Chapter 41: Please, Make It a Success.
Joo Se-ah's plan was bold.
Charge straight along the eastern national highway to Sanjeong Lake and assassinate the goblin matriarch in one swift strike.
It was a simple plan with a clear objective, and success would mean half the goblin extermination was as good as done.
"Even assuming lax defenses, there'll be at least a few sentries. The matriarch might've pulled in other monsters too. We should send in rogue or assassin-type DPS first to pick them off quietly."
Jang Deok-gu argued for caution, but Joo Se-ah shook her head.
"That way, she'll find out sooner or later anyway. Controlled monsters could interfere too. Better to hit fast and hard before they can prepare."
Jang Deok-gu's concern was for Joo Se-ah's safety, but she was the one itching to dive into the danger.
She had confidence.
Confidence that she could smash through any goblin traps.
They might make things tricky, but nothing life-threatening, she figured.
Of course, worrying about a hunter on the cusp of S-rank was laughable.
But Jang Deok-gu just couldn't stomach the idea of her leading the charge into the traps.
Maybe because he'd watched her grow up?
Even knowing she was stronger than him, she always felt like a kid playing by the water's edge—nerves on edge.
"I'm not as tough as you, Guild Master. Even goblins, with the matriarch variable, rushing in blindly is a no-go."
Surprisingly, Do Kyung-hoon backed Jang Deok-gu.
Their relationship was so bad Jang Deok-gu had even tracked him to a sauna to threaten him, yet here he was pointing out the risks—because his name was on this op.
Joo Se-ah had set the minimum for her elite strike team at A- rank.
Rare in the guild, but enough for one solid party.
Do Kyung-hoon, suddenly slotted into the matriarch hit squad, had no choice but to gripe.
"Scared? Bail then. I don't wanna drag some coward who'll trip us up."
Persuasion? Pleading?
Not Joo Se-ah's style.
She wasn't ordering him either.
Just prodding his hunter pride.
And that shut Do Kyung-hoon up like honey in his mouth.
Backing out now would brand him a coward.
Hunters lived on face, especially A-ranks with real responsibility.
One step back, and he'd be "coward" this, "loser" that—no sweat off their backs.
'Why aren't the others saying shit? Especially that No Song-rin prick. What'd he eat wrong today? That spineless fuck's awfully quiet.'
No Song-rin, the guild master's biggest pain in the ass till now, was calmly prepping his gear without a peep.
At this point, chickening out would look pathetic to the other crews too.
Do Kyung-hoon had no choice but to nod silently.
"Everyone's on board? Great."
Joo Se-ah nodded, satisfied.
"No complaints then. Gear up and move out. Time to hunt some goblins."
While Joo Se-ah headed east, Kang Moo-hyuk prepped the rest of the guild.
He distributed the ampoule kits from Hanju Group and unpacked the new gear.
"Busted my ass fixing these. No time for full repairs—just wiped the dust, oiled 'em up. Tested 'em, weeded out the duds, but they sat packed so tight, some might crap out mid-use."
Equipment team leader An Ji-il was handing out C Warehouse haul to the guild members.
Most sets matched parties, so distribution was quick.
Explaining usage was the hassle.
Luckily, he'd trained his team during tweaks, and the gear wasn't rocket science.
Team members gestured wildly, demoing for hunters—base camp buzzed with chatter.
Kang Moo-hyuk eyed An Ji-il's spread. Nostalgic seeing these old toys again.
"What's with the spaced-out stare?"
"Never thought I'd see these in real action."
"Impossible at Titan. Those fucks saw my work as scrap."
"Expensive scrap. They were gearing up to launch the project soon. Got buried 'cause I got tangled in that mess."
"If it folds 'cause you're gone, says it all. Probably wouldn't have flown anyway. Too many loudmouths there."
An Ji-il had no comeback. Kang Moo-hyuk had called it.
Bitterness lingered though.
Just proved non-hunters had limits running guilds.
'That's why Iron Will matters. Hunters with Joo Se-ah's vision are rare. Fail here, nowhere else'll work.'
Kang Moo-hyuk saw Iron Will as his last shot, taking the leader seat.
Yet threats lurked everywhere to sabotage it.
Tae Jin-seong Chairman didn't give a damn about the guild's survival.
Dozens of dead hunters? Wouldn't blink—his goals first.
'Can't let a guy like that run wild with a guild.'
Kang Moo-hyuk steeled himself, muttering.
"Tae Jin-seong Chairman. Guilds belong to those who risk their lives. Won't go your way."
Kang Moo-hyuk moved the hunters south of Sanjeong Lake along Route 387.
Over 100 hunters in 20 parties—a massive assault force.
Unusually, he went to the field to command personally.
A non-hunter on-site? Suicide.
Not courage—recklessness.
Baggage at best.
Kang Moo-hyuk, guild-vet, knew better.
But he had two aces.
"Can't even handle one goblin, why show your face up front? Stay back with the staff."
Ace one: Pyo Beom-hee.
Now management, but A-rank vet who could've raided with top guilds. Battle-hardened.
She skipped Joo Se-ah's op to guard him—and clean up if main force fucked up.
Long off-field, but Titan's top DPS and lead party leader—perfect for it.
"You got Pyo Team Leader, right? No dying on my watch. And this'll save your ass once if shit hits."
Kang Moo-hyuk patted his hip holster.
Pistol inside.
"Broke, but packing that pricey thing? Ammo ain't cheap."
Mana zones nuked electricity, signals, gunpowder.
Workarounds cost big.
Mana bullets especially—tier guilds balked at the cost-to-kill ratio.
One shot rivaled top potions.
Only low-tiers like goblins dropped to one—miss or no vitals, money down the drain.
Kang Moo-hyuk packed his gate pistol for doomsday, no intent to fire.
Bitter smile at his cheapskate ways for the poor guild.
"Think the matriarch's watching us?"
"Plenty eyes on base camp. Records say goblin matriarchs are info-sensitive for monsters. No combat power, but hyper-reactive to threats."
Kang Moo-hyuk added his analysis.
"Mental magic mobs usually pull low tank aggro but prioritize field threats. Matriarch same. Reports stress tighter management there. 100 hunters moving? She won't sit."
"So she'll counter if we push up?"
"Probably block the narrow road. Mountain paths rigged hard to bypass—watusi snakes or others. Our job: feint breakthrough, draw eyes. Joo Se-ah Guild Master takes her out meantime."
Bait to boost Joo Se-ah's odds.
Scatter goblins west, then south—village empties.
Pyo Beom-hee tongue-clicked at his pattern read.
Second-ever goblin matriarch worldwide.
Scraping thin data for this? Impressive.
In Korea's "experience over intel, improvise" raids, his style stood out.
"Tough mission, but you look confident."
"Key's Guild Master's success. Ironically, that's the least worry. No big surprises, we'll eat at Sanjeong Lake tonight."
As Iron Will neared the mountain pass to the lake, word hit the near-abandoned command post.
"What? Hostages?"
-Goblins west grabbed people. Numbers unclear, maybe five or six.
"We sealed it two weeks ago, evacuated... Wait, no way?"
Kang Moo-hyuk pieced it fast.
Pocheon cops couldn't corral hunters.
North Pocheon—gov ghost town.
Backdoor deals with "civvy hunters" rampant.
'Plans go sideways the second you set 'em. Textbook.'
Kang Moo-hyuk's mind raced.
Do Dae-su was dying inside.
'Shit, might actually die...'
First rider goblin on the hunt—jackpot, he'd thought.
Rider goblins: rare warrior subclass.
Byproducts meh, items meh—but the wolf?
Big guilds drooled.
Tamed perfectly; kill rider, wolf serves new master—even humans.
Gate travel without modern rides? Wolf = Bugatti, Lambo.
Pricey too—sportier than most cars.
Tourists? Pocket change vs. this windfall.
Do Dae-su'd swung the car for the rider.
"Fuck! Shouldn't have been greedy..."
Should've clocked the rider loitering—not fleeing.
Trap.
Dozens ambushed from the hill.
They targeted tires fast.
Pin 'em, hunt 'em.
Do Dae-su ditched the slow minivan for SUV, ignoring screams inside.
Skill lacking, but street-smart—judgment spot-on.
Sacrificed clients as bait, his crew escaped.
Or so he'd thought.
"Boss, engine's fucked. Won't start!"
"No shit, spear through the hood. Think it'll run?"
Do Dae-su bellowed.
One spear nailed the engine amid the bonnet cluster.
Riders circled, tightening noose.
"Why so chill? Not charging."
"Starving us out?"
No attack—just slow squeeze.
Do Dae-su to his crew:
"Signal, kill front-line rider. Steal wolf, bolt."
Ballsy. Fit the spot.
But plans and execution? Worlds apart.
Worked if soloing riders easy.
Do Dae-su could 1v1 warrior goblins fine.
Issue: squad.
No training, no experience—shallow knowledge fueled the plan.
Paid quick.
'Can't... break through.'
Endless circling—no gap.
Force it—one hunter shredded.
No one tried after.
Do Dae-su's fire died too.
'Weird—they ain't rushing. Coulda killed us anytime. Why just encircle?'
Then—a gap. Goblins dragged something.
"Th-that's..."
His tourists, roped fish-style.
Still breathing—fainted, chests heaving.
Two missing—dead. Escaped? Dead in special zone anyway.
"Boss, think they want us to surrender?"
"Yeah."
Goblins taking prisoners?
Bullshit, but facts screamed it.
'Dead end anyway. Fake surrender?'
Do Dae-su eased weapon down, hands up.
"Don't wanna die? Drop 'em."
Boss called—they followed.
Will broken; fighting = dog death.
Jackpot: goblins bound them, no attack.
Lives spared—but goblin POWs.
Do Dae-su dragged off, head low in grim fate.
Last hope?
'Gotta trust Iron Will... Please, succeed in wiping the goblins.'