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Chapter 38
Head of the Korean Hunter Association.
Once an A-rank hunter in his prime, he became head of the association at once, an irregular rise due to his accomplishments.
At this point, he would be highly interested in Baek Arin’s whereabouts.
Yujin set down his cup.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Han Yujin.”
“…I’m An Hyo-seop, head of the Hunter Association.”
The head adjusted his glasses.
A stiff and by-the-book appearance.
His eyes looked small, perhaps because of the thick glasses.
So much so that they seemed like narrow slits.
At a glance, he could even look like a mastermind behind the scenes.
For Yujin, who knew the original story, it didn’t seem that way.
‘Not bad.’
He was the person who could provide the most help regarding Baek Arin’s current situation.
And the reason was simple…
The head’s aversion to villains.
Additionally, Baek Arin was a rare S-rank hunter.
A “reawakened” hunter who inspired hope even in lower-ranked hunters.
Naturally, he would value her.
“So, why did you call me here?”
The head glanced at his watch.
“I have ten minutes of free time. I hope to get to the point within that.”
Heh.
Yujin let out a small laugh.
The head frowned at the inscrutable smile.
“…What’s so funny?”
“You’re not the one who would want anything here, after all.”
Yujin leaned back into the chair of the café.
It reclined far back—what a fancy chair!
“It’s not me; you have business with me.”
“…What do you mean…”
“Baek Arin.”
The head’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Aren’t you curious about her whereabouts?”
“…I’m the head of the Korean Hunter Association. I don’t favor anyone.”
“Then you shouldn’t have come here at all.”
Really indifferent?
He could simply ignore Yujin’s request.
Although she was a reawakened hunter, having the title alone didn’t obligate a meeting.
Yujin was D-rank—no immediate hope.
So why did he come?
To see Baek Arin.
Currently, she was holding hands with Yujin and had openly left the Dark Knight Guild—an S-rank hunter.
“…Looks like your free time just increased to thirty minutes.”
The head clicked his tongue, clearly taken aback.
He tapped his smartwatch.
“Alright. Where shall we talk? Where is Baek Arin now?”
“At a hotel.”
Safe places were rare.
The studio apartment was too cheap, poorly soundproofed, and easy to peek in.
Any accident could quickly escalate.
The hotel was relatively safe.
If you had money, both lodging and meals were solved.
“Baek Arin expressed her gratitude separately. She received quite a bit of money as a result, especially from the Korean Association.”
The Korean Association wasn’t a corrupt organization as one might think.
To be exact, the top was corrupt, but there were many talented people underneath, like the head.
They probably considered rooting out fraud contracts a top priority.
Naturally, they would have taken care of Baek Arin first.
Not seeing it as a big deal.
“She only received a fair payment.”
“And that allowed her to stay in a good hotel. That’s certainly a good thing.”
Thanks to that, I was well too.
No need to say it out loud; it wasn’t necessary.
“So, what do you want to say?”
“That I hope you continue helping her from now on.”
“From now on? You must be thinking about what comes after the Dark Knight Guild conflict.”
“Yes.”
Yujin slid out a business card he had prepared in advance.
A plain card with just his name—no guild name yet.
It wasn’t the right time.
Naming the guild would come once the Sword Ghosts were assembled.
Two S-rank hunters in total—he planned to recruit them into his guild.
“I’m planning to establish a guild.”
“…Huh.”
The head was stunned, adjusting his glasses in disbelief.
“Establish a guild? You?”
Setting up a guild wasn’t difficult in itself.
Minimum requirements were enough.
Sometimes, too much money could even bypass those minimum requirements.
But Yujin?
Does he have money? No.
Exceptional ability? No.
Maybe above average, but nothing more.
And yet, planning a guild after fighting the Dark Knight Guild?
All sorts of guilds would be watching.
Not just guilds—corporations, mid-sized companies, even smaller businesses.
The Dark Knight Guild, precisely those gangs, would try to interfere.
It made no sense.
“I thought you were smart, but you’re just dreaming.”
The head clicked his tongue.
The Dark Knight Guild.
As a gang-run guild, it involved numerous complicated interests.
Money and connections.
Sometimes in the hunter era, strength takes precedence over law.
Whenever that happened, the Dark Knight Guild stepped in—essentially a favorite hunting dog, hard to discard.
The Hunter Association had ignored them for a reason.
Better not to touch them.
So unless it was a huge crime, they were left alone.
All while waiting for someone to cross the line, like Baek Arin’s contract.
And Yujin had ruined all that.
The head tapped the café table with his fingers.
“Do you understand what your actions could lead to?”
“Of course.”
Yujin knew full well the consequences.
A regressor and a veteran—having both was an enormous advantage. Yujin was both.
“You’ve entangled the five major guilds, like the Mir Guild.”
“…!”
The head’s eyes widened.
The Mir Guild.
One of Korea’s five major guilds, but a problem child with too many issues.
Few people knew about this.
Mir Guild was just that massive.
Especially in the hunter industry, their influence was strong.
Even though big companies have been trying to encroach, they remain one of the top guilds.
Naturally, such information was strictly hidden.
But how did you find out?
“I have my ways. Asking won’t get you an answer anyway.”
“…Baek Arin—”
“Do you think Baek Arin knows such things?”
“….”
Despite being S-rank, Baek Arin was naive about the world.
Reawakened hunters tend to be like that.
A sudden change in environment.
Time needed to adapt. All skipped forcibly.
Before finding a way to support him, he’d get entangled in all sorts of filth.
Solution?
There’s only one.
Policy.
A group that no one can intervene in.
Or one with absolute power.
“…There’s only one way, huh.”
There was indeed another method.
Villains.
The head stared at Yujin.
“If you had worked with villains to obtain information, that would be different.”
Villains—those who don’t wish for dungeon closures.
The standard definition.
Lately, the number of villains had been rising exponentially.
The existence of dungeons meant they could rule by force.
Why waste such opportunities?
Thus, villains were classified into two types: opposing dungeon closures or committing major crimes.
“Which villains approached you?”
“I didn’t think I’d attract their attention yet.”
True—too insignificant in size, no major crimes, no dramatic rise.
Villains these days are well-fed, after all.
“Fortunately, none. I have no intention of becoming a villain.”
Yujin stared into the head’s eyes.
“My goal is dungeon closure.”
More precisely, to conquer this world and return to Earth.
“No intention of deviating from that.”
“…A futile dream.”
Yet he smiled faintly, seemingly pleased.
“A satisfactory answer.”
The head gave a faint smile, as if he had never doubted him.
“You and Baek Arin—if you don’t become villains, that’s enough.”
“No plans to, so don’t worry. It’s been twenty minutes already—will you allow more time?”
“Of course.”
Time no longer mattered.
A reawakened hunter who refuses villainy.
A rare talent aware of major guild tyranny.
Even if weak, it would work.
The head was convinced.
“Speak what you wish for.”
“I will destroy the Dark Knight Guild and form a new one. I’ve already chosen my next recruit.”
“Who?”
“Sword Ghost.”
“…Sword Ghost?”
Better known by this alias than his real name, an S-rank hunter obsessed with swords.
Now strong enough for rank 2, it was time to call him again.
Perhaps he would fight alongside them as well.
‘Ah.’
Wonder if he met Seo Hye-won yet?
For Sword Ghost, swords were his entire life.
Finally, that was fixed.
Gradually being liberated.
No problems now.
Problem…
“Hmm.”
Sword Ghost stared at his phone.
Thinking about sword techniques was clearer than now.
Now, his mind felt clogged, as if with mud.
‘Can’t even bring myself to contact her again.’
The second most important person in his life.
A childhood friend and fellow student, Seo Hye-won. He couldn’t bring himself to reach out.
How long had he been gone? Ignored every call with excuses.
Wouldn’t be surprising to get slapped.
‘Should I apologize first?’
No, that’d be weird too.
Just a childhood friend. Not even that close. Apologizing out of nowhere?
Not like a ghosting breakup.
“Hmm…”
Maybe just say “long time no see”?
He stretched out his trembling hand.
Then—
Ding!
The phone rang.
Sword Ghost checked it anxiously, face slightly pale.
Han Yujin.
The crazy guy who can’t even find his way home.
Why from him?
“…What is it?”
-Did you contact Seo Hye-won?
“How did you meet Hye-won?”
-Ran into her at the association by chance.
As expected, he hadn’t met her.
Yujin sighed on the other end.
This idiot!
An S-rank hunter, really. Unbelievable.
Well, whatever. Could happen.
Unfortunately, some things can’t be strengthened.
-Forget that, just help me with one thing.
“What is it?”
-I need to borrow your name value.
“…Name?”
Why suddenly?
Sword Ghost stared at the phone.
Few encounters, but he wasn’t ordinary.
The sudden request made it clear.
Then came the real statement.
-Today, I’m going to kill an A-rank hunter.
Truly insane.
-But I can’t do it alone. If I die here, your future guild disappears too.
“…Future guild, my foot—”
-So, that sword.
Yujin’s invisible gaze fell on Bigreed.
-Let me borrow it for a while.
