As Expected, Huh.
Actually, Taejeong had a vague suspicion already.
A guild with three hunters in the top 20? The only ones at that level were Hansan-do or the Superhuman Club.
But if she was from Hansan-do, Lee Mu-bae from the Ranger Guild—practically under their thumb—wouldn't have dared pull off that ambush.
"What? You knew?"
"Not at all."
"Then why the reaction? Was the Club's rep really that underwhelming?"
"Just too out of left field."
"Fair enough. We barely operate in Korea anyway."
"But can I even join the Club?"
"Your dongsaeng's Hidden class too, right? Meets the bare minimum, so probably."
At Han Seol-ah's answer, Taejeong felt his heart race.
Becoming a member of the Superhuman Club. This was a massive opportunity—a stroke of pure luck.
Not registered on the official domestic rankings, but a singular organization no guild could ignore.
The one guild utterly independent from Hansan-do, the rank 1 government-backed powerhouse.
Joining them meant a brilliant future was all but guaranteed.
Plus, he'd already saved her life once—plenty of justification to get in.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime shot. World-class outfit.
After the meal, they left the hotel.
"Where to now? Straight to the Club?"
"Hold up a sec."
Han Seol-ah brought her lips to the ring on her finger. Its color shifted, emitting a crystalline glow.
A long-range comm ring, impervious to eavesdropping.
She glanced at Taejeong, then turned away and started communicating.
"Jin, it's me. Yeah. Pretty much as expected. Uh-huh. Got it. Okay."
Short call over, Han Seol-ah turned back to him.
"Let's go."
"Permission came through?"
"More or less."
"More or less? What does that even mean?"
"Just trust your noona here. Before we hit HQ, I'll hook you up with a big gift."
With that, she led him to her car.
"So, what's the gift?"
"You'll see."
They drove to a beach somewhere in Gangwon-do. A yacht came into view.
"We're taking that."
"A boat out of nowhere?"
"Gotta ride it to get to HQ. Grab your gift on the way."
Taejeong had a ton of questions but decided to follow quietly.
She'd owed him her life—what was there to suspect? No need to yap and seem petty.
"Whoa."
First time on a yacht, Taejeong was floored by the opulent interior. Rivaled a five-star hotel suite.
Wonder how much this costs.
As he gawked, the yacht set off.
He spent the voyage guessing the destination. Obviously an island—nothing else made sense for a boat trip.
Time passed. The speeding yacht slowed, anchoring smack in the middle of the ocean.
"Done. We're here. Come on out."
Taejeong climbed to the deck at her call. Endless ocean stretched everywhere.
No islands or land in sight, any direction.
What the hell's out here?
Puzzled, he asked her.
"What's here? Looks like nothing but sea."
"Exactly."
"Exactly? What...?"
"We're heading into the sea."
"Wait, this a submarine?"
Han Seol-ah burst out laughing at his absurdity.
"Nah. Leaving the yacht—we're diving ourselves."
"Ah. I thought..."
"Ready? Going in."
"Right now?"
"Yep."
No time to reply—her hand grabbed him, yanking him into the air. Straight into the sea.
Splash!
"Gah! What the fu—!"
Thrown into the water, Taejeong flailed and yelled in panic.
So startled, his instinctively flailing hand yanked her hair hard.
"Let go! My hair!"
"Glub. Can't... swim... glub! Gah! Blub! Pff!"
Her head wrenched back, Han Seol-ah tried soothing him, but panic-stricken Taejeong wasn't having it.
The more she pushed, the fiercer his survival grip.
Finally, she dove, dragging him under.
His body sank smoothly. Thrashing intensified.
But once down, no resurfacing—like sucked into a whirlpool, plummeting helplessly.
What the—!?
Question barely formed, his frantic wriggling slowed sharply.
No shortness of breath underwater.
"Calmed down now?"
She pried his hand loose as she spoke.
"Water... not going up my nose."
"Psychokinesis barrier around you. Protective field."
"Ah. Coulda said so."
"Didn't notice?"
"Notice what?"
"Fell in the ocean, but your clothes are dry."
"Oh."
Come to think of it, no water touch sensation. Too frantic to register the oddity.
She pointed below, amused.
"Anyway, you're safe now. Hold tight and follow. Going deeper. Note: stray too far, barrier drops. Eyes on me, grip firm. Pressure down there's brutal."
Warning given, they sank again.
Taejeong still tense, but the seascape was otherworldly—never-seen wonders.
Leagues beyond TV footage. The sheer majesty and vastness humbled him, reminding how puny humans were against nature.
But the spectacle was fleeting. Darkness swallowed everything; even Han Seol-ah ahead vanished from sight.
"Uh..."
"Yeah?"
"Can't see."
"Deep sea. No light. See that?"
"Where?"
"There. White dot-like thing. Way down."
Taejeong craned his neck, peering into pitch black. Couldn't see his own hand.
Wasted effort, but then—a pinpoint glow caught his eye.
It grew as they neared; he realized what it was.
"Portal?"
"My chill spot sometimes. First time seeing one like this?"
"Yeah... never imagined. Finding it down here's the real shocker."
"Got a killer memory for paths. Let's go."
She took his hand, pulling him through the gate.
Beyond: a pristine white-sand beach.
"Nice view, huh?"
"Definitely... unique. Beach in the deep sea. So why here...?"
"Told you—gift before HQ. C'mere."
She led him to some palms, scanned around, then dug into the sand.
Soon, an old cloth bundle in her hand.
"See? Three years later, still here."
"What's that?"
"Good stuff. Yours."
"So that's the gift...?"
"Kinda, if you squint. More like an appetizer for the main course. Real deal's separate."
Taejeong couldn't follow, but a gift from her? Mood lifted.
From a top-tier hunter like her, in this secret spot? Had to be huge—beyond his wildest dreams.
Item way above my paygrade. Maybe even Rare gear if lucky.
As he buzzed internally, she unwrapped it.
Inside: a small vial with something in it.
"What's that?"
"Booster kinda thing. Killer for stamina boosts."
"Stamina—like a stamina potion?"
"Not quite. No everyday effect. Think emergency survival juice—unlocks superhuman power in crises. Anyway. Strip and sit back-to-back."
"Huh? Why clothes...?"
"Gotta apply it."
Taejeong waved her off, flustered.
"I'll do it later when I need it."
"You need it now."
"Gimme then. I'll handle..."
"Nuh-uh. Needs thorough application for max effect. And my hands amp it up. Relax, turn around, leave it to noona."
"Still, feels a bit..."
He hesitated to undress; she propped her chin, eyeing him.
"Shyer than you look. Rare chance like this—gonna regret passing forever. Skip it, no main event for you. Not curious what you'll score?"
"What is it? What do I get?"
"Can't spoil. Ruins the fun. So? Bail here?"
Irresistible offer.
Top 20 hunter's gift? Blow it off, I'm an idiot.
Decision made, he stripped his shirt with serious resolve.
Revealing a lean, labor-hardened physique.
"Ooh, dongsaeng's ripped. All muscle?"
"Not bragging, but real-world porter-honed. Did plenty of that grind."
"Makes sense. Not gym-sculpted show muscle—feels different. Suddenly see you as a man, huh?"
"What!?"
"Kidding. Applying now. Might feel cold at first."
Warning given, her hand touched his back.
He flinched.
First time baring skin to a strange woman—electric jolt through him.
This feels... weirdly off.
Tense, his body heated; heart pounded faster.
Drug kicking in already?
"Feel it? Getting toasty?"
"Yeah... body's warming up."
"Vibe?"
"Eh, not bad... Heart's racing though, kinda energizing. Effect already?"
"Good. Bet you can flex some power soon?"
"What power?"
"Hope dongsaeng doesn't disappoint noona."
"Disappoint? What're you..."
Mid-chat, unease hit Taejeong.
Conversation veering weird.
What’s this? Getting sketchy.
Definitely not normal.
Secluded spot no one could find.
Her hands blatantly roaming his body.
Flirty banter.
Stamina booster ointment.
This connected to the gift how?
Piecing it... no way.
One conclusion: aphrodisiac.
Made sense. Peaceful hideaway—who needs power here?
With heavenly hunter her beside him.
Plus, signals(?) since application started.
Thought natural, but clearly the drug.
Else how react to mere touch?
Now what?
Taejeong pondered escape.
Things escalate, might have to... do it.
But first-time with a stranger? No—eight years guarding purity not for this.
Called to politely decline.
"Hey noona, actually I..."
"......"
"Noona?"
Turning at odd vibe—no Han Seol-ah.
Where'd she go?
Scanned around, stood confused.
Then—rustle from rear palms.
"What. Thought you vanished..."
Turned casually—froze mid-sentence.
No Han Seol-ah. A monstrous beast loomed instead.
Something wrong—
ROOOAR—!
Deafening roar. Black swarms erupted from palms like hornets.
Taejeong's panicked voice escaped.
"N-Noona?"