Chapter 160

Thud.

“Here, these are all the documents required to establish a guild.”

“…That’s a lot.”

Suho chuckled in disbelief as he looked at the towering stack of paperwork before him.

As if he had anticipated Suho’s reaction, Yoo Jinho grinned and picked up the topmost bundle of documents, explaining,

“It’s only natural for there to be this much paperwork. The guild you’re about to establish is practically a major guild from the start.”

“Because of the Scavenger Guild?”

“Exactly. The Scavenger Guild has already begun selling the Spring Water of Echo Forest in earnest. Half of those profits will go straight to your guild’s revenue. So, of course, there’s a mountain of paperwork.”

Suho nodded at Yoo Jinho’s words.

[Item: Spring Water of Echo Forest]

The detox potion acquired from the Ice Elves in the Glacier Dungeon had undergone rigorous testing by the Scavenger Guild, proving its effectiveness.

Although Suho had already seen the item’s information and was well aware of its effects, official verification was necessary before it could be sold to other hunters for profit.

Once its value as a detox potion was confirmed, the Scavenger Guild fully launched its business, and the response from the public was already overwhelming.

It was only natural.

When hunting magical beasts that used poison, having a hunter with detox skills was essential.

However, not everyone had such a hunter in their team.

In those cases, they either had to go through the hassle of wearing gas masks during combat or seek out a healer from the Association afterward for detoxification.

But with the detox potion now available, that paradigm was completely overturned.

And thanks to the contract with the Scavenger Guild, Suho was set to receive half of the profits from the sales of Spring Water of Echo Forest.

However, such large-scale contracts could only be conducted between guilds as a principle.

“In other words, Sung Suho’s guild will immediately become a key business partner of a major American guild upon establishment. And since our company, Ajin Soft, will be mediating and overseeing this relationship, a tripartite contract is also required…”

“Yeah. So where do I start signing?”

Already familiar with the details, Suho barely listened to the lawyer’s explanation and simply picked up a pen.

Thanks to Yoo Jinho, all the complicated contracts and administrative processes had been taken care of. All Suho had to do now was sign the documents, and the guild would officially be founded.

As Suho busied himself with signing, Yoo Jinho suddenly looked at him with a serious expression.

“More importantly… there’s still one crucial task left for you as the guild master.”

“What is it?”

Suho’s gaze turned equally serious at Yoo Jinho’s solemn tone.

His uncle, Yoo Jinho, had been his father’s closest comrade after regaining the memories of his past life.

If there was something he considered that important, what could it possibly be?

Yoo Jinho asked with utmost seriousness,

“Have you decided on a guild name?”

“Ah.”

That’s all?

Suho shrugged, unimpressed.

He had been so busy that he hadn’t even thought about it.

However, before the massive stack of documents could be finalized, a guild name needed to be filled in at the top.

“Hmm. Let’s just call it ‘Solo Play Guild’ or something.”

“Wait, hold on!”

“…?”

Suho blinked at Yoo Jinho’s sudden outburst.

His uncle’s expression was a complicated mix of emotions.

Should he laugh or cry?

‘…Seriously. Like father, like son.’

A nostalgic memory flashed through Yoo Jinho’s mind.

Sung Jinwoo had once tried to name his guild something similar.

“Why? Does it sound weird?”

Suho asked, confused.

Yoo Jinho countered,

“…Why that name?”

“No particular reason. I just prefer moving solo. I don’t plan on recruiting more guild members, either.”

“That may be true, but strictly speaking, you’re not fighting alone. You have your Shadow Soldiers.”

“Hmm.”

“More importantly, it’s way too tacky! Once your guild name spreads, it’ll be seen everywhere!”

Now that he mentioned it, Suho had to agree.

Yoo Jinho’s logical and passionate persuasion made Suho nod.

He had a point.

This was a guild that could potentially stay with him for a lifetime.

It was only right for its name to hold a meaningful representation of himself.

‘That’s why I chose “Solo Play” in the first place… but if that doesn’t resonate with people, there’s no point.’

A word that truly represented him…

Suho thought for a moment before asking,

“Then how about ‘Woojin Guild’?”

“Woojin?”

Yoo Jinho repeated, his eyes widening slightly as he tested the sound of the name.

“Don’t tell me… you flipped your father’s name?”

“Yeah, that’s part of it. But there’s another meaning, too.”

“What meaning?”

“Woo (宇) as in universe, and Jin (進) as in advance.”

Suho reaffirmed his goal.

What he had to do.

What he wanted to do.

And the name he wanted to give the guild that would grow with him toward that purpose.

“Together, it means ‘Advancing toward the Universe’—Woojin (宇進).”

“…….”

Yoo Jinho was left speechless at Suho’s explanation.

“I will reach my father in the universe.”

And so, Woojin Guild was born.

—

After establishing the guild, Suho officially began dungeon raiding in earnest.

The difference between having a guild and not having one was greater than he expected.

Oddly enough, the fact that the guild master was a C-rank hunter wasn’t much of an issue.

That only mattered when recruiting members; what really mattered when securing dungeon rights was money.

And Suho had plenty of it now.

“One billion won.”

“…!”

“Start by securing the highest-level dungeons possible with a budget of one billion, Hyung.”

“A-Ah, got it. No! I mean, understood, Guild Master!”

Im Do-Gyun, stepping outside of the Shadow Dungeon for the first time in ages, was struggling to process just how rich Suho had become.

But earning money was difficult, not spending it!

“And next month, the revenue from Scavenger will be much higher than this month, so make some reservations in advance, too.”

“Got it!”

Im Do-Gyun responded energetically.

Suho noticed that his movements had changed significantly compared to before.

‘He’s fast.’

And that change became even more evident when Suho brought Im Do-Gyun into the dungeon himself.

“Argh! Why did you bring me in here?!”

Im Do-Gyun’s role was simple: a porter.

His job was to run around collecting magic stones from the magical beasts that Suho and his Shadow Soldiers hunted.

Technically, this task could be done after clearing the dungeon, or better yet, the Shadow Soldiers could handle it instead of making Im Do-Gyun do it.

However, Suho had a reason for bringing him in this time.

“…Oh. You really are good at running away.”

Suho was impressed.

Ammit had constantly forced Im Do-Gyun to run.

As a result, his lower body had been trained to its limits, and now he was evading attacks from mid-tier magical beasts with ease.

‘His magic power is still at E-rank, but his physical strength has improved tremendously. At this rate… could he handle D-rank magical beasts on his own?’

Of course, running faster didn’t mean his attack power had increased.

But what if he was given a good weapon?

‘A bow, for example.’

Normally, hunter bows required magic arrows.

No matter how good the bow, if an E-rank hunter wielded it, its attack power would be abysmal.

Would he even be able to fire a proper shot?

‘But what if it wasn’t a magic arrow?’

“Hey, Do-Gyun, try holding this.”

“Huh? Wait, what?”

Im Do-Gyun looked puzzled as he took the bow Suho handed him.

“Guild Master, why are you giving me this? My magic power is too low for a weapon like this…”

“I know. Just pull the string for now.”

“…?”

Although confused, Im Do-Gyun obediently followed Suho’s instructions.

Swoosh—

As soon as he drew the bowstring—

“Minotaur, Form Transformation.”

“…?!”

Shwaaaaaa—!

Im Do-Gyun’s eyes widened in horror.

The Shadow Minotaur, which had been fighting alongside Suho, suddenly rushed toward him and transformed into a black arrow.

[Minotaur Lv.1]
Form Transformation – Arrow

“M-M-Monster…!”

[Ummmoooooo—!]

“W-What is this? It’s terrifying!”

Seeing the ominous black arrow shimmering on his bow, Im Do-Gyun’s hands trembled as he turned to Suho.

“S-Suho—no, Guild Master?! What… what happens if I shoot this?!”

“What do you think? It’ll fly forward.”

“Th-That’s true, but…”

“Go ahead, take a shot.”

“…….”

Under Suho’s urging, Im Do-Gyun shut his eyes tight and aimed the Shadow Arrow at a monstrous-looking beast.

Then—

Thunk.

The moment he released his grip—

[Ummmoooooo—]

BOOOOM!

“Hiiiiik?!”

The black streak shot forward like a cannonball, piercing clean through the giant beast’s torso.

Im Do-Gyun stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the massive hole left behind.

“W-What in the world…?”

“What do you mean?”

Suho grinned.

“It means that from now on, you’re an official combatant of Woojin Guild.”

“…Guild Master.”

Hearing those words, Im Do-Gyun’s eyes wavered.

An E-rank hunter.

A weakling destined to be nothing more than a miner, not a fighter.

That was who he was.

‘…I am weak.’

No.

He had always been weak.

And so…

‘I’ve always run away.’

From terrifying magical beasts.

From his mother, who turned into a Mistborne and tried to kill him.

And—

‘From my father, who killed my mother.’

His mother.

Even now, Im Do-Gyun dreamed of that day whenever he slept.

In his dreams, he would always see his father effortlessly kill the beast that had once been his mother.

And the young Im Do-Gyun, witnessing the scene—

— Aaaaaah!

— D-Do-Gyun…!

…would turn away and run from his father in terror.

And the dream would end the same way every time.

Endlessly, endlessly running.

Trying to escape from his father.

Perhaps…

That’s when it all began.

‘My whole life, I’ve been running.’

The reason his awakened ability was speed?

That was no coincidence.

It was only natural.

‘I am weak.’

Even though he had awakened, he was still only an E-rank hunter.

He would never be strong like his S-rank hunter father. (T/N: Wait, is his father Im Taegyu the guild master of Reaper guild?)

But now—

Im Do-Gyun stared at his own hands.

Hands that had just slain an incredibly strong magical beast in a single shot.

His hands trembled, not from fear, but from belated excitement.

Of course, he didn’t mistake this power as his own.

This strength had been loaned to him by Sung Suho.

But for some reason—

Even just this one experience made courage well up inside him.

“…Suho.”

Im Do-Gyun looked at Suho with newfound determination.

And for the first time, he revealed a secret he had long kept hidden.

“My father is actually…”

“Oh, you mean Im Taegyu, the guild master of Reaper Guild? I already know.” (T/N: Called it!)

“Im Tae—Wait, what?! How?!”

Im Do-Gyun gawked in shock, but Suho just gave him a deadpan stare.

“Seriously? You look exactly like him. If I didn’t recognize it, I’d have to return my Korean University art school acceptance letter.”

“…….”

“Anyway, now that you’re finally saying it yourself, does that mean you’ve mustered up some courage?”

“…What?”

Thud.

Suho placed a firm hand on Im Do-Gyun’s shoulder.

Then, with a meaningful grin, he asked,

“Then how about you give your dad a call?”

“W-Why?”

“He keeps calling me, asking for the weapon he lent me back. Haha.”

“…Huh?”

Before heading to the Glacier Dungeon, Im Taegyu had lent Suho an A-rank weapon.

The Reaper’s Bow (Replica) had been taken away by Sirka, who left with Suho’s mother.

Even though Suho had become rich overnight, 10 billion won was still just 10 billion.

No matter how fast Spring Water of Echo Forest was selling, it had only been a few days since sales began.

So there was no way he could afford to pay for an expensive A-rank weapon just yet.

“Take this chance to reconcile with your dad. And if possible, ask if he can hook us up with some high-rank dungeons, too.”

“…….”

Watching Suho’s dazzling, toothy grin, the warmth of Im Do-Gyun’s earlier emotions quickly faded.

—

At that same moment—

“…Cha-cha!”

Sirka urgently called out to Cha Hae-In, aiming the Reaper’s Bow (Replica) toward the sky.

Shoooom!

Hearing her call, Cha Hae-In turned her gaze forward with a heavy expression.

“That… could it be…?”

A gray snowstorm.

Beyond it, a massive shadow loomed.