Iron Dragon Bang Taegeuk

They say a woman's transformation is innocent, right? Or maybe there's just a hair's breadth between genius and fool? Whatever it was, the woman standing before me was anything but normal.

Just moments ago, she'd been throwing a hysterical fit, then she'd shown a fragile, delicate side—only to snap right back into her leather artisan persona.

That didn't mean I'd gone soft because of her tears and forgiven her, though. If anything, her outburst had impressed me more.

'A true artisan needs that kind of pride.'

It was nothing like empty arrogance without the skills to back it up. Every time a butchering session rolled around, Ha Geonmin's mana levels ticked up bit by bit. That alone proved she had real talent.

She was more than qualified to run a leather workshop. Any gaps in her skills could be bridged with quests, no problem.

I forgave Ha Geonmin, and she immediately reverted to artisan mode, launching into a lesson on tanning.

"Tanning monster hides is different from regular leather. Normal tanning focuses on preservation, flexibility, porosity, water resistance, heat resistance, and so on. But with monster hides, you blend the hunter's mana with the inherent monster mana to boost the leather's defense and make it reactive to hunters' mana."

After covering the basics, she moved on to precautions.

"The key here is matching the amount of mana as closely as possible to the monster's. Too little, and the gear will suck up the hunter's mana when they use it. Too much, and the tissue breaks down, ripping the hide apart. Just like butchering, you have to sense the mana in the hide and inject exactly the right amount—that's the real trick."

Ha Geonmin kept stressing how tough it was, but to me, it looked easier than butchering.

This time, I jumped straight into practice again.

"Let's give it a shot right away."

"I'll join you."

Ha Geonmin's voice burned with determination, like she was dead set on reclaiming her shattered pride.

"Don't get cocky just because you nailed butchering. I'll show you what real tanning looks like."

She grabbed a butchered hide, fired up by her competitive spirit.

'Not even giving me tips this time? Haha.'

I barely held back a laugh. To her, I wasn't a student anymore—I was a rival.

'Might as well crush her properly while we're at it.'

From what I'd seen of her personality so far, putting her in her place would actually benefit us both in the long run. Since I had no intention of half-assing it anyway, this worked out perfectly. I picked up a hide.

'Clear as day again.'

The mana in the butchered hide stood out vividly, and I slowly infused my own mana.

The monster's mana and mine began blending, morphing into something new.

'Whoa—fascinating. What's causing this? She never mentioned mana fusing like this.'

No errors on my end ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠since I could feel the hide's mana perfectly. I finished tanning in under a minute.

When I looked up at Ha Geonmin, our eyes met—hers wide with shock. Her expression said it all, like voice chat without the words.

After a brief staring contest(?), she refocused and wrapped up after about five minutes. The smug smile on her face screamed victory...

Until it didn't.

"Wh-what? H-how? What the hell is this mana? I've never seen anything like it! What is this mana...?!"

While she freaked out again, I checked her tanned hide.

'The manas are separate. Not blended—more like just mixed together.'

The mana from her hide felt fundamentally different. Unlike mine, where the monster and my mana had fused into something entirely new, hers was just two distinct manas jumbled up. I could clearly sense both energies, imbalanced at about 6:4.

'Wonder how it stacks up against other leather gear.'

Ha Geonmin was already half out of her mind.

"How can some rich punk pull this off?"

"This doesn't make sense. Butchering like that, and tanning I've never even heard of."

"What is this mana in the hide? It's completely new."

"Even Hespera, the world's top leather artisan, couldn't do this."

"Who the hell are you?"

After muttering like a madwoman for a while, her eyes lit up with manic fervor as she stared at me. Then, in that frenzied state, she charged straight at me.

Startled by the sudden rush, I backed up and yanked out my sword.

"Wh-what the—?"

But Ha Geonmin ignored the blade entirely, dropping to her knees and grabbing my pant leg.

"P-please, teach me! I'll do anything. Just teach me, I beg you!"

"L-let go and talk! Let go!"

I yelled, desperately prying at her grip on my pants. Her frenzy had twisted into full-blown obsession.

"You drew that sword to teach me, right? So teach me! I'll do anything—just show me one move!"

This woman was clearly unhinged.

And right then, Jeonghun and Yeji walked in, fresh ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from finishing their dungeon quest. They froze at the sight of us.

"Hyung, I'm back. Uh? Oh... sorry. Keep doing... whatever. Call me when you're done."

Jeonghun slammed the door shut behind him.

"It's not what you think! Jeonghun! Not like that! Yeji-ssi, misunderstanding! And Geonmin-ssi, let go!"

⋯ ⋯ ⋯

"...And that's how it happened."

Ha Geonmin finished explaining and bowed her head deeply.

Yeji, having heard the full story, finally dropped her suspicion, her gaze softening ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠back to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠normal.

Jeonghun, who'd apparently heard of her before, suddenly remembered.

"Oh yeah! The leather maniac—uh, sorry. Leather... uh, no. Leather artisan Ha Geonmin."

"Yes, Leather Maniac Ha Geonmin. That's me."

Leather Maniac. The nickname fit her like a glove. Thinking back to her antics, nothing else could suit her better.

Owning up to her sins without protest, she bowed her head again. Yeji stared daggers at her, while Jeonghun grinned, glancing around at us all like it was the funniest thing ever.

The awkward silence stretched until I broke it with my decision.

"Since we're all here, let's talk. I'm forming a guild. You guys, plus Taeju hyung and Taehee noona."

"Finally decided? I'm in. With Daeju hyung and Taehee noona, it's like adding gold plating to gold."

Jeonghun jumped on board immediately.

"M-me too? D-did I hear that right? For real?"

Ha Geonmin's voice trembled with disbelief.

Yeji kept glaring holes into her.

"Geonmin-ssi, you'll be registered provisionally for now. Don't worry—provisional doesn't mean discrimination or anything."

She jolted at "provisional" but relaxed at the follow-up.

"For now, Jeonghun and Yeji-ssi keep raiding dungeons. Geonmin-ssi, practice butchering and tanning here. I'll help."

Just hours after our lesson started, teacher and student roles had flipped—but Ha Geonmin showed no trace of resentment. If anything, she was thrilled at the chance to learn from me.

"I'll visit Taeju hyung and Taehee noona tomorrow and..."

Right as I was about to continue, a booming voice echoed from the first floor, shaking the whole building.

"Ha Yeji! I'm here. I know you're in there. Stop hiding and accept my love!"

"Guild name... Accept My Love? What the hell?"

My words tangled at the sudden intrusion. The moment she heard it, Yeji started trembling, gripped her greatbow tight, and bolted outside.

Jeonghun sighed and followed.

"Hyung, be right back. I'll explain after."

I stared blankly at their hasty exit, then chased after. Ha Geonmin, not wanting to be left alone, trailed right behind.

Bang.

Bang.

"Hahaha! Yeji, your arrows burn as hot as my love. No one else in this world can take them but me—so accept my love already!"

Down on the first floor: Yeji gritting her teeth and loosing arrows; a giant of a man blocking them effortlessly with dual massive shields; and Jeonghun trying to hold Yeji back.

I gawked at the farce until a name popped into my head.

"Iron Dragon Bang Taegeuk."

And his infamous nickname hit me too.

"Lover Boy—no, Bow Dragon Stalker Bang Tae..."

Damn it. How had I missed this?

I should've remembered the day Jeonghun brought Yeji. That nagging feeling something was off—I should've connected the dots.

Iron Dragon Bang Taegeuk. One of the Five Dragons like Jeonghun and Yeji, famed as a tanker wielding twin shields.

As his name implied, he boasted ironclad physique and absurd defense.

Bang Taegeuk's true power was leagues above Jeonghun or Yeji. You could tell just watching him toy with her full-power shots, grinning all the while. A true Iron Dragon.

The Five Dragons title originally started with him among them. Later, another joined, then Yeji, with Jeonghun last.

Considering the decade between Jeonghun and Bang Taegeuk, the skill gap was inevitable.

Especially since Jeonghun earned his spot on talent alone, while Bang Taegeuk claimed the dragon title first through sheer prowess.

True to form, time passed and the situation only worsened. Yeji's attacks grew more savage in response to his antics, and I knew I couldn't stand by.

"Everyone, stop!"

BOOM.

My shout fell on deaf ears. Finally, Yeji's shot cratered the road.

Her eyes half-rolled back, she kept nocking arrows nonstop. Bang Taegeuk egged her on with nonstop nonsense, like he was teasing her. Jeonghun struggled to restrain her, but she was too far gone.

'Damn, this could get ugly for real.'

In the old days, wedging between those two would've been suicide. But not now.

With my boosted stats and Swiftness, I could subdue Yeji while Bang Taegeuk was distracted. Add potions, and it was a sure thing.

I downed a strength enhancement potion and a speed boost potion, watching closely.

No alert popped up like with Jeonghun, but the effects felt about the same.

While tracking Yeji's every move, the opening came: she drew her bowstring, paused briefly, then released.

Big attacks leave big openings.

I activated Swiftness, zipped behind her, grabbed her waist, and tossed her back inside the building through the open door.

No harm intended, so she landed safely. Yeji quickly reset her stance to charge back out.

I blocked the entrance and snapped at her firmly.

"Ha Yeji, enough! What if you hurt bystanders?"

She trembled with frustration but didn't go berserk like before.

Turning, I shouted at Bang Taegeuk.

"Iron Dragon-nim, stand down and leave. This is your warning. As Support Guild's guild master, I won't tolerate harassment of my guild members anymore."

But my warning bounced right off. Eyes half-mad, he bellowed at me and charged terrifyingly fast.

"H-how dare you. You threw my Yeji? Laid violent hands on that delicate girl? Unforgivable. And for touching her waist—something even I haven't done—prepare to die."

Bang Taegeuk rushed me with genuine fury and blinding speed, but I wasn't scared. A smile crept onto my lips.

The moment he stepped onto the sidewalk in front of the building...

When I bought the building, the property included the sidewalk out front. And now it was confirmed: the land itself was part of the NPC Hideout.

To be continued in the next chapter...

The Hunter Who Awakened as an NPC