Beast.
The door burst open, and in strode two women: Roijir Guild's master, Baek Hayeon, and vice-master Seo Ara.
Their gazes locked onto Seo Ayoung, sprawled on the floor, drenched in sweat, her flushed red face twisted in exertion as she gasped for breath. White steam even rose from the crown of her head, and bizarre moans kept spilling from her lips.
"Haa... haang... O-Oppa..."
"My god..."
No, shut the fuck up already. And there I was, Kwon Daesung, awkwardly reaching out to scoop her up and lay her on the bed.
Anyone walking in would've dialed the cops on the spot. It was a filthy, depraved scene straight out of a nightmare.
A suffocating silence fell, then Seo Ara—Ayoung's own sister—flashed eyes that looked ready to roll back in fury... only for the corners of her mouth to twitch in a creepy grin.
"Hoo... already at that stage, huh?"
What the...? Why's she smiling? Creepily?
I'd braced for her to draw a blade and go berserk, but Seo Ara was unnervingly calm. Beside her, Baek Hayeon flushed red but subtly backpedaled.
"H-Have a good time, Mr. Kwon. Sorry for interrupting so rudely."
What? Good time? I clocked the spiraling vibe and felt chills crawl up my spine.
I had to clear this misunderstanding now.
"W-Wait! Stop! STOOOOP! It's not what you think!! Absolutely not!!"
I scrambled back, waving my hands frantically. But Seo Ara wasn't letting it slide easy. She nodded with a sly, infuriating smile.
"I get it. Young and full of vigor, right? Aigoo... sorry. I'm not the type to meddle in my little sister's love life. I had no idea... Guild master, let's head out. Can't kill the mood."
Mood? What mood? This ain't a sport!
"Y-Yeah! We'll wait outside nice and quiet. Take your time... finish up."
The two flashed lecherous grins and reached for the doorknob, actually about to leave.
Like hell! I'm losing my mind here!!
"I said no!! Qi circulation! I was unblocking her meridians!! Teaching her martial arts!!"
I bellowed, veins bulging in my neck, and their hands froze on the door.
"Martial arts? Qi circulation?"
Seo Ara let out a hollow chuckle.
"Mr. Kwon. If you're gonna make excuses, at least make 'em believable. She's soaked in sweat and panting like that, and you expect us to buy martial arts lesson?"
"It's true!! Ayoung! Seo Ayoung!! Get up and explain!!"
I nudged her side with my toe, demanding backup. Big mistake touching her then.
"Haaaaang!!♡"
Seo Ara gulped hard.
"Must've felt... really good..."
"No, it's NOT!!!"
Once Ayoung finally calmed down, she shook off her daze and propped herself up unsteadily.
"Ugh... Unnie? Guild master? When'd you get here...?"
"Ayoung! You okay? Lie back down, don't push it. He might not look it, but he's a total beast."
Seo Ara rushed over, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and shooting me a glare.
"I'm not a beast!! Ayoung, show 'em your martial arts quick!!"
At my desperate shout, Ayoung blinked, then stared at her palm.
"O-Oppa...? Hng...?"
"Don't call me like that with those puppy-dog eyes—it pisses me off. Just demonstrate already."
"Ah? Okay!"
She extended her fingers toward empty air.
Shing—!
In that instant, a subtle ink-black energy erupted from her slender index and middle fingers—like a razor-sharp crescent moon blade of pure sword ki.
"......Huh?"
Seo Ara and Baek Hayeon's jaws dropped at the hovering Moon Shadow Sword Qi.
"......Insane. What the hell?"
Ayoung had been a half-baked hunter, stuck soloing F-rank gates despite her Murim job—no martial arts. Now her little sister was casually emitting sword ki of purity even top rankers struggled to manifest barehanded.
Ayoung curiously flicked her fingers. The qi sliced through the air, silently cleaving a thick iron cabinet in the junkyard corner like tofu.
Swish—thud!
"C-Careful!!"
"S-Sorry!!"
Staring at the mirror-smooth severed cabinet, the women went dead silent.
I finally exhaled, brushing off my rumpled collar.
"Haa... See? I was sweating bullets teaching her martial arts. The qi surging through her meridians forcibly heated her up—that's why the sweat."
I vented my frustration, and Seo Ara coughed awkwardly, averting her eyes.
"Ahem. R-Right... Sorry for the misunderstanding, Mr. Kwon. Haha. But the pose and vibe were just... too suspicious."
Baek Hayeon fanned her flushed face with an embarrassed grin.
With the mood settling, a freshly showered Ayoung emerged, clean-faced and changed into new clothes.
"Where'd you get those?"
"Your closet, boss."
"And you just... why... never mind."
Predictably, the two women giggled and whispered something. Haa... why my clothes...
Back to business: Baek Hayeon and Seo Ara sensed Ayoung's aura—now leagues beyond before—and clicked their tongues in awe.
"Unbelievable. Mastering that insane energy overnight. You fixed her? Gave martial arts to a body that couldn't handle them?"
Baek Hayeon eyed me with wonder.
"Eh... yeah, you could say that."
To her, I wasn't just fixing broken gear or lifting curses from corrupted spirit stones anymore. Now I was the miracle worker force-unblocking meridians and power-leveling other hunters.
"Anyway, enough drama. Let's call in Taesoo hyung—he's probably freezing his ass off outside. Guild master coming personally means you're here for the spirit stone, right?"
Quick on the draw...
I leaned back on the sofa and asked. Baek Hayeon snapped to, handing Seo Ara a document case.
"That's part of it, but really, we're here to finalize the official scouting contract for Roijir Guild and Mr. Kwon's party."
Thud— Two tablets hit the table. One for my manager hyung, one for me.
"First, Hunter Kim Taesoo's terms."
Seo Ara slid a tablet to Taesoo hyung, who'd just shuffled in.
"Base salary post-tax: 5 billion won. Gate clears and byproducts split 8:2 in your favor. Top-tier housing provided. And A-rank raid team leader position guaranteed. Not that you'll lead raids—just manager for Mr. Kwon, but with raid leader rank."
"...5 b-billion salary?!"
5 billion. Post-tax base. Hustle gates hard, and incentives push it past 10 billion yearly easy.
Taesoo hyung's shaky hand signed without reading, tears welling.
"Daesung-ah... hyung made it...! Wife's been asking if she can buy a car... says market runs are tough."
"Y-Yeah. Congrats, hyung. Buy her ten—that's pocket change!"
With hyung's deal warmly sealed, Baek Hayeon opened mine herself.
"Now, Mr. Kwon's terms. Revised yesterday in meeting to Roijir's absolute max."
Gulp— Everyone swallowed dryly. Her red lips parted slowly.
"Base salary: 20 billion won. Full renovation of Roijir HQ's basement floor into your dedicated repair workshop, free of charge. Plus 5% equity stake transfer..."
50 billion. 5% stake.
"???"
Why equity? Taesoo hyung and Ayoung gawked blankly.
Think about it... 20 billion? Huge cash. But...
I saw it clear: they desperately wanted me locked in. I'm no fool. I'd pre-researched contracts online after the tentative deal.
Key takeaway: salary's whatever—contract terms rule work-life balance.
I met Baek Hayeon's eyes coolly.
"Guild master."
"Yes, boss? Terms insufficient?"
"Nah. Money's more than enough. You know my value."
"O-Of course."
I stared straight.
"Just one thing: I hate being controlled."
"......"
"But total non-control while guild-affiliated? Unrealistic. I'll help guild only with repairs."
Translation: Pay up fully, shield me solid, hands off my private life otherwise.
"Put that no-touch clause in writing. Or 100 billion won't make me sign."
At my bold demand, Baek Hayeon didn't bristle—instead, she smiled alluringly and nodded.
Hm? What's this?
"That it?"
"Pardon?"
"Fine. Contract'll state: nothing restrains or commands Kwon Daesung outside repair matters. Perfect autonomy. Good?"
Eh, for real? This easy?
She pulled her tablet and edited on the spot.
"See? Top clause."
"Yeah. Full autonomy outside repairs."
"Added right to ignore even me, guild master, on non-repair stuff."
No poison pills? I scrutinized—clean.
"One last thing."
"Yes?"
"If—hypothetically—another guild offers better and you wanna jump, tell me first. Honestly, guilds would pay the penalty just to poach you."
"Got it."
Not planning to, though. Feels good here. Taekwondo Guild? Nah, slave labor and hard mode life.
I thumb-signed the updated tablet.
Finally.
Baek Hayeon beamed at my signature.
"Welcome aboard, Mr. Kwon. Or rather, Roijir's new Repair Director."
"Director?"
"Yes. Deserves the title."
Me, 26, a director... My lips twitched upward involuntarily.
"Likewise, guild master."
I shook her hand gently.
Thus began Act 2 of my life for real.