Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Hunter Association (1)
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After resting for over a week, I felt lighter as I headed to the association, but something suddenly came to mind, pulling me back into thought.
"Hmm... So, with the eighth main story coming in fourth place, does that mean everything from the original fourth main story onward gets pushed back one by one?"
With Arkin Row dead, the Night of Craving and Greed storyline must have vanished entirely.
What I was curious about was whether another main story would fill that gap or if the rest would simply shift back one slot.
Honestly, I'd prefer if it just shifted without any other variables.
Just the variables from this time nearly killed me.
This time, I survived because it was a demon race I knew about, and the Vow of No Retreat and Star Mana activated at just the right moments.
If luck had been even a little off, it would've been game over.
But agonizing over how variables might pop up now was pointless anyway.
I already knew it would take nearly a year to figure out what replaced Night of Craving and Greed.
I shook my head, brushing off those unnecessary distractions for now.
Better to prepare for the upcoming fourth—no, fifth—main story that's been pushed back.
"Who'll get caught up in it this time?"
The final main quest of the first semester, and in the worst case, one heroine is guaranteed to die.
To sum it up briefly: During the guild experience event, while exploring a field-type gate as part of the schedule...
One gate turns into a Multi-Gate due to mana overaccumulation—a rare, nightmarish probability event—trapping 330 exploring students inside an S-Rank gate.
And not just any S-Rank gate, but one packed with hordes of undead and a High Lich as the boss, designed for annoyance and overwhelming numbers.
Of course, whether for balance patches or just bad luck every time...
One of the Seven Great Guilds, Ice Castle Guild Master Seol Yu-bin, always joins the quest on the trapped side.
So if things go well, casualties are minimal—no heroine deaths.
But if luck is abysmal, another S-Rank monster, the headless knight Dullahan, appears with an ultra-rare probability.
And if Dullahan shows up? Basically, total annihilation—not just the heroine, but the guild master, player students, all 330 entrants wiped out.
Dullahan itself is strong, but more than that, its appearance nearly doubles the undead count inside the gate.
Facing dozens or hundreds of bosses stronger than the lich sub-variant I fought—which was at least B-Rank—and freshmen with no real combat experience? No chance of survival.
"...Makes me uneasy for no reason."
Dullahan is a one-in-a-thousand freak occurrence—practically nonexistent normally.
Yet somehow, the nagging "what if it appears?" feeling makes it seem like it will.
Something felt off.
"Nah... No way a Dullahan actually shows up."
I said that, but my gut wasn't convinced.
And in that worst case: Academy freshmen 330 total wipeout. One or more heroines confirmed dead. If luck's truly rotten, even Seol Yu-bin dies.
That twists the worldline for real.
No—even if I die first, it's all over. Even if Kim Do-yoon survives, without knowing the future, he'll die fighting eventually.
"...So I need at least some contingency."
I stopped walking and closed my eyes briefly.
Assuming the worst, re-plotting the scenario.
Covered by an S-Rank gate, undead hordes, High Lich.
If Dullahan too? Solution's singular.
Form up around the Saintess.
Amelia.
Natural predator against undead.
Healing + holy light attribute = natural disaster shredding undead hordes.
"And Seol Yu-bin..."
Ice Castle Guild Master.
Called the pinnacle of ice magic, a historic genius ice mage from the Seol family whom even Britain's Mage Tower visits to learn from.
One of the current S-Rank Hunters.
Put those two together, and even the absolute worst scenario likely avoids total catastrophe.
I nodded slowly.
"Yeah. My job's simple."
For this guild experience, stick with Amelia and follow Seol Yu-bin.
Put her on the front lines with Seol Yu-bin.
Even if Dullahan appears, me and Seol Yu-bin up front, Amelia holding the rear.
Star Mana, barrier arts, healing, and holy buffs combined—we can hold against undead legions or Dullahan or whatever.
With the picture clear, I breathed a bit easier.
"...Yeah. This should work somehow."
The odds of hitting the absolute worst are lower than getting struck by lightning on the street, but better safe than sorry.
Sorting my thoughts, I looked up and realized I'd arrived at the Hunter Association building.
Black glass exterior and steel structure.
Bustling lobby mixing machine beeps and voices.
The smell of real office life.
"Hoo—"
I took a deep breath, relaxed my shoulders, and stepped inside.
Thinking this final first-semester main story might be the fight proving I'm truly alive.
"Welcome. How may I assist you?"
The receptionist at the front desk flashed an automatic professional smile as I entered, but...
Her expression shifted to slight surprise upon recognizing my face.
"Ah, I... I'm one of the people carted off in that Descent-type Gate incident. I heard my stuff got sent here while I was transferred to the hospital. Here to pick it up."
"As expected... One moment."
She pulled out a monitor and quickly searched.
"Name... Kang Hyun-sol, correct?"
"Yes."
She nodded and handed me her ID tablet shortly after.
"Just need to verify your identity. Fingerprint, please."
"Sure."
Placing my finger triggered the recognition sound.
Identity verification complete.
She stood politely.
"I'll guide you."
The association's internal storage was lined with long metal shelves, and there I faced the items I'd lost.
The mysterious necklace and small ring I'd worn since possession.
And the sword Silver Moon—given to me by Wol Ha-yeon—which I treasured deeply.
The moment I gripped it, it seemed to greet me warmly, emitting moonlight.
"...Yeah, good to see you too."
Truly felt like I'd come back alive.
As I packed up to leave...
The staffer spoke cautiously.
"Um, Kang Hyun-sol."
"Yes?"
She glanced around and lowered her voice.
"If it's alright... could you spare a moment?"
"A moment?"
She adopted a more formal expression.
"The Hunter Association President wants to meet you."
"...Pardon?"
My mind blanked for a second.
Korea's Hunter Association President—Yoon Seo-rin's grandfather.
The monster who stands at the forefront during national crises, spending more time on battlefields than in politics.
Retired from active duty now, but a symbol of the hunter world.
Yoon Seo-jun?
He wants to see me? Suddenly?
To confirm, I asked again.
"So... Yoon Seo-jun wants to meet me?"
"Yes, he said he wants to speak with you directly."
I thought for a moment.
I could refuse.
But no real reason to.
And above all...
He's Yoon Seo-rin's grandpa—kinda feels bad to say no. Something like that.
So I took a short breath and nodded.
"Got it. Lead the way."
She smiled again.
"Thank you. I'll escort you to the president's office."
I followed slowly.
The elevator to the upper floors opened, and my reflection flickered on the steel walls.
I survived.
But I knew the next round had already begun.
And its opening move... a meeting with Yoon Seo-rin's grandfather.
"...No more hiding now, huh."
I muttered softly as the doors closed.
Ding-!
Arriving at the top floor, 50th, I exited and followed her down the long corridor.
Medals and such lined the walls midway, along with conference rooms for S-Rank hunters and likely classified data rooms.
Soon, I stood before the president's office door.
She knocked lightly.
"President, Kang Hyun-sol is here."
"Send him in."
"Understood. Please go in."
"...Pardon?"
With permission, she carefully opened the door and pushed me inside.
"Wait, what the—?"
Disoriented briefly, but as the door shut, the air changed.
Too quiet.
Silence without even AC hum.
The office wasn't flashy as expected.
Too empty for a leader's space.
Clean to the point of desolation.
And straight ahead.
A man standing with his back to the vast window overlooking the city.
He turned slowly.
Yoon Seo-jun.
Not fully white-haired, but dark gray streaked with silver from the years.
Straight-backed posture like a soldier.
No—a veteran of battlefields beyond soldiers.
His eyes weren't cold.
Just... piercing through everything.
Not speaking, just breathing, yet his presence weighed down the room's air.
...Ah, this is why S-Rank hunters are called monsters.
Different from Wol Cheon-mu.
He was an otherworldly monster—nothing felt.
This man before me...
Strength at the human peak, felt skin-deep.
Even though he's essentially retired as a hunter.
My throat dried naturally; I swallowed.
Just one eye contact, and my heart skipped a heavier beat.
And that face. Definitely resembled Yoon Seo-rin.
Unyielding eyes.
Lips without excess emotion.
Expression speaking volumes without words.
Ah... Family bloodline checks out.
I muttered inwardly.
No wonder she's so soldier-stiff, says only what's needed, and sucks at showing emotions... Makes sense now.
Then.
Yoon Seo-jun walked slowly to the desk, stood across it, locked eyes with me, and spoke.
"You're that punk dating my granddaughter lately? You look even dumber in person than in the photos."
"...Pardon?"