The Sacrifice of a Useless First
Is everyone alright?
The elite hunters of Geobhwa who had escaped the boss room were all slumped against the floor and walls like the remnants of a routed army.
"Damn it... damn it... to lose... to that pathetic piece of trash...!"
Tears streamed down the face of Shin Yuri, S-Rank Number 3, crushed beneath the weight of an overwhelming defeat.
The pain of her wounds was nothing compared to the agony of having lost. That feeling ran through every S-Class hunter of Geobhwa in that room.
A one-sided defeat. Even if they had underestimated the boss and let their guard down at first, they had committed everything afterward. And every ounce of strength they had built up, every piece of equipment they had accumulated, had proven useless.
They had been forced into a humiliating retreat without even managing to peel so much as a scrap off the monster's hide. If the boss had pursued them relentlessly to the very end, total annihilation would have been all but certain.
Yet for some reason, the boss had not actively chased them as they fell back. Thanks to that, and to the commanding presence of Seo Yeram — S-Rank Number 2 and Guild Master — covering the rear, every one of them had made it out safely.
"Is everyone alright?"
With every head bowed in shame, Seo Yeram's voice reached them. She had been holding the boss at bay until the last moment of the retreat, and she bore the worst injuries of anyone present. Still, she stood unbowed and addressed her guild members.
"Guild Master..."
"...We're sorry."
"It's because of us..."
Not a single member of this guild had climbed the Tower without owing something to Seo Yeram. She had saved lives directly. She had devotedly supported members' families and siblings. She had channeled the guild's vast funds not into personal luxury but back into society, helping the poor and making the name of Geobhwa known to the world — a truly capable leader.
She was the only one among them worthy of being called a leader. And on top of that, she possessed the raw strength of a top-tier hunter.
Every one of them was a person who had entrusted their future to Seo Yeram. But now, the knowledge that this raid had handed her a disappointment pressed their hearts down even lower.
"It's been a while, hasn't it."
"...What?"
Seo Yeram did not reproach them for their defeat. Instead, her battle-stained face broke into a refreshing smile.
"Defeated, yes — but I can't remember the last time we fought this desperately."
"...!"
As if she meant to reignite the fire in those who had just lost. The loss of the greatsword that symbolized their guild had not broken the spirit of their leader, Seo Yeram. Even that colossal boss had failed to shatter the heart of their idol.
Seo Yeram swept a hand back through her hair.
"We didn't take victory today."
She clenched her fist and thrust it forward.
"But that doesn't mean it becomes an eternal defeat. We will take today's loss and turn it into a lesson — turn it into the ground we build upon. The flames of Geobhwa must still burn for victory. That is the law of this guild."
Thud. She stamped one foot against the floor.
Every head lifted at the sound. Gradually, the heavy shadow of defeat began to recede from their faces at her words.
"This defeat is going to shake Geobhwa's standing. All of it will be announced as my responsibility as Guild Master, so don't worry too much. I will see to it that none of you suffer for it."
"N-no, Guild Master!"
"Why would you shoulder all of that yourself!"
"The Guild Master's defeat is something all of us must bear together — everyone who belongs to Geobhwa!"
"That's right, Guild Master!"
Despite their outcries, she shook her head.
"No. As the leader of this group, the responsibility for failure is mine alone to carry. I have no intention of running from it."
Showing her clenched fist, Seo Yeram laid her resolve bare.
"Next time, we win. I'm certain of it — as long as I'm standing with all of you."
At the bright, confident ring of her voice, the expressions of the guild members began to change. One by one, they nodded and dragged their battered bodies upright.
"The flames of Geobhwa will never go out!"
"Every one of us will stand with the Guild Master to the end!"
"Next time, victory — without fail!"
Watching her hunters burn away the shadow of defeat and rekindle their fighting spirit, Seo Yeram nodded in satisfaction.
"Th-then what about that fucking bastard...?"
The moment the words left her mouth, the rising momentum in the room went cold. Shin Yuri, barely standing thanks to top-grade potions and emergency treatment, shot a sharp glare through her disheveled blonde hair.
"He... he knew something and bolted first, didn't he...? There's no other way he could...!"
"Shin Yuri!"
Seo Yeram cut off the agitated outburst with a hardened voice.
"That's jumping ahead of the facts. Refrain from unverified accusations."
At the calm, almost persuading tone, Shin Yuri looked utterly exasperated and roared back.
"Every time! How long are you going to keep shielding him? A piece of trash who couldn't even manage a single grand achievement worthy of the S-Rank Number 1 title! Why do you keep covering for a bastard who's done nothing but ride our coattails through every raid? I will never understand!"
"I haven't been covering for him. In fact, as you all wished, his equipment and items were kept deliberately inferior to yours — flashy on the surface, cheap underneath. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
"But still—!"
Shin Yuri's grievances were shared by everyone. Within Geobhwa, S-Rank Number 1 Mumyeong was not well regarded. A fool who contributed nothing yet smiled away, bright and guileless. They couldn't even verify whether he had any real skill to speak of — because, above all else, Seo Yeram had strictly forbidden anyone from sparring with him.
It was only because it was Seo Yeram that they had let it go. But that had never meant their hearts were convinced.
"It's fine."
As if she intended to settle every one of those doubts at once—
"S-Rank Number 1, Mumyeong, will participate in the next raid. When you see his true ability then, you'll all understand."
"What is that supposed to..."
"That bastard, who walked out on the guild and the raid on his own, is going to raid with us next...?"
"Shouldn't he be held accountable too, Guild Master?"
Seo Yeram could understand their resentment perfectly well. But for the assault on the next boss, Mumyeong was an indispensable asset. She would have preferred never to reveal that strength — but it couldn't be helped.
It should be fine.
He was, after all, a crucial piece destined to be used and discarded. The time had simply come for him to serve his purpose. She could properly bring the guild members around later.
"You think he'll come back...? That piece of trash."
Shin Yuri spat the words out roughly.
"Just look at the look in his eyes. It's like he's made up his mind for good."
"He'll be fine."
Seo Yeram said it with a smile full of conviction.
"There is no one in this world who understands that man better than I do. He will come back. I guarantee it."
"...It's not that I acknowledge that bastard of a senior. You said you need him, Guild Master unnie. That's the only reason I'm letting it slide."
"Oh, you and your mouth."
At the pouting lips full of complaint, Seo Yeram chuckled and patted Shin Yuri's head — beautiful blonde hair, though she'd have to fix it up for her later.
"By the way... where's Cha Yujin? Why is our premier healer nowhere to be seen when she should be right in the middle of treating everyone?"
"That's right! Yujin unnie! Unnie, where are you!? Are you okay!?"
Only at Seo Yeram's words did Shin Yuri realize the absence of Cha Yujin, who was usually glued to her side, and began scanning the room in every direction. One by one, the others started looking around as well. Then a single hand went up.
"H-hunter Cha Yujin... she said she was heading outside first..."
".....!!"
Seo Yeram's eyes widened.
Unlike the other guild members, Cha Yujin had never been loyal enough to devote herself to Seo Yeram. The reason she had been recruited in the first place was that she was a chaebol heiress — even just to establish early Geobhwa, they had needed a headline name to serve as their source of funding.
She had been paraded ever since as the guild's mascot and idol, its promotional model, in a business relationship where she was periodically thrown the morsels she craved. She was the only S-Class in Geobhwa whose activities Seo Yeram had never restricted — because her borderline-pathological obsession with the number one, with being first, reminded Seo Yeram of herself.
And now, of all times, at this exact moment, she had wandered off on her own?
Don't tell me...!
Seo Yeram realized that the idiotic woman was, right now, probably committing a catastrophe in front of the press gathered outside. And all to draw the knife she'd been holding back against S-Rank Number 1, Mumyeong.
"We're leaving. Now!"
They had to shut Cha Yujin's mouth. Mumyeong must not be provoked any further. A sense of dread settled over Seo Yeram like a shroud.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The aftermath of the S-Rank Number 1's passage still lingered over Gwanghwamun Square. But with the results of the Tower raid still pending, everyone had a job to do — the scene was being secured, and live coverage of the incident was already underway.
In particular, negative coverage of the situation surrounding S-Rank Number 1 Mumyeong, paired with rampant speculation about internal guild strife sparked by his sudden declaration of retirement, was being broadcast across the entire nation.
Just as everyone was beginning to feel unease at a situation no one had foreseen—
"H-hey, look!"
A ripple stirred across the portal. Someone was emerging. Every camera swung to face it.
As the crowd strained to make out the figure, the person who stepped into view was none other than Geobhwa's famous idol and mascot — its healer.
S-Rank Number 5, Cha Yujin.
She stood before the cameras in a disheveled state none of them had ever seen from her. The naked terror on her face told everyone watching that something grave had happened inside.
"Hah...! Hah...!"
Ordinarily, she would never have appeared before a camera in such a wrecked state. But there was nothing more theatrical than exactly this. It let her etch into every watching eye, beyond any doubt, who the victim was.
"E-everyone...! Please, listen to me...!"
She had never been the slightest bit useful to Geobhwa anyway. If she announced the truth exactly as it was, Seo Yeram — being who she was — would pin the responsibility on her.
She was a woman Seo Yeram would have used for even that, but if it came to that, Geobhwa's position would be in danger. Damage could well reach her too, for the time being.
Why should I...!?
She had done nothing wrong. She had done her job, fully, to the very best of her ability. There was no way she could accept being cursed out after everything she had poured into this guild.
Which meant she needed a scapegoat.
Pin it on the coward — the self-proclaimed S-Rank Number 1 with no real achievements to his name, who had even fled right before the raid — and there would be nothing Seo Yeram could do to take it back.
A man like that has no place in Geobhwa anyway!
This was a crisis — but it was an opportunity. The justification was on her side, after all. Geobhwa didn't belong to Seo Yeram alone. It was precious to her, too. So this was simply her protecting the stage that would make her number one.
With the useless number one as the sacrificial offering.
"The raid... it failed! Because of S-Rank Number 1, Mumyeong!"
Cha Yujin was no longer capable of rational judgment. She simply kept talking, pouring out whatever feelings happened to surface. Lies were fine. The truth didn't matter in the slightest. What moved people was emotion and atmosphere — and Cha Yujin was a woman who knew that better than anyone.
Onto an audience already primed to view the S-Rank Number 1 unfavorably after his shocking, first-ever public appearance, she was now pouring gasoline. And with the tears of the nation's idol streaming down her face, her impassioned appeal was climbing toward its peak—
KRA-KOOM—!!!
A colossal roar. An earthquake rippled through the scene, and a violent wind came rushing in.
"Kyaaaaah...!"
The shockwave knocked Cha Yujin and the entire press corps off their feet, no one able to keep their footing. Into the chaos of screams and clamor—
A deep, grinding rumble rolled out from the distance, the bone-chilling sound of a building collapsing in an instant.
Then a tide of dust and debris surged toward Gwanghwamun Square, rolling over it and swallowing everything in gray.