The hunter industry's morning began with a sensational story. Breaking news erupted that Oh Changseok, Strategic Director of the Sun Guild—once a pillar of the industry—had absconded overseas with the guild's core slush funds and classified documents.
The scale was far too large for a simple embezzlement case, and above all, people marveled at the flawless disappearance that left not a single trace. The front of the Sun Guild headquarters descended into chaos, crowded with reporters demanding answers and guild members reeling from betrayal.
"My goodness, who knew Director Oh Changseok had it in him? Then again, he always was a greedy sort."
Glancing at the television screen, Somyeong sat at the dining table and calmly scooped up a spoonful of rice. Beside him, Jina was staring holes into the news broadcast, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Oppa, that man tormented our guild like crazy. And now he just runs off, just like that? Thanks to him, the mood at our guild is a total festival. The nuisance is gone."
"So it goes. You never know what tomorrow holds for a person."
Somyeong spooned up his soybean paste stew with a face that knew nothing. Oh Changseok's body had already vanished into the dew of Bukhansan, and the memories of his greed sat refined and catalogued in Somyeong's mind. All that remained for the Sun Guild now was to collapse on its own from internal strife.
Jina set down her chopsticks with a determined expression.
"Oppa, I got assigned a really important mission today. A Gate the Sun Guild bastards were claiming occupancy rights over got transferred to our guild. And I've been placed as a core member of the raid team."
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"Don't worry! You know how strong I've gotten lately. If this raid succeeds, I might actually get promoted to A-rank."
Jina's eyes sparkled with hope. Somyeong reached out to stroke his sister's head, then stopped his hand and simply smiled.
"All right. Just be careful. Call your brother if you need a porter."
"Obviously! Who else would I trust but you? Hurry up and get ready. This Gate is pretty deep, so there'll be a lot to carry."
Somyeong quietly rose and packed his enormous backpack. It was time to protect his sister's brilliant future as an ordinary F-rank porter.
***
The entrance to a B-rank Gate on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province. The White Tiger Guild's elite personnel gathered around the portal swirling with blue light.
"This operation is a speed run. Hunter Kang Jina takes the vanguard, and everyone else focuses on flank support."
At the guild team leader's instructions, the hunters moved with practiced discipline. Among them, Somyeong—wearing his worn work clothes and shouldering a gigantic backpack—was a complete outsider. The other hunters clicked their tongues at the sight of him.
"I heard that porter got in through his sister's connections? Lucky guy."
"Shh, he'll hear you. They say he's an amazing pack mule at least, so leave him be."
Somyeong brushed off those gazes with ease. Compared to the hundred years he had spent in the martial world, this petty mockery was lighter than a spring breeze.
Entering the Gate, damp air and an unpleasant magical energy brushed against their skin. Jina drew her sword with familiar ease and took the lead.
"Moving in!"
Jina's body shot forward like a bullet. The magical energy pouring from the tip of her sword was far more refined and keen than before. The true energy Somyeong had covertly infused into her was combining with her natural talent to produce explosive power.
CRASH—!
Massive rock beasts crumbled under a single stroke of Jina's sword. The guild members followed behind her, unable to contain their admiration.
"My god, do you see that speed? Can a person really change that much in a few days?"
The raid proceeded smoothly. Jina overwhelmed the dungeon's creatures as though she were dancing. But Somyeong's eyes were fixed not on the front, but on the very rear of the formation.
'There's a rat mixed in.'
Somyeong slowed his pace, pretending to adjust his heavy load. He caught sight of a man at the end of the formation—feigning an equipment check—pulling a bizarrely shaped magical device from inside his jacket.
He was a spy bought off by the Sun Guild. With the guild on the verge of collapse, the man had been ordered, as a final act of spite, to bury the White Tiger Guild's prospect Jina inside the dungeon.
The spy wore a vile smile as his finger moved toward the device's button. The moment it activated, every monster in the dungeon would catch the scent of blood, go berserk, and converge on Jina.
'Who do you dare lay a hand on?'
Somyeong's eyes sank into a cold stillness. He casually flipped a small pebble off the ground with his toe. Then, with a fingertip—tap—he sent it flying.
Divine Finger Flick (彈指神功).
There was not even a sound of parting air. The pebble pierced through the darkness and struck the pressure point on the back of the spy's neck with perfect precision.
"Ugh......!"
The spy froze where he stood, unable even to scream. Complete paralysis—he could not move a single finger. Somyeong approached like a ghost and snatched the magical device from his hands.
"Dangerous things like this should be thrown away somewhere dangerous."
Somyeong gripped the paralyzed spy by the scruff of his neck and walked toward a deep precipice nearby. It was an abyss whose bottom could not be seen even within the dungeon. He shoved the spy in, the way one discards trash.
There was no commotion at all. Somyeong slung his backpack on light as a shoulder bag and rejoined the formation. He had been gone for barely ten seconds.
"Oppa! What are you doing? Hurry up!"
Jina waved and shouted from a distance. Somyeong put on his usual vacant expression and jogged over.
"Coming! The bag's just a bit heavy."
The raid team arrived before the boss room at the dungeon's deepest point. According to the original intel, the Stagnant Forest Guardian should have been here. But the moment the doors opened, the team leader's face went white.
"Wh-what is this? This isn't what was reported!"
RUMBLE—!
The earth screamed and split. The boss room's ceiling collapsed as a colossal shadow descended. It was no ordinary monster. It was a so-called mutant—an existence beyond the Gate's classification.
The killing intent radiating from its enormous body, sheathed in pitch-black scales, was enough to make even A-rank hunters struggle to breathe. Had an Association measuring device been present, it would likely have blared nothing but 'Measurement Impossible' warnings.
"Everyone, retreat! This is beyond anything we can handle!"
The team leader's cry rang out, but the boss's massive forepaw had already cut off their escape. Jina gripped her sword tight, but she could not hide the trembling in her fingertips. Instinctive terror was eating away at her.
Just then, behind the colossal shadow, Somyeong slowly raised his head. His eyes rippled crimson.
'What a nuisance. I wanted to end this quietly.'
Somyeong set his backpack on the ground. Then, at a speed no one could perceive, he drew out threads of true energy and spread them through the air.
"Everyone get behind me!"
Jina shouted, stepping forward to shield the others. Trembling and courage coexisted in her voice. Watching his sister's back, Somyeong murmured softly.
"Jina, would you close your eyes for a moment? I think there's going to be a lot of dust."
"Huh? Oppa, what are you......"
Just as Jina was about to turn around in confusion, the boss's colossal roar shook the entire dungeon.
"KYAAAAAAGH—!"
Overwhelming murderous intent tore through the air and poured down. But Somyeong did not so much as flinch. If anything, he was smiling coldly, like a predator that had found its prey.
"All bark."
Somyeong's fingertip lightly traced a line through the air.
***
Outside the dungeon, the White Tiger Guild's support team was in a state of emergency.
"The Gate's magical energy waveform has shifted drastically! We need a grade remeasurement. This is an anomaly of at least A-rank or higher!"
"Hunter Jina and the raid team are still inside! Assemble a rescue squad immediately!"
Just as the panicking guild members were about to charge into the Gate—
With a crackle of static, the Gate's entrance flared open once more. Through the smoke, someone came staggering out.
"They're out! Survivors!"
The first to walk out was Jina. Her clothes were torn here and there, and her face was caked with dirt and dust. But she appeared uninjured. Behind her followed the team members with terror-stricken faces, and finally Somyeong, large backpack on his shoulders, looking exactly as he always did.
"Hunter Kang Jina! You're safe! What happened to the boss?"
The waiting guild members rushed over and asked. Jina looked back with a dazed expression and answered.
"That's...... I'm not really sure myself."
"What?"
"The moment the boss was about to attack, these enormous boulders suddenly rained down from the ceiling. By some absolutely impossible coincidence, they fell only on the boss's head......"
People tilted their heads at Jina's explanation. However lucky one might be, a mutant boss dying instantly in a rockfall accident was hard to believe. But the result was undeniable. The boss was gone, and the Gate was cleared.
"Heaven's luck must truly have been with you. Let's head back and conduct a thorough investigation."
People sighed in relief and dispersed. Jina, still wearing an unconvinced expression, stared down at her own hands, then looked over at Somyeong, who was yawning beside her with the backpack on.
"Oppa, wasn't that incredible earlier? How can rocks fall with such perfect timing?"
"Right? Our Jina must have so much good fortune that heaven itself stepped in."
Somyeong replied breezily and wrapped an arm around Jina's shoulder.
"Good work today. Let's go home and eat the meat Mom's making."
"Yeah! Oppa, I was so scared today, but seeing you gave me strength."
Jina clung to Somyeong's arm and smiled brightly. Somyeong stroked his sister's hair while discreetly flicking away a single drop of blood from his fingertip where no one could see.
Behind his back, the collapsing Gate winked out of existence. Today, too, had been another day in the ordinary life Somyeong had to protect.
"Oppa, by the way, do you know where that one porter ahjussi went? I haven't seen him for a while."
"Who knows. Maybe he left early? Don't worry about it."
Somyeong's voice was as soft as the evening glow.
"Let's hurry. Mom will be waiting."