Trait Absorption Hunter Hunter 269
269. 100 years later
Min Do-jun, with a wrinkled face, looked up at the ceiling.
‘Is this a hospital room?’
I can see that he’s fallen again, as the location has changed in the blink of an eye.
‘You’ve been doing this a lot lately.’
I feel weak these days, maybe because my body has become weak.
‘It’s fortunate that I didn’t get dementia.’
If you have dementia, there are no answers.
It’s like you don’t even remember what you’ve accomplished so far.
“Grandfather! Great-grandfather!”
Min Do-jun turned his gaze in the direction where the sound was heard.
A young man and woman in their late twenties were looking at me with worried eyes.
“Oh my, our lovely great-grandchildren. Have you come to see great-grandfather?”
“You’re cute to a grown kid. Grandpa too… … .”
Min Do-jun chuckled at the words of his grandson who was over 60 years old.
“When you’re my age, you’ll all look cute when you’re 100 years older.”
“How can I live as long as my grandfather? I’m not even a hunter… … .”
Min Do-jun briefly reminisced about the past years at his grandson’s words.
‘Time has already passed so quickly.’
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Min Do-jun’s marriage to Cha Ye-rin.
They made a hundred-year promise to live together for the rest of their lives, but they couldn’t keep their promise.
‘If Yerin were alive, we could have literally spent a hundred-year long journey together… … .’
Unlike Min Do-jun, who is 131 years old this year, Cha Ye-rin lived to be 100 years old before passing away.
‘I wish I could have gone and seen my cute great-grandchildren… … .’
Although it was unfortunate that Cha Ye-rin passed away without seeing her grandchildren, she lived a relatively long life for an ordinary person.
Min Do-jun asked his 60-year-old grandson.
“What about Suho? Is he well?”
“How are you, father? You’re a hunter.”
Hunters tend to live longer than ordinary people.
Even though it was only about 30 more years, I was able to see my great-grandchildren grow up like Min Do-jun.
“How old is Suho?”
“You turned 100 last year.”
Hunters awaken at the age of 20, reach their prime in their 30s or 40s, but gradually lose their energy after their 50s.
Because of this, there were no hunters over 60 years old, and most retired before their 40s.
Min Do-jun’s son, Su-ho, also became a hunter, but retired a long time ago.
“You’re saying you’re still healthy when you’re over 100 years old?”
“yes.”
“But why didn’t you come with me?”
“My aunt is very sick, so please go to the hospital there.”
“Seoyeon?”
Cha Ye-rin gave birth to her son Min Su-ho and two years later gave birth to her daughter Min Seo-yeon.
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
“Yes. They said it was a bit serious, so I stayed here and my father went over there.”
“Ugh… … .”
Min Do-jun let out a sigh of regret.
Seoyeon is an ordinary person, so unlike Suho, she cannot be sane.
‘I wish I could heal you with the power of healing, but it’s no use!’
Trauma healing is possible due to the trait, but disease and aging are not affected by the power.
Min Do-jun isn’t lying in the hospital bed for nothing.
Even he, the only max-level player in the world, could not stop aging.
‘What good is a high stamina stat? As you age, your stamina drops exponentially.’
But Min Do-jun knew intuitively that he was still holding on because he was a hunter.
That death is just around the corner.
“Video call Suho. I want to see my children’s faces one last time.”
“Oh, I see.”
The grandson immediately made a video call to his father, Suho.
-Son, what’s wrong?
“Grandpa said he wanted to see me. Just a moment.”
On the smartphone screen that the grandson showed, there was an old man who was over 100 years old.
His only son was Suho.
“Son.”
-Oh, father. Are you okay?
“I’m fine. How is Seoyeon?”
Then the angle turned and showed an old woman lying in bed with a haggard complexion.
-As you can see, I don’t like it.
“I see…….”
-How is your father? Is he okay?
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“… …Suho.”
-Yes, Father.
“Thank you for being born as my child.”
-What are you talking about all of a sudden?
“I want to say thank you to Seoyeon, but I can’t tell her in this state. I don’t know if we’ll have a chance to meet again.”
-Father. Now… … .
“Just listen quietly. This is my final will.”
-… … .
“You don’t know, but I went back in time to save your mother.”
-… … !
Min Soo-ho opened his eyes wide in the video.
I know very well that he is not the type of person to joke around in situations like this, having experienced it with my father, Min Do-jun.
“Do you know what that means? It means that I will do anything for the happiness of my family, to protect my people.”
-father…….
“You and Seoyeon. Your mother, and your grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
-… … .
“Dad will protect you all. So that you can live together forever without suffering.”
Min Soo-ho didn’t know.
What is my father talking about now?
But one thing was clear.
That she loves her mother, Cha Ye-rin, and her children so much.
“So… … until we all meet again someday… … stay healthy and well.”
With those words, Min Do-jun’s eyes closed.
* * *
-Father! Father!
‘I think I can hear Suho’s voice from somewhere… … .’
But what Min Do-jun saw was the underworld filled with gray fog.
‘In the end, he died.’
It was a life without regrets.
Enjoying a sweet newlywed life with Cha Ye-rin, raising Su-ho and Seo-yeon, and watching grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up.
I lived long enough to see everything there was to see, but then I lost my energy and died.
‘Even a level 9,999 hunter can’t help it when time passes.’
That was when.
[You were here? Mr. Min Do-jun.]
A blond-haired Westerner appeared.
[Hello? I am from the underworld… … .]
“Guide, Aira. Right?”
Eira’s eyes widened.
[Uh, how did you get my name… …?]
‘It seems that even the guide of the underworld has been affected by the return.’
Maybe because time had turned back, Aira couldn’t remember Min Do-jun.
“Stop being dumb and go to God to guide you.”
[Th, how is that… …!]
He knew from the beginning that God would come looking for him as soon as he entered the underworld.
Because I made a promise.
“Quickly. God is waiting.”
[Oh, I see.]
Aira made a nervous expression as she watched Min Do-jun extend his arm as if telling her to take him away quickly.
[Then, let’s go.]
Then, Aira grabbed Min Do-jun’s hand and ran quickly.
* * *
Death is equal.
No one can escape death, and everyone will go to the underworld.
And every soul enters the well of oblivion, where its memories are erased and it disappears.
But here, Min Do-jun is an exception.
Not yet.
[We meet again. Min Do-jun.]
“God.”
The shape of light.
God, Derkius was right before my eyes.
[It’s been a full 100 years since I last spoke in an EX-class dungeon.]
“That’s right.”
[I don’t know how long I’ve waited for the day we would meet again like this.]
“Does that mean you wanted me to die quickly?”
[Is that so? Hahahahaha!]
Min Do-jun rolled his eyes.
This is the first time I’ve heard God’s laughter.
‘Do believers have emotions?’
Min Do-jun chuckled and agreed.
“If I had known this would happen, I would have lived a moderate life and then died instead of living until I was shitting on the wall.”
[Haha, don’t say things you don’t mean. I already saw you die from above.]
“… … .”
[It’s touching to think that he wants to see his child’s face one more time before he dies.]
“Well, isn’t that what a parent feels?”
[I will protect you forever… … . He said something like that… … .]
“Because I promised.”
Min Do-jun looked back on the past.
* * *
Before exiting the EX-class dungeon.
After much thought, Min Do-jun said to God.
“I don’t think I can keep my promise.”
[What? So you’re saying you won’t commit suicide?]
“yes.”
[You really are… … !]
“God, aren’t you grateful to me?”
[What?]
“If I had not succeeded, mankind would have perished and God would have been in trouble.”
[So? Are you saying I owe you some kind of gratitude?]
“Of course. God owes me a debt.”
[If you had just given me a chance to return, what more could I ask for?]
“Return is good. But it’s a bit much to tell someone to commit suicide at their happiest moment just because their purpose has disappeared.”
[Didn’t you promise? You clearly agreed to that part… … .]
“There’s a saying in the human world: Promises are meant to be broken.”
[… … .]
“Of course, I’m not doing this on purpose. I’m demanding a fair price.”
[You succeeded, so you want a reward?]
“Yes. Even if it had failed, it would have been fine, but it succeeded. It saved not just a few dozen lives, but billions. Isn’t the reward too weak to just dismiss it as a regression?”
[Yes. Now that I hear you, I see that you have a point. Then tell me. What kind of compensation do you want?]
“It’s nothing. Please, forget about my promise to commit suicide.”
[Then you’re going to live until you die shitting on the walls?]
“Yes. I want to maintain this happiness for the rest of my life. Instead, I will retire from being a hunter and stop using my abilities. I will stop hunting monsters and even killing criminals. Isn’t this a reasonable proposal?”
[hmm…….]
“Instead, please allow me to use my power when my family is in danger. I think this much is acceptable, but… … .”
[Okay. Let’s turn a blind eye to that. It’s not that difficult of a request.]
“thank you.”
[Huh, it’s too early to be thankful. Even so, when you die, your memories will be erased and your body will disappear. Enjoy the happiness you desire to your heart’s content while you’re in this world.]
“Oh my God. Speaking of which… Is it possible for anyone to avoid the extinction of their soul?”
[Yes. A soul without a body is useless waste. Of course, I can make exceptions at my discretion, but if I deem it unnecessary, I have no choice but to destroy it. You probably know this from what Aira said, right?]
“I know. So, I’m going to make a new proposal to God.”
[proposal?]
“Please take my soul and that of my family.”
[You want me to collect them? Are you telling me not to destroy them?]
“Yes. Please God protect my soul and Cha Ye-rin’s soul, as well as my future family. If you only do that… … .”
Min Do-jun said after a while.
“I will do whatever God tells me to do.”
[What can you do?]
“Why don’t you use me as a guide like Aira?”
[The Grim Reaper position is full. Even if there is a spot, you can use another soul. There are more than enough people who want to become Grim Reapers.]
“Then why don’t you use it for something else?”
[What happened.]
“If you think about it carefully, you’ll find some use for it.”
[… … .]
As God remained silent, perhaps worried, Min Do-jun also quietly observed.
[Now that I think about it, I think there might be a use for it.]
“Then will you accept my offer?”
[Okay.]
* * *
Min Do-jun said, recalling the conversation in the dungeon.
“Do you remember the promise we made back then? That you would not destroy my soul or that of my family.”
[Of course, Min Do-jun.]
“I want to make sure you keep your promise.”
[I don’t know if you’re suspicious or meticulous… … Okay. Bring it over here.]
After a while, Eira brought someone.
“Oh, brother?”
It was Cha Ye-rin who died first.
“Yerin!”
The spirit of Cha Ye-rin, who died 31 years ago, was still alive and well.
[Do you believe me now? I am a God who keeps promises.]
“thank you.”
“Oh, Oppa! I never thought I’d see you here… … .”
Cha Ye-rin shed tears of emotion.
I wanted to wipe away the tears, but I couldn’t.
Because it was a soul, the hand passed right through the face.
“Is it impossible for souls to touch each other?”
[Yes. Souls without authority cannot feel any sensation. Of course, it is possible if you increase your authority… … .]
“Please raise it.”
[Before that, Min Do-jun, don’t you have something to do with me?]
“… … What’s going on?”
[It’s similar to what I asked you to do last time. It’s a simple task that requires solving a problem in a different dimension.]
Min Do-jun’s expression became serious.
‘Are we going to kill someone again?’
I don’t know the exact mission, but I had to follow God’s words.
Because only when you keep your promise can your family members who come after you be saved.
[Since we don’t have time, let’s postpone the joy of our reunion. If I succeed this time, I’ll let you touch me to your heart’s content. Hehe.]
“… … Okay. Let’s go.”
“Where are you going, Oppa? Where are you going?”
Min Do-jun looked back at Cha Ye-rin, who had an anxious expression.
“I have a promise with God here.”
“Promise? What kind of promise?”
“Don’t worry, just wait. I’ll be back soon.”
“Oppa? Oppa!”
The soul doesn’t age anyway.
If we don’t disappear, we can be together forever.
‘You never know. God might break his promise like flipping a coin.’
Although he pretended to follow God on the outside, Min Do-jun did not believe in God.
‘Just wait and see. I will find a way to keep my family safe, no matter what.’
To enjoy eternal happiness with your family without being destroyed by gods or anything like that.
That was the true happiness that Min Do-jun desired.
-Part 1 Complete-
Hello, readers.
After eight months of serialization, Part 1 has finally ended.
Huh? Why is it called Part 1 Complete and not Complete?
Originally, I was planning to save Cha Ye-rin’s soul, finish it with a happy ending, and prepare for the next work.
Min Do-jun leaves behind a lingering feeling to solve the problems of another world.
But when I actually wrote it, I realized that it couldn’t be considered a perfect happy ending in terms of the story.
Because it ended without being able to escape the restraints of the absolute being called God.
So, I decided to finish Part 1 here and start planning Part 2.
Some people may be disappointed that the story is not over, while others may welcome it.
I will do my best to continue on like this until the end.
For your information, the first part of the side story is the last one uploaded today.
I prepared this briefly because I thought that if I wrote more, the publication of Part 2 would be delayed.
Then, after about two weeks of preparation, I will come back with Part 2 with Yeoncham on Monday, August 31st.
Thank you for supporting us and breathing together with us.
We will prepare well to show you a more interesting story in Part 2.
Well then, I look forward to working with you in the future!
