TOP 17

Chapter 17 – Geum Yang-tae

“Son of a…!”

A lone man stood clenching his fists, staring at the dungeon entrance where everyone else had already gone in.

“How dare they ignore me?”

His name was Geum Yang-tae, leader of the Hyunwoong Clan’s Hunter Team 3.

And the people who had entered the dungeon without him?
They were his own subordinates—Team 3.

Among them, one in particular rubbed him the wrong way.

“…Kim Yoo-jin, wasn’t it?”

An utterly shameless parachute hire who suddenly appeared yesterday and somehow snagged the position of vice-leader.

And that punk didn’t show even the slightest hint of respect toward him, the team leader.

“Tch. You pull something like this while I’m not around?”

He had been on sick leave for a while.

During that time, the new vice-leader had completely taken control of Team 3.

Of course, the truth was he hadn’t been all that sick—he just didn’t feel like participating in a dungeon break defense battle and faked it.

‘So what?’

That wasn’t important.

The only thing that mattered was that this vice-leader guy was seriously pissing him off.

“Good thing I came today, damn it.”

Yesterday, while lounging around uselessly, he had gotten a call from a close junior.

‘Hyung Yang-tae.’
‘What?’
‘They’ve got a new vice-leader in Team 3.’
‘What!? What the hell are you talking about?’
‘I think Ji Hyun-woong’s getting ready to kick you out… Don’t you think you should come check it out?’
‘Shit.’

The news that someone was threatening his position was serious.

He had lucked into awakening as a 3-star Hunter and had been enjoying the easy life in Hyunwoong Clan, but this meant that honey pot might disappear.

So the next day, he came running to the dungeon.

He’d almost been late because he overslept… but at least he made it on time.

However, what greeted him there was outright disdain and contempt.

“They dare insult me like this….”

His hands trembled, and his heart pounded.

He couldn’t stand it.

Geum Yang-tae glared at the dungeon entrance, his eyes full of rage.

“I’m going to crush that bastard.”

There was no way he was letting this slide.

His pride as both “Team Leader” and a “3-star Hunter” wouldn’t allow it.

The problem was how to do it.

“Tch. If I mess up and get caught, I really might get kicked out this time…”

Lately, Ji Hyun-woong’s gaze toward him had been far from friendly.

Sure, he was still team leader because of his 3-star rank, but the position wasn’t stable at all.

If he wanted to keep enjoying the perks, he had to play it safe.

Just then—

Doo-doong-tak!

His smartphone buzzed with a notification.

“What now?”

He carefully took out his phone.

He had gone into debt to buy it, so he handled it like it was made of glass.

The alert was from a group chat—one with the seniors he looked up to.

– If anyone spots this bastard, report it immediately.
– Who is it?
– Some porter who awakened recently while he was with Gwangcheol Clan. If you catch him, there’ll be a reward.
– Oh… Can we get a spot in Gwangcheol Clan if we bring him in?
– Do you even have to ask? Hell yes. Just bring him!

The chat was buzzing—apparently, a porter had gotten lucky and awakened, then caused a ruckus before leaving Gwangcheol Clan.

And Geum Yang-tae realized something.

“…Wait, isn’t that the guy?”

The one Gwangcheol Clan was desperately hunting for was the very same vice-leader he wanted revenge on.

After thinking for a moment, a smile curled across his lips.

“Heaven must be helping me. Heh-heh-heh.”

If he attacked Kim Yoo-jin recklessly, he might get fired from Hyunwoong Clan.

But if he caught him and handed him over to Gwangcheol Clan?

He might even land a better position.

“Perfect. I’ve never liked Hyunwoong Clan’s hypocritical crap anyway—time to switch to Gwangcheol.”

In fact, Gwangcheol Clan was where he had originally wanted to go.

They were much more free and power-oriented than the holier-than-thou Hyunwoong Clan.

“And he’s only awakened recently? Must be weak as hell. Heh-heh.”

It was a golden opportunity.

“Guess I’ll finally put my skills to use.”

Geum Yang-tae activated his special ability—Camouflage.

His body blended naturally into his surroundings, his presence fading away.

“I’ll make him pay for humiliating me.”

Disappearing from sight, Geum Yang-tae stepped into the dungeon—dreaming of a brighter future.

[The rest of the chapter follows Kim Yoo-jin’s POV]

(Dungeon battles with the armadillo-like “Kundilo” monsters, Yoo-jin’s interaction with the team, hints about his inability to use aura, the sudden appearance of the Kundilo boss, his use of the “One Punch” authority skill to defeat it, sending his team away, and finally confronting the hiding Geum Yang-tae—who promptly trips on a vine and embarrasses himself.)