TRGS 42

Chapter 42

In South Korea, there are a total of 10 S-rank hunters.

Not an insignificant number.

After the Great Cataclysm, the population had dropped drastically. Low birth rates also played a significant role.

Fortunately, the birth rate increased after the Cataclysm, but because so many had died back then, the immediate losses were still considerable.

In that sense, having as many as 10 S-rank hunters was excellent news.

Thanks to them, South Korea maintained a relatively high ranking of 13th among developed countries.

It was bad news, though, that China and Japan were competing for 2nd and 3rd place. But anyway…

S-rank hunters were extremely valuable assets. Considering that in other countries, some had even been granted power and essentially established their own kingdoms, their potential was limitless.

Among them, there were three hunters.

Seolgwi Baek Ah-rin, who was relatively active publicly, and Cheolgwi Hong Seok-cheon, who held the position of vice guild master in the Mir Guild.

“Surprising,” he thought.

Cheolgwi slowly relaxed his wrists.

Seolgwi… well. That was understandable.

As for stepping forward now?

As he said, it was clear she was already completely captivated.

What exactly had she been given?

Drugs? No.

S-rank hunters develop strong resistance to such substances. One pill wouldn’t make her fall so easily, and she didn’t seem like the type to have such abilities.

Han Yoo-jin.

A mere enhancement alchemist. His only merits were being a Reawakened and being handsome.

So why was someone like Han Yoo-jin being protected by these hunters?

Well, there must have been a reason. After all, she was a naturally weak person. If her tongue had been skillful, she might have been swayed easily.

It wasn’t for nothing that they had “tricked” the Dark Knight Guild into binding an S-rank hunter with a contract.

“A strong power comes with responsibility—but no need to actually uphold it if you don’t want to.”

A rigid, inflexible mindset like that.

In that sense, Kang Cheon-wook shouldn’t have died.

A scapegoat, a trash collector. Someone to sweep up useless things and support Baek Ah-rin’s contract by stepping forward.

It wasn’t for nothing that money had been spent researching “firewood” with no apparent potential.

But then rumors spread that he had been provoked and disappeared. When he rushed over, he even met Sword Ghost.

“….”
“….”
“….”

An awkward silence passed among the three S-rank hunters.

Sword Ghost slowly relaxed his shoulders.

At the movement, Cheolgwi instinctively brought his hand to his waist.

His mouth went dry. Even A-rank monsters couldn’t leave a scratch on him.

The memories that remained in his body made it impossible not to be tense.

Sword Ghost smirked.

“Don’t be so nervous, Hong Seok-cheon. I didn’t come here to fight you.”

“Who’s calling who nervous right now?”

Cheolgwi gritted his teeth. All of them had the suffix “-gwi” (鬼) after their names, marking their exceptional combat abilities.

Especially Cheolgwi.

He possessed the S-rank Iron Fist ability that hardened his entire body, and the S-rank skill Yukwangkwon, which sent a powerful shockwave to anyone his body touched—making him indispensable for raids.

He was on a completely different level from Sword Ghost, whose combat ability dropped drastically without a sword.

Actually, there was a time he had thought so.

“At that time, my ability was still A-rank. Do you think it’s the same now?”

“I think so.”
“….”

Among S-rank hunters, an unspoken hierarchy existed.

10th, Seolgwi Baek Ah-rin.

4th, Cheolgwi Hong Seok-cheon.

3rd, Sword Ghost Lee Chang-sik.

The clearest rank difference was between Cheolgwi and Sword Ghost.

They had awakened as hunters at the same time and had even fought a duel over distribution and hierarchy issues.

The winner—

“Is your shoulder that was cut back then okay?”

“…!”

Sword Ghost. Even though B-grid wasn’t used, with just a portable wooden sword, he had cut Cheolgwi’s shoulder.

An overwhelmingly strong power that could even break iron. Cheolgwi’s instinctive caution was not surprising.

The gap was overwhelming. Even if time had passed and their skills had changed.

“…It’s perfectly fine.”

Cheolgwi clenched his teeth but forced a smile.

“Thanks to you going MIA, I had plenty of time.”

“Really?”

Sword Ghost wasn’t particularly interested in him.

He was obsessed with swords. While he cared about victories, he wasn’t bound by past grudges.

The winner was Sword Ghost himself. If he had lost, maybe it would matter—but having won, there was no reason to dwell on it.

“Then step aside. I have to meet my friend.”

“…Friend? Kang Cheon-wook?”

“Who’s that?”
“….”

The Dark Knight Guild’s leader, an A-rank hunter, a well-known delinquent hunter… and he didn’t know them?

Cheolgwi was at a loss for words.

Sword Ghost, showing obvious annoyance, waved his hand.

“Don’t get in the way. My friend isn’t that… Kang-what’s-his-name guy.”

“What if I can’t step aside?”

At Cheolgwi’s words, the hunters stepped forward.

All A-rank hunters, at the very least upper B-rank. Cheolgwi’s strike team. Core forces of the Mir Guild.

Even facing them, Sword Ghost didn’t retreat.

The difference between A and S-rank was like heaven and earth.

“If you can’t step aside—”

Sword Ghost brought his hand to his waist.

The sword he normally carried was gone, replaced by a sword he had never seen before. Not particularly special in appearance.

Until he gripped it.

“The only way is to clear everything out.”

“…!”

Whoooosh!

A chilling wind blew.

The entire world turned black, and only Sword Ghost remained.

Cheolgwi’s jaw clenched in fear.

Skill: Sword Ghost.

The unique skill that had once split his shoulder.

A sword he had never heard of—how could he possess it?

‘Could he have gotten even stronger than back then?’

Then now, not just his arm—

“….”
“But I am a law-abiding citizen.”

Clack.

Sword Ghost sheathed the sword again. His intimidating aura vanished like a ghost.

The hunters gasped for air.

“I have no intention to kill. You can relax.”

Cheolgwi wiped his face, expression still tense.

‘He’s gotten stronger.’

And at the worst possible timing. The loss of a useful scapegoat would be problematic.

‘Now I can’t even touch Han Yoo-jin.’

A threat to Seolgwi. An obstacle to the Mir Guild’s goals. He had planned to deal with it, but Sword Ghost was apparently a “friend” with connections…

‘Who even is this guy?’

The question rose to his throat. He didn’t dare voice it.

In the end, Cheolgwi spun around.

“…Let’s stop here.”

“Good call.”
“But remember, I’ll show you just how valuable power and money are in this country.”

With that, Cheolgwi disappeared.

Once the black van left, Baek Ah-rin pondered his words.

“‘Show how valuable power and money are’—is he pressuring me?”

Entirely possible. The Mir Guild was like a conglomerate. One of the “Top 5 guilds,” after all.

A guild with power far beyond medium-sized guilds or companies.

Pressure would be no problem—especially for Yoo-jin, a D-rank hunter. Alone, she couldn’t act; even with some connections, it would be impossible.

Recently… if it weren’t for someone Yoo-jin met…

‘Did they plan this and involve the Guild Director?’

Ahn Hyo-seop.

Current Guild Director, interested in Baek Ah-rin’s position, and now paying attention to Yoo-jin.

Unlike depictions in other novels or comics, the Hunter Association was surprisingly useful. With Ahn Hyo-seop at the helm, the middle line of experienced hunters firmly supported the association.

“Hm.”

Sword Ghost scratched his chin.

“Should I have just killed them?”

“…But I thought you were law-abiding?”

“I am.”

“If I don’t get caught, it’s not illegal, right?”

“…Ah, yes.”

They had no prior friendship, this was their first conversation.

But he realized: this was no ordinary person.

The chosen approach: silence. Wise decision.

“By the way, still not coming out?”

“Not much time has passed since they went in.”

The black van arrived after the Guild Director had captured the Dark Knight Vice Guild Master waiting outside the dungeon. Roughly five hours had passed.

“Hm. Back then…”
‘You’re an S-rank hunter…’

No matter how impressive Yoo-jin was, it didn’t compare to an S-rank hunter.

Especially in this dungeon—a “trap dungeon.” Entry restrictions beyond the rank limit.

Of course, it was different…

Then—

Ruuuuuuuuh!

The dungeon entrance trembled violently.

Baek Ah-rin opened her eyes wide as she watched Yoo-jin emerge from the dungeon.

In his right hand, Kang Cheon-wook was being carried, looking emaciated.

Defeated an A-rank hunter in four hours?!

Even if time flowed differently in the dungeon, that was extreme.

While Baek Ah-rin was shocked, Sword Ghost nodded as if it were expected.

“You’re late.”

“Oh, you’re here?”

Yoo-jin wiped the soot from his cheek with the back of his hand.

“Thought you wouldn’t come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it after borrowing my precious sword. Return it if you’ve finished.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Sword Ghost’s face twisted. A complete contrast to his composure against Cheolgwi earlier.

“Who else came?”

“Cheolgwi came and left.”

Sword Ghost fixed his gaze on B-grid.

“He was targeting you.”

“I know. I acted accordingly. I thought Baek Ah-rin could handle it alone…”

“I could do it alone! Timing just overlapped.”

“I understand.”

Yoo-jin hadn’t said much, yet she looked intimidated.

…What’s this? Why the reaction like she didn’t expect anything?

“By the way, he was targeting you.”

Sword Ghost said indifferently.

“Want me to kill him?”

“No?”

Yoo-jin shook his head.

“I’m the one who will kill him.”

“….”

No hesitation? Baek Ah-rin was astonished.

Yoo-jin ignored her reaction as if it were routine.

“Hand him over if you’re done. I’ll even clean up if you want.”

“Oh, really? Then spread the word. Dark Knight Guild is disbanded as of today.”

“…Why me?”

“Otherwise, B-grid doesn’t get returned.”

Crazy. Sword Ghost’s face twisted a second time.

“Oh, and I can now do Level 2 Enhancement.”

“…The previous one?”

“That wasn’t stacked enhancement, just repeated. Totally different.”

“….”

Sword Ghost calmly accepted Kang Cheon-wook.

The boss was Yoo-jin. Couldn’t be helped. A rare enhancement alchemist.

“Oh, and…”

“?”

“Book a hotel for one night. I want to sleep in the suite alone.”

“….”

Yoo-jin woke up in the hotel suite feeling refreshed.

‘Ah, I’m saved.’

This was the world. Maybe turn on the news?

He did. As expected, the headline screamed:

The Guild Director and Sword Ghost’s collaboration captured the Vice Guild Master.

[S-rank hunter scammed by <Dark Knight> Guild—full disbandment!]