From Now On, It's 'My Turn'
“Hah, Jo Choong-hyeon flying off like that? So spectacular I can't even find the words.”
No Song-rin dodged a fist grazing his shoulder and let out a hollow laugh.
The conspiracy of Jo Choong-hyeon that Kang Moo-hyuk had exposed was still setting the public comms network ablaze. The shock among the hunters was that profound.
If Do Kyung-hoon abandoning the guild over some unsavory incident counted as betraying the organization, then Jo Choong-hyeon had thrown his own squad members to the monsters as sacrifices.
The fury was indescribable. Especially from hunters who had even the slightest connection to him—their reactions were vicious. Terrified of getting caught in the backlash, they condemned him even more fiercely. Cut ties fast, or suffer the consequences—that was the calculation.
-Everyone, get your heads in the game! Focus on the orcs in front of you!
As the commotion showed no signs of dying down, Jang Deok-gu finally bellowed.
The hunters shut their mouths in unison, as if on cue. Word of how he'd handled Jo Choong-hyeon had already spread.
Combined with his existing reputation, witnessing the raw violence firsthand had terrified them. They'd passed that fear to their comrades, and the rumors had only grown wilder.
Ironically, that baseless dread lent even more weight to Jang Deok-gu's words, solidifying Kang Moo-hyuk's grip in the process.
No Song-rin found it hilarious, snickering nonstop.
'Different methods, same result—rulers end up using the strongman's playbook. Nothing beats fear for control. The boss sure knows how to wield people without getting his hands dirty.'
This time, a punch whistled past his ear, close enough to heat his semicircular canals.
No Song-rin tossed aside the cumbersome weapon he'd been using. He drew the karambit from his belt instead.
A curved knife that fit perfectly in one hand.
Its inner and outer edges honed razor-sharp, the blade glinted in the sunlight reflecting off the waterlogged rice paddy.
“Once I nab you, we're basically done here. So no pointless struggling—just die nice and easy, yeah? Gotta bag you quick and go watch the traitor get his.”
No Song-rin hooked his index finger through the ring on the knife's pommel and gripped it reverse-style. The blade danced tantalizingly before the orc general's eyes.
Shorter than the sword he'd discarded, yet somehow the karambit felt far more menacing to the orc general.
This general had pressed on bare-handed even after being swept into the water, undaunted by the sword. But this short blade? Something was different.
The general reined in his wild swings and approached cautiously.
“Quao. Quaoer.”
“You think so too? I wanna wrap this up here myself.”
The hunters dealing with the general's orc guards watched No Song-rin chat with the monster and clicked their tongues in disbelief.
The squad leader seemed utterly unhinged once battle kicked off.
'Ditching a reach weapon for that short blade? With the reach gap? Bet he won't even use skills. Sick hobby—dismantling monsters bare weapon. Can't fathom what goes on in A-rank heads.'
Could he pull that off at A-rank too?
Yi Ki-young shook his head.
“That's why he's the squad leader. What a weirdo.”
Yi Ki-young muttered his backtalk under his breath, using the moment No Song-rin clashed with the orc general as cover.
“Here I go!”
No Song-rin dropped low and charged. The orc general raised his forward left foot to stomp him flat.
Boom!
No Song-rin slipped the attack and slashed the left ankle. The general staggered. Riding the momentum, he stomped the blade into the right instep. Without even screaming, the general swung his right arm.
No Song-rin dodged by a hair again, circling behind. The orc general flinched—where was this human climbing? The sensation of him scaling its back like a mountain sent chills down its spine. The karambit plunged into the wing joint.
“Kuwaang!”
“Almost done. Stay still.”
The intent was unclear, but the whispering voice was downright creepy. Pain took a backseat to inexplicable terror as it screamed.
The other orcs sensed their general's peril and tried to help, but the hunters kept them pinned.
The general twisted both hands backward. But its thick muscles kept them from reaching.
No Song-rin jammed mana-charged left fingers deep into the back for leverage. His right hand's karambit stabbed wildly at the back, shoulders, and neck base.
The orc general thrashed to shake him off, to no avail.
Green blood soaked its back and the ground. In desperation, it hurled itself to the dirt, trying to crush him under its bulk.
“Hey now, I said stay put.”
Before the back hit ground, No Song-rin leaped off. He shifted to the upper body, locked in mount position, and slashed both shoulders.
The arms dropped limply. Precise cuts to the tendons—he knew orc anatomy cold.
The massive orc pinned helpless under a much smaller human wasn't funny—it was horrifying.
To orcs and hunters alike.
No Song-rin shoved the karambit in the general's face and grinned.
“Who told you to rush in? Shoulda known humans are scary.”
“Kuwaaaang!”
The orc general's death cry capped off the Bukpocheon finale.
“Bukpocheon should be wrapping up around now. You think they're okay?”
“If Guild Leader Kang's plan went off without a hitch, no major issues.”
Lee Jin-joo glanced sideways at Joo Se-ah. Not just words—she looked genuinely unconcerned.
Inside a gate, no satellite phones, guild news unreachable—yet Joo Se-ah was calm as could be.
'That's how much she trusts the boss?'
They'd worked together mere months—how did that trust run so deep?
“You and the guild leader sync like you've been at it for years. Strangers would swear you go way back.”
“……”
After a brief silence, Joo Se-ah replied.
“I trust my own eye for talent. Hired him to build the guild—backing him's a given.”
“Handing over full authority? Easy to say, hard to do. Back at Titan, the top two fought nonstop. Even though they used to trust each other with their lives.”
Lee Jin-joo's gaze ended on Vice Guild Master Ma Tae-soo. He was blitzing grunts to link up with the orc lord fast as possible.
But another force had beaten him there, clashing with the orc lord's guards.
Joo Se-ah tsked at the group going all-out for the orc lord.
“Fast as ever. Slayer……”
Her old guild.
Seeing their prowess up close after so long reminded her just how stacked her former colleagues were.
'How much time and cash to build an expedition squad like that?'
Might never happen in her lifetime. Tier guild power wasn't just about money.
And even if built, holding it together was brutal. Guilds were harder to maintain than create.
“Huh? Lord's trying to bolt. Still got plenty of fight left—smart for an orc. But no escape with hunters everywhere. What now, guild master?”
Lee Jin-joo eyed Joo Se-ah subtly. First hunt together—gauging her style. No response, so she probed again.
“Boss's plan was block the escape, but killing it blocks escape too. Maybe we snag it?”
“Dunno. Tough with just us.”
“I see an angle. You and me as assassins, slip in. Others might not cut it, but your traits let you tank solo. Evolved or not, orc's an orc.”
Joo Se-ah's pessimism deflated Lee Jin-joo a bit; she added a quick strat.
“Not that—they'll interfere.”
Lee Jin-joo looked where Joo Se-ah pointed.
Slayer Guild's main force.
A man at its center.
“Seong Seon-je……”
Everyone in the biz knew the hunter dubbed 'Slayer Guild's Young Dragon.'
Legendary in the field, but as strat team lead? God-tier results.
“See the hunter next to him?”
“Who? Dual swords on his back?”
“Probably here for me. Remember him. Slayer expedition third party leader. Gam Woo-young. Goofy, but legit skills.”
Gam Woo-young had strikingly handsome features, more idol than hunter.
Lee Jin-joo felt zero stir from looks. But Joo Se-ah vouching meant real deal.
Sensing her stare, Gam Woo-young turned and waved at Joo Se-ah. She nodded back faintly.
“Guild aside, you two seem chummy personally.”
“Chummy? Good or bad?”
“Huh?”
“Fought him most. Not words—blades.”
“……”
Lee Jin-joo was lost. Blade-banter buddies? What was Slayer?
'Seong Seon-je deploying snipers. Even pulling expedition. And Gam Woo-young? Tricky. Same shitty attitude.'
Joo Se-ah wanted the orc lord too. Kang Moo-hyuk's plan was guidelines—field calls were hers.
Snag what's snag-able—that's hunter way.
“Gotta talk to Taeguk Guild.”
“Boss said no tangling with Jo Ik-jun……”
“They're shitting bricks by now. Situation's changed. From here on, it's my turn.”
Crude phrasing, but spot on.
Jo Ik-jun was indeed shitting bricks.
'Damn! Quarterly sales target down the drain at this rate.'
Taeguk wasn't slacking, but paled next to Slayer's pace.
Jo Ik-jun had eyed alliances to curb Slayer's solo run, but greed blinded the others.
As he hustled to rally, Slayer zipped into the gate pre-cleanup. Panicked guilds followed, dooming the coalition.
Inside, Jo Ik-jun exploited the chaos, but Slayer left no gaps.
Flawless, effortless breakthrough at full speed.
'Not even expedition—just regulars…! Brutal gap. Our squad's ranks hold up. How'd they train to outpace us?'
Other guilds felt the same. Slayer looked monstrous.
Seven guilds at orc lord final phase—all tier or A-grade.
No slouches.
'Eight, maybe?'
Jo Ik-jun eyed the approaching figure.
“Struggling hard, eh, Team Leader Jo?”
“You and yours same boat. No beating around: Gate's ours today only. No time for proper deals.”
“Halfsies.”
“……”
“Raid share, fifty-fifty.”
“Force mismatch. That's……”
“See the hunters by Seong Seon-je?”
Jo Ik-jun scanned. Mostly unknowns.
“No need to memorize. Slayer hides expedition IDs except party leads. That one's fresh-promoted, unknown. Matches me skill-wise.”
“!!”
Jo Ik-jun startled more at Joo Se-ah-tier than expedition.
“Who's the leader?”
“Dual swords.”
“Name?”
“Gam Woo-young.”
“No expedition on assault means… they'll block us.”
“Snipers. I'll punch through front. They move, I mark 'em.”
“Got it. Halfsies. Deal.”
“Transaction complete. Let's do this.”
Jo Ik-jun clasped her outstretched hand.
Guild HQ, water receding slowly.
Kang Moo-hyuk surveyed the damage and sighed, fatigue heavy.
Lobby obliterated. Glass shattered, interiors soaked—repairs pricey.
Low-floor cafeteria, training grounds flooded too. Guild ops crippled short-term.
Small mercy: priciest comms lines intact.
Attack team final report on orc hunt brought relief.
“No more casualties—good. General down, worries over.”
All seemed settled, but real issues loomed.
He'd sought the neutral hunters—raid MVPs blocking main orc force—but got the cold shoulder.
Longtime comrades dead; no wonder they hated his guts.
Kang Moo-hyuk understood, backed off. Talk when grief ebbed.
'Some might quit. Or all.'
War over, but no rest. Drag battered body onward.
Bang!
“Whoa! Thought you were dying, but looking better!”
Door nearly splintered by a bubbly girl bursting in.
Go Eul-ji.
“Pills and potions. Right hand bone not set yet, but recovering slowly otherwise.”
“Sudden formal? Weird?”
“……Anyway. Haven't properly thanked you. Owe you for escaping that pinch. Truly grateful.”
“Ugh, cringey. Skip it. Grandpa's orders anyway. Thank him.”
“Of course. Still wanted to say it to you too.”
“Words only?”
“Something you want?”
Go Eul-ji squirmed, pinched thumb and index into a circle.
“Uh, cash…. Still a student…. Grandpa won't let me join guilds…. Not asking much. Just need bro merch and this album……”
“……”
“Not that pricey. But fanmeet lottery needs lotsa tickets in albums…. Allowance short…. Ugh, embarrassing! You gonna ghost after I swallow pride? I saved you. Gimme hazard payyy.”
Watching her tantrum, Kang Moo-hyuk drifted elsewhere.
'Unaffiliated…. Opportunity on a platter.'
Her 'threats' even seemed cute now.
“Gonna pay or nah? Not usually this rude. Fanmeet soon, desperate—c'mon—”
“Grandpa know you shake people down?”
“Not shaking down! First time helping a guild!”
Her huff lit Kang Moo-hyuk's eyes.
'Bingo. Talent hidden despite skill—suspected.'
Confirmed: Han Byung-gu's blade in the wings.
“What group?”
“Huh?”
“Your 'bros.' The idols.”
“BTA. World-famous singers…. W-why? Gonna mock as childish?”
“One sec.”
Kang Moo-hyuk grabbed the receiver, dialed internal.
“Team Leader Pyo, know BTA? Yeah, male idols. Ah, from your old agency? Perfect. Saved their folks from monsters once, right? Fanmeet tickets possible? Not me. Girl who helped today. Yeah. Check and call back. Guild Coop line fine.”
“W-what……”
Kang Moo-hyuk hung up.
“As you saw, our team leader's connected in entertainment. Few years back, monster crash at some fest. Saved execs, idols. Knows plenty sisters, unnies personally……”
“Yeoju Int'l Festival?!”
“Yeah. Worked there briefly off that connection.”
“F-for real? BTA bros fanmeet tickets?!”
“Tickets as thanks. Guild join perk: BTA meal voucher. Deal?”
“Where to sign?”
“Chairman, line three connected.”
“Huh? Who calls?”
-Grandpa!
“Aigoo, ears ringing. Train whistle for lunch? Nailed my break. Bukpocheon good?”
-Joined Iron Will! Heads up!
“Wha—? What the……”
Beep—beep—beep—
“K-K-K-Kang Moo-hyuk you punk! Saved from water, now steals my granddaughter? I'll wring him!”
“Chairman, no! Meeting not over. Ugh! Security one, two. Chairman's raging. Restrain him quick!”