Evolution Theory of the Hunter

Chapter 4

So what youre saying is that whatever this thing drops is yours? For a civilian, youre not stupid.

The boy said this in a tired voice as if it was really a waste of his time. It seemed he didnt want to turn around and leave empty handed after coming out all this way. But this was a rule that all hunters abided by.

For someone who had level 5 quality equipment, I was sure they could go without a dropped item or two and be just fine. In any case, all that would drop from this monster would be a monazite or a bastnazite. Though it differs by weight, if you sold it, itll probably amount to 1,000 dollars if anything.

Of course this looked to be about a level 4 monster so there was a possibility of a more expensive item. But it would be 10,000 dollars at the most. There was zero chance these guys would ignore the hunter rule for something that costs so little to them.

Im a porter. Thats why I know that much.

Hm.is that right? But there isnt any witness who can say that you killed it now is there?

If you dont believe me go and watch the CCTV? You can probably see it in the cars blackbox too,

Ah, is that so?

The boy responded as if it were a pity and turned back around. The monster was starting to disappear.

Lets go. The cops will be here soon. Theres no point in us being investigated for dallying around.

The girl in the red said. I could see her regular clothes under the leather armor, which meant this was a summon type armor. From what I heard, summon type armor is known to be at least over 100 million at the cheapest. Christ almighty. It makes you wonder what kind of people their parents are to easily buy these things for their kids as if it were nothing.

Wait. We came all this way. We should at least see what drops before we go.

So you can steal it if its something expensive?

The girls lip curled up a bit in derision. She obviously said it to get a rise out of him but the boy pretended he didnt care.

Even if it is me, I wouldnt do something as low as that. Im just curious, that is all. Wondering what exactly would drop for Mr. Civilian Porter.

Do what you want.

Listening to the two hunters conversation, I felt a bit uncomfortable and stared off at the dead body of the monster. Even though the guy said that, it still didnt put my heart at ease. If possible, I was even hoping that something cheap would fall out.

Look here. Civilian. This is probably fate too so we should at least exchange names. Im Storm Storms Ahn Kyubum. That girl over there is Setting Moon Swords Kim Sowul.

The word Civilian in and of itself was a neutral word but every time he said it, it sounded like it could very well be a curse word.

Jeon Sangmin. Level 2 Porter.

Oh? Really? That means you have some skill. If youre a level 2 porter at that age, that means you must be pretty good right?

Even if I was really good, I was no Level 5 Hunter.

Ah ah. Dont look at me like that. Seriously. We both know that a hunter and a porter live in two completely different worlds. Ah. Who knows. Maybe if you work hard for 10 years then you just might be able to go into a dungeon with me. You know, people at high levels dont really use porters but Im different. Because if there isnt someone following behind me to pick up all my things, it gets pretty annoying you see?

Thank you for thinking of me but I have no thoughts on ever entering a Level 5 dungeon. I only have one life.

Did I say I was Level 5?

I made an educated guess. Expensive gear on top of not being afraid in approaching a Level 4 monster I assumed you would be Level 5 at the least.

Good eye. But I could also be higher than a Level 6 then, no?

If you were at that level, you would never have come around all the way here for this.

I guess youre right. Youre pretty smart.

Something anyone can do honestly.

My guess was right. Well, its not really something to celebrate. And having to listen to all this crap from a guy whos probably a couple years younger than mesheesh.

Truth be told, there is never really a porter who would go into a dungeon higher than a level 4. Without any skill, you couldnt hope to come out alive after going up against a level 4 monster. There is no way a hunter would give a damn about a porters life so your best bet was to just never put yourself in that situation in the first place. And on top of that, any use a porter can bring to a hunter is null and void at that level.

This is because there is almost no one who enters a level 4 and up dungeon for leisure. I mean, who in their right mind would willingly go into a dungeon for fun where you could easily die from one false move. Now that I think about it, anyone who enters a level 4 dungeon is either a skilled hunter who goes there to gain a super rare item or to periodically clear a dungeon to keep it from getting congested.

Seeing that it was so dangerous, porters were barred from entering any dungeons that were level 4 and higher. But laws are there for people who will abide by them. Those who dont listen wont. Every so often you will hear of a porter dying inside of a high level dungeonwhich makes you wonder who really enforces that law.

Well, if thats the case then

Ahn Kyubum just shook his shoulders and turned to look at the disappearing monsters body once more. I shook the dirt off my butt and got up.

Where do you think youre going?

Instead of just sitting here, I should probably go and rescue those people instead.

I pointed to the people still passed out in the cars. The cars involved in the collision were about 7. From there only 4 people were ok and had left their vehicles while the driver of the car that had first hit me and 3 more people were still in their broken cars.

I see. Have fun.

You dont want to help?

Me? Why?

Ill help.

Kim Sowul came forward. I said thank you with a nod and went with her to get the passed out drivers from their cars. None of them sustained any real injuries thanks to their airbags. That was a relief. This could definitely have ended much much worse.

Whew. Thanks. It looks like we pretty much got them all. It seems no one really got hurt so as soon as we get them loaded up into the ambulance, they should be just fine.

I made another thank you gesture to Kim Sowul. A hunter doing this of their own accord is a very rare thing. This is probably because they are used to others bowing down to them. Add to that, she even touched a civilian. I can honestly say Ive never seen that happen.

After laying down all the wounded into a row for the ambulance, I returned to where the truck was. It seemed it would take a long time for the monster to disappear. I sat on a stone nearby and watched the slowly evaporating monster. In that time, the ambulance finally appeared to take the wounded away. It was strange that the police sirens I had heard earlier still didnt appear.

What? Is that a skillbook?

Ahn Kyubum had uttered.

What?

I jumped up from my seat in surprise. What was left over from the monsters disappearance was most certainly a skillbook. Just like the word, a skillbook is a bookliterally. The cover and thickness of it was pretty thin but it had the telltale sign of a true skillbook its reflective cover.

Oh ho. Would ya look at this?

Ahn Kyubum quickly snatched at the skillbook before I could. It was a relief that you could only acquire the properties of a skillbook from reading it cover to cover and it wasnt something you could get instantly. And I was sure this bastard already had a skillbook so he probably wasnt going to read it and risk losing his current one to be replaced by a lesser one.

Ahn Kyubum looked at me briefly before saying.

This bastard has some luck doesnt he? To think that he could get a skillbook in one try

He licked his lips as he looked back and forth from me to the skillbook. It was killing me. I walked toward him with an outstretched arm.

I could see the corner of his lip turn up into a cruel smile.

What? You want it? Well, you did say it was yours huh? Then here, take it.

After saying that, he stretched out the skillbook to me. As soon as I tried to take it, he pulled his arm back and started cackling.

That quickly? Let me just look at it real quick to see what kind it is.

Come on just give it to him. Its something you wont need anyway.

Kim Sowul said. Not only was she beautiful but she had the heart of an angel. My love. I turned to look at her. She must have seen the desperation in my face. She let out a sigh and walked toward her partner.

Whats the price?

Umwait.

Ahn Kyubum turned to the next page. The laughter in his face was immediately replaced with a much more serious expression. Looking at it, I thought it could even be a rare skillbook. Shit. If it was anything higher than a 5 Level item, I was pretty sure he wouldnt let it go easily.

I began to let out a silent prayer that it was a useless and cheap skillbook. Because if he decided to steal it, I knew I couldnt just lay down and let it slide. Kim Sowul snatched at the skillbook and read the page. Then she started laughing like crazy.

What is this? Level 0? Theres a skillbook like this? Since when?

I know. This is the first time Ive ever seen a Level 0 skillbook. Oh no. You must have been so excited. Im so sorry. L Sadface.

Ahn Kyubum kept snickering as he looked at me. Did he purposely make that face to trick me into getting excited? What. A. Jerk.

But I was grateful that he wouldnt steal the skillbook. Even if it was level 0, who knows! It could be worth some money. Even a level 1 skillbook sells for about 1 million dollars so if it was a Level 0 one, Im pretty sure I can make at least 10,000 dollars. You could say that it was much better than even getting a monazite!

Even though its not something wed want, Im pretty sure that it could be very useful to a porter.

Kim Sowul tossed the skillbook to me. I caught the book in two hands and carefully hid it in my clothes for safekeeping.

This brat. Im not going to steal it so dont worry. Who the heck would steal something like that.

It might be useless to you but not to everyone.

I had retorted on reflex. And I knew the moment I said this.

That I was screwed.

I didnt even have time to apologize.

Slam!New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on no/vel(b)in(.)co/m

huh?

Slam!

Ahn Kyubum had grabbed my hair in his fist and slammed my head down right into the ground. I didnt even see him coming. I held back a moan with my head still on the ground. I had an intuition that I should not open my mouth.

Slam!

Shit. It felt like all the bones in my head would shatter. What the heck kind of monster strength was this? Shit. No matter how strong his armor was, to unleash this kind of power from such a small arm was ridiculous.

Will you stop? It doesnt look good.

Kim Sowul tried to calm him down. Damn. I was so so thankful for those words.

Youre taking the civilians side?

Yeah.

But then again. You used to be a civilian too.

Ahn Kyubum returned teasingly.

Didnt we agree that we wouldnt talk about that.

Oh, did we? Im sorry. I guess I have faulty memory.

Slam!

Euk

I couldnt hold back any more and let out a small moan. It really felt like my skull would rip apart. This bastard. Who does he think he is. Kim Sowul spoke again.

Are you trying to kill him?

Im thinking about it.

Theres a lot of people here.

Who cares.

Ahn Kyubum retorted as he cackled a bit.

This was dangerous. Is he really trying to kill me? He must be joking right? To think that hed kill a human so easily. Thats crazy.

ROOOOOOOAR!

At that moment, we could hear the cry of another monster. From the sound of it, it was at least 500 meters tall. It seemed that there was one more. I could now hear the police sirens once more. This was probably the reason why the police hadnt come here until now.

Kim Sowul spoke as she faced the sound of the commotion.

I guess thats the other one. Leave him alone.

This guy. He really has good luck now doesnt he.

Ahn Kyubum finally let go of my head. After letting out a sigh of relief, I held back my breath again in case he changed his mind. Seeing me like that, Ahn Kyubum let out a booming laugh. When I stared at him blankly, he responded.

Keu Keu Keu. You wont die. Bastard. I was just playing around. To think you took it to heart.

Stop. We should get going.

Alright. I was just about to go anyway. Maybe well see you again. Civilian.

Ahn Kyubum jumped several meters high into the air and ran with such speed that he disappeared in an instant. Kim Sowul glanced at me for a second before disappearing just as quickly.

Whew.

I wobbled as I stood up. As I stretched out here and there I could feel that my back was a bit raw. It felt like I may have bruised my rib bone or something. On top of getting hit by a damn car, after the beating from Ahn Kyubum, there was no way I was fine.

But todays work wasnt over yet. The bus station was pretty much gone, but the bus should still be in working order. I figured since I could still move around, I should finish up this evenings job and then go to the hospital afterward. What. A. Day.