Chapter 24: Irregular and Scout

At the same time Se-hyeon was heading home after his hunt, a commotion broke out at the Hunter Association.

Choi Hyun-seung, of the Awakened Management Department, rushed to find Manager Kim Seong-ho.

“Manager Kim!”

Kim Seong-ho looked up, puzzled. “What is it, Deputy Choi?”

“Take a look at this!” Choi Hyun-seung thrust a sheet of paper forward.

“A dungeon clear-rate data sheet? What about it?”

It was the data for the D-rank dungeon, Orc Outpost.

“I got this from the Dungeon Management Department. Look at the clear rate—it spiked abnormally fast. But look at this specific timestamp. It jumped all at once. Doesn’t this look familiar?”

Kim Seong-ho squinted at the graph. “Familiar? What do you… wait!” His eyes widened.

“Yes,” Choi said. “It’s just like the ‘Wave Crushing’ incident at the F-rank Kobold Den involving Awakened Jang Se-hyeon.”

Standard procedure during a monster wave was to retreat to the entrance, build a defensive line, and wait for reinforcements. But at the Kobold Den, Se-hyeon had crushed the wave single-handedly, creating a statistical anomaly. Now, the D-rank Orc Outpost was showing nearly identical data.

“It does look the same,” Kim muttered. “But this is a D-rank dungeon. Even if he’s an Irregular, Jang Se-hyeon is only D-rank. Clearing an E-rank wave is one thing, but a D-rank wave? Why would a D-rank even enter a D-rank dungeon alone?”

Hunters typically entered dungeons one tier lower than their own rank for safety. To enter an equal-rank dungeon and crush a wave solo was unheard of.

“I had the same thought, so I checked with the staff on-site. They confirmed that Jang Se-hyeon settled for over 200 Orc corpses, including an Elite.”

While settlements happen inside the dungeon, the actual removal of corpses is inspected by staff to prevent smuggling and ensure tax compliance. Every kill is recorded.

“Are you serious? He really crushed a D-rank wave?”

“The staff confirmed the Elite Orc corpse. There’s no mistake.”

Kim Seong-ho’s voice trembled. “Was he… in a party?”

“No. According to the records, he was accompanied only by a manager and three porters from Taekwang, a processing company.”

A manager and three porters. In hunter terms, that was a solo run.

“Good god. So he stopped a wave of his own rank, by himself?”

“Yes. Sir, doesn’t this confirm him as an Irregular? No D-rank in the world can solo a D-rank wave. We should push for an official Irregular Evaluation immediately.”

An Irregular is an existence that defies the laws of ranking. While they often appeared in non-combat roles, combat-type Irregulars were national treasures that could shift the global power balance.

Kim Seong-ho stood up abruptly. “You’re right! This is practically a guaranteed Irregular status! I’ll report this to the Association President. Deputy Choi, go to Jang Se-hyeon. Sound him out about the evaluation and convince him to take it.”

South Korea currently held the weakest hunter force among the three major East Asian powers. They were desperate for an S-rank or a powerhouse to bridge the gap. A combat Irregular would be a game-changer.

“I’ll do my best to convince him,” Choi promised and hurried out.

Meanwhile, Se-hyeon was walking home, deep in thought.

‘400 million in one day. I can’t do this every single time, but if I keep this up, the money will pile up fast. Between this and slowly selling the Mithril and gold coins, I can definitely stop Se-hee from joining a guild she doesn’t like just for the sign-on bonus.’

His sister, Se-hee, was obsessed with escaping poverty and supporting her brother. He feared she would choose a guild based solely on the contract amount and regret it later. He had six months until her graduation to build a fortune that would give her true freedom of choice.

As he reached his front door, a voice called out.

“Hunter Jang Se-hyeon!”

He turned to see a familiar-looking woman accompanied by two men in suits.

“Haha! Just getting back from a hunt, I see?” The woman approached with a bright, sunny smile.

“Who are you?” Se-hyeon asked warily.

“Oh! Where are my manners? I’m Lee Na-yeon from the Twilight Guild.”

Se-hyeon paused. The Twilight Guild was one of the Big Five in Korea. Lee Na-yeon, the Team 2 leader, was a celebrity known for both her beauty and her prowess.

“Twilight? The Lee Na-yeon?”

“In the flesh.” She handed him a business card. “It’s a bit awkward talking out here. Could I trouble you for a cup of tea?”

Se-hyeon hesitated but then nodded. “Sure. Come in.”

Inside the modest villa, Se-hyeon offered a small apology. “It’s a bit cramped, isn’t it?”

“Not at all. It’s cozy,” Na-yeon replied. “Honestly, my sister and I lived in a tiny studio before we made it as hunters. I have a feeling you’ll be moving to a much bigger place soon anyway. Do you mind if I call you Se-hyeon?”

“Go ahead. So, what brings you to my doorstep?”

Na-yeon straightened her posture. “Since you prefer the direct approach: We want you to join Twilight.”

It was a dream offer for any hunter. But Se-hyeon didn’t even blink. “Me? I’m only D-rank.”

“You’re a D-rank who can solo an F-rank wave and take down a boss. Even a B-rank would struggle to show that much dominance. You’re special.”

She was basing this on the viral video from the Kobold dungeon, unaware he had just repeated the feat in a D-rank zone.

“I appreciate the offer. But I have no intention of joining a guild right now.”

Na-yeon wasn’t discouraged. “Most people with unique powers want to be independent. But you’re still early in your awakening. Being a ‘lone wolf’ invites a lot of interference and jealousy. We’ve seen talented Irregulars in other countries crumble because they lacked a roof over their heads.”

“I see.”

“Join us. Twilight will be your roof. You can grow under our protection, and if you still want to go solo later, we’ll let you go with our blessing.”

It was a perfect deal. But Se-hyeon had a different priority.

“You’ve misunderstood something. It’s not just about independence. It’s about my sister.”

Na-yeon tilted her head. “Your sister?”

“She’s a student at the Seoul Awakened Academy. She graduates in six months.”

“Ah, Jang Se-hee. The S-rank potential student. My sister—the Guild Leader—is very interested in her.”

Se-hyeon nodded. “She’s incredible. But she feels a heavy responsibility to take care of me. If I join a guild now, my choice will dictate hers. I don’t want her choosing a guild she doesn’t like just because I’m there. I want her to choose her own path first.”

“So… you won’t join anyone until she graduates and makes her choice?”

“Exactly.”

Na-yeon looked at him thoughtfully. “If she chooses a guild in six months, does that mean you’ll likely join the same one?”

Se-hyeon shook his head. “No. I don’t want to influence her, but her choice won’t dictate mine either. Our paths might align, or they might not.”

“I see. So, even if she goes elsewhere, you could still join Twilight in six months?”

“It’s a possibility I won’t rule out.”

Na-yeon smiled. “Fair enough. I’m interested in you, Se-hyeon, not just your sister. I’ll respect your six-month delay. But promise me you won’t sign with any other guild in the meantime.”

Se-hyeon chuckled. “I don’t recall making a promise, but as I said, I won’t be joining anyone until she graduates.”

Na-yeon stood up, satisfied. “It’s not a ‘yes,’ but at least it’s not a final ‘no.’ Can I keep in touch? Not as a scout, but just… to get to know you?”

“I don’t mind. Having a connection with a celebrity like you is actually quite welcome.”

It was a win-win. Having a friend in the upper echelons of a major guild like Twilight could be a massive asset in the future.