Chapter 154
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: The Power of SSS-grade
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The gazes from the Semi Guild members toward us weren't exactly friendly.
This was to be expected.
No matter how much hunters' ranks determined their hierarchy, it was still human affairs at the end of the day.
Who would have only nice things to say about guildmates they'd shared years with, who up and left coldly the moment they advanced?
Of course, if they truly cared, they could have said nice things.
Congratulations.
Go to a better place, get better treatment, and dive into dungeons.
If we hadn't even crossed paths that much, they might have treated us cleanly like that.
But everyone in the guild knew that leaving as mercenaries wasn't just a simple resignation—it was more like tribute to the Semi Guild for the freakish setup benefiting Kang Jik Guild.
Just look at the Hunter Gallery. There were plenty of sneering posts mocking whether there was even any point in requesting top-condition hunter mercenaries from Kang Jik Guild for Semi Guild's dungeon raids.
Of course, most of those were from rejects who'd applied for mercenary gigs with Kang Jik Guild and got turned down, spewing venom out of spite.
Still, to those involved, it sounded plausible enough to sour their moods inevitably.
Even knowing that SSS-grade hunters deserved such treatment in the market.
If they had been born SSS-grade hunters from the start, maybe it wouldn't sting as much. But because they'd spent years together, sharing hardships with Kang Hana and Im Hyeji...
They knew their achievements and skills all too well, which made it even more grating.
After all, they'd raised them, fought alongside them for all that time.
Not only did they leave upon becoming SSS-grade hunters, but now they were coming back to suck them dry? From an SSS-grade hunter's perspective, what kind of bullshit delusion was this? But human inferiority complexes were unavoidable.
People grovel before chaebol heirs like they're from another world, yet slander the snot-nosed kid from the neighborhood who strikes it rich overnight as a nouveau riche fraud without the chops for it. That's just human nature.
"The vibe is pretty hostile, huh."
Lee Su-a, at least free from such glares, shivered dramatically to lighten the mood.
Im Hyeji and Kang Hana, being young, glanced around a bit nervously, but with me there, they were somewhat okay. Lee Su-a, meanwhile, acted completely unfazed and took good care of her two juniors.
"Don't sweat it too much. These are the looks you'll have to get used to from now on. If you keep acting like guilty criminals, people will think that's the truth and treat it as your due. You earned your power fair and square—why look over your shoulder for it?"
In moments like this, she really lived up to her veteran status in the idol world and entertainment industry.
Her words, backed by experience, comforted them more effectively than any reassurance from me. Their expressions eased a little.
"Just what kind of place is the entertainment industry anyway? Even if you're not an akbari, this feels way too peaceful."
"Kang Jik, this is cute compared to there. From monthly evals to debut, one team gets the spot while dozens compete. Know what the untalented do most? Practice? Everyone does that equally. They drag down the sharp stones."
Lee Su-a gave a wry smile.
Having seen and endured humanity's ugliest sides since childhood, that's why her mentality was so rock-solid.
"Hate comments flying just because I bragged about my husband? Nothing compared to what I've faced in person. This is actually kinda cute and fun. Good thing I became a hunter."
With Lee Su-a soothing them and our group of four sticking together, no harsh glares came directly our way, and we didn't cross paths with many anyway.
Our late-arriving spot at the base camp was designated the safest area, with tents kept at a distance around it.
Standard dungeon etiquette to accommodate SSS-grade hunters.
Having other hunters' tents too close could raise safety issues or other problems.
Basically, SSS-grade tents anchor the base layout, surrounded by the guild master and key hunters.
Once we pitched our tents, Im Hyeji and Kang Hana's faces relaxed considerably.
We'd brought one 8-person barracks for the three women and one 4-person for me next to it.
I'd use the 4-person solo while they shared the 8-person.
Seemed odd cramming three SSS-grade hunters together, but the women agreed, and they seemed happy, calling it a cozy camping trip.
I'd have preferred bunking with them too, but as Kang Jik Guild's master now, and needing time to inject semen even in dungeons...
Recalling the Hwaseong experience, sharing with Im Hyeji had been great for private, cozy sex.
But other women around spelled trouble.
Im Hyeji awkwardly stepping out to give us space? Fine for me, already mulling 3P, but stressful for unprepared women.
They could rest in the scented 8-person during meals or downtime, and come to my 4-person for "private consultations" when needed.
I needed quiet alone time too.
Sizzle—
My subspace cooking show had become standard fare upon entering dungeons.
Fresh meat grilling, seafood feasts.
After bellies were filled with steaming kimchi jjigae, perfect half-boiled eggs on rice, Lee Su-a had already pep-talked them, but I gave my own spin.
"Listen up. You girls are beyond dealing with low-rank hunters like them now. Think they treated you well out of real care? Nah, just because you were young and pretty—they groped for a chance to hit on you and score. You pulled your weight in Semi Guild not because they were nice, but because you did your part right. So chin up, do your job now like always, and those lowlifes won't dare slander. Alright, fighting!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
A few contemptuous looks came my way.
But skipping my pep talk, they gathered hands and headed out energetically to do their jobs.
"Monsters detected within 100m: 14 total. 2 B-grade, 1 A-grade, remaining 11. Move 50m northeast and hold."
The hunters moved in perfect sync at Kang Hana's voice over their earpieces.
Separate from guildmates' resentment, Semi Guild members were pros.
With only 8 SSS-grade hunters in Korea, not every top-10 guild had one. Yet some cleared SS-grade dungeons without them.
They could hire mercenaries, but SS-grade guild exams limited numbers, so money alone didn't cut it.
Plus, as with Hanlim Guild, even SSS-grades didn't guarantee success in SS-grade dungeons.
Team synergy was key.
Semi Guild, lacking an SSS-grade, compensated with member combos and coordination.
Even then, Im Hyeji and Kang Hana weren't their aces.
Im Hyeji shone as an S-grade healer, Kang Hana on recon, but the dungeon was clearable without them—their roles were nice bonuses.
So they did their jobs.
No grudges meant no idiots venting inferiority at SSS-grades in an S-grade dungeon where one slip could mean death.
Formations set, blurry monsters visible at 50m.
Whoosh!
Lee Su-a stepped up.
"Su-a sis, it's 1, 3, and 6."
"Got it!"
Objects at 50m looked tiny.
Lee Su-a, peering through her magic scope, launched five or six embers into the air.
Fwoosh!
The embers zipped to max range, threading between alert monsters that had spotted them.
Not pinpoint, but hitting briefed targets or neighbors.
Lee Su-a snapped her thumb and middle finger.
Roar!
Embers overhead coalesced into five baseball-sized fireballs hurtling forth.
Boom boom boom!
Kweeeek!
The erratic fireballs curved sharply toward ember-marked monsters, exploding on impact.
Some, on 20% chance, exploded again for bonus damage.
Monster cries echoed.
"One B-grade down, A-grade injured. Move in and clean up."
Onlookers, entranced, charged in formation to mop up survivors.
Easy work.
Remaining foes were battered, demoralized weaklings milling about.
Truth be told, this mob was huntable by straight charge.
But zero-casualty takedown meant more.
Clap clap clap!
Kim Semi applauded the SSS-grade rookies' feat of lowering battle difficulty. Sour-faced hunters, stunned, thought "Just this?" and pressed on with the raid.