Chapter 19

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 19: A Bloodline's Resolve (2)

The debut battle schedule was set within just a week.

Kwon Hanul boarded a private jet to scout the dungeon in advance.

“The newly discovered dungeon is located inside Bomunsan, in the Daejeon region of South Korea.”

Inside the airborne jet, Joo Hayun provided a brief overview of the dungeon.

“Bomunsan? That’s a real place?”

“It’s a small mountain in Daejeon. It’s not particularly famous, so it’s understandable if you haven’t heard of it.”

As Kwon Hanul listened, he kept adjusting his tie in front of a full-length mirror.

Was this how it was supposed to look?

Wearing a suit for the first time in his life felt incredibly awkward.

“Based on the monsters that have escaped, we suspect that the dungeon is a Karankula nest.”

“Those things are nasty. They’re monsters that constantly multiply around a central queen.”

“You’re well-informed. If left unchecked, they could easily consume an entire city in no time.”

It was fitting for a Platinum-ranked dungeon. The caliber of the monsters was on a different level.

Yet, at that moment, the real enemy wasn’t the Karankula—it was the tie. Struggling to adjust it, Kwon Hanul asked, “If it’s Karankula, then the dungeon must be a network of burrows, right?”

“Yes, and that’s what makes exterminating them so difficult. The tunnels are vast enough for a single person to move around freely, but…”

“But too cramped for proper combat.”

“Exactly.”

“I picked up a few things while working as a Hunter.”

Joo Hayun tilted her head slightly, puzzled. His knowledge seemed a bit too detailed to be just ‘picked up.’

“By the way, is it really necessary to wear this suit? It’s ridiculously uncomfortable.”

“That’s impossible. It was tailored specifically to your measurements, using Arakne silk for flexibility and even temperature control—”

“No, that’s not what I meant… It’s just that I’ve never worn something like this before. It feels unnatural.”

This was his first time ever wearing a suit. He had never needed to before.

He’d always lived in worn-out t-shirts and faded jeans. A suit felt like an alien concept.

For the first time, he truly understood the phrase "clothes that don’t fit."

“The black suit is the symbol of the Hyukcheon family. In official settings, it is mandatory attire.”

Joo Hayun’s tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

“A family symbol? A black suit? Who even decided that?”

“The first head of the family.”

Kwon Hanul made up his mind.

Once he reached the top of Hyukcheon, the first thing he’d do was abolish the suit from the family’s traditions.

For now, he continued fumbling with his tie. After several failed attempts, he finally got it right.

“Got it!”

He instinctively raised his arms in victory. No matter how many times he’d tried before, he hadn’t been able to get the shape just right—until now.

Kwon Hanul turned to Joo Hayun, clearly eager to show off.

She let out a brief chuckle.

“You’re skilled at so many things, yet you struggle with something like this.”

She stepped in closer, reaching for his tie. Then, with practiced hands, she untied and retied it properly.

Kwon Hanul stiffened slightly. As he looked down, he caught a glimpse of her neatly styled hair and the pale swirl of her cowlick. A faint, pleasant scent lingered in the air.

Feeling oddly flustered, he turned his head away.

For a while, only the sound of the tie being adjusted filled the space.

Once she finished, Joo Hayun lightly patted his chest and said, “From now on, I’ll handle your tie for you.”

“I should probably practice doing it myself.”

Kwon Hanul scratched the bridge of his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“We should be arriving soon. When we reach the dungeon, you’ll meet the site administrators first.”

“Are they also from the Hyukcheon Group?”

At his question, Joo Hayun smiled in a way that was strangely playful. It was surprising—he hadn’t expected her to make that kind of expression.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

* * *

He got his answer as soon as they arrived at the airport.

“Welcome! We appreciate your efforts in coming here!”

A group of people had gathered to greet them.

And Kwon Hanul recognized them well.

“From now on, Iron Fang will be assisting you, Kwon Hanul!”

Iron Fang.

A guild with a rather… complicated history with him.

They had once tried to pin the blame for a dungeon failure on him, only for Joo Hayun to intervene and shut them down.

A luxury limousine sped down the highway. Inside, three people were seated.

Kwon Hanul, Joo Hayun, and…

“It’s an honor to meet a member of the Hyukcheon bloodline!”

The guild master of Iron Fang.

He was a stout, pot-bellied man—the kind of figure you’d expect to see running a neighborhood barbecue joint rather than leading a Hunter guild.

Yet, despite his unimpressive appearance, he had once been a formidable Hunter, earning the nickname "Iron Fang" after taking down countless monsters.

“Just as the rumors say—you’re remarkably dignified and handsome, almost radiant!”

And yet, this so-called Iron Fang was now showering Kwon Hanul with flattery.

It was surreal enough that Kwon Hanul leaned toward Joo Hayun and whispered, “Why is a major guild like Iron Fang going out of their way to do this?”

Iron Fang wasn’t just overseeing the Platinum-ranked dungeon.

They were also tasked with Kwon Hanul’s security, accommodations, training grounds, and anything else needed for his debut battle.

The Hyukcheon Group was powerful, but even then, it seemed extreme for South Korea’s number-one guild to go this far.

“Kwon Hanul, there isn’t a single guild in the world that can refuse an order from the Hyukcheon Group.”

Not a request. An order.

The sheer arrogance of the statement was enough to make him scoff—but at the same time, it made sense.

Given Hyukcheon’s status, this wasn’t an impossible scenario.

“Besides, from Iron Fang’s perspective, having Hyukcheon handle the Platinum-ranked dungeon is a blessing.”

A dungeon of this caliber was a major issue—one that even a large guild like Iron Fang would struggle to manage alone.

“So it’s a matter of risk and reward.”

“Even if there were no benefits, Iron Fang has no choice but to obey.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because Hyukcheon has already intervened in your affairs once before.”

Kwon Hanul nodded. That explained their submissive attitude.

“Is your seat comfortable? We did our best to accommodate you, but if there’s anything lacking…”

“Oh, it’s fine.”

He reassured the guild master.

Yet, the man kept glancing at him nervously.

The reason was obvious.

“Kwon Hanul, I apologize for bringing this up upon our first meeting, but…”

Suddenly, the guild master threw himself to the floor, prostrating in the spacious limousine.

“I beg for your forgiveness on behalf of Iron Fang!”

Even though Hyukcheon had already dealt with them, it felt too easy to just let them off the hook.

On the other hand, picking a fight before his debut battle wasn’t ideal either.

After some thought, he responded, “I’ll decide based on Iron Fang’s behavior moving forward.”

The guild master’s face turned deathly pale.

Kwon Hanul suppressed a smirk.

“Kwon Hanul, you really are… quite mean,” Joo Hayun whispered beside him.

He merely shrugged, feigning innocence.

“That is the gate to the Platinum-ranked dungeon.”

Slightly off the main trail of Bomunsan.

Between the trees, a massive, floating circular gate loomed in the air.

Strangely, the gate was entirely made of platinum. The brilliant white light reflecting off it was almost blinding.

Around the gate, heavily armed hunters stood on high alert.

They were members of the Iron Fang Guild.

“What about the monsters that escaped from the gate?”

“We took care of them. Iron Fang handled the hunt, and we have the corpses in our possession… Do you need them?”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

I’ll be taking down plenty inside anyway. A few stragglers won’t make a difference.

“Have there been many cases of Karankula hatchlings escaping from the dungeon?”

“There were frequent incidents early on, but none recently.”

The guild master’s response made Kwon Hanul pause.

“None recently, you say?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Did you send a raid party inside?”

“No way! Iron Fang would never interfere with a Hyukcheon operation!”

The Iron Fang Guild Master frantically shook his head, his panic evident—fearful of even the slightest misunderstanding.

“So, you’re saying no one has entered the gate?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

Kwon Hanul silently observed the guild master. The man gulped nervously under the scrutiny.

Then, Kwon Hanul smiled faintly.

“Still, it’s a relief that no Karankula hatchlings have escaped.”

“I think so too. Ha ha ha.”

The guild master went on to explain various things—how Iron Fang was in charge of the Bomunsan area, and how they had a special unit ready to assist Kwon Hanul in case of emergencies.

But Kwon Hanul wasn’t interested in any of that. Walking alongside the guild master, he whispered to Joo Hayun, “The Iron Fang Guild did something to the dungeon.”

Joo Hayun’s eyes widened.

“That’s ridiculous. As if Iron Fang would dare defy Hyukcheon…”

“They wouldn’t act alone. There’s no benefit for them. Whoever’s behind this… someone must be helping them.”

Joo Hayun’s face hardened. There was no need to ask who.

The prime suspect had to be a pureblood from the Hyukcheon clan.

“How did you figure that out so quickly?”

“When I questioned him earlier, his heart rate spiked.”

“…Excuse me?”

Joo Hayun looked genuinely shocked. Hunters had sharper senses than normal people, but hearing a heartbeat from a distance?

“My ears are… a little special.”

It was thanks to the Draconic Sensory Perception he had acquired from the Imoogi’s remnants.

“I’ll look into it.”

“Alright. Do what you need to. Just give me half a day,” Joo Hayun replied in a low voice.

Just then, the Iron Fang Guild Master’s phone rang.

“What’s going on? What? A Gold-tier dungeon? In Daejeon? We’re already short on manpower… Just secure the perimeter for now!”

The guild master turned toward them and bowed repeatedly.

“I deeply apologize. Something urgent has come up… Would it be alright if I step away?”

“A Gold-tier dungeon, you said?”

“Yes! Our people on-site can’t handle it alone… I need to take care of this immediately.”

“Perfect timing. I needed a warm-up.”

The guild master looked at Kwon Hanul in disbelief.

“If you’re willing to help, that would be—”

“I’ll go in alone.”

The guild master’s expression went blank.

“Haha… Kwon Hanul, you must’ve misheard me. This isn’t just any dungeon. A Gold-tier dungeon just appeared.”

“I heard you.”

“But… you’re saying you’ll enter alone?”

“Before an official debut, it’s standard practice to clear other dungeons to gain experience and warm up.”

A debut meant proving one’s strength by solo-clearing a dungeon.

Even for the Hyukcheon bloodline, this was no easy feat. That’s why it was customary to start with dungeons at least two ranks lower for practice.

“O-Of course! That’s why Iron Fang prepared several training dungeons as per Hyukcheon’s instructions! But the guideline clearly states they should be two tiers below…”

Training was just that—training. It wasn’t meant to push one’s limits.

Which meant the practice dungeon had to be at least two tiers lower than the debut dungeon.

“So, what you’re saying is that a Gold-tier dungeon would be too much for me?”

“N-No! Not at all! You’re even planning to challenge a Platinum-tier dungeon! But… what if you get injured before your debut…”

If that happened, Iron Fang would be to blame. And the way Hyukcheon would retaliate was obvious.

Then, as if struck by inspiration, the guild master snapped his fingers.

“Ah! Before your Platinum-tier challenge, didn’t you ask us to secure practice dungeons? We’ve got a few in Daejeon! Three Bronze-tier and one Silver-tier—”

“At this rate, I might just lose my patience.”

Kwon Hanul’s words made the guild master stiffen.

“You should hurry up and lead the way.”

Hearing that, the guild master’s shoulders slumped in resignation.

* * *

“This is it…”

The guild master weakly gestured toward the road.

A golden ring floated above the black asphalt, shimmering with an eerie light.

Standing before it, Kwon Hanul rolled his shoulders, loosening up.

The guild master looked increasingly anxious.

“A-Are you really going in alone? Perhaps you should take some of our hunters with you—”

“See you soon.”

Kwon Hanul didn’t even acknowledge him. Without hesitation, he threw himself into the golden ring.

‘Damn it! That arrogant brat!’

The guild master cursed silently.

‘Just because he’s aiming for a Platinum-tier dungeon, he thinks Gold-tier will be easy?’

Having the strength to take down a lion didn’t mean a hyena wasn’t dangerous.

Even veteran hunters who had conquered Gold-tier dungeons many times could die in a Silver-tier if they let their guard down.

And he was going in unprepared?

‘If he gets hurt, Iron Fang will take all the blame!’

And if he died? The thought alone was terrifying.

As he furiously cursed Kwon Hanul in his head, the guild master suddenly glanced at the woman standing nearby.

Even a man who had sworn lifelong devotion to his wife couldn’t help but be drawn to her beauty.

‘Why isn’t she worried? Why isn’t she stopping him?’

As the guild master was about to start cursing again—

“You’re back sooner than I expected.”

The woman spoke suddenly.

The guild master blinked in confusion and turned toward the gate.

The golden ring was dissolving into dust.

The dungeon had been cleared.

“Wha… Wha…?”

As the dust settled, only one figure remained.

Kwon Hanul stood there, holding up the severed head of a monster the size of a small car.

“Yeah… That was tougher than I thought.”

The guild master checked his watch. Not even ten minutes had passed.

Unbelievable.

He barely managed to keep himself from collapsing.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]