Chapter 23 - Famous Person (2)
Mugung Guild's guild master, Han Kang-seok.
He had returned from the Central Plains and founded the guild 'Mugung' at the age of twenty.
At the time, he had risen to one of the few A-rank hunters in Korea, gaining fame, and now, twenty years later, Mugung Guild stood proudly as one of Korea's top ten guilds.
Typically, large guilds were backed by conglomerates with solid financial power or reliable sponsors.
Mugung also had multiple investors and partners, but expanding to its current scale had been solely due to Guild Master Han Kang-seok's abilities.
His prowess as a hunter was remarkable, and his achievements as a guild owner had left a significant mark in hunter history.
Kim Sun-woo had never spoken directly with Han Kang-seok.
At best, he'd caught distant glimpses of him during New Year's events or the guild's founding anniversary.
So, as they rode the elevator up, he asked Kim Jin-cheol,
"What kind of person is the guild master?"
"Like a solid rock."
It was an immediate answer.
As if there was no need to think it over, he shrugged and continued,
"It's already been twenty years since Mugung Guild was founded. Things haven't always been smooth sailing. There were plenty of ups and downs, times when the guild itself faced extinction. But everyone held on, looking to just one man—the guild master."
Kim Jin-cheol had joined Mugung fifteen years ago.
Hunters often switched guilds based on conditions and treatment unless they'd been scouted and supported as promising talents from the start.
It was only natural for a job that demanded constant physical exertion.
At a glance, it resembled the sports industry in many ways.
"The guild master cherishes Mugung and its members a lot. That's why our guild has a noticeably low turnover rate compared to others. He pays special attention to the treatment of low-rank hunters, which gives him a good reputation too."
"Mugung's conditions are indeed better than most places. That's why I settled here."
For most, E- and F-rank hunters were nothing but consumables.
Even Park Gwan-sik, team leader of Defense Team 3, was only respected among F-ranks; in reality, he was in the same boat.
Places that paid well were dangerous, while safer ones offered meager pay.
Mugung was one of the few that treated them like people while working them hard, so Kim Sun-woo had applied without hesitation.
Efficiency came first if he wanted to keep working nonstop and pay off his debts.
And that's how it had continued to this day.
"So you're practically a living testament to the hunter industry the guild master envisioned. Who knows—your personalities might even mesh well. Just relax and talk like you normally would."
Knock knock.
Upon reaching the top floor of the guild building, Kim Jin-cheol lightly knocked on the door.
He then pulled the handle open and stepped aside, gesturing for Kim Sun-woo to enter.
"……."
The guild master's office seemed to occupy the entire top floor by itself.
One side had a conference room partitioned off simply, the far corner held a cafeteria and bar, and the center was structured as an office.
A large window at the back offered a panoramic view of the city, and Han Kang-seok stood there with his back to the door.
"Defense Team 3's Kim Sun-woo reporting."
"Have a seat first."
"Yes, sir."
As he sat on the edge of the guest sofa, Han Kang-seok asked,
"Coffee? Tea?"
"Tea, please."
"Perfect timing. I got some good tea as a gift yesterday."
Han Kang-seok personally boiled water and brewed the tea.
Seated on the sofa, Kim Sun-woo observed him closely from the corner of his eye.
He's an incredible master.
Even through his clothes, the rigorous training etched into his body was evident.
Just looking at him evoked the overwhelming sense of facing a massive mountain.
What form would the martial arts of such a physique take?
Even Baek San-hu, a Huashan Sect master famed as the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, hadn't given off this aura.
Was there truly such a vast gap between A-rank and B-rank?
Clink.
Han Kang-seok poured the brewed tea into cups and handed one over, grinning at Kim Sun-woo's scrutiny.
"No need to be so tense. I called you here for good news. First off, congratulations on becoming a C-rank hunter."
A few documents and a C-rank hunter license card were slid across the table toward him.
"Debuting from unranked to a higher rank happens occasionally, but jumping straight from low-rank to C-rank is rare. You can be proud."
"…Thank you, sir."
Kim Sun-woo took the documents and license, bowing deeply.
It felt like receiving blessings from a distant elderly relative he wasn't close to.
Still, as his boss and CEO, he responded with proper courtesy.
"And it's not just any C-rank. Do you know what it means to have a 'plus' notation on your evaluation?"
"…It means above average for that rank, and bonus points on the next promotion exam."
"Right. Sure, there's the skill factor, but this time, various circumstances aligned to create a big ripple. The association seems to view you favorably too. They're always thirsty for star hunters."
"…Haha."
Kim Sun-woo let out an awkward smile.
He had zero interest in shooting CFs, ads, or flaunting himself on variety shows.
Even in this moment facing the guild master, his mind was filled with thoughts of martial arts.
"Yeah, probably not your thing. It's welcome from the guild's perspective, but as an individual hunter, you wouldn't be thrilled. Hunters suit the warrior role better than celebrities."
"……."
Reading his expression, Kim Sun-woo flinched.
Seeing the rookie vibe wafting off him, Han Kang-seok burst into hearty laughter, took a sip of tea, and continued,
"Must've been a hassle with all the sudden attention. The guild's handled it appropriately, so no more worries. Lascael, was it? Even in this world, we can't let personal histories become gossip fodder. We've rounded them all up and shipped them off, so no more annoyances."
"Thank you, sir."
Kim Sun-woo expressed his genuine gratitude.
Those guys stirring up weird stories had been a massive stress source for him.
"No big deal. Thanks to you, Mugung Guild's name keeps coming up—great PR. Anything else you want? Bet you've gotten a ton of scout offers."
"Yes, I have."
Kim Sun-woo answered honestly.
Han Kang-seok winked and leaned back in his chair.
"Mugung has no intention of letting you go. You're a rare talent, and losing you easily would hurt my image and the guild's. So, for both our sakes, be frank. This might be your only shot."
His gaze turned serious.
After a moment of earnest thought, Kim Sun-woo replied carefully,
"Elixirs and martial arts manuals."
"Not satisfied with your current level, huh? Already gearing up to climb higher?"
"I've slugged it out as a hunter mechanically for nearly ten years, and now I'm finally tasting the thrill of getting stronger. I thought I wouldn't have such greed, but here we are."
In other words: If you want to keep me, offer elixirs and martial arts.
At Kim Sun-woo's words, Han Kang-seok nodded with a grin.
"The thrill of growing stronger. Good mindset. I'll procure decent elixirs and manuals. But you won't settle for just that, right? So here's my proposal."
"A proposal?"
"How about an exclusive contract with the guild? We'd handle all the minor procedures and support you fully at the guild level."
An exclusive guild contract.
It was a multi-year deal with great terms, used to lock in promising or active hunters.
Honestly, it felt overly bold.
He'd only recently made his mark.
Sure, he'd aced the exceptional promotion exam, but this seemed too aggressive.
Reading his thoughts from his expression again, Han Kang-seok shrugged.
"Bold investments are one of my few specialties. For a lottery ticket with such high odds, it's a profit for the guild."
"…Could you give me some time?"
"Of course. Take all you need. Rejecting won't force you out either. I just hope you'll stay with Mugung in some capacity. As a new team leader."
"I'll do my best."
"But you know you'll need training, right?"
"Yes, of course."
Kim Sun-woo nodded.
Fighting well and leading a team were entirely different realms.
He'd spent years as an F-rank in combat.
He could handle personal fights, but his grasp of organizational systems and mindset was still low-rank.
No way he could lead a high-rank hunter team with that.
Beep.
Han Kang-seok pressed the intercom and spoke to his secretary.
"Call Robert."
…Robert.
The unexpected name stiffened Kim Sun-woo's expression.
In this context, calling a C-rank team leader meant assigning a mentor for his training.
Honestly, he'd assumed it would be Kim Jin-cheol.
Robert, huh.
Kim Sun-woo mulled over the name, recalling old rumors.
Nicknamed the perfectionist.
He pursued perfection to the point of exhaustion—before raids, during, and after—earning the moniker.
A hunter with over ten years at Mugung alongside Kim Jin-cheol, rumored to be on the cusp of B-rank promotion.
"That look says you're wondering why Robert."
"…No, sir."
"Jin-cheol's great, but too soft on juniors. Not ideal for proper learning. Robert, surprisingly, excels at teaching despite appearances. Maybe it's his all-or-nothing personality. Anyway, learn well."
…Is that so?
Knowing him only by rumor, Kim Sun-woo wasn't sure about Robert.
Knock knock.
Soon, a blond man in a suit entered the office.
Neat slicked-back hair, thin gold-rimmed glasses, well-trained physique, impeccable suit without a single wrinkle.
His flawless demeanor perfectly matched the perfectionist nickname.
"You called for me, Guild Master?"
"Robert. This is Hunter Kim Sun-woo. You know who he is?"
"…Yes, I do."
"He's been promoted to C-rank and will take a team leader position. I'd like you to handle his training."
"…Understood."
Kim Sun-woo was slightly surprised.
Stubbornness radiated from his wrinkles and eye bags.
He'd half-expected a polite refusal or negativity, despite the guild master's order.
But the man nodded so readily—it was unexpected.
"Good. Learn well under Robert. I'll check your progress personally. Expect contact soon on the elixirs and manuals."
"Hunter Kim Sun-woo, follow me."
"I'll see you next time, sir."
After bowing to Han Kang-seok, Kim Sun-woo followed Robert out of the office.
"……."
Even as they rode the elevator down, not a word was exchanged.
He figured he'd break the ice since they'd be mentor-mentee for team leader training, but then—
"Let me say this upfront."
Robert cut in precisely as if timed.
"I don't particularly like your type—the ones called 'geniuses.'"
"…Pardon?"
Caught off guard, Kim Sun-woo stared blankly at Robert's profile.
But Robert stared straight ahead, avoiding eye contact.
"If it's unpleasant, I apologize. But I won't seek or expect understanding. It's just my personal view—like hating beans or sesame seeds. I'll follow the guild master's orders diligently, but this is the first and last time we'll speak privately. Keep that in mind."
"……."
Kim Sun-woo paused briefly.
In his years navigating the hunter world, he'd met all sorts, but this was a unique character.
More than that…
Genius, huh.
It felt oddly intriguing.
Normally, hearing 'I don't want to get close to you' face-to-face would annoy anyone.
But it came off as acknowledging him as a 'genius,' which was embarrassing in a good way.
Especially since he'd never been treated that way before.
Kim Sun-woo scratched his head with a sheepish smile.
"No worries. You're too kind."
"…Do you really understand what I said?"
"I hear you use a spear. I'd love to spar sometime. Never met a spear user before."
"Not all C-rank hunters are the same. I am…"
"I got C-rank plus on this promotion exam too. A bit more experience, and B-rank shouldn't be hard."
Kim Sun-woo shrugged.
With the genius image set, might as well roll with it.
His words even bordered on provocative—intentionally so.
I want to test him out.
Baek Ryuk Geom's lectures focused heavily on swordsmanship.
The rest would come from real combat experience.
In that regard, Robert—a near B-rank powerhouse—was perfect teaching material.
"……."
A blue vein bulged at Robert's temple.
He whipped his head around, finally meeting Kim Sun-woo's eyes.
Then, in a low, seething voice, he spat cold fury.
"…Fine. For the training ahead, we should establish hierarchy cleanly. I hope your skills match the hype."
He'd asked for it.
Out of Robert's sight, Kim Sun-woo clenched his fist tight.