#247. Should I Just Drop Out?
Kang Moo-hyuk considered the possibility that his hunch might be wrong.
A few years back, after the scaled-back revision of the National Defense Materials Production Act that had rocked North America, private companies had been unleashed to produce key strategic materials across a wide range of fields and situations.
In a world where monsters were the primary enemy, the exploits of guilds—private mercenary organizations—stood out prominently.
Guilds wielded power strong enough to twist the fate of nations. National defense resources had no choice but to prioritize them.
Naturally, this created the conditions for items like the UH-035, previously unsellable to civilians, to flow into guilds.
As competition intensifies, guilds are getting greedy to deploy them on the front lines faster. The major Eastern guilds have already adopted them. Slayer in Korea expressed interest but got denied export approval.
There were plenty of places to operate a GosHawk even without government involvement.
But Kang Moo-hyuk had a specific reason for suspecting government intervention.
With carnivorous hornets dominating the skies, no LA guild would risk flying a helicopter. It must be outsiders who don't know the situation here. No guild would send an expensive asset to a city blind to the crisis, and the state government can't operate a GosHawk. That means the top brass is moving.
Kang Moo-hyuk decided they needed to make contact with the crashed helicopter first. Worst case, they'd break even. If it was indeed government personnel as expected, he could inform them of the situation here and secure support for LA's defense. With Hamilton in his corner, persuasion wouldn't be hard.
"Go Eul-ji Hunter, can you pinpoint the helicopter crash site?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Guiding them there wouldn't be tough.... But what're you gonna do with just six people?"
"Six?"
Kang Moo-hyuk echoed in surprise. Jang Deok-gu, beside him, widened his eyes and cut in.
"Eul-ji, really just six?"
"Huh? Hang on, lemme check again. Hmm, yep, six. All hunters."
"Distance?"
This time it was Kang Moo-hyuk asking. Go Eul-ji answered with a puzzled look, wondering what the fuss was about.
"3.5? 4 km? Around there? I feel it instinctively, but putting it in units is tricky."
Kang Moo-hyuk and Jang Deok-gu locked eyes simultaneously. The glance they exchanged was loaded.
At that range, even a specialist detection hunter would struggle.
Eul-ji's potential was no joke. Looks like it's finally blooming.
This was the growth Kang Moo-hyuk and Joo Se-ah had hoped for from Go Eul-ji. But it was faster than expected—leaping far beyond projections.
A single rank-up from enlistment didn't explain it.
As he reflected anew on her training, Thomas spoke up.
"Precisely 2.6 miles. About 4.2 km."
"What? You can see it too?"
No Song-rin asked, and Thomas nodded.
"The wind's telling me."
No Song-rin freaked out. He sidled up to Kang Moo-hyuk and whispered cautiously.
"Guild Master, don't we gotta return this ten-billion-dollar kid? Talking to the wind? Sounds nuts. We got scammed with expensive crap."
"Not crap. Maybe gold that looks like crap."
Kang Moo-hyuk ignored No Song-rin's gripe and asked Thomas.
"Did you infuse your mana into the wind and send it that far?"
"No. The opposite. I learned through the mana carried by the wind."
"Any difference between the two methods?"
"Doesn't consume my mana."
Kang Moo-hyuk drew a sharp breath. It wasn't loud, so no one noticed. But it was rare for him to show such reaction. He was that shocked.
"I don't know much about casting magic, but if you're using external mana, couldn't you cast spells with it?"
"Huh? Uh, well.... Hmm, that could work. Never tried it, so not sure. Using mana outside the body.... Lots of variables to control, tough to manage, but worth a shot. If possible, it'd reduce the strain on my body."
After that, Thomas grew quiet.
Kang Moo-hyuk watched him with expectant eyes, not interrupting.
No telling what'll come of it, but success would shape the guild lineup beyond our plans.
Joo Se-ah, Jang Deok-gu, Go Eul-ji, No Song-rin, Lee Jin-joo, Pyo Beom-hee, Yeom Soo-hyung, Hyeon Jeong-geon.
Iron Will's top hunters boiled down to these eight.
Beyond skill, each had unique traits and vast experience for diverse roles.
The one gap was wide-area attack and defense concentrated on Go Eul-ji. They needed a mage to share that load.
Kang Moo-hyuk had pegged Thomas for that pivotal role.
Biggest issue is getting Thomas Hunter free of mana addiction. The rest comes after.
As Kang Moo-hyuk started plotting the guild's future amid the hornet-infested downtown, Jang Deok-gu reined him in.
"Move first. Before we lose the helicopter crew."
"Right. Go Eul-ji Hunter, if you would."
"I'm not your chauffeur."
Go Eul-ji grumbled but lifted Kang Moo-hyuk with telekinesis. She could have floated everyone, but they'd fought non-stop. Without potions or gear, stamina management was key.
The other hunters ran on foot. As Go Eul-ji took flight, she muttered to herself.
"Man, No's got a point. Maybe I should just fail and repeat the year?"
"Not much to say, huh?"
Aila had spent half a day at the World Hunter Federation headquarters on the 77th floor. She was seeking an answer from someone.
The man in charge here—or rather, its true owner.
Nikola Tarabik.
A gaunt, white-haired man sat cross-legged in silence.
His eyes were bound with cloth.
Though blind, Tarabik turned his head toward Aila as if he could see her.
Just as she rose to leave.
"If you're not giving me an answer, I'll be going."
Only then did Tarabik speak.
"Lady Aila mustn't move. Your identity could be exposed in chaotic places. Chairman Ekhisar doesn't want the Ain race revealed yet."
"I can't just sit idle."
"What answer do you seek? LA's situation?"
"As I said, confirmation on Guild Leader Kang Moo-hyuk's survival. And if alive, his safety. Skilled hunters surround him, but monsters demand no complacency."
"That I can answer. He's alive and well. Rallying LA guilds for a defense battle, in fact."
"Defense battle.... Monsters? Did a gate outbreak?"
"A gate did break. Not this one—the survivor from last spring's gate expanded its forces."
"Spring? What kind?"
"Carnivorous hornets."
Aila nodded. For a spring escapee to paralyze a city by fall, it had to be a swarm or colony monster at minimum.
Fast breeding required—and carnivorous hornets fit. Considering their evolution speed, not a good sign.
"Not just first-gen hornets at this scale, right? What generation do you see, Mr. Tarabik?"
"Only the original hornet form in my sight. First-gen. The rest are underground."
"Was confirming that what took so long?"
"Yes."
Thinking she'd misjudged his silence, Aila started to apologize—then fixated on another realization.
"Wasting power on the unseen. Not like the Thousand Eyes. Resources already limited by health."
"Can't see precisely, but LA's underground is filled with ominous colors. Couldn't look away, so it took time."
Aila's lips twitched, then stilled. She couldn't dismiss Tarabik's words.
Serbia's prophetic lineage. Recognized for spirit before gates. Awakened as hunter, power amplified.
The World Hunter Federation's top intel asset: Thousand Eyes.
Not magic or machine—a person.
And not an intel net, but near-future prophecy.
Ominous from Tarabik meant no ordinary matter.
"How exactly ominous?"
"Can't see that."
"Like past cases, shrouded in darkness?"
"Not dark. Light instead. Brightens surroundings, but utterly sinister."
"That's why you tell me not to go. Right?"
"Yes. You'll die. That light devours all life—a death light. So.... Hmm, you're going anyway."
Blind, yet Tarabik sensed Aila's resolve.
"I guaranteed Guild Leader Kang Moo-hyuk's safety this time. Gotta keep my word. Keep it from Chairman Ekhisar. Shh. Got it?"
"Chairman rarely seeks this old man, so easy enough. But Lady Aila, withdraw if—"
"After decades watching me, you still don't know?"
"Sigh, not one to be swayed. Understood. I'll pretend ignorance. Return safe."
"Thanks, Tarabik. I'll prepare thoroughly, as warned."
The passenger plane made an emergency landing. The fuselage was battered but intact—no tears or fire damage.
Joo Se-ah slid down the body. From the wing, she scanned the plane.
Through small windows, shocked passengers clutched chests or huddled, trembling. Some received emergency aid from crash aftershocks.
Joo Se-ah had culled hornets best she could, but boarding a large jet mid-air had limits.
Thus, mid-landing infiltrators evaded her. Quick response minimized it, but casualties mounted.
Regrettable, but Joo Se-ah stayed clear-headed.
Seeing the emergency slide deploy from the door, she leaped, blocking it.
The flight attendant guiding passengers jumped. Joo Se-ah was slick with viscous green blood.
Realizing her savior, crew applauded warmly.
"Bravo. Thank you."
"We lived thanks to you, Hunter."
"You're a hero."
Passengers cheered too, but Joo Se-ah neither bowed nor smiled.
"Everyone sit tight. Don't exit yet."
"Why.... Monsters left?"
"Cleared the ones on the plane. But sensing more around the airport. No siren on emergency landing? Tower comms cut, per broadcast? Something's up in LA. Stay put till safe."
Crew and passengers recalled her aerial monster battle.
Glimpsed through windows, but enough to gauge her prowess.
Her words carried weight; crew halted evacuation.
"Ah, speak of the devil—they're back."
No comms, no backup.
S-rank or not, Joo Se-ah's role was protecting those before her. Melee tank limits clear.
"This is why gear matters. If I had Slayer stuff...."
But she wasn't unarmed.
Hand extended, the plane shuddered. Something burst from the cargo hold below.
Not unique, but top-tier rare.
Sword from Baekho Guild's secret vault, Slayer-era replacement.
Makaru In.
Top rare-grade blade in her grasp.