Prologue
A sudden unease washed over him.
It came without warning, but Choi Yeon never doubted his instincts.
He let the feeling guide him, folding his back as he slipped behind the blue partition that blocked the view from the front and both sides, vanishing from sight.
His movements were as smooth as a flowing river, as stealthy as a fox on a night hunt.
And yet—
"…You serious right now?"
He failed to achieve his goal.
"There's only the three of us in here."
The problem was the location.
A Dongdae Hunter office barely the size of a studio apartment was a terrible place to avoid other people's eyes. All the worse when there were only three people in it, counting himself.
"……"
Choi Yeon still refused to give up.
He stayed bent over and kept quiet.
If I just stay hidden behind the partition, maybe they'll let it go?
He cradled that futile hope in his head.
"Haa…."
A heavy sigh rang in his ears.
Screech!
Right after came the joyful creak of a lumbar support chair reclaiming its freedom as the thick rear end that had been crushing it finally lifted away.
Beyond the partition, a round sun rose into view—or rather, a bald head.
Chief Kim Jaesang's bulging eyes locked with Choi Yeon's thread-thin slits in midair.
"……"
"……"
"C-class Dongdae Hunter, Choi Yeon."
"…Yes."
Rank and name, called out loud.
Only then did Choi Yeon surrender completely. He straightened his bent back and offered a bright little smile.
Damn. I almost got away with it.
—or so the pointless delusion went.
Dongdae Hunter, Choi Yeon
"You called for me, Chief?"
"Yeah. I called for you."
"What's going on?"
Choi Yeon asked in a deliberately serious tone.
Apparently unimpressed by the act of pretending nothing had happened, Chief Kim Jaesang shook his head back and forth. Still, he didn't bother adding anything further. Lecturing a cow's ear was a waste of time—better to just hand out the work.
"Some guy named Yang Dae-geun's throwin' a fit over at the Yangji Dungeon Deconstruction Center. Go deal with it."
"A fit? And… Yang Dae-geun, you said?"
"First you've heard of him? Looked him up—used to be a B-class Hunter operating outta Seoul."
"Used to be?"
"Got kicked out of his guild for power-tripping."
"Sounds about right for a guild Hunter. Living off how great they think they are, huh? But why Daejeon of all places? Is this his hometown or something?"
"Nope. Born and raised in Seoul."
"Hmm? Then…."
A Seoul native Hunter gets kicked from his guild and comes down to Daejeon, a place with zero personal ties. He wouldn't do that on a whim. There had to be a reason.
And the biggest reason a Hunter relocated regions was…
"…He got scouted by a guild in Daejeon. Or somewhere in Chungcheong, at least."
"That'd be my guess."
"A Hunter fired for power-tripping…. Honestly, not exactly prime talent. I wouldn't scout him."
"Agreed. But whatever we think, Yang Dae-geun's already here. So which guild, you reckon?"
A guild that took the bait of a B-class rank.
A thought surfaced in Choi Yeon's mind—then evaporated just as fast. He sincerely hoped there were no idiot guilds operating in his area.
An idiot guild plus a power-tripping Hunter would only mean more work for him.
So Choi Yeon clung to hope and considered the opposite case: a guild confident it could keep even a power-tripping Hunter firmly under control.
"…Pakator."
"Mm."
"If it's Pakator—the top guild in Chungcheong for over twenty years—they could pull it off. Especially with Park Do-kyeong there. Ranked sixth in the whole country."
"Right. They could keep him in line and then some."
"…But Chief."
"What?"
"If it's a guy like that, wouldn't it be better to send Heeseok hyung instead of me?"
Choi Yeon pointed across the room at Choi Heeseok.
The two-meter giant with a thick beard sat there wearing a smile as warm as gentle sunlight, looking for all the world like a good-natured bear.
"Seonhwa Dongdae's ace! A twenty-seven-year veteran! A B-class Hunter, no less!"
"……"
Chief Kim Jaesang frowned.
What kind of person was the Choi Yeon sitting right in front of him? The kind who always sensed a work order coming and hid his body at the first whiff. He'd just done it again a moment ago.
"I know what you're thinking, but it's not like that."
"It ain't?"
"Power-trippers. When things don't go their way, they usually start throwing their weight around with force, right?"
"So?"
"Doesn't Heeseok hyung need to go so the balance of force actually matches up?"
"If you're only lookin' at rank, sure."
Chief Kim Jaesang nodded.
Yes!
Choi Yeon clenched a quiet fist under the desk.
Just as he was congratulating himself on successfully dumping the job, the Chief's next words landed.
"You're still goin'."
"What? Why?"
"'Cause I feel like makin' you do the work."
"Excuse me?"
A blunt retort burst from Choi Yeon's mouth.
There wasn't a shred of logic in that answer. He was dumbfounded. The Chief had agreed with his reasoning—so why hadn't the outcome changed at all?
This was an abuse of power!
Choi Yeon was about to protest when Kim Jaesang spoke first.
"Don't like it? Then you be the Chief."
He shrugged as if it were nothing, wielding his authority with total shamelessness.
Choi Yeon found himself utterly speechless.
Vrrr…
Choi Yeon cut the engine on the patrol mana scooter.
The deconstruction center in front of Yangji Dungeon, which he'd reached in five minutes, was quiet. It didn't match the report of a B-class Hunter running wild, and it didn't match the usual atmosphere either.
Yangji Dungeon didn't draw huge crowds of Hunters, but that didn't mean nobody made a living there. If it had, a deconstruction center for processing hunted monsters wouldn't have set up shop right outside the entrance.
"Hmm…."
Choi Yeon walked straight inside.
A muscle-bound giant, swollen like a balloon about to burst, stood absorbing the hostile glares of the people facing him down. Judging by the disproportionately developed muscles in his right arm, he clearly handled a weapon roughly the size of his own body.
Looking at the man whose smile sat far too leisurely on his face, Choi Yeon carefully raised his voice. With eyes that sharp around the room, speaking at his usual volume seemed likely to spark a fight.
"…Excuse me."
Every head snapped around at once toward the new voice.
"Yeon-ah! Finally, you're—"
"Hey, Squinty. The hell are you?"
Familiar faces lit up. They tried to greet him warmly, but Yang Dae-geun shoved his way between them before the welcome could finish. The man barked the question in a rough voice.
"I said, what the hell are you?!"
The fierce face glaring at Choi Yeon somehow also looked confused, like a man who had just witnessed something impossible.
Why's he suddenly like this?
"I'm Choi Yeon, Hunter affiliated with Seonhwa-dong."
Choi Yeon answered while holding out the Hunter ID hanging around his neck.
I'm here because you're throwing a fit.
—That part he swallowed.
Hearing the answer, Yang Dae-geun narrowed his brow and gave Choi Yeon a rapid once-over.
"Seonhwa… dong? So you're saying you're a Dongdae Hunter? Not even a City Hall Hunter?"
"Yes. That's correct?"
"……"
"……?"
Choi Yeon tilted his head.
He was curious why Yang Dae-geun was acting so strangely, but he didn't bother trying to figure it out. Better to just get the job done. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could slack off.
"Manager Park, what's going on here?"
Choi Yeon looked to Park Choong-jae, the deconstruction center manager, and asked for an explanation.
Park Choong-jae, who had been eyeing Yang Dae-geun with open distaste, answered.
"That fellow over there decided he doesn't trust us."
"Doesn't trust you?"
"Yeah. Claims we lowballed the Red Silk Spiders. We explained the reason, but he won't believe a word of it."
Park Choong-jae pointed to one side.
Spider carcasses about seventy centimeters long were piled high. Clearly the ones Yang Dae-geun had hunted.
"I see."
Hunters doubting a deconstruction center's pricing happened from time to time. That was exactly when you needed a Dongdae Hunter like Choi Yeon to mediate.
Choi Yeon crouched in front of the spider carcasses.
"Mind if I take a look?"
"Please. Be my guest."
"…Do whatever."
The moment permission was given, Choi Yeon quickly examined the Red Silk Spiders.
Most of the spiders Yang Dae-geun had hunted were missing their abdomens. Their eyes were burst, their legs almost entirely crushed—the only part left intact was the cephalothorax.
"…With Red Silk Spiders, the abdomen is what matters."
Choi Yeon picked one up.
"Especially the underside of the belly. That's where the spinnerets that produce the silk are located, and you need those intact to get a proper price. Spider silk has all kinds of uses."
"And if they're gone?"
"If they're gone, next you look at the legs. They're a little gross-looking, but once you heat them they're edible."
"You eat these?"
"They're pretty good, actually. Taste like high-grade shrimp."
"……"
Yang Dae-geun frowned at the spider leg in Choi Yeon's hand.
Shrimp flavor or not, it was still a spider monster's leg. Looking at all that thick hair, ordinary prawns were clearly the better option.
Choi Yeon ignored the thoughts written all over the man's face and continued.
"Specimens missing the abdomen with only some legs left… you can get about a hundred fifty thousand won each for these."
"A hundred fifty thousand? You're saying the same thing as that old man."
"I would, wouldn't I? Because it's the truth."
Tap, tap….
Choi Yeon set the spider down and clapped his hands to dust off the sand and grit.
Park Choong-jae, who had been listening in silence, cut in.
"Hear that? The Dongdae Hunter quoted the same price we did. Proof we weren't lowballing you."
"Hrmmm."
"So now if you'd just—"
"But."
Yang Dae-geun cut Park Choong-jae off.
Heh. Choi Yeon's mouth fell open.
Is he seriously going to be that stupid?
"I still don't buy it."
"……!"
"Just looking at you, Squinty, you and the old man at the center clearly know each other. Could be you're in cahoots, trying to cheat me, no?"
"Hah…."
Choi Yeon was floored.
He hadn't expected the man to actually start spouting full-blown paranoia.
While he stood there stunned, the others finally poured out the grievances they'd been holding back.
"For fuck's sake—you don't trust a Dongdae Hunter? What, you want us to call a District Office Hunter instead?"
"Didn't you hear what he just said? He thinks we're all in on it together. You really think he'd treat a District Office Hunter any different?"
"Oh, give me a break!"
The deconstruction center erupted into noise in no time. Being suddenly treated like con artists would do that to anyone.
Choi Yeon had been painted as a fraud just as suddenly as the rest of them, but he didn't complain the way the others did. He already knew Yang Dae-geun was the idiot who'd gotten kicked from his guild for power-tripping and come all the way down to Daejeon.
Thud.
Choi Yeon took one step forward.
It was enough to reset the mood—just as he'd hoped, the chaotic deconstruction center quieted down a moment later. Every gaze turned toward him.
"You say you can't trust us, Hunter Yang Dae-geun?"
"Yeah, I can't trus— Wait. Hold on. You know who I am?"
"Isn't that obvious? You went in and out of Yangji Dungeon."
I know because dungeon entry records exist—not because you're famous.
Choi Yeon muttered the words he wanted to say only to himself.
"Anyway. I just need to make you believe me, right?"
"Make me believe? You think that's possible?"
"Yes."
"Keh, hahaha!"
Yang Dae-geun burst out laughing.
From the start, he hadn't thrown a fit because he genuinely couldn't believe the craftsman's price. He'd simply wanted to watch people scramble and fawn over him.
Stroking his thick jaw with one heavy hand, he asked,
"I'm curious. How exactly do you plan to make me believe you?"
"It's simple."
"Simple, you say?"
"Yes. One phone call should do it."
Choi Yeon pulled his smartphone from his pocket.
A phone call?
"A phone call—you're not calling your Dongdae Chief, are you?"
"Of course not. A guild master, maybe."
"A guild… master…?"
"Yes. The master of the guild you just joined."
"…I have no idea what you're talking about. After I left my last guild of my own free will, I've been operating solo the whole time."
"Is that so?"
Choi Yeon wore a faint smile.
Swipe, swipe….
Then he scrolled up the phone screen with his thumb, the motion smooth and unhesitating, as if he were certain of what he'd find.
"Then you won't mind if I make the call."
Yang Dae-geun's confusion deepened.
How does this squinty-eyed bastard know?
The decision to join had only been finalized last night. Even his own family didn't know yet. The only people who did were him, the guild master, and the male secretary who'd accompanied the master—three people total.
On top of that, the idea that some Dongdae Hunter would have the contact info of an A-rank guild's master made no sense whatsoever.
On any other day, he would have written it off as a pathetic Dongdae Hunter putting on airs.
If he hadn't just joined that guild.
If he hadn't failed to sense Choi Yeon's presence until the man walked in and opened his mouth.
And if—
"Ah, here it is. Hunter Park Do-kyeong's number."
—he hadn't said the name of the master of the guild he'd just joined.
"Wait."
Yang Dae-geun stopped him.
It still didn't make sense, but looking at that calm, squinty-eyed face, he had no choice but to accept it.
This Dongdae Hunter knew everything.
"You don't need to call."
"Is that so?"
The thumb poised to tap the screen stopped.
It didn't withdraw, though, and Yang Dae-geun felt the pressure.
In a sour voice, he said,
"As I thought…. You're no ordinary Dongdae Hunter."
What is this guy even talking about?
Choi Yeon almost tilted his head, then held it in.
For reasons unknown, the man had jumped to his own conclusions. In that case, all Choi Yeon had to do was act the part of an extraordinary Dongdae Hunter.
"What a shame. I was hoping to say hello to Hunter Park Do-kyeong. It's been a while."
"Tsk…!"
Yang Dae-geun clicked his tongue hard, trying to vent his irritation.
Even so, Choi Yeon's demeanor didn't shift in the slightest. From the moment he'd walked into the deconstruction center until now, he'd stayed perfectly calm.
And so the one left scrambling and uneasy ended up being Yang Dae-geun himself.
"Squinty…. I'll remember that face of yours."
"Oh. Great. I was having trouble getting Hunters to remember my face, actually."
To the very end, Choi Yeon refused to give Yang Dae-geun the reaction he wanted.
It was galling, but Yang Dae-geun didn't push further. Anything he added would just be shamelessly brushed aside behind that smiling face.
"We'll meet again, Squinty."
"Huh, you're just leaving? You still haven't collected payment for the Red Silk Spiders."
"Ha! Don't need it. Whatever money you can scrape from a C-rank dungeon like this is pocket change to me, no matter the amount."
"…I'm sure it is."
Choi Yeon agreed immediately.
Then why the hell did a big shot like you come throw a tantrum in a C-rank dungeon in the first place.
While he grumbled inwardly, Yang Dae-geun left the deconstruction center.
"Ooooh…!"
"Nice work, Yeon-ah!"
The people from the center crowded around Choi Yeon, clapping his shoulders or bumping fists. Some cursed Yang Dae-geun on his way out; others started flinging coarse salt after him with sharp, ceremonial snaps.
"Still, I've got to say—I'm impressed."
Manager Park Choong-jae looked at Choi Yeon with open admiration.
"Never figured you'd have Park Do-kyeong's number, Yeon."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"What do you mean, what am I talking about? You were about to call Park Do-kyeong just now."
"Ah, that? Come on, Manager. How would I have the Pakator master's number?"
"What? Then what was all that just now?"
"A lie, obviously."
"What…?"
Park Choong-jae went blank.
And he wasn't alone. Everyone else in the deconstruction center stared at Choi Yeon with their mouths hanging open.
That was a lie?
"Hey, hey. Good thing he fell for it. What were you gonna do if it didn't work?"
"Then I'd have moved on to Plan B."
"You had a Plan B?"
"Yeah. Calling Heeseok hyung."
"……"
What kind of Plan B is that? That's just dumping the responsibility.
The same thought crossed everyone's mind.
Whether they thought it or not, Choi Yeon turned his gaze to the Red Silk Spiders.
"Manager Park. So those are ownerless now, right?"
"Pretty much…? That Yang Dae-geun bastard just left them all and walked out. Hah. The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is. A B-class Hunter, and that was the performance he put on…."
"Not every B-class Hunter is going to be as outstanding as Heeseok hyung, you know. Anyway—think I could take a few? For a team dinner."
"Ahh, now that's a fine idea. We ought to do the same. Hey, you lot—pull off some legs and take 'em home!"
With that, Park Choong-jae walked toward the spiders.
The Hunters who'd just scored dinner clenched their fists in triumph. They'd eaten spider legs to the point of boredom while hunting, but free was a different story entirely.
After all, wasn't the tastiest food the kind you got for free?
"Oh, right. Manager—toss me some of that coarse salt too."
"Take it, take it. We've got enough to open a salt farm with all that."
Park Choong-jae waved him off with a flap of his hand.
Choi Yeon smiled brightly.