Chapter 56: The Unsettling Invitation

#56 The Unsettling Invitation

“Beast Tamer Hunters” referred to those possessing the skill to tame monsters. Their usual method of acquisition involved taming creatures within a Gate and bringing them out. The rarer a Beast Tamer Hunter, the higher the grade of their tamed beast. Conversely, their numbers remained exceedingly few.

“So, you became a Beast Tamer Hunter midway?”

“Should I say that’s the case? Oh, there’s a rumor that your tamed beast is Dagon. Wasn’t Dagon a C-class monster? Isn’t that right, Han Dokyeom?”

Lee Sanghyeon chuckled smoothly, his voice laced with an unamused query. Dokyeom, staring intently at him, responded without a change in his expression.

“Yes, it is indeed a C-class monster.”

“But that’s rather odd, isn’t it? Han Dokyeom, you’re E-class. Can you truly control a C-class monster?”

Lee Sanghyeon’s gaze swept over Dokyeom, tinged with feigned concern. He then tapped his mouth near his lips, as if about to offer unsolicited advice, before speaking.

“It’s just my old-fashioned worry, but the rumors circulating aren’t good. I hear that people generally can’t properly control monsters of a higher rank than themselves… Oh, of course, I’m not saying that’s necessarily the case for you, Han Dokyeom.”

Lee Sanghyeon’s eyes crinkled into a subtle smile, almost disappearing. Beside him, Hwang Geunwoo, who had been tilting his head askew, also chimed in, his lion-like gaze scrutinizing Dokyeom.

“Dagon is a decent monster, sure… but it’s not the kind to step foot here.”

Behind them, the other hunters silently cheered, as if commending their words. Some even cast gazes of respect toward Hwang Geunwoo.

Dokyeom alternated his gaze between Hwang Geunwoo and Lee Sanghyeon, then, after a slight delay, he offered a smile. It was utterly affable and harmless.

“Ah, is that so?”

One thing was certain: Dokyeom never initiated a quarrel.

“Actually, I’ve been quite worried about my Dagon, as it lacks a bit of social grace for a monster. But seeing you, Hunter Hwang Geunwoo, brings a sense of relief to my heart. While we’re at it, how about you take a look at my tamed beast? I’m still a novice, so I’m not sure what it might be lacking.”

In other words, this was entirely something the opponent had brought upon themselves.

“It just so happens that Dagon is in the swimming pool right now, so why don’t we go take a look? My child, you see, is as gentle as a rabbit and as kind as an angel. Its name is also virtuous, so I called it Agon. What do you say, yes?”

At his words, the other hunters, who had been sipping coffee and observing the situation from afar, simultaneously brightened. They even moved to hold the elevator for Hwang Geunwoo themselves.

Yet, at this moment, the hunters failed to realize it. They didn’t see the madness creeping into Dokyeom’s eyes as he uttered, “Shall we go, yes? What do you think?”

Even the A-class hunters, who had once fled the swimming pool naked and in a frantic rush after witnessing a man-eating shark, were equally oblivious.

“The swimming pool, hmm. I was actually planning to go there… I didn’t want to go to President Tae looking like this anyway, so perhaps I’ll take this opportunity to casually drop by.”

Hwang Geunwoo cleared his throat and confidently turned away. Dokyeom, with his hands cupped around his mouth, shouted after Hwang Geunwoo’s retreating back.

“Hunter Hwang Geunwoo, please, please take your tamed beast! My child, you see, lacks social skills so severely, and seeing that fellow—no, that pretty child—might just change its mind. Please be sure to tell them I said it was pretty! I’m too busy to go now, but I’ll drop by later! Please take good care of my Agon! Understood? Yes?!”

Only Lee Sanghyeon sensed the strangeness of the situation. However, by the time he opened his mouth to speak, the elevator carrying Hwang Geunwoo was already stubbornly closing its doors.

The lobby had emptied in an instant. The remaining hunters had followed Hwang Geunwoo, dashing up the emergency stairs. All that remained were Dokyeom, whistling as he exited the guild, and Lee Sanghyeon, standing bewildered with his hand outstretched.

‘What… what is he? Why does his retreating figure feel so unsettling?’

Lee Sanghyeon’s bewildered gaze remained fixed on Dokyeom’s back until his figure vanished into the distance.

Anxiety coiled in his chest, making his heart pound like an earthquake. Lee Sanghyeon only understood the true nature of that unease when he finally arrived at that place called the swimming pool.

However, by the time he realized it, it was already too late.

****

Casually exiting the guild, Dokyeom glanced at his phone and saw a message from Beom Yeonhu, confirming receipt. His persistent efforts to persuade him whenever possible had paid off. Dokyeom sent a simple reply and walked along the wide boulevard.

He then checked the route to the location Han Yuseong had sent him and set off to find a bus stop. After transferring buses twice and even taking the subway, he finally arrived at a vast sandy beach on the outskirts of Seoul, pinpointed by Han Yuseong’s satellite imagery.

The area was already bustling with preparations for the Gate raid. To what extent, you ask?

“Mijin, how are they? Are the photos turning out well? I need to get a lot of solo shots while I have the chance.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve used my ‘bazooka’ camera, so… it’s just not working. I don’t know why it can’t capture the real thing.”

“Oh, can we move those ‘bazooka’ cameras now? They’ve been hogging all the space since earlier, as if they’ve rented it out!”

“What?! You’re standing there taking up space for two people! Seriously, don’t you have any conscience?!”

Outside the safety tape, a throng of people relentlessly aimed their cameras, snapping photos of those gathered before the Gate. They were personal fans of the hunters who had made a name for themselves.

More than half of them wielded ‘bazooka’ cameras, utterly preoccupied with capturing Han Yuseong’s silhouette. This surge in fans was a direct result of Han Yuseong’s rapidly rising popularity after the recent Eulwangri incident.

Dokyeom sought out a less crowded spot and stepped past the safety line. In the distance, four instructor hunters, clad in stab-proof vests, stood amidst the swirling sand. These were the instructors he had seen before, along with Han Yuseong.

“Hunter Kim Seonwoo.”

“Yes, I’m here!”

Before the instructors, twelve trainees, arranged in neat rows, responded to Han Yuseong’s summons with disciplined precision.

Considering the post-processing teams already stationed around, and the palpable tension in the air, it seemed it was almost time to enter the Gate.

‘Let’s see.’

Dokyeom shifted his gaze, scanning the surroundings. Only after a thorough sweep did he find the person he was looking for: Beom Yeonhu, seated behind the trainees, taping his hands. His jet-black hair fluttered like reeds in the dry wind.

However, Beom Yeonhu was not alone.

“Hey, they say this is an A-class Gate. Will he be alright?”

“Don’t you know about observation, just observation? There won’t be even a speck of a chance for us to step in, so relax. We had to start doing A-class Gates eventually anyway. It’s a good thing to tag along and observe, isn’t it? Right, Taesan?”

“Indeed. We owe a lot to Yeonhu.”

Kang Taesan chuckled. His softly spoken words, delivered with a gentle smile, held a significant undertone. However, he swiftly changed his demeanor, tilting his head as if troubled.

“But I am a bit worried about Yeonhu. Even if we have a decent rank, Yeonhu… isn’t it a bit dangerous for him?”

Beom Yeonhu’s hands, which had been taping, paused. His downcast gaze blinked slowly and heavily.

“An A-class Gate is a different level from what we’ve been doing. Even if it’s just observation, depending on the monster type, we might have to lend a hand, and Yeonhu’s abilities make it impossible to herd A-class monsters. Injuries are one problem, but if something unfortunate were to happen, how awkward would Yeonhu’s position be? That’s what I’m worried about.”

Worry. The worry Kang Taesan felt and the worry Beom Yeonhu felt were fundamentally different from the start.

“What’s there to be so concerned about? Honestly, if it weren’t for you, would that Yeonhu even have set foot inside a Gate by now? Even without his herding, the raid wouldn’t be hindered. The other kids just kept quiet because you kept including him out of old sentimentality. If you think about it, Yeonhu should be more grateful to you.”

“Don’t be too harsh. It’s true that thanks to Yeonhu, we’ve been able to clear Gates without injury so far.”

“Well, that’s…”

At Kang Taesan’s defense, the man reluctantly conceded. Beom Yeonhu’s paused hands also began to move again, resuming the taping.

‘My little puppy is getting trashed by that aggro-magnet today.’

Dokyeom watched the scene from a distance, then shoved his hands into his pockets and began to move, stretching his long legs. As he trod on the barren earth, countless glances shot toward him, piercing him like daggers as he drew closer to the Gate.

Han Yuseong was no different. Dokyeom offered a faint smile to Han Yuseong, who seemed to have much to say, then subtly bypassed him, approaching Beom Yeonhu. Beom Yeonhu recognized Dokyeom and immediately stood up.

“It’s been a while, Beom Yeonhu. I thought you might get a bit lost, but thankfully you found your way here.”

Instead of answering, Beom Yeonhu inclined his head. His firm lips then uttered a pleasant voice.

“Yes, I happened to be nearby… so I arrived quickly.”

“Yes, that’s fortunate. However,”

Dokyeom shifted his gaze, sweeping over the three men standing behind Beom Yeonhu. His eyes were bland to the point of being insipid, but his tone was anything but.

“Why did you bring along some hangers-on?”

At his words, Kang Taesan stiffened perceptibly, while the other two men blinked blankly. The atmosphere instantly tightened, as if compressed.

The first to recover was the notably dark-skinned man who had been relentlessly antagonizing Beom Yeonhu.

“Hah, what a load of rubbish I’m hearing.”

He made no secret of his offense, turning away as if deeply piqued. The faint curses he muttered gradually faded, and the surrounding atmosphere instantly turned frigid.