Chapter 78: The City Awakens: Credit’s Returnee and a Shocking Revelation

Recently, a new vitality surged through Grisha.

This was due to a series of intriguing events that shattered the monotonous and dull routine. First, a returnee was recruited by Hestia, and then another by Credit!

It was an extraordinary feat; a talent so rare that even one discovery in a generation was remarkable, yet two had emerged in a single city. Citizens buzzed with excitement, stirred by this long-awaited stimulus. Their curiosity and anticipation were keenly focused on Credit’s returnee.

This heightened interest was especially pronounced because, immediately after Hestia’s returnee proved unhelpful in resolving the Black Mist, Credit had enveloped their own returnee in an aura of intense secrecy.

When it was revealed that their rank was F-class, the excitement momentarily seemed to wane. However, once news spread that they had single-handedly resolved the Black Mist, interest surged dramatically, igniting like wildfire.

“What exactly is the media doing?”

“They truly lack any urgency.”

“Looks like everyone’s comfortable enough to get by.”

These were words that would have made any reporter pound their chest in frustration if they’d heard them. How, after all, were they supposed to cover someone who never emerged from the guild building, or who vanished into a Gate the moment they did?

‘If they’re going to act like this, they should at least cause less trouble.’

It was a thought a reporter should never entertain, yet the subject forced them into it.

Those in the same profession—the Hunters themselves—feigned indifference, but beneath their calm exteriors, a tempest brewed.

The Black Mist. No one understood better than them what an immense wall, what an insurmountable obstacle, it truly was. It wasn’t a lack of pride that had forced them to circumvent it until the very last moment.

Yet, this colossal problem had been resolved by a mere single returnee. Disbelief. Exhilaration. Catharsis. A storm of inexpressible emotions swept through, leaving behind an inescapable greed.

The greatest impediment to their progress had been cleared. While they were a force that united more strongly than any other city when faced with a common challenge, now that it was resolved, everyone outside their own guild became a rival.

The problem was that they couldn’t simply disregard the returnee, who had contributed the most, nor the Credit Guild to which they belonged.

“Credit… of course, I know we should support them. But that’s a concern for the higher-ups running the guilds. For us ordinary Hunters, it’s only natural to worry about our own share, isn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

“But wait, they’re F-class, right? The Hunter Association even certified it. So how on earth did they solve it?”

“It means they didn’t just gain a body immune to demonic energy from the Demon Realm.”

“There’s also this, you know,” one Hunter said, tapping their head.

“If the Association certified it, then they’re definitely F-class.”

“Which means…”

“Even Credit can’t just use them carelessly. They’re a valuable asset, after all. Credit probably wouldn’t even bring them out unless it was to resolve the Black Mist.”

Many misunderstandings and errors were present, but blinded by the allure of greater wealth, they failed to notice.

The Hunters’ eyes darted about. They warily observed each other before fiercely plunging into the Gates. The number and rank of the Gates they cleared directly correlated with their share of the Gate subjugation, and that share determined the distribution of magic stones and byproducts.

After the emergence of the Black Mist, which could not be circumvented, the stalled expeditions quickly resumed.

People remained intrigued and curious about the returnee, but this fascination did not last long. The prevailing opinion among Hunters was that, despite being F-class, the returnee had resolved the issue using knowledge acquired from the Demon Realm.

This was certainly the case—until that F-class returnee appeared in the city, leading a horde of high-grade demonic beasts.

The incident began with reports of a demonic beast horde appearing in the city. Initially, everyone assumed it was a prank, given the claims of massive beasts with shimmering, smoke-like black manes casually roaming the streets.

However, as identical reports continued to pour in, the color drained from the faces of the officials. The scene awaiting the dispatched personnel was even more preposterous.

It wasn’t the demonic beasts that halted the terrified Hunters rushing forward. Instead, an arrogant, familiar celebrity calmly blocked their path.

“What? Why are you guys attacking?”

I wanted to believe he wasn’t genuinely asking, but merely being facetious. Spectators watched the unfolding situation with rapt, excited expressions.

‘Is it ice?’

‘It must be ice.’

‘He’ll probably erect a wall of ice.’

It was not.

A fist flew instead.

Crack! Thwack!

“……”

Hunters, sent sprawling by Sagyeol’s bare fists, screamed and tumbled. They whimpered, their expressions a picture of utter injustice. Even the Association Hunters found themselves nodding involuntarily.

‘They have every right to feel wronged.’

‘I’d be furious with injustice too.’

Association officials, looking pitifully at the scattered Hunters, stepped forward to intervene. They hesitated, then cautiously approached. The person stroking the snout of a demonic beast was the first to notice the Association.

The Association, too, belatedly recognized who he was.

“Um… are you, by any chance, the returnee?”

“Yes.”

The reply was curt. The flustered Association Hunter wore a dumbfounded expression before finally collecting themselves and asking again.

“Could you please explain what exactly is happening here?”

“No. Can’t you tell just by looking?”

Sagyeol, feigning ignorance, tilted his head. The Association Hunters felt a profound sense of injustice. “How are we supposed to understand this chaos and destruction just by looking at it, huh?!”

They looked at the Credit Guild members as if pleading for help. Those members, however, averted their gaze, pretending not to notice. ‘They’re all in on it… huh?’

The Association Hunters’ eyes narrowed. Upon closer inspection, the Hunters standing in front were perfectly fine, but those behind them were utterly battered. ‘What on earth happened?’

Sagyeol let out a small chuckle and spoke. His tone had reverted to formal speech.

“Hestia Guild Master Bae Gil-su is dead. He led his guild members to attack us. It was self-defense, you see.”

Their minds momentarily froze. They had clearly heard something, but the words hadn’t quite reached their brains. The staggering Hunter Association official’s lips trembled as they stammered a question.

“Excuse me?”

“Tell me it’s a joke, please.”

“…It seems your inner thoughts and what you intended to say just swapped places.”

“That’s not important! What did you just say? Who died?!”

“The Hestia Guild Master. Ah, and the Vice Guild Master is probably dead too. From what I heard, they were together.”

“This is insane.”

“Yes. Utterly insane. And as a result, our side suffered immense damage as well. Some B-class members belonging to Credit were killed or severely injured. The reason our Vice Guild Master isn’t here is because they’re scrambling to recover bodies and escort survivors.”

His lips curved into a smile, yet his eyes remained chillingly cold. The Association official was speechless. The reality, too absurd to accept, now struck them like a blow to the back of the head.

If everything that had just come from Sagyeol’s mouth was true, this was no ordinary matter.

‘This is beyond my authority to handle.’

The official’s face turned ashen. Only then did Sagyeol belatedly lighten the mood, shrugging his shoulders.

“And our capable and adorable returnee has tamed the demonic beasts. One piece of bad news, one piece of good news. It’s a net zero, isn’t it? Hahahaha.”

‘You genuinely insane bastard… how is that a net zero?’

Click-clack!

From somewhere, the click of a camera shutter was heard. Sagyeol and the Association Hunter’s heads simultaneously turned. A passerby, dressed in civilian clothes but holding a professional camera, subtly squeezed into the crowd.

The Association Hunter laughed with a look of utter resignation.

“Hahaha. Hahahaha.”

Sagyeol patted the Hunter’s shoulder.

“Well, good luck with that.”

“Hahahaha. *Cough*. That damn… Cough. Haha.”

“…What did you just say?”

“A humidifier. I keep coughing, so I should probably get one for home!”

“……”

The demonic beasts were, for now, guided into the Hunter Association. A request for cooperation was hastily made, prompted by the returnee’s assertion that controlling them might be difficult without their presence. Although Sagyeol’s eyes twisted like a demon’s at the thought of them doting on the returnee, they successfully brought the beasts inside the building.

Association officials, having belatedly heard the news, rushed over. Even those seasoned veterans, who had endured countless trials, were speechless at the sight before them—a spectacle unlike anything they had ever witnessed. The sheer might of dozens of A-class demonic beasts was imposing, but their disciplined formation, standing as orderly as well-trained soldiers, was nothing short of miraculous.

Someone silently approached and stood beside the dumbfounded officials. It was Sagyeol.

“I trust you’ll handle the Hestia Guild matter appropriately. What else could we do when those bastards came at us intending to kill? If you go to the scene, all the masks, clothes, and evidence are still there. If necessary, I can even provide testimony.”

“…We’ll handle it ourselves.”

While the citizens of Grisha had only ever seen Sagyeol’s benevolent side, the Hunter Association officials had witnessed only his malicious one. The hair loss, stomach ailments, and high blood pressure plaguing each of them were, without a doubt, gifts from the devil standing before them.

“No, but still. Wouldn’t you need some testimony?”

“No matter what it takes, we will resolve it on our end.”

Sagyeol grinned, shrugging his shoulders.

“I was prepared to assist you in every way possible, but if that’s what makes you comfortable.”

‘That thuggish bastard.’

‘A bastard even a demon would disown.’

The officials trembled with suppressed rage, but Sagyeol was not finished. He gestured towards the Rephtha group with a nod of his chin and spoke.

“Please hand those demonic beasts over to Credit as quickly as possible. Only our returnee can control them, you see.”

Upon hearing that living demonic beasts had walked in on their own, the research department, rushing over breathlessly, cluelessly raised a hand.

“Then the returnee can just reside at the Association, can’t they?”

Sagyeol smiled sweetly.

“Over my dead body.”

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