#314. Nice Eyes. I Wanted to Work with You.
Johanna's condition was far worse than Kang Moo-hyuk had anticipated.
Some of her organs were damaged, with torn wounds left unsealed as potions were administered directly into her body like an IV drip. Her bones were shattered into pieces, making it impossible to mend them in the short term.
No Song-rin muttered words of consolation at the sight of her wrapped head to toe in bandages.
"You're damn lucky to still be breathing."
Johanna didn't react to his words, merely shifting her gaze to the window.
Kang Moo-hyuk stepped out of the room without a word, made a call somewhere, and returned shortly after.
"I've arranged a room at Taeseong Hospital. It's the best place in the country for mana therapy. You should recover in a few days."
There was still no response from Johanna.
Kang Moo-hyuk continued undeterred.
"Taking on Demi Varok unarmed was a dangerous choice. But you handled it brilliantly. Your struggle saved countless lives, Johanna Hunter. Thanks to you, Demi Varok was subjugated. The Dragon Rider Guild—the ones who took it down—asked me to pass along their wishes for your speedy recovery."
At the mention of Demi Varok being defeated, Johanna turned her eyes to Kang Moo-hyuk.
The hazy look in her eyes sharpened for a moment. But it faded just as quickly, too faint to last.
Her gaze was a tangled mess of self-blame, despair, fear, and anger. Her wandering eyes, lost for a place to settle, were no different from those of a frightened child.
Kang Moo-hyuk sensed there was some history between Johanna and Demi Varok.
'I came to visit thinking it'd be a chance to win her over... but the mood's all wrong for that.'
He shot a glance at No Song-rin, who caught the signal and stepped out.
Alone with Johanna now, Kang Moo-hyuk pulled out the caregiver's folding bed from under hers and sat on the edge.
"There are many ways to get over a wall. Some climb it, some smash through, others go around."
Johanna tilted her head in confusion at his sudden talk of walls.
Kang Moo-hyuk crossed his arms and pressed on.
"But do you have to cross it? Is the goal crossing the wall itself, or seeing what's on the other side? People sometimes get so fixated on just getting over it that they forget why. Or they never knew in the first place."
"……."
"Is your goal for Johanna Hunter to hunt monsters? Revenge? Money? Fame?"
"I've never chased money or fame."
Johanna snapped back sharply.
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded.
"Then that's the first thing to clarify. Once your goal is clear, you won't waver. No waver, no fear. That's how I overcame my trauma. I vowed revenge on the monster that took my mother—swore I'd keep it sealed away forever. Even without becoming a hunter, that drive kept me going. Wasn't your sabbatical about finding that same fire?"
This time, Johanna nodded slowly.
"But from what I see, resting won't change a thing."
"What do you mean?"
"Hunters find their answers in the hunting grounds."
"That's why I took a sabbatical—I couldn't find it."
"Or were you just running away, scared of losing what you've gained?"
Irritation boiled up as Kang Moo-hyuk, a stranger to her inner turmoil, spoke as if he knew it all.
"Guild Leader Kang!"
"Of course, it's just my personal take. You might not buy it. How could a mere civilian understand a hunter's anguish? Still, think it over. What did travel give you? Nothing from the hunts? The LA beehive raid? This fight with Demi Varok? Absolutely nothing?"
"……."
"If you found even a sliver of something, go back to the hunting grounds. A hunter's answers are always there."
Kang Moo-hyuk stood without waiting for her reply. He didn't need to hear it. Life had returned to her eyes.
'Temporary motivation. She won't overcome it all at once. But if it gets her one step forward, that's enough.'
As he opened the door, he left behind the reason for his visit.
"Johanna Hunter, you'll be transferred to Taeseong Hospital by tonight. It's under contract with Iron Will, so get the best care. Farewell."
Outside, No Song-rin leaned against the wall, waiting. He followed as Kang Moo-hyuk headed for the elevator.
No Song-rin kept staring at Kang Moo-hyuk with a strange look until he pressed the button.
"What's with the eyes?"
"What?"
"You look like you've got a lot to say."
"You're the one who wasn't saying what you really meant to that Italian girl."
"Eavesdropping?"
"Hunters have sharp ears. That thin door? I heard everything whether I wanted to or not. So you're giving up on recruiting her? She might just head back to Italy if you push like that."
"I'm regretting it too. I'd love to sweet-talk her into a long-term contract. Why'd I do that?"
"Beats me. Guilty conscience?"
"Pfft!"
"What's so funny?"
"Impressive. You made me laugh."
Unsure if it was praise or mockery, No Song-rin scowled.
"Not conscience, then. Shared trauma, maybe. Those eyes screaming 'baggage'—you were practically drooling over them."
"Ah."
Kang Moo-hyuk lightly smacked his right fist into his left palm.
"What? Forget something?"
"No. Your words just gave me the answer."
"What? The drooling part? She didn't seem that far gone."
"Not that. Shared trauma. That's why I offered kindness I don't usually give."
"You're just realizing that now? That's the shocking part."
"I'm shocked too. I've seen plenty of hunters like her. I even studied psychology back when I was helping them overcome trauma. Guess it kicked in subconsciously today."
"Interpreting it that way is even more shocking."
"Right? The studying wasn't wasted."
Feeling their conversation veering off-track, No Song-rin probed casually.
"Out of curiosity—did that psychology stuff actually work?"
"Nah. I dropped out midway."
"You quit studying? Why?"
"They said my empathy was too low. Building rapport was tough. Counselors usually start by earning trust. But I preferred faster methods."
"Faster methods?"
"Giving them benefits or forcing co……."
"Spare me. I get the gist."
"Anyway, it's surprising how it played out like this. A real case study for me."
No Song-rin recalled how Kang Moo-hyuk had soothed Choi Chang-sik in the hospital lobby earlier.
'What was that about?'
Kang Moo-hyuk clearly had no idea he was handling people in his own unique way.
No Song-rin reflected on everything Kang Moo-hyuk had done so far. Not the work of someone low on empathy.
Sure, he could be chillingly manipulative, dancing people like puppets on his palm—but mostly against enemies.
Even No Song-rin himself had been coerced into cooperating via threats, but now it was more than that.
'Scarier when he doesn't even know he's doing it.'
Once again, he reaffirmed that latching onto Kang Moo-hyuk was the right call.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Thanks to the sudden Bukhansan Gate outbreak, Baek Hyeong-gyu spent his last day at Dreamer Guild hunting, delaying his transfer by a day.
He'd already informed Iron Will he'd join the next day.
It was late—well after the crisis had settled—but the guild building blazed like midday. All hunters and staff were on emergency standby, 24/7.
No longer officially with Dreamer, Baek Hyeong-gyu felt awkward lingering. Or rather, the guild master's watchful eye made him uneasy. With the crisis past, he decided to tidy up and leave.
Midnight, but he packed his things. Nearby hunters stopped by one by one for goodbyes.
"Heard Joo Se-ah herself re-recruited you? Don't forget us little guys now that you're succeeding."
"Knew you'd go big wherever, bro. Even mob clears feel different with you."
"Take care out there. Hit us up sometimes."
Baek Hyeong-gyu had never been close with anyone at Dreamer, but Joo Se-ah's personal recruitment earned him instant goodwill.
They hinted at hoping for connections, but he played dumb with a smile and headed out.
The streets, usually crawling with drunks, were eerily quiet from the monster chaos.
Savoring the silence, he went to the back parking lot. As he loaded his bags into the trunk and opened the driver's door—
"Baek Hyeong-gyu. A- rank. 84%."
"!!"
The hairs on Baek Hyeong-gyu's arms stood on end.
The white man blocking his car smiled mildly, but Baek Hyeong-gyu tensed—he hadn't sensed him approach at all.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Iron Will affiliate. Currently Dreamer Guild. Right? I'm here to recruit you."
"News travels slow. I already transferred again."
"Didn't fit at Dreamer, huh? Where to?"
"Back to Iron Will."
"Back?"
The man dangled the pendant around his neck.
"This thing broken? Supposed to be cutting-edge translation artifact, but I'm hearing nonsense. Let me ask again: 'back' means rejoining Iron Will?"
"Yeah. Too late if you're recruiting. Just go."
Baek Hyeong-gyu acted casual. Drive off, put distance—done. That's what he thought.
But the man planted a hand on the hood, no intention of backing down.
"Weird. At 84%."
"What the hell's that mean?"
"84%. Trauma from dead comrades, doubts about Iron Will, anger at the leader, disappointment in Joo Se-ah. Then maladjustment at the new guild, avoiding old allies—social withdrawal. No way 84% goes back."
Baek Hyeong-gyu didn't grasp it all. But clearly, the man was pissed about his return to Iron Will. And he wasn't approaching with good intentions.
'Or just mad things aren't going his way?'
Baek Hyeong-gyu subtly gathered power. He glanced at the passenger seat—his sword was there.
Draw and strike? Or barehanded ambush? He hesitated.
"This is a problem. 84% dropping below 20%. Now I'm exposed……."
"Transfer fell through? Tough luck. I won't blab, so just scram quietly."
"It's... our recruitment's a bit unique. Join up, or……."
"Or?"
"Die. One or the other."
As the man grinned, Baek Hyeong-gyu lunged. Mana surged in his fist, aimed to pierce the man's face—
"Gah!"
Before he could extend his arm, his collar was seized. His throat tightened. Power drained from his body inexplicably.
'Way above me.'
The man yanked Baek Hyeong-gyu's wrist, slamming it into his gut. Baek Hyeong-gyu hastily rallied mana.
"Pointless."
With the man's words, the mana in Baek Hyeong-gyu's hand intensified.
'What the— he's controlling my mana?! Who the hell is this guy…….'
Baek Hyeong-gyu's thoughts cut off. The man wielded his hand like a blade, stabbing wildly.
Over ten holes riddled Baek Hyeong-gyu's abdomen. The man snapped his neck too.
High-rank vitality kept him from instant death, but recovery was impossible.
Even as his breath faded, Baek Hyeong-gyu glared at the white man.
"Nice eyes. I wanted to work with you. Shame, but next time. Wait— if I don't go to the afterlife, working together might be tricky, huh?"
The man tossed Baek Hyeong-gyu to the ground like trash.
As life dimmed from his eyes, Baek Hyeong-gyu watched the man's retreating back and thought:
'Guild Leader Kang... be careful. Iron Will's enemy... is here.'
Was it because Joo Se-ah was S-rank?
Baek Hyeong-gyu didn't worry about her. Instead, he thought of Iron Will's leader—the one he hated most, but who was most capable.
Hoping he'd protect Iron Will.