‘Tsk…’
Was it because the gap between the extraction target and his own stats was too large? Unfortunately, the Shadow Extraction skill had failed.
‘A shame, but it can’t be helped.’
The boss of a high-rank Dungeon could be taken down anytime. The important thing was to reduce the stat difference so he wouldn’t miss the next chance when it came. Leveling up. That was something Jin-Woo was exceptionally good at. And then, in his left hand, which had momentarily left the steering wheel, a dagger with graceful curves appeared.
[Item: Baruka’s Dagger] Acquisition Difficulty: A Type: Dagger A dagger used by the great warrior ‘Baruka’. Enchanted with a lightweight magic, it makes the user’s movements more agile. Attack Power +110 Agility +10
He hadn’t left empty-handed. The dagger the boss had used. He’d discarded the broken one and kept the other.
‘Baruka’s Dagger.’
High base attack power plus an additional agility stat. It wasn’t even comparable to the C-rank ‘Kasaka’s Venom Fang,’ let alone the B-rank ‘Knight Killer’ he’d spent a fortune to obtain. It had an acquisition difficulty of A-rank! It was the perfect weapon to replace the steadily weakening ‘Kasaka’s Venom Fang.’
‘The grip feels good, too.’
While recalling his time in the Red Gate, he soon arrived near Han Song-Yi’s house. *Squeak.* Han Song-Yi, who had been sitting quietly as if she were there but not, got out of the passenger seat and bowed her head respectfully.
“Drive safely.” “Okay.”
As Han Song-Yi turned away, Jin-Woo saw her slumped shoulders and listless steps. It seemed his minor objective had been achieved.
‘It got a bit tangled, but this whole thing started because I wanted to persuade Han Song-Yi in the first place.’
It looked like Han Song-Yi wouldn’t be stepping forward as a Hunter anytime soon. Anyone would feel the same if their first Dungeon was a Red Gate. He was satisfied enough for now and was about to start the car when suddenly the passenger door flew open.
‘…?’
Jin-Woo turned around. Han Song-Yi was standing there, holding the door.
‘What’s she doing?’
His curiosity was short-lived. Han Song-Yi bowed her head politely once more.
“Thank you for today, oppa.”
Come to think of it, at some point, her form of address had changed from “mister” to “oppa.”
“Uh, sure.” “Um…” “Hmm?” “Tomorrow… no, I’ll see you later.”
Later? Before he could ask what she meant, Han Song-Yi dashed off. It was only after she’d disappeared from view that it belatedly occurred to him.
‘Ah, right.’
Starting today, he had to finish the remaining raids with Yoo Jin-Ho. He would inevitably see Han Song-Yi, who was part of the team, again.
‘So that’s what she meant.’
It was a relief, though. If Han Song-Yi had hidden herself away at home because of this, it could have thrown his schedule off.
‘That’s good.’
Now he could use his shadow soldiers to clear C-rank Dungeons even faster. He was confident he could finish the remaining raids in the shortest time possible. On top of that, he was also looking forward to Yoo Jin-Ho’s reaction when he met the soldiers for the first time.
‘Yoo Ki-Jung’s reaction was truly priceless.’
Jin-Woo smiled faintly as he slowly turned the wheel.
***
The next morning.
“Yawn—”
Jin-Woo let out a long yawn as he came down to the apartment’s main entrance. The moment he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, the promised time had arrived.
“Brother, good morning!”
A cheerful voice. Yoo Jin-Ho was there waiting.
“You don’t even have a car, how’d you get here?”
The raid team’s beloved ‘Bongo’ was parked neatly in a nearby lot, having been driven there by Jin-Woo the day before.
“I took a taxi, Brother.” “Ah, a taxi.”
Today, he’d thought of swapping roles and picking him up for a change.
“It’s fine, Brother. I’m the one receiving help, after all. Of course, I should be the one picking you up.”
Yoo Jin-Ho smiled and declined. It was a morning like any other. Then—
“Huh?”
Yoo Jin-Ho noticed something. A long, cylindrical object in Jin-Woo’s hand. His curiosity was piqued.
“Brother, what is that?” “Oh, this?”
Jin-Woo grinned.
“For today’s Dungeon.”
*Huh!* In an instant, Yoo Jin-Ho’s blood ran cold.
‘A weapon for the Dungeon?’
His brother, who always showed extraordinary things even on normal days—what kind of monstrous weapon had he brought this time? He was already starting to feel nervous. *Gulp.* Yoo Jin-Ho swallowed dryly and finally seemed to make up his mind, lifting his head.
“Brother, shall we go?” “Hang on.”
Jin-Woo raised his hand and immediately dialed a number.
“Let’s bring one more person.” “Huh? Who?” “Yeah. Song-Yi. Come out. I’ll drop you off at the Gate.”
Song-Yi… Song-Yi? As soon as Jin-Woo hung up, Yoo Jin-Ho asked.
“Brother, don’t tell me you mean to bring that high schooler from our team?”
Jin-Woo nodded. Han Song-Yi’s house was nearby anyway, and their destination was the same, so there was no reason to go separately. But to Yoo Jin-Ho, this meant something entirely different. Han Song-Yi. The cute high school girl who always wore her hair rolled up in a bun.
‘He even has her number and talks to her so casually… Is the brother already in a deep relationship with that girl?’
His brother was cool, even from a guy’s perspective.
‘Especially when he’s handling those giant magical beasts with just a dagger…’
Even if his brother wasn’t interested, it wouldn’t be strange at all for that female student to be smitten with him. Yoo Jin-Ho nodded. If that was the case, there was an issue that needed to be settled.
“Brother. From now on, should I address Miss Han Song-Yi as ‘sister-in-law’?”
What had this guy eaten wrong since morning? That was the look in Jin-Woo’s eyes. Even Yoo Jin-Ho, who was usually oblivious, could pick up on that.
“Uh… aren’t you two dating?” “Just a friend’s little sister.” “Ah, ahh.”
So that’s how it was. Yoo Jin-Ho finally understood the situation. To think he’d just casually called her ‘sister-in-law’ without knowing that. His face flushed with embarrassment. Soon, Han Song-Yi came out. Dressed up more than she usually was for raids. Yoo Jin-Ho smiled.
‘Just like a teenage girl trying to impress her friend’s older brother.’
Just as he was about to compliment the raid leader’s unexpectedly well-thought-out outfit, Jin-Woo greeted her first.
“Get some sleep?”
In an instant, Yoo Jin-Ho’s expression froze.
‘…’
Han Song-Yi smiled and shook her head.
“Not a wink.” “You must be tired. Rest in the car, at least.”
Listening to their conversation, Yoo Jin-Ho’s mind grew increasingly confused.
‘Uh, uhh?’
This time, Han Song-Yi asked Jin-Woo.
“Did you get some sleep, oppa?” “Just shut my eyes for a bit. Got home after 4.” “I figured…”
Night? Not a wink? Tired? Home after 4? While Yoo Jin-Ho was moving beyond flustered to appalled, Jin-Woo, who was heading for the Bongo, turned back to him.
“Yoo Jin-Ho, what are you doing?” “Uh… Brother?” “…?” “Um, Miss Han Song-Yi is a minor, Brother.” “And?” “Never mind, Brother.”
As expected, his brother was a true man. Yoo Jin-Ho marveled at Jin-Woo’s disregard for public scrutiny.
‘Truly extraordinary.’
He deeply reflected on having measured his brother by the standards of an ordinary person.
***
At the same time. The Baek Guild’s small conference room.
“That’s all I saw.”
Park Hee-Jin finished her report. Despite Baek Yoon-Ho’s objections that she should rest, she had insisted on participating in the investigation. She said she’d been relatively comfortable(?) there.
“…” “…”
The two superiors conducting the investigation, President Baek Yoon-Ho and Managing Director An Sang-Min, were at a loss for words. The responsible officer, Hyun Ki-Cheol, had gone to the Hunter’s Association to discuss countermeasures. So only the three of them were in the meeting room. An Sang-Min broke the silence.
“Is all of that true?” “Contact Go Myung-Hwan and Yoo Ki-Jung. They’ll probably tell you the same thing.”
The two who had returned home, saying they wanted to see their families. Park Hee-Jin could guarantee that their testimonies and her own would not differ.
‘Since I only explained things I personally experienced.’
Like how, when that man wasn’t there, faint screams of Ice Bears could be heard from the distant forest, or how he had been doing push-ups alone in the middle of the night while everyone else slept. She hadn’t even mentioned what the other members had seen and heard.
“Haa…”
An Sang-Min let out a sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a gasp. Instantly knocking out an A-rank Hunter, freely utilizing a subspace, and controlling dozens of summons. It was all unbelievable. But the most astonishing part was.
“That he cleared the high-rank Dungeon almost single-handedly.”
A single remark from Baek Yoon-Ho, who had been silent. He could say it because he was an S-rank.
“That is quite something.”
While he fought with summons, they weren’t allies—they were Sung Jin-Woo Hunter’s skill. In the end, it was no different from Sung Jin-Woo clearing the Dungeon alone.
“No matter how high a Hunter’s rank, it’s difficult to conquer a high-rank Dungeon alone.”
And it was a Red Gate, at that. If he himself took on a B-rank Red Gate, he could barely clear it? It was only possible because Sung Jin-Woo Hunter could control multiple summons, not just one. An Sang-Min spoke, sounding amazed.
“Then he is undoubtedly a rare ability awakener.”
Baek Yoon-Ho agreed.
“Hunters who command summons are rare enough, but a Hunter who can command multiple summons…”
Throughout his career as an S-rank Hunter, he had met and spoken with countless Hunters, but he had never heard of such a thing.
“A rare ability awakener on a level far above a typical rare ability…”
Baek Yoon-Ho marveled. A question suddenly occurred to An Sang-Min.
“Approximately how much would you say Hunter Sung Jin-Woo’s abilities are worth in monetary terms?” “…”
Even Baek Yoon-Ho couldn’t readily give an answer. But one thing was clear: no matter how they valued Sung Jin-Woo’s current worth, the moment his re-evaluation was complete, that figure would skyrocket several times over. They had to get him before that happened. The Baek Guild had already lost one A-rank Hunter and numerous B-rank Hunters. If they didn’t secure the guaranteed asset that was Sung Jin-Wo here, the loss would be immeasurable.
“I’m counting on you, Director An.”
Baek Yoon-Ho sent him a look of trust. An Sang-Min’s expression became solemn. Just then—
“Hm?”
The gazes of Baek Yoon-Ho and An Sang-Min simultaneously turned to Park Hee-Jin. She had raised her hand. Baek Yoon-Ho asked.
“Do you have a question?”
Having successfully captured their attention, Park Hee-Jin lowered her hand and spoke.
“Please let me help, too.” “With what?” “With recruiting the raid leader—no, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo.”
Baek Yoon-Ho and An Sang-Min briefly looked at each other before turning their attention back to Park Hee-Jin. An Sang-Min, in charge of recruitment, tilted his head.
“Why would Hunter Park Hee-Jin…” “Because I’ve spent more time with Hunter Sung Jin-Woo than anyone else in the Baek Guild, I believe I can be much more helpful than others.”
Six hours in reality. Inside the Red Gate, it had been nearly a week. Park Hee-Jin’s proposal sounded plausible even to Baek Yoon-Ho and An Sang-Min. Besides, Park Hee-Jin was beautiful. The power of appearance in winning people over could not be overstated. Sensuring that the president and director were swayed, Park Hee-Jin finally got to her main point.
“But I have a condition.”
Baek Yoon-Ho asked.
“What is it?” “If Hunter Sung Jin-Woo joins the Baek Guild, you must unconditionally place me on his attack team.”