This Isn't Why I Transferred!

Kim Bu-yong locked eyes with the orc that had killed his junior.

He didn't even have time to grieve. He had to struggle just to stay alive.

"Shit!"

He hurriedly reached for the gun holstered at his waist. His panic made the cover stick—he couldn't get it open.

The orc approached, raising an axe blade the size of a human torso.

Damn it! I never thought the day would come when I'd actually have to use this thing.

He flashed back to his first day on the job, when his seniors had joked that Pocheon was one of the few places in Korea where you could carry a gun full-time.

Back then, he'd brushed it off as no big deal.

But now, facing a monster, he finally understood.

This place was that kind of place.

Timing it just right, he yanked out his pistol and hooked his finger on the trigger. No time to aim—he just pointed it out the window and realized.

The window's closed!

It wasn't bulletproof glass, so the bullets should've punched right through, but in his panic, the mere fact that something was in the way froze his brain.

In that split second, the orc swung its axe like a golf club, smashing into the car door. Glass shattered, shards flying everywhere.

Kim Bu-yong screamed and shrank back. Luckily, the axe lodged into the metal below the window and stopped. He shrieked hysterically and pulled the trigger.

"Arghhh!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The unaimed shots went wide, pathetically missing.

The gunfire only heightened the orc's wariness. It startled at the blasts and the sight of the ground stones shattering, backing away.

That caution gave Kim Bu-yong his chance. With distance now, he had breathing room. As soon as the orc's torso filled his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sight, he raised the gun and fired at its chest.

Bang!

"Krark!"

The orc bellowed and staggered. But it didn't fall. Not even a Magnum's penetration could punch through the beast's thick chest muscles.

Kim Bu-yong thanked his stars he hadn't loaded blanks for monster defense and fired his last two live rounds.

"Die!"

Both hit. One even struck the head dead-on, but somehow, it didn't die. The impact forced it to one knee, but it didn't seem badly hurt.

Only then did he remember why monsters were so dangerous.

Beasts with superior mana resonance that neutralized modern firearms.

Common knowledge to everyone, but who would've thought even orcs—the poster children for weak monsters—could shrug off bullets?

As Kim Bu-yong gaped in disbelief, a new shadow fell over his face.

Another orc.

It lowered its axe toward him and pulled back for a swing.

"Fuck... monsters..."

Kim Bu-yong's pupils dilated as the axe blade loomed larger. He knew he had to dodge. But terror froze his body—he couldn't move.

Darkness fell, blacking out his vision.

Clang! Boom!

"Ah...!"

The shadow blotting his view was a human back.

A man bracing against the car door, tanking the orc's strike.

The side panel crumpled, but the man held firm.

Kim Bu-yong belatedly realized who could block a monster head-on.

"H-Hunter!"

The hunter who'd appeared out of nowhere gritted his teeth at the shout.

"Who else? You think...? Nngh, what'd you expect?!"

Kim Soo-jeong panicked as she locked blades with the orc's axe in a test of strength. She'd charged in underestimating it as just an orc, but this was way off.

"Nngh, this orc... why's it so damn strong?"

In a gate or special zone, she'd have scouted first. But this was downtown, and the cop looked in danger, so she'd jumped in without thinking... and now she was stuck.

Is this really just an orc?

Getting pushed back in raw power one-on-one?

No, I'm not at full throttle, so maybe I'm slightly ahead?

Even that was ridiculous enough.

Kim Soo-jeong was C-rank. Orcs were D+ or C- at best—easy prey anyone could solo. Right after goblins on the weakling list.

She'd heard Iron Will struggled against evolved goblins recently, but that guild was a nobody, so she'd dismissed it.

Besides, everyone agreed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠evolved goblins were tough for anyone.

No word on evolved orcs around here.

Orcs weren't even in North Pocheon's monster ecology reports. They must be recent arrivals, too new to evolve. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠A few in a pack seemed manageable.

But what the hell is this guy?

A C-rank-level orc?

Unheard of.

And that unfamiliarity sent chills down her spine.

Three of these things... Wait. The daycare! A few went in there too. Hope that city hall kid's okay.

She worried about Seong-ju handling the daycare orcs, but couldn't spare more thought.

The other two were charging her.

"Orcs spotted. Police reported it."

"Location?"

Gong Du-ri pinned coordinates on the monitor.

The South Pocheon map zoomed in.

"Sineup-dong?"

"Next to Cheongsung Mountain Park."

"Darkest under the lamp. Right nearby."

Kang Moo-hyuk muttered, grinding his teeth.

Good they'd found them quick, but bad spot. Orcs already inside Pocheon city limits—the densest population. Casualties could skyrocket.

"Order the nearest party to deploy. Relay to all city-search parties: encircle the coordinates on arrival. Share map for party leaders to pick positions, but report back to ops once set."

As operators relayed, Gong Du-ri reported fresh intel.

"Update: Daycare nearby the sighting."

"Don't tell me the orcs are targeting..."

Kang Moo-hyuk recalled how orcs picked prey.

Easy marks over tough ones, young over adults. Even evolved ones—cunning despite looks, retaining weak-phase habits. Preferred no-risk hunts.

If they harm the kids... I swear, every orc on this earth gets ground to dust.

He quelled his rage, forcing outward calm.

Commanders must stay ice-cold. He repeated the mantra.

"Gunshots reported too."

"Gunshots? Cops must be there."

A flicker of hope.

Could they stall till hunters arrived?

Answer: No.

He knew special zone border cops' quirks well.

Always armed, full live rounds, no blanks.

Frequent training, seasonal monster protocols. Even people-cops prepped for beasts.

Thanks to the special zone splitting Pocheon.

But training wasn't foolproof. Over-reliance led to reckless charges. Guns only handled bottom-tier monsters.

Anything higher shrugged off more than aggro or stalls.

Maybe a headshot barrage drops one?

Kang figured cops wouldn't last, but clung to slim hope. Buy time, at least.

Save the kids even if cops fall...

Harsh math, but no way to save all.

He issued the best order now.

"Share new intel on-site. Tell them disregard all, just get there fast."

"Tch! Rushed into unpaid grunt work right off the bat. Orcs are chump change for newbies, not B-rank me—barely covers potions. And only a few? But how many hunters dumped ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠here? All the fresh recruits? Decent ones too. Total loss."

The complainer wore goggle shades. Everyone knew him—a infamous hunter, infamously bad.

No one engaged.

But one couldn't let it slide.

"It's not about money, Seo Dae-chi. Guilds protect people."

"Boomer talk. Lost family or somethin'?"

Seo Dae-chi sneered lazily. Baek Seong-bin's face hardened.

"Huh? For real? Just shootin' shit. Sorry. But who here hasn't lost someone? Don't get all heavy. Hate the drama."

"Drama? People dying is drama?"

"Hey, quit whinin'. Annoying."

"Can't fathom why the leader brought trash like you. No duty, no class—just a thug."

"You pickin' a fight?"

"I'm not dumb enough to pick on trash."

"This punk? Got a mouth on ya? Let's see it spin after a gut stab. Say it again."

"If you were human, you'd value life over cash..."

Baek Seong-bin trailed off, glancing at his left shoulder. A blade tip already dug into his skin. Not fatal, but could sever tendons for a normie.

"Seo Dae-chi!"

Gyeong Su-hyeok yelled, having watched till now. New guildmates, but colleagues. Verbal beefs were fine; bloodshed wasn't.

Seo Dae-chi ignored, yanking the knife free. Blood sprayed from Baek's shoulder.

"Thought that was a joke? I don't warn with─ Grk!"

Seo's jaw snapped sideways. Baek's left fist connected. Seo stumbled back a few steps.

"Beasts need sticks, they say."

Seo wiped blood from his split lip, side-eyeing Baek's shoulder.

"What? Already healed? Healing factor? Figures. That's why you mouthed off."

"Not trusting traits. Trusting principles. Seeing you knife first over words confirms it. You don't belong here."

"What...? You're shoving your principles too? Pissin' me off. Worst type."

Seo Dae-chi flipped up his goggles.

Baek Seong-bin flinched at the eyes.

White Eye.

No black pupils—just pure white irises binding him subtly.

That famous White Eye Seo Dae-chi?

Gaze alone stiffened his movements, but not terrifying.

Both poised to draw weapons.

Gyeong Su-hyeok couldn't watch anymore. Shield up, he wedged between.

"Enough, both. We're on op. No infighting idiots. Fight on my watch as leader? Won't stand."

"Liked you quiet for a leader. Nosy type? Too many pests... Time to clean?"

Three of five tense, the other two grumbled and backed off. Staying spectators.

"Fuckin' hell, wrong assholes to piss off. Keep me out, sort yourselves."

"My year's cursed? Party's shitshow all year. Thought Iron Will different. Same crap. Tsk!"

First hunt post-joining: on the brink, party member over monster.

Then, earsets buzzed.

"All back to vehicles."

Gyeong Su-hyeok's leader order barely out, Baek Seong-bin bolted first. No vehicle—he flagged a oncoming bike to a halt.

"Hunter Baek Seong-bin, what the hell?"

Ignoring Gyeong, Baek addressed the rider.

"Iron Will Guild. Emergency. Borrowing your bike."

"Huh? But my delivery..."

Before protest, Baek hoisted him off, planting him down. Effortless snatch. Rider dazed, Baek throttled away.

"Hey!"

Gyeong lunged, too late. Baek slipped his grasp.

Gyeong eyed Baek's vanishing back, then turned to their parked cars.

"Hah... no gear even. Damn it, this isn't why I transferred!"

Seo Dae-chi barked a hollow laugh, moving too. Shook his head at Baek's afterimage.

"That guy's crazier than me. Or a total troll."