Go Ahead and Try

The Advance Guild's security team leader was standing by at the first-floor gate of the guild hall today. The Guild Master had given him a heads-up.

"Team Leader, they're here!"

"Quit making a fuss and get to your position."

"W-well, but..."

"What?"

A moment later, some ten hunters came pouring through the entrance. The security team leader flinched.

"Wh-what is this?!"

"We're going in."

It was the Third Elder of Jeonjoodang. Of course the clan was never going to sit still, so they had brought their instructors and stormed the guild hall. Every last one of them was a hunter who had cleared the thirtieth floor or higher.

The security team leader steeled himself and stood his ground.

"I can't let you through."

"This is not a matter for you to involve yourself in."

What? Not a matter for him? The security team leader had his pride as a team leader, and that stung.

"I'm just doing my job."

"I wish to speak with Hunter Jo."

"Please make an appointment with the Guild Master and come back."

The security team leader couldn't believe what he was hearing. They wanted to talk? Then come alone. They weren't gangsters — why drag a whole posse?

The intent was obvious. They meant to apply pressure.

...Okay, it was a little intimidating.

Looking at their gear, they were all instructors. Ten of Jeonjoodang's instructor-class hunters. That was a force that could hold its own in an actual war.

"Please don't do this, Elder."

"I cannot back down."

The Third Elder meant every word. An SS-Rank spirit summoner. For a martial clan, that was an enormous windfall — a chance for Jeonjoodang's prestige to stand tall on the world stage. And they were just going to let her be stolen away? Absolutely not.

"Think this through carefully. When Jeonjoodang prospers, the nation grows strong."

"And why would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that be?"

"Our Jeonjoodang is a storied house that inherited the lineage of the Yi clan of Joseon's founding king, and carrying on that spirit we established our martial clan—"

The Advance Guild team leader's mouth fell open. This was some next-level old-man rambling. What exactly was he supposed to do with this information? He'd heard about martial clans now and then — places bound hand and foot by tradition. But he hadn't expected it to be this bad.

By this point, even the security team leader had run out of polite things to say.

"Oh, just go already! I've heard about the situation too, but what do you think you're doing, same guild and all? Storming in here in a pack. Changing affiliation is a personal choice!"

A vein popped on the Third Elder's forehead. These thieves dared—!

"You people have no tradition to speak of — how dare you talk of being the same! Yeonhwa is a precious daughter of our Jeonju Yi clan!"

"Then talk to her yourself. A girl her age lives glued to her phone twenty-four hours a day — you can't even get a single call through?"

The Third Elder was briefly struck speechless. The truth was, Lee Yeonhwa had already blocked him. But he didn't lose his shamelessness.

"Over this matter, I will formally request mediation from the Hunter Management Headquarters. Advance Guild will face disciplinary action!"

"By all means, Elder."

That composure was a little too relaxed. Only then did the Third Elder remember. The next Director of Hunter Management Headquarters — the Bureau Chief who, in the current administration, was the second most powerful person after the Director himself. A Bureau Chief with the absurd track record of being an SS-Rank in his own right. And he was from Advance Guild.

"Y-you...!"

"Our guild's got a pretty decent tradition of our own, don't you think?"

The back of the Third Elder's neck began to tremble.

"Our Jeonjoodang has deep roots in political and financial circles. Our hands and feet will not sit idle!"

"What?! Are you finished talking?"

That was going too far. Wasn't that a threat to impose private sanctions? But it wasn't an empty threat. Jeonjoodang's influence was as real as its tradition, and the security team leader knew that well.

"Hah, for crying out loud...!"

Which was why he had nothing left to say.

"Clear the way. I wish to resolve this through dialogue, nothing more."

Then leave the posse behind, damn it. Just as the security team leader was wondering if he should step aside—

"Elder."

Jo Paldeok had come down after hearing the news. He walked forward without a hint of hesitation.

"Go ahead and try."

"Wh-what?!"

"Those fine hands and feet of yours. Go on and move them."

Even the security team leader was stunned by that remark. In terms of political and financial reach, Advance Guild couldn't match Jeonjoodang. But Jo Paldeok was perfectly at ease, because right now, he had something to lean on.

How is the timing this perfect?

A special report had come in today. If things stood as they were, even the Blue House wouldn't dare treat Advance Guild carelessly for a while. But the Third Elder knew none of this. He could only stand there, dumbfounded.

"...Hunter Jo. Think rationally."

"Mind your manners. I am the Guild Master of Advance."

"Are you really doing this? After the discourtesy you've already shown us!"

"Times have changed, Elder. We ought to respect Student Yeonhwa's personal freedom."

"This isn't..."

The Third Elder was rattled. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. What was he counting on, acting this confident? Both justification and power should have been on Jeonjoodang's side. Advance Guild had been doing well lately, true — but not well enough to openly pick a fight with Jeonjoodang.

"Just what are you counting on to act like this?"

"By now, you ought to be reading the room."

"Wh-what?"

Was there actually something going on?

"...The Patriarch will be extending an invitation before long."

"If you make an appointment and visit, you're welcome anytime."

You think I'll go to you? You come to us. That was the meaning behind the exchange. He wouldn't yield a single word to the end.

"...We're leaving."

The Third Elder clenched his teeth and withdrew. The aura rolling off him was so ominous that even the security team leader started to worry.

"Guild Master. Will we be all right?"

"Of course."

"Is there something about our guild that I don't know?"

"It's still classified. You'll find out soon enough."

"...Is that so?"

A tremendous windfall had come to Advance.

This, too, is thanks to Hyeonseok.

How could he not dote on the boy after all this? Granted, the friction just now had also been because of Hyeonseok. But compared to the gains Advance had already reaped thanks to him — and the gains still to come — it was nothing.

Even without today's report, Yeonhwa's value alone would have been more than enough.

An SS-Rank hunter. And a spirit summoner, no less — one of the rarest kinds there was. This much hassle? He'd put up with it a hundred times over.

Jo Paldeok returned to the office. Do Hyeoncheol, who had been waiting, gave a slight nod.

"Chased 'em off all right?"

"Why's the plate empty?"

"Beats me."

"You said you didn't like shrimp chips."

"These things are spicy-salty. Can't stop reaching for 'em."

Jo Paldeok sat down in his chair, tore open a new bag, and dumped it onto the plate. Do Hyeoncheol grabbed a shrimp chip even before Jo Paldeok did.

Crunch.

"Let's finish what we were talking about."

"So. You gonna take the request?"

"We'll see."

Crunch.

Today, a call had come from the Blue House. China had requested aid — specifically, they wanted Kang Minji dispatched.

"How bad are things on their end that they'd ask for that?"

"Wiped out, apparently."

"What?! Wiped out?!"

China was an advanced hunter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠power. And their top-floor assault team had been wiped out? Just what the hell was on the 57th Floor?

"Well... think it over carefully either way. This is an enormous deal."

If you thought about the conditions China had demanded whenever Korea needed aid, the value of this request was beyond imagining. And that authority had landed in Advance Guild's hands.

"I can't tell if this is a dream or not."

"Tell me about it. Korea — and our guild, no less — getting an offer from China. Live long enough and you really do see everything."

Hyeonseok had coached Kang Minji. That had been just a few days ago. Who could have guessed that snowball would roll this far? Nobody had seen it coming.

"Hey, though. Doesn't it sit wrong with you, sending that little mouse off to China?"

"Little mouse" was what he called Kang Minji. What was Kang Minji's market value these days? What if China just kidnapped her, hypothetically speaking?

Jo Paldeok gave a short laugh.

"You think I'm that much of an amateur?"

Jo Paldeok was a calculating man. But he wasn't a bad one. He would never put one of his own guild members in danger.

"Just sit tight and watch."

A rare spectacle was about to unfold. The sight of a mere fourth-ranked guild seizing international diplomacy and shaking it by the throat.

A celebration dinner just isn't a celebration dinner without meat. And since I was the one paying, it felt extra special. Beef, no less! The leisure of a rich man treating his disciples to meat. It really was something.

"A toast to Yeonhwa's SS-Rank. Cheers."

"Cheers!"

"Cheers~!"

The three of us clinked glasses. Unfortunately, it was just soda. Yeonhwa being a minor made that a given, of course.

"Why can't you drink?"

"Master, why would you drink that bitter stuff in the first place?"

"I figured every working adult could hold their liquor."

"Who would dare force a drink on me?"

"Ah. Right."

Oh yeah. This kid was the Guild Master's son. Which meant I was stuck with soda too. I couldn't exactly sit there nursing soju by myself like some sad old man.

"Nice place. Pricey, but they grill the meat for you."

I'd been wondering who'd handle the tongs and scissors. Both of them were kids from distinguished families, and if I grabbed them, the picture would look weird in a different way.

Before the meal started, Lee Yeonhwa bowed her head deeply.

"Thank you for the new phone! I'll take good care of it!"

Her eyes were sparkling. Yep. For girls these days, nothing beat a phone as a gift.

"We're fellow hunters — no need to thank me that much. That's pocket change for you too, isn't it?"

"But before, all my spending was controlled."

She couldn't even spend the money she earned as a hunter however she wanted? Man, that must have been suffocating.

"They're rich and they wouldn't even buy you a phone?"

"Yes. They were generous with expenses related to maintaining appearances. Hair, skin, clothes, gifts for entertaining... But for some reason, they absolutely hated electronics."

"Why's that?"

"That's what I'd like to know!"

Lee Yeonhwa practically shrieked. Jeez, that startled me. From under her side of the table, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a fox tail shot straight up. Looks like the fox was startled too.

"It really was such a stuffy, old-fashioned place."

"Good thing you got out."

"Whereas you, Master — you're a far better teacher, and this generous on top of it! I love it here!"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll keep buying you all kinds of stuff. And spend your own money however you want."

"Yes!"

I'd been worried at first when she said she was running away from home. But seeing how much she loved the taste of freedom, this was clearly the right call. Plus, the kid's surprisingly sharp. She knows how to speak her mind. I probably don't need to worry.

"Look at this, Mr. Punk! As a disciple, you ought to set out Master's utensils first — and yet you only grabbed your own!"

And with that, she politely set my utensils in front of me. She even folded the napkin into a triangle. Where does a kid her age learn that kind of thing?

"What? You little— ahem! I-I'm sorry, Master."

Jo Youchan had been about to snap back. Then he caught my eye and settled for a cough. Guess he figured she wasn't exactly wrong, so he was backing down.

"How much of an age gap do you think there is? Just eat comfortably."

"The bond between master and disciple is, by tradition, second only to that between parent and child."

The kid really was sharp, I'd give her that.

"Well then, let's ea— ow!"

"Master?"

"What's wrong?"

A sharp pain lanced through my back. Rangi had climbed up and was clinging to me — except he'd dug his claws in like a cat scaling a tree, and it stung like hell.

"Fine, you come eat too, you little brat."

I peeled him off my back and set him on the table.

"Mom, look! That tiger's on fire!"

"Oh my, we're seeing a spirit. Maybe today's our lucky day?"

People's eyes gathered on us. He was manifested through my natural energy, so even ordinary people could see him.

"Grrrah!"

Rangi stretched his little mouth wide open.

"There you go."

I picked up a piece of meat. Natural energy seeped through the chopsticks and into the beef. The moment I fed it to him, he chomped down and ate with gusto.

"Huh? Master, how did you do that?"

"If you infuse the food with natural energy, they'll eat it."

Still, he didn't love it quite as much as Cheonryeong Cloud Rice Cake. That stuff was a miracle elixir to these guys — they went absolutely crazy for it.

"Nngh... I can't do it."

"You can't? Let me see..."

I opened Lee Yeonhwa's status window.

No red light on Spirit Arts. Which meant it was just a lack of skill.

Ah, maybe it's because my Spirit Eyes are at level 3.

Come to think of it, Lee Yeonhwa looked a lot clumsier than me at handling natural energy.

"Th-that's incredible. No matter how hard I try, the natural energy just won't flow into objects. How can your control be that precise?"

"Ohh... as expected of Master. I don't know what it is, but a true expert really is different."

Yeonhwa, I'm a rookie spirit user just like you.

"Here, aah~"

"Graaah~"

That's it, good boy.

"Graah~"

"Huh? Again?"

"Grawr."

"You are chewing, right? You'll get a stomachache if you just swallow it."

He was eating way more than I'd expected. I might need to order more.

"Excuse me! Two more servings of ribeye, please!"

Now I just grabbed three pieces at once and stuffed them in. He really could eat.

"Keeng..."

"Hm?"

"Aigoo, my poor little fox... I'm sorry, big sis just isn't skilled enough."

The fox's ears and tail drooped. Watching Rangi eat so well, its eyes welled up.

"Here, aah~"

"Keeng!"

"Ah, thank you!"

The fox ate just as eagerly. Lee Yeonhwa, who had been beaming, suddenly went dead serious.

"Look at this, Mr. Punk!"

"What now?"

"Pick up the meat one piece at a time!"

"Hey, that's cheap! Master's treating us — just eat freely!"

"It's not about the amount. It's basic table manners! How vulgar."

This time, Jo Youchan wasn't backing down either.

"Your fox is eating three pieces at a time too!"

"Good heavens, how childish can you be. How can you apply human etiquette to a beast? Are you a beast yourself?"

"Wh-what."

Jo Youchan was trembling. Wow, do prestigious families ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠teach rhetoric or something? She sure could talk. Jo Youchan just sat there shaking, unable to come up with a comeback.

"All right, all right, that's enough. I'd like you both to just eat comfortably in front of me."

"Ah, understood. You should be grateful, Mr. Punk."

"Kkugh..."

And after that, they continued the meal with perfect composure. She was so polite toward me. I couldn't bring myself to dislike her.