#297. That's How I've Always Mourned Them.
Joo Se-ah excused herself from the Dreamer Guild's raid leader and stepped outside with Baek Hyeong-gyu.
It was past midnight on a weekday, so the streets were deserted. She'd chosen the time deliberately to avoid prying eyes.
Originally, she'd planned to visit when Baek Hyeong-gyu was home alone, but he was the head of his household.
Anyone would worry more than rejoice if an S-rank hunter showed up in the dead of night—especially if it was their former boss.
Joo Se-ah didn't want to cause unnecessary concern for his family.
The problem was that Baek Hyeong-gyu spent most of his time outside the home at the guild.
It had been impossible to arrange a private meeting. On top of that, he'd cut off contact with his old colleagues entirely, even ditching his smartphone.
Left with no choice, Joo Se-ah had come in person.
She stopped by a convenience store in a quiet alley, a reasonable distance from the drinking spot.
Baek Hyeong-gyu followed silently, but he couldn't hide his turmoil. The walk filled him with discomfort and pressure, like he might puke at any moment. Maybe it was the hunter-grade booze he'd drunk after so long. Whatever the reason, his former boss was an intimidating figure.
A moment later, Joo Se-ah emerged from the store and handed him a bottle.
"Drink this."
"What's this?"
"Hangover cure. They don't sell the hunter version here. Not sure if it'll work, but it's better than chugging Red Dragon and waking up in hell tomorrow."
Baek Hyeong-gyu didn't argue—he just vomited instead.
"Urk!"
Joo Se-ah patted his back as he messed up the pavement, scolding him lightly.
"Aigoo, why'd you drink if you can't handle it?"
"If I don't... urp. Bad... thoughts just... uwoorhk—!"
"Didn't realize you were struggling this hard. Should've checked on you sooner."
Joo Se-ah sounded worried, but to Baek Hyeong-gyu's ears, it came off differently.
"An A-rank hunter getting trauma over a few dead comrades... Pathetic, right? To an S-rank."
"People really suck. You used to have some spine. Living by your principles, not sucking up to anyone. Why're you such a mess now? Boozing it up and all."
"Heh, a mess? Haha! Yeah, I guess it looks that way. Someone like you, Guild Master, must've seen tons of people die. Probably no big deal. Raid Leader Kang Moo-hyuk's the same—cold-blooded, no tears or blood in him ei—kugh!"
In the next instant, Baek Hyeong-gyu clutched his stomach. A powerful impact sent him skidding backward, tripping over a curb and tumbling to the ground. He tried to stand but his legs gave out, leaving him slumped. Then came the gut-wrenching pain, like his insides were being yanked up, followed by another surge of nausea.
"Uwoooorhk!"
He heaved until only bile came out. A shadow from the streetlamp stretched over his head.
"I could've overlooked it as drunken rambling. But you know that's an insult to me, right?"
"Cough, cough... Yes. I admit my mistake."
"To Raid Leader Kang too."
"That... yes. I crossed the line. Said things I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."
"Fine. Apology accepted. Sorry for hitting you too. Now, before I get to why I came here."
Joo Se-ah paused.
As the silence stretched, Baek Hyeong-gyu looked up. Her face was shadowed in the dim light, but he could tell she was pondering something.
He swallowed dryly and waited. He had no idea what she wanted.
After a moment, Joo Se-ah spoke.
"Originally, I came on Raid Leader Kang's orders, but..."
That single line made Baek Hyeong-gyu assume Kang Moo-hyuk had sent her to punish him.
It made sense—his impression of Kang Moo-hyuk was of a cold, ruthless guild operator.
Even during the orc tribe war, he'd assigned them the most dangerous missions, then visited afterward without a word before leaving.
That alone said everything about the man.
Noticing his unease, Joo Se-ah added,
"Don't get the wrong idea just 'cause he ordered it. I'm not here to mess you up. If that was the plan, why would I come myself?"
"No, that's not it."
"Working with that sly fox sharpened my instincts—100 levels in reading people, 200 in sniffing bullshit. I can tell at a glance. Seeing you like this, it finally clicks. Can't just leave you be."
"Pardon?"
"Don't overthink it. Just listen."
Gulp. Baek Hyeong-gyu heard his own swallow as he braced for her verdict.
"Raid Leader Kang's order? Canceled by my authority. Don't need to know what it was, don't care. And rejoin Iron Will. You haven't been at Dreamer long, right? Sorry for the mix-up earlier when I pulled you out—said it wouldn't cause issues. I'll make it official. Transfer over. No refusals."
"What...?"
"You look pathetic. Think you're the only one with trauma? Family dead, neighbors gone, friends slaughtered, comrades lost! Anyone who lived through the small wars—and hell, anyone in this world now—has that pain."
"..."
"But I endure. Why? 'Cause I saved more people than I lost. That's what a hunter does, right?!"
"..."
"Jo Kang-woo, Choi Tae-won, Bae So-jeong. Ije Min, Kim Pyeong-gyu. This moping? It's shameful to your fallen comrades. You know that?"
"...Yes."
"Then shape up. If it's too hard alone, I'll help. So come back. Don't whimper out here about your pain. You've got family. Hunt monsters. Protect them."
Her sharp rebuke deflated him completely. She wasn't wrong—shame flooded him.
Head bowed, spirit broken, he mumbled,
"A hunter who walked out on the guild... Taking me back would tarnish your reputation as Guild Master. I appreciate the thought. You don't have to..."
"What're you talking about? I didn't ditch you. I haven't given up on Hunter Baek Hyeong-gyu. That's why my order stands—you can't quit until I say. That's how I roll, and Iron Will's policy. I'm saying this to uphold the guild master's pride. No one gets abandoned without my say-so."
Joo Se-ah grabbed his collar and yanked him to his feet. Fire blazed in her eyes. Baek Hyeong-gyu couldn't look away.
She said,
"Want to honor your dead comrades? Hunt. Think of them every time you kill a monster. That's how I've always mourned them."
Tears he'd held back for so long finally fell from Baek Hyeong-gyu's eyes.
* * *
It was 8 p.m. at Iron Will Guild headquarters lobby—the quietest time of the evening.
The community center had closed, and raid members who'd finished their shifts and dinner were dispersing for leisure.
Today, an unusual crowd had gathered, turning the lobby rowdy.
"Knew you'd screw up eventually. But straight to Ujungdo? First offense and you're supermax-bound—not easy. Prodigies even crime like pros from the cradle, huh?"
"I haven't gone yet!"
No Song-rin clucked his tongue and shook his head, making Go Eul-ji bristle and yell.
No Song-rin seized the rare chance to press her.
"Nah, think about it—there's upsides."
"Like what?"
"Bloom where you're planted."
Go Eul-ji perked up and leaned in.
"So spill—what?"
"There's a Kim Myeong-jun in there. You've got villain potential beyond him."
"So you're saying become a villain now? From curses to full exorcism?"
"If it's a gut, it's a gut. Kehahaha."
"Ugh, scary. Worried I'll turn into you in Ujungdo. How can someone be this unfunny?"
"Hey, I'm still better than the raid leader!"
Hyeon Jeong-geon sighed over his coffee as they bickered.
"Sigh, kids. Prison's no big deal."
"Not your line, ex-hitman."
Pyo Beom-hee spoke from across Hyeon Jeong-geon's table.
She felt mixed about her old Titan colleague joining—wary yet hopeful.
Before he joined, work had consumed her life. Now she appreciated the coffee breaks, but worried what trouble he'd cause.
Pyo Beom-hee kept eyes on Hyeon Jeong-geon. He grumbled under her gaze.
"Damn, joined for fun, but the kids get all the entertainment. Why didn't the raid leader take me to America? Heard the city nearly blew up. Disasters are American-scale, huh."
"That's why he left you. Play nice now. This ain't Titan with Ma Tae-su covering your ass."
"Scared of the S-rank guild master, living tame. Fuck. Knew the leash was this tight, I wouldn't have joined. Raid Leader Kang doesn't let you slack a second."
"That's his charm."
"Yeah, fun in a tense way. Non-hunter keeping me on edge—"
Clang!
A flying karambit shattered Hyeon Jeong-geon's coffee cup, spilling hot brew all over him. Steam rose from his soaked clothes.
"Sorry."
Go Eul-ji scratched her head sheepishly.
Hyeon Jeong-geon's head creaked toward the culprits.
"You little shits!"
He glared; No Song-rin glared back.
"What? Why?"
No Song-rin hated Hyeon Jeong-geon. Simple reason: resentment from Sinuiju when Mr. Jo impersonated him.
He knew it was a different person with the same face, but seeing that mug stirred old rage.
He loathed both Mr. Jo and Hyeon Jeong-geon.
Go Eul-ji, mid-spat with No Song-rin, turned her glare on Hyeon Jeong-geon too.
Being called a kid irked her—especially by the latecomer. Already moody from the lawsuit, she snapped.
"Who're you calling kid? Weren't you a people-killer? Hunting-wise, I'm senior to you. No-ajusshi's older too. Similar ranks—respect your elders."
"You don't."
"Taking ajusshi's side now? Read the room."
"Huh?"
Hyeon Jeong-geon didn't back down from Go Eul-ji's taunt.
"So, senior's gonna discipline me? Perfect. Chance to show how good I am at 'catching' people."
"Got nothing better? Bragging butcher skills to a kid? Try me if you're serious. I dabble too."
No Song-rin stepped up threateningly.
As Hyeon Jeong-geon's eyes shifted, Go Eul-ji claimed the space.
Invisible pressure encroaching from all sides made him flinch inwardly.
"2v1 cheap shot?"
"Bring your ajusshi."
Go Eul-ji grinned. Hyeon Jeong-geon glanced at Pyo Beom-hee.
"What? Expecting help?"
"Old ties—back me up?"
"Dunno. You getting beat sounds fun."
"Hey."
"You need a thrashing to behave."
"Team Leader Pyo, seriously?"
"Eul-ji's the guild master's sparring partner. Don't underestimate—could embarrass you."
Pyo Beom-hee bowed out; No Song-rin and Go Eul-ji chuckled, closing in.
"Abandoned, huh?"
"Knew Team Leader unnie had good judgment. What'd you say you 'catch' well?"
"You two. Fighting a sec ago, now besties?!"
Hyeon Jeong-geon didn't know limits. Fighting meant killing in his world. Against skilled peers of similar rank, he doubted he'd hold back lethals. He might not win, but he'd maim or take one down.
Problem: couldn't pull that in Kang Moo-hyuk and Joo Se-ah's guild.
Fortunately, his savior arrived right on time.
"What the hell is this?"
A voice that subdued even the rowdiest.
Kang Moo-hyuk.
"Nothing. Just orienting new guy Hyeon Jeong-geon."
"I'm reflecting. Asking Team Leader Pyo for advice on becoming a great hunter."
No Song-rin and Go Eul-ji flipped to S-rank-crushing deference, dodging crisis.
Kang Moo-hyuk ignored them, eyeing Pyo Beom-hee. She shrugged with a smile—let it slide.
He dropped it, turning to Hyeon Jeong-geon.
"Body itching for action, I get it. But this guild's never calm. Don't stir trouble and get hurt. Got it?"
That sufficed.
Hyeon Jeong-geon read the implication: trouble brewing soon, and he'd be involved.
He nodded.
"I won't start any problems, at least."
Kang Moo-hyuk trusted the pledge. Reckless, but he kept his word.
With order restored, he sought No Song-rin.
"Hunter No Song-rin. Status on my order from America?"
"That? Handled as instructed... But this okay?"
"No issue."
"Good then."
"Want you to show me now. Possible?"
"Yes."
"I'll wait outside. Got a place to go."
"Right away."