Fire-Breathing Arang
"Guhk, kahak… kuhuluk!"
The guild master's office of Yeonho Guild, which had been neatly organized just moments ago, was now drenched in blood.
"Blood got on me."
Kim Taekon, the leader of Gerang Guild, muttered indifferently as he glanced down at the blood staining his shoes.
He kicked the man's head lightly with the tip of his foot, as if it were a nuisance, shaking off the blood.
"Wh-what… is the reason for this…? Did we… ever cross Gerang…?"
Yeonho's guild leader gritted his teeth and glared up at Kim Taekon.
He had never even crossed paths with Gerang's leader by mistake.
No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn't find any reason why Gerang would attack them.
Despite Yeonho Guild leader's desperate cry, Kim Taekon looked down at him for a moment before casually pulling a photo from his pocket and tossing it onto the blood-soaked floor.
The photo that landed on the bloody floor showed Baek Arang smiling brightly and innocently.
"You targeted my prey."
"…Just… just for that one reason…?"
Yeonho's guild leader let out a hollow laugh as he stared at the photo.
The little kid in the picture looked familiar.
Rumors had spread that Cheonroe and Baekya were eyeing her, so he'd done some investigating himself, wondering if he should make a move.
But… was that reason enough to smash their entire guild?
"You guys did quite a few amusing things compared to us, didn't you?"
"…That kid! She hasn't even signed a formal contract with Gerang yet! We were just… digging up info to maybe scout her!"
Kim Taekon smirked at Yeonho Guild leader's words and pulled out another photo from his pocket, holding it out in front of him.
The moment he saw it, Yeonho Guild leader's eyes widened in shock as he looked up at him in panic.
"H-how… did you get this…?"
"Honestly, I don't care what nonsense you get up to."
Kim Taekon bent down, roughly grabbing Yeonho Guild leader's throat and hoisting him up effortlessly.
"But sniffing around my prey without permission? I don't like that."
"Guhk…! Kkhuh…"
"Remember this. Your guild pushed too hard on a high floor of the Tower today and got wiped out by bad luck."
Crack!
With a chilling sound of bones snapping, Yeonho Guild leader's movements stopped.
Kim Taekon tossed the now-limp body into the corner like trash.
"My hands are dirty now."
As he pulled a black handkerchief from his pocket to wipe off the blood, the door opened and his vice-guild leader entered.
"Guild leader. We've subdued the rest outside. All done. Handle them like last time?"
At those words, Kim Taekon lit a cigarette and took a drag.
Fwooo—
Gazing blankly at the ceiling as he exhaled a long plume of gray smoke, he scratched the back of his head and said indifferently,
"Nah. Don't kill them."
"Pardon…? Why? Leaving loose ends will just be a hassle."
The vice-guild leader, puzzled by the order so unlike his usual "once targeted, wipe them out" style, asked again.
Kim Taekon glanced down at the photo of Baek Arang on the floor.
"…If I show up to that kid covered in blood, she'll hate it big time."
"Pardon…?"
"Tch, just clean it up appropriately on your own."
The vice-guild leader doubted his own ears for a moment but soon bowed his head.
"Understood."
Kim Taekon stubbed out his cigarette and headed out.
Once Kim Taekon was gone, the vice-guild leader, left alone, scanned the room and sighed deeply before pulling out his smartphone and hitting the call button.
The person on the other end was someone planted in the Hunter Association, tamed through blackmail and bribes.
"It's done. Falsify the Tower entry logs like last time. Make it look like they all went to a high floor as a group and met with disaster."
A groan of reluctance came from the other end.
"Don't worry. No one's dead this time."
"Yeah. Just gave 'em all serious injuries. We'll say they got hit by monsters, so handle the rest."
Click. After hanging up, the vice-guild leader looked down at the collapsed hunters and clicked his tongue.
Staring at the bloodstained photo of Baek Arang, he muttered in disbelief,
"What the hell is that kid to the guild leader… to make him change like this?"
……
"…Is this even a sane option?"
Cheon Yura stared blankly up at the system window floating in the air, fork in hand.
The buffs from the breads Arang had made so far were all impressive, but this one was on a whole other level.
Wyvern Thigh Meat Pie (A+ Grade)
◈ Upon consumption: Full recovery from 1 fatal wound within 24 hours.
◈ Active Skill: Weak Flame Breath (C-rank fire breath skill)
This was basically like gaining an extra life—a blatantly overpowered effect.
And on top of that, it granted an active breath skill.
If used right, it could drop hunter mortality rates to zero. A monstrous item.
And one that could make Arang even more of a target.
…Hiding the info is already at its limit.
Maybe it's better to boost her name so high no one dares touch her?
My gaze fell on Arang, her ears perked up, cheeks puffed out as she stuffed pie into her mouth.
…Whatever. Let Arang decide.
No matter how much I cared for her, deciding things on my own was no different from violence.
Should set up a meeting with Cha Eunwol and Arang next time.
Thump, thump.
My heart pounded wildly with anticipation.
I glanced around for a safe spot, then locked eyes with Yura unni, who was frozen in a daze.
"Hey, Yura unni!"
"…Huh? Yeah? What, Arang?"
"I wanna try this right now! The fire-breathing one!"
How could I hold back on a breath skill, honestly.
Everyone dreams of shooting a breath attack.
After checking my status window, excitement had my tail and ears twitching nonstop.
A suppressed laugh finally escaped Yura unni's lips at my words.
"Let's go to the large training room in the guild basement."
"Yesss!"
We headed down to the large training room beneath guild HQ, equipped with mana barriers.
Standing in the center, I took a deep breath.
First time trying a skill besides kkneading—my hands were shaking bad.
Honestly, I have no idea how to use it…
Liquefying was basically passive; I hadn't controlled it on purpose.
"Just shoot it into the air. Be careful not to hurt yourself."
I nodded solemnly at Yura unni, who had stepped back.
Status said Weak Flame Breath, so it shouldn't be too strong.
Plus, I'd never properly climbed the Tower, so my body was basically civilian-level.
Like in webtoons or novels, I puffed out my chest, tensed my abs, and opened my mouth wide.
Then, a hot energy I'd never felt before bubbled up from deep in my throat.
"Kraaang!"
Before my best dragon roar could finish, scarlet flames erupted from my mouth.
Fwooooosh—!!
The blazing pillar shot out with intense heat, slamming into the training room's mana barrier.
Booom—!
The special barrier screeched on impact, glowing red-hot.
"……."
"……."
Only the lingering heat and acrid smoke from my breath filled the room.
…Why's it this strong?
Yura unni crossed her arms, eyeing the still-glowing barrier far off with interest.
"Hmm… That's not 'weak'—it's pretty strong. About on par with a C-rank hunter's fire skill."
"…Really?"
Still gaping stupidly at my smoky mouth, I stared wide-eyed at the empty air where the flames had shot.
…Honestly, I love it.
It felt like all my stress just melted away.
Unlike kkneading, it cleared my chest right out, washing away every blockage in one go.
I sneaked a glance at Yura unni.
…Can I do it one more time?
"Arang? What's up?"
Noticing my look, Yura unni approached, checking me over curiously.
"Um… can I do it one more time?"
"Wanna shoot more breath?"
"Yeah…"
Worried it might be a bother, I ducked my head, but her hands cupped my cheeks.
"Ehehe…"
"So cute. Go wild."
"Nee… thank youuu."