Chapter 108. Well, We’ll See

In the evening, Kim Do-Joon was driving toward the academy when his phone rang.

“Hello?”

— Ah, finally! I’ve been trying to reach you!

It was a call from Son Chang-Il, the Association President. Kim Do-Joon had noticed several missed calls from him earlier, but hadn’t returned them. Right afterming out of the labyrinth, he had been swamped with sparring matches with Jecheon Seong. Before he knew it, it felt too late to call back.

Therefore, this call was somewhat surprising. Son Chang-Il wasn’t the type to reach out at such an hour unless something was urgent.

Is something wrong?

Kim Do-Joon wondered, adjusting his earphones.

“Did something happen?” Kim Do-Joon asked.

— Sorry for calling so late. I know you need your rest.

“I was planning to call you tomorrow,” Kim Do-Joon replied.

Son Chang-Il muttered something to himself, then abruptly changed the subject.

— You’ve heard about Haenam, right?

However, Kim Do-Joon didn’t have the vaguest idea about this topic.

Haenam?

Why is he bringing that up right now?

“Are you talking about the place at the end of the Korean Peninsula? I heard an S-rank dungeon appeared there years ago, and the area has been deserted ever since,” Kim Do-Joon replied.

— Huh? Ah, yes, that’srrect. But I’m talking about the incident that’s currently happening there.

Then quickly, Kim Do-Joon’s instincts kicked in. Something had definitely gone down there. It had to be related to dungeons, or maybe even the World Tree roots.

“Sorry, I’ve been so focused on training the past few days that I’ve beenmpletely out of touch with the outside world.”

— Oh! Okay, I see.

There was admiration in Son Chang-Il’s voice. He thought Kim Do-Joon was impressive.

In today’s world, not many people were so dedicated to their training that they fully isolated themselves from the outside world. Most Hunters didn’t even train unless they were about to enter a dungeon. More often than not, they decided it wasn’t worth the effort, especially when theyuld just rely on improving their stats or upgrading their gear. As such, Kim Do-Joon’s dedication stood out more than ever.

No wonder he’s risen to such a high position in just a year,

Son Chang-Il thought to himself.

In truth, Kim Do-Joon was just making an excuse for not returning the calls sooner. Technically, he wasn’t lying, entering a labyrinth

was

training.

— Anyway, how about we meet up tomorrow? I can explain everything in person. Oh and I’llme by your store.

Son Chang-Il was eager to meet right away, so Kim Do-Joon thought it over. He didn’t have any plans, so there was no problem with meeting him.

But I’d rather not have himme to the store...

Having someone as famous as the President of the Association regularly visiting his store wouldn’t be ideal since it’d draw unnecessary attention.

“I’llme to the Association instead,” Kim Do-Joon said.

— That works for me! Thanks, I appreciate it.

Son Chang-Il sighed in relief. With so much work already piling up, the idea of Kim Do-Joonming to him was a weme change.

— Alright then, let’s meet tomorrow morning.

“Got it.”

After agreeing on a time, Kim Do-Joon ended the call andntinued driving toward the academy. At the academy’s campus, near the affiliated kindergarten, he picked up his daughter from her teacher, Kwon Soo-Young.

“Daddy! Are you done with work?” Kim So-Eun exclaimed as she ran up and hugged his leg, burying her face into him.

He hadn’t seen her in days, and maybe because of that, she seemed even more affectionate than usual.

Kim Do-Joon lifted her effortlessly. After all, if heuld wield the enormous crescent blades that had once belonged to Rixit, the weight of a child was nothingmpared to that.

“Yes, I’m free for a while. Should we go somewhere fun?” Kim Do-Joon asked.

“Swimming pool! I want to go to the pool!” Kim So-Eun shouted excitedly.

“Alright. Let’s ask Unnie and Grandpa if they want tome too.”

“

Yay!

” Kim So-Eun cheered.

Kim Do-Joon straightened her crumpled clothes, noticing a bit of dirt on them, probably from playing outside. His heart swelled with emotion at the sight. This little girl, who had once been bedridden in the hospital, was now healthy enough to run around and play.

“Ms. Soo-Young! Daddy’s taking me to the pool!” Kim So-Eun announced proudly to Kwon Soo-Young.

“Oh, how lucky! Make sure you ask him to buy you lots of yummy snacks. Also, don’t forget to stretch before swimming, okay?”

“Okay!” Kim So-Eun responded cheerfully.

Kwon Soo-Young smiled and turned to Kim Do-Joon.

“Thank you for always taking such good care of So-Eun,” Kim Do-Joon said, looking at her.

“No, no. Thank you,” Kwon Soo-Young replied.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Kim Do-Joon began asking about Kim So-Eun's time at the kindergarten, including how she was adjusting, her relationships with the other children, and whether she was causing any trouble.

Watching this, Kwon Soo-Young smiled slightly.

He’s just like any other parent.

These were the typical questions every parent asked. Kwon Soo-Young knew how powerful Hunter Kim Do-Joon was. She also had a vague sense that Kim So-Eun also possessed extraordinary abilities. After all, her minor scrapes and bruises healed instantly, and her occasional bursts of physical prowess surprised even Kwon Soo-Young, who’d once been a C-rank Hunter.

However, despite the special abilities of both father and daughter, their day-to-day interactions seemed no different from that of any other normal family. It was a bit strange. She used to think that high-ranking Hunters lived in ampletely different world.

"Don't worry. So-Eun is doing great here," Kwon Soo-Young reassured him, answering each of Kim Do-Joon's questions.

As he listened, his expressions shifted betweenncern and light amusement. It was the classic image of a father deeply invested in his child’s well-being.

"Oh, by the way..." Kwon Soo-Young suddenly changed the subject.

"Yes?" Kim Do-Joon looked up, curious.

“Are you going to Haenam?”

Kim Do-Joon tilted his head, momentarily caught off guard. The Association President had mentioned Haenam earlier too. Now that she brought it up again, it felt like something major was happening there.

“Has something happened?” Kim Do-Joon asked

“You don’t know? It’s all over the internet and the news right now,” Kwon Soo-Young replied with a hint of surprise.

Once again, Kim Do-Joon found himself giving the same explanation he had to Son Chang-Il.

"I've beenmpletely cut off from the outside world, focused on training these past few days."

Kwon Soo-Young’s expression turned serious as shentinued.

“They say an S-rank dungeon opened there. People are in a panic because the same thing happened there years ago.”

An S-rank dungeon...?

It all made sense to him now. No wonder the Association President had been so eager to meet him. The incident in Haenam was much bigger than he initially expected.

Fortunately, there had been no casualties yet. The local population had already evacuated years ago due to the previous S-rank dungeon, so the area was uninhabited. If it had been in a major city, thingsuld’ve spiraled into a full-blown emergency.

Still, that doesn’t mean there’s time to waste.

After hearing the news from Kwon Soo-Young, Kim Do-Joon’s face became more serious. He wondered how strong the monsters of the S-rank dungeon would be and whether theyuld really handle it without suffering massive losses.

As he was lost in thought, a small voice interrupted him.

“Daddy?”

Kim Do-Joon snapped out of it and smiled, gently bouncing Kim So-Eun in his arms. Her laughter eased the tension that had started to build in his chest.

“Thank you for letting me know,” he said to Kwon Soo-Young. “I just got back from training, so I didn’t hear about any of this.”

“Oh, I see. So, I guess you aren’t going to be part of the subjugation, then?”

Kwon Soo-Young assumed that Kim Do-Joon would be called in to help. After all, she had witnessed his power firsthand in the academy’s underground shelter. Even though she had retired as a C-rank Hunter, it was clear to her that Kim Do-Joon’s strength was far beyond ordinary. However, since he hadn’t even heard the news, he was unlikely to be part of the team being assembled.

Still, she knew that S-rank dungeon subjugations were usually left to a select few of the strongest. The Association likely focused on recruiting S-rank Hunters than A-rank Hunters like Kim Do-Joon.

Kim Do-Joon, however, gave a bitter smile.

“Well, we’ll see.”

He had a feeling that the Association President’s call earlier had something to do with Haenam. After parting ways with Kwon Soo-Young, he headed back to his store.

There, he handed Kim So-Eun over to Siwelin and sent them both home for the evening. Watching them hold hands as they left, Kim Do-Joon waved them off before turning back to manage the store alone.

On the television, which was mounted on the wall, a news anchor’s voice echoed through the store.

— Here’s the latest update from Haenam! A dense forest of enormous trees has sprung up, and the Association has officially designated the area as an S-rank dungeon, naming it the “Giant Woodland.” In response, Son Chang-Il, President of the Hunter Association, is working with the various guilds to organize a subjugation operation...

The screen showed drone footage of Haenam from above, revealing the thick canopy of trees thatvered the area. Kim Do-Joon’s gaze lingered on the images, his mind racing. The television remained on, broadcasting Haenam’s situation until the moment the store finally closed for the night.

***

The next day, in the office of Son Chang-Il, the President of the Hunter Association, Kim Do-Joonnfirmed his participation in the Giant Woodland subjugation.

"I'll join the subjugation."

"Oh! You'll really do it?"

Kim Do-joon had already made up his mind the night before.

S-rank dungeons were rare and sporadic in appearance. If he missed this opportunity, ituld be years before he got another chance to enter an S-rank dungeon.

"Thank you. Knowing you're on board puts my mind at ease," Son Chang-Il said, visibly relieved.

"You're exaggerating. I'm just another A-rank, after all," Kim Do-Joon replied.

"Haha, so modest. I've seen how capable you are, Do-Joon. You're not just any A-rank."

Son Chang-Il's eyes gleamed as he looked at the man sitting before him. He wasn’t usually this excited. On the surface, it’d seem like he was just adding one more A-rank Hunter.

But this man, Kim Do-Joon, is different.

Son Chang-Il’s intuition told him as much. There was something special about Kim Do-Joon, albeit heuldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

Perhaps it was sheer luck, like being favored by the gods, or maybe Kim Do-Joon still had untapped strength hidden within him. Whatever the case, one thing was certain: Son Chang-Il had yet to see the full extent of the A-rank Hunter’s abilities.

"Every mission you've been involved with has been a success, so howuld I not feelnfident about you?" Son Chang-Il said with a smile, handing over some prepared documents.

It was the same briefing he had previously given to the S-rank Hunters and guild masters.

"Let me explain the details," Son Chang-Ilntinued.

"Please do," Kim Do-Joon responded.

For the next half hour, the two of them discussed the mission, with Son Chang-Il doing most of the talking and Kim Do-Joon listening attentively.

When theirnversation was finished, Kim Do-Joon got up to leave.

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"I'll see you later then," Son Chang-Il said.

"Yes, and I’ll drop by if I have any questions," Kim Do-Joon replied.

"Alright, feel free to drop by. I’ll let the workers know in advance,” Son Chang-Il said.

Then, Kim Do-Joon left, closing the door behind him.

Son Chang-Il leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully. How odd, until just a short while ago, he’d been stressed out about the subjugation. But now, with Kim Do-Joon on board, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

He thought back to the first time he met Kim Do-Joon, back when they divered the body of Eldora. From the very beginning, he had high expectations of Kim Do-Joon, and the man had never once disappointed him. Perhaps that was why he found himself relying on him.

Hmm, this isn't good...

Son Chang-Il thought, shaking his head.

As the Association’s president, heuldn’t afford to let personal feelings influence his decisions. Too many lives depended on his judgment. Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"Huh? Who is it?" Son Chang-Il asked.

He was puzzled because no one usually visited him at this hour.

— It’s me.

"Oh, Hunter Ko Cheong-Cheon? Ah,me on in.”

The door opened, and in walked Ko Cheong-Cheon, often regarded as the strongest Hunter in Korea. Behind him followed a blonde Caucasian woman.

"And who might this be?" Son Chang-Il asked, glancing at the unfamiliar woman.

"That's part of what I need to discuss," Ko Cheong-Cheon replied as he walked into the room, taking the same seat Kim Do-Joon had just vacated.

The empty teacup, still resting on the table, caught his eye. It seemed someone else had just been here. Without giving it much thought, Ko Cheong-Cheon pushed the cup slightly aside and looked up at Son Chang-Il.

"So, what’s this about?" Son Chang-Il asked.

“Well, it's..." Ko Cheong-Cheon hesitated, his tone more serious than usual.

The news that followed left Son Chang-Il utterly astonished.

His voice echoed with disbelief as he asked, "What? The Mercenaries are offering support? And they’ve already sent people?"

The Mercenaries was one of the most powerful guilds in the United States. The sheer number of Hunters in America dwarfed Korea’s, making their guilds not only larger in scale, but also far more influential and powerful. Korea would require all four of their top guilds to even hope to match their strength.

"But why would they get involved?" Son Chang-Il asked, with his tone carrying more suspicion than curiosity.

On the surface, it was great news. With the Mercenaries joining the operation, the chances of success would skyrocket, and the casualties on their side would significantly decrease. However, underneath his words, a thick layer of caution lurked.

Even America had a few S-rank dungeons still active, so he wondered why a powerful guild like the Mercenaries would cross the Pacific to help Korea. Besides, he knew one thing for certain.

"The Mercenaries... don’t they avoid involvement in otheruntries unless it directlyncerns their guild or their own members?"

Unlike other guilds that were proactive in dealing with international dungeons, the Mercenaries were known for their strict policy of staying within the U.S., focusing only on domestic threats.

Yet, here they were, suddenly offering assistance. It made no sense, and Son Chang-Il’s instincts told him to be wary.

At that moment, the blonde woman who had been standing silently behind Ko Cheong-Cheon spoke up, her Korean being fluent.

“Three months ago, Hunter Ko Cheong-Cheon’sntract with Baekhwa Gate ended.”

Son Chang-Il frowned, sensing something ominous.

“And... what does that mean?” Son Chang-Il asked, the unsettling feeling creeping up his spine.

Despite trying to push the thought away, one terrible possibility rose in his mind—something he desperately wanted to deny. After all, if it was proven to be true, it’d spell a troubling future for Korea.

However, the woman’s next words shattered his hopes.

“Hunter Ko Cheong-Cheon chose to sign his nextntract not with Baekhwa Gate, but with us—the Mercenaries.”

Son Chang-Il’s eyes widened in shock because heuldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Well, that’s how it turned out,” Ko Cheong-Cheon said with a shrug and an unapologetic grin spread across his face. “Sorry, I know this puts you in a tough spot, but what can I do?”

While Son Chang-Il’s face paled in disbelief, Ko Cheong-Cheon seemedmpletely unbothered, almost amused at the turn of events.

***

After leaving Son Chang-Il’s office, Kim Do-Joon caught up with Lee Ji-Ah and exchanged some brief updates. Following theirnversation, he headed toward the parking lot.

Suddenly, an explosion of fiery magic lit up the sky, like fireworks erupting in the air.

Boom!

Kim Do-Joon instantly rgnized the spell—Yeon Hong-Ah’s magic. He’d seen it before.

That place is...

The source of the explosion was near the Association’s outdoor training grounds. Heuld feel the intense clash of mana energy from a distance. His senses, honed by recent battles and deep training, were sharper than ever.

Is it because of my experience working with the energy of the Heart of Flame and the Ice Crystal?

Hadn’t his ability to perceive mana grown significantly since then? As he focused, heuld clearly sense Yeon Hong-Ah’s presence. She wasn’t alone.

I can sense Yeon Hong-Ah’s presence, but there are others too... And they’re just as powerful.

His eyes widened in surprise. The other individuals had mana that rivaled Yeon Hong-Ah’s, an S-rank Hunter. Yet, there were several of them. Howuld that be, when Korea only had three S-rank Hunters in total?

Curiosity piqued, Kim Do-Joon changed direction and headed toward the training grounds. He didn’t have any pressing matters for the day, so taking a detour wasn’t an issue.

When he arrived at the outdoor arena, heuld immediately sense the tension. The atmosphere was charged with a strange energy, like a battlefield about to erupt.

In the center of the training ground stood two figures, facing off against each other, while others watched from the sidelines.

One of thembatants was Yeon Hong-Ah. She was breathing heavily, clearly exhausted from the duel.

In starkntrast, the man standing opposite her—a scruffy-looking blond—wasmpletely unfazed. He had not even broken a sweat, standing tall andnfident.

Then, with a casual shrug, the man muttered in English,

“That was easy.”