Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Kang Jin-hyuk activated his skill and immediately scrutinized the karma values of the men who had followed him in.

“All of them are over 300…”

Just by looking at the karma values alone, it became more credible to suggest that the man approaching Lucia was in cahoots with them.

“Why didn’t I notice those guys in the street?”

“They were watching me in places like alleys where it’s hard for people to see.”

“How did you figure that out?”

“Don’t underestimate my senses; they’re more developed than yours.”

Elves possess heightened senses that prevent them from getting lost in even the most complex, maze-like woods.

Even though Lucia was a half-elf, she inherited many of the advantages typical of elves.

It was nearly impossible to hide from her if they weren’t far off.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

A brown-haired man returned with cocktails in hand.

To anyone unaware of the situation, he appeared to be just a handsome guy approaching with a friendly smile.

However, from Kang Jin-hyuk’s perspective, who was observing the karma values, he couldn’t accept the man with a smile.

He glared intently at the cocktail the man offered before standing up.

Lucia noticed that his expression was serious as if he was about to do something major.

‘What’s going on? I thought we were just going to observe for a while?’

Although she hinted that he should hold back for now, Kang Jin-hyuk didn’t pause in his actions.

He boldly approached, grabbed the cocktail, and thrust it before the brown-haired man’s face.

“What did you put in this?”

The abruptness of his question caused the brown-haired man to catch his breath and step back.

“What do you mean by that?”

Kang Jin-hyuk didn’t miss the cold sweat trickling down the man’s forehead.

Normally, he would not have suspected anything, but now the visible values made him uneasy.

Understanding the situation, Lucia also stood up beside him.

“Did you see something?”

Kang Jin-hyuk nodded.

“Yes, the moment he handed the drink, the values increased.”

“That practically seals the deal.”

While Kang Jin-hyuk and Lucia discussed topics only the two of them understood, the men nearby began to notice the unusual atmosphere and moved towards their table.

“Just tell me what you mixed in the drink.”

“I don’t understand why you’re talking like that!”

The brown-haired man, appearing aggrieved, shouted, leading the attention of those around them to shift in their direction.

Yet, Kang Jin-hyuk remained unfazed, knowing he had solid evidence to back him up.

“Then taste it yourself.”

As the man glanced hesitantly at the cup being offered to him, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“This is really annoying.”

Instantly wiping the cheerful smile off his face, the man turned away and prepared to leave.

With a heavy blow, his kick landed firmly on Kang Jin-hyuk’s side.

Assuming the force behind it would be considerable, Kang Jin-hyuk, who carried the average weight of a man, was sent flying over two meters, crashing through tables as he landed.

Seeing this, the brown-haired man felt victorious.

“That guy should have just submitted quietly. Why act tough without knowing his place?”

While sneering at Lucia, who was left beside him, the man’s false smile reflected his true colors and instinctively provoked disgust.

“If you want to avoid a rough time, drink this and sleep it off.”

“Did you put sleeping pills in this?”

“Haha, as if you didn’t know what you were getting into.”

The brown-haired man swiftly turned to scold the handful of patrons observing them.

“Why are you all staring? If you don’t leave here right now, you’re all dead!”

Startled by his booming voice, the onlookers quickly packed their belongings and exited the bar.

After the bystanders left, the remaining men locked the doors firmly behind the departing patrons.

“It felt peculiar that they all so obediently followed.”

He had originally assumed luck was on their side due to the captivating beauty of the half-elf.

However, the brown-haired man now felt discomfort as things began to spiral out of control.

“Looks like you intentionally trailed us… who sent you? Are you cops?”

Mistaking Kang Jin-hyuk and Lucia as agents sent to trail them, he pressed for answers.

“Just curious about something.”

Lucia’s answer only confirmed his suspicions.

“Right, I thought so…!”

With a nod, the brown-haired man signaled for others to surround Lucia, forming a circle.

“Aim for the face. Let’s not lower the price of our goods.”

Upon receiving his command, the surrounding men inched forward as if ready to pounce.

As Lucia reached into her pocket to draw a dagger, she sensed their movement nearby and hesitated.

Remaining composed as if nothing had changed, she smiled gently.

“I’m not interested in whatever you’re selling; I’ll take your faces first.”

Before the brown-haired man could question what she meant, Kang Jin-hyuk burst out from behind a shattered table.

He had been too late to counterattack after observing, but with a burst of speed, he swung his fist before the brown-haired man could react.

The punch traveled in a straight line and hit the center of the man’s face.

With a loud “thud,” blood sprayed, and he was sent crashing into the bartender’s area, shattering several liquor bottles in the process, resulting in the man collapsing with no sign of getting back up.

“So that’s a new skill of yours?”

Lucia’s keen gaze narrowed in on the red aura surrounding Kang Jin-hyuk’s fist.

That aura felt distinctly different from the divine power or mana—

While divine power appeared more defensive and mana seemed balanced,

The aura Kang Jin-hyuk radiated had an aggressive edge, resembling a wild beast.

“I didn’t want my first test to be against a human.”

Hunters are supposed to capture monsters, not humans.

Moreover, as someone who had just recently killed a person, striking another held greater reluctance.

“Then let me step in.”

It had been agreed upon from the start that she would deal with the humans attacking them, as Lucia had asked Kang Jin-hyuk to manage things for her when they ventured outside.

Yet, Kang Jin-hyuk felt reluctant to just hand things over to her.

This was not due to a desire to play the hero or to avoid watching from behind her.

“Absolutely not.”

“Why not?”

“You plan to kill them all, don’t you?”

Rather than deny it, Lucia mischievously stuck out her tongue.

Kang Jin-hyuk sighed, realizing as expected that her killer intent was genuine.

“I’ve never left any of these men alive who came at me for vengeance. If you don’t want to see them all dead, then give it your all.”

The cold grin she wore only confirmed that she wasn’t bluffing—

The grim fate awaiting these men was indeed one of dying.

Kang Jin-hyuk shivered slightly at the notion.

“What a nightmare.”

The fact he had to stand against people like them to prevent their death was absurd.

‘Still, it’s beneficial to keep them alive for intel…’

Kang Jin-hyuk tried to convince himself to see the positive sides of the situation, but the men closing in on him squashed his morale.

“What the hell are these two spouting off?”

The men felt grievously offended with every insult, anger as a response was the last thing they anticipated.

One of them bellowed angrily, narrowing his eyes at Kang Jin-hyuk.

“Don’t talk back to us and just die!”

Kang Jin-hyuk bent his body forward, swinging a mighty punch that smashed into a nearby pole.

The resounding crack and fragmentation of the concrete column confirmed they were not ordinary men.

“These guys really are hunters.”

Since being hit squarely by the brown-haired guy, he had intuitively guessed as much.

Yet, it was rather disheartening to realize that a group of so many hunters was gathered just for a single woman…

“A hunter should be hunting monsters instead of bullying women…”

“Only if we had any monsters to hunt!”

“Are you saying we’re standing here idly?”

The men expressed indignation with matching grumbles as the frustration only grew louder.

“So, this is how you’ve chosen to act? Pathetic excuses for men!”

Given that normal individuals wouldn’t take to crime despite troubling circumstances meant their self-proclaimed plight was absurd.

As if realizing how senseless they sounded, Kang Jin-hyuk felt a surge of strength rush into his hands and feet.

“Ugh!”

A fierce punch struck one man’s elbow, causing him to stagger back and scream as he recoiled in pain.

Seizing the opportunity, Kang Jin-hyuk inserted his left foot into the man’s midsection.

While his aim was essentially to aim for a serious blow, he dropped it as he judged focusing on vulnerable areas might invite unnecessary risks.

Bam!

With a heavy thud, the burly man fell, shaking the room like an earthquake.

The commotion cascaded through Kang Jin-hyuk chest, emboldening him, while a quiet fear crept over the remaining men, uncertain if they had chosen the right target.

“F***! What the hell are we doing, fighting one man?”

“Let’s all go at him together!”

Seven men charged towards Kang Jin-hyuk simultaneously from all sides.

Lucia hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to help or step back, but the calm expression on Kang Jin-hyuk’s face prevented her from moving further.

‘Huh? He seems confident.’

Comparing him to the other men made her admiration even clearer.

Those who could handle aura maintained a substantial advantage over those who could not.

Even if they were outnumbered, possessing confidence was only to be expected.

‘They’re realizing now how far they’ve underestimated him.’

It was long believed that in battles, willpower played a pivotal role.

Even the most skilled fighters might falter if they fought hesitantly.

Recognizing their limitation with conviction reaped confidence in the current predicament.

‘But he mustn’t overreach.’

Lucia felt her worry fade as she noted that Kang Jin-hyuk tackled each incoming attack prudently.

His approach, deftly dodging and countering each strike, exuded confidence.

In that moment, she truly felt relieved in observing the benefits of refining Kang Jin-hyuk’s skills while they were together in the dungeon.

“Urrgh!”

The men who had failed their strikes could barely recover before getting one-hit-KO’d by his counter.

Despite their brute strength, they couldn’t summon the necessary resilience against Kang Jin-hyuk.

Every time they stumbled, they would find themselves on the floor, unable to rise again.

While a few managed to stand, they faced an immediate follow-up from Kang Jin-hyuk, who beat them down again without mercy.

Frantic faces contorted their expressions, hardly showing any intent to stand again.

Nevertheless, the moment their resilience fluctuated felt like an opening that might render them a ready opportunity.

As the tension settled, Kang Jin-hyuk took a deep breath and observed the situation.