Friends and Uninvited Guests
While driving Seoya back to the Neverending Guild Building, Kwon Yooseok, with his ever-present smile, struck up a conversation.
"Mind if I make a proposal?"
"What is it?"
"How about joining BlackPen Guild? Even just on paper would be fine."
"Nah."
It was a given—Seoya had no reason to be tied down by guilds or the like. Guilds existed to efficiently distribute dungeons and supply items for greater profits, and for Earth's hunters to fight large numbers of monsters more safely. But this system itself was beneath Seoya; there was no reason for her to join an organization made by Earthlings.
"I have zero interest in guilds."
"Yeah? Hold on, just wait a sec…."
Kwon Yooseok made a thoughtful hum, snapping his fingers out of habit.
"Just tell me what you're thinking."
Growing impatient, Seoya spoke bluntly, and Kwon Yooseok chuckled as he replied.
"Give me a moment—I'm trying to figure out some way to get tangled up with you…."
"…With what?"
"With you."
"Uh…."
Seoya had never been outmatched in raw power, but dealing with someone this shameless and silver-tongued was always tricky. If she let her guard down even a little, she'd get swept up in his pace.
Soon, Kwon Yooseok spoke again.
"Alright, let's shift to something more human…. Wanna be friends?"
"Friends?"
It was a somewhat unfamiliar word. Seoya had grown up in the Pioneer Headquarters on Toda from the moment her memories began. Surrounded by adults all older than her, she'd always been treated like a child or little sister—friends had never even crossed her mind.
So, even knowing Kwon Yooseok was deliberately closing in, Seoya decided to play along just this once because the word itself appealed to her.
"Sure."
"You're full of weird quirks the more I look at you, huh?"
Even as he teased her straightforward acceptance, Kwon Yooseok extended his hand. Seoya shook it. Her pale hand rested atop his, cold like a reptile's.
Friendship sealed.
Before Seoya got out of the car in front of the Neverending Guild Building, Kwon Yooseok said,
"See ya. Had fun today."
"What was fun about it?"
Seoya gave him a puzzled look. Entering the dungeon? Killing the snake?
Seeing her baffled expression, Kwon Yooseok smiled.
"'Cause I learned something new today."
"What?"
"I thought from your photos you were some innocent kid who grew up all sweet and stumbled into power by chance. Turns out you're a baby predator."
"Is that an insult?"
Her eyes turned icy at the word "baby."
"Dunno—feels like a compliment to me~?"
"Seoya."
"Ah, looks like it's time for me to head in."
Park Haejun called her name as he came down from the office entrance, and Kwon Yooseok waved lazily before getting back in the car.
"Catch you later. We're friends now, after all."
"…Yeah."
After Kwon Yooseok left, Park Haejun, who had just arrived at Seoya's side, eyed the spot where he'd been with suspicion.
"Hunter Kwon Yooseok… I just can't bring myself to trust him. Please be careful around him, Seoya."
"He didn't seem like a bad guy. A bit… weird, sure."
"That's exactly it. Kwon Yooseok doesn't care about means or methods—he's not someone you can ever trust."
It was uncharacteristically intense from Park Haejun. From what Seoya had seen, he had high walls when it came to people, meaning he rarely showed outright dislike. Even with Baek Yena or Ji Sein, he'd laugh it off and keep things smooth. He seemed to dislike Go Heejae a bit, but pretty much every hunter did.
Suddenly, Seoya recalled Baek Yena's sharp attitude toward Kwon Yooseok that morning.
"Kwon Yooseok on bad terms with Neverending Guild?"
"Well…."
Park Haejun hesitated awkwardly before steeling himself.
"Hunter Kwon Yooseok… most top hunters don't like him. BlackPen Guild collects info on hunters in such shady ways."
"Who was the guild master again?"
Seoya rummaged through her memory of what she'd seen online.
"Ranking 13th, Hunter Pyeon Sihu."
"Right."
"Not someone Seoya needs to worry about. Kwon Yooseok represents BlackPen more than the guild master does."
"Go Heejae seems on bad terms with other hunters too."
"Yeah, he's just unlikeable."
Park Haejun said it so naturally that Seoya nodded along. Yeah, he did seem annoying.
"But isn't Yena unnie on bad terms with others too?"
"…Can't help it when Baek Yena Hunter picks fights first."
"…What about that Gwak Mansu guy?"
"Hunter Gwak Mansu doesn't actively make enemies, but… he's rough, so hunters don't really try to get close."
Seoya's face fell. Were there any normal top hunters out there?
Realizing how it sounded like all hunters had rotten personalities, Park Haejun cleared his throat and added,
"Hunter Na Seonghyeon… he's sociable, so he's the most well-connected among the top ranks and gets along best with others."
'He seemed pretty crazy when I saw him.'
So basically, no normal ones. Seoya's expression soured further.
Not long after returning from the dungeon with Kwon Yooseok, on a peaceful afternoon, Seoya was lounging on the sofa inside the Neverending Guild Building, legs swinging as she munched on snacks.
Until the sudden commotion outside.
"G-Guild Master! You need to come see this!"
"What is it?"
Lee Gayeon rose with a cold glare at the voice right outside the door. She'd told everyone to be extra vigilant today since Seoya was here.
As she sighed and headed out,
"Hunter Lee Gayeon~! Can I come in?"
A bouncy girl's voice came from beyond the door. Park Haejun, in the corner, gave it a suspicious look.
"That voice… no way."
"What are they doing here?"
Lee Gayeon strode to the door and shoved back the forehead of whoever was trying to enter as it swung open.
"What business do you have here? No prior appointment. Should I call Yena or Sein?"
"Ah~ We're not here for them today~."
The one who'd been pushed slipped nimbly inside through the gap. Black curly hair, big dark eyes. A girl who didn't look much older than Seoya—high school age, maybe?
"Ah, you're Seoya, right?!"
The girl beamed at Seoya with her bouncy voice.
Seoya, mid-snack, quietly set the bag on the table.
"Are you insane?"
Lee Gayeon's face twisted into a scowl, her tone turning fierce.
"Sorry for barging in like this, Guild Master Lee Gayeon. But we have something to say."
A taller, older-looking guy entered next, walking more steadily than the girl.
"What kind of rudeness is this? Looking for a real fight? Itching to restart the guild wars?"
Lee Gayeon slammed the door shut, showing rare anger in front of Seoya.
"This was rude, even by our standards. But… we had to meet Seoya in person this time."
The man glanced at Seoya as he spoke.
"We knew you'd hide her away if we just asked."
Seoya had no clue what was going on. Feeling like the only one out of the loop, she froze on the sofa.
The girl, ignoring Lee Gayeon's fury, chattered on.
"Hi, Seoya! Sooo happy to meet you! I'm So Euneung! Ranking 9th hunter and vice guild master of Asteroid Guild! And this is my bro, So Eunsu—ranking 8th, our guild master…."
"Euneung, calm down. You're freaking Seoya out."
So Eunsu covered the mouth of So Euneung, who was rapping her intro like a machine gun.
'Asteroid Guild?'
Seoya knew the name. One of Korea's top five guilds: Neverending, WithYou, BlackPen, SnowPine, and the one she hadn't met yet—Asteroid.
'Guild master ranking 8th, So Eunsu. Vice master 9th, So Euneung.'
The famous So siblings in the hunter world stood before her. They seemed convinced the girl on the sofa was the "Ranking 0th Seoya."
No point hiding it now. Lee Gayeon sighed deeply, pinching her forehead.
"Too late for secrets. Get to the point. Right now, in front of us."
Park Haejun had moved behind her, eyes cold.
"I don't know why Asteroid Guild's duo is here, but if it's something trivial, we can respond after hearing it."
"Psh, you can't do anything right now anyway~!"
So Euneung showed no fear in the tense air. She was right, actually. Lee Gayeon and Park Haejun were Neverending's master and vice—top dogs alongside WithYou in Korea. More experienced, battle-hardened "national heroes" than the underage So Euneung or young So Eunsu.
But rankings 8th and 9th outranked them. No clear advantage either way—just warnings they could exchange.