Chapter 52: The Sahyeon Guild’s Offer

#52

“Beom Yeonhu himself doesn’t say a word, but everyone around him makes such a fuss that people assume he’s been putting on airs. When he first debuted as a player, people offered him well wishes, but now they avoid him like the plague. Even I didn’t expect him to awaken as a C-rank, but… he’s such a valuable asset, that guy.”

“What kind of player was Beom Yeonhu-ssi?”

“Mixed martial arts. Now, well… he awakened and retired. Awakened individuals can’t continue their athletic careers, you see. They say their physical abilities change too much, making it unfair.”

Being a naturally chatty person, he then launched into a lengthy discourse about Beom Yeonhu’s athletic career. He recounted every minute detail, saying Yeonhu was a promising prospect whose skills were highly anticipated everywhere, and that all the men present had been professional kickboxers or boxers. He spoke so rapidly, it felt almost inappropriate.

“So, how could I not be curious? Quite a few guilds came looking to cast Beom Yeonhu, but once they hear his circumstances, they run away as if being chased, I tell you! They don’t even look back. Honestly, it’s hilarious.”

A high-altitude wind swept through. Dokyeom, facing the wind, quietly took in Beom Yeonhu’s profile as he gazed into the distance.

‘Ah, I want him even more. He looks like a drenched stray dog, which only makes me want to take him in more.’

Dokyeom suddenly remembered something and turned his head towards the man.

“By the way, I heard Kang Taesan-ssi received love calls from several guilds, but it seems he has no intention of joining one?”

Beom Yeonhu’s friend’s expression immediately deflated. Chuckles rippled through the men walking ahead. Though they hadn’t spoken, it seemed they had all been listening, making the atmosphere subtly restless. The only one who hadn’t heard was Beom Yeonhu, who was furthest ahead.

The men somehow looked quite relieved. It seemed they were displeased that Beom Yeonhu, who was a lower rank than them, had received guild offers first. A subtle hint of disdain was also discernible.

“Ah, well… he says he’s waiting for a certain guild, but we’re just background characters; how could we possibly understand his lofty intentions? He said it wasn’t true, but it seems you’ve come looking for Kang Taesan after all? Everyone just goes mad for an A-rank. But Kang Taesan won’t budge an inch, you know? He’s waiting for a love call from the Sahyeon Guild or something like that. They say that’s where the real power is, that’s where.”

The friend formed a money sign with his hand and jiggled it emphatically in front of his eyes. His expression was utterly indifferent.

“The Woohwa Guild and the Media Guild are also huge guilds, so why isn’t he considering them? They’d also offer a decent salary.”

“Ah, how would I know? Maybe the Sahyeon Guild offers more. If you’re so curious, why don’t you go ask them directly? It’s not like you’re doing a background check on a sucker by proxy; I don’t know what this is.”

“Hey! What did I tell you, you idiot? Don’t judge by potions. It hasn’t been long since that illegal contract incident; do you really want to trust that? It’s clearly just a bluff to lure Kang Taesan. Who in their right mind would try to poach a C-rank when an A-rank is available?”

Someone near Kang Taesan scoffed. Everyone else’s interest had cooled.

“Potions like that are usually carried by mid-to-high-tier guilds, so your abilities must be good. But don’t go disturbing a peaceful tree for no reason; either go your own way quietly or try hard to persuade Kang Taesan.”

The man who had been recounting every detail to Dokyeom rubbed the back of his neck irritably and walked past him.

“Well, no matter how much you try to sway him, I doubt he’ll even get a swelled head from it. Yeonhu is such a blockhead.”

It was then. From far away, a sudden, resounding crash echoed without warning. Dokyeom’s gaze swiftly shot upwards. Beom Yeonhu’s black hair whipped wildly in the fierce high-altitude wind.

At the path leading up to the lodge, Beom Yeonhu was bracing himself against a colossal monster, his body heaving. Veins bulged hideously across his entire body, making him look inhuman.

Drops of blood rapidly formed a puddle beneath his feet. A pang of sorrow pierced him. Such a waste, such a pity.

If it were Dokyeom, he would never let him get so hurt.

“Hey, hold on tight!”

“Kang Taesan, what are you doing, you bastard! Go quickly!”

“Is that… the boss?!”

“Beom Yeonhu, hold on! Hold on! Don’t let it turn its head back!”

In an instant, everyone, their faces pale with fear, scrambled up towards the lodge. Watching the men frantically clamber up the uneven stone steps, Dokyeom scratched his chin and gazed into the air.

Truthfully, he still hadn’t quite made up his mind. He wondered if he could act on his own desires. And if he did, if he could endure all the repercussions that would follow.

Yet, for all those reasons combined, he ultimately… coveted ‘Beom Yeonhu.’ Even that sight of him, gritting his teeth and holding on, his body grotesquely veined, ignited Dokyeom’s possessive urges.

‘Ah, how can I get my hands on that guy?’

Lost in thought for only a moment, Dokyeom let out a weary sigh and began to ascend the stone steps.

‘What’s impossible? I’ll just take him. I’ll nurture him. Yes, I can nurture him. Agon, too, was essentially raised by me.’

“Agon, let’s get ready. On ‘go,’ you run.”

Whoosh—

‘He only listens well at times like this.’ Dokyeom, keeping his body low, slowly moved forward, leaving Agon, whose muscles were taut with readiness. One step, two steps. The men hadn’t even reached Beom Yeonhu’s vicinity yet. But Dokyeom was certain. Even if he started now, Agon would reach the boss first.

Thinking that, Dokyeom must have been smiling.

“Go.”

No sooner had the word left his lips than Agon, who was beside him, vanished. The fierce wind he left in his wake swept through. Agon’s form, moving too fast to be seen, left a faint, mirage-like trail.

Leaving behind a series of faint afterimages, Agon soon reappeared in full form. Right beside Beom Yeonhu.

Whoosh—

The sound of the wind whistled past Beom Yeonhu’s ears. A movement followed that even keen eyes couldn’t track. A hand, muscles rippling, plunged into the colossal monster’s neck, piercing through as if carving out flesh.

Aghhhh—

Azure blood splattered, and the horrific shriek of the monster echoed through the high mountains. The cruel hand tore through muscle and seized bone, snapping the monster’s neck in a single brutal motion. A crunching sound grated harshly on their ears.

As soon as the monster’s neck broke, Agon, with tremendous force, ripped through its hide and tore off its head.

Only the monster’s echoing scream remained in that spot. Its head, with its glazed, upturned eyes, tumbled onto the barren rocky mountain. A stark silence immediately filled the void.

No one moved. Not even the men who had been scrambling up towards Beom Yeonhu.

‘W-what… what just happened…?’

A boss of at least B-rank. Beom Yeonhu, holding it back. And Kang Taesan and the others, rushing towards him. And the wind that had swept past them.

“Th-this…”

‘Could this really happen?’

Before them, a handsome man, who had just torn off the monster’s neck with his bare hands, was shaking off the azure blood from his hands. His eyes, visible between strands of deep blue hair, were chillingly narrow.

As far as they knew, he was an E-rank hunter’s familiar. And a C-rank monster, the same grade as Beom Yeonhu.

Thump-thump—

Behind the confused men, someone walked steadily up the stone steps. A slender figure moved past the men, who were frozen and unable to stir. It was Dokyeom.

Dokyeom kicked the monster’s head, which was as massive as a boulder, sending it tumbling down the sheer cliff below.

Then he strolled casually towards Beom Yeonhu.

“What are your thoughts, Beom Yeonhu-ssi?”

Beom Yeonhu, breathing heavily, looked up at Dokyeom with a dazed expression. His exhausted body had collapsed, kneeling on the ground.

“…I don’t understand what you mean.”

He exhaled sharply, wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, and asked. The other hunters, their expressions blank, also leaned in to hear Dokyeom’s words.

“That Sahyeon Guild, I mean. I’m asking if you’re interested in it too, Beom Yeonhu-ssi.”

The atmosphere subtly shifted. Beom Yeonhu’s lips parted several times. His steady gaze fixed on Dokyeom. Yet he eventually opened his wounded lips and replied, his voice pleasant to the ear.

“I… don’t care which guild it is. As long as they’ll take me.”

Those words pierced Dokyeom like an arrow. He let out a hollow laugh. Then he pulled something from his pocket and offered it to Beom Yeonhu.

“Then let’s have a meeting, Beom Yeonhu-ssi.”

‘Taesan, I don’t need you.’

“I am Han Dokyeom, a hunter from the Sahyeon Guild. I’m offering you a short-term contract, Beom Yeonhu-ssi. Even a long-term contract, if you wish.”

Behind them, something clattered to the ground. Dokyeom met Beom Yeonhu’s intensely clashing gaze.

Just then, someone appeared beside Dokyeom and snatched the guild hunter ID from his hand. It was the friend who had defended Beom Yeonhu. The man’s eyes widened in astonishment as he read the text on the hunter ID. He blinked repeatedly, then squinted, checking again, alternating glances between the hunter ID and Dokyeom, then began vigorously slapping Beom Yeonhu’s back.

“S-Sahyeon Guild! It’s the Sahyeon Guild, you idiot! It’s really the Sahyeon Guild!!”

The words rang out, echoing loudly through the high mountains. Everyone present was so stunned that their jaws dropped.

The only one silent was Beom Yeonhu, who merely stared at Dokyeom’s hunter ID.