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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Golden Raid Team
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Han So-yul, having drunk Yeon Sung-hun's potion, easily took down the new breed of monster.
Just as he had said, the moment she removed its horn, everything that had plagued her up until then felt like a lie—it was that simple.
Splat— With a pathetic flop, the monster collapsed limply, and Han So-yul finally exhaled the breath she'd been holding.
"Phew. We did it...! We won! Did you see that?! I took it down...!"
Bouncing with joy, Han So-yul suddenly froze as she realized Yeon Sung-hun was nowhere in sight.
"...What? Where'd he go?"
Was he in some kind of trouble?
What if he'd been ambushed by another monster she hadn't spotted?
Thankfully, there were no major signs of disturbance, so it didn't seem like that was the case. Still, she couldn't help worrying.
"Hunter Association support incoming!"
"Han So-yul, Hunter! Are you okay?!"
As Han So-yul searched frantically for Yeon Sung-hun, the Association's support team arrived.
Among them was Seong A-reum, one of the top S-Rank Hunters in Korea.
"Any injuries, So-yul?"
Seong A-reum, who had always treated the young Han So-yul like a little sister, checked on her well-being first and foremost.
"I'm fine, sis."
"A new breed of monster, right? I heard several Hunters got taken out. What the hell happened?"
"Uh... I got a bit lucky."
Was it because there were so many people around?
Rather than spilling the beans about Yeon Sung-hun right away, Han So-yul dodged the question vaguely.
She figured there must be a good reason for him to vanish like that without a trace.
Sure, it irked her that he'd slipped away without so much as a proper goodbye—or even a thank-you from her—but she didn't want to drag him into any trouble either.
"...I see. Glad you're not hurt bad. Still, let's get you to the hospital for a check-up."
Did she notice Han So-yul's evasive answer?
Or was she just worried about how exhausted she looked?
Either way, Seong A-reum nodded along as if accepting it.
"What about the report?"
"Tell them to handle it themselves."
"...The Association's gonna complain..."
"Hmph. Why'd this mess even happen in the first place? It's all because they didn't do proper recon. No need to go out of our way for them."
"But still..."
"If they give you any grief, just tell your sis. I'll give 'em a good knuckle sandwich."
"Your knuckle sandwiches would kill us..."
Seong A-reum just shrugged lightly at Han So-yul's quiet mutter.
Then Han So-yul added softly,
"I'll fill you in on the details later."
"...Yeah? Looking forward to it."
Seong A-reum nodded slowly before ushering Han So-yul away from the scene.
Association staff arrived late to debrief her, but the two were long gone by then—it was hardly their concern.
Meanwhile, the vanished Yeon Sung-hun had already made it back home.
His sister greeted him warmly as he casually strolled in with fried chicken, acting like nothing had happened.
"Oh? Looks like there was some incident downtown? Sung-hun, didn't you head into the city today?"
"I left before it blew up, so I wasn't caught in it."
"Good thing. A Rift Break right in the middle of downtown... We won't be able to go out freely anymore."
Yeon Sung-hun watched the TV quietly alongside his mother, who muttered while watching the breaking news.
The news was hailing Han So-yul as a hero.
It had been dangerous, sure, but not that heroic. They were probably hyping her up to cover for the Association's screw-up.
Yeon Sung-hun clicked his tongue in mild annoyance, a habit of his.
'At least she took it down safely.'
With his potion and the weakness he'd pointed out, it was a given. Still, he genuinely congratulated the high school girl for pulling it off.
Her refusal to give up even in that hopeless situation had left quite an impression.
Especially since she reminded him of his own sister.
Yeon Sung-hun's gaze drifted to Yeon Hae-eun, who was happily devouring a chicken leg.
Yeon Hae-eun tilted her head.
"What, oppa?"
"Nah. Nothing."
"...You didn't just think I look like a pig, did you?"
"Pfft. And what if I did?"
"Oink oink!"
Yeon Sung-hun couldn't hold back his laughter at his sister's adorable pig noises.
He was endlessly grateful for how she never lost her smile, even in tough times.
Once he finally stopped chuckling, Yeon Sung-hun called out to her softly.
"Hae-eun."
"Yeah? What?"
"Oppa will fix your leg for sure."
"..."
Yeon Hae-eun froze mid-chew, staring blankly at him as if she didn't know what to say.
Yeon Sung-hun met her eyes calmly.
"Just wait a little longer. No matter what it takes, I'll make it happen."
"...Thanks."
After a long pause, she bowed her head deeply.
Yeon Sung-hun gently stroked her hair.
A few days later, Yeon Sung-hun headed back to the mountains of Gangwon Province.
As always, to tackle a Rift.
Na Seong-sil, his assigned Association official, greeted him like usual.
The difference today? He wasn't alone—Lee Ha-na and Kim Jun-su from the old Park's Raid Team were with him.
Unlike Park Kwang-yeol, the two had decided not to retire.
They were still young, after all.
Yeon Sung-hun smiled quietly at the pair steeling themselves like they were new Hunters again.
"Long time no see, you two. Glad to see you're both doing well."
Na Seong-sil's greeting earned awkward smiles from them.
They'd received Yeon Sung-hun's apology on his behalf, but they still couldn't treat him casually.
They knew it wasn't his fault, but a teammate had still died in his Rift.
Sensing the awkwardness, Na Seong-sil gave a wry smile.
Yeon Sung-hun was the odd one out—this was the normal reaction.
Stepping forward to break the ice, Yeon Sung-hun spoke up.
"Today's Rift is F-Rank. Since it's been a while for you both, let's take it easy."
"We could start with E-Rank, no problem."
Yeon Sung-hun glanced at Kim Jun-su's grumbled complaint.
His eyes felt icy cold.
Kim Jun-su flinched at the uncharacteristically sharp gaze.
"Jun-su. Rift raids aren't a game."
"..."
"I'm not knocking Uncle Park, but I'm not treating this like a picnic. Get serious. I don't want to lose another teammate. If you can't get on board, find another team now."
His tone was gentle enough, but a bit harsh for old comrades.
The old Yeon Sung-hun might've softened it more, but not this time.
"Same goes for you, Ha-na. If you're not okay with my approach, we part ways now. Dragging it out over old times will just hurt feelings."
Lee Ha-na, who had been watching Kim Jun-su, spoke up.
"I'm good with it. You're the raid leader, Sung-hun, so I'll follow your lead. Oh, should I change how I address you?"
"Nah, stick with what feels natural. I'm not into strict rules."
"Got it. Looking forward to working with you, Raid Leader Sung-hun."
Yeon Sung-hun smiled back at her bright grin.
It was a smile that put him at ease.
With Lee Ha-na on board, only Kim Jun-su was left.
All eyes turned to him, and he grumbled gruffly.
"Jeez. Way to make me feel like a total kid! I can handle it when it counts! I might not die for you or anything, but—whatever! I'll do it right!"
His attitude was still a bit flippant, but the sincerity rang true.
Yeon Sung-hun nodded after a moment.
Kim Jun-su would improve with time.
Faust's training from past continental wars had turned many into fine soldiers—Hunters.
"Alright, you're both in. No holding back now. I'm not letting this team be just another ragtag group. I want us on par with top guild or corporate raids—or better. The best, undeniable, respected by all. Big expectations for you two."
Lee Ha-na and Kim Jun-su gaped at his calm declaration.
To D-Rank Hunters like them, it sounded wildly ambitious.
But his dead-serious demeanor made it impossible to dismiss as a joke.
Unable to brush it off lightly, Lee Ha-na asked quietly,
"...I get what you're saying, Sung-hun. But is it realistic?"
"No problem. With me and you all, it's doable."
His confidence bordered on certainty.
Lee Ha-na fell silent.
It was hard to buy completely, but his conviction planted a seed of possibility.
Kim Jun-su, meanwhile, was already hooked.
"Sweet! I'll follow you, bro—Raid Leader!"
"Call me 'hyung' like always if you want."
"Nope! Raid Leader from now on! Casual in private, but official in public!"
"...Whatever works."
Yeon Sung-hun nodded easily, while Kim Jun-su buzzed with excitement over their grand goal.
Lee Ha-na watched them a moment, then nodded too.
"I'll trust you. You've never bullshitted us so far. Here's to a good run, Sung-hun."
"Thanks, both of you."
With his new teammates' support, Yeon Sung-hun smiled quietly.
First step: solid.
Park's Raid Team was reborn.
"...Uh, was I supposed to hear all that?"
Na Seong-sil wasn't part of the team, but Yeon Sung-hun didn't mind.
He'd brought it up in front of him on purpose.
Not yet, but he planned to rope Na Seong-sil—and his boss Gye Cheong-san—into his plans.
Those potions he'd used weren't cheap.
They'd work off the debt under him for life if needed.
Too bad for them—Faust's elixirs weren't buyable with billions.
No mere officials could pay it off easily.
Lifetime contract, basically.
They knew nothing of his scheming, but he didn't care.
What mattered: they'd caught his eye.
No letting them go easily.
"Right, commencing exploration of Gangwon Inje-gun 413-003, F-Rank Rift. Assigned team... uh..."
Na Seong-sil trailed off, glancing at Yeon Sung-hun.
"Yeon Hunter. Team name? Can't keep calling it 'Park's Raid Team,' right?"
Lee Ha-na and Kim Jun-su's eyes turned to him too, laced with subtle anticipation.
They'd quietly hated the old name.
Yeon Sung-hun chuckled teasingly.
"Hmm. How about 'Yeon's Raid Team'?"
Instant disappointment on their faces.
He laughed at their obvious reactions.
"Kidding. Hmm. No real ideas, but... 'Golden'?"
"...'Golden Raid Team'? For real, hyung?"
"Why not? Straightforward and solid."
"Straightforward, yeah... solid? Eh."
Yeon Sung-hun shrugged at Kim Jun-su's dubious nod.
Lee Ha-na asked,
"Any meaning behind it?"
"Nothing fancy. Just familiar."
"Familiar?"
"Yeah."
Lee Ha-na tilted her head, recalling his modest family background.
How could he be familiar with gold?
Some hidden meaning?
She pondered briefly but let it drop.
They'd just agreed to follow his lead.
Kim Jun-su seemed mildly miffed, but she had no real complaints.
Better than 'Park's,' right?
Satisfied enough, Lee Ha-na nodded readily.
Na Seong-sil spoke up.
"Golden Raid Team it is, then."
And so, Park's Raid Team became the Golden Raid Team.
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