Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Assassins' Assault
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Yong-un and Sword Tiger, who had swept through not just the World Tournament but even the rankings battles, had already become heroes in Korea.
Even before their return, the guilds they belonged to were already enjoying their golden age.
From Garosu Guild, where Sword Tiger was affiliated, to Unwoo Guild, where Yong-un belonged.
The offices of each guild were swamped with reporters, advertising deals, and hunter contracts, leaving them no time to breathe as they hustled through the day.
Unwoo Guild, which had no prior experience with this, was especially overwhelmed.
"Agh, I'm dying here."
"At this rate, maybe you guys can skip morning training?"
Including Unwoo Guild Master Kim Jin-cheol sprawled on the sofa, Myung-un, and tanker Kim Jang-han.
The three executives shot up indignantly at one guild member's remark.
"What nonsense! You wouldn't get it. After that training, our bodies feel so much lighter."
"Lighter my ass. You've been too busy to even run gates, let alone fight."
"Anyway, you wouldn't understand. We're never giving it up. Never!"
They had mastered the way to surpass their limits and grow stronger.
Even without Yong-un, they would continue this training on their own.
The thrill of surpassing yesterday's self.
They couldn't give up that rush.
"By the way, Myung-un. Your brother is insane. Not just S-Rank... but cracking the rankings..."
"And that's not all? He took down five of those ranking monsters in a single day. That's a whole different league."
When facing even one would be shocking, taking out five in one day.
Yong-un's unprecedented feats were shaking the world—and even Unwoo Guild, where he belonged.
How could anyone not be amazed?
Any hunter would feel their heart race at Yong-un's exploits.
"To think a brother like that is in our guild... I'm so glad I stuck with Unwoo Guild."
"Damn right. How would we handle all this without you?"
At Guild Master Kim Jin-cheol's words, the other guild members burst into laughter.
"Heh."
Jin-cheol let out a chuckle at the guild members laughing heartily.
It really felt like a dream.
From a dispatch target to one of Korea's top five reserve guilds.
And from a tiny guild with barely over ten members to receiving a hundred hunter contracts a day from those clamoring to join Unwoo Guild.
If this was a dream, it was one he never wanted to wake from.
"Hahaha!"
He wanted to keep watching over their genuine joy bubbling over.
He yearned to grow the guild even bigger, to make Unwoo Guild—the one they'd built together—the very best.
"Tomorrow, right?"
Tomorrow, Yong-un would finish his final ranking battle and return.
Brandishing the blue emerald license proving he was a true S-Rank monster in the rankings.
"Hurry back."
Jin-cheol flashed a broad smile, gazing at the moon outside the window as he clenched his fist.
Bam!
But their happiness and laughter didn't last long.
Just as smiles and joy filled the office and spilled outside.
The firmly shut steel door of the office began to crack their bliss with a massive thud.
"What the—?"
Bam! Bam! Boom!
The closed steel door crumpled and shattered.
The door flew forward, slamming into the office wall, shaking the entire building.
"W-What?!"
As Unwoo Guild members scrambled for their weapons.
Strange figures in dark blue masks poured through the forced-open door.
"Block them!"
The intruders, their bodies wrapped in dark blue cloth except for their eyes.
Unwoo Guild members urgently drew up mana and clashed weapons with the approaching foes.
As Jin-cheol summoned mana to activate a skill, his eyes caught the crescent moon emblem on their masks.
The symbol of the Slaughter Society.
Infamous as the worst scum among Korea's guilds.
Yong-un and Sword Tiger returned to the hotel.
In a single day, Yong-un had surpassed the 8th-ranked Sky Dragon, taking down the 7th-ranked Archmage and the 6th-ranked Earth Dragon to claim 6th in the rankings.
This display of raw power, unlike the World Tournament, set the hotel room ablaze with excitement.
Yong-un frowned at the even noisier commotion outside the door compared to the tournament.
"Should've just taken longer and wrapped it all up in one day."
"Still, it'll end by tomorrow morning. Only the 5th-ranked Gold Cat left—a few hours at most."
"Why skip the 4th?"
Sword Tiger jumped in surprise at Yong-un's words, waving his hands frantically.
"Hey, don't tease. I'd never fight my master. I'd forfeit first."
"Tsk tsk. You won't even say you'll surpass your teacher, even on pain of death."
"Heh heh, there are mountains to climb and mountains not to touch. I know my place, so I'll live long."
"Lame."
Yong-un chuckled softly.
Sword Tiger smiled alongside him and stood by Yong-un's side as he gazed out the window.
"Hah, it really feels like a dream. Us S-Ranks in the world rankings... Korea must be going wild."
It would be quite the uproar.
With absolute experts recognized worldwide appearing in their faction, it couldn't possibly be quiet.
But amid the expected massive cheers.
An eerie silence and calm prickled Yong-un's senses.
"It's chaotic, sure, but strangely peaceful."
"Peace is good. Better than noise."
Immersed in the moment, Sword Tiger closed his eyes, savoring the happiness, oblivious to Yong-un's unease.
But there's an old saying.
"Know the calm before the storm?"
"Yeah. The night before a storm is quiet and still, right?"
"Doesn't it feel like we might be in one right now?"
"Nah, no way."
Speak of the tiger, and it appears.
As if proving the calm before the storm, the hotel door opened, and a GHO hunter shouted inside.
"Do you know someone named Myung-su?"
"Myung-su?"
"Yes. Was gonna turn him away, but he seemed really serious..."
"Let him in."
"Go ahead."
At the GHO hunter's words, Myung-su rushed into the hotel room.
With a grave expression, he said,
"Straight to the point. Unwoo Guild has suffered major damage."
The calm before the storm.
The silence shattered as the sleeping dragon stirred.
Flash.
Yong-un's crimson eyes blazed, filling the entire hotel room.
"Myung-un?"
"You need to go see. I don't have confirmed details on the damage... but there are casualties..."
"Master?"
The word "casualties" ignited Yong-un's fury.
Ignoring Sword Tiger's worried voice and expression, Yong-un headed to the balcony.
He stepped onto the threshold and declared,
"Those who dared draw blades against me first... none shall survive."
"Master!? I'll come with you!"
"Stay here. I'll return before your eyes can follow."
"Yong-un?"
Myung-su reached out toward Yong-un.
Yong-un glanced back at Myung-su and said quietly,
"Sorry. I repay blows twofold. Handle the aftermath for me."
"W-Wait. Yong-un?"
Thud!
Myung-su's final words didn't reach Yong-un.
His figure had already leaped from the balcony threshold, slicing through the sky and vanishing.
"Urk..."
"H-Hang in there... please."
The Unwoo Guild office, once brimming with positive energy, was now drenched in blood.
The floor was littered with the severely wounded and corpses, including Unwoo Guild members.
Jin-cheol pressed down on a guild member's abdomen as they vomited blood.
But with the wound pierced through by a blade, recovery looked difficult.
"Support has arrived. We'll handle transport from here. Those still here, please step aside."
At the paramedic's order, Jin-cheol released the wound and moved to the corner.
The arriving paramedics began carrying out the fallen one by one.
"Haa..."
What the hell had happened?
They had somehow fended off the Slaughter Society assassins.
But in the process, Jin-cheol had witnessed his few guild members collapsing.
Only now, with paramedics handling cleanup, did Jin-cheol survey the surviving guild members.
"Wait, Myung-un. Where's Myung-un?"
That's when Jin-cheol realized one guild member was missing from the fallen and survivors.
Myung-un, one of the executives.
At that moment.
The chaos wasn't limited to Unwoo Guild.
A scene from hell was unfolding in the alley before Yong-un and Myung-un's house.
Unlike the guild office, the alley's inferno hadn't ended yet.
Blood splattered around, several people down like the dead.
A group blocking the door, and Slaughter Society assassins in dark blue masks trying to pass.
They glared, weapons pointed at each other.
"Didn't expect Garosu Guild to be here."
After a long standoff, one Slaughter Society assassin spoke.
The Garosu Guild hunter guarding the door scowled.
"Didn't expect Slaughter Society either."
"We take contracts and fulfill them. You're not our target. Move."
"Sorry, we have a duty to hold this place. Come closer. I'll make you like your buddies."
Before leaving, on Sword Tiger's orders, Casting Director had turned this into a fortress.
Even among the four major guilds' Garosu Guild, Casting Director was elite.
No Garosu Guild members among the fallen on the ground.
All were Slaughter Society assassins felled by Casting Director's sword.
Feeling his strength, perhaps.
The assassins exchanged glances and shook their heads.
"If we'd known Garosu was involved, we'd have charged more and brought a first-class assassin."
"And now?"
"Retreat. Revise the contract and proceed again."
Proceed again.
Even with Garosu right there, the assassin spoke boldly.
"One step back."
At the assassin's word, those readying for battle all withdrew.
Casting Director raised his mana-infused sword and shouted,
"You know we're Garosu Guild and still plan to come back? Slaughter Society's gotten bold."
"You can't even touch our shadow."
"We'll exterminate Slaughter Society."
"Even the Hunter Management Agency can't... hilarious."
"Peel away the shell, and the truth emerges eventually."
"We have no truth. Let us show you the fear of the intangible."
The assassin lowered his blade knuckles and backed away slowly.
Seemingly the leader, as the others followed suit.
"Then we'll start by taking you down. Get 'em!"
"Get 'em!"
At Casting Director's command, Garosu Guild members charged the assassins.
The assassin leader smirked and bellowed,
"Retreat. Deploy the first-class assassin nearby immediately."
"First-class assassin?" The charging guild members' eyes widened.
"Not worth the cost."
"Doesn't matter. Proceed first, report later. They won't skimp on payment anyway."
"Then?"
"Retreat for now!"
At the leader's words, the assassins nodded slightly.
Then, as if mocking the charging guild members, they scattered in perfect formation.
Their assassin speed and rooftop agility turned the guild members into dogs chasing chickens.
They looked anxiously at Casting Director.
"Director?"
"Request backup from the guild, fast."
"But..."
"I know. Their reinforcements will arrive before ours... But we have no choice! We'll hold until help comes."
Casting Director grimaced, staring at the sky.
A clash between Garosu Guild—one of Korea's four majors—and the elusive Slaughter Society that even the Hunter Management Agency couldn't catch.
Biting his lip at the cloudless, clear night sky.
"Somehow..."
Tonight wouldn't pass easily.
At the edge of the clear night sky, dark clouds slowly began to veil the moon.
Enormous clouds gradually obscuring the crescent moonlight.