2

PRESIDENT GO’S PROPOSAL

It wasn’t a bad proposal. With the support of President Go, even a regular non-awakened person would be on the fast track to success. Congress, the government, the association, or even the media—it was hard to find a sector President Go’s influence didn’t reach. So for an S-rank hunter holding President Go’s endorsement…

The sky would be the limit.

Jinwoo pictured himself in a sharp suit sitting next to Congressman Go. His heart fluttered.

This is pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

After all, this wasn’t a path just anyone could take because they felt like it. However, there was a catch that hadn’t been addressed.

If I join the association, I can’t level up anymore.

High-rank hunters who worked for the association weren’t expected to go out in the field. Their main job was dealing with other hunters, not magic beasts. Even if he received permission to attend an association raid…

The association deals only with the D- or E-rank dungeons that guilds won’t bother with.

Would he be content with cleaning up low-rank monsters that no longer gave him experience points? No, he couldn’t be.

I want to become even stronger.

He wanted to advance as much as he could, climb as high as possible. If it were unachievable, he might have surrendered, but to give up when he knew it was still attainable? No way in hell.

As long as I keep leveling up, I can continue to develop my power.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

He felt more excited now than when he was imagining a place for himself next to President Go.

Gunhee also noticed a change in Jinwoo.

His breathing has sped up. Has he finally made a decision?

He was hoping for good news.

No, it absolutely has to be good news. I don’t have much time left……

President Go’s heart pounded as fast as Jinwoo’s while he awaited the young hunter’s answer. Every second felt like a minute.

Jinwoo opened his mouth. “I’m sorry.”

President Go froze.

He looked so determined about something, though…… Was I seeing things?

He couldn’t hide his disappointment.

In the end, Jinwoo Sung only amounted to this…

President Go’s offer hadn’t been an empty promise. In fact, he’d intended to give much more than that.

The first S rank in two years……

He’d planned to keep Jinwoo close and to teach him everything he knew. And if Jinwoo demonstrated himself capable, President Go would have trained him to be his successor, as they needed someone very powerful to hold the association together when President Go was gone. In other words, he’d been ready to give Jinwoo everything he had.

And yet, this was the result.

I’ve become a laughingstock.

President Go grumbled as he lowered his arm with the gold badge. “……Is it because of money?”

Jinwoo replied immediately. “No, sir.”

President Go snorted in his mind.

They all talk the talk, but…

On the inside, they were the same. It always came down to money, and it was icing on the cake if fame followed. Of course, greed was a basic human instinct, so President Go didn’t fault him for it. He’d simply grown weary of people who couldn’t be honest.

“Then why did you reject my proposal?” Even though he knew the answer, President Go asked Jinwoo anyway, solely to observe the young man’s reaction. But…

“I want to hunt,” Jinwoo replied without hesitation.

It hit Gunhee like a freight train.

What did he say?

Gunhee felt like he’d had the wind knocked out of him. “You mean… You want to hunt magic beasts?”

“Yes.” Jinwoo discarded any superfluous details in his explanation and spoke his truth. “I want to go through gates and kill magic beasts. That’s where I belong.”

Unbelievable.

President Go was shocked. A man occupying a position above so many could tell when someone was lying or telling the truth by looking them in the eyes, as the ability to do so was a crucial tool to achieve such a position in the first place. That was how President Go could tell.

Those eyes… He’s telling the truth.

The way President Go was looking at Jinwoo completely changed.

When was the last time I felt like this?

Gunhee had already been past his prime when he was first awakened, so instead of fighting magic beasts, he’d contributed in another way. He’d established the association using the money gained from selling his business, gathered hunters, and used his popularity to enter Congress and pen laws for hunters. However, despite all his achievements, he held on to one fundamental regret he couldn’t shed.

If I were twenty or even ten years younger, I could’ve fought alongside young men like him……!

Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump.

President Go placed his hand on his chest. His heart, which was in danger of stopping at any moment, was now racing.

To think my heart could still sound like this.

The steady beat lifted his mood.

On the other hand, Jinwoo was nonplussed.

Strange…

When he’d refused the president’s proposal, he’d been ready for the possibility of the association cutting ties with him, but instead, President Go actually seemed pleased.

Well, I guess it doesn’t matter either way……

He’d said everything he wanted to say. Jinwoo stood. “I should get going. My sister is home alone.”

“Thank you for your time.” President Go stood up after him, then fished something out of his inner breast pocket and handed it to Jinwoo. “Take this.”

It was his business card.

……?

“If you ever need my help, please feel free to contact me anytime.” President Go beamed. Jinwoo’s words were correct. Powerful hunters belonged in the dungeons, fighting. Even though he’d failed to recruit Jinwoo, as the president of the Hunter’s Association and a fellow hunter, Gunhee wanted to do what he could to help Jinwoo. To put it more bluntly…

I like this young man.

He had some advice to impart as well. Though it could be seen as nagging, in his defense, nagging generally came from a place of concern. “It’s impossible to raid high-rank dungeons on your own, so please be very prudent when choosing a guild.”

Especially given that his choice would make huge waves.

An enigmatic smile flashed across Jinwoo’s face for a brief moment at President Go’s heartfelt advice. “Thank you.”

Jinwoo put the business card in his wallet and left after exchanging quick good-byes with President Go and Jinchul.

“Whew…” President Go flopped back down in the chair as he let out a sigh.

“Are you okay, sir?” Appearing beside the elder man, Jinchul assumed President Go wasn’t happy.

But President Go waved him off with a grin. “Yes, I’m fine.”

Of course he was. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed meeting someone like this. President Go basked in the feeling for a bit before turning to his secretary and giving an order. “Clear my entire schedule for the day, will you?”

“But you have that meeting with the cabinet members…”

“Cancel everything, no exceptions.” A grin spread across his face at his own words. “I don’t wish to waste this feeling on those fossils today.”

He wanted to ride this high for at least the day. Suddenly, President Go’s eyes snapped to Jinchul. Jinchul was thrilled seeing the president’s smile, which was a rare sight. “Did you have something you wanted to say to me, sir?”

“Nothing important, just……” Gunhee hesitated a second and tapped his chin. “Would you like to have a drink with me?”

Jinchul offered an awkward grin at the unexpected invitation. “I’m not very good at holding my alcohol… Is that okay with you, sir?”

“Huh, I didn’t peg you as a lightweight.” Gunhee playfully tutted. “Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘The size of the glass a man can drink determines the size of his world’?”

“Apologies, sir.” Jinchul sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck and blushed.

“I’m kidding. I’m in such high spirits that I’m in the mood to joke.” Truth be told, Gunhee actually had someone else he wanted to drink with. He turned his gaze toward the hallway through which Jinwoo had left.

Hunter Jinwoo Sung……

How much could he drink? Gunhee smiled wistfully as he hoped to share a drink with Jinwoo someday.

Skrrrt.

Fshhh.

Jinwoo stepped off the bus. He’d used Jinah as an excuse to leave, but when he checked his watch, he realized it wasn’t quite time for her to come home. He leisurely made his way to their apartment.

Zzzt, zzzt.

He turned at the unfamiliar sound and noticed a streetlight blinking like it was about to go out. Upon a second glance, the surrounding area seemed too dark. Because they were quite a ways from the city center, dark and secluded places were a stone’s throw from the main road.

A memory of a recent headline flashed in his mind. There were all those mysterious murder cases.

Weren’t all the victims women?

His sister often walked down this street, usually late at night.

We can’t move, either, because Jinah’s school is close by.

He wound up worried for her sake. Capturing the criminal would be easy for Jinwoo, but he couldn’t exactly wait for Jinah out here every night just because he was concerned for her. Was there anything else he could do?

Jinwoo folded his arms, then grinned as a thought crossed his mind.

I can have others keep watch in my stead.

They were perfect for this situation. “Come out.” Shadow soldiers materialized at his call.

Five should be enough.

These soldiers had been well trained during the Demon’s Castle raids. Just by looking at them, Jinwoo knew they could be relied upon.

“From now on, you guys are the neighborhood’s vigilantes. Commence your patrol.” As soon as he gave the order, the soldiers morphed back into shadows and moved out, gliding among the shadows cast by buildings and other structures.

That’s it. Make your way around cautiously so no one notices you.

Awww, they were adorable.

There was no way someone on a murder spree could defeat the shadow soldiers unless they were a high-rank hunter themselves. Even then, Jinwoo would immediately sense if something happened to his troops.

And he was an S-rank hunter.

Or maybe I should call myself an S-rank awakened being, since I haven’t received the official license yet?

That was beside the point. This neighborhood was now under the protection of an S-rank hunter or awakened being. The real estate prices would explode if people found out about this free twenty-four-hour security service, wouldn’t they?

A smile blossomed on Jinwoo’s face.

Excellent.

He felt like he could relax. Jinwoo surveyed his surroundings with a look of satisfaction on his face, then turned to leave.

“I hustled my ass over here because you asked me to have dinner, and we’re having Korean barbecue?”

“Huh? You looking down on thinly sliced pork belly?”

“……”

“I’ve got precious memories of eating here with the boss!” Jinho’s face was flushed as he put down his drink and huffed.

“Fine, then why’d you bring me to this precious place?” Suhyun looked unamused. She’d been on the verge of sleep when she’d received Jinho’s phone call.

“Sis, comfort me, won’t you?”

“Since when do you call me Sis?”

“Siiiis.”

She’d come to join him out of pity, yet he had the nerve to choose a restaurant like this. Suhyun had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth and currently worked as a model, so this place was obviously ill-suited to her. Despite having thrown on only the minimum amount of makeup and a hat before rushing out the door, a bunch of guys were still ogling her.

“So what’s wrong? You gotta use words.” Suhyun prodded Jinho as she poured soju into his empty shot glass.

“Look, look at this. Boss is avoiding my calls, right?” Jinho’s voice was thick with tears as he handed her his phone. There was a long list of recent calls with one connected and four that failed. Jinho explained that the first had even been cut off mid-conversation.

“Did you ask me here just because you couldn’t get in touch with some rando?”

Jinho’s head bobbed up and down.

“Haaah…” Shaking her head in disbelief, Suhyun snatched the phone from him. “Give me that.”

She hastily pressed the Call button.

Riiing.

The ringing promptly stopped. As it did, Suhyun’s eyes flashed. “Hey, you.”

“Yeah?” Jinho looked up at her.

“The ringing stops exactly after fifteen seconds. He’s not avoiding your calls—his phone is off. And if your conversation got disconnected, it was probably because his phone ran out of battery.”

“…Really?”

“If you don’t believe me, try calling him again.”

Riiing.

The ringing stopped exactly fifteen seconds later, just as she’d said.

“It’s true.” Jinho’s face lit up.

“Happy now? I’m leaving.”

Jinho grabbed Suhyun’s sleeve as she abruptly stood to leave. “Siiis, let’s finish this open bottle first!”

“You only call me Sis in times like this, huh?”

He usually addressed her as you, dude, or hey.

Eventually, Suhyun sat back down.

“Oh? You’re gonna drink, too, Sis?”

“You said you’re gonna finish your bottle first, right? Who knows how long that’ll take if you’re the only one drinking.”

“You’re the best, Sis.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Bickering aside, they were having a good time together.

“By the way, who’s this boss of yours?”

“You’ll find out soon enough…”

…as long as he joins the Yoojin Guild, or so Jinho was about to say when something on the restaurant’s wall-mounted TV caught his eye.

“Hey, isn’t that…?”

Suhyun turned to look. A news report about the A-list actor Minsung Lee was being broadcast. Minsung spoke shyly to the many reporters swarming him.

“I haven’t finished filming yet, so… I’m still waiting for the evaluation report, but……”

The caption on the bottom screen reported that Minsung was planning to visit the association for an evaluation soon.

“Wow, as expected of hallyu star Minsung Lee! Look how many reporters there are. There are some from China, too.” Jinho couldn’t help but be amazed.

However, Suhyun’s eyebrows twitched. “How can he lie that casually in front of so many people?”

“Huh?”

“Those who know, know. That’s entirely for show. He already got an A rank, but he’s milking it for the publicity.”

“Really? But he’s Minsung Lee, the symbol of humility.”

Suhyun clicked her tongue.

Tsk.

How is everyone falling for that act?

She resisted saying anything else, as she didn’t want to talk behind someone’s back, but Minsung’s reputation was the worst among those who knew him. There was an incredibly huge discrepancy between his public persona and his actual character. He was exactly the type of person Suhyun despised.

She could’ve let him slide if he was merely two-faced, but he also would not leave her alone. Just recently, he’d called her out of the blue, trying to impress her now that he was a fellow hunter. She’d had a hard time getting him off the phone.

What a fucking creep……

Minsung’s narcissism had been second to none even before his awakening, so how much more unbearable would he be now that he was an A-rank hunter? On top of that, his evaluation result looked primed to be broadcast all over the country.

He’s a mastermind when it comes to manipulating the media.

Suhyun shook her head and downed the rest of her shot glass.

“Are you going to take responsibility if I get fired?”

“Excuse me? What does that mean?”

“The president of the association ordered us to keep our lips sealed about what happened yesterday. He said he’d find and punish whoever leaked the awakened being’s information, no matter what it took.”

“President Go said that? But he’s never said that before, right?”

“How should I know what President Go is thinking?”

“……”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up.”

“……I’ll call you later.”

Click.

The call ended just like that. The guild master of the Reapers Guild, Taegyu Lim, looked uneasy as he put down the phone.

What is happening…?

When he’d heard the news that a super rookie had appeared, the guild master himself immediately called their contact at the association. But this was the last thing he’d expected to hear.

Would he take responsibility if the employee got fired? No guild would dare hire someone who had fallen out of favor with President Go and gotten fired. Moreover, even if the awakened being was identified, there was no guarantee the Reapers Guild would be able to recruit them.

“Find and punish the person no matter what it took,” eh…?

President Go could definitely do that.

But has that old man gone senile? Why is he going out of his way when he’s never done anything like this before?

Just what sort of wind was blowing these days? To think information leaks would be banned outright. That was unprecedented. For that reason, the Reapers Guild had no choice but to twiddle their thumbs until the official announcement.

That wasn’t the only thing Taegyu found unfair.

Then how did Jongin Choi and Yoonho Baek find out and get to the association?

Was it a difference in the depth of their intel? Had the Reapers’ influence fallen so far in this industry? If the super rookie joined either the Hunters or White Tiger, the gap between them and the Reapers would widen to the point where catching up would be impossible. Things already looked bad for the Reapers, and now a gag order, of all things, stood in their way.

Is the old man my archnemesis from a previous life?

He had helped Yoonho form the White Tiger Guild after he left the Reapers. That resulted in the Reapers getting knocked out of the top guild spot. The Hunters and White Tiger had continued steadily advancing, but the Reapers had stagnated.

Isn’t it time Gunhee helped out the Reapers?!

Taegyu felt a hot flash of resentment toward President Go. He was out of options. Despite being upset, all he could do at this point was anxiously pace back and forth.

And with that, the daily quest is complete.

Jinwoo could surf the Internet without a care. There were two days left until the reevaluation. He’d turned on the computer to look up information about buying and selling artifacts.

Whoa!

Jinwoo’s eyes widened as he looked over the auction site.

Bids start in the hundreds of millions!

And it wasn’t just that. Decent artifacts went for several billion won.

Although……

Artifacts were lifelines for hunters. It went without saying that the better the gear, the safer it was. Hunters earned a hefty amount, so why scrimp on tools that helped them hunt faster and safer? It was understandable, but that didn’t change the fact that he found it shocking. Jinwoo felt uneasy looking at the prices.

It doesn’t seem like I have enough money, do I?

He couldn’t find any fireproof equipment up for auction, but he didn’t have close to enough money to buy any high-rank protective gear anyway.

I thought I saved up enough, but……

It certainly was a lot from an ordinary person’s point of view, but from a hunter’s perspective, his bank account was very much lacking. He had about 1,700,000,000 won saved up. Jinwoo would have no choice but to sell the Sphere of Avarice to purchase the equipment he wanted.

His expression changed when he started considering things from a seller’s stance.

Having to buy at a high price means I can also sell at a high price.

Click.

He tapped his mouse to search for magic tools currently up for sale.

……

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t find anything that doubled damage dealt by magic. Adding 20 to 30 percent to one’s original power was the best he could find, and even those items were unbelievably expensive.

The prices for tools are absolutely insane.

If he thought about it, a 20 percent increase wasn’t that bad. Only high-rank—or no, only the highest-rank hunters could afford these prices, so if an item increased their power by 20 percent, that would actually make a huge difference. High-rank hunters paid these exorbitant prices because they understood this. Items that had just been put up for sale in real time were already gone. If an item that gave a 20 percent boost sold for that price and rate…

How much should I put the sphere up for?

Jinwoo swallowed nervously. It hadn’t been long since Jinwoo couldn’t even begin to dream of artifacts, so it was hard for him to grasp how much money he could earn for the sphere.

I guess that’s why auctions exist.

Hopefully, when he put the Sphere of Avarice up for auction, it would go for big bucks. Jinwoo closed the browser window with a satisfied grin on his face.

According to his research, there were basically two ways to sell an item: the official route and the black market. However, there didn’t seem to be an easy way to access the latter. Information online was quite limited.

If people could access it with just a few clicks of their mouse, I guess it wouldn’t be called the black market.

Luckily, there was no need to sell the Sphere of Avarice that way, since there was nothing sketchy about it. The best method to sell it would be to let the authorities running the Item Exchange put it up for auction. Despite the taxes and commission fees, that would be the quickest route with no extra work on his end.

The problem is, I’d have to explain how I acquired this……

If an E-rank hunter came in offering an incredible item that shouldn’t even exist, would they take it with no questions asked? The Korean Hunter’s Auction House was the most established company for dealings between hunters. If there were any potential red flags, they wouldn’t let it slide.

And that’s why I need the license.

A new S-rank license, that is. He’d gotten reevaluated for that very reason, and the result had been a success. If what President Go had said was to be believed, he would receive the new license in two days without any problems.

Jinwoo had initially been a bit concerned that things would become problematic when he declined President Go’s proposal, but……

I’m glad the president doesn’t seem the type to hold grudges.

President Go had continued to beam at him even as they exchanged good-byes. Individuals who had a long history of sensing the atmosphere in the room were experts when it came to reading people, and Jinwoo was such a person. As an E-rank hunter, he’d lived his life constantly trying not to step on any toes for four years, so he was able to assess others via their facial expressions. President Go’s didn’t seem fake in any way from what Jinwoo could tell. Therefore, he had nothing to worry about and simply had to wait for the reevaluation in two days.

So…what to do until then?

Jinwoo leaned back in his chair. Two days. It wasn’t enough time to start something but too much to do nothing.

I’ll take a peek.

Jinwoo moved the cursor to the link for the job board on the official hunters’ portal out of curiosity.

Click.

At the press of a button, tons of postings flooded the screen, especially from private strike squads looking to hire new members in his area.

……

The reason was obvious. Strike squads in these parts had been temporarily out of work due to Jinho and Jinwoo dominating the C-rank dungeons until recently. Those same strike squads were now rebounding and actively doing raids.

Jinwoo smiled wryly and clicked on to the next page.

I can’t level up in a C-rank dungeon anymore, though.

The last time he’d been in a C-rank dungeon, it had taken him not one but two whole days’ worth of constant raids just to level up once. And he was now fifteen levels higher than then. Had there been a visible experience gauge, these jobs would’ve barely made a dent.

C-rank gates are pointless for me……

Unfortunately, there were no postings for hunters to do any high-rank dungeon raids. It was considered suicidal for a private strike squad to attempt a high-rank dungeon, and guilds wouldn’t post calls for replacement members on a site like this. Still…

Should I try changing the terms of my search?

Jinwoo filtered the results by high-rank dungeons only.

Click.

It wasn’t like he expected to find anything, but he figured he’d try just in case. But then…

……Oh?

There was, in fact, a single listing.

“You said you’re an E rank?”

“Yes.”

“Have you done this kind of job before?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“So…what class are you?”

“I’m a brawler.”

That’s good, at least.

The foreman wearing a hard hat scanned Jinwoo from head to toe.

His body looks toned for an E rank. His eyes are steady, too.

Jinwoo calmly awaited the foreman’s response. Eventually, the man laughed boisterously as he handed back Jinwoo’s hunter license.

“Ha-ha-ha! There are lots of people like you here, Jinwoo. Welcome to the team. Relax, don’t be nervous.” The foreman was an energetic fellow even though he was well over forty and sported a mustache that fit him quite well. “Wait here until everyone else arrives. Don’t forget your equipment before going in.”

“Equipment…?”

“You can choose one from the pile over there.”

“……Got it.” Jinwoo nodded as he surveyed the heap of pickaxes.

At that moment, a middle-aged man with a towel around his neck rushed up to them. “Yoonsuk! Our team is seriously understaffed, too, so how could you just take the temp?”

“Nah, the collection team is fine as is. You gonna take responsibility if we don’t finish our work before the gate closes?”

“Well, no, but—!”

The mustachioed man grinned at Jinwoo as he spun around the man with the towel. “Jinwoo, you wait here. I’ll be right back.”

“We can talk here! Where’re you taking me?”

“Who knows? C’mon—follow me.”

The two men continued their bickering as they headed off.

Guess the other guy is from the collection team…?

High-rank dungeons were humongous in scale, and since strike squads couldn’t do everything by themselves, jobs were delegated to different teams. A strike squad attacked, an excavation team dug out precious stones, and a collection team gathered the remains of magic beasts. The excavation and collection teams entered the dungeon once every magic beast except the boss was slain.

Jinwoo had applied to work for an excavation team.

……Is this the only equipment available?

He reluctantly grabbed one. It was weak, but he could feel magic flowing through.

They imbued it with mana.

Modern electrical appliances didn’t work in dungeons. For that reason, they had to resort to old-fashioned tools enhanced with magic.

……

As he gripped the pickax, he realized why those on the excavation team were often referred to as miners.

Jinwoo turned to take in the gate. There was a huge hole, incomparable in size to C-rank ones, suspended in midair right before his eyes.

So this is an A-rank gate……

This thing was why he was here in the first place.

I want to see a high-rank dungeon with my own eyes.

Even though all the magic beasts except the boss had been taken care of, he still wanted to see the inside of the dungeon for himself.

I, too, have to raid these dungeons someday.

Knowledge was power, and there were limits to what one could learn and experience indirectly through books and the Internet. The White Tiger Guild trainees had overlooked that fact and ended up paying for it dearly. The truth was, if it wasn’t for Jinwoo, no one would’ve come out of that incident alive. To know something was very different from experiencing it.

That was why Jinwoo had applied for the excavation team: to gain firsthand knowledge of an A-rank dungeon while he had the chance. He’d doubted his decision for a second when he saw those shabby pickaxes, but those doubts cleared as soon as he laid eyes on the terrifying gate.

I’m glad I came here.

This was a great opportunity, since he had time to kill until the reevaluation.

The mustachioed foreman, Yoonsuk Bae, jogged up to Jinwoo with a smile, possibly because the talk had gone well. “Let’s get inside. Everyone’s ready to roll.”

Jinwoo tightened his grip on the pickax with a grin and nodded.

Knock, knock.

“I have the file you asked for, sir.”

“Come in.”

Jinchul entered the office of the association president, who welcomed Jinchul with a warm smile, as he’d been expecting him. As President Go opened the file, he was met with a familiar face—Jinwoo. Jinwoo was much younger in the ID photo but didn’t look so different that President Go couldn’t tell who it was.

“Hmm.” The president grew serious as he perused Jinwoo’s history as a hunter.

He’s been working as a hunter for four years even though he’s among the weakest E-ranks?

It was practically a death wish. Although the levels of the gates run by the association were lower than the ones managed by guilds or private strike squads, they were still too much for an E-rank hunter to handle. As Gunhee suspected, Jinwoo had spent much of his time as a hunter hospitalized.

“He endured well despite having so many injuries.”

“Apparently, he couldn’t quit the association due to his mother’s medical bills.”

“…It’s difficult to find a young man like him these days.” Gunhee’s perception of Jinwoo shifted.

I couldn’t have imagined he was taking care of his sick mother and providing for his younger sister in his father’s absence……

Gunhee had been intrigued by Jinwoo because of his second awakening, but he hadn’t expected to find this when delving deeper into his files. He was an even better man than the president had initially thought.

Jinwoo’s too good to let him go to a guild.

The more he looked, the bigger his disappointment at his failure to recruit Jinwoo to the association.

He smacked his lips as he continued reading to the last page. He closed the file with a satisfied look on his face. “Good work.”

“Thank you, sir.” Jinchul took back the file and turned to leave but then spoke with some difficulty. “Ummm… Sir…”

“Hmm?” President Go looked up.

It was clear something was troubling Jinchul.

For a man rumored not to spill a drop of blood if stabbed, he certainly looks human……

Was what he wanted to say that difficult? He had President Go’s full attention. “Is something the matter?”

Jinchul answered after dawdling. “I thought you should know… I received a report just before I came here that Hunter Jinwoo Sung joined a raid team.”

“Already? Interesting. Which team?”

“The Hunters’ raid team.”

“Hmm… Hunters, huh?”

Jinwoo had chosen the Hunters. Moreover, it had taken him only a day to decide. The president’s face hardened.

Was everything he said yesterday just talk he went back on because of the enormous signing bonus?

If so, that was quite dispiriting after Gunhee had been thrilled to meet a hunter worthy of the title. Although, based on his file and how he’d acted yesterday, Jinwoo didn’t seem to be the type to go against his word that easily. There must have been another reason. Perhaps…

“The Hunters are certainly the best choice if he wants the opportunity to do battle with powerful magic beasts.” President Go tried to work out Jinwoo’s reasoning.

However, Jinchul quickly put an end to that. “I don’t think that’s it, sir.”

“Is there something else you’ve heard?”

“According to what’s been confirmed…Hunter Sung joined an excavation team, not a strike squad.”

The president shot up from his chair. “What? An S-rank hunter applied as a miner?”

He sounded incredulous—and Jinchul’d had a similar reaction. No matter how many times he’d double-checked his intel, the facts remained the same.

That’s why I wasn’t sure whether I should report this……

What was Jinwoo thinking?

Jinchul broke out into a cold sweat. “That appears to be the case, sir.”

President Go fell back onto his chair and guffawed. “What an unpredictable lad!”

Jinwoo put on the hard hat and uniform provided and followed behind Yoonsuk the foreman. About twenty other hunters in identical hard hats were gathered near the gate.

Everyone turned to the foreman, who introduced Jinwoo. “This is Jinwoo Sung, who’ll be working with us today.”

“Hello.” Jinwoo gave a quick bow and assessed the team’s mood.

“……”

They all seemed pretty indifferent, which was understandable.

All things considered…

Jinwoo was a temp worker who they might or might not run into after today, but the other hunters were official employees contracted by the guild. There was no need to be particularly friendly to the newcomer.

“Come on, people… He’s still our coworker.” Yoonsuk gave an awkward laugh and then pointed at a menacing man standing toward the back of the group. “Sung, stick with Mok over there and ask him if there’s anything you don’t get. He’s a man of few words, but he’s been doing this the longest.”

“…Yes, sir.” Jinwoo headed to the one named Mok without any complaints.

Once they made eye contact, the man introduced himself quietly. “Jinsu Mok.”

“I’m Jinwoo Sung.”

And so ended the introductions. Jinsu’s gaze shifted in the direction of the foreman.

What nice people.

Jinwoo followed Jinsu’s gaze. In the distance, the foreman was having an intense conversation with someone who appeared to be another employee of the guild. With a bit of focus, Jinwoo was able to eavesdrop.

“……The raid party still isn’t over? I was told they were almost done a while ago, but how long has it been?”

“They really don’t have much left to do. This is for the safety of you and your team members, so please wait a little longer until they clear all the magic beasts.”

“This is the third time I’ve heard that today.”

“Oh, c’mon, sir. You know very well how much of a pain it’ll be if everything isn’t cleared properly and a hidden beast pops out while you’re hard at work, right?”

The male employee, who could’ve been Yoonsuk’s son, shot him an adorably cheeky grin, and Yoonsuk couldn’t help but laugh at his antics.

“All right, fine.”

“Oh? So are we set here?”

“Yeah, yeah. Now, shoo.”

“Yessir. Once the attack team comes out, I’ll fly back here to let you know. Oh, and don’t forget—we’re all going out for a drink after work. Okay?”

“All right already. Go, shoo, away with you.”

Thankfully, it seemed the conversation had ended without conflict. The other employee had dealt with Yoonsuk well.

People always assume that if you work for a large guild, you can go around yelling at everyone, but……

Ordinary civilians worked in the guild offices while the hunters who worked on location were awakened beings. The workload that required awakened beings dwarfed their actual number, which meant it was impossible to hire or fire them willy-nilly—they weren’t easily replaceable factory equipment. Consequently, regular employees had no choice but to walk on eggshells around them. Though jobs at top guilds were highly coveted positions, they had plenty of internal issues people weren’t aware of.

At that moment…

……Hmm?

Jinwoo, who had been listening in on Yoonsuk’s conversation, suddenly picked up on what the other hunters were whispering about.

“Did you hear? Today’s newbie is an E rank.”

People are talking about me again?

At times, Jinwoo resented his excellent hearing.

But it’s not like I can stand here blocking my ears……

Jinwoo gave a bitter smile while the others cautiously continued gossiping.

“What? An E rank?”

“The foreman hired an E rank?”

“That’s what I’m telling you.”

Jinwoo could feel their gazes like he’d been smacked on the back of his head.

“Seriously, what was he thinking choosing an E?”

“Is he gonna get things done properly?”

“Right?”

“I wonder if we’ll be able to finish the work in time today.”

Uneasy voices came from every direction. Even though they spoke in hushed tones out of consideration of Jinwoo’s feelings, their efforts were pointless.

Jinwoo swallowed a sudden urge to burst out laughing.

I see there was a second reason for the chilly reception.

As per usual, E ranks were given the cold shoulder. It was nothing new to Jinwoo, and he’d grown used to it.

It’s not like I’ll be spending much time with them anyway.

Just then…

There was a commotion in front of the gate.

“The raid party is out.”

“I guess they’re finally done.”

The hunters on the excavation team brightened, as they were tired of waiting.

Yoonsuk, who’d been keeping an eye on the situation, gestured at his team. “Okay, everyone, let’s move.”

They grabbed their tools and trudged in the direction of the gate. Jinwoo moved with them, situating himself in the middle of the group.

“Good job, all.”

“Nice work.”

“Well done, everyone!”

Guild employees were welcoming the strike squad members returning from the raid. It seemed like strike squads were also referred to as the raid party.

This is…the best strike squad in South Korea.

With keen eyes, Jinwoo scanned the faces of the hunters considered to be of the highest rank. There was a familiar one among them.

……Jongin Choi.

The man was an S-rank mage hunter and the guild master of the Hunters Guild.

Jinwoo sensed that things would get complicated if Jongin recognized him, so he pulled his hard hat down as far as it would go. Luckily, those in the excavation team were dressed similarly to Jinwoo, so he was able to easily blend in.

As Jinwoo quietly watched the best strike squad march out of the dungeon, he had one thought.

……Are they really the elite of the Hunters Guild?

He couldn’t help but be surprised. It was harder than he’d expected to find a hunter with a strong presence. Jongin Choi, who bore the title of the Ultimate Hunter, exuded a powerful magical signature, but aside from him, there was nobody else of note.

Maybe they’re weak?

But that didn’t make any sense. Jinwoo firmly shook his head. They were the select few hunters assigned to the elite strike squad of the number one guild in all of Korea.

The guild master himself led the raid, so there’s no way they’d choose anyone less than the best of the best to accompany him.

The word weak was the furthest thing from them. Therefore, there could be only one explanation.

That’s how strong I’ve gotten.

A smile played on Jinwoo’s lips.

Strength was relative. His efforts over the last several months had paid off. Jinwoo’s abilities had increased exponentially to a degree where he perceived a strike squad exiting an A-rank dungeon as weak. He was able to gauge his own strength by comparing it to other people’s.

Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump.

His heart was pounding in excitement.

At that very moment…without anyone prompting him or a single noise to alert him, Jinwoo was compelled to look toward the gate. A gasp escaped him.

Whoa……

A short-haired woman was strolling out of it.

The first things his eyes were drawn to were her large, clear eyes. He couldn’t help but also note her fair complexion and the sharp features of her bare face.

Ninety-nine out of one hundred men surveyed would readily agree that she was pretty. However, it wasn’t her outward appearance that first grabbed Jinwoo’s attention but rather what she held inside.

There was an incredible well of power within her. An extraordinary amount of mana emanated from the expressionless woman.

She’s the same level as Jongin at the very least.

She might even have been stronger than Jongin. She had an aura that completely overwhelmed others.

Once Jinwoo managed to recover from his surprise and logic took the front seat, he recalled her name.

She’s none other than……

Haein Cha, the only female S-rank hunter in South Korea. She was one of the highest-ranked hunters who, along with Jongin, was regarded as a pillar of the Hunters Guild.

There’s no one else she could be.

How many women in the country had such a presence?

Despite her status, however, Haein’s face wasn’t that well-known. She was extremely reluctant to appear on TV, so Jinwoo had never actually seen her until now.

The rumors that she’s strange-looking don’t appear to be true, so I wonder why she hates cameras so much?

Most other women in their early twenties seemed to love being in front of a camera—their cell phone cameras, that is.

Perhaps he’d been staring a little too intensely, as Haein’s gaze swept toward Jinwoo’s general direction.

Stealth…shouldn’t be necessary, right?

As Jinwoo concealed himself, Haein’s gaze passed over him, and she cocked her head in confusion.

What was that? I thought I felt a strong presence just now?

Had she been mistaken? Her initial assumption had been that President Go had dropped by the site, but the presence had completely disappeared as if she’d been imagining things.

The president of the association would be too busy to show up unannounced.

The price for her apparent misunderstanding was severe. Because Haein had enhanced her perception to chase the location of the presence, the foul stench around her was amplified and pierced her senses.

Ack.

Haein covered her nose with a handkerchief as she usually did and staggered away from the other hunters.

Her perception is better than I thought.

Jinwoo breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her walking away. With that, the raid party had exited the dungeon.

Yoonsuk, who had been waiting for this precise moment, turned toward his team. He clapped his hands together loudly and addressed them all in an upbeat voice. “Okay, it’s our turn now, so let’s do a good job!”

The collection team entered the gate first, as per procedure, followed by the excavation team.

Jinwoo paused right outside it.

……

As Jinwoo quietly appreciated the majesty of his first look at an A-rank gate, Yoonsuk came up to him.

“What’re you doing, Sung? We have to go in, too.”

“Right.” With that short answer, Jinwoo followed the others and stepped through the portal.

A familiar notification promptly appeared.