Chapter 206 – Long Time No See

After receiving Hyun Su-a’s confirmation, Min Do-jun immediately relayed the news to Hwang Eui-cheol.

“She agreed.”

“That’s great news. So, how are you going to find a manager?”

“Huh? A manager?”

“Yes. If you’re going to have a party from now on, you’ll need a manager, right?”

Come to think of it, he hadn’t considered that.

“You’re not planning to send my daughter around without a manager, are you? Even if it’s a guild, you need to think about these things.”

“Haha, of course not. I already have someone in mind. It would be more comfortable to have a female manager, right?”

“Exactly. You always know what I’m thinking.”

Who would be good to bring in as a female manager?

‘There’s someone who comes to mind…’

But he wasn’t sure if she would be willing to transfer to his guild.

‘This is a good opportunity to find someone to run the guild as well.’

Up until now, Min Do-jun had handled all the dungeon searching, registration, and paperwork himself, but he couldn’t keep doing that forever.

‘With active guild members, the administrative work will only increase.’

Even if there were only three active members including himself, as the master he couldn’t keep worrying about paperwork.

‘It’s time to stop being a ghost guild.’

With his growing reputation, the guild would become more famous, and more people would come looking for it.

Even today, people had come wanting to become Magic Swordsmen.

‘I need someone to manage everything overall.’

Not only that, but he also needed someone to sell items the guild members brought in at good prices and buy necessary equipment at low prices.

‘Actually, there’s someone perfect for this.’

Smiling, Min Do-jun got ready to go out.

“Teacher, since we’re talking about it, I’ll go find some staff.”

“Huh? Why does the boss have to go himself? Just call and tell them to come.”

“It’s easier to hire people if I go myself. Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve seen them.”

With a sly grin, Min Do-jun left the guild.

The public knew a lot about Min Do-jun.

He was the hero who saved Hongdae and a powerful Magic Swordsman.

People also knew he was the master of the Guardian Guild and that he had broken the curse in Russia.

Recently, the media had reported that he became the twentieth S-rank hunter.

But not many knew that Min Do-jun had once worked at the Ilsan Hunter Management Center.

BANG!

That was why the branch chief was pounding his desk right now.

“Damn it! Where do you think Min Do-jun Hunter was raised all this time, and yet there’s not a single article about us?”

Ilsan Branch Chief No Dae-woong was frustrated.

They had supported Min Do-jun all the way up to A-rank, but the world didn’t care about that effort.

People were only interested in the current Min Do-jun, not his past affiliations.

“If only we’d managed to get him in a promotional video…”

If they had, at least they wouldn’t be so ignored now.

He regretted it.

‘I should have done everything I could to keep Min Do-jun Hunter happy back then…’

What if there hadn’t been any trouble between them?

What if he had stayed with the Ilsan branch until he reached S-rank?

Then the Ilsan branch would have shared in the glory.

It would have been the first time in history that an S-rank hunter was affiliated with a management center.

‘That would have been huge for publicity.’

Thanks to Min Do-jun’s fame, hunters from all over the country would have flocked to register at the center.

With so many hunters, they could have requested a bigger budget, maybe even expanded the center.

‘We could have become number one in the metropolitan area.’

But that was all just wishful thinking.

The reality was already set.

BANG!

He slammed his desk again, but when a staff member entered after a knock, he snapped irritably.

“What is it?”

“S-sir, there’s a big-name hunter in the lobby. I thought you should know…”

“A big-name hunter? Who?”

“M-Min Do-jun Hunter.”

“What?”

No Dae-woong’s eyes went wide at the name.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Out of the way!”

He rushed down to the first-floor lobby, and sure enough, there was Min Do-jun waiting.

“Oh, hello, Min Do-jun Hunter!”

No Dae-woong approached with a friendly expression, but Min Do-jun’s brow furrowed.

“Long time no see, Chief.”

“Yes, it’s been a while. First time seeing you since you left to start your guild, right? Haha.”

“…”

“But what brings you here without calling? You could have let us know…”

“I don’t have business with you, Chief.”

“Oh… then what brings you here…?”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

Turning his head, Min Do-jun left No Dae-woong awkwardly scratching his head.

“Haha, well, please take care of your business.”

“Yes.”

As he stepped aside, No Dae-woong grabbed the staff member who had brought the news.

“Do you know why Min Do-jun Hunter is here?”

“No, he didn’t say anything to me either…”

“Then keep an eye out and report back to me when you find out. I’ll be back in my office.”

“Understood.”

Park Dong-yun was now in his seventh year at the center.

Compared to his peers, who were still assistant managers, his promotion had been fairly quick, but the work wasn’t much different.

“Can’t you drive any faster? We’re going to be late.”

“Sorry, the light’s red…”

“Damn it, who cares about a red light? My dog’s at home starving.”

He was still stuck running errands for hunters.

He still got scolded by arrogant hunters.

‘Damn, why do you go dungeon crawling without feeding your dog, you idiot?’

The only way he could vent his stress was by cursing in his head.

He sighed.

“Did you just sigh at me?”

“Huh? Oh, no, not at all.”

“Wow, are you serious? Is this how you treat the only B-rank hunter at the center?”

“No, it wasn’t at you. Please don’t misunderstand.”

“Of course it was. You sighed because I’m a jerk, right?”

‘You know yourself well, you bastard.’

It was true, but Park Dong-yun kept denying it.

He didn’t want to make trouble.

But the B-rank hunter didn’t seem ready to let it go.

“I’m going to complain to the chief about your attitude.”

“Huh? I said it wasn’t…”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m upset, so I’m going to complain.”

‘Doesn’t care about my feelings at all, huh?’

He had no choice but to endure it.

He was the only B-rank hunter at the center, so he had to put up with it.

‘A fox acts like a king where there are no tigers.’

If this guy joined a big guild with lots of B-rank hunters, he wouldn’t dare act like this.

“Oh, look at you, not even fixing your expression.”

“…”

“I don’t even need to go to the chief. I’ll just call him right now.”

The hunter, who had complained so often he had the chief’s number saved, started dialing.

“Chief? It’s me, Kim Eung-su. I asked the staff to hurry because I have an emergency at home, but he just sighed at me. What kind of training are you giving your people? Yes. Yes, I understand. I’ll be watching.”

As soon as the call ended, Park Dong-yun’s phone rang.

“Yes, Chief.”

-You bastard! Didn’t I tell you to be careful? What if that hunter leaves for another guild because of you? Will you take responsibility?

“…Sorry.”

-Don’t apologize to me, apologize to the hunter! Keep him happy! Is it so hard to just be nice to him?

“…Understood.”

After hanging up, Park Dong-yun apologized to Kim Eung-su.

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

“Just do better next time, okay?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

He took the wheel again, but inside, he was fuming.

‘I’m going to die of stress.’

This wasn’t the first time, but today, it was especially hard to keep his expression in check.

‘Maybe I’m just tired of it all.’

There were good times too.

‘Back when I worked with Min Do-jun Hunter, things were better…’

Unlike other hunters, Min Do-jun never acted entitled and was always humble.

He missed him a lot.

“Please stop at the center before going home. I need to sell some magic stones.”

“Okay.”

As he drove, trying to calm himself, his phone rang again.

He thought it was the chief, but when he saw the caller ID, he was surprised.

‘M-Min Do-jun Hunter?’

He quickly answered with his Bluetooth earpiece.

“Hunter?”

-Hello, Mr. Park. Or should I call you by your name now?

“Oh, hello. It’s been a while. How have you been?”

-I’m well, how about you?

“…I’m fine.”

He almost said otherwise, but held back.

-I have something to discuss, so I stopped by the center. Where are you?

“Huh? You’re at the center?”

-Yes. Are you on duty?

“Yes, I’m actually on my way there now.”

-Then I’ll wait in the first-floor lobby.

“Okay, I’ll be there soon.”

As soon as the call ended, the hunter in the back seat asked:

“Who was that?”

“Oh, an old client.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Why would someone who already left come back? Maybe to thank you for your service?”

Unable to hold back, Park Dong-yun bit his lip.

“Excuse me, Hunter.”

“What?”

“I can take criticism myself, but please don’t insult my acquaintances.”

“What did you say?”

Kim Eung-su’s eyes narrowed, and his tone switched to informal speech.

“What did you just say?”

“I asked you not to insult my acquaintance.”

“Wow, a regular guy talking back to a B-rank hunter. The world’s really changed.”

“…”

“You want to die today? Fine, I’ll grant your wish.”

Kim Eung-su called the chief again.

“Chief, come down to the lobby. I want to talk. I’ll be there soon.”

When they arrived at the center, No Dae-woong was waiting in the lobby.

“Ah, Hunter Kim Eung-su!”

Seeing Kim Eung-su’s furious face, No Dae-woong stiffened.

“Is there a problem?”

“Do you know what your staff said to me?”

“What did he say?”

“He told me not to insult his acquaintance. Is that any way to talk to a B-rank hunter?”

“Please, calm down. I’ll scold him properly.”

“That’s not enough. Fire him.”

“Huh? But…”

Just then, Park Dong-yun approached.

“Hey, Park!”

Everyone in the lobby turned to look.

“I told you on the phone, and you still couldn’t keep it together? Are you out of your mind?”

“…”

“Kneel and apologize to the hunter!”

“Chief, do you know what he said?”

“Does that matter right now?”

“He called my acquaintance a pushover.”

“So what?”

“Don’t you get it? He insulted Min Do-jun Hunter, my acquaintance.”

“What? Who?”

Not only the chief, but also Kim Eung-su’s eyes went wide at the name.

But what happened next was even more surprising.

“Who said something about me?”

The man himself had arrived.