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Chapter 17: Northern Army Guild Pt. 3

Lee Jun-Kyeong stopped reserving F-Grade Gates for his dungeon raid, focusing on E and D-Grade gates. Furthermore…

[Congratulations on becoming a C-Rank Hunter.]

In recognition of his achievements so far, he had received a notice from the Association detailing his promotion to C-Rank. While ranks were usually granted by measuring a Hunter’s magic power, they could also be given for their achievements.

After raiding E and D-Grade Gates, he had become a C-Rank Hunter. As it hadn’t been that long since Hunters had appeared, there were still various convoluted ways and loopholes in earning designations, such as the ranking measurements.

‘Still, it’s accurate in its own way.’

As the world changed according to the times, the largest change would actually be…

“...”

Lee Jun-Kyeong\'s jaw dropped as he stared at his bankbook. It had been stamped with a sum he had never been able to see before. Even though he had known that he had made a lot of money from the F-Grade Gates, it was still a nearly comical sum. He now realized why so many people risked their lives to become Hunters.

Being a Hunter meant getting ridiculous profits. The higher the rating, the higher the risk, and the higher the reward. It was a reward for not only being willing to risk one’s life at any time but also doing so in the name of saving people. When he thought of it in that context…

“Is this not a large sum, then…” he muttered.

He thought that he understood what it really meant to have the job of a Hunter after actually becoming one himself. In reality, many Hunters lost their lives every day within the Gates. Since they never knew when they would die, most would waste their money on entertainment. He now understood why they lived like that and why they looked down upon ordinary people…

Those Hunters thought of normal people as leeches, living comfortably as if nothing was wrong on a foundation built from their sacrifices. Even after the Hunters risked their lives for the people, somehow, the people would complain about the excessive treatment the Hunters received, demanding higher tax rates for the Hunters.

In turn, the Hunters’ hate toward ordinary people would grow greater and greater because of the actions of the protesters. It would then develop into a victim mentality for the Hunters. It was a vicious cycle that led to the ending that Lee Jun-Kyeong already knew about. The future he had lived in—an era in which the Hunters ruled and the people had no rights.

He vowed to himself, “I have to ensure things don’t turn out the same way.”

Of course, it wasn’t as if one side was correct and the other side wrong. Instead, both sides would have to understand each other, and both sides would have to make an effort.

‘If they refuse…’

Or Lee Jun-Kyeong’s plans could succeed and make the matter moot. Of course, it was still all just an enormous dream, but he honestly wanted to make it possible someday.

Rip-

Lee Jun-Kyeong opened the mail he had received.

He mumbled to himself, “I guess we’ll be able to move once this is over.”

Sure enough, the letter had been sent by the Association. He had already expected it and was slowly preparing for what it entailed.

[We need your aid for the gate attack!]

For some reason, they had sent him a notice with some sort of hopeful cheesy title, but the notice’s real meaning was much heavier and more brutal.

It was a Hunter Mobilization Order.

The Hunter Mobilization Order was a notice that the Association would send to mobilize registered Hunters for gates with urgent attack plans. If a Hunter ever refused this order, they wouldn’t be able to expect any more support from the Association. While the Association wouldn’t completely cut the Hunter off, the person in question would generally end up pushed to the back of the priorities.

While he didn’t know for how long it would matter, for now, the support of the Association was still essential. This was one of the few compulsory orders the Association could give the Hunters. If any gate was judged to be difficult to attack or if there was a call for reinforcements, they would mobilize the Hunters as needed.

Lee Jun-Kyeong looked more closely at the notice. It called for both guilds and solo Hunters, and this sort of mobilization order wasn’t something normal. His eyes suddenly stopped, focusing on one of the names written on the notice.

[Northern Army Guild]

That name stood out the most. Those punks were beginning to move using the Association. It was perfect timing.

Ring.

His cell phone rang again.

***

Jeong In-Chang didn’t know how many days had passed since the thoughts and concerns had arisen.

‘When did things begin to change like this?’

Jeong In-Chang had worked hard as the deputy guild master of the Northern Army Guild. The guild had initially begun as a simple social gathering between Choi Yong-Su, a close friend from childhood; Choi Yeong-Seong, Yong-Su’s older brother; and Jeong In-Chang. The three had founded the guild when they all had become Hunters, naming it the Northern Army Guild, in order to find people to attack gates. Slowly, however, the guild had begun to morph.

‘Everything changed after we met that person.’

At first, Jeong In-Chang had welcomed that person warmly and cheerfully, as that person was great and powerful enough to be well known. However, there was something off about someone that high up wanting to support the Northern Army Guild, which had been a simple social gathering guild. Jeong In-Chang had found it strange and had tried to refuse.

However, Choi Yeong-Seong and Choi Yong-Su were different. They were greedy: greedy for more strength as Hunters and greedy for more growth as a guild. The two brothers decided to accept the sponsorship out of overwhelming avarice, and the Northern Army Guild began to grow beyond its humble roots, leading to a lot of changes.

Choi Yong-Su, who had been aggressive but warm, no longer saw ordinary people as humans. His older brother, Choi Yeong-Seong, took things one step further and started to see everyone, Hunter or not, as lesser beings. The Northern Army Guild had begun to change, and while Jeong In-Chang sensed that things had become strange, there was no surefire way to interfere with it.

It was difficult for Jeong In-Chang to consider withdrawing from the guild. Jeong In-Chang’s personality made it difficult to even consider escaping alone and leaving two close friends behind in this situation. Somehow, it had continued like this until now, and things had developed, just as predicted, to the point where it was impossible to recover.

Choi Yeong-Seong had wanted to kill a Hunter for getting in the way of the Northern Army Guild’s plans. For him to even consider that put his humanity into question.

‘He can’t do that.’

Just like everyone else, Jeong In-Chang had come to a crossroad. The Northern Army had become rotten. Would this become some sort of breakthrough or solution? Would they at least be able to atone?

Jeong In-Chang opened the cell phone.

[I would like to speak with you.]

The message had been sent a while ago. Surprisingly, it had come from the Hunter that the Northern Army Guild had been targeting. Jeong In-Chang hadn’t notified anyone in the guild about it. Instead, the deputy guild master had mused over the message multiple times. Replying to this message would earn him the label of a traitor, regardless of the reason. After all, Choi Yeong-Seong and Choi Yong-Su had already changed significantly, so they would definitely decide that it would be a betrayal and desire punishment.

Was it justice? Was it brotherhood? Jeong In-Chang wondered which one was right for him to follow.

After pondering for a while, he finally pressed a button on the phone.

[Let’s meet]

The message was sent to Lee Jun-Kyeong, the Hunter that the Northern Army was targeting.

***

“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Lee Jun-Kyeong.”

It was the first time Jeong In-Chang had met Lee Jun-Kyeong. Naturally, the deputy guild master had seen Lee Jun-Kyeong’s face and learned of his identity through the documents discovered by the guild’s informants.

‘He’s different.’

However, there was an aura being emitted by Lee Jun-Kyeong that couldn’t be felt through documents. Lee Jun-Kyeong felt like a blade being sharpened, a person with great potential. Jeong In-Chang had never felt this way before.

“The introduction… I’ll skip it.”

Jeong In-Chang ended the greeting as if something about it was uncomfortable.

“The location…” said Jeong In-Chang, looking around. As it was a meeting with the enemy, there was no choice but to meet secretly. There was some apprehension as the location selection was critical, and Lee Jun-Kyeong had decided on the meeting place.

"This is my home. There are no traps, so you can be at ease."

Jeong In-Chang almost laughed, wondering how the Hunter had such guts. Jeong In-Chang, the deputy guild master of the Northern Army Guild, was a B-Rank Hunter, the same grade as Bae Sang-Su, Lee Jun-Kyeong’s previous Tutorial Guide.

Basically, they were both at a level where people would declare them as Senior Hunters. Thus, Lee Jun-Kyeong declaring that there were no traps as a newly minted C-Rank Hunter felt a bit ridiculous. While his growth rate was astonishing, the difference in strength between two consecutive ranks was something impossible to ignore. Nevertheless, Jeong In-Chang frowned.

‘There’s something different about him.’

A strange aura could be felt from Lee Jun-Kyeong, which made Jeong In-Chang nervous. The deputy guild master suppressed the uneasy feeling and said, “I won’t speak with regards to anything else.”

While it was impossible to know what Choi Yeong-Seong or Choi Yong-Su thought, Jeong In-Chang hadn’t come with a desire to betray the guild. Instead, the deputy guild master had only planned to say what was needed and then leave.

“You should have received the Hunter Mobilization Order from the Association. Please decline it,” said Jeong In-Chang in an authoritative manner.

Lee Jun-Kyeong responded with a slight smile. "Why is that?"

The deputy guild master blinked. "…? Did you not see the name of our guild on the list of the guilds mobilized?”

“While I saw it…”

"Wow."

In the end, Jeong In-Chang dropped all formalities after seeing Lee Jun-Kyeong’s attitude, as the young man was speaking quite casually.

“You may not know, as you haven’t been a Hunter for all that long… Hunters are crueler and more heartless than you may think. Especially our guild master… He’s not that good of a person. It\'s dangerous to even meet him on the street… let alone enter a Gate together with him…” Jeong In-Chang struggled to speak.

However, Lee Jun-Kyeong’s answer was simple and straightforward. “Are you saying you have no idea what he would do?”

Jeong In-Chang frowned. However, Lee Jun-Kyeong continued to smirk. “It’s dangerous to meet on the street… it’s dangerous to enter a gate together… the Northern Army Guild…”

Lee Jun-Kyeong’s smirk deepened even further. “Is it a chaos guild?”

The term ‘chaos guild’ was nothing more than a pretty name for a group of criminals. Among the Sponsors, there were some who could be described as atrocious. Basically, those types of Sponsors would give missions like killing humans or committing massacres. A so-called chaos guild was a guild created by Hunters sponsored by these atrocious Sponsors.

"What are you saying…?!" exclaimed Jeong In-Chang, starting to rise from the seat with an angry expression.

"Isn\'t that what you just said to me, Deputy Guild Master Jeong In-Chang? There wouldn’t be much reason to warn me about it if it weren\'t for that."

"…"

Lee Jun-Kyeong pressed further as Jeong In-Chang trembled.

“Well, it\'s not like you would have much to say even if I did call you guys a chaos guild. The way the Northern Army Guild conducts itself is like that anyway.”

"You motherfucker! Don\'t you dare insult our guild anymore!" shouted Jeong In-Chang, riled up. The deputy guild master had clenched fists at this point. No matter how corrupt the guild had gotten, it was a guild built with effort and affection. It was impossible for Jeong In-Chang to stomach such a direct insult. In fact, it couldn’t be allowed to slide. If this insult were to be endured, it would be the same as admitting all of the guild’s faults.

Jeong In-Chang had been standing and shouting, but blushed when that dilemma became apparent.

‘It’s right. This man, out of all people, has the right to say this.’

Jeong In-Chang had realized that shouting at Lee Jun-Kyeong had been wrong. It was perfectly reasonable for him to think that way.

“No. This is something you should already know.”

For some reason, Jeong In-Chang took a step back after hearing Lee Jun-Kyeong’s cold response.

“The Northern Army Guild is rotten. The people that you punks follow… and trust so much, Guild Master Choi Yeong-Seong and Deputy Guild Master Choi Yong-Su. And the person you take instructions from…”

Jeong In-Chang’s heart beat violently. It couldn’t be. They had definitely investigated Lee Jun-Kyeong’s identity. It had only been a month since he had become a Hunter. It was said that his growth had been terrifying, absurd even.

“To think everything happened after you met that person.”

Somehow, Lee Jun-Kyeong knew about that person. It was unbelievable.

***

Blaze.

A blazing flame engulfed the monster.

"Keuaghhhh!"

The monster screamed in pain, soon turning to ashes that scattered on the floor.

[Reign of Fire has reached Lv 2.]

Lee Jun-Kyeong muttered to himself after hearing that voice, “Finally.”

The most common method to grow an Authority was to use it frequently. While there were many other ways to develop an Authority, this was the most straightforward and obvious way. Lee Jun-Kyeong was therefore using his Authority whenever possible.

After the meeting with Jeong In-Chang, Lee Jun-Kyeong didn’t take any other breaks. Instead, he reserved many gates and repeated many hunts. While the accumulating balance in the bankbook was already terrifying, he had no time to spend any of it as he was on a frantic hunting spree.

Lee Jun-Kyeong continued to grow stronger. Everything had to be prepared for the upcoming mobilization. Because the Association typically notified Hunters a month in advance for mobilization, there was still plenty of time before the actual event, but he still had to prepare a lot before then. Furthermore…

He mused, “Looks like they haven’t reached out just yet.”

His meeting with Jeong In-Chang had popped up again. When he heard the name the Northern Army Guild, if the first name that came to mind was Choi Yeong-Seong or Gunther, then the second was Jeong In-Chang. In fact, some could say that Jeong In-Chang was more famous than Choi Yeong-Seong. He was known as a hero with bad luck who had died sacrificing himself for the guild in a large battle. But the truth was a different story.

‘Jeong In-Chang’s death was at the hands of Choi Yeong-Yeong.’

Choi Yeong-Seong, the guild master, had become jealous of Jeong In-Chang’s growing reputation and had his deputy guild master killed. While it had been portrayed in a beautiful manner, the reality was much less satisfying. Most people had been unaware of the truth.

‘The Demon King knew.’

As the Demon King was the enemy in the battle where Jeong In-Chang was sacrificed, even though Choi Yeong-Seong actually killed Jeong In-Chang, the Demon King became the scapegoat instead.

Lee Jun-Kyeong knew this, but while he knew the truth…

‘There’s no way for me to use this information.’

It was something that hadn’t even happened yet, so there was no way he could ask Jeong In-Chang to help him by claiming: ‘Choi Yeong-Seong will kill you in the future.’

‘In any case, there are too many baits.’

Jeong In-Chang should eventually help him. No, he would make sure of it. Lee Jun-Kyeong was different from the Demon King. While he did not have as much talent as the Demon King, he had much more information than the latter. Moreover, it was information about the future.

It was impossible for someone to reach the end alone. He had only met Kim Su-Yeong or Yeo Seong-Gu through some unavoidable circumstances, but it was now time for Lee Jun-Kyeong to form a group and reach out to others. As the first target, Jeong In-Chang made for a very attractive person to recruit.

‘The Dragon Killer.’

The Hero, Siegfried, which was another nickname for Jeong In-Chang.