Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Gathering Rankers (1)
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Korea's largest hunter community.
The 「Hunter Board」 was in absolute chaos.
[★BEST★]
[ID: A-rank Supposedly]
[Recommendations: 1,325,000]
[Title: My story after going to the recent 'Demir Workshop' interview]
A single story posted on the free board had become prime bait, igniting a firestorm.
The story went like this.
- I just came back from the hot Demir Workshop interview, and I think I failed?
- But, fuck. It was way too intense.
- You regulars know, I'm Purple Badge (A-rank famous plate) guy.
- With a Purple Badge, any guild would roll out the red carpet, right? You all know.
- Sure, Demir Workshop has all these tempting perks like weapon support and industry-top treatment, so I applied.
- But still, fuck lololol.
- Every person coming out of the interview room had a golden badge.
- Fuck, S-rank hunters.
- Seriously, not a single B-rank even made it past documents.
- Even those golden badges looked sour-faced.
- That's when I started shitting bricks.
- Went into the interview room, and this pretty lady asks a bunch of questions.
- Froze up, couldn't answer properly, came out.
- Ha, fuck.
- Never thought a workshop—not even a guild—interview would be this brutal.
A stunned A-rank hunter's rant about a scene unlike any guild interview.
Sure enough, the comments were a warzone.
▶Lol it's a workshop, but not just any workshop. High ranker's the master.
▶Lol still insane. S-rank is a free pass to any guild, no?
▶I'm A-rank, got document rejected. Even passing docs means you're competitive...
▶Treatment's OP for sure. Heard it's 10x industry average?
▶Yeah, elite few only, so they up the pay.
Pure shock from some, others saying it made sense.
▶But OP deserved it. Calling the interviewer "pretty lady" in the post? Didn't even research the workshop? It's sub-master Kim Jin-ah.
▶Lol for real.
▶Deserved rejection. Doesn't even know exec names.
▶A-rank privilege. Usually don't need to research anywhere.
▶Still, for high competition spots, basics matter lol.
▶Interviews still going?
▶Yeah, all day today apparently.
Others mocking the poster.
Hunters of all stripes bit the bait, creating a frenzy.
Nor was it just this community in uproar.
[Demir Workshop interviews still underway.]
[Most applicants S-rank? Rumors say rankers applied too.]
[Why's a workshop recruiting hunters? Planning to form a proper guild?]
[Revisiting Demir sub-master Kim Jin-ah.]
Reporters too.
Cranking out clickbait derivatives.
"Huuuuh."
And so.
In the Demir Workshop's second-floor VIP room.
Kim Jin-ah, fingers steepled on the table, let out a deep sigh.
Beside her towered stacks of application documents.
"Seriously, so many."
Incredibly, all from A-rank to S-rank hunters.
Beyond high-rank hunters too.
Overflowing talent for general corporate ops.
People to commute to the city in the future Wuryeong Do-won, handling massive workloads.
"Hehe."
Kim Jin-ah grinned excitedly.
The thrill of building something piece by piece with her own hands.
Creak!
That's when skeleton noises came from outside.
One of Eldrin's subordinates acting as usher.
Signaling the next interviewee.
"Ahem."
She cleared her throat, picking up her question sheet.
Murmur murmur!
Waiting applicants buzzed outside.
'What?'
Tilting her head, she stared at the entrance.
Three figures entered at once.
"Oho, so this is the interview spot?"
First, a German woman with snow-white skin, glancing around curiously.
"Whoa, this punk! Not bad setup!"
Behind her stood a German middle-aged man with a mysterious sword and a Brazilian youth in explorer gear.
"Ahem, you must be sub-master Kim Jin-ah. Pleased to meet you. I'm Maximilian from Germany. Embarrassingly, I bear the flashy moniker Absolute Matchless."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Kapu. Heard it was Hoon's guild, so I applied."
Huh?
Kim Jin-ah, staring blankly, shot to her feet.
"Oh my god, all three of you came in person? We said take your time!"
Her, who held the upper hand even against S-ranks, instantly switched to deference.
That's what rankers were.
Just having them boosted national power, guild strength.
Their value beyond mere money.
"Huh? What're you talking about. Applied, so of course I show up."
Crackle!
Thunderclap Floa sparked electricity in her fist.
'Oh my god.'
Gulp.
Kim Jin-ah swallowed hard.
Seeing ranking 80's German hero in the flesh.
And her volunteering for their guild, no less.
But.
The surprise ended there.
She was sub-master of ranking 78 Joo Dong-hoon's workshop.
Currently proxying in his absence.
'Business is business.'
Lips firm, Kim Jin-ah smiled softly.
"For now, all three of you. Tough journey here—have a seat."
* * *
Can't just accept rankers willy-nilly.
Might be some ulterior motive, not goodwill.
So Kim Jin-ah asked their motivations one by one.
But.
"Hmm, I respect Hoon. Thanks to him, I became a ranker. By his side, I'll grow more. That's why. Plus, new skill I developed. Hm, want to explain to Hoon himself."
Ranking 908, Guide Kapu.
Straight-up fanboy of the master.
"Same reason as Kapu over there. He's reckless but romantic, cold but loyal. Pay doesn't matter. Hope I can help somehow. So... I just like this guild. Er, workshop? This place."
Ranking 905, Absolute Matchless Max, same deal.
'What is this.'
Kim Jin-ah looked dazed.
Normal rankers?
Shoulders squared, negotiating terms first.
These were different.
Just genuinely liked the master?
Floa took the cake.
"Me?"
Innocent face pointing at herself to the motivation question.
"Joo Dong-hoon—that guy's my master."
"Yes...? Huh?"
Kim Jin-ah thought she misheard.
What? Master?
That kind of master?
'No way, master, what the.'
What'd he been up to while gone?
As flustered Kim Jin-ah gaped.
Floa grinned.
"Just, I keep promises well."
"Promises?"
"Yeah, master's more amazing than you think. Maybe more than you know. From now, I'll serve that master. Might as well board early, become a founding merit, right?"
What the heck.
Couldn't make heads or tails.
Something only rankers would get?
Even sharp her couldn't figure it.
'Anyway.'
These rankers beyond her paygrade.
Master would judge later.
"Hoo."
Light sigh, Kim Jin-ah eyed the trio.
"Of course, all three pass. Treatment won't disappoint. Um, when can you start?"
"Start? First. That guy's in Russia now, right?"
"Ah, the master?"
Master one minute.
That guy the next.
Kim Jin-ah's head spun.
"Yeah, master punk."
"...Yes, well. Articles are out."
"Then, us three head there first okay?"
Crackle!
Floa sparked, asking.
"Feels like Gotham clash incoming. Gotta provide support fire."
Gotham.
Mysterious talk again.
'Still.'
Rankers couldn't do much starting now anyway.
Better with master, like Amje-nim.
"Sure."
Kim Jin-ah nodded readily.
"Do that, rankers."
Moment three rankers joined.
* * *
That same time.
Inside Russian dungeon.
"Hmm."
Bong Jae-young wiped cold sweat from his brow with his hand.
Someone behind queried.
"No solution yet? We've been lost three days now."
One survivor ranker.
Ranking 914, Sharkskin Thomas.
"Wait. Can't you see I'm searching?"
Bong Jae-young scowled back.
Boom! Booooom!
"Uwaaa!"
"Kuaak!"
Hideous screams from his survivor followers.
'Damn it.'
Dungeon tougher than thought.
Unknown terrain, constant lost paths.
Jade fog unleashing mystery attacks nonstop.
"You cowardly sneaky bastards! Quit the dirty tricks—come out! Fight like men!"
Finally, Bong Jae-young snapped.
Even low 800-900s, five rankers.
Six including him.
Losing so helplessly?
"W-wait, think. Opponent might be Gotham. Didn't think of that?"
"Gotham?"
"Gotham has... high rankers too, right?"
"Not top high rankers, but packed solid. That's why scarier."
"Fuck, what possessed us? Crazy coming here...!"
Group morale plummeted fast.
Especially as Gotham's infamy spread from survivors, accelerating.
"Scary."
"Damn, wanna leave. Can we bail now?"
But terrain bizarre.
Green clouds everywhere.
Sshhh! Shhh!
Boom! Boooooom!
Unknown attacks pouring from between still.
Already 20% dead.
Crunch.
Bong Jae-young bit his lip unconsciously.
Fear crept into even him.
'Fuck, what's Gotham.'
Knew it mafia group name.
Why in this dungeon?
No such talk before coming.
'No way.'
Did that guy know all?
Bong Jae-young recalled Joo Dong-hoon stopping survivors.
'Arrogant prick.'
Why.
Knew he was wrong, failed, but hated admitting.
Swoosh! Boom!
Another attack from dark.
"Guh, guhek!"
One hunter clutched gut, collapsed.
Blood splattered floor.
"..."
Decision time.
Continuing like this, end obvious.
'Wipeout.'
Pathetic death his.
'No thanks.'
How'd he reach 101?
Not dying in some foreign dungeon.
'Then.'
Sorry to followers, but one way.
Whirr!
Bong Jae-young poured all strength, aura cloaking body.
Then.
"Fuuuuck!"
Blind dash into surrounding green fog.
Direction: not center, outward.
'Must break through.'
Yes.
Ultimately, Bong Jae-young planned solo escape from dungeon.