And... Kang Moo-hyuk?
Kim Nari shook Go Eul-ji awake from her deep sleep.
"Get up, Eul-ji. Time to head home."
"Huh? What? Class is over already?"
Go Eul-ji wiped the drool from her mouth and stretched. She checked the time and blinked in surprise.
"Huh? It's not even lunchtime yet. Why home?"
"Tomorrow's the college entrance exam."
"Oh, right, the exam... But why end early? The test's tomorrow."
"Sigh, even if you're not going to college, as a senior you should at least know what happens the day before. They let you go early to check the testing center and adjust your condition."
"So basically, early dismissal no matter what. Right?"
"Y... yeah?"
"Exam holiday rocks!"
Go Eul-ji suddenly threw both hands up in the air. The sharp glares from classmates packing their bags stabbed at her. Kim Nari, noticing the stares, yanked Go Eul-ji's arms down.
"You, seriously no sense at all. 'Rocks' what? The kids taking the exam are stressing out. Act like that and you'll get mobbed."
"Wouldn't hurt anyway. Unless it's from our guild master."
"That's not the point."
"Oh, I get it. You mean I'll get hate, right?"
"You're weird. Ever since joining Iron Will, you can't read the room anymore. Or have you gotten dumber? You sound just like that Kang Moo-hyuk leader you used to talk about."
Go Eul-ji's face turned serious. "Take that back. Or we're done."
Kim Nari replied instantly. "Taken back."
"Good. That's my bestie."
"But saying you resemble the leader that much?"
"Can't explain it, but it pisses me off."
"Why? I saw him on the news—super cool guy."
"Where?"
"You sleep through school, so you wouldn't know, but everyone says so. Honestly, blocking monsters at the Tumen River was mostly thanks to Leader Kang, right?"
"Hunters kill mobs, not leaders."
"You think it's easy gathering those hunters into a unified strike team and lobbying politicians for support?"
"Eh, he contributed a little bit."
Go Eul-ji pinched her fingers together tiny.
Kim Nari grabbed her wrists and spread them wider.
"Nah, too stingy. At least this much, right?"
"Too generous."
"He crushed it in LA too, didn't he? You were hyped about it. No one would complain if you went bigger—why so cheap?"
"Maybe the slave contract. Hurts my stomach when he gets praised."
"Industry-best treatment, and you call it slave?"
"How do you know the terms?"
Go Eul-ji's eyes widened. Kim Nari pulled out her smartphone, searched the net, and shoved the screen at her.
Go Eul-ji Hunter Signs 7-Year Long-Term Deal with Industry-Best Compensation
Go Eul-ji Hunter is reportedly very satisfied with life at Iron Will Guild and happily signed a 7-year long-term contract. According to an internal source, she even okayed a 20-year deal, but Leader Kang Moo-hyuk proposed the industry-standard 7 years, not wanting to restrict a promising young hunter's future potential or deny her fair treatment...
Go Eul-ji snatched the phone and devoured the article.
It covered the unreported Northeast defense battle and her LA exploits, with YouTube clips and photos of her. Even a snippet from Kang Moo-hyuk's interview.
Go Eul-ji's jaw dropped. Kim Nari, oblivious, gushed.
"See? Open-minded guy. Net says big guilds push 15-year deals. Even Guild Master Joo Se-ah did 10 years at Slayer. Compared to that, Leader Kang setting the standard? Legend!"
"Seven or ten years, same difference. And I've been here over a year already—almost two by calendar. Renewal makes it nine."
"You renewed 'cause you're happy, right?"
"Who falls for media spin these days? Ugh, I'm losing it. I signed under duress. Total scam."
"You're an A-rank hunter. He's a normie. Who'd believe a high-rank got coerced by a civilian?"
"......"
Go Eul-ji wanted to explain Kang Moo-hyuk's sly evilness to Kim Nari. But words failed her.
Why does it feel bad, but not really bad on second thought?
Beyond her renewal, his misdeeds overflowed.
No Song-rin alone: blackmailed into becoming his lackey.
But he seems content lately.
Stole most of Guild Master Joo Se-ah's authority, wielding total guild power like a tyrant.
But she doesn't seem to mind.
Tricked Slayer Guild into his puppets.
Few hunters like Slayer anyway. No! Something's up. Something evil... Right, Guild Cooperation Office!
Twisted the government guild overseer into his puppet, epitome of corruption.
Okay, nailed it.
Go Eul-ji painted Kang Moo-hyuk as the villain using the Guild Cooperation Office. Kim Nari tilted her head.
"But what's the Guild Cooperation Office do? Heard the name, but no clue. Kinda invisible, right?"
Go Eul-ji realized her mistake.
Crap! It's the one that gets pushed around everywhere!
She recalled her grandpa, Hunter Association chair, mentioning it.
Government launched it to rein in guilds, but it became toothless. Kang Moo-hyuk revived it, recently establishing its role in disputes and balancing interests.
Searching for crimes, she kept finding achievements. Go Eul-ji racked her brain.
Why tear him down anyway?
Hunters. Victims like me.
Japan suffered most, but she hated them too—pass.
Tier guilds similar. Baekho's wipeout? Their own fault.
Kim Myeong-jun? Tyrants? Sim Wol? Ithaca?
Damn, all self-inflicted?
They sinned first, got punished.
Even her renewal felt earned now.
"So? See any fault in Leader Kang?"
Go Eul-ji blurted unconsciously. "Well, he helped Sinuiju folks, took in stranded Uyghur hunters... Kinda has heart..."
"See? You like him, that's why you renewed."
"Take it back. We're done."
"Strong denial means yes."
"You crushing on our leader?!"
"Hmm... a smidge?"
Go Eul-ji's eyes bulged, mouth agape.
Her mind flashed: Kang Moo-hyuk and Kim Nari's wedding. Her as guest, dabbing tears with a handkerchief.
"Nari! My bad! Don't do this to me!"
"What's with you now?"
"Wah... Kang Moo-hyuk! Make Nari cry and you're dead! No, can't give you my Nari."
"How far did your imagination go?"
Kim Nari laughed in disbelief.
Go Eul-ji hugged her tight, sobbing. "Promise me. Not Kang Moo-hyuk. Or live with me. I'll make you happy."
"Thanks for the proposal. But I got BTA oppas."
Sunshine bloomed on Go Eul-ji's gloomy face.
"Right. We got oppas. Bye, Kang Moo-hyuk. Hope rejection doesn't hurt."
"Always over the top."
The classroom door slid open.
Drag!
"You two have exams tomorrow—still here?"
The student affairs teacher.
Go Eul-ji and Kim Nari glanced around. Classroom empty.
"Eul-ji, no college, but you're taking the exam, right? At least finish student life properly. No beating kids up out there."
"Teacher, I'm no thug. I only hit monsters, villains, and... Kang Moo-hyuk?"
"Kang who?"
"N-no. Just bad guys."
The teacher shook his head at Go Eul-ji's words.
"Just behave till graduation. Don't skip and make me see you next year."
"Don't wanna see you either, teach."
"Please. Graduate safe."
"Yes, sir. No need to pray—I'll graduate fine."
Kang Moo-hyuk suddenly twitched his ear. No Song-rin stared blankly, wondering.
"Ear..."
"Ear?"
"Itches."
"Out of nowhere?"
"Continue."
"That idea?"
"Yes. Organized yesterday's thoughts."
Kang Moo-hyuk's idea was far more constructive than No Song-rin expected.
"Constructive fits better than wholesome."
First idea.
Raid Simulation Strategy Contest
"Thanks to you, No Song-rin Hunter, old memories resurfaced. This is straight from my Titan recruitment."
"Titan complain?"
"No trademark. It flopped anyway—no gripes on reuse."
"Flopped, so why? Hunting for second me? Kinda creepy now."
"Doubt there's another."
"Oh, sure."
No Song-rin saw brag. Kang Moo-hyuk reinterpreted.
"Talent aside, obsessing over monster hunts lifelong? Not normal. Hunter world's grind needs steel nerves; threats first, raid schedules second to survive here."
"What kinda life was that?"
No Song-rin now distinguished Kang Moo-hyuk's jokes from truth.
This: dead serious.
Who else stakes life in an office?
S-rank unflinching, two lives short.
If monsters listened, he'd talk them down solo.
Ideas didn't end at raid contest.
"Next: Hunting Method Contest. For hunters."
Stage to judge personal monster tips.
"Hunting methods special? Stab with blade, blast with magic—done. Who shares secrets anyway?"
"High-ranks fine, low-ranks struggle some. But they hunt anyway. Sharing's folk remedies—like pricking finger for hiccups."
"Monster folk remedies...? Exist?"
"More fun than you think."
"Pass on bombs."
Kang Moo-hyuk deflated fast.