I was Mistaken for a Noble Hunter Chapter 98

Promotion (6)

 

Hong Dayeon was the vice guild master of one of the major guilds in the country, the “Silver Eagle” guild.

Because the guild had a large corporation as its parent company, the guild master position was held by someone from a chaebol family… but in reality, she was effectively the guild master.

Her ability was A-rank, and her background was solid.

However, most hunters didn’t like her very much.

“There goes Crazy Eagle.”

“Hey, hey. Look away. If you accidentally make eye contact, you’re screwed.”

Normally, hunters respect each other.

It’s not quite a superiority complex, but most of them do feel that they’re more capable than ordinary people.

That’s why they show respect even to other hunters.

But Hong Dayeon wasn’t like that.

– Is that really the extent of your skill?

– Why are you breaking formation during combat? You clearly haven’t had any tactical training. Just a strong idiot.

Sharp, biting criticism.

But because it was logical, no one could refute her words.

As a combat professional who had even received formal military training, Hong Dayeon was an exceptional hunter.

And she showed no mercy in insulting anyone who didn’t meet her standards.

That was why, when it was announced that she would be the overall commander of the Cheorwon Black Gate operation, the hunters assigned there fell into despair.

“Wow… we’re screwed. Am I going to get mentally destroyed in this battle?”

“If she catches even the smallest mistake, she’ll chew you out all day.”

But no one could rebel.

She was an A-rank hunter.

In both skill and reputation, she was overwhelmingly superior.

So while everyone was on edge, the vehicle from the Happiness Office arrived.

Kang Ian and Lee Chaewon.

When it was heard that two B-rank hunters had come as support, the other hunters’ eyes lit up as if they had found some entertainment.

B-rank hunters were already among the upper tier.

It wasn’t something you got to see often… hunters of that level getting torn apart by Hong Dayeon.

But then…

“…What was that just now? Did Hong Dayeon bow her head?”

“I-I… I’ve never seen that before. That witch can greet someone like that…?”

The proud Hong Dayeon had bowed first?

“Please don’t do this.”

And the most flustered person there was Kang Ian himself.

‘What’s with this person… making things awkward right from the first meeting…’

From what he had heard on the way… Lee Chaewon’s reaction and the association staff’s comments, she was supposed to be extremely difficult.

But he hadn’t expected to be greeted like this the moment they met.

Still, he could guess why.

‘If she’s thanking me for saving her younger sibling…’

The image of Hong Dasom crossed his mind.

The one he had saved when she barged into the gate not long ago.

Come to think of it, he had heard she had an older sister…

“I ask for your understanding that I can only greet you like this due to the urgency of the situation. Once this is over, I will properly express my gratitude again.”

Hong Dayeon straightened up and spoke.

“This way, please. I am the person in charge here, so I’ll brief you on the overall situation.”

“Understood.”

Kang Ian nodded and followed her.

At that moment, Hong Dayeon glanced at Lee Chaewon.

Chaewon, who was rather small in stature, tried to hide slightly behind Kang Ian… but she couldn’t avoid her gaze.

“Chaewon.”

“…Yes, unni.”

Hong Dayeon suddenly approached her.

After staring at her for a moment, she grabbed both of her cheeks.

Chaewon had fairly soft cheeks, and Dayeon handled them as if kneading dough.

“Mmpph-”

“You’re still cute. I wish you were my little sister.”

“S-Stop it!”

“You’re still as picky as ever.”

Chaewon struggled, but as a necromancer, there was no way she could break free from an A-rank hunter’s grip.

‘Ah… so this is why Lee Chaewon doesn’t like her.’

Watching from the side, Kang Ian immediately understood why Chaewon had reacted that way when she heard about her.

Her one-sided affection was extremely strong.

 

***

 

The star reporter of Viewers TV.

The employee responsible for Viewers TV’s view counts.

A top-tier talent who made even the director and CEO bow whenever she showed up!

When she returned from her business trip, the bald bureau chief hurried out to greet her.

“Oh wow, Reporter Shin, you’re back?”

“Yes, sir. It’s a bit hot, isn’t it?”

“Oh, dear. I’ll lower the air conditioner right away. Must be really hot, huh? Want me to get you a cold coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

“Got it. I’ll bring it right away. You know the CEO likes the coffee I make the most, right?”

This was Shin Sorim’s current standing in the company.

After writing several feature articles about Kang Ian, she had become the company’s ace.

Even the CEO was waiting for her articles.

“How was the Jeonju trip?”

The bureau chief asked as he handed her the coffee.

After checking the amount of water and smiling in satisfaction, Shin Sorim gave a slight smile.

“Yes. It’s a shame I couldn’t capture the immediate aftermath of the gate outbreak due to timing, but the recovery process afterward turned out quite well.”

A sudden gate rampage in Jeonju.

The moment she heard the news, Shin Sorim rushed there by car.

“Really? If you say it was pretty good, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Shall I show you?”

“Of course.”

She turned on her computer and opened the photos she had taken.

“!”

The bureau chief was startled.

“I-Isn’t that Hunter Kang Ian?”

There were numerous photos of Kang Ian running around, rescuing people, and working on recovery efforts.

“Hehe. When I got there, I happened to spot him. So I followed him around and took pictures.”

Other reporters at the scene had also taken photos of hunters, including Kang Ian, doing rescue work.

But most articles focused on the damage and victims in Jeonju.

Shin Sorim, on the other hand, followed Kang Ian specifically.

“I’m planning to bundle these together with the interviews I’ve been collecting of him and publish a feature article.”

While Kang Ian had stayed up all night and continued rescue work until late the next afternoon, Shin Sorim had already left early and returned to the company before morning.

She had helped out a bit as well, but she had work to do.

Timing is everything in journalism.

“Good. Let’s run this!”

The bald bureau chief gave a thumbs-up.

This was guaranteed to work.

Tap tap tap tap

After that, she focused on editing and writing the article.

While Kang Ian was still running around in Jeonju, unaware, her article went live.

 

[Jeonju Gate Rampage: Hunter Kang Ian Engages in Rescue Efforts!]

[We captured as much as possible of his selfless actions]

(Photo of Kang Ian supporting civilians)

(Photo of Kang Ian clearing debris while covered in dust)

…

 

By now, Shin Sorim had figured it out.

‘The key is putting a really good photo of Hunter Kang Ian front and center.’

That’s why she carefully selected the photos.

As expected, the response was good.

 

└ Kang Ian? When did he go to Jeonju?

└ I didn’t see him during the gate suppression. Did he come afterward?

└ Most hunters don’t get involved in cleanup work like that. That’s seriously impressive.

└ It’s not even his job… he must be doing it out of pure goodwill.

 

Endless good deeds, no matter how much you dig!

People reacted as if they couldn’t believe someone like that existed… but it was an article that restored faith in humanity.

“Phew. The initial response is good.”

She still needed to see how the comments would evolve, but the start wasn’t bad.

Leaning back in her chair, Shin Sorim let out a light sigh, feeling like she had finished a major task.

Having stayed up all night, her dark circles nearly reached her nose.

‘Now I should get some sle-’

“Reporter Shin! A Black Gate just appeared in the DMZ!”

At the bureau chief’s sudden shout, she frowned deeply.

That bald guy is never any help.

“I’m going right now!”

Shin Sorim grabbed her laptop and camera and rushed out.

 

***

 

The Black Gate had formed in the sky above the center of the DMZ.

For now, it was quiet… but everyone knew.

Soon, monsters would pour out of that gate like a flood.

As preparations began, Hong Dayeon truly proved herself to be an exceptional hunter.

Though her combat ability hadn’t been fully displayed yet, her leadership alone was the best anyone there had ever seen.

“You there! Stop chatting and stay alert. Once it starts, you’ll need to move immediately.”

“Y-Yes, ma’am!”

Each time she pointed something out with cold eyes, the hunters flinched.

Even the prideful hunters couldn’t help but fear an A-rank hunter’s criticism.

Wooooong!

At some point, the Black Gate began to tremble.

“Grrraaaah!”

“Kyaaaah!”

Then, monsters began pouring out.

Like a waterfall, they cascaded toward the ground.

The hunters tensed up.

If they failed to stop them here, they would enter the country… and for a mountainous nation like Korea, that would be a disaster.

Whether in cities or mountains, exterminating them completely would become a major headache.

Ding!

 

[You have discovered the site of evil’s descent.]

[Quest objective updated.]

[Defeat 300 demons emerging from the Black Gate]

[Defeat the partially descended evil]

 

‘So this is the place.’

Seeing the message that only he could see, Kang Ian’s eyes lit up.

He had found the correct location without wasting time.

“Everyone, charge!”

At Hong Dayeon’s shout, the hunters who had been standing guard kicked off the ground and surged forward.

Kang Ian did the same.

He charged straight into the monsters.

Crunch!

 

[You have defeated evil.]

[+55 Soul of Evil]

…

 

With sword in hand, he rampaged through the monsters.

The quest objective was to defeat 300 of them.

But with this many pouring out, there was no way he’d be satisfied with just 300.

He had already accumulated plenty of “nobility” in Jeonju… so here, he would gather souls of evil.

‘At this rate, I might need to completely regear soon.’

As he slaughtered monsters with that thought, Kang Ian spotted Hong Dayeon off to one side.

The most eye-catching person on this battlefield.

KWAANG!

Without any weapon, using only fists and kicks, Hong Dayeon tore through the monsters.

Each strike of her limbs shredded them.

They were literally being annihilated.

Whatever skill she was using, monsters near the path of her punches collapsed entirely.

Although her younger sister was a mage, she herself appeared to be a close-combat fighter… but looking at the results, it almost seemed like magic.

‘…Wait a second. But she’s killing way too many.’

He had only been distracted by her overwhelming power for a moment.

But then Kang Ian’s expression changed.

He felt a sense of crisis.

There seemed to be a lot of monsters pouring out of the Black Gate… but at her pace, it actually felt like there weren’t enough.

Not wanting to lose, Kang Ian began killing even more aggressively.

He threw himself into it without holding back.

And that caught Hong Dayeon’s attention.

Her eyes sparkled.

‘As expected, he’s different from those all-talk hunters.’

Saving her younger sister had already left a good impression… but now, seeing how he fought without hesitation made her like him even more.

‘I can’t lose either.’

How could an A-rank hunter lose to a B-rank?

That would be humiliating.

She moved even faster.

And seeing that, the alarm bells in Kang Ian’s head rang even louder.

‘Hey! don’t go overboard!’