"Yes! That's right!"
It had been a long time since Choi Hyun-jung disappeared from the public eye, but her face remained vividly etched in people's memories.
The current events were inspired by the Choi Hyun-jung incident, and that's why Si-woo had gathered everything related to her—newspaper articles, video clips, and even tabloid gossip.
Back then, her face had been plastered across newspapers and TV screens.
Even if her appearance had changed with age, she was still recognizable.
"Hey…"
Si-woo was about to speak to her when—
"Hey! Hyun-jung! We've got guests coming soon! Why are you wandering around without a mask…?"
So Byung-seop stepped out of the office, his eyes widening as he saw Hyun-jung in Si-woo's arms.
"Uh, this is…"
Hyun-jung fidgeted, trying to get up.
"Ah!"
Si-woo quickly helped her stand.
An awkward silence hung in the air for a moment.
But it didn't last long.
"Si-woo, Hyun-jung, come into the office. Let's talk."
Byung-seop's serious tone brought everyone back to reality.
He explained what had happened over the years—how Hyun-jung had fled from the public eye, and how he had hidden her for the past six years.
It wasn't a grand story.
Just that Hyun-jung had lived in hiding at the factory, honing her skills.
"I see. So that's what happened."
Si-woo nodded, looking at Hyun-jung.
She fiddled with her mug, her head bowed as if she were a criminal.
It seemed she was embarrassed by her past.
It was heartbreaking.
Hyun-jung was only 21, but she carried herself with a maturity that belied her age.
Her beauty was striking, but her delicate personality made her seem more like a young girl.
'Six years ago, she was just 15, wasn't she?'
Si-woo could understand.
It wasn't easy for a 15-year-old girl to enter the gate and hunt monsters.
Especially since her assigned role was that of a physical hunter—someone who had to wield weapons and fight monsters up close.
Imagine a middle school girl having to slash and kill grotesque creatures.
Perhaps that was why she developed a fear of monsters.
"Hmm."
Si-woo turned to Byung-seop.
"So, you're her cousin?"
"Yeah. A cousin the media doesn't know about."
"And you've been looking after her all this time?"
"Her parents asked me to, and she's got a knack for this kind of work."
Si-woo nodded.
Hunter equipment required hunters to craft it.
Only those who could use mana could transform and process the materials from the gate.
Of course, Byung-seop was also a hunter—a Grade E gatherer, but a skilled craftsman nonetheless.
Si-woo's gaze returned to Hyun-jung.
She had lived apart from her parents for six years, hiding from the world.
Even now, when her parents visited, it was clear how much she had endured.
It made him feel even more sympathy for her.
Byung-seop, sensing Si-woo's emotions, spoke cautiously.
"Si-woo, you've been bullied because of your monster phobia, so you understand how Hyun-jung feels, don't you?"
"Not 100%, but I get it to some extent."
"Good. Then I have a favor to ask."
"Keep it a secret?"
"Uh, yeah."
Byung-seop smiled awkwardly.
Having been caught hiding something, he felt a bit self-conscious.
Si-woo understood that feeling all too well.
"Of course. I'll keep it secret. I know how painful it is to be tormented by others."
At his words, Hyun-jung looked up with deer-like eyes.
She didn't speak, but her gaze was full of gratitude.
Si-woo smiled softly and nodded.
Hyun-jung blushed and looked away.
'Is she embarrassed?'
He found her reaction endearing.
Byung-seop, now relaxed, sighed in relief.
"Thanks, Si-woo. I was so nervous when her identity was almost revealed."
He wiped his sweaty hands with a handkerchief.
"Why were you so worried? Don't underestimate me. I'm more dependable than you think."
"I know, but hearing you say it makes me feel a bit awkward."
"Really? Hehe."
Byung-seop laughed heartily at Si-woo's teasing.
"I'll head out now. I've got things to do."
Hyun-jung smiled shyly and left.
"Well, since you're here, let's talk business."
Byung-seop opened a box and pulled out a newly crafted armor suit and hunter uniform.
"Wow."
Compared to the used gear Si-woo had seen before, this was on another level.
"Try it on. I took precise measurements, but it's different when you actually wear it."
"Alright."
Si-woo took the armor and uniform and headed to the changing room.
"How does it look?"
"Wow! It's even cooler than I imagined!"
Byung-seop grinned, clearly proud of his work.
'A true craftsman.'
Si-woo felt even more trust in him.
"Let's see."
Byung-seop rolled up his sleeves and adjusted the uniform's details.
Si-woo looked at his reflection.
The hunter suit was designed for mobility and protection, yet it had a casual, everyday feel.
'But it's still a hunter suit.'
He ran his fingers over the leather-like coat.
The outer garment was crafted from the hide of a monster mixed with various materials, serving as armor. Yet, it was so well-made that it felt weightless. The pants and top were equally sophisticated, so much so that I couldn't help but marvel at their craftsmanship.
"As expected. Your skills are truly impressive."
"Really? You like it?"
"Like it? It's perfect for my style."
"Hehe. Glad to hear it."
A smile lingered on So Byeong-seop's face, clearly pleased.
After some time had passed,
"Done!"
So Byeong-seop dusted off his hands with a light expression, having made adjustments to the hunter suit. It seemed the task was complete.
As Lee Si-woo watched him, a question popped into his mind.
"You seem pretty busy today, huh?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"It's Saturday, but the factory's running nonstop."
"Ah! That? Yeah, it's all thanks to you, Si-woo."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Come here."
So Byeong-seop walked over to the computer with a bright expression.
Tap-tap-tap. He typed something into the browser.
Then,
"What's this? 'Outsider Hunter Café'?"
A peculiar club website appeared.
So Byeong-seop smiled as he observed Lee Si-woo's reaction.
"Yep. It's a café for people like you who operate without a guild. It's not well-known, and the member count isn't huge."
"And?"
"Well, the members here seem pretty interested in you. Look."
Click-click.
So Byeong-seop manipulated the mouse, and to Lee Si-woo's surprise, his photo appeared.
"W-what is this?"
"It's a photo of you at the Pyeongtaek Gate."
"Huh?"
"The members here are keeping an eye on you."
"No way."
Lee Si-woo scrolled through the site, finding photos of himself at the gate.
But another question arose.
"What does this have to do with you being busy?"
"Everything! The site members saw your gear and looked up our factory. They've been flocking here ever since."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You're kind of a big deal now. You're the only hunter who's worked at a hunter-related company and uses small-scale products. They figured if you're using our stuff, there must be something special about it."
"Wow."
Lee Si-woo felt a mix of surprise and amusement.
He never thought his gear would have such a promotional effect!
Of course, famous hunters often received sponsorships from big companies. Their gear would sell like hotcakes, just like products endorsed by celebrities.
But Lee Si-woo?
"Am I famous now?"
He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.
So Byeong-seop cleared the photos from the computer and looked up.
"So, is there anything you'd like from our shop? A sponsorship or some help?"
He seemed genuinely grateful for the exposure Lee Si-woo had brought.
"Actually, I could use a weapon."
"A weapon? Why?"
"I can't enter M-type gates right now because of my monster phobia, but I want to prepare for when I do."
"I see."
"Yeah. I'd like a weapon that fits my hand so I can practice. Plus, you never know what might happen inside a gate, so I'd need it for self-defense too."
"Makes sense."
So Byeong-seop nodded, deep in thought.
Then, clapping his hands, he asked seriously,
"You're not opposed to using a deceased hunter's gear, are you?"
"Deceased hunter's gear?"
"Yeah. Items left behind by hunters who've passed away."
"Ah."
Lee Si-woo nodded.
He knew that such items were often sold secondhand, and you could get high-quality gear at a fraction of the cost.
However, many hunters avoided them, fearing the spirits of the previous owners might linger.
But Lee Si-woo?
"I don't believe in ghosts, so it's fine with me."
So Byeong-seop's face lit up.
"Great! Wait here a moment."
He opened a personal safe and pulled out a long sword case.
Unzipping it, he revealed a sword slightly shorter than the bamboo sword Lee Si-woo usually used.
Lee Si-woo's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"This is it. This sword."
So Byeong-seop carefully drew the blade from its sheath.
"Whoa."
It was a double-edged longsword with a razor-sharp edge.
"This is a longsword forged from metal extracted from a Castal monster, treated with a special solution. It's a masterpiece, really."
Even at a glance, it was clear this wasn't an ordinary sword.
Lee Si-woo approached cautiously.
"This looks expensive. How much is it?"
"Oh, it's worth 10 billion won."
"10 billion? Seriously?"
Lee Si-woo stared at So Byeong-seop in shock.
"The previous owner was an A-rank hunter who bought it on installment. He'd paid about 4 billion before he died in an accident. You know how it works—if you can't pay more than 50% of the item's cost, it gets repossessed."
"Right."
"So this sword's price dropped by 40%, but no one's claimed it in three years."
Lee Si-woo nodded, understanding the situation.
"But why are you showing this to me? I can't afford something this expensive."
So Byeong-seop extended the sword toward him.
"Wait, are you saying…?"
Lee Si-woo's eyes widened in disbelief.