#253. It Couldn't Get Any Better.
Kang Moo-hyuk had been too focused on preparing for the hive raid to pay attention to anything else—including Thomas.
He had come to America seeking a cure for mana addiction, and after witnessing the mage's infinite potential, he'd shelled out a fortune to recruit him.
But with monsters bearing down right in front of him, Kang Moo-hyuk zeroed in on the raid alone.
'Good thing the leader's too distracted to notice.'
Thomas had slipped away from the group and holed up in the bathroom.
He was battling the worsening pain.
'No, can I even call it pain? There's no physical agony. Just a slight headache. The real problem is holding back this surging... anger? Emotion? Some instinct I can't name. It's harder than I thought.'
It was an indescribable sensation. The slightest lapse in focus, and a wave felt ready to burst from his chest.
His eyes burned now and then. Even as the drug's effects faded, faint gold flickered in his pupils, summoning gusts of wind around him.
Suppressing the precursor to wind magic, Thomas injected himself. The unease subsided each time.
The cycle was shortening, but without this, he feared what he might do.
'I just have to hold out until we get back to Korea. He can't know about my body's changes. My value's tied to being a 'mage + mana-addicted hunter.' Lose one, and who knows how he'll discard me.'
Orphaned twice—once in Korea, once after adoption—Thomas equated proving his worth with survival.
In North America's hunter market, where value translated straight to dollars, and especially in cutthroat Ithaca, he'd learned that lesson rolling in the dirt.
To keep proving his utility to Kang Moo-hyuk, he had to endure, no matter the strain. Even after treatment, he owed the value of those hundreds of millions in transfer fees. It was only natural to him.
Suppressing the rising instinct with drugs, he stepped out—and spotted Johanna waiting at the entrance, arms crossed, head tilted as she eyed him.
He casually headed to the sink to wash his hands. She spoke up.
"You look like you're hurting. Why not rest instead of pushing yourself?"
"This is the men's room."
"Then go to the women's."
"This is hunter crime HQ. I'd rather not get labeled the first pervert caught in the women's room and shipped to prison."
"You think they'd send you to Zone 66 for that?"
"Appreciate the kindness, but no thanks."
"It's not kindness. Your mana keeps leaking all over—it's annoying."
Thomas glared at her through the mirror. Their eyes met in the reflection.
"That obvious?"
"Not hugely. You're hiding it well. I'd miss it if I weren't right here. An S-rank might notice, but they don't seem that attentive."
"Hm. Killing you wouldn't keep my secret, then."
"Kinda weird saying that to a comrade-in-arms, but a C-rank? Not a chance. And this is close-quarters territory. Bad matchup for a mage."
"Just kidding. Think I'd pick a fight with a fellow rice-bowl sharer?"
"One more time: I'm not an Iron Will hunter!"
Johanna grumbled wearily. Thomas chuckled slyly.
"Come on, don't fight fate. Accept it gracefully. Leader seemed quietly hopeful about it."
"Keep the jokes in check. Don't test me with that fake smile. It's creepy."
Johanna saw right through Thomas's smile—it wasn't genuine.
Long years in a cutthroat major guild, where allies competed endlessly, had honed her ability to read faces. Smiles hid bared fangs there.
She couldn't miss the trained, emotionless mask on Thomas.
But Thomas differed sharply from the hunters she'd faced before.
'Fake smile's one thing. What's worst is... no emotions at all. Impossible to read. Feels like everything's a lie.'
Suddenly, Thomas's expression blanked.
Johanna's nape prickled; she tensed.
"Johanna, didn't you say you were on sabbatical? Gloria Guild competes at the top even in Italy. Never heard of a hunter taking a sabbatical. Even generously assuming, who'd vacation at year-end rush? Common sense says stick it out till New Year's. Even bored hunters avoid this season—too risky for bad blood. There's another reason, right?"
"Don't presume."
"Not assuming. Leader probably suspects too. That's why I'm pitching Iron Will. Seems like a bunch of loose screws, but the vibe's not bad. Performance is another story, though. Think it over seriously."
Thomas's face warmed back to a friendly, likable smile. Johanna relaxed her shoulders.
"How kind. Career counseling too."
"Recruiting a high-rank like you? That's a win for my record. Gotta impress the leader."
"Doesn't sound sincere. Anyway, how'd we get on this? Fine, I'll admit it—your talk game's killer, and so's your magic. Guess I worried for nothing."
"I'll keep my mana in check. No more stray vibes."
"One thing's sure: even if I join Iron Will, we won't be buddies."
"Knew it."
"Makes me wanna smack that mouth."
"Join up, and I'll take the hit."
"Even on death's door, that mouth... Ugh, talking to you just drags me down. Tsk, enough."
Johanna shook her head and stormed out.
Thomas reverted to his blank expression. His voice turned dry, monotone—unlike his chatty banter moments ago.
"Gotta be careful with her."
* * *
"The key now is how far the hive's spread underground in LA."
Dwight, Gunpowder's guild master, dragged in politely by Joo Se-ah, chugged his potion like soda and glared.
Kang Moo-hyuk, mid-raid talk, caught his foul mood.
"Something bothering you?"
"Everything's fine. S-rank? Solid. No idea how you got one here, but with that secured, the hive raid'll be smooth. But treating us like your errand boys? That's separate."
"Ah, offended? Yeah, our guild master's over the top. Even if they're weaker, beating a fellow master like a dog on a hot day? Bound to piss you off."
"Whoa, dumping it all on me? You told me to do it! And I'm still mad about that 'simple is best' crap."
As Joo Se-ah shot him a look, Kang Moo-hyuk whistled innocently.
Dwight, baffled by their exchange, asked,
"Dog days? Dog fighting? What the hell?"
"Translation artifact must've mangled it. Don't bother—hurts the brain."
"You think I'm sane right now? S-rank or not, getting thrashed in front of my team!"
"It's fine. You knocked 'em out too."
Dwight scowled fiercely at Joo Se-ah's retort.
"What're you staring at? Laugh."
"……."
Face frozen between laugh and cry, Dwight turned to Kang Moo-hyuk.
'Better than a mute S-rank, at least.'
Dwight got back to business.
"Hive raids start like ant nest ones."
"Agreed. North America's had the white ant queen, right? Combat data available?"
"First, find all entrances. They might dig new ones, but they're not moles—specialized for quick burrowing. They vomit acid to melt walls, harden 'em, expand."
"Seal entrances, divide sectors, conquer piecemeal—that's the crux."
"Without missing a single egg. Post-extermination, one larva hatching evolves into a new queen."
"Collapse cleared sectors to shrink territory?"
"You know your stuff. And you're no hunter."
Dwight nodded approvingly.
"Korea's had carnivorous wasps. Small land helped spot 'em quick for early clear. Hunting logs shared across the board."
"Sharing doesn't mean everyone knows. Modern hunters scoff at data, strategies—especially the gifted ones skipping basics. Worth praising."
"I'm no hunter."
"Own it. I'd scout you if you were."
"Your words boost my confidence. Didn't know you were this nice—our GM must've twisted you up."
Joo Se-ah cut in.
"No diluting the blame. Still mad."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Can't let my guard down. Scheming even on your own GM?"
"Sorry. Habit."
"Oh, great habit."
"Thank you."
"Not a compliment."
"Wasn't it?"
As the mood warmed unexpectedly, Dwight deliberately braked.
The Kang Moo-hyuk he'd sparred with impressed: skilled, business-savvy. A civilian leader who didn't just manage but planned raids with real insight.
Veteran major guild masters like him could spot fakers from chit-chat.
'This guy's the real deal. S-rank's not arguing—just trusting him. Rare for an S-rank to run errands for a civilian. Means he's got serious pull in the guild.'
Pig's nose or not, Dwight committed to the raid—but no losses.
"If the hive spans central LA, it'll be vast, holes huge. Needs big manpower. We'll mobilize."
"Skipping the raid itself?"
Joo Se-ah pressed thornily. Smarting from her, Dwight forced a smile.
"Influencing the whole city ain't easy."
"Your country's mess. We're foreigners. We could just bail—"
"Agreed."
"…bail, huh? Agreed?"
Joo Se-ah gawked at Kang Moo-hyuk.
"Yes, Guild Master."
"Really?"
"Yes. Perfect."
"Why?"
"Fifth-gen queen or higher? Even better."
Not just Joo Se-ah—Dwight reeled too.
Kang Moo-hyuk had warned a fifth-gen-plus queen spelled disaster. Gunpowder analysts urged relocation.
Now suddenly better?
"That was without an S-rank. Now you're here. Couldn't be better."
"Even with me, I don't see why."
Kang Moo-hyuk raised his voice, glancing at Dwight.
"Africa's fifth-gen queen left more than Botswana's fall."
"Like what?"
"Unique items."
"Unique?"
"Wings and stinger. Africa's treasures—two unique drops from the Botswana extermination."