I've Waited Too Long.
"The guild name selected through the contest is Iron Will, meaning indomitable resolve. It suits your nickname as guild master quite well."
It was a perfect match for Joo Se-ah, also known as the Indomitable Witch.
With the guild name finalized, Kang Moo-hyuk began preparations for the guild relocation in earnest.
Contrary to expectations that over half would leave, nearly 90%—117 hunters—chose to stay.
These were the forces handpicked to reclaim the Sanjeong Lake resort from the massive goblin village.
On the other hand, 80% of the regular staff had applied to resign.
Kang Moo-hyuk asked them to stay only until the relocation was complete.
Since it was just over a month and he offered extra pay, they agreed without complaint.
After that, he planned to fill the minimum necessary roles through open recruitment.
"Now all that's left is the Sanjeong Lake raid."
With the goal set, Joo Se-ah sprang into action.
"Everyone in the guild. We've got less than a month left. That means train like hell. Just assume you're dead."
Here arose a minor—yet potentially major—problem.
There weren't enough A-rank or higher hunters qualified to serve as instructors.
No matter how capable Joo Se-ah was, she couldn't handle training dozens of hunters alone given the physical limits of time.
The few available instructors were uncooperative when it came to actual training.
They could lower the bar to B+, but the gap between A- and B+ was more than just one rank.
To develop their own solid hunting style, they needed at least A-rank basics.
For Joo Se-ah, who aimed beyond A toward S, this was a given.
"Your horse stance looks ridiculous? It's the basics of basics? Don't judge those basics by your standards. Master the horse stance properly, and you can tank an ogre's club swing barehanded. Hey! Your form's breaking. Get caught using mana, and you'll be doing this all day!"
As Joo Se-ah struggled valiantly, Kang Moo-hyuk pulled No Song-rin aside.
But he was a hunter who caught people better than monsters.
His combat style relied more on instinct and experience than systematic method—though his fundamentals were rock-solid.
Moreover, he lacked patience for teaching, often injuring trainees.
The biggest issue was his lesson content.
"This weapon is a karambit knife. Fist-sized, curved blade, with a finger ring on the bottom—slip your index finger in to hold it reverse grip, blade facing down toward your forearm. It's a close-range sub-weapon with great concealability, perfect for assassinating hunters. I've used it a few times myself..."
"What the hell are you teaching the recruits?!"
Joo Se-ah, witnessing No Song-rin's "lesson," immediately kicked him out.
With no choice, Jang Deok-gu stepped up as an instructor, relentlessly drilling the young hunters.
"You can't raise physical techniques or weapon skills in the short term, so I'll hammer party tactics into your bodies."
Jang Deok-gu was a man who kept his word.
He literally hammered party tactics into them.
"Gahk!"
"S-save... me..."
"Urk—blegh!"
In their desperate bid to survive the violence mimicking real combat, the hunters naturally ingrained the countermeasures into their bodies.
Watching the training, Kang Moo-hyuk raised a concern with Joo Se-ah.
"If they get seriously hurt like that, it'll mess up the operation."
"I've been through it myself as a kid with Jang Deok-gu. It looks brutal, but no long-term damage. They can handle it."
"As a kid...?"
"Around sixteen? Fifteen maybe?"
"You awakened at fifteen, right?"
"Genius training. That's how you build skill."
Child abuse? Not?)
Kang Moo-hyuk had seen plenty of so-called genius hunters. Each had their own brutal training style—most unhinged and dangerous.
It clashed with his systematic, efficiency-focused philosophy, but as a non-hunter, he couldn't critique top-tier methods.
All he could do was shore up their basics.
"Hunting isn't just about raising your rank. Facing monsters requires intel. That intel shapes personal and party tactics. You've learned the basics in formal training, but there's a huge gap in real combat. Evenings from now on: crash course in scouting, emergency protocols, post-battle cleanup. Tests in between. Fail a test, and you'll have a one-on-one with Guild Master Joo Se-ah. Fists included."
Swamped with lectures and relocation prep, Kang Moo-hyuk soon hit his limit.
Something's not flowing smoothly.
Unlike Titan, with its polished systems and veteran support, Iron Will's setup was crude and outdated.
He had to micromanage everything, and sloppy reporting meant errors surfaced only after significant progress.
This wasn't fixing itself short-term.
Finally, he asked Joo Se-ah for reinforcements.
"I need veterans. Department head level."
"Salary's no issue... but will talent like that join us?"
"I know people worth calling. Just a few to get us started."
LJ Electronics AS Center.
"Ji-il, cover my line today too."
"Me? Why?"
"Gotta step out. Help a brother out."
"Supervisor Oh, you skipped yesterday too. Know how backed up AS is? And you want me to handle that too?"
"Come on, we're family here. What's the big deal?"
"Last time, the time before. Know how many times this is? Have some shame and know when to quit."
"Shame? That's harsh, Ji-il. Keep this up?"
"Can't do it. Handle it yourself."
Ding-dong.
"Customer 121."
"An Ji-il!"
Fuming, Supervisor Oh grabbed An Ji-il's shoulder. An Ji-il shook him off and sat at the counter.
Oh wanted to yank him back, but flinched at An Ji-il's glare.
A customer at the counter forced Oh to hold back.
The customer placed the 121 ticket on the desk and tapped it lightly.
"Team Leader An Ji-il."
"You... Kang... Moo-hyuk... you bastard!"
Spotting Kang Moo-hyuk, An Ji-il lunged, grabbing his collar. Kang Moo-hyuk remained calm.
"Saw the news? I've been appointed raid leader for Iron Will Guild, formerly Taeseong Guild."
"So what? Gonna punch you congrats? Was itching to smash your face anyway."
"Skip the congrats punch. Equipment team leader spot's open."
"Fuck off, asshole. Luring me for another backstab?"
As An Ji-il flipped him off defiantly, Kang Moo-hyuk gently folded the finger down.
"Took over C Warehouse from Titan."
"Took over... what? That C-fucking Warehouse?"
"That project. You started it—finish it. Full authority. Join us and wrap it up."
An Ji-il collapsed into his chair, legs giving out.
Bringing that back up? Thought we scrapped it? That's why you kicked me out?)
Perplexed Oh wedged in.
"Excuse me, sir. This is the service center. No product to fix? Step aside for the next customer."
"My apologies."
Kang Moo-hyuk placed a business card on the desk.
"Urgent. Contact by tomorrow."
"Hey! You serious?"
An Ji-il grabbed Kang Moo-hyuk's sleeve as he turned to leave.
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded.
"Yes. This time, we'll do it right."
A tidy, dignified office with antique interior.
A woman in a sleek black dress office look, black horn-rimmed glasses, worked busily.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
A secretary-like employee entered.
"Director, a Kang Moo-hyuk is in the lobby."
"Kang Moo-hyuk? Ha, the guy who never shows his face?"
"What should I do? No appointment..."
"He'd find a way to see me anyway. Send him up. Let's hear what he wants."
Moments later, Kang Moo-hyuk entered.
"Long time, Team Leader Pyo Beom-hee. Or Director here?"
"Call me comfy. Anyway, good to see you."
Pyo Beom-hee smiled brightly, arms wide like for a hug.
"But what nerve to show up?"
Thwack!
"Oof!"
Kang Moo-hyuk doubled over from the gut punch. Breathing deep to steady the pain, he straightened.
"Hunters assaulting civilians is assault."
"Quit hunting."
"License still active? Should've canceled it fully."
"Too busy. Cut the crap, sit. What's up?"
Sitting where directed, Kang Moo-hyuk eyed the wall of framed photos.
Handsome men and beautiful women striking glamorous poses.
"Didn't expect you'd pivot your career like this."
"Hunter side gigs got old. Gotta eat, right? Jumped at the entertainment agency scout. You weren't protecting me from Ma Tae-soo anyway."
"Still sorry about that."
Kang Moo-hyuk recalled Pyo Beom-hee's unique resume. As unique as a non-hunter strategist. First hunter-turned-management director in the industry.
No other hunter led the "hunter lackeys" management team. Record still held.
Pyo Beom-hee grumbled reproachfully.
"Damn right. What could rookie strategist do against Great Vice Master Ma Tae-soo? Knew I'd get chewed out, so I quit first."
Chuckling bitterly at the memory, she got a head shake from Kang Moo-hyuk.
"No. I mean sorry for making you management director. Like caging a lion."
Pyo Beom-hee waved it off.
"Nah, circumstances. Who else to wrangle those wild horses? My choice. Freaked at first by your pitch, but handling kids fit. Landed this gig too. Love it—rejuvenating with idols and actors. Messing with arrogant PDs is fresh."
"Heard you're killing it."
"I shine anywhere. So, business? Saw the news. Not asking me to join Taeseong, right?"
"Iron Will now. And yeah, that's exactly it."
"Why me? Why think I'd go?"
"Not assuming. Just offering. Management director suit you?"
"Just said sorry? Now same crap?!"
"Not rejecting outright means you're considering."
"No. Not."
"Years off—time to return. You can't live with monsters forever anyway."
"..."
"No more 'hunter lackey' crap. Renaming team, redefining roles. Iron Will focuses solely on monster hunts. I'll clear the bullshit."
Pyo Beom-hee sighed, pushing glasses up, roughly scrubbing her dry face.
Her fingers parted briefly, a glint of moisture.
"Haa~ Fine, I'll go."
Kang Moo-hyuk quietly offered a handkerchief.
She took it, eyes on the desk.
A small frame faced away from him—ancient-looking, cracked frame, frayed stand.
Mismatched with the decor, but her greatest treasure.
"Family photo... still the same?"
"Yeah. Gotta go for the kids. Time's come."
Pyo Beom-hee readjusted her glasses.
"I've waited too long."
"Sorry for the delay. Lucky no other guild snatched you."
"Others suck. Gate-as-money pits everywhere. Came here 'cause retirement keeps 'em off."
She caressed the frame tenderly, eyes soft with memory—unlike her sharp work gaze.
When she looked up, her eyes blazed.
Fierce gaze locked on Kang Moo-hyuk.
"Knew it the second you showed. Time's right. This time, I fight for real? No sidelines."
"Of course. That's why I'm calling you."
"Good. Wrapping up here now."
"Handover that fast?"
"Condition when scouted. Can return to hunting anytime."
"Perfect. Was crumbling from manpower shortage."
At his words, Pyo Beom-hee asked as if remembering.
"Others? You called?"
"Contacted a few. Now it'll roll properly."