Episode 13
13. Don’t Think You Can Get Away Cheap.
Kang Mu-hyeok moved from the Hangang Bridge toward Dongjak Bridge.
Across the road, Ichon Hangang Park came into view.
At its center, a triumphal arch soared high.
The gate’s red light grew even deeper until it began spewing black darkness. The sight was unbearably ominous.
*“The Ichon Hangang Park gate… it must be a ‘Blue 1’ grade, right? I heard the twin brother guild secured the conquest rights. Their guild strength is more than enough to close it. So why haven’t they succeeded in the allotted time?”*
Ichon wasn’t far from Yeouido, so Kang Mu-hyeok always monitored nearby guild gates, even when hospitalized.
It was a kind of occupational hazard.
Also, an obsession with gates.
The creeping anxiety when he didn’t know everything about the gates around him.
This extended to other guilds’ information as well.
Kang Mu-hyeok knew the Twins Guild in Ichon-dong inside and out.
The twin guild masters he knew were ambitious but not reckless.
The fundamental stance of a hunter:
**“A hunter protects humans.”**
Their professional philosophy was solid.
Though he had no personal connections, industry colleagues who had worked with them spoke well of them.
People like that wouldn’t irresponsibly leave an outbreak unattended.
*“Could an irregular have occurred?”*
Whatever the case, it was clear something had gone wrong.
“Looks like it’s almost opening,” said Seo Su-ji, perched on the roadside railing by the Han River, shielding her eyes with her hand.
“Hunter Seo, come down. Exposed positions are vulnerable to flying monsters.”
“What does it matter? It’s not even open yet… Fine, fine. Stop glaring at me like that. I mean, why is someone who isn’t even a hunter following combat protocols more strictly than a hunter?”
Under Kang Mu-hyeok’s sharp glare, Seo Su-ji grumbled and climbed down.
A hunter acting recklessly during an operation puts the party in danger. As Kang Mu-hyeok prepared to warn her again, a report came through his earpiece:
*“Team Leader Kang, you need to come here.”*
It was Yu Tae-jin, in the scout position specialized in reconnaissance, who was covering the front.
Since it was awkward to call a non-hunter the party leader, Kang Mu-hyeok had come to be called “team leader,” and other hunters followed suit.
“What’s the situation?”
*“From your position, Team Leader, between 200 and 250 meters, there are many casualties. We can’t handle this alone.”*
Kang Mu-hyeok listened and signaled the other hunters to follow as he ran. Though they ran lightly, they were soon ahead of him within a few steps.
“Any civilians nearby who can move?”
*“A few.”*
“If they’re still around… unless they’re hiding, they must be helping with relief efforts.”
*“Yes, that’s correct.”*
“Assist them. We’ll be there shortly.”
The hunters who arrived slightly ahead of Kang Mu-hyeok were shocked by the horrific scene.
Screams and moans of people. Bloodied bodies strewn across the ground.
Hunters were accustomed to life-and-death situations at gates. Even those who had seen others scoop up spilled entrails from gutted bodies weren’t usually fazed by this.
Yet they stopped because the scene was worse than expected.
The gate had not yet opened.
Even the early signs of an outbreak sent people into panic, injuring each other.
Suddenly, the reason why they had to close the gate hit home.
Ko Yu-han swallowed hard.
“What are you doing? Don’t just stand there—get that person under the wheel out, and help the others too.”
Kang Mu-hyeok arrived shortly after, tapping Yu-han on the shoulder as he moved forward with a calm expression.
“This way.”
Yu Tae-jin called Kang Mu-hyeok over.
Kang Mu-hyeok’s gaze landed on a man beside Yu Tae-jin.
His hands moved deftly as he treated the injured. Yu Tae-jin handed him bandages from an emergency kit.
Kang Mu-hyeok made eye contact with Yu Tae-jin before approaching the man.
“I’m Kang Mu-hyeok, team leader of Titan Guild. May I have your name?”
“Choi Il-guk.”
“You’re skilled in first aid… are you in a related profession?”
“I’m a firefighter.”
Choi Il-guk’s firm build matched his unwavering expression even in the crisis.
Kang Mu-hyeok couldn’t help but admire him.
*‘He must want to run…’*
Even the most selfless firefighter would fear a gate. Gates carried a primal terror, overwhelming for non-hunters.
To endure that and care for the injured required remarkable courage.
Those assisting him also deserved respect.
And Kang Mu-hyeok had to entrust these people with another burden.
“Can you hold this position? Send the able-bodied with the patients to the rear.”
“The gate isn’t open yet. Is there a rear area?”
“Move back toward Hangang Bridge. Even a few hundred meters will do. Buy distance. That buys time. Reinforcements from other guilds will arrive to assist. If we can’t stop the monsters by then, I’ll fire a signal flare. Focus on the park sky. The moment you see it, leave the injured and run.”
“Run? But…”
“It’s not cowardice. Survivors must survive. During an outbreak, save yourself first.”
Kang Mu-hyeok drew a firm line.
Even the brave choose what’s advantageous when faced with extreme danger.
Remaining to help would also weigh on their conscience.
From experience in past outbreaks, such guilt causes hesitation and delayed judgment—often fatal.
Kang Mu-hyeok deliberately gave Choi Il-guk this reprieve.
Choi Il-guk responded with relief.
“Understood. But what about those unable to move? The roadside is blocked from the accident; we can’t use vehicles, and carrying them is hard.”
“We’ll handle that.”
Kang Mu-hyeok called back Ko Yu-han, who had just lifted someone to safety.
“Mana Sword ready?”
“Yes… I’m a beginner, but still a B-rank.”
“If you return the way we came, there’s a truck carrying lumber. Did you see it?”
“Lumber? Not sure.”
“About 100 meters ahead, behind a tanker. Cut several pieces, about 2 meters each, so you can carry them with one hand. And Choi Il-guk…”
“Make a stretcher from my shirt.”
“Yes. Let’s move them even like that for now.”
As everyone took their tasks and organized the scene, Kang Mu-hyeok suddenly staggered. Light flared in his vision, scattering before his eyes. A dizzying sensation pierced his skull as if his brain were being probed. Something seemed to be entering his mind.
*‘No… could this be… a seizure?’*
At a time like this?
He gritted his teeth. The pain sharpened his awareness.
“The gate has opened!”
At someone’s shout, everyone looked at the gate.
Its black energy had already reached the horizon.
A chilling sight. Even the white clouds had turned black; the sun was hidden.
Across the river, sunlight still poured down. A separated space that made one doubt it was the same Seoul.
“…Choi Il-guk, I leave this to you.”
“Yes. I’ll handle it. Stay safe.”
Kang Mu-hyeok shook Choi Il-guk’s hand lightly, feeling the silent prayer for their survival.
—
When they parted, Kang Mu-hyeok finally reached the gate vicinity.
Boom! Kaang!
Sudden explosions rang out.
The barriers blocking the gate from the outside prevented a full view, but flashes and blasts spilled outward, signaling disaster.
“Do we really have to go in?”
“I’m going.”
When a non-hunter led, Seo Su-ji hesitated, pouting as she followed.
“He’s like someone who’s decided to die,” she muttered.
The hunters nodded and followed.
Bang!
The shockwave hit the party just entering the Twins Guild camp.
Tankers Ko Yu-han and Lee Cheol-jin lowered their stance and raised shields.
The most agile and experienced hunter, Yu Tae-jin, grabbed Kang Mu-hyeok’s wrist and pulled him behind Yu-han.
Several more blasts shook the air, dust-filled winds howled. The hunters endured, finally raising their heads once calm returned.
“Thank… goodness.”
Lee Cheol-jin swallowed the words he almost spoke.
The camp before them was a disaster zone.
Twins Guild members lay on the ground like corpses. Groans from the flames and smoke suggested they weren’t entirely wiped out.
Through the slowly clearing smoke, Kang Mu-hyeok could see the source of this devastation.
“What is that?”
“First time I’ve seen it. An Unknown?”
“Looks like a magic-type.”
Kang Mu-hyeok muttered after confirming the monster:
*“Oldster Sorcerer…”*
“Old… what? Is that a known mob?”
Seo Su-ji asked.
“A recently discovered Unknown. A powerful magic-type monster.”
Kang Mu-hyeok bit his lip.
A monster that first appeared as a gatekeeper at Sogang University’s gate.
He had only seen it through footage shot by Park Min-su.
The Oldster Sorcerer cast powerful spells, mostly fire-based, with fast casting speed and agile mobility, making it hard to deal with.
Even Kang Mu-hyeok judged it would require significant effort from Titan Guild to defeat.
*‘Jusea took it down with her fists.’*
The S-rank hunter’s prowess was truly a strategic weapon.
Seeing the monster, Kang Mu-hyeok questioned:
*‘Why has it appeared again?’*
It was rare for an Unknown to reappear in a short period.
Once they appear, their spawn frequency increases, but not this soon, and not so close.
*‘Is it trying to become a local monster?’*
Some monsters only appear in their initial regions, affecting hunting strategies significantly.
“Still, it’s a casting mob. I’m physically sturdy, remember? High magical resistance as well. We could approach and stop its casting quickly.”
Yu-han stepped forward boldly, but Kang Mu-hyeok stopped him.
“This isn’t a mob you can approach casually. It can withstand some hits, but its rapid attacks make it hard to get close.”
“Without trying, how do you know? Don’t worry. My defense is solid, A-rank level.”
“Don’t step forward unless you’re as tough as Hunter Jusea.”
“Who? Jusea? The… indomitable witch?”
“Yes. Her first kill was this mob. Even she was pushed back after a few hits.”
Yu-han was shocked.
Jusea’s magical resistance rivaled anyone in the world. Her physical defense was non-human. And she was pushed back?
Kang Mu-hyeok didn’t mention she fought without her custom armor, only standard equipment. No need to intimidate new recruits.
“Fall back. Without major magical gear, we can’t calculate the odds with this force.”
“What about rescuing fallen hunters? If we leave them…”
“They’ll just end up next to it anyway.”
Kang Mu-hyeok cut off Yu-han’s protest.
Shivers ran down their spines.
“Magic! Avoid it!”
“Huh?”
Nothing happened at first. Hunters were puzzled.
Then flames erupted from the monster’s staff; they reacted a beat late.
“Seriously?”
Bang!
Direct hit.
Yu-han blocked it, solid as he claimed—but then another blast followed, and he collapsed.
Not dead, but near death. He immediately used a potion from his amp kit.
“Ugh… what magic…?”
Thanks to Yu-han’s defense, Kang Mu-hyeok was dragged outside by Seo Su-ji.
From the moment magic flew, he hadn’t taken his eyes off the Oldster Sorcerer.
His senses were heightened. Vision sharper, the world clearer, as if directly transmitted to his brain.
He noticed something unusual.
*‘The casting delay was longer just now…’*
First and second spells had different casting times, though the same spell. The third spell hadn’t triggered yet—still casting.
Suddenly, Kang Mu-hyeok realized the monster’s state.
*‘Mana depletion!’*
Spells require mana. If mismanaged, casting takes longer, drawing from surrounding mana.
The Oldster Sorcerer was in that state.
*“Attack now!”*
He shouted into his phone.
Party members flinched hearing his voice.
“What crazy idea is this? You want to die?!”
Seo Su-ji snapped. She had warned them to retreat; now he ordered attack?
As her grip loosened, Kang Mu-hyeok dashed, ignoring her, choosing his target.
“Hunter Yu Tae-jin! Take the first strike!”
He had sensed only the experienced Yu Tae-jin would respond immediately.
As expected, Yu Tae-jin rushed, closing the distance and stabbing the monster’s neck with a dagger from behind.
Green blood splattered; hunters found gaps and attacked.
The monster’s small body was shredded in moments.
“This… what? Why won’t it die?”
Lee Cheol-jin muttered. Everyone shared that thought.
Despite severe wounds, the monster was still gathering mana for spells.
A big strike was coming.
“It’s too late to retreat. Stab until it dies!”
Hunters attacked frantically, but the monster remained alive.
Kang Mu-hyeok was surprised.
*‘It won’t die? But Jusea…’*
…she had crushed it before.
*‘Ah, Jusea’s attack was too strong; I underestimated its HP.’*
Yet even so, magic monsters weren’t that tenacious. This was like a troll-level persistence.
Kang Mu-hyeok’s heightened senses struck again.
His pupils spun as if he couldn’t afford to miss anything.
*‘Mana is still gathering? Its container should be destroyed by now…’*
If the small body wasn’t the core? A parasitic monster? Or a new type of Lich?
Finally, he concluded:
*‘The staff! Of course, it was in the way from the start.’*
As the mana-filled staff prepared to spew fire, Kang Mu-hyeok shouted:
“Destroy the staff!”
His command reached everyone via communication.
But it was too late. No one could destroy the staff.
*‘Damn! Why didn’t I notice sooner?’*
He blamed his inexperience, feeling guilty toward hunters who followed his orders.
Then:
Thud!
Someone landed in front of the monster.
“The staff was the weak point? Last time, we just beat it, so we didn’t know?”
Kang Mu-hyeok shouted at the unexpected figure:
“Jusea?!”
Jusea grabbed the wildly shaking staff and looked back.
“Second time already. Don’t think you can get away cheap this time, Kang Mu-hyeok.”
