Chapter 21: Association Tour

“I’d like to tour the association’s facilities.”

I applied for a tour at the reception desk.

Being a major national facility, a reservation was required for a tour.

I handed my hunter license to the staff member, who wore a professional smile.

After examining my license, the staff member let out a faint smirk.

With the word “E-rank” written in bold, it was no surprise the association staff would look down on me.

Still, being openly disrespected didn’t feel great.

“Are those kids students?”

“Yes, they are.”

The staff, noting the unmistakable appearance of rural kids, handed back my license.

“I’m sorry, but a tour won’t be possible.”

“…Why not?”

I already knew the reason without needing to ask.

Clenching my fists, I suppressed my anger as much as I could.

“The tour slots are filled for today, so please leave.”

“I was under the impression tours were available until the afternoon.”

“It’s just not possible.”

The staff offered no proper reason, just repeated that it wasn’t allowed.

Grit—

I could feel my teeth grinding.

It was nothing short of blatant discrimination.

So, it’s fine to dismiss us because I’m an E-rank hunter and these are rural kids?

If there’s a place rife with discrimination, it’s among hunters.

Low ranks and outsiders were unwelcome, and that place was the association.

“Teacher, can’t we go somewhere else?”

Shin Ahyeon, sensing the mood, spoke cautiously.

As an adult, I could brush off this kind of discrimination or disdain.

But kids are different.

They’re fragile beings who can be hurt by even the smallest words.

“Kids, let’s go somewhere else. I don’t even want to stay in a place like this.”

Getting angry at someone like this would only be my loss.

“Wait! What did you just say!?”

The staff, thinking I’d insulted the association despite being an E-rank, flared up.

The commotion drew the attention of those around us.

“Huh!? Kim Onyu?! That’s Kim Onyu, right!?”

A woman burst out from the crowd and hurriedly approached.

She had white hair tied back, wore sunglasses, and was dressed in a free-spirited outfit.

“Min Kyung-hwa?”

Min Kyung-hwa grabbed my hand, shaking it enthusiastically up and down.

Min Kyung-hwa was the mother of Seol Ah-hyun, the vice-guildmaster of the Hongyeom Guild.

She was also someone I’d been close with, like a friend, while raising Seol Ah-hyun.

Despite being older than me, her middle-aged face was remarkably youthful, without a single wrinkle.

“Wow, I was wondering where you went, and here you are!”

Min Kyung-hwa’s appearance caused a stir among the onlookers.

The staff who had been openly discriminatory stood frozen, sweating profusely.

Min Kyung-hwa was an A-rank hunter with significant influence within the association.

She had built that influence by collaborating with the association and being a mentor to novice hunters.

As Min Kyung-hwa casually put an arm around my shoulder, gasps of surprise erupted from the crowd.

“Who’s that guy? If he knows Min Kyung-hwa, is he a high-rank hunter?”

“Maybe he’s from a chaebol family?”

Not a chaebol heir, just a frail E-rank hunter.

“So, what were you doing here?”

“I was trying to give the kids I’m teaching a tour of the association, but we got turned away.”

“Turned away?”

Min Kyung-hwa’s bright smile twisted into displeasure.

Her anger was directed squarely at the staff.

“Since when did the association have a rule about turning away guests?”

“Well… I-I’m sorry! I didn’t know they were your acquaintances!”

Sigh… “Come to my office later.”

At Min Kyung-hwa’s words, the staff’s face fell.

Being called to her office was as good as a termination notice.

The staff looked at me pleadingly, but I ignored them.

Begging for leniency without reflecting on their actions?

Someone like that doesn’t belong in the association, which should value fairness above all.

“It’s a good thing I got here in time. Otherwise, you’d have torn the association apart, wouldn’t you, our S-rank hunters’ mentor?”

“Oh, come on with the jokes…”

“Haha, so humble, when you’ve even slain a dragon.”

Is that really a joke?

Seol Ah-hyun had bragged to Min Kyung-hwa about me “slaying a dragon.”

Back then, my nickname among the parents became “Dragon Slayer.”

‘Digging up my embarrassing past…’

I wanted to crawl into a hole from the embarrassment.

Why bring up such an old story!?

“But you becoming a teacher means you left the Hongyeom Guild, right?”

Still sharp as ever.

“Please don’t tell anyone else.”

“You know my lips are sealed! Don’t worry!”

Sealed lips, yet you spread the “Dragon Slayer” story around?

I had a mouthful of retorts I wanted to fire back.

Judging by her casual demeanor, she hadn’t heard that I was terminally ill.

Min Kyung-hwa patted my shoulder and grinned.

“If you left Hongyeom Guild, why not join the association? I’ll make it worth your while.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Can’t you at least think about it?”

If I don’t shut it down immediately, she’ll keep pestering me.

Min Kyung-hwa was the type whose eyes lit up at the sight of talent.

And apparently, I was included in that category.

Her recruitment attempts had been relentless for a while.

“Then do me one favor instead.”

“…What is it?”

“I’ve got some kids I’m training. Show them a bit of your skills.”

The kids Min Kyung-hwa is training are obviously high-rank hunters.

I had to refuse.

‘I don’t want to get caught up in trouble, and how’s an E-rank hunter supposed to hold up among high-rank hunters?’

Just as I was about to decline, someone tugged at my pant leg.

Han Yuseong, usually so unmotivated, stood boldly in front of Min Kyung-hwa.

What’s he up to?

Min Kyung-hwa looked at him like he was adorable, but I wasn’t so sure.

These kids’ every move was starting to make me nervous.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

Who are you?

His usual stiff tone softened.

Oh, right, he was close with Seol Ah-hyun before his regression.

He’s casual with me but now discriminates with adults…

And calling her “ma’am” out of nowhere!?

Han Yuseong… you crazy kid…

“Ma’am? You’re adorable, calling me ma’am.”

Min Kyung-hwa just laughed it off as cute.

“These kids are cute.”

“Haha…”

I couldn’t just laugh it off.

As the only one who knew these kids’ true nature, I was the one suffering.

If she knew what they were really like, she wouldn’t be laughing.

Thanks to Min Kyung-hwa staying with the kids, no one else approached us.

They just watched from a distance, and no one bothered us.

Well, with Min Kyung-hwa, nicknamed the “Hellhound” among instructors, by our side, it’s no surprise.

I’d seen her training once before.

She’s all smiles now, but during training, her expression changes.

Hiding her emotions and making cold, calculated decisions, she was the epitome of a hunter.

“What are those people doing?”

“They’re preparing to enter a dungeon for practical training.”

Min Kyung-hwa answered the kids’ questions gently.

People equipped with hunter gear were gathered in the room.

They were probably about to head into a dungeon, looking visibly nervous for their first time.

‘Brings back memories.’

I was just like that when I first entered a dungeon back then.

Brings back memories.

Under the supervisor’s instructions, I entered an E-rank dungeon, scared stiff.

In a dungeon, it’s no surprise if a hunter dies at any moment.

It’s such a dangerous, life-or-death job that I was too tense to move when facing just one goblin.

Thanks to the supervisor, no one died, though.

Wait… now that I think about it, wouldn’t my rank go up if I got retested?

With my current stats, I’d probably get at least D-rank.

If I’m lucky, maybe even higher.

‘No, that’d just draw unnecessary attention and cause trouble.’

If it got out that I’m a hunter who can help others grow, I’d attract the world’s attention.

I need to properly raise these kids to prevent the world’s destruction, and I hate complicated messes.

That’s probably why Yoon Kang-hyun kept my skills a secret.

“I didn’t know you liked kids.”

“Really?”

Min Kyung-hwa smiled awkwardly, as if it was obvious.

I always thought she didn’t like kids because she greeted her daughter with such a stern face.

“It’s just that I get nervous and my face stiffens whenever I’m in front of my daughter.”

Min Kyung-hwa scratched her cheek, venting her frustration.

It’s true that her face would freeze whenever Seol Ah-hyun was around.

“Ah-hyun’s so reserved and blunt that even though I want to get close, she pushes me away…”

Are we talking about the same person?

In my memory, Seol Ah-hyun was an exceptionally affectionate disciple.

She’d cling to me at every chance or give me those hellish massages.

“…You’re getting along well with Ah-hyun now, right?”

“Good timing! Say something to Ah-hyun for me!”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Don’t tell me Seol Ah-hyun’s been up to something weird?

Given Yoon Kang-hyun’s haggard appearance, it’s possible.

“I saw her acting cold lately, even yelling at the Hongyeom Guildmaster over the phone!”

“Since when?”

The moment Min Kyung-hwa mentioned the date, my head spun.

‘This is because of me.’

The day Seol Ah-hyun started acting strange was the same day I disappeared.

I didn’t think it was possible…

My head felt like it was freezing over.

This happened because my phone broke, and I couldn’t contact my disciples.

Now I understand why Yoon Kang-hyun asked me to reach out to them.

“I’ll take care of it later.”

“Really? You’re the only one I can trust!”

I forced a weak smile, avoiding Min Kyung-hwa’s gaze.

I hope the other disciples aren’t acting like this too.

I planned to drop the kids off at the lodging and get my phone fixed.

The thought of calling my disciples is such a hassle…

But since I sowed the seeds, I have to reap them myself.

“Or… how about becoming my son-in-law instead?”

“What!? What’s that supposed to mean!?”

“Why not? It looks like my daughter’s interested in you, and I’d approve. You’re only, what, ten years apart?”

Sigh… “Why’s the conversation going there?”

No matter how grown my disciples are, they’re still kids in my eyes.

I’ve never even imagined being linked to them in that way.

I feel like Han Yuseong’s glaring at us too.

“There’s no way Ah-hyun and I would ever be like that.”

“What a shame.”

Min Kyung-hwa just smacked her lips in disappointment.

“Looks like the association tour is about done.”

Before I knew it, we’d made a full loop around the association, and the tour was over.

Talking while walking made the time fly by.

“So, what’s next? It’s been a while since we met, and I’d love to hang out more. If it’s okay, let’s go to a dungeon together.”

“I’m going to take the kids back to the lodging.”

I refused firmly.

The kids booed, saying it was boring.

Well, if I take my eyes off you, you’ll run off wherever you want.

“Teacher! Since we’re in Seoul, let’s have some fun!”

“Master, I want to see more too.”

The kids’ eyes sparkled as they looked up at me.

…I’m weak to those pleading eyes.

My resolve started to waver.

I looked to Han Yuseong for help.

He’d surely say it’s a hassle and suggest we head back to the lodging.

“Let’s do some more sightseeing, like they said.”

Oh, right, Min Kyung-hwa’s here.

He’s probably reluctant to leave since he wants to spend more time with Shin Ahyeon’s mother, Min Kyung-hwa.

Guess I don’t have any allies here…

“You and I will be there, and it’s just an E-rank dungeon, so it’s not dangerous. It’s just sightseeing.”

“Right! We’ll behave!”

“Please…”

I turned my head, but I could feel countless gazes boring into the back of my head.

Sigh… “Fine, let’s go.”

“Awesome!”

Why can’t I say no to the kids’ requests…

Still, with the association’s skilled hunters and A-rank Min Kyung-hwa there, it should be fine, even if it’s not E-rank.

“Good call. It’s a great chance to broaden the kids’ horizons.”

“Haha…”

Broadening their horizons is great, but I’m nervous!

Who knows what kind of trick the system might pull.

★★★

The E-rank dungeon for hunter training at the association was much smaller than I expected.

Like, really small.

It’s even smaller than the back-alley dungeon Han Yuseong went to.

The entrance was barely the size of two doors put together.

Then again, this dungeon is only E-rank.

If we ranked the back-mountain dungeon, it’d be at least C-rank.

Hunters decked out in expensive-looking gear were gathered around.

Among them was one who seemed close to A-rank.

‘There are more talented hunters here than I thought.’

The one who looked A-rank was even wearing an artifact.

High-rank hunters are usually already contracted with major guilds.

That gear’s probably provided by a guild.

On the other hand, in one corner, there were people with noticeably shabbier equipment.

Those were low-rank awakened hunters.

‘Lots of E-rank hunters too.’

All they had were the basic leather armor provided by the association and a rusty sword.

They’d have to make a choice in this dungeon.

Risk their lives soloing dungeons or return to being ordinary civilians.