GM Ch43

Originally, Minjun would have set up a one-person guild to win the bid for the dungeon, but since he was now part of a guild, he had to use another method.

The June Guild supported hunters in various ways, including preparing dungeons for those who needed to improve their skills. After inquiring with the Hunter Support Division, there were no limits. With a little help from Soohyuk, the guild leader, he might be able to enter one or two dungeons a day.

However, since he hadn’t applied yet, it was impossible to go to a dungeon immediately tomorrow.

“It’s okay. there is a way. We can go through two F-class dungeons and one D-class dungeon tomorrow. If I come with you, it will be over quickly.”

“You’re coming with me?”

“Of course. Didn’t I tell you to do your best?”

“But you’re an S-class hunter, guild leader?”

Soohyuk spoke as if it were a matter-of-fact which Minjun was taken aback by. For an S-class hunter to enter an F-class dungeon, it was literally like breaking an egg with a missile.

“If I go, it’ll be faster, right?”

“I mean, still, I can do it on my own.”

Minjun, a C-ranked hunter, could easily clear an F-ranked dungeon alone. Soohyuk drank the ramen soup in one go and smiled mischievously.

“Nope.”

“Guild leader.”

“There must be at least two people to enter the dungeon.”

“I just need to form a party.”

“That would be me. We don’t know what could happen inside the dungeon, so I can’t let you go alone. I told you yesterday, experienced hunters might approach, so we need to keep our eyes open.”

“Wouldn’t it be too noticeable if you entered an F-class dungeon?”

There were limits to an S-rank hunter giving a boost. If Soohyuk, an S-class hunter, went in and out of an F-class dungeon, he was bound to attract the attention of others. Even if it was true he got into the guild through connections, receiving too much favoritism was a problem.

“I guess I didn’t explain it properly. I have a different identity. I won the bid for all the dungeons I’m going to tomorrow with a different identity.”

“A different identity?”

“It was to prepare for a day like this. I’ve become a B-class hunter. I even have a private guild. It’s okay. Even the National Security Agency knows this. It was obtained for handling unsold dungeons.”

“It was made by the National Security Agency?”

Minjun was curious about his dual identity created by the National Security Agency. He didn’t have anything like that when he was a hunter.

“It’s no big deal. There are those unsold dungeons that keep getting passed over because they’re not profitable. Most of them are handled by S-class guilds for a very cheap price. It is a form of dedication to the country and its people. Still, it’s not too lucrative, but we receive various benefits, one of which is a dual hunter’s license. It’s good for concealing your identity.”

Minjun understood what the situation was. Soohyuk said it was no big deal, but this was a pretty complicated story.

South Korea was the only country that registered all hunters in the government system. They were able to manage hunters in such a systematic way, and thanks to this, public order quickly stabilized.

The government wanted to structure hunters in a hierarchical command system like the military. There was clearly such a movement in the political world. However, the situation changed when an S-class hunter in a certain country, threatened by the government, went berserk and killed the head of state along with many politicians.

Voices calling for stronger regulation of hunters with dangerous powers were not absent. But with the worst-case example occurring, the government and hunters decided to step back a bit from each other.

The government will guarantee the rights of hunters as much as possible, and S-class hunters, who could be said to be the pinnacle of hunters, would take the lead in ensuring public safety.

Minjun also participated in the cause and accepted most of the government’s requests to clear dangerous dungeons. He thought it was the responsibility of a hunter with great power.

But now they were even granting dual identities.

“… Isn’t that a secret?”

“Are you going to tell other people?”

“No.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Minjun doubted Soohyuk’s sense of security due to his overly casual attitude. He decided not to share secrets with Soohyuk if possible.

“Originally, all of this was done by Hunter Kim Minjun.”

“Yes?”

“Hunter Kim Minjun, that is, the hero hunter Kim Minjun, worked very hard.”

“Uh… Worked hard? How?”

Minjun’s eyes widened as he heard this story for the first time in his life.

Did I work hard for this?

No matter how hard he tried to recall, there was no such thing. He wondered what on earth Soohyuk was misunderstanding.

“Those guys from the National Security Agency didn’t even pay hunter Kim Minjun and only made him run through dangerous dungeons. And hunter Kim Minjun accepted them all. He was too benevolent.”

Minjun couldn’t tell Soohyuk that it was a misunderstanding. That it was a chaotic time, and he had just been doing his best.

Funny enough, hearing Soohyuk call him benevolent made Minjun feel good. Being called a hero was embarrassing, but having someone recognize his efforts made him feel proud that his hardships were not in vain.

“Guild leader Wooju said that since we had great power, we should serve accordingly, so we accepted it. It’s meaningful to share the tasks that hunter Kim Minjun used to handle.”

“Hunter Kim Minjun would be happy to know.”

Minjun was touched and tried to offer as many compliments as possible. But instead of responding, Soohyuk narrowed his eyes and warned.

“But you can’t follow hunter Kim Minjun’s example. Those guys from the National Security Agency are going to approach you because of the Poison Jar dungeon, and they’re going to say things like, ‘It’s for the country,’ ‘Only you can do it,’ ‘The country will remember your dedication,’ and other nonsense. It’s obvious. Don’t fall for that. Never say you’ll do it for free. You should be compensated appropriately for your abilities. No, just stay still. Leave such matters to the guild. Got it?”

Minjun was taken aback because Soohyuk was repeating exactly what he had heard from the Director of the National Security Agency in the past. In fact, it was true that he couldn’t refuse because the commissioner had earnestly pleaded.

“It will be easier if I help.”

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t help. Just don’t work for free. Even for the sake of other hunters.”

“Alright.”

Soohyuk gave advice so seriously that Minjun had no choice but to say he understood. Since the situation was different now compared to when he was active, it was right for him to do as Soohyuk said. After ending off with the warning, Soohyuk made another plan for 100 dungeon raids. His plan was simple.

“If we bid on as many D-rank or lower dungeons as possible and take on the unsold dungeons as well, we will be able to finish it within a month.”

“Finish it in a month?”

“Of course. I know how to do it, so there’s no need to waste time.”

Minjun chuckled at Soohyuk’s matter-of-fact statement. They could finish 100 dungeon raids in 20 days by doing five a day. It was Soohyuk’s style to try to complete the mission efficiently and as quickly as possible.

Minjun, who had similar principles to Soohyuk, did not worry. He needed to address the drop in his rank as quickly as possible. Due to the Existence Dilution, soul attunement was rapidly decreasing day by day.

After the lengthy conversation, the short snack time ended. Soohyuk and Minjun worked diligently to go to the guild for breakfast.

“Oh, just a moment.”

After getting everything ready, they were just about to leave the front door. Soohyuk briefly excused himself and crossed the living room.

The place where Soohyuk stopped was where there was a large framed photo of hunter Kim Minjun.

Huh?

Minjun was surprised to see Soohyuk take the flowers in front of the picture frame and take out a new flower from his inventory. There was nothing surprising about the fact that blue flowers were commonly seen in dungeons. More than that, it was more meaningful for Soohyuk to place it in front of the frame.

Minjun knew that Soohyuk respected hunter Kim Minjun. He was one of the directors of the memorial foundation and also made a huge donation to create the memorial park and erect the monument. So having a personal memorial space and laying flowers was understandable.

However…

Minjun frowned as he read the status window that appeared before his eyes. The status window he saw the day he returned to Earth appeared often thereafter. It was always the same, and nothing special happened, so he didn’t pay much attention to it for the time being.

But it was significant that the status window appeared now.

Why now?

Minjun looked alternately at the status window and Soohyuk’s broad back. And soon, a realization like a thunderbolt hit my head. It seemed that Soohyuk was his first believer. It was hard to believe, but the circumstances pointed to that.

“Let’s go.”

Minjun was confused until Soohyuk, who had finished offering flowers, left the front door first, asking to go.

So Soohyuk was the first believer? How? Why?

***

It was around sunset. It wasn’t night yet, but the surroundings were dark.

Minjun, standing on the apartment rooftop, looked east toward Choi Euiseong’s home. It was a three-story single-family home with a sand-colored brick exterior.

When Minjun met Euiseong in person, he had no intention of revealing that he was Kim Minjun. It would be difficult to persuade him of the truth, and the situation would become complicated. After thinking hard, he came up with the best plan.

First: Write a letter to Choi Euiseong explaining how to find and detoxify someone who has ingested the Whispering Poison.

Second: Place the letter on Choi Euiseong’s bed.

Third: Choi Euiseong reads the letter.

Fourth: Choi Euiseong spreads the news around the world about how to find people who have ingested the Whispering Poison and how to detoxify it.]

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