December 23, 11:50 p.m.
As night fell and the temperature dropped even further, Hunters who had gathered at the strong request of the Hunters Association peeked into the dimly lit area.
"Isn't it fascinating?"
High in the air, Elentals were rrily shadowboxing each other.
"Jab, jab! One-two, one-two!"
"Hiyah! Hiyah!"
"Waaa!"
Other Elentals were instead vigorously swinging their magic mic-sticks. Kim Ki-Rok's Elental, Aeple, seed to have finished watching a movie as she wiped her nose with her thumb and shuffled back and forth on her toes.
"Do you know what's even more fascinating?" one of the onlooking Hunters asked.
"What is it?"
"Even the spirits that we normally consider monsters are our allies right now. And we can even communicate with them, just like the Elentals."
The attention of the people shifted again.
"It's been a while," one of the spirits said.
"It feels like it's been thirty years," another spirit replied.
"I died about seventy-three years before the spirits attacked. Ha ha ha," boasted a third.
"Neigh!"
Elderly spirits to young, no, elderly to horse spirits gathered around, waiting for battle.
"Excuse , Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok." A female Hunter wove her way through the onlookers, approaching Kim Ki-Rok. By her crest, she appeared to be affiliated with a different guild.
"Yes. Hunter Han Sae- of the Blue Bead Guild based in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province."
After briefly staring with wide eyes, she smiled. "Where is Ji-Hee?"
"It's a bit late right now. Our Ji-Hee is currently sound asleep."
"Ah... Then, I guess she won't be participating in the battle. That's a relief," Han Sae- said.
"No. She will be participating."
"Sorry?"
"I asked Ji-Hee to lend her power and use Spiritualism before she fell asleep."
"Oh... So, you an to say..."
Kim Ki-Rok nodded. "That's right. Ji-Hee went to bed after using her skill. Of course, two spirits are standing guard, prepared for the possibility of her skill being forcibly cancelled due to mana depletion. Those spirits are currently at her side, continuously tearing mana recovery scrolls made by DG Guild's very own representative high school student, Cha Min-Ji."
"Huh? Don't most summoning skills have a cooldown ti or ti limit?"
"The cooldown and ti limit on her skill disappeared after she rose to C-Class. Impressive, isn't it? As long as she has enough mana, she can continue to borrow the power of the spirits. As expected from our Ji-Hee."
After all, Kim Ji-Hee was a Spiritualist who participated in battles by borrowing the power of spirits rather than directly fighting.
"I-I see."
"You must have co here because you're worried about Ji-Hee."
"Haha, well..."
Han Sae- awkwardly avoided the question with a laugh, but Kim Ki-Rok found that rather endearing. "Thank you for worrying about our Ji-Hee. Would you like an autograph or sothing?"
"I'm good."
"How about Ji-Hee's autograph?"
Without the slightest hesitation, she declined, bowing to convey her gratitude. "It's okay, thank you."
"Ha. How about Miss Ji-Yeon?" Kim Ki-Rok asked instead.
"No, thank you very much!"
"What about the signatures of the Four Cardinal Guardians?" Kim Ki-Rok asked once more.
Just as Kim Ki-Rok asked, Nam Dong-Wook struck a pose at a frightening pace.
"Oh, uh... I'm good. Really."
"Hehehehe."
Han Sae- returned to her guild mbers after having been promised signatures from Lee Ji-Yeon and Kim Ji-Hee. It was enough to relieve tension before the battle.
Five minutes were left before the Break.
All DG Guild mbers had gathered to defend the Gate. Knight and mage spirits also joined in, thanks to Kim Ji-Hee's mana, and the Elentals stood prepared for battle as well.
Four minutes left.
—I'll repeat. We will put the Ice Troll to sleep using sleep potions and sound-blocking spells. When it falls asleep, stop attacking imdiately, and please subdue the other monsters. It's important...
Jang Bo-Hyun's voice ca through via connected earpieces that every Hunter wore. Kim Ki-Rok took a gaphone from his subspace pocket and turned his body. All his guild mbers seed ready to engage in battle at any mont.
"Hmm! It's no fun if we just do it, right?" he said.
The guild mbers looked puzzled.
"As you all know, I, Kim Ki-Rok, raided the goblin's treasure vault. And I'm using his items very well, wouldn't you say?"
The Guild mbers were well aware that he possessed dozens of high-class artifacts because of that successful raid.
"Furthermore, I've acquired additional high-class artifacts through my occasional Gate conquests."
The mbers were aware of this as well.
"Oh... I'm envious." Kang Seh-Hyuk, the second Mapogu sibling, said cautiously.
"Sorry?" Kim Ki-Rok said, confused.
"Oh, this wasn't it?"
"What do you an?"
"Weren't you asking for praise?"
"No, I wasn't."
"I see..."
"Then, let's get back on track. If we include the guild mbers recruited after December 10th, DG Guild has sixty-one mbers. However, excluding the technical staff, there are a total of fifty-one combat-ready mbers," Kim Ki-Rok continued.
They had deliberately minimized travel ti by focusing on Gates mostly around Gyeonggi Province, all the while recruiting new talent whenever possible.
"And since I'm hosting an event this ti, the actual participants will be an even fifty."
An event?
Not only were the DG Guild mbers curious, Hunters from nearby guilds perked up their ears at that.
Kim Ki-Rok elaborated, "You will be divided into five teams for the Gate defense. The team that subdues the most monsters will be awarded an accessory-type artifact as the first prize."
"Wooaah!"
Eyes lit up among the guild mbers.
"Second place will receive an artifact imbued with defensive magic, and third place will get a Kang Woo-Hyuk priority voucher."
Reserving Kang Woo-Hyuk for any special request was normally very difficult, but not outright impossible, which was why Kim Ki-Rok placed this prize at third.
"And the MVP chosen by the first-place team will receive an artifact that enhances either Magic or elental power."
"Woooooah!" The mbers of DG Guild erupted.
Both lee and ranged fighters were eager to win this artifact, as they could choose the one with the effect that suited them.
Kim Ki-Rok explained additional rules to calm the excitent. "The score will not vary depending on the type of monster. Whether it's an Ice Troll or Ice Goblin, they'll all be worth one point each."
In other words, don't be reckless.
Everyone nodded, understanding that Kim Ki-Rok was cautioning them not to charge blindly after the biggest targets. Just then, Kang Seh-Hyuk raised his hand. "What about the teams that co in fourth and fifth?"
"The reward for the fourth team is a Gate raid hosted by Kim Ki-Rok of the DG Guild."
The smiles slid off everyone's faces in an instant.
"And for the fifth team?" one of the Hunters asked.
"The reward is three Gate raids hosted by Kim Ki-Rok of the DG Guild."
"That's just a punishnt."
Participating in Gates chosen by Kim Ki-Rok greatly improved one's skills. The problem was that it was incredibly difficult, excruciatingly so.
The guild mbers quickly scanned their surroundings. Having good teammates would be crucial in this event. Three big hitters seed to stand out: Calorie Buff specialist, Jeong Man-Kook, Greater Elentalist, Lee Ji-Yeon, who was contracted with Greater Elentals, and a forr Awakened criminal, A-Class Lee Chil-Sung.
While the others were trying to recruit one of the three as quickly as possible, both Kang Seh-Hyuk and Nam Dong-Wook unexpectedly moved toward a specific individual.
"Oh? You too?" Kang Seh-Hyuk asked.
"Yeah, too." Nam Dong-Wook nodded in response.
Looking at each other, the two n raised their heads and called to the floating spirit.
"Sir Kan Cho-Woo."
"Oh? You're choosing ?"
"I believe it's the best choice," Nam Dong-Wook said confidently.
If points were scored based solely on the number of monsters hunted, soone like Lee Ji-Yeon, who could use wide-area skills and magic, would have been better than their friend, Jeong Man-Kook, for example.
"Hmm! But what benefit do I gain from helping you?"
"The MVP reward."
"Huh?"
"Who else would it fit more other than Ji-Hee?"
"Oh? Oh?" Intrigued, Kan Cho-Woo showed interest, prompting Kang Seh-Hyuk and Nam Dong-Wook to continue.
"Are you in?"
Kan Cho-Woo turned his head to look at the other spirits.
"We're in."
"Let's go!"
"Yes!"
Nam Dong-Wook and Kang Seh-Hyuk clenched their fists and shouted in celebration. Although Kim Ji-Hee's level was low she had focused on raising her skill's class and could now borrow the power of thirty spirits whom she had contracted via Spiritualism.
Watching the scene, the guild mbers turned their attention to the Elentals, who were just as strong as the spirits.
"Hmm. Hmm. I'm the representative of the Elentals!" Aeple said, spinning in place, her magic mic-stick high.
"I will give you the MVP reward, Aeple!" one of the Hunters said.
"Hmm? I don't need it."
"You could give it to the Guildmaster!"
"Huh?"
When Aeple frowned, clearly unsatisfied with the conditions, a Hunter intervened. "But the Elentals all have separate contractors, right?"
"Ah..."
Unlike the spirits that all followed Kim Ji-Hee, the Elentals each had their own contractor.
"Oh, right."
Aeple understood what they were saying but did not give up.
"But even if I'm a Lesser Elental, I'm still an Elental. If I help, your chances will increase slightly, won't they?"
That was true. An Elental was an Elental, lesser or not.
Yoo Seh-Eun raised her hand quickly. "Aeple. What are the conditions?"
Aeple understood the situation and presented a fair condition. "I want snacks. Just a snack. Sothing that I can take back to the Elental realm."
"Alright. About a half hour away from the DG Guild headquarters, there's a bakery that sells a limited amount of cream puffs in the morning. I'll get you a whole box."
Aeple zipped over and perched on Yoo Seh-Eun's shoulder. "Deal!"
***
After witnessing DG Guild's "event," Hunters from other nearby guilds started eyeing their own Guildmasters.
"What?"
"Hey, Guildmaster. Why don't we have an event, too?"
"What, do you think we're anything like DG Guild?"
"Still... I don't feel that motivated after seeing that."
The Guildmaster turned their heads to glare at Kim Ki-Rok, then let out a deep sigh. "I can't give out artifacts. Instead..."
"Instead?"
"I'll adjust the ratio of the spoils gained from the next three Gate activities."
"What are you changing the ratio to?"
"Eight to two, in your favor."
"Hooray!"
Although it wasn't as flashy as giving out artifacts, this was clearly sothing only Kim Ki-Rok could do after having cleared out the Treasure Goblin's Treasure Vault.
"Alright. Are you feeling more motivated now, you guys?" the Guildmaster asked.
anwhile, on DG Guild's side, another question was being raised by one of their mbers. "But how do we check the scores, Guildmaster?"
Upon hearing this, all the Hunters in the vicinity turned their heads back to look at Kim Ki-Rok.
"We'll use the caras we've already installed to tally the score."
"The power of civilization!"
A few of his guild mbers gave him a thumbs-up.
The Guildmaster who had grumpily agreed to an eight–two split suddenly felt the weight of his own mbers' stares. Letting out a final resigned sigh, he muttered, "Alright, alright."
With three minutes left until the Break, several more Guildmasters walked over to negotiate with Kim Ki-Rok about sharing the cara feeds.
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