The Otherworldly Magic Swordsman Who Disciplines the Hunter World Chapter 25

“What do you mean by that?”

“The Gate is one thing, but there is a lot of talk about other matters too.”

It was something that happened every time a problematic dungeon appeared. The higher the rank of the dungeon, the greater the rewards upon clearing it. Not only could one receive titles or obtain items, but the rankings of the Hunters who participated in the raid could also change.

“Rumors seem to be circulating that a legendary-grade item is hidden in this dungeon. Everyone is dying with anxiety because such stories are going around, on top of the pressure coming from all sides due to the high level of attention.”

The area where the dungeon appeared was the Yeollak Guild’s district. Therefore, in principle, the Yeollak Guild held the ownership rights to that dungeon.

However, through a meeting, simultaneous entry with other guilds had been confirmed. On the surface, it was a polite request for cooperation, but in reality, it was a decision made due to coercion and pressure.

“There is not much point in having this many people enter at the same time. Except for a few, the rest will ultimately just be extras. Only the Hunter who deals with the boss monster will take the profit. It means a fight might break out between Hunters rather than against monsters.”

Gong Siyoung scowled. To think they were already blinded by the spoils. Judging by the way Gong Sijin spoke, it seemed he had been suffering quite a bit at that meeting or whatever it was.

It was before they had even grasped what a nested Gate was. The sight of them being hell-bent on taking profits instead of thinking about resolving the situation was pathetic beyond belief.

“No wonder they’re swarming in like a mob for a D-rank.”

“The only way to check if the rumors are true or not is to go in personally.”

Gong Sijin let out a sigh. It was a fact he had realized poignantly while running the guild. People were not as righteous as one might think. Everyone acted cowardly for their own reasons.

One couldn’t say that was entirely bad, but he didn’t want to defend the selfish behavior of those who had become Hunters.

“Since there are many people, there will surely be interference. We don’t know what kind of unexpected situations will occur in the dungeon. Hunter Haejin will coordinate things well on his own, but Siyoung, you… be especially careful.”

At the mention of Myeong Haejin’s name, Siyoung’s face reflexively crumpled. Gong Sijin emphasized it once more.

“Keep your temper in check.”

“I got it.”

“Take good care of Mr. Yuri, too. I don’t have to tell you how important that person is for you to know, right?”

Strength entered the hand that was patting Siyoung’s shoulder. Instead of answering, Gong Siyoung brushed the hand away.

“I know that man isn’t a nutjob. That’s why I’ve been continuing to be nice to him.”

There was no end to discussing Julian’s uniqueness. Where else could one find a being who discovers outbreak dungeons, manifests abilities outside of skills, and knows so much about monsters?

Besides, the status window recognized Julian as ‘Unknown’. It would be even stranger if he weren’t someone from another dimension.

“It’s good to be nice to him… but still, don’t trust Mr. Yuri too much, Siyoung. What we need is his ability, after all. Mr. Yuri might not be as good a person as we think.”

Even while acting sweet enough to give away his own liver, Gong Sijin did not fully trust Julian. It was cold, but that was reality. There was still too much they didn’t know about him to trust him.

“Weren’t you the one who told me to be nice to him? Why did you dump a guy who might be a bad person onto me?”

“I told you. It’s because you are the one who can suppress Mr. Yuri. So, you might have to step forward when the time comes. You know what it means when I say don’t give him your heart, right?”

Gong Siyoung was a kind of safety device. A safety device that could eliminate Julian in case of an emergency. Gong Sijin’s intention had been clear from the start.

“If Mr. Yuri betrays us or harbors other intentions… you might have to handle him yourself then.”

Like livestock being fattened up to be eaten, Gong Sijin discussed Julian’s usefulness nonchalantly. The instruction to kill him without fail if he became a threat was realistic but cold-hearted.

Rather than carrying a threat along, that was a much wiser choice. As the Guild Master, Gong Sijin made a judgment to protect his people. Gong Siyoung understood that with his head.

“…I’m leaving first.”

However, understanding it didn’t make his heart any lighter.

If asked if he genuinely liked Julian, the answer was no. To be honest, he was closer to a bothersome and annoying presence. He talked, clung, and made noise without resting for a single moment.

Given they had met less than a week ago, what kind of grand relationship could they have formed?

And yet, his mood sank at Gong Sijin’s words. One moment he’s told to make sure the guy eats well. Now, he’s told to kill him if necessary.

Talk is easy. Did he think it was that easy to do between people who were together and facing each other every day?

‘I shouldn’t have gotten involved.’

He shouldn’t have picked him up from the dungeon. He should have just ignored him, but instead, he brought him back and ended up with worries he didn’t need. Gong Siyoung rubbed his brow hard.

Suppressing a sigh, he stepped out of the meeting room. No sooner had he entered the hallway than he heard beeping noises from somewhere.

Julian and Myeong Haejin were sitting side by side on chairs set up in the hallway. Seeing the white head and pink head stuck close together, the irritation he had forgotten surged up.

“What are you doing there?”

Julian looked up sharply. His flushed cheeks were stained a rosy pink. At the incessantly sparkling gaze, Gong Siyoung halted with a flinch.

“Oh, look at this. Haejin said he’d show me how to use this, so I was watching.”

“Hyung, you see this? If you press here, you can even subscribe. I’ll recommend a few for you.”

Myeong Haejin tapped away at the phone. Julian looked as if he were about to be sucked into the screen. Myeong Haejin lightly touched the arm of the admiring Julian.

“Would you like to try it yourself?”

“Yes, I want to try.”

He promptly took the phone. Admiration followed every time he tapped the screen with awkward movements. The faces of the two were close enough to look like they might kiss.

“You did well, hyung.”

Myeong Haejin smiled with his eyes curling. He looked toward Gong Siyoung. He had a brazen expression as if asking how long he had been standing there.

Could an A-rank Hunter really have failed to notice a presence? Even that attitude was clearly intended to make him angry on purpose.

Myeong Haejin, holding Julian’s arm as if to show off, smiled deviously.

“Haejin, how do you do this?”

Julian called Myeong Haejin by his name. They had only been together for a few minutes, yet even the way he addressed him had changed. Dropping the surname and just calling him by his name? It was absurd.

Unable to hold back any longer, Gong Siyoung cut in between the two.

“Aren’t we leaving? I don’t think there’s time to be giggling like this.”

“I was going to anyway. Yuri hyung, I’ll see you in a bit then. I’ll go first.”

“Okay.”

Julian answered without even taking his eyes off the phone. Leaving behind the completely distracted man, Myeong Haejin walked away leisurely. As he was about to head down the stairs, he turned his head, saying, “Oh, right.”

“Hunter Siyoung, a lot of articles came out. You should be careful for the time being.”

Myeong Haejin waved his hand dismissively. What articles? Before he could even ask properly, the guy had already left.

Gong Siyoung, glaring at the back of the annoying pink head, called to Julian, who was still sitting.

“Let’s go. Get up.”

“Huh? Oh, right, okay.”

While answering, his gaze did not leave the phone screen. Wondering what on earth he was looking at so possessed, Siyoung looked at the screen over his shoulder.

[Every Process in the World — Korea’s Mass Production Technology BEST 5]

The screen was filled with the sight of a factory manufacturing fishing rods. Machines turning rhythmically moved in perfect order.

He didn’t know why Julian was watching that, and he knew even less how he had found it.

A scene appeared where a machine was turning and rolling. Along with the pssh-pssh sound of the machinery, a fishing rod was made in an instant. Gong Siyoung hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“…Why are you watching this?”

“Huh? Oh… well, just because it’s fascinating? Wait a second, let me finish watching this.”

Barely walking, Julian was only focused on the phone. It was a bit strange, but it wasn’t exactly inappropriate content. So it was awkward to say anything.

Besides, it didn’t only have bad points. Julian, having encountered new technology, was quieter than ever. Since the man who couldn’t wait a minute without chattering had shut his mouth, he actually liked that one thing.

So this must be why parents handed phones to children. For some reason, he fully understood their feelings.

As soon as they stopped in front of the stairs, Julian bumped his forehead against Siyoung’s back with a thump. Startled, he rubbed his forehead.

“What the? You scared me. Why did you stop so suddenly?”

“…It’s the stairs. Put the phone away before you trip.”

Only then did Julian notice the stairs and look embarrassed. Even so, the phone remained in his hand.

Gong Siyoung narrowed his eyes and looked at Julian. He suddenly held out his hand.

“Give it to me. Let me check it.”

There was no direct object, but Julian knew what he was asking for. Julian hesitantly handed over the phone.

After a brief silence, Gong Siyoung looked at the video app open on the screen. He registered his own ID to the account to filter out inappropriate content and then closed the screen. Next, he went into the contact list. His fingertip stopped at the name ‘Myeong Haejin’ among the few contacts.

Without hesitation, he pressed the name hard and deleted the number. He looked to see what else was there, but there was nothing special.

Only after checking his own number, which had already been entered—likely by Gong Sijin—did he close the phone.

“I’ll keep it until we arrive.”

“Why? I haven’t finished watching that yet.”

Julian protested, saying the fishing rod hadn’t been fully made yet. Gong Siyoung shook his head firmly.

“That’s not what’s important right now. Did you forget we’re supposed to enter the dungeon?”

“I didn’t forget, but…”

“I’ll teach you how to use the smartphone slowly, so just follow me for now. There really isn’t much time left.”

There wasn’t much time left if they were to get to the site, register, and prepare. Gong Siyoung subtly changed the subject and stuffed the phone into his pocket.