Don't Think You Can Settle This Cheaply
Kang Moo-hyuk headed from Hangang Bridge toward Dongjak Bridge.
Across the road, Ichon Hangang Park came into view.
In the center stood the towering Arch of Triumph.
The red glow from the gate grew thicker, eventually spewing out black darkness. It was an ominous sight.
Ichon Hangang Park gate—Blue 1 grade, right? The Twins Guild brothers snagged the raid rights. They had more than enough capacity to close it. So why couldn't they clear it in time?
Ichon wasn't far from Yeouido, so Kang Moo-hyuk always kept tabs on nearby gates. Even from his hospital bed.
It was an occupational hazard.
And an obsession with gates.
The anxiety that crept in if he didn't know everything about the gates around him.
The same went for other guilds' intel.
Kang Moo-hyuk knew the Twins Guild in Ichon inside out.
The twin guild masters were ambitious but never crossed the line.
They had a solid hunter's ethos.
Hunters protect people.
That creed ran deep for them.
No personal ties, but their rep among industry contacts was solid.
People like that wouldn't irresponsibly let an outbreak happen.
Did an irregular pop up?
Something had gone wrong, that much was clear.
"Looks like it's past opening time over there."
Seo Soo-ji, perched on the roadside railing by the Han River, shaded her eyes with her hand.
"Seo Hunter, get down. Exposed spots are vulnerable to flying monsters."
"What's the big deal? It hasn't even opened yet... Fine, fine. No need to glare like that. Seriously, you're not even a hunter, but you follow combat protocols stricter than most hunters."
Under Kang Moo-hyuk's piercing stare, Seo Soo-ji grumbled and hopped down.
Hunters going rogue mid-op put the party at risk. As Kang Moo-hyuk opened his mouth to warn her again, a report crackled through his earpiece.
-Team Leader Kang, you need to come here.
It was Yoo Tae-jin, the scout specialized in recon, handling forward spotting.
Calling a non-hunter "party leader" felt off, so he'd switched to "team leader" naturally. The other hunters followed suit.
"What is it?"
-From your position, 200 meters, 250-meter zone—heavy casualties. We can't handle cleanup alone.
Kang Moo-hyuk signaled the others to follow as he ran. The hunters jogged lightly but overtook him in a few strides.
"Any civilians nearby who can move?"
-A few.
"If they're still here... they're probably doing relief work, not hiding."
-Yes, that's right.
"Help them out. I'm on my way."
The hunters who arrived first recoiled at the grim scene.
Screams and groans filled the air. The blood-soaked ground was horrific.
These were hunters who danced with death in gates. They'd seen guts spilling and scooped them back in. This shouldn't faze them.
But the severity stopped them cold.
The gate hadn't opened yet.
Just the outbreak precursor had panicked people into hurting each other.
It hit home why they had to close gates.
Go Yu-han swallowed hard.
"What are you standing around for? Pull that guy out from under the wheel, and everyone else, help where you can."
The late-arriving Kang Moo-hyuk clapped his shoulder and stepped forward, face unflinching.
"Over here."
Yoo Tae-jin called him over.
Kang Moo-hyuk scanned around, his gaze locking on the man beside Yoo Tae-jin.
His hands moved with practiced efficiency on the injured. Yoo Tae-jin was handing him bandages from the emergency kit.
Kang Moo-hyuk met Yoo Tae-jin's eyes, then approached the man.
"Titan Guild, Team Leader Kang Moo-hyuk. Your name?"
"Choi Il-guk."
"You handle first aid like a pro, so I'm guessing that's your line of work..."
"Firefighter."
Choi Il-guk's sturdy build matched his steady expression in crisis.
Kang Moo-hyuk was genuinely impressed.
He must want to run.
Even selfless firefighters feared gates differently.
Gates carried primal terror. Non-hunters without exceptional grit felt it hardest.
Overcoming that to aid the wounded took real courage.
Everyone staying to help deserved respect.
And Kang Moo-hyuk had to burden them further.
"Can you take charge here? Move patients rearward with anyone fit to help."
"Gate's not open yet—where's 'rearward'?"
"Back to Hangang Bridge as far as possible. Even a few hundred meters. Put distance between here and there. Every meter buys time. We'll hold as long as we can; follow-up guilds will help. If we can't stop the monsters, I'll fire a flare. Watch the park sky. When you see it, leave the wounded and run."
"Run? That's..."
"Not cowardice. Survivors survive. Outbreaks mean save yourself first."
Kang Moo-hyuk drew a firm line.
Even the brave chose self-preservation in extremes.
But their upright nature would breed guilt.
Having lived through an outbreak as a kid, he knew guilt bred hesitation, delayed judgment—deciding life or death.
He'd given Choi Il-guk absolution for his own safety.
Choi Il-guk nodded freely.
"Got it. But what about the immobile? Road's blocked by wrecks—no vehicles. Carrying's tough."
"We'll handle that."
Kang Moo-hyuk called Go Yu-han, who'd just lifted a car to free someone.
"Mana sword possible?"
"Yeah... beginner level, but hey, B-rank."
"Back the way we came, truck with lumber. See it?"
"Lumber? Uh..."
"100 meters, behind the tanker. Cut some into 2-meter lengths, easy to grab. And Choi Il-guk..."
"Make stretchers from shirts."
"Yes. For now, that'll do."
As they sorted the scene, Kang Moo-hyuk staggered.
His mind flashed white; lights danced before his eyes. A dizzying probe pierced his skull, like something entering through his head.
This... a seizure?
Now, of all times?
He gritted his teeth—cheek flesh tore, blood flowed. The pain snapped him back.
"Gate's open!"
Everyone turned at the shout.
The gate's black aura reached the sky.
Chilling. White clouds turned black; sun blotted out.
Across the river, sunlight still poured. Hard to believe it was the same Seoul—two worlds divided.
"...Choi Il-guk, hold here."
"Yes. Leave it to me. Stay safe."
Kang Moo-hyuk shook his hand briefly. A prayer for victory passed between palms.
* * *
Moments after parting with Choi Il-guk, they reached the gate.
Boom! Kwang!
A blast erupted.
The barrier hid the inside, but flashes and explosions spilling out screamed trouble.
"We really going in?"
"I'm going."
As the non-hunter led, hesitant Seo Soo-ji puffed her cheeks and followed sulkily.
"Like he's hell-bent on dying."
Hunters agreed, trailing behind.
Kwang!
Blast winds hit as they entered the Twins Guild camp.
Tank Go Yu-han and Lee Cheol-jin crouched, shields up.
Agile, veteran Yoo Tae-jin yanked Kang Moo-hyuk's wrist, pulling him behind Go Yu-han.
More blasts shook them; dust-laden gusts howled. They endured the buffeting. Silence fell; they looked up.
"God..."
Lee Cheol-jin swallowed his curse.
The camp was devastation.
Twins Guild members sprawled like corpses. Groans amid flames and smoke—they'd avoided wipeout.
Smoke cleared; the culprit emerged.
"What the hell is that?"
"First time? Unknown?"
"Magic type, looks like."
Kang Moo-hyuk muttered after spotting it.
"Oldster Sorcerer..."
"Oldster what? You know it?"
Seo Soo-ji asked.
"Recent unknown. Powerful magic mob."
Kang Moo-hyuk bit his lip.
First appeared as gatekeeper in Seogang University Gate.
He'd seen footage from Park Min-soo, who'd observed the hunt.
The oldster sorcerer hurled potent spells—mostly fire, fast casts, mobile via small frame. Tricky foe.
Even Kang Moo-hyuk figured Titan needed heavy forces to take it.
Joo Se-ah smashed it with her fists.
The "quasi S-rank" hunter's might in the video outshone strategic weapons.
Seeing it now raised questions.
Why here again so soon?
Unknowns reappearing quickly was rare.
They ramped up after first kill.
But this fast, same area? No.
Not turning endemic, is it?
Some monsters stuck to debut zones.
Reasons unknown, but they wrecked local strategies.
"Still a casting mob. I said I'm tough—high magic resist too. Tank a couple shots, close in, no-cast kill?"
Go Yu-han boasted; Kang Moo-hyuk stopped him.
"Not a tank-and-survive type. A few hits, sure. But rapid fire—hard to close."
"How without trying? Don't worry. Defense rivals A-rank."
"Don't step up unless you're Joo Se-ah tough."
"Who's Joo Se-ah? Wait, the Indomitable Witch?"
"Yes. Her first kill. Even she got pushed back eating a few head-on."
Go Yu-han gaped.
Joo Se-ah's magic resist topped the world. Physical defense inhuman. Pushed back?
Kang Moo-hyuk skipped her custom armor—basic gear only.
No need to crush the sprout.
"Fall back for now. No anti-magic gear—this party's outmatched."
"And the downed hunters?"
"Fight, we join them."
As Kang Moo-hyuk cut off Go Yu-han's protest—
Chill!
Hairs stood on end.
"Magic! Dodge!"
"Huh?"
No warning. Hunters blinked confused.
They eyed scrambling Kang Moo-hyuk oddly—till fire surged from the staff. Reaction lagged.
"For real?"
Kwang!
Direct hit.
Go Yu-han tanked it. Tough as promised. But next fire overwhelmed; he crumpled.
Not dead, near-death. Full-body burns; he jammed a potion from his ampoule kit into his mouth amid agony.
"Guh... what magic..."
Thanks to his block, Kang Moo-hyuk was dragged outside the barrier by Seo Soo-ji.
He'd kept eyes on the oldster sorcerer since the spell flew.
Senses sharpened post-gate-open.
Eyes stung—not pain, cool then crisp. Vision sharper; scenery etched in.
Like direct brain feed, bypassing eyes.
Such eyes caught oddity.
Long delay just now?
First spell tipped him; cast times differed on second—same spell.
Unlike video. Third still casting.
Sudden insight: monster's state flashed clear, like dissection.
Mana depletion!
Spells/skills guzzled mana. Hunters pre-loaded to minimize delay.
Mismanagement? Draw ambient.
Foreign mana slowed casts.
Oldster sorcerer exactly that.
First time facing it, but certain.
"Attack now!"
Kang Moo-hyuk yelled into his smartphone.
Party jolted via earpiece and speaker.
"What the hell? Wanna die?!"
Seo Soo-ji snapped. Retreat earlier, attack now?
Unfathomable guy.
Her grip loosened; he shook free, charged.
Issued orders, picking target.
"Hunter Yoo Tae-jin! First strike!"
Only veteran Yoo Tae-jin would react.
Spot-on; Yoo Tae-jin lunged.
Closed gap instantly; dagger from waist pierced neck.
Green blood sprayed; hunters piled on, stabbing gaps.
Shredded the tiny body. Meat pulp beyond words.
"This bastard... why not dead?"
Lee Cheol-jin muttered, baffled.
All felt it.
Fatal wounds galore, yet mana gathered for spell.
Big one coming.
"Too late to retreat. Stab till dead!"
Hunters swung furiously, but the thing wouldn't die.
Kang Moo-hyuk panicked at his error.
Won't die? But Joo Se-ah clearly...
...pummeled it to mush.
That it? Overlooked HP 'cause her damage too high.
But magic mob this tanky? Troll-level tenacity.
Over senses flared again.
Pupils darted, missing nothing.
"Near death, still gathering mana? Vessel's shattered."
Not the body? Parasite? New lich type?
Conclusion.
Staff! Yeah, bugged me from first sight.
Staff brimmed; about to spew fire.
"Destroy the staff!"
Command broadcast.
Too late.
No one shattered it.
Damn! Why didn't I notice sooner?
He blamed his inexperience. Unfit for strategy. Sorry to hunters who trusted him.
Then.
Thud!
Someone dropped from sky, landing before monster.
"Staff's the weak point? Didn't know—pummeled last time."
Kang Moo-hyuk yelled at the unexpected arrival.
"Joo Se-ah?!"
Joo Se-ah reached for the thrashing staff, glancing back.
"Second time already. Don't think you can settle this cheaply this time, Kang Moo-hyuk."