#318. Did You Call Just to See That?
Iron Will's communication team, responsible for coordinating the guild's schedule, stepped up to deliver the news of Baek Hyeong-gyu's death to his family. Team leader Pyo Beom-hee met with them personally, observing all proper etiquette.
She comforted them, promising the guild would handle all funeral arrangements. She also committed to covering not just the associated costs but any future inheritance issues for the family.
As the staff bustled about, word of Baek Hyeong-gyu's passing spread quickly among the guild members.
The neutral faction hunters from the old Taeseong Guild, who had been his former colleagues, offered condolences and attended the funeral.
Na Dong-pa, who had been particularly close to Baek Hyeong-gyu, kept vigil at the funeral hall from the first day. He planned to follow the hearse on the day of the burial to see him off one last time.
On the final morning, Kang Moo-hyuk visited, and late that night, Joo Se-ah made an appearance.
Guild members who arrived late due to training or duties were stunned to hear Joo Se-ah had come to pay her respects at Baek Hyeong-gyu's altar.
Mid-conversation about the deceased, they stole glances at Joo Se-ah as she entered wearing her black guild armor coat.
"Who'd have thought the guild master would show up on the way to Baek-hyung's?"
"Yeah, taking care of someone who went to another guild. Is the guild master just that sentimental?"
"Didn't you hear? Apparently, Baek Hyeong-gyu hunter was rejoining our guild this time. The Seoul incident just held up the paperwork—he was already one of us."
"Rejoining?"
"Heard he transferred from Dreamer Guild. And get this—the guild master herself requested it."
With rare faces gathered in one place, they started swapping all sorts of guild rumors. After Joo Se-ah left, the talk flowed even freer without reservations.
The biggest point of division was why Baek Hyeong-gyu had left Iron Will in the first place.
"Hyeong-gyu hated Kang the strategist. Remember the orc horde? He shoved the neutral faction guys into the most dangerous spot. No way he'd have good feelings after that."
"In the end, our guild master handed all authority to the strategist. If you're pinning blame, she's not off the hook either."
"Come on, honestly, where in a raid isn't dangerous? Name one hunter who lives without risking their neck."
"Fair, but that orc invasion on North Pocheon was a bit much, numbers-wise."
"If you're going there, then Jang Deok-gu, who lured them in, was in the hottest spot."
The guild members nursed drinks they couldn't even get drunk on, holding their seats until late.
Some didn't even know Baek Hyeong-gyu by sight.
Like the hunters Kang Moo-hyuk had personally scouted and recruited.
"What do you think?"
Gyeong Su-hyeok's question earned a baffled look from Baek Seong-bin, as if to say what the hell?
"About Baek Hyeong-gyu hunter. Think the strategist pushed too hard with that orc horde op, so he quit?"
"I didn't even know the guy. Why ask me?"
"Same surname, ain't it?"
"What kinda logic is that?"
"Anyway, which side you on?"
"Side? A hunter dying on the hunt—who's to blame? Even if you wanna assign fault, fighting that orc horde and the war would've been brutal no matter who led. Blaming Kang Moo-hyuk from the start is ridiculous. You think you could've whipped up a plan for total victory with just a handful of casualties, no prep, against a full-scale war raid? Bad luck. Someone had to do it."
"Yeah, but…"
As Gyeong Su-hyeok nodded in agreement, a scoff came from the next table.
Baek Seong-bin glared over. Seo Dae-chi sat alone, downing drinks.
Gyeong Su-hyeok spoke first to head off trouble.
"Hey, why you sitting solo? Folks might think we're not in the same party."
"You even think of me as party?"
"Look at this prick mouthing off. If Lee Jin-joo expedition leader hadn't ordered party visits, I'd have left you hanging. Do half—no, a fraction—of what you pull on other parties to us, and I'll carry you myself."
Baek Seong-bin picked up Gyeong Su-hyeok's line.
"Thinks he's schmoozing for that open party leader spot. Just be you. Don't fake nice—it don't suit your temper."
"My score's got nothing to do with you. Oh? You gunning for party leader too?"
"Damn right. Can't stand your ugly mug. Why?"
Baek Seong-bin disliked Seo Dae-chi.
Money-grubbing trash. Desperate climber.
That was his first impression. And it stuck.
Rumors weren't kind. From what Baek Seong-bin dug up, plenty of freelancers had suffered at his hands.
Mostly hunting ground disputes. Assaults standard, verbal abuse, even investigated by Hunter Investigation Agency for illegal monster corpse removal.
Bribed the investigators? Dodged prison, but lost hunter license for three months on admin action.
Other incidents too—miraculously, no criminal record.
Why'd the strategist bring in a guy like that?
Still puzzled him.
"You guys think Kang Moo-hyuk's a good guy?"
"That again?"
Gyeong Su-hyeok groaned, lifting his beer.
Baek Seong-bin chuckled dryly.
"What? Spouting the strategist villain theory? Sick of it, like Su-hyeok says? What's eating you about him?"
"Ability? Sure. But he's no different from other guilds. Pawns hunter lives for ops, same as always."
"Told you—zero casualties ain't real. At least the strategist plans to minimize sacrifices. Puts guild profit second."
"Right. Good image, huh? PR master."
"What, you punk? PR? Hell, more folks doing 'PR' like that'd be great. Not all money-obsessed like you. Speaking of, you money fiend got any right calling out the strategist?"
Baek Seong-bin sniped at the end, but Seo Dae-chi didn't bite.
No response, so Baek Seong-bin ignored him, grabbing his bottle. Then Seo Dae-chi spoke.
"Kang Moo-hyuk strategist ain't the righteous guy you think. Don't cry when the axe you trusted chops your foot."
"Yeah, I'll cry later. Wanna cry now?"
"Dumb brute relying on tankiness."
"What?!"
Baek Seong-bin revered Kang Moo-hyuk; Seo Dae-chi's jabs grated.
Things headed for fists, so Gyeong Su-hyeok intervened.
"You idiots. This a funeral home? Guild folks everywhere. Lee Jin-joo hears, we're toast tomorrow. You die? I die too. Save the leaks for outside. Yeah?"
Luckily, they stopped short.
Seo Dae-chi, mood killed, stood and left. Baek Seong-bin tsked, downed his last, grabbed his armor coat.
"Heading out?"
"You?"
"Rare night out—staying longer."
"Fun drinking what don't intoxicate?"
"Keeps the vibe. Red Dragon's too pricey."
"Night. See ya tomorrow."
"No brawling Dae-chi on the way?"
"If he ain't lurking."
"Why you two always at each other's throats?"
"Clown show. Joins Iron Will on strategist's invite, then badmouths him? Hilarious, with his rep."
"Dunno his rep. Guild behavior? Not that bad. Rough personality, but hunters—more thorns than smooth."
Gyeong Su-hyeok's words drew a strange look from Baek Seong-bin.
"Defending him?"
"Not defending—seen it."
"Still don't get it? All play for party leader. Grabs it, true colors show."
"To me, you're the issue."
"…"
"How long you banking on healing factor? Get therapy. That berserk habit facing monsters—fix it. No red eyes in hunts, you'll be Korea's top tank."
Baek Seong-bin had no comeback to Gyeong Su-hyeok's point. His own flaw, endlessly fought, stubbornly persistent, tormenting him.
Lee Jin-joo said Kang Moo-hyuk was crafting a new hunting style just for him.
Appreciated, but humiliating—like his idol scrapped the original plan.
Baek Seong-bin stood wordless.
"I'll handle it. Drink moderate, head home."
"Why again?"
Seo Dae-chi lit a cigarette.
Nicotine was pure indulgence for hunters. No post-gate era lung cancer cases—smoke freely.
He flicked his lighter.
Click, click!
"Damn, lighter's busted now."
Out of gas, but he blamed it, irritated.
Finally lit, he chain-smoked to the filter. Flicked it out with his finger, headed to the lot.
Just before his car, odd presence.
Glanced—foreigner leaning on funeral hall wall, cig in mouth. Fumbled pockets, troubled, spoke to Seo Dae-chi.
"Got a light?"
Seo Dae-chi tossed his without a word.
"Keep it."
"Whoa, generous. Just wanted a light, you give the whole thing."
Seo Dae-chi eyed the foreigner—oddly fluent Korean.
Foreigner removed his cig.
"Iron Will?"
"Who're you?"
"Curious?"
"Obvious hunter. No yellow-haired foreigner shows without reason."
"Brown hair. Not yellow. Nose ain't big."
Foreigner fiddled his curls, grinning.
Nice smile, but repulsed Seo Dae-chi—not his twisted nature, but the forced grin.
"Know someone who smiles like you."
"How's that?"
"Fake."
"Sharp eyes. Like it."
"Don't care."
"Big merit. Plenty time."
"So? You waited, right?"
"Just hello today. Recent slip-up. Hate breaking toys I like. Watch more."
No threat from the cryptic foreigner—friendly? Hostile? Unclear.
"Nothing else? I'm out."
"See ya if fate wills."
Seo Dae-chi drove off. Foreigner relit his cig.
Click! Click!
"Huh? No flame? Damn! Gave me an empty? Sneaky trash."
Chuckled, tossed lighter. Fingertip to cig tip.
Crackle, snap!
Static sparked, lit. Deep drag, nose exhale, muttered.
"92%. Still watch. Till sure control's safe."
Kang Moo-hyuk mobilized every resource to tail Mira Juice head Illusion. Even Mr. Jo yielded nothing.
Fair. Not his specialty. Finding no ties in Korea needs time, manpower.
Debated Slayer's help, scrapped it—exposing uncertain target bred chaos.
Even if Illusion in Korea, risky. Slayer's big moves stood out. Alert him, unpredictable fallout.
Best: Pinpoint, then guild master and Thomas blitz.
Last resort prep needed.
Decision made, called Han Byung-gu.
"Sounds unwelcome?"
"Know and ask?"
"That's why."
"Your ignorance baffles more, punk."
"Frankly, don't get the anger. Our bond's ironclad."
"Ironclad? Where?"
"Your granddaughter's our guild member. Appointed me Great War legacy custodian. Textbook collusion."
"That's business. Ironclad?!"
"Who knows? Association might get swallowed… gulp gulp. Ah, good water. Throat dry sudden."
"Don't dodge. Too late. Raised a tiger cub—no, thief!"
"Handover done—why fuss? Oh, one thing left."
Han Byung-gu caught on.
"You… called to see that?"
"Yes. Open the treasure vault. Need those unique items you hid, now."