27. That's Why I'm Here Right Now.
If stat evaluations focused on a hunter's physical abilities, tactical evaluations zeroed in on their 'performance'.
The pinnacle of efficiency in safely and swiftly taking down monsters.
In the past, there had been no objective way to gauge a hunter's level beyond stat-based assessments.
But as the gate era dragged on, through the Great War and into the golden age of guilds, a variety of quantitative and qualitative metrics were developed to measure hunter prowess.
One of the most prominent was data like 'Appropriate Monster Subjugation Time.'
This index set standard monsters for each rank and scored solo hunts in standard gear based on how quickly they were cleared.
Of course, differences arose by position, skills, and primary role, but it served as a solid reference for baseline combat power.
Beyond that, there were dozens more evaluation criteria. Unlike hunters obsessed with ranks or civilians lacking industry insight, insiders like Kang Moo-hyuk placed far more weight on tactical evaluations over stats.
First up is Hong Joo-il, right? Subjugation time rating: 3 minutes 47 seconds—'Great.' Average for a dealer, though. But his response in this mission is lacking. Overconfident in his skills? Or maybe it's just his personality.
The monitor showed Joo Se-ah slowly closing in on Hong Joo-il.
She was deliberately making noise, embodying an ogre's instinct to assert dominance over the forest—ensuring everyone nearby felt her presence loud and clear.
The hunters' reactions varied wildly.
Some froze awkwardly in place. Others backed off to hide. A few charged head-on without fear.
This was a training test, so there were no strict pass/fail lines. Facing Joo Se-ah set the bar impossibly high from the start.
But Kang Moo-hyuk couldn't help frowning right away.
"No communication at all."
Failing from the initial response.
Even focusing on process over results, this was disappointing.
"Wonder if they can last five minutes. At least one recyclable talent would be nice."
* * *
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoo—! Whoo—!
The iron ball at the end of the steel chain whipped up a chilling gust.
This close-range flail, linked by chain rings, was commonly used against monsters with high regeneration.
Trolls, for instance, recovered slower from being crushed than sliced.
The hefty ball guaranteed devastating power from centrifugal force alone on swings.
Yet flails weren't popular weapons.
Low versatility for starters. Awkward size and shape to carry. And crucially, zero 'style.'
Hunters obsessed over looks beyond functionality. Low ranks prioritized survival over aesthetics, but higher ranks treated appearance as another stat when picking gear.
Unless it was a special case, no one mained an ugly flail.
Thus, few hunters wielded them well.
Joo Se-ah, of course, was the exception.
She mastered anything effective for killing monsters.
"One minute down already. Stand your ground unscathed till time's up, and I'll throw in a special bonus. Oh, and I'm not using skills."
Her voice echoed from the darkness, startling the hunters.
'Ogre, my ass. It's the guild master?'
'Shit, maybe an ogre would've been better? This is like a red gate final boss.'
Her words split their mindsets.
'Chance to impress the guild master. Korea's top hunter. Nail this and climb the ranks!'
'Walking Disaster... that's her nickname, right? Play it safe to survive long-term.'
'No skills? Dark too. Hide and she might miss us.'
'What do I do? What do I do? Whaaat~?'
The rookies activated skills to pierce the darkness first.
Kang Moo-hyuk had slammed them early, but as formal trainees, they had basics down.
Not brute-forcing light—they picked ones letting only them spot the enemy.
'Night Vision.'
Hong Joo-il's vision tinted green. Joo Se-ah appeared through the black veil.
"Uh......"
Right in front of him.
Thwack!
"Guhk......!"
Hong Joo-il crumpled, kicked in the gut and unable to even gasp.
The front of his protective gear caved in.
Joo Se-ah stepped over his drooling, unconscious form.
Rookies using similar detection or audio skills belatedly freaked at their fallen comrade and scattered.
"I hear your footsteps."
Joo Se-ah bounded after the fleeing hunters.
The vast training room, spanning a full floor, felt cramped like a cage to the newbies.
Screams erupted with each wind-whipping flail swing as hunters dropped. How was the no-skill guild master finding them so easily? Was she cheating?
"Two minutes left. Down to seven now?"
Her status update made survivors finally scan around.
She'd playfully herded them like rabbits, knocking out ten already.
'Fuck! Even an ogre wouldn't be this scary.'
As Kim Gwi-nam gritted his teeth in hiding, a whisper tickled his ear.
- Bro, running's pointless. Let's group up and fight.
'Dae-hyun.'
Unlike tank Kim Gwi-nam—low-rank, no messaging skill yet—supporter Min Dae-hyun prioritized utility over combat tech.
Min Dae-hyun rallied survivors while spamming distraction skills befitting a supporter to buy time.
Unbalancing targets, blurring vision, confusing hearing.
Minor but hunting-useful skills.
Problem: Massive rank gap with Joo Se-ah.
Plus her unmatched physical/magic resistance.
Still, she took them full-on, waiting.
Fair ogre handicap.
Sighing at the rookies encircling her, Joo Se-ah spoke.
"Forming a party mid-fight? Decent. But over half downed before formation? Should've started with a scrum tank wall. Total fail."
Harsh critique, then she charged.
* * *
'Managed a formation somehow. But zero chance. Two minutes left. Can we hold?'
Min Dae-hyun felt genuine thrill for the first time since joining Taeseong Guild.
Joo Se-ah's entrance had chilled him. He'd thought fear, but with over half out, it was electric tension.
Excitement.
Adrenaline surged with rising crisis.
His brain fired sharper in the rush.
Affording him leeway to track her moves.
"Whoa! Incoming!"
Joo Se-ah charged.
Target: Tank Kim Gwi-nam.
Min Dae-hyun couldn't let the front collapse early. He cast instantly.
'Trip on that rock!'
Petty skill popping floor bumps.
Low proficiency limited to tripping, but in dark...
'...No dice. Eyes on her feet too?'
She sidestepped effortlessly, smashing Kim Gwi-nam's shield with the flail. Chilling.
Deafening clash caved the shield.
As Kim Gwi-nam fell on his ass, Joo Se-ah mercilessly uppercut with the flail.
Min Dae-hyun panicked, flinging a thin mana thread from his hand to snag and yank Kim Gwi-nam's ankle.
The flail grazed the shield by a hair.
"Oh-ho."
Joo Se-ah smirked, pursuing the sliding Kim Gwi-nam.
Min Dae-hyun urgently messaged another.
- Soo-jin noona, draw her eyes.
Yang Soo-jin, frozen in terror, snapped to and loosed an arrow.
Joo Se-ah dodged casually, catching Kim Gwi-nam.
As she grabbed the mana thread to reel him in, Min Dae-hyun cut the skill.
Stranded Kim Gwi-nam...
"Gack!"
"Six left."
Joo Se-ah finished him.
'Ugh! Sorry, Gwi-nam hyung.'
Min Dae-hyun fell back, scheming sans tank.
- 1 minute left.
The rookie commander's voice crackled from speakers.
One minute.
Sixty seconds.
Finish line in sight sparked hope.
But to Joo Se-ah...
"One minute? Okay. Plenty."
No pressure at all.
'Th-that enough?'
Min Dae-hyun screamed inwardly as she closed fast.
* * *
'Started this test to sort and salvage before relocating...'
- All 17 out.
Kang Moo-hyuk lit the training room at Joo Se-ah's camera-facing declaration.
'Unexpectedly usable one there.'
Five-minute test. Four-ish actual.
The 17 rookies showed scraps.
Just steamrolled.
Issue: No tactical moves to survive five minutes per mission.
'If they'd committed early, they could've responded. No one's stepping up as leader.'
Kang Moo-hyuk's first impression of the rookies: Not as bad as feared.
Some even counterattacked.
Joo Se-ah went easy, but they didn't just stand and die.
Against her, even Titan wouldn't fare much better.
'C-ranks and below are paper-thin apart. Real issue is...'
Lack of initiative.
Prospects vs. mediocrity hinged on who moved first.
Industry unwritten rule: 'In crisis, follow the first mover.' Veterans knew why.
This sparked hunter growth acceleration.
"One with potential. Rest on hold. Push the rookie as core."
Joo Se-ah, entering the lounge post-test, snorted at his plan.
"You ex-strategic head knows, right? Supporters can't lead parties. Tanks as core is eternal truth, no matter how rigid."
"Agreed. But I mean a commander issuing orders."
"Usually tanks or vet dealers. Rear supporters have limits."
"Rear position grants wider view."
Seeing Kang Moo-hyuk's hunting tactic involvement clicked for Joo Se-ah.
"This tied to C Warehouse too?"
"No comment for now."
"Fine. I save the best too. Wait for results. But show guild vision soon? Tomorrow's relocation news will chaos. Mass exodus possible."
Joo Se-ah fretted, but Kang Moo-hyuk shrugged indifferently.
"Let it ride. Planned that way. North Pocheon weeds dead weight. Interfering factions leaving? Bonus. Sudden shocks reveal true colors. Perfect spot to sort allies from not."
"Chaotic for them. Knew you were mean, but hobby's vicious."
"That's why I'm here now."
* * *
"This ain't funny. Commander system? What'd Taeseong's princess eat wrong? Prep the car. Contact Joo Se-ah. Heading to Taeseong Guild."
"Yes, Chairman."