Chapter 45
Chapter 45
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Destroyed Encampment of the Tadan Orcs
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"If Manager Cha Ye-rin recommended you, then it's just because they hate her. Honestly, if it had been anyone else's recommendation, they would've been fine with an unregistered hunter."
Following Sua's lead, Young-hoon spoke with clear animosity toward Jong-woo.
They were from the same support department, so it might actually be strange if they didn't feel this way.
When Jeong-hyeon showed interest as if asking what he meant, Young-hoon eagerly launched into the story.
"That bastard Jong-woo has a massive inferiority complex toward Manager Cha. He got in late but keeps saying she got promoted fast just because she's pretty. Does that even make sense? Isn't a C-rank embarrassed around an A-rank? And he didn't even climb up fair and square. He's the son of an association director."
It was enough to make anyone sigh in disbelief.
At this point, it wasn't just an inferiority complex—it bordered on mental illness.
No one could deny Ye-rin's striking appearance.
But her skills were on a whole different level, incomparable to mere looks.
Jeong-hyeon hadn't seen it firsthand, but her visible achievements proved it.
The association's conservative atmosphere was the only reason she was still just a manager. If she'd joined a guild that valued skill above all, she'd already hold a high position.
'And the director's son? That explains why everyone was just watching him go.'
Jeong-hyeon finally understood why no one had tried to stop Jong-woo as he stormed out earlier.
Life never went smoothly, no matter how careful you were.
Crazy people lashed out at normal ones—what could you do to stop that?
It was like a bolt from a clear sky.
Especially when the lunatic had powerful backing. That made it a true natural disaster.
Anyway, he got the gist of the office politics.
And none of the party members seemed to like Jong-woo much either.
Even Kim Young-hoon from another team kept nodding emphatically, so it wasn't just internal support department drama.
'Cha Ye-rin... No wonder she helped so readily. She threw me into this mess?'
His resentment toward Ye-rin grew even stronger.
But the others, oblivious to Jeong-hyeon's inner thoughts, casually changed the subject.
"Before we came here, the manager was telling us how much to ignore Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon."
"But you're really unregistered?"
This time, the tank, Park Ha-jun, asked.
Jeong-hyeon nodded readily.
"Yeah. Agility type."
"Wow. Well, since Manager Cha introduced you, I guess we don't have to worry about skill... but are you sure you'll be okay?"
"I've got some confidence."
It wasn't hostile like Jong-woo's tone.
It was the natural reaction to an unregistered hunter entering a level 4 gate.
Ha-jun exchanged glances with the others, then spoke with a worried look.
"I'm not saying this because I dislike you, Jeong-hyeon. For now, just follow behind like the manager said. It's totally different from level 3. Join in once you get a feel for it."
"Thanks for the concern."
Creak—
"Were you all chatting nicely? Must've been awkward with Jeong-hyeon here. Alright, let's head in."
At that moment, Jong-woo returned, apparently done smoking.
As if confirming he'd told them to ignore Jeong-hyeon, the group naturally returned to their original spots.
'Every time I see that guy, his way of addressing me drops a notch.'
In the midst of it, Jong-woo now called him just by name, without even the surname.
Flames sparked in Jeong-hyeon's eyes as he glared at Jong-woo.
He might have let Park Sang-jun's antics slide as childish, but this crossed the line—by a mile.
Jong-woo, who happened to meet Jeong-hyeon's eyes by chance, flinched and took a step back.
"W-What?"
"What's wrong, Manager?"
As the others turned with puzzled looks, Jeong-hyeon quickly schooled his expression.
In the end, Jong-woo ended up looking like he'd startled himself.
'Stay back and play baggage boy? Fine. Let's see how long I can keep "playing."'
Jeong-hyeon decided to follow Jong-woo's instructions to the letter and really slack off.
***
'The Destroyed Encampment of the Tadan Orcs' lived up to its name, set in the ruins of a camp.
Even the tents the orcs had built were crude at best.
But seeing them mangled, some still smoldering in spots, felt like the final scene of a war movie.
"Wow..."
Kim Young-hoon, a hunter with little experience, let out an awed exclamation.
Rookies often felt like they'd stepped into a movie when they first saw the scenery beyond a gate.
'Come to think of it, I was the same.'
Jeong-hyeon's first gate had been the 'Parched Hallway of the Undead.'
The dark stone corridor amid thunder felt cinematic.
The genre was a bit different now, though.
"How many hunts is this for you?"
When Jeong-hyeon struck up a conversation, Young-hoon smiled sheepishly.
"Ah, actually, this is my third. You must have way more experience, right, Jeong-hyeon?"
"Well... about the same."
"Nah, with Manager Cha Ye-rin recommending you, you must be a veteran. Isn't she just so cool?"
"Not really."
Jeong-hyeon could never agree, even in death.
But even as Jeong-hyeon drew a firm line, Young-hoon grinned.
He probably thought they were close enough for Jeong-hyeon to joke like that.
He had no inkling it was dead serious.
'Anyway, I'm leveling up pretty fast for real.'
He'd just hit level 3, but a level 3 was a level 3.
Strictly speaking, this was only his sixth hunt.
Higher trait ranks sped up proficiency gains, but even accounting for that, it was unusually quick.
'Is EX rank way higher than I thought?'
If he had stats on S-rank hunters, he could gauge it better, but all their info was state secrets.
Not even their level-up speeds or traits were public.
Even Ye-rin's controlled info as a public A-rank proved it.
Of course, given the hardships Jeong-hyeon had endured, he felt no guilt for his rapid progress.
"How'd you meet Manager Cha?"
"Uh... just through work, naturally...?"
It was a tricky question.
He couldn't exactly say he'd caught the villain duo 'Mask Pair' and that's how the bad blood started.
Ha-jun seemed nice but talkative.
'Don't want unnecessary hassle.'
But Ha-jun looked impressed anyway.
"I see... So that's why you're unregistered?"
"...Pardon?"
"It's fine. I'm the type who keeps secrets tight. She's really cool, though."
Hey, what the hell did you just imagine?
Jeong-hyeon desperately wanted to ask but held back.
From the look, Ha-jun thought he was some secret agent.
Well, misconceptions happened.
"I want to get close to Manager Cha too. She's so pretty, and..."
Young-hoon kept muttering to himself.
Staring at his face, a sudden realization hit Jeong-hyeon like a thunderbolt.
"Y-You don't happen to like Manager Cha Ye-rin—"
"Oh, come on. Someone that cool?"
Young-hoon's face flushed a bit.
This had to be stopped!
Saving this promising young man with a bright future ahead was a senior's duty.
He couldn't let this innocent youth fall into the clutches of that devilish Cha Ye-rin.
"No, Manager Cha doesn't think of you that—"
But before Jeong-hyeon could finish his stern warning, Jong-woo's voice cut in oblivious.
"Why are you two chattering up front? Stick to your positions! What did I tell you, Young-hoon?"
"Ah... Sorry, Manager."
He must've hated seeing them talk despite orders to keep distance.
Young-hoon hurried to the front under Jong-woo's scolding.
'You just ruined that young man's entire life!'
Jeong-hyeon's glare turned murderous, incomparable to before.
"W-Why do you keep glaring like that? Get back now!"
No matter how awful Jong-woo was, hunters couldn't draw blades on each other.
Jeong-hyeon retreated to Jong-woo's side with a face full of hostility.
Jong-woo seemed flustered by Jeong-hyeon's sudden shift from compliant.
And then,
"Orcs, three of them, approaching from 3 o'clock."
Jeong-hyeon's senses picked up the presences closing in.
In a gate with only orcs, their identity was obvious.
The overwhelming aura, even fiercer than expected, erased any doubt.
"Already? That's early."
Jong-woo tilted his head.
Regardless of his team members' opinions, he was the party leader.
In such situations, issuing combat orders was priority, early or not—but he showed no tension.
The party smoothly prepared anyway, as if routine.
First, they pivoted the formation from 12 o'clock orientation to 3 o'clock.
As the frontliners rushed to reposition, brushing past,
"Your senses are sharper than I thought."
Sua said with a hint of surprise.
Her trait was D-rank 'Physical Ability Enhancement.'
One step above what Jeong-hyeon had.
It should've sufficed for scouting in most same-level parties.
So naturally, she'd be startled that Jeong-hyeon noticed first.
Of course, with his extra agility traits beyond physical enhancement, it was expected.
The preparations went smoothly overall.
Ha-jun and Sua synced perfectly from prior teamwork, and Young-hoon positioned sensibly.
As for Dan Jong-woo...
'Does this bastard even want to hunt?'
He just watched with a bored face.
Yet when Jeong-hyeon reached for a dagger,
"Hey, I said just be baggage. Here, carry this."
He stopped him and tossed his own bag instead.
It was provocation so strong it nearly made Jeong-hyeon forget where to throw the dagger.
Jeong-hyeon hadn't planned enthusiastic participation anyway.
He loved freeloading more than anyone.
But with people fighting orcs upfront, shouldn't he at least go through motions?
The healer Daeyun, watching beside Jeong-hyeon, looked increasingly sour.
'Sigh, I'm only holding back for everyone else's sake.'
"Kweeek!"
Finally, the orcs' eerie cries reached them.
Three orcs charging over the hill.
'Straggler concept, huh?'
Fitting the destroyed camp, these Tadan Orcs were degraded versions of standard ones.
Their movements were sluggish with fatigue, many bearing wounds.
But compared to level 5 gate Tadan Orcs, they remained threats.
Even degraded, their destructive power and aggression were no joke.
Rumors said their fury over the ruined camp made them even fiercer.
No room for complacency.
Meanwhile, Jeong-hyeon couldn't join yet.
'Alright, let's see what both sides can do.'