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Chapter 57
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The disappearance of Yoo Byung-joon, an S-rank Hunter.
In order to confirm his survival and ensure his safe rescue,
Blue Forest Guild, the guild he belonged to, dispatched an elite party comprised of A-rank Hunters.
However, as more time passed,
even at a point where the mission should have been completed according to estimates,
the elite party also failed to return, just like Yoo Byung-joon.
In the end, it became evident that the elite party had also gone missing.
The Hunter Management Bureau of Korea immediately declared an emergency and convened a meeting.
“The investigation confirms that this A-rank dungeon is indeed a special dungeon.”
“Reports have come in from Hunters specialized in reconnaissance.”
Information began to be gathered one after another.
As the information was compiled, the atmosphere in the meeting room grew heavier.
“There is a high probability that this A-rank dungeon is a dual-layered dungeon.”
“The amount of mana inside the dungeon is increasing! In the worst case, it could even be an S-rank dungeon.”
More information continued to flow in from the field.
“High-level undead have started spreading inside again! Further reconnaissance is deemed impossible….”
“Damn it!”
Bang!
A middle-aged man, unable to contain his anger, slammed his fist onto the table.
However, no one criticized him.
Everyone shared the same sentiment.
“A dual-layered dungeon all of a sudden! Such dungeons are so rare in Korea—why now?”
“This is serious… We trusted Blue Forest Guild and wasted too much time.”
The time spent identifying the dungeon and recruiting Hunters to clear it.
The time consumed due to Yoo Byung-joon’s prior reservation.
The time delayed waiting for the dispatched rescue team.
All these factors combined to create the current situation.
“The dungeon break is imminent….”
“Damn it!”
The gate’s rampage was now looming.
A rampaging A-rank dungeon, one of the highest grades of dungeons, was upon them.
Dealing with a rampaging gate results in countless casualties.
It also requires an enormous number of personnel.
This is because the monsters pouring out all at once must be dealt with simultaneously.
If they failed to handle this A-rank dungeon and the gate went into a rampage…
Everyone shuddered as they imagined the anticipated consequences.
“We cannot let the gate rampage, no matter what!”
“That’s right! There’s no time to waste. Issue summons to every guild!”
“Contact all high-ranking Hunters immediately!”
Amid the urgency, the Management Bureau acted swiftly.
They contacted every guild with high-ranking Hunters, including the large guilds.
The range of their communication naturally included individual Hunters as well.
It was time for the Hunters, who had enjoyed various benefits, to fulfil their obligations.
However, not all Hunters could participate in this incident.
There were countless dungeons, and many were already being cleared.
Moreover, some Hunters were dispatched overseas.
“Dawn Guild has expressed their willingness to cooperate! They’re sending an elite party!”
“As expected of Dawn Guild! What about the others?”
“Blue Forest Guild is also adding more personnel!”
“Night Guild has also agreed to cooperate!”
One by one, additional forces were confirmed.
Late into the night, the emergency operations continued without pause.
During a brief respite amidst the ongoing overtime work,
the team leader from the management department engaged in a conversation with Section Chief Jang Han-soo in the break room.
“Sigh… What a tiring situation.”
“It can’t be helped, given the circumstances. How many forces have been assembled?”
“The vanguard consists of 13 high-ranking Hunters, including three S-rank. The rear unit is still being recruited.”
“It’s a bit lacking, but it’s the best we can do.”
“Exactly.”
Given the urgency, the Management Bureau had recruited both a vanguard and a rear unit.
The pre-assembled vanguard would set out first to proceed as quickly as possible.
Then the rear unit, gathered additionally, would join in to stabilize the situation and finish the mission.
It was the best plan they had for now.
“By the way, what’s the rank of that returnee from before? It’s been some time now.”
“Oh, that person is still D-rank.”
“I thought so. They won’t be of much help.”
The team leader clicked his tongue in frustration.
Watching him, the section chief swallowed his thoughts.
‘If it’s Si-hyun, she’s skilled enough to be at an A-rank level, so she could certainly help….’
But he wasn’t sure if she’d be willing.
As an individual without guild affiliation, registered as a D-rank, she had few obligations.
Though it wasn’t impossible to compel her, it would certainly damage their relationship later.
‘I should contact her just in case, when there’s an opportunity.’
If she expressed a positive opinion,
it would be entirely possible to involve her in the mission somehow.
***
In the Blue Forest Guild, one of Korea’s major guilds,
a man with a deeply furrowed brow shouted angrily.
“What?! What do you mean they’re missing again? The rescue team is completely wiped out?!”
His voice echoed thunderously throughout the office.
He was none other than the master and head of Blue Forest Guild.
The staff lowered their eyes, stealing glances at their boss with wary looks.
“Half of our key forces are missing! Wasn’t the vanguard doing their job properly? How do you plan to fix this mess?!”
The reason Blue Forest Guild had risen to the ranks of major guilds was simple.
They boasted not one but two S-rank Hunters.
Blue Forest was known for investing heavily in top-tier Hunters.
While countless others were exploited in the process,
new recruits continued to join,
driven by dreams of becoming the strongest.
A belief that hard work would be rewarded after enduring the hardships.
This was the core reason Blue Forest continued to attract talent.
But in reality, only a select few enjoyed the benefits, while the majority were worn down and discarded.
And now, the disappearance of Yoo Byung-joon, an S-rank Hunter representing Blue Forest.
The elite A-rank rescue party dispatched to save him had also gone missing.
Blue Forest Guild was now in a state of crisis.
“Ever since that damn woman left, nothing has gone right. Damn it!”
The guild master’s face turned red and blue as he continued to raise his voice.
As he vented his anger, he even began bringing up past incidents.
The staff remained silent, waiting for the master’s fury to subside.
Then, suddenly, the master’s phone rang.
When he checked the caller ID, his expression softened slightly.
It was an S-rank Hunter, another prominent figure representing Blue Forest Guild.
– “Guild Master, I’ve just wrapped things up on my end. I’ll return to Seoul shortly.”
“Ah, Kang Chul-min! Finally! I assume you’ve heard about the situation?”
– “Yes, once I’m back, I’ll join the rear unit immediately.”
Since he had been dispatched far away on a mission, he was not currently in Seoul.
Because of that, he couldn’t join the vanguard but planned to be part of the rear unit.
He needed to restore the guild’s tarnished honour.
“I just hope the Hunters are still alive….”
– “You don’t need to worry since I’m here. I’ll rescue them and return without fail.”
Kang Chul-min spoke confidently, his voice brimming with conviction.
It was almost arrogant in tone.
The guild master let out a sigh of relief.
***
The day after all the chaos had broken out.
Si-hyun, for her part, was inside a D-rank dungeon that afternoon.
It was a leisurely activity to earn some pocket money.
After clearing out the dungeon,
she found a suitable clearing and began enjoying her hobby.
“Humming~”
She hummed the ending song from VTuber Momobin’s broadcast while casting magic.
Her toes tapped lightly in rhythm with the tune.
Crunch, crunch.
Just like when she had made the goblin model previously,
this time, she was crafting a skeleton model.
After finishing the frame, Si-hyun picked up her phone and opened her messaging app.
While internet access was unavailable, she could still revisit previously saved chat logs.
She re-read a past conversation with Areum.
– “I’m thinking of preparing a skeleton model this time.”
– “…What if you made it cute this time?!”
– “Cute? Why?”
– “Well, to reduce the students’ aversion to monsters!”
– “Oh, that makes sense.”
– “Right?!”
– “(Skeleton drawing) How about something like this?”
– “Thanks for the reference! I’ll use it!”
Si-hyun had been easily persuaded.
Now that she thought about it, the goblin model used for battle practice had definitely been divisive.
Was it really necessary to impose such things in a liberal arts lecture?
Besides, Areum’s suggestion wasn’t bad at all.
Reducing aversion with a cute design—
it was an idea Si-hyun herself would never have come up with.
She was glad she had asked someone for their opinion.
Nodding in satisfaction, she continued her thoughts.
This time, she decided to approach the model-making as a fun hobby.
The goblin model in her professor’s office would have a new friend soon.
If she kept making one of each type, it might even turn into quite a collection.
“Fufufu….”
Grinning to herself, she resumed casting magic.
‘When I get home, I should drink the wine I bought at the bar.’
Since she’d be at home, she wouldn’t need to worry about getting tipsy and could enjoy it with her meal.
She planned to skip morning prayers tomorrow.
Wake up late and collect her thoughts leisurely.
“Mm, mm.”
It was a clean and perfect plan.
Feeling the essence of true relaxation, Si-hyun smiled brightly.
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