"Ah, I don't want to. Why does it have to be me?"
– I didn't pick you. Seokyoung specifically pointed you out.
"What about the work I've been doing?"
– Seokyoung is providing two B-rank hunters as support, so there won't be any gaps in your duties. They didn't mention a specific duration, but it'll probably be 2-3 months. For now, commute there. Coordinate with Soobin and go together.
Yoon Seo let out a long sigh. After ending the call, he seriously considered quitting his job while changing his destination.
"I'll be commuting here for a while."
– Got it, I'll save it.
Yoon Seo felt a strange sense of unease. His instincts were usually accurate, especially when it came to ominous feelings.
'They specifically picked both me and Park Soobin?'
If they had only selected him, he wouldn't have found it suspicious. However, it felt highly questionable that they chose both him and Park Soobin, who was hiding his identity as a C-rank hunter while actually being an A-rank. Unlike the unsettled Yoon Seo, the guild group chat was buzzing with excitement.
[Go Heewon] Damn… I'm so jealous. I can't accept this.
[Management Team Kim Daeri] Don't tarnish the name of The Guild of Leaves. Fighting!
[Park Youngbum] Damn… I'm jealous. I can't accept this either.
[Management Team Choi Woori] It's a relief that Yoon Seo is the one going. Haha, it seems like he won't cause any trouble.
[Go Heewon] Yoon Seo oppa wouldn't care whether it's Seokyoung or not, so why is it him and not me?
[Strategy Team Soo Yoo] Yoon Seo, we won't see you for a while. Congratulations and take care!
[Park Youngbum] I bet he's scrolling through this with that annoyed look on his face. Why is it him and not me?
While other teams were sending him off with good wishes, his own teammates were consumed with envy and jealousy. Seeing the resentful messages from the two made Yoon Seo feel slightly better.
Soon, Park Soobin also contacted him. Since they hadn't exchanged phone numbers, the call came through the guild messenger on the U-Pad.
– Yoon Seo, you heard, right?
"I heard. I'll be there in 20 minutes."
– I'll arrive around the same time. Let's meet and go in together.
"Okay."
– Aren't you excited about commuting to Seokyoung? I heard the S-rank hunters don't have any raid schedules for now. I hope we run into them by chance.
Park Soobin's gentle voice sounded like a curse to Yoon Seo, dampening his mood again. After deciding on a meeting point and ending the call, Yoon Seo, for the first time in a long while, sent a message in the group chat.
[Me] I'm not too keen on going, but it's happening. I'll do my best.
[Go Heewon] See?! He doesn't even care!! It should've been me!!
[Park Youngbum] I knew it. Ugh, I want to go instead!!! Why isn't it me…
As the two started throwing tantrums, Yoon Seo finally felt a bit of healing.
***
"Are you Hunter Yoon Seo and Hunter Park Soobin? Please use the central elevator to reach the 102nd floor."
The receptionist at the lobby's information desk confirmed their identities and handed them temporary access passes.
There was no one in front of the central elevators. Since there were six elevators, it didn't take long after pressing the button for one to arrive from the basement. Yoon Seo and Soobin stepped into the elevator.
"Ah."
Inside the elevator, there was already one man. With messy hair falling below his eyebrows and thick-rimmed glasses, the man leaned against the corner as soon as Yoon Seo and Park Soobin entered. He looked utterly terrified.
['Park Kang' has activated the
['Park Kang' is viewing your
The man immediately used a probing skill. Whether or not Park Soobin saw the message, he acted clueless and greeted him warmly.
"Hello. You're Hunter Amhyang from the Muhyang Guild, right?"
"Ah, ah. Yes, h-hello."
"I'm Park Soobin from the Guild of Leaves. This is Yoon Seo from the same guild."
"Y-yes. H-hello… hello."
"Hello."
Since Park Soobin had already introduced him, Yoon Seo had no choice but to greet the man as well. He quickly scanned the man with his brown eyes. The messy-haired hunter trembled pathetically. He couldn't meet their eyes and kept staring at the elevator floor. His shoulders were hunched, yet he seemed to have a large, muscular build.
Feeling that staring any longer would only increase the man's discomfort, Yoon Seo moved to press the floor button. But 102 was already lit. Noticing this, Park Soobin smiled slightly.
"So, Hunter Amhyang is heading to the 102nd floor as well. Are you one of the hunters selected today?"
"Ah… yes, from our guild… it's just me."
"I see. Nice to meet you. It's the same for us."
"Y-yes…"
"Looks like we'll be working together from now on. I look forward to it."
"M-me too… I-I look forward to it…"
The messy-haired man clung to the corner of the elevator, avoiding their gaze, and nodded awkwardly. It was a meeting of an extrovert and an introvert. Feeling pity for the pitiful sight, Yoon Seo nudged Park Soobin's arm with his elbow, signaling him to stop.
Park Soobin nonchalantly remarked.
"Yoon Seo, let's do well. Heewon specifically told us not to tarnish the Guild of Leaves' name."
"Didn't you already tarnish it with the hanbok masquerade?"
"Haha… That was a refreshing experience. It's a shame you didn't join us. I would've loved to see a handsome young master."
"I'm 29 years old. And even in my deathbed, I wouldn't wear that."
"You're not the type I thought you were. Ignoring the spirit of our nation's culture by rejecting hanbok—truly disappointing."
Yoon Seo let Park Soobin's jokes go in one ear and out the other. On the way to the 102nd floor, a few people entered and exited the elevator. Each time strangers entered, Hunter Amhyang let out a small hiccup and used his probing skill. When the crowd left, he sighed in relief.
'He's a rare type among Awakened.'
Though Yoon Seo stood with his back to the man, it was as if he had eyes on the back of his head. He keenly observed every little movement of the man. Typically, even the shyest individuals would undergo some change in personality after awakening, but this man was unlike anyone Yoon Seo had seen.
When they arrived at the 102nd floor, a white, pristine corridor stretched out before them. A Seokyoung employee holding a U-Pad approached them.
"Hunter Amhyang, Hunter Lazbin, and Hunter Yoon Seo, correct? Please wait in the lounge for a moment. We kindly ask that you refrain from using active skills in the lounge, except for passive skills."
The staff member guided them to the waiting room and left. Upon opening the door, a clean space with a large sofa, snack vending machine, microwave, refrigerator, TV, and even a makeshift bed was revealed. Yoon Seo immediately noticed magic-detection items installed on the walls. These items, which weren't present in the lobby, elevators, or corridors, were only attached in the waiting room and glowed red without pause.
['Lee Jungin' has activated the
['Lee Jungin' is viewing your
['Kim Jinhae' has activated the
['Kim Jinhae' is viewing your
['Namgung Simhae' has activated the
['Namgung Simhae' is viewing your
It was an invisible war, with no bloodshed but plenty of tension. Park Soobin frowned, possibly because the logs were visible to him as well. He scanned the ten hunters, each seated in different poses and wearing varying expressions. Surprisingly, he refrained from using a probing skill himself.
"Looks like quite a few people are already here. We're not late, though."
Park Soobin opened the conversation with a friendly smile. In contrast, Yoon Seo let out a quiet sigh upon recognizing several faces among the hunters present.
There was Hong Euiyoon, the red-haired man who had picked a fight on the day of the merger; the dimpled man who had tried to befriend the hanbok-wearing members of the Guild of Leaves; and even the two younger siblings of Kim Seohae. Only three faces were unfamiliar.
Was this really just a coincidence…?
"It's a pleasure to meet you. My Hunter name is Lazbin."
"Hello, I'm Paige."
The dimpled man was the first to respond to Park Soobin's warm greeting with a smile. Namgung Simhae and Kim Jinhae ignored him, while Hong Euiyoon scowled. Meanwhile, the messy-haired man scurried to the farthest corner, clutching his bag as he sat down. Yoon Seo, too, headed for a sofa in the middle-back area.
"You're the hunter who wore the navy-blue robe at the banquet, right?"
"You recognized me? That's a bit embarrassing."
"It was really impressive. I regret that our guild didn't think of something like that. Now that we're in the same group, please share your dress code ideas with me next time."
"Of course, Hunter Paige."
"Ah, please call me Lee Jungin."
"Alright, Lee Jungin. Please call me Park Soobin as well."
"Tch. Grown men acting all gross."
Hong Euiyoon interrupted Lee Jungin and Park Soobin's friendly exchange with a rude remark. While Park Soobin typically let provocations slide, Lee Jungin also seemed the type to avoid conflict. The two locked eyes and calmly apologized.
"Sorry if we were being noisy."
The two bowed politely, exchanged contact information, and didn't speak further.
"What kind of hunter acts so timid? Tch."
When no one reacted to his provocation, Hong Euiyoon grew bored and searched for another target.
"What's your deal? Why are you glaring at me? Want to fight?"
He picked a fight with Kim Seohae's youngest brother, who was seated diagonally three spaces away and staring at him. Kim Jinhae frowned, and Namgung Simhae, seated behind him, tensed up. However, a hunter next to Kim Jinhae lightly tapped his arm, signaling him to stay calm, preventing the situation from escalating.
"Ugh, boring losers."
Hong Euiyoon sighed as if his fun had been ruined. His eyes then met Yoon Seo's. Having already scanned Yoon Seo's fabricated profile using the
It was a relief, but Yoon Seo couldn't shake his unease.
Everyone here seemed to have something special about them. Why am I stuck among people like this?
If Yoon Seo had been an ordinary person, he might have felt excitement instead of unease. But as someone hiding his true identity, he felt uncomfortable and wary.
'No way. I'm probably overthinking this.'
By now, most people searching for Seo Chaeyoon had given up. Those brothers were only looking because their family was part of the Revengers…
Convincing himself otherwise, Yoon Seo struggled to calm his racing thoughts.