“The Chaebol Hunter Who Returned from Hell” was a web novel that had characteristics of both chaebol (conglomerate) and hunter stories.

 

The protagonist, Choi Gang-hu, returned to Earth after wandering for about 300 years in the Abyss, a world teeming with monsters.

 

The story depicted both the power struggles that unfold when he returns after 10 years of being missing as the heir to a chaebol group, and his aspects as an overpowered hunter and new guild master uncovering the root cause of the great upheaval.

 

“Choi Gang-hu?”

 

Go Young-hoon stood up abruptly and muttered his name with a stiff expression. It was understandable for him to recognize and be tense, given how lately every TV channel, not just the news, had been noisily talking about the true heir of Gangseong Group returning.

 

“What brings such a famous person to this humble place?”

 

As Young-hoon quickly put on a friendly face and asked seemingly cordially, the thugs who were ready to pounce hesitated. The same went for the thugs who had failed to stop Choi Gang-hu and followed him in from outside.

 

Gang-hu’s gaze, which had been lingering on Ryu Seo-ha for a while, moved to Young-hoon. His terribly emotionless expression almost gave the impression that he didn’t see the person he was facing as a fellow human.

 

“I’d like to check Han Gaeul’s bond certificate.”

 

Han Gaeul. She was one of the many female characters swimming in the protagonist’s vast harem in this male-oriented novel. She had so much potential that Choi Gang-hu personally tried to recruit her as his guild member, and she actually becomes an S-rank hunter later on.

 

However, in the original story, the loan shark company Han Gaeul was indebted to wasn’t Young-hoon’s YH Capital. Could this be a butterfly effect due to business expansion?

 

“Then please discuss comfortably.”

 

Whatever the reason, it was best to quickly leave the scene. After all, illegal loan sharks in the original story literally became bloody pulps.

 

“Ryu Seo-ha, stop.”

 

Go Young-hoon showed his displeasure and prevented Seo-ha from escaping.

 

“I’m not done talking to you yet.”

 

“But we have a guest.”

 

“So what?”

 

“I’m an employee of YH Global, unrelated to YH Capital.”

 

“Stop talking nonsense and sit down.”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have a backlog of work.”

 

As Seo-ha bowed slightly and moved towards the exit, Young-hoon’s expression could be seen distorting. But it couldn’t be helped. If Young-hoon’s anger was like a small-scale typhoon that passes by annually, Choi Gang-hu was a cosmic catastrophe of planet-destroying scale just by existing.

 

Passing by the thugs who were just watching, unsure whether to block him or not, Seo-ha gave a slight bow to Choi Gang-hu, who was showing off a perfect suit fit.

 

Up close, he felt even bigger. Even the way he nodded slightly in response was like a work of art. It was impossible not to admire him, despite knowing his ruthless nature.

 

‘While you’re at it, I wish you’d burn my debt documents too.’

 

With such a dream-like thought, Ryu Seo-ha left YH Capital’s office and immediately went down to YH Global’s office one floor below. More precisely, to the bathroom on the floor below.

 

Cough.

 

As soon as he stood in front of the sink, he coughed up red blood and calmly turned on the tap. The way he rolled up his sleeves and wiped away the bright red blood on his mouth as if washing his face seemed very natural.

 

It had been like this since he was young. Frequently feeling dizzy, coughing up blood, and sometimes even fainting. His parents must have been incredibly worried watching him. Even thorough medical examinations always came back normal.

 

Status: Remaining lifespan 29 days 17 hours 32 minutes

 

Could those have been symptoms indicating he was terminally ill? Maybe he carelessly dismissed it as nothing serious because there was no pain. Ryu Seo-ha looked at his status window again in detail.

 

Sanctification: Creates a safe zone imbued with holy power. By consuming mana, it can nullify or amplify damage to targets within the designated area.

 

A unique ability, trait, that won’t overlap with any other awakened one.

 

Light of Healing (Lv1): Can heal external and internal injuries by consuming mana once every 10 minutes.

 

An ability given as a subcategory of the trait, initial skill.

 

‘Mana…’

 

They were all abilities where the mana stat was important.

 

Stats: Strength 1 / Agility 1 / Vitality 1 / Perception 1 / Magic Power 1

 

Ryu Seo-ha’s current stats were uniformly adjusted to match Level 1. According to research, if the average physical ability of non-awakened people were converted to stats, it would be about 0.6, so this was nearly a two-fold increase.

 

Still, with a mana level of 1, he could only heal shallow wounds at best. It was impossible for now to treat his collapsed older sister or remove his own unknown condition.

 

‘I need to level up.’

 

This was why he had to take the risk of entering dungeons. The problem was that he didn’t have much time left. He couldn’t be sure how much he could level up in a month, or if investing all his points in mana would be enough for self-healing.

 

A deep sense of helplessness washed over his entire body like a wave. Just like when he lost his parents and younger sister before his eyes, and when his older sister, who had always been a strong pillar, collapsed.

 

He closed his eyes tightly and then opened them, taking a slow deep breath. There was no time to just despair. He had to try something.

 

First, he decided to register as an awakened one and request personal protection while Young-hoon was distracted. Keeping his condition secret. After all, no place would invest in talent whose value would soon disappear.

 

“…!”

 

As Ryu Seo-ha was leaving the bathroom to contact the Awakened Management Bureau, he was startled and stepped back. Choi Gang-hu was leaning against the wall by the entrance.

 

“Why are you here…”

 

As he hurriedly backed away and stumbled, Choi Gang-hu grabbed his arm.

 

Magic Power 9

 

Ryu Seo-ha’s mana stat began to increase dramatically.

 

Magic Power 17

 

Magic Power 25

 

Magic Power 33

 

The number rose exponentially with each blink. It was an impossible situation. Ryu Seo-ha’s eyes widened. Choi Gang-hu also seemed to detect the anomaly, raising his handsome eyebrows high.

 

For an unknown reason, a chill ran down his spine. Reflexively, he shook off the hand holding his arm, and the feeling of every cell being filled suddenly stopped. Feeling dizzy, Ryu Seo-ha shakily leaned against the wall.

 

Magic Power 41

 

By then, his mana stat had surpassed 40. This was a number that could barely be achieved by investing all stat points earned up to level 40 in mana. It was an astonishing situation.

 

Choi Gang-hu, looking down at him with eyes as black as the depths of a swamp, didn’t seem to have intentionally infused mana.

 

There was no reason for him to do so, and it was impossible for the stat itself to increase like this. Even if only the mana capacity increased, it would be enough to make him a research subject.

 

“I thought it was my imagination.”

 

Choi Gang-hu muttered lowly and slowly reached out his hand again. His long fingers lightly touched the white cheek. As Seo-ha shrank his neck at the cool touch, the large hand cupped his entire cheek.

 

Magic Power 48

 

Magic Power 55

 

Magic Power 62

 

The rapidly rising number stopped abruptly as soon as Choi Gang-hu withdrew his hand. This confirmed it. Ryu Seo-ha’s mana stat increases rapidly when in contact with Choi Gang-hu. It was an extremely strange phenomenon.

 

“…Why.”

 

It didn’t make sense. The bizarre phenomenon of his mana stat rising on its own, Choi Gang-hu standing in front of him when he should be destroying YH Capital by now, attempting physical contact as if to confirm something.

 

In the original story, he was a man who disliked skin contact with anyone due to his near-obsessive wariness of the outside world. Looking up with confused eyes, Choi Gang-hu tilted his head with an unreadable expression.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

He quickly apologized first. After all, he knew well how cruel a tyrant the man before him was. He was a man who could commit massacres just because something annoyed him.

 

“For what?”

 

Choi Gang-hu, tilting his head askew, leisurely asked back while slowly scanning Ryu Seo-ha. Intently, from head to toe. His gaze was like that of someone closely observing an ant or a bean bug caught for experimentation.

 

At this point, Choi Gang-hu’s perception stat would be around 1500. About 25 times higher than the average of the world’s highest-level hunters. At this distance, it meant he could even detect changes in others’ mana capacity.

 

“If I have caused you any harm, I want to say that I had no intention of doing so.”

 

Like Ryu Seo-ha, Choi Gang-hu might have experienced some change. Since the phenomenon occurred after their contact. There was a risk of being suspected of having hostile intentions.

 

“What harm.”

 

Choi Gang-hu was a ruthless individual who wouldn’t hesitate to imprison and torture even colleagues he personally scouted if he suspected betrayal. He was the epitome of what people call a ‘satisfying psychopath’ character.

 

“…Like absorbing your mana or something.”

 

“Mana absorption?”

 

When Seo-ha hesitantly opened up about his condition, Choi Gang-hu smirked. Not that, then. Seo-ha felt a bit relieved at the response. At least it didn’t seem like he was in a bad mood.

 

“If you caused harm, you should compensate.”

 

But hearing the next words, he couldn’t help but bite his lip. He didn’t dare ask exactly what harm was done, or if any harm was really done at all. The demands of the strong are always rationalized.

 

“What should I do?”

 

Choi Gang-hu’s eyes narrowed at the resigned response.

 

“Are you willing to pay back?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“With your body.”

 

At such a nonchalant statement, Ryu Seo-ha doubted his ears for a moment. As he stood frozen, Choi Gang-hu twisted the corners of his mouth and held out his business card.

 

“I’d like to scout you for my guild.”

 

“…”

 

It felt like his remaining lifespan had been reduced by 15 days. Skillfully suppressing the urge to snap at him for speaking in such a way, he took a short deep breath.

 

Honestly, he had no desire whatsoever to work next to an unpredictable time bomb. But recalling how his mana stat had risen to 62 in the time it takes to drink a glass of water, could there be a sweeter offer than this?

 

“If it’s not rude, may I ask why?”

 

But he couldn’t just accept it without question. Even Choi Gang-hu couldn’t peek at someone else’s status window. It was impossible for him to know that Seo-ha was a healing-type awakened one. So why the scouting offer?

 

“I heard you’re the most capable in this industry.”

 

“…”

 

“Am I wrong?”

 

Come to think of it, the From Hell Guild that Choi Gang-hu was going to build from the ground up had Gangseong Trading, a subsidiary of Gangseong Group, as its major shareholder.

 

Given the active trading of various dungeon by-products, non-hunter office workers were also necessary. Related episodes appeared a few times in the original story as well.

 

“It would be even better if you could contract as a hunter too.”

 

Ryu Seo-ha put on a business-like smile. Politely accepting the business card with both hands.

 

“Thank you for the offer.”

 

In the original story, when some potential colleagues refused Choi Gang-hu’s scouting offers, he schemed behind the scenes to make them move according to his will.

 

One had his leg broken, and another nearly lost all his assets to fraud. If he didn’t accept immediately, he might suffer a similar fate.

 

“I’ll think about it positively and contact you.”

 

But he had to be cautious about the contract. Even if his life was in a critical situation.