Chapter 5: The F-Class Rift and a Familiar Rival

A total of six guild members were scheduled for external duty today: Shin Ji-ho, Im Seung-ju, and four others. Two new guild members were among them. Three guild members, already waiting, were huddled together, whispering and chuckling. The moment Ji-ho approached, their mouths snapped shut.

Ji-ho accepted their smirking greetings, a gesture reminiscent of a bully interacting with their errand boy. He thought to himself,

‘They were badmouthing me.’

Ji-ho swallowed a sigh that threatened to escape. After all, they said even the king was cursed in his absence; what could one do?

Instead of focusing on the three hunters who were now belatedly gathering their equipment, Ji-ho’s gaze drifted to Yang Ho-jin, who stood alone, a considerable distance away.

Yang Ho-jin, a twenty-two-year-old, had only recently awakened as a hunter this year. Despite being C-class, he was a rare healing-type hunter, a valuable asset they’d been fortunate enough to recruit and nurture.

He possessed a sturdy physique and a handsome face, yet he inexplicably lacked confidence and appeared timid.

In truth, his sharp features suggested a cunning individual, adept at securing his own advantage, like a fox.

During his interview, he had stammered so profusely, unable to answer questions, that they’d even conducted a separate investigation into his background. However, his records revealed nothing out of the ordinary, no discernible flaws.

He didn’t quite mesh with the other guild members. Ji-ho had even observed him deliberately sidestepping conversations initiated by others.

Unsurprisingly, he hadn’t joined in the disparaging remarks aimed at Shin Ji-ho.

Yet…

‘He’ll adapt in due time,’ Ji-ho thought.

It was rare to find someone like Heo So-ri, who navigated social interactions with such ease, greeting everyone affably.

Even individuals who initially refrained from slandering others were easily swayed by the prevailing atmosphere. Indeed, one of the three currently gossiping was a new recruit.

Furthermore, their target was the guild leader—a man who provided their wages but also assigned their duties—making him a particularly satisfying subject for mockery. They would soon assimilate into the group, joining in the collective chatter.

Being situated in the same building, and possessing the heightened hearing of a hunter, Ji-ho had, on numerous occasions, directly overheard such disparaging remarks.

Ji-ho harbored no expectations of human decency from the new recruits.

Lost in these rather bleak thoughts, Ji-ho completed his preparations for external duty.

****

As expected, external duty for a guild of hunters bore little resemblance to that of a typical company.

A hunter’s fundamental role was to respond to the myriad disasters spawned by the emergence of Rifts.

Mid-tier guilds, such as Noname, were tasked with neutralizing the Rifts that manifested sporadically throughout the urban landscape.

Fortunately, the emergence of Rifts could be predicted with over 98% accuracy, a feat made possible by a sophisticated prediction system devised by a genius Awakener.

The Hunter Association, after predicting a Rift, would account for the margin of error, notify the most suitable guild, and allocate the Rift for handling. Consequently, most incidents concluded without significant damage.

The system primarily predicted the time of appearance, scale, and approximate location. Yet, as its accuracy wasn’t absolute, guilds assigned to a Rift would form teams to pre-patrol within the predicted range.

According to today’s forecast, the Rift anticipated near Bangbae-dong was designated F-class.

Rifts were categorized by danger level, ranging from the most perilous S-class, through A-class, down to the least threatening F-class.

Thus, today’s F-class Rift represented the easiest category. It was, therefore, an ideal opportunity to bring along newly awakened guild members for their initial training.

Shin Ji-ho organized three two-person teams. One team comprised veteran guild members, while he assigned a new recruit to both Im Seung-ju’s team and his own.

“Then, let’s proceed.”

“Yes…”

Yang Ho-jin, visibly tense, repeatedly stole glances at Shin Ji-ho. Catching Ho-jin’s eye, Ji-ho offered the most reassuring smile he could muster.

“Hunter Yang Ho-jin, have you started to settle into the guild?”

“Huh? Yes, I have!”

“Should anything trouble you, please speak up. I’ll listen and strive to make things better.”

“Ah, well, there’s nothing at all, sir.”

“Are the other guild members treating you kindly?”

“Yes…”

“There shouldn’t be any hazing, but since our work in the field can be dangerous, sometimes tempers flare and words become harsh.”

“Ah, yes…”

“I heard you performed admirably on your first external mission, and today will be even simpler. There’s no need for excessive worry. You’re not tackling this alone; I’ll be right here with you.”

“…”

“Should you sustain even a minor injury, inform me at once. Feel free to use potions as needed; there’s no need to hesitate or be self-conscious.”

“Yes.”

“Furthermore, even for a slight injury, we have a partnership with Cheongram Hospital, so you can undergo a thorough examination there.”

“…”

“Yes, well, that’s what I meant…”

The conversation was punctuated by awkward silences. Ho-jin’s responses offered barely a hint of genuine engagement.

It became apparent that his companion had no desire to prolong the exchange, prompting Ji-ho to fall silent as well.

He mused, ‘Yes, it must be uncomfortable.’ Walking alongside the guild leader likely wasn’t a relaxing experience. Perhaps Ho-jin had already formed a prejudice after overhearing the trio’s disparaging remarks moments earlier.

Rather than exacerbating the discomfort, Ji-ho chose to remain silent and concentrate on the task. In truth, this was hardly a mission demanding intense focus; the neighborhood patrol felt more akin to a leisurely stroll.

As time wore on, the tranquil atmosphere began to subtly shift.

With the predicted appearance time of the Rift drawing nearer, people began to evacuate the area.

Naturally, the evacuation process proved anything but smooth.

“No, just a moment. I think I left the gas burner on!”

“Elder, I’ll verify it, but please evacuate first.”

“Are you just going to barge into someone’s home, or what?!”

There were those who vehemently insisted on returning home for the most trivial of reasons.

“Hey, you there, stop taking photos and evacuate!”

“I said no photos!”

Then there were the students, giggling as they snapped pictures of the evacuation site and the hunters.

“No, this is a shortcut for me. I’m not going through the inner area, I’ll be out in a flash.”

And finally, those who stubbornly argued they would exit through the very areas under alert.

Police officers struggled to persuade the crowds, but maintaining control proved exceedingly difficult.

Paradoxically, if the Rift’s class were higher, people would surely flee in a panic, valuing their lives. But when it was moderately low, everyone seemed to underestimate the danger.

In truth, monsters emerging from an F-class Rift were weak enough for an average adult, armed with a weapon, to handle with relative ease.

It was said that initially, even F-class Rifts sent people scattering in a frenzy. However, after three years of adapting to a world fundamentally altered, people had become utterly complacent regarding their safety.

“I believe it would be beneficial if we assisted with crowd control,” Ji-ho suggested.

At Ji-ho’s words, Ho-jin’s eyes widened slightly.

“I-is that also part of a hunter’s duties?”

“Not precisely. However, if our assistance helps resolve the situation more swiftly, wouldn’t that be for the best…”

Before he could complete his thought, Ji-ho’s gaze abruptly snapped to a different point.

Across the bustling thoroughfare, someone was herding a crowd, steadily advancing towards them.

Leading the distant group was a man Ji-ho knew all too well. His bright red hair, cropped short, brought to mind the protagonist of an old basketball manga, and his imposing physique was unmistakable. Even a civilian a hundred meters away would instantly notice his distinct appearance.

A deep sigh involuntarily escaped Ji-ho’s lips.

“Ah, of all the rotten luck…”

He considered fleeing to avoid the man, but their eyes had already met. The man, now directly in front of Ji-ho, waved to the evacuees with an insincerely friendly smile.

“Alright, I need to assist this… ‘incompetent’ hunter here, so I’ll guide you all this far. Even if it’s F-class, a monster is still a monster, so please evacuate swiftly.”

Though his natural voice was low, the playful, teasing tone he used now sounded oddly familiar. Behind his feigned genial laughter, the lively affirmations of the crowd followed.

The people, who had inadvertently been guided by an ‘incompetent’ hunter—or perhaps, as some might argue, always had been—glanced at Shin Ji-ho before turning away with amused smiles. The condescending disdain, subtly woven into their cheerful laughter, was a familiar sensation, one that no longer provoked anger.

The police officers, who had been sweating profusely to manage the evacuation, seemed somewhat disheartened that the situation had been resolved so effortlessly by the man’s mere presence. Nevertheless, they bowed respectfully to him, their faces now visibly relieved.

“We are deeply grateful for your assistance, Hunter Seon Tae-woong.”

“Not at all, it’s simply my duty. I’ve confirmed all the routes I’ve taken, so now, officers, please check other areas and evacuate yourselves.”

Laughter and pleasantries were exchanged, a clear testament to their seamless rapport.

Watching from the sidelines, Yang Ho-jin leaned in and quietly asked Shin Ji-ho,

“Who… is that man?”

“You don’t know him?”

“I-I don’t know…”

“That’s Seon Tae-woong.”

Ji-ho’s simple answer left Ho-jin looking utterly bewildered.

Seon Tae-woong was an A-class combat hunter and the guild leader of Apollo.

All his skills were fire-based. His powerful offense in combat, combined with his considerable tactical sense, placed him among the top-tier A-class hunters.

Rather than lavishing praise on a man who clearly disliked him, Shin Ji-ho offered a concise explanation.

“He’s the guild leader of Apollo, and since their guild is nearby, we frequently run into each other.”

“Ah.”

“Do you know the Apollo Guild?”

“No…”

“You must not have much interest in this area. He’s quite famous, despite appearances.”

At Ji-ho’s casual remark, Ho-jin’s ears flushed crimson. Realizing he needed to choose his words more carefully, Ji-ho pretended not to notice and continued his explanation.

“Our guild is near Bangbae Station, right?”

“Yes. It’s close to the station, which is ni-nice.”

“Hmm, that’s good then. Anyway, Apollo is a guild located between Sadang Station and Bangbae Station.”

“Ah…”

“Does that make more sense now?”

Yang Ho-jin nodded.

Sadang Station and Bangbae Station were only one subway stop apart. With guilds situated within less than that distance, competition over external duties was inevitable.

Of course, Apollo, which also participated in dungeon raids, was a higher-tier guild than Noname. However, Noname’s unique notoriety, largely due to Shin Ji-ho, often meant their names were mentioned in the same breath.

From Seon Tae-woong’s perspective, the constant pairing of his guild’s name with Noname—a guild he openly ridiculed—was clearly irritating.

Other hunters, wary of Cheongram, might badmouth Shin Ji-ho behind his back, but they would feign friendliness to his face. However, Seon Tae-woong, a man of blunt honesty, openly criticized Shin Ji-ho in person, in interviews, and to anyone who would listen.

From Ji-ho’s point of view, Seon Tae-woong was preferable to those who acted friendly to his face while secretly slandering him. Not that Ji-ho *liked* Seon Tae-woong; he was simply *less bad*.

A search for Shin Ji-ho would yield numerous videos with titles like [A-Class Hunter, Exposing Corruption in the Hunter World?], explicitly targeting him without directly naming him—though it seemed the uploaders edited out Seon Tae-woong’s direct mentions.

It was impossible for Ji-ho to like him.

Seon Tae-woong sauntered towards Shin Ji-ho, his posture as insolent as a street thug.

“B-class. Why are you even here? Shouldn’t you be off spending the allowance your dad gives you?”

Moreover, the level of his direct provocations was so childish it was embarrassing even for the target of his insults. Ji-ho let out a short sigh.

“My dad said I’m all grown up now and wouldn’t give me an allowance anymore, so I came to work.”

“Then go ask your boyfriend for money.”

“Honestly, that’s the problem with Koreans. Everything’s always about boyfriends or girlfriends. If you spread false information, I’ll use my dad’s allowance to sue you.”

“You’re truly ridiculous.”

“I appreciate the provocation, but I’m busy. Please leave.”

Ji-ho waved his hand as if shooing away a peddler, but Tae-woong merely scoffed arrogantly.

“Leave? What are you talking about? I came to provide backup in case a weakling like you can’t handle the Rift.”

“No matter how weak I am, I can handle an F-class Rift with my eyes closed. Just go.”

“Want to try handling it with your eyes closed?”

“What will you do if I actually manage it?”

“If you do, I’ll carry you around on my back.”

“I’d rather not be carried by you. You probably smell of sweat.”

“What did you say, you punk?”

“So, you think it’d be pleasant to have our bodies touch? If I truly succeed, you should be kneeling and apologizing, not trying to get off easy.”

“Your words are short, aren’t they?”

“You and I are only one year apart, you know!”

Watching their increasingly childish squabble, Yang Ho-jin nervously rolled his eyes. He had tried to interject with, “Uh, Guild Leader,” “Um, Guild Leader,” and “Guild Leader, stop…” but had been ignored, leaving him even more intimidated than before.

Ji-ho, belatedly snapping out of their petty argument, checked the time. There was still a considerable amount of time before the predicted appearance. To give the anxious Ho-jin a moment to breathe, Ji-ho whispered softly,

“Go and bring Hunter Im Seung-ju. I think he’s somewhere nearby.”

If Seon Tae-woong was getting involved, then having Im Seung-ju, who was of a similar rank, step in would make it a more even match. Im Seung-ju, usually lacking motivation, tended to work quite diligently when competing with Seon Tae-woong, making it beneficial for the guild as well.

With Yang Ho-jin gone, the street was left to just the two of them.

The lighthearted taunting on Shin Ji-ho’s face was replaced by a chilling grimness.

No matter how low the risk of an F-class Rift, a Rift was still a Rift. With bad luck, people could die.

And the idea of a hunter deliberately obstructing a patrol just to pick a fight was utterly galling.

“Haa, you.”

“What?”

“You…”

Seon Tae-woong’s head snapped in another direction, interrupting whatever he was about to say.

His eyes, wide with horror, his face pale—it was the distinctive look of someone confronting a catastrophe, a sight all too common in this era.

Moments after Seon Tae-woong, Ji-ho, too, sensed the sudden, drastic shift in the surrounding atmosphere.

Before he could fully comprehend what was happening…

A colossal shadow enveloped both men.