Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: A League of Their Own
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◈ Chapter 18: A League of Their Own
A 50-story building located in the heart of Yeouido, Seoul.
On the top floor of the Pungbaek Guild headquarters, loud voices echoed, even in the early morning.
“No, Kangwoo-bro. I’m telling you, this one’s for real! We absolutely have to recruit him!”
Three hunters were gathered in the spacious guild master’s office.
Choi Kangwoo, the Guild Master of Pungbaek.
Yoon Suhyeok, the ‘Flame Emperor,’ ranked 5th among South Korean hunters and the Vice Guild Master.
And Yoon Sua, the mascot of Pungbaek, ranked 16th and on the verge of becoming an S-rank.
“Have you already forgotten, Suhyeok? That Choi Min you brought in. He did nothing but cause trouble until he was eventually loaned out to another guild. Surely you remember that.”
“Come on, hyung. Why are you bringing up something from a year ago? And this guy is different from trash like Choi Min.”
“…”
Choi Kangwoo stared at Yoon Suhyeok in silence.
As those fierce, tiger-like eyes bored into him, Yoon Suhyeok couldn't help but bite his lip.
Yoon Suhyeok was not one to lose a battle of wills, no matter where he went.
He was the type to make others bow down, not cower like this.
But even he was just a rookie hunter before the Guild Master of Pungbaek.
“We are not a guild that’s desperate to find rookies. We are the Pungbaek Guild, known as the best of the top three guilds. No matter how talented someone is, unless they come to us on their own, we don’t make the first move.”
“Hyung, that sounds a bit too old-fashioned…”
“I don’t care if you call it an old way of thinking. But I learned something for certain after Choi Min. Someone who lacks desperation is meaningless, no matter how exceptional their abilities are.”
Choi Kangwoo cut him off sharply.
He found the entire situation disagreeable.
For the three hunters who were supposed to be leading the guild to gather and argue over whether or not to recruit a single B-rank hunter…
There was a mountain of work to be done, from dungeon bids and gate requests to guild alliances.
If it had been Yoon Suhyeok alone, he would have scolded him and sent him out before he could even finish his sentence.
“Operations Team 2 Leader.”
If Yoon Suhyeok’s younger sister hadn't been with him.
Choi Kangwoo turned his gaze to Yoon Sua and spoke.
“The hunters who were kicked out after making a fatal mistake on the recent B-rank gate expedition. They were also B-rank. They were even rookies whose abilities were properly verified at Hunter's Den. Even people like that make irreversible mistakes.”
And yet, here they were, making a fuss about recruiting a hunter who had never even been active as an E-rank and had somehow lucked into a B-rank license.
“I know what you’re trying to say, Guild Master.”
Yoon Sua finally spoke.
Her voice was steady, even in the face of Choi Kangwoo’s reproachful tone.
“But this time, I agree with Vice Guild Master Yoon Suhyeok.”
“…”
“Hunter Kim Hanul is a talent with the potential to represent our guild in the future.”
“You’re giving too much credit to a hunter who took down a single dying ogre and received an S-rank in a mana measurement among other Awakened Beings.”
Choi Kangwoo stated flatly.
But Yoon Sua was unshaken.
In addition to the fact that her Divine Seat, the ‘Great Warlord of the Heavens,’ had shown interest in Hanul.
There was something else that had made her certain about him.
“Hunter Kim Hanul is someone who understands desperation better than anyone. That is why I recommended him.”
At the measurement center, right after he placed his hand on the levistone.
The light in Hanul’s eyes.
That was not the light that dwelled in the eyes of a complacent and stagnant human.
However, Choi Kangwoo let out a faint sigh.
“In the end, it’s just a feeling, isn’t it?”
“I don’t think we need to force him to join the guild. Hunter Hanul doesn't seem to have much intention of participating in guild activities anyway. But at the very least, we need to establish a cooperative relationship.”
“That’s what I’m saying, Kangwoo-bro. Sanarae and Aegis have already approached him! If we just stand by and do nothing, he’ll be snatched from right under our noses!”
Choi Kangwoo quietly glared at the fidgeting Yoon Suhyeok.
“…Ahem, well, this is for real.”
In the first place, about 80 percent of the reason this situation had arisen was because of the guild member in front of him, who wasn't living up to his handsome face.
If the Vice Guild Master showed such interest in a public setting, it was only natural that others would make a move, if only to keep them in check.
‘I don’t understand.’
What Choi Kangwoo knew about Kim Hanul was limited to what had already been said.
Just yesterday.
He had heard that Hanul had gone on a solo expedition to conquer the deep zone of the Garden of the Abyss.
To him, Kim Hanul was nothing more than a rookie hunter who had luckily been promoted to B-rank.
And one who had used the Pungbaek Guild’s weakness as an opportunity for his promotion.
‘In the first place, his claim to clear the deep zone is likely an empty promise. Even Suhyeok barely made it back alive just before the deep zone, and he’s saying he’ll clear it alone?’
In many ways, his actions inspired no confidence whatsoever.
Having reached a conclusion, Choi Kangwoo opened his mouth.
“Let’s just keep an eye on him, enough to keep Sanarae and Aegis in check. This discussion is over…”
It was at that moment.
*Drrrrt!*
The smartphone lying on the high-quality wooden desk vibrated.
It wasn't just Choi Kangwoo's phone that rang.
Yoon Suhyeok’s and Yoon Sua’s smartphones also rang.
Choi Kangwoo, who was the first to check the screen, narrowed his eyes.
[Request for Cooperation Regarding Dungeon Break - Hunter Association Management Headquarters]
‘A Dungeon Break?’
A Dungeon Break, or Dungeon Overload.
It refers to a situation where a dungeon’s interior collapses for some reason, causing monsters to pour out.
Unlike gate monsters, which do not venture beyond a certain area, monsters that emerge from a break rampage in a frenzied state.
Therefore, even a low-level dungeon, if it broke, could cause damage greater than a high-level gate.
“A sudden Dungeon Break? Which dungeon is it… huh?”
Yoon Suhyeok, who was scrolling through the message, widened his eyes.
And in place of the frozen Yoon Suhyeok and Yoon Sua, Choi Kangwoo muttered.
“…It’s the Garden of the Abyss.”
***
Sinlim Station, where the Garden of the Abyss was located, had been placed under civilian access control.
Choi Kangwoo, Yoon Sua, Yoon Suhyeok, and the dispatched members of the Pungbaek Guild arrived in a van provided by the Gangnam branch of the Dungeon Management Bureau.
A considerable number of other summoned hunters were also waiting there.
“You’ve arrived, Guild Master Choi Kangwoo.”
An official from the Management Bureau greeted them, constantly wiping away sweat.
“What’s the situation?”
“For now, we’ve only confirmed that the Garden of the Abyss has changed to a Red Pattern.”
Red Pattern.
It meant that the Management Bureau’s dungeon measurement system had detected a change in the ‘structure’ of the Garden of the Abyss.
Dungeons usually become distorted internally before they break.
The prevailing theory in academia was that monsters, confused by this process, would emerge in a frenzied state.
In other words, a Red Pattern was no different from a precursor to a Dungeon Break.
“I believe there are personnel currently in the middle of a raid.”
This time, it was Yoon Sua who asked.
Although her expression was calm, a sense of urgency could be felt in her voice.
The official shook his head with a dark expression.
“Yes. There are personnel who entered the dungeon around four o’clock yesterday afternoon. Eight hunters from the ‘Indomitable’ Guild and one unaffiliated hunter who entered individually. A pattern change was observed right after that, but it was at a minor level, so…”
“Were those hunters unable to get out?”
“That’s… correct. So far.”
“You should have acted as soon as the pattern change was observed. What are you doing now?”
Yoon Suhyeok shouted in an agitated voice.
“I apologize. It’s a bit ambiguous to define a Dungeon Break as being under our jurisdiction…”
“I understand. We’ll just have to monitor the situation from here.”
Choi Kangwoo cut him off.
He knew the Management Bureau’s way of doing things better than anyone.
It was obvious that even if he pressed further, they would just repeat the same words like a broken record.
For now, they had no choice but to wait for the dungeon to react.
“Hey, stop picking on the public servants. How were these folks supposed to know this would happen? Well, even if they did know, they probably would’ve done nothing anyway.”
Suddenly, a gruff voice came from the side.
A large man was laughing heartily.
Ma Dongpal, the Guild Master of Aegis.
Even Choi Kangwoo, who was nearly two meters tall, was a full head shorter than him.
He approached Choi Kangwoo, extended his hand, and said.
“Guild Master of Pungbaek! Well, well, it’s been a while. Last time we saw each other was at the Daegu Gate a year ago, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
Choi Kangwoo shook his hand with a smile.
The two men shaking hands resembled two beasts—a bear and a tiger, to be precise.
“Hey, a man in your position should take it easy once in a while. We’re gonna tear our pants trying to keep up with you.”
“I am simply fulfilling my duties as a Guild Master.”
“That stings a little. I’m doing my job as a guild master, too.”
“You misunderstand. That was not my intention.”
And into the space between the bear and the tiger, who were engaged in a slight war of nerves, a gentle voice interjected.
“Just as expected from the Pungbaek Guild Master. There’s a sense of ease in every word you say.”
A woman with languid eyes and a cat-like smile was laughing beside them.
“Guild Master Sanarae, you’re here as well.”
Choi Kangwoo released Ma Dongpal’s hand and bowed his head.
The Sanarae Guild Master.
Her real name was unknown.
The guild name ‘Sanarae’ itself was taken from the alias she used when she was active as a solo hunter.
Ma Dongpal looked at her and spoke.
“Well, look what we have here. To what do we owe the pleasure of seeing someone so hard to get a hold of?”
“Ah, I was actually just going to send Sowon and a few of the kids.”
Sanarae, covering her lips as she smiled, continued.
“But it turns out a rather interesting friend went inside, you see?”
“…”
“I just had a feeling. Ah, I can’t miss out on this.”
At those words, the faces of Ma Dongpal, Yoon Sua, and Yoon Suhyeok stiffened.
Choi Kangwoo, on the other hand, replied calmly.
“I am merely here to fulfill my duty as a legal guild. A B-rank Dungeon Break certainly has the potential to lead to a major disaster. Other than that, I have no other intentions.”
“Is that so? I came simply because I was curious about what might be happening inside that dungeon. To be precise, I’m curious if the talent the Pungbaek Guild has its eye on is still alive and well.”
“…”
A suffocating silence once again settled over them.
“Hmph, still an unpleasant one, I see. Anyway, it was good to see you, Pungbaek Guild Master. Let’s grab a drink sometime soon.”
Eventually, Ma Dongpal returned to where his guild members were waiting.
Sanarae gazed at Yoon Suhyeok and Yoon Sua, who were standing behind Choi Kangwoo.
“Right. Let’s set something up next time.”
“…”
“Oh, right. Let’s include the B-rank hunter who’s fighting for his life in there. We should all have a nice meal together. Just because we’re competitors doesn’t mean we have to tear each other down. Right?”
Sanarae spoke with a smile lingering on her face until the very end, then returned to her original spot.
As she disappeared, Yoon Suhyeok, who was behind him, opened his mouth.
“Hyung, you see that? This is how serious it is. We absolutely have to bring Kim Hanul…”
“Shut up.”
“Yes, sir.”
Just what kind of ridiculous ball had he set in motion?
Choi Kangwoo had realized it long ago.
Now that Yoon Suhyeok had publicly ‘approached’ him, the Pungbaek Guild could no longer back out of the competition for the hunter named Kim Hanul.
But even so, he hadn't expected to get entangled like this one after another.
‘This has gotten tiring.’
Now, one way or another, he had to talk to Kim Hanul.
Of course, that was a story for after he made it back alive from the Garden of the Abyss.
“Just a moment! There’s a reaction from the dungeon! It looks like a rift is opening!”
At that moment, an urgent voice rang out from the other side.
An official who was handling the dungeon measurement device installed beneath the Garden of the Abyss shouted.
“It’s not a Dungeon Break pattern!”
*Vwoom.*
Right next to the dungeon measurement device, a blue rift opened with a resonant hum.
“Huh… A person, it’s a person!”
“Medical team!”
From within, battered figures emerged, supported by another hunter.
In succession, six unconscious hunters were thrown out.
And a short while later.
After a brief medical check and situation assessment, the official returned to Choi Kangwoo and the other hunters.
“We have confirmed the survival of the hunters who entered around 4 o’clock yesterday.”
The hunters listened to the official’s words in silence.
“A total of eight survivors have been confirmed. The dungeon pattern is still red. The newly created rift is a one-way structure, so we cannot enter from our side. Until the pattern changes, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to wait here.”
Sanarae asked, twirling a strand of her shimmering black hair.
“I don’t mind waiting. But I thought there were nine people in the raid team.”
“Yes. There is one person who has not yet returned.”
Ma Dongpal asked while holding an 80-kilogram dumbbell in each hand.
“*Hoo,* who is it?”
“It is the unaffiliated hunter, Kim Hanul.”
“Is he dead?”
This time, it was Choi Kangwoo.
“No. According to… the survivors’ accounts.”
The official glanced at the three guild masters before continuing.
“Hunter Kim Hanul cleared the ‘Lake’ and chose not to return midway. He apparently proceeded directly to the ‘Deep Zone’.”
And then, the gazes of the three people present crossed.
***
“Gono, I don’t think a guild is the right fit after all.”
“Kiruk?”
The Garden of the Abyss.
I looked at Gono next to me and continued.
“I mean, I thought about it. It’s true I got information from Yoon Suhyeok.”
“Kiruk, keruk.”
The information Yoon Suhyeok had given me before the expedition.
Most of those so-called ‘hot tips’ became useless when the garden’s structure changed.
But not all of the tips had become trash.
[Please choose to either exit midway or enter the Deep Zone.]
I dismissed the flashing information window in front of me and submerged myself up to my neck in the warm water.
Ah, outdoor baths are the best, after all.
- *Whether you clear the main gate or the lake, you’ll find puddles or hot springs scattered around the field. If you see one, just get in right away.*
- *Hot springs? There are hot springs in a dungeon?*
- *Don’t ask, just get in. Wow, I’m even telling you this. It was my own secret tip.*
In conclusion, it really was the best tip.
[Agility permanently increases by 1.]
The six hot springs that appeared right after clearing the ‘Lake’.
If you soaked in them for 10 minutes, your stats would permanently increase once per spring.
And so, I enjoyed a hot spring bath for a total of an hour and managed to snag 6 stat points for free.
Relieving my fatigue and gaining stats at the same time.
What kind of insane profit was this?
“Anyway, it’s true that I got information. So I was thinking about joining Pungbaek a bit more positively.”
“Kiruk, keruk.”
“But no. You guys are all I need. You guys are my everything.”
“Kiruk…?”
Gono took off the cloth he had been using as a towel on his head.
And he stares at me intently.
But his expression is far from touched or anything of the sort.
If anything, he looked at me like a police officer watching a criminal being dragged away.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I don’t know why he’s acting like this.
It’s really because of my lovely monster friends.
Absolutely not.
[Challenger's Reward - All Stats +10, Contribution Reward Stats +5]
Because of bonus stats obtained through such unparalleled achievements.
[Hidden Mission Reward - You have acquired the High Priest's Dimensional Pouch.]
[High Priest's Dimensional Pouch - A-Grade]
[It appears to be an ordinary pouch on the outside, but inside, it contains the knowledge of an ancient god. Inside this pouch exists a subspace that can hold up to 100kg of items.]
Or because of miraculous items like this.
[List of items stored in the Dimensional Pouch - Lizardman's Heart, Lizardman's Hide x30, Lizardman's Blood x30 (Byproducts obtained as a hidden mission reward)]
Or because of money-making byproducts like these.
I’m telling you, it’s not because I want to monopolize everything!
“Kiruk…”
Gono turned his head away.