89. It Seems Like the Best Fit.
The next morning.
Han Byung-gu, who woke up at the crack of dawn as usual, checked his messenger app and felt his blood pressure spike for the first time in ages.
"This... this brat...!"
Han Byung-gu immediately extended his senses to check Go Eul-ji's room on the second floor. No presence.
"Right, her room got trashed yesterday?"
He recalled sleeping in the study because of the hole in the wall. He quickly scanned the first floor. It was empty and silent, as expected.
"That rascal. Even if I was asleep, that's no excuse. Heh heh. Slipping past my eyes to make her escape. Heh heh heh... Crunch! That little punk's using the skills I taught her to run away?!"
His face flushed red as he ground his teeth for a while, then finally calmed his rage with deep breaths and checked the message again.
The excited emoticon stood out amid the runaway declaration.
His anger surged anew.
"That emoticon pisses me off even more!"
"So, you're saying she ran away?"
"Where am I supposed to sleep?"
Kang Moo-hyuk thought of Han Byung-gu as he watched Go Eul-ji boldly declare her runaway status after showing up at the guild at the break of dawn.
This'll be a headache. He'll probably make a fuss about kidnapping this time.
He'd anticipated such complications from the start, having gauged her self-willed personality since their first meeting.
He had plans in place to gradually refine her behavior, so he wasn't overly worried. Still, he didn't want ongoing friction with Han Byung-gu.
Kang Moo-hyuk rubbed his dry face, still not fully awake, and asked,
"No way you flew here from Seoul. How'd you get here?"
"I got a bike. Grandpa said hunters need mobility, so he bought it for me. It even has mana cartridges, so it runs fine in special activity zones."
"At dawn, even with cleared roads, monsters would be roaming... Nah, it probably doesn't matter to you anyway, Go Eul-ji Hunter."
"Yeah, they were kinda annoying. I grabbed a few on the way as souvenirs."
"Souvenirs?"
"For the wolfies."
"Wolfies... You mean the Rider Wolves?"
"They were so cute last time I saw them."
"We provide plenty of meat. No need to feed them monsters specifically..."
"You said they used to run with goblins, right? They're basically wild-raised. You think domesticated meat suits pups used to monster chow? Gotta toss 'em some fresh kills now and then to keep that fighting spirit fired up."
As Go Eul-ji shadowboxed the air to emphasize her point, something flashed through Kang Moo-hyuk's mind.
It was something Yeom Soo-hyung, who was temporarily caring for the Rider Wolves, had said.
Maybe 'cause humans raised 'em? They're tamer than before. Still fierce on hunts, but not like when the goblins had 'em. Need 'em a bit wilder to boost their value.
"So that's it."
"What's that?"
Kang Moo-hyuk let out an involuntary chuckle. It was a puzzle he'd pondered for a while, and here was the solution unfolding like this. Not proven, but worth trying.
"I'll give you a room."
"Yay!"
"By the way, no Wi-Fi here yet."
"Aww..."
"And soon we'll set up a dinner with BTA. Concert tickets too."
"Yay!"
"In return, get your grandpa's permission or head home in a few days. I'll let him know you're here, Go Eul-ji Hunter."
"Ugh~"
"Sun's not up yet, so get some sleep first—"
"Shh!"
Go Eul-ji's expression changed in an instant.
The childish face vanished, replaced by a seasoned hunter's sharp gaze. The lax vibe sharpened into deadly tension.
Kang Moo-hyuk tensed, sensing something off.
"What is it?"
"World's so small. Running into this here? Like a damn rat."
"??"
"There!"
Suddenly, Go Eul-ji thrust her hand toward the office corner.
A black shadow materialized in the empty air.
"Guh!"
The shadow floated midair, neck gripped by an invisible hand.
"Gotcha!"
Go Eul-ji seized the shadow across space with both hands. It thrashed wildly.
"Huh?"
The shadow slipped from her grasp impossibly and darted toward the window.
Moonlight filtering through revealed its form.
An unfamiliar face, but not unknown. It was one Kang Moo-hyuk recognized.
"Mr. Jo... Wait! Go Eul-ji Hun—"
"Where you goin'?!"
Go Eul-ji charged the retreating shadow, unleashing her telekinesis.
Crash! Shatter!
As the office window exploded, the shadow leaped out. Go Eul-ji followed, hurling herself after it.
Aerial clashes erupted, tangled and fierce.
Each time Go Eul-ji tried to bind it with telekinesis, the shadow slipped free with uncanny timing. Even when she nearly caught it, some bizarre skill let it escape. No one had dodged her power like this before.
Go Eul-ji kept the pressure on until they hit the ground, ready to crush the entire space if needed.
Meanwhile, Kang Moo-hyuk stood alone by the wind-swept broken window, overlooking the chaotic headquarters grounds. Emergency sirens blared everywhere.
"Of all things, Mr. Jo..."
Two intruders at this hour. Mr. Jo had probably timed it for his arrival.
Better stop this quick, or he'll sulk.
Mr. Jo wasn't guild staff but a VIP delivering key intel due to past ties. With his personality, he might cut ties if offended.
He evaded top hunters easily, but Go Eul-ji's powerful telekinesis was a bad matchup. She hadn't caught him only because he was Mr. Jo.
As Kang Moo-hyuk turned to grab the elevator—
BOOM!
A colossal thud silenced the area, like a giant slamming the earth.
Voices rose from below—Go Eul-ji and Mr. Jo.
"Kuhk! W-wait a sec, sis. Let's talk... Kuhk!"
"Joo Se-ah Guild Master... I mean, I'm no thief... Gah! A-ask Kang Division Chief... Chief! Tell her I'm no thief...!"
Joo Se-ah looked up, gripping both intruders by the scruff with either hand.
Eyes met. Kang Moo-hyuk nodded.
"They're both my guests."
Situation resolved.
"I'm tellin' ya, I was feelin' blue. Why'd I cough up premium intel for that punk?"
"Sorry for the attack, Mr. Jo. But sneaking in's rude. At dawn, no less. A call would've sufficed."
"Well... wanted a peek... Heard about that hunter village ad, got curious. Figured I'd drop intel while I was at it."
"Snooping or scouting?"
"Heh... This place is nice. Congrats on the promotion, Chief Kang. Haha, knew you'd make it big."
Kang Moo-hyuk turned to Go Eul-ji amid Mr. Jo's lame excuses.
She flinched, shoulders hunching, scratching her head.
"Look, I thought he was some shady creep. Anyone'd react to a sneaky cat like that watchin'..."
"Not smash the window."
"...Yeah, windows are off-limits. Haha. This comin' outta my pay?"
Kang Moo-hyuk shook his head silently. Go Eul-ji sighed in relief.
"Phew, good. BTA bros merch just dropped... Wait! That guy's the one from the fan meet! Drove me nuts worryin' he'd ruin the show. Be grateful I just scared him."
"Hold up. You used telekinesis earlier? Wait, were you the one who dunked me back then? Talk about enemies on a single log. You're in for it today."
"Dunk? Who're you callin' out? Think about how I missed the show 'cause of you. Argh! Pissin' me off! Wanna step outside?"
As they butted foreheads and growled, Joo Se-ah wedged in.
"Cut it out, both of ya."
Thwack! Thunk!
"Ow, Guild Master Joo..."
"Agh! Grandpa never hits my head... Ow!"
Joo Se-ah shook out her hands dismissively.
"Chief, this brat the new recruit you mentioned?"
"Yes. Han Byung-gu Association Chairman's granddaughter."
"Don't need tellin'. She's the spittin' image of her gramps."
"Me?! No way!"
Ignoring Go Eul-ji's wail, Joo Se-ah eyed Mr. Jo.
"This the informant you mentioned?"
"Yes. Best in Korea."
"World's best!"
"Hunter Association caught your scent, didn't they?"
"Well... Asia's best, then..."
Joo Se-ah turned from Mr. Jo compromising his title.
"Dunno about else, but these two take the cake for missin' the vibe. World champs."
"Where?!"
Both intruders yelled in unison, snarling at each other.
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded agreement and addressed Mr. Jo.
"You hit idol fan meets too?"
"Think I'd go for idol trash? It was work."
"Callin' my bros trash...? Can't believe this. Lemme show that trash fan a thing or— Gah! Ow, hurts. Head's off-limits..."
Go Eul-ji clamped her mouth under Joo Se-ah's glare.
She'd tasted Joo Se-ah's terror moments ago. Even bound by telekinesis, her resistance to abilities was nuts—barely fazed.
Tightening harder only made her brute-force free and charge like a hellhound.
Mr. Jo snickered, but Go Eul-ji shut up under Joo Se-ah's fierce eyes.
With her quiet, Kang Moo-hyuk resumed.
"Was that the intel for me?"
"Big scoop, yeah. Gonna cost ya, hehe!"
"What kind?"
"Don't freak. Japanese sent an assassin squad to off ya, Chief Kang."
"..."
"What? No reaction? I even used a translator artifact. Wait, shock-frozen?"
Joo Se-ah pointed at Mr. Jo.
"For real the best?"
"For now... yeah, the best."
"Might need to switch sources."
"Why the shade? What's up?"
Kang Moo-hyuk swept back his hair, scratching his nape.
"Already knew Japan Guild Alliance sent the Iga Squad to kill me. Intel's late this time."
Mr. Jo gaped, stunned.
Dealin' with another broker? No, more like... me? Late? Impossible.
Go Eul-ji smirked, turning tables.
"Best, huh? Pfft, embarrassed for ya. Got nabbed by me too. If everyone's best, might as well be dogs and pigs."
"No! I mean... Yeah. If I spoke Japanese... No, translator item. Gotta borrow or buy one."
Joo Se-ah sighed again as Go Eul-ji teased Mr. Jo's ear and he plugged his, miserable.
"Our intel guy and top prospect? Never sighed watchin' the guild go to shit before Chief Kang. Missin' Slayer now."
"Since it's up: a favor, Guild Master."
"What?"
"Take Go Eul-ji Hunter as your apprentice."
"Eek!!!"
Go Eul-ji shrieked.
Joo Se-ah eyed her, smirking crookedly.
"Guild Master's apprentice? You hit the jackpot, kid. I'll do it. Gonna be fun."
Go Eul-ji couldn't protest Joo Se-ah, just glared at Kang Moo-hyuk.
Regrettin' runnin' away. Miss Grandpa.
Then, teary-eyed Mr. Jo burst out.
"But I know where they are!"
Kang Moo-hyuk and Joo Se-ah turned to him simultaneously.
Kang Moo-hyuk looked down at her, telling Joo Se-ah,
"Yeah, seems like the best fit after all."
"Yep. The best. Totally."