Joon-seok was walking through the streets of Seoul.
Just then—
"Help! Someone help me!"
A girl's scream.
Joon-seok's reaction was instant.
Without thinking, he ran toward the alley.
The moment he entered, the scene became clear.
A girl was surrounded by six men.
She was trembling in fear… tears in her eyes.
Their hands were forcibly reaching toward her.
Joon-seok's eyes turned cold.
Anger… rose directly to the surface.
"Hey. What do you think you're doing?"
All of them turned around.
"Huh?" one of them laughed,
"Who are you? Trying to be a hero?"
"Get lost quietly…"
"Or we'll end it here for you."
Joon-seok didn't respond.
He just looked at the girl.
The leader stepped forward.
Came right up to Joon-seok and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Listen, kid…" he said slowly,
"You don't belong here."
"Get lost quietly…"
"Or it'll get really bad."
"This isn't a request… it's a warning."
Joon-seok looked straight into his eyes.
Then, without saying a word, he removed the hand.
And walked toward the girl.
"Are you okay?"
The girl replied with difficulty—
"Yes…"
"Please… you should leave…"
"They'll kill you…"
From behind, one thug laughed.
"See? Even she's telling you."
"Leave… or you won't survive."
Silence.
Joon-seok gave no reaction.
Swish—
One of the thugs lunged at him with a sword from behind.
But—
Tap.
Joon-seok stopped the blade with just two fingers.
The entire scene froze.
"…What?"
Everyone's eyes widened.
Joon-seok thought calmly—
These guys… this weak?
Even an average E-rank hunter is stronger than them.
Another thug shouted—
"It was just a coincidence!"
"Don't be scared! Kill him!"
Joon-seok replied flatly—
"Alright."
"As you wish."
The next second—
All of them rushed at him.
The leader stood back and laughed.
"I told you, kid…"
"Now suffer."
But—
BOOM.
Joon-seok released his aura.
In an instant—
The air turned heavy.
The pressure was so intense that—
THUD!
All the thugs collapsed to the ground.
Unconscious.
Cracks formed in nearby buildings.
Even the ground shook slightly.
Silence.
Joon-seok withdrew his aura.
He slowly walked up to the leader.
The leader was still conscious… but had almost lost control of his body.
This one is a bit stronger… than the rest.
Joon-seok stopped in front of him.
"Listen."
"I don't know your name… and I don't care."
"But if you ever do something like this again…"
"It'll be very bad for you."
"This isn't a request… it's a warning."
The leader's throat went dry.
He somehow managed to say—
"…Yes… sir."
Joon-seok watched the thug collapse to the ground… then immediately turned toward the girl.
"Let's go… we're getting out of here."
The girl nodded slightly. Both of them quickly left the alley.
Outside, the air felt somewhat normal… but Joon-seok's mind still wasn't calm.
This is strange…
I just released my full aura pressure… something that even strong hunters would struggle against…
But this girl… she stood there completely fine.
He glanced at her from the side.
Not normal… absolutely not normal.
Just then, the girl stopped and turned toward him, bowing slightly.
"Thank you… really. If you hadn't come, something very bad would've happened."
"By the way… my name is Shin Ji-yoo."
Joon-seok replied directly,
"It's nothing. I'm Kang Joon-seok."
She smiled slightly.
"Thanks again, Mr. Kang."
Then she looked straight into his eyes and asked,
"You're a hunter, right?"
Joon-seok paused for a moment.
"…How do you know?"
Ji-yoo replied without hesitation,
"The power you just used… it's not normal. Only high-rank hunters can do that."
A second of silence.
"What's your rank?"
Joon-seok said directly,
"E-rank."
For a moment… then she laughed.
Joon-seok's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hey… don't joke. I'm E-rank, but I'm not weak."
"I'm not joking," Ji-yoo said while laughing,
"It's just… this is the first time I've seen an E-rank this powerful."
Is she testing me…?
"Alright then," she said,
"If you don't want to reveal your real rank… I understand."
Another thought crossed Joon-seok's mind.
Understand…? What does she mean?
Then Joon-seok asked directly,
"You're not normal either… are you?"
Before Ji-yoo could answer—
Ring… Ring…
Her phone started ringing.
The name flashing on the screen was — Crimson Fang Guild
Joon-seok's eyes locked onto it for a second.
Just as I thought…
Ji-yoo quickly picked up the call, then looked at him.
"Sorry, I have to go. It's important."
"It's fine," Joon-seok said calmly,
"Take care of yourself."
"You too, Mr. Kang."
She disappeared into the crowd while talking on the phone.
Joon-seok stood there.
Crimson Fang Guild…
One of the top guilds.
And that girl… she's definitely strong.
So why didn't she fight?
He let out a small breath.
"Forget it… I'll find out eventually."
Joon-seok started walking through the busy streets of Seoul again.
Traffic, crowds… everything felt normal.
Just then—
"Brother!!"
A small boy ran toward him, tears in his eyes.
"Please… save my dad! He's going to die!"
Joon-seok immediately turned serious.
"What happened?"
"There… ahead… a gate has opened… hunters haven't arrived yet!"
Joon-seok's gaze shifted straight in that direction.
From a distance, people could be seen running away. Panic… screams… the entire area was in chaos.
"Alright," he said calmly,
"Go hide somewhere safe. I'll check it out."
The boy nodded quickly and ran away.
Without wasting any time, Joon-seok started moving toward the gate.
Crowds everywhere… people panicking… some shouting, some running.
Seoul… situations here turn out of control very quickly…
Just then—
Ring… Ring…
His phone rang.
The name on the screen — Mr. Lee
Joon-seok paused for a second.
Now…?
He answered the call.
"This is Joon-seok…"
"Mr. Lee… what happened?"
From the other side, Lee Hyun-jin's calm but heavy voice came through,
"Mr. Kang… a B-rank gate has opened near you. There are hunters there, but they'll be late in reaching."
A short pause.
"So I'm sending you. Go… clear that gate. I trust you."
Joon-seok's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Alright… but how do you even know I'm in Seoul? And that the gate is right near me?"
Lee Hyun-jin replied directly,
"No time to explain. Just go. I'll tell you later."
"…Fine."
Joon-seok asked one more question,
"But I don't have a B-rank pass. How am I supposed to get inside?"
"I already spoke to the Black Tiger Guild," Lee Hyun-jin said.
"Tell them your name… they'll let you enter."
Call ended.
Joon-seok lowered his phone… and immediately started walking toward the gate.
Black Tiger Guild…
So they were based in Seoul.
A name flashed in his mind.
Park Hyun-sik…
When I came out of the Red Orc gate… he suppressed me just with his aura pressure…
His steps slowed slightly.
Now… can I even stand in front of him?
He clenched his fist.
First, clear this gate… everything else later.
After a short while, he reached the gate area.
The entire zone was in chaos.
People were running. Army officers were setting up barricades. Loud shouting… panic… fear.
A soldier quickly approached Joon-seok.
"Kid! Get out of here immediately, this place isn't safe!"
Joon-seok looked straight into his eyes.
"I know."
"…My name is Kang Joon-seok."
A moment of silence.
Then the soldier's expression changed.
"K-Kang Joon-seok…?"
He immediately stood straight… and bowed.
"Sorry, sir! I didn't know you—"
"Relax," Joon-seok said calmly.
"I'm going inside."
He paused slightly… then added,
"Make an announcement… let people know a hunter has arrived. It'll reduce panic."
"Yes, sir!"
Then the soldier hesitated and asked,
"Sir… your rank—"
Joon-seok looked at him.
A cold, heavy gaze.
"Don't ask… it's better that way."
The soldier's voice got stuck in his throat.
"…Yes, sir."
The next moment—
The speaker echoed across the area:
"Everyone calm down! A high-rank hunter has arrived! There is no need to panic!"
The crowd slowly started to calm down.
Everyone who was running a moment ago suddenly stopped.
Voices started rising from within the crowd:
"Is Mr. Park Hyun-sik here?"
"Wow… tension's finally over."
"Yeah, if he's here then this gate will be cleared easily."
But then someone suddenly shouted loudly,
"Hey, look over there… that's not Mr. Park Hyun-sik!"
Everyone's gaze shifted at once.
A man yelled,
"Hey army officer! Don't fool people! That's just a kid, not a high-rank hunter!"
The crowd became even more agitated.
"Yeah! Yeah! Don't treat us like idiots!"
"A kid clearing a B-rank gate? Are you joking?!"
The army officer quickly grabbed the speaker.
"Everyone, please calm down! I understand Mr. Park Hyun-sik is not here… but this boy has been sent by him!"
A moment of silence.
"So don't doubt him!"
After a brief pause, he raised his voice again,
"If Park Hyun-sik trusted him… then why can't you?"
From the crowd, a girl spoke,
"Yeah… if Park Hyun-sik sent him, then he's not a normal hunter."
Another man added,
"Maybe… he's capable."
Slowly, the tone of the crowd changed—
"Go kid!"
"Clear the gate!"
"We're with you!"
Joon-seok stood there, expression flat.
First they insult you… now they're cheering.
These people change their mood in a second…
He let out a light breath.
"Whatever… not worth paying attention to."
And then he walked straight toward the gate.
Cut—
Busan, living room.
A live broadcast was playing on TV.
On the screen, Joon-seok was seen walking toward the gate.
Seo-yeon suddenly spoke,
"Mom! Look… Joon-seok is on TV!"
Han Soo-jin froze.
"Yes… how is this possible? He said he went to buy a sword…"
Both of them were shocked for a moment.
Cut—
Seoul Gate Entrance.
Joon-seok stopped in front of the gate and took a brief look.
And without saying anything…
He stepped inside.
To be continued…