Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Reliable Like Gukbap
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"Ha... Why are there no appealing options anywhere?"
Jeong-hyeon suppressed his boredom as he scrolled through HunterNet.
He had spent a considerable amount buying gear from Doil.
He had to scrape together every won from the money earned hunting with Sun-hyeong's party and the reward from the Association.
As a result, he was urgently flipping through the recruitment board for the next hunt much sooner than expected, but nothing caught his eye.
Most were spots filling into existing parties, which meant unfavorable splits, and even the occasional ones that weren't made him hesitate after his experience with villains like Ju-cheol and Hee-soo.
"This is annoying. After that mess, it's hard to just jump into anywhere... Should I really make my own party?"
In a fit of frustration, he considered reserving a gate himself and forming a party, but it was practically impossible.
To reserve a gate, the party leader's rank and traits had to be listed.
He didn't want a record of starting at a low-rank gate and then jumping to higher ones.
In the end, Jeong-hyeon, with no good options, just killed time sifting through similar posts.
Unable to bear the boredom, he yawned—just then, his phone buzzed once.
*R r r*
"Hm?"
Sun-hyeong's name and message appeared on the screen.
He thought their last settlement chat had wrapped everything up, but here was contact again.
'No way he found out about the zombie claw set I sold as 40,000 won when it was worth 60,000?'
He had once quietly knocked down the price of a 60,000-won zombie claw set to 40,000 without Sun-hyeong's group knowing.
Was this him finally realizing and reaching out?
Sweat beading on his forehead from the passing suspicion, Jeong-hyeon checked the message.
"Damn, if he asks for the difference, I'll just say market price fluctuates. And without me, they wouldn't have made that much anyway."
He'd pay the difference if pressed, but right now his account was empty from new gear.
Steeling himself with self-justification, Jeong-hyeon unlocked his phone.
But the content inside was something he welcomed instead.
- Hunter Jeong-hyeon! We're planning another gate soon—want to join? We've added a D-rank who couldn't make it last time, so full party this round. Let me know if you're in ^^
Looks like their talk of hunting together again wasn't empty words.
He cheered inwardly at the offer he might have had to beg for.
How did they know he was job hunting?
"Sun-hyeong really is as reliable as a bowl of gukbap."
Fitting his tank class, Sun-hyeong was dependable even outside of hunts.
He'd probably handle butchering again, making it far smoother than joining a new party.
No reason to turn down the payout either.
Jeong-hyeon replied immediately.
- Of course, I'd be grateful. When and where this time?
- Reserved for the day after tomorrow. It's tougher than last time, though. Rock Spider Cave. Level 3 or below gate. That okay?
"Rock Spider Cave, huh..."
As warned, tougher than zombies or skeletons.
The gap between level 2-or-below and level 3-or-below gates was huge—way beyond just one level.
Even F-rank level 3s and D-rank level 2s often partied up for it, showing their trust in him.
Probably helped by the new D-rank mage joining as firepower.
A solid setup with a mage and archer...
"But why do they always pick these?"
Like the 'Withered Corpse Hallway,' it was an unpopular gate type.
Insects like spiders triggered primal human fear with their looks.
Not that orcs, goblins, or kobolds were cute, but they fared better than bugs.
At least fantasy creatures felt less real.
Still, grateful for the trust and a good fit to test his new D-rank trait, Jeong-hyeon quickly agreed.
- Yep. I leveled up luckily too. No problem. Thanks for the invite.
Of course, he laid the groundwork to explain his quick power-up.
He started researching Rock Spiders.
Insect monsters were known for high mob density.
Their creepy frequency deterred many...
"But that's perfect for me!"
With coins dropping per monster probabilistically, Jeong-hyeon had no issue.
The villain incident confirmed normal proficiency gains now too.
Problem solved, Jeong-hyeon eagerly dug through HunterNet and MyTV for Rock Spider info.
But as an unpopular monster, details were scarce.
Jeong-hyeon picked up his phone again.
"Hello? Ah, Team Leader. Got any Rock Spider stock by chance?"
***
"Y-Yeah, Sang-su! Long time!"
"Yeah. Sorry about last time, hyung."
In front of the Rock Spider Cave gate.
Sun-hyeong, who arrived first, greeted the slightly late Sang-su warmly.
Sang-su apologized for ditching their prior promise but looked sullen.
"A new F-rank joining today? Level 1 even?"
"Hey, not F-rank—unregistered. Didn't even seem level 1 last time. He leveled up recently too; you'll be shocked seeing him."
"Tch, unregistered is F-rank. And even top F-ranks are F-rank—level 3 gate's risky, no?"
Sun-hyeong, excited about his prized recruit Jeong-hyeon, grew awkward at Sang-su's reaction.
He realized it stemmed from Jeong-hyeon.
But Sun-hyeong smoothly reassured him.
"So what if it's risky? You'll roast all the spiders anyway."
"My matchup with Rock Spiders isn't great either..."
Grumbling but pleased at the praise, Sang-su cheered up.
Soon Jeong-a and Do-yun arrived one after another.
"Hey, Han Sang-su! Scouted or not, ditching like that?"
"I apologized in the group chat a ton. Cut me some slack. Sorry."
As expected, Jeong-a snapped at Sang-su on sight.
Scratching his neck, he apologized repeatedly.
He'd anticipated it, but with Jeong-a—his secret crush—it stung.
He slipped in a line anyway.
"But you passed, so it's fine."
"Really? Makes sense—not passing a scout would be weird."
"Yeah, congrats, dude."
He'd held off telling until meeting, so the party congratulated him.
Sang-su feigned shyness but puffed up proudly.
'Guild's the top dog... not me being top dog or anything.'
Truth was, Sang-su had his reasons for flaking.
Jeongjin Guild, top-three mega-guild in Korea.
Packed with high-rank hunters, but like a corporation, it needed low-ranks too.
Active even in low gates, and Sang-su got scouted for it.
Rare D-rank lightning mage drew their first contact.
But Jeongjin could snag D-rank lightning mages easily.
Pass now, risk losing the guild spot forever—or apologize to friends and smooth it over?
Outcome was obvious.
The members probably got it deep down.
A buddy in Jeongjin even brought perks unspoken.
Topic shifted quickly.
But the new one irked Sang-su more.
"Oppa, Jeong-hyeon really coming this time?"
"Yeah. Confirmed. Should be here soon."
"How many Rock Spiders you think?"
"Heh heh, that's the real talk. Ask when he arrives."
Party members chattered about Jeong-hyeon without prompting.
His Jeongjin entry faded to background.
Sang-su, sidelined, seized a gap.
"Oh, I visited Jeongjin HQ—know their cafeteria food's amazing?"
"Oh, really? What'd they have?"
"Yeah! Steak, even!"
Jeong-a finally paying attention, Sang-su smirked inwardly.
'Yeah, that's the normal reaction.'
Jeongjin was a dream job for low-rank hunters.
"Who'd you meet? How are the people? Does the symbolic bull statue really cry at noon?"
Barraging usual curiosities was fine.
Sang-su prepped tales: interviewed by famous B-rank Cha Jun-won, even swapped contacts.
But expectations shattered.
"Think Jeong-hyeon brings that mace again?"
"Probably? Blunt weapons match Rock Spiders well."
"Yeah, true."
'No, what the...'
Topic swung back to that Jeong-hyeon guy.
An F-rank joining outshining his Jeongjin entry?
Who the hell was he?
Boiling as he fumed, Jeong-hyeon appeared in the distance.
"Oh, there's Jeong-hyeon."
"Here! Over here!"
Waving familiarly, Jeong-hyeon waved back.
Jeong-a waving hardest grated on Sang-su.
"Hey, everyone doing well?"
"Heard you leveled up—congrats! Me too!"
Not content, Jeong-a chatted warmly.
"Ah, congrats. Level-up buddies with me, huh."
"Like that? Heh heh heh."
Sang-su sized up Jeong-hyeon chatting naturally with Jeong-a.
Tall and smiling nicely, but still a level 2 F-rank at best.
Normally couldn't dream of Rock Spider hunts.
'They all hype him... must be something...'
How much could an F-rank hide anyway?
Glared at Jeong-hyeon with dissatisfied eyes, then Sun-hyeong introduced.
"Jeong-hyeon, this is Han Sang-su who missed last time. D-rank lightning mage. Level 2."
"Oh, nice to meet you. Jeong Jeong-hyeon."
"Yes, nice. F-rank agility type?"
Jeong-hyeon's expression flickered at the rude greeting.
Not mere rank check.
Clear look down on someone far below.
But Jeong-hyeon smiled back quickly.
"Not F-rank—unregistered. Ah, heard you joined Jeongjin Guild—congrats."
"Huh? Ah... yeah. Thanks."
His snide jab bounced off, even earning congrats—Sang-su flushed awkwardly.
"Oh? Wheeling a carrier now?"
Jeong-a lit up at Jeong-hyeon's bag.
"Yeah. Last time I wandered clueless... Thanks to you. Ah, got some new gear too."
"Wow, really? Makes sense with your skills."
Originally snapped over the smell, but now glad he took her advice.
Hearing, Sang-su grew confused again.
'No carrier before? First hunt for real?'
Exaggerated maybe, but party tales said beyond F-rank skill.
First fight sans carrier?
Hard to buy outright.
Finally, party indifference to him plus inferiority to a mere unregistered boiled over inside Sang-su.
He glared sharply at Jeong-hyeon amid the trio.
'Let's see you stay chill inside the gate. I'll put you in your place.'
He was a Jeongjin scout-accepting hunter.
Bullying a clueless newbie F-rank? Easy.