Raid Team Establishment 3
Just a few days after posting the raid team recruitment notice, over 300 applicants had already signed up. I hurriedly gathered the guild members to come up with a plan.
If this momentum continued until the deadline, we'd easily surpass two thousand. But the problem wasn't just the numbers—it was the caliber of the applicants.
"Choi Taesu? The Brain Emperor actually applied?"
"Kang Tae-hoon? N-no way, not that guy I know, right? And Park Chan-yeol... no way? Why did both the guild master and vice-guild master of Elysion Guild apply?"
Kang Jeonghun kept letting out exclamations as he reviewed the applications, and the others were no different.
"It's not about who to pick—it's gonna be harder deciding who to cut." Seo Taeju shook his head with a wry smile as he set down the application.
"Why not just take them all and run multiple raid teams? It'd be a shame to drop anyone."
Seo Taeju perked up at Ha Geonmin's suggestion. "Ooh, that's a great idea. We've already got enough for two main raid teams from the Five Great Guilds, and with more coming in... it'd be massive. What do you think, Guild Master?"
I gave a bitter smile at his question, but Seo Taehee stepped in for me.
"The Guild Master already said 30 is the limit last time. More than that, and potion distribution becomes impossible. Did you boil and eat crow meat or something? Are you just a bream head?"
"Hey, what's with the bream head crap again? I was just speaking hypothetically. When did I say we should actually take everyone? Ow! Stop hitting me. Your constant beatings are killing my memory. Ah, stop! I said sorry, so quit it already..."
For a moment, it looked like Taeju might rebel, but he quickly folded under Taehee's onslaught, and we got back on track.
"As you can see, there are too many to pick all at once. We need to do preliminary screening first. For the first round, let's pass as many as we want, no limits."
I'd expected a lot of applicants, but not this explosive. And beyond the sheer volume, the quality shocked me even more. Over 50 from the main raid teams of the Five Great Guilds alone—not to mention the Brain Emperor. Then Kang Tae-hoon and Park Chan-yeol on top of that. The impact was beyond imagination.
What the hell are they thinking?
I couldn't fathom why they'd submitted applications. And I had no idea how to handle them yet. On pure skill, they'd pass in a heartbeat, but external factors made me hesitate.
Guess I'll talk to them directly later.
I set aside thoughts of Kang Tae-hoon and Park Chan-yeol for now and dove into the first round selections.
"Kim Tae-kyung. His skills are top-notch, no question, but his reputation's bad. Even in Red Blood Guild, he's known as a troublemaker."
"Cut him then. No need to pick problematic hunters when we've got this many."
I nodded at Taeju's words and told him to drop it.
"Guild Master, this guy Shin Sang-min—I raided with him before joining the guild. His current stats are a bit low, but his combat sense is exceptional."
Bang Taegeuk rarely praised anyone, so I added Shin Sang-min's application to the pass list. "Pass him for round one, then we'll check him properly in the interview."
"As I mentioned, the final list will go through another verification by Bureau Chief Lee Musin. So pick freely until then. Taegeuk, Iron Dragon, Jeonghun, Yeji—don't hold back. If anyone seems off, say it right away. Even if it's the Brain Emperor himself, I won't accept them if you reject. Remember: you all come first to me."
Their eyes lit up—not just Bang Taegeuk, Jeonghun, and Yeji, but the whole guild. I quickly changed the subject.
"Jeonghun, you know this guy? Yi Myung-hoon from Emperor Guild..."
"Whoa! Over 300 again?"
With the guild's help, we'd narrowed the initial 300+ down to 70 first-round passes that afternoon. Among them were main raid hunters from the Five Great Guilds and promising stars from mid-sized guilds.
After a grueling three-hour debate, we'd finalized the list—only for nighttime to bring another 300+.
And it wasn't even midnight yet. Factoring in dawn and morning rushes, we'd have even more to review than today. Joy and dread mixed in equal measure.
"This for five straight days, huh?"
The real issue: after five days, we'd reconvene the passes for another cut. That round would be chaos compared to today—interviews likely, given how hard it'd be to pick from resumes alone. And for huge numbers.
Today alone, out of 70 passes, only two screamed "final pick": Choi Taesu and Park Hyung-su, Elysion's main healer and Korea's top healer.
No one else was lacking, and dropping anyone felt unfair. No clear decisions.
Wait, this feels familiar somehow. What was it? Oh...!
A old dream flashed back—the one from the day I awakened as a hunter. I'd failed an interview and vented by rejecting hordes of applicants in the dream.
What, dreams come true or some bullshit?
Dismissing the absurdity, I started sorting papers when an inexplicable eerie aura prickled.
Focusing, I sensed faint mana in the air.
What the—?
I instantly shaped my NPC all-purpose tool into a mana blade, gripping it tight. Ready to draw at any second, I rose slowly.
What's going on?
Something was definitely happening—no NPC alert, so no direct threat yet.
To lure out whoever it was, I moved to the room's center, stretching casually, loosening up to show openings.
I gave ample chances, but no reaction. The mana faded completely.
What the hell? Wait—the others.
Worried the intruder might switch targets, I bolted from the room toward my comrades.
Damn it! Even if it's Shigeru's orders, sending me to kidnap some production-class hunter? A measly Chosunjin at that.
Otomo Shota seethed at Gokubo's command. The previous chief, Takuuji, never would've saddled him with this.
Takuuji, from the neutral faction, treated subordinates fairly by merit. But Gokubo, of Iga, treated Koga ninjas like Shota with contempt.
Case in point: sending Koga's next chief for a single Chosunjin producer kidnap.
Low-level grunts could've handled it.
Kim Suho. This is all because of you filthy Chosunjin.
Furious at Gokubo but unable to refuse—lest he use it to pressure Koga—Shota vowed perfect execution.
He redirected his rage at Kim Suho, scrapping any "clean" kidnap plan.
Couldn't mutilate limbs, but pain? Plenty of ways.
By arrival in Korea, rage cooled to cold focus. Human emotion vanished; only the ninja remained.
Waiting for nightfall, he infiltrated the building once dark.
Target confirmed on the 7th floor. No hesitation—he moved.
Perfectly in position on the ceiling, overlooking the target.
This loser made me move?
Absurd, staring blankly at papers. Enraging that he warranted Shota's presence.
Resentment boiled—his stealth flickered briefly.
Shit.
An amateur mistake. First ever on mission.
But momentary; target too dull to notice.
Mission first.
Clearing thoughts, refocus—
Someone's here.
His mana web pinged. (Mana web: skill spreading mana like spider silk to detect reactions—great for traps, hidden monsters/hunters.)
First ping as he lunged: from the floor, diagonally opposite across from target.
Imprecise due to target interference, but definitely hidden there.
Bodyguard? What the hell are you, Kim Suho?
Not someone he'd miss—same level at least. Guard prioritized target's safety.
Shota's error: fixated on target, missed guard.
But guard sensed intrusion, stayed hidden sans exact location.
Revealed now to pressure as Shota lunged.
Interesting. Didn't expect a real opponent here.
Blood chilled thrillingly—senses sharpened, as always when excited.
Key to his top ninja status post-awakening.
Guard first.
Same level confirmed—priorities shift. Can't kidnap without neutralizing.
No other reactions: solo guard.
One-shot him, then snatch target.
Shota melted into shadows with Assimilation, deploying mana mist (mana web variant: fog-like for precise tracking, mana-heavy/narrow but ideal in confines).
Mist confirmed no foe—he crept, sloth-slow.
First to spot wins against equal.
Mist pinged foe + sticky mana on palm.
Gotcha.
Position exposed too—but as he surged—target rose suddenly.
*Cough.*
Force-stopped power tangled mana; blood surged up.
Damn.
Swallowing blood, untangling—senses maxed for attack.
None came.
Target paced like a madman—Shota seized chance to recover.
No attack during fix; target kept crazy act.
Foe likely stunned by sudden move.
Typical: ignore guards, do whatever.
Luckily bought time.
Still there. Right where I caught him.
Instinct screamed it, even sans mist.
This range: motion detectable sans mist.
Nothing? Definitely still.
Shota relaxed, waited. Ignored target now—state imperfect; multitasking fatal.
Move. Your charge is losing it.
All senses on guard—then target bolted out the door.
Now!
Guard sure distracted—Shota reignited power surge, rocketing at guard.
Trap?
Guard attacked him instead.
Think a Koga master's flesh-law fears your pathetic strike? Give flesh, take bone!
Teeth gritted, twisted past incoming blade—countered.
But foe chose same.
Blades grazed; mutual stabs.
*Grk.*
Foe's sword gashed shoulder deep. Foe comparably wounded.
Could've secret-killed now—but Shota fled building.
Learned guard's identity mid-clash.
Impossible. Why's Byakuya Clan here? Must report to Gokubo now.
To be continued in the next chapter... The Hunter Who Awakened as an NPC