Baek Jaesung 4: The Oceanfront Hunter Workshop
The Hunter Association's Busan branch training center sat atop a hill with killer views of the sea. One reason they used it like a hotel was probably that insane scenery. The blue ocean view from our room was so good, it wouldn't have been a rip-off even at a few hundred thousand won a night. It was healing enough to make me feel bad for the other girls we'd left back at the party house.
The workshop schedule was way more relaxed than I'd expected. It felt like they'd deliberately spaced it out so we could chill. The Hunter Association really had money and heart to spare. Or maybe it was just par for the course, considering the ridiculous cash they squeezed out of us? Either way, I was glad they weren't stingy about spending it. Generosity flows from a full barn, after all.
We'd get up in the morning, hit the breakfast buffet, then gather in the screening room for a movie. We'd take laid-back walks in the pleasant sea breeze. Sujin was chatting with some other female hunters at the cafe on the first floor of the training center. Networking among hunters was one of the big goals of this workshop. For a guy like me who only cared about pretty girls, I felt like a total outsider wandering around alone. I had zero interest in shooting the shit with that Hwang Cheolmin asshole, either. He was good for scraping up random bits of info, but the guy never shut up.
I was strolling solo through the garden when a ridiculously handsome dude came walking slowly from the opposite direction. Han Seungjin. He was out for a walk too, just like me. I spotted him first, but he beat me to speaking up. His voice was as smooth as his face—like he could make any woman melt with a single word.
"Hello."
"Oh, hey."
I gave him a casual reply. Standing next to a guy that hot made me feel like an ugly squid next to Einstein's relativity. Not a smart move. I tried to sidestep and head another way, but the bastard followed. What the hell? Was he gay?
"I was hoping for some peace and quiet, but people keep striking up conversations everywhere. Haha. Truth is, I'm not used to this kind of vibe."
He smoothly started chatting me up. I picked up my pace a bit, and he matched it effortlessly.
"What's your name?"
"Baek Jaesung."
"Ah, Jaesung, huh? I'm Han Seungjin. It's the 'seung' from victory and the 'jin' from advance. Like, 'win and push forward'—kinda simplistic, right?"
He dumped a bunch of totally unasked-for trivia on me. Girls would probably squeal and clap just from him talking to them like that, but not me.
"Got it. You come alone, Seungjin?"
"Yeah. The invite said one companion allowed, but I didn't have anyone to bring."
"Not in a party or clan?"
"Nah. I'm a day laborer type."
Did he bounce between freelance gigs? A guy that good-looking could probably join any party... but dungeon hunting was all about skill, so who knew.
Before I knew it, lunchtime hit, and my stomach was growling.
"Ah, guess it's time to eat. See ya."
I figured if he suggested grabbing a bite together, I'd have to bail somehow, but luckily he backed off first. I sauntered off to find Sujin. We ate lunch outdoors at the training center. Afterward, we'd do one or two programs the Association had set up—like lectures from big-name speakers or dungeon raid tactic consulting.
The dungeon raid consulting was pretty damn useful. A dungeon expert and a hunter from a top clan gave hands-on talks. Sujin was scribbling notes like crazy. After a couple hours of that, we'd snap a group photo and get free time again.
Free time with Sujin? Sex, obviously. The bed in our private room was plush as hell—like it was made for fucking. We holed up till dinner, going at it nonstop. Looked like other guys were pairing off and doing the same. But that Han Seungjin dude? Total lone wolf the whole time.
Plenty of people—guys and girls—tried hitting on him, but he shut them all down cold. I'd thought he was friendly after chatting me up, but nope.
"Whoa~! Seungjin talked to me!"
"Look at that face. Should I invite him to our clan?"
"Forget it. He turned down a top-10 clan."
"Wait, top-10 clans recruit on looks?"
"Idiot. Han Seungjin's not just hot—he's got insane skills too. And his ability? That one."
Everyone raved about Han Seungjin. The guy was soaking up all the spotlight. It wasn't just Korean hunters, either—foreigners were eyeing him too.
"Seungjin, if you're not in a clan, how about ours?"
Even some international students were recruiting him. The hype was unreal.
Dinner was a fancy course meal. We got treated to luxurious French fine dining by a chef trained at a top spot. After two hours of classy eating, we hit the awesome bathhouse in the training center basement to wash up. They even had masseuses, so the soak melted away all our fatigue. Best damn relaxation for body and soul.
And just like that, the day was done.
"I dunno if we really deserve to be wining and dining like this."
Hwang Cheolmin said that while pouring pricey wine—tens of thousands per bottle—into his glass. It was around 1 p.m. now, recreation time during the workshop.
"Schedule says martial arts training too. Probably just basics since time's short?"
He raised his glass at my comment.
"Bet it's KHC. I'm already taking it—martial arts are a must for acceleration users like me. Dojo fees are steep, but I see it as an investment."
"How much?"
"Five million a month. Breaks the bank for a newbie like me. Lucky my party covers half. I thought dungeon hunters lived large from 10 Rank on... reality's a bitch. Expenses are nuts, so I'm in ultra-savings mode. Gotta milk this for all it's worth. Hit 8 Rank and maybe I can breathe."
"Makes sense. This rec thing, though."
Our "recreation" was this weird setup with tables everywhere—you'd move around drinking. Supposedly to network with other hunters, but everyone just focused on boozing. At least the chatty rat Hwang Cheolmin kept yapping even while drinking. The guy'd talk his way out of a dragon's stomach—like some high school chairman slut.
"How loaded is the Association, anyway?"
I tossed out the question offhand. Everyone knew they had cash, but did they have enough to splash like this? One thing I'd realized these past days: the Hunter Association was dying to blow money.
"Insanely. They take like 50% of monster byproduct sales. And no taxes to the government. If they were broke, that'd be weird."
Just like he said—they skimmed half the profits from byproducts, which hunters called "taxes." And no taxes for them. That's how they built these ritzy training centers nationwide.
"Straight-up thieves, no doubt."
No knife, but total armed robbery. Their wealth hit different. Guess they needed the dough for hunter pensions and such. Plus, they operated like a public institution—military or police vibes.
"Yeah. Low ranks are rougher than you'd think. Expenses off the charts, taxes brutal... one slip and you're done. At least loans are easy."
Endure the grind, and even a mouse hole gets sunlight. Past 8 Rank, wallet loosens up; 7 Rank makes you rich for real. From 6 Rank, you're raking it in by the shovelful. Internet said 3 Rank+ pulled billions per raid. But reaching 3 Rank? Rare as hell.
I sipped my drink while listening to Hwang Cheolmin's info dump. Whiskey, cocktails, wine, beer, soju—you name it. All top-shelf, tens of thousands a bottle. I glanced at other tables while nursing mine. Groups had formed over the days, laughing it up. The awkward vibes from day one? Gone. This workshop was basically a hunter networking fest, so mission accomplished for the Association.
Most folks here were party leaders anyway. Their bonds were the invisible power propping up hunter status and clout. In Korea, hunter connections were as scary as school ties, regional bonds, or bloodlines.
"Oh yeah, you said you're not a leader, Cheolmin. Who'd you come with? Association invite?"
"Me? Nah, begged my leader. There he is."
He pointed across to a guy chugging whiskey straight from the bottle. Messy hair, scars on his cheeks—looked like a Viking back from a raid.
"That's him. My current party leader."
No fondness in his tone. The dude was drunk, face tomato-red, groping women around him. Made my skin crawl. The women—buff as dudes—got pissed and bailed one by one.
"Bribed him with cash to bring me. But guy's got a shit rep. Planning to jump ship soon."
"Smart move."
He prowled for fresh targets after the women ditched. Then his eyes locked on Sujin next to me. He lumbered over.
"Haha! Hey there. Name's Bong Jinsu. Fate brought us together—let's get wasted tonight!"
He grabbed a whiskey bottle off the table and chugged. Total dog. Way worse than Hwang Cheolmin. Even sweet Sujin couldn't hide her discomfort. Pretty girls always attract this crap.
"Fuck off."
I didn't bother hiding my hostility. No way I'd grin and polite-talk to this scum. He glanced at me, smirked, and said,
"Not interested in you."
What a fucking dog. I wrapped my arm around Sujin's waist and pulled her in for a kiss. She startled for a sec but caressed my tongue with her usual tender one. We went full deep kiss, right there in front of everyone.