Chapter 81

In front of the Gate, ten men and women dressed as Hunters were chatting in a friendly atmosphere.

“Oppas, we’re really okay, right?”

At the female Hunter’s question, a B-rank Hunter from Sangdong Guild thumped his breastplate.

“Don’t worry. Don’t you trust us?”

“Of course I do. But I heard someone died here last week.”

“Don’t worry about those idiots. They died mouthing off despite not having the skill to back it up. Who can they blame? Right, Changsoo hyung?”

Im Changsoo, who had been listening quietly, exhaled a cloud of smoke into the air.

“If you’re nervous, go home. Don’t make the mood fucking miserable.”

The atmosphere instantly turned cold. The female Hunter who had spoken first forced the corners of her mouth upward.

“No, oppa, I was just—”

“Shut up. What are you going to do?”

“…Sorry.”

“Then go make yourself scarce in a corner. I’ve got more than enough bitches to bring along even without you.”

Despite his rough words and behavior, not one of them dared to object. They merely tried to lighten the mood with awkward smiles.

This sort of thing was familiar—and perfectly natural—to Im Changsoo.

Idiots.

Gates were geese that laid golden eggs called Magic Gems, and Hunters were the laborers who harvested them. Born into a family of estate managers, he had started out on a completely different footing.

“If you’re not heading to a hotel right now, quit clinging to each other. It’ll be a pain if another shitty rumor starts spreading.”

“Hyung, these ones are trustworthy.”

“I don’t trust them, asshole. Didn’t you say those last ones were trustworthy too?”

“Well, that was…”

Sangdong Guild might have been a respectable mid-sized Guild that threw its weight around in the area, but it wasn’t powerful enough to ignore public scrutiny. Im Changsoo had already received warnings from his father, the Guild Master, several times for messing with the wrong women.

“Let’s make sure there aren’t any problems, okay?”

“Yes, sir. We’ll bear it in mind. Loyalty!”

“Tsk. You’re good at answering.”

Im Changsoo flicked away his half-burned cigarette. As if she had been waiting for it, someone beside him called out a spell.

“Wind.”

A magically generated breeze sent the cigarette butt and its smell flying far away. The female mage who had cast the spell gave him a charming smile.

“I did good, right?”

Im Changsoo looked her up and down. She had a sleek figure and was an alluring beauty, and the two of them had a sort of sponsorship arrangement.

Despite her outstanding looks, she was a C-rank Hunter with pathetic skills. But the fact that she was the Guild Master’s son’s lover had been enough to get her into Sangdong Guild.

Her house, her car, and countless designer goods—all of them had come out of Im Changsoo’s pocket. But he had never once thought it was a waste.

Well, that was true until now.

But today, his mind had changed. Her figure, her looks, her entire air—all of it seemed tacky and cheap compared to the woman he had met about thirty minutes earlier.

Was her name Song Song?

Just thinking about her made his lower abdomen feel heavy.

She was a flower far too precious for some pathetic new Guild. He intended to pull her out without damaging a single root and plant her in his own flowerpot.

“Oppa, did something good happen? Why are you smiling like that?”

Im Changsoo didn’t answer. Instead, he waved toward the five people who had appeared in the distance.

“Ah, over here!”

Of course, he didn’t forget to add a quiet remark to his ex-girlfriend.

“Who the hell are you calling oppa, you fucking bitch?”

That lech—or rather, Im Changsoo—spoke with a bright smile.

“You’ve arrived. Ah, these are my team members.”

The people who appeared to belong to Sangdong Guild bowed their heads.

Including Im Changsoo, there were exactly five men and five women. Every one of them wore expensive, gleaming equipment, and their outfits clearly prioritized design over practicality.

Especially…

Oh, wow.

When it came to the female Hunters, I had no idea where to look. Im Kkeokjeong, a married man with two children, whispered with a stiff expression.

“They’re incredible.”

“……”

I almost nodded before managing to stop myself.

Miss Song was looking at us with a displeased expression.

Come to think of it…

Was this a raid or a blind date? Handsome and beautiful men and women pairing up, laughing and chatting as they entered a Gate—it was a perfect recipe for getting themselves killed.

Well, judging by their Levels and equipment, they would probably be fine.

“Is everyone here?”

The middle-aged official in charge of the Gate checked our numbers and Hunter licenses. It was one of the procedures we had to complete before entering.

“Sangdong Guild. Five B-ranks and five C-ranks. Correct?”

Im Changsoo gave him a courteous smile.

“That’s right.”

“Then Peace Guild. Two B-ranks, two C-ranks, and…”

The official’s hand paused as he flipped through the Hunter licenses.

“One E-rank? Where is he?”

Im Kkeokjeong thrust up his heavily furred arm.

“Uh, me.”

“What’s your position?”

“Sir, you’re not very observant. Would I carry around a huge brute of a shield like this if I were a mage? Heh heh.”

“You’re a tank.”

The official furrowed his brow.

A tank was exactly what the name suggested: a human shield who stood on the front line and blocked monster attacks. Because of the danger, tanks were among the best-paid Hunters, along with healers. They also had a high fatality rate.

“Why is an E-rank coming here? And he’s a tank, no less? Good grief.”

“You can make a lot in one go. Who knows? If the Magic Gems come tumbling out, we’ll have hit the jackpot.”

“Oppa, we’re really okay today, right?”

“Don’t worry. This oppa will protect you, Hye-rin.”

Murmurs spread among Im Changsoo’s team members. The official who had to let us enter was no exception.

“An E-rank tank…”

Butler Kim stepped forward at the concern in his voice.

“He is a veteran with twenty years of experience. He is also wearing sufficient equipment to prepare for any danger, so I don’t believe there will be a problem.”

“Veteran is good, of course. But you know what happened last week. Two C-rank tanks died. In a situation like this, letting him…”

That was when an unexpected ally appeared.

“Sir, can’t you make an exception?”

It was Im Changsoo. He continued in a soft voice.

“We’ve already signed the cooperative raid contract, and after meeting such fine people, it would be a shame to render it invalid.”

“Well, I mean…”

“If you could be just a little flexible, we’d really appreciate it… Please.”

What a strange guy. The words coming out of his mouth were all gratitude and requests, but his neck was stiff and his manner was high-handed.

The official flinched for a moment, then sighed.

“All right. But Team Leader, you’ll have to keep them under control.”

“Of course.”

Keep them under control. What an unpleasant way to put it.

With Im Changsoo’s help, permission was granted, but an ant seemed to be crawling around in one corner of my chest.

Well, better to let it go.

Even Im Kkeokjeong, the person involved, looked completely unfazed. It was ridiculous for me to take offense on his behalf.

“You may enter, then.”

At the official’s words, everyone stepped in front of the Gate. Ten Hunters from Sangdong Guild and five from Peace Guild. Fifteen people in total, including no fewer than seven B-rank Hunters—a highly elite raid team.

“Well, then…”

Im Changsoo, who had naturally taken the lead, winked.

“See you inside the Gate.”

Whoosh!

As Im Changsoo disappeared beyond the field of magic, Miss Song muttered,

“What a creep.”

I agree.

Whoosh.

The damp, sticky energy unique to magic wrapped around my body for a moment. When I opened my eyes, a new space unfolded before me.

It was a cavern so vast that it couldn’t even be compared to an F-rank Gate. Three entrances gaped open like enormous maws. It was the place we had seen in the video on the way here.

The only difference was…

Ding.

System

You have entered The Minotaur’s Labyrinth.

Quest B-rank Gate Clear has been created.

There was a System notification that only I could hear. And, on top of that, a Quest.

“All right, let’s check our numbers and equipment one more time before we go in.”

While everyone checked their belongings, I quietly moved to a corner of the cavern and muttered inwardly.

Check Quest.

Ding.

System

Quest

B-rank Gate Clear

You have entered a B-rank Gate for the first time in your life.

Upon successfully completing the raid, you will receive a corresponding Reward. This applies only once.

Grade: First Rate

Restriction: Jin Taekyung

Mission: Clear the B-rank Gate (Incomplete)

Reward: ???

Failure: ???

What a refreshing start.

I had just closed the Quest window with a warm smile when—

“What are you doing over here by yourself?”

A voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned my head and saw Im Changsoo walking toward me.

“Me?”

I thought he had mistaken me for someone else, but he hadn’t.

“You’re Jang Taekyung from Peace Guild, right?”

“I’m Jin Taekyung.”

“Yes, Jang Taekyung.”

I wasn’t sure whether he was deaf or my tongue was malfunctioning, but I nodded for the moment.

We’ll probably only see each other once, anyway.

He had helped out over the matter with Im Kkeokjeong, so I still felt a little grateful toward him.

“Did you need something?”

“Haha, it’s nothing I’d call business. This is fate, so I thought we could at least exchange names. You heard my introduction earlier, so you already know who I am. I look forward to working with you.”

Someone once said you couldn’t spit in a smiling face. It was a little awkward, but I clasped the hand Im Changsoo offered with a broad smile on his face.

“Ah, yes. I look forward to working with you too.”

A Team Leader from another Guild—someone I had never even met before—had offered me a handshake first.

I had participated in cooperative raids several times over the past seven years and had plenty of experience as a day-labor Hunter, but this was the first time something like this had happened.

Then again, I was an F-rank back then.

In those days, people had treated me like air. Maybe being a C-rank Hunter meant I was finally being treated like a person. It left me with a strange feeling.

But why me?

The question was answered almost immediately.

“That’s a Black Drake Leather Set, right?”

“Ah.”

This guy’s a Designer-Brand Junkie too.

Im Changsoo looked over my equipment from head to toe and let out one exclamation after another.

“Wow, I’d only ever seen this in pictures. Where did you buy it? Did you order it from overseas? Or get it in Cheongdam-dong?”

“I rented it.”

“You leased it from a company, then. I heard you’re a C-rank Hunter, but can you really keep something like this maintained? Ah, I’m sorry. I absolutely didn’t mean anything by it. Did I offend you?”

Of course I’m offended, you moron.

But I wasn’t stupid enough to let my true feelings show so openly.

What Im Changsoo had said was also a cold reality.

Still, this guy really has no tact.

I waved a hand with deliberate composure and added a little self-deprecating humor.

“It’s already breaking my back. Every penny I earn goes toward maintenance. The people around me call me crazy.”

“Haha, but is there anything more important than your life? Right?”

“That’s true.”

“Then I suppose the same goes for the others.”

“Sorry?”

“The others. The Peace Guild members. Their equipment looked pretty good too.”

“Did it? I don’t know much about that sort of thing.”

Im Changsoo laughed as if he had heard an amusing joke.

“Come on. That’s not something someone who spends a fortune leasing equipment gets to say.”

The equipment was leased, but it hadn’t cost me a fortune. Team Leader Choi had loaned it to me free of charge. I briefly considered explaining that, but soon abandoned the thought.

What’s the point of bringing that up?

Explaining it would just be a waste of breath.

I was already tired of talking about equipment, so I gave him a vague answer.

“They’re all about the same as mine.”

“I see.”

At that moment, one of Im Changsoo’s team members ran over and told him that preparations were complete.

“Oh, dear. We’ve been chatting for too long. I’d better go. I need to check on my team members one last time, and then we should all move together.”

“Take care.”

“Yes.”

Im Changsoo politely bowed his head and was about to leave when he suddenly asked,

“Oh, right. There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“……?”

“Have we met somewhere before?”

I would have been overjoyed if Miss Song had asked me that, but hearing it from a male in heavy armor left me feeling less than pleased.

“This is our first meeting.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

I only thought his name sounded familiar, but this was definitely our first meeting. At my firm answer, Im Changsoo’s smile deepened.

“All right, then. I’ll be going.”

What was that? His final smile rubbed me the wrong way.

As I watched his back, Team Leader Choi approached without my noticing and asked,

“Do you know him?”

“No. He just said he wanted to be friends.”

“He didn’t make a recruitment offer?”

“Not at all. I think he only came over because he’s a gear enthusiast. He suddenly walked up and asked where I bought my equipment.”

“I bought it in Cheongdam-dong.”

“……”

I wasn’t asking.

“Changsoo hyung, why did you suddenly go talk to that bastard?”

“Nothing. His equipment looked decent, so I sounded him out.”

“Holy crap, seriously? Is that stuff really his?”

“Use your brain, asshole. How could a C-rank wear something like that?”

“Then he leased it? Crazy bastard. The maintenance costs must be insane.”

“Leave him alone. It’s cute, watching him overextend himself trying to make something of himself.”

Im Changsoo let out a quiet laugh.

As expected, they were nothing special.

It was true that he had felt a little uneasy when they showed up out of nowhere decked out in expensive equipment. If he messed with the wrong people, things could get out of hand.

But now that he had them figured out, he felt at ease.

Song Song.

Money and ability. With only those two things, he believed he could do anything. Getting his hands on one woman would be no trouble at all.

“Let’s get moving. Pass it on.”

“Yes, sir!”