponed meeting. I’ll have to go to Gigantria.”
Of course, Virgo can’t hold the meeting alone. However, the other vice-chairmen seemed to have similar thoughts, willingly accepting the meeting and setting a specific date. The location is naturally Gigantria.
“It’s been a while since everyone’s gathered.”
Virgo recalled old memories.
Chairman Baek Jeong-su and the vice-chairmen were once colleagues and friends. There was a time when they gathered every day and shared drinks.
“…We’ve come too far to go back to the old days. We can’t go back without abandoning the things we carry on our backs and shoulders.”
He had no intention of going back either.
• • •
A sparring match was held at the Gigantria Dragon Hunter Association training ground. It was a match between Mir and Galpis, who had recently been promoted to A-rank hunters. Numerous spectators watched with beer mugs in hand. I was watching from one side as well. No one approached me.
“Come at me, Galpis!!”
“Mir, you son of a bitch…! Have you forgotten the last battle?!”
Mir, wielding a greatsword, was wrapped in yellow electricity all over his body, while Galpis was armed with armor, a shield, and a gunlance, firmly holding his ground.
Mir charged, and Galpis defended with his shield, looking for an opportunity.
Watching the two fight, I could easily predict the outcome.
‘Mir will win. Galpis. That guy has grown incredibly fast over the past few years, befitting a supporting character… but he’s not on Mir’s level.’
As expected of the protagonist of the original comic. Mir, who became an A-rank hunter not long ago, was already a seasoned A-rank hunter.
‘I definitely dealt with the incidents and opportunities that would help him grow first….’
Do Hwang Baek Jeong-su. That guy actively intervened in Mir’s training. Not only that, but it seemed like he fed him something like Dragon Heart Blood.
‘He’s growing fast, even if he’s not at the original level. His talent alone is the real deal.’
But he’s still far from becoming an S-rank.
Even though A-rank and S-rank seem like just one step apart, there’s a difference as vast as the sky and the earth.
‘In the original story, he becomes an S-rank Dragon Hunter after eating a few more Ancient Dragon-level hearts and Dragon Heart Blood in addition to the Thunderhoof’s heart. And he becomes an S-rank hunter after eating Hytera’s Dragon Heart Blood.’
In return, Hytera also weakens. In the original story, Hytera sacrificed herself because it was an unavoidable situation.
‘As long as I’m here, that kind of situation won’t happen.’
I want to kill Mir right now if I could. The problem is that doing so would clearly ruin the relationship I’ve built with Gina and Hytera.
While I was lost in thought, the sparring match ended.
The winner was Mir. Galpis was the defeated, kneeling before Mir.
“Damn it…. I lost. You’ve grown so much since then…!”
“Galpis. I learned a lot thanks to you. If I had let my guard down even a little… I would have lost again this time.”
“You’re such a smug bastard. I won’t lose next time.”
Mir and Galpis shook hands, concluding the match on a heartwarming note.
“Kwang-rye. Do you regret giving Mir the Light Tiger Dragon’s heart?”
Do Hwang Baek Jeong-su appeared behind me and asked. I had sensed his presence since earlier, so I wasn’t surprised.
“Regret? I rightfully gave the Thunderclap Dragon’s heart to Hytera. What Hytera does with the Thunderclap Dragon’s heart is none of my business. More than that, do you think that guy can beat me just because he ate the Thunderclap Dragon’s heart?”
Mir’s lightning can’t reach my lightning. Even the Thunderclap Dragon’s lightning couldn’t reach me, so there’s no way lightning from someone inferior like Mir could reach me.
“It may be impossible right now. But Mir-gun’s talent is superior to mine. In my personal opinion, I think he’s far superior to you.”
“So? Do you want me to acknowledge that guy’s talent? That’s not difficult. I have to acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged. That guy’s talent is superior to mine or yours. He’s probably the best in this world.”
“…That’s unexpected. I didn’t think you would acknowledge Mir-gun’s talent so easily.”
“Just because you have the best talent doesn’t mean you’ll become the best. There are things more important than talent in this world. What’s the main point? You didn’t come all the way here just to say something like that, did you?”
“I’m here to give you a warning. Don’t harm Mir-gun. Mir-gun is a talent who will become the next chairman. If you try to destroy the future of the Association, I will never stand by.”
“You’re acting like a concerned parent. Are you his father or something?”
“I can’t be Mir-gun’s father… but there’s a saying. The king, teacher, and father are one (君師父一體). As of today, Mir-gun will become my disciple.”
This is different from the original story. In the original story, Mir never became the disciple of anyone, including Baek Jeong-su.
Baek Jeong-su came to warn me directly because he was afraid that I would be afraid of Mir’s talent and kill him.
It was absurd.
“Don’t you have anything better to do? To come all the way here to spout such useless words.”
“I trust that you understand what I’m saying. And in ten days, the Association meeting will be held in Gigantria. The rumors will probably spread throughout the city soon. I hope you’ll come to your senses now.”
My excellent brain interpreted Baek Jeong-su’s words.
-You’re screwed, so behave yourself.
“I’ve heard enough nonsense. I’m starting to feel like killing you, so get lost. Or should we have a life-or-death battle here for the position of chairman?”
“Hmm… The position of chairman can’t be obtained in that way… Well, whatever. I have a lot of work to do, so I’ll be going now. Kwang-rye. Don’t forget what I said today.”
Instead of leaving the training ground, Baek Jeong-su headed towards the center of the training ground. Mir found Baek Jeong-su and shouted with a bright smile.
“Master!!”
That day, Mir officially became Do Hwang’s disciple.
