Chapter 43 - Hero (6)
Kim Sun-woo's last memory was of Han Sang-seok swinging his sword, infused with sword gang, slicing through Gahwa-ryong's entire body as if carving it to pieces.
"On the rooftop over there... Hunter Lee Sang-hoon..."
Squeezing out his last bit of strength to say that, he blacked out.
When he opened his eyes again, the familiar ceiling of a hospital room came into view.
According to the doctor, he'd been lying there motionless for nearly a week.
In truth, it was a state where he couldn't have done otherwise.
He'd wrung out every last drop of his internal energy, stamina, and mental strength to unleash the Flying Moon Severing Shadow technique.
If he hadn't consumed Baek Ryuk Geom's lingering essence pill right before, he wouldn't have even reached Gahwa-ryong.
Despite his flame resistance, he'd suffered severe burns across his body, nearly every bone was fractured, and his muscles had torn apart.
His internal organs were relatively intact, at least—that was what they said—but the doctor had let out a deep sigh the moment he saw him.
"Sun-woo."
"Ah, Team Leader."
About an hour after waking, the door to the room opened, and Robert entered in his usual suit.
"How's your body feeling?"
"I just woke up, so I'm still a bit dazed. No pain anywhere."
"That's a relief."
Robert set a fruit basket on the bedside table, pulled up a chair, and sat by the bed.
The Mugung Guild was still tied up with monster cleanup operations in Gangwon Province.
Robert, having worked through the night himself, looked exhausted as he loosened his tie and exhaled heavily.
"Things here are almost wrapped up. We should be back in Seoul by dawn tomorrow at the latest."
"Everyone's working hard. So, what exactly happened with the situation?"
"Just as I told you before."
"Huh."
Robert washed an apple at the sink in the corner of the room and began peeling it with a crisp sound.
Why was the guy who'd taken leave to go train suddenly at the epicenter of a dungeon break?
The moment Robert saw the news, his head spun.
That's why he'd immediately suggested to the guild master to mount a rescue and support operation for Kim Sun-woo.
A B-rank dungeon break wasn't something a single hunter could handle alone.
Gangwon Province happened to be one of the support areas, so Han Sang-seok quickly devised a plan and decided to head there.
...In other words, Kim Sun-woo's situation was the overwhelming reason Mugung Guild went to Gangwon.
Feeling awkwardly sorry, he scratched his head with a sheepish grin.
"Sorry for dragging you into it. There must've been closer spots."
"Thanks to you, everyone racked up some solid achievements. We can boast to the Association now, so it's a win for the guild too. Of course, it was only possible because you held out without dying."
Robert neatly plated the peeled apple and offered it to Kim Sun-woo.
He took it without refusing—he liked fruit, after all—and popped a piece into his mouth.
It was sweet and delicious, even though it wasn't apple season.
Maybe because it was the first solid food he'd had in a week since nearly dying?
"So, how does it feel to become a nationwide star?"
But Robert's follow-up remark left him tilting his head in confusion.
"Huh? What star?"
"You haven't checked yet? Your phone..."
"Lost it in the fight. Dropped it somewhere. Probably melted in the lava."
At Kim Sun-woo's response, Robert silently reached for the remote.
He pointed it at the TV mounted on the wall, and the screen flickered on.
No need to change channels.
Kim Sun-woo and Lee Sang-hoon's faces were plastered across the news broadcast, larger than life.
A massive thud echoed as footage from above showed Gahwa-ryong rampaging through the city.
Seeing it spew crimson lava and brilliant yellow flames still made his chest tighten.
If Mugung Guild's support hadn't arrived after the Flying Moon Severing Shadow failed, he really would've died.
"...They actually managed to film that. One wrong move, and they'd have plunged into the lava."
"You don't get footage like that every day. If I were a reporter, I'd have risked it too."
The video started with Kim Sun-woo massacring the Red Drakes.
Then Gahwa-ryong appeared, Lee Sang-hoon joined, deploying field transformation to hold it back—the whole sequence was captured in stark detail.
...Especially their rooftop conversation.
The anchor was speculating on their lip movements with experts.
Click.
The scene shifted to Kim Sun-woo standing at the edge of the railing, saying something to Lee Sang-hoon.
It matched what he'd said by over 90%.
"No way... they even lip-read that..."
Kim Sun-woo, watching the TV, turned beet red and stammered incoherently.
On screen, he set down a mana potion bottle on the railing after speaking, then leaped off the rooftop.
"......"
Kim Sun-woo clamped his mouth shut and stared at the TV.
Maybe losing his phone was a blessing.
What would people who'd seen the news message him about?
Not just hunter acquaintances, but old contacts from before he entered the industry—they'd all seen it.
Every channel was talking about him.
"Haa..."
As Kim Sun-woo covered his face and sighed deeply, Robert chuckled mischievously.
"When you go to that snack bar once it's rebuilt, take me too. I'd love to try the full course."
"Don't tease."
"I'm serious. After a week of hell, you deserve that much."
"......"
Kim Sun-woo slumped bonelessly on the bed.
He couldn't even think about the outside world.
Nothing he could do anyway—let it be.
"By the way, this incident has put your actions and past back in the spotlight online. It was too big for the guild to contain, so sorry, but we'll need your understanding."
"Figured. Can't be helped."
No debts left after ten years of paying them off—what could they do with that?
If anything, a good image only helped.
"Don't worry about rumors or hate comments. Legal's on it like hawks. Saw the list of those indicted last time?"
"Yeah, got it. Told them to handle it."
"Good call. They're societal trash—no mercy needed."
Robert nodded, cleared the apple peels and knife, and stood.
"Confirmed you're okay, so I'll head back to the guild. Rest up—no work for a while."
"Got it. Pushed too hard this time; body's creaking."
"Facing a B-rank boss like Gahwa-ryong head-on? No wonder."
Robert donned his sunglasses from his breast pocket and looked down at Kim Sun-woo.
...Until now, he'd thought he could at least try matching him.
But fighting Gahwa-ryong? That movement was on another level from what he knew.
Results from holing up in those Gangwon mountains for training?
At this rate of hype, B-rank promotion's just around the corner.
His growth was so explosive and steep, no jealousy—just curiosity about how far he'd go.
"Oh, I'll get a replacement phone activated and sent over—shouldn't inconvenience you."
"Appreciate it."
"See you."
With a curt farewell, Robert left.
After that, Kim Sun-woo lay quietly, circulating energy without moving a finger.
Now he could do it without lotus position.
Efficiency dipped a bit, but with injuries, full posture was too much.
Around lunchtime, the phone Robert quick-delivered arrived.
Guy's efficient as hell.
Even as an office worker, he'd be a star.
Kim Sun-woo contacted colleagues in Gangwon with the new phone.
Through messages with Han Su-ah, he learned she'd handled their initial treatment.
Fortunately, Lee Sang-hoon was safe too, recovering at a major Gangwon hospital.
...Though the aftereffects from overusing his ability would need looking into separately.
After contacting a few urgent people, Kim Sun-woo exhaled shortly and closed his eyes.
With tasks done, he felt a bit lighter.
Pushing TV and Robert's words aside, he replayed the Gahwa-ryong fight.
"If only I'd been able to use sword gang properly."
He could've felled it cleanly, not just superficial wounds.
Han Sang-seok's sword, gushing streams of sword gang right before he passed out, lingered vividly.
"...Alright."
Kim Sun-woo opened his eyes, his pupils gleaming with white radiance as he clenched his fist.
I've got the sensation locked in.
Using Baek Ryuk Geom's notebook, he could raise his realm quickly.
Drowsiness hit as he pulled up the blanket and shut his eyes.
Knock knock.
Someone rapped on the door.