EFME 90

“Isn’t it too much?”

Sunyul slammed his grapefruit ade down roughly as he vented his anger. Dakyung calmed Sunyul down.

“Don’t you think the Guild Master is just trying not to pressure you?”

“Even so, it’s really disappointing…”

“I’ll give you that one.”

Of course he should have told him to come to his own guild. Deciding based on what’s beneficial? Sunyul didn’t need that kind of consideration. Just being able to stay by Muyoung’s side was enough.

Did Muyoung not know that, or was he pretending not to know?

Either way, it was bad. Sunyul pouted his lips and clenched his fists tight.

“Since it’s come to this, maybe I really should become a free hunter.”

“Huh, seriously?”

“Dakyung-ah, what do I have to do to become a free hunter?”

“I don’t think you really need to do anything? Probably.”

It was a truly unreliable answer. Meeting Sunyul’s dubious gaze, Dakyung laughed sheepishly.

“I don’t really know. I bet the adults would know about this kind of stuff.”

“You’re an adult too.”

“Well, I’m an adult, but I’m also kind of… not an adult…”

Dakyung, who had yet to experience the bitter taste of society, didn’t know much. The two put their heads together and pondered for a moment before heading off to find the person who was the oldest adult by age.

It was none other than Mr. Kim Jaehoon.

“How to become a free hunter… are you really asking the Vice Guild Master that right now?”

“…The Guild Master told me I should just be a free hunter or something.”

Sunyul lamented with a face that looked like he was dying of unfairness. At that, Jaehoon’s mouth hung open in shock.

“What? Did you two have a lovers’ quarrel or something?”

“A lovers’ quarrel… don’t make those Mister-like jokes.”

Dakyung was disgusted, but Jaehoon was serious. Unless that was the case, there was no reason to suggest being a free hunter instead of being in the same guild when they were dating.

Seeing Sunyul’s face turn bright red at the mention of a lovers’ quarrel, Jaehoon guessed it wasn’t a serious one.

‘No, wait.’

Muyoung kept a strict distinction between public and private matters. It was plausible that he actually suggested being a free hunter.

‘No, but still.’

He should be bringing an EX-class hunter to Cheongyeon, not suggesting he go free. Is that Guild Master guy in his right mind? Jaehoon considered giving him a piece of his mind, then stopped.

Well, he’d know better once he experienced things here and there—just how great the Cheongyeon Guild is. He figured experiencing life as a free hunter once wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“It’s nothing much. You just sign a contract and that’s it. Though, sometimes the client might request documents… but for the most part, a copy of your Hunter Registration Card is enough.”

“I see…”

“Dungeons are usually entered with a guild or with hunters you know, so there aren’t many spots for a free hunter who’s a stranger. If you work as a free hunter for a long time, you’ll start getting contacted directly… but it’s too early for that. Oh, of course, if you post a verification shot and a message saying, ‘I’m Lim Sunyul. Looking for a raid party,’ invitations will pour in.”

Sunyul didn’t want to cause that much of a stir. Just imagining it made him shiver with fear.

“I want to join normally… then what do I do?”

“Check Hunternet. Sometimes emergency requests are posted because a spot suddenly opened up in a raid party. Looking for those is the most standard way.”

“I understand. Thank you for letting me know.”

“Should I attach someone to you?”

“No, I’m okay.”

He was finally trying out the free hunter experience; it wouldn’t be a proper experience if someone from the guild was attached to him.

Perhaps understanding that fact, Jaehoon didn’t offer a second time.

“Alright, then. Don’t take on anything too difficult. Stay safe.”

“Yes. Thank you!”

“And, wait a second.”

Jaehoon went further into the breakroom and, after a moment, came out holding a small pouch.

“Take this.”

“What is this?”

“Open it if there’s a dangerous or difficult situation. It’ll be a help.”

Jaehoon grinned. Sunyul examined the small pouch this way and that. He was curious as to what on earth it was, but he decided to put it away for now.

Leaving the Vice Guild Master’s office, Sunyul and Dakyung returned to the cafe. Then, they logged onto Hunternet and checked the recruitment board.

“Hyung, hyung-hyung. So, what kind of job are you going to take?”

“Wouldn’t something around B-class be okay?”

“Hmm. Sounds good.”

He picked out a job on Hunternet with Dakyung. Just as Jaehoon said about there not being many places for free hunters, there weren’t many posts looking for them. Most were posts looking for guild members or porters.

Sunyul and Dakyung picked and chose until they finally managed to contact one raid party.

Jooseung / Ryu Miae

You’re recruiting B-class or higher combat types, right?

Yes, that’s right

Jooseung / Ryu Miae

We’re entering a dungeon today, are you available?

I am available

Jooseung / Ryu Miae

Come to Yangpyeong B—312 by five o’clock

If you don’t show up I’ll blacklist you so please make sure to participate

If you think you can’t make it please tell me three hours in advance

Okay, I’ll see you later

After finishing the conversation smoothly, Sunyul breathed a sigh of relief. While Sunyul was talking, Dakyung was checking on the other party.

“It’s a guild called Jooseung, and the Guild Master and main members are almost all B-class.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s the same rank as the dungeon, so normally they’d have to struggle through it, but this time they’ll probably get a bus ride from you, hyung?”

Dakyung grinned and stood up, saying he’d drop him off. Since the distance was far, Sunyul couldn’t refuse and stood up with him.

Arriving in Yangpyeong, Sunyul parted ways with Dakyung after receiving his cheers. Then he headed to the meeting place.

Several hunters were gathered at the meeting spot. All of them, the moment they saw Sunyul, had their eyes grow wide.

“Gasp, Mr. Lim Sunyul?!”

“Are you really Mr. Lim Sunyul?”

“How did you come here?!”

Standing before the shocked people, Sunyul’s face heated up automatically.

“Well, I came after seeing the recruitment post…”

“Then, ‘Jumping B-class Very Berry’ is you, Sunyul-nim?!”

At the exclamation that sounded like they couldn’t believe it, Sunyul’s face turned even redder.

“…I—I didn’t change the default name when I joined!”

“Ah, so the default name was like that…”

“It suits you.”

“Cute.”

“Incredible.”

“Please give me an autograph…”

They all said whatever came to mind, but the conclusion was an autograph.

Sunyul ended up giving autographs to the entire raid party. Though, even calling it an autograph, he just wrote his name in block letters. He ended up consuming quite a bit of time because of it.

“Ex—excuse me.”

The hunter who received the last autograph held onto Sunyul with a very shy face. Sunyul recalled the name he had just written. It was definitely the name Lee Namhee.

“I also came after seeing the recruitment post…”

“Ah, are you a free hunter too, Ms. Namhee?”

Namhee nodded her head vigorously.

“Yes. By any chance, Sunyul-nim, are you going to keep being a free hunter?”

“I don’t know. I’m thinking about it.”

At Sunyul’s words, Namhee’s face darkened.

“It’s better… to join a guild.”

“Why?”

“Free hunters are a bit… like outsiders. There’s no one specifically to take care of you in places like this, and you have to do everything yourself…”

She seemed like a somewhat timid person, but since he could feel that she really wasn’t adjusting well, it bothered him. Even a moment ago, while the other people were gathered and chatting, she was the only one peeking around nervously while constantly fidgeting with her smartphone.

Sunyul made up his mind that he should at least take care of Namhee himself.

After greeting everyone, Sunyul entered the dungeon.

A pitch-black darkness spread out before his eyes. But as he took a deep breath, the darkness receded as if running away. When he closed and opened his eyes, the darkness had retreated far away.

You have entered a B-class dungeon.

Current participants: 12 (Capacity: 12)

The dungeon entrance will be closed in 9 minutes 51 seconds.

Looking at the system window floating before his eyes, Sunyul landed with a relieved face.

[Dungeon Clear Quest]

Clear Condition 1: Collect the [Gold Apple], [Silver Peach], and [Bronze Strawberry] located inside the dungeon and offer them to the altar.

Clear Condition 2: Release the [Gold Deer] and [Silver Rabbit] from the hunting traps located inside the dungeon.

Clear Condition 3: Hunt the boss monster that appears 24 hours after entering the dungeon.

“The quest is peaceful.”

“Right? This is a Hunter Rating B— dungeon.”

“That’s why we thought even if Very Berry… didn’t come, we’d be able to clear it ourselves.”

The dungeon ranks assigned by the system don’t have plus or minus values, but it means it has a reputation among hunters’ personal ratings for being easy for a B-class.

“But it’s not like it’s just completely easy. There are a lot of traps here, so you have to be careful when stepping… since you have a flight skill, Sunyul-nim, I guess you can just stay flying.”

“How can I be the only one flying?”

“It’s good if even one person can avoid them!”

Ryu Miae, the Guild Master of Jooseung, shouted with a bright voice. And at Ryu Miae’s word to start moving now, Sunyul brought the group to a halt.

“Wait a moment.”

Sunyul took out his staff and used his skills while holding it in his hand.

[Using ‘Blooming Spring’ skill.]

[Using ‘Brilliant Summer’ skill.]

[Using ‘Blessing of Protection’ skill.]

[Blooming Spring] and [Brilliant Summer] are buff-type skills applied to allies within a certain range. Since [Blessing of Protection] is a defense-type skill used on a single person, he used the skill as many times as there were people.

After checking if he had cast them correctly, Sunyul breathed a sigh of relief internally. Sunyul had been studying his skills in his own way.

After finishing the skills, he could feel twinkling gazes focused on him.

“Wow, you’re so composed even after casting all those A-rank skills.”

“Seriously incredible…”

“S-class is no joke too, but since you’re EX-class.”

Since they kept talking him up, it wasn’t that he hated it, but he was embarrassed.

“I—I’ll work hard.”

“I think it’ll be okay even if you just do a moderate amount!”

At Ryu Miae’s energetic words, everyone burst out laughing. The only one who couldn’t laugh was Lee Namhee, who was a stranger alone, so Sunyul was a bit concerned about her.

Regardless, the clear began.

In most cases, traps would pop up near the fruits when finding them, and each time, Sunyul sent a homunculus.

The homunculus ended up exploding cruelly, but since it would turn limp like clay and return to its original state anyway… Sunyul closed his eyes tight and sacrificed the homunculus. It was better than a person getting hurt.

Releasing the poor deer and rabbits caught in the hunting traps was something he felt quite motivated to do. Even though these deer and rabbits weren’t physical entities but were made of mana, he couldn’t help but empathize, making his heart feel heavy.

After releasing quite a few deer and rabbits and offering the fruit to the altar, seventeen hours into the raid, Ryu Miae declared a rest.

“Let’s rest for the next six hours and gather when there’s one hour left!”

Since it was time for concentration to drop as physical strength waned, Ryu Miae chose not to overdo it. Preserving strength was advantageous for hunting the boss monster.

In fact, it didn’t really matter what they did. As long as Lim Sunyul was there, Ryu Miae and the guild members would be able to clear the dungeon even if they were lying down eating popcorn.

While having dinner, Sunyul chatted with the Jooseung guild members. The atmosphere was much like a fan meeting.