EP3. The S-Rank Hunter's Outing

Jae-jun woke up past lunchtime the next day.

He could have slept longer, but his phone kept buzzing relentlessly, dragging him out of slumber.

Jae-jun paused, wondering if he should just blurt out that it was S-rank.

Ji-hoon's with the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hunter Association, so it should be fine, right?

But the Association had given a one-week grace period, and spilling it prematurely didn't feel right.

"It came out okay."

<..C-rank?>

"Eh, something like that."

<Nice! That's life-changing already! Wanna grab food today? My treat!>

"Too lazy to go out."

<Fine, I'll come to your place then.>

"Sigh. Alright, let's eat. Where to?"

<Your pick.>

"How about some gukbap?"

Jae-jun suggested meeting at a nearby gukbap joint in an hour and hung up.

Jae-jun's expression turned subtle.

So the president already knew.

How'd he find out so fast?

<Haha. Heard it from that congressman at the department store. Said a guy named Hwang Dong-su saved him.>

Ah, the loudmouth.

"That guy's got nine lives, huh."

Jang Gil-san chuckled heartily without missing a beat.

<Yesterday's mess aside, I've got something to discuss. Swing by the Association sometime. It's pretty important.>

What could he want?

Jae-jun replied affirmatively for now.

"Mm. Got it. I'll reach out within the week."

If the president himself was calling to chat, it wasn't trivial.

Jae-jun hung up and headed straight to the bathroom for a shower.

—

"Yo, you made it."

Jae-jun had left early, but Ji-hoon was already at the gukbap place, with sliced pork and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bowls ordered ahead.

"Starving, so I got started."

Ji-hoon looked half-dead from exhaustion—clearly swamped lately.

"Gates popping up like crazy these days. Gonna kill me. Whew. You heard about that department store dungeon in Seoul, right?"

Jae-jun nodded.

Ji-hoon glanced around, then whispered.

"Not public yet, but word is it was A-rank, hard mode—like Busan."

"Yeah?"

Jae-jun replied indifferently. He'd cleared the boss himself; nothing surprising.

"...We almost had an A-rank break in Seoul, and you're not even worried?"

"Didn't happen, did it?"

"Sheesh. Safety-blind idiot."

Ji-hoon shook his head.

Jae-jun focused on the steaming gukbap instead. Each spoonful melted away his fatigue like magic.

"Hey, just between us—that department store had an S-rank hunter there."

S-rank hunter?

People at the exam room had witnessed his rank reveal, so rumors were expected. But the store itself?

"And?"

Ji-hoon lit up at Jae-jun's interest.

"Only thing out so far is the name."

"No way. Hwang Dong-su?"

"Yeah! How'd you guess?"

Jae-jun suddenly felt bad for Hwang Dong-su.

Didn't expect it to spread like this. Guy didn't seem the fame-hungry type.

Those piercing eyes flashed in his mind.

Jae-jun mumbled something about seeing it online. They chatted more before parting.

Back home, Jae-jun crashed into bed and slept straight through to morning.

—

Waking up, Jae-jun felt restless and achy.

Post-battle, he'd thought he'd sleep for days. But after one rest day, his body itched for action—especially after Hye-seon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠left for school.

Miyuu~!

Hestia flapped around wildly beside him. Staying cooped up felt unbearable.

Need to farm some magical cores for Hestia at least.

Jae-jun grabbed his phone and called Yoon Mi-kyung to check for immediate dungeons.

But she didn't pick up, no matter how long he waited.

Day off?

Reluctantly, he booted up the computer and logged into the Hunter Association site. No F-rank dungeons available.

Stuck as F-rank on record, nothing he could enter.

"Ugh. What a waste of a week."

Clicking around, he hit the mercenary board. The top post caught his eye.

"Huh?"

The title hooked him instantly.

Clicking revealed details: C-rank dungeon, 6 total raiders.

Click.

He hit apply. Phone rang—an unknown number.

Filling seats? Fair deal—no greed here.

"Sure."

<Seodaemun Station, pronto? We're ready.>

"On my way."

Jae-jun washed up and headed out. Taxi: 15 minutes.

At the spot, seven strangers waited.

"Choi Jae-jun?"

A burly guy with a massive shield approached. Friendly face, seemed affable.

"Yes."

"Haha. Under 30 minutes—fast! Nice to meet ya. Quick intros, then roll?"

The voice matched the caller. Raid leader.

Jae-jun exchanged greetings with the group behind him.

The six were a regular team; the other newbie like him.

C-rank+ dungeons required Association rules: half same-rank hunters, min 8 total—or no entry.

Scanning them: No resentment over his F-rank. Auras pegged most D-to-C. Solid for C-rank.

Not just lip service on "bodies needed."

"Intros done. Dungeon raid basics."

Dengchi detailed must-knows: stick to instructions, stay out of fights.

"C'mon, bro. We'll figure it in there. Let's go."

"Same spiel every time—newbies bail. Sigh."

Vets grumbled; Dengchi laughed it off, waving.

"Fine. Details inside."

Core team shook heads and slipped into the gate.

Dengchi clapped the newbies' shoulders.

"Let's go! Easy peasy!"

He charged in. Left: Jae-jun and the other newbie.

The newbie's face rang a bell.

Staring, the guy approached and bowed deeply.

"Hey, hyung."

"Who?"

"Hye-seon's friend. Lee Tae-seong. From the snack bar last time—ring any bells?"

Ah.

Memory clicked. Awakened since?

"Never dreamed I'd see you here, hyung."

"Same. You awakened?"

"Yeah."

Tae-seong scratched his neck sheepishly, glad for a familiar face amid strangers.

"In we go."

Before the team waited, Jae-jun and Tae-seong stepped into the dungeon side by side.