Chapter 4: The Boy’s Identity

Jin Seongha’s first awakened skill, Anguish, has three abilities.

1. Weapon Summoning. It summons a sword enveloped in darkness. This Black Cloud Sword has never been broken in the story.
2. Mental Manipulation. The dark aura surrounding the sword instills ‘anguish’ in anything it touches, tormenting the opponent’s mind.
3. Mental Focus. Conversely, it clears ‘anguish’ from the caster, enhancing their concentration.

In short, Anguish is a cheat skill that attacks both the opponent’s body and mind while boosting the caster’s focus.

At the current Level 1 stage, Jin Seongha already possesses a skill comparable to Level 3.

His overwhelming strength compared to those around him is undeniable.

Teacher called this the ‘protagonist buff.’

Ion agreed.

‘Jin Seongha, hunting in Level 1 fields, has never lost a single time.’

Ion planned to hand him his first defeat.

Not by overpowering the Black Cloud Sword—no one, not even the second protagonist later in the story, could do that.

‘Instead, I’ll use my self-developed magic to outsmart him.’

Whoosh!

As Jin Seongha swung his sword, a dark mist surged forward.

Ion flipped backward through the air, creating distance.

Releasing his flame sword, he brought his hands together.

A green glow began to emanate.

“Another skill?”

Jin Seongha swung his sword faster, as if refusing to give Ion time to cast.

Ion dodged with agile movements, occasionally striking back.

Oddly, Jin Seongha didn’t launch any physical attacks.

‘Why not?’

Ion didn’t know why, but it worked in his favor.

By the time he was pushed to the edge of the mansion’s wall, his magic was complete.

Flash—

A green orb glowed brightly in Ion’s hands.

Curiosity flickered in Jin Seongha’s eyes.

Ion, balancing the green orb in his palm, extended it toward the dark mist.

Jin Seongha raised an eyebrow at the seemingly self-destructive act.

Ion, however, smiled brightly.

A magic inspired by phytoremediation, the process of plants absorbing and purifying pollutants.

Pollution Purification.

The black darkness was sucked into the green orb.

“What…!?”

The mist vanished instantly, rendering the Black Cloud Sword’s name meaningless.

Jin Seongha’s eyes widened.

Ion didn’t stop there.

Leaping high into the air, he hurled the green orb, now filled with absorbed pollutants, into Jin Seongha’s mansion.

Boom!

Rumble… Rumble rumble…

A deafening explosion and vibrations shook the ground, as if a bomb had gone off.

Jin Seongha’s face hardened, thinking of his sleeping pets.

He hurriedly vaulted over the wall but froze.

He’d expected a destroyed garden, but it was the opposite.

The garden’s plants had bloomed vibrantly, as if basking in glorious sunlight.

Buckwheat flowers, chrysanthemums—flowers out of season—were in full bloom.

A myriad of floral scents assaulted his nose.

How? He’d never heard of a skill like this.

As Jin Seongha stood, mouth agape, staring at the blooming garden, a young boy’s voice rang out.

“If you’re curious about my identity, join Horizon Guild. I’ll be going now.”

What?

He looked up quickly, but the boy was already gone.

“A movement skill? …Three skills?”

Jin Seongha muttered in disbelief.

Only two people in the world had more than three skills: Elliot from the U.S. and Jin Seongha himself.

It seemed Horizon Guild had been hiding a powerhouse.

Meow.

Woof, woof!

His beloved pets’ cries came from inside the house.

Jin Seongha hurriedly opened the inner gate, and two dogs rushed out—a small white one and a yellow Jindo.

“Come here, Snowball, Nari.”

He hugged the dogs, their tails wagging furiously.

Two cats sauntered out next, and he petted them affectionately.

The dogs, after licking his hands thoroughly, noticed the blooming flowers and began bounding around excitedly.

Woof woof woof!

Woof woof!

Ppruu. Ppruuru…

‘When he was clinging to the wall, he looked like nothing but a creepy thief…’

Jin Seongha brushed his fingers over a blooming buckwheat flower.

It felt like a dream.

If not for the dogs’ barking, he might’ve thought he was hallucinating.

Woof woof.

Woof woof woof!

Ppruu… Ppru pii…

“…?”

Wait a second.

What was that strange sound mixed in with Snowball and Nari’s barking?

Jin Seongha scanned the surroundings.

Three seconds until he discovered a new pet.

“Aaagh! It’s great but unsettling. Unsettling but great. What the hell is going on!”

Ji Pyeongseop, the guildmaster of Horizon Guild, paced his office in circles.

His chubby belly jiggled with each step.

Despite the good news, he couldn’t fully rejoice and clutched his hair.

“I’m grateful he chose us over D-NATE or Udinbara, but it’s too weird. Why not them? Why this guild? A strategy to be a snake’s head instead of a dragon’s tail? But he’d have been a dragon’s head at D-NATE!”

This was why Ji Pyeongseop was tearing at his already thinning hair.

Yesterday, May 16, Jin Seongha had firmly declared he wouldn’t join any guild.

Yet today, he was in Horizon’s HR reception room, filling out a membership application.

Joining Horizon Guild!

What was going on?

A man who never went back on his word was voluntarily signing up.

Unable to comprehend, Ji Pyeongseop couldn’t fully celebrate.

“Someone explain! What happened overnight?”

“Guildmaster, you’re making a scene. Please sit down calmly.”

Unlike the anxious guildmaster, the assistant with sleek rimless glasses remained composed.

“Assistant, do I look calm? Jin Seongha is filling out an application for our guild right now. He was waiting here since 7 a.m.! For our guild! How am I supposed to stay calm? Huh? How?”

“Guildmaster, Jin Seongha is in the next room. As an S-rank Hunter, he’s likely heard your shouting. You’re making a poor first impression.”

“What? You should’ve said so sooner.”

Ji Pyeongseop covered his mouth and collapsed onto the sofa.

In a quieter voice, he muttered.

“In my forty-six years, this is the first… no, second stroke of luck. With Jin Seongha, we’ll have an S-rank Hunter. We’ll catch up to D-NATE and Udinbara—no, surpass them. He’s worth three S-rank Hunters. I’m so excited my heart’s gonna burst. Hnngh.”

“A human heart doesn’t burst that easily.”

“From a small business owner to the guildmaster of a world-class guild.”

“Sounds like a web novel title.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

The assistant feigned ignorance and looked at her tablet.

Despite her icy expression, Ji Pyeongseop, after a year together, could tell she was excited.

“Oh, even our ice-cold assistant is thrilled about Jin Seongha joining.”

A year ago, Ji Pyeongseop, who awakened as A-rank, founded Horizon Guild, named after his former small business.

‘Hello. You’re the guildmaster of Horizon Guild, right?’

Right after receiving his guild registration at the temporary Hunter Agency, someone approached him.

A tall beauty with long hair and sharp eyes.

‘Uh… yes. I just registered.’

‘I’d like to join. I’m A-rank.’

‘Huh?’

‘Appoint me as your assistant.’

‘Well, uh.’

‘I’ll work diligently.’

‘Hold on a second.’

‘Appoint me.’

‘Uh, what.’

‘Answer.’

‘…Okay.’

‘Pleased to work with you, Guildmaster Ji Pyeongseop.’

A stranger offered a handshake, and Ji Pyeongseop took it instinctively.

He soon realized this assistant was his first stroke of luck.

Dam Daon’s sharp judgment helped Horizon become a major guild.

Her decisions were never wrong—sometimes, it felt like she could see the future.

“Jin Seongha sure is something, catching even our cool-headed assistant’s attention. I thought you weren’t interested in romance.”

“I have zero interest in romance or men, so stop with the creepy comments. Sit up straight. He’ll be here soon.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll obey my assistant’s orders.”

Shortly after, two knocks sounded, and the door opened.

A man with cheat-like abilities and equally cheat-like looks strode in.

Dressed in a casual suit with a sporty crossbody bag that didn’t quite match, the bag bulging with unknown contents.

“Hunter Jin Seongha, we’ve been expecting you. Come, have a seat.”

“Here’s the application.”

“Yes, yes, thank you. Hand it over.”

Jin Seongha sat and passed the form.

Made by Ji Pyeongseop’s crafting trait, the special paper couldn’t be crumpled or torn easily.

While Ji Pyeongseop pretended to read the barely legible text, the assistant offered tea.

Jin Seongha declined.

“Oh, Hunter Jin Seongha.”

Ji Pyeongseop pointed to a spot on the form.

“You missed a signature here.”

The final signature line at the bottom was blank.

Jin Seongha crossed his arms and sneered.

“Pretty bold.”

“Pardon?”

“Bring out that kid from yesterday.”

“Yesterday’s kid…?”

“The intruder who snuck into my house, threatened me, and left.”

“Threatened… intruder? What are you talking about?”

Ji Pyeongseop frowned and tilted his head, looking oddly comical for a chubby middle-aged man.

“Stop playing dumb. I don’t have time for games. Bring that kid to me, and I’ll sign the final line.”

“You really don’t know what I’m talking about? You’re saying you didn’t send him?”

“He said I sent him? I swear I’ve never done anything shady like threatening someone! I even kept all my non-awakened employees from before the cataclysm. Who’s trying to frame me!”

Ji Pyeongseop was about to lose it when Jin Seongha said coldly.

“He clearly said if I wanted to know his identity, I should join Horizon Guild. If the guildmaster doesn’t know, that doesn’t add up.”

“He specifically named our guild?”

“Yes.”

“What a… helpful con artist…”

Ji Pyeongseop glanced at his capable, secretive assistant, wondering if she knew anything.

But she shook her head, equally clueless.

Ji Pyeongseop habitually ruffled his hair.

“Maybe someone’s trying to smear our guild. Describe him. We’ll put out a search. We can’t let someone ruin our reputation.”

“A boy in his late teens, refined appearance. Dark brown hair, green eyes. Short-sleeve tee, jeans, and a brown robe.”

“That’s not enough to go on. Anything more distinctive?”

“…Morning glories.”

“What?”

“He was sniffing the morning glory stems, lost in ecstasy.”

Crash.

The assistant, who had been sitting with a cool, expressionless face, knocked over her teacup.