Shall We Film a Movie?

The Hunter Management Department lounge. A large TV was playing the news. The content was none other than about Cheon Yooshin, who had single-handedly cleared a C-rank gate a few days ago. And the sound of sighs from the hunters belonging to the Hunter Management Department, gathered in the lounge, drowned out the TV.

"Haa... This is truly ridiculous."

"Clearing a C-rank alone... Hahaha... I'm speechless. Seriously."

"Are we even in the same department? We barely manage to clear D-rank gates, but that hunter..."

The hunters gave bitter smiles. On the TV, Cheon Yooshin’s achievements were being broadcasted continuously. It was as if it were a special feature on a great historical figure, starting from the past Sudden Gate incident. In contrast to his confident appearance on the screen, the complexions of the hunters watching the TV gradually darkened. The atmosphere sank so low that the air felt heavy.

"They say the Hunter Management Department was revived thanks to Cheon Yooshin, but why don't I feel that good about it?"

At someone's mutter, the hunters began to vent their frustrations one by one.

"You feel that way too? Me too."

"Actually, Cheon Yooshin did all the uncleared dungeons this month. All we're doing is scavenging the gates Cheon Yooshin already finished."

They were human. Naturally, they couldn't help but feel jealousy. It was when jealousy and frustration were mixed in their eyes that—

Clack.

The door opened, and Baek Woohyun, Joo Jowoon, and Yoon Heewon appeared. Their entire bodies were drenched in sweat. It was because they had just finished sparring a moment ago.

"What is it? Why ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is the atmosphere so down, brothers?"

Joo Jowoon's voice rang in their ears. Then, suddenly, Joo Jowoon's gaze turned to the news.

"Ah..."

Yoon Heewon also closed her mouth after seeing the TV. Baek Woohyun as well. When silence flowed between them for a moment, Joo Jowoon said.

"Ugh! Let's go eat. I'm hungry. So hungry!"

"Y, yeah, let's."

As if trying to lift the sunken atmosphere, the hunters also stood up one by one. The place they arrived at was a Korean restaurant near the Hunter Management Department. When they were about to return to the Hunter Management Department after eating lunch at the restaurant, a girl who looked to be about 6 or 7 years old pointed at them with her hand and said.

"Mom! Aren't those uncles the Hunter Management Department uncles?"

The woman called Mom opened her eyes wide as she looked at them.

"Oh, you're right? That's right. Jiyoung. They are hunters from the Hunter Management Department."

"Wow! That's amazing!"

The innocence typical of a young child was full in the child's eyes. The hunters from the Hunter Management Department also smiled at the child. At the same time, they shrugged their shoulders. Because they were proud to belong to the Hunter Management Department. But that didn't last long.

"But where is Uncle Cheon Yooshin? I want to see that uncle!"

At the word Cheon Yooshin, their faces stiffened. Even Baek Woohyun's.

Yoon Heewon, who was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠next to him, forced a smile and touched the child's hair.

"Oh dear, what do we do? Uncle Cheon Yooshin is currently on vacation."

"Yes? What is a vacation?"

"Yes, it's when adults rest at home."

"Eh?! Then he's not here?"

"Yes, what should we do?"

"Hey, what is this! Mom! I want to see Uncle Cheon Yooshin. Waaaaah!"

The child soon shed tears like chicken droppings and threw a tantrum. Seeing that, the hunters from the Hunter Management Department couldn't help but look at each other and give awkward smiles. In truth, they were embarrassed. The cheers they received while wearing their uniforms were not cheers sent to them. They were cheers sent to Hunter Cheon Yooshin. Their shoulders, which had been raised high, sagged.

And Team Leader Park Hae-soo, who happened to see that scene from afar. His face was somewhat stiff.

'I wasn't qualified to be a team leader.'

A team leader should take care of both lacking employees and talented employees equally. But he was currently putting all his effort into Hunter Cheon Yooshin. In a way, it was natural. Compared to the dozens of them, the existence of one Cheon Yooshin was so great that it couldn't even be compared. While ignoring the hunters who had protected the Hunter Management Department previously.

#

While the world's attention was focused on him, Yooshin was looking at the item he had obtained at home.

A description that couldn't be more unhelpful.

"Good grief, what on earth is this."

Nevertheless, Yooshin fiddled with the King Slime's core with his hand. Even when he opened his Ghost Eye, he couldn't see inside at all. If he hadn't extracted the core from the King Slime himself, and if the item window hadn't popped up, it would be fine to just think of it as jelly.

As soon as he got home, he searched HunterNet, but no one mentioned monster cores themselves. Well, perhaps that was natural. To hunters, monster cores were just objects to be destroyed. Even Yooshin would have naturally destroyed it if it hadn't been for his whim at that time. Just as he had always done until now.

"So what on earth are those special conditions!"

He could at least open it if they gave him some kind of clue. Special conditions. It was a description that was truly suspicious. However, he couldn't just hold onto it without knowing the answer right away.

"Keep it for now."

If he kept it, he would find the answer someday. As Yooshin lightly put the slime core into his inventory, someone visited Yooshin's house. It was Park Hae-soo.

The two sat with a table between them.

"What's the matter?"

Cheon Yooshin, sipping coffee, was currently on special vacation as a reward for clearing the C-rank gate. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Park Hae-soo's expression was cautious.

"Well, it's not that, but I came to ask for a favor. Hunter."

Just how great a favor was he going to ask to be in such a serious mode? At his expression, Cheon Yooshin straightened his seat.

"What is it? Let's hear it first and decide."

Park Hae-soo, who swallowed his saliva once, opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

"What do you think of the hunters belonging to our Hunter Management Department?"

"What do you mean what do I think. I think they're very pathetic. I wonder what kind of monsters they're going to catch being that weak."

Park Hae-soo's mouth was bitter. It wasn't like that before. But now, Cheon Yooshin's words were not wrong. That's why he came to this place.

"Couldn't you raise them a little?"

Yooshin blinked his eyes.

"Raise what? Are hunters game characters? To be raised or not?"

However. He felt it in this incident. No, he felt it recently. That more and more D-rank gates were being created. Now, the frequency of E-rank gate appearances was almost non-existent. Furthermore, even the C-rank gate that appeared this time. As time passed, higher-grade gates would appear. Even so, he didn't have multiple bodies, so he couldn't chase them around forever. Moreover, this place was Earth, not the Abyss. It was the place where his mother and sister lived. He didn't want to make such a place like the Abyss where monsters ran around. So, if he wasn't going to run around for the rest of his life. He had to raise people. Should he call them his limbs, for instance?

"Please. Hunter."

Team Leader Park Hae-soo stood up and bowed his waist at a right angle. To the point where the top of Team Leader Park Hae-soo's head could be seen in the eyes of Cheon Yooshin, who was sitting. Yooshin shook his head and opened his mouth.

"Good grief, did you even talk to the hunters there?"

"...Th, that's not yet."

Embarrassment flashed on Team Leader Park Hae-soo's face for a moment.

"Eh? Really? Then you didn't even reach an agreement and came directly to me? Team Leader, you too. You're unexpectedly reckless."

Should he make them strong only after they bow down first, or not? But I propose it to them first? Nonsense. When the words of refusal were about to flow from Yooshin's mouth.

Ding-dong!

Someone was standing in front of the door.

'No, it's not one person?'

Dozens of people were being caught in Yooshin's Ki sense.

#

"What kind of nonsense is this! Don't you know who I am? I'm Kang Minho, the only A-rank hunter in South Korea! And what? Where am I going? The military? How much have I done for you in the meantime! I'm not going! No, I can't go!"

The place where he was, was the Daehyun Guild office. And in front of him was Kim Heon-tae, who was serving as the guild leader.

"Hey, do you know how much damage the guild has suffered because of you? You wiped out all the kids who went in there, and that's what you're saying?"

"Haa... Heon-tae hyung! I'm Kang Minho! And I'm going to the military?! Does that make sense?"

Kang Minho's eyes turned red as if he were aggrieved. Seeing that, Kim Heon-tae let out a deep sigh.

'It's hard to control one brat.'

If he hadn't been A-rank, he would have already been kicked out more than 10 times. Truly, except for the ability of being a hunter, there was nothing to see. But unlike his inner thoughts, Kim Heon-tae coaxed him.

"Public opinion is bad right now. Are you not going to live in Korea? Anyway, if you enlist as a hunter, you only stay for 6 months. Just think of it as resting and go."

"Ah, I'm going crazy, seriously!!"

However, there was nothing Kang Minho could do. His hunter rank was A-rank, but the reason he could come this far was because of the full-scale support of the Daehyun Group. No matter how much Kang Minho was, he couldn't turn his back on that. Besides, it was the Daehyun Group and the guild leader in front of him who knew all his secrets.

"Hyung, should I just get US citizenship? I'm getting a lot of contacts anyway. If I stay quiet for a few years, wouldn't they forget?"

"You crazy bastard. You might never be able to return to Korea if you do that."

"I'm a hunter. A hunter. And an A-rank one at that! If I can't return to Korea, it's their loss, is it my loss?"

Kang Minho said while spitting shamelessly.

'This crazy bastard. Seriously. Does he still think he's irreplaceable?'

Although it was because of the monster's compatibility, Cheon Yooshin had already cleared the gate that Kang Minho couldn't clear. And he cleared the C-rank gate alone in less than a few hours. It was already an established fact in the media and the hunter world that Cheon Yooshin had surpassed Kang Minho. So, the Kang Minho of the past and the Kang Minho of now were strictly different.

"Haa... Go to the military, Minho. This is something I'm saying as a hyung who has lived a few years longer than you."

Korea is particularly sensitive to military issues. Even if he gets over it for now, it's a bomb like an active volcano that doesn't know when it will explode. So, it's a better strategy to go as soon as he can.

When Kang Minho, who eventually couldn't finish the conversation, was leaving the guild building while panting. Reporters who were waiting around rushed at him all at once and shouted.

"Hunter Kang Minho! Just a moment!"

"Please take a question!"

"It will only take a moment. Just a moment!"

"I will ask just one question."

In an instant, microphones and cameras were thrust into his face. Kang Minho was annoyed, but he forced a smile.

"Hahaha, you're working hard in this scorching sun. What are you curious about?"

Then, the reporters shouted again in unison.

"It's noisy about Kang Minho's military service issue these days, what do you think?"

"Do you have any plans to go to the military? Do you have any?"

"It's even on the national petition! Hunter Kang Minho! Are you going to enlist?!"

'These reporter bastards!'

Anger filled his eyes, but he suppressed it with effort. Because there's nothing good about being hated by reporters. Maintaining maximum calmness, Kang Minho opened his mouth.

"Hahaha, well. I don't have any concrete plans at the moment, but I will do my best for the country and the people."

"Then are you going to enlist?"

This son of a bitch! People who aren't even worth a punch keep clinging to him. But he had to endure it. Only then did the security guards who came out of the guild building hurriedly pull Kang Minho away from the reporters. Questions poured out toward Kang Minho, but he started ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠walking quickly toward the vehicle waiting for him with a stiff face. While clenching his fists until they were crushed.

#

The hunters including Baek Woohyun who returned to the Hunter Management Department took their seats in the lounge in heavy silence. The air was heavy. Everyone was lost in thought with complex expressions, unable to utter a word. At that time, Team Leader Baek Woohyun slowly stood up. The gazes naturally gathered on him.

"We can't just stay down like this. Right?"

"Team Leader, do you have any clever plan?"

Yoon Heewon also stood up. Expectation and doubt crossed in her eyes.

"We are the Hunter Management Department. Hunter Cheon Yooshin is also the Hunter Management Department."

"But he doesn't even show his face except for that time. He doesn't even greet us when he makes eye contact with us."

Dissatisfaction was evident in Yoon Heewon's voice. Other hunters also nodded as if agreeing with her.

"Isn't that because we didn't greet him first?"

In fact, they hadn't even shared an eye greeting even after seeing Cheon Yooshin all this time.

"Maybe we were subconsciously avoiding him."

In fact, Cheon Yooshin was a rolling stone. From the perspective of the embedded stone, they might have been jealous of him, who was receiving all the attention within the Hunter Management Department. At Baek Woohyun's words, shame flashed on the hunters' faces for a moment.

"We have to change first. Now Cheon Yooshin will become a hunter famous in the world, not the Hunter Management Department. No, he has already performed such tremendous activities that there is no one who doesn't know him. As time goes by, the gap between him and us will widen significantly like heaven and earth."

"That's right! Team Leader!"

Zeal filled Joo Jowoon's eyes. Baek Woohyun looked at him, then scanned the hunters.

"The work we have to do is not to keep Cheon Yooshin in check, but rather to learn from him. His strength is beyond understanding. If we follow his back, wouldn't we be standing next to him someday?"

At Baek Woohyun's words, the hunters shouted cheers and joined in with voices full of zeal.

"That's right. Team Leader!"

"Let's go quickly!"

"Let's run to Hunter Cheon Yooshin's house!"

#

"Oh, were you expecting guests?"

When Park Hae-soo asked Yooshin at the doorbell, Yooshin shook his head.

"The tail is long."

"Yes?"

Park Hae-soo was bewildered by the incomprehensible words. Seeing that, Yooshin smirked.

"Just open the door."

"Ah, I understand."

When Park Hae-soo opened the entrance door, the faces that could be seen. Baek Woohyun, Joo Jowoon, Yoon Heewon, and even other hunters belonging to the Hunter Management Department. The front of the door was full.

"Ah, no, how did you get here?"

By any chance, are they trying to commit insubordination? No, is it not insubordination? Then, are they trying to ambush? It wasn't just Park Hae-soo who was surprised.

"Team Leader, why are you here?"

"Whoa, why are you here. Team Leader?"

"You said you were busy. You haven't even shown your face lately, were you playing here?"

Playing, that I'm playing! Even without that, how much hair falls out every time I wash my hair these days because of stress! But it's an absolute secret that his hair is falling out.

"I had a meeting for a moment..., come in."

Because there were dozens of people, Park Hae-soo only let 3 people in. Only Baek Woohyun, Joo Jowoon, and Yoon Heewon.

"What is it? Suddenly."

Cheon Yooshin, who was looking at them while leaning on his back even though guests had arrived. Baek Woohyun, who had been watching without saying anything for a while, slowly bowed his waist.

"Please. Make us strong."

"...Did you two plot something and come? Why are you like this from the morning, seriously?"

Yoon Heewon, who was next to him, asked back.

"Plot something? What do you mean by that?"

"No, Team Leader Park Hae-soo suddenly visits and asks to raise you guys strongly, and the guy who was beaten like a dog last time suddenly comes and asks to be made strong."

"R, really, Team Leader?"

Yoon Heewon's eyes widened. Even recently, it was difficult to meet Team Leader Park Hae-soo. Because he was almost all-in on him to the point of being called Cheon Yooshin's personal secretary. So it was true that she felt sad inside. But he came to ask to raise them strongly?

It was then.

"But why should I raise you guys strongly?"

A terribly cold tone. Yoon Heewon said without realizing it.

"W, we are family in the same department!"

"Family? Why don't you go home and say such sentimental words?"

Yoon Heewon's face turned pale.

"Hy, Hyung-nim."

It was Joo Jowoon.

"When did I see this young brat to call me Hyung-nim?"

"So, sorry."

"Family? There's no such thing. Only strength exists. A monster is opening its mouth in front of your eyes, are you going to look for family? If you want to become strong, try hard yourself. Don't think about leaning on someone. Where are you trying to get a free ride?"

"..."

The reason Yooshin is strong. It was the result of crawling and climbing up from the bottom in the Abyss.

"Now get lost. It makes me lose my appetite from the morning. Am I going to be a nanny at this age?"

At his words, everyone's gaze turned to his face. A face full of vitality typical of someone in their 20s could be seen. Yoon Heewon muttered without realizing it.

"No, we're the same age, what are you talking about?"

"Heewon."

As Baek Woohyun said quietly, Yoon Heewon closed her mouth.

"Is it really impossible?"

Baek Woohyun's desperate voice.

"Yes. It's impossible."

Cheon Yooshin's extremely rude voice contrasted strangely. Joo Jowoon grabbed Yoon Heewon, who was about to get angry. A strange silence.

"Team Leader, if you've said everything you have to say, let's go out now. So I can sleep a little more."

It was when Cheon Yooshin, who had stood up, turned his back.

Thud.

Huh? What is that sound? Cheon Yooshin turned his back again. And he could see. Baek Woohyun kneeling on both knees.

"Te, Team Leader!"

"Team Leader! What are you doing now!"

Joo Jowoon and Yoon Heewon also seemed embarrassed by Baek Woohyun's sudden action and stuttered. But Baek Woohyun just looked up at Cheon Yooshin and opened his mouth.

"Hunter Cheon Yooshin. I won't look for family. I will only look for strength. I won't think about leaning on you. But we want to grow as hunters. If your advice and our desperation are combined, we will do anything. Please, I beg you."

At that sight, the scene became solemn.

'This bastard.'

He saw it last time, but he is particularly obsessed with strength. He had an image that his pride would be high, too. For the sake of strength, he threw away his pride and prostrated himself like a dog. When the rest of the people were at a loss and stomping their feet, Yooshin smirked.

"Why on earth do you want to become that strong?"

He was curious about the reason.

"I want to protect people from monsters."

Yooshin stared at his eyes quietly.

'...This is real?'

If you live for 400 years, there are things you realize naturally. Insight into whether the other person is telling the truth or lying is one of them. Cheon Yooshin was silent for a moment, and Baek Woohyun was also silent. And the people behind him as well.

How much time had passed?

"Are you confident you won't regret it?"

At those words, strength entered Baek Woohyun's eyes.

"I am confident I won't regret it even if I die."

At those words, Cheon Yooshin, who had been giggling, straightened his face.

"I'll make you regret saying that."

His gaze turned to Team Leader Park Hae-soo.

"Team Leader, do you know any small, isolated island in the middle of the sea?"

"Th, the island, why?"

Why is he suddenly looking for an island? Cheon Yooshin sat back down on his seat.

"You asked me to raise you strongly, didn't you? Surely you don't mean that nonsense about raising you strongly in such a place with good air and good living conditions? You should say it's not."

"Ah, no, of course not."

Why is that? Suddenly, cold sweat is forming on his back.

"Shall we film a movie? The genre is horror? Or thriller? Why, you said you wouldn't regret it even if you die."

A smile like a devil's began to hang on Cheon Yooshin's lips.