Epilogue

Sitting in his luxurious office chair, his back facing the rest of his office, Kim Ki-Rok gently stroked the white cat that was kneading his thigh with its paws.

He leisurely called out, "Miss Seh-Eun?"

"What is it?" she replied with obvious impatience.

"I am the Guildmaster, am I not?"

"Yeah, we know. So what?"

"Then why aren't any of you showing me any respect?"

"Hmmm..."

As she lounged in the Guildmaster's office with a box of boneless fried chicken, Yoo Seh-Eun mulled over the question. She turned to the other DG Guild Hunters sprawled about the room. "Hey, why don't we show him any respect?"

"That's a good point. I mean, our Guildmaster is definitely capable..." a Hunter murmured, feigning interest.

"Isn't it because he lacks a sense of dignity?" said another.

"Dignity?" Yoo Seh-Eun echoed, turning to the Hunter who had spoken with a look that demanded further elaboration.

"That's right," the female Hunter said with a nod. "Our Guildmaster is exceptionally skilled in terms of being a Guildmaster, and even as a Hunter. His social status is also extremely high."

"True, true," Yoo Seh-Eun agreed.

"However, he just doesn't have any dignity," the female Hunter said with a sigh.

"That's right. To start with, there's the problem of his nickname."

The other Hunters all vigorously nodded their heads in agreement.

Kim Ki-Rok spun his chair around to face the Hunters clustered on his sofa, still working through their fried chicken.

"Everyone," he calmly said.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"What is it?"

"Hm?"

"Yeees?"

"You're all getting fat," Kim Ki-Rok bluntly stated.

Everyone's chopsticks froze at the sound of these words.

"I've noticed that lately, you haven't been clearing any Gates, especially not the tough SS-Class ones... not even S-Class! And instead of the nutritious and balanced meals from our canteen, you're gorging on fried chicken, pizza, and pretty much every other delivery food under the sun."

The female Hunters had certainly heard far nastier insults than this verbal assault delivered in the form of straight facts. However, in a certain sense, this hurt far worse than any insult. When such hurtful words also carried the element of truth, the wounds that they left behind felt far more profound.

"You haven't been running any Gates, but you've still been filling your stomachs with this junk every other day. And as a result of that..."

The female Hunters began imbuing their chopsticks with mana.

Watching the female Hunters bristle at his words, Kim Ki-Rok decided to drive home his point one more time. "You've all been getting fat."

***

Kim Ji-Hee was on her way to get Kim Ki-Rok's signature on her parental consent form for a school Gate exploration. At the moment, however, she found herself unable to open the office door.

"Die!"

"Kill that bastard!"

"I'm warning you, stay back! Are you really trying to kill me?! I'm your Guildmaster!"

"That's right, I am trying to kill you!"

"Let me just cut off one arm! The Saintess will be here soon, so she'll put it right back on! Sit still or you won't get a clean cut!"

"No! Stay away! I said stay away!!"

Hearing the furious shouts inside, Kim Ji-Hee turned to the Hunter at a desk nearby. "What's happening in there?"

The Hunter hesitated. "Um, the Guildmaster, he..."

"Yes? What did he do?"

"He just gave some advice to the Hunters who came to visit..." The woman trailed off, unable to continue.

"Advice?" Kim Ji-Hee tilted her head, curious.

As the silence stretched, the new secretary at the next desk offered a calm explanation. "Well, Miss, he told them they were getting fat. Since their Gate activities have slowed down and their delivery food orders have increased—"

A wooden chopstick shot through the wall and grazed the secretary's cheek.

Unfazed, he continued, "So, you see, the Guildmaster has committed a grave sin."

"Ah, I see." Kim Ji-Hee nodded in understanding. "Then, could you call me when things settle down?"

The secretary bowed. "As you wish, Miss."

She nodded back and walked away. Entering the elevator, Kim Ji-Hee pressed the button for the first floor and took out her phone.

Three months had passed since they cleared the Hell Gate. For the first time in ages, peace had settled over Earth.

The Gates hadn't vanished from the world. But after the global effort to clear the Hell Gate, the number of SSS-Class, SS-Class, and S-Class Hunters had soared. For three months, no Gates had broken due to monster overflow.

"How nice..." Kim Ji-Hee murmured, smiling.

Her life had become very peaceful. She could go to school every day to play with her friends and study. And after school, she would chat with the World Tree and the people who came to visit Earth from the Yuashiel Dimension.

Kim Ji-Hee suddenly noticed something on her smartphone. "Hm?"

⤷ Exclusive! After much effort, we've secured an interview with the rising idol group, UES! This group is made up of earthlings, elves, Beastfolk, and Elementals!

"Wow, it really ended up happening," Kim Ji-Hee marveled in surprise.

The idol group project launched last year by a major Korean agency was finally making its debut.

Kim Ji-Hee had thought the project scrapped after the Hell Gate threat, but clearly it had moved forward and succeeded.

She tapped on the article and began reading as the elevator chimed on the first floor. With eyes glued to the article on her phone, she strolled out the back door and down the path toward the World Tree. There, she took a seat on a bench and finished reading.

Time slipped by as she watched the interview video. Then, sensing a sudden surge of energy before her, she looked up.

"Huh?" Kim Ji-Hee's eyes widened.

"How fascinating. I've heard so much about you, but this is our first meeting," said a stranger who had appeared before her.

"Huh?" Kim Ji-Hee repeated, stunned.

"I'm a friend of your father," the stranger said.

"Ah... huh?"

***

"We actually cleared the Hell Gate."

Kim Ki-Rok, now thoroughly outmatched by his own guild's Hunters, muttered as he stared blankly through his office window.

He could barely believe what they had accomplished. S-Class and SS-Class Gates still appeared here and there, so the danger wasn't entirely gone, but maybe, just maybe, he could let himself relax.

"No way," Kim Ki-Rok said, shaking his head.

He couldn't afford to lower his guard. With the Time Rabbit's Carrying Pouch, he had no reason to return to 2040, but if he died an unnatural death, he'd be forced all the way back.

And what if he didn't activate the pouch in time?

If death came for him before he used the Time Rabbit's Carrying Pouch, he'd be sent back to April 1, 2040, forced to clear all the S-Class Gates and face the Hell Gate all over again.

The thought made him shudder. "F-for now, let's just activate the Time Rabbit's Carrying Pouch."

Now ten minutes into the past, Kim Ki-Rok continued to stare out the window.

"Geez, I really can't let my guard down." Kim Ki-Rok sighed to himself.

If he allowed himself to die from a moment of carelessness, he would have to start everything all over again from that date. Kim Ki-Rok violently shook his head, refusing to entertain the thought.

Was this wariness because he'd finally earned a measure of peace after all this time? Or because he'd at last achieved his dearest goal?

Staring out the window as if lost, Kim Ki-Rok heard the elevator doors open behind him. He quickly spread his mana through the floor, and his eyes widened as he sensed the presence he'd been searching for.

Kim Ji-Hee knocked on the office door. "Mister, you have a guest."

"

Ha, hahaha...

" Kim Ki-Rok laughed, standing and heading for the door.

As soon as he pulled the door open, he saw Kim Ji-Hee being followed by a crowd of people.

"What is it?"

"It's so cute!"

"Are you talking to me?"

Kim Ki-Rok chuckled at the sight of the crowd of Hunters trying to keep a stiff upper lip. They fought to keep straight faces at the adorable sight in front of them and overcorrected into constipated scowls.

Lowering his head, Kim Ki-Rok's eyes met the gaze of a very familiar figure who was looking back up at him from his spot next to Kim Ji-Hee.

"So you're here."

"That's right."

"What are you doing here?"

"You told me to come over and play, didn't you?"

"

Ahahaha...

"

At the sight of the rabbit, speaking in his gruff voice, Kim Ki-Rok burst out laughing and stepped aside, holding the door open.

"That's right. I've really been looking forward to seeing you, Tabbit-chan."

[The End.]