Chapter 239 – Unrequited Love

Once, Shin Kyung-min had asked a question.

-Guild Master, what do you like about Hunter Jeong Hye-won?

It was a blunt question, but Kang Hyuk-su answered without a hint of embarrassment or hesitation.

-She’s pretty. And she’s strong.

Pretty and strong.

That was enough reason to like someone.

It fit Kang Hyuk-su’s ideal type perfectly.

‘If I had to choose between the two, I’d prefer a strong woman over a pretty one.’

Especially if she was stronger than him, it was even better.

But finding a woman stronger than himself, Korea’s rank 3, was no easy task.

That’s why Kang Hyuk-su was so hung up on Jeong Hye-won.

A rare, top-tier female hunter.

Jeong Hye-won was Kang Hyuk-su’s unrequited love.

‘It was love at first sight.’

He first saw her two years ago.

By chance, they’d been in the same party for an A-rank dungeon, and he’d been instantly captivated watching her beat down monsters as a martial artist-a rare class.

‘After that, I kept making moves.’

He got her number under the pretense of wanting to be friends, then sent her so many texts it was almost annoying.

[Hye-won, if you haven’t had lunch, want to eat together? I know a great grilled hairtail place…]

[Hye-won, did you see Urban Avengers? It’s the last in the series. If not, want to see it today?]

[Hye-won, want to join my Emperor Guild? I’ll offer you a contract twice as good as your current guild.]

[Hye-won, I miss you. Won’t you meet me just once? I’m afraid I’ll forget your face.]

Of course, not once did they meet privately.

Maybe his aggressive advances were too much-she always brushed him off, acting annoyed.

The only time he saw her was when they happened to be assigned to the same dungeon.

For Kang Hyuk-su, those days felt like he’d hit the jackpot.

For Jeong Hye-won, it was probably the opposite.

-Guild Master. Just give up already. If she hasn’t given in after all this, she’s just not interested.

…Even with Shin Kyung-min’s advice, Kang Hyuk-su didn’t give up.

He wanted to prove that even the hardest tree can be felled if you strike it ten times.

Partly, it was because there were no other women who were both strong and pretty enough for him.

‘If I want to build the ultimate party, I need her.’

Kang Hyuk-su valued connections with strong hunters.

It was all for his dream of creating the ultimate party.

‘A party so strong that no one could challenge us. A party that could wipe out any monster.’

It wasn’t about making money, nor did he have a particular grudge against monsters.

It was simply an obsession with strength.

He didn’t realize that this obsession would turn into obsession over Jeong Hye-won.

‘A strong woman like her would be perfect as my life partner.’

In his head, he’d already imagined them married with kids.

But reality was different.

Even seeing her face was hard-a completely one-sided love.

But now, that unrequited love…

‘She’s right next to me…’

Was lying in the same bed.

‘Am I dreaming?’

It was the first time he’d ever been this close to Jeong Hye-won.

It was enough to make him think he was dreaming.

Thump, thump-

To be in the same bed as the woman he liked.

His heart pounded.

‘If this is a dream, don’t let me wake up.’

Even her frowning face as she slept was beautiful.

He just kept staring at her, endlessly.

Then-

Bang-

Someone entered the room.

It was an unfamiliar Asian man.

“Sorry. Am I interrupting your good time?”

He spoke in Chinese, so Kang Hyuk-su didn’t understand the words.

But that didn’t matter.

‘That bastard…!’

The moment he saw the man’s face, he realized this wasn’t a dream.

‘He’s the one who attacked me!’

He remembered being ambushed on his way home and losing consciousness.

He vaguely recalled the attacker’s face, and this was definitely him.

Ssssh-

Kang Hyuk-su immediately tried to equip his hunter gear.

He was about to summon his sword and shield when-

Whip-

Black ropes appeared from thin air, binding both his hands.

‘Damn, now I can’t summon my weapons…’

His legs were also bound.

In an instant, all four limbs were tied up.

At that moment-

“Heh, even with that bear-like body, you can’t break my dark bindings.”

Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a robe appeared in the corner.

He’d been there all along, hidden by invisibility.

“Ugh…!”

Kang Hyuk-su struggled desperately, but the man’s magic was too strong for his strength to break.

“Heh, did I not say? I’m the continent’s greatest dark mage. When it comes to binding skills, I’m second to none.”

“Still, he’s Korea’s rank 3. Shouldn’t he be able to break free?”

“He’s not even level 4,000. I could take care of all the Korean rankers myself.”

“True, China has over ten hunters above level 4,000. Korea can’t compare.”

They spoke in Chinese, so Kang Hyuk-su couldn’t understand, but it was clear both the attacker and the mage were Chinese hunters.

“Did you say you can speak Korean?”

“Yes.”

“Then translate.”

The mage translated for the attacker.

“Nice to meet you, Korea’s Hunter Kang Hyuk-su. Looks like you remember my face.”

“You son of a bitch… Did you kidnap me?”

“How dare this bug curse at Master Jin Weizheng!”

The mage got angry, but Jin Weizheng waved him off.

“It’s fine. Just translate everything, word for word.”

The mage did as told, and Jin Weizheng smiled.

“Of course you’d curse. If I woke up kidnapped in a strange room, I’d be pissed too.”

“Where is this? Why is Hye-won here?”

“Hye-won? Oh, the woman next to you? She’s rank 4, right?”

“Answer me, you bastard!”

“Such temper. Careful, you’ll wake her.”

“She’ll be fine, Master Jin. I cast sleep and soundproof spells. Unless you shake her, she won’t wake up.”

“That’s good.”

“Answer me, you bastard!”

Kang Hyuk-su shouted, but Jin Weizheng remained relaxed.

He knew all Kang Hyuk-su could do was yell, bound as he was.

“Even with the woman you like beside you, you’re still so rude. Maybe I wasted my effort.”

Kang Hyuk-su’s eyes widened.

“How do you know…?”

“I know a lot. I know you’ve been visiting her guild and even stalking her house.”

“…”

“Don’t look so shocked. If you follow someone for weeks, you learn these things.”

“You followed me?”

“Yes. Just like you stalked Jeong Hye-won. You do know stalking is a crime, right?”

“No, I just wanted to know where she lived…”

“And what would you do with that? Go at night and rape her?”

“What? I’d never-”

“Don’t worry. You don’t have to go to the trouble. Everything’s ready. Today will be the best day of your life, I promise.”

“What are you talking about…?”

Jin Weizheng turned to the mage.

“I’ll leave the rest to you. You know what to do, right?”

“Don’t worry. Send my regards to Master Jin Weibai.”

“Will do.”

With that, Jin Weizheng vanished.

Kang Hyuk-su’s eyes went wide.

‘What the…!’

It wasn’t stealth or invisibility-he just vanished, like a ghost.

Now only the mage, Kang Hyuk-su, and Jeong Hye-won remained.

“What skill lets you disappear like that?”

The mage smirked.

“First time seeing teleport?”

“Teleport?”

“It’s a skill only twins can use… but I don’t feel like explaining. Anyway, that’s what it is.”

“Instant movement?”

“Yeah. Jin Weizheng brought you here. The woman, Jeong Hye-won, was brought by his twin, Jin Weibai.”

“Why did you bring us? Do you want money?”

“Money? Hahaha…”

As a guild master, money was all Kang Hyuk-su could offer.

But the mage just laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Do you know my level? 4,022. I’m the continent’s top dark mage, in China’s top 10. You think I’d do this for money?”

“Then why?”

The mage’s answer was simple.

“For fun.”

“…”

“Ever play with bugs as a kid? Pull off their legs, watch them squirm? Kidnapping, torturing, and killing people is just as fun. I can’t stop. I never get bored.”

‘Psycho.’

Kang Hyuk-su realized.

He wasn’t getting out of here alive.

He couldn’t even break the mage’s bindings.

‘He’s out of my league.’

He was a top Korean hunter, but no match for China’s top 10.

‘It’s not just level. His combat power is higher too.’

He couldn’t even see through the mage’s stealth.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“What? Pfft!”

The mage laughed at the serious question.

“Why would you think that?”

“You just said you enjoy kidnapping, torturing, and killing.”

“Does this look like a torture chamber? There’s a bed. It’s a cozy room.”

True enough, it wasn’t a place for torture.

“Then what? Why kidnap me and Hye-won?”

“Didn’t Master Jin say? Today will be the best day of your life.”

Before Kang Hyuk-su could ask, the mage said,

“Rape the woman next to you. If you don’t, I’ll kill you both right here.”