Hunters are, without exception, heavy drinkers.

Even F-rank Hunters, the lowest grade, possess physical abilities and metabolism far surpassing ordinary people.

The saying “There are Hunters who don’t drink, but no Hunters who can’t drink” doesn’t exist for nothing.

“Hiccup. One more.”

But here was an exception.

Song-yi, her eyes already half-glazed, vigorously shook her empty glass.

“One more!”

Even her drunken appearance is pretty… No, wait.

Isn’t this getting a bit dangerous?

I looked at Song-yi with concerned eyes.

“She seems to be drinking too quickly.”

As soon as the drinking session started in earnest, she downed an entire bottle of soju like a trumpet player and has remained in that state. Occasionally, she would mutter incomprehensible things with slurred speech, like someone having no sense of propriety or bringing bad luck.

“Did something bad happen to her?”

Taking advantage of the moment when Im Kkeokjeong was refilling her glass, I whispered to Team Leader Choi.

“Team Leader, did something happen to Ms. Song-yi?”

Team Leader Choi answered with a disgruntled face.

“…Something did happen.”

“I knew it.”

“Very recently, in fact.”

“Ah. Aah.”

Song-yi’s misfortune is my misfortune too.

My heart sinks just watching her.

“Sigh. I hope it gets resolved well.”

Not only Team Leader Choi but also Mr. Kim, who was sitting next to me, gave me strange looks.

This is making me feel weird.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“These things happen when you’re young.”

Their answers are oddly lukewarm, but that’s not what’s important right now.

Crack.

“Drink! Drink and die today!”

Song-yi, who was on her third bottle of soju, was going wild.

“Hahaha! This is why I like Ms. Song-yi so much!”

Im Kkeokjeong, cheering her on like a fish finding water—no, like a bandit finding alcohol—was just the cherry on top.

“Shouldn’t we stop her?”

“Ah, you mean Ms. Song-yi?”

“Yes.”

Team Leader Choi shrugged.

“It’s fine. It’s not like this is the first time I’ve seen it. This is just how Ms. Song-yi is when she drinks.”

“Even so… Wait a minute.”

I stared intently at Team Leader Choi.

I’d been suspicious for a while, but now I caught him.

“How do you know Ms. Song-yi’s drinking habits?”

“I know because we’ve drunk together.”

“……”

Is this guy messing with me? Does he think I don’t know why I’m asking?

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“I mean…”

Now that he’s confronting me, I’m at a loss for words. Come to think of it, who am I to question their relationship?

Just as I was speechless, Team Leader Choi spoke abruptly.

“Ares. You’ve heard of it, right?”

“Of course.”

Ares, the God of War.

A deity appearing in ancient Greco-Roman mythology.

Now, it’s famous for a different reason.

“Who doesn’t know the Ares Guild?”

The pride and honor of Korean Hunters.

There are hundreds of guilds in Korea, but only one at the top—the Ares Guild. Since the early days of the Great Cataclysm, their accomplishments have been countless.

“They’re literally legendary.”

Educational comics, animated series, movies, novels, and more. They even appear in textbooks.

The position that the Ares Guild holds in Korea is equivalent to a living King Sejong or an active General Yi Sun-sin. No, even greater.

“They’re so famous worldwide.”

If you ask, “Do you know King Sejong? King God General Yi Sun-sin?” most foreigners would think, “What is this Asian saying?” But the Ares Guild is different.

“Do you know Ares?”

“Oh yes!”

The academic consensus is that even the toughest Texas grandfather would understand and tap his dual pistols in recognition.

“But why mention the Ares Guild?”

Team Leader Choi took a sip of beer and answered.

“Because I used to be there.”

“Ah, I see… Wait, WHAT?”

What did I just hear?

I blinked for a while, speechless, before opening my mouth.

“You were with the Ares Guild?”

“I was a team leader. Though just a low-ranking one.”

The threshold for the Ares Guild is high. They select only the best and train them to be the best.

Team Leader Choi called himself a low-ranking member, but the fact that he was already a team leader there is impressive.

Though right now, he just looks crazy to me.

“But why did you leave?”

Money, honor, status.

For a Hunter, for a man, it’s the dream workplace. To kick that away and leave!

“Were you bullied or something?”

After pondering for a moment, Team Leader Choi answered.

“That might be true. Song-yi was the only one who treated me comfortably.”

“…So Ms. Song-yi was also in the Ares Guild?”

“She was on my team. I learned about her drinking habits during team dinners.”

Saliva slid down my throat with a gulp.

“These are real elites.”

My gaze, which had been alternating between Team Leader Choi sipping his beer and Song-yi blowing into a soju bottle, stopped on one person.

“Perhaps Mr. Kim also…”

“Me?”

Mr. Kim smiled kindly and waved his hand.

“I retired long ago. Hehehe.”

“What?”

So he’s a former Hunter.

Suddenly, I recalled the unfamiliar feeling I had whenever I dealt with him. The fact that I had never tried to assess him with [Qi Sense].

“Who exactly is this person?”

Just as I was about to activate my Qi Sense.

Im Kkeokjeong, who had been diligently inhaling alcohol and meat regardless of our conversation, said, “Oh, the burner’s out. Ms. Song, got any extra gas?”

“Hiccup. That was the last one.”

“Ah, we shouldn’t break the flow. Should we just eat it as is?”

As Im Kkeokjeong grumbled while flipping the undercooked meat, Mr. Kim gave him a gentle smile.

“That won’t do.”

And the next moment, two things happened simultaneously.

Snap!

Mr. Kim snapped his fingers.

WHOOSH!

A wave of heat erupted. Blue flames shot precisely over the grill plate, instantly heating it and cooking the meat before disappearing.

“This is…” Both Im Kkeokjeong and I exclaimed without hesitation.

“A magician!”

“Perfectly cooked!”

“What? Tae-kyung, you eat too.”

Never mind, sir. I shook my head back and forth.

More surprising was that Mr. Kim turned out to be a magician. No wonder I felt something odd.

“You got me.”

Mr. Kim picked up a perfectly cooked piece of meat.

“I had no intention to deceive. As I mentioned, I’m just a retired has-been.”

What has-been? If Mr. Kim is a has-been, half of the currently active magicians should hang their heads in shame.

“At least B-rank or higher.”

With just a snap of his fingers, he could summon flames and control them precisely enough to cook the meat perfectly without burning or undercooking it. Considering the circumstances, he was likely also a member of the Ares Guild before retirement.

If he was active during the Great Cataclysm…

“…This guy is a big shot.”

And on top of that, a senior from way back.

I cautiously asked.

“Um, which Hunter Training Center did you attend?”

“Nonsan. What about you, Tae-kyung?”

“Gasp. I’m from Nonsan too. 28th Regiment, 1st Battalion.”

“Really? What a coincidence. I was also in the 28th Regiment, 1st Battalion. Which company were you in?”

“2nd Company.”

“This might not be coincidence but destiny.

Haha.”

No more needed to be said. I stood up and bent my waist.

“It’s an honor to meet you, senior.”

There’s a saying in Korea about connections through school, region, and blood. The same applies to Hunters.

The probability of awakening is 0.1 percent. One in a thousand. Because of this low probability, it’s rare for acquaintances to awaken. The Hunter Training Center, seemingly insignificant, becomes the starting point for connections.

“No need for such formality. Please sit.”

“You can speak casually to me.”

“I don’t care about such things…”

Just as Mr. Kim and I were creating a warm senior-junior atmosphere, Team Leader Choi, who had been watching quietly, suddenly interjected.

“Mr. Kim, how about doing as Jin Tae-kyung suggests?”

Have you ever seen such an ill-mannered person?

Daring to tell a senior what to do…

“Well, I suppose he can.”

On second thought, Team Leader Choi is the bigger shot. He employs a magician from the Ares Guild as his butler.

“What kind of family background does he have?”

Is his grandfather a president and his father a prime minister?

As my curiosity only grew, Team Leader Choi continued.

“We should clarify how to address each other at this point.

As the face of our guild, we can’t keep calling him ‘Mr. Kim’ or ‘Mr. Im’ forever, can we?”

After a moment of contemplation, Mr. Kim answered.

“I’ll follow young master’s decision.”

Team Leader Choi nodded and swept his stern gaze across the gathering.

“From now on, Mr. Kim will be addressed as Guild Master.

Any objections?”

Im Kkeokjeong and Song-yi answered.

“Mmm, this meat is killer. Is it because it’s cooked with magic?”

“The alcohol is going down well. Alcohol! Glug, glug, glug!”

Team Leader Choi gave them a look filled with regret, then turned his attention to me. I was making a show of raising one arm.

“What does that mean?”

“I have a question.”

“At least this one’s a bit better,” Team Leader Choi said with such an expression.

“Go ahead.”

“Isn’t Team Leader Choi the guild master?”

With a betrayed expression, Team Leader Choi took something out of his pocket and handed it to me.

It was a business card.

“I already have this.”

“What does it say?”

“Peace Guild Team 1 Leader, Choi Minwoo.”

“Yes. I’m a team leader.”

“Oh.”

“Mr. Kim is the guild master. I’m the team leader.

The rest of you are team members. Do you understand now?”

Whether Mr. Kim was a figurehead or a facade, I nodded. I had to, or Team Leader Choi might cry.

“Did everyone else understand as well?”

In response to Team Leader Choi’s question, Im Kkeokjeong and Song-yi answered.

“Wow, the soju tastes amazing too. Is it because the meat cooked with magic is the perfect accompaniment?”

“How long are you going to make me do shoulder dances? I’ve dislocated it. Dislocated! Dislocated!”

“……”

Hey, are you guys even listening?