18 – “Just Get Out All at Once”
In front of the guild headquarters building, there were seemingly dozens of employees gathered.
However, despite the large number of people present, the only sound filling the space was the quiet hum of the car engine that the representative had arrived in.
Startled by the sight of Team Leader Choi Sungil lying on the ground and cursing, the representative, Lee Kangcheol, jumped out of the car and quickly regained his composure, scanning the surroundings.
Shattered glass windows, revolving doors that barely resembled their original form, fragments that were likely once planters, and statues missing their upper halves.
It was only natural to assume that a typhoon or earthquake had swept through.
It should have been natural, but…
In the eyes of Lee Kangcheol, the fallen guild members on the ground came into view.
Their bodies were full of traces of fierce battles.
“Team Leader Yu Hongman…”
Not far from Team Leader Choi Sungil, Team Leader Yu Hongman was also lying unconscious. Except for the three A-rank hunters who were moving individually, these two team leaders were the flagship power of Ares Guild, worthy of being called the representative forces.
Powerful hunters who had survived numerous gate invasions.
The fallen hunters were not just the two of them.
The twelve members of Team 1 and Team 2 they led were all pinned to the ground.
“A-rank… and not just any A-rank, but individuals from a group with countless combat experiences, very powerful Black Hunters.”
President Lee Kangcheon’s eyes narrowed.
It was an event he had anticipated, something they would eventually face.
“The heart of the Blue Dragon Exel… word got out that we have it.”
Black Hunters, feared by society.
Terrifying beings who ignored laws and morals, using the power of awakened individuals solely to satisfy their own desires.
It was clear that one of these Black Hunter groups had information about the heart of Exel being inside the Ares Guild headquarters.
They knew that these Black Hunters would forcefully invade, even a large guild like Ares, to obtain Exel’s heart.
The decision to divide the Gate Raid teams into five and ensure at least two teams remained in the headquarters was made for this very reason.
But now, President Lee blamed his own complacency.
He should have considered the possibility that both teams could be defeated.
But how could he have anticipated such a scenario?
Teams that had faced powerful C-rank gates, defeated formidable monsters, and yet, not a single member had died.
Ares Guild’s Gate Raid Team 1 and Team 2 were more powerful than most small and medium-sized guilds.
Even with such strength left behind every time, if the headquarters building could be breached, it meant an unstoppable force was at play.
“If even one of the A-rank trio was present, it might have been different…”
A sigh of regret escaped President Lee Kangcheon’s lips.
Then, he lifted his head from the injured personnel and scanned the enemy, chasing after the culprits in the midst of the silent tension.
Within the profound stillness, all the employees’ eyes were fixed on one spot, making it easy for the president to face this threat.
Not threats.
Just one person.
There was a woman standing not far away, observing him from a distance, likely an ally of that man. President Lee understood this much.
“That guy faced all of this alone.
And now…
The gaze of all the standing employees was strange.
As the representative came in a state of chaos, no one seemed to notice.
With something this big happening, shouldn’t anyone come to explain the situation or report it?
But it seemed like no one even noticed the appearance of the CEO.
Their eyes were like those of a young child who had been spellbound by a strange magic.
It was not fear, anger, or terror, but reverence that was contained in their eyes.
Just as the CEO was about to think that he should grab someone and ask about the situation, he broke the long silence.
“No, don’t come out one by one… B-grade or C-grade, come out together!!”
***
– It’s too cold outside, why are you always out without resting…
– Watching Kang Daehyup train is enjoyable.
– Why? Is it amusing in a weird way? People who have been practicing martial arts since they were kids, unlike us who’ve been eating junk food and learning martial arts, are different?
– No, it’s not like that at all. Kang Daehyup’s movements are… interesting! It’s something you can never feel from those who learned martial arts the traditional way… It’s difficult to explain, but there’s something about him that makes it impossible to take your eyes off.
Spring, summer, autumn, winter
From Noble mtl dot com
Every day of mine was training, and Yeonhwa was with me every day.
Whether it rained, snowed, or the wind blew…
If you were to ask me what I did today, I would say that I trained,
And if you were to ask her what she did today, she would say that she watched me.
***
“I’m not as strong as Team Leader Choi Sungil, but I’m also a combat-type hunter in the unarmed combat category. I’ll challenge it too.”
“No… no… it’s not the time for challenging or anything…”
Jihun, who didn’t forget his manners even as he applauded.
I don’t know if he felt awkward when dealing with someone who knows etiquette.
“I also have skills optimized for the unarmed combat category. Among unarmed combat category hunters…”
“No… I’m a swordsman… I came here in a hurry and left my sword behind…”
The guild members, who didn’t let their guard down until Jihun subdued the four team members who came running after breaking this and that at first and defeating Yoo Hongman, gradually changed their eyes when Jihun instructed them to fight only the ones willing to fight.
And then the battle between Jihun and Team Leader Choi Sungil in Hwarangjeon.
As I followed every move of Choi Seong-il, the leader of the Ares Guild who boasted the highest speed, everyone was left speechless when I grabbed his face with one hand and slammed it onto the ground.
An unstoppable force.
Not only the combat guild members, but even the regular employees who handled office work within the guild could not help but be amazed at his agility.
He wasn’t using any magic power.
Using magic power and skills is what hunters do.
When magic-based hunters as well as unarmed hunters use magic power to use skills, it becomes a display of a power that is not inherent to humans, but rather some other alien force.
However, Jin-hoon, as he is now, is showing a different side.
Because people are not aware that his inner strength is present, his movements are like those of a human from a time when awakening did not exist. It seems as if something has pushed him to the limit.
“Please, instead of one by one, come at me all together. We didn’t come here to practice sparring!!”
Contrary to what he had suddenly thought, Jin-hoon spoke in a bewildered manner.
When he first arrived at the Ares Guild, his intention was to show that he could break anything just by himself, even if it meant proving that he had touched the wrong person.
Even when fighting against Team Leader Yu Hong-man, it was fun, but he hadn’t lost sight of his original purpose.
However, at some point, they started coming out one by one, of their own accord.
If they ran at him like Yu Hong-man’s team members, cursing and attacking ignorantly, he would truly appreciate it…
But coming out one by one like this, isn’t this turning into a duel on a map?
“Aren’t you a Black Hunter?”
The quiet voice of the CEO, Lee Kang-chun, who Jin-hoon had thought muttered, reached the ears of several people.
“Sir?”
“When did you arrive, sir?”
“I don’t know, maybe the CEO was also observing.”
The guild members and employees who belatedly noticed him began to buzz.
CEO Lee Kang-chun walked through the crowd and headed towards Jin-hoon.
“Hello. I am Lee Kang-chun, the CEO of the Ares Guild.”
“Um… formal speech…”
“Huh?”
“Oh… no, it’s nothing. I’m just a rookie from the Academy, Kang Ji-hoon.”
“Oh, an Academy… then I should call you Hunter.”
“Oh… yes… sure…”
“Hunter, why have you come to our guild? Are you looking for something or someone?”
“I came to find someone.”
“People? This… No, you didn’t come looking for something else, did you?”
“Something else? Did you hide something good, Eg?”
Embarrassed, Eg Kangcheon was greatly taken aback by Jihun’s remarks, but inwardly, he silently cheered for relief.
“Oh, no… hahahahaha… If you’re looking for a person, maybe…”
“Do… Do… Do…”
“Do Woonhyuk! I’m here to find a person named Do Woonhyuk!”
Jihun, repeatedly uttering ‘Do’ in frustration, hurriedly intervened from the side.
Upon hearing the name Do Woonhyuk, the representative, Eg Kangcheon, immediately furrowed his brows, lost in thought for a moment, and then spoke again.
“You must be here for something good…”
“Yes, as you can see…”
Jihun wore an apologetic expression and glanced around.
As the broken things and the people lying down caught his eye, he turned his head to look at the distant mountains.
“Come in, have a cup of tea, and let’s talk.”
Following Eg Kangcheon’s lead, Jihun and Sojeong entered the building.
There was no revolving door or glass window, just a stark entrance waiting for them.