Chapter 47

Whoosh!

Embers cloaked my black clothes—no, Hemo's outer skin. I commanded it mentally.

The flames swirling around my clothes leaped to the blade.

Sizzle!

No blood spurted. The cut surface had charred black, like toast fresh from the toaster.

In that instant, a goblin right beside me thrust its club at me.

"……!!!"

Our eyes met, and the club's trajectory wobbled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wildly.

Grrk! Grrrk……!

I swiftly chased the stumbling, fleeing goblins.

Blood Slash severed bones in a single stroke, and flying heads from Blood Surge passed me by a hair's breadth.

How many minutes did I dance that blade dance?

"Haa, haa……."

Hot breath knocked unevenly against the inside of my front teeth. I staggered and collapsed to the ground.

"Ugh, exhausting."

I cooled off while staring at the gloomy rain clouds conjured by the Chaos Gate.

Only now did the excitement subside.

Hemo slithered snake-like through the corpses, harvesting loot while licking off the blood clinging to my body.

As I savored the mystical experience of a red slime grooming, I gazed at my status window.

"In the end, I couldn't even use this one."

Regrettable, but I'd save it for next time. I couldn't even twitch a finger.

'I shouldn't get too used to this.'

With the golden dice and Nanjung Flag, my acquisition rate was incomparable to other hunters.

In a gate focused purely on extermination, failing to get SSS rank would be the driver's fault—mine.

Fortunately, no major handling errors so far; I'd topped the scores up to the 19th floor.

"Floor 1's gonna be chaos again."

Don't forget the Surprise Texture Mask and wear it properly.

It happened in that instant.

Notifications flooded in one after another.

The 'blood bond' with Han Biyeol, unwanted as it was, had strengthened. Now EXP flowed in even from farther distances.

"He's no slouch in grinding either."

Seoul was unusually quiet today—no Abyss Gates. A holiday for hunters.

Yet Han Biyeol had gladly given up his work-life balance and clocked in at the 64 Building. At this point, it was suspicious. Why was he so doggedly farming EXP?

'Hm?'

Scrolling down revealed the last hidden window.

"Another rating prompt."

How long had it been since the last one…….

'What score this time.'

Last time, I'd given him 4 out of 10.

So this time, something more generous.

I tapped the notification window.

〔……!!!〕

So, 6 points? No, something like that.

"Didn't hear the sarcasm."

I ignored the distrustful gaze.

Bzzz.

Oh, a text.

Still lying down, I fumbled for my phone. The mana stone SD card kept comms live even in Chaos Gates. Worth every one of its 200 million won.

"Meet today, huh."

After a moment's thought, I replied Sure.

Drip, drip.

The rain clouds squeezed out their water.

I let the Chaos Gate's gift of rain wash my body and mind for a few minutes.

The corridor on the 13th floor of a gleaming building near Gwanghwamun.

Armor clinked with metallic resonance. Han Biyeol's shoulders bobbed with smug satisfaction.

Jeong Hamin shot him a sideways glance as he walked.

'This guy's never satisfied with anything.'

Lately, he'd been full of vim and vigor.

"Hm, hm, hm."

Even humming a tune.

Jeong Hamin felt inexplicably irritated.

"Hey, sunbae……."

He glanced at Han Biyeol, then couldn't hold back.

"Something good happen?"

"Even if it did, no obligation to tell you."

"Fair. But your face looks like the Righteous Army finally stepping on homeland soil after independence."

Not a bad metaphor.

Just nonsense from Jeong Hamin's mouth.

"Such a long-winded comparison."

"Means you're strutting high."

"Going to see the director. Gotta manage my expression."

"Since when are you so chummy with the higher-ups……."

Han Biyeol and Jeong Hamin were en route to the Planning and Finance Director's office. Their suspension period was finally over.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

The two hunters entered under the secretary's polite guidance.

The director welcomed them with open arms.

"You boys have worked hard."

"Not at all."

"Come, sit and talk."

"Yes, sir."

Claiming the sides of the 'U'-shaped sofa, the director beamed as he praised the two hunters.

"Lots of articles crediting you for the Greenbelt Gate. The break was an act of God anyway."

"Our contribution wasn't even first place."

"Seo Hunter took that. What can you do."

"Seo Hunter…… that Seo Hunter……."

Jeong Hamin swallowed words he'd nearly blurted. No need to remind the director of Seo Wonseok's existence.

The director chuckled softly.

"Guild master's thrilled. So he's lifting your suspension early."

"As of when?"

"Today!"

"Whoa! Tears blurring my vision!"

"At least wet your eyes first before lying, Hamin."

"……."

Good news.

Great news, even.

Yet Han Biyeol looked oddly dissatisfied.

He hesitated, then spoke.

"Once suspension's lifted, you'll grant discretion on which gates I raid?"

"To a degree? But you'll still hit the Abyss ones the guild master assigns."

"……I see."

The director found Han Biyeol's somber mood unfamiliar.

He'd expected more joy than Jeong Hamin.

But Han Biyeol's next words shocked the director and Jeong Hamin.

"No need to lift suspension—just tell the guild master to grant Abyss entry discretion instead."

"……What? Did I hear that wrong?"

"You heard right."

Han Biyeol's eyes burned with resolve.

"I need to choose my own path."

Han Biyeol steeled his heart.

Don't let emotions sway you. March silently toward the goal.

Grateful.

But the stars willed him to travel with that enemy.

'I'd love to stab him in the back anytime.'

Don't let emotions sway you.

Han Biyeol calmed his surging feelings. The stars would reward him accordingly.

As I zoned out staring at the charcoal flames, my appointment arrived at the shop.

"Wonseok-ssi!"

Gija-ryeong readjusted her shoulder bag and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠approached.

A plate of dripping bloody meat awaited her eagerly near the grill.

"Sorry. Abyss Gate popped up near the last station, so I took a detour."

"Saw it on TV news. Tough trip."

"Nah. Feels like ages since we last met, though."

"Lots going on. Sit. Let's eat and talk."

I placed the smallest piece on the grill. Predictably, it turned to charcoal again.

"……I'll handle the grilling."

"Please do."

I never had tong privileges with her.

As I portioned ssamjang onto the side plate, I got to the point.

"You wanted to meet about the North Ocean thing, right?"

"Sharp as ever."

Gija-ryeong neatly stacked well-cooked meat in my grill corner.

"HTN's atmosphere is a mess right now. Hot and cold baths back and forth."

"Bit KBC and it felt good, but public opinion favors North Ocean now."

"……Can't fool a ghost. No beating you, Wonseok-ssi."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Gija-ryeong gave me an odd look, then explained HTN's internal situation—to an outsider like me.

"It started with minnow media digging into KBC-North Ocean ties, but North Ocean suddenly announced volunteer work in Paju. The backlash is heading our way."

"Broadcasters get flak daily."

"True. But taking heat from both KBC defenders and North Ocean fans? Tough."

"What do the bosses want?"

"Pull out at the right timing."

I eyed the charred lump I'd scorched earlier. That was HTN brass's true feelings.

"Your opinion?"

"Me?"

"Yeah. Honest take."

"I'd rather not pull out."

"Why?"

Gija-ryeong chose her words carefully.

"Media's a blade. You can switch targets, but sheathing it mid-fight kills public trust."

"Same here."

"You too, Wonseok-ssi?"

"Yeah."

Media can't tuck tail even after carpet bombing. They might get called trash reporters, but that ferocity—biting power without flinching at authority—is what keeps journalists fed.

Backing down here?

Sure, transparent image from admitting faults.

'That's it.'

Media doesn't live on image alone. They occupy prime Seoul real estate with info, news, and buzz.

"Has your influence grown lately? I saw you heading YouTube division. How much autonomy?"

"Some, but only for YouTube channels."

Hm.

"How much flak can you take?"

"……."

Don't give me that weird look.

"If it means promotion, it's the secret to longevity."

"Then how about focusing fire ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on one target this time."

"……? On KBC?"

I nodded.

"Thought about it. But we're already on North Ocean's shitlist. Too late to bail……."

"North Ocean won't retaliate."

"……Wonseok-ssi, what really went down at Greenbelt Gate."

"Something did. Can't say."

"Figured."

"What I can say: consider North Ocean might flip to HTN's ally."

"W-wait. Explain step by step! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'm lost."

I speared a grilled piece with my chopsticks.

"From HTN's view, call the 'traitor' label this grilled meat."

"……Okay."

"Humans eat it, might get sick or cancer buildup. But beasts? They'll devour any meat."

I poked Hemo just in case, but it didn't even sniff—our secret.

"North Ocean will swallow HTN's '