#288. What Exactly Are You Hiding?
“No early dismissal!”
“Why not?”
“You feeling sick?”
“No.”
“Grandpa ill?”
“No.”
“House on fire?”
“No.”
“No early dismissal.”
“Why?!”
Go Eul-ji clung to her homeroom teacher, pleading her case, but the teacher wasn't as pushover as she hoped.
But Go Eul-ji wasn't one to give up easily. Having spent years hiding her true identity, she had no desire to have her face plastered across the nation in real time. Channeling the same tenacity she'd shown clinging to even S-ranks, she relentlessly persuaded her teacher.
“Look, teacher, my situation right now—it's kinda like this, you see.”
“That's just it, Eul-ji. You're a hunter, right? The principal already confirmed your license, so I get that. But does that justify leaving early? Did a monster pop up or something? Emergency alert?”
“Not exactly, but with all these reporters trying to barge into the school, won't it disrupt the other students' studies? I've given up on schoolwork myself, but for our friends with college entrance exams right around the corner, wouldn't early dismissal be better?”
“Hmm, now that you mention it, yeah.”
“Right? So, early dismissal...”
“No.”
“Why?”
The back-and-forth looped like a broken record until the teacher finally explained.
“It's for you, you. All for your sake.”
“Me? What about me?”
“Your attendance is already razor-thin, isn't it? Miss two more days, and you won't graduate. You'd have to see me again next year.”
“No, it's not. I've got some buffer.”
Caught off-guard after her secret attempt to sneak out, Go Eul-ji stammered.
“You just got back from the US, didn't you?”
“That was hunter training. Ask the principal.”
“Training my ass. You went to a BTA concert, didn't you? There's proof all over YouTube—don't lie.”
“That was while hunting monsters...”
“With a light stick instead of a sword?”
“I swear, it was training. Ask our guild master. And I don't even know who BTA is... Sorry, oppa! Even if it was a lie, denying my oppas like that~! I've committed a mortal sin!”
Unable to keep up the lie, Go Eul-ji prostrated herself in apology. The teacher soothed her gently.
“Even if you're a hunter, a hero who saved lives—I'm your teacher. Your homeroom teacher. I can't overlook that unauthorized trip abroad. Even in this messed-up world, we stick to principles. That's what rules are for. I want you to be a hunter who never forgets the basics.”
She figured the guild could pull strings, but the teacher's words made her scrap the idea from her mind.
Amazed that someone besides Kang Moo-hyuk could talk her into submission, Go Eul-ji nodded in agreement.
“I'll talk to the guild. And I'll make sure they don't bother the other kids' studies. Sorry for the trouble.”
“Huh? 'Make sure' how?”
The teacher sensed unease in Go Eul-ji's suddenly compliant tone.
Go Eul-ji's eyes gleamed. A pulse of mana rippled from her, spreading to every corner of the school grounds.
Invisible to ordinary people, it was a force that would terrify any hunter aware of its vast reach.
Not monsters or hunters. Civilians have no mana resistance, so pushing them outside the school won't be a big deal.
She sorted school staff, students, security guards from outsiders.
Her spatial sensing had sharpened rapidly since the Sinuiju war.
Having instantly mapped everyone inside, Go Eul-ji unleashed her power. Screams erupted from outside.
As shouts intensified, teachers rushed to the windows. The homeroom teacher glanced out, tearing her eyes from Go Eul-ji.
What the hell is this kid up to?
No visible change outside, but the shift in her student's demeanor hinted at mischief.
And sure enough, something bizarre unfolded beyond the window.
People clutching cameras and mics floated mid-air, drifting beyond the school gate. A few scaling the wall got swept up too.
The teacher whipped back to Go Eul-ji.
“E-Eul-ji. This you?”
“Don't worry. No one's hurt. Just politely escorting them outside.”
The casual tone unnerved the teacher, who suddenly remembered Go Eul-ji was a hunter—wielding force over dozens effortlessly.
“All out now. I'll make sure they can't get back in.”
Go Eul-ji swiftly erected a barrier along the school walls. No need for monster-grade strength—just enough to block humans.
“See you after school, then. Sorry for the hassle.”
She bowed nonchalantly after her massive stunt and strolled out. Stunned teachers gawked at her retreating figure.
“Thought she was a delinquent from all the absences... Turns out she's a hunter through and through. Does that like it's nothing.”
The homeroom teacher stood speechless amid the murmurs.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“That's her from the YouTube vid, right?”
“Saw the clip? BTA concert footage. US kids uploaded it—insane.”
“Her name got called at the BTA shelter show too. Go Eul-ji or something. Sounds cool, huh?”
“Grandpa's the Hunter Association chairman. Guild master's Joo Se-ah.”
“Hunter family, Iron Will guild? Total diamond in the rough.”
“Look, even with all this noise, she won't glance our way. So badass. Pure charisma.”
“Kyaa, unnie! Look over here!”
“Noona, you're pretty!”
During lunch, Go Eul-ji ignored the crowd packing the hallway outside her classroom, not even turning her head. She'd nearly burst her eardrums earlier locking eyes with them amid screams and cheers.
Staring fixedly at the blackboard she ignored even in class, her best friend Kim Nari teased.
“Our Eul-ji's popular, huh?”
“Don't turn. Eye contact means exhaustion.”
Go Eul-ji spoke without looking, lips barely moving like a ventriloquist. Pronunciation slurred slightly, but the message was clear.
Kim Nari snorted at the ridiculous sight.
“That's why you're staring straight ahead? Seems more tiring.”
“Don't even. Staring at me means I can't sleep. What am I, a zoo panda?”
“Pandas at least eat and sleep well.”
“Exactly.”
She peeked once, endured the roar of cheers, then straightened up.
“At least you don't have to hide being a hunter anymore. No more skipping without excuses.”
“Right when school life's ending. Graduation's around the corner—what's the point now? Other teen hunters skipped freely even without hunts, living it up.”
“Oh yeah, heard there's a middle-school awakener here. Son of some guild master?”
“Master, not president. Was there? How'd I miss that?”
“You ignore school stuff. He's kinda known. Anyway, heading to training after graduation. You doing any?”
“Training's post-basic in a assigned guild. I finished mine ages ago. Now... guild master's grinding me. Ugh, suddenly feel sick. Worse than Grandpa's friends bossing me around. Feels less like joining a guild, more like entering hell.”
Go Eul-ji dry-heaved, face like a world-weary veteran.
As Kim Nari patted her back consolingly—
“Move!”
A domineering voice split the students blocking the door, parting them left and right.
Through the gap strode a hulking boy whose head seemed two sizes larger than the rest.
“What? That ogre?”
“That's him. The guild kid from earlier.”
“That ogre?”
Mistaken for an ogre, the boy glared fiercely. He drew a massive greatsword—somehow smuggled into school—and advanced.
“E-Eul-ji.”
Kim Nari clutched Go Eul-ji's sleeve anxiously.
Go Eul-ji glanced up indifferently. She didn't flinch even as the blade whistled down toward her desk.
Luckily, it stopped short, blade face a handspan from her eyes.
Sudden provocation. Go Eul-ji pondered.
Is this a challenge?
Beat him? Ignore?
Too much damage if she hit back; annoying if she let it slide.
As she considered wrapping him up and dumping him outside— the boy bared his teeth and yelled.
“Autograph!”
“Autograph?”
“Yeah!”
“What cause of death you want? Crushing? Beating? Fall? Just say.”
“N-No, sign it. On the leather hilt here...”
Embarrassed, he offered a pen. Go Eul-ji took it, looking troubled.
“Don't have a signature.”
“Just write your name.”
Caught off-guard, Go Eul-ji scrawled her name carefully. Simple as it was, it felt burdensome; her hand shook.
But BTA signing experience kicked in, steadying her.
“Your name?”
“Park Tae-ju.”
To Hunter Park Tae-ju, join a great guild. Go Eul-ji.
“Whoaaa!”
The fierce-faced Park Tae-ju grinned wide, sheathing his greatsword like a treasure.
Someone shouted then.
“Go Eul-ji's signing!”
“Me too!”
“First come, first served!”
Chaos erupted. As Go Eul-ji fled in horror, Park Tae-ju stepped up.
“Line up, line up. No cutting. Eul-ji-nim, use this pen. Return it to me when it's out...”
From outcast to influencer overnight, Go Eul-ji wilted amid the frenzy, drained.
Ah, oppas are amazing. They do this daily? Loyalty forever!
But where there's light, there's shadow.
Some envied her popularity.
Go Eul-ji, that bitch—figures she fought so well. Hunter, huh? Hid it and toyed with us like rats?!
Jin Sun-mi and her gang, who bullied Kim Nari whenever Go Eul-ji was absent.
Jin Sun-mi gnashed her teeth at the school's new star.
Enjoy it now. See if I let it slide.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“What?”
“...”
“Why?”
“...”
“Guild Master Kang, you gonna keep this up?”
“...”
“Fine. Fine. I'll be straight. But sign this NDA first.”
Han Byung-gu slid over prepped papers.
Standard nondisclosure: no spilling this conversation.
Kang Moo-hyuk struck through with a pen, adding an exemption for guild master Joo Se-ah.
“Like this.”
“Se-ah? Why her now? Wait, don't tell me you're planning to rob this place like you did Baekho Guild?”
“Misunderstanding. We're not thieves—why rob the Association?”
“Thieves are better, you punk. You're a robber.”
“Not robbing. Just verifying.”
“Robbers use kitchen knives cute-like. You threaten with an S-rank. Parade Se-ah up front demanding unique items—that ain't robbery preview?”
Han Byung-gu ranted, deliberately pressuring to block side thoughts. It didn't faze Kang Moo-hyuk.
“Nothing new there. I've long suspected you might have unique items. Time to come clean.”
“On what basis?”
“Didn't know Go Eul-ji's Dragon Scale Hairpin was unique, but figured Great War heroes stashed something. Korea had multiple S-ranks then; you're the survivor closest to them. I sniff these things out.”
“You punk—anyone'd think I'm the villain. So you're saying I swiped my comrades' gear and played innocent? Hah, blood pressure's spiking after ages. How dare you see me that way.”
“Can't say it outright with your status. Softened it for you.”
“See this brat? Spouting nonsense! Think I'd sell out comrades' requests for gear?”
“Oh? Requests?”
“Oops...!”
“So, high-rankers from back then did entrust you with stuff? Including unique items.”
“No such thing.”
Kang Moo-hyuk signed the NDA instantly, shoving it back like a nail in the coffin.
“Swear on my life, no robbing. Spill it.”
“What items I have?”
“No. Items are just part. I want everything the Great War hunters left behind.”
“You... what...?”
“Can't wrap my head around it no matter what. Go Eul-ji. Talented, sure. But high-rank without fieldwork before twenty? Even guild master Joo Se-ah couldn't. What exactly are you hiding?”