85 - Murim Login

Episode 85 “Hyung, are you alright?” “Did you get hurt?” Lim Chang-soo gritted his teeth at his team members' concern. “Shut up, you bastards. After everything I’ve done for you, you just sit back and watch?” “Well, it's just that…” “The situation was kind of difficult back then. We're sorry.” “Ungrateful bastards.” Though not bound by loyalty with his team members, he believed in giving what was due and receiving what was deserved. He was the one who had forced dropout trainees into the guild, bought them cars, and even gave them allowances. And yet, when it was crucial, they turned their backs on him, leaving his head throbbing with betrayal. “Damn it, what a mess this is.” A few billion won? It was indeed a considerable sum, but not unmanageable for Lim Chang-soo. Selling off a building or two under his name would easily cover it. However, his pride, once crushed, was something he could never tolerate. “That bastard.” He shot a fierce glare at one person's back. The guy in the black leather armor, Jin Tae-kyung, was the root of all this trouble. “I don’t know where this guy came from… but I’ll make sure this humiliation is avenged.” He still didn’t have exact details on who this person was. One thing was certain, though: this was no ordinary C-rank Hunter. No C-rank Hunter in the world could take on eight B-rank monsters head-on and smash them like that. “Why is he hiding his identity? Could he be a fugitive criminal? Or a fraudulent registrant? Once we're out of this gate, I’ll dig up everything.” While Lim Chang-soo was secretly fueling his thirst for revenge, something unexpected happened. Swoosh! Suddenly, Jin Tae-kyung turned his gaze in his direction, narrowing his eyes. The predator-like stare made Lim Chang-soo’s heart sink. “Hey.” “Y-yeah?” “You were just bad-mouthing me.” “N-no, I wasn’t.” “Don’t lie. Just by the way you're stuttering, I can tell. My neck’s been tingling from before, you know.” Lim Chang-soo remembered his father’s words, a war hero and a Hunter from the time of great upheaval. Handle dangerous situations with composure. “I’m really not.” “My keen sense is telling me you’re lying.” “Keen sense? Come on, there's no such thing.” “There’s magic, so why not a keen sense? Ditch that outdated way of thinking.” “Anyway, I swear I wasn’t.” “No, you were. And you should get a smack for it.” Thwack! Tears welled up. He hadn’t been hit, not even by his father, since he was twenty. Yet here he was, humiliated by someone who looked barely older than him, and in front of his team and some women, too. “That was a satisfying hit. Just like when I punch Hyeok Moo-jin. Anyway, be careful, okay?” He didn’t know who Hyeok Moo-jin was, but Lim Chang-soo hung his head low. “…Alright.” “By the way, this damned maze is endless. Hey, how much further to the boss zone?” “I don’t know either. It’s a maze.” “No monsters showing up anymore. I’m bored to death.” Of course, no monsters show up because they’re all getting smashed instantly! Lim Chang-soo and his teammates didn’t even need to step in. Just the five of them—or rather, just Jin Tae-kyung alone—was more than enough. “What a monster. Is he actually an A-rank Hunter?” He seems to have taken down over thirty monsters all on his own. Just when he appeared a bit worn out, he bounced back again, flying around with renewed vigor. “The raid speed is increasing, too.” Typically, raids slow down toward the end due to fatigue. Yet, if he's fighting the same monsters but getting faster… “Is he continuously getting stronger?” The thought flashed through Lim Chang-soo’s mind, and he forced himself to dismiss it. This isn’t some game where characters level up. Having taken a hit to the head, his mind felt muddled. “Sigh…” Letting out a deep sigh, his team members tentatively approached him. “Hyung, I mean…” “Oppa, are you alright? Your forehead’s swollen.” “Just get lost. I’m not in a good mood. As soon as we’re out of here, you’re all fired. Got it?” Even if he had lost his dignity and his teeth were knocked out, a tiger was still a tiger. His threat made his team swallow hard. “The installments aren’t even paid off yet.” “If we get kicked out of Sangdong Guild, who will take us?” “This month's credit card bill… We've lived comfortably thanks to Lim Chang-soo’s support. While they won’t starve as Hunters, the treatment they received would be hard to match elsewhere. “Don’t think it’ll end there. Expect more. Everywhere you go, there'll be a call under the Sangdong Guild’s name, remember. You know how small this industry is, right?” The team members’ faces changed dramatically at the thought of being not only cast out but also having their future prospects sabotaged. “Hyung, isn’t that going a bit far?” “Hyung? Are you only calling me that when it suits you?” “Oppa, do you really have to go that far?” “You idiots should have chosen who to side with wisely.” He wanted to slap each one of them, but he restrained himself. Raising his voice might just make Jin Tae-kyung turn back again. “Damn, how did I… end up too scared of a mere smack to even get angry properly?” Lim Chang-soo spit onto the ground as he turned around. Grip. “Hyung. I mean, Team Leader Lim, what are you doing?” “Please reconsider, Oppa. Please?” “Let go. I don’t want to say it twice.” “This time, really… we’ll do whatever you say, okay?” “Whatever I say?” Though he was about to shake off his colleague's hand, Lim Chang-soo suddenly halted. Glancing over, he saw the distance growing between them and the party led by Jin Tae-kyung, who was moving ahead. And even from afar, Song Song’s mesmerizing silhouette stood out unmistakably. “Hold on. I might have a plan.” Though Jin Tae-kyung seemed like a monster, there appeared to be just one glaring weakness. The woman, Song Song. “Judging from earlier, he seemed completely infatuated with her.” It wasn’t something that needed to be noticed. Anyone who saw him just once could tell he had a clear interest in Song Song. “She’s a C-rank Healer, right.” Capturing a healer is easier than twisting a chicken’s neck. If the woman he likes is held hostage, even Jin Tae-kyung wouldn’t act hastily. “That’s the key.” Aside from Jin Tae-kyung, the other three aren't much to worry about. The guild leader may be B-rank, but he's a wizard, so close combat is his weakness. As for the E-rank tank, that guy is hardly worth mentioning. The only concern might be Choi Min-woo. That guy, though... “Can I really trust what you just said?” “Absolutely.” “Just rely on us.” “Oppa, why don’t you trust us? Are we not even at that level?” He has a raid team comprised of B-rank Hunters who follow his commands, and five C-rank Hunters. They're all groomed to feed off what Lim Chang-soo provides. “Alright, listen carefully to what I say from now on…” Once the brief and simple explanation concluded, the team couldn't hide their nervous expressions. “Do you think it’ll work?” “It looks possible, but...” “Oppa, are you thinking what I think? If it involves killing someone, count me out.” “Didn’t you say you’d do anything I instructed?” “But still, that’s a bit much…” “Relax, I’d like to, but I’m not that reckless. We take away the cameras first and then give that bastard an unforgettable humiliation.” “Phew, thank goodness. In that case, I’m definitely on your side.” “Do well. If anyone hesitates or pulls back even a little, you know what’ll happen.” “Of course.” “You can count on us, team leader. I mean, Hyung.” A cynical smile crept onto Lim Chang-soo’s face. “If they’ve stomped on my pride, they should pay the price.” He planned to teach them a lesson in the upcoming boss zone on who they dared to mess with. Luckily, there’s a monster there that could rival Jin Tae-kyung. ‘Minotaur Warrior.’ The boss monster of this place, the ‘Minotaur's Maze.’ A monster that, despite being B-rank, has physical abilities rivaling those of an A-rank. ‘When the warrior exhausts his strength, that’s when we strike.’ Fight the monster with a monster. Weaken both sides; that’s the opportunity. It’s a chance to recover both the ridiculous money loss and damaged pride at once. “Hey, hurry up! It’s the boss zone!” Suddenly, Jin Tae-kyung's voice rang out. Lim Chang-soo grinned widely. “Yes! Coming!” His steps toward the boss zone were light and buoyant. “One Strike!” A sound like the sky splitting rang out from the spear tip. The white vortex ripped through everything it touched as it struck the muscular chest. - Moo? Crunch. There was no need to confirm whether it was alive or dead. As soon as the spear was pulled out of the chest, the system notification rang. Ding. - Defeated [Lv.70 Minotaur Warrior]! - Level up! - Quest [B-rank Gate Clear] completed! - Calculating your contributions... Completed! - Quest reward will be given to inventory! “Whew, as expected, one big hit at the end seals the deal. I’m exhausted, though.” I flicked the blood off my spear and turned around. “Let’s pack the loot quickly and get out. I’m starving… Why’s everyone looking like that?” Im Kkeokjeong took the lead to speak. “You really asking because you don’t know?” He glanced between the dead boss monster and me. His stare said, “Explain how you ended a B-rank boss monster in one blow.” “Well, let’s just say it was luck.” “Luck?” “Yes, luck.” Truly, it was luck. Like how I ended up living in a study room and how a capsule was discarded in front of the study room. “Haha, it’s so absurd I’m at a loss for words. Never mind.” The reactions of others were similar to Im Kkeokjeong’s. Even Team Leader Choi, who had raided with me before, offered his stunned comment. “I didn’t expect it to be to this extent.” “At least you know now.” “Can we discuss this later?” “Of course.” Now isn’t the time; there's something more pressing at hand. Trying my best to flash a charming smile, I approached a particular person. “Song-yi, could I ask you for a heal… What are you all doing here?” “Uh.” “What’s going on, why’re you here?” “Just, just standing here.” “It’s just that unni is so pretty.” The guild members of Sangdong crowded around Song-yi, scrambling to say something. 'What’s with these guys.' I wanted them to get lost since they were getting in the way between me and Song-yi. Do I really look that intimidating? “Where’s Lim Chang-soo?” At my question, the Sangdong guild members parted like the Red Sea. Lim Chang-soo responded with a face as pale as a blank sheet. “I’m here.” “Why’s your face like that? Are you sick?” “J-just feeling a bit feverish.” “Tsk tsk, make sure to take potions, you know that. You’ve got enough money for that.” “Anyway, let’s hurry and gather the loot. I’m tired.” “Yes, sir.” With Lim Chang-soo leading the obstacles away, the moment I had been waiting for arrived. I beamed at Song-yi. “You must be hungry, right? How about a lovely dinner at a nice steak restaurant?” Song-yi smiled back at me. “Sorry, but I’m a vegetarian.” “Strange. You seemed to enjoy the meat just fine yesterday. How about a salad bar then?” “I’m actually a carnivore.” Was I just rejected?