Iblis, standing in the filthy, musty-smelling sewer, slammed his fist against the wall.
“Damn it! How did I end up like this!”
He was supposed to kidnap the child, return to his base, and live in luxury.
His angry roar filled the sewer.
His eyes were sunken, having not seen sunlight for a long time.
To escape from this small country, he had to go to the airport.
Or he could cross over to China through the port.
But Iblis had no escape routes left.
The Hongyeom Guild had officially put a bounty on Iblis and was searching for him.
If he went out and got caught, it was over.
“It’s all because of that damn teacher!”
If it weren’t for that teacher, he wouldn’t have failed to kidnap the child.
Blunt wouldn’t have died.
‘Damn it! Why is he a mere country teacher when he has power that surpasses even high-ranking Hunters!’
The Hongyeom Guild must have been mobilized by that teacher bastard.
“I can’t go back like this, I’ll be killed if I go back!”
Iblis was involved in a dark underworld guild.
It was a dangerous guild with a principle that failure meant death.
He was confident in his skills, and until now, the word “failure” didn’t exist in the missions he’d taken on.
Just because he slipped up once, did they think he’d be killed?
Fine, he’d tear that teacher bastard to shreds and kidnap the child, even if he had to do it alone.
The guild would surely be satisfied with that.
Iblis’s crimson eyes flashed.
He licked his lower lip with his tongue and fiddled with his dagger.
“I’ll slowly kill the remaining children in front of that teacher bastard!”
“As expected, you never disappoint.”
An unfamiliar voice echoed.
Before he could turn his head to see the face, a black rope tightened around his neck.
“Guh-huck!”
The rope blocked his windpipe, and only a painful sound escaped his mouth.
He pulled at the rope with both hands, but it wouldn’t break.
With an S-class’s strength, the rope should have snapped like thread.
The rope, coated with magic, was damnably tough.
Even if it was coated with the magic of low-level Hunters, the rope would break easily.
That meant the opponent was an S-class.
“Who… are you…!”
Iblis was a pathetic sight.
Dangling in the air, he glared at his opponent with bloodshot eyes.
“I was your collaborator.”
“Collaborator…? Ah, so you’re the bastard who betrayed his country!”
Even though pain spread throughout his body, Iblis let out a maniacal laugh.
He was the one who brought our dark guild into Korea.
He brought dangerous people into his own home, so the word “traitor” was a perfect fit.
Swish-!
The rope flashed past his vision.
Crimson droplets scattered around like raindrops.
The sensation disappeared, and his ear, reduced to a simple lump of flesh, fell to the floor.
Pain, as if burned by fire, flowed down his face.
For the first time in his life, he let out a scream of agony.
“My ear! You goddamn bastard!”
“Be quiet. Next time, I’ll cut off your neck instead of your ear.”
He glared at his opponent with bloodshot eyes.
Even Blunt and Iblis, who had secured a position in the dark guild, were kept in the dark about this person.
He couldn’t even guess who it was.
“The guild has issued an order. My mission is to kill you, who failed the mission, and erase the evidence.”
“You… are you an executioner?”
He had once heard a rumor.
Executioners existed in every country.
They were the ones who cleanly disposed of guild members who failed their missions.
And even if the target was an S-class, the executioner always succeeded in the mission.
The silence suggested a positive affirmation.
“Why did the great executioner not take on the mission directly, and instead made us do it?!”
“…Think what you want.”
That meant he wouldn’t tell him to the end.
Iblis spat the blood that had pooled in his mouth at the executioner.
“If you’re going to kill me, hurry up and do it.”
“…No, you won’t die today. I can’t kill a chess piece that still has value.”
The executioner snapped his fingers, and the rope that had been tightening around his neck was released.
He fell to the floor with a thud.
Iblis’s hand slowly reached for his waist.
There was the option of fighting as he was.
But she lowered her hand that was reaching for the dagger and chose to give up the fight.
Fighting the executioner in his current state was no different from suicide.
He wanted to kill him right away, but now he had to bide his time.
“So, what do you want from me?”
“The kidnapping of Shin Ahyeon and the teacher, Kim Onyu.”
“The teacher bastard too?”
“Yes, he’s a necessary person for me.”
He was going to tear that teacher bastard to shreds even if the guy hadn’t said anything.
He licked the sticky blood that flowed down from his ear with his tongue.
“Fine, I’ll kidnap those two. But what are you going to do with the rest of the children?”
“…They’re not necessary. Kill them or leave them, do whatever you want.”
His plan had changed.
Killing them like this would be letting them off too easily.
It would be better to make them carry the pain of not being able to protect their students for the rest of their lives.
“A good opportunity to kidnap the two will come soon. I’ll contact you when that time comes.”
Iblis gave a bitter smile.
‘This time, I’ll make you feel terrible pain!’
★★★
A vehicle rattled down an unpaved road.
I was crammed in the narrow back seat with the children.
“Hey, move over a bit! It’s cramped!”
“There’s no space here either! If it’s too cramped, get out here and walk!”
I was on my way to Seoul to see Kangsan Group Chairman, Kim Seo-gun’s father.
…With the children.
Originally, I was planning to go with Han Yu-sung and Kim Seo-gun, just the three of us.
The incident started with Yoon Cheon-woo.
It was a problem that he happened to overhear the conversation with the nanny.
Why is that former Heavenly Demon so talkative!
In the end, we ended up going with the children, like a school trip.
I should have sat in the passenger seat…
Kim Seo-gun, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was enjoying the comfortable drive.
‘Should I buy a car too?’
I didn’t buy one because I thought it would only increase the maintenance fees and there would be no use for it.
Shin Ahyeon, who was visiting Seoul for the first time, was excited and tapping her feet.
Well, it’s enough if you guys are happy.
I was also planning to see my students and fix my phone on this trip.
And also, to scout those talents that Han Yu-sung mentioned.
The sun was shining brightly, and the birds were singing sweetly.
It was no different from an ordinary trip.
But I knew that this couldn’t be an ordinary trip.
Kim Seo-gun, who had read the book, also couldn’t just enjoy the trip.
This trip, if we didn’t handle it properly, Kim Seo-gun would die.
★★★
A lush forest turned into buildings.
The people who were sparsely seen on the streets had formed a crowd.
Shin Ahyeon, who was a country bumpkin, seemed amazed by the sight.
“Is Seoul this big?”
She kept exclaiming and looking around.
Her eyes were sparkling, she was so cute.
She had lived in Seoul when she was born, but it was such a short time that she couldn’t remember it.
“Are they on a school trip from the countryside?”
“How cute.”
The reactions of the people passing by were all the same.
Ahyeon is cute, isn’t she?
Realizing that she was too excited, Shin Ahyeon quickly hid behind me.
The attention of the people gathering seemed heavy.
Seong Tae-yoon, who was also a country bumpkin, was relatively quiet.
He was quiet, but he seemed excited.
“Country bumpkin, country bumpkin. You can’t live in Seoul.”
“What are you talking about, Slicker.”
Shin Ahyeon, frowning, strongly retorted Kim Seo-gun’s teasing.
Kim Seo-gun looked slightly hurt by the word “Slicker.”
‘That’s why you shouldn’t provoke her.’
Everyone except Kim Seo-gun and Han Yu-sung was visiting Seoul for the first time.
It was a common reaction to be excited or run off somewhere else.
But Yoon Cheon-woo seemed wary and nervous, guarding his surroundings.
“What are you doing?”
“I heard that there are monsters in Seoul that eat young children.”
What is he talking about again?
While I was speechless, Yoon Cheon-woo flinched every time someone passed by.
Oh my… I have a headache…
Where did he pick up such strange rumors?
Kim Seo-gun, who was giggling while looking at Yoon Cheon-woo, seemed to be the culprit.
Was he getting revenge for being teased with bugs?
“There are no such monsters in Seoul, so relax. If anything happens, the teacher will protect you.”
Yoon Cheon-woo’s expression relaxed a bit at my words.
‘Originally, I was going to quickly finish my business and return to the countryside…’
My plan was completely messed up.
It turned out that an important schedule had come up, and it would take a few days to meet the chairman.
We had already come to Seoul, so there was no way we could go back.
I had no choice but to decide to play in Seoul as an extension of learning.
There’s a saying that if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.
“What’s that!?”
However, they seem to be enjoying it too much.
It was hard to catch the children who quickly ran off one by one.
How nice would it be if there was someone to help me at times like this.
“You guys stay still.”
Yoon Cheon-woo and Shin Ahyeon, who had regained their energy, were the most reckless.
Thanks to that, I put my arms around both of them and made a ridiculous sight.
I was so embarrassed that I almost died every time people passing by laughed.
“Teacher, how can we stay still when we’ve come all the way to Seoul?”
Shin Ahyeon, pouting, grumbled.
My heart shrinks every time you guys disappear!
Still, I couldn’t say anything to the children who were running around because they were having fun.
‘… How am I going to get to the accommodation like this?’
I refused Kangsan Group’s offer to provide accommodation.
Originally, sleeping with the enemy is dangerous.
There’s also a description in the novel that incidents happen while everyone is asleep.
In the end, I used my own money to book a room in a decent hotel.
The children are so reckless that it will take forever to get there.
‘If only someone would lead us…’
That’s when Han Yu-sung caught my eye.
He, who was already familiar with Seoul, had an expression that he wasn’t interested in anything.
A good plan came to mind.
“Yu-seong, there’s something I want to ask you.”
“…I won’t listen. There’s no benefit for me, so there’s no value in listening to your request.”
I expected it, but he refused outright.
I clicked my tongue lightly at his sharp tone.
But I wasn’t going to back down like this.
“So, if there’s a benefit, you’ll listen?”
“What…? Why are you approaching me with such an unpleasant smile?”
“Stay still. Let’s do something very fun with the teacher.”
★★★
There are many things in Seoul that naturally attract attention.
Among them, there was something that particularly gathered the attention of people with happy smiles.
“Look at how well the children get along. How cute.”
“It’s kind of healing.”
Five country children were holding each other’s hands.
The expressions of the people relaxed at the scene, which was like a procession of baby ducks.
“Why am I doing this…”
Han Yu-sung was silently taking care of the children from the back.
He frowned and exuded the feeling that he didn’t want to do it.
I was holding Shin Ahyeon’s hand at the front.
‘It’s so much better because the moving speed is faster when we go like this.’
Most of the children looked uncomfortable, but thanks to that, we arrived quickly.
People were gathered at the entrance of the Hunter Association building.
‘I wasn’t originally planning to come here.’
It would be a lie to say that I don’t have bad feelings towards the Hunter Association.
Considering what the Hunter Association has done so far, I didn’t even want to look at this place.
Moreover, the person who tried to kidnap Shin Ahyeon might be here.
‘Hunters wouldn’t try to kidnap her inside the association where there are so many hunters, but…’
A few days ago, the principal asked me to visit the association building for a tour, so I came here reluctantly.
The children will be awakening soon, so it might be a good experience.
Maybe I’ll find some good talents.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Hunter Association.’
I had visited the association ten years ago for awakening measurement.
Of course, I didn’t have good memories because I received the lowest E-grade.
At that time, I was living in poverty and still had student loans, so a high grade was desperately needed.
The result was a nice bust.
The faces of the people waiting for the grade evaluation were full of anxiety.
It’s natural because if they receive C-grade or higher, they can live in luxury and it will be a turning point in their lives.
The grades below that weren’t even accepted by small and medium-sized guilds.
Hunters who can’t enter a guild either play solo or return to being ordinary citizens.
‘I was thinking of playing solo too.’
Solo play was risky.
Hunting monsters alone, without a party, drastically increased the danger.
On top of that, the Association took a whopping 30 percent of the dungeon loot as taxes, making it impossible to make a living. Joining a large guild almost completely exempted you from taxes.
The Hunter Association was just a flashy bunch of crooks.