Chapter 126 – Guild Creation  

Lee-san Hunter Management Center Director Noh Dae-woong received shocking news first thing in the morning.  

“What? Y-you’re quitting as a Hunter?”  

“Not just as a Hunter—I’m leaving the Center.”  

“……”  

Either way, it wasn’t good news for the branch.  

They were about to lose an A-rank Hunter they had worked so hard to secure.  

‘There was some trouble recently because of the advertisement issue, but…’  

Had they been complacent, thinking they’d already caught their prize?  

They never expected him to leave the Center.  

“H-Hunter-nim. If this is about the priority rights, don’t worry. We’ll increase it back to five times as before…”  

“I don’t need priority rights anymore. Those only work for A-rank dungeons, right?”  

“Does that mean you won’t be running A-rank dungeons anymore…?”  

“Yes. From now on, I’ll focus on S-rank dungeons.”  

He was barely over level 2,000, yet he planned to tackle S-rank dungeons?  

The confidence in his words was baffling, but this wasn’t the time to argue.  

They had to convince Hunter Min Do-jun to stay, no matter what.  

“Um, Hunter-nim. About the advertisement offer from before—we’ll pretend it never happened. Please reconsider…”  

“The milk is already spilled. No use trying to scoop it back up. It won’t work anyway.”  

The cold expression on Min Do-jun’s face made the Center Director realize one thing:  

No matter what he said now, he wouldn’t be able to persuade Min Do-jun.  

‘Damn it! It wasn’t even about greed or the stupid advertisements!’  

But it was too late for regrets.  

As Min Do-jun said, the milk was already spilled.  

“This is just a notice. I thought I should at least say something before leaving.”  

The Center Director nodded bitterly.  

“…Understood. I’ll have the staff handle it, so you can leave immediately without any formalities.”  

“Alright, then. Goodbye.”  

“Ah! Before you go, may I ask one thing? Are you planning to join a guild?”  

The Director assumed he’d naturally join one.  

Most Hunters who left the Center did so for that reason.  

“Do I have to answer?”  

“We need to record the reason for your departure.”  

“Yes, that’s right. But to be precise, I’m not joining one.”  

“Huh? Then…?”  

“I’m planning to create my own guild.”  

—  

The shocking news wasn’t limited to the Center Director.  

“What? Y-you’re leaving the Center?”  

“Yes. I just informed the Director on my way here.”  

Park Dong-yoon, who had just heard the news, couldn’t calm his trembling heart.  

“S-so suddenly?”  

“That’s how it turned out.”  

“You didn’t mention anything beforehand.”  

Park Dong-yoon had come to work today, ready to pick up Min Do-jun as usual.  

‘But I never thought today would be the last…’  

The abrupt announcement left him feeling strangely betrayed.  

“I didn’t tell you, Manager-nim, but I’ve been thinking about leaving the Center for a while. You must have sensed that we’d part ways eventually, right?”  

“W-well, yes, but this is just too sudden…”  

Park Dong-yoon knew.  

The Center was too small a vessel to contain someone like Min Do-jun.  

‘One day, he’d leave to swim in bigger waters.’  

But when that day actually arrived, it was hard to accept.  

He understood it logically, but his heart wasn’t prepared.  

“I’m sorry if this surprised you. I should have told you a few days earlier.”  

“N-no, it’s fine. I knew you’d leave someday… I guess I’m just sad now that it’s happening.”  

He wanted to beg him to stay.  

To plead with him to remain affiliated with the Center.  

But what could he do?  

A mere Center employee couldn’t stop a Hunter who wanted to leave.  

All he could do was accept it calmly.  

“Do you have a contract lined up somewhere else?”  

Like the Director, Park Dong-yoon assumed Min Do-jun would join a guild.  

“With your skills, it must be a top-ranking guild, right? Maybe the Emperor Guild?”  

There was no reason for Min Do-jun to move unless it was the best guild in the country.  

But the answer he received was completely unexpected.  

“No. I’m not joining a guild—I’m making one.”  

“Huh?”  

Park Dong-yoon’s eyes widened.  

Not joining, but creating one?  

Of course, it wasn’t unheard of for Hunters to start their own guilds.  

The Emperor Guild’s leader was an S-rank Hunter ranked second in the country, after all.  

With Min Do-jun’s skills, he was more than qualified to be a Guild Master.  

“…Are you serious?”  

But it was hard to believe because Park Dong-yoon never thought Min Do-jun cared about money.  

Guilds were, at their core, businesses for profit.  

“Yes. I plan to start the process today.”  

“Ah…”  

Realizing it wasn’t a joke, Park Dong-yoon fell deep in thought.  

“Then you’ll be busy with all the preparations. You’ll need to recruit people too.”  

“Well, yeah.”  

He didn’t actually need to recruit anyone since he only planned to put up a sign, but explaining that would be tedious, so he just agreed.  

“In that case… Ah, never mind.”  

Park Dong-yoon, who had been about to say something, instead held out his hand.  

“Thank you for everything.”  

Min Do-jun shook his hand but looked puzzled.  

“Thank me?”  

“Thanks to you, my work became easier, and I even got promoted. I wouldn’t be where I am now if not for you.”  

“Don’t mention it.”  

The unexpected gratitude brought a faint smile to Min Do-jun’s lips.  

“We never got to have a meal together, huh?”  

“True. I’ll invite you for a meal when I have time.”  

“Once your guild is established, call me then. I’ll bring a potted plant as a gift.”  

“Sure.”  

With that, Min Do-jun turned away, leaving Park Dong-yoon’s wistful gaze behind.  

Before leaving the Center, there was one more place he needed to visit.  

“Welcome, Hunter-nim!”  

Magic Stone Appraiser Han Sang-jun greeted him with his usual energetic voice.  

“What have you brought today?”  

Instead of answering, Min Do-jun poured out the magic stones.  

“Two S-rank and fifteen A-rank.”  

“Wow, more precious S-rank stones!”  

Han Sang-jun marveled as he began appraising them.  

“All confirmed. The total of 8.4 billion will be deposited by the end of the day.”  

“Got it.”  

As Min Do-jun turned to leave, Han Sang-jun called out.  

“See you next time!”  

“There won’t be a next time.”  

“Huh?”  

“I’m moving elsewhere starting today. Bye.”  

With a nod, Min Do-jun left the Center and got into his Mercedes.  

He had no time to waste—he needed to find an office, register the guild, and complete the business registration.  

‘It’s going to be a busy day.’  

The car slid smoothly out of the Center.  

—  

A guild was a form of management.  

It helped Hunters hunt monsters more efficiently by providing support and organization.  

In return, it took a cut of the Hunters’ earnings—a lucrative business.  

Because of this, more and more entrepreneurs had recently been starting guilds.  

Hearing how profitable it was, everyone rushed in.  

But Min Do-jun wasn’t creating a guild for money.  

‘To run overseas S-rank dungeons, you need to be part of a guild.’  

He didn’t strictly need to create one, but he’d rather build his own than join another and be bound by contracts.  

That’s why he visited the local district office—to register his guild.  

“How can I help you?”  

“I’m here to create a guild.”  

The district office worker eyed Min Do-jun’s appearance.  

‘Is this young guy trying to start a business?’  

Most people who came to start guilds were middle-aged businessmen in their 40s or 50s.  

They’d use their savings or severance pay to jump into the industry.  

Plenty of them failed, too.  

‘First time seeing someone this young trying to start a guild. Must be some rich kid.’  

He’d probably fail like most, but that wasn’t the worker’s concern.  

“May I see your ID?”  

“Here.”  

The worker checked Min Do-jun’s details and blinked in surprise.  

“You’re a Hunter?”  

“Yes.”  

When he saw that Min Do-jun was an A-rank Hunter over level 2,000, his demeanor changed.  

This wasn’t some clueless rich kid—this was a young, successful hero.  

At the same time, he looked at him curiously.  

It was rare for Hunters to start their own guilds.  

Especially ones this young.  

“Here’s the guild registration form. Fill in the circled parts—guild name, address, etc. Have you already secured an office?”  

“Yes, I brought the purchase contract.”  

Min Do-jun had bought an office in Gangnam for 600 million won.  

Since he didn’t plan to actually run the guild, a small office for the signboard was enough.  

“All done?”  

The worker took the forms, typed something, and returned the ID.  

“The guild registration is complete. Our staff will visit your office the day after tomorrow for verification. Once approved, you can register the business at the tax office.”  

“Understood.”  

The procedural part was mostly done.  

Now, all that remained was making the signboard and buying office supplies.  

‘Fortunately, I’ll finish everything before the second S-rank dungeon appears.’  

With a satisfied smile, Min Do-jun left the district office.  

—  

Two weeks had passed since leaving the Center.  

As an unaffiliated Hunter, he couldn’t match for dungeons, but his personal dungeon allowed him to level up somewhat.  

‘It feels like I’m running dungeons that are too low-level…’  

But that didn’t matter.  

What mattered was that he’d successfully created his guild.  

Now, all that remained was running S-rank dungeons.  

“Do-jun! Is this the guild you made?”  

“Ah, you’re here?”  

Hwang Ui-cheol entered the guild office with a cheerful expression.  

Beside him, his daughter Hwang Da-yeon held a flower basket.  

“Congratulations on starting your guild.”  

With a shy smile, she held out the basket.  

“Thanks.”  

Min Do-jun accepted it with a grin.  

Their fingers brushed in the process.  

“Ah!”  

Startled, Hwang Da-yeon pulled her hand back.  

Min Do-jun barely caught the falling basket.  

“Why’d you pull away so suddenly?”  

“S-sorry.”  

Seeing her bow her head made him feel oddly guilty.  

“No, I’m the one who should apologize. After what happened, I should’ve been more considerate.”  

He assumed she flinched because of lingering trauma from her kidnapping.  

“How’s your body holding up?”  

“…Thanks to you, I’m fine.”  

Hwang Da-yeon’s face turned red, seemingly embarrassed about pulling her hand away.  

“Do-jun, did you get the wreath I sent?”  

“Yeah, it’s over there.”  

Hwang Ui-cheol, who had been inspecting the office while admiring the wreath, let out an impressed whistle.  

“Wow, this office is spacious. Must be nice working here. You can even see the Han River from the window.”  

“Heh, so? Want to join my guild?”  

“What, already recruiting?”  

“There’s plenty of space. And not much work to do.”  

“Stop it. What use is a retired Hunter? If you want someone, take my daughter instead.”  

“Isn’t Da-yeon more valuable than you? She’s got an S-rank trait.”  

“Ah, that’s true! Hahaha!”  

Hwang Ui-cheol laughed heartily before suddenly remembering something.  

“By the way, Do-jun, is that on the signboard your guild’s name?”  

“Yes.”  

Hwang Ui-cheol read the guild name aloud.