#264. As Expected, Americans Are the Noisiest
Dragon Scale Hairpin.
It was a hairpin made literally from a dragon's scales.
"If it's made from Dragon Scale, then Unique grade is a given, right?"
Johanna muttered after hearing the explanation. This was her first time seeing a Unique item in person, too.
It looked like an ordinary metal stick with a subtle sheen on the surface, but considering they were deep underground in darkness, the fact that it glowed on its own hinted it was no ordinary object.
"The effect must be tied to your ability, huh?"
Joo Se-ah had seen Go Eul-ji use this hairpin several times before.
Every time she pushed her powers to the max, she'd pin it in her hair while fighting, so Joo Se-ah had guessed it enhanced her unique traits.
"It strengthens my spatial control and amplifies my power. Grandpa said it's made exclusively for telekinesists, so no other hunter can use it."
"Yeah, you don't have to hide it like that. I'm not gonna steal it."
"Really?"
"If you were that suspicious, you should've just kept quiet from the start."
"Ahem, that was just... the mood got to me, a slip-up..."
Go Eul-ji, who had been eyeing her warily, cleared her throat and tried to play it off.
No Song-rin didn't miss the chance and sidled up to Joo Se-ah, whispering.
"Guild master, that one's got a loose tongue—not cut out for big things. Plus, she's suspicious ever since joining the guild. Look at me. I didn't hide my Unique item all shady-like. She's definitely Chairman Han Byung-gu's spy."
Go Eul-ji jumped up at No Song-rin's sudden sycophant mode.
"I'm innocent, guild master! I have no crimes. If anything, my only sin is being an innocent, pretty high school girl. And being the disciple of Korea's strongest beauty hunter, Guild Master Joo Se-ah!"
As Go Eul-ji protested her innocence while flattering Joo Se-ah, No Song-rin quickly cut in to sabotage her.
"L-look at her. Calling herself 'innocent and pretty' without even licking her lips first? She's lying through her teeth. Of course, all those compliments about you are spot on, guild master."
"Hey, No-ajusshi. Why drag me into this? You think you'll get more favor if I get kicked out?"
"If the tables were turned, you'd trash me too, right?"
"Well, can't deny that... But still, pulling this crap mid-raid? No class."
"Kid, you wouldn't get it. This is adult social life."
"Sowing discord and bootlicking?"
"You started the bootlicking first."
"Guess I'm growing up fast. Graduation's in a few months—call it practice."
"Kid, you think the guild's a joke? Social life's a breeze? Just go to college."
"You go to college, ajusshi."
"College? Send me back to Ujungdo? You little punk, you're pure evil—trying to ship me off for good?"
"I said school, not prison. Why'd you jump to that?"
"School is prison, punk. No, guild master, why renew this clueless slang-illiterate's contract? What's the appeal?"
"Oh ho, that's it? Worried I'll cramp your style once I dive into guild life full-time? Steal the guild master's favor? That's why you're sucking up?"
"Favor? Kid, you're just a convenient tool for the guild master. A monster-slaying tool. What else you good at?"
"Man, after snagging that monster today, might accidentally bag one more."
As their bickering dragged on, Joo Se-ah stepped in. Her knuckle-rap aimed straight for Go Eul-ji's forehead. Go Eul-ji instinctively threw up a barrier but couldn't dodge the finger flick.
Thwack!
"Ku-heh-heol! Hiss... Kree-yah..."
No Song-rin swallowed dryly, looking down at Go Eul-ji rolling on the ground. Then his eyes met Joo Se-ah's.
"Forehead out."
"M-me too?"
"Fair's fair."
"But I've got seniority..."
"Someone with all that experience picking fights with a kid? Forehead. Now."
"Yes, ma'am."
True to his veteran status, No Song-rin knew resistance was futile and meekly lifted his bangs.
Tok!
"??"
"You're an Iron Will founding member and a senior—gotta have some dignity. Why stoop to kid fights?"
No Song-rin's tense face broke into a huge grin. The guild master was treating him like a senior—mood boost.
He flashed a triumphant smirk at Go Eul-ji, who he'd hoped would share his fate.
Joo Se-ah shut him down.
"Act like guild brass and quit provoking the kid. What's with always trying to crush her spirit? Be the adult—guide and teach her properly. That's why I'm letting it slide this time. No next time. Got it, Hunter No Song-rin?"
"Yes, guild master. As an 'adult' and guild 'senior,' I'll handle it right."
"Ugh, this is unfair, unjust! What era is this?!"
"Go Eul-ji, learn some manners. Hunter skills don't mean act like a thug."
"Wait, guild master talking manners? Slayer rampage rumors are all over the industry. Even with Grandpa, I've never seen... You're the epitome of Eastern courtesy hunters. I haven't seen that side. E... Stop glaring like that. You're giving me chills."
Joo Se-ah sighed. Time to rein in Go Eul-ji.
Skill-wise, Go Eul-ji was top-tier in Iron Will. Her growth potential was rare even in Korea.
Plus, she'd lead parties and eventually expeditions—no more coddling forever.
"Rules are rules. Bratty act has an expiration date. You're graduating soon, skipping college? Then you're an adult hunter—and human. Own your actions. It'll bite you later if you don't."
"Yes. I'll be careful, no trouble."
Joo Se-ah softened at the deflated look, coaxing her.
"Good. Glad you get it. Sermon over. Back to business. That hairpin—how'd you..."
"No way! It's mine!"
"..."
Joo Se-ah watched Go Eul-ji clutch the hairpin and hide in the corner, thinking,
She's not even listening.
Go Eul-ji becoming a stellar hunter was a long way off.
"Mine! Not giving it up! Steal my hairpin and... I'll tell Grandpa!"
"..."
Maybe never.
"Yes! We're first!"
"That's a problem."
As Call My Name's expedition leader Zachary Taylor clenched his fist and yelled, a somewhat lax female voice followed from nearby.
"Camilla... Gunpowder."
The woman emerging from a not-too-distant passage was Gunpowder's expedition leader, Camilla Parker.
One of the few female expedition leaders you could count on one hand in North America.
It wasn't lack of skill—few had the iron heart to endure bloody battlefields while commanding dozens of lives.
Even Joo Se-ah, as ace and first-party leader, hadn't claimed the top spot.
Of course, expedition leader wasn't just about rank and skill. Experience mattered, so a early-20s Joo Se-ah couldn't have taken it then.
Had she stayed with Slayer, she'd have claimed it eventually.
She had led assaults, though—fixed or ad-hoc based on gate and boss traits, ability trumped age.
Camilla was similar. She'd leveraged assault command experience into expeditions, stacking wins to the top.
Differences: more political, ambitious, longer career.
Long tenure as a major city mega-guild's expedition leader meant cunning and inscrutable.
Taylor maxed his guard the moment he saw her.
"Gunpowder must've pushed hard. You were lagging behind us."
"We let you have a head start. That gap? We can close anytime."
"Too generous."
Taylor nodded toward her rear.
Dozens of expedition hunters lined up behind her, ragged from fierce battle. No major injuries or exhaustion, but gear and supplies heavily depleted.
Longer path than Call My Name. Delayed progress. Overpush will bite in the hive raid.
Camilla hid her inner anxiety behind nonchalance.
"Our job's reaching the hive, right? Real raid waits for S-rank. Or you planning solo?"
Her gambit.
Queen bee raid was brutal even for mega-guilds—damage inevitable, weakening them regardless.
Without S-rank, no Unique bait would lure them in.
Camilla bet Joo Se-ah would lead the boss fight, pushing her team.
Not wrong... Clever. One line corners us?
Provocation. Solo taunt pricked pride. Snap and raid? Fine. Skip? Stalemate.
But Taylor stayed cool, reading her.
Forcing words means you're hurting bad. Not bad. We'll seize the edge when it counts.
That moment came fast.
Rustling echoed from the dark cavern ahead. Not one or two—dozens, hundreds of hornets rubbing wings.
Taylor gripped his weapon.
"Doubt you last till S-rank arrives."
"Think we're scarecrows? Don't worry. We'll outlast you lot."
"Hope I don't haul your corpse out. We're huntmates, after all. Form up! Tanks front!"
"Hmph! I'll attend your funeral—just leave a body. Formation Z. Mages, snipers to their rear!"
The leaders turned backs, barking orders.
Lighting balls shot up, illuminating the cavern. Under the glow, 5th-gen carnivorous hornet tanks—hive reps—advanced, walls forming.
The space dwarfed a dozen baseball fields, yet the hornet swarm filled it threateningly.
Taylor deep-breathed away tension. Camilla felt it too.
The real cunning's the queen bee. They haven't shown full power. Hiding a trump. Find it—or no surviving this raid.
Battle started before proof.
5th-gen tanks—better crawlers than fliers—surged in.
Taylor faced his team, back to monsters, and spoke.
"Don't yield. No fear. Just monster pups. Lose here, your comrades, families, friends—all fodder. LA falls, America becomes monster land. You're the last bastion. Fight with that resolve."
His sword whipped into flames. He turned, facing the horde.
"Call My Name! What's your name?!"
Hunters roared their names.
"I'm Zachary Taylor! I'll remember yours! Charge!"
Waaaaah!
Call My Name hunters charged the hornets.
Camilla snorted, watching.
"As expected, Americans are the noisiest. That corny ritual—no shame?"
She eyed their formation: a wide wall blocking the advance. Broader than numbers suggested. She clocked Taylor's play.
They block, we flank? Underestimating our fatigue?
Annoying, but sound. She conceded.
"Tch, coordinate first next time. What do you trust? Kids, reform assault line. Lancers front. Berserkers behind. Mages and snipers join those clowns' rear."
Kang Moo-hyuk slowly injected serum into Thomas's arm.
Thomas's eyes glowed gold. Brighter with each drop.
"Enough. Any more..."
"Administering suppressant simultaneously."
Kang Moo-hyuk pulled out another vial Joo Se-ah had packed. Capsule pills. Thomas swallowed with water, eyes shut, quelling surging rage.
The glow faded from under his lids.
"Rank dropped from suppressant?"
"No. Holding steady at B+. Duration unknown, but the floodgates stay open."
"So simultaneous dosing yields stable max power."
"Can't guarantee. Unknown territory—no data. Clinical trial. Power up means possible rampage."
Kang Moo-hyuk gauged B+ from Thomas's past berserk.
Assume drugs max to A+? Plan smooths. Even average A or min A- works. Some strain, but doable.
"Rest, then push on."
"Securing A-rank?"
"Least we need, right?"
"Agreed. Issue's me holding without berserk."
"Last resort. No pressure."
"Monsters make that hard to hope for. They always rush worst-case."
Kang Moo-hyuk felt Thomas's words prophetic.