“Is that so.”

Cheon Jiweon muttered softly.

But even those few words made cold sweat burst from my whole body. My stomach cramped as if it were being torn apart, and a crushing pain surged through me.

This was on an entirely different level than what I had felt in front of City Hall.

A Level 95 Hunter, once a member of the Seven Pioneers.

Now I understood exactly what it felt like when the strongest man in this world unleashed genuine pressure.

“Well then, let’s hear what it is you wish to ask of me.”

Cheon Jiweon spoke as he sank into a chair.

The suffocating weight in the air around us lightened slightly.

“But I suggest you choose your words carefully. Make sure I don’t have to weigh one Hunter applicant against the thousands in Seoul.”

His meaning was clear: there was no need for comparison. Between me and the aspiring Hunters, it was obvious who mattered more.

If he truly wished, Cheon Jiweon could crush my entire body before I even flexed a finger and snatch the paper from me.

The only reason he didn’t was because such things weren’t in his nature.

That was why I could attempt this negotiation in the first place.

“My request is simple. Just once—should I face trouble or danger that I cannot overcome—will you personally come to resolve it for me?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Cheon Jiweon’s face.

“Of course, I don’t mean to abuse your authority or commit crimes under your protection. Only if my life is truly endangered, or if I face something far beyond the power of a Hunter applicant, will I call for you.”

“I see.”

Cheon Jiweon stroked his chin.

The surprise faded, replaced with genuine interest.

“So you want to use me as your bodyguard?”

“Something like that.”

“Do you really understand who I am?”

“One of the former Seven Pioneers. A Hunter beyond Level 90. The strongest man on Earth. They say seventy percent of Seoul’s power comes from you.”

“Seventy percent is quite an exaggeration. And ‘strongest’ doesn’t suit me either.”

Now he was smiling—like a child delighted by a toy he found lying on the ground.

“But tell me, just what exactly do you intend to face with me at your side?”

“Will you grant my request?” I asked, holding the paper of materials tightly in my hand.

“If protecting you were to bring harm to the city, then no, I could not. But if not…”

He rose from his chair and stepped closer.

The crushing pressure had completely vanished.

“…then yes, it’s a request I can honor.”

“Can you promise me that?”

At the word “promise,” a subtle change flickered in his eyes.

“…Yes. I promise.”

I nodded, releasing one hand from the paper, and held out the note to him.

Cheon Jiweon took it and examined the list.

“Hmm. Materials from the third and fourth floors of a dungeon. Acquiring these won’t be difficult.”

Muttering to himself, he slipped the note into his pocket and pulled out his smartphone.

“If you’re to call me, you’ll need my contact. I’ll give you my personal number.”

“Thank you.”

I touched my smartwatch to his phone.

With a brief chime, our contact information was exchanged.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

With that, Cheon Jiweon disappeared from the meeting room in an instant.

No doubt he was already setting the wheels in motion—ordering the materials to be gathered and summoning craftsmen to decipher the crafting method.

The reason he moved so quickly was simple.

He had promised the Hunter applicants’ union that he would resolve the matter as soon as possible.

A promise once made was always kept. That was Cheon Jiweon’s creed.

‘Speaking of which, the principal said to come to her office after the meeting.’

Leaving the room, I walked to the principal’s office on the same floor.

I knocked, and Principal Im Seongyeon’s voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

I entered and saw her standing by the window.

“Has the Mayor left?”

“Yes.”

“What did you discuss?”

“The recipe for an item that prevents Transference.”

“And you told him?”

“Yes. It seems the dungeon entry ban will be lifted soon.”

“I see. That’s good. But…”

Still facing the window, Im Seongyeon turned and walked toward me.

“Nam Yein. How did you create such an item?”

“I didn’t make it. A craftsman I know did.”

“A Hunter applicant with ties to a craftsman?”

“Yes. We met by chance.”

“What is this craftsman’s name?”

“My friend doesn’t wish to reveal their identity. That’s why I only gave the Mayor the list of materials.”

“Nam Yein.”

She stopped in front of me, looking straight into my eyes.

“I dislike jokes. And I dislike lies that don’t even qualify as jokes even more.”

“Why assume it’s a lie?”

“A craftsman unwilling to reveal their name is like a Hunter unwilling to level up.”

“Yes. That’s why people call my friend an eccentric.”

Im Seongyeon fell silent, glaring at me.

I met her gaze without flinching, wearing as calm an expression as I could muster—unlike her simmering anger.

“…Very well. For now, I’ll let it stand.”

She turned away and walked back to her desk.

“But Nam Yein, do you understand the true value of such an item at this time?”

“It’s an excellent item. It allows Hunters and applicants to re-enter dungeons without fear.”

I smiled as I spoke.

“I’m glad the Mayor himself came to the assembly. Thanks to that, the problem should be solved quickly. My squadmates are desperate to get back into a dungeon as soon as possible.”

“I see. Very well. You may go.”

“Yes.”

I bowed lightly and stepped out of the office.

‘As if I don’t understand its value.’

If I monopolized the method of making the Weight of Phase Fixation, I could become filthy rich overnight.

But in the Hunters’ market, there were plenty of ways to make money without such schemes.

On the other hand, a one-time ticket to use Cheon Jiweon’s power was priceless.

He was not a man who moved for money.

‘I’ve made a very profitable deal.’

Humming to myself, I returned to the classroom.

Seoul City Hall.

Inside his office, Cheon Jiweon stood by the window, speaking on the phone while gazing down at the square below.

[We’ve gathered eighty-eight craftsmen from the Hunter Market to mass-produce the Weight of Phase Fixation. On average, they should be able to create about two hundred and fifty units per day.]

“Good. Once the supply is secured, ensure the third-year students of the six academies receive them first. They’re on the verge of graduation and need to grow stronger the most. After that, the second-years, then the first-years.”

[Understood.]

Hanging up, Cheon Jiweon clasped his hands behind his back and looked to the sky.

In the clear blue above, the clouds hung motionless like cotton candy.

‘At least this crisis has been averted.’

If Hunters could no longer enter dungeons, Seoul’s downfall would be inevitable.

The energy extracted from demonic materials formed the backbone of the modern civilization that had only just been rebuilt.

Once energy became unstable, not just the market, but people’s lives themselves would begin to collapse.

And the wealth circulating in the Hunters’ market was colossal.

The industries tied to it were vast beyond measure.

It was no exaggeration to say Hunters were the ones sustaining the world.

“To think that the very thing meant to be destroyed in this world is now shaking while holding its leash.”

Cheon Jiweon felt the urge to click his tongue.

“If they could see this world now… what would they think?”

Murmuring under his breath, Cheon Jiweon gave a bitter smile.

The conversation from a few days ago flashed across his mind.

“Do you truly understand who I am?”

“One of the Seven Pioneers. A Hunter beyond Level 90. The strongest man on Earth.”

“But then, what exactly are you trying to face by using me?”

“Will you grant my request?”

‘An amusing fellow.’

When Nam Yein had said he would tear the recipe apart if his request wasn’t accepted, Cheon Jiweon had released just a trace of killing intent.

For an ordinary Hunter applicant, that would have been enough to collapse on the floor—or even lose control of their bladder.

But this boy, just a first-year in the Academy, had tensed up yet still continued speaking calmly.

That was why the silver-haired applicant before him had sparked his interest.

In truth, it wasn’t the first time Nam Yein had caught his attention.

A few weeks earlier, when he saw the boy criticizing the entry ban on the news, he had already begun to take note of him.

And when Nam Yein brought out a never-before-seen item at the assembly, claiming it was the solution, Cheon Jiweon had been astonished.

Given that Yein was involved in both of the Transference incidents at Gwangcheon Academy, Jiweon had even briefly suspected the boy of intentionally causing them.

But when two later incidents occurred without any connection to Yein, he abandoned that suspicion.

‘A craftsman friend who wishes to remain hidden… Highly likely a lie. Unless he’s a criminal, no craftsman hides his name. Their reputation is their livelihood.’

Again, Yein’s words echoed in his mind.

“Of course, I don’t mean to abuse your authority or commit crimes under your protection. Only if my life is truly endangered, or if I face something far beyond the power of a Hunter applicant, will I call for you.”

‘I agreed because it seemed interesting. But perhaps I should dig a little deeper.’

Cheon Jiweon pulled out his phone.

[Public Safety Division. What do you need, Mayor?]

“Is Captain Lee Seon available?”

[Yes. Shall I transfer the call?]

“Yes, please.”

After a short pause, a weary man’s voice came on the line.

[Yes, Mayor. This is Lee Seon.]

“You’ve worked hard, Captain. I need to ask a favor. You investigated the Transference incidents in Gwangcheon before, didn’t you?”

[That’s right.]

“There’s a student at the Academy there… Nam Yein. I’d like to know more about him.”

One week after Cheon Jiweon’s visit to Gwangcheon.

The dungeon entry ban was lifted—starting with third-years in every Hunter Academy.

Under the condition that they wore the Weight of Phase Fixation distributed by the city, Hunter applicants could enter dungeons once more.

My squad and I immediately received the principal’s approval to head into a dungeon.

Technically, it wasn’t our turn in the distribution order yet, but I already had four Weight of Phase Fixation—courtesy of a certain “friend.”

From the very beginning, when Jiweon divided the prototypes, I’d kept some aside for my squad.

“Haah! That feels so good!”

Meiling shouted, waving her staff in the air.

We were standing at the entrance of the Independent Dungeon, the Satchel Mine.

Just moments ago, we’d been farming the fourth floor, grinding the boss to push ourselves to Level 41.

“Yein, is it really okay for us to level up this fast? At this rate, we’ll be stronger than the third-years before even moving up to second-year…”

Lumina’s worried voice made me chuckle. Always fretting over the strangest things.

“Of course it’s fine. There’s no such thing as a disadvantage to being stronger.”

“I agree,” Seo Yu-i added.

“Especially with HAUT in mind. The higher our level, the better.”

“Oh, HAUT! I almost forgot about it with the entry ban.”

Lumina looked at Seo Yui.

“Summer break is almost here. Once it ends, HAUT will begin. Let’s work even harder. You too, Senior.”

At my words, Seo Yui and Lumina nodded.

Meiling, on the other hand, wasn’t paying attention.

“I’m starving! I don’t care what happens, I’m having blood sausage soup tonight!” she declared with a grin.

Judging by her mood, slaying so many monsters had really lifted her spirits.

“Senior, are you fine with blood sausage soup?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Oh, I haven’t had that in ages. I want some too.”

I nodded in agreement.

We left the checkpoint and headed toward the bus stop—it was still early enough for buses to be running.

As we walked down the dim roadside, a figure approached from ahead.

It was a woman with her hood drawn low, hiding her face.

All of us came to a halt.

‘She’s no ordinary passerby.’

I could tell just by the way my squad stiffened that they had sensed it too.

A moment later, the woman stopped before us.

She pulled back her hood, revealing hair the color of moss.

“!”

The Head of the Demon Cult’s Seoul Branch—

Ju Yeongsong stood before us.

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