Neorul Guild - Blissful Morning After
After an intimate night with Seong Ye-han, Park I-rae stepped out of the love hotel with the dawn's sunlight, shared a hearty, steaming bowl of pork bone soup for breakfast—scraping it clean together—and parted ways. Her mood... well, if she had to describe it, she felt like she was floating lightly through the sky.
This outcome wasn't the absolute best-case scenario she'd hoped for, but it was definitely a solid second-best. Sure, it stung a bit that she hadn't managed to activate Seong Ye-han's ability with her own power... but when she thought about how he'd reached S-rank instead, that regret seemed trivial in the grand scheme—a total victory, even.
Though she'd lost the lead, she still figured she could catch up. Park I-rae thought so, at least.
"Hee hee hum~"
She bounced along the sunlit street, her steps full of spring. Sex between a man and a woman was far more intense and stimulating than she'd ever imagined. She wasn't sure if sex was inherently that exhilarating or if it was because her partner was the man she'd been craving so badly, but even after falling asleep late, she felt no fatigue at all. Refreshed and invigorated... maybe that's why people say sex is good for you.
It was her first time, yet it felt so amazing that those internet stories about first experiences being nothing but painful seemed like lies. Of course, it wasn't entirely pain-free... but as a hunter, whining over that level of discomfort would mean she needed a career change right then and there. Such minor pain was no obstacle to the happiness she felt from becoming one with Seong Ye-han.
And it wasn't just the physical pleasure—though that was great—what felt even better was the sense of accomplishment in proving herself appealing to him as a woman, as a female. Before meeting him, she'd worried he might see her as just a cute little sister, but last night had erased those fears completely. They'd gone through an entire box of condoms until dawn, and most of the time, he had been the one initiating. That meant she was that attractive to him—no way she could feel bad about it.
When Seong Ye-han became an S-rank... and the spot beside him got snatched by some other bitch... back then, just days ago, when it felt like her chance had flown away forever, she'd wanted to curse the world. But today, it looked pretty beautiful.
"Right now, I bet I could handle Yeon-ah unnie's hell training with a smile."
Today's her was perfect! Flashing bright smiles that lit up her surroundings, Park I-rae headed home.
She'd held back for a whole year—her hard-earned vacation still had a few days left. She planned to spend that time enjoying fun, happy moments with her beloved senior.
Neorul Guild.
Unlike most mid-to-large guilds dominating Korea's hunter industry—backed by major corporations that ruled post-Gate era or formed as corporate guilds themselves—Neorul was one of the rare few founded by individuals, alongside the Hunter Association.
The Association had been established early in the Gate incident and was now practically a public institution, making Neorul virtually the only pure individual-led guild in the modern era. It clung to that identity even now, amid skyrocketing fame, so small in scale that you could count from the bottom among Korea's countless guilds.
But peel back the surface, and no one could ignore it. In fact, a serious analysis would show it wielded greater influence than even Eternal Guild—the current industry leader, reeling from losing Shin Ye-hwa.
The reason? Korea's fifth S-rank hunter, the "Saintess" Ha Yeon-ah. And her sister, the A-rank hunter and "Paladin" Ha Yeon-u, who served as guild master.
When "elite few" came up in Korea, Neorul was the poster child—a synonym for it. For a guild only half a year old, its reputation was absurdly grand. Talk about pressure multiplied.
"I didn't start this guild expecting this..."
In the Neorul Guild master's office, Ha Yeon-u let out a deep sigh amid piles of paperwork.
A year ago. Ever since her sister hit S-rank, the work had exploded. Monster byproduct processing, salary negotiations and welfare for contracted hunters, facility management—not to mention collaboration proposals from corporations and guilds, hunter dispatch requests, and endless applications from hunters wanting to join Neorul...
The front stuff was familiar, at least, with visible endpoints. But the latter? Endless, no matter how much she tackled.
Until recently, pressure from rival Eternal had kept things manageable workload-wise. But after the Shin Ye-hwa incident and her defection, it was like the Big Bang hit.
She was drowning in work. Even with a high-rank awakener's stamina, groans escaped her lips.
Large guilds would have administrative staff from the start or hired more by now. But Neorul's status had flipped overnight—cosmic Big Bang levels—in just half a year. No choice.
With no proper hiring system, even sourcing talent felt skull-splitting. No framework for recruitment, and trusting new hires? Huge issue. You couldn't just post a job ad and hire overnight.
After getting burned in that shitty guild she and her sister first joined—"if you hate the monk, leave the temple"—she'd ditched it. Rather than deal with crap elsewhere, she'd build her own damn temple. That was Ha Yeon-u's Neorul.
Back then, no plans to grow big, no power games—just like-minded folks hunting for fun. But...
"It's 'cause you're so damn talented, unnie."
Her sister Ha Yeon-ah spoke casually from the sofa in the corner, oblivious (or ignoring) Yeon-u's plight.
Unnie spinning like a top with work, and her sister lounging... what a kid.
"It's because of you, not me!"
Seeing her sister chilling while she struggled sparked instant anger. Honestly, wasn't all this her fault? Suddenly hitting S-rank like that!!
Sure, it opened bright paths ahead, but that didn't ease Yeon-u's current suffering. Siblings were programmed to kill each other from birth, huh? Trying to murder her like this. Scary bitch.
Even under her sister's glaring eyes, Yeon-ah remained unfazed.
"If I help, it'll just pile up more work, right?"
Just sitting still is helping, she claimed coolly. Yeon-u fumed but couldn't argue—it was spot-on. Her sister was top-tier as a hunter but a total dunce at admin. Same for most guild members, so the A-rank guild master was stuck buried in papers.
Venting wouldn't finish faster... Yeon-u steadied herself and changed topics.
"Haa... so this week's her whole vacation?"
"Yeah."
"Good. She's always pushing too hard, chased by something."
"But thanks to that, she matched your rank, unnie."
"Youuu... the way you talk..."
Park I-rae. The baby of Neorul for a year. Back then, Neorul was a no-name guild with a freshly A-rank master. What made that promising rookie pick them? Grateful beyond words.
She'd bolstered their lacking front line, stabilizing the guild. Diligent and bright, she'd helped both sisters—even Yeon-ah, pretending otherwise, had leaned on that energy...
But her first vacation tied to a guy? Bad luck. Her sister looked downcast—anyone could see. Yeon-u knew why and just sighed longer.
Lately, I-rae was Yeon-ah's favorite. Not "cute"—more pretty, beautiful, cool—but her drive and focus at that young age hooked Yeon-ah. They stuck together like blood sisters, despite the real one getting the rough treatment...
Rotten kid. Anyway, I-rae, obsessed with hunts and training, had proudly hit A-rank. Yeon-ah planned a small, intimate celebration—like their guild style.
But the celebrant bailed. They'd schemed surprise: promotion party if success, consolation if fail. Backfired hard.
Before spilling the plan, I-rae took vacation to meet her "senior." Ever since rejecting the hyped party, Yeon-ah's mood had been stormy low-pressure.
"You better not pull any weird shit just 'cause I-rae met a guy?"
"Me? Why?"
"Why... you know I know you."
"..."
Yeon-u eyed her sister sharply. Golden hair shimmering post-ability awakening, grown long—stunning, no doubt. Sleepy eyes, slight frown on delicate features: moon goddess material.
But that body? Sinfully seductive despite modest clothes. Massive, thick... breasts rare even among Westerners, wide hips—a succubus stealing men's souls.
Didn't want to call her sister that, but reality bit. Her oozing femininity ignited desires, no explanation needed. God-blessed looks, but dangerous in this harsh world.
Tormented since youth, now she recoiled at any male mention—worsening Neorul's talent shortage. Half the population off-limits.
Still, as blood and big sis knowing her pain... Yeon-u respected her wishes. Part of why they built Neorul.
So for Yeon-ah, who doted on the guild-stuck I-rae (no guys or even same-sex friends for a year), hearing her suddenly off to meet a man? Shocking, despite appearances.
"Even as an S-rank, I won't tolerate that chaos—as your sister?"
"...I won't."
"That '...' what? You planning something for real?"
"No... you suffer enough; why add more work?"
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Believe me. I'm your sister."
Yeon-u ignored the chill down her spine, turning back to papers. Yeah... Yeon-ah wasn't reckless. Even post-S-rank, known as the nicest after the Association president. Family... if she asks to trust, she would.
Yeon-u prayed to a god she didn't believe in: please, don't let her die under these papers.