The guild was unusually busy today. I just wanted to submit my mission report, but as soon as I walked in, the atmosphere felt different.
Every eye, from Rank B to Rank S Hunters, seemed to be on me. Whispering voices spread from corner to corner, adding to my discomfort.
"Look, that's Kim Do-yun! The mysterious Rank S Hunter no one can figure out!"
"I heard he can sense traps and locate rare items with just one look. Apparently, he's got a killer combat instinct!"
I tried to smile, then slowly made my way to the receptionist's desk. What? They think I have strong combat instincts? If only they knew it was all just luck… I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm and not panic with all this sudden attention.
When I reached the receptionist's desk, a guild staff member called out loudly.
"Kim Do-yun-ssi! The Guild Master wants to meet with you!"
My steps halted instantly. What? The Guild Master wants to meet with me? Does he know I'm just an ordinary guy? I followed the staff, feeling tense as the Hunters around me watched with growing curiosity.
Once we arrived at the large room with thick wooden doors, I was greeted by a stern-looking man behind a massive desk. He was the Guild Master of Korea, a legendary Rank S Hunter known for his tough demeanor.
"Kim Do-yun," he called in a deep voice. "Please, have a seat."
I nodded, trying to stay calm, though my heart was racing wildly. God, why do I have to be here? This is a total nightmare!
The Guild Master looked at me with a serious expression.
"I've heard a lot about you, Do-yun-ssi," he said. "They say your abilities are remarkable. Some Hunters saw you taking down high-level monsters on your own and finding rare items effortlessly. Even other Rank S Hunters are impressed by you."
I gave a nervous smile. "Ah, I was just… lucky to be in the right place at the right time."
The Guild Master gave a faint smile, looking satisfied.
"Humble, are we? That's rare. Most Rank S Hunters with natural talent sometimes forget this value." He nodded thoughtfully for a moment. "I have a special invitation for you, Do-yun-ssi. We're hosting a major event, with Hunters from all around the world attending. I want you to come as an honored guest."
I almost choked at his words. An honored guest? Me? What am I supposed to do there? I felt the room start to spin but tried to keep a straight face.
I managed a calm smile, even though I really wanted to run away inside.
"Ah… Guild Master, wouldn't this invitation be better suited for a truly talented Hunter?"
"Do-yun-ssi," he replied firmly. "You're an inspiration to other Hunters. Calm, strong, and humble. We need more people like you to set an example."
I could only nod weakly. Inspiration? Role model? What are you talking about, old man? Can't I just disappear right now?
I walked towards the break room. Each step felt heavy, though I tried to maintain a calm exterior.
Why is this happening? I just joined, and I'm already being dragged into a big event, surrounded by world-class Hunters. All because of some misunderstanding about "strength" that I don't even understand.
The sound of the door opening snapped me back to reality. The break room was crowded. A few Hunters immediately looked at me with admiring gazes.
"Do-yun-ssi! Wow, since when did you become the guild's honored guest?" A young Hunter in a green uniform approached with excitement. His eyes sparkled, waiting for my answer with a serious expression.
I scrambled to come up with a safe response.
"Ah, maybe because I'm new. The Guild Master probably just wants to introduce his members better?" I chuckled, hoping this simple explanation would be enough.
Some of the other Hunters nodded, seeming satisfied with my answer. However, a muscular Hunter looked at me with a different expression. He was watching me seriously.
"Do-yun-ssi," he said, coming closer. "I heard you took down a high-level monster all on your own yesterday. Is that true?"
Oh, come on, that rumor spread fast! I tried to stay calm.
"Actually, I was just… lucky since the monster wasn't that strong," I answered softly, hoping this explanation would be enough.
But the muscular Hunter just laughed, clapping me on the shoulder. "You're so modest! With skills like that, you still don't brag. We need more Hunters like you, Do-yun-ssi."
I could only smile stiffly. Damn, this is getting worse. How could they keep misunderstanding like this?
Just as I felt this conversation would never end, a voice echoed from the doorway.
"Alright, everyone gather in the training grounds! The Guild Master wants to make sure we're ready for the big event next week!"
The Hunters in the lounge immediately got up, myself included. Before leaving, the muscular Hunter gave me a respectful nod, then walked off. I made my way to the grounds with mixed feelings, not sure what awaited me.
At the grounds, Hunters were already gathering. Several instructors stood at the front, leading the exercises. I stood at the back, hoping not to attract too much attention, but it was pointless.
"Do-yun-ssi, come here!" a loud instructor's voice called to me. I held my breath, feeling like I'd been caught red-handed. Why me? Do they believe the rumors too?
As I walked to the front, all the Hunters watched with curiosity. The instructor smiled at me.
"We've heard some amazing things about you, Do-yun-ssi. Would you mind showing us a bit of your skills?"
I could only force a smile, feeling like a small fish in a sea full of predators.
"Ah, I didn't come prepared with anything," I answered softly, trying to find an excuse.
But the instructor just laughed. "Don't worry, I already prepared a training weapon. Come on, show us something that can inspire them."
The instructor handed me a wooden sword, and the Hunters around me looked even more excited. Carefully, I took the sword and looked around, confused about what I was supposed to do. Oh God, I don't even know how to swing a sword properly!
"Alright, Do-yun-ssi! Strike the target in front of you with all your strength!" the instructor shouted, and all eyes were on me.
I took a deep breath, trying to remember every action scene I'd ever watched in movies. I lifted the wooden sword with both hands, preparing to attack. Come on, Do-yun, don't make a fool of yourself!
With one breath, I swung the sword at the target set a few meters in front of me. Just as the sword was about to land, I lost my balance and slipped, but somehow, the sword managed to hit dead center on the target.
All the Hunters around me looked shocked. They clapped, looking impressed. Meanwhile, I was still trying to steady myself, feeling like I was about to fall over.
"Amazing!" one Hunter shouted. "Such an unpredictable move! You're really strong, Do-yun-ssi!"
Amazing, my ass! Are they serious? That was just me almost falling, for god's sake!
The instructor smiled with satisfaction and patted my shoulder.
"A unique fighting style, I like it! You don't need a formal combat style any style can work as long as it's effective."
I could only chuckle softly, trying to hide my relief. Thank goodness they didn't realize I had just nearly slipped.
After the training session was over, I quickly left the grounds, not wanting to draw attention any longer. I headed to the waiting room to cool down.
As soon as the door closed, I let out a sigh of relief. Today was truly exhausting! If this keeps up, I'll be stressed out every day!
Still, there's a bit of gratitude. I managed to hide the fact that I'm nothing more than an ordinary person without any superpowers.
But with all these misunderstandings, I'm getting more worried about the guild's big event. If these misconceptions keep piling up, I'm not sure how long I can keep dodging.