#291. Couldn't Hold Back
Choi Mi-ran dragged Thomas to the ranch first.
“You might've heard this when you joined, but if America's got Dragon Horses and Europe's got Flying Sea Horses, then Korea's gotta have something, right?”
“Rider Wolves?”
“Nah-uh. Gotta answer Korean-style.”
“Korean-style? Mounted wolves?”
“Wrong! The answer's Rider Wolf. Mix English and Korean—that's the point.”
Thomas didn't quite get why blending the two languages was the key, but he nodded along to his senior's lesson anyway.
Choi Mi-ran's explanation continued.
“Iron Will's the only one in Korea—and one of just three in all of Asia—breeding rideable monsters. We're about to ship out the first batch soon. These babies are pricey, so handle 'em with care. Just this first shipment's pulling in a trillion won. A trillion. Junior, you ever seen that kinda money?”
Thomas thought back to the skill value he'd scarfed down.
How much was my transfer fee again?
No matter the exchange rate to dollars, it had definitely topped a trillion.
With no response from Thomas, Choi Mi-ran nodded knowingly.
“Yeah, figures—it's the stuff of dreams. And this ain't a one-off deal. Think about it: it's a golden goose. Point is, junior, you've joined a guild with massive growth potential. So what're you gonna do from here on out?”
“Uh... well, as a hunter, kill monsters good. Train hard. Follow the guild master's and leader's orders. And, uh...”
“Nope. That's not priority one. Listening to the guild master and leader's basic, duh. What's next? What else you gotta nail? Hmm?”
Choi Mi-ran shoved her face right up to his, and Thomas caught on quick.
“Listen to you, Senior?”
“Bingo! Our junior here's got some real aptitude. I'm impressed. Can't wait to see what you do next.”
Choi Mi-ran bobbed her head and clapped, while Kim Seong-hyeon turned away, unable to watch.
“What kinda 'training' is this? Brainwashing?”
“Quit being a buzzkill and buzz off.”
“Fine, whatever. Do what you want. Hey, what's that?”
“What now?”
“That—ain't that her?”
Kim Seong-hyeon pointed at the sky. Choi Mi-ran followed his finger. High up, a dot was flying toward them. Far off, but hunter eyes could make it out fine.
Choi Mi-ran shrugged indifferently.
“Go Eul-ji.”
“She's all over the news. Killed it in the States, and boom—national star hunter overnight.”
“National star? Big whoop. From what I hear, she mouths off to everyone. Even gave it to Senior No Song-rin, our party leader.”
“Wasn't that 'cause they're tight?”
“Seong-hyeon, you got a ways to go. Tsk tsk. You think that's tight? That's straight-up enemies. Girl's got skills, ignores rank and file—yellow flag all the way.”
Go Eul-ji drew closer, zipped overhead, then braked hard. Choi Mi-ran and Kim Seong-hyeon flinched.
She heard us?
She glanced down, then dove like a plummeting stone and landed.
“Hey, Thomas... and you two? Sorry, don't know your names.”
“This is Senior Choi Mi-ran, and Senior Kim Seong-hyeon. Don't know your guild seniors' names? You've been slacking on guild life. Better treat 'em right from now on.”
Thomas stepped up to scold her, freezing Choi Mi-ran and Kim Seong-hyeon solid.
Hunter rank was hierarchy. Even if a junior overtook you in rank, enforcing pecking order took high rank yourself. Below B-rank, it was as pointless as judging by join date.
Oh, so this Korean-American kid's actually clueless as hell.
Choi Mi-ran sighed inwardly.
Rumor had it Go Eul-ji was a hellion who'd tossed manners to the dogs.
Getting reamed by Guild Master Joo Se-ah as her master, then dumping stress on No Song-rin. Word was.
No Song-rin had been infamous since Taeseong days—kept raiders in line. For her to mouth off to that terror? Go Eul-ji had to be a monster.
Fear of Go Eul-ji had naturally taken root in the guild.
She'd mark you hard—guild life would be hell ahead.
Just as vision went dark, Go Eul-ji surprised them.
“Oh, really? Sorry. I don't come to the guild much except training with the guild master during school. Don't know many folks. But I'm graduating soon, so we'll see each other more. I'll remember your names.”
“Ah, uh... sure. Haha. See you around.”
“Formal's weird. Treat me casual. Nice skin—surely not younger than me? You're guild seniors. Just call me by name. No position yet anyway.”
“Y-yeah?”
Choi Mi-ran scratched her head with an awkward grin. Kim Seong-hyeon nodded too.
“So, where you rushing off to?”
Thomas asked, and Go Eul-ji snapped her fingers.
“Oh right! Thomas, know where the leader is? Phone's off.”
“Dunno. Just got here myself. Why you looking for the leader?”
“Nothin' big. I... got sued.”
“What? Couldn't hold back in that short time?!”
Thomas yelped in shock, and Go Eul-ji glared.
“Hold back what?”
“I mean, you cause trouble again?”
“Again? We ain't that close. Don't talk like you know somethin'—pisses me off.”
“No Song-rin Hunter mentioned a few things. Heard some on the plane.”
“So you two whispered the whole flight about me?!”
“No, not that much about you...”
“Fine, sue me—I'll drag No first. At least if he goes down with me, no regrets.”
Go Eul-ji bolted for HQ mid-sentence. Thomas lunged late—she was already gone.
Kim Seong-hyeon, silent the whole time, exhaled in relief.
“Thought she was nicer than expected, but sued? Rumors true after all, sis.”
“Nah. Kid's got her head screwed on straight. People's misunderstanding.”
Kim Seong-hyeon eyed Choi Mi-ran oddly—her sudden positivity.
“What? You were trash-talking her a sec ago. One nice act and you flip? Didn't peg you for a flip-flopper. Wait, that's just you.”
“I'm in a good mood today. Don't push it.”
“What made her so great? Skin compliment?”
“She sees people right. Called my skin good. Thought I was her age.”
“That's just polite bla—urk! Cough! Why hit me?!”
“Your eye's still trash. How you gonna survive guild life? Be smart about it. Smart. Got it?!”
“...”
Kim Seong-hyeon had plenty to say but swallowed it.
If sis was high-rank, she'd be a villain for sure.
Kang Moo-hyuk drove out of the Hirbat village.
Crossing the small bridge over the stream at the edge, the scenery shifted—no trace of the village to the eye.
The road vanished; even footpaths seemed impossible.
He got out, peering curiously at the former entrance.
“A perception-blocking barrier like this... Rare even among hunters, like elven spirit magic.”
“We'll wrap today with just meeting the chief. Was gonna introduce you to the elder and others, but he's pissed good. Next time, bring ginseng liquor. Gotta smooth it over.”
“Why'd you hit Chief Doki and sour the mood, Chairman?”
“You punk, I got hit harder. You my side or his? Why take his side?”
Han Byung-gu rubbed his bruised cheek, fuming. Leaving a mark on a hunter took real force. Feeling shortchanged, he'd socked Doki back—they were sulking now.
“Hitting that tiny Hirbat body—where's the spot?”
“Stranger'd think you know Hirbats better. Punk, he's not weak just 'cause he's small. Looks kid-like, but tough as nails—dwarves yield. And that temper...”
“We'll learn traits and personalities in time. Bae Ki-tae filled me in on the rest. Next stop?”
“Gangneung.”
“Pyeongchang to Gangneung. Gangwon Province—prime for hiding stuff. Shall we?”
As Kang Moo-hyuk moved to get back in,
Bzzt bzzt bzzt. Bzzt bzzt bzzt bzzt.
His smartphone rang.
“Hm? Guild. One sec, gotta take this.”
Han Byung-gu, still pouty over the Doki thing, waved him off.
“Yeah? Ah, Guild Master. Yes, out on business. What's up...? Yes? Yes, yes. So Go Eul-ji Hunter...?”
“What? Eul-ji trouble? What'd Se-ah say?”
Forgetting his gripe, Han Byung-gu crowded in.
Kang Moo-hyuk waved him off now, talking.
“So Go Eul-ji Hunter, at school, that issue? Yes yes. Sigh, couldn't hold back and caused a scene? Ah? Not that. Yes. Ah, so it wasn't holding back—it was already done? So Guild Master, it's out now, needs cleanup? Who was it again? Yes. That family? Don't know 'em well, but heard the name. Famous in the biz. Sounds like you know 'em well. Makes sense—no bad blood with Taeseong. Got it. I'll handle. Heading up now.”
Kang Moo-hyuk hung up; Han Byung-gu pounced.
“What'd Eul-ji do now?!”
“Not this time.”
“Phew, thought so.”
“Last time.”
“What?! What mess?”
Kang Moo-hyuk shook his head, averting eyes.
Han Byung-gu pressed at the grim face.
“Spill! Why so dark?!”
“She... hit a kid.”
“What? Who?”
“Beat up a classmate. A civilian one.”
Go Eul-ji knelt before Joo Se-ah, pleading.
“Guild Master, I'm innocent!”
“Innocent kid beats up a civilian—another student?”
“I'm a student too?”
“Hunter. Future criminal.”
“No. Wasn't this time—it was before. Didn't even use strength. No one knew I was a hunter then. Just kids scrapping? And she deserved it. How she bullied Nari.”
“Not a hunter then?”
“Yeah, but ugh, frustrating.”
Frustrated was Joo Se-ah.
Hiding Go Eul-ji's hunter status against Japan threats—didn't expect it to blow up now.
Biggest issue: family's unreasonable. Why Jin of all people?