Originally, if one were asked to pick the most famous guilds in Korea, answers would vary. People would typically select one of the five guilds sponsored by large corporations. However, due to recent events, this conventional assumption seemed to be gradually breaking down.
This time, Ichigo, known as the strongest guild in Japan, had become trapped inside a dungeon. Japan's Ichigo Union requested help from the world's top Slayers. Among them, I'UET proudly organized a vanguard team and sent them first. To everyone's surprise, the vanguard rescued them before the main forces even arrived.
Once the news spread, the internet exploded with comments:
"Seems like Japanese guilds really aren't that strong.""Just beaten by a vanguard team lol. Typical Jap style.""I'UET is the truth as always."
Of course, no one took these statements entirely seriously. The general consensus was:
"Ichigo was in a difficult situation with some casualties and nearly cleared the dungeon, but I'UET's skilled members entered and offered a bit of assistance, enabling the dungeon to be cleared."
Despite that, the official Ichigo Union statement expressed deep gratitude to I'UET, praising their abilities and offering 50% of the dungeon rewards to I'UET.
As a result, I'UET, already famous, became a sort of national mascot for Korea's guilds, solidifying their image as the strongest guild in the country. Behind the announcement, there had been prior negotiations.
A few days earlier, Jongwon returned home and flopped onto the sofa. By now, he often found himself unsure whether this was Hyunseok's house or his own, ironically, Hyunseok didn't seem to care.
"Wow… I can't tell if Minseo is clever or just devious."
"My sister?" Hyunseok replied, prompting Minseo, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, to flinch. (Minseo stayed in Seoul every weekend, so Hyunseok had moved into a two-room apartment. They had hoarded Green Stones in a safe.)
"She recorded the entire thing of you handling them alone, so they couldn't protest and had to meet all our demands."
"Clever, yes. Knows how to negotiate moderately."
If Minseo's video leaked, it would cause a scandal. Her ability to instantly annihilate orcs was impossible for current Slayers, making Hyunseok the focus of enormous attention, while Ichigo guild members could face criticism. Even if not direct, their status as Japan's strongest guild would be questioned since their members were weaker than even a single Korean Slayer.
Minseo leveraged this in negotiations. On humanitarian grounds, she agreed to cover funeral costs for Ichigo's deceased members, but most rewards went to Hyunseok's party. The Ichigo members reportedly felt satisfied with achieving a "slightly difficult accomplishment" in the dungeon, earning +5 bonus stat points (easy achievements grant +3). This dungeon's difficulty justified the higher reward.
Thus, Ichigo members agreed to keep Hyunseok's role secret, acknowledging that the vanguard team was responsible, expressing infinite gratitude, and quietly relinquishing most rewards to him, along with some humiliating footage.
Minseo, feigning ignorance, approached Hyunseok and Jongwon with a bright smile, holding a tray of fruit in her left hand and a paring knife in her right.
"Oppa, what were you talking about?"
"Minseo, you're gripping that knife a bit too hard."
Startled, she quickly relaxed, smiling brightly.
"Must be an illusion, oppa."
❋ ❋ ❋
Sunshine Orphanage, the kindergarten where Hyunseok volunteers.
At that time, when the ferocious dog-type monsters attacked, 7-year-old Minsoo had remained clingy. Even now at 8, he always clung to Hyunseok's legs when he came.
The volunteer team had changed somewhat. Since the work was neither profit-driven nor consistent, personnel naturally rotated. The only remaining original members were Kang Pyeonghwa (who had been late), leader Jang Yeongtaek, and Hyunseok.
Kang Pyeonghwa called him "oppa," showing her fondness. Hyunseok, accustomed to female attention, noticed without feeling the old urges to pursue.
"I've changed quite a bit over time," he thought.
His physical activation rate was always over 90%, making him feel healthy. Moreover, his old lecherous tendencies toward women had disappeared, replaced by healthy habits and mindset.
"Are you a Slayer?" Pyeonghwa asked.
"Yes."
"The people who came to help back then, they were from I'UET, right?"
Hyunseok nodded.
"One of them… Ha Jongwon-nim right?"
"Yes."
He refrained from joking about the honorific. Jongwon was Korea's most famous Slayer, the first orc hunter, dungeon-clearer, and rescuer of Japan's strongest guild. Pyeonghwa seemed to have some admiration for him.
"Just a mad dog," Hyunseok thought.
The Eradication Squad, originally just a small Korean force, had grown into a union-like structure riding on Jongwon and I'UET's fame. Absurd as it was, it had become reality.
"Are you I'UET too, Hyunseok-oppa?"
"No way," he chuckled.
"Disappointed?"
"No, not at all!"
He then asked Pyeonghwa:
"You're a Slayer too, right?"
"Yes, though my skills aren't great…"
"Specialty?"
"Healing."
Hyunseok laughed incredulously. Her field during the Jindo dog monster attack had been a Healing Field, not a Battle Field.
"So she stepped up as a complete rookie healing Slayer instead of fighting?" he thought.
"Could have been deadly."
"But everyone survived."
Seeing her smile, he lightly stroked her hair, carefully avoiding the parts she styled.
"Don't do that. Could get hurt."
"Thanks."
Pyeonghwa had indeed become prettier after dieting, an extraordinary improvement, and Hyunseok noticed it.
❋ ❋ ❋
The government had finally established a licensing system.
To slay top-tier monsters like orcs, one needed a state-issued Orc Slaying License. Additionally, Slayers now had to acquire certification to hunt monsters.
Jongwon said:
"Licenses cost money, and the government taxes slaying activity. Monster Stones dropped…?"
Hyunseok, indifferent, asked:
"So how do you get the license?"
"Some sort of evaluation, I think. I'UET got theirs automatically…"
"But there must be criteria. Otherwise, no test would exist."
"That's…."
Hyunseok snorted in disbelief.
"So you have to be evaluated by you guys?"
"Exactly. The government lacks practical knowledge, so they delegated authority to I'UET. It's also politically smart, gaining public support since I'UET is so popular."
Jongwon added:
"By the way, Sunghyung wants to meet you briefly."
"I'UET Deputy Leader?"
❋ ❋ ❋
Hyunseok met Sunghyung. Unexpectedly, he arrived by bicycle, a modest 500,000-won one, surprisingly humble for the Deputy Leader of Korea's top guild. Hyunseok laughed.
"I kept it simple. Came to meet you, dressed formally though."
Hyunseok was casual but neat, shirt and slacks, casual style. Sunghyung's modesty and wit contrasted with his usual authoritative image.
After greetings, Sunghyung presented the main topic:
"This is the Orc Slaying License, at Green rank, allowing you to slay all currently existing monsters."
"Why me?"
"I have unique hobbies and skills."
"You've noticed my abilities?"
"I'm aware to some extent. If I weren't, I'd be foolish. I just appreciate that you haven't officially engaged in slaying yet."
Hyunseok considered this a bribe and accepted it without hesitation, sensing no malice.
"Illegal, right?"
"Not yet. Licensing is fully under our authority, so no worries."
Hyunseok laughed:
"I'll gladly accept it. Call me once, I want to see how Korea's top guild members slay firsthand."
"Always welcome," Sunghyung said with an exaggerated gesture.
The next day, Hyunseok received an urgent call, this time a request for help, not just observation:
"Hyunseok, may I request your assistance?"
❋ ❋ ❋
Hyunseok went to help. Sunghyung had convinced all guild members to defer the rewards to Hyunseok. Despite initial awkwardness, Hyunseok suggested splitting it since they succeeded together, but Sunghyung insisted on giving all rewards, showing the strength of his leadership. Guild members didn't complain, an example of Sunghyung's authority and respect.
(End of Chapter 16)
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