Chapter 98. It Is Time To Return

After gathering his members, the new leader of the external team set off. Yeon Hong-Ah watched them leave.

In the distance, she could see a dark swarm of Sky Beaks, looming just beyond the horizon. She glanced at Kim Do-Joon’s group, her worry deepening. Most of the creatures would likely ignore them and head this way, but there was always a chance some might veer off. Still, she had no choice but to trust them.

“Will you be alright?” a voice asked behind her.

She turned to see Park Sung-Won approaching her with an uneasy face.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Well... it’s just that...” Park Sung-Won trailed off, clearly unsure how to phrase his concern.

Even though his words were unclear, Yeon Hong-Ah could easily guess what he was thinking. He was questioning whether it had been the right decision to send a group of B-rank Hunters as messengers in such a dire situation. Not only were they short on hands, the dangers around them were growing by the minute.

She scanned the faces of the guild members around her. They all seemed worried, some more than others. In short, it wasn’t the most encouraging atmosphere.

In times like these...

Yeon Hong-Ah looked up, telling herself that she was in a defensive battle until reinforcements arrived. Until they knew how many enemies they were facing, the worst-case scenario was that they would be stuck here. In situations like this, maintaining morale was crucial, and there was no better way to boost it.

We need a grand strike.

She needed something that could spark hope and courage in her team members’ eyes. Without another word, Yeon Hong-Ah raised her hand. A glowing red mana circle, etched with strange symbols, appeared above her palm. The energy it radiated was vastly different from anything she had done until now.

Amplification Circle.

This was one of her many skills, but it was special, in which it’d magnify the power of any magic passing through it. In fact, that very skill had cemented her position as an S-rank Hunter.

With a swift motion, she slashed her hand through the air.

Boom—! Boom—! Baam—!

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Explosions erupted all around, following the trail of her hand through the sky.

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).]

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).]

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).] ...

The notifications flooded in, and the guild members watched in stunned silence. A moment ago, the sky had been black with monsters. Now, it was clearing, revealing patches of blue.

Despite being in the same guild, few had ever witnessed the guild master's true strength firsthand. Moreover, Yeon Hong-Ah had just returned from an extended period of training in dungeons overseas. Now, she was far stronger than the version of her they vaguely remembered.

“They’re coming, so get ready,” Yeon Hong-Ah said in a calm and steady voice, as if the immense display of power just now had been nothing out of the ordinary.

Her composed demeanor, combined with the overwhelming force she had just unleashed, started to work its magic. Slowly, the tension eased, and the guild members felt their strength return. Their grip on their weapons tightened with renewed resolve.

***

Kim Do-Joon led the external Hunter team back along the same path they had taken earlier, heading swiftly toward the dungeon’s entrance. Overhead, the sky was swarming with black Sky Beaks, and the Hunters trembled at the sight.

He could see why, for they were all B-rank Hunters. Furthermore, facing A-rank monsters—especially in such overwhelming numbers, easily in the hundreds—was enough to shake anyone’s courage. The only fortunate thing was that most of them were heading toward the island where Yeon Hong-Ah was stationed instead.

Kim Do-Joon's group moved against the tide of monsters, making their way toward the exit. Occasionally, a few creatures broke off from the swarm to attack them.

Boom!

In each case, Kim Do-Joon struck them down with a single thrust of his spear.

Violent Stream.

His spear, surrounded by a violent vortex of energy, tore through the creatures' bodies and wings with ruthless precision, leaving nothing behind.

“A-amazing,” one of the external Hunters stammered.

“Unbelievable...” another whispered in awe.

The Hunters couldn’t believe what they were seeing. They’d resigned to losing lives against these Sky Beaks, which were A-rank monsters. Yet, Kim Do-Joon was cutting them down effortlessly. The unbelievable sight made some wonder if he was stronger than Yeon Hong-Ah herself—a thought they quickly dismissed as absurd.

Just then, a small sobbing sound broke through the tension.

“I'm... I’m so sorry. This is all my fault...” a female voice whimpered from nearby.

Kim Do-Joon turned to see the female mage from earlier. She was the one who had lost control of her spell and killed the juvenile Sky Beak. She had been on the verge of tears since then, blaming herself for the situation.

Kim Do-Joon frowned, and she flinched under his gaze. After a moment, he sighed and shook his head.

“Now isn’t the time for that. If you feel sorry, then focus on getting us out of here as quickly as possible.”

“Y-yes! Of course!” she responded, her voice snapping to attention like a soldier’s, her tears drying up immediately.

Kim Do-Joon was right—their mission was not over yet. They had to escape and deliver Yeon Hong-Ah’s message to the outside world. Only then could they bring reinforcements, so apologies could come later. For now, they had a job to do.

Satisfied that the mage had calmed down, Kim Do-Joon turned his attention back to the skies. Another creature was rapidly diving toward them. Its speed and ferocity were intimidating, but Kim Do-Joon's spear, wrapped in Violent Stream, met the beast head-on.

Boom!

The force of the impact left a massive wound, obliterating the monster. Even ice shards, formed by Kim Do-Joon’s frost-infused mana, sliced through the monster’s hide. No matter how tough the A-rank creature was, it stood no chance against the onslaught.

The Hunters watching him gulped nervously.

Is he... really just an A-rank Hunter?

We’re only one rank apart from him though...

But wait... haven't we been Hunters longer than he has?

Some of them had already settled into the comfort of being B-rank, but others were still striving to reach A-rank. Those who had their sights set on that promotion couldn’t help but watch Kim Do-Joon closely. They had studied A-rank Hunters, thinking that with just a little more effort, they could reach the same level. However, after seeing Kim Do-Joon’s overwhelming power, they were filled with both inspiration and a crushing sense of inadequacy.

For some, this moment could be the breaking point, where they gave up and resign themselves to staying B-rank forever. For others, it could ignite a fire to push harder and climb higher. However, for Kim Do-Joon, their inner struggles were of no concern. He had his own path to walk.

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).]

[Your Compatibility has increased.]

Huh?

Meanwhile, Kim Do-Joon noticed something he hadn’t seen in a long time. Since he had been taking care of all the Sky Beaks on his own, it made sense that he was racking up experience points.

Man... How long has it been...

A smile almost crept onto his face, but he quickly suppressed it. This was not the time to be openly celebrating, no matter how satisfying it felt. Still, he couldn’t deny the small lift in his mood because he hadn’t seen that message in ages.

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).]

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).]

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).]

...

Fueled by this renewed sense of motivation, Kim Do-Joon continued to cut down monsters, leading his group with greater resolve. Then, not long after, they arrived at the dungeon entrance. Having already cleared this path once, escaping wasn’t difficult.

“We made it!” the female mage shouted with relief, her face beaming.

The other Hunters also shared her joy. Without wasting time, they hurried toward the entrance. Since most of the monsters had been drawn to the island where Yeon Hong-Ah was fighting, the area near the entrance was clear.

“We’re safe!” “We owe it all to you, Leader!”

The Hunters exclaimed, grinning as they looked at Kim Do-Joon with genuine gratitude.

Had it not been for him, some—if not all—of them would likely have died.

“You guys head out first,” Kim Do-Joon said, staying behind as he began sending them toward the exit.

This can’t be real...

He’s so great until the end...

The Hunters were overwhelmed with gratitude, not only for their survival but also for Kim Do-Joon’s steadfast leadership. Yet, Kim Do-Joon simply waved them on, urging them to leave quickly.

One by one, the Hunters exited the dungeon. When the last one, the mage, stepped forward, Kim Do-Joon stopped her.

“Wait,” he said.

She turned around, puzzled. Her face still showed traces of the tears she had shed earlier.

“You heard what Hunter Yeon Hong-Ah said, right? You need to request backup from Baek Hwi-Soo,” Kim Do-Joon reminded her.

“Yes, I heard,” she replied, tilting her head in confusion. She didn’t understand why he was telling her this now.

Kim Do-Joon continued, “I want you to deliver that message. If you complete this task successfully, it might help make up for your earlier mistake.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. What he said was true, but didn’t Yeon Hong-Ah personally entrust that task to Kim Do-Joon? He should’ve been credited for it. Yet, he was offering it to her.

“But what about you, sir?” she asked, her voice filled with hesitation.

“I’ve seen you all get out safely,” Kim Do-Joon replied.

He paused for a moment, glancing back toward the island. In the distance, the sky was black with the swarming Sky Beaks, explosions bursting everywhere.

Looking at the chaos, he continued, “It is time to return.”

The female mage stood frozen, stunned by his words. He was going back to the very place they had just escaped from. She was speechless.

***

Click!

Click, click, click!

"Hunter Baek Hwi-Soo! Could we get a statement from you, please?"

"Is it true that the guild master of Rune Mage has returned to Korea?"

"When exactly did she come back?"

Baek Hwi-Soo frowned slightly as the cameras flashed from every direction. He had only dropped by the Association for a quick errand, only to find himself being swarmed by reporters. Their relentless questions all circled around one recent rumor—the news of Yeon Hong-Ah’s return.

"We heard that Hunter Yeon Hong-Ah has been overseas for quite some time. Can you tell us which dungeons she cleared while abroad?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know. You'll have to ask her yourself," Baek Hwi-Soo replied, maintaining a neutral expression.

Despite having a slight idea about it, he wasn’t about to spill the details. It wouldn’t be appropriate to reveal the guild master’s activities.

Why didn’t she just make a flashy entrance? Then, the reporters would’ve swarmed her instead.

Baek Hwi-Soo grumbled internally. Due to Yeon Hong-Ah’s habit of dodging the spotlight, he often had to handle these press ambushes on her behalf. If he could catch her, he’d throw her straight into the fray, but she was far too elusive.

Does she think I like doing this...?

Baek Hwi-Soo grumbled, but there was nothing he could do. Orders were orders, and Yeon Hong-Ah was his superior. Whether he liked it or not, he had to deal with it.

"Let’s all calm down a bit," he began, trying to placate the crowd. "Where did this news about her return even—"

"Wait! Please, wait!"

A loud voice cut through the chaos, distinctly different from the reporters' frantic tone. The entire crowd fell silent at once. For a moment, not even the sound of camera shutters could be heard.

Baek Hwi-Soo looked up to see a woman approaching. She was covered in blood and dust, immediately catching the attention of everyone around. Something about her seemed urgent, and all eyes turned to her as she pushed through the reporters and headed straight for him.

"

Ha... ha...

I checked with the guild information desk... and they said you'd be here..." she panted, clearly out of breath from running.

Baek Hwi-Soo, puzzled by her sudden arrival, asked in a curious tone, "Who are you? And why did you come here so urgently?"

The next moment, he regretted asking.

"Hunter Yeon Hong-Ah sent me!"