Gate Generation, Year 11.
A new era had dawned, but most people still only knew bits and pieces about Hunters.
To the public, a Hunter was simply a glamorous profession, always in the spotlight.
In front of the eight-story guild building.
This was currently the hottest guild around.
There was a special Hunter in this guild.
A national disaster hero who defeated a Dragon—Delivery Man Lee Hyunbin.
His day began at five in the morning.
-Do you always get up this early?
“Of course. I’ve lived my whole life this way, so once it hits this time, my eyes just open on their own. Haha.”
So, is a hero not something that’s just made?
Maybe it was this diligence that allowed him to become an S-Rank Hunter.
Just then, someone came out into the Hanul Guild lobby.
It was Kim Taeyang and Kim Inho, both members of Hyunbin’s Team 3.
Kim Taeyang looked at Hyunbin and the camera standing outside the guild lobby and spoke.
“Oh? Team Leader. What brings you out here at this hour… mmph, mmph!”
-Did Kim Taeyang Hunter just…?
At the Camera Operator’s comment, Hyunbin asked with a puzzled expression.
“What is it?”
-…Oh, no, I just wondered why you were covering Hunter Taeyang’s mouth.
Hyunbin gave an awkward smile at the Camera Operator’s words.
“It’s our team’s own greeting. We check each other’s breath like this. See if they brushed their teeth or not.”
-Brushed their teeth?
“Yes, training’s important, but you can’t skip things like brushing your teeth. It’s basic social etiquette. Hm, looks like our Taeyang Hunter definitely brushed before coming out.”
At Hyunbin’s words, the team member stayed silent.
Hyunbin smiled awkwardly and opened his lips.
“Seems you two came out for a run as well. Let’s go together.”
The three of them ran side by side along the running course.
“It’ll be tough to keep up—are you sure you’ll be all right?”
-Yes, I’m in good shape.
At the Camera Operator’s reply, Hyunbin grinned.
“Aigoo. I see. Guess we can do a Hell Run for the first time in a while.”
-Hell Run?
“Haha, follow along if you can!”
Quoting a line from an old Commercial Film, Hyunbin started running.
The three of them broke into a sprint.
The most basic of basics.
When it comes to physical training, running is best.
Even after several minutes, none of the three had slowed down at all.
The Camera Operator, sweating like a dog in summer heat, began panting with his tongue hanging out.
Kim Taeyang Hunter and Kim Inho Hunter had both been ranked among the Top 10 Best rookies to watch in Team 3 of Hanul Guild, and were showing the fastest growth rate.
People said that was possible because of Hyunbin’s help.
After finishing a five-kilometer interval run, the three returned to the Training Hall to shower.
After showering first, Kim Taeyang was interviewed.
-The morning training seemed really intense. Are you all right?
“I have to do it… if I want to survive.”
Kim Taeyang’s reaction was a little strange.
So the Camera Operator continued the questions with a laugh.
-You’ve been growing fast since joining Hanul. To Kim Taeyang Hunter, what is Lee Hyunbin Hunter to you?
“Team Leader? Um… Can I be honest?”
-Yes, yes.
Kim Taeyang’s eyes looked a bit odd.
He glanced around nervously, then finally spoke.
“Our Team Leader really is amazing. Strong, courageous… But honestly, nobody’s perfect—”
Mid-sentence, Kim Taeyang checked his vibrating phone screen. His expression changed.
“…But after thinking about it, our Team Leader is truly different. I really think he’s the ideal of a perfect Hunter.”
-…Weren’t you about to say something else?
“No, not at all. I really respect our Team Leader.”
With a slightly stiff tone, Kim Taeyang’s interview ended.
After breakfast, hard training began.
The cameramen found themselves unconsciously exclaiming at the compact, well-trained muscles of the three men.
-Wow, this training’s really intense.
-Right? Other Hunters just work out for an hour or two at the gym, that’s it.
The Physical Training Ground was filled with the heat generated by the three.
Just when it seemed the training was over, Hyunbin, wearing his Fighting Gloves, climbed up onto the Ring.
“Shall we start with Taeyang today?”
“Yes….”
Hyunbin and Kim Taeyang began to spar.
Bang, bang!
Kim Taeyang’s One-Two landed. But Hyunbin easily deflected the punches, grabbing Taeyang’s wrist at the same time.
Kim Taeyang stepped back and kept his distance so he wouldn’t get caught.
Bang!
Kim Taeyang’s Low Kick. But Hyunbin raised his leg and guarded, closing in immediately.
Bam!
Hyunbin’s swift Middle Kick sent Kim Taeyang’s body flying into the air.
By now, Kim Taeyang had been hit so many times that his guard was solid, and he didn’t take any follow-up hits.
-Wow, you’re not really fighting, are you?
The onlookers gulped; the sparring looked as real as an actual fight.
It was like watching a nimble tiger hunting a deer, while the deer used its wits to survive and evade.
“Our Team Leader always says to train like it’s real combat. That way, you can use your skills in a real emergency.”
-Train as if it’s real combat. You sound like a real pro.
Kim Inho wiped under his nose with his index finger and smiled at the impressed Camera Operator.
“If it weren’t for the Team Leader, we—no, the Hanul Guild itself—wouldn’t have changed.”
-It’s a truly precious connection, isn’t it?
From Kim Inho’s expression and words, one could feel the respect for Hyunbin.
“Ah, I told you not to misunderstand the text.”
“Ehey, what are you saying? You know I don’t misunderstand things like that. I know Taeyang’s always honest.”
The scene of Kim Taeyang getting beaten one-sidedly was being perfectly captured on camera.
After round one of the sparring, Hyunbin smiled kindly at the camera.
-Do you always spar this intensely?
“Yes, even though it’s hard at first. Hunters always fight at the front lines. Only tough training can create strong Hunters, so we have to do it like it’s real.”
-I’m worried you’ll get hurt.
At the worried words of the filming crew, Hyunbin gave a wry smile.
“We train intensely every single day, so we won’t get injured from sparring like this.”
-Oh, okay…
Behind Hyunbin, Kim Taeyang could be seen testing his hearing for some reason.
His hearing test seemed to go on endlessly.
The filming crew moved to the next location.
This time, it was time to cover Hyunbin’s patrol duties.
On days without Gate assaults, Guarder Lee Hyunbin Hunter would step up to help neighbors in the area.
-You seem to have very little time to rest. Do you always go on patrols yourself like this?
“Rest? Haha, once I die I’ll get to rest as much as I want in my coffin. Just joking. If I stay active a little longer, I can prevent safety accidents, so I patrol as often as possible.”
-Wow, that’s really amazing.
Though Hyunbin hadn’t debuted long ago, he was already a stardom-level Hunter.
He was one of the few people who could make a huge profit just by shooting a few Commercial Films sitting down.
But instead, he took the initiative to move for the safety of the citizens.
-You must be close with the neighborhood residents, since you patrol around here every day.
“Of course. I see them all the time, so I get to know everyone. Building bonds with citizens and always being nearby to prevent accidents—that’s the job of a Guarder. Oh, there’s Mr. Kim.”
-Mr. Kim?
“Oh, yes. I grew up in the Center since I don’t have parents.”
It was already known that Lee Hyunbin Hunter was from an orphanage.
But this was the first time he’d openly said it on broadcast.
“Mr. Kim would buy presents and visit every Christmas, and he did a lot of volunteer work at the orphanage.”
Lee Hyunbin Hunter donated all the profits he gained from the earth dragon incident to orphans of the Gate.
Because he knew that pain himself, his willingness to help neighbors set an example for other Hunters.
Could it be that meeting good people and receiving good energy was how he became a hero?
“Mr. Kim.”
At the front door, Lee Hyunbin placed a hand on the shoulder of a man busily doing something.
The man jumped in surprise and turned around.
“….”
“…….”
The man was wearing a mask.
-Um, Lee Hyunbin Hunter, you know this person, right?
“Oh, of course. We’ve known each other for years. I can tell from behind, even from just his walk. He treated me like family since we’re from the same hometown.”
Hyunbin smiled and took off the man’s mask.
“Ay, Mr. Kim. Up to your pranks again, huh? Wearing a mask like this in broad daylight…”
The man under the mask was a Black Person. He stammered, looking flustered.
-Uh, you said you’re from the same hometown…
“Oh, we are. I heard you’ve been taking care of your skin lately—did you get a suntan?”
-Isn’t that thing in his hand…
At the Camera Operator’s remark, Hyunbin glanced at the Black Person’s hand.
In the hand of the Black Person—no, Mr. Kim—was a bundle of keys, the kind used by thieves.
Hyunbin’s pupils trembled for a second, but then he smiled easily and put his arm around the Black Person.
“Aigoo, Mr. Kim, you lost your keys again, didn’t you?”
-He loses his keys?
“Oh, he forgets things all the time.”
-Oh, Mr. Kim is kneeling now?
“He’s a devout Christian. Must’ve felt like praying right here, all of a sudden.”
-Isn’t he actually begging for forgiveness?
“No, he’s praying.”
-He just said ‘Sorry’ in English.
“All mankind are sinners before the Lord.”
Hyunbin was busy. There was no shortage of places that needed his help.
-What are you putting on?
“Oh, this?”
Hyunbin laughed shyly.
“It’s a Bear Doll costume.”
-A Bear Doll costume? Like the ones part-timers wear?
“Yes.”
Once Hyunbin had put on the bear costume, he stepped outside.
This time, he didn’t head into the neighborhood, but to a Rotary bustling with people.
-Is there a reason for wearing the Bear Doll costume?
“Yes, well, my face has gotten pretty well-known.”
In fact, compared to his fame, Hyunbin’s face wasn’t that well recognized.
Most of the photos or profiles used in promotions were from the Dragon incident.
He’d had a serious, solemn face back then—quite different from now.
So people actually didn’t recognize Hunter Hyunbin’s face as easily as one might think.
-Isn’t it hot in there?
“It’s fine. I do this every day, so I’m used to it.”
Actually, what Hyunbin was wearing now was a state-of-the-art Justice Armor in Transformation Mode.
It might look hot from the outside, but the natural ventilation and temperature control system made it surprisingly comfortable.
Hyunbin casually picked up a Signboard and walked through the city streets.
-By the way, why are you carrying a Signboard? Isn’t that an ad for a bar?
“Oh, I have to go this far for a perfect disguise. And it helps advertise for small business owners, too.”