The Dark History of the Hunter Association
People had gathered at the Hunter Association. There were four in total. All of them were masters of major guilds.
Song Taesu, leader of Cheongwol Guild, glanced at the empty seat.
"Han Ducheol didn't show up again this time?"
Hwang Hiryong of Unha Guild, sitting beside him, shrugged it off like it was no big deal.
"It's what happens every time."
Jo Sangmin of Presento Guild voiced his dissatisfaction with Han Ducheol's behavior.
"What's this guy's problem? Thinks he's too good for us and skips every meeting."
Then Sim Jeongun of Geumryong Guild shouted at everyone.
"Quiet."
At his command, they all clamped their mouths shut.
Sim Jeongun was Korea's number one hunter, possessing the strongest combat prowess. The people gathered here were special. They were all among Korea's first awakeners, survivors of the chaotic era.
The Hunter Association had been formed so they could come together and research ways to grow stronger. Thanks to that, unique training methods were developed. The Arnia-style mana cultivation that Nam Gyuil knew of—what the major guild masters called the Taebaek Heart Method—had been created here.
Once power emerged, Sim Jeongun persuaded everyone. He suggested they monopolize the training methods they'd devised and profit from them. With so few people able to safely close gates, they could exploit that to make a fortune, he argued.
Song Taesu, Jo Sangmin, and Hwang Hiryong agreed. The world was in chaos from the gates, but if they could make a killing off it, they didn't care. Back when Korea's economy reeled from the 1997 IMF crisis, those who turned it into an opportunity hoped it would drag on—especially the cash-rich ones. The Hunter Association was no different.
But one man opposed it: Han Ducheol. He fiercely rejected Sim Jeongun's idea.
- What nonsense is this? Have you all lost your minds? Do you know how many people have died trying to close gates?
Their power struggle was evenly matched. Then Sim Jeongun made an unexpected proposal.
- How about we settle it with a duel?
Han Ducheol accepted the absurd challenge. He had no choice. Song Taesu, Jo Sangmin, and Hwang Hiryong sided with Sim Jeongun. Debating it out would obviously end in defeat.
Han Ducheol stepped up boldly and suffered a crushing loss. He went down in a single blow. The gap was immense.
Both the defeated Han Ducheol and the onlookers realized it: Sim Jeongun had secretly developed another training method. And using it, he'd already reached an unfathomable realm.
Of course, no one knew how he'd developed that training method.
Victorious in the duel, Sim Jeongun warned Han Ducheol.
- If you leak our training methods to the outside, we won't let it slide. Think about your family's safety. Right?
Han Ducheol seethed with inner rage but bowed to the threat against his family.
After the duel, the Hunter Association's atmosphere changed. Sim Jeongun became the unchallenged top figure. The collaborative spirit, where everyone shared opinions equally, plummeted. All obeyed Sim Jeongun's word.
And Han Ducheol never showed his face at the Hunter Association again.
That was the hidden history of the Hunter Association.
Song Taesu asked Sim Jeongun deferentially.
"What do we do now, sir?"
"Hold out until the government pays up big."
"Until when?"
"Until the orcs finish their settlement and secure their territory."
Sim Jeongun curled his lip. His sharply slitted eyes gleamed with ferocity—and cruelty.
"Let's make as many people die as possible."
That's what he said.
Hunter Agencies across regions were on high alert. The president's order had come down: exterminate the orcs.
National hunters from every region boarded military buses and assembled at Wangsong Lake Park in Suwon. Their numbers neared 30,000.
Hunter Agency commanders from each region gathered too. They set up tents at Wangsong Lake Park. The orcs were just two hours away.
The commanders held a meeting.
"Shells don't work on them. How are we supposed to take those things down?"
"That's..."
The commanders couldn't respond.
"Tanks and fighter jets are useless, and now they want the Hunter Agency forces to handle the orcs?"
"It's just telling us to die."
Some commanders grumbled. Guns and shells didn't work—how were national hunters supposed to win?
Then one suggested.
"What about chemical weapons? A poison gas attack might work."
"International treaties required us to dispose of all chemical weapons."
"But the Ministry of National Defense keeps some in secret, don't they?"
"Using them would have the international community tearing into Korea. Orcs are headache enough—turning the world against us would end Korea."
The commanders racked their brains. Charging blindly would wipe out the national hunters. But retreating helplessly wasn't an option either.
That's when it happened. A radio operator monitoring the orcs via drone rushed in with urgent news.
"The orcs are moving."
The commanders' hearts sank. Over 100 orcs were starting to expand their territory, realizing humans weren't a threat.
Reports kept coming.
"The orcs are scattering one by one and moving out."
The commanders spread out a map and traced the orcs' paths. Their faces darkened.
"Looks like they're seriously expanding territory now."
In the current situation, they couldn't take down even one. The orcs knew it too, fanning out from the gate in all directions.
"Damn it all!!"
Curse words flew as they saw the orcs' routes. A shelter with civilians was about 2km from the gate. And heading that way was the orc warrior—the one that had cleaved a tank with its axe!
That beast could smash through thick concrete and devour civilians in seconds.
"We need to rescue the civilians right now."
"How? With that axe-wielding monster nearby?!"
The commanders fell silent.
Park Heeryeong from the Seoul Hunter Agency, among them, spoke cautiously.
"What if we send the Hunter Agency's best team?"
"Best team?"
The commanders eyed Park Heeryeong, wondering what team that could be.
Park Heeryeong clasped his hands.
"Let's send 01 Team from Seoul Hunter Agency—they've kept a perfect no-incident record."
A mission came down to 01 Team: The orc warrior was heading for the shelter—rescue the civilians immediately.
01 Team rode a military bus toward the shelter. Nam Gyuil checked his weapons. He'd brought every item he'd collected so far: Poison Knife, Form Change, Pharaoh's Staff. If needed, he'd use magic too.
Of course, I'll lure the orc warrior to a remote spot and use it where no one can see.
It wasn't time to reveal magic yet. He had to be careful.
Nam Gyuil turned to look at his team. Hong Shinu was trembling at the thought of fighting orcs. Lee Chanu couldn't stay still, clutching his hair and squeezing his eyes shut. Han Kangsu's face was stiff. Hwang Ilsu tried to calmly inspect his weapon but betrayed his anxiety with a shaking leg.
The mood was dismal.
Nam Gyuil shouted at them all.
"Why are you all shaking like scared kids? Shoulders back!!"
They all looked at him.
"What did I say? I'd get you all through your service safely! When have I ever said something I didn't mean?"
Still, the heavy atmosphere lingered. Then Hong Shinu asked.
"Can we really complete this mission safely too, sir?"
"Of course."
Nam Gyuil declared it confidently. As team leader, he couldn't show fear. It was a tough, dangerous mission. But that didn't mean zero chance of victory.
I can use Mana Sword for a short time too.
If he timed it right, taking down the orc warrior wasn't impossible.
Nam Gyuil affirmed to everyone.
"We can finish this mission without a single injury! Who are we? 01 Team, breakers of the no-incident record. We've taken down plenty of new monsters!!"
Maybe his words worked. The gloom lifted a bit.
Nam Gyuil kept going.
"Plus, we just load the civilians and bounce before the orc gets to the shelter. What's there to worry about? No matter how fast the orc is, it can't outrun a vehicle, right, Chanu?!"
Lee Chanu nodded vigorously at Nam Gyuil's question.
"Yeah, exactly. No way an orc's faster than a bus."
"You heard him! Rescue the civilians quick and we're out before the orc arrives. So focus on the evac—no worries. Got it?!"
They all replied in unison.
"Yes, sir!!"
Nam Gyuil smirked. The shelter held just over 3,000 civilians, so dozens of military buses were mobilized.
Screech.
They arrived soon after.
01 Team hurried to load the civilians onto the buses.
"Monsters are coming soon! Everyone, board quickly! No time!!"
People climbed aboard. No sign of the orc warrior yet. Maybe they really could evac before it arrived.
As they dreamed of a hopeful outcome—
Ring ring, ring ring.
Nam Gyuil's smartphone buzzed. Checking the caller: Park Heeryeong.
He answered, and the voice came immediately.
- Move your asses! The orc's 300 meters out. You'll have to fight it at this rate!!
Park Heeryeong yelled urgently.
Nam Gyuil glanced at the civilians. Damn—only half were boarded. Everyone was at risk.
Someone needs to buy time.
Nam Gyuil took a deep breath. His team was too weak; fighting would mean instant wipeout with no retaliation.
No one else can do this.
It had to be him.
Nam Gyuil asked Park Heeryeong.
"What direction is the orc approaching the shelter from?"
- Three o'clock.
"Got it."
Nam Gyuil hung up. He called Hwang Ilsu.
"Ilsu."
"Yes, bro? What's up?"
"Orc nearby—got the alert. Someone needs to stall it."
"?!"
Hwang Ilsu's face paled.
Nam Gyuil lightly thumped his chest with a fist.
"I'll handle the orc. As of now, I'm handing 01 Team command to you."
"......"
Hwang Ilsu's eyes widened.
"No way."
He grabbed Nam Gyuil's arm firmly, stopping him.
"If you go, we go too."
"You think I'm suiciding? I'll just buy time and come back. You evac the civilians."
"Bro..."
"Gotta lead these guys right. You're the calmest— you'll do great."
"You have to come back."
Nam Gyuil smiled faintly instead of answering. He turned his back to Hwang Ilsu and headed toward the orc.
About three minutes later, in the middle of an empty road devoid of vehicles, he came face-to-face with the orc warrior.
"Wooorrrraaagh-!!"
It bellowed the moment it spotted him.
Nam Gyuil gripped his weapons: Poison Knife and Pharaoh's Staff.
Normal attacks wouldn't work.
The reason orcs are strong is they only take mana-based attacks.
Mana could only be destroyed by mana. That's why shells and bullets failed. Their bodies were shielded by mana.
But magic will work.
Magic was combat shaped from mana. It would pierce the orc fine.
This showdown was magic versus sword.
Looking at the orc warrior, a memory surfaced for Nam Gyuil.
Come to think of it, the angel said that when I first entered the Akashic Records.
- A fate that turns crisis into opportunity. Among those who possess it, you hold the greatest light.
Nam Gyuil finally grasped those words dimly.
Fighting the orc warrior was undoubtedly a crisis.
But...
The orc warrior's heart is the final ingredient for the advanced elixir.
Defeating it would make him stronger. This was crisis—and opportunity.
"Alright then, shall we go claim the last ingredient for that advanced elixir?"
Nam Gyuil curled his lip.