Chapter 80

Gate Management Office.

A young man in gleaming armor scowled.

“So why isn’t it allowed?”

The public official in charge of the B-rank Gate The Minotaur’s Labyrinth looked troubled.

“I already told you. Because of the fatal accident last week……”

“You think I don’t know that? What I’m saying is, why are you being so uptight with someone you know?”

“It’s a safety-inspection period. If you’re short on personnel, I can’t exactly approve your entry.”

The official was at his wit’s end.

Any Gate where a fatal accident occurred was subjected to a week of safety inspections. In other words, they raised the required number or level of personnel to prevent another accident. But the young man in front of him was being completely unreasonable.

“I put in a little extra this time. Good enough?”

“What is this!”

The official jumped at the white envelope the young man thrust out and glanced around in alarm. A new employee who had joined the office recently was staring at him with wide, round eyes.

“You—you can’t do this.”

“Can’t do what? You’ve been taking it just fine until now.”

“……”

“Being in charge of a Gate is supposed to have perks like this, right?”

At the young man’s blatant remark, the middle-aged official’s face flushed red. It wasn’t as if this was anything new, but what kind of disgrace was this in front of a new employee?

Still, the milk had already been spilled. His conscience grew thinner in proportion to the thickness of the white envelope.

“So……how is your team composed at the moment?”

“Ten, including me.”

“Ten?”

“Five B-ranks and five C-ranks. Why? Is there a problem?”

Of course there was. The Bucheon Terminal Guild, which had been involved in last week’s accident, had sent five B-rank Hunters and ten C-rank Hunters into the Gate. What happened to them had been plastered all over the front page of the local newspaper.

The Tragedy Brought on by a Shoddy Raid

Bucheon Terminal Guild Master to Cooperate Fully with Hunter Association Investigation

And now they were talking about ten people. Just as the official was hesitating—

“Hey, mister. Hold on.”

The young man’s menacing face had somehow acquired a smile.

“The numbers have to be roughly right anyway, don’t they?”

“Ah, yes. That works.”

“Then let’s take those guys along. Make it look good.”

The official followed the young man’s finger and turned his head. Five men and women had just entered the management office.

Two middle-aged men. Two young men. And……

One stunningly beautiful woman.

Judging by how the young man couldn’t take his eyes off her, his intentions were obvious.

“Good enough now?”

After quickly finishing his calculations, the official picked up the envelope.

“No problem.”

The middle-aged official kindly explained the situation to us.

It was currently a safety-inspection period, which meant that quite a few Guilds were experiencing delays in entering Gates. He even explained that with our current numbers, we would either have to hire mercenaries or join up with another Guild.

“You’re in luck. The people from Sangdong Guild are waiting, and they’re exactly five people short.”

“If we join them, how long will it take until we can enter the Gate?”

“We can process it immediately once you join.”

That worked great for us.

Team Leader Choi, who held the real decision-making power, nodded without objection.

“Then that sounds good.”

Just as Butler Kim, the Guild Master, signed the contract, an unexpected voice cut in.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Im Changsoo, the Team Leader from Sangdong Guild.”

His voice was smooth and easygoing, but his build was quite solid.

Unmistakable confidence radiated from him as he strode over.

Sangdong Guild was strong enough to justify it.

Sangdong Guild was one of the five leading mid-sized Guilds in the area around Bucheon, with more than twenty B-rank Hunters alone.

He looked to be in his late twenties at most, yet he was already a Team Leader. That wasn’t a position one could luck into over a game of cards.¹

This guy’s no pushover.

The Qi Sense I activated soon afterward changed my guess into certainty.

System

Level 65 — Im Changsoo

And yet, his name sounded familiar. Where had I heard it before?

While I was tilting my head, Butler Kim greeted him.

“Hello. I’m Kim Hwajong of Peace Guild.”

We called him Butler Kim, Uncle, Kim Hyung, and plenty of other things, and we knew he was only a figurehead Guild Master. But from an outsider’s perspective, it was obvious at a glance that he was the person in charge.

Im Changsoo answered with a bright smile.

“Ah, Peace Guild. I’ve heard the name quite a bit.”

Im Kkeokjeong and Miss Song, who were standing beside him, whispered to each other.

“Miss Song, how long has our Guild been around?”

“Hmm. About two weeks, I think?”

“Raids? Have we done many?”

“What are you talking about? We haven’t even started remodeling the Guild house. This is our first official raid.”

“……”

A B-rank Hunter could hear everything, no matter how quietly someone spoke. Im Changsoo’s head turned toward the two of them.

“And who are these people?”

“They’re Guild members.”

His gaze passed over the two of them—briefly over Im Kkeokjeong, then lingering a little longer on Miss Song.

“I see. I said something unnecessary, haha.”

“Not at all.”

“In any case, it seems fate brought us together. Since we’re on the same team now, I look forward to working with you.”

“All right, then. We’ll go change into our gear and be right back.”

“We’ll wait for you in front of the Gate.”

Team Leader Choi watched Im Changsoo’s back as he walked away, his gleaming chainmail clanking with every step. His face was serious.

“That man……”

“Is there a problem?”

“His equipment is limited edition. That stuff is incredibly hard to get.”

“……”

Oh. Right. It did look expensive.

Hunters were an enviable profession. Partly because they were guardians who had protected humanity from the Great Cataclysm……but mainly because they made a lot of money.

Even I made over 100 million won a year as a lowest-rank Hunter by working my ass off, so that said it all.

The problem was that they spent a lot, too.

The single biggest expense was equipment.

Magic Gems went into equipment as a matter of course, so no matter how carefully you considered cost-effectiveness, you couldn’t help but spend a fortune. On top of that, there were regular maintenance costs and repair fees whenever something broke.

The heartbreak was one thing. Your bank balance got ripped apart.

There was a reason equipment insurance existed.

In that regard, Team Leader Choi was the best employer ever.

He loaned us high-end equipment for free.

Rumble, rumble.

Team Leader Choi came into the changing room pulling a suitcase and called us over.

“I picked out decent equipment suited to each of your positions. Take one set each.”

It was a small suitcase, the sort you might use for a short trip. Im Kkeokjeong muttered in disappointment.

“Guess there isn’t one for me.”

The corners of Team Leader Choi’s mouth curled up.

“Of course there is. If you knew what this was, you’d be shocked……”

“Oh, this is a suitcase with a space-expansion spell on it.”

“……”

He had guessed it exactly.

My accurate prediction briefly wiped the smile off Team Leader Choi’s face. But he quickly composed himself and continued.

“That’s right. A space-expansion suitcase made by K Company. Nicholas, known as the greatest craftsman in North America……”

Clatter!

“Wow, it really is! Taekyung, look at this. It’s huge inside!”

“It is.”

“World-renowned designers also participated……”

“Wow, I’ve never seen anything like this before. I could probably sleep in here.”

“Once you close the suitcase, you won’t be able to get out until someone opens it.”

“Really?”

“This product keeps stored items in optimal condition through proper temperature control and ventilation at all times……”

Click, click.

“This is awesome. What do you think? Does it suit me?”

“It fits you perfectly. I thought it was a tailored suit.”

“You look good too. What’s that?”

“It says it’s a Black Drake Leather Set? No, it’s a leather set.”

“Really? If it’s Team Leader Choi’s, it must be good. Hahaha! Thanks, Team Leader Choi!”

“……Don’t mention it.”

Team Leader Choi had completely lost the will to fight by then and changed into his equipment without another word. I checked each piece of equipment I was wearing.

Item Check.

Ding.

System

Item Window

Masterwork Black Drake Leather Set

Type: Armor
Grade: Peak
Description: An armor set made from the leather of the B-rank monster Black Drake. You can feel the hand of a superb craftsman in it.

Effect: Strength, Stamina, Agility, Toughness +10

— Full Set Effect is active.

Item Window

Masterwork Black Thorn Spear

Type: Spear
Grade: Peak
Description: A spear made from the spine of the B-rank monster Black Drake. It is extremely hard and sharp. You can feel the hand of a superb craftsman in it.

Effect: Upon hitting an enemy, Bleeding activates with a 90% chance.

After checking them, I had exactly one thought.

This is insane.

An armor set that gave me forty points simply by wearing it, plus a spear that could kill an enemy from massive blood loss with nearly every stab.

The item information alone made it clear how incredible the effects were.

So this is what gear advantage feels like.

When I suddenly remembered my time in Murim, tears clouded my vision.

Armor, my ass.

I had fought in soft scraps of cloth and broken dozens of cheap spears. The people of Murim were the very definition of hard-boiled—the real tough guys.

“Maybe it’s because it’s designer gear, but it feels different right away.”

I turned my head and saw Im Kkeokjeong hopping up and down in place, his face flushed with excitement.

“It’s incredibly light, and I feel like my body’s faster too. Is it just my imagination?”

“I doubt it.”

There was no way it was just his imagination. Team Leader Choi had prepared this equipment specifically for Im Kkeokjeong, a D-rank Hunter. Of course it was good.

Should I take a quick look?

Just as I was about to place my hand on the full plate armor Im Kkeokjeong was wearing, Team Leader Choi approached us, already fully equipped.

“If you’re ready, let’s head out.”

“What about Butler Kim?”

“Out here, he’s the Guild Master.”

At Team Leader Choi’s pointed correction, Butler Kim chuckled.

“It’s fine. Besides……I’m always wearing my equipment.”

As he spoke, he unbuttoned his suit jacket, revealing bracelets on both wrists and a necklace. They were not ordinary accessories, of course.

The necklace was set with a Magic Gem, and the bracelets were etched with strange yet beautiful patterns.

“An artifact?”

“This is more convenient than a staff.”

Butler Kim answered modestly, but it was rare to see a mage dressed so lightly. Most carried at least some light armor or a staff for self-defense to improve their chances of survival.

He’s probably not an ordinary mage.

Everyone deferred to anyone who came out of Ares Guild.

I suddenly found myself curious about Butler Kim’s past, but the question was wiped clean from my mind the next moment.

Knock, knock.

“Hey, guys. Are you still not done?”

“Ah, we’re ready.”

It was Miss Song’s voice from outside the changing room. As soon as Team Leader Choi answered, the door opened a crack.

“Hurry up. People will be waiting.”

“Whoa.”

Her long, straight hair was tied tightly up, and she was wearing light leather armor. I swallowed a startled breath at the sight of her.

Can a person really be this beautiful?

It wasn’t just love making me see her through rose-colored glasses. That was simply the truth. I knew that much just from seeing Im Kkeokjeong, who had treated her like a cute niece until now, swallow hard.

Gulp.

“……”

I’d better keep an eye on this guy.

If even Im Kkeokjeong was reacting like this, the other guys would be no exception. Any young man who seemed even moderately capable would come crawling out by the truckload to hit on her.

Take Im Changsoo, for example. Im Changsoo, say. Or maybe Im Changsoo……

Im Changsoo. The young Team Leader from Sangdong Guild.

His face had been hovering in my mind since earlier.

I was sure I’d never seen him before.

And yet……why was he bothering me so much? Was it because that punk seemed interested in Miss Song?

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming out?”

“Ah, yes.”

My thoughts were cut short. At Im Kkeokjeong’s urging, I hurried out of the changing room.