The Strongest Hunter on Earth

Man, I should've just told her to send a text next time before I walked out.

Hyun Jisu let out a long sigh as he stepped out of the building. Fortunately, the greeting squad that had been waiting when he arrived was nowhere to be seen. If they'd still been hanging around, he would have been thoroughly disgusted, so their absence was, in more ways than one, a blessing.

I should've made it crystal clear I never want that kind of thing again.

He'd made his displeasure obvious enough that she ought to have gotten the message, so he hadn't bothered spelling it out. But Yoo Chaerin was the sort of person whose thoughts you simply could not read. He was starting to regret not just snapping at her outright — telling her he genuinely hated it and never to do it again — rather than relying on that somewhat ambiguous nonverbal cue.

As Jisu came outside, lost in these idle thoughts, a man sat on a bench surveying the grounds around the Hunter Association. It was reporter Park Jeongseok.

Huh? That guy's coming from the Association Headquarters direction.

Jeongseok had just been about to stand and head back when an unfamiliar man came walking from the Association's side. Judging by his clothes, he looked like Association administrative staff. Figuring this was a lucky break, Jeongseok strode over and spoke up.

"Excuse me — do you have a moment?"

"?"

The man — Jisu — looked at Jeongseok with a wary expression. Of course he did. When a complete stranger on the street says excuse me, what's the first thing that comes to mind? In this cold, unforgiving modern world, the natural assumption was that this was another one of those Do you know the Way? cult recruiters. Jeongseok knew that perfectly well, so he cut straight to the point.

"I'm Park Jeongseok, a reporter with Today Hunter. Would you mind a brief interview?"

"Sorry? A reporter?"

Jisu nearly jumped out of his skin at the word reporter, but managed to keep it off his face. Why? Why a reporter? Granted, Jisu was a high-rank hunter of S-rank or above, so having a reporter latch onto him wasn't inherently strange. But only a handful of people even knew that right now.

Did information that I'm an SS-rank hunter leak somehow?

That was Jisu's first conclusion, but a moment's careful thought told him it probably wasn't the case. If his information had really gotten out, there wouldn't be just one reporter hanging around.

In that case, I should just play it normal and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not let anything show.

Having assessed the situation in a matter of seconds, Jisu spoke with a deadpan expression.

"What is this about?"

"Ah, yes. Thank you. Are you affiliated with the Hunter Association, by any chance?"

He considered saying no, then remembered he'd just walked out of the Hunter Association Headquarters. Denying it would only make things weirder.

"Yes, I am."

"Ah… is something going on today?"

Something going on?

Come to think of it, the Hunter Association building had been quiet today. Normally there'd at least be people wandering around, but aside from those who'd greeted him, there hadn't been a soul. He didn't think he'd seen anyone on the way out, either. Had they taken some kind of special measure?

Don't tell me they cleared the place out because I was coming?

If it was an order from the President of the Hunter Association, the empty, silent building made a certain kind of sense. It was momentarily absurd, but there was no need to tell this guy about it.

"Something does seem to be going on, but I wouldn't know."

"Ah…"

Jeongseok accepted the answer. At a glance, the man didn't look like a high-ranking hunter — probably just a low-level Association clerk, or a low-rank hunter. In that case, there was no need to press further. Jeongseok tossed out a final question without much thought, just to wrap up the interview.

"Thank you for your time. By the way, have you ever met the Strongest Hunter on Earth?"

"Achoo!"

If he'd been drinking water, he definitely would have sprayed it. Fortunately, it wasn't the kind of weather where a sudden sneeze would seem strange.

I don't know who the hell came up with that nickname, but seriously.

The cringeworthy title gave Jisu goosebumps, but he answered as casually as he could manage.

"No. I wouldn't know."

"Alright. Sorry to bother you."

It wasn't much of an answer, but Jeongseok didn't mind. He hadn't expected anything meaningful from the nobody-looking man in front of him anyway. It had just been a throwaway last question, a courtesy more than anything.

After Jisu had gone some distance, Jeongseok let out a long sigh.

No real results, but I should start heading back. If I hang around any longer, I won't even run into an A-rank hunter, let alone the Strongest Hunter on Earth.

With that thought, he started gathering up his things. It was a textbook case of the darkest place being right under the lamp.

The date they'd set for the raid was drawing near, but nothing of note had been posted in Wildcat's group chat. Jisu was a little anxious, but there was no need to take it too seriously. The coin had already nearly tripled, after all. Even if he sold now, he wouldn't be taking a loss.

Looks like I'll have to join the raid in this state.

There was a chance his stats could shift without warning, but Seyeon would be there this time, so he figured he could handle it without panicking.

Then, for the first time in a while, a message from Wildcat appeared — not in the secret premium signal room, but in the public free signal room.

The information had gone up in the premium signal room first, and then the price had tripled. After the don't-sell signal, the same information had been posted in the free room.

The premium room's definitely earning its keep.

If he'd been sitting in the free signal room, wouldn't he have bought in at this already-tripled price? Love him or hate him, Wildcat was putting on a performance that was bound to attract followers.

The room bustled for a while after that, and before long MCF's price started climbing again, the chart lighting up. The people watching the free signal room had apparently started buying, giving the price a little bounce. Setting aside the question of whether a market that moved on a single person's breath could seriously be approached as investing — the price, in any case, kept rising. It wasn't falling.

Doesn't look like a signal's coming anytime soon, so I'll just head out with a full position on Masterchef.

Having decided that, Jisu called his operator, Jeong Seyeon.

"Seyeon, are you busy right now?"

Come to think of it, he remembered her brewing him a warm cup of tea that morning before he left.

"No, I mean — even if you're getting paid for it, there are going to be times when you've got other things on your plate."

Jisu scratched his cheek, looking faintly embarrassed by the praise, then steered the conversation back on track.

"The coin I need you to watch today is Masterchef. If you go into the KRW market, it should be a little further down the list."

"Yeah. MCF in English."

Well. Masterchef coin. If Jisu were actually an investor in this scene, and Wildcat hadn't specifically named it, it was the kind of name he wouldn't have touched for anything in the world. Not that someone who'd bought actual shitcoins had much room to talk.

"I'll leave it to you. I'll reconnect when I enter the raid field."

With that, Jisu set off toward the place Chaerin had called him to. This would make it exactly his fourth raid.

"…"

Yoo Chaerin was waiting for Jisu near the meeting point. And at her side, the comrade she trusted more than anyone, Seo Ayeon, stood her ground with unshakable composure.

"Sorry about this. You must've been busy enough as it is."

She tossed the words out without so much as looking at her, but Ayeon took no offense, lowering her head ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as she answered.

"That's quite uncalled for. Even if I were busy, my duty is to assist you with the utmost devotion, President. Nothing takes precedence over that."

"Right. About today's raid field—"

"…President."

"…What is it?"

Chaerin turned to look at her with something sad in her expression, like someone who already knew what she was about to say.

"As we agreed, I intend to go in on my own strength. I would ask that you trust me and simply watch over me, President."

"…Right. That's what we said."

She said it, then looked ahead again with a bitter little smile. Chaerin's face barely ever changed, but in front of Ayeon or Heeyeon, she tended to show a relatively rich range of expression.

"…I—"

Ayeon fell silent for a moment. As if she were taking care not to misspeak even slightly, her voice trembled, just a little.

"I want to live for you, President. I consider the rest of my life to be dedicated solely to that purpose. Even so, I am deeply sorry for the way my misplaced stubbornness went against your wishes."

"No, it's fine. I know what you're trying to say."

"I am nothing but grateful."

This time Ayeon bowed at the waist toward Chaerin's back in a gesture of thanks. Her long blonde hair spilled toward the floor. Chaerin didn't particularly reply, turning the subject instead.

"Where's Kim Heeyeon?"

"She said she had work today."

"Did she? I figured she'd be interested. That's unusual."

As they were talking, a man came walking into view. The Strongest Hunter on Earth she had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠summoned — Hyun Jisu. His face was mild, not entirely the sort that inspired confidence, but his build was solid and well-knit. His clear gaze carried a gentle inclusiveness that sat somewhere beyond mere intimidation. Whenever Chaerin looked at him, she found herself thinking of a tiger with its claws sheathed. You'd never find eyes like that on someone who was truly soft.

That's right. Hyun Jisu. Whether you'll be a help to me, or a hindrance… that'll be decided here.

Chaerin smiled faintly as she went to meet him.