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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Although it was his first time seeing him in person, Lee Seong-joon had exchanged messages with Hwang Sung-wook several times regarding scheduling, so he followed him without a word.
After walking for about a minute with Hwang Sung-wook, enduring the barrage of camera flashes from reporters, they entered the large tent near the raid gate entrance, temporarily set up as a waiting room by the Hunter Association.
“This way, please.”
Guided courteously, he settled into a chair near the White Tiger guild’s flag, a white tiger emblem.
Hwang Sung-wook began speaking in a calm tone.
“I sent you the gate report via message beforehand, but there might be some omissions, so would you mind if I went over it again?”
Lee Seong-joon nodded, and Hwang Sung-wook, as if waiting for this, began reciting information about the Seodaemun-gu raid gate.
“The predicted terrain is a dimly lit cavity. Predicted monster appearances include agile creatures like Centaurs and Lycanthropes. We also assess that the boss monster is highly likely to be focused on speed, following a similar pattern.”
Since raid gates were a type of special gate, their entrances sealed until the strategy was completed or all entering hunters were wiped out, it was impossible to obtain definitive information.
Therefore, there were often unexpected variables not mentioned in the report, but it wasn’t entirely unhelpful to the hunters.
Since similar terrains and monsters often appeared, the information was quite helpful in preparing supplies before entering and during the initial engagement with the monsters. Moreover, this raid gate was a competition among guilds.
To perform well and earn a higher score, it was advantageous to enter with as much information as possible.
Therefore, the information hunters kept in mind wasn’t limited to just the terrain and monsters inside the gate.
“…And the hunters participating in this raid gate alongside Hunter Lee Seong-joon are: Song Seung-joon from Nuri, Jung Yoon-ho from Grim Reaper, Kim Hye-young from Phoenix, and Lee Dong-joo from Hwan Sung.”
Confirming that Lee Seong-joon was listening silently, Hwang Sung-wook continued.
“First, Lee Dong-joo from Hwan Sung is an archer-type Awakened who uses a bow. He specializes in ranged attacks and tracking. His actual rank is A, and depending on the terrain, he can display skills comparable to S-rank. However, since this gate has an enclosed terrain, you don’t need to be too concerned.”
“……”
Since it was information he had already checked in the report beforehand, Lee Seong-joon simply nodded without saying anything.
“Kim Hye-young from Phoenix is a mage-type Awakened who wields fire-based abilities. Although her actual rank is A, her firepower is comparable to S-rank. However, due to her class characteristics, her attacks require considerable preparation time, and there are unique signs just before she unleashes her skills. Therefore, since this gate is predicted to have agile monsters, we don’t believe she’s a major threat.”
Certainly, each and every one of them was a formidable hunter. They all possessed abilities and power exceeding their rank.
However, the aforementioned Lee Dong-joo and Kim Hye-young were just the beginning.
“And Jung Yoon-ho from Grim Reaper possesses skills specialized in handling daggers and hidden weapons, like an assassin. While his current rank is A+, his actual combat ability reaches S-rank. Since he specializes in targeted attacks, you should be somewhat wary of him.”
Lee Seong-joon nodded in agreement.
“He certainly has an advantage.”
Raid gates had the characteristic of awarding high points and contribution for hunting the boss monster.
Therefore, those with assassin-type skills like Jung Yoon-ho, who focused their attacks on a single target, had an advantage in achieving higher rankings.
“Especially since Hunter Jung Yoon-ho, like Hunter Lee Seong-joon, is a returnee with exceptionally high combat abilities…”
Hwang Sung-wook suddenly stopped speaking.
The reason was simple.
They heard the voice of Jung Yoon-ho himself, the subject of the conversation.
“That’s absurd, ‘same’ returnee? Our levels are different; how can we be the same?”
Since it was a makeshift tent, they could see Jung Yoon-ho’s sneering face just by turning their heads slightly.
“Hey, employee Kim, do you really think I’m the same kind of returnee as him?”
“……”
Kim Seung-won, the so-called “employee Kim” standing next to Jung Yoon-ho, cautiously glanced at Lee Seong-joon, trying to gauge his reaction.
He, an ordinary employee without any special abilities, was afraid of incurring the wrath of a hunter known as a rookie of the five major guilds.
However, this attitude was enough to provoke the hot-tempered Jung Yoon-ho.
“What? Why can’t you answer? Do you really think I’m on the same level as him?”
Just as Jung Yoon-ho’s face was becoming increasingly contorted, an answer came from not too far away.
“Why hesitate? Anyone can see we’re different.”
Lee Dong-joo from Hwan Sung had approached and slung an arm around Kim Seung-won’s shoulder.
“There’s no way a replacement suddenly cast a few days ago has received proper training like us.”
Lee Dong-joo sneered at Lee Seong-joon.
“Besides, he doesn’t even have any visible artifact equipment. How can he be considered on the same level as us? Well, if anything, he could be in charge of 5th place, the last place.”
Lee Seong-joon was now affiliated with the White Tiger guild; there was no way Hwang Sung-wook would stand by and let Lee Dong-joo openly mock him like this.
“…Doesn’t length depend on how you measure it?”
Lee Dong-joo scoffed at Hwang Sung-wook’s calm rebuttal.
“If there’s a clear difference, we don’t need to measure. Let’s not deny reality. Team Leader Hwang, you honestly think this raid gate is hopeless, don’t you?”
Objectively, Lee Seong-joon’s current state of preparation could be considered abysmal. Therefore, Hwang Sung-wook couldn’t deny Lee Dong-joo’s words.
He simply clenched his jaw, suppressing his rising anger.
“……”
Despite Hwang Sung-wook’s efforts, Lee Dong-joo continued,
“I’m not saying anything wrong, so why such a grim expression? It’s like you’re too scared to speak.”
With one corner of his mouth curled up in a clear sneer, Lee Dong-joo’s provocative attitude made Hwang Sung-wook’s face flush crimson.
‘Damn him…’
Hwan Sung, who had always been in last place, was getting cocky and running his mouth.
Honestly, he wanted to retaliate by bringing up Hwan Sung’s past failures and turning Lee Dong-joo’s insides out.
However, as an ordinary civilian, he couldn’t bring himself to pick a fight with a hunter, especially a rookie from one of the five major guilds, so he was suppressing his anger when…
Lee Dong-joo’s taunts abruptly ceased. Of course, it wasn’t because he had a change of heart.
Kim Hye-young from Phoenix stepped in as a mediator and calmed the situation.
“Please stop. We don’t know what will happen inside the raid gate. Fighting amongst ourselves before it even begins won’t do any good.”
Although it was a common sentiment within the hunter community, Lee Dong-joo still shrugged.
“You’re right, we don’t know what will happen in the gate, but frankly, I don’t think I’ll need any help.”
“I agree with that.”
The gazes of Lee Dong-joo and Jung Yoon-ho, both smirking, turned towards Lee Seong-joon.
However, they couldn’t maintain their composure at his next words.
“Then, can you guarantee you won’t need my help either?”
In raid gates, the boss monster’s strength was on a completely different level compared to ordinary gates. Therefore, it was best to engage the boss monster with as much strength as possible.
In other words, Kim Hye-young’s help, with her wide-area attack abilities capable of clearing out ordinary monsters at once, was essential.
“……”
Kim Hye-young spoke firmly to Lee Dong-joo and Jung Yoon-ho, who were avoiding answering by remaining silent.
“There will definitely be times when we need each other’s help, so I hope we can refrain from arguing amongst ourselves, at least before entering the gate.”
Finally, Jung Yoon-ho and Lee Dong-joo turned their heads and closed their mouths. The brief commotion naturally subsided.
Immediately after, Hwang Sung-wook cautiously gauged Lee Seong-joon’s reaction.
‘Is he alright?’
He had been openly mocked by those who were considered his fellow rookies. But since they weren’t words he could easily refute, he probably had no choice but to endure it.
Indeed, Lee Seong-joon had remained silent throughout Lee Dong-joo and Jung Yoon-ho’s taunts.
‘…He must be quite upset.’
Just as he was contemplating what words of comfort to offer and looked at Lee Seong-joon’s face…
“…?”
Hwang Sung-wook tilted his head in confusion. Contrary to his expectations, Lee Seong-joon’s face remained completely impassive.
To be precise, he wasn’t even paying attention.
From Lee Seong-joon’s perspective, Lee Dong-joo and Jung Yoon-ho were nothing more than ordinary hunters, dull individuals consumed by inferiority complexes.
Therefore, Lee Seong-joon was solely focused on Song Seung-joon, who was sitting under the flag of the Nuri guild, a dragon emblem.
‘Interesting.’
Although he hadn’t heard Hwang Sung-wook’s explanation due to Jung Yoon-ho’s sudden interruption, since he had thoroughly read the report beforehand, he clearly remembered the information about Song Seung-joon.
‘Yoon Min-soo’s disciple and a knight who wields a sword.’
In fact, his abilities could be considered the most ordinary among the rookies. However, his combat abilities were anything but ordinary.
‘Current rank is A+, estimated actual combat ability is S.’
No, even higher than that. Judging by the aura he emitted, his combat ability surpassed even Jung Yoon-ho, whose combat ability was estimated to be S-rank.
‘Clearly at the peak level. In terms of general hunter rank, he would be around S+.’
He could exert power that transcended two whole ranks. He could now understand the worried words Oh Kyung-hyun had uttered earlier.
‘…He’s certainly something.’
He was indeed a strong individual, worthy of being called a monster.
‘Perhaps this raid might be more interesting than I thought.’
Just as a satisfied smile was spreading across Lee Seong-joon’s lips, a voice came from outside the tent.
“In five minutes, at 12 o’clock, we will enter the gate. Participating hunters from each guild, please come outside and prepare for entry.”
At the association staff member’s words, the hunters waiting inside the tent rose from their seats.
“I’ll be back.”
“Good luck.”
Seen off by Hwang Sung-wook, Lee Seong-joon walked out of the tent.
He stood alongside the rookies from other guilds in front of the raid gate entrance, a swirling vortex emitting an intense red light.
“In two minutes, at 12 o’clock sharp, you may enter!”
Along with the association staff member’s loud voice, the reporters’ camera flashes began to explode.
After the short two minutes passed…
“You may enter!”
Finally, as the hunter staff member gave the okay signal, the hunters waiting at the entrance simultaneously stepped into the raid gate as if they had prearranged it.
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