Chapter 445: Barbarism and Prejudice (1)

That evening.

“A guild?”

At Choi Kanghyuk’s question, Kim Jicheol made a thoughtful expression.

Separate from the commotion that had occurred in the morning, today was the day Kim Jicheol’s personal training session was scheduled.

“I think the guild system itself is a good one. Gates are so dangerous that it is safer to keep going with people whose teamwork matches yours.”

It was not only about combat.

As people lived, there were bound to be those whose dispositions did not match.

There was nothing bad about gathering people who got along and shared the same intentions to form a guild.

“Ah. Then were you also part of a guild, Client Kim Jicheol?”

Since Kim Jicheol had also been an A-rank hunter, would various guilds not have sent him offers?

Kim Jicheol shook his head.

“I disliked being tied down, so I did not create a separate guild or join one. I already had the contact information of the guys I often went with anyway, so we coordinated each time and went together.”

For some reason, Kim Jicheol turned his head and looked around.

“Huff. Huff.”

The oblivious client, Yang Hyeonsu, was diligently lifting iron in a corner.

After confirming this, Kim Jicheol lowered his voice.

“I do not like speaking behind other people’s backs, but since this concerns you, Gym Owner, I will speak honestly.”

Choi Kanghyuk willingly leaned in to listen.

“I do not have a good opinion of the major guilds that came this morning, such as HK and the Dark Knights.”

“Is there some reason?”

“Because they act far too much according to their own interests.”

Choi Kanghyuk merely blinked.

'Is that not obvious?'

As though he had read Choi Kanghyuk’s expression, Kim Jicheol added.

“I understand it to some extent as well. It is work done while risking one’s life, so telling them to serve others unconditionally would make no sense.”

However, the major guilds took it a little too far.

“Perhaps it should be called factional fighting. They only go on subjugations as guild units, and they completely forbid hunting with hunters outside their guilds.”

The problem was the hunters’ schedules and the major guilds’ excessive greed.

If they recklessly requested the subjugation of a higher-level gate, or if several key hunters suddenly had something added to their schedules.

They did not cooperate with outside hunters or hand over the right to clear the gate.

Apparently, they insisted on clearing the gate themselves no matter what, even if it meant delaying the operation?

“Because of that, there were even occasional incidents where high-level monsters escaped from gates.”

Fortunately, it had not yet led to casualties, so it had not become an issue.

“Well, to be precise, it would be closer to saying that the major guilds paid the media to keep quiet.”

Then an even more absurd story followed.

“There are even cases where that hunter’s schedule is not another gate-clearing operation, but some advertisement or variety-show shoot.”

“Ah.”

The meeting from that morning came to mind in Choi Kanghyuk’s head.

The guild that had said it would turn him into a superstar.

“Even so, a hunter’s work is fighting monsters, yet appearing on television takes priority over training or clearing gates. Is that not absurd?”

After finishing his explanation, Kim Jicheol clicked his tongue and spoke.

“Money is money, but should human lives not come first? That is why I cannot view the major guilds favorably.”

Choi Kanghyuk nodded as though he understood.

'It feels similar to the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families.'

To be precise, the places among them that had deeply involved themselves in the secular world.

The great families were especially like that, and there were also a few sects that behaved similarly.

They did take responsibility for public order in their regions and drive away the bastards from the evil path.

In return, however, they often collected voluntary protection fees from the residents in the form of donations.

Or they made money by running businesses such as inns or armed escort agencies within their territory.

If a competing business appeared during that process, there were also cases where they branded it as part of the evil path or the Demon Cult and drove it out.

These were also the righteous-path bastards commonly cursed as ‘hypocrites’ by those from the evil path or the Demon Cult.

'Hmm. Then is Client Kim Jicheol a righteous-path chivalrous hero who wanders the martial world alone without belonging to the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families?'

There really had been people like that.

Those who, despite also being members of the righteous path, despised the great families and sects that acted like hypocrites.

'I think I understand why the Association President said that as well.'

Regardless of which guild he joined, the Association President had asked him to take responsibility for providing qi treatment to retired hunters.

Was it not because, if he entered a major guild, it was common for them to prevent him from helping people from other guilds?

“Hmm. Now that I have heard that, I suppose I should think carefully about joining a guild.”

It felt as though joining a major guild would come with many restrictions.

And dividing everyone into your side and my side and fighting did not particularly appeal to him either.

At that moment. Yang Hyeonsu, who had been continuing to lift iron alone, approached them.

“Senior! Gym Owner! Have you seen the news just now!?”

Both Choi Kanghyuk and Kim Jicheol were startled.

“Hyeonsu, you watch the news too?”

“Client Yang Hyeonsu? Do you look at your phone while lifting iron?”

Yang Hyeonsu blinked at the two different questions and answered.

“Ah, I was right in the middle of lifting iron, but my phone kept going off. Anyway, look at this.”

A familiar face was visible on the phone screen Yang Hyeonsu held out.

“The Association President?”

“Yes. They said the Hunter Association is announcing new regulations today.”

Yang Hyeonsu had hurriedly brought the news for Kim Jicheol, who was a hunter, and the gym owner, who had become a hunter.

Even temporarily stopping the lifting iron that was more important than anything else to a fitness enthusiast.

Though he lacked tact, Yang Hyeonsu had a kind heart.

Kim Jicheol and Choi Kanghyuk calmly watched the contents of the news.

The point of the announcement was simple.

This abnormal gate incident did not appear to be a one-time coincidence.

The Association was researching technology that could identify abnormal gates in advance.

However, there was no technology that could be put into practical use immediately.

- Therefore, we intend to apply more conservative standards for entering gates.

Previously, five C-rank hunters had been allowed to enter a C-rank gate.

However, now, in preparation for unexpected situations, entry would only be permitted if higher-ranking hunters accompanied them.

For a C-rank gate, two B-rank hunters. Or the participation of one A-rank or higher hunter was required.

Several other rules for safety were also newly applied.

There was even an item among them stating ‘Mandatory Wearing of Leather Suits’.

The gazes of Kim Jicheol and Yang Hyeonsu, who were watching the news together, turned toward Choi Kanghyuk.

Having suddenly been targeted, Choi Kanghyuk wore an incredulous expression.

“What?! Why would that gentleman, who said nothing about it this morning, do this!?”

“Ahem. Well, aside from you, Gym Owner, there probably were hunters who did not buy leather suits because they were expensive......right?”

Kim Jicheol tried to defend him in his own way.

“Come on, Senior. Who would do something like that? It is not as though they are desperate to die.”

As expected, Yang Hyeonsu had no tact.

Even as they spoke, the Association President’s announcement continued on the phone screen.

- I am well aware that hunters may find this inconvenient. However, this is all for the safety of the hunters, so I ask for your active cooperation.

After the news on the phone screen ended, silence settled for a moment.

Since it was said to be for safety, it was difficult to argue further.

At that moment. Kim Jicheol showed a strange reaction.

“This may actually be for the best.”

“Yes? What do you mean, for the best?”

“I had already been thinking that, since you have become a hunter, Gym Owner, perhaps we should go to a gate together sometime. Since things have turned out this way, let us go together soon.”

“To a gate?”

“Yes. You are now a B-rank hunter anyway, are you not, Gym Owner? I am an A-rank, so it will be much easier for you to recruit members for clearing a B-rank gate.”

Originally, he had only been an A-rank in name.

Because of his injury, he had been unable to display even a quarter of his original ability.

However, after combining Choi Kanghyuk’s qi treatment, exercise, and diet for around two months.

He had now almost recovered his original strength.

“Ah, instead, I will look for one A-rank acquaintance of mine. Then it should be much easier to form the party.”

***

A few days later. Namyangju.

A crack in space-time rippled in the middle of a busy district filled with bars and passing people.

Ropes had been stretched around it like police lines, and police officers were standing by as though to prevent ordinary people from entering.

A short while later. People dressed in leather suits approached the gate one by one.

Before long, Choi Kanghyuk also arrived there.

Kim Jicheol and Park Gyuchul greeted him.

“You have arrived, Gym Owner.”

“Good day!”

“Huh? Are you joining today’s clearing operation as well, Client?”

Park Gyuchul.

A retired hunter who often laughed heartily and made middle-aged-man jokes.

A client who had exhausted Choi Kanghyuk by refusing to follow his diet for a while.

“Hahahaha. Thanks to you, Gym Owner, my body has improved quite a bit, so I thought it might be time to slowly start again.”

Kim Jicheol pointed at Park Gyuchul and spoke.

“Despite how he looks, Gyuchul is also an A-rank hunter. I was looking for an A-rank hunter to come with us, and this guy volunteered to go, so I immediately dragged him along.”

“Hahahaha. Once my body improved, I started itching to move again and simply could not endure it.”

Unlike his joking manner, Park Gyuchul had originally been skeptical about returning as a hunter.

Because of his fear of death.

The reason he had repeatedly broken the diet Choi Kanghyuk had made for him as a joke was also because of that fear.

Partway through, he had changed his mind and focused on recovery.

That did not mean he had intended to return as a hunter.

He had only planned to receive treatment for the time being.

The reason Park Gyuchul had suddenly changed his mind was Choi Kanghyuk.

'He said he had nearly died several times, and he truly is no ordinary person.'

The incident in which he had become caught up in an abnormal gate.

To be precise, the story that he had fought monsters while wearing a swimsuit in order to further develop his awakened ability.

That story had stimulated Park Gyuchul.

'Even someone who was only a gym owner is working that hard to save people, so what in the world am I doing?'

Park Gyuchul had long admired people like that.

Those who possessed qualities resembling heroes.

In the past, it would have been firefighters. Now, it was people like Kim Jicheol whom he admired.

He had already been stimulated by Kim Jicheol’s return, and when Choi Kanghyuk’s story was added on top of that, courage arose in him for no particular reason.

'Right. This time, Senior Jicheol and the Gym Owner will both be there. If the three of us go together, perhaps it will be manageable?'

It might become the perfect opportunity to overcome his trauma.

With that thought, he had willingly participated in this clearing operation.

And Park Gyuchul was not the only one who had seen that news.

“Huh? Are you not the person who appeared on the news?

“Ah! The flasher....... Barbarian!! Good day!”

The remaining two hunters waiting near the gate also greeted him as though they recognized him.

“Barbarian?”

At Choi Kanghyuk’s question, Park Gyuchul and Kim Jicheol answered.

“Ah! Gym Owner, you did not know your own nickname. People were calling you Barbarian?”

“It seems they called you that because the sight of you fighting monsters barehanded in a D-rank gate made you look like a barbarian warrior.”

Since both of them possessed at least a minimum amount of tact, they deliberately did not mention the other nickname, Flasher.

After hearing the explanation, Choi Kanghyuk crossed his arms and wore a thoughtful expression.

“Calling me barbaric is somewhat strange.”

“What is?”

“I acted as efficiently as possible. Rather than barbaric, it was closer to smart.”

When Choi Kanghyuk mentioned being smart, an awkward silence arrived.

Fortunately, that silence did not last long.

“That is the person, right? The one who appeared on the news last time?”

“That is right! He looked a little different then because he was only wearing underwear.”

A gate had opened in the middle of Namyangju. Naturally, there were citizens passing through the area.

The citizens recognized Choi Kanghyuk and began whispering among themselves.

Kim Jicheol quickly regained his composure and spoke.

“Before people gather around us for no reason, let us enter the gate first.”

“Yes. It would be troublesome if ordinary citizens were caught up in this as well.”

At that moment. One hunter realized something and asked a question.

“Huh? But Barbarian, you did not come wearing a leather suit today either?”

“That is true. Are you not forbidden from entering a gate without a leather suit now?”

At that, Choi Kanghyuk grinned.

“Ah. You do not need to worry about that. I came wearing it underneath.”

The suddenly announced mandatory wearing of leather suits.

Fortunately, the Association President had not stabbed Choi Kanghyuk in the back.

The day after that announcement. The Association President’s secretary came to visit Choi Kanghyuk.

- The Association President instructed us to make a custom leather suit for Hunter Choi Kanghyuk.

Apparently, it was a reward for saving the D-rank hunters?

Choi Kanghyuk had gladly come out wearing that custom-made leather suit.

There was nothing on his upper body, and the leather pants were beyond hot pants, almost closer to triangular underwear.

“At first, they were about the length of shorts, but then I would not be able to train my thighs, would I? So I had them made even shorter. Hahahaha.”

His face seemed to be asking, How is it? Is that not efficient?

“.......”

The other hunters. And all the citizens of Namyangju silently watched the sight.

A figure wearing nothing but leather underwear over a massive, bulging body of muscles that looked ready to burst.

No matter who looked at him, he was a barbarian warrior.