72. What a Pitiful Situation.
Just yesterday, the two hunters had strolled around Sanjeong Lake dreaming of a bright future. Today, they dragged their heavy feet toward the place like condemned prisoners entering the execution grounds.
"Haa~ We should've scoped out the guild master when people were calling him a hero for saving that kindergarten, saying he had such a promising future."
"Sis, I don't remember hearing anything like that."
"We didn't?"
"Nope. Never heard it."
"That's weird. I could've sworn I did."
"I did hear he looked like the type who could pull aggro from monsters really well. Not sure if that was a compliment or an insult. Either way, it turned out exactly like they said."
"Yeah. Talk about bad luck. Joining the guild and our welcome gift is a thousand orcs."
Kim Soo-jeong shook her head, her cheeks wobbling.
"Anyway! We shouldn't have signed up."
"Right? I told you to think it over more carefully. What if we joined without any plan and no backup?"
"The guild master herself is gonna train us personally. Joo Se-ah! That's a privilege you couldn't buy for any amount of money. You got swept up in it too, so why are you only complaining to me?"
"Well... I got caught up in the moment... Anyway! A thousand orcs. What are we gonna do? You saw their muscles last time, right? Those guys are strong, and their skin's tough as hell—blades barely pierce it. And a thousand of them? One slip-up, and we're crossing the Jordan."
Thinking of the orc horde left her feeling hopeless.
As Yoo Seong-joo said, they were tough even one-on-one. There had to be captains, colonels, maybe even generals among them. Get caught by the wrong one, and it was over in an instant.
"Should we bail?"
"Bailing would blacklist us from the scene. You wanna freelance forever? Nah. Even that might be shaky. If we end up on the Guild Cooperation Office or Association blacklist, we'd lose our hunter license."
"Come on, they wouldn't really... for just running away."
"Sis, you really don't know how the world works. You know that clause saying if monsters threaten civilians, on-site hunters have a duty to stop them? They teach it first thing in training. To make you careful."
"How many hunters actually follow that? Everyone just bolts when they get the chance."
"Freelancers might squeak by. The problem is we're guild members now. If guild policy is to fight, running would have consequences... Raise a fuss, and your hunter career's done."
"Uwaaa! I must be crazy. Blinded by dreams of riches and glory."
"A C-rank nobody dreaming of riches and glory."
Kim Soo-jeong clawed at her hair. Yoo Seong-joo clicked his tongue and wagged his finger.
That's when a shadow slipped between them.
"Feeling a bit worried?"
"K-Kang Moo-hyuk! ...Guild Master?"
Kim Soo-jeong yelped in surprise at Kang Moo-hyuk's sudden appearance.
He'd spotted them on his way back after handing off the mines to Jang Deok-gu.
"Come to think of it, things have been so hectic I haven't paid attention to you two new recruits. I'm truly sorry. Making you jump into a massive raid right after joining."
"No, no. We knew you were busy... And we get that this is unavoidable."
Yoo Seong-joo managed a calm reply, at least. But as always, Kim Soo-jeong's mouth was the problem.
"Then, could we maybe... terminate the contract...?"
"Sis, shut it. Don't embarrass us."
Yoo Seong-joo scolded her without moving his lips, like a ventriloquist.
But unexpectedly, Kang Moo-hyuk responded readily.
"Of course that's possible."
"Wooow—"
"Let me check... How much was the penalty again?"
"—Ahhh... You know, on second thought, subjugating these orcs sounds like great experience. Haha..."
Kim Soo-jeong forced a smile, her face stiff. She couldn't recall the exact amount, but she remembered it was more than she could pay off right now.
Damn, no wonder the terms were too good. I didn't even think about the penalty.
Whatever her inner turmoil, Kang Moo-hyuk spoke calmly.
"Don't worry too much. The detachment will manage somehow. If things get dicey, just hide behind the hairy hunter. Team Leader Yeom Soo-hyung. You ate from the same pot at Titan before, right? He's a top-notch hunter. Stick by him, and you won't be in much danger. Watching from behind will help you learn a ton too. He's a tank."
"From Titan?"
"Yes. And you know Team Leader Pyo Beom-hee too? The one who showed you around on your first day. She's assigned to that assault team as well. She was from Titan too, A-rank hunter, so she'll be a big help."
The two felt a bit relieved. Assigning hunters from the guild master's old workplace at Titan meant they weren't disposable. Plus, both team leaders were high-rank. That must be why he seemed so relaxed—they had solid backing.
"As expected. You always have a plan, Guild Master."
"Whew, we thought maybe you weren't paying attention to us... Not that we doubt you, but that operation's on such a huge scale."
"Not at all. In truth, the northern defense line is more critical. If they hold, this side gets easier. Oh, and if Team Leader Yeom's eyes start rolling or he suddenly growls, get behind cover immediately. The farther, the better."
Kang Moo-hyuk casually ramped up the tension for the now-relaxed pair.
"Pardon? His eyes what?"
"Growls... what?"
"Good hunting, then."
He left them with that cryptic warning and walked away.
Left alone, the two exchanged uneasy glances.
"What was that last bit supposed to mean?"
"Dunno exactly... but it feels like we're screwed."
"Alright, let's get started."
Kang Moo-hyuk parked the command vehicle himself at the Sanjeong Lake lot.
An Ji-il was away handling C Project duties as its lead, so the only non-hunters here were him and Gong Du-ri.
The lot was an open terrain, but positioned between the 1st Assault Team to the west and the 2nd to the north. If either line broke, it'd become the front line instantly.
It was Kang Moo-hyuk's own "back to the river" gambit. For this risky op, he meant to stand with the hunters.
Of course, not everyone approved of his resolve.
"You said you'd stay safe! How is this safe?!"
"We've got two hunters guarding us."
Kang Moo-hyuk pointed outside at Gong Du-ri's shriek-like protest. Two familiar faces to her stood guard.
"They're C-rank!"
"Solid C+!"
"Haha, we can hear you?"
"With the door open and you yelling? Obviously."
"For the record, I'm B-, Ops Team Leader. Mi-ran sis is a different league."
"Kim Seong-hyeon! My twins are already wrecked and I'm pissed enough. Don't make me mad."
Choi Mi-ran growled, and Kim Seong-hyeon shrank back, averting his eyes.
Kang Moo-hyuk shook his head at the chaos and spoke up.
"You two, take care of any emergencies."
"Honestly, one or two stray orcs? Maybe. But a horde? We're toast, Guild Master."
"Just handle those one or two. If it comes to that, we're all dead anyway. Run then. Best to avoid getting there at all."
Kim Seong-hyeon let out a nervous laugh.
Was this resolve-building or reassurance?
Choi Mi-ran stared at Kang Moo-hyuk seriously at the odd pep talk.
He ignored her gaze and shut the door.
"Let's work. Check party comms."
"Comms check. Standing by. Report from 1st Assault Team, 1st Party."
Gong Du-ri switched to a crisp tone, donning her headset and relaying orders briskly.
With the go-ahead, hunter voices crackled over the speakers.
-101 Party. OK.
-102 Party. In position.
-103 Party. Arriving in 30 seconds.
-104 Party...
Once all 14 parties reported, Kang Moo-hyuk issued the overall order.
"Assault Leader Jang Deok-gu, you're on-site command."
-We'll do our best.
"Blockade Unit—4th, 5th, and 6th Parties grouped—led by Hunter Na Dong-pa. Hold as long as you can, retreat on the cue signal. No collapsing before then, whatever it takes."
-Don't make us wait too long.
"Strike Unit led by Hunter No Song-rin. Once the floodgates break, kill every orc in sight."
-I'm more of an all-monster guy anyway. Fine, we'll harvest some orc heads this time.
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded at the confident veteran voices.
He'd broadcast on open channel so all hunters could hear.
No plan works without coordination. Fear breaks teamwork. Nothing boosts morale like strong hunters and capable leaders. It'll help.
Even superhuman hunters feared monsters.
Kang Moo-hyuk ground his teeth at them too, but he never demanded blind hunts.
He always factored in how monsters triggered primal terror.
Knowing fear let him plan meticulously.
Judging the mood ripe, he switched to assault leader channel.
"Assault Leader Jang Deok-gu. Can 1st and 2nd Parties probe and pull back?"
-800 orcs won't let us go deep anyway.
"1st and 2nd are speedsters. Hit-and-run to test reactions. Check partial pooling too. Engage followers if manageable; disengage and break contact if too many. Time the mine explosions in the minefield for the orcs.
-What if they skirt the mines? Engage or full retreat?"
"Lure to Strike Unit ambush. No flanking orcs. Then pull to the Nakcheonji Waterfall valley. Mines'll limit their range—easy to drag them in if timed right. Link with Blockade there and hold."
-Even a narrow valley won't hold long with five parties.
"Don't need long. Just till main orc force enters and we blow the dam and valley."
Silence, then a sigh.
-That's the guild master's specialty, tanking it out. Got it. No choice—if we fail, we die.
Kang Moo-hyuk closed comms and exhaled deeply.
Every time... not fighting myself is...
He muttered aloud, the frustration bubbling over.
"What a pitiful situation."
The battle kicked off north of Sanjeong Lake, 2nd Assault Team sector, at "Gungye-ro."
"Incoming."
A short shout, and orcs appeared.
It was a narrow pass—shoulder-to-shoulder, only three or four could pass at once.
The orcs froze at the sight of hunters. They knew of them but hadn't expected an ambush.
Once they gauged the small numbers, they changed. Roaring confidently now.
"Ugh! These orc bastards got lungs..."
"Shit, can't see the end. Way over 200, right?"
"Orcs bulking up these days? Check that armor orc. Twice the size of the others."
First-time seeing evolved orcs, the rookies panicked. Not veterans, the horde's scale and bulk intimidated.
Can't lose momentum to monsters. Game over.
Yeom Soo-hyung's instincts rang alarm.
Hunting needed courage over blade, guts if not, spite at worst.
Starting intimidated meant half-defeated.
As he steeled for preemptive strike...
A hunter stepped forward.
"Don't chicken out to monsters! Wasting your license!"
Baek Seong-bin surged ahead, shoulders heaving like he'd charge solo.
Newbie, huh? Gutsy. Good example for the scared ones.
Yeom Soo-hyung felt tension ease among some pride-wounded hunters and let him be.
No one stopped him, so Baek Seong-bin escalated, targeting smug Seo Dae-chi.
"Seo Dae-chi, you scared too?"
Seo Dae-chi tsked at the provocation.
"Tsk tsk. Rookie who doesn't know his place. Trait junkies always bite it like that. Think healing factor makes you invincible? I'll bag more than you anyway, so worry about yourself."
"Yeah? Wanna bet?"
"What? Bet?"
"Who kills more."
"Bullshit."
"Taking that as yes. Cash bet. You love money, right? 100 million? Loser quits the guild. Scared you'll lose?"
"Damn, dying'd be inconvenient. Hey, leave your account password if you croak."
"Deal. Let's go!"
Baek Seong-bin bolted. Yeom Soo-hyung freaked.
"You lunatic!"
He snatched Baek Seong-bin's collar mid-stride and slammed him down.
"Cough!"
"Knew it."
Amid Seo Dae-chi's sneer, Yeom Soo-hyung snapped back irritably.
"Pyo! Why'd you assign this psycho to us?!"
"He has healing factor. Promising kid."
"Healing factor ain't Cerberus! He got two or three heads?"
"What's Cerberus? Not dad jokes. Lame."
"I'm serious—"
Pyo Beom-hee, strolling casually, suddenly drew her sword. Nearby hunters gripped weapons.
Yeom Soo-hyung felt the air tighten.
"More importantly, orcs charging?"
Before looking, he felt heavy vibrations through the ground.
Frontward: orcs charging fiercely.
No flanking, no formation—just bull-rush to smash.
"Damn, they stole first move."
Pyo Beom-hee pointed ahead.
"Block that head-on rush first, or we're done."
"Got it."
Yeom Soo-hyung checked his gear.
Tight full-body suit like tights, rubbery elastic. Thicker arm guards and greaves like small shields extended forward.
Feeling the custom armor after ages, he stepped up.
"Pyo. Command's yours."
"OK. Go wild."
"If I screw up, hold it."
"Chatty now? New side."
"Maybe getting cowardly."
Yeom Soo-hyung muttered, accelerating. Steps quickened to a sprint, leaning back for momentum.
Front orcs hurled axes. Sharp blades flew at him.
Some hunters screamed, eyes shut.
Pyo Beom-hee muttered unfazed.
"Not just a bearded uncle."
Yeom Soo-hyung puffed his chest to take the axes.
Starting with power plays.
Veins bulged across his muscles.
Gigant
Yeom Soo-hyung's body transformed rapidly.
Grk!
Chest swelled. Shoulders widened like dislocated. Neck thickened upward. Crackle—bones snapping. Hips twisted, abs stretched rubbery. Thighs and calves bulked, lengthened. Hands and feet grew pot-lid huge.
Already 190cm, he ballooned to a 3-meter giant.
His solid chest deflected the axes.
"Grooar."
He growled ambiguously. Eyes sharp, but speech slurred.
"Quoo...?"
Orcs halted, stunned by the change. Rear ranks crashed into halted front, lines crumbling.
Yeom Soo-hyung lunged.
"Grooaaar!"
His bulk crashed through, screams and shouts erupting. Axes hammered like felling oaks.
Most attacks bounced off.
Full-power hits landed sometimes, but the giant was agile for his size, dodging big ones. Rare connects? Black armor's rubbery bounce repelled.
Not just orcs were stunned.
"Assault leader..."
"Gigantification? We have that trait too?"
Pyo Beom-hee bellowed at the gawking hunters.
"What're you doing? This is the moment! All charge!"