Chapter 164: Unequal Departure

#164

This morning, around 7 o’clock. Beom Yeonhu, who usually never wakes Dokyeom, shook him awake himself. His face was full of bewilderment, and he even stammered as if he didn’t know what to say.

Then he abruptly held out his phone. On the screen was an article with a video attached, showing a news anchor reporting a breaking story with a serious expression.

Only after seeing the video that followed the news footage did Dokyeom realize that Taeseongyeon had poured oil on the fire in communication with China.

The footage shown was exactly the original video Dokyeom had handed to Taeseongyeon.

Of course, the entire video wasn’t broadcast. The parts released were mostly where Chinese hunters threatened or used violence. Baek Jiun’s voice was also mixed in there.

[What are you bastards doing! Release this! I said right now!]

[You’d better stay put.]

[Stop bullshitting. You expect me to believe that? The Lamia was your doing too, wasn’t it? You lured us in on purpose, dragged us here, right? What, do you have a skill to control monsters?]

[We don’t have time, so hurry it up. If we drag in more hostages, we might get caught.]

The perfectly crafted video revealed the true faces of the Shanghai hunters in detail.

As that fact was reported even by foreign media, China had been suffering from international criticism and embarrassment since morning.

The media was already united, viciously tearing into China.

It was unclear whether this situation meant Taeseongyeon had stabbed China in the back, or if negotiations had broken down and he released the video. Given that talk of ‘fusion’ and other important issues were omitted, it might have been something agreed upon with China.

‘We have no intention of going easy, so be grateful we’re only exposing this much.’ Something like that trick.

“I’ll talk about that properly when I get back. I’ll try to return quickly.”

And sure enough, China had fallen silent again. Occasionally spitting out words that they wouldn’t respond at all.

If China continued to remain unresponsive amid the pouring criticism, then Sacheon Guild’s position could be considered somewhat restored. Yes, this was enough.

Anyway, the guild was back on its feet.

“Mr. Taeseongyeon, everyone’s staring at us from behind, telling us to go.”

Dokyeom gestured with his chin over Taeseongyeon’s shoulder. The hunters, apparently done loading luggage, were standing casually in front of the trap, waiting impatiently for Taeseongyeon.

As far as Dokyeom knew, those hunters were a team personally assembled by Taeseongyeon, all A-rank and the most experienced in the guild. They were also the ones deployed as the assault team during the recent China incident.

Included there were Hunter Jeong Ilun, who was the team leader of the search party, and Hwang Geunwoo, a tamer who commanded the ‘Razide’ familiar.

This meant Taeseongyeon was going fully prepared.

Despite Dokyeom’s glance, Taeseongyeon remained silent for a long time. He didn’t seem to intend to move, showing no sign of turning around.

“It’s a shame, but can I hug Miss Han Dokyeom before I go?”

“Yes, well… that… what?”

Before Dokyeom could finish his words. In an instant, arms wrapped around his back and his feet lifted off the ground. As his ribs pressed against a solid chest, Dokyeom heard a breath spreading over his shoulder. A breath that seemed like a laugh.

Dokyeom, who had been flapping his dangling feet, stopped mid-motion. All he could clearly see were the hunters in the distance quickly averting their eyes, coughing as if choked.

Sighing, Dokyeom patted Taeseongyeon’s back firmly. Like striking down.

Yeah, I’m generously allowing this hug. Go ahead.

“You’re acting quite childish for going somewhere far. Ah, my arms hurt. Put me down quickly.”

Anyway, Dokyeom was also scheduled to enter the gate in two days, so he wouldn’t be in Korea for a while. Considering that even at the fastest, the assault would take over two weeks, meeting Taeseongyeon might happen nearly a month later.

When the strength in Dokyeom’s hand, which had been firmly patting Taeseongyeon, faded, his feet touched the ground. Their eyes, devoid of laughter, held each other for a while. Taeseongyeon turned first, and Dokyeom’s gaze followed his back.

His back looked exceptionally large.

As Dokyeom quietly watched that sturdy back, he soon remembered something and cupped his hands to shout.

“Oh, and Mr. Taeseongyeon! Don’t forget the guild dinner when you come back! 300,000 won per person! I won’t go unless it’s a hotel! Uwha Guild had a 200,000 won per person meal!”

Due to the cool breeze blowing just then, he couldn’t hear whether he answered. Dokyeom looked at the sunlit vast runway, then up at the sky. It was clear. It felt infinitely distant.

So much so that his chest, which had touched Taeseongyeon, felt sore somewhere.

***

Including Dokyeom, a total of four hunters were dispatched to the gate guided by Ellen Brown. Here, ‘hunter’ only refers to humans; Agon and Dali are considered Dokyeom’s belongings as a tamer, so they aren’t counted in the headcount.

So effectively, the total number entering the gate was eight, including the four hunters assembled from each guild. If Dokyeom’s familiars were included, Sacheon Guild would have six members entering.

“Everyone arrived safely, I see. I was worried you might have trouble finding the way in the dark, haha.”

It was dawn, with the clear air deeply penetrating the lungs. A dim light lay in the sky, and the quietly settled air roamed among the neatly lined trees.

In a back mountain near Seoul where people rarely frequented, a desolate place without a trace of humans, eight hunters stood each. No, including Ellen Brown and his lackey Liao, Agon, and Dali, the total reached twelve people.

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Of course, I’ll explain things on the other side too.”

Ellen Brown said with a quite gentle smile. Yet only silence returned.

Current time: around 3:45 AM.

From Uwha Guild, Geon Ita, Ju Uiryeong, Kang Taesan, and a female hunter in her twenties named ‘Lee Jihyun’ were sent to this place.

From Sacheon Guild, including Agon and Dali, Dokyeom, Beom Yeonhu, Baek Jiun, and Yisaein were assembled. Yisaein, who usually let her long hair down, appeared with her hair tightly tied in a ponytail, wearing black jeans and the stab-resistant vest provided by the guild.

It wasn’t surprising. Whenever Yisaein went into a gate, she always appeared like this, and that was no different from proof that she took gates seriously.

“No questions? Then…”

“W-wait a moment.”

Just as Ellen Brown turned his back, Ju Uiryeong, who had kept his mouth tightly shut the whole time, suddenly called him to a stop.

“Do you have something to ask?”

“No… it’s not that, but no matter how I think about it, this seems unfair.”

“What do you mean?”

“…Look. We were told only four were allowed, so we selected hunters accordingly and brought only four… But Sacheon Guild brought six. I think this is already a different starting point.”

Ellen Brown let out a sigh for a moment. His gaze eventually turned to where Dokyeom was. More precisely, to Agon and Dali. But rather than speaking immediately, he rested his chin on his hand with a thoughtful expression.

It was Ju Uiryeong who grew impatient at that attitude.

“I’m saying this because I’d like Sacheon Guild to match us in numbers, fairly. We should go fair and square. This is clearly a situation where one side has an advantage, and I think it’s unfair.”

Fair and square? Unfair? Dokyeom laughed. Ju Uiryeong, with an anxious face, was rolling his eyes, forgetting even the gazes of those around him to persuade Ellen Brown.

Of course, it was understandable why Ju Uiryeong was so anxious. The gate they were about to enter was mentioned a few times in the novel, but it wasn’t a part where the story progressed.

More precisely, it wasn’t properly explained when Ju Uiryeong ‘was there’. Since the place they were going was unfamiliar to him, something he had ‘not’ experienced, he had no choice but to be uneasy.

“So, Miss Han Dokyeom’s familiars…”

“What is it? I guess Uwha Guild doesn’t know the meaning of a tamer? How ignorant must you be to talk as if we’re using some trick?”

Ju Uiryeong blinked. Turning his dazed expression toward where the voice came from, he saw Yisaein standing there, well-dressed in combat gear.

“…Is that Miss Yisaein speaking?”

“Yes, I’m talking. I heard it and I’m dumbfounded. Why are you bringing up ‘fair and square’ with us? You brought all A-ranks, yet you’re saying an E-rank is scary, so take it out? Don’t you know that’s a discriminatory statement based on rank? If you’re that wronged, go strike the sinmungo!”

“When did I say I was scared…!”

Beside them, Baek Jiun was whispering to Dokyeom, asking what sinmungo was. Then Ellen, who had been thinking something over, finally opened his mouth.

“Excuse me, everyone. I’ve been thinking, and in that case, I think the guild master of Uwha Guild should also be excluded.”

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