These Guys Are C-Rank?
North Pocheon Gate 6.
One of the seven checkpoints along the barbed-wire fence dividing northern and southern Pocheon, this gate sat along National Route 387 leading to Sanjeong Lake.
It was usually so desolate that spiderwebs and weeds were the only things thriving there, but today was different.
The biggest crowd since the old North Pocheon residents had evacuated south. If anything, it buzzed more than when tourists flocked to Sanjeong Lake as a scenic spot.
"Whoa! This is a special activity zone? Looks more like a theme park entrance!"
Amid the rowdy throng, freelance hunter Seo Su-ji gawked around in wide-eyed surprise.
She'd visited a few times as a rookie hunter, but back then it was treated like an abandoned hunting ground. At best, newbies used it to get their feet wet or guilds brought prospects for team-building OT.
But today, hunters overflowed around the gate. And plenty of civilians too. Everyone was busy snapping commemorative photos with the gate as a backdrop.
Flanking the gate were street vendors hawking snacks and stalls selling souvenirs. Crowds swarmed them, turning every spot into a sea of people.
What caught Seo Su-ji's eye most was the massive billboard towering behind the gate fence.
Veteran Hunters' Excellent Choice: 'Hanul'. Hongik Workshop.
Optimized Cocktail Potions? Hanju All the Way. Hanju Chemical.
Guilds Know It. Hunters Know It. Why Taeseong Gear is the Best.
"Whoa, even the hunter world gets baptized by capitalism now?"
"Like this biz ever ran without money."
"Uncle Tae-jin!"
Seo Su-ji greeted the middle-aged man who'd latched onto her comment.
"Why're you so late?"
"Traffic was worse than I thought. First time seeing this many cars in Pocheon."
"Told you to leave early. Even if we can't scout, we gotta get here ahead to feel out the vibe."
"Can't enter before opening anyway. Vibe check for what? We're not teaming up with other parties."
"Always so laid-back. Where's Cheol-jin oppa?"
"Dunno. Sounded like he was hauling ass when we talked last night. A hunter wouldn't pass out drunk. Should be here by now, right?"
"These guys... Drinking before a hunt? Ugh, whatever. If it weren't for that Gangbyeonbukro connection, I'd have jumped ship ages ago."
Seo Su-ji recalled how the party first formed.
Hunters thrown together by a sudden gate outbreak on Gangbyeonbukro.
Back then, there were two more besides the current crew.
One was a solid mid-tier guild hunter who couldn't join. The other wasn't a hunter at all.
'Team Leader Kang Moo-hyuk. Nah, Guild Leader now, right? Hope he's doing well. Duh, better than me. Hottest name in the game these days.'
She'd been intimidated by his Titan strategic team lead title back then, but not envious.
Why?
Because he wasn't a hunter.
Non-hunters had limits in this world—that was her take. She'd figured the team lead spot was just luck.
She'd followed his orders in the panic of the outbreak but secretly looked down on him for being non-hunter.
'And now that non-hunter's the biggest shot around. Haha...'
Post-Gangbyeonbukro, Kang Moo-hyuk became leader of Joo Se-ah's guild. They'd even cleared a war-scale raid, making Iron Will Korea's hottest guild.
Seo Su-ji had her eye on them too. Naturally, North Pocheon special zone caught her interest. And now this unheard-of Hunter Village hunting service? No way she was missing it.
"Alright, reservation time's coming up. Let's hit the shuttle bus."
"Speaking of, what would've you done without me? You said you'd handle it, then forgot. Lucky I registered right before cutoff. Would've been sucking our thumbs. Good thing it's lottery, not first-come."
"Wait'll you hit my age. Memory slips even if you didn't have it before."
"Not like it's vitamins you gotta remember to forget."
Chatting about holiday downtime gossip, they headed to the stop.
Luckily, Lee Cheol-jin was there on time, his gear at the end of the line of suitcases queued before the buses.
He waved when he spotted Seo Su-ji and Yu Tae-jin.
"Took you long enough. Where've you been?"
"Got here first. My stuff's up front."
"Mine too."
"Haha, I'm the late one? Sorry, sorry. But we made it with time to spare?"
"Was gonna grab early dinner... Sniff sniff! What reeks? Phew, booze. How much'd you drink? Liver's gonna rot. Told you to lay off before a hunt. You bastard!"
Seo Su-ji smacked his back while scolding. Lee Cheol-jin tensed and recoiled.
"Ow ow ow! Why's a girl got hands like that?!"
"Wha, blocking? Oh, pulling skills now?"
"You didn't use mana, but that was full-force. Save the bow-pull strength. Would've snapped a civvy's spine."
"Spare the rod, spoil the child."
"Hey, you think I drank for fun? Year-end's off-season. But with Christmas right before kickoff, had to push all the booze dates forward. Class reunions too."
"Mr. Popular, huh? All those drinking plans?"
"Connections matter in this game. Show face now, snag extra hunts later. Gotta have backups if a party member flakes."
"Where's there left to sink? Nurture what networks you got. Before I bail for real."
"Hey hey, lovers' quarrel over. They're loading bags on that bus. They'll leave us."
Yu Tae-jin stepped in. Both snapped back at once, displeased.
"Who're the lovers?!"
"He's not my type, hyung."
"Like you know mine?"
"Ow! Don't pinch with your bow hand. Gorilla grip much?"
"Gorilla? Wanna see some flesh-ripping?"
Bickering resumed.
Yu Tae-jin shook his head, grabbed his suitcase, and left them to it.
Once bags were loaded, folks mobbed the bus doors. Iron Will staff lined up before the buses, shouting.
"We'll check IDs and reservations. Civilians: resident ID or license. Hunters: hunter license only. Have 'em ready for smooth processing."
Boarding was strict. North Pocheon entry was reservation-only, real-name basis. Parties could register as a unit under the leader.
Seo Su-ji's group joined the queue.
Then.
Thud!
"Hey!"
Someone cut in, shoulder-checking her.
Seo Su-ji scowled.
Her shoulder stung—definitely no civvy. Hunters crowded the place, but who'd cut in?
Another hunter cutting? Straight-up disrespect.
She grabbed the intruder's shoulder and spun them. Under the hood, a pretty but grimy face appeared.
'What? Face like she hasn't washed in days. Fresh from a hunt?'
Dirty look was bad enough, but the stench...
Seo Su-ji masked her flinch and confronted.
"Hey. Line properly."
"S-sorry. In a h-hurry."
"Your speech... You from the North?"
"Th-that's... Anyway, sorry for cutting."
The woman cut off and fled.
With the target gone, fuming Seo Su-ji awkwardly scratched her head.
"Just peaces out? Leaves me looking like the jerk."
"Weird. What's a North Korean doing here?"
Yu Tae-jin tilted his head as the dialect-speaking woman vanished.
Seo Su-ji shot him a glare.
"Old habits die hard, huh? 'North Korean' this, 'North Korean' that. It's been unified forever. Discriminatory much?"
"Not discrimination. Just stuck from childhood talk."
"Stranger'd think there's decades between us."
"Back in my day, everyone called it North Korea. You gate-era kids wouldn't get it."
Seo Su-ji nodded at Yu Tae-jin's words.
Mid-20s her and late-30s him—belt-generations-plus gap, sure. But worlds apart generationally.
Born late in the Great Gate War, he'd kidded through North Korea's collapse chaos. Faint memories of pre-unification Korea.
"But why's a Northerner hunter weird?"
"Ever seen one from the old North?"
"Yalu River defense ops, couple times?"
"Down south."
"Hmm... Kinda blanking. Why?"
"Post-war, North hunters rebelled once. Got crushed. Haven't come south of Pyongyang much since. Few left anyway, 'cept new awakenees."
"Oh yeah, Hunter History class. They fled to China?"
Lee Cheol-jin chimed in knowingly. Yu Tae-jin elaborated.
"Tons switched nationalities post-war—nothing special. But North ones? Basically exiles."
"Why exile? Korea's great."
"They had beef. Coup flop, had to bolt. Survivors lay low."
"Ancient history."
"Twisty history like ours doesn't forgive coup tries. Plus, nations falling left and right back then—sensitive. Stains stick. Dirty looks aside, gov discriminated. Talented North hunters couldn't hack it. Labeled potential criminals."
"Ugh, dunno. Barely passed Hunter History. Hate headaches."
"Hunters need basics in their heads."
Lee Cheol-jin tsked. Seo Su-ji plugged her ears at the bore.
Their turn came amid the chat.
ID check passed, they boarded. Soon, engine rumble hit—thicker than normal buses.
Civs buzzed, peering out windows. Hunters shifted uncomfortably.
"Mana cartridge rides suck."
"Complain later? Blessed to bus in a special zone. Jirisan's on shank's mare."
"Why I hate special zones. Haul gear in, haul loot out on back. Need rank-up for proper raid party. Porters at least."
Grumbling at Lee Cheol-jin's nag, Seo Su-ji gazed out.
Traffic cops managed tourist-choked roads. Gate opened; bus entered the zone.
Felt like venturing into the unknown. She'd entered gates with raid guilds—same thrill as her first.
Bus accelerated. Something paced alongside.
"Monster!"
Seo Su-ji jolted.
A "Sawbeak Ostrich." Bird monster ostrich-like, named for saw-edged beak.
Not tough, but speedy legs and steel-cutting beak were threats.
"Bus'll get sliced. Gotta handle it?"
Yu Tae-jin patted her, pointing behind the ostrich.
"Look."
Thick brush parted. Two shadows emerged, closing fast.
"Wolves...? Riders?"
"Iron Will's Rider Wolves, probably. Slicker than I thought."
Civs whipped out phones, but no dice—machines failed inside. Hunter Village's anti-mana zone envy hit.
As they lamented, one Rider Wolf leaped, slamming the ostrich's tail.
Ostrich tumbled. A beat later, a hunter's sword flashed from the second wolf.
Ostrich head sailed as it rose.
Done.
Lightning-fast.
Civ passengers cheered in awe. Hunters inwardly sighed.
"Whoa, insta-kill..."
"Reality check. Wasn't even mana sword. Just wolf speed."
"Dunno rank, but Rider Wolves rock."
Other hunters mirrored Seo Su-ji's party's reaction.
The killer Rider Wolf pulled bus-side, waved coolly, then peeled back. Relay wolf-riders took over escort.
"These guys are C-rank? Could pass for A."
Awe at the Rider Wolves erased Iron Will's C-rank image from hunters' minds.
* * *
"Thanks for the help. We'll send data from end of next month."
Kang Moo-hyuk ended the call with Alex and turned to the window.
A middle-aged man with gold glasses and a hooked nose sipped tea, gazing out.
"Sorry, Director. Union contact couldn't wait."
"No issue. Iron Will-union ties matter to gov too. Handle promptly."
Guild Cooperation Director Cha Gil-ju usually phoned, but today visited Iron Will HQ.
Serious business.
Kang Moo-hyuk guessed it.
'Russia thing?'
He played dumb, shifting topics.
"Was gonna invite you anyway. Finally set up initial biz model from our first meet. No chance till now. Since you're here, tour Hunter Village before you go."
"Later. Need to confirm something urgent."
"Warrants a visit... What?"
"Vladivostok progress report. Some gaps."
"Hmm. Gaps?"
He feigned confusion, but Cha Gil-ju pressed.
"Joo Se-ah GM assaulted during smuggling. Gap before linking with you."
"Harbor join, then vehicle. What's odd?"
"Russia has our intel assets, even if weaker. Knew two captured by Tyrun in Upu Mangbau raid joined. Tyrun wouldn't release free. So, between assault and raid, you negotiated with Tyrun... No mention."
Kang Moo-hyuk pegged the suspicion's start.
"My separate request piqued curiosity? Went full NIS on Vladivostok."
"Makyung too. Always watch northern defenses yearly. But sudden 'eye Russia' links to this."
"As I said, Tyrun's why for Makyung watch. Ties soured. Vice-master Darden maybe fine, but Tyrant's emotional—could lash out. Border areas at risk. Preempting that."
"That's the issue. Normally, I'd overlook. We gain much; no harm to nation, no digging."
Kang Moo-hyuk hardened at Cha Gil-ju's implication.
"Not normal."
"Yes. Chinese and Russian hunters flooding Makyung. Far more than usual. Tied to your 'what if,' or coincidence? Checking."