It was an item of considerable importance in any case. Especially at a monster hunting agency like this, an HUV was absolutely 'essential.'
"That's the place. There are so many people."
Before long, we arrived at the path leading into the field. There were still plenty of people guarding the entrance.
"Let's get out for now."
"Yeah."
To get the vehicle approved, Bak Suhyeok and I got out first.
"...Hm?"
But in the distance, I saw a familiar face.
No, truthfully, it was a figure that would stand out no matter where or how you looked. Her long black hair shimmered regardless of the sunlight, and a black one-piece suit, matching the color of her hair, was so alluring that it seemed out of place in this setting.
Yu Yeonha.
She was surrounded by men who appeared to be guild members, observing the field. The way she exchanged various remarks with a serious expression made her look nothing like a high school student.
"Ah, right."
It suddenly came to mind. So it was already that time.
Yu Yeonha had probably come here to plan business.
Also, for reference, she would later become the largest investor of SH Agent. The trigger was, of course, 'Gim Suho.' Upon learning that Gim Suho had signed a contract with SH, Yu Yeonha made an enormous investment in SH, and the result was a great success. Afterwards, both Yu Yeonha and Bak Suhyeok rose to solid prosperity.
"What, someone you know?"
"Well... I do, but let's just pass by."
She seemed busy, so I tried to just walk past.
But.
"Huh?"
Yu Yeonha noticed me first.
"Excuse me?"
Clack, clack. She approached me, the sound of her high heels ringing out. But the height of those heels was downright threatening. I felt like she had somehow grown taller than me.
"What brings you here?"
Yu Yeonha asked, looking me in the eyes. Our eye levels were almost the same.
"I'm here to make money."
"Hmm, I see."
Yu Yeonha glanced at Bak Suhyeok beside me.
I figured I should introduce him, so I did.
"This is my agent."
"Ah, hello. I'm Bak Suhyeok, team leader of SH Agency."
"I'm Yu Yeonha. I'm still a cadet at Cube."
"Ah, yes."
I glanced at the two of them.
Bak Suhyeok and Yu Yeonha.
It hadn't been my intention, but their first meeting had been pushed forward by about three years. I didn't really know what the result would be. At least, the atmosphere didn't seem like it would turn bad, so whatever.
I glanced at the four men standing around her like bodyguards. Their equipment was all flashy.
"Ah. These are members of the Strait of Essence."
Yu Yeonha introduced them to us. The members hesitated, unsure of how to react, but at a single sharp glance from Yu Yeonha, they bowed their heads.
"Strait of Essence...?"
For a moment, a question crossed Bak Suhyeok's face. Strait of Essence. The number two guild in the country. It was likely still a distant word for someone like Bak Suhyeok.
Vroom—
At that moment, the smartwatch on my wrist buzzed.
It was a text from Chae Nayun.
[Ugh. What's the point of making a bet with a guy who doesn't even know the first thing about bows? Just screw off.]
She was probably trying to look down on me, but no way, no way.
I reignited her anger.
[What, you scared?]
[Wow, do you really want to die? I was going to let it go, but seriously.]
[You're right, I've never even held a bow. But for someone at your level... yeah, one month. If I train hard for just one month, I think I can reach your level. Bow skill only, of course.]
I sent the text and crossed my arms.
But suddenly Yu Yeonha spoke.
"...Are you perhaps texting Na-yun?"
Startled, I looked at her.
"W-what. How did you know?"
Hacking a notebook should definitely be my exclusive privilege.
Yu Yeonha smirked and projected her smartwatch screen.
[Hey. Look at what this kid is spouting. I'm so damn dumbfounded. Do I really have to bet with this guy?]
It turned out Chae Nayun had posted the message history between us and was asking her friends for advice.
"Aha."
I said curtly.
"Tell her to take the bet."
"Yes? Have you ever used a bow?"
"No. Not even once."
I had never touched one. No, until I came here, I hadn't even seen one with my own eyes. Well, I had caught Olympic archery a few times while channel surfing, but that was it.
"But if I learn for a month, I'll win."
However, this was a pure skill bet. Me, who had the job-related talent called 'Sharpshooter,' and Chae Nayun, who was more talented with the sword than the bow.
It might be a bit unstable at Proficiency Rank 7, but once I hit Rank 6, it would be a certain victory.
"How can you be so confident? Weren't you a firearm-related talent?"
"..."
Without answering, I stared at Yu Yeonha. I was wondering how to respond.
"Tsk. Fine. I just won't ask. You're so sensitive."
But Yu Yeonha had been the one to ask first, and now she clicked her tongue as if she were the one upset.
And looking at Bak Suhyeok and the HUV beyond him, she suddenly asked,
"Ah. If you've come to hunt, may I join you?"
> End
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Whenever the tires hit rocks, the inside of the HUV rattled. Just how old was this thing that it couldn't even drive stably? Yu Yeonha found the discomfort beyond dissatisfaction—it was incomprehensible.
"*Sigh.*"
Why on earth had she said she would join them? She regretted it just five minutes after getting in the car.
"...But what are you here for?"
While trying her best to steady her bouncing bottom, Gim Hajin sitting in the seat next to her spoke up. Yu Yeonha glanced his way and answered.
"What good is resting? You have to see, hear, and feel something to move forward."
"Aha."
He seemed to accept that quickly and looked back out the window. Yu Yeonha watched him intently.
No matter how she looked at it, his face was ordinary. Slap a pair of glasses on him, and there would probably be hundreds of company employees who looked just like him.
"Hmm..."
However. Though his face was undoubtedly ordinary, there were more than one or two questionable points about him. Rather than suspicious, he was full of secrets. Mysterious... but his face was too ordinary for that. He simply had a lot of question marks.
While entertaining such idle thoughts, she felt a vibration from her wrist.
It was a text message from Chae Nayun.
[Fine. I don't even know anymore~ I guess I have to give him a proper one so that jerk comes to his senses.]
She seemed thoroughly pissed off. Yu Yeonha chuckled and spoke to Gim Hajin.
"Excuse me."
"Huh?"
"Na-yun says she's taking the bet."
Right on cue, Gim Hajin's wrist buzzed as well. Yu Yeonha was curious about its contents.
"Show me too."
Without a word, Gim Hajin projected his message history.
[Fine. Bring it on, punk. I'll give you a month. I'm betting everything on my victory. What are you going to bet?]
The duel between the archer and the gunman was set.
Yu Yeonha found this situation absurd, yet she suddenly grew curious.
"...But why are you doing this?"
Why pick a fight with Chae Nayun of all people?
Gim Hajin looked at Yu Yeonha. Slowly, as if it were only natural, he said,
"Chae Nayun's real talent isn't the bow."
Yu Yeonha couldn't quite understand those words.
"If it's not the bow, Chae Nayun can develop further. Much more than now."
Gim Hajin added. There was an inexplicable bitter tone to his voice. Perhaps Yu Yeonha was only imagining it.
But Yu Yeonha thought she vaguely understood then.
Without interest, there is no criticism or blame. You have to watch something with careful attention for its shortcomings to become visible. Perhaps proper criticism is more difficult than praise.
If so.
Just how long had this man been watching Chae Nayun to be able to speak with such conviction? Three months? Half a year? A year? Or even longer?
'...Come to think of it.'
Back in the third year of agent school. Gim Hajin had been in the same class as Chae Nayun. Everyone was only eleven years old back then. From then until now, in terms of years, it had been six years.
Don't tell me this man, throughout those six years...
Clunk!
"Ack!"
Just then, the HUV shook violently and stopped. Yu Yeonha hit the back of her head on the headrest.
"Wh-what!"
It was an unfamiliar experience for Yu Yeonha, but Bak Suhyeok, who was driving, and Gim Hajin, sitting in the back seat, were used to it. Bak Suhyeok turned off the engine and spoke.
"This is the monster point. Get out now."
"Point?"
"Ah, yes. A place where many monsters appear..."
"I know what it means, but how do you know this is the point?"
"Late April is when the inner monsters start to become more active. So the ones driven out by that surge gather around here. It's an easy escape route. There are a few other spots, but they're too famous, so there will be a lot of people there."
Bak Suhyeok's answer came without hesitation. Yu Yeonha looked at him with renewed eyes.
But her gaze quickly shifted to her own smartwatch. A message had just arrived.
"Hmm... Then I'll be on my way."
"Yes? Weren't you going to hunt with us?"
"I just made an appointment. And I said I wanted to accompany you, not that I wanted to hunt with you."
Yu Yeonha got out of the car.
Right on time, guild members came rushing out from the forest.
"Well then. I'll get going."
"Yeah. See you later."
"Yes. See you at Cube later."
Taking in Gim Hajin's ordinary face once more, Yu Yeonha turned around.
"Ah. Excuse me."
But as if something had suddenly occurred to her, she turned back and held out her hand to Bak Suhyeok.
"Could you give me your business card?"
* * *
For a week, I devoted myself to monster hunting and training. I checked in at Wonju every single day, and I hunted an average of fifteen monsters per day.
Indeed, the combination of Aether and the Desert Eagle was practically a cheat code, at least for the weak. Even without deliberately aiming for vital points, mid-to-low grade six monsters or lower were taken down in just one or two shots.
"Hmm... It's not going up well."
Anyway, while spending my days like that, before I knew it, it was Wednesday.
Classes at Cube would resume in two days. The cadets who had left were returning one after another, and the rumor that Chae Nayun and I were having an archery duel had already spread like wildfire.
===
▶「Sharpshooter」
[Mid-to-Low] [Permanent] [Growth Type — Proficiency Rank 7] [Proficiency EXP 75%]
===
Proficiency Rank 7 at 75%. I had shot so much my fingers cramped up for a week, yet it hadn't even risen 10%. The higher the proficiency rank, the more the required experience points for the next rank increased exponentially.
"Could I even hit Rank 6 within a month?"
If I've decided to win, I absolutely have to. If it's not Rank 6, I feel like it'll be subtly uncertain.
Rumble—
Suddenly, a vibration rang out in the room.
"What, an earthquake?"
I hastily looked around. But something was strange. It felt like the epicenter was somehow extremely close...
"Huh?"
I found something odd. The seed I had placed on my desk. It was trembling. Looking closely, all the blood on the gauze wrapped around the seed had disappeared.
"...Are you saying you're hungry?"
When I asked that, the vibration stopped. I was bewildered, but for now, I took out a new gauze soaked in Rachel's blood. I changed the gauze and placed the seed on top of it. The seed trembled slightly as if satisfied, then soon buried itself into the gauze.
"Amazing."
I guess Rachel's blood tastes that good.
"Ah, right."
The official schedule resumes soon.
I checked the notice on my watch.
[Travel Club] 「This Saturday and Sunday, there will be a trip.」
Unfortunately, Yun Hyeon had disbanded the Academic Club, and the Hunting Club had fallen into a vegetative state due to the Sven incident. Now only the Travel Club remained. It was the same situation as the original.
But another incident would erupt from this Travel Club.
What that incident was—assassination.
The group that would now travel to a foreign country would get entangled in an assassination incident.
The Travel Club president was kind and docile. That indecisive personality made him fall for the greed of a nouveau riche swindler living in France. The nouveau riche gently coaxed the club president, saying he wanted to invite the cadets to his mansion. He would cover all the expenses. It would be a very nice healing trip.
And the club president finalized it after even conducting a preliminary inspection trip himself. Because the inspection process had been too satisfactory.
But the reality of the nouveau riche was quite different.
A fraudster from birth, he had been tormented by assassination threats from those he had swindled.
Until now, they had all been worthless amateurs, so he had not been worried in the slightest.
But this time, a truly proper organization had marked him.
'Footsteps of Darkness'
—As the night passes from the last Saturday into Sunday, I shall claim your life.
An assassination warning.
Moreover, it was from 'Footsteps of Darkness,' an assassin group known to thoroughly punish only criminals.
At this, the nouveau riche despaired.
Given his wanted status, he could not report it to the Association and ask for help; he lacked the money to hire a competent mercenary, and the time to liquidate his assets was far too short.
After much deliberation, the nouveau riche devised a scheme to use cadets to protect himself for those two days.
But in truth, there was yet another secret hidden there... and that is precisely what this case is about.
"Hmm."
The date is probably correct.
I had set it as the weekend right after exams.
Ding-dong—
Suddenly, a notification popped up in the bottom-right corner of my laptop.
A purple border.
It was a notification from the Violet Banquet.
I hurriedly clicked.
Sure enough, the very first commission had just arrived at the Truth Office.
—To the Truth Office. This is the detailed information on the person I wish to find. He is the wicked scoundrel who swindled my family and fled. Would you be able to tell me where this person is?
"...What?"
A protruding belly, eyes gleaming with greed, and rapacious jowls.
Put together, it was the very face one would imagine of a con artist.
This man was the fraudster 'Verbet,' the root cause of this incident mentioned earlier.
* * *
A dark, damp abandoned factory.
The place, used as a hideout for Wisaekdan, showed signs of human presence for the first time in ages.
The number of shadows clinging to the concrete floor was ten.
All ten colors excluding Black, which remained vacant, had gathered.
It was to hold a meeting regarding the seat that had been empty for three years.
They surrounded a spherical silver screen, watching the footage materialized by Drun.
Within it played the footage of 'someone' that Drun had witnessed firsthand.
It was part of Drun's talent—the ability to visualize or materialize every sensory experience he had undergone.
Some of the ten watched it with eyes full of curiosity, others with haughty gazes.
[Kwaaang—!]
"Whoa, that startled me."
The end of the footage was a thunderous gunshot and a blinding white flash.
When the footage ended, the leader announced the beginning of the meeting in a low voice.
"If he seems to have potential, raise your hand."
But a show of hands did not commence.
Before that could happen, a clear female voice interjected.
"But, Captain."
The leader looked in that direction.
A beautiful Caucasian woman stood there.
"Since when did we become a club that analyzes candidates just to recruit some fledgling?"
However, her rebuttal was soon met by a man's soft, beautiful voice.
"I think he shows potential. Above all, I like that he has neither parents nor a lover."
"What? What's that got to do with anything?"
"If there's no one by your side, it's easy to become obsessed with other things. Even if we can't give him honor, we can give him money, can't we?"
Wisaekdan was currently one of the select few groups on the Hero Association's 'Red Notice' list.
However, all that was known was the organization's name; the identities of its members had not been revealed anywhere.
To that extent, Wisaekdan guaranteed its members' freedom.
The members lived lives they desired, whether ordinary or not.
They only gathered together when work arose, or operated in individual combinations, solely to complete their missions.
"So, you're saying we should recruit him? Some scrawny kid who looks like he'd fly away if you tapped him?"
"No, I'm just saying he has potential..."
"Silence."
The leader cut off the argument about to continue between him and her.
"From this person..."
Fundamentally, Wisaekdan could be called a mercenary group without any stretch.
Of course, their goals lay in something far grander than simply living well, but simply because that was the case, could they achieve