Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

Chapter 39 - Brace Yourself For What's Coming

On the border of North Pocheon. Checkpoint 2-B.

An unexpected argument was taking place at the iron-fence checkpoint managed by a private company.

"Hey, why are you doing this to us? We have guests, aren't you going to open the gate?"

"Can't do it right now. Iron Will is inside. It would be a problem if we ran into them."

"We're not going in that direction. We'll just hang around the periphery and come back."

"And is that at your discretion? What if your guests want to go further in? Weren't you saying the customer's always right?"

"Both of us are living a life ruled by money, is this really necessary? You let Dongsoo's gang in just a few days ago, didn't you?"

"That was for a hunting trip. You, Mr. Do Dae-su, you're here for sightseeing. We can't take responsibility if a civilian gets hurt."

"When have you seen me cause an accident? Don't talk like that. Now, take this and let us in. Please save my face. The guests are watching."

With a jerk of his chin, Do Dae-su gestured behind him and slipped a bundle into the checkpoint manager's pocket.

The bundle was a bit thicker than usual, stirring the manager's greed as it slid into his inside pocket.

After a few moments of hesitation, the manager coughed awkwardly and unbuttoned the part of his jacket where the bundle had been inserted.

That was the okay sign.

Do Dae-su gave the manager's shoulder a pat, followed by a wink.

"Safely. Without getting caught. Got it?"

"Got it. Always buying needless worries."

Having successfully negotiated, Do Dae-su returned to the parked vehicles.

Two SUVs and a minibus sandwiched between them.

Among the three vehicles, he boarded the minibus.

From the outside, it looked like a typical minibus, but the interior was quite different. The seats were spaced widely apart and were as large and plush as business-class airplane seats.

With luxurious leather seats reminiscent of a limousine and even a wine fridge. And within it, bottles of alcohol aplenty.

The sight of three men and three women rolling about, gulping down bottles of booze in broad daylight was disgustingly obscene.

Nonetheless, Do Dae-su smiled innocently and closed the bus door.

"Alright, dear customers. The gate has finally opened. Shall we start today's monster tour?"

"What's all this?" Ju Se-ah asked, looking at the unfamiliar trailer.

The logo on the trailer was familiar.

H.A.N.J.U.

A major corporation, teetering on the 10th rank in terms of size, comparable to the Taesung Group.

If Taesung Group had a stronghold in the Gate materials sector, Hanju held a significant stake in the fields of biotechnology and chemistry.

The vehicle she was looking at belonged to the chemical subsidiary of that Hanju Group.

"It's a sealed container. Could the inside be..."

"Yes. Ampule kits. The healing potions are all Grade 1, and the rest are Grade 3. We've received an entire set of 230, more than enough for the guild members to use."

Ju Se-ah's mouth fell open. Even the cheapest healing potion was a high-end item worth between 40 and 50 million won.

Moreover, it wasn't just a single item, but a full set of Ampule kits.

Though the rest of the potions were only of Grade 3, they had brought items such as hemostasis, detoxification, purification, stamina, and elemental resistance potions, which could only be utilized during an expedition.

When evaluated in terms of price, each set was close to 300 million won. Depending on the situation, it could even soar close to 500 million won.

There were ordinary people who would say that a Hunter's equipment being only 300 million won was cheap, but if one considered that a single-use consumable item cost 300 million won, even Hunters could not disregard such an amount.

'The problem is that it's not something you can buy even if you have the money.'

Of course, Ju Se-ah had used this set as basic equipment during her time in the Slayer Guild. But since she left, she hadn't even been able to look at it.

Advanced equipment and potions were more easily secured in the order of Tier-ed Guilds, A-rank, and B-rank. The basic policy of the suppliers was to prioritize distributing the limited resources to capable guilds.

It was because the skilled Hunters would yield the best results, which in turn provided better value for money than any advertisement could.

The reason why the Titan Guild had difficulty upgrading to a Tier-ed Guild was precisely because of the difficulty in securing such high-level equipment.

"So, Hanju provided you with this?"

"I received it from a friend. As a token of friendship."

"..."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's quite extravagant for just friendship. Is that friendship perhaps some sort of threat or conspiracy?"

"It is a somewhat calculated friendship. They wanted the know-how for establishing and running a guild. We're planning to sign an MOU."

"Wow, with Hanju? For friendship? They have a bad reputation. Isn't this like poking a hornet's nest? Even if I've given you full authority, couldn't you at least tell me about the less urgent matters beforehand? Isn't that the least bit of courtesy toward a Guild Master?"

Ju Se-ah bit her lip and glared. Unlike her usual lively glare, it was a harsh look that would make an ordinary person cower.

Ignoring her sharp gaze, Kang Mu-hyuk replied, "Didn't I tell you now? Post-reporting. It's in the contract."

"By any chance, is there another post-report that you haven't made yet?"

"Yes. I met the Chairman before coming here."

"The Chairman? My father? Why are you telling me this now?"

"I had forgotten."

"What else is there to forget!"

"He was spouting such petty nonsense. It wasn't worth listening to. Ah? Given that he's the Guild Master's father, did I speak too disrespectfully?"

"No. I'm not going to take sides due to a biological relationship, so it doesn't matter. But what did he say? He's a bit of a loose cannon, so I doubt he said anything pleasant."

"He definitely didn't say anything pleasant. He was playing with people's lives."

Kang Mu-hyuk relayed the conversation he had with Chairman Tae Jin-sung.

Upon hearing the whole story, Ju Se-ah wore two expressions at once.

She showed anger towards Tae Jin-sung who had blatantly ordered to sacrifice half of the guild members. The second was the disbelief towards Kang Mu-hyuk who had concealed such an outrageous threat and command.

"So, you're telling me about this grave matter just now? Goodness, I can't believe it."

"I'm not one to speak carelessly without a plan. I needed time to organize my thoughts."

"So, does that mean you've managed to sort things out?"

"I do have a few ideas in mind. But the current situation surpassed my expectations, so I'm still holding off on any decisions."

"Is it because of the goblin queen?"

"Yes. I fear we may not be able to avoid sacrifices."

"...So, in the end, regardless of your intentions, you're abiding by the chairman's words. Right?"

Ju Se-ah sharply pointed out the crux of the matter.

As Kang Mu-hyuk remained silent, she ground her teeth and added, "Guild Leader, is that really what you thought? To wait and observe during the Hunt because someone might die? That if someone dies, you won't have to think too hard for a solution? If that's the case, it's disappointing."

"I'm not wishing for anyone's death. I've only considered all the possibilities. I'm still thinking of ways to avoid the worst-case scenario. Isn't that my role?"

"No. It seems you misunderstand something, Guild Leader. The mere fact of leveraging someone's sacrifice is frustrating. I'm quite upset." Ju Se-ah looked at Kang Mu-hyuk with an unprecedentedly cold gaze.

Kang Mu-hyuk calmly met her eyes and slowly opened his mouth.

"Guild Master, it seems you're not yet suited for your position."

"What did you say?"

Ju Se-ah narrowed her eyes at his unexpected response; she had wanted an acknowledgment of his mistake.

"During your time at the Slayer's Guild, you held vital positions like Expedition Team ace, soloing first pick strategy, and boss tool player, right?"

"So? What are you trying to say?"

"In all those positions, you only needed to 'do well.' But have you ever taken responsibility for someone's life? Have you ever been in that position?"

"I've always risked my life in hunts. I've fought on the front lines so others wouldn't die."

"So, has there ever been a time when no one died during a hunt?"

"..."

Ju Se-ah remained silent, her lips tightly sealed.

A perfect hunt, where no one died or was injured, was impossible. While there were rare instances when such things didn't happen due to good luck, repeated hunts brought death as an inevitable cost.

Vacancies were quickly filled, but those who left never returned. That was an unavoidable truth, even if one stood at the forefront of the Gates.

At Kang Mu-hyuk's simple and obvious question, Ju Se-ah couldn't rashly reply. She vaguely sensed what he was trying to say.

Acknowledging her silence, Kang Mu-hyuk nodded and continued.

"The Strategy and Tactics team leader or Expedition team leader establishes several priorities during a raid. Who will be the next in command if the seniors are absent, what the tanking order will be, the rotation of night watch, meal times, when to use the bathroom, etc., down to the tiniest detail. But there's one thing we decide on first among all these. Do you know what that is?"

"..."

"It's who to save and who to abandon."

"What do you mean..."

"In case of a raid failure, and when safe retreat is deemed impossible, the first priority is whom to save, and whom to abandon."

This was something Ju Se-Ah had never experienced before.

After she had joined the expeditionary team, the Slayer Guild had achieved a 100 percent gate conquest rate. There had been no need for a last resort, nor to hear about its process.

While they called her an unshakeable ace Hunter, the guild wouldn't place such a burden on a young woman in her mid-twenties. It was less about considering Ju Se-ah, and more about a choice to effectively use a skilled Hunter.

Kang Mu-hyuk had roughly figured out this circumstance. Titan too tried not to burden the young Hunters with the life and death of the party as much as possible. There was a time for every Hunter to possess the spirit of responsibility toward the party over the individual, and the raid party over the party.

Ju Se-ah had been trained as the strongest Hunter, but she hadn't been educated as a capable raid team leader or a Guild Master.

This was because she had come out from the Slayer Guild at that point.

Kang Mu-hyuk thought that it was about time for Ju Se-Ah to start learning what the position of a Guild Master entails.

"During the times of the Great War, it was an unspoken rule set in place for future raid strategies. To protect humanity while alive, is preparing for the future. Have you heard of this saying? The descendants hunt the next monster with the experience and sacrifices of their ancestors. This is..."

"I know. It's a phrase carved into the wall of the Hunter Association."

"Guild Masters who are heavily invested in hunting, strategy and tactic team leaders who handle countless lives... They always keep this in mind. It's a cold-hearted choice. I don't particularly like it either. But hunting must continue. That's why Hunters exist."

'But still, to speak of someone's death so casually... I don't like it.'

She understood it in her head, but her heart wouldn't accept it. Ju Se-ah still believed she could catch two rabbits at once.

To kill all monsters, without anyone's sacrifice. This was the confidence she could have as she was raised as a super elite. Even if it was difficult now, it would eventually become possible.

She truly believed so.

'It seems like she's not convinced. But, just the fact that she's considering this is a good thing.'

If the past ten years had been the first act of Hunter Ju Se-ah, the following would be the second act of Guild Master Ju Se-ah.

Kang Mu-hyuk added the final words.

"I am not a Hunter. But as a Guild Leader, I am prepared to give up on the lives of guild members. However, I do not intend to devalue their lives. I won't avoid hunting. I'll do my best to prevent it. Guild Master, I hope you approach it with the same determination."

Even though it was just words, Ju Se-ah felt a lump in her throat.

What saved her from this was ironically an emergency signal.

At the ear-piercing sound, Kang Mu-hyuk turned on his previously off headset and responded.

"What's happening?"

"The Goblin tribe has moved its forces to the west!"

"!!"

"This little fella here is a Goblin, one of the monsters most similar to humans, just a bit shorter. Fortunately, these young ones came out to hunt, so we didn't need to go too deep. We're lucky. So, want to take a whack at it?"

Do Dae-su had securely tied the goblin's hands and feet and tossed it on the ground, then handed a club to his customer.

The man holding the club had bloodshot eyes from alcohol and drugs. His pupils were unfocused, and his nose bled from the stimulant he'd snorted.

Thump!

"Kieeek!"

"Damn, this little guy screams well. Does the hit feel different? Is it because it's a monster?"

The club swung through the air several times. With every swing, the goblin screamed and turned into a bloody mess. The women beside them cheered with a golf-like 'nice shot' in support of the man.

When the goblin finally stopped breathing, the man turned his club to the next captured goblin.

"Hey, stop it. Let me kill some too. Let me slice it with this sword."

"Sir, be careful handling the sword. You might get hurt."

"President Do, show me a proper stance. Like this? I've seen it many times in movies."

"It's hard to swing with one hand. It's better to hold it with both hands."

People, having tasted blood using various weapons on the remaining goblins, soon ran out of energy and collapsed into the minibus.

Some threw up due to the smell of blood, but not because they found it disgusting or scary. They vomited because they had too many drinks.

While they were resting, the duty of burying the dead goblins and cleaning up fell to the Hunters. If they left the corpses as they were, all sorts of monsters would swarm in, so it was best to clean up to avoid trouble.

Watching the Hunters work, Do Dae-su lit a cigarette. A Hunter sidled up to him and asked in a low voice, "Bro, isn't this business going to go bust after this time?"

"What do you mean, 'bust?'"

"Iron Will Guild or something moved in, didn't they? Claiming this as their territory, we might come under their control."

"That's for the guys who come to hunt. Are we gathering or hunting profitable monsters? We're just providing a monster-hunting experience for rich kids. Even if we get caught, we'll just pay a fine. It's just a matter of making enough from a single run to cover the fine."

At Do Dae-su's words, the Hunter nodded.

There was certainly no legal ground to sanction the monster hunting experience tour. The market itself was a 'blue ocean,' and it wasn't widely known as it was a game only for the rich.

Of course, the drugs they were using were illegal, but would the police come all the way to the Special Activities Zone?

Even if they got caught, Do Dae-su had always been just an observer, not a supplier, so he had plenty of ways out.

Do Dae-su patted the Hunter's shoulder, saying, "The participation fee is a thousand per person. We also charge for the liquor, equipment use, and additional costs depending on the type of monster."

"That's right. You pull in several hundred million won just by accommodating one team."

"Yeah, that's it. Could C-rankers like us earn this kind of money from hunting? It's a more profitable business to milk rich kids who just want to see blood and relieve stress through violence, like Hunters. Don't worry about useless things, let's go knock off the next monster."

After grinding out his cigarette on the ground with his foot, Do Dae-su led the customers to the next hunting ground.

"Were the goblins a bit bland for you? Well, let's try a fiercer creature next time. Now, let's get going."

After Do Dae-su and his group left...

A wolf ran towards the spot where they had been.

Surprisingly, a goblin was riding on the wolf. The goblin hopped off the wolf, sniffing the air, and then picked up a cigarette butt on the ground.

Its eyes, reminiscent of yellowed whites, shone with a thin, vertically stretched black line.

The goblin found the wheel tracks on the ground and let out a loud cry toward the direction the vehicle had gone.

"Kyaaaaaaa!"