#319. What, It's Not Some Buy-One-Get-One-Free Deal
Kang Moo-hyuk headed straight for the Hunter Association.
"I told you not to come, and here you are anyway."
"I have to fulfill my duties as custodian."
"Such a needless busybody."
Kang Moo-hyuk referred to himself as the custodian, but Han Byung-gu saw him as the heir to the legacy of the Great War.
A custodian was just that—someone who managed things. They had no authority to dispose of the legacy.
The heir, on the other hand, had the right to use the Great War's legacy as they saw fit.
'I won't live to see this punk grinning like an idiot. Even now, his face makes my eyes itch. If I call him the heir and he gets all puffed up, I'll die of apoplexy just looking at him.'
He'd hand it over eventually, but not without a fight. He'd passed on all the other legacies, but he'd held back on showing the vault—the core of it all—to the very end. He'd meant to let the kid stew in curiosity, but Kang Moo-hyuk hadn't shown much reaction, leaving Han Byung-gu starting to get antsy.
And now the punk suddenly wanted to see the vault. Han Byung-gu's mischievous side kicked in.
"You brat, do you even know what kind of vault that is? It's the cradle and essence of Korea's hunter world. You think I'll just show it to you with your mouth? If you want to see it, get on your knees, reflect on everything you've done, and beg like a dog…"
"Mirage."
"What nonsense is this now…?"
Han Byung-gu scowled. He remembered how Kang Moo-hyuk always cut in like this right before dropping bad news.
"I wasn't going to mention it, but Mirage has entered Korea."
"Mirage? Those terrorists?"
"Yes. And it's not just regular members— we've confirmed their leader, Illusion, is personally involved."
"Hey! Why tell me now?!"
"No hard evidence."
"Evidence?"
"Circumstantially, it looks like Mirage is here, but we haven't pinned down their exact location yet."
Han Byung-gu caught on to why Kang Moo-hyuk had barged into the Association so insistently.
"Don't tell me you're rushing to see the vault because…"
"I'm factoring in a head-on clash between Illusion and Guild Master Joo Se-ah. I want her properly armed before that. So, should I get on my knees and beg?"
Han Byung-gu's face flushed red and purple.
'Is this punk doing this on purpose?'
With Mirage in Korea, if Kang Moo-hyuk pulled this stunt here, it'd make Han Byung-gu look like a fool.
'He'd say I'm using the greater good to impose personal sanctions.'
Kang Moo-hyuk was the type to milk this forever.
"Follow me."
Grinding his teeth, Han Byung-gu led the way to the Association's basement.
Kang Moo-hyuk eyed the buttons in the chairman's private elevator. As far as he knew, the building went down to basement level 5. Levels 2 through 5 were all parking, so when Han Byung-gu hit 5, he figured they were heading out by car.
'But Secretary Bae Ki-tae isn't with us. Is this place a secret even from him?'
The mystery didn't last long.
Just before descending from B4 to B5, Han Byung-gu started mashing the floor buttons randomly.
The elevator reached B5 but didn't open—instead, it plunged even deeper.
"There's more below?"
"Yeah. B10."
"What about 6 through 9?"
"Those floors don't exist."
"So I just press that pattern?"
"I'll tell you later."
"No need. I memorized it."
Han Byung-gu furrowed his brow in annoyance.
"All fourteen digits?"
"Fifteen."
"Damn, you're for real. Now I'm scared to even enter my house passcode with you around."
"No need for that."
"What? You already know it?"
"If I need to, I can have Hunter No Song-rin smash the door."
"I'd sue you for breaking and entering on the spot."
"If I need to. Only if."
Han Byung-gu glared at Kang Moo-hyuk's slippery dodge as the elevator hit B10.
The doors opened to pitch blackness, like stepping into outer space.
Han Byung-gu crooked a finger over his shoulder and advanced.
"Follow."
The moment he stepped in—
Pop! Pabababam!
Lights flickered on like falling dominoes.
"…"
Kang Moo-hyuk silently trailed Han Byung-gu down the straight corridor, unbroken by turns or branches, until a massive iron door loomed ahead.
He scrutinized the strange runes etched into it.
"What, you recognize them?"
"At least I know no human does."
"It's Hirbat barrier script. The door was made in their language. Tough as hell, blocks all magic and abilities. Only the authorized can enter."
With that, Han Byung-gu placed his hand on a broad metal plate at the door's base. It clearly wasn't mechanical.
'More like an item.'
As Kang Moo-hyuk guessed, it wasn't from Earth.
"Elves and dwarves worked on this too. Something about existence verification, not fingerprints. Anyway, ID check."
Light bloomed from the plate at his touch, summoning otherworldly script that flowed into the door's runes, awakening them.
The iron door groaned open.
"In."
Inside was dark too, but lights blazed the instant Han Byung-gu entered, just like the corridor.
Kang Moo-hyuk couldn't hide his awe at the sight.
"Darkest under the lamp, huh. No one'd dream unique items were buried right in central Seoul."
Cylindrical glass tubes lined both walls. Inside them gleamed various gear—items, clearly.
He approached the nearest, touched it, and yanked his hand back with a start.
"Not reinforced glass."
"Elemental crystal. No gaps in physical or magic defense. Hard to refine, though."
Transparent ore? Kang Moo-hyuk marveled again, then gaped at the name elemental crystal.
"This pricey stuff… Can I take the cases later?"
"What, the metal stands below are Illigan steel. Why not rip those off and sell 'em?"
"Illigan steel? Why sell something so rare? Make armor. So, when can I take them?"
"You brat! Think I mean it?!"
Kang Moo-hyuk's grin faded to disappointment.
"If you give and take back, I'll sue civilly."
"Never gave!"
Han Byung-gu huffed, caught his breath, and sobered up.
Standing solemnly before the elemental crystal Kang Moo-hyuk had pointed to, he spoke gravely.
"Know how many unique items Korean hunters had at the Great War's end?"
"No idea. No records, right?"
"Forty-three. Most in the world. And one was a step above unique."
"Legendary…?"
Kang Moo-hyuk's eyes sparkled; Han Byung-gu waved him off.
"Don't get your hopes up. Vanished hunting baby dragons in the Nine Dragon Tombs."
"Too bad. Only five worldwide even now."
"Probably more. They're just hidden tight."
"Why hide monster-slaying tools like treasures?"
"Plenty of eyes on them. Same then as now."
Final Great War horrors flashed before Han Byung-gu's eyes. Lost in thought, he continued.
"Lost the legendary, left with forty-two. Eleven became masterless; Japan, China, Russia, America divvied them up."
"…"
"Of the remaining thirty-one, twenty shattered in the Nine Dragon Tombs raid and final battle. I salvaged eleven and hid them. One's the Dragon Scale Hairpin with Eul-ji."
"So the other ten are here?"
Kang Moo-hyuk counted the crystal cases: exactly eleven. One empty.
"Before S-ranks in Korea, no one could've wielded them. Couldn't protect them. But now Se-ah's S-rank. She holds her own against any. Qualified to use and defend them."
Kang Moo-hyuk agreed. He'd only seen one S-rank fight—the Russian Tyrant, not at full power. But Joo Se-ah's traits meant she'd never lose, especially to a mage. She was a perfect counter.
"Take a look. Ask questions. Something here'll suit Se-ah."
At Han Byung-gu's urging, Kang Moo-hyuk dove into appraising the unique items.
One weapon caught his eye. He squinted, staring repeatedly.
A massive spear.
Triangular serrated blade, whole thing gleaming black.
"This… the Dragon Harpoon?"
"Got an eye. Yeah. Dragon Harpoon."
Kang Moo-hyuk's jaw dropped.
Top item from the Nine Dragon Tombs raid? Hands down, the Dragon Harpoon.
'Brought down the headache "Bashmu of Lightning Minds" among the Nine Dragons.'
It had shredded countless dragon wings and flesh, ending the Great War era.
"Wasn't this Dragon Slayers Guild's? Thought it shattered."
"Barely reclaimed it from the Chinese bastard trying to steal it."
"If Dragon Slayers knew it's here, they'd riot."
"If you're hunting dragons, it'll come out someday."
Han Byung-gu saw through Kang Moo-hyuk's ambitions.
The three-headed evil dragon reborn in the Makyung: Zmey Gorynych.
Dormant now, but its awakening would doom Northeast Asia.
Han Byung-gu knew Kang Moo-hyuk's preparations.
"Want the Dragon Harpoon? Tell them to face a dragon. I'll hand it over. Refuse? Become S-rank. Think those punks'll defy an S-rank outright? Hunters are all bark without power."
"Good tip. Might even use it to drag Dragon Slayers into a dragon lair."
"Suicidal for the harpoon, but with your silver tongue, you might hook 'em…"
Chatting what would horrify Dragon Slayers' master Jeon Ye-seong, they reviewed all ten items.
As Kang Moo-hyuk pondered setups, Han Byung-gu said,
"The key to this place goes to you. Should be Se-ah's as S-rank, but she's unreliable outside fighting…"
"Why? Guild Master's growing into the role."
"Give it to her instead?"
"Don't complicate a busy woman's life."
"Sharp tongue. Tch! Why's a non-hunter like you so item-hungry?"
"Even one makes a guild top-tier. Sparks greed where there was none."
"Fair…"
Han Byung-gu nodded. Uniques were devilish. So much blood for them—past and future.
Looking at Kang Moo-hyuk, he said,
"Glad it's you, Commander Kang. At least you'll let these shine again."
"You trust me after all that grumbling. We're bonded tight."
"That bond could seal your mouth. Want me to?"
"This item it is."
Kang Moo-hyuk swiftly changed topics, pointing.
Han Byung-gu glanced, puzzled.
"You know this is mage-only?"
"Yes."
"For Se-ah?"
"No. Someone else."
"Someone else? You listening? These need a protector."
"That's why an S-rank."
"Not for Se-ah?"
"Not the only S-rank in the world. And how's a mage item for a tank?"
"What… Urk! You planning to hand it to another country's S-rank? No! Better give it to a cat than fish."
"Won't vanish like eaten fish. Why hoard?"
"Name a hunter who sees a unique and doesn't flip!"
Kang Moo-hyuk calmed the bellowing Han Byung-gu with a smile.
"Don't worry. Not giving to foreign hunters."
"No foreign S-rank mage how… Hm…"
A suspicion flashed in Han Byung-gu's mind.
"Nah, no way. Can't be. I'm imagining it. No second one. What, it's not buy-one-get-one-free."
Kang Moo-hyuk gazed at the staff beyond the crystal.
"S-rank. There's one more."