Leveling Up the Escort Team

After sending the escort team home and returning to his dorm, Park Taemin admired his newly acquired loot. Recalling the final battle, he opened his skill window.

"Now that I know what this skill does, time to master it."

The next day, after finishing the morning meeting, Taemin was pondering over one particular document.

"Average level 70. Rather than material rewards, growth will help them more. They won't have time for hunting on their own anyway."

Having made up his mind, Taemin summoned the escort team members to his office via call.

A short while later, they began filing into his room one by one.

"Have a seat over there."

At Taemin's words, the hunters took their seats one after another.

"Do you know why I called you all here?"

At his question, the hunters exchanged glances. They all looked puzzled, but as courtesy demanded a response to the section chief's query, team leader Lee Sung-ho answered uncertainly.

"Uh... to go hunting, right?"

"That's part of it. But I gathered you all like this to repay you for tirelessly supporting me without proper sleep."

The hunters wore expressions of confusion at Taemin's words. Why repay us for doing our duty?

Watching them, Taemin continued.

"From what I see, you've all been active as escort team members here for over six months. Yet your levels haven't changed much since you first joined. And that's only natural—escort teams are excluded even from the departmental group hunts every two weeks. Weekends are your only real free time, but with such grueling shifts, it's hard to go hunting then too. You need rest. So I've thought it over: from now on, the escort team will join ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠departmental group hunts. And separately, I want to set aside time once a week to hunt with you all."

"Pardon? What do you mean by..."

"Simply put, I'll help you level up."

"Everyone grows at the same pace, but it wouldn't be fair if you alone fell behind, and you've worked so hard. Don't worry about it—just go with it."

"We're grateful for your consideration, Section Chief, but..."

"I've already reported it to Chief of Staff Kim Hwan, so don't worry about the formalities. Besides, it doesn't make sense for an escort team protecting a section chief who raids upper dungeons to be at this level."

Upon reflection, Taemin's words rang true. It was absurd for level 60-70 hunters to guard a section chief who frequented upper dungeons. Even the personnel department's escorts, with their lower levels, exceeded 80.

Taemin's thoughtfulness began to stir the hunters' emotions, soon spilling out in trembling, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heartfelt voices.

"Th-thank you, Section Chief."

The others didn't speak, but their expressions said it all.

"No need to thank me... Anyway, that's the plan. Get ready now—we're heading to the Sea of Chaos."

"Understood. We'll prepare immediately."

After the hunters left, Taemin gazed at the closed door with a satisfied smile, then stood to gear up for the hunt.

And so, they all entered the Sea of Chaos.

The escort hunters, stepping into an upper dungeon for the first time, trailed behind Taemin, steadily accumulating EXP from the prey he slew.

They started out eager to help, but the overwhelming gap in strength left them dejected, forcing them to give up.

The upper dungeon monsters were insanely powerful.

Watching Taemin single-handedly carve through hordes of such beasts, the hunters couldn't help but gape.

They'd expected it, but this was too much.

Before long, awe beyond mere respect gleamed in their eyes.

"How does he take down such monstrous things..."

"Right? I hear the recommended party size here is at least 20—all A-rankers."

"He's incredible. Look at that movement. How can anyone move like that in water this heavy?"

"And it's weird, right? We're underwater, but we can talk."

"The EXP is insane too. I've never gotten this much in my life."

"Enjoy it, but we gotta step up our game since the section chief's going this far for us."

"Obviously."

As they chattered, one battle ended.

After clearing the monsters ahead, Taemin beckoned the hunters and moved on to find more prey.

The deeper they went, the more varied the monsters became. You couldn't tell the strong ones just by looks, but the EXP kept increasing.

Meaning stronger foes ahead.

Pressing on, they soon encountered the Kraken at the end of the Sea of Chaos.

"W-what the hell? A monster like that exists?"

"Insane..."

"What is that thing? Bigger than a dinosaur?"

"No way he's taking that down too, right?"

"Stay sharp. Prepare for emergencies. If shit hits the fan, grab the section chief and bolt."

Gazing at the Kraken's overwhelming presence, they exchanged worried looks—but their fears were unfounded.

It fell too easily.

No explanation needed; one explosion and it was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠done.

"This is the end. Everyone level up at least a bit?"

Taemin's approach snapped the dazed hunters back to reality.

"Yes, we all gained at least two levels. You worked hard, Section Chief. This is a whole new world."

"Good to hear. Inventories full? Materials here sell well, so if anyone's short, pick up drops on the way out. Great for gearing up. And... huh? Time flew. Let's head out before dawn."

They hurried back and emerged from the dungeon at 4 a.m.

"Thanks for sticking it out late. No meetings before 10 anyway, so rest up and come in before then. No need to show early with nothing to do. Dismissed—see you tomorrow. Er, today, at the office."

Taemin's care moved the hunters once more.

Had anyone ever looked out for them like this? Not a single one.

A resolve took root in their hearts.

"Let's stake our lives on our section chief."

"Same thought here."

"Nah, lives are so old-school. I'm falling in love."

"What?"

"Kidding."

Among all guilds in Korea, the seven strongest forces are called the Seven Powers.

Originally ten, three dropped out due to power gaps, leaving these seven.

They commanded half of Korea's total guild strength, excluding the Hunter Agency. Excluding the two rooted in Incheon and Suwon, the other five operated around Seoul.

Debates raged over which was strongest, but if picking one, it was unequivocally Hwarang Guild.

Hwarang. Korea's first and oldest guild.

Its deep history meant ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠teeming with high-level hunters and unmatched scale.

Their growth stemmed from being first, but guild master Ham Ik-hyun deserved the most credit.

A first-generation hunter active in the chaos post-monster outbreaks, he'd served as a high-ranking Hunter Agency official.

Disillusioned by the government's demands for blind loyalty, he broke away with followers to found the guild, then leveraged connections to recruit masses—including half of the agency's elite Taegeuk Hwarang Unit.

Back then, B-rankers were rare; the unit was all B-rank.

Starting strong, they expanded rapidly, becoming near-unrivaled.

In the guild master’s office at Hwarang Guild HQ in southern Seoul.

Ham Ik-hyun, hearing a subordinate's report, looked mildly surprised.

"Is that true?"

"Yes. They're scheduled to visit by month's end. For the Second HQ founding ceremony, so likely Chief of Staff and top brass will attend."

"Then time our move for that day. Wolfsrein without them is nothing. We were already stretched thin dividing forces— this saves us one worry."

"Also, Blue Flag Guild in northern Seoul has agreed to join us."

Ham Ik-hyun's face brightened at the addendum.

"Ah, welcome news. So three of the Seven Powers with us now? The rest?"

"Wolfsrein and Blue Moon in Seoul, Red Knight in Suwon. Per your orders, no contact with Blue Moon or Wolfsrein. Red Knight rejected our proposal."

"Fight, then."

"No, sir. They'll stay neutral."

"Neutral, huh. Annoying. Neutrals always flip at the worst moment. Still, solid results. Oh, China side?"

"Searching, but accommodating that many is tough. Can't bring them into the guild. Hotels won't rent whole blocks—most are government or other guild managed. Mid-tier guilds tied to the government are picky."

"Hmph. Government lapdogs. Don't sweat it. Once Seoul's ours, they'll hand them over. Can't wait for that day."