Reforming the Walking Disaster
Seongjin Guild's 75th floor, the chairman's office. Even in Seoul's Gangnam, where major guilds gathered, this was the tallest and largest building's top floor.
The executive secretary, summoned by the office's owner, Seongjin Guild Chairman Park Tae-hyun, knocked on the door.
"Chairman, it's Executive Secretary Lee."
"Yeah, come in."
The moment the executive secretary opened the door and stepped inside, he swallowed hard. The orchids Park Tae-hyun raised as a hobby were smashed, their roots exposed and scattered haphazardly across the floor. Nameplates, monitors, and other desk items were mangled beyond recognition.
"Executive Secretary Lee."
"...Yes, Chairman."
"Call all the gang leaders."
"Yes, sir."
Sensing something ominous, the executive secretary quickly made the calls. He summoned Seongjin Guild's core action squad leaders—what you could call the guild's muscle.
From number one to five, rough-looking men in suits that couldn't hide their thug vibes filed into the office and bowed deeply.
"You called for us, Chairman!"
"Hey."
Park Tae-hyun crooked his finger at them as they stood in a line, bent at ninety degrees.
"Number four leader. Look up."
"Yes... guh?!"
An ashtray flew and smashed into the number four action leader's head. The engraved glass shattered, shards flying everywhere.
"Hey, number four leader."
"Yes, Chairman."
"Gil Hyun-ki, that fucker under you?"
"Yes. That's correct."
"Then you knew about it?"
At his question, the number four leader gulped dryly.
"I... I was going to handle it and report after..."
"Fuck, who the hell asked you to decide that with your tiny dick?"
"......I'm sorry."
"You fucking retarded shits."
Park Tae-hyun ran a hand through his hair as he approached the action leaders.
"I dress you jailbird rice-munchers in suits, and your brains turn to mush?"
"......"
"Have I ever bitched about you scavenging other hunters?"
"No, sir!!"
"Just don't get caught, I said."
"Yes, sir!!"
If you don't get caught, it's not illegal. Just bending the rules. That's how hunters slip through the law's net.
"And every time you dumbasses get pinched, I've covered for you."
"Yes! That's right!"
"And in return, I told you one thing to follow."
Park Tae-hyun stepped up to the number four leader and placed a hand on his head.
"Don't tangle with Yuseong people."
"......"
"Don't fuck with that rabid dog in Yuseong or the crazy owner holding its leash."
Crunch.
His grip tightened gradually on the man's skull.
"Those fuckers, you never know what insane shit they'll pull."
"......Guhk."
"I told you, just stay away from those bitches. Don't touch Yuseong people."
"Ch-Chairman...!"
"But you couldn't even manage that simple shit, and now this mess!!"
Crack.
A crunching sound echoed from the action leader's head.
"Fuck, number four leader."
"Y-Yes... Chairman..."
Blood streamed from his head, but he kept his gaze down. He wouldn't dare look Park Tae-hyun in the face.
"Get out."
"Yes... I'm sorry, Chairman."
Even after nearly having his skull crushed, he bowed and left the office. He knew that was Park Tae-hyun's final mercy.
"See that mirror over there?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yeah. Take a good look at your ugly mugs in it."
"......"
"Fucking hideous, right? Hunters looking like total dog dicks."
Most hunters in Seongjin Guild were criminals. Starting with Park Tae-hyun himself.
Murder, kidnapping, robbery, organized violence—the works. He'd pulled convicts from prison during the chaotic Gate crisis and built the guild around them. That was how Seongjin Guild ballooned so fast.
Unlike Yuseong or other guilds, they handled all the dirty jobs. Killing someone without a trace was easy for hunters, and the higher-ups always needed someone to do their filthy work.
Park Tae-hyun grew his guild by supplying that muscle on demand.
...Which is why, even if Seongjin was bigger than Yuseong on paper, they had no power against them.
Sure, size-wise Seongjin was larger, but hunters always wanted into Yuseong first. Seongjin was the last resort. He'd even changed his name on a fortune teller's advice, but nothing changed.
"Look out the window."
"Yes, sir!"
"See that building across? The billboard on top—who's that?"
"Baek Seol the hunter!"
"Right. Now look down. That bus ad—who's that?"
"Shin Ji-hye the hunter!"
"Yeah, you fucking shits."
Slap!
Park Tae-hyun backhanded each action leader's cheek.
"Unlike you dickheads with your fucked-up faces, Yuseong lives off their looks."
"......"
"Turn on the TV, it's Yuseong. Scroll the internet, it's Yuseong. Walk around central Seoul, it's Yuseong everywhere..."
"......"
"Is it that hard to avoid those faces?"
"No, sir!"
"But you hunters couldn't even recognize an S-rank from Yuseong, and now this shit?"
Hoo.
A hot sigh escaped Park Tae-hyun's lips.
"This Gate bid's fucked."
"......"
"If you keep acting like retarded dogs, it'll keep happening. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Then all of you, fuck off. I can't stand looking at you."
"Yes, sir! Chairman! We'll take our leave!"
"Oh, number one leader."
"Yes, sir!"
"Gimme a smoke."
"Yes, Chairman."
Park Tae-hyun muttered as he took the cigarette the number one leader politely offered and put it in his mouth.
Click.
The leader lit it with a lighter.
"Fuck, this sucks..."
It was a 400 billion won Gate. Even after bribes and bid fees, 200 billion profit. Jackpot.
...Or was 200 billion even a win? Yoo Sung. That demon bastard. Thinking I wouldn't have to see his face for just 200 billion? Might actually be a steal.
# Because of the trip to the police station, Shin Ji-hye canceled her entire afternoon schedule.
Teasing her in the car killed time, and lunch hour flew by before I knew it. No afternoon meant free time, but being around or not made a difference.
We scarfed sandwiches in the car for lunch and got out.
"Eut...!"
"Hey."
I caught Shin Ji-hye as she wobbled getting out. Her legs were so shaky, anyone seeing her might think she was a patient.
She glanced around the parking lot and grumbled.
"Why only hands...♥"
"Car's uncomfortable."
Shin Ji-hye drives a foreign supercar. Crazy low to the ground, shitty ride, but looks cool. If it were roomier, I'd have done her in the car. But front seat, passenger, or back—too cramped to lay her down and thrust properly.
"...Gotta buy a bigger car."
She wants car sex too. Man's dream, no reason to say no.
As the elevator arrived, I casually brought it up.
"Seong-ah's at the office, right?"
"Seong-ah? Yeah, she's here. No separate home."
"...True."
Awakening as hunters happens a lot, but mostly naked in sudden Gates. I awakened in the army far from home, but others aren't so lucky.
"What're you gonna do?"
"Sweet-talk her."
"Don't scold the kid. Way more valuable than you."
"What the hell."
Spotting the empty elevator, I grabbed her ass hard for the cheeky remark.
"Hngut...♥"
"Your body's mine. Value my ass."
"You crazy fuck...♥"
"Shin Ji-hye, answer. True or not? No answer, and Chae-eun sees this?"
"...Hngut."
Crazy bitch. Elevator almost there, still no answer. I squeezed harder; she looked back with pleading eyes.
"Chae-eun might... be okay...♥"
Has she finally lost it? I slipped fingers between her ass cheeks to force it out.
"So, answer?"
"...Eut, true♥"
"That's right."
"Ha-eut...♥"
Smack.
I deliberately left a loud hickey on her neck before stepping out. Meanwhile, Shin Ji-hye reverted to haughty guild master and approached Lee Chae-eun.
"Chae-eun, hand over everything on Jin Seong-ah hunter to Yoo Sung the guide. Got it?"
"Yes, Guild Master!"
Lee Chae-eun bowed brightly as usual, then beamed at me.
"I heard! Yoo Sung Hunter rescued Jin Seong-ah Hunter!"
"Rescue my ass. Just dragged in a delinquent no-show employee."
"Yoo Sung Hunter's so humble! Oh, this is from the care team! Might wanna read it!"
Care team. Guides handle hunters' 'minds'; care team does everything material. Laundry, cleaning for live-in hunters like Jin Seong-ah, even apartments for far-off ones or vacation plans. Level-dependent, so nothing for me... but Jin Seong-ah's S-rank. VIP treatment.
Lee Chae-eun's stack was a mountain of files.
"Hm..."
Feeling dizzy, I skimmed. Physical injuries treated; resting in her 41st-floor room. S-rank physical awakener—wounds fully healed.
...Problem's mental fatigue. Hard to speak, anxious, per care team. Needs dedicated guide care.
And that guide's me.
"Okay, got it, Chae-eun. Can you scan these two and send to me?"
"Yes! Right away!"
"Thanks. Heading to Seong-ah."
"Yes! Yoo Sung Hunter! Fighting!"
"Fighting."
Back in the elevator to 41st floor. Guide access granted.
Beep.
Card swipe, inside. Care team tidied—room spotless.
"...Ugh?"
In the vast room, eyes met Jin Seong-ah under blankets in the corner bed. She yanked them tighter at seeing me. Face barely visible.
"What're you doing?"
"...Huh?"
"Cold? Weather's still chilly."
"Ah, I..."
Desk chair away from bed. Dragged it bedside. Opened cookie bag bought with sandwiches. For me, but whatever—can buy more.
"Plain chocolate, white chocolate, or oatmeal."
"......Huh?"
"Pick one. White's sweetest. Oatmeal's less with raisins."
"Then... white chocolate."
Crumple.
Handed her white chocolate cookie.
"...Can I eat it?"
"Don't want it, don't. Why's a candy fiend starving?"
"Eut..."
Candy, snacks, soda. Teen favorites. Jin Seong-ah's mental age fits, and she loves 'em.
But beyond love—always had candy in mouth in my memories.
...Trauma, probably. Compared to 24/7 suicide thoughts, cute.
"I'll... eat it."
She took it with shaky hands.
Crack.
Chocolate snapped. She chewed slowly, glanced at me, then nibbled cookie with front teeth.
'Not the eating itself she likes?'
Not a hamster—tiny nibbles, long chew before swallow. Savoring? Or prolonging the sweet?
"Eating well."
One cookie took over ten minutes. Matched her pace, nearly died of impatience.
"More? Cookies or candy?"
"...Cookies, please."
"Got it. Anything else? Got guild master's card. Speak now."
"......"
"Fine then."
Awkward, neck itched. As I stood, felt tug on sleeve.
"...Cola."
"Cola?"
"Cherry cola... please."
"Sure."
Cookies and cherry cola. Repeated mentally, stood. To door for elevator, blanket-wrapped Jin Seong-ah watched me like a dog eyeing its owner heading to work.
"Back soon. Wait."
"......"
Blanket nodded slightly.