Chapter 16

The Hyena Guild had first become widely known about a year ago.

They were supposedly just back-alley punks operating around Gwacheon, but after awakening, they had gone around exaggerating their pasts, claiming they had once been big-time gangsters.

It was a transparently flimsy boast, but after becoming awakened people, they had actually started committing plenty of real gangster crimes.

They saddled low-ranking hunters with debt through loan-sharking, for instance. Then they threw them into dungeons to swing pickaxes without pay in exchange for waiving the interest.

They would never have gotten away with it now, but back then, even the Hunters Association had yet to be established. There were no hunter-related laws to stop their crimes.

While looking into them, however, Suho had discovered something strange.

All of them, formerly nothing more than neighborhood punks, had awakened at almost exactly the same time.

And it had happened right here on Gwanaksan.

'Does that even make sense?'

Suho found it puzzling.

One day a year ago, when a dungeon break had occurred on Gwanaksan, a group of errand boys had come to bury a body on the mountain for some gangsters, just as they always did. By "coincidence," every last one of them had awakened.

They had immediately formed an organization called the Hyena Guild, seized control of Gwanaksan Field, and begun making money mining mana stones.

They were still at it now, a year later.

'That's a little too convenient to be a coincidence.'

Opinions still varied widely on what triggered ordinary people to awaken their mana.

Some said it was talent or heredity. Others said it was pure luck, like winning the lottery or getting struck by lightning.

All those theories could be nonsense—or they could all be right. Heredity for one person, luck for another.

In the end, whatever form the trigger took, an awakening would grant someone supernatural powers.

'So it depends on the person.'

In that light, it seemed the Hyena Guild members had awakened because they had drunk the Fang Clan's blood.

That would explain why they had all awakened at the same time.

'Then the problem is that there's a member of the Fang Clan somewhere who gave them that blood...'

Whether that was good luck or bad, he would apparently find out who it was soon enough.

An overwhelmingly oppressive presence was walking out of the Gate under its own power.

[Grrrr...]

A shiver ran through him.

The beast's chilling breath carried a vicious bloodlust that shook the air over mist-shrouded Gwanaksan.

"...!"

Still fighting the werewolves, Suho turned his gaze toward the Gate at that blatant, unmistakable malice.

[Young Monarch, you are in danger.]

Beru climbed onto Suho's shoulder and whispered urgently. Until now, he had seemed to be out for a leisurely stroll, but all trace of ease had vanished from his face.

[You must flee immediately. An opponent of this caliber... is beyond your ability to handle as you are now!]

But that was easier said than done.

[Skill: Harsh Command increases the werewolves' stats by 50%.]

[As a side effect of Skill: Harsh Command, the werewolves are afflicted with the Curse of Madness.]

"Raaaaar!"

The werewolves fighting Suho suddenly grew larger, their movements becoming incredibly fast and powerful.

Their madness began putting him under even greater pressure.

"Grrr! You think we'll let you escape?"

"Die, die, die, die, die, die!"

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

"Raaagh! Kill that bastard—!"

SWISH! BOOM!

[Young Monarch!]

"Ghk!"

Caught by the sudden turn of events, Suho rapidly accumulated wounds.

[Skill: Toughness has leveled up!]

[Physical Defense +20% → +40%]

The skill leveling up was welcome, but it didn't make the battle any easier.

-Tsk. I warned you from the beginning precisely because of this. The closer you get to the sanctuary, the more dangerous it becomes.

Rakan’s Fang sounded vaguely displeased.

-This aura... It seems there wasn't just a relic here. A filthy mongrel was living here too.

"A mongrel?"

Suho barely managed to cut down a werewolf as he repeated the word.

-Yes. Many tribes followed the great Fang Clan. And among them was one creature that gave off this filthy aura.

It happened just then.

THUD.

[Raaaaaaar!]

A savage beast's roar shook Gwanaksan.

-... Yes. That's the one. Broki, chief of the Hyena Clan.

At that very moment, an enormous magic beast emerged from the Gate.

"...!"

A filthy mane. A spotted coat. Sharp teeth jutting out every which way.

A hyena the size of a house had appeared.

[Broki the Harsh Commander]

A red name tag appeared above its head.

That color meant only one thing: the hyena was a monster with power far beyond anything Suho could hope to handle.

'... The dungeon boss was still alive.'

Suho shuddered at the pressure radiating from it.

It seemed the Hyena Guild had deliberately concealed information about this place for an entire year.

A field dungeon with a boss monster was a disaster in itself. Had other hunters known, they would never have left it alone this long.

'So this is why they called themselves the Hyena Guild.'

It was utterly absurd.

Hunters, who were supposed to hunt magic beasts, had instead volunteered to serve one.

And they were even capturing fellow humans to offer up as food?

GRIND.

Realizing what was happening, Suho clenched his teeth.

The giant hyena stretched its jaws wide in a yawn at the sight. Then it recognized Rakan’s Fang in Suho's hand and snickered.

[Grr? What's this? I thought that aura felt familiar. So it was Rakan’s Fang?]

-... Broki.

[What a sorry sight. How did a relic of the great Monarch of Fangs end up in the hands of a mere human?]

Rakan’s Fang felt humiliated.

Even now, Suho was gripping it and swinging it frantically—and of all opponents, he was using it against minions commanded by the likes of Broki.

-You don't look much better yourself. Have you lost all your old power?

[Heeheehee. Isn't that what happens to defeated soldiers who've lost their Monarch? You and I are no different.]

'Those two don't seem very friendly.'

Even now, Suho was still locked in a desperate fight with the werewolves.

The problem was that even if he killed them all, the hyena would remain.

However much these defeated soldiers had weakened after losing their Monarch and their original strength, Suho was far weaker still.

'That doesn't mean I'm going to lie down and die.'

Even in this hopeless situation, Suho surveyed the battle with a cool gaze.

SLASH!

[You have defeated a werewolf.]

[Number of enemies to defeat: 10]

[Number of enemies defeated: 9]

Only one werewolf remained alive.

But Broki didn't so much as blink at the deaths of his minions.

[Tsk. Weaklings. You couldn't even handle a single human.]

Instead, he mocked their deaths and made an offer to Rakan’s Fang in Suho's hand.

[How convenient. Rakan’s Fang, come to me, and I'll kill that human for you. I happen to need a useful tool. I'll be your new master.]

-Cut the bullshit. A mongrel like you dares to call yourself my master? I have only one master: Lord Rakan.

[But Rakan's already kicked the bucket, hasn't he?]

-W-what? How dare you!

[Heheheh. Don't get angry. The weak die. Those who survive are strong. Just like me.]

Rakan’s Fang erupted in fury at Broki's vile laughter, then shouted at Suho.

-Human! Kill him at once! Drive my blade into the throat of that mongrel who insulted Lord Rakan!

[Hahaha! How amusing. Go ahead and try! With someone that weak—]

Before he could finish, Rakan’s Fang shot straight out of Suho's hand.

THUNK!

-...!

The cold blade buried itself in the laughing Broki's throat.

[Keh... hek?]

A wheezing sound escaped Broki's mouth.

His eyes widened as he caught sight of Suho, who stood tall, looking back at him with his arm still extended from launching the sword.

His other hand gripped the last werewolf by the neck.

"Happy now?"

Broki's eyes curved into crescents.

[... You're an amusing one.]

Despite having Rakan’s Fang embedded in his throat, he remained entirely at ease.

[But an attack like this can't kill—]

"I know. But I can still make it hurt."

Suho twitched his hand.

'Ruler's Authority.'

The sword shifted.

'Spin.'

At that moment, Rakan’s Fang began spinning in place like a drill inside Broki's throat.

Furiously.

BRRRRRRR!

[Wha—ghk?!]

Startled by the pain in his throat, Broki thrashed.

'Spin.'

More furiously still.

BRRRRRRRRR!

[Gah!]

'Spin!'

Deeper!

[Activating Skill: Storm Slash.]

ROOOOAR!

[Aaaaagh! You, you fucking—!]

Spinning with the fury of a storm, Rakan’s Fang bored into Broki's body.

The farther it went, the more he writhed in agony.

-... You bastard. I like you.

A chuckle from Rakan’s Fang reached Suho.

-But are you sure this is wise?

No matter what he did, killing Broki at Suho's current level was utterly impossible.

However much Broki had weakened from his former self, his regenerative power far exceeded Suho's offensive power.

But still.

Didn't it feel good?

["But Rakan's already kicked the bucket, hasn't he?"]

How dare he...!

A servant had dared to insult the death of the great Monarch who had been its master!

In its eyes, even beheading him on the spot wouldn't atone for that crime!

Yet in reality, it had to settle for inflicting this meager amount of pain.

And the price would ultimately be...

[Raaaaagh! You! I'll kill you—!]

Suho would bear the full brunt of Broki's rage.

BOOOOM!

Now a wounded beast, Broki stamped his foot, spewing vicious bloodlust.

His monstrous strength was enough to shake Gwanaksan itself!

[Raaaaaar!]

A crushing pressure, massive as a boulder, descended on Suho.

Then it happened.

-... I'm sorry. But thank you. You protected the last shred of a defeated soldier's pride.

Rakan’s Fang spoke with resolve.

CLUNK!

[Grrk?!]

Broki's body froze for a moment as he tried to trample Suho.

[Rakan’s Fang, you bastard—! Graaagh!]

Forcibly restraining Broki's movements from inside his body, Rakan’s Fang shouted urgently to Suho.

-Run! I'll buy you as much time as I can from inside him!

But Suho, the one who was supposed to flee, showed no intention of retreating.

THUD!

Just then, the last werewolf died in his grasp.

[Number of enemies defeated: 10]

More messages followed.

DING.

[You have completed Emergency Quest: Defeat the Enemies!]

DING.

[You have leveled up!]

DING.

[The following rewards are available.]

Reward 1. Stat Points +5

Reward 2. Title: Wolf Slayer

"Accept rewards."

DING.

[You have acquired Title: Wolf Slayer.]

Suho swiftly picked up the weapons the werewolves had used from the ground.

Holding a sword at the ready in each hand, his eyes flashed like a hunter's.

At that moment...

[Title: Wolf Slayer]

A title granted to a hunter skilled at killing wolves. Increases all stats by 40% when fighting beast-type monsters.

"Time to hunt."

An intense fighting spirit enveloped Suho's entire body.