Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

The Taegeuk Guild was an A-rank guild with a strong backbone, situated in Yeouido, just like the Titan Guild. Its history was even longer than that of the Titan. It was a guild that had survived the Great War era with pride. However, in recent times, it had been overshadowed by the more recently established Titan Guild, leading to rising resentment.

Cho Ikjoon was recognized for his abilities as the Strategy and Tactics team leader of such a prestigious and historic guild.

His strength was his decisive resolution that was, contrary to appearances, sharp as a knife.

His determination was evident in the meeting that day. The other guild members were so intimidated by his decision that they held their breath and looked to him for cues.

"We are going to discard Hunter Jung Ho-yeon, whose body is broken. Why? Why is everyone so quiet? Ah?! Was my expression too much? Sorry. I was being insensitive. Let me rephrase. We'll dismiss him. Inform the HR team and proceed with the process. This deputy, you seem to have something to say. Go ahead."

The suddenly targeted deputy hesitated before cautiously opening his mouth.

"Hunter Jung Ho-yeon still seems to want to be active. Although his body isn't in great shape due to the lingering effects of the last hunt, he is responding well to potion treatment, and with rehabilitation, he could approach his former prowess..."

"Do you really think it's just the aftereffects of the last hunt?"

"Pardon?"

"He's as broken as he can be. Of course, he might manage in a short battle. But he can't handle a Gate. Regular life may be fine, but his body can't be fixed with treatment or rehabilitation."

"But the medical team says..."

"Sleeping pollen powder, hallucinogenic mushroom spores. Apparently, it's trendy among some Hunters to mix these into a cocktail. If a Hunter uses it long-term, concentration drops, and recovery slows. Jung Ho-yeon was fond of it. That's why his injuries never healed. Make sure to keep an eye on your affiliated Hunters. Manage their bodies well. If they ruin themselves using such trinkets, warn them that they will be dismissed right away."

"Yes. Understood."

"Oh, I almost forgot. The head of the medical team is also dismissed as of today. Inform HR."

The employees looked on in puzzlement. Was this action taken because of the misjudgment of Jung Ho-yeon's condition? Cho Ikjoon answered their question.

"The reason is bribery and the concealment and manipulation of Hunter's information. He took the money that Jung Ho-yeon offered him, that person."

Only then did they understand Cho Ikjoon's decision and a chill ran down their spines. How much did this man know about what was happening within the guild?

Even though the guild's interference was extensive, knowing so perfectly the state of the Hunter's bodies and the employees' corruption was astonishing. They were reminded once more of just who Cho Ikjoon was.

"That's it for today's meeting. I have a guest appointment."

...

Cho Ikjoon subtly sensed a changed atmosphere from Kang Mu-hyuk as he drank his coffee. He had always been a challenging opponent, but now there was a sense that he had grown significantly in a short time.

'Did the position make the man, or did he always have this much skill?'

He exhibited the vigor of a Hunter attacking a Gate, even though he was not a Hunter.

Cho Ikjoon admired this inwardly but hid his feelings, playfully engaging Kang Mu-hyuk.

"Hey, how long has it been? Since Seogang University Gate, was it?"

"It's been a long time, Team Leader Cho Ikjoon. Nothing's happened on your end, has it?"

"A lot's happened. I'm just glad there were no major accidents. Oh, by the way, you're a Guild Leader now, right? It feels odd to be informal with you now. What should we do, Guild Leader Kang Mu-hyuk? Should we get down to business?"

Cho Ikjoon's tone suddenly shifted to a more formal one mid-conversation. For a moment, the usual lighthearted demeanor was replaced by a dignified presence befitting the Strategy and Tactics team leader of the Taegeuk Guild.

"A C-class remote Guild Leader isn't anything special. Just do as before."

"Indeed, it's awkward to be formal between us. Speak comfortably. Be at ease."

"I'm not sure what our relationship is, but I'll get to the point."

"All right, what is it?"

"I've come with a request for a transfer."

"Guild Leader Kang Mu-hyuk. It's inappropriate to discuss this here."

"Why did your tone suddenly change? You said to be casual."

"The rumor about you snatching Lee Jin-joo from Titan has spread. Who are you trying to pull a fast one on? I'll pretend I didn't hear."

"Won't you even hear out a proposal between us?"

"Between us? It's nothing special. I won't listen. I won't."

Cho Ikjoon covered his ears, refusing to listen, but Kang Mu-hyuk ignored his reaction and spoke.

"I propose to recruit Hunter Baek Seong-bin."

"What? Why him of all people?"

"You said you wouldn't listen, didn't you?"

"Hey, darn it! Making me curious and then saying something like that?"

"He's still with the Taegeuk Guild despite being called a waste. If you don't like him, cut him off in one stroke. That's what Team Leader Cho would say."

"A lottery ticket. I've kept him around with the feeling of having an unscratched lottery ticket. Even without that, I was planning to put him on the discharge list next quarter."

"You'll worry about it. You'll keep delaying it to the next quarter, and that will go on for years. What, has it been 5 years?"

"4 years and 1 month... No, just throw away someone with a Healing Factor? I'm not indecisive. Even Guild Leader Kang would feel the same if he had Baek Seong-bin. Too valuable to throw away, but a headache to keep. A complete nuisance."

Kang Mu-hyuk thought about Baek Seong-bin.

'A possessor of significant Healing Factor. Counterbalanced by a low understanding of tactics. An independent personality. A reckless tanking style, relying solely on healing. More than once, his inability to manage aggro had put other party members in danger. There were actual casualties.'

But strangely, there were no deaths among the party members.

Kang Mu-hyuk focused on that part.

'According to the data, there were several worst-case scenarios that were extremely difficult to handle. Yet strangely, nobody died. That was true outside the Gates as well. Even when the situation on the ground was bad, civilian casualties were rare.'

Baek Seong-bin's instances of ruining operations were numerous. So much so that he occupied a significant portion of the incident reports submitted to the Hunter Association when unexpected serious accidents occurred.

The information on that particular case was made public, and accessible to any Hunter or guild official. It was like a manual to avoid some kind of accident.

Kang Mu-hyuk formulated several hypotheses and investigated Baek Seong-bin. Unfortunately, he couldn't even propose a transfer, as the Titan Guild and Taeguk Guild were rivals in Yeouido and competitors for the spot of Tier-ed Guild.

However, Iron Will, having no vested interest, was worth a try.

"So you're going to let a lottery ticket that could pop at any time rot forever? It's not a good decision for Hunter Baek Seong-bin or the Taeguk Guild," he challenged.

"I know that. But now that Guild Leader Kang has come forward, I'm even less inclined to give it."

"I will sell five Rider Wolves."

"What?"

"But it's for the next shipment."

"..."

"You're targeting the Red Gate, right? You're competing with Titan. Red is a war from capturing the Gatekeeper. If you have Rider Wolves, it'll be enough reason to collaborate with a top guild targeting Gatekeepers. You can get more stakes in future raids too."

"Huh? Guild Leader Kang... You haven't lost your touch in throwing out offers."

Cho Ikjoon always liked this about Kang Mu-hyuk. He knew clearly when to play hard to get and when not to. Sometimes, he made irresistible proposals. He never overdid it, always creating a win-win situation.

Thanks to this, the always-growling Taeguk and Titan Guilds developed a relationship where they could coordinate and cooperate when Kang Mu-hyuk was the Strategy and Tactics team leader.

"But five is too few. It's not free, and we're paying for it. We need at least ten..."

"Fine. I'll sell ten. But I won't consider any circumstances for the future shipment."

It was a firm stance to end the deal with a one-time transaction. Cho Ikjoon realized he had gotten a bit greedy. He quickly changed his tune.

"I mean, that's just talk. Talk. Five is not so bad, actually."

"Supply issues will be resolved in time, so think long-term."

"Does that mean you'll continue supplying us?"

"I won't write a contract. That privilege is for the Slayer Guild alone."

"You'll supply without a contract? What does that mean?"

"It means I'll personally take care of it as the Guild Leader."

"Damn! Fine then."

At Kang Mu-hyuk's words, Cho Ikjoon chewed his lower lip.

'Does he intend to take control? Damn, this is like handing over the leash. But it's a shame not to take it, and it's uncomfortable to accept it.'

Even as he thought of it as a curse, Cho Ikjoon concluded he had no choice but to accept.

"Baek Seong-bin, Baek Seong-bin... Hmm, Rider Wolves..."

Previously, when he heard the news of the Rider Wolves, Cho Ikjoon's feeling was simply 'screwed.'

With Kang Mu-hyuk's previous employer being the Titan Guild, and the Taeguk Guild being on bad terms with them, he was worried there might be discrimination in purchasing wolves.

The Tier-ed Guilds would all be aiming for it too. As an A-rank guild aiming for a Tier-ed Guild, he couldn't lag behind.

It seemed difficult, but he pondered whether there might be some way to make it work. That was if the opponent were anyone but Kang Mu-hyuk.

But those worries had been completely dispelled.

Could Baek Seong-bin really be the problem?

'It's a waste, but... It's a cake I can't eat right now. No, I might not be able to eat it ever. Rather than letting it rot, it's better to agree to this transfer.'

Finally, Cho Ikjoon, who had both his hands raised, cautiously warned.

"Hunter Baek Seong-bin. His potential is certain. But he might not pan out. You're aware of that, and you still want to take him with you?"

"Don't you know my job before I became the Strategy and Tactics team leader at Titan?"

"What did you do again...? Ah, a Hunting coordinator."

"I'll have to train him well."

"You worked on Lee Jin-joo before, didn't you? That was the work of Guild Leader Kang, right? You must have hooked her with that. But Lee Jin-joo is like an open lottery ticket. The odds of such a ticket are extremely low. There will be no whining later that Baek Seong-bin is a mess."

"I thought you were worrying about it, but it turns out you just wanted to say that. You don't have to worry about that point. I have no intention of whining. Team Leader Cho, don't you try to whine either."

"Some crazy guy sold the Rider Wolf!"

...

"It turns out the rumor that I was sold for wolves was true."

The character of Baek Seong-bin, having seen him directly, was not timid. No, the word reticent would be more fitting.

'His quiet nature is due to his unsociable personality.'

Watching Baek Seong-bin's actions in hunting, they were far from timid.

How could a timid person charge at an Ogre's fist, with his intestines bursting out?

A healing factor didn't mean he couldn't feel pain. Rather, charging in despite knowing such pain marked him as quite a courageous person.

Many Hunters with the healing factor attribute had fallen to mediocrity, afraid of the pain.

Kang Mu-hyuk felt that some packaging was necessary for the transfer.

"It's not that you were sold for wolves. It's that we wanted to bring Hunter Baek Seong-bin even if it meant giving up our guild's greatest asset."

"I know very well what the guild thinks of me. Everyone calls me useless. You brought such a useless Hunter by giving up the Rider Wolf? I know the value of Rider Wolf these days since it's a big issue. You paid too high a price to transfer me."

"Too high? I don't think so. It's not like we're giving away the wolves for free, we're just allocating a supply. I rather think I got a bargain. That I could get Hunter Baek Seong-bin for just that."

"What do you see in a Hunter who's a mess except for the healing factor?"

Baek Seong-bin did not hesitate to belittle himself. His words were too lacking in confidence for a B+ rank Hunter of the Taegeuk Guild.

But Kang Mu-hyuk did not sense any despair or disappointment in Baek Seong-bin's eyes. Rather, he felt determination. There was no wavering in the gaze, and he knew how to look people straight in the eye.

Kang Mu-Hyuk spoke, confident that his judgment was right.

"Healing Factor. It's an incredibly rare trait. Recovering from injuries almost instantly. Of course, it's impressive. That's why the industry values it highly. But do you know this? There's almost no Hunter with the Healing Factor trait who's reached the top. This is true even on a global scale. Why do you think that is?"

"Well, I don't know."

When Kang Mu-Hyuk pointed out something Baek Seong-Bin had never considered, he responded in confusion.

"It's because of overconfidence. As long as they don't lose their head, they hardly die, so they can't even feel a sense of crisis. They don't know how to take risks, so their growth is slow."

"Just because of that...?"

"It's not 'just' that. The lack of crisis awareness and excessive confidence steal Hunter's ambition and sense of achievement. Not everyone is like that, but a significant number of Healing Factor owners I've seen have had similar problems. Some of the well-known ones have overcome this to some extent through mental discipline, but even then, the limits were clear."

"I've never thought about that. I didn't have the luxury to think about issues like confidence when I couldn't even fend for myself. It's a world that doesn't resonate with me."

"That's precisely why I want to recruit you, Hunter Baek Seong-Bin."

"What? What does that mean...?"

"You become desperate, don't you? In situations where people are dying. More than anyone else."

"..."

"It wasn't mentioned in your personal details, but... Hunter Baek Seong-Bin, have you ever lost someone to a monster in the past?"