Chapter 96
Seong-jun Lee's victory brought no small amount of surprise and admiration to the public.
However, those most shocked were hunters in the same field, especially high-ranking hunters of A-rank and above.
This was because, having experienced countless battles as hunters themselves, they knew better than anyone how absurd Seong-jun Lee's achievement of winning with a perfect 5-0 score was.
Sun-woo Park, an A+ rank hunter watching the video playing on TV in the middle of the room, was one of them.
"...Good heavens, was this kind of fight even possible?"
On screen, Hunter Seong-jun Lee was demonstrating skills worthy of being called an idol.
'I knew he was an amazing person, but...'
He was far surpassing expectations.
"Insane! This is truly insane!"
Just watching the screen made his heart burn with passion.
At the same time, a small desire began to bloom in a corner of his heart.
'...I want to see and absorb Hunter Seong-jun Lee's magnificence with my own eyes.'
How exhilarating would it be?
Having never felt such an emotion before, he couldn't even imagine it easily.
But he was certain that just facing him would bring tremendous satisfaction.
"It would be nice if I could see him in person just once..."
Strong longing shone in Sun-woo Park's eyes as his words trailed off.
* * *
While Seong-jun Lee's achievements were certainly remarkable, his direct actions had never been captured on video media before, so he hadn't gained much popularity compared to his reputation.
But this match with Yi-ryeong Kang was clearly recorded on video.
People couldn't help but cheer for Seong-jun Lee's overwhelming skill and dignity.
In fact, the keywords dominating newspaper headlines and real-time internet searches were all related to Seong-jun Lee.
Minority Gate's strength, friendly match, Seong-jun Lee and Yi-ryeong Kang,
Photos of Seong-jun Lee gaining victory with a matter-of-fact expression were circulating all over internet homepages, creating a sensational popularity.
Afterwards, glowing interviews were posted from Hunter Association staff and rookie guild members who had direct encounters with Seong-jun Lee.
Naturally, Seong-jun Lee's fame in South Korea grew even higher.
Of course, people emerged who frantically searched for anecdotes and photos related to Seong-jun Lee.
And currently, he was enjoying popularity that could be called nothing short of explosive.
└I've felt this since the Raid Gate, but Seong-jun is seriously so handsome, his looks are a blessing.
└Look at those eyes tinged red, seriously hits my taste
└Look at that indifferent gaze, it's so cool. So awesome.
└This is a real SSS-rank hunter!!
└The best, Lee Seong-jun!!
└Thank you so much to Hunter Seong-jun Lee for giving the gift of victory to my long-standing homeland.
└How many years has it been since we beat China? We should at least give him a commendation. I'd like to give him a medal if I could.
└Korea's strongest hunter. Go Seong-jun Lee!
Perhaps because he had given Korea a victory after so long, it further ignited people's hearts?
The internet was plastered with articles and comments praising Seong-jun Lee.
No, it wasn't just the internet.
At the apartment entrance, dozens of broadcasting staff including reporters and cameramen were swarming like ants.
"Many more reporters came than I expected."
Tae-hyun Ko, who gave a bitter laugh in response to Seong-jun Lee's wry smile, answered.
-I'm sorry... the reaction was much hotter than expected. I'll try to clear things up as quickly as possible.
"No need to go to the trouble, just leave them be."
-...Are you sure that's alright?
"This was done to draw attention in the first place, so you don't need to worry too much."
Perhaps thanks to the intense presence he showed in the earlier match with Yi-ryeong Kang, the reporters who came to cover him were maintaining their boundaries on their own without any special control.
Thanks to this, there was nothing particularly uncomfortable happening, nor anything that could be called a nuisance to nearby citizens.
'They do follow me every time I go out, but...'
If he really set his mind to it, he could easily shake them off.
Of course, that didn't mean there were no problems at all.
"I'd like you to pay some attention to my family members' privacy."
As mentioned earlier, he, Seong-jun Lee, as a hunter, could easily shake off reporters.
But his family couldn't.
Though they wouldn't dare make direct contact due to the pressure of Seong-jun Lee's existence, the reporters' gazes would constantly follow them.
They would inevitably feel considerable discomfort in their daily lives.
-I understand, I'll thoroughly take care of matters related to your family members' privacy.
"Yes, then I'll leave it to you."
After ending the call with Tae-hyun Ko, he turned the TV back on.
Just as he was checking the news articles about himself, Seong-jun Lee, among the incoming reports:
Seo-yun Lee, returning from the study room, entered the house.
"Did you see the reporters on the first floor? Our oppa has totally become a superstar."
"..."
Seeing Seong-jun Lee unable to open his mouth, Seo-yun Lee tilted her head.
"Why are you making that face? Is it because of the reporters following you around?"
There was no answer from Seong-jun Lee, but his shadowed expression was answer enough.
"Don't worry, how much has oppa sacrificed for our family? Do you think I can't endure this much discomfort?"
Seo-yun Lee broke into a bright smile and spoke again.
"No, apart from oppa's sacrifice, I didn't like those Chinese guys. Do you know what they said in the pre-interview? That it would be an honor just to fight against a great nation so we shouldn't mind losing? They were just spouting whatever came to mind, serves them right."
"At least they were polite with their words."
"It's genuinely good, honestly I never really understood things like national pride before, but when oppa beat Yi-ryeong Kang, I felt something welling up inside. Of course, being human, I felt a bit burdened by the reporters' gazes at first, but I'm not doing anything wrong and I'm just going to the study room anyway, so there's no real reason to worry about it."
Finishing her words, Seo-yun Lee gave a refreshing smile and a thumbs up.
"You're the best, oppa. Well done. Mom and Dad will understand too, right? No, they must be proud!"
"Thank you."
Seeing Seo-yun Lee's cheerful appearance, the weight that had settled in a corner of Seong-jun Lee's heart lifted a little.
Naturally, his usual bright smile began to bloom on Seong-jun Lee's face.
* * *
There's a reason for the saying that time heals all wounds.
After about a week passed, the talk and popularity surrounding Seong-jun Lee began to subside somewhat.
In fact, the number of reporters constantly waiting at the apartment entrance noticeably decreased, and those who had been following his family members also completely disappeared.
Of course, interest hadn't completely vanished.
He was still being steadily mentioned in media outlets like broadcasts and internet articles, and there were still reporters trying to follow Seong-jun Lee.
But it couldn't be called explosive like before.
It was no longer enough to cause discomfort in daily life.
After another three days or so passed like that, the number of reporters following Seong-jun Lee also clearly decreased.
'I guess there's no need to worry about it anymore.'
It was around the time Seong-jun Lee was thinking this to himself.
A variable appeared that made his earlier thoughts seem foolish.
'He's here again?'
He could feel the gaze of a man hiding his body from a distance of 500 meters.
He seemed to be trying to suppress his presence, but the burdensome emotions contained in his gaze were revealing the man's presence too intensely.
There was no problem since he wasn't posing any special threat or making contact.
But it wasn't that it didn't bother him.
No, rather it was making him even more concerned.
This was because the man had been following him and sending gazes for three whole days, from early morning until he returned home, without missing a single moment.
'What on earth is this?'
If he had been taking photos or recording notes like the reporters who followed before, he would have thought he was just someone with excessive passion for his work.
But the mysterious man showed no such actions.
He just watched from afar, sending gazes.
This alone could be called strange behavior, but moreover, the man had light footsteps that could never be considered those of an ordinary person.
'In terms of hunters, he has at least A-rank level skills.'
He wasn't the type of person to leisurely follow others without any purpose.
Curiosity piqued, Seong-jun Lee immediately kicked off the ground and closed the distance with the man sending gazes.
Whoosh-!
Since he had intended to close the distance from the start, there was no way the man following could react, even if he had A-rank level skills.
Indeed, the man in front of him who suddenly closed the distance opened his eyes wide like full moons and swallowed empty air.
"Hup-!"
But the man's surprise didn't last long.
Perhaps he had experienced his fair share of ups and downs as a hunter?
The man quickly composed himself and immediately bent his waist at a right angle to greet him.
"It's nice to meet you! I'm Sun-woo Park, an A+ rank hunter!"
From his polite attitude, the pure energy flowing subtly, and finally his clear eyes that could be called earnest, it was clear that Sun-woo Park had not approached with ill intentions.
That's why the questions grew even more.
'Sun-woo Park didn't reveal any particular affiliation.'
It meant he hadn't come to make a scouting offer.
There was no reason for him to keep following for as long as three days.
Seong-jun Lee's eyes narrowed at Sun-woo Park's behavior, which he couldn't understand at all.
"Why do you keep following me?"
At Seong-jun Lee's increasingly cold expression, Sun-woo Park hurriedly provided an answer to the question.
"I-I'm sorry! After seeing the video of the friendly match with China, I wanted to see Hunter Seong-jun Lee's face in person just once, so I came looking without thinking... Just watching from afar felt like such an honor that I ended up following you without realizing it."
It was an utterly unexpected situation, but Seong-jun Lee calmly nodded his head.
He couldn't help but do so, as he had encountered countless martial artists showing the same behavior as Sun-woo Park on the Thousand Continent.
'He's been captivated.'
Overwhelming martial arts, strength, held an irresistibly powerful charm.
It wasn't surprising for one's heart to be captured unknowingly.
This meant that, contrary to his earlier speculation, Sun-woo Park had been following him without any special purpose.
'While I can certainly understand the situation...'
Having someone's gaze constantly following wasn't a pleasant thing, so he had no intention of just leaving Sun-woo Park be.