No More Sitting Still
“That call just now—you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“You caught on?”
Joo Se-ah scowled at Kang Moo-hyuk’s calm counterquestion.
“Feels like you’re just messing with me.”
“No. I’m impressed. You’re noticing things I never paid attention to back in the day.”
“Who do you think I am, an idiot? When it’s that blatant, you can’t not see it.”
“Han Byung-gu won’t sense a thing. To him, it’s just poking at a sore spot.”
“That old man’s always been dense anyway. But a weak spot, huh?”
A distant boom echoed from somewhere. Muffled by the range, it reverberated softly like a temple bell. Startled birds burst from the trees outside the window. Another explosion followed, ringing faintly once more.
Joo Se-ah shot a glance toward the sound and clicked her tongue.
“Told her to find the mines, and now she’s plowing up the whole damn ground. Sigh, that girl needs to break that habit of throwing her strength around first.”
“That’s why I left her to you, Guild Master. No matter how harshly Han Byung-gu trained her, he couldn’t go all out on his granddaughter. Especially not mentally—he couldn’t push family to the brink.”
“Explains why she’s got a few screws loose. That weak spot you mentioned—it’s her, right?”
“Yes. The reason he kept a powerhouse like Go Eul-ji the hunter off the guild roster and out of public Association events, treating her like fragile porcelain. He was shielding his granddaughter from outside threats.”
Joo Se-ah nodded in agreement. She’d been through something similar herself.
The difference? She’d weathered the storms head-on like a weed in the wild, while Go Eul-ji was a flower in a greenhouse.
“Makes sense—she’s got the talent, that’s for sure. Might even hit S-rank someday. Though if she keeps acting like this, that wall’ll stay out of reach forever.”
“Being S-rank material means that much exposure to danger. You’d have faced more assassins too, without your unique traits.”
“I did. Back in the day. A ton of them. Killed ’em all.”
Joo Se-ah’s eyes turned icy. Kang Moo-hyuk nodded as if he’d expected as much.
“No S-rank could even attempt to assassinate you now. And they can’t sneak one into Korea without national-level notice. So this time, they’re going for the chicken instead of the pheasant.”
“Chicken?”
“Yeah. Chicken.”
Joo Se-ah burst out laughing at Kang Moo-hyuk pointing at himself.
“Pfft! Cackle-cackle, ahaha~ But that chicken’s no ordinary bird. The Japanese might wanna rethink calling people chickenheads.”
“Chickenhead…? You’re teasing me?”
“Hmm, a little?”
Joo Se-ah pinched her thumb and forefinger together with a grin. Teasing Kang Moo-hyuk after so long felt oddly refreshing.
“Kidding, kidding. Why so serious?”
“This is my default face.”
“You weren’t like that before.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Just saying.”
Joo Se-ah brushed off her unintended mumble.
Kang Moo-hyuk continued.
“Anyway, no S-rank can guarantee a win against you now. A true S-rank, vouched for by a World Hunter Federation heavyweight.”
“Now you’re definitely messing with me.”
“Yes. That was a joke.”
“Lame.”
“Genetic. Bad at jokes.”
“……What kinda gene is that?”
Joo Se-ah was momentarily speechless. The word “genetic” triggered thoughts of Kang Moo-hyuk’s illness.
She knew mana addiction was hereditary, since he’d first been diagnosed at Taeseong Hospital.
He’d tossed it out casually, but her lips suddenly felt sealed.
Ignoring the awkward air, Kang Moo-hyuk pressed on.
“Point is, the Association Chairman must’ve sensed danger from Japan’s past moves. They’ve been nipping promising hunters in the bud. He’ll protect Go Eul-ji somehow—maybe warn the Japanese Guild Alliance directly, or flex his power. Either way, we don’t have to step in, low risk for us.”
“What about Pyo Beom-hee Team Leader? We’re moving too.”
“Officially, we’re not. Officially.”
Emphasizing the word, Kang Moo-hyuk watched Joo Se-ah’s expression shift.
“Ah, officially? So we’re not stepping in officially?”
Her chilled gaze turned south.
Toward Nampocheon, Seoul, somewhere across the sea—wherever the plotters lurked.
She sent them a murderous glare.
Joo Se-ah murmured low.
“Looks like I don’t have to sit this one out.”
“Oh! Manager Jeong?”
“Long time no see, Team Leader Lee. Kids doing well?”
“Of course. Wouldn’t have it any other way. Should’ve cleared their schedules if I knew you were coming—they’d have loved it.”
Pyo Beom-hee, flashing her visitor badge, entered the PR office to warm welcomes from her old colleagues.
Their enthusiasm stemmed not just from fondness, but her solid reputation from their shared days.
The PR Team Leader led her to a meeting room and poured fresh-ground coffee herself.
“Here for those meal vouchers? CEO approved ’em—don’t worry.”
“You think I’d come for work? Just dropping by for fun.”
“Tch, and you ghost us after quitting?”
“Try being stuck in North Pocheon. No phone, no internet.”
“Right, saw you on the news. Glad you’re unscathed—wild seeing a former coworker smashing monsters.”
“Just a few orcs. You saw me at the festival too.”
“That was back when you were with Titan Guild.”
After some chit-chat and a sip of steaming coffee, Pyo Beom-hee asked casually.
“Speaking of the festival, heard BTA snagged an LA concert next year? Dropping a new track too.”
“Word travels fast. Not even official yet. Fan cafe’s buzzing, though—not a secret.”
“Japan rumors too? When’s that?”
“Already leaked? Contract’s not even signed.”
“Secrets don’t last here. Fans move like the CIA these days.”
“That fan club kid in your guild? The meal voucher winner.”
“Yep. Guild master’s handing out concerts and all. She’s from money in the industry, but her skills hooked BTA.”
“Pfft! Luring hunters with idols. We should start a guild.”
“So Japan—tight market, company handling direct’s tough. Partnering with a local firm?”
“Probably. Think it’s Jace Office or something. Japanese idol agency.”
Pyo Beom-hee’s eyes lit up. As she opened her mouth for more, a heavy presence loomed behind her right shoulder. She glanced toward the door.
“Hello, CEO!”
“Good day!”
The PR staff’s voices chimed as the aura approached.
Knock knock!
The door opened. A familiar face poked in.
“Well! Manager Pyo—or Hunter Pyo now? Heard you were here. Should’ve come upstairs. What’re you doing here?”
“Good to see you, CEO Yoo.”
And trailing behind him.
Unlike her racing pulse, Pyo Beom-hee eyed him coolly.
“……”
He stared back. Their gazes locked. The room chilled like an AC blast. But sweat dampened her back. Outwardly calm, an invisible battle raged.
The awkward silence broke with CEO Yoo’s hearty laugh.
“Aigoo, leaving our guest hanging. Been swamped. Was showing her around. Oh! Introduce yourselves. This is ex-Manager Pyo, family once. Now with Iron Will Guild. Good to network with hunters, even if we don’t work ’em directly. Haha.”
The man’s brow twitched at “Iron Will.”
As the interpreter began translating, Pyo Beom-hee beat her to it with a friendly smile.
“Nice to meet you for the first time. I'm Byobom-hee from the Iron Wall Guild.”
He glanced at her outstretched hand, then clasped it.
“Ryushin Hanta.”
“That woman today. Iron Will affiliate, right? Dig into her?”
“Yes. Matches what we got from Kim Myeong-jun—looks like coincidence.”
“Evidence?”
Ryushin listened intently to his subordinate’s report.
Pyo Beom-hee was ex-BigBro Entertainment staff. Before that, Titan Guild hunter.
Apparently, she’d saved BigBro and industry folks from a monster breach at a festival, forging ties.
This time, a guild member—idol superfan—wanted concert tix, so meal event push.
“The idol deal was set way before we hit Korea.”
“Alliance intel officer?”
“Aligns with Kim Myeong-jun’s.”
“Reliable, then.”
Ryushin felt uneasy.
Context said no prior detection. But timing was too perfect for pure chance.
‘And ex-Titan colleague? Too close to the target. Of all places. Got complacent?’
Cautious by nature, he couldn’t rush with loose ends.
“Send men to watch North Pocheon.”
“We have the intel officer, why—”
Bam!
Gut-wrenching pain launched the subordinate airborne into the wall. Concrete dust flew from the crater. He staggered up.
“Since when do you question me?”
“S-sorry, Leader. Just… wasting effort on small fry…”
“Tigers hunt rabbits with full effort. Let alone dragging one from a real tiger’s den—think we can’t bother?”
Ryushin decided to review the plan from scratch.
‘Killing a civilian non-hunter? Subordinates slacking. Perfect timing to tighten discipline.’
He stood.
“Assemble everyone at the dojo. I’ll instruct personally.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
“Knew it at a glance. A notch above me—A+ rank. Didn’t even hide his power. He clocked me too. Couldn’t dodge the sudden meet, so I owned the Iron Will bit. He’ll be suspicious now—did I know, or coincidence?”
Kang Moo-hyuk figured they’d dodged the worst. Worst case? Just tipping the Iga-jo’s hand.
“Hedged with Kim Myeong-jun—info op. Hide what to hide, leak what to leak. Alliance has lines, but locals are fastest, most accurate.”
“Trust that guy?”
“His position and life on the line—he won’t backstab lightly. To check us, he’ll scheme elsewhere, not Iga-jo.”
“Bought us time, then?”
“Not much. Slayer moves soon.”
“Huff… huff…”
Tanaka sprinted down the alley. Seongbuk-dong embassy road saw little night traffic anyway, but tonight it was deserted.
‘Damn! Shouldn’t have taken that cash… They’re staking out right by the embassy.’
The monster blocking his car bare-handed.
Reverse? Didn’t budge. Hunters’ terror hit bone-deep.
Ditched the car, ran. Expected capture any second, but instinct drove him.
‘Just reach the embassy…’
But hope ended there.
A man blocked the path.
“Tanaka-san. In such a hurry?”
“Gah!”
“Be good and spill, yeah?”
“S-Slayer…”
“Bingo. You know it. No running, right? Don’t make me ugly up your family. Let’s keep it civil.”
“I-I’m embassy staff. Harass me, it’s a diplomatic shitstorm.”
Tanaka squeezed out the threat, but the man blew on his pinky, ignoring him.
“Not even a diplomat, bluffing. Gambler like you? That cash filled your embezzled slush fund, yeah?”
“Th-that’s…”
“Knew it’d bite back, don’t eat it. Or gorge and burst. Pick a lane. Half-ass eat and bolt? This is you. Whatever. Just tell the Japanese Alliance you leaked Iga-jo intel—done.”
Tanaka hung his head. Face ashen, cold sweat, dizzy.
‘If that leaks… I’m dead.’
No choice.
The man closed in.
“Where are they?”
No words—Tanaka pulled a note from his pocket, handed it over.
Address scribbled inside.
“You cheap bastard. Ready to pay up, then tag at night? Haha!”
Grinning, he pocketed the note, tossed an envelope instead.
Tanaka caught it, staring between man and envelope.
“We ain’t butchers. Thought we’d kill ya? Embassy staff, like you said. Good deed deserves pay.”
Tanaka got it. “Keep cooperating.” A shackle.
The man turned without regret, exiting the alley. Phone to ear, he checked the note.
“Woo Byung-gi here. Tell Team Leader Sung—got the package location.”