Seo Dami, the Crimson Guild's Witch Who Turns Calamity into Triumph
Seo Dami, the Crimson Guild's witch who turns calamity into triumph. The guild master of Crimson Guild. A big sis whose fiery red hair burned as vividly as her guild's name. The strongest fire-attribute caster on the cusp of S-rank. A star hunter famous enough that seven out of ten Koreans knew her for both her skills and her beauty.
But she had one peculiar hobby that didn't quite fit. Logging into Hunter Gallery under the high-nick SweetStrawberryPudding and being quite active there. Even among the gallery's resident ghosts, she was a name like "Soon-to-Turn-Blue Guy" or "Pre-Halcas-Wiper." How could the master of one of Korea's top guilds have a hobby like messing around on internet communities? With looks that screamed she'd be elegantly listening to classical music, she was a community haunt. Naturally, she kept it hidden for the guild's reputation—a hobby known only to a select few.
Of course, she herself was shameless about it and wanted to go all out, posting openly without a care. But it wasn't that simple. Even when close acquaintances nagged her to quit the gallery, she'd shoot back, "What's the problem? I do my work and browse during breaks."
Deep into the night. Even now, in the bathroom, she savored a bubble bath while chugging expensive wine straight from the bottle, scrolling the gallery on her phone.
"Hm...?"
Then, a certain post caught her eye.
A friend said to check it out before becoming a hunter, so I started reading. It's fun as hell. Got hooked and noticed something interesting.
Remember the Blood Demon capture a while back? Thought this novel copied it since there's a similar episode. Turns out it was the opposite. Novel came first, then the Blood Demon bust.
What is this? Holy pilgrimage vibes?
Seeing that, Seo Dami muttered absentmindedly.
"Blood Demon."
As an industry insider—no, the face of Korea's hunter world—it bugged her a bit.
Come to think of it, that incident's MVP mentioned something about a novel? Could that be... this gallery bait right now?
Logically, it was coincidence, as expected. But it nagged at her anyway. Not like she sensed something mystical from the novel—just as a gallery high-nick, how could she ignore the hot webnovel topic?
Should I check it out?
Even if coincidence, if it tied to capturing an A-rank wanted villain on Korean soil, no harm in reading.
Decision made, Seo Dami tossed a random comment on the gallery then navigated her smartphone to the webnovel.
"Where is it..."
Expecting another cringy hunter protag story that'd make her toes curl, she pre-loaded a smirk and dove in.
But her expectations shattered spectacularly.
"This is fun?"
In a good way. She'd had zero hopes. Webnovels were just time-killers, and disappointments outnumbered the hits.
But Lebalheonda was different. Nothing like the existing stuff. No celebrity fanfic vibes—this was genuinely entertaining.
Seo Dami found herself hooked on that hard-to-define hunter genre charm.
But nothing's perfect. At the hidden piece and Steel Guild episodes, she clicked her tongue.
Author's never been in a guild, huh.
Where's a massive guild like that in the world? Sure, places that blur guild and mobster lines could pull that crap. The world's big; corrupt guilds exist.
But Steel Guild was portrayed as Crimson Guild-scale. No group that size pulls shit like that. At least, Seo Dami was convinced, so she chalked it up to dramatic flair for the story.
"An F-rank hunter pulling that off while the guild just stands there like suckers? Pfft!"
Classic genre trope, she thought, reading on—then her eyes widened.
Is this... me?
The newly introduced heroine Hayunha felt modeled after her. Fire user, and plenty of "that's like me" vibes.
Self-indulgent? Maybe, but with her fame, novels had shoehorned her in name-changed plenty. Not weird to think it.
In truth, no. Just a clichéd fire heroine archetype. Yoon Sungjin hadn't thought of Seo Dami.
But once released, a work belongs to readers' interpretations.
"Heh...?"
Brushing off the "me-modeled character" as she skimmed, an intriguing line jumped out.
"Burning the concept of injury away to heal...?"
Lightning struck her mind.
A-rank on S-rank's doorstep. Three years since she'd heard that. Confidence she'd ascend quickly had faded to anxiety. Everything maxed—skill, mana, talent—yet stuck at A.
S-rank's wall was high, S special. Amid expectations and self-disappointment, she suffered inwardly.
Then, an unexpected clue from a webnovel.
"Flames that burn even concepts..."
F to A growth is output, technique, firepower. S is different. Special. Indescribable. Those who'd reached it called it shedding a dimensional shell, transcending.
Hard to guide; must self-enlighten. Every A-rank seeks their path to S—no formula.
"This is it."
Who'd guess enlightenment from a webnovel?
"With this, I can reach S-rank—the realm."
Entranced, she stared at her phone. Now, Lebalheonda was her manual, Hayunha her master.
Raw power boosts weren't enough. Flames burning concepts—befitting S.
[Guild Master!]
Perfect timing shattered by a buzzkill shout. Familiar voice barging in uninvited.
Her secretary's urgent cry twisted Seo Dami's face, mid-ecstasy from her revelation.
"Haa..."
Obvious without asking. Big guild trouble.
She wanted to shut eyes and ears, lock into her world—but guild master duties forbade it.
"Every damn time, wanna chuck this guild master hat."
Irritated, she rose from the tub, yelling.
"Coming out now—wait!"
Rinsed bubbles, vaporized water in a flash, donned a robe, exited the bathroom.
"What is it?"
Her secretary always respected privacy, even in crises. Barging in unannounced? Borderline illegal trespass.
Unless a damn good reason, beloved secretary or not, she'd show why "witch." A refreshingly vicious smile, anger turning to eerie calm.
Fresh off S-clue epiphany, interrupted deep thought—fair to rage.
"Well, actually..."
Secretary apologized profusely for ruining her healing time, cautiously explained.
Hearing it, Seo Dami understood the rudeness.
"...Haha."
Dazed, she let out hollow laugh, slicked back wet hair, growled.
"Full assembly."
That late night, Crimson Guild HQ blazed till dawn on emergency muster.
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"So—while two mystery porters took point, Crimson Guild elites just sucked their thumbs?"
Seo Dami's icy voice echoed in the guild master's office.
"W-We did provide support, at least..."
"That's thumb-sucking!"
More she heard, more her rage boiled. Mana rippled, hair floating wildly.
Facing max-fury Seo Dami, the reporting secretary abandoned defense, fearing splash damage.
"You all wanna get fucked over?"
Shieldless, Crimson's first-stringers faced her wrath head-on.
"Veterans out injured? Fine. But the prized rookie 'ace prospects'? All morale bread, shaking like leaves!"
Truthfully, her fury wasn't just damaged pride from incompetence.
It was their spineless mentality on-site.
"Still in training—"
"Over a month in! Past time to settle and pull weight—especially aces!"
Defenders shut up at her roar.
"Am I asking too much? That's not an 'ace'!"
Expensive recruits hyped as future core forces, cowering while F-ranks stalled A-rank monsters.
Crimson Guild name attached! Infuriating.
How not one rookie stepped up...
Seo Dami rubbed her temple, thirsting for talent she'd not feel if Lee Seoryul joined Crimson pre-regression.
"Hah, whatever. Water under bridge. Care for injured, clear the gate ASAP."
Finders keepers in gates—comes responsibility. No hidden piece, just hidden boss. Crimson stepped in pure shit.
Still—not worst case.
Reports showed mass deaths unsurprising, yet only injuries. Thanks to mystery experts.
Wanted to recruit, but identity hidden, vanished traceless. No clue who.
Fine, chicken over pheasant—that F-rank time-staller...
Potential noted, and her grit charmed Seo Dami. Valued mindset over raw strength, so post-rookie flop, drawn to porter Cha Yaeun.
Stalled A-rank with support? Limbs intact? Unbroken spirit?
To recover from this blunder, can't miss her.
Good timing. Found a gem, ditched false hopes in bubbly rookies.
Perfect for culling deadweight, reforming guild.
Decision made, she stood.
"Ready in one hour. Time to clean shit."
And test something. Her novel-gleaned S-rank clue.
That powerhouse monster cornering elites? Perfect lab rat.
And that day,
"This is my new flame...!"
Korea's third S-rank hunter was born.