Chapter 80: Chapter 80

Brian’s voice trembled with excitement as he spoke.

-No, it isn’t just that. In the future, we might even see more martial artists in the UHC.

-Is it to that extent, Mr Brian?

-Don’t the trends of the UHC change quickly? It wouldn’t be strange if forgotten martial arts reappear.

The host laughed at Brian’s words. Brian felt unusually excited.

-You seem happy that Hunter Choi Yeonseung won?

-Cough... Honestly, I don’t feel bad about it. He’s a 1st generation hunter.

-By the way, Mr Brian. Hasn’t it been a long time since martial artists have been seen among hunters? Can it really be resurrected that fast?

The trends of the UHC changed in a flash. When melee combatants were popular, the right magic to face them was found. The same happened when tanks were popular. This was possible because most hunters used magic. Meanwhile, the number of martial artists was significantly lower. Its immediate resurrection was questionable.

-I think it’s possible. We had much less information and support back in the day, yet excellent hunters still managed to learn and master magic on their own. Martial arts hasn’t completely disappeared, so it isn’t impossible to resurrect. If it doesn’t work, they can just learn from Hunter Choi Yeonseung over there.

-You’re certainly right. Now, Hunter Choi Yeonseung is coming out for the winner’s interview.

Cheers poured out the moment Choi Yeonseung came out of the Otherworld. The fans cheering for Maximilian earlier were cheering as if they were fans of Choi Yeonseung from the beginning.

This was the UHC. They would become a hero after winning once. They would be treated as trash if they ever lost!

Several of Maximilian’s loyal fans still cheered for him, but they couldn’t be heard.

-Will Hunter Maximilian come out for an interview? He probably won't, right?

Even the host laughed at Maximilian. It was the UHC’s rule to laugh at losers. That was especially the case for a hunter like Maximilian, who had accumulated karma by mouthing off before matches!

-Hunter Maximilian, ah... He went out the back. It can’t be helped. Let’s understand him!

-That’s a pity. I wanted to hear what he had to say.

-It’s a bit rude to laugh at the hunters who don’t do the loser’s interview, but let’s understand!

Laughter burst out at the host’s words.

‘This place has a different sense of brutality,’ Choi Yeonseung thought.

30 years ago, Choi Yeonseung’s world was simple. They fought if monsters came out, they entered if dungeons opened, and they trained in their spare time. During training, they didn’t have to worry about anything else. It was peaceful. Things were completely different now. The end of the world, an industry where tens of billions of dollars were just rolling around, hunters who cared about popularity over monsters...

This place was fierce in its own way.

‘But I won’t waver.’?Choi Yeonseung vowed. No matter the temptations or changes he’d face, he wouldn’t lose his real purpose here.

“Now! I’m here with the winner, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. Hunter Choi Yeonseung. That was a perfect match. Two rounds without a valid hit! How do you feel?”

“Just so-so.”

“......”

Choi Yeonseung’s answer made the host speechless. It was the same for the spectators around them! Usually, the winner would say things like ‘I’m happy’ or ‘I’m excited.’ If they went a bit further, they would say things like ‘the opponent was weak’...

Yet there wasn’t a single emotion like excitement or joy on Choi Yeonseung’s face.

‘Is it because he’s Asian?’

The host was amazed. Maximilian wasn’t an easy opponent. How could he be so aloof after beating an opponent like that?

The host was experienced. Words immediately jumped out even if he was feeling embarrassed. “I’m curious. Why do you feel that way?”

“Isn’t it obvious? My opponent was too weak.”

-Waaaaaaaah!

-Choi Yeonseung! The best!

The winner could be arrogant. Looking at what he showed today, Choi Yeonseung deserved to say that. The roars of the crowd proved this. No one called Choi Yeonseung cocky.

The host smiled at the enthusiasm. Choi Yeonseung had talent. The talent to become a star! There were hunters who didn’t gain fans even if they won because they couldn’t entertain. There were also hunters who had bad win rates but had fans due to their hot matches or words. Choi Yeonseung was the latter.

‘I’m certain, considering his character.’

A character like his would be popular enough.

“Is that so? Can you tell me how weak he was?”

“Let’s see... He’s like below a goblin or an orc.”

“Uhahaha!” The host laughed madly when the words ‘goblin’ or ‘orc’ popped out. How could he compare Maximilian to goblins and orcs?

“On the contrary, I was the one who was embarrassed. I didn’t expect him to be so weak. I didn’t want to say this...”

“?”

“During my time, there were no hunters without actual combat experience.”

"Kuhaha! That’s right! You’re a 1st generation hunter, right?”

“Don’t say 1st generation. I don’t like feeling old.”

“Ah. I’m sorry about that. Hunter Choi Yeonseung returned to the Abyss only to find out so much time had passed.”

‘I’ll never say that I’ve been in there for over 10,000 years.’

Choi Yeonseung nodded. There was nothing good about being treated like an old man! This scene was hot, but the response on the site where it was broadcasted was equally so.

-? ? ? ? Wow, 1st generation hunters are so cool.

-Who else is a 1st generation hunter?

-There aren’t that many still active. Dragon Hwang?

-Ah. That old man.

-Hey. Be careful. There are rumors that he used to track down those who swore at him and came with hunters.

-Really? Wow, that’s scary.

-He’s like a dog. Kids, sit down. I’ll tell you old stories.

-Grandpa, go away. I’m not curious about old stories.

-The generations of the great invasion are always talking about the great invasion.

The people present during the great invasion of the constellations liked to tell stories of that time. Many people died back then, but there were many heroes as well.

“Come to think of it, I should speak more carefully when dealing with Hunter Choi Yeonseung. You are from my father’s generation!”

“You can just speak casually.”

“Thank you! I wanted to be friends with you. Can I consider us as friends?”

Laughter burst out at the host’s humorous words.

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung is my friend! Wow! Everyone! Did you hear that? Hunter Choi?Yeonseung’s my?friend!”

Everyone clapped. When the laughter subsided, the host brought the topic back to the match.

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung. Was the strategy you used in the match prepared in advance?”

“He spoke so confidently that I wondered what his skills were like. That’s why I let him attack first...”

“Is that why you yielded the first attack?! I thought you were just reacting late!”

“There’s no way I’d involuntarily move slower than that sloth. I just waited for him to make the first move since I was confident I could avoid it.”

“You didn’t even avoid it. You deflected it!”

“That’s right.”

“I’ve never seen such a feat before.”

“Since I’m a martial artist... In fact, the thing that surprised me the most was when I came back from the Abyss and found out that the number of martial artists had decreased significantly.”

“Was that a martial arts skill? Can other hunters do it as well?”

“If they train.”

“Wow, I’m really looking forward to it! Now, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. There are other players here. If you have any plans for the future, let them know!”

UHC hunters naturally often came to watch the matches of other hunters since those could be their next opponent. However, Choi Yeonseung couldn’t recognize who was who.

‘There are many hunters here. Who are the ones taking part in the UHC?’

The host brought this up to make things more interesting and fun. A really interesting situation could be created if Choi Yeonseung pointed out someone. However, Choi Yeonseung exceeded his expectations once more.

“I’m sorry. I don’t see any faces I know.”

“...Uhahahaha! Uhahahat! I’m sorry! I asked you another stupid question! Of course, you won’t! The players sitting over there are the 28th-ranked Brenda, the 13th-ranked Max, and the 8th-ranked Han Sehui. Do you have any player you would like to fight?”

Each of the seated hunters stared at Choi Yeonseung with displeasure, interest, or coldness. Of course, Choi Yeonseung wasn’t shaken by such gazes. He answered nonchalantly.

“It doesn’t matter who it is.”

[You have lived a life worthy of your existence. The power of your existence has risen.]

[The skill ‘Overcome Oneself to Become Strong’ has been activated. The power of your existence has risen!]

[Millions of people know your name and are cheering for you! The power of your existence has risen!]

The rising power of existence. At this moment, he could feel the enthusiasm that countless people on Earth were sending to him.

‘I see. Is this the way to gain popularity?’ n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

[The ’Fighter of Sweat and Flesh’ favors you! You have received a soul stone.]

[The ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ is sending you a serious proposal.]

[......]

[The skill ‘Future Sight’ has been activated!]

“? ?”

The skill that he had received from the goddess had just been activated even though he had never used it before.

The Future Sight skill! Foreseeing the future was difficult even for the goddess, so it wasn’t something she could use at will. He couldn’t believe it triggered like this.

‘What?’

In front of Choi Yeonseung’s eyes, a wide desert and a splendid city appeared.

Las Vegas!

A giant monster crashed into it. It was a rock drake, a monster that looked like a dinosaur. The monster was at least a B-grade!

People screamed and buildings collapsed.

There was only one reason why monsters would invade cities like this. A dungeon wasn’t cleared within the time limit, allowing it to release the monsters within.

***

-Korean hunter Choi Yeonseung, returned from the Abyss!

-A spectacular return?in the?UHC... How are the people missing in the Abyss doing?

-1st generation Korean hunter, Choi Yeonseung. After returning from the Abyss, he debuted in the UHC. It seems like he got help from other Korean hunters...

The UHC was a league that not only the United States, but the world was paying attention to. If countries put their pride on the team-combat-focused SSL, then the best place to see the individual performances of hunters was the UHC. He played in the B-grade League, which had the most amount of attention, so it was only natural for articles to appear.

Korean fans were intrigued by the name Choi Yeonseung.

-A 1st generation hunter? Wow, 30 years ago? How did he return?

-He had to have been very lucky in the Abyss. How many months was he in the Abyss?

-They say he uses martial arts!

-Korea used to have many martial artists.

-I know all the names of 1st generation hunters, but this is my first time hearing his name. He doesn’t seem to be very famous.

-But isn’t he really good in combat? Look. He has everything.

-That Maximilian was a bastard, so it worked out well.

-Oh my. Another hunter has been lost. What is the government doing?

-He fell out in the United States. Wouldn’t the United States be crazy to give him up? I wouldn’t give him back either.

-The United States provides better treatment than South Korea. Honestly, their level of support is too different.

-Hey. Isn’t it very interesting that he is a martial artist?

The news also reached Lee Changsik’s ears. He was the vice clan leader of the clan Hwang Gyeongryong and Choi Yeonseung were in thirty years ago!

“Yeon... Yeonseung has returned?”

“Huh? Do you know him?”

Lee Changsik was called cold-blooded because he always had a calm and cold expression, yet he was amazingly so surprised!