The Otherworldly Magic Swordsman Who Disciplines the Hunter World Chapter 26

People were gathered beneath the writhing Gate. Julian opened his eyes wide at the environment, which was no different from a bustling marketplace.

Neither the first time he came nor the second time he visited had there been this many people. Temporary tents, which he had not seen last time, were set up here and there.

Groups of people were huddled near them. Some wore matching clothes, while others did not.

Judging by their demeanor, most of them seemed to be Hunters. The fact that each held one or two items shimmering with mana suggested as much, as did their somewhat motivated attitudes.

Since there was still time before entry, yellow lines had been installed near the Gate. Several pieces of paper were attached to a white chalkboard placed beside them.

[ Briefing Time 12:30 → Changed to 13:30 → 14:40 (Only 1 representative per guild may attend) ]

[ Please fill out the roster without omission before entering. ]

[ Guild entry order will be determined via lottery. ]

The papers attached to the chalkboard fluttered weakly in the wind. It looked as though handwritten corrections had been made over the printed text.

Perhaps because of that, while it seemed to have a system, it also felt like it was somehow running haphazardly.

“We will also have a meeting before entering.”

Myeong Haejin clapped his hands together and called the group over. They all moved together toward a temporary tent labeled ‘Yeollak Guild.’

Julian headed there as well along with Gong Siyoung. After confirming everyone was seated in the empty chairs, Myeong Haejin spoke.

“Since we’re short on time, we’ll skip introductions and greetings. As you all know, our goal this time is exploration. Therefore, please refrain from individual actions as much as possible and follow my lead.”

He seemed to be speaking to everyone, but his gaze was fixed on Gong Siyoung. He hadn’t said it outright, but he was clearly saying it for Gong Siyoung to hear.

It wasn’t just now, either. In every moment Julian had observed, Myeong Haejin kept picking at Gong Siyoung like that. Not quite picking a fight, but with an ambiguous attitude that wasn’t exactly friendly.

Julian had noticed long ago that Gong Siyoung disliked Myeong Haejin. It would be stranger to like someone who acted so gratingly.

His already sharp eyes were nearly razor-edged now as he looked at Myeong Haejin.

However, Gong Siyoung ignored Myeong Haejin’s provocation without saying anything particular. That lukewarm response actually made Julian curious.

Is it because Myeong Haejin is the leader? If that were the case, hadn’t he snapped quite readily at the Guild Master, Gong Sijin?

“At the front will be myself and Hunter Woo Yujin; in the center, Hunter Gu Jayoung; and at the rear, Hunter Julian and Hunter Gong Siyoung. We will maintain this formation at all times.”

“Yes, sir,” Woo Yujin answered spiritedly. Returning the response with a smile, Myeong Haejin pointed toward the Gate.

“We will be entering late, so maintain your distance well so as not to fall too far behind.”

Woo Yujin once again answered, “Yes, sir!” After that, talk of strategy was exchanged.

From the moment they mentioned things like skills, Julian’s interest cut off completely, and he leaned his back against the chair. He crossed his arms and tapped his foot.

Why did he mention a late entry as a matter of course? The notice on the chalkboard clearly stated that the entry order would be decided by lottery.

Once curiosity arose, he couldn’t let it pass without asking. Julian tapped the arm of Gong Siyoung, who was sitting next to him.

“Why are we entering late? Didn’t they say there would be a lottery?”

Gong Siyoung, who had been crossing his arms with an equally bored face, rolled his eyes. When their eyes met, he opened his mouth slightly.

“Because everyone is keeping an eye on our guild.”

Among the Hunters currently participating, Gong Siyoung’s rank was the highest. On top of that being something they couldn’t help but be conscious of, this was unfortunately also the Yeollak Guild’s territory.

In this situation, if Gong Siyoung were to handle even a boss monster, it was obvious who the primary beneficiary would be. Those who were eyeing S-class reward items with fire in their eyes would never just sit back and watch that happen.

“They’ll only pretend to hold a lottery and then enter in a manipulated order. Most likely… the people gathered over there will be the first to go in.”

He pointed to the men talking beside those wearing Bureau uniforms. On the backs of the glossy red jackets they were wearing, the words ‘Strong Man’ were printed in huge block letters.

To get a closer look, Julian poked his head out from the tent.

“Who are they?”

“There’s a… Gangnam Guild. A place that plays a bit dirty.”

Whether he didn’t want to associate with them, Gong Siyoung let his words trail off. Even without a detailed explanation, Julian got a sense of what kind of group they were. Probably the type that doesn’t hesitate to do illegal things if it means a profit?

He stared blankly at the text that read ‘Strong Man.’

“But why don’t we wear things like that? It looks like everyone else is matching.”

Not everyone was, but both the Hunter Management Bureau employees and several guilds wore matching outfits.

There were also those equipped with swords, bows, and various other gear. Judging by the mana he could feel, it seemed they were wearing items. Everyone looked completely geared up.

Julian shifted his gaze back to inspect the Yeollak Guild team gathered inside the tent.

How should he describe this… For starters, he couldn’t feel a single ounce of venom. Putting aside the lack of weapons, it was obvious at a glance that everyone had just worn what they wanted to wear.

Myeong Haejin was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and sweatpants, and Woo Yujin was in similarly active attire.

At least Gu Jayoung was wearing a jet-black leather jacket studded with sharp spikes. Regardless of its function, it was honestly stylish, so Julian couldn’t take his eyes off her jacket for a long time.

He subtly checked his own outfit. A black hoodie with the Yeollak Guild logo and the pants Gong Siyoung had provided.

It was an ordinary outfit if one could call it that. However, compared to Gu Jayoung’s shining leather jacket, it felt infinitely shabby.

Was it okay to dress so normally when going to face monsters? He didn’t look strong at all.

“How can anyone walk around wearing something so embarrassing?”

Gong Siyoung looked at the ‘Strong Man’ jackets as if he were seeing a ghost. He shuddered, saying if he were told to wear something like that, he would quit being a Hunter.

“Still, isn’t it kind of cool? It makes them look strong.”

At Julian’s remark—his aesthetic sense being from another world—Gong Siyoung subtly avoided his gaze. He stopped Julian, telling him to just listen to the rest of the explanation before he said anything stranger.

Just then, Myeong Haejin spoke to Julian.

“Hunter Julian, please do your best to do absolutely nothing in this raid. There is no need to expose your identity to people from other guilds.”

He had heard talk of doing one’s best to fight, but it was the first time he had heard the opposite.

“Do absolutely nothing? For real?”

“Yes. If there’s a monster you know well or something you’re aware of, just tell us. Our participation in this raid will be passive. The reason Hunter Julian came here is to share what you know; there’s no need to step out and fight. Oh, and take this, too.”

Myeong Haejin handed over a body cam. Receiving the camera, Julian wore it on his chest quite familiarly.

He hadn’t known its purpose last time, but he did now. Because they had all watched the footage recorded on this device together. He tapped the end of the camera with his hand.

“Well then, shall we get going?”

The entry time was right around the corner. Julian followed the group toward the Gate.

Before leaving to fill out the roster, Myeong Haejin tossed something onto Julian’s head.

“Hyung, wear this when you enter. There’s no harm in being careful.”

His vision was blocked by the hand pulling a ball cap down over his head. At the sight of Myeong Haejin disappearing after saying only what he wanted to say, Gong Siyoung muttered softly.

“Pretentious jerk.”

Julian burst out laughing at the sarcasm that popped out like a pre-programmed output. He waved his hand at Gong Siyoung, who raised an eyebrow.

“No. It’s just that I realized you really dislike him quite a bit.”

“…It’s not like that.”

“For it not being like that, you had a look on your face that said you openly hate him.”

Wouldn’t even the most clueless person know what Gong Siyoung thought of Myeong Haejin? When told to quit lying, Gong Siyoung turned serious.

“…It’s not that I hate him, it’s that I’m disappointed.”

Julian waited for the explanation to follow, but no answer came. Julian tilted his head.

What did he mean by being disappointed? You have to have expectations to be disappointed. Hearing those words made it sound as if they used to be on good terms in the past.

It didn’t seem like he said it just to change the subject, which made it even more puzzling.

‘Is it like a couple that broke up on bad terms or something?’

Like a true person from another world, Julian looked at the two of them with an unbiased gaze.

He had freaked out when asked if he had a girlfriend; did he have some experience of having his heart broken in the past? If it was because of Myeong Haejin, then Gong Siyoung’s sensitive reaction was somewhat understandable.

“Hmm… human relationships are originally the most difficult. There’s nothing else that doesn’t go quite the way you want as much as that.”

He patted Gong Siyoung’s shoulder. Gong Siyoung, not knowing the reason, subtly brushed his arm away.

Unfazed by the rejection, Julian spiritedly cheered Gong Siyoung on.

“Hang in there.”

Gong Siyoung’s eyebrows twitched at the incomprehensible remark. Before he could say something, the entry announcement rang out.

Among the Hunters who were becoming busy, Gong Siyoung also began to limber up. From afar, Myeong Haejin approached, waving his hand.

“Let’s head out as well.”

In accordance with the Bureau’s instructions, entry began in order. Perhaps because there were so many people, they did not call out individual names for entry.

It was a good thing for Julian. Since he hadn’t undergone the rank evaluation yet, he didn’t have a Hunter registration card. Thanks to being able to blend in properly, no one asked for identification.

As expected, the Yeollak Guild was the last to enter. As he passed through the Gate for the third time, Julian took a small breath.

When the dizzying sensation subsided and he opened his eyes, a dungeon in a different form from last time greeted him.

Instead of a snowy field where snow fell, this time, a meadow lush with greenery spread out before his eyes.