Chapter 286

That dawn, a brief post appeared on a popular forum site frequently used by hunters.

***

**Title**: “Guys, I had a strange dream, can someone help me interpret it?”

“I can’t disclose everything, but I’m part of a security team for a large guild. That’s not the important part. Anyway, I was on duty as usual and dozed off. In my dream, I saw ‘Sibaljwa’ (Cursed One).

This weird guy kept hovering around, so my superior (he’s a traitorous bastard, by the way. I think his real name is Yamamoto or something, but he’s hiding it) and I went to catch him. But it turned out to be ‘Sibaljwa.’

But that’s all I remember clearly. After that, my superior did ‘Yudori’ and I did ‘Irasshaimase.’”

**(Top Comment)**: “Before we interpret the dream, can someone explain what this guy is even talking about? I don’t understand a word of it. ‘222’.”

**”Setting that aside, what the hell does ‘Yudori’ and ‘Irasshaimase’ even mean? I can’t follow this at all.”**

**”Why is your superior a traitor? Did he buy Heattech at Uniqlo?”**

**(Author)**: “Because he keeps using Japanese words, even in this sensitive climate. He says things like ‘Yudori,’ ‘Gensei,’ and stuff.”

**”And you said ‘Irasshaimase’ yourself.”**

**(Author)**: “Yeah.”

**”Lol, you’re nuts.”**

**”He even wrote ‘久己.’ What’s with this guy?”**

**”Smells like a wannabe recruit. Your superior must be really suffering.”**

**(Author)**: “But when I told my superior about this dream, he said he had a similar one. He dreamt that ‘Sibaljwa’ beat up a hundred of our guild members and had a showdown with Ares’ deputy guild master.”

**”I want to beat you up, you know that?”**

**(Author)**: “I’m serious;;; Then he freaked out, saying his phone was missing. It was a brand-new adult phone, so he must have been pissed.”

**”Hello, I’m a shaman. I sensed something off from this post. Could you tell me more?”**

**(Author)**: “OMG, are you really a shaman?”

**”No, I was kidding.”**

**(Author)**: “OMG, are you seriously insane?”

***

The post was deleted within ten minutes.

Those who saw it didn’t pay much attention, thinking it was just another attention seeker. No one suspected that the Ares Guild was involved in this series of events.

Well, except for me.

“They must have used mind-altering magic to tamper with memories.” It was a blatant crime, but it would be absurd to expect those who breed Black Hunters to care about that.

The mention of the “adult phone” being missing indicated that they had meticulously checked every phone.

“It was crucial evidence.” My personal cameramen, Park Tae-seop and Park Ji-hoon, bolted the moment Ares Guild members showed up, leaving the camera in their hands.

Not that it mattered much. They conducted a body search as we left the building, even checking my shared cloud folder before returning my phone.

They even added a little warning:

“If you’re hiding anything, delete it now. It won’t be fun if we find something later.”

I was already pissed because they found some adult videos on my phone, and the guy’s tone was downright infuriating.

If the situation had been different, I would’ve given him a piece of my mind.

“I’ll remember your face, you blockhead.” The guy had a square face and a buzz cut. He seemed to be in charge of cleanup and was addressed as “Team Leader” by the others, so he was likely Lee Jung-ryong’s right-hand man.

I confirmed his name through [Energy Sense]: Seok Go-jun. I noted his name partly because of his impressive skills.

“It looked like he had learned some martial arts too.” Once I suspected it, I could see it more clearly.

The Ares Guild members left by Lee Jung-ryong weren’t ordinary. They were skilled enough to take down two average A-rank hunters with ease. And Seok Go-jun… to be honest, he surprised me.

His arrogant tone was backed by his confidence in his abilities.

“How did they train these guys?” Was it real martial arts? Or perhaps something developed independently within the Ares Guild? Questions piled up.

As I pondered deeply, a nurse’s voice called out from the hallway.

“Mr. Lee! The patient Im Hyuk-jun has regained consciousness!”

Im Hyuk-jun. The rarely mentioned real name of Im Jeok-jung. He had finally woken up after three days.

* * *

“Honey!”

“Daddy!”

I held back the urge to open the door immediately. This was a time for the family.

The sobs of his wife and children, who were reunited with their husband and father after three days of unconsciousness, spilled through the crack of the hospital door.

It was only after the wave of tears had subsided that it was our turn.

“Oh, you’re all here?”

Damn it. His voice was choked with emotion right from the first words. Im Jeok-jung spread his arms wide with a bright smile, only to wince.

“Oof.”

“Careful with your arm! Careful!”

“I thought I’d be fine, but it stings a bit when I move.”

“You just had your arm reattached. If you were fine right away, you’d be a transforming robot, not a human.”

Song-Yi scolded him while casting a healing spell. The pain seemed to ease, and Im Jeok-jung’s face relaxed.

“Thanks, Song-Yi.”

“Please be careful if you’re grateful. Didn’t you hear the healer? You need to take it easy for at least two weeks.”

“Thank you for that too.”

“Uncle!”

“Geez, you’re going to burst my eardrums.”

I didn’t realize how happy I’d be to see that bandit-like laugh again.

Im Jeok-jung turned to look at the others.

“Brother Kim, no, Guild Leader, thank you so much. I heard from my wife that you took good care of things while I was out.”

Butler Kim shook his head slightly.

“There’s no need to thank me. It was only natural. When something happens to a guild member, we step up.”

“I heard it cost a lot too…”

Im Jeok-jung’s treatment involved a renowned healer and expensive top-grade potions. In a world where even lives have a price, who would do this for a D-rank hunter with nothing to his name but his career?

Im Jeok-jung’s voice was soaked with emotion as Butler Kim chuckled softly.

“If you must thank someone, thank the ‘Master of Money.’ I’m just the face.”

At that, Im Jeok-jung’s gaze shifted to the “Master of Money.”

“Chief Choi.”

His voice was hot with emotion. Before he could say anything more, Chief Choi cut him off.

“It’s not your fault, Im Jeok-jung. It’s our guild’s fault for being underestimated. If anyone should apologize, it’s me for failing to prevent this incident.”

“Chief Choi!”

Im Jeok-jung’s eyes welled up as he looked at Chief Choi, who could transform even the most hardened criminals into model citizens just by standing next to them.

When Im Jeok-jung reached out to hug him, Chief Choi flinched and stepped back.

“Careful with your arm.”

“It’s okay. I just really want to hug you once.”

“I’d rather pass that honor to the last person.”

It might not be that great an honor, but it was finally my turn.

A moment of silence fell.

There was something I had wanted to say to Im Jeok-jung when he woke up, but now that he was awake, I found myself clamming up.

Im Jeok-jung broke the silence first.

“How about it?”

“Sorry?”

“My wife and kids are beautiful, right?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his sudden pride in his family.

“Yes, they are.”

“My wife has to be a bit of a beauty.”

“I agree. Did you lock her up or something?”

“Persistence pays off. Remember that. I succeeded on the 47th try.”

“Weren’t you just saying that if you keep trying, you can chop down any tree?”

Im Jeok-jung laughed heartily.

“Turns out, some trees need more than ten tries.”

“You’re lucky you weren’t arrested.”

“If I had given up then, I wouldn’t have this beautiful family now.”

Im Jeok-jung’s wife, her face still puffy from crying, waved her hands in embarrassment.

The two kids, who had been crying earlier, now looked at me curiously with wide, sparkling eyes.

“Dad, who’s this?”

“Who’s this? This is Uncle Taekyung.”

“Uncle Taekyung?”

“Yeah, remember I told you about the handsome and strong uncle?”

So he had mentioned me to his family.

Warmth spread through my chest. The kids’ eyes shone even brighter as they looked at me.

Kids are always cute, but these two could easily be child actors. A victory for maternal genetics.

“Wow! You’re Uncle Taekyung?”

“Nice to meet you, sir!”

I couldn’t help but smile as I patted their heads and turned to Im Jeok-jung.

“Your kids are adorable. So innocent.”

“That’s just what they look like. You should get married and have a daughter. Then you’ll understand why people become ‘daughter fools.'”

I was nicknamed “daughter fool” in high school, though I never had a daughter.

Watching this happy family, I felt a lump in my throat.

Im Jeok-jung, still moving stiffly, raised his arm to hug me. His grip was much weaker than before, but he patted my back with his hand.

Tap. Tap.

“Thanks. Thanks for everything.”

At that moment, I solidified a resolve that had been brewing in my heart.

“I won’t make the same mistake again.” I muttered inwardly, hugging Im Jeok-jung tightly.

Today was the day a man returned to his family and friends.

* * *

An hour later, only five members of the Peace Guild remained in the hospital room, including me and Im Jeok-jung.

Im Jeok-jung’s wife wanted him to rest, but his determination was firm.

“I almost left my beloved wife and kids behind. I need to hear what happened, every detail.”

The once easygoing and cheerful Im Jeok-jung now had a steely determination in his eyes.

Finally, after hearing everything, Im Jeok-jung’s face hardened.

“It was the Ares Guild?”

“Yes.”

“And the Lee Jung-ryong you mentioned, it’s really him?”

“I’m sure of it.”

“…Damn.”

A groan-like sigh escaped him.

Following the trail of the Black Hunters led to the Myeongdong Guild, and following that trail led to the head of the Ares Guild.

The problem was that this “head” wasn’t just any ordinary head.

“We followed the snake’s tail and found a dragon’s head.”

As he spoke, Im Jeok-jung glanced at Chief Choi and Butler Kim. Both had their usual calm expressions.

But I had clearly seen it.

Before Im Jeok-jung regained consciousness, when the Ares Guild was first mentioned, I saw the turmoil in their eyes.

“There’s definitely something going on… but I don’t know the exact reason.”

Song-Yi and I tried to pry it out of them, but they simply said they would explain once Im Jeok-jung woke up.

“But now it’s time to talk.”

Maybe they sensed Song-Yi and I staring. Chief Choi was just about to speak when—

Footsteps echoed in the hospital corridor, blending with the usual noise. But these steps were different. Heavy, with a deep resonance.

And there was energy.

“They’re here.”

At my words, everyone rose from their seats.

As expected, the footsteps stopped right outside our room.

Knock, knock.

With a knock, the door opened. A familiar face from just a few hours ago appeared.

‘Seok Go-jun?’

Wait, if he’s here, then could it be…

My thoughts were cut short as Seok Go-jun stepped aside, and another person entered the room.

Despite being in his seventies, he looked as young as someone in his forties. He exuded the natural charisma and authority of a leader.

‘Lee Cheong-ryong.’

His gaze swept past us and landed on one person, his lips curling into a slight smile.

“You’ve grown.”

Chief Choi’s eyes darkened as he stared at Lee Jung-ryong.