Chapter 39: Face It With That Resolve.
North Pocheon border area.
2-B checkpoint outpost.
A scuffle was breaking out at the chain-link checkpoint managed by a private contractor.
"Come on, why make a fuss between us? We've got customers here—ain't ya gonna open the gate?"
"Not now. Iron Will's inside. Can't have you bumping into them."
"We're not goin' that way. Just pokin' around the outskirts and headin' back."
"You think that's up to you? What if your customers wanna go further in? You used to call all the shots as the water boy."
"We're both rollin' in the dough life, man. You really gonna do me like this? You let Dong-soo's crew in a few days ago."
"That was for hunting. You're just sightseeing, Do Dae-su. If some civilian gets hurt, you can't weasel out."
"When have I ever caused trouble? Come on, take this and let us through. Save my face—the customers are watchin'."
Do Dae-su jerked his chin toward his back and slipped an envelope into the manager's pocket.
Thicker than the usual bribe, it stirred the manager's greed.
He licked his lips, shook his head repeatedly, then finally straightened his collar over the envelope with a fake cough.
Green light.
Do Dae-su clapped the manager's shoulder and winked.
"Safe and sneaky. Got it?"
"Yeah, yeah. Always worryin' about nothin'."
With the deal sealed, Do Dae-su headed back to the parked vehicles.
Two SUVs flanking a minibus in the middle.
He boarded the minibus.
It looked like a standard minibus outside, but inside it was luxurious—wide seat spacing, plush cushions like airline business class.
High-end leather chairs evoking a limo, complete with a wine fridge.
And bottles crammed inside.
Three men and three women, chugging straight from bottles in broad daylight, rolling around in a vulgar display that would make anyone grimace.
But Do Dae-su grinned brightly and shut the door.
"Alright, esteemed customers. Gate's open. Shall we start today's monster tour?"
"What's all this?"
Joo Se-ah eyed the unfamiliar trailer.
It bore a familiar logo.
H.A.N.J.U.
A top-10 conglomerate rivaling Taeseong Group in scale.
While Taeseong dominated gate materials, Hanju held major stakes in biotech and chemicals.
This trailer belonged to one of Hanju's chemical subsidiaries.
"Sealed containers. You don't think... inside these are..."
"That's right. Ampoule kits. All grade-1 healing potions, rest grade-3. Full sets—230 of 'em, plenty for the guild."
Joo Se-ah's jaw dropped.
Healing potions alone ran 40 to 50 million won minimum each.
And these were full ampoule kits, not singles.
The rest might be grade-3, but they included hemostasis, antidote, purification, stamina, elemental resistance—expedition-grade stuff.
Nearly 300 million per set by price. Could spike to 500 million depending on the market.
Civilians sometimes scoffed that 300 million was cheap for hunter gear, but for disposables, even hunters couldn't ignore it.
'Problem is, money alone doesn't get you these.'
Joo Se-ah had used these as standard kit in Slayer Guild days. Post-exit? Not even a glimpse.
High-end gear and potions flowed tier guilds first, then A, B ranks.
Suppliers prioritized skilled guilds with limited stock.
Top hunters yielded max results—best ROI over any ad.
Titan's tier promotion struggles stemmed from securing such gear.
"So Hanju just handed these over?"
"From a friend. Token of friendship."
"..."
"Why the look?"
"Too generous for 'friendship.' Not blackmail or schemes, is it?"
"A bit transactional. They want guild setup and ops know-how. Planning an MOU."
"Whoa, with Hanju? 'Friendship'? Their rep's shady. Hope you don't get strung up. I gave full authority, but non-urgent stuff—can't you loop me in first? Basic courtesy to your guild master?"
Joo Se-ah bit her lip, glaring. Not her usual killer stare, but sharp enough to shrink anyone ordinary.
Kang Moo-hyuk met her gaze coolly.
"Telling you now, aren't I? Post-report. In the contract."
"Just checking—no unreported post-reports?"
"Yes. Met the chairman before coming here."
"Chairman? My father? Why tell me now?"
"Forgot."
"Forget something like that!"
"Blabbering nonsense. Nothing worth relaying. Oh, your dad? Too rude?"
"Nah, biology doesn't mean I side with him. What'd he say? He's blunt—doubt it was nice."
"Definitely not pleasant. Toying with lives."
Kang Moo-hyuk recounted his meeting with Tae Jin-seong.
Joo Se-ah's face twisted in dual emotions: fury at Tae Jin-seong's demand to half-kill the guild, bafflement at Kang Moo-hyuk hiding it.
"You're telling me this bombshell now? Unbelievable."
"Not my style to blurt without a plan. Needed time to think."
"Talking now means you've sorted it?"
"A few ideas. But situation's exceeding expectations—holding off."
"Because of the goblin shaman?"
"Yes. Might not avoid sacrifices."
"...So whatever the intent, it plays into the chairman's hands. Right?"
Joo Se-ah nailed it.
Kang Moo-hyuk didn't reply; she ground her teeth.
"Captain, you really thought that? Wait out the hunt, see if someone dies? Solves it without extra thought? If so, disappointing."
"No one dying is my hope. Just weighing possibilities. Dodging worst-case—brainstorming nonstop. That's my role."
"No. You're missing something. The premise of betting on sacrifice pisses me off. Infuriating."
Her gaze turned icy, unprecedented.
Kang Moo-hyuk stared steadily, then spoke slowly.
"Guild Master. That seat doesn't suit you yet."
"What?"
Shed expected clean admission of error; the curveball widened her eyes.
"Slayer expeditions: ace, solo pick tactics, boss tool player—all key roles."
"So? Spit it out."
"Those? Excel solo. Ever shouldered lives? Held such a seat?"
"Always hunted life-on-line. Fought frontline to keep others alive."
"No deaths on your hunts?"
"..."
Joo Se-ah clamped her lips, silent.
Perfect hunts without death or injury? Rare luck, but repeated raids made death inevitable toll.
Spots refilled fast; the dead didn't return.
Even at gate forefront, unavoidable.
Kang Moo-hyuk's simple question silenced her. She sensed his point.
He nodded at her quiet, continuing.
"Strat leads, expedition captains set raid priorities: successor on absence, tanking order, watch shifts, meals, even bathroom times—down to details. But one tops all. Know what?"
"..."
"Who to save, who to let die."
"What...?"
"Raid fails, retreat impossible—who lives? Who sacrificed? Prioritize."
Unheard-of for Joo Se-ah.
Post-joining, Slayer hit 100% clear rate.
No last resorts invoked or briefed.
Undisputed ace, but mid-20s—no such burdens on her.
Less favoritism, more efficient top-hunter use.
Kang Moo-hyuk guessed as much. Titan shielded young hunters from party life/death calls too.
Hunters grew to prioritize party over self, assault over party—with time.
Joo Se-ah trained supreme hunter, not commander or guild master.
She'd left Slayer then.
Kang Moo-hyuk figured it time she learned guild master's weight.
"Great War era tacit pact—for future raids. Survive to protect humanity: prepare ahead. Heard? 'Future catches monsters on predecessors' experience, sacrifice.' That's..."
"I know. Etched on Hunter Association wall."
"Guild masters with hunts at stake, strat chiefs handling lives—they keep it in mind. Ruthless choices. Don't like it. But hunts continue. Hunters exist for that."
'Even so, talking death so casually... rubs wrong.'
Head got it; heart rejected.
Joo Se-ah believed she could catch both rabbits sans sacrifice.
Grab all monsters, no losses.
Elite-raised confidence.
Tough now, possible later.
True belief.
'Not convinced. But pondering's progress.'
Past decade: hunter Joo Se-ah act 1. Ahead: guild master act 2.
Kang Moo-hyuk added final words.
"I'm no hunter. But captain who must steel for guild lives lost. No intent to cheapen them. Won't dodge hunts. Will block utmost. Face it with that resolve, Guild Master."
Words alone choked her.
Ironic salvation: urgent signal.
Ears ringing, Kang Moo-hyuk activated earset.
"Report."
Goblin tribe moving forces west!
"This here's a goblin. Small, but closest to humans among monsters. Lucky—young ones out hunting, no deep dive needed. Wanna swing?"
Do Dae-su presented a bound goblin, limbs tied, dumped on ground, shoving a club into customer's hand.
The man, drunk on booze and drugs, eyes bloodshot, pupils hazy, nose bleeding from snorted powder.
Thwack!
"Kieeeek!"
"Fuck, that scream's nasty. Feels killer too? Beats dog-beating. Monster thing?"
Club whistled air repeatedly. Goblin shrieked, pulped. Nearby women cheered "nice shot" like golf.
Breath gone, man swung at next goblin.
"Hey, ease up. My turn. Slice with this knife."
"Customer, careful with blades. Could hurt yourself."
"Do boss, show stance. Like this? Movies do it."
"One-hand's tough. Two-hand grip better."
After weapons on remaining goblins, stamina drained; they flopped in minibus.
Some puked from blood reek—not disgust or fear, just overbooze.
Hunters buried corpses during break.
Left rotting? Monsters swarm. Cleanup cut hassle.
Do Dae-su watched, cig in mouth. A hunter sidled up.
"Boss, this gig ending here?"
"End my ass."
"Iron Will in, claimin' turf. Might crack down."
"Hunters huntin'. We pickin' herbs or prime monsters? Rich kids monster-hunt joyrides. Fine at worst. Penalty chump change—one score covers."
Hunter nodded.
No laws banned monster-hunt tours.
Blue ocean for elites, low profile.
Drugs illegal, but cops to special zone? Nah.
Busted? He supplied none, just looked away—wiggle room galore.
Do Dae-su clapped hunter's shoulder.
"Per head, 10 mil entry. Double booze, gear fees, monster upgrades extra."
"Yeah. One group, billions easy."
"Exactly. C-ranks like us huntin' for that? Suck rich stress off violence. No dumb worries—next monsters."
Do Dae-su stubbed cig, led customers onward.
"Goblins too tame? Next, fiercer. Departing."
Do Dae-su's group left.
A wolf dashed to their spot.
Astonishingly, goblin rode it.
Goblin sniffed, dismounted. Picked up cig butt.
Golden eyes, slit black pupils glinting.
Found tire tracks, howled toward vehicles.
"Kyaaaaah!"