One day, two days before going to work.
Jong-sik, who was casually watching YouTube videos, pout at the incoming phone call. Like any other office worker, phone calls during off-hours were annoying.
“Jong-sik, it’s Team Leader Pyeong-ari. Are you available to talk?”
“I’m not due to go to work until two days from now.”
“Hmm. I didn’t call you to come to work. I have something to tell you, that’s why I contacted you.”
“Oh, is that so? What is it that you wanted to say?”
“I mentioned that we would tackle dungeons as soon as the team is recruited, right?”
“I heard that.”
“As soon as recruitment is done, we’re going to tackle a dungeon starting from Monday. So, I called to let you know the location. It’s in…
He said the dungeon is located in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.”
Before hanging up, Team Leader Pyeong-ari asked Jong-sik various questions.
For instance, he asked if Jong-sik plans to depart with him, and Jong-sik gladly agreed.
How much equipment are you planning to bring? If I include my equipment and Jong-sik’s, then…
“Equipment? I didn’t have any intention to bring or think about bringing anything.”
Pardon? What do you mean? You don’t have any equipment to bring? At least you should have a suit.
“If it’s something I must wear, then I’ll ask Jong-pal. Besides, Jong-pal already decided to let me use his equipment.”
Hold on. So, does that mean I understand correctly that you don’t have a suit right now?
You could almost imagine Team Leader Pyeong-ari’s expression on the other end of the line.
“You understood that very accurately.”
Phew, instead of saying that, why don’t you come with me somewhere?
That’s how the call between the two ended, with Team Leader Pyeong-ari coming to Jong-sik’s house.
***
Not long after, a white sports car pulled up in front of Jong-sik’s house.
It was the Thor S, a monster-like sports car with a maximum output of 3,000 horsepower, and only three of them were imported into the country.
Its grandeur was so impressive that Jong-pal, who had been stuck in the first-floor kitchen preparing to open, quietly came out to admire it.
The flowerbed gives an impromptu performance, holding a magpie foot on the stairs and flashing a mischievous grin. Of course, realizing it’s not my concern, she quickly hides her expression.
“…Wow, I never thought I’d see this in person.”
“Is it a nice car?”
“Hyung, that’s a car that only has three in Korea. But why is a car like that parked in front of our house?”
“That’s Team Leader Pyeong-ari’s car.”
“…Huh?”
On the other hand, Jong-sik, who wouldn’t know such things, just had a blank expression. Rather, he was more interested in Team Leader Pyeong-ari’s attire, different from usual, than the flashy car.
“Hello. It looks like the younger brother is also here.”
He silently watched Team Leader Pyeong-ari, who got out of the car.
A casually made-up face with a neatly tied-up bun.
With sunglasses covering half of her face, Pyeong-ari wore a tight white T-shirt and short jeans. It was quite different from the usual mannish suits she wore. ‘You wouldn’t recognize her from the outside.’ It definitely suited her better.
Jong-sik muttered inwardly. Meanwhile, Team Leader Pyeong-ari was exchanging greetings with Jongpal.
“I heard you’re opening a restaurant.”
“Oh, my brother told you.”
“No, we haven’t had a chance to talk much with Jong-sik yet. The business owner who showed us this building told us.”
“Yes, thanks to my brother, we were able to open. But what brings you here today…”
“Phew, I really didn’t expect to come all the way here. Can you believe that an A-class hunter doesn’t even have a suit? And he says he’ll use Jong-pal’s equipment. I can’t just stand by and watch.”
Understanding Team Leader Pyeong-ari’s complaint, Jongpal nodded with a knowing expression.
“Uh, sorry about that. My brother probably spent all his money buying this house.”
“Oh, no, it’s not like that. Jongpal doesn’t have to apologize!”
“Yeah, what do you have to apologize for? I didn’t buy it because I didn’t need it. And I know you spent all your money buying this house.”
Jong-sik interjected into their conversation. By the way, even if he hadn’t bought the house, he had no intention of using his money to buy equipment or anything like that.
Anyway, it’s like trying to buy armor for a golden body. It’s just nonsense about money. So, I need to make it clear. Jongsik spoke up.
“Anyway, as I mentioned on the phone earlier, I don’t have money to buy a suit, and I have no intention of borrowing or anything like that. So, there’s no need to show off equipment for no reason.”
“Don’t worry about it! Since you won’t buy it after seeing it, let’s hurry up and go together.”
“Where are we going anyway?”
Jongsik looked puzzled, and Team Leader Pyeong-ari resolved his curiosity.
“Jong-sik is now our guild’s flagship hunter. How can we just stand by when a flagship hunter wants to work without safety gear?”
“If you don’t stand by, then what?”
“The guild will support you, so you don’t have to worry about money!”
Hmm. That changes things. Anyway, there’s no need to refuse free stuff.
‘I can give it to Jong-pal or Yeona later when the contract is over.’
Thinking like that, Jong-pal, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
“Team Leader, don’t just rush and forget that even Mount Geumgang has a post-dinner view. Come in before you go and have a meal first.”
Then Pyeong-ari clapped his hands.
“Oh no, it’s fine! We hastily booked this workshop, so we need to go quickly. By the way, when did you say the opening was?”
“Next Monday for us.”
“That works out perfectly. Let’s do this. Can we make a reservation for next Monday evening?”
“Of course! But our menu isn’t fixed and changes daily… If there’s anything you want, please let us know.”
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do. We’ll eat whatever is served, so just save us a table.”
Jong-pal’s face lit up at the unexpected first reservation. He bid farewell to Jong-sik and Pyeong-ari with a bright smile.
“Sure. I’ll call you again then. You said it was urgent, right? Go with your brother quickly.”
“Hehe. Then I’ll borrow my brother for a bit.”
“I’ll be back before dinner.”
Vrooom-
Jong-sik got out of the white sports car as it left the alley.
***
Team Leader Pyeong-ari’s car was worth the money. It only took about an hour to cover a distance that usually takes two hours.
“We’re here now. This is it.”
Team Leader Pyeong-ari announced their arrival as she took off her sunglasses.
“Ah, feels good.”
Jong-sik got out of the car and took a deep breath. The fresh air wasn’t too bad after a long time.
Moreover, the secluded forest seemed sufficient for healing.
Jong-sik looked around with a gentle smile. Yeona briefly explained the place they were about to visit.
“It’s a workshop operated by a domestic S-grade crafting skill holder. Do you know how hard it was for me to make this reservation?”
Team Leader Pyeong-ari, who puffed up her cheeks slightly, looked quite unfamiliar. So, is she asking for praise?
“You must have worked hard.”
“Where’s the mirror? Jong-sik needs to see his own face now. It’s like, expressionless.”
“Ah, haha. Thank you for your hard work. Is this good enough?”
“Hmm.”
As they walked along the forest path, engaged in such trivial conversation, the workshop ahead began to reveal itself.
‘That’s Dark Wyvern leather.’
Monster hides hung on long poles, perhaps drying in the sun,
‘And a Pongka? Quite well-equipped.’
The dungeon plant, Pong, which serves as the food for the Monster White Lizard, spread out widely.
It’s a sight that reminds one of the endless wilderness of the Eldar Continent.
‘I wonder how everyone is doing.’
As he reminisced about the past, his former comrades naturally came to mind. He chuckled woefully as he dispelled his nostalgia.
That’s when it happened.
“Team Leader Pyeong-ari!”
The woman who came out of the workshop door shouted at Team Leader Pyeong-ari.
She seemed to be around forty years old, looking quite strict.
“Teacher, we’ve come.”
“Oh, what’s going on? There’s so much I really need to say, but since it’s Team Leader Pyeong-ari, I’ll hold back.”
“Yes, yes. I know.”
With the S-rank skill [Craftsman’s Spirit],
The owner of the workshop was Jang Mi-ae.
“Know what? What do you know! Do you even know who the visitor is today? He was the head of the Ironblood Guild. You have no idea how much trouble I went through to entertain him. Sigh.”
Approaching Jang Mi-ae, Team Leader Pyeong-ari casually put her arm around her shoulder and gave her a bear-like grin.
“Hehe. Sorry about that. I was really in a hurry. We have to get the equipment right away, but I don’t want to just slap it together! You know. I only seek the best.”
“Ugh. If you can’t say anything properly!”
“I’m just stating the facts, you know? Teacher’s equipment is the best in our country. Hehe.”
“So, is he the one to match the equipment over there?”
Jang Mi-ae asked while looking at Jong-sik, and Team Leader Pyeong-ari answered on his behalf.
“Yes. He’s our guild’s Hunter, Dok Jong-sik. You saw his promotion, right?”
“You’ve plastered it all over, how could I miss it?”
“Well, we only sent one out.”
Jang Mi-ae chuckled at Team LeaderPyeong-ari’s boast. Then she looked at Jong-sik and spoke again.
“Anyway, welcome. You porbably already know my name, so I’ll skip the introduction. I’m not someone who easily bows down to fame. If it weren’t for Team Leader Pyeong-ari, it wouldn’t have been so easy to see me like this.”
The middle-aged woman sure has an odd way of introducing herself.
Jong-sik responded with a nonchalant expression as he stared at Jang Mi-ae.
He was the kind of person who would give back what he received.
“I have no idea.”
“Oh, my, another one who’s never experienced this before, how embarrassing. There are even people among Hunters who don’t know me.”
“Was I supposed to know?”
Jang Mi-ae’s mouth twitched.
Seeing her reaction, Team Leader Pyeong-ari raised her voice with surprise.
“Ahaha. Uh, Jong-sik. This is the owner of the workshop, Teacher Jang Mi-ae. She’s the one who makes the most expensive equipment in our country. Isn’t the workshop great too? It’s built in the Clean Gate area, so…”
“Okay, that’s enough. Stop it. Can’t I introduce myself? And even if you’re busy, next time, please make a reservation before coming. It’s embarrassing to have staff waiting outside because of this nonsense.”
“Oh, Teacher, why are you like this?”
“Enough. I’ve made up my mind!”
“Jong-sik hasn’t been awakened for long, so he doesn’t know much about this field yet.”
But she was already upset beyond measure.
Team Leader Pyeong-ari remained speechless in the icy atmosphere, chewing on her lips.
That’s when Jong-sik poured cold water on the tense atmosphere.
“The Clean Gate area? That doesn’t seem right.”
“What did you just say? Ugh, I was trying to hold back but…”
Excited about her workshop like her own child, Jang Mi-ae rolled her eyes.
Yet Jong-sik only pointed casually upwards towards the workshop.
It was a sudden shift in the direction of escalating tension.
Jang Mi-ae followed Jong-sik’s finger with her flushed face.
The sky was tearing apart. She screamed in terror.
“Aaaah!”
“Yeah, not the Clean Gate area, it seems.”
