I Have a Favor to Ask

By the time Han Byung-gu's fury had subsided, someone knocked on the waiting room door.

Knock knock!

"Huh? Has time passed already...? Chairman, it looks like our staff came to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pick you up because we're running late. We need to head to the conference room."

The association chairman's secretary assumed staff had come to escort him to the meeting and opened the door. But standing there was a face he hadn't expected at all.

Not Japanese staff from the event organizers, but two foreigners dressed in sharp suits.

One had blond hair, the other strikingly white hair, and the aura radiating from them alone made it clear they were no ordinary people.

The secretary and surrounding security personnel tensed up instantly. As hunters themselves, they could tell—these two men were dangerous.

"We're not here to fight."

Then, from behind the two men came a voice like jade beads rolling on a tray.

The men stepped aside to the left and right. Between them appeared a slender silhouette draped in a robe.

A woman? Who is she?

For a moment, the secretary tensed even more than at the two men before. Though her face was hidden, her presence overwhelmed everyone in the room—even enough to make Han Byung-gu yield a step.

"Everyone, out."

"But Chairman..."

"I know these faces. Come in and sit. It's been ages; we can't talk standing."

Han Byung-gu nodded to his aides, dismissing them. The secretary and guards reluctantly left.

Once the door closed, the robed figure raised a hand and traced a strange pattern in the air. Following her fingers, light glyphs etched into the air as if it were paper.

Only after the completed pattern sank into the door did the woman remove her face-covering robe.

"Long time no see, Aila. I thought we'd never cross paths again in this lifetime."

"I had a feeling we'd meet at least once, Duke Han Byung-gu. At your funeral, at the latest."

"Sharp tongue as ever, despite that delicate look. But sending you from the Federation for a funeral? They'd be too busy wrapping you up tight for 'protection.'"

"And yet here I am."

"Exactly. What brings the lofty elf out of the woods?"

The woman called Aila had long ears, shockingly. Her hair evoked the vibrant green of a summer forest, her eyes like turquoise capturing an autumn sky.

A forest race straight out of novels or myths.

Just as people imagined—otherworldly, not of this world.

"I came out because there was good reason, Mister Han."

The blond middle-aged man, who had been smiling affably beside her, replied.

"What? Picked up Korean as a new hobby, Alex?"

"The Federation's changed a lot while you were holed up in Korea. It's an item with a translation skill."

Alex tapped his tie pin.

"You made it? Impressive—sealing skills into items. Real progress. Admirable, though I don't love the Federation monopolizing it."

"Not the words of an old-timer who turned down a Federation return."

This time, the white-haired man stepped forward.

"Who's this punk?"

"Punk?!"

"Quiet down, Raven."

"Tch!"

"Raven? You keep strange company."

"Don't let the looks fool you—he's skilled."

"Whatever. I need to get to the meeting, so spit it out."

"The afternoon conference has been canceled, Duke Han Byung-gu."

Han Byung-gu caught the odd vibe in Aila's words.

"Canceled?"

"More like rescheduled, really. To a social gathering now. For reps from each nation's hunter groups to chat casually. Attendance's voluntary, of course."

"Ha? They let the big shots loose to scheme behind closed doors."

"You hate those anyway."

"Me skipping's different from being blocked."

"Sorry about that."

"No need for Lady Aila to apologize. China, Japan, Russia—they weren't planning to include Korea anyway."

"Alex!"

Han Byung-gu exploded. Bad Federation memories resurfaced.

"My comrades led the vanguard in the Great War. Saved the world and died for it. What'd we get? Isolation? Weren't you the ones who thoroughly shut out Korean hunters?"

"That was neighboring countries scared of Korean hunters' potential."

"The Federation just watched—and egged it on?"

The mood turned vicious, fists itching to fly. As their glares locked, Raven on the side ramped up his aggression too.

On the brink of blows, Aila intervened.

"Alex. Raven. Step back."

"Sorry."

Her once-gentle voice turned icy, and Alex bowed, retreating a couple steps. Raven followed suit.

"Duke Han Byung-gu. This spot today—this Federation meeting—was set up to meet you."

"What do you mean?"

"It was meant for Glasgow, but the Federation shifted it near Korea, to Tokyo. To enter Korea quietly, we needed your help."

"Damn! So that's why another meeting in Japan after two years. I thought they lobbied for it. Why not hold it in Korea then?"

"We wanted to come sooner, but used the meeting to avoid eyes. Hosting in Korea would've stirred up the neighbors."

"Hmph! Can't argue facts. So, why come to Korea?"

Aila glanced back, and Alex handed Han Byung-gu a large envelope.

Han Byung-gu opened it, pulling out documents. An English cover caught his eye first, followed by a Korean one attached.

"This is..."

"The report submitted to the Association by Korea's Iron Will Guild, right? We set this up because of the word 'summon' in it."

"So?"

"It's vague, like they left it blank on purpose."

"Guilds omit details for profit all the time. What's special?"

Han Byung-gu brushed it off casually, but unease stirred.

No word of Aila leaving the forest since the Great War. If she's moving personally, things are that bad.

Reading his thoughts, Aila spoke.

"I've come out a few times since the Great War. Most recently, Brazil's Amazon."

"Amazon?"

"A goblin matriarch appeared there too."

"Photos are attached at the back."

At Alex's words, Han Byung-gu flipped the pages.

He froze at the printed photo, staring silently.

Torn flesh chunks. Blackened, congealed blood.

Without scattered weapons nearby, even identifying the mangled corpses as hunters would be impossible.

"Like something from the Great War."

"A Brazilian A-rank guild trying to wipe out an evolved goblin tribe in the Amazon. Total wipe."

"A-rank to goblins?"

"Precisely, to what the goblin matriarch summoned. If the Brazilian guild hadn't filmed for records—and it hadn't caught on video—we wouldn't know the full story."

Aila added to Alex's explanation.

"So you're saying the 'summon' here ties to North Pocheon's goblin matriarch?"

"Likely."

Han Byung-gu pondered long before speaking.

"What do you want?"

"Introduce us to the report's author. Duke Kang Moo-hyuk."

* * *

Joo Se-ah moved. Lee Jin-joo supported her. Iron Will's expedition followed, attacking orcs centered on the pair.

Taeguk Guild matched pace, spreading wings left and right to cover Iron Will's fewer hunters, encircling the orcs.

The orcs, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already overwhelmed by the frontal human assault, couldn't respond to Taeguk's encirclement.

Joo Se-ah smashed a centurion-grade orc's head in one go, clearing a path straight to the lord.

Then, as expected, it happened.

Gam Woo-young blocked the way.

Joo Se-ah handed the vanguard to Lee Jin-joo and faced him.

"Ah, seriously. I didn't wanna fight you, sis Se-ah."

"Ha? You say that with that thrilled look?"

"Training and real combat ain't the same. Go easy."

Gam Woo-young grinned, reaching for the twin swords on his back...

Thwack!

"Ugh!"

"Oho! Nice block."

Gam Woo-young dropped the hilt, crossing his arms in an X to block Joo Se-ah's kick.

"No rule says don't hit during transformation?"

"You some magical girl? Like I'd let you transform—"

"I gotta wield swords, not a wand!"

Gam Woo-young swung his arms wildly, lunging forward. Joo Se-ah switched to her left foot, slamming a front kick into his face.

He twisted away, dropping into a wrestling tackle low, hooking her left thigh over his shoulder.

Joo Se-ah powered her plant foot and leaped. From the unstable pose just before her leg got fully grabbed, she twisted midair, driving a flying knee into his temple.

Crack!

"Blocked that too? You've improved a ton, kid. From close-quarters klutz."

"I was average. You were just a monster."

Gam Woo-young rubbed his numb forearms, backpedaling.

Joo Se-ah didn't charge this time. She spotted his coiled stance prepped for a counter.

"Sharp instincts as always. Won't fall for it."

"We've clashed over a thousand spars? Your tells are obvious."

Gam Woo-young swiftly drew his swords, signaling no more interruptions.

"Transformation complete."

Joo Se-ah's sword was already in hand too.

"Huh? Sword right off the bat, sis?"

"Seems you've gotten better."

"Nah, zero growth. You can start with fists like always."

"Slayer's Sword Ghost talking big. Your acting's improved."

"Damn, who's the ghost? Keep pushing my limits like that and..."

Suddenly, demonic energy flickered in Gam Woo-young's eyes. A chilling voice leaked out, unlike his prior playfulness.

"I'll really wanna carve you up."

Joo Se-ah smirked at his true face, long unseen.

"When you get all serious like that, unbefittingly—I wanna smash your face."

They smiled at each other.

Baring teeth, but to outsiders, it looked like mortal enemies glaring.

"Might as well steal your 'strongest' title while we're at it."

"In your dreams."

Claaang!

A sound no blade should make echoed through the gate.

* * *

Kang Moo-hyuk received an unexpected call in his office.

Kang Moo-hyuk stared at the phone instead of answering. One of the Guild Cooperation Office's dedicated lines. Damn bureaucrats, he sighed, pressing it to his ear.

"Disappointed it's not Jo Choong-hyeon, Chairman?"

"Not disappointed— just as expected, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so a pity."

"No idea what you hoped for, but it stings. I thought you'd trust me with this."

"Age brings impatience; can't wait properly. Hence the side gigs."

Kang Moo-hyuk gritted his teeth.

Playing with lives as a 'side gig'?

You don't know you're just another tyrant to topple someday.

He swallowed his anger, speaking calmly.

"Better to tap stepping stones carefully, even if slower. Step on a loose one, and you're swept away."

"Daring to advise me?"

"Consider it earnest counsel."

"Surviving that and still talking big. Reliable. But I wonder if you'll see this through."

"Taking lead from Guild Master Joo Se-ah isn't easy. Must proceed patiently, slowly."

"No firm yes."

"No one gives certainties before her. Daughter to you, but the Indomitable Witch here. Unyielding—needs coaxing."

"I know her stubbornness. I'm talking trust in you."

"Didn't you say you trusted my ability?"

"Yes."

His back slicked with sweat. This shameless old man's intentions were inscrutable. Face-to-face, he'd read expressions; voice alone hid too much.

"You want something."

"Jo Choong-hyeon dead? If alive, send him."

"..."

"Reluctant?"

Then Kang Moo-hyuk got it—what Chairman Tae Jin-seong truly wanted.

Jo Choong-hyeon means nothing big. Proof of loyalty. He wants my submission.

Or defiance.

As a hunter handler, Kang Moo-hyuk despised such betrayals most.

Unable to punish a criminal.

It struck his vital spot.

From the start, Chairman didn't care if Jo succeeded or failed. Failure just puts me in a bind.

Couldn't lie about death—guildmates knew he lived. Loose lips leak despite security. No leaks? Chairman Tae Jin-seong would drill holes to find out.

Not time yet. Clashing loses hard-won chances. He's a ruler; won't trust, but must confirm I'm under his thumb.

Kang Moo-hyuk decided to bow clearly.

"If you dislike, say so. No need to sour things dragging him here."

"No, why refuse a safe haven? Just hesitated—the guy who tried killing me irks. Human, so anger lingers."

"Fine. Humans can't help it when threatened. Understood. Sending him it is."

Ending the call, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kang Moo-hyuk gazed out the window.

The waterfall's base showed nearly drained channels. Wrecked parking lot, bent lampposts.

No passersby amplified the gloom.

He gathered thoughts, contacting Pyo Beom-hee.

"Bring Jo Choong-hyeon."

Soon, Pyo Beom-hee dragged him in.

Bound in special restraints for large monsters.

"Chairman says release you."

Jo Choong-hyeon, head bowed, looked up. Swollen mess, but face brightened.

"Kekeke! Knew I picked the right side."

Pyo Beom-hee's face crumpled.

"Release this guy?!"

"No choice."

She knew it wasn't time to defy the chairman.

Just burned freeing the bastard who'd fed the guild to monsters.

"Call Chairman. Say thanks."

Kang Moo-hyuk had her untie the restraints, then oddly handed her the phone.

Jo Choong-hyeon smirked victoriously, dialing.

The tirade made him bow low.

But the line had cut.

Flustered, he set the receiver down gingerly.

"Go to Chairman. No ride arranged—get there yourself."

"This easy?"

Pyo Beom-hee bristled, but Kang Moo-hyuk ordered firmly.

"Go."

Opening the office door himself, Jo Choong-hyeon left dazed.

Watching him exit the building, Kang Moo-hyuk told the fuming Pyo Beom-hee.

"Call Hunter Jang Deok-gu."

Soon after she left, Jang Deok-gu entered.

"You called, Boss?"

"Yes. I have a favor to ask."