THPUD 08

THPUD

Posted by Zoe, Released on November 1, 2025

Chapter 08 ….

Click click.

“Hunter Gwanghwi! You’ve become the world’s first F-rank guildmaster. How do you feel right now?”

“I’ve heard rumors that you were expelled from the Hunter Academy. Is that true?”

How did they even find out and come here?

Reporters had gathered in my yard.

Well…

Considering that my story has become a huge topic in the hunter community, it wasn’t surprising that reporters came.

The real problem, however, was that I hadn’t washed up before heading to the dungeon.

I hadn’t even washed my hair, knowing I’d get dirty anyway.

Click click click.

“…”

Am I really going to be immortalized in the world like this?

“What’s the purpose of forming a solo guild? Was it just noise marketing to get your name out?”

“Can we interpret the creation of your guild as a rebellion of a socially disadvantaged person?”

The rumors on the boards had grown out of proportion, and strange interpretations were spreading.

I had only created a guild, but people were attaching all sorts of unnecessary meanings to it.

“Please, just one statement.”

“Do you intend to enter the dungeon, or did you just want the title of guildmaster?”

If I didn’t speak, the misunderstandings would continue to pile up.

So, I decided to agree to the interview.

“I’m actually heading to a D-rank dungeon right now. That’s exactly why I created the guild.”

Click click click.

Passing through the yard gate, I stepped outside.

The reporters followed alongside me.

<Breaking: F-rank guildmaster Gwanghwi heading into a D-rank dungeon. Created guild for this purpose.>

<Breaking: F-rank guildmaster heading into D-rank dungeon with pet.>

<Breaking: The last sight of the F-rank guildmaster opposing the authorities.>

The articles were being posted in real-time, but I didn’t notice.

“Do you have any final words?”

“….”

Final words?

Apparently, they think entering a dungeon is akin to going to die.

“I am not going to die. I’m going to survive. If I don’t stop the monsters, this world will be destroyed.”

Click click.

“Some in the hunter community have issued a statement saying that Hunter Gwanghwi, who undermined the guildmaster’s authority, should be expelled. What do you think?”

“I understand. I also know the symbolic weight of being a guildmaster—it’s not light. However, the idea that only the naturally strong can be guildmasters is a major misconception. The Hunter Association didn’t restrict the conditions for guildmasters because they understand this.”

Click click.

Click click click.

“What does the ‘OreOre Guild’ mean? Is there a symbolic meaning?”

I glanced at Luth, who was pretending to be a cat perched on my shoulder, before answering.

“It means the best of the best among all good things. It’s something beyond words.”

<World’s first F-rank guildmaster: “I know the weight of being a guildmaster too.”>

└ Is the guild just a joke?

└ Someone who knows the weight of a guildmaster’s name? An F-rank hunter?

└ At least he has a conscience and enters the dungeon himself… the Lord will soon rise.

└ They say the most dangerous people are fools with convictions.

└ Still, he leaves a name behind and survives. Disgrace.

└ Did that guy tarnish the guildmaster’s honor just to make his name known? Truly shameless.

**

In front of the D-rank dungeon gate.

Contrary to my intention of quietly entering, it was extremely noisy.

Click click click.

Reporters kept taking photos, following closely, clearly determined to see if I actually went in.

Because of this, I drew the attention of the many hunters waiting to enter the dungeon.

Some muttered curses,

Some looked at me with a desire to survive,

And others watched with pitying eyes.

“May I see your hunter license?”

Beep.

“OreOre Guild’s Hunter Gwanghwi confirmed. You may enter.”

For some reason, just before entering the dungeon, I turned back and waved to the onlookers.

“Goodbye, everyone.”

**

Swish!

Thunk!

<Cough! Please save me!>

The monsters in the D-rank dungeon were incomparably strong compared to F-rank monsters.

Unlike the simple attack patterns of the mouths, these monsters attacked cooperatively in groups of five or six.

Right, left, behind.

And from above as well.

Luth had said that if he helped too much, my skills wouldn’t grow, so unless the situation was truly dangerous, he wouldn’t intervene.

There was no time to rest.

I wielded axes in both hands, using dual-wield skills.

The axes, now heavier with larger heads, struck with force.

Thunk!

<Cough! Please save me!>

Killing D-rank monsters wasn’t enough.

Just before dying, they screamed and called for distant allies.

<Help!>

Then, those with large ears would rush in upon hearing the call.

Not once had they failed to respond.

Even as monsters, they were loyal to their allies.

Since the ones that had just died screamed, another wave would come.

I quickly swept the corpses and mana stones into my inventory and moved elsewhere.

I needed a short break.

[Gwanghwi, those creatures are strange.]

“Huff huff huff. Strange how?”

[Don’t you see? They are better than humans in some ways. They move as one and are willing to die for their companions.]

Luth had been in a bad mood all day.

He hadn’t realized before the reporters arrived that I would be treated this way by humans, and apparently, he didn’t like it.

[Gwanghwi, we need to change humans’ perception of you as quickly as possible.]

“Huff huff. How?”

[I’ll help you with all my strength. Let’s enter an even higher-rank dungeon.]

“Huff huff huff huff… Luth, don’t overdo it. I’m fine.”

Luth’s body had recovered a lot, so he was stronger than me,

But higher-rank dungeons were a different level entirely.

If monsters overflowed, the world could end.

Humanity was spending astronomical amounts to ensure that upper-tier monsters didn’t proliferate.

[Don’t worry, Gwanghwi. As your Ore grows stronger, my recovery also accelerates.]

“Huff huff huff… How does your recovery get faster just because my Ore grows?”

Something I’d never heard before.

[Ore itself is the principle of the world. Both good and bad things influence each other, amplifying their effects. That’s one of the principles of the world.]

Ah.

So, as Luth’s illness healed, my Ore grew stronger?

Or did I grow and that healed Luth?

…What was it again?

Anyway, if the best of the best Ore synergizes and grows together,

The more altruistically we act, the better it is for both of us.

[Let’s go to a C-rank dungeon, Gwanghwi. I’ll show my strength for you.]

**

Click click.

Exiting the dungeon.

The startled reporters snapped photos again.

They must have waited here, wondering when I’d appear.

Click click click.

<World’s first F-rank guildmaster. Survives D-rank dungeon.>

“Hunter Gwanghwi, how was the D-rank dungeon?”

“Did you encounter any monsters?”

“What happened inside?”

Click click click.

“The monsters in the D-rank dungeon were much stronger than I expected. And I’ve reflected on myself. Even though they were monsters, they knew how to cooperate and help one another. They even had ears that could feel the pain of their kind.”

The watching hunters scoffed and yelled.

“Don’t lie! You faced Earcutters. How could someone like you return alive?”

“Yeah, you probably hid somewhere until it was over.”

“Kukukukukuk.”

Hmm. Just as expected.

Before entering, Luth and I had predicted a few scenarios, and this was one of them.

I pulled five Earcutters’ corpses out of my inventory.

Thump!

“Huh?”

Click click click.

“These are the D-rank Earcutters I defeated.”

The axe marks were clear.

The astonished hunters’ eyes widened.

Defeating an EarCutter usually required over 10 D-rank hunters working together.

They were quite surprised that I had done it alone.

“You shouldn’t be this shocked. Next, we’ll enter a C-rank dungeon.”

**

Every day, articles about me were published.

<F-rank guildmaster Gwanghwi enters C-rank dungeon.> <F-rank guildmaster survives C-rank dungeon. Health stable.>

<F-rank guildmaster Gwanghwi. Guild office in Gangnam?>

Yes. Our company bought the Earcutters’ corpses from Hunter Gwanghwi. Thanks to that, our company grew rapidly. Haha. He brought them in huge quantities daily; I wondered where he got them. From the first time, his aura was unusual. He didn’t seem like an F-rank hunter at all.

Buy him food? I don’t know anything. This area usually has many homeless people. Nothing around here, abandoned land. The country lets it be. Hunter Gwanghwi? Who’s that? Ah~ that person? I was sitting here meditating, and that young man shared some food. He went into that dungeon. Why?
I’m in 4th grade, class 1. Thanks to Gwanghwi, monsters haven’t flooded this area, so it’s safe. Guildmaster? I don’t know, but he’s the best person I know. I want to become a hunter like him when I grow up. I’ve stopped bullying others and quit drinking and smoking.
Can this be blurred? There was a senior at our school who couldn’t awaken for 16 years. That senior was Gwanghwi. Was he close with you? Well… at school, he was ignored by juniors. At our school, awakening equals ability. Everyone else was a genius and acted arrogantly. But when Gwanghwi suddenly awakened, it caused a stir. It was the first in the world. Reporter, right?
I remember faintly. When I first met Gwanghwi, he was 3 years old. So cute and intelligent. He didn’t feel inferior when older students awakened and always tried his best. “Persistent” might be the right word. I wanted him to quit because watching him train so hard was painful, but he didn’t give up. Truly impressive. No matter what anyone says, Gwanghwi is our school’s pride.
Gwang? Why do you ask? Ah! Broadcasting station? Gwang is a genius born once every 1000 years. That PD is so annoying. Rank can’t be measured by letters. I saw at first glance that he’d become great. I told Gwang’s grandfather to send him to the academy. Yes! That’s why I’m the village chief here.

**

“Chief! Your hardships are over, and happiness begins now.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Prev Next