“Seo Ji-hyeok! Seo Ji-hyeok of the Cheonching Guild!”
“T-That guy is here? Why is he here?”
It seemed Seo Ji-hyeok was more famous than I had thought.
The moment the small Cheonching was summoned, the white masks grew restless.
They looked at their leader’s mask, hoping he would decide what to do.
I hadn’t planned to impersonate him when I summoned the Cheonching, but since they were so easily fooled, I thought I might as well use this situation to my advantage.
“Thinking about making a deal now?”
Mimicking Seo Ji-hyeok’s tone from my memories, I took a step forward.
The white masks flinched.
My order took a step back and leaned against the wall.
To them, Seo Ji-hyeok was a figure to be feared.
The leader’s mask clicked his tongue in displeasure.
He raised his arm.
Hidden beneath his wrist was a concealed dart.
…!
Judging by the way he raised his arm and spread his palm wide, I guessed the dart was fired like that.
Its power was enough to kill a careless D-rank hunter instantly.
How do I know?
Because I just got hit by it.
The leader’s mask spoke nonchalantly.
“So, you’re Seo Ji-hyeok? Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no way he’d be here—!”
His nonchalance didn’t last until the end of his sentence.
The other white masks were equally shocked.
Even though their faces were hidden, I could tell by their startled “Eek!” sounds as they hesitated and took a step back.
They had been watching someone slowly pull the dart out of his left eye.
Their reaction was natural.
“Ugh…!”
I tried to endure the pain while pulling the dart out, but a groan escaped me.
Pop!
When the dart was fully removed, the pain subsided, and I even felt a sense of relief.
The sound of it coming out was almost cute.
As the pain faded, my vision in the previously dark left eye began to recover.
Once my sight returned, I noticed those wearing masks were flustered despite their disguises.
“Interesting toy.”
“…You bastard!”
The leader’s mask folded his palm and snapped it open.
Another dart shot out.
Pointed like a stiletto, the darts flew straight at me.
Maybe because I was aware of the darts’ presence?
This time, I caught a glimpse of them being fired.
If I intended to dodge, it might have been possible.
If I had a weapon in hand, I could probably deflect them too.
But I didn’t bother.
I let the darts embed themselves in my body and walked toward the leader’s mask.
When I was about a meter away, he stopped firing darts at me.
Clatter, clatter.
The darts slowly slid out of my recovering body, dropping to the floor with metallic sounds.
“Seo Ji-hyeok!”
“Thinking about making a deal now?”
“Why are you here?”
Maybe because I didn’t even try to defend myself against his attacks, the leader’s mask seemed to firmly believe I was Seo Ji-hyeok.
The fact that darts were ejecting themselves and my wounds healing on their own probably helped convince him.
“Should I explain it to you? Who do you think you are?”
“Watch your words, Seo Ji-hyeok. You don’t want to start a war with our Crowd.”
“War? War, huh? Do you think you can handle me?”
“…Fine, I admit you’re strong. You killed three A-rank hunters in an instant, made a deal with a government official, and left. I can’t beat you.”
Killed three A-rank hunters in an instant?
That’s monstrous—on par with Taecheon.
Why didn’t Seo Ji-hyeok kill me but instead made a fair deal we both had to respect?
If he were that strong, he could’ve just killed me.
Because of my regeneration…?
Hmph. I’m not sure.
“But! You can’t fight all of us here by yourself!”
As soon as he finished, the white masks all drew their weapons in unison.
These were the same people who had been timidly stepping back in fear.
Now, they looked like they were ready to rush me at the leader’s command.
Their hands gripped their weapons so tightly they were almost white-knuckled, showing their resolute determination.
Those who overcome fear and charge often cling stubbornly once they get moving.
If a fight broke out, it could get troublesome.
Well, that would only happen if I had to face all of them at once.
“How about you visit an ENT clinic or something?”
“Huh?”
“I’m pretty sure I said let’s make a deal. Didn’t you hear me?”
Why bother fighting all of them one by one?
If I just kneel the leader, everything will naturally be settled.
The leader’s mask looked up at the Cheonching floating above my left shoulder.
He seemed conflicted about whether to make a deal or resort to force.
“…….”
I didn’t push him and waited for his decision.
No point in pressuring him further and making things worse.
Ten seconds?
After about that, the leader’s mask made up his mind.
“Deal? Don’t make me laugh.”
So, we’re fighting after all?
“Do you think I don’t know what happened to those you made deals with?”
Hmm? That sounded like a worried remark.
What happened to those who made deals with Seo Ji-hyeok?
Being directly involved, I was curious.
But the leader’s mask didn’t seem interested in talking further and shifted his gaze away from me.
His eyes landed on Yoo Jae-i behind me.
She had somehow already gone to the back and was now holding twin swords.
“Next time, come again, Yoo Jae-i. Then you’ll have to honor our request.”
“…Get lost. Don’t ever come back.”
“Hmph. Let’s see if you can keep that fierce face then.”
Wait, tell me what happened to those who made deals!
He ignored my thoughts, spun around, and left.
The remaining white masks followed their leader one by one out of the forge.
“Why did that bastard just say his piece and leave?”
Couldn’t he have at least explained what happened to those who made deals?
I couldn’t just go ask Seo Ji-hyeok myself…
I dismissed the summoned Cheonching and turned around.
“How do you think it went? We got through it for now.”
“For now. They’ll come back. Annoying bastards.”
Yoo Jae-i stepped out from behind the counter and approached me.
She still held the twin swords in both hands.
Why didn’t she put down her weapons even after the white masks had left?
Normally, holding weapons means she’s preparing to fight an enemy.
So that enemy must still be in the forge.
And that enemy is…
Before I could finish the thought, my body reacted on its own.
One step back.
Just one step back was enough to dodge the sword she swung at me.
“Tch.”
“What the hell are you doing all of a sudden?”
If I had been a moment slower, my neck might’ve been sliced off.
Well, even if my neck were cut, it would probably just reattach itself.
Given how my shattered head had recovered and my badly injured internal organs were healed.
“…”
Yoo Jae-i just glared at me without answering.
It was the same look she had given the white masks who just left the forge.
The look of an enemy.
Isn’t this a bit harsh to someone who just helped her?
“I just helped you, you know!”
“Should I be thankful? Seo Ji-hyeok, you’re the bad guy here.”
“Ah…”
Damn.
I wasn’t the only one fooled.
She’d been tricked into thinking I was Seo Ji-hyeok too.
“I didn’t expect to be able to kill you anyway.”
Well, yeah.
I was fine even after being hit by several of the leader’s darts.
Yet Yoo Jae-i swung her sword at my neck.
That was her way of showing determination.
“Get lost. We’ll never sell our people to scum like you!”
Whew, was my act that convincing?
I sighed and raised both hands like when we first met.
“I’m not Seo Ji-hyeok.”
“……”
She looked unconvinced.
Despite my honest claim, she kept glaring at me.
Thankfully, she didn’t seem ready to attack again.
Probably because she saw how fast I healed.
She must have realized attacking me was pointless.
That was good for me.
“I’m telling the truth. Want me to show you my face so you’ll believe me?”
“What would it change if you showed me? I saw you summon the Cheonching.”
“Just take a look first.”
Judging by her words, she clearly didn’t know what Seo Ji-hyeok looked like.
So even if I took off the mask to show my face, it wouldn’t make a difference.
She was right.
If I were just an ordinary former D-rank hunter.
Slowly, with no intention to attack, I took off the mask and showed her my face.
“…?”
She stared at my face quietly, then slowly tilted her head.
That was the usual reaction from people who see me for the first time.
“Huh, I feel like I’ve seen this person somewhere before.”
“Could it be someone I knew as a kid?”
“Ah, not a business contact…”
They tilt their head like that, trying to place me.
That was me.
“…Do I know you?”
She asked cautiously, frowning as if frustrated she couldn’t remember where she’d seen me.
Even so, taking off the mask helped.
Her address shifted from hostile “you” to wary “you.”
“Somehow, you look familiar…”
“Want to try searching ‘Baek Do-woon’ on your smartphone?”
“Baek Do-woon?”
She gathered her swords in her left hand, pulled out her smartphone, and searched the name as I requested.
Soon she glanced back and forth between the screen and my face.
She compared the photo on the screen with the real me.
Then she tapped the screen—probably on related search terms.
Her eyes went wide as she stared at me.
Most likely, photos of Do-hee or Taecheon popped up—
“Ah! I’ve seen you in articles. The infamous little sister’s spine breaker!”
“…Yeah. That’s me.”
Of all names, she recognized me by that nickname…
My mood sank, and I hung my head low.
I thought outside the guild, I was better known as Do-hee’s older brother or Taecheon’s friend.
“…I was too rude just now, wasn’t I? Sorry.”
“Phew…”
Honestly, I preferred when she called me the little sister’s spine breaker so bluntly.
Her covering her mouth while apologizing made me feel even more unsettled.
Then, she apologized again, more politely.
“I’m truly sorry. For attacking you by mistake and calling you that—I sincerely apologize.”
Her repeated apologies made me feel her remorse was genuine.
Well, I only got attacked because I pretended to be Seo Ji-hyeok, so it was my own fault.
Luckily, I wasn’t hurt.
And as for the bad nickname, she just had to stop calling me that from now on.
So I said, “It’s okay.”
But for some reason, even though I said it was okay, her expression didn’t improve much.
“…I thought you’d say that.”
“Hm?”
“You said you were coming back as a hunter?”
“Yeah.”
“If you get good material items, bring them to me. I’ll do my best to make what you want, with a sincere apology. I’ll charge a fee, of course.”
With that, she suddenly extended her hand toward me.
Her right hand, roughened with calluses from hammering.
A truly pretty hand.
Yoo Jae-i smiled brightly, just like the way she showed her forehead.
“Since this is fate, let’s introduce ourselves properly. I’m Yoo Jae-i from the Jae-i Forge.”
“I’m the little sister’s spine breaker—”
“Hey, I said I’m sorry already!”
“…Hunter. Baek Do-woon, a hunter returning after two years.”
I smiled broadly as I shook Yoo Jae-i’s hand.
Hunter, Baek Do-woon.
Sounds good.
Now it’s really beginning.
The journey to form a party with these two has begun.