Chapter 3 : Quest (1)

“You said you’d accept my resignation, but now you’re giving me another job?

I told you I’m terminally ill….”

“Of course, it won’t be difficult. Given your outstanding skills and love for caring for children, I’m sure you’ll be satisfied with the task.”

That’s when I realized something had gone terribly wrong.

“There’s a small rural school with about five children. They’re all promising candidates for awakening as Hunters, but without you, we wouldn’t be able to handle them.”

“Are you saying… no way…?”

“Yes, we need someone experienced like you. If raised properly, they might even become S-rank.

Just take care of them for a year. After that, we’ll assign other personnel. For someone like you, who has trained high-level Hunters before, it’ll be no different from taking a break.”

A year? When I only have three years left to live?!

“I’m sorry… but my health is failing, so I won’t be able to continue working—”

“The SS-rank dungeon incident in Guam, USA. Rumor has it the reward is an Elixir.”

Elixir.

The legendary potion that had only appeared once before.

“The Elixir, which is said to cure all diseases—we will do whatever it takes to obtain it and provide it to you.”

“Why would you go to such lengths for me…?”

“Because you are an invaluable asset to our guild, Kim On-yu.”

Cold sweat trickled down between my clenched fists.

The Elixir had value beyond measure, and they were willing to obtain it just for me?

Even for the powerful Hongyeom Guild, was that really possible?

And they were offering it to me, an E-rank Hunter?

“If it’s the Elixir, it should be able to cure your mana depletion. All you have to do is look after the children for a while. I don’t think it’s an unfair deal, do you?”

If I refuse now, Yoon Kang-hyun will definitely start suspecting me.

If he catches onto the truth, I’ll be exploited forever.

“…Alright.”

I accept the conditions for now.

I need to physically distance myself from Yoon Kang-hyun.

And after that…

I already have a plan.

★★★

For years, a rumor had circulated within the Hongyeom Guild, one of South Korea’s top five Hunter guilds.

That an E-rank Hunter had brainwashed the Guild Master.

So Han Su-bin couldn’t help but be curious.

“I still don’t understand, Guild Master. Why are you protecting an E-rank Hunter?”

She couldn’t comprehend Yoon Kang-hyun’s actions.

The Hongyeom Guild had such high standing that even she, an A-rank Hunter, had barely managed to join.

Why was their Guild Master so fixated on a mere E-rank Hunter?

“Han Su-bin, do you truly believe he is just an E-rank?”

Yoon Kang-hyun, who had been listening quietly, smiled gently.

“What…?”

“He is much stronger than he appears. Perhaps he even rivals high-ranking Hunters.”

“Aren’t you overestimating an E-rank Hunter?”

Han Su-bin raised an eyebrow skeptically.

There was no way an E-rank could compare to high-ranking Hunters.

“If he were truly just an E-rank, how do you think he managed to train high-ranking Hunters? One of the S-rank Hunters he raised even single-handedly took down a dragon.”

“A… A dragon?!”

Han Su-bin couldn’t hide her shock.

Defeating a dragon typically required at least one S-rank Hunter and multiple A-ranks.

“That’s absurd….”

The Guild Master had no reason to joke.

Which meant the E-rank classification was nothing but a ruse.

“Oh, and don’t tell Seol Ah-hyeon that Kim On-yu resigned. If she finds out he only has three years left to live, she’ll definitely leave the guild.”

“Understood.”

Yoon Kang-hyun tapped his fingers against his chin.

If other guilds found out that Kim On-yu had left, it would cause an uproar.

It might even bring about a major shift in the Hunter world.

“Oh, and it seems an important guest has arrived. Please step out for a moment.”

★★★

The bus rattled as it moved along the uneven road.

Aside from the elderly bus driver, I was the only passenger.

Right now, I was on my way to the rural house the guild had arranged for me.

It felt like they weren’t even giving me a chance to escape.

A temporary contract and an appointment at a rural elementary school—everything had happened so quickly.

If I hadn’t been preparing for retirement, I probably would have sat in this bus thinking:

‘Why am I even here…?’

But my life motto is to survive as safely and as long as possible.

Did they really think I wouldn’t anticipate this much?

I didn’t want to work in a dangerous environment anymore.

The kids I’d be taking care of this time were probably not ordinary either.

The guild had always assigned me special cases like this.

As long as I followed my plan…

[Special Quest just for you!]
[Quest: Even You, Who Dreams of an Ordinary Life, Can Do This!]

“What kind of suspicious quest is this now?”

No matter how much I rubbed my eyes or waved my hands, the system window didn’t disappear.

A quest.

A phenomenon so rare that only a handful of people worldwide had ever experienced it.

Nobody rejected quests because they rewarded skills.

But—

“Not me.”

I was already planning to retire—why would I bother with a quest?

Just as I was about to decline, another message appeared.

[We are not responsible for any penalties resulting from rejection.]

“Penalties?”

[This quest is related to the survival of the world.]

In other words, if I wanted a peaceful retirement, I had no choice but to complete it.

Instead of a reward, I just wanted to be left alone!

But then I read the quest details… and they were absolutely ridiculous.

[Quest: Even You, Who Dreams of an Ordinary Life, Can Do This!]
[Reward: One wish granted—anything you desire!]
[Failure: The world will be destroyed.]

“What kind of insane quest is this?!”

Failure meant world destruction? Who came up with this nonsense?

[Details: At Yongam Elementary School, there are children who will one day save the world. Gain their trust and help them grow properly. If even one of them dies, the quest fails.]

What kind of BS was this?!

At this point, it felt like the entire world was conspiring to stop me from retiring.

The bus driver glanced at me like I had lost my mind, but I ignored him.

‘This feels rigged.’

A quest appearing on the very day I was heading to the countryside?

And apparently, the children at Yongam Elementary were the key to saving the world?

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

[Would you like to cancel?]

“Wait… Can I cancel this?”

‘Then of course, cancel it!’

I had absolutely no intention of doing this quest.

[If you cancel the quest, it will be transferred to someone else.]

I was about to press the cancel button but hesitated.

If the quest gets transferred, that means someone else still has to clear it.

“What happens if the other person cancels?”

[Upon cancellation, your cherished individuals will be erased.]

It felt like my head turned ice-cold.

I had no family, so my cherished individuals were my disciples.

I had left to live a peaceful life, but my disciples were no different from my children.

“They’re using my disciples as collateral?”

That was crossing the line.

And not just by a little.

[Would you like to cancel?]

I didn’t press the cancel button.

The system had determined that I was the most suitable person for the quest.

It must have decided that my success rate was the highest among the candidates.

“It’s better if I handle this myself.”

I had an S-rank skill, after all.

I needed to adjust my plans a bit.

I would train the children and complete the quest.

Then, I could retire to the countryside with my head held high.

By that time, I could finally say goodbye to this damned system for good.

With those thoughts in mind, I stepped into a small local ‘Suuper Market’ to buy a bottle of water.

It was the kind of store you’d only see in rural areas.

“I’ve never seen you before, young man. Where are you from?”

An elderly woman, who had been watching the news on an old-fashioned TV, peeked her head out.

“I’m Kim Onyu. I just moved here.”

I put on the polite smile I had learned from society.

But the elderly woman’s response was colder than cold.

“Another one moving in to try this whole farming thing? They never last long before they leave.”

“I came down here to teach at Yongam Elementary School, so I’ll be here for at least a year.”

The moment she heard that, her cold attitude flipped like a switch.

She grabbed my hands tightly as if she were welcoming back a long-lost hero.

“I almost didn’t recognize a noble guest! If you ever need anything, just say the word. I’ll give it to you for free!”

Something felt off.

Why was being a schoolteacher such a big deal here?

As I was thinking that, the news anchor’s voice caught my attention.

“The Master Guild has just emerged from an A-rank dungeon. This raid was led by S-rank hunter Lee Chan-ho…”

The anchor’s excited voice filled the screen.

Cheers erupted as Lee Chan-ho smiled and waved at the crowd.

‘Master Guild’ was a rising star among the new guilds.

They were famous for their perfect teamwork and their reputation of never failing a dungeon raid.

“Wasn’t this dungeon considered one of the toughest A-rank ones?”

Seeing the party members emerge without a single scratch proved how skilled Lee Chan-ho was.

‘Whose son is he? He looks impressive.’

I unscrewed the cap on my water bottle and watched with pride.

Lee Chan-ho was one of the hunters I had trained.

Though that was in the past.

★★★

“Alright, time to head to Yongam Elementary School.”

Straightening my tie, I firmed my resolve.

“Good work on this raid!”

Park Mu-seong, an A-rank hunter who played the role of the tank, grinned as he spoke.

As he took off his armor, his sweat-soaked shirt clung to his body.

The other members looked just as exhausted.

“This was a successful first step for our Master Guild, right?”

They were too excited to feel tired.

This had been Master Guild’s first A-rank dungeon raid since its founding.

With no injuries and a flawless victory, things couldn’t have gone better.

“How about we celebrate with a team dinner? I’ll treat you all to beef.”

“Guild leader, you’re the best!”

The members cheered at Lee Chan-ho’s offer.

Though still a new guild, the reason A-rank hunters had joined Master Guild was simple.

They were drawn to Lee Chan-ho’s exceptional character.

“At this rate, Master Guild will become one of the top five guilds in no time!”

Overcome with excitement, Park Mu-seong blurted out his thoughts.

“Hey, Park Mu-seong, are you kidding?”

“Huh?”

“Of course, we’re going to be in the top five!”

The guild members burst into laughter.

Lee Chan-ho watched them with a quiet smile.

Ding—!

“A message from the Association?”

But when he opened his inbox, he realized it wasn’t from the Association.

As he read through the message, his face turned pale.

The cheerful expression he had just moments ago vanished.

The guild members, who had been laughing and chatting, fell silent.

The atmosphere cooled instantly.

“Guild leader, is something wrong?”

Lee Chan-ho was the kind of hunter who never faltered, no matter what kind of monster appeared in a dungeon.

Yet, seeing him shaken like this was a first.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to skip the dinner. Here’s my card—enjoy yourselves.”

Before anyone could say another word, he got up and left.

Hastily, he dialed a number as he quickened his pace.