Chapter 193

“A Guild…”

Chew, chew.

Floa muttered as she chewed her gum.

“I’ve got a good feeling about this. The President was always meant for big things, so this Guild is going to grow big and strong too.”

The Demon King’s Army.

Oxford.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.

The common thread among those three groups was that their leaders were all overwhelmingly powerful.

“If the President is the leader, then reaching the level of those groups is already guaranteed. Does that make us the founding members?”

“I like the sound of that.”

Ki Soyul, standing beside her, nodded in agreement.

“Just looking at the city that’s already being built, it’s obvious this isn’t just some workshop.”

“I agree. A Guild sounds cool, doesn’t it?”

Kim Jina and Maximilian nodded as well.

“I admit it. To be honest, the name Dmir did feel a little weak.”

Even Capu, who was usually reserved, raised his hand slightly in agreement.

Wow.

Everyone was this enthusiastic?

“What do you think, President?”

Her shoulders puffed up with pride at seeing everyone agree, Kim Jina turned to look at me.

The other Hunters’ gazes followed.

Was it my turn to answer?

“Hmm.”

As for me, well.

I didn’t have much interest in this sort of thing.

“Alright, then.”

I gave my consent without much fuss.

After breaking the ice with some light conversation, the members of Dmir gathered in a circle around the newly built pavilion.

At the center stood a high-quality wooden table.

Whoosh!

A cool breeze blew through.

And beyond them stretched a magnificent view of rugged rock formations so overwhelming they almost stole your breath away.

“Alright!”

Sitting to my right, Kim Jina clapped her hands.

“We’re now going to decide on a Guild name. As you all know, a Guild’s name needs to be simple and memorable. The kind of name that makes people gasp in admiration the moment they hear it.”

It was a meeting to decide the new Guild’s name.

“That’s right. Honestly, Dmir was a little lame.”

Capu muttered quietly.

Hey, what was that supposed to mean?

What was wrong with our Dmir?

A small spark of defiance rose inside me, but I couldn’t step in.

Because one by one, the Hunters started agreeing with him.

“He’s right. What even is Dmir? If you stopped someone on the street and asked them what Dmir was, no one would know.”

Maximilian nodded with a serious expression.

“Hahahat! I guess that’s true. Dmir, what is that? Sounds like the name of some dwarf or something.”

“Huh? It is a dwarf’s name. Didn’t you know, Thunderstrike? The skeleton dwarf the President commands is named Dmir.”

Even Thunderstrike and Kim Jina were chatting about it now.

“Seriously? Kyahahaha! Naming a Guild after your own summon? Hey, President. Were you really that desperate for a name?”

Floa even clutched her stomach as she laughed.

She was laughing so hard she looked like she might burst, but was it really that funny?

I furrowed my brow.

“Don’t look down on our Dmir, Floa.”

“K-hheup! Alright, alright. I’m joking, I’m joking. K-heup! Heek!”

“Hmph.”

I shouldn’t even bother.

I shook my head.

‘Still.’

If everyone was saying it…

Then I guess we had to change it.

To be honest, they weren’t wrong.

Just as Kim Jina had said, if we were going to become the world’s greatest Guild, the name Dmir did feel a bit too obscure.

And it wasn’t like I had some deep attachment to the name Dmir in the first place.

I wasn’t the type to be stubborn over things like that.

“Alright, alright, then shall we hear everyone’s ideas?”

And so, under Kim Jina’s lead, we started gathering suggestions.

First came Floa.

“A Guild name has to sound strong. Like the Demon King’s Army or the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect. I feel like it should have words like ‘demon’ or ‘heaven’ in it, but hmm… since we’re strong, how about ‘Strongest’?”

She smacked her lips as if she really liked the sound of it.

“Doesn’t it sound awesome? Strongest! Kaaah! That’s sick, isn’t it?”

Crackle!

As if she’d gotten excited, electricity even sparked around her body.

……

Everyone’s expressions turned awkward.

It was the kind of moment where you wanted to laugh, but couldn’t becaus Floa was a High Ranker.

“Pfft!”

So I scoffed on their behalf.

It definitely wasn’t because she’d mocked Dmir earlier.

“What kind of name is Strongest?”

I was sincerely laughing on everyone else’s behalf.

Taking the lead to do what others couldn’t.

Wasn’t that one of a leader’s virtues?

“Are you in kindergarten or something? What kind of name is Strongest?”

“What did you say?!”

“Why not just go with Invincible, Ultra, or Super while you’re at it?”

“……Oh, that’s good!”

……

No, let’s just stop there.

I couldn’t exactly brag about my own naming sense, but Floa’s definitely wasn’t any better.

As I shook my head—

“Ahem, ahem.”

Ki Soyul cleared her throat.

“Oh, do you have something in mind, Shadow Empress?”

When Kim Jina asked with sparkling eyes, she answered with a grave expression.

“I believe a Guild name should carry symbolism.”

Symbolism.

“The Demon King’s Army and the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect both ultimately point back to their leaders, Jack Smith and Hase Ra. My brother Ki Parang named his Guild the Parang Guild for the same reason. Baekdon’s Guild is also named after Baekdon.”

Oh.

Now that she mentioned it, that was true.

“So I believe our Guild should also bear a name that symbolizes Donghoon-nim. Ahem. In that sense, how about Bone King…?”

?

Wait.

…What kind of king?

“Or perhaps something like Tomb or Graveyard would be good. Since bones are usually found in places like that…”

……

Hey, I appreciate the thought.

But this wasn’t it, was it?

A moment of silence passed.

And then—

“Puhahahaha! Bone King, she says! Kyahahahak! Tomb? Graveyard?”

Floa was the first to burst out laughing.

Tears were even welling in her eyes as she shook her head like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

The fact that Ki Soyul still looked completely serious somehow made it even worse.

‘Haa.’

And here I was, feeling even more miserable.

Shouldn’t we just stick with Dmir?

“How about Utopia?”

Capu spoke up.

“Utopia?”

“Not every group uses a name that symbolizes its leader. For example, Oxford places its symbolism in the Magic Tower itself.”

“That’s true too.”

I nodded.

Capu was a Ranker who always guided me with steady judgment.

As expected, he was reliable.

“So I was thinking, what if we placed that symbolism in Peach Blossom Land? If you put Peach Blossom Land into English, it becomes Utopia.”

“Oho? That one’s actually not bad.”

Floa, who had been laughing nonstop, lifted her head.

“I agree.”

“Not bad.”

The other Hunters seemed to think it was a solid idea as well.

The city Dmir and Eldrin were building together.

Even in its unfinished state, it was beautiful enough to serve as a symbol of the Guild.

“Vice President.”

Capu turned to Kim Jina.

“Do you have an opinion?”

“Me?”

“Yes. Since this has been your dream, I thought you might already have something in mind.”

“Hmm, as for me… I do.”

Kim Jina turned her gaze toward the magnificent scenery beyond the pavilion.

“I agree with Capu. Symbolism doesn’t necessarily have to center on a person… In fact, every time I look at this picturesque city, one phrase comes to mind.”

Dressed in a neat suit, she spoke with a natural sense of rhythm.

A voice that drew everyone in.

“It feels like another world.”

“……Star Paradise (Byeolcheonji)?”

Everyone stared blankly at Kim Jina.

The moment I heard that name, my heart pounded too.

“In modern times, the word ‘star’ is used as a metaphor for a Ranker.”

She spoke calmly.

“The name Star Paradise combines the image of this city’s scenery with the idea that our Guild will one day be filled with Rankers. What do you think?”

……

Everyone fell silent.

There was no need to even vote.

Everyone was drawn to that name.

“I like it.”

I nodded.

“Let’s go with Star Paradise. It doesn’t look like anything better is going to come up.”

“The President has approved it, so that settles it, right?”

Kim Jina looked around.

Everyone nodded.

“Nice.”

She let out a breath of relief, as if genuinely glad.

“Then starting tomorrow, I’ll register it with the Association and begin the official launch procedures. Is that alright with you, President?”

“Please do.”

And with that crisp reply—

“Yes, I look forward to working with you, Guild Master!”

Kim Jina’s title for me changed as well.

From President to Guild Master.

[Dmir’s Workshop sheds its old name and relaunches as ‘Star Paradise’!]

[The Skeleton King, currently at the center of the world’s attention, launches a new Guild. Will it succeed?]

[Star Paradise ranks No. 1 in weekly buzz!]

[Guild membership requires at least an A-Class Hunter! The standards are extremely strict, but the benefit is the best in the industry!]

The Guild’s name change became a major topic of discussion in its own right.

‘Well, to be honest.’

At this point, if I just stepped outside and said [Hello], it would probably make the news.

Kim Jina had naturally aimed for exactly that promotional effect.

When the spotlight is already on you, anything you do is enough to draw the whole world’s attention.

》Heh heh, see? What did I tell you?

The Elder, whom I had summoned after his cooldown ended, laughed.

》I told you that young lady had a gift for business. She instinctively understood it. If she pushed the group forward now, she could get global publicity for almost nothing.

Kim Jina, who had been holding herself back until now, was finally moving like a fish in water.

[Another domestic Ranker joins Star Paradise!]

[The new recruits are Druid, ranked 896th, and Asura, ranked 905th!]

[Shocking! Steel Fist, who dropped overnight from High Ranker to the 600s, also joins Star Paradise!]

Kim Jina accepted Steel Fist without hesitation.

She definitely saw the world differently from ordinary people.

If it were me, I never would’ve bothered taking in a ticking time bomb like Bong Jaeyoung.

》Heh heh, she must think she can control someone at that level. Or perhaps she saw something else in that foolish lump of iron. Kaaah, the more I watch her, the more remarkable that young lady seems.

Kim Jina’s strength was her intuition.

The answer was obvious if you thought back to how she had bet her future on me when I was still just an E-Class Hunter.

What had she seen in Bong Jaeyoung?

[The famed archer of the Parang Guild: “Congratulations on the founding of Star Paradise.” Sends heartfelt support to his sister’s Guild.]

[Independent Hunter Jang Daewoong: “Joo Donghoon, I hope you build a great Guild.”]

[Overseas Rankers also send congratulatory messages and wreaths one after another.]

[Russia’s president: “Our relationship with Star Paradise is the top priority of our foreign policy.”]

The Five Stars of Seoul.

Vladimir.

The Rankers I had met through the trials.

They all heard the news and sent words of congratulations or gifts.

On top of that, there were partner companies and acquaintances of affiliated Rankers…

The building in Apgujeong was so full of congratulatory wreaths that it was overflowing.

》Indeed, you are different from me.

The Elder, who had been watching the entire process, muttered to himself.

》Come to think of it, I always lived like a lone wolf. In fights, in groups… none of that mattered. I carried everything on my own, but people gather around you.

“……”

》I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, you punk. I’m learning a lot from watching you too.

“Hey, what are you talking about?”

》Being alone is not a good thing. I knew that too, but I was too stubborn.

Hmm.

Was he trying to say that humans were social creatures?

A trace of regret for his past lingered in the Elder’s voice.

But only for a moment.

》However.

The Elder quickly regained his composure and continued.

》To become the head of a group, you must give up many things. The moment you take your eyes off a group, it begins to rot… Do you understand?

“Yes, Elder.”

Of course, I might not have much interest in the group itself.

But even so, there was still a responsibility that came with it.

To rise to the position of leader and then ignore it completely would be irresponsible.

》Well, as I said before, that Kim Jina girl has the makings of a prime minister. So the chances of that happening are low.

“Still. Since I’ve started this, I should at least try to manage it properly.”

》Yes, do not let that resolve waver. From the look of things, that young lady will be under a lot of stress working under you.

Hey, what was that supposed to mean about me…?

But honestly, Kim Jina had been drinking even more lately.

I really had nothing to say.

‘Anyway.’

The new Guild I had created.

Star Paradise.

‘Heh.’

I really liked it.