The Guild Master's Disappearance
Upon entering Ifrit, Kang Hanbit decided to send his companions ahead first. He needed to quickly wrap up preparations for the city's defenses.
"Your Highness, could you pass on the Dwarf Blacksmithing right away?"
"Hm."
Gorik alternated his gaze between the heirloom in his hand and Kim Jaeha's face. Then he nodded shortly after.
"A promise is a promise. This one's got some potential, so he's not hopeless. I'll teach him our techniques."
"Ah......"
With those words, Kim Jaeha's eyes drifted off into empty space. Hanbit could guess why.
"Hidden quest popped up, right?"
"...Yeah. Never thought I'd actually see this."
A hidden skill quest had appeared, and his eyes widened. He'd scoured desperately for it in the past, never imagining he'd obtain it for real. A tangle of emotions churned inside him.
"Don't get too excited. You've only just earned the qualification."
Gorik grumbled like he was scolding him, but his true feelings were different. Only those deemed worthy could master the true techniques. The artisan's conviction had recognized Kim Jaeha.
"Hyung, prioritize getting that skill. Avant-garde, check on the dwarves' preparations."
"Got it."
"Understood!"
After everyone headed to their lodgings, Hanbit moved toward the guild with Zenon. First things first: clear the commission.
"Snow Drake. Found it."
Hanbit strode straight to the reception desk in the bustling guild. The staffer, Glingko, stared blankly at the dark blue scale fragment on the counter.
"No way......"
She was so stunned she could barely speak. Scratching her head in confusion, she snapped her gaze up to the adventurer before her.
"You actually found a real Snow Drake? That possible?"
"Proof's right here. Appraise it with the magic tool."
"That's the point! If you got the materials, you must've fought it head-on! I told you over and over—just scout, it's too dangerous!"
Glingko exploded at his nonchalant reply. She felt wronged by her past self, who'd warned him repeatedly. And with the monster wave that had just battered the walls, her sense of crisis was off the charts.
"In the end, we spotted it early, so that's good, right? Safe return's a solid achievement......"
"Zenon's the real problem! How could you betray my trust like that!"
"...Sorry."
-lololol he's shrinking back
-Snow Drake << Glingko
-Hierarchy established whoa
Zenon averted his eyes and apologized as Glingko vented her frustration. After a long sigh, she fetched the appraisal tool and examined the Snow Drake's reverse scale fragment. Moments later, she handed the dark blue scale back to Hanbit.
"Confirmed. Glad you're safe, at least. Though I'm more worried about what comes next."
The flow around Ifrit had grown even stranger after the monster wave. If the Snow Drake's emergence had triggered it, things were grave.
"So the guild's finally treating this as a serious issue?"
Zenon glanced around and asked. He was concerned about the guild's lukewarm attitude. Up till now, Master Jinook had bowed to his sister Firnen. Whether the Snow Drake's existence would change that was anyone's guess.
"...We'll make them. I'm planning to announce this, so the other adventurers will take it seriously."
The two monster waves that had just hit Ifrit. The soldiers and adventurers who'd endured them firsthand felt the unnatural threat deep in their bones.
Zenon sighed, hesitating a bit before asking another question.
"What about the citizens? They okay?"
"I just got the report, so details are fuzzy... but no word on civilian casualties. Rumors of the waves are probably spreading already, though."
Glingko added that the city's mood would shift. Ifrit's residents were far more steeped in peace than soldiers or adventurers. Once 'crisis' surfaced, their reactions would amplify.
Still not enough.
This was just the start of change. The key was the third monster wave. That's when the citizens would face reality amid shock and terror.
"Expect more waves. Let's prep well."
"Guild master and adventurers are out scouting, so we'll hear something soon. They should be heading back any minute......"
Bang-!
A loud crash echoed from the guild entrance. Heads turned as an adventurer panted heavily, shouting.
"Th-the guild master's missing!"
"...What?"
"The hell's that supposed to mean?"
The guild fell into chaos at the out-of-nowhere claim. The adventurer pressed on urgently.
"He's really gone! We searched the forest for hours—nothing!"
-?
-Why's the guild master missing?
-Did he run?
-Did he get got?
-Gimme the line.
-What do we do without guild master ;;
Viewers fired off doubts and skepticism. Hanbit felt the same.
...Jinook's missing?
No memory of this from any of his past cycles.
"The master's been kidnapped? Where?!"
Glingko leaped from behind the counter, shocked. Guild Master Jinook and 'missing'—the words didn't fit.
"Southeast... Ah!"
Glancing around, he rushed to the wall map.
"Here! Last sighting was around this area!"
The spot he pointed to was deep in the southeast forest. Unlike the snowy mountains, tall trees and thick underbrush made it treacherous.
"No one's seen him in three hours since we split! We swept this zone wide—no footprints, nothing!"
They'd gone outside to trace the wave's source, suspecting a clustered horde.
"The guild master's no easy prey. Even against absurd odds, he'd fight back. If we didn't hear it, he ran into something else entirely."
Zenon studied the map gravely. An A-rank adventurer like Jinook. Rank wasn't pure power, but he was the real deal—talent, instincts, achievements all proven young. His flaw? Not staying cool. He defaulted to brute force.
But this felt different.
No way... he went in there.
One suspicion clicked in Hanbit's mind. As Zenon said, someone like Jinook wouldn't fall to ambushes or traps. This wasn't disappearance—he'd chosen to vanish. Or rather, he'd found something.
"You the only one back?"
"The rest... still searching. I'm heading out again."
"Then let's form another search party."
"I'll round 'em up!"
Zenon and Glingko moved to organize. Hanbit spoke first.
"I'll go alone. Zenon, stay here."
"Pardon?"
"...Alone?!"
Everyone whipped around at the unexpected words. They needed more hands for the vast forest. Going solo sounded off.
"Didn't you hear? Even dozens or hundreds might not find him!"
"Exactly. Unless we drag in every citizen, numbers won't help much."
Hanbit shot back firmly at the frustrated adventurer. Zenon, watching, grew serious.
"You got a way?"
"Yes. So let me go alone. Fastest and safest."
"But......"
Even at Hanbit's plea, Zenon hesitated. He didn't doubt the Black Dragon who'd slain the Snow Drake. It was just guilt over foisting an Ifrit adventurer's duty onto him.
Reading that, Hanbit continued.
"I've got a separate favor for you, Zenon. Preps for the next wave."
"Pardon? What kind......"
"Better hear it direct. Dwarves are prepping now—swing by your place, then the north cabin."
"Pardon?"
"Worried about your daughter, right? Go see her."
"......!"
Zenon's eyes widened at the surprise. He hadn't checked on Nia yet amid his worries.
"...That obvious?"
"I was worried about her too. Especially now—better stick with her in the city."
-Nia's fine, right?
-Got a kid at home.
-Dad ㅠㅠ
He'd raced to Ifrit calling his daughter's name, heart full of worry. He'd stayed at the walls out of duty, but still.
"Go see her face at least. We'll talk cooperation after."
Hanbit delivered the message and headed out. Watching him go, Zenon clenched his fist.
"Truly... thank you."
***
Thud-!
Leaving the city, Hanbit dashed southeast through the forest. En route, he skimmed the floating messages.
[You have completed Main Quest #8.]
[Progress increased.]
[Main Quest #9: Missing]
Guild Master Jinook is missing.
Head to the scene quickly.
Objective: Find traces of Jinook.
Rewards: 200,000 gold, 80,000 EXP, 4 stat points
*Current progress: 73%
The message after hearing of Jinook's disappearance was clear. As a main quest, it tied into the core storyline. Which aligned perfectly with Hanbit's hunch.
Whoosh-!
Pressing on, he reached the target area swiftly.
"Huh?"
"What was that?"
Adventurers still combed the woods fruitlessly. Hanbit blew past them. He stopped where eight trees bent oddly.
Here's the tricky part.
He'd predicted how Jinook vanished. A nest lurked beneath the ground here. He'd gotten caught in the entrance rift's opening by chance. Unlike natural snowfields, this was man-made.
Shk-
Approaching the fifth tree, Hanbit drew his sword and crouched low. The moment he stabbed the ground near the roots—
Thud-!
The earth vanished beneath him, plunging his vision into darkness.