That Esteemed Person
An upscale café in Gangnam.
Seo Ji-yeon, dressed with elegant poise, stepped into the seat where Kang Hyun was waiting.
"Professor Kang Hyun?"
"Ah, yes."
Kang Hyun rose from his chair.
"That's right, isn't it? I'm Jeong-hyeok's mother."
"It is. Please, have a seat."
He politely pulled out the chair for her, and Seo Ji-yeon settled carefully into it.
The mother of a boy who might become my disciple.
Whether she was the overbearing type who micromanaged everything or held warped ideas about education—that was not territory Kang Hyun would casually wade into. No parent in the world was perfect. This was simply her own way of loving her child, and more than anything, Do Jeong-hyeok himself did not want his mother hurt.
"I still don't quite understand why an Academy professor suddenly asked to meet. Did Jeong-hyeok cause some kind of trouble?"
"Trouble? Your son is outstanding."
"Then why…"
To shake someone like her, though, you had to throw something sharp and shocking right in her face. Completely direct.
"But he is deeply troubled."
Kang Hyun cut straight to the point.
"Your son wants to abandon the spear and learn fist techniques."
Seo Ji-yeon's brow furrowed. It was less surprise than the look of someone who had known this day would come.
"…So that's what this is about."
She let out a short sigh.
"I can roughly guess what kind of conversation you had with Jeong-hyeok, Professor. But that is nothing more than a child's tantrum. Kids always want to do only what feels easy and fun. Is the hunter world really that forgiving?"
"No, it isn't."
"Exactly. How can anyone live doing only what they want? All the great figures in this industry tell Jeong-hyeok to use the spear. He must use the spear."
Seo Ji-yeon was utterly certain. Kang Hyun clicked his tongue inwardly.
And if he does? Will the child truly be happy? Life is short enough without spending it only on what others shove onto your back. How pitiful is that?
Of course, he had not come here to deliver philosophical lectures. He only intended to correct the misconception she was clinging to. Wanting Jeong-hyeok strong? Kang Hyun wanted that too. They would have to take down Asura together, after all.
"Actually, that part is what I don't understand."
"Pardon?"
"Jeong-hyeok mentioned it as well. That there is some great person teaching him the spear."
"That's right."
"From what I can see, that person is a fraud."
"What did you just say?"
"Anyone who fails to recognize Jeong-hyeok's talent is a fraud. If they knew and still did it, they're money-mad. If they didn't know, they're a blind fool. Go demand a refund immediately."
Seo Ji-yeon was speechless. Did this professor even know who the hunter teaching Jeong-hyeok was, to spout such nonsense?
He was the destination every spear-wielder dreamed of reaching.
Spear Ghost Gye Mu-jin!
An S-rank hunter the Academy could not hire even if they offered tens of billions!
But Seo Ji-yeon could not reveal that fact. One of the tutoring conditions had been absolute secrecy.
"…I don't think this conversation is worth continuing."
Scraping her chair back, Seo Ji-yeon stood.
"Who are you to belittle that person? Stop forcing the issue. My Jeong-hyeok took first place in the midterms. Overwhelmingly."
"That's only domestic level. The limits will start showing soon enough."
"Don't give unsolicited advice. Do you really think you could say the same thing to his face?"
Kang Hyun's eyes gleamed.
"Of course."
He had already read Seo Ji-yeon perfectly. She was a woman of strong convictions—yet the sort who immediately bent those convictions before anyone with real ability. The way she threw huge sums of money at star instructors and high-ranking hunters made that clear enough.
Which meant?
If he smashed that "esteemed person's" head in, persuasion would become much easier.
"May I meet him?"
"…He is not someone you can simply decide you want to meet."
"Then please pass along the message that Professor Kang Hyun of the Academy is looking for him."
Kang Hyun rose as well.
"Tell him I'd very much like to see the face of that esteemed person."
"Haaah."
Back home, Seo Ji-yeon sighed and fidgeted with her phone.
What do I do?
Call or not?
The other party was one of only seven S-rank hunters in all of South Korea—Spear Ghost Gye Mu-jin. He was extremely busy, and the only reason he even taught Jeong-hyeok on weekends was the hundred billion she had offered plus his interest in the boy's unique constitution.
After agonizing, Seo Ji-yeon squeezed her eyes shut.
Ah, screw it!
After everything I paid him, do I really have to tiptoe around a single phone call?
In a fit of pique she hit the button. A deep, solid voice soon answered.
"This is Mu-jin, madam. Weekend training is the day after tomorrow, isn't it? Is something urgent?"
"Ah, Hunter. I'm sorry to bother you when you're busy. You're not in the middle of a dungeon clear, are you…?"
"I actually just finished one and was on my way out. Go ahead."
"Well… Jeong-hyeok's Academy professor came to see me this afternoon."
"An Academy professor?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"…He said Jeong-hyeok should learn fist techniques instead of the spear. That Jeong-hyeok wants it, and that it's the right path…"
"Hmm."
A sharp intake of breath came through the receiver.
"Madam?"
"Yes."
"In my opinion, wouldn't it be better to trust my words over some Academy professor's?"
"Ah, of course!"
"Learning fist techniques wouldn't really matter… but I don't know any fist techniques. Only spear arts."
"I know, I know! So it's fine to just ignore him, right?"
"He's already taken first place in the tournament. Why overthink it?"
"Well… haah, I don't know if I should even say this."
Seo Ji-yeon had been wrestling with it until now. Was she making a mountain out of a molehill? But this was about her son. If she didn't settle the matter, who knew what nonsense that professor would pull next?
"Speak freely."
"That professor called you a fraud, Hunter."
"What?"
"He doesn't know you're Gye Mu-jin, of course… He kept asking how anyone could teach Jeong-hyeok the spear and insisted he absolutely had to see your face…"
Silence stretched for a moment on the other end of the line.
Then—
"Hahaha, well now. Looks like the Academy finally hired a professor with some sense of responsibility. He wants to see my face, does he?"
"Could you perhaps… calm that professor down a little? I'm worried about Jeong-hyeok."
"I normally wouldn't…"
"Please. I'm asking as a favor."
"Just this once. As it happens, I have a free slot tomorrow at six in the evening. Let's meet for dinner. At your house, madam."
"Thank you, thank you!"
Click.
The call ended. Seo Ji-yeon set down her phone and exhaled in relief.
I feel a little sorry for that professor, but…
His nose had been held far too high. Everyone needed a day when they got knocked down a peg.
Calling the great Gye Mu-jin a fraud? What fraud?
That same day, after wrapping up dungeon work, Gye Mu-jin met an old friend on the outskirts of the city for the first time in a while.
"Yo, Chul-woong!"
"Over here."
"That murderous mug of yours hasn't changed a bit, huh?"
"Shut up."
Gye Mu-jin was thirty-two, the same age as his friend Ma Chul-woong. Walking side by side down the street, their appearances formed a striking contrast.
Gye Mu-jin was a handsome man with sharp, defined features and a faint shadow of stubble that gave him a wild edge. Ma Chul-woong, on the other hand, was built like a bear with a face so vicious he looked every inch a gang boss.
The classic beauty-and-beast pairing!
"Hearing that from you just pisses me off more. Want to go a round?"
"You confident?"
"Yeah. I got a new secret manual recently."
"Secret manual? Something you bought with the compensation money from Daeseong last time?"
Ma Chul-woong smirked. He had offered five hundred billion to his hyung, so in a way it was true.
"Whoa…!"
"Look over there! It's Ma Chul-woong!"
"Shh!"
"Why?"
"Be quiet. Ma Chul-woong's famous for having a nasty temper."
"…Gye Mu-jin's with him too!"
"Damn, he's gorgeous."
They had chosen a sparsely populated area, yet both had such distinctive looks that plenty of people still recognized them.
"Cut the chatter and get inside already."
Ma Chul-woong steered Gye Mu-jin into a private drinking house. They settled into a quiet room and knocked back several rounds of strong liquor.
The two of them had been survivors of the Leviathan incident. After living through that hell, they had become closer than any other hunters.
"Anyway."
Chewing on a side dish, Gye Mu-jin let out a hollow laugh.
"I heard the most ridiculous thing today."
"What?"
"Through a chairman I know, I've been secretly tutoring some kid who lives in Gangnam. Pays well, and the kid's constitution is interesting, so I've been teaching him for fun. Today that kid's Academy professor called me a fraud."
"Pwahaha!"
Ma Chul-woong slapped the table and roared with laughter.
"That professor's got a good eye. Spotted the fraud right away."
"You little bastard?"
"So what are you gonna do?"
"The kid's mom is apparently furious. She wants me to meet that professor's face tomorrow, no delay."
"Don't overdo it. That stuff all becomes your reputation."
"You're one to talk about reputation? People were just saying earlier that you've got a filthy temper."
"Exactly!"
Thud…!
Ma Chul-woong lightly slammed the table.
"These bastards judging people by their faces! Do you know how sensitive and refined I am?!"
"Whatever. Finish that story from earlier. You said you got a secret manual?"
"Ah."
Ma Chul-woong's expression turned serious. He scanned the surroundings once, then opened his mouth.
"I met him."
"Who?"
"Black."
"What?!"
Startled, Gye Mu-jin shot to his feet.
Code name: Black!
To both of them he was a life-saving benefactor, and they had searched for him for a long time.
"For real? You met him?"
"Yeah, at the auction house. The fake Ohodanmundo incident—that hyung was the one who helped us."
"Hyung?"
"He's one year older than us."
Excited, Ma Chul-woong spilled everything that had happened at Daeseong Market, right down to offering five hundred billion as a token of gratitude.
"You crazy bastard! You gave him five hundred billion?"
"Is the money a waste? It included the price of my life."
"No—if you were going to offer something, you should've thrown in my money too! How cheap can you be, building a connection all by yourself!"
As Gye Mu-jin ranted and raved, Ma Chul-woong crossed his arms with a smug look.
"So, after I handed over that five hundred billion, hyung gave me a gift."
"What gift?"
"The Heaven-Earth Continuous White Blade. Master that, and he'll personally teach me the real Ohodanmundo. Hyung himself."
Gye Mu-jin's jaw dropped.
He knew the Ohodanmundo?
Well…
Having seen him during the Leviathan incident, Gye Mu-jin had never considered Black human either. That man was simply beyond the heavens. A god.
"Hey, Ma Chul-woong."
"What."
"Tell me too."
"Tell you what?"
"That hyung! His contact info!"
"No."
"Why not?"
"It would be rude."
"Are you serious…?! Is our friendship only worth this much?"
"Shut up."
Ma Chul-woong held out his glass.
"I'll ask later. Tell him there's this total lunatic named Gye Mu-jin who's dying to meet hyung."
"You'll really do that?"
"In exchange, you're paying for drinks tonight. I'm broke."
"Obviously! Tonight's on me! Pour it up!"
At that same hour.
Having finished organizing the secret manuals, Kang Hyun lay down on his bed. A single text message arrived on his smartphone.
Together with Do Jeong-hyeok?
So she was determined to settle this once and for all?
Even better.
Kang Hyun smirked, tossed the smartphone aside, and drifted off to sleep.