Chapter 70: An Event? (2)

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, Elementals were merrily shadowboxing each other.

"Jab, jab! One-two, one-two!"

"Hiyah! Hiyah!"

"Waaa!"

Other Elementals were instead vigorously swinging their magic mic-sticks. Kim Ki-Rok's Elemental, Aeple, seemed 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 Elementals."

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 me, 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-Me 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-Me said.

"No. She will be participating."

"Sorry?"

"I asked Ji-Hee to lend me her power and use Spiritualism before she fell asleep."

"Oh... So, you mean 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 time or time limit?"

"The cooldown and time 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 come here because you're worried about Ji-Hee."

"

Haha,

well..."

Han Sae-Me 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 something?"

"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-Me returned to her guild members 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 members had gathered to defend the Gate. Knight and mage spirits also joined in, thanks to Kim Ji-Hee's mana, and the Elementals 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 immediately, and please subdue the other monsters. It's important...

Jang Bo-Hyun's voice came through via connected earpieces that every Hunter wore. Kim Ki-Rok took a megaphone from his subspace pocket and turned his body. All his guild members seemed ready to engage in battle at any moment.

"Hmm! It's no fun if we just do it, right?" he said.

The guild members 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 members 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 members 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 mean?"

"Weren't you asking for praise?"

"No, I wasn't."

"I see..."

"Then, let's get back on track. If we include the guild members recruited after December 10th, DG Guild has sixty-one members. However, excluding the technical staff, there are a total of fifty-one combat-ready members," Kim Ki-Rok continued.

They had deliberately minimized travel time by focusing on Gates mostly around Gyeonggi Province, all the while recruiting new talent whenever possible.

"And since I'm hosting an event this time, the actual participants will be an even fifty."

An event?

Not only were the DG Guild members 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 members.

"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 elemental power."

"Woooooah!" The members of DG Guild erupted.

Both melee 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 excitement. "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 come 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 punishment."

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 members quickly scanned their surroundings. Having good teammates would be crucial in this event. Three big hitters seemed to stand out: Calorie Buff specialist, Jeong Man-Kook, Greater Elementalist, Lee Ji-Yeon, who was contracted with Greater Elementals, and a former 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, me too." Nam Dong-Wook nodded in response.

Looking at each other, the two men raised their heads and called to the floating spirit.

"Sir Kan Cho-Woo."

"Oh? You're choosing me?"

"I believe it's the best choice," Nam Dong-Wook said confidently.

If points were scored based solely on the number of monsters hunted, someone 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 members turned their attention to the Elementals, who were just as strong as the spirits.

"

Hmm. Hmm

. I'm the representative of the Elementals!" 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 Elementals all have separate contractors, right?"

"Ah..."

Unlike the spirits that all followed Kim Ji-Hee, the Elementals 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 Elemental, I'm still an Elemental. If I help, your chances will increase slightly, won't they?"

That was true. An Elemental was an Elemental, 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. Something that I can take back to the Elemental 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 something 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.

Meanwhile, on DG Guild's side, another question was being raised by one of their members. "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 cameras we've already installed to tally the score."

"The power of civilization!"

A few of his guild members gave him a thumbs-up.

The Guildmaster who had grumpily agreed to an eight–two split suddenly felt the weight of his own members' 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 camera feeds.