GM Ch73

And that someone was probably Joo Myunghwan. Ever since Soohyuk had pointed out Joo Myunghwan’s suspicious behavior, Minjun had strong doubts. Now, he was almost certain.

He was so stunned that he couldn’t speak. If he hadn’t been wearing the curse resistance item he brought from the other world, he would have lost his right eye in vain. While severed body parts could be reattached with potions, lost ones couldn’t be regenerated.

He doesn’t even know who I am. Why is he targeting me?

Minjun suppressed his anger. He had to hold back if he couldn’t grab Joo Myunghwan by the collar and throw him around right now. More than that, he was curious about why Joo Myunghwan had cursed him in the first place.

Maybe he had a grudge because of the issue with the Poison Jar Dungeon. But they hadn’t even had a proper conversation, so it was baffling.

Racking his brain only for a while, Minjun didn’t dwell on it too deeply. One thing he had learned from growing older and gaining various experiences was that you couldn’t expect logic from a madman. Arguing with one would only drain your energy.

“Ah, seriously…”

He decided that once he recovered his rank, he would give Joo Myunghwan a good beating. He washed his face again, and just as he was drying it with a towel, there was a knock on the door.

“Minjun?”

“Huh? What’s up?”

“Are you in pain again?”

“No, I was just talking to myself.”

It seemed Soohyuk had heard him muttering to himself and came to check on him. Minjun quickly dried off and opened the bathroom door to find Soohyuk waiting outside.

“Let me see your eye. It’s still red. Looks like a blood vessel burst. You should drink a potion.”

“If you drink too many potions, you can get addicted.”

“How many have you had? Just drink it.”

“Thank you.”

Soohyuk handed him the potion with a firm look that said he should drink it right away. In the end, Minjun took the potion and drank it. The effect was undoubtable. The throbbing in his right eye vanished in an instant.

“It’s not red anymore. Good thing you drank it.”

Soohyuk smiled brightly and reached out to gently stroke Minjun’s cheek. The soft touch made him feel strange.

It had been a long time since he had received such tender care from someone. Ever since his grandmother passed away, he had to do everything on his own. He had friends and colleagues, but no one could take care of his personal matters for him.

But being with Soohyuk made him feel protected. It wasn’t because of their rank difference. It was the small, considerate actions that made him feel cared for.

A god being cared for by his follower.

The reversal of roles was amusing. But it wasn’t bad. In fact, it was nice. Minjun resolved once again to treat Soohyuk really well.

* * *

A man with a determined face stood with his lips tightly sealed, gazing into the distance. Half-drawing his sword, he leaped forward with dynamic movements. His short hair and the long tails of his coat fluttered in the wind.

The large statue, gleaming white under the sunlight, looked as if it could spring to life at any moment. The veins on the hand gripping the sword bulged, and the corners of his tightly pressed lips seemed to quiver.

“Isn’t it magnificent? We were originally going to get marble from Spain, but then we found this glowing snowflake stone in a dungeon our guild won the bid for. And it was huge. We were so lucky. You should see it at night; it glows softly even without any lights. Let’s come back and see it together sometime.”

Minjun half-listened to Soohyuk’s excited explanation. He couldn’t focus on anything else.

Is that supposed to be me?

The pedestal of the statue was clearly engraved with “hunter Kim Minjun,” but Minjun wanted to deny it. More accurately, he wanted to turn around and head back to the dormitory.

It was the opening day of the Kim Minjun Memorial Hall. Many distinguished guests from various fields were attending the ceremony, including numerous hunters. Given the potential for incidents, Soohyuk, who was part of the Kim Minjun Memorial Association, had mobilized the June Guild hunters as security personnel.

Minjun had no intention of setting foot in the Kim Minjun Memorial Hall. However, with both Team 1 and Team 3 involved, he couldn’t just sit out.

He planned to quietly do his job as a security guard, but things didn’t go as planned. Facing the enormous statue at the front of the memorial hall made his soul feel like it was slipping away.

He was already considered a dead man. So, being hailed as a hero, having a statue erected, documentaries made, or parks named after him was something he could overlook. But seeing it with his own eyes was a different matter.

A large park surrounded the Kim Minjun Memorial Hall. A stage for the opening ceremony was set up in the plaza in front of the hall, and the statue was positioned next to the event area. It was impossible to ignore even if he tried to.

“All the other designs were good, but this one was the best. The way the coat tails flutter makes it look like he’s about to take off into the sky. The sculptor suggested raising the sword, but that was too cliché, so I dismissed it.”

Minjun suddenly realized what it meant to have a devout first follower. Even the kindest priest had a touch of madness. The faith of priests who prayed morning and night, even in the harshest dungeon raids, was beyond formidable.

Soohyuk’s prayers were inconsistent. Sometimes he prayed several times a day, and other times he skipped days. From what Minjun had observed, even just closing his eyes and thinking seemed to count as prayer according to the status window. Just a moment ago, a notification had popped up saying the first believer was praying.

In any case, Soohyuk was a fervent believer. He spared no time or money in spreading the legacy of Kim Minjun.

The memorial hall behind the large statue was also extraordinary. The red-brick building resembled an old cathedral.

Who knows what would happen if his identity were revealed.

The mere thought sent chills down his spine. He became even more determined to keep his identity as Kim Minjun a secret.

“Guild leader Seo Wooju has arrived first.”

Lost in thought, Minjun snapped back to reality at Soohyuk’s voice. Seo Wooju was an S-rank hunter Minjun knew very well. Turning his head to follow Soohyuk’s gaze, Minjun saw hunter Seo Wooju walking toward them with two other hunters.

“You’re early, Guild leader Seo Wooju.”

“On a day like this, it’s best to arrive early.”

Soohyuk greeted Seo Wooju with a smile. Watching the two exchange light pleasantries, Minjun felt a different kind of strange emotion wash over him.

Seo Wooju, with his imposing stature, was the oldest among the S-rank hunters. He was known for his strong sense of responsibility, often taking on the toughest tasks. He didn’t shy away from voicing harsh truths to the government or gathering the opinions of other S-rank hunters.

He was always the one to mediate disputes and stop fights among the strong-willed S-rank hunters. All the S-rank hunters acknowledged Seo Wooju’s patience and character. Minjun also relied on and trusted him the most.

Now over forty, Seo Wooju exuded a sense of seasoned authority. Though he looked much younger than his age, faint wrinkles appeared around his eyes when he smiled.

Realizing how much time had passed made Minjun feel odd. Just moments ago, he was determined to keep his identity as Kim Minjun a secret, but now he felt an urge to reveal it. As he sighed inwardly at his fickle heart, Seo Wooju’s eyes met his. Seo Wooju extended his hand with a gentle smile.

“Ah, hunter Kim Minjun, is it? Nice to meet you. I’m Seo Wooju of the Universe Guild.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m hunter Kim Minjun.”

Minjun shook hands naturally, pretending to know nothing. He tensed his face to avoid making a strange expression.

Unlike Choi Euiseong or Kwak Jonghoon, Seo Wooju didn’t mention the resemblance to hunter Kim Minjun to his face. He simply greeted him politely and looked at him with a wistful gaze. Minjun responded with a smile, saying nothing more.

The meeting with Seo Wooju passed quietly. But it wasn’t the same with the other S-rank hunters.

The S-rank hunters who arrived at the event naturally gathered around where Yoon Soohyuk and Seo Wooju were standing.

“You haven’t forgotten our promise, right? Contact me as soon as you part ways.”

Kwak Jonghoon was convinced that Minjun would join the Legion Guild once he parted ways with Soohyuk.

“I can offer you more, you know.”

Choi Euiseong also pitched for Minjun to join his guild. Their loud claims about offering higher contract fees created quite a commotion.

Soohyuk insisted that hunter Minjun wasn’t going anywhere, but Kwak Jonghoon and Choi Euiseong shouted in unison that nothing was certain.

“I’d love to see your skills, but the June Guild Master is watching us like a hawk. Here’s my card. Contact me if you ever need anything. I’ll definitely offer more than the Legion Guild Master or the Winter Guild Master.”

Lee Hana, smiling warmly, handed Minjun her business card. Next to her, Choi Euiseong and Kwak Jonghoon reiterated that they would offer more.

“Here’s my card too. Let’s collaborate sometime.”

The last one was Hwang Sujin. She also handed over her card politely, just like Lee Hana.

Minjun, unintentionally surrounded by S-rank hunters, felt like a shrimp caught between whales. No matter how much he tried to gather his energy, S-rank was still S-rank. And there were six of them.