Chapter 156
Baek Yunho.
If you asked a random passerby in Korea who Baek Yunho was, the answers would be varied.
An S-rank Hunter.
The Guild Master of White Tiger Guild.
Korea’s strongest Beast Transformation Hunter.
But if you asked them what kind of person Baek Yunho was, the responses were surprisingly consistent.
A hero.
That’s right.
A Guild Master?
An S-rank Hunter?
There were many Hunters worldwide with such titles.
But none of them fought for the safety of citizens as earnestly as Baek Yunho.
Most Hunters worked for money.
And they became rich because of it.
There was nothing inherently wrong with that—such practicality was expected in a capitalist world.
But in a society driven by profits, a guild that genuinely prioritized saving people over wealth was bound to be admired.
Even during the recent villain crisis, this was evident.
While most Hunters dismissed it as unprofitable and a waste of time, White Tiger Guild was the only one that committed fully to stopping the villains.
That was why Baek Yunho was respected.
And why he was recognized as Korea’s true hero.
But.
Baek Yunho had not always carried such an image.
When Baek Yunho first awakened as a Hunter, he had gained a peculiar ability: [Beastification].
A skill that transformed the body into something akin to a magic beast, granting immense, primal strength.
During the early days of the Cataclysm, Hunters with this power—even those with weaker versions like basic Beast Transformation— were feared and distrusted.
And for good reason.
Wouldn’t you be scared?
A person morphing into a beast, just like the ones pouring out of the Gates?
– “What if they suddenly lose control and turn into real monsters?”
– “Now that Gates have appeared, are people turning into beasts too?”
– “What if they transform and attack us?”
– “Shouldn’t we execute them before that happens?”
– “At the very least, we should lock them up somewhere…”
Such paranoia dominated online discussions at the time.
It wasn’t until Woo Jin-Cheol, the President of the Hunter Association, publicly endorsed Beastification Hunters that the negative sentiment began to fade.
But even then, fear lingered.
Even among Beastification Hunters themselves.
Because, deep down, they shared the same fears.
“What if we suddenly lose control?”
“Who can guarantee we won’t turn into monsters?”
So they lived in constant anxiety, ashamed of their powers.
Baek Yunho was no exception.
To make matters worse, Baek Yunho had always been an imposing figure.
His massive frame and intimidating features made people uneasy.
Whenever people looked at him, their eyes held fear and doubt.
But.
There was one person who stood by him.
– “Yunho.”
Before the Cataclysm, Baek Yunho had been a firefighter his entire life.
When he looked up, he saw his most respected senior—Commander Sung Il-Hwan.
Sung Il-Hwan placed a firm, calloused hand on his shoulder, his expression warm.
– “Yes, Commander?”
Baek Yunho met his mentor’s gaze.
Sung Il-Hwan’s hands were rough from years of service.
A veteran among veterans.
A true leader.
On the battlefield of fire, Sung Il-Hwan had been a living legend.
And in his steady, commanding voice, he spoke.
– “It doesn’t matter that you awakened. It doesn’t matter what power you gained.”
– “……”
– “No matter what people say, you are still a firefighter.”
– “……”
– “You are still my subordinate, Baek Yunho.”
– “……”
– “So just like always…”
Just like always.
Sung Il-Hwan’s face was covered in soot, yet he smiled faintly.
– “Save people.”
– “……!”
At that moment, Baek Yunho felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Anyone could have said those words.
But who had spoken them?
A man who had risked his life for decades to save others.
A man who had never once wavered in his mission.
A man who had lived by those words.
And Baek Yunho had witnessed it firsthand.
No more words were needed.
– “You’re a firefighter, aren’t you?”
Smirk.
Baek Yunho looked into Sung Il-Hwan’s eyes.
And for the first time, a confident smile formed on his lips.
That very day—
A hero was born in Korea.
Baek Yunho, the S-rank Hunter.
He immediately sought out Korea’s most famous Reaper Guild and joined the frontlines.
There, he unleashed his Beastification, tearing through magic beasts with relentless ferocity.
Even his own comrades feared his overwhelming strength.
But.
“That doesn’t matter.”
Baek Yunho didn’t care.
Instead of worrying about their stares, he focused on killing one more beast, saving one more life.
“Just save people.”
Because that was…
The greatest lesson he had learned from Sung Il-Hwan.
That was only two years ago.
And just last year—
After rising to fame in just one year, Baek Yunho founded his own guild, White Tiger.
But not for money.
Quite the opposite
During that time, Baek Yunho had clashed with the Reaper Guild Master, who was obsessed with profits over people.
Unlike other guilds that pursued practical benefits, Baek Yunho rejected that mindset.
Instead, he gathered every Beastification Hunter in Korea—hunters who had lived in shame and fear of their own powers—and founded White Tiger Guild.
A guild dedicated to rescuing civilians.
The reason?
There was only one.
-“You’re a firefighter, aren’t you?”
The last words he had ever heard from Commander Sung Il-Hwan.
That steady, unshakable voice remained deeply etched in his heart.
—
– Back to the Present
“Hic…! So, hic… Commander Sung Il-Hwan said I was a firefighter…! Huuuuh!”
“Alright, I get it. Just please—”
“Dad, stop crying. The guild members are staring. And wipe your nose.”
“Sniff!”
Baek Yunho, fully immersed in nostalgia, grabbed a tissue from Baek Miho and blew his nose fiercely.
But even as he did, tears continued to stream down his face.
Baek Miho let out a deep sigh before handing him an entire roll of tissues.
Then, with an apologetic look, she turned to Suho.
“I’m really sorry, Hunter Sung Suho. My dad’s been getting sentimental as he ages.”
“It’s fine. I understand.”
Suho exhaled, exasperated.
The contrast between Baek Yunho’s intimidating first impression—furiously attacking with a war cry—and his current, tearful mess of a state was too extreme.
But more than that—
“What are the chances? I can’t believe my grandfather actually knew Hunter Baek Yunho.”
Suho had known that Sung Il-Hwan had been a firefighter all his life before retiring.
But he hadn’t known about his grandfather’s former colleagues.
And now, standing before him, the renowned Baek Yunho turned out to be one of them.
To Suho, it was just a coincidence.
But to Baek Yunho—
This was a massive revelation.
—
SNORT!
“Ahem. Suho-gun?”
Having blown his nose one last time, Baek Yunho cautiously approached Suho.
His tone had completely changed—as if he were handling a fragile artifact.
“Ahem. I think we may have had a small misunderstanding earlier. There’s no way Commander Sung Il-Hwan’s grandson would ever stray from the right path! Absolutely not!”
Of all people, Baek Yunho knew Sung Il-Hwan best.
That man’s integrity and leadership had been unshakable.
And Baek Yunho himself had shaped his entire life around those very ideals.
“His grandson would never go astray. No way. I must have made a mistake earlier. Yes, yes.”
With that thought, he cautiously asked,
“That being said… You wouldn’t happen to mention this incident to your grandfather, would you…?”
“Oh! Now that you mention it, I haven’t called my grandfather in a while!”
“Hurk! W-Wait! Hold on!”
As soon as Suho pulled out his phone, Baek Yunho panicked.
But despite his frantic reaction, he didn’t dare snatch the phone away.
Instead, he flailed awkwardly around Suho, sweating profusely.
Smirk.
Suho flashed a mischievous grin before casually putting his phone away.
“Haa….”
Baek Yunho, pale as a ghost, let out a sigh of relief.
Suho’s smirk widened even further.
“Well, well. I never expected to get a favor out of the great Baek Yunho.”
Given the inevitable battle against the Apostles of Itarim, Suho needed as many strong allies as possible.
While he had befriended Thomas Andre, the American S-rank Hunter was too far away to provide immediate help.
But Baek Yunho?
He was right here.
After a brief moment of thought, Suho decided how to handle him.
“Guild Master Baek, don’t worry. I won’t be calling my grandfather.”
“Y-You won’t? Haha! I knew you had a good head on your shoulders! Just like your grandfather!”
“But I do have a favor to ask.”
“…A favor?”
Baek Yunho, who had just relaxed, suddenly stiffened.
And then—
Suho’s request was shockingly ordinary.
“Could you find Hwang Dongsoo for me? He still hasn’t shown up, so I think we’ll need to track him down.”
“…Find Hwang Dongsoo?”
The moment Suho mentioned that name, the frantic look on Baek Yunho’s face vanished.
His expression turned cold.
“Why are you looking for Hwang Dongsoo?”
“A bounty hunter doesn’t need any other reason to hunt villains.”
Suho pulled out his official Bounty Hunter License—certified by the Hunter Association.
“…I see.”
Baek Yunho examined the license and nodded in understanding.
But something still felt off.
“Hwang Dongsoo was already on our radar. White Tiger Guild will handle it.”
However, his sharp gaze remained fixed on Suho.
Tracking down Hwang Dongsoo meant one thing:
Suho was confident enough to fight an S-rank villain.
And if that were true—
‘Why the hell is he still registered as a C-rank?’
It made no sense.
“…So, if we find Hwang Dongsoo, do you plan on killing him yourself?”
Baek Yunho’s question was blunt.
Suho tilted his head.
“Killing him? That would be great if you handled it for me. S-rank villains should be dealt with by S-rank Hunters.”
“…Ah, that’s what you meant.”
At last, Baek Yunho’s suspicions eased.
But then—
Suho’s next words made his eyes widen.
“But even if you kill him, could you leave his corpse intact for me?”
“…Huh? His corpse?”
“Yeah. I’d like to examine it. Just for a moment.”
“…?”
Baek Yunho blinked.
Then, without thinking, he glanced back at his phone.
[Sung Il-Hwan – “Loving Grandson ♥”]
“…….”
His mentor’s retirement profile, filled with affection for his grandson, stared back at him.
And Baek Yunho—
For the first time in a long while—
Considered calling his old commander for a much-needed reality check.
