The Legend's Bold Conditions
The day after the awakening test, Uramata's guild master, Go Cheolmin, checked his phone for Jushin's official announcement.
Han Su-kyung, dressed in black, delivered the message with a grave expression.
The content was so shocking that Yoo Wan-seop realized the rumor that "Kim Jun had screwed over Jushin" was true... no, that phrase didn't even begin to cover it.
The scattered puzzle pieces clicked perfectly into place in that instant.
Yoo Wan-seop now understood why Jushin's Phantom Knights had tracked him all the way to Jirisan Mountain to kill him.
He also grasped why Choi Min-su and Go Cheolmin had sought him out.
Go Cheolmin glanced at Choi Min-su.
Choi Min-su stepped forward.
"Ahem, so here's the thing..."
"I'll agree, if you meet a few conditions."
Yoo Wan-seop cut him off.
"...Agree? Agree to what?"
"I'll take the guild master position at Uramata."
"......"
Choi Min-su and Go Cheolmin exchanged looks. Choi Min-su especially glared fiercely at Go Cheolmin.
Go Cheolmin shook his head in confusion, not understanding.
Yoo Wan-seop quickly grasped the implication.
"Cheolmin didn't say a word to me. I just pieced it together from what you told me."
"For real?"
It was Choi Min-su who asked.
Yoo Wan-seop gave a simple explanation.
With Jushin officially recognizing Kim Jun, the power dynamics between guilds had shifted dramatically. Jushin's response to that situation, the high likelihood that Cheonhondan and Uramata would become targets, Go Cheolmin's desire to return to active duty—it was the comprehensive judgment of all these factors.
"How did you know I wanted to return to active duty?"
Go Cheolmin asked.
"Your body."
It showed clear signs of long inactivity followed by recent resumption of training.
"You're pissing me off, man."
Choi Min-su grumbled, and Yoo Wan-seop burst into laughter.
"What are the conditions?"
Choi Min-su pressed.
"First, once I become guild master, I'll hire a professional manager—a CEO."
Both Choi Min-su and Go Cheolmin's eyes widened at that.
"A CEO?"
"I'll separate guild operations like finances and house management into an independent division and hand it over to the CEO."
"And what will you do?"
"Train."
"...What?"
Choi Min-su looked utterly bewildered.
"Second, I'll completely overhaul the guild's internal training system. Hiring specialized instructors to closely monitor each raider's current state and training process means revising the system is inevitable. Anyone who doesn't like the changes can leave the guild. Sound good?"
Yoo Wan-seop looked at Go Cheolmin.
Existing guilds left training processes and skill choices up to the raiders themselves. To survive dungeons, raiders had to train through their own blood and sweat.
But Yoo Wan-seop thought that approach fell short.
It wasn't wrong, but too many raiders—even in Jushin—missed opportunities to grow stronger.
Choi Min-su also stared at Go Cheolmin. The decision rested with Uramata's current guild master.
"I'd like to hear the other conditions first."
That was Go Cheolmin's response.
Yoo Wan-seop nodded.
This bear of a man... a few years as guild master, and his vessel has grown.
"Third, we need to buy a guild building. Convert the current guildhouse into a training center, then secure an administrative building and a housing building for raiders—whatever it takes, loans or otherwise, this must be resolved."
Go Cheolmin's eyes wavered, and he bowed his head deeply.
"Uramata's still a small guild. How do we buy two buildings? That's too much."
Choi Min-su said.
Yoo Wan-seop pretended not to hear and moved to the next condition.
"Fourth, we'll establish a subsidiary. One that processes the cores Uramata secures from raids to generate revenue. Once it's running properly, we'll have stable income, easing financial pressure."
The two men were speechless.
Yoo Wan-seop understood their reaction. Two buildings weren't enough—they had to build a subsidiary too. It was mind-boggling.
Subsidiaries were typically formed after a guild grew large and accumulated capital. Struggling guilds risked chain bankruptcy if the subsidiary faltered.
Yoo Wan-seop wasn't one to toss out problems without solutions. He just hadn't shared the answers yet because they were hard to swallow.
He gave Choi Min-su and Go Cheolmin a glimpse of his proposed solutions.
Choi Min-su's face hardened immediately.
"No way. My wife would kill me."
"Then die."
"Hey, don't come down from there. Just live out your days on Jirisan forever. If you really run, even Jushin won't find you. Cheolmin, let's go."
Choi Min-su shot to his feet.
"I'm in favor."
Go Cheolmin's words made Choi Min-su bulge his eyes.
"What?"
"I think it's necessary."
"Hey, you're single, but I've got a family!"
"You started this, so take responsibility, senior."
Choi Min-su was at a loss for words. He'd come to Jirisan all excited with Go Cheolmin, never imagining this. He shot a resentful glare at his cunning friend.
Yoo Wan-seop stretched casually, pretending not to notice. After devouring ramen and hearing an entertaining story, he felt fully recovered.
Still, better safe than sorry. Judging he needed ample rest, he lay down and pulled the blanket over himself.
Soon, snoring filled the air.
A black motorcycle glided smoothly into the Uramata Guildhouse parking lot.
Sa Yeonggyo parked her Honda RC between Kim Jun's ordinary car and Yoo Min-jeong's red Ferrari. The guild master's van, Choi Muhyun's Jeep, and even Skyla's Harley Davidson were already there.
She was dead last among the Pink Team.
She checked her watch.
8:03 a.m.
Ten minutes earlier than yesterday, and still last.
The Pink Team's "commute" was getting earlier by the day.
Sa Yeonggyo killed the engine, removed her helmet, and headed into the guildhouse, carrying it in one hand. She loved how the rider jacket clung perfectly, accentuating her figure.
"You're here?"
Choi Muhyun raised a hand. Fast but somehow rhino-like in his bounding gait, his tanker's eyes scanned from her shoulders to her chest and lower.
Yeom Sang-taek's eyes widened as he ogled her body too. When their gazes met, the flustered buffer quickly looked away, face red.
Men.
Sa Yeonggyo wasn't offended. She knew there was no ill intent. A perfect figure like hers naturally drew the eye.
It would be insulting if they didn't notice.
She nodded lightly and glanced at the others running at their own paces.
She hadn't expected them to stop training and swarm her with welcomes just because the Association President's granddaughter had arrived, but their cool indifference stung a little. In this Uramata Guild, there was no special treatment like elsewhere.
Then Kim Jun shot past.
Sa Yeonggyo's mouth fell open. She barely swallowed an exclamation that rose to her throat.
Focused face, deep clear eyes, powerful arm pumps, solid core, smooth stride—his running form was flawless. She'd seen it multiple times, yet it still drew awe every time.
A twinge of annoyance hit her.
With his sharp observation, Kim Jun must have seen her. Yet he'd ignored her completely.
Did even this perfect body not faze him?
His insane focus might mean his eyes registered her, but his frontal lobe dismissed it entirely. Thinking that eased her mind a bit.
Yoo Min-jeong stopped in front of her.
Sa Yeonggyo quickly schooled her expression. She didn't want her thoughts read.
Especially not by Yoo Min-jeong.
"Earlier than yesterday."
"...Yeah."
"Change and get out here."
Yoo Min-jeong ran off again.
If there was one person in the guildhouse who didn't welcome Sa Yeonggyo, it was Yoo Min-jeong.
Still, Sa Yeonggyo wasn't upset.
At least Yoo Min-jeong acknowledged her presence, even if just a little.
In the locker room, she peeled off the tight rider pants and jacket, changing into training gear that hugged her curves just as snugly.
The first time she'd worn it, even she felt shy, but now anything else felt uncomfortable.
She tied her hair tightly and stood before the mirror.
Slim figure, sharp features, fierce eyes, narrow waist, ample chest—a body that turned heads anywhere.
Not bad at all.
Sa Yeonggyo had figured out Yoo Min-jeong's gaze toward Kim Jun in just one day.
Kim Jun probably had no clue about the feelings in those eyes. That relentless frontal lobe might have erased Yoo Min-jeong from his awareness too.
The possibility was high.
If so, Yoo Min-jeong wasn't ahead of her. On a level starting line, Sa Yeonggyo was confident she wouldn't lose.
Joining Uramata Guild took real courage. No matter the explanation, the world might just see it as the Association President's granddaughter slumming it in a third-rate guild, tarnishing her grandfather and parents.
She'd cautiously asked her grandfather. Contrary to expectations, Sa Gyeongbaek smiled warmly.
"Do as you wish. That's what youth is for. Observe closely, listen closely, feel closely. The path will reveal itself."
Without his permission, she'd have left Seoul for Africa instead.
One reason she'd pushed to join Uramata despite the persuasion was Kim Jun.
She wanted to know him.
News articles and the awakening test weren't enough.
Just as she was drawn to Kim Jun the man, she hoped he'd be drawn to her. That's why she'd come to Uramata—to eventually run off to Africa, to freedom, together.
She recalled the world-famous raider couple she'd met in Congo.
Jerry the Fire and Jessie the Ice.
Top raiders, each masters of their domains, yet they hunted in dungeons like it was a date.
Once, facing a pack of Cancersaurus, they'd fought side by side, gazing at each other with eyes full of love as they slew monsters. The sight had been unforgettable. I want a date like that, she'd thought.
Sa Yeonggyo was certain Kim Jun would become a global raider like Jerry the Fire someday. By then, she'd surpass Jessie the Ice as an even greater female raider.
Hand in hand, entering dungeons together—they'd draw every eye.
Just imagining it thrilled her.
Sa Yeonggyo stepped out of the locker room.
"Whoa!"
Choi Muhyun. The training suit was far bolder than the rider suit.
It resembled a diver's wetsuit.
Sa Yeonggyo struck a model pose, hip cocked.
Yeom Sang-taek gave a thumbs-up, cheeks flushed red.
And Kim Jun?
Still laser-focused on his run, like his mind was in another world.
As Kim Jun approached, Sa Yeonggyo matched his pace beside him.
He was so immersed he forgot a teammate ran alongside, utterly dedicated to training. Part of her wanted to trip him.
Then, a tiny spark from Kim Jun's finger climbed his arm to his shoulder... paused as a miniature bolt of lightning, then zipped past his neck, jaw, ear, and crown with soft pops before vanishing.
Thunder God!
Sa Yeonggyo recalled Kim Jun from the practical awakening test.
He'd used Yeon Ga's Po-noe Strike, but control issues left severe burns on his palm.
Now sparks flowed naturally around his body.
To improve that much in days...
Excitement made her tremble.
Forgotten emotions surged. She wanted to fight him right then. She gritted her teeth to hold back.
"Let's go!"
Kim Jun suddenly shouted.
"Let's go!"
The others followed.
Kim Jun exploded forward at blinding speed.
Sa Yeonggyo chained two Speed Ups to catch him but fell behind. Far ahead, he breezed past Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek, then overtook Yoo Min-jeong and Skyla.
He lapped her ferociously.
The run ended only after Kim Jun did twelve extra laps. The sweat-soaked Pink Team dispersed for individual training.
Kim Jun moved to his usual corner of the guildhouse.
As she approached, Skyla blocked Sa Yeonggyo.
"Got a minute?"
"Speak. I'm listening."
Before joining Uramata, Sa Yeonggyo had researched the Pink Team, naturally learning about Skyla.
Skyla had hidden her raider identity to work as a Daily Raiders journalist. She'd written the aggro article that nearly got Kim Jun killed.
Sa Yeonggyo didn't like her.
"That outfit... isn't it a bit much?"
"What is?"
"Think about the others."
"Others? Who?"
Skyla pointed to two men by the weight rack, stealing glances at Sa Yeonggyo—specifically her hip line.