Why Does It Feel Like They're Always Holding Me Back?
Upu Mangbau.
In the local African language, it means "the one that kills small animals."
Since it was first discovered in Africa, it was registered under the Unknown naming convention with the name given by the discoverer or subjugator.
Originally, Upu Mangbau referred to a bird from the stork family distributed across Africa. The Korean name is shoe-billed stork, and the English is shoebill.
A prime example of the stork family is the pelican. This monster had a similar beak. It possessed a bird-like body and enormous wings used like hands, but its beak was incomparably tough and rigid compared to a pelican's.
Its appearance readily evoked the shoe-billed stork, so in Africa, it was called Upu Mangbau.
But the real reason this monster was named Upu Mangbau was something else.
"It literally attacks and devours anything smaller than itself. Even when stuffed full, if a small lifeform is nearby, it kills it first and stores it under its jaw to eat later. That instinct is so absolute it's practically a law—no exceptions."
The Upu Mangbau stood 5 meters tall. The world was teeming with lifeforms smaller than that.
Especially humans.
An Upu Mangbau dropping into a city was pure terror. Everything in sight was potential food.
"Hunting it isn't hard. Pure combat power? Maybe 3 to 4 stars at best. But subjugation difficulty is sky-high. Way worse if it's inside a city."
Joo Se-ah had never hunted one herself—they were too rare—but she'd seen footage. And she knew the aftermath of successful kills.
"I saw it in Association files too. Every hit spews massive poison gas? And when it dies, the body explodes, poisoning dozens of kilometers of land. Touch it wrong, and it's uninhabitable for decades."
"Hunters with mana can endure some, but civilians drop dead from the toxicity. Best to block it before the city, but once it's in, you can't just hunt recklessly. Makes sense why Vladivostok's top guild won't touch it."
Kang Moo-hyuk peered back at the files.
A monster that had flowed in from the "Northeast Three Provinces," known as Makyung.
If the Upu Mangbau had pushed east instead of south, it might have set foot on the Korean Peninsula.
"So how do you plan to take it down? With one person?"
"Hunting needs one, but total two including support."
"One or two, same shit. Like I said, even I can't just poke it because of the poison. Unless you're ditching Vladivostok."
"These files say Vladivostok's Char Guild prepped a confinement site. Top-grade seal to block poison spread for safe subjugation."
"Lure it there? Sorry, that's a no-go. Once it nests, it sticks like glue. Can't force it—might spew poison. That's why Char can't raid."
"There's a way. Char knows it too. Just can't use it."
"Know it but can't?"
Joo Se-ah scowled. A method exists, but no try? Didn't compute.
"Because the key is Igor."
Joo Se-ah instantly knew who.
Russia's flagship S-rank hunter.
Igor Dudnik.
Strong as hell, arrogant as sin, brutal to match.
Tyrant fit him like a glove.
He stirred shit everywhere; without government cover, he'd be a villain by now. Total loose cannon.
"Yeah, can't beg that psycho."
"Not the psycho part. Igor's guild wants Vladivostok. Char can't let him in."
Politics from here.
Even a "psycho" S-rank with state backing couldn't buck the system.
Russia locked down guild city entries tight. No reason, no dice.
But Upu Mangbau raid pretext? Instant foothold in Vladivostok.
Char's monopoly? They'd kill to avoid that.
"Hold up. If only Igor can... no fucking way?"
Joo Se-ah's eyes bugged out thinking of Igor. Vaguely guessed Kang's method.
"Yep. His trait. And we've got someone similar in guild."
"Why the hell do I gotta go to Russia?"
"C'mon, it's a vacay. Think of it that way, Yeom Team Leader."
Pyo Beom-hee clapped post-immigration Yeom Soo-hyung's shoulder. He still looked baffled.
Yeom griped nonstop, unconvinced.
Pyo soothed, parked him in a corner seat, called Kang Moo-hyuk.
"Yo, Leader Kang. Plane's wheels up soon."
-Yeom Team Leader's Gigant to stage 2 max. Calc says bit bigger than Upu Mangbau. Berserk? Subdue ASAP.
"Won't that tank the test?"
-Fail's fine. Priority one's safe return.
"Roger. Safe evac mission alpha."
Pyo nodded, double-checked uneasy.
"But really no attack if bigger? Wrong, and we're fucked. Federation gig—blow it, Russians could screw us."
-Confirmed: wrecks small structures, spares skyscrapers.
"Monster with real estate sense?"
-……
Kang went quiet, then:
-No value-savvy monsters on record...
"Kidding. Kidding. Didn't buy it, right?"
-Joke? Pondered cases hard. Anyway, proven method.
"Yeah? Missed it. Unique monster AV training."
-Not public details. But inferable.
"What sleuth shit. Spill."
-First kill: shaman. Africa's hotshot hunter.
Africa? Hunters hid identities; few known. Pyo named one.
"Kwabena?"
-Yes.
Tuesday's Man.
No big meaning. Awakened Tuesday, Ghana-style rename for Tuesday-born.
Normality + shaman gig? Instant fame paradox.
"Kwabena why?"
-Shaman class has Gigant-like skill.
"Shaman skill... Earth Giant?"
-Bingo. Lured, killed Upu Mangbau with it.
Pyo spotted flaw.
"Not solid? Africa sparse pop. Wasteland kill maybe."
-Checked. Unknown Kwabena site, but follow-ups. Second/third Upu Mangbau hunts?
"Duh. Casualties galore. Easy kills, poison nuked a town. Training vid."
-Fourth: win. UK.
"So?"
-Kwabena Ghanaian. Ex-Brit colony, Commonwealth. Hunter ties tight. UK killer: Sir Tristan.
"Euro giant too?"
-Buddies with Kwabena. Easy intel vs. prior fails. Name meaning hints strategy.
"Fine. Sold. Catch the bastard."
-Fail? Cleanup as discussed.
"No guarantees."
-Then bail hands-up.
"Talk cheap. Gotcha. Ping on arrival issues."
Pyo wrapping up.
Dazed Yeom overheard Kang, snatched phone.
"Orcs last, yeah?"
-Never said. Wouldn't block boredom.
"Said, still hunt-pushing?"
-You skipped. Steady Gigant drills? Return-ready.
Yeom glared Pyo. Leaked secret practice—helper snitched. Pyo whistled away.
Kang:
-No frontline. Stage 2, lure to Char pen, done. Better reason hold.
"Sigh. Job's job. City's doomed otherwise."
-Return: salary talk. Welcome back.
Yeom chucked phone pissy.
"Yah! Gramps, mine!"
"Caught fine."
"Wow, denies own."
"Blabber better quiet."
"Aigoo, new phone easy. Haha."
> Announcement: Passengers for Russian Air 5437, please board.
Boarding call. Pyo ears perked fishhook-style, bolted.
"Time's up. Move!"
Yeom sighed, trailed.
"Why does it feel like they're always holding me back."
Urgents done, Kang checked watch.
'6 PM. Two hours—Vladivostok by now.'
Federation rep'd guide Yeom, Pyo.
'Guide or grade.'
Failure-okay test? Process eval, Kang figured.
Ring-a-ding!
Rare direct line blared.
Kang braced, answered.
"Kang Moo-hyuk."
-Kim Myeong-jun. Fun shit, calling.
"Not fun line."
-Ease up. Slayer stuff.
"Iga-jo clash?"
-Knew? Slayer mobilizing. Iga-jo hit.
Kang eye-twitch at Kim's shock.
'Too fast?'
Top Korean guild, sure—but elite Jap hit squad.
Disguise pros, hideout wizards.
"Where?"
-Free premium intel?
"Not clueless?"
-Aigoo, cheap bite? Ego no sellout.
"Prepping Slayer leaks. They'll hunt source. True/false vet. No clue what spills."
-Threats for kicks now?
Kang mute. Dead air ticked.
Kim held grudge, but needed—caved.
"Fuck, no free lunch. Mess mine. Address—flex, Leader Kang."
Call cut, Kang eyed Kim's spot. Not Mr. Jo's. Dialed Mr. Jo.
-What now?
"Address incoming. Watch."
-Which?
"Slayer ambushing Iga-jo."