Knock knock.
"I have the files you requested." "Come in."
Woo Jin-Chul entered the chairman's office. Go Gun-Hee greeted him with a bright expression, as if he'd been waiting. When Woo Jin-Chul handed over the folder and he spread it open, a familiar face caught his eye. It was Jin-Woo. The photo on his ID showed a much younger version of him, quite different from how he looked now, but not so different that you'd fail to recognize him.
"Hmm."
Go Gun-Hee's gaze grew serious as he read through the activity records.
*'An E-rank — and not even a high one at that — who's been active as a Hunter for four years?'*
This was practically suicide. Even if the Gates managed by the Association were lower in difficulty compared to those taken by guilds or individuals, the dungeons would still be suffocating for an E-rank. Sure enough, Jin-Woo had spent nearly as much time in hospitals as he had active as a Hunter.
"With injuries this frequent, it's a wonder he held on." "He apparently couldn't quit the Association because of his mother's medical bills." "...That's a rare young man these days."
A glimmer of interest flickered in Go Gun-Hee's eyes.
*'Taking care of his ailing mother and a student younger brother all on his own, in place of a missing father...'*
He'd opened Jin-Woo's file mostly out of curiosity after hearing that he was a re-awakened Hunter, but the more he read, the more impressed he became.
*'What a waste to let this one slip to a guild.'*
The more he pored over the data, the more Go Gun-Hee regretted not having recruited Jin-Woo into the Association. He clicked his tongue and turned to the next page, only to find he'd reached the last. Go Gun-Hee closed the folder with a satisfied look.
"That's good news." "Thank you, sir."
Woo Jin-Chul received the folder back, turned to leave, then hesitated and spoke up.
"Um... Chairman." "Hm?"
Go Gun-Hee looked up. The discomfort on Woo Jin-Chul's face was plain to see.
*'The kind of guy you could stab and not draw a drop of blood, and he's making that kind of face...'*
Was there something difficult to say? It piqued Go Gun-Hee's curiosity.
"What is it?"
Woo Jin-Chul, who'd been wavering, finally answered.
"I felt I should let you know... In fact, I just received a report that Hunter Sung Jin-Woo has joined a raid team." "Already? Which team?" "The Hunters Guild's raid team." "Hmm... Hunters, you say."
Sung Jin-Woo had chosen Hunters. And in just a single day. Go Gun-Hee's expression hardened.
*'Don't tell me he was just talking big and in the end went for the huge signing bonus Hunters offered?'*
If so, that was deeply disappointing. He'd only just been moved at meeting someone who finally seemed like a real Hunter. But based on yesterday's attitude and his records, Jin-Woo didn't seem like the type to flip on a dime. There had to be some other reason. For instance.
"If he wants to fight stronger magic beasts, then Hunters is the best fit, I suppose."
Go Gun-Hee was trying to convince himself. But Woo Jin-Chul quickly shut that down.
"I don't think that's the reason, Chairman." "Did you hear something?" "According to my confirmation... Hunter Sung Jin-Woo didn't join the attack team. He joined the mining team."
Go Gun-Hee shot to his feet.
"What? An S-rank Hunter signed up as a miner?"
His voice was one of disbelief. Woo Jin-Chul felt the same way. That was why he'd checked multiple times, yet the result never changed.
*'This is exactly why I agonized over whether to bring it up or not...'*
What on earth was Sung Jin-Woo thinking? Woo Jin-Chul wiped the cold sweat from his face and replied.
"That's what I'm told."
Go Gun-Hee collapsed back into his chair and let out a dry laugh.
"He really is an impossible man to figure out."
***
Jin-Woo put on the hard hat and work clothes he'd been issued and followed behind Team Leader Bae Yoon-Seok. A crowd of Hunters wearing hard hats had gathered near the Gate. Roughly twenty of them? Every pair of eyes turned toward Team Leader Bae. He introduced Jin-Woo.
"This is Mr. Sung, who'll be working with us today." "Hello."
Jin-Woo gave a slight nod of his head and looked over the mining team members, taking in the general mood.
"..."
Everyone's reaction was lukewarm. He understood.
*'Fair enough.'*
On his side, this was day labor where you might never see these people again. On their side, they were Hunters formally employed by the guild as the mining team. From the mining team's perspective, there was no reason to be especially friendly.
"Oh, come on. People, really... Even so, a new coworker has arrived."
Team Leader Bae laughed awkwardly and pointed to a rough-looking man standing at the far end.
"Mr. Sung, you stick close to Mr. Mok over there, and if there's anything you don't know, ask him. Mr. Mok's not much of a talker, but he's the biggest veteran we've got here." "...Got it."
Without a word of complaint, Jin-Woo walked over and stood next to the man called Mr. Mok. When Mok Jin-Soo's eyes met his, he spoke in a voice so faint it was almost inaudible.
"Mok Jin-Soo." "I'm Sung Jin-Woo."
That was the full extent of the introduction. In the blink of an eye, Mok Jin-Soo's gaze had already shifted back to the team leader.
*'How generous with the hospitality.'*
Jin-Woo turned his gaze as well. The team leader was in conversation with what looked like a Guild staff member a short distance away, both wearing serious expressions. When Jin-Woo focused, he could hear every word of their exchange.
"...Is the clearing team not out yet? You said they were almost done — how many minutes has it been now?" "They really are almost done now. This is all for your and the team's safety, so please wait a little longer until every magic beast inside has been eliminated." "That's the third time I've heard that line." "Come on, Team Leader. If we went in half-hearted and a magic beast that was hiding came jumping out mid-operation, everyone would be in trouble — you know that."
When the young staff member, roughly the team leader's son's age, smiled sweetly and put on his best puppy-dog act, Team Leader Bae couldn't bring himself to be angry. He turned his head and let out a small chuckle.
"Fine, fine." "Oh? Team Leader, are you feeling a bit better now?" "I said fine. Go on." "Yes, sir. The second the clearing team comes out, I'll sprint back here without even breathing. Oh, and after today's job, we're all grabbing a drink together — you remember, right?" "Good grief. I get it, now get going already, will you."
Fortunately, the conversation seemed to end without any friction. The staff member had handled it well.
*'People think working for a top guild means you go around throwing your weight everywhere, but...'*
Guild office staff were ordinary civilians, while the Hunters in the field were Awakened. There was plenty of work that only Awakened could do, but the number of Awakened was limited. You couldn't just swap them in and out like machine parts in a factory. That meant the staff had to tread carefully around the Hunters. Even for employees at a top guild who looked successful to outsiders, there were struggles no one else saw. But then—
'...Hm?'
Jin-Woo, who'd been listening to the exchange between the team leader and the staff member, suddenly caught whispered voices from nearby.
"Heard the news? The new guy who came today is supposed to be an E-rank?" *Is this about me again?*
Jin-Woo sometimes regretted having such excellent hearing.
*'Not like I can just plug my ears and live that way...'*
While he let out a bitter smile, the Hunters' cautious murmuring continued.
"What? E-rank?" "They actually brought in an E-rank?" "That's what I said."
He could feel stinging glances landing on the back of his head.
"Seriously, what was the team leader thinking, hiring an E-rank?" "Can an E-rank even use proper strength?" "Tell me about it." "I wonder if we can even finish today's work on time."
Worried voices rose from here and there. At least they were keeping their voices low as a courtesy, but even that effort was meaningless to Jin-Woo. He swallowed a quiet laugh.
*'So there was one more reason those looks weren't kind.'*
As expected, E-ranks got the cold shoulder no matter where they went. He'd been through it so many times it wasn't even worth a second thought.
*'Not like I'll be around long enough for it to matter.'*
But then—murmur murmur. Suddenly, the area in front of the Gate grew noisy.
"The clearing team's out." "Looks like they're finally done."
The expressions of the mining team Hunters, worn down by waiting, brightened little by little. Team Leader Bae, who'd been watching the situation, gestured to the Hunters.
"Alright, let's move out."
The mining team Hunters gathered their gear and slowly began to walk. Jin-Woo blended in among them and followed.
"Great work." "Good job today." "Everyone, great work!"
At the entrance of the Gate, Hunters Guild staff members were warmly welcoming the assault team members who'd just finished their raid and were filing out. The term "clearing team" used on-site apparently referred to the assault team members.
*'These are... the top assault team in the country.'*
Jin-Woo's eyes sharpened as he scanned the faces of the high-ranking — no, the highest-tier Hunters. Among them was someone he recognized.
'...Choi Jong-In.'
Hunters' representative and S-rank magic-type Hunter. Worried that Choi Jong-In might recognize him and cause trouble, Jin-Woo pulled his hard hat down low. Fortunately, there were plenty of Hunters in similar gear around him. He blended naturally into the background. Standing quietly among the dungeon miners while watching the nation's elite assault team, Jin-Woo felt—
*'...This is really the best Hunters has to offer?'*
He couldn't contain his surprise. It was hard to find Hunters with energy stronger than he expected. Choi Jong-In, true to his nickname of "living weapon," radiated tremendous mana — but beyond him, the rest were truly unimpressive.
*'Are they weak?'*
That was absurd. Jin-Woo shook his head. These were the first-string members, handpicked from the guild that held the title of the nation's finest.
*'If a Master is joining the raid, they wouldn't have assembled the team carelessly.'*
"Weak" was the last word that could describe them. Which meant there was only one conclusion.
*'I've gotten stronger.'*
A smile crept onto Jin-Woo's lips. Strength was relative. Months of effort hadn't betrayed him. He'd just cleared an A-rank Dungeon, and his stats had skyrocketed so much that even a first-string assault team looked underwhelming. He could recognize his own power through the gap between himself and others. Thump, thump, thump. His heart was racing. But at that moment — without anyone telling him to, without any sound prompting it — Jin-Woo's head naturally turned toward the Gate. And he let out an exclamation of awe.
*'How is this possible...'*
A short-haired woman was walking leisurely out of the Gate. On her completely bare, unadorned face, the first thing that caught his eye was a pair of large, clear eyes. Her snow-white skin and striking features were also attention-grabbing. Out of a hundred men, roughly ninety-nine would call her beautiful without hesitation. But what truly held Jin-Woo's gaze wasn't her appearance — it was what lay within. The power inside her. A massive torrent of mana was ceaselessly flowing from the female Hunter with the expressionless face.
*'At least on par with Choi Jong-In.'*
Perhaps even beyond. She was a woman with an aura that dominated those around her. By the time the surprise subsided and reason succeeded in banishing emotion from his mind, Jin-Woo recalled her name.
*'That woman is...'*
The nation's only female S-rank, Cha Hae-In. A top-tier Hunter who, along with Choi Jong-In, formed one of the two pillars of Hunters.
*'No one else could have this kind of energy.'*
How many women in Korea possessed power like this? Despite that rarity, Cha Hae-In's face wasn't particularly well known. It was because she was deeply reluctant to appear on camera. That was why Jin-Woo was seeing Cha Hae-In's face for the first time today.
*'She doesn't look weird like the rumors say, so why does she hate cameras?'*
Nearly all women in their early twenties enjoyed being in front of a camera. Well, phone cameras, at least. Perhaps his gaze was a bit too obvious, because Cha Hae-In's eyes turned in Jin-Woo's direction.
*'Hiding... shouldn't be necessary.'*
Jin-Woo subtly suppressed his presence. Cha Hae-In, who'd been scanning the area around where Jin-Woo stood, tilted her head.
*'What was that? I just felt a powerful energy...'*
Was it her imagination? At first, she'd thought Chairman Go Gun-Hee had dropped by the site. But now, as if it had been a lie, the energy had vanished without a trace.
*'There's no way someone as busy as the Chairman would visit without any notice.'*
The price of that misjudgment was steep. She'd honed her senses for a moment to track the powerful energy's trail, and as a result, the stench was hitting her nose several times worse than usual.
*'Ugh.'*
Cha Hae-In did as she always did — pulled out a handkerchief, stuffed it against her nose, and staggered her way out through the crowd of Hunters.
*'She's got sharper senses than I thought.'*
Watching Cha Hae-In move away, Jin-Woo let out a sigh of relief. With that, the entire clearing team had exited the Gate. The moment they'd been waiting for had finally arrived. Bae Yoon-Seok, the mining team leader, turned to face his members. He clapped both hands together with a crisp sound and spoke in a bright voice.
"Alright, it's our turn now — let's do our best, everyone!"
Due to the nature of the job, the collection team entered the Gate first, with the mining team following after. Jin-Woo stopped in front of the Gate.
'...'
Standing there in silence, quietly taking in the majesty of an A-rank Gate he was seeing for the first time, Bae Yoon-Seok approached him.
"Mr. Sung, what are you doing? We need to go in too." "Right."
Jin-Woo replied curtly and, like the other Hunters, stepped through the Gate. Almost immediately, a familiar message appeared.
[You have entered the Dungeon.]