Chapter 4

01. A Hidden Piece in the Clear Sky (4)

"Should I try one more time, just one more time?"

With millions already lost, it didn't matter much if he kept one more.

Just as he was about to pick up the staff rolling around in the corner of the bed, his Hunter Watch beeped.

What rotten luck. Just when I was about to try this one more time.

Muttering, he put the Hongok staff into his inventory. Being selected for a standby team was rare.

If the field objectives aren't completed within the set time, the gate will spew out monsters, causing a "flood."

The main task of mid-to-low-level Hunters like myself is to end these fields.

The world tower raids, which people often think of when they hear "Hunter," are handled by elite Hunters known as the "Strategic Team." They are rarely called for such tasks.

'Those busy with the main quest wouldn't care about this kind of thing.'

"Who will I be working with today?"

Hmm, potions are sufficient, and the equipment is repaired. Perfect.

"Equip gear."

In an instant, his comfortable pajamas turned into battle gear. Though it was a familiar outfit, he checked it just in case.

A tight-fitting short-sleeve shirt, pants with multiple pockets, a windbreaker, a harness, and boots. Since most of the equipment was standard issue, everything was a bleak black. The only colors were the quiver and the bow.

High-ranking Hunters, known for their fame, often customize their equipment to match their concepts, but that was a distant world for me.

He slung his bow over his shoulder and headed to the waiting room, wondering who he would be working with.

"Most of my friends are on leave."

The thought of working with people who don't coordinate well already made his head hurt.

***

Ding!

Just as he was about to enter the waiting room without a care, something fell from the ceiling with a tinkling sound.

'A person?'

No, why would a person appear from the sky? It was a girl who looked to be in her mid-teens, wearing a hanbok-style dress. She circled around him.

"Scared you, didn't I!"

"Sun, greet! You should greet Mr. Kim first. Otherwise, Sound will scold you."

The girl, with her hair braided into a donut shape, had a tiny bell on her shoulder. The bell, bouncing up and down, scolded the girl.

'What's that?'

Though annoyed, the girl bowed deeply.

"Sound always scolds me. Hello, I'm Cha Taeyang. I'm seventeen. I came here recently. And... right! I'm an A-rank Hunter."

"A-rank skills!"

"About that... the 13th month..."

Startled, he covered Cha Taeyang's mouth. Confused by his sudden action, she wrinkled her nose.

To think she would reveal her skill name to a stranger—she really knew nothing. Why didn't anyone tell her such important things?

"Hunter Cha Taeyang, if you're new, you might not know, but you should never reveal your skill name to anyone, even to guildmates."

"Can't I even tell my name?"

"Yes, only to someone you truly trust."

Cha Taeyang nodded, understanding. Her determined eyes were a relief.

Seventeen, huh? Just barely old enough to be a Hunter.

You'll have a tough time. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

"Thank you for teaching me."

"Good Mr. Kim, thank you!"

"My name isn't Mr. Kim, it's Yun Gaho."

"Goblins call all humans Mr. Kim."

Goblins? I thought it was a strange item, but it's a goblin.

Unable to hide his surprise, the goblin cleared its throat. After the world tower appeared, the impossible became everyday, but the existence of goblins was still shocking.

Cha Taeyang, stroking the goblin with her finger, rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a candy, offering it to me.

"Here, are you a Hunter too?"

I nodded and took a bite of the candy. Cha Taeyang's face lit up with a broad smile.

"See, I'm talking to a Hunter other than the witch for the first time!"

But why are you using formal language with me? Ah, can I call you 'sister'? Where are you going for the summons? Do you like candy too?

Cha Taeyang bombarded me with questions, her excitement reminding me of my own rookie days, making me unusually talkative.

"We're Hunters, so age isn't that important. Rather, rank is more important. Oh, those are real arrows, so don't touch them like that..."

I tried to stop her from reaching for the quiver, but then remembered she was A-rank and let it go.

Cha Taeyang, playing with the arrows I gave her, listened to my explanation about the field with sparkling eyes.

Emergency fields are more challenging than the well-known fields in the world tower or the fixed fields that occur periodically in specific areas.

However, seeing that she was assigned to a field despite knowing nothing, it didn't seem to be a high-rank field. Probably just a C-rank? A fortunate misfortune.

While talking with Cha Taeyang, three people entered the waiting room.

Except for one man who looked to be in his early twenties, I knew the others.

The blonde, known for being difficult, was A-rank tank Seo Youngwoon, and next to him was deputy guild leader Hwang Jaehee. Hwang Jaehee wouldn't personally join a field, so this must be a briefing.

"Do we really need to be called for a C-rank field?"

"It's near the National Assembly in Yeouido. You know how important the people there are."

"Hmph, two inexperienced kids and one C-rank. This is too much. You must think I was called to cover for them."

Seo Youngwoon's casual words made the C-rank Hunters feel even worse.

Many people didn't want to work with him because of his attitude.

Seeing the condescending look, Cha Taeyang, standing next to me, growled.

"I won't hold you back! I'm the top graduate from the Seoul Hunter Training Institute!"

"Trainee Jo Sung-hyun, please correct your address. Who are you calling 'senior'?"

"Why are you picking on a stranger, mister?"

"I've heard a lot about you, senior. I've always admired you..."

Including the goblin, everyone was attacking Seo Youngwoon, causing a commotion.

Working with these people? I'd rather not. Hwang Jaehee, with a similar expression, shook his head and approached me.

"Yun Gaho, you'll have to lead the party."

"What? Do I really need to? Seo Youngwoon is A-rank..."

"Don't you know how a party leader with no social skills can lead to disastrous results?"

Seo Youngwoon didn't flinch at the harsh words. Maybe he can self-reflect despite his bad attitude.

Seeing my pale face, Hwang Jaehee remained firm.

"Don't worry. Although Seo Youngwoon is involved, it's a C-rank field. Both Cha Taeyang and Jo Sung-hyun are A-rank, and Jo Sung-hyun has field experience from the training institute."

"...What type of field is it?"

"A raid. You need to find and eliminate the boss within the time limit."

Three A-ranks and one C-rank for a C-rank field, and it's a raid. The composition made sense. Reluctantly, I accepted the role of party leader.

Hwang Jaehee's tired face brightened a bit.

This mission is a C-rank field, "The Mage's Garden."

The time limit is eight hours, which is generous. Based on the field name, I predict plant-type monsters will appear.

Plant-type, especially C-rank field monsters, are likely to be stationary. This is a good opportunity for Cha Taeyang and Jo Sung-hyun to gain experience safely.

"What? Yeouido is close. Can't we just run there? It would be faster."

"Using abilities in the city is illegal."

"How old-fashioned. It's night, so no one will see."

Hwang Jaehee pushed the complaining Jo Sung-hyun into the back seat. Seo Youngwoon sat in the front passenger seat, as far from Jo Sung-hyun as possible.

The only one left was Cha Taeyang, but a seventeen-year-old can't drive.

'So... I have to.'

Reluctantly, I took the wheel.

"Let's introduce ourselves before we arrive. I'm Yun Gaho, the party leader. My main weapon is a bow, and my overall rank is C."

"Eh, why is someone like you in the wilderness..."

"I'm Cha Taeyang! I'm A-rank, and my main skill is martial arts!"

"Hey, I was talking!"

Introductions are harder than they seem.

The kids in the back seat couldn't hold back and started bickering. Seo Youngwoon glanced back, and Jo Sung-hyun shut up.

Maybe because he's a famous A-rank, or a direct senior from the same training institute, the atmosphere became much quieter.

"Seo Youngwoon. A-rank tank."

"...I'm Jo Sung-hyun. I'm here to meet graduation requirements. I mainly use a sword."

After Seo Youngwoon finished, Jo Sung-hyun reluctantly spoke.

I'm not sure how much Cha Taeyang and Jo Sung-hyun will contribute, but from what I heard, the balance seems decent.

"Although my rank is C, I probably have the most field experience among us. Please follow my instructions in an emergency."

"Sun, listen to Mr. Kim!"

No one, except the goblin, responded to my words.

The silver van glided through the empty night streets toward Yeouido.

***

In front of the National Assembly, the business vehicles of the Ihyeon Management Bureau were lined up. Thanks to the bureau staff, not even a mouse was in sight.

We parked by the roadside and approached the field gate with the group.

After showing our Awakened registration cards, which indicated we were members of the Wilds guild, to the bureau staff guarding the gate, we stood in front of it.

Indescribable lights flowed chaotically. The sight of the world breaking into pieces never got old, no matter how many times I saw it.

After a final check of the equipment, we stepped toward the gate.

– Time Limit: 07:15:58

– Maximum Participants: 5