End of Peace
As expected of an S-rank! What's different is different! The Crimson Guild, run by an S-rank hunter, has evolved to another dimension compared to her A-rank guild master days!
I've worked with Crimson Guild a few times before? Even back then, I thought they treated us better than other guilds, but lately it's gotten even better.
Can't get too specific or I'll get flagged. Been A-rank for a while, but S-rank feels impossible. When will I make it? Just sighs.
"Hehehe."
A lazy afternoon, before her siblings got home from school. Cha Yaeun lay sprawled on the living room sofa, belly down, intently scrolling through Hunter Gal, letting out a sleazy laugh.
My diligent preaching has paid off.
Even without her activity—no, because she'd been temp-banned from the gallery—she couldn't post, but the community was bringing up Lebalheonda on its own.
That fact thrilled Cha Yaeun to no end. Lebalheonda, which had changed her life, was more than just a webnovel to her—it was practically her bible.
She wanted to share that masterpiece with others, have them recognize its joy and greatness. That's why she'd promoted it a bit excessively lately.
It had gotten her blocked, but it was worth it. Now, even without her promo, people were talking about Lebalheonda.
That made her truly happy. As a reader who loved Lebalheonda, sure, but she genuinely believed it was required reading for anyone in hunting or interested in it: I Became a Hunter Good at Leveling.
What happened to her could happen to anyone. The difference between knowing Lebalheonda and not was stark, so she had unshakable faith.
Thus, her zealous preaching was selfless, like volunteer work. She'd been bummed about the ban stopping that, but seeing Lebalheonda mentioned and read on its own in the gallery eased her mind.
But it feels a little bittersweet too.
Not that it was her own work. It had been popular and buzzing from the start, no need for her promo.
But seeing it gain this much fame stirred odd feelings as an early reader.
Still, it hasn't hit mainstream yet.
It was getting good buzz in hunter communities for various reasons, but that was just the internet frog well—a teacup typhoon. People without webnovel hobbies didn't even know Lebalheonda existed.
That reassured Cha Yaeun while making her wistful—a contradictory mix. She wanted the world to know and be saved by her fave novel Lebalheonda, but not too famous; just this level would be perfect.
A paradoxical worry: fame yes, but not too much.
"No matter how famous a webnovel gets, it's still just a webnovel, so this is probably it."
Even Nobel winners are known by name only, books bought but unread by most. A webnovel trending in hunter communities? Pfft, who cares, she chuckled, dropping the pointless thoughts.
"Time to prep dinner—"
Done with Hunter Gal, about to get ready to pick up her siblings, when the background TV channel blared an emergency broadcast.
Hearing that, Cha Yaeun's heart sank.
An emergency alert pinged simultaneously.
A Gate Break had happened.
It had been two years since Korea's last one. The vague belief that good gate management meant no more breaks shattered her peace.
But the real issue: the break location on the news.
"Ye-Yeonam-gu?"
Where her siblings' school was.
"No!"
She shot up with a scream-like shout. Worry drained the blood from her face.
But in crises like this, she had to stay sharp.
They'll be fine. Why else did I pay big bucks to get them into Yeonam High School?
In this era, no place was gate-free. Truly safe spots didn't exist, but relatively safe ones did: near hunter guild HQs or without high-risk gates.
Yeonam High School fit both, in Yeonam-gu—top choice for parents, fiercer competition than elite schools.
That's why Cha Yaeun slaved as a porter to send her siblings there.
So even with the break, they'd be safe. For a while, at least.
Not the time for this.
Sick of leaving family safety to others' hands. Cha Yaeun geared up to rush to Yeonam-gu.
Evac orders blocked civilians, but she was a hunter. Still F-rank pending re-exam, but F-ranks could volunteer, even if not mustered.
She threw on her coat, sprinting toward the break—her siblings' school.
Wait, kids! Big sis is coming!
Her gripped fists clenched tight, propelling her at breakneck speed toward Yeonam-gu.
Smart not to drive. Roads jammed worse near Yeonam-gu under evac—vehicles were last resort.
If only my ordered gear had arrived...!
Racing to Yeonam-gu, she suddenly remembered: monsters possible, and she was unarmed.
She'd scraped savings for proper hunter debut gear from a smithy, but it hadn't arrived.
Should've accepted that guild invite?
Late regret, but she shook her head, banishing it.
She'd vowed to follow the author's teachings, become a hunter like Kim Min. No distractions from anxiety.
Needing a weapon at least, she scanned around.
Ah... That, could use it like a halberd?
Spotting something handy: a "STOP" traffic sign.