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"Shueh!"

Arachne's crushed body collapsed.

<SYSTEM: You've defeated the Gate Boss ‘Arachne.' You gained 931,476 experience.>

<SYSTEM: You leveled up. Your basic stats have increased, and the status window has been updated.>

<SYSTEM: The reward for defeating the Gate Boss is given according to the attack contribution. Rewards cannot be viewed by other users.>

<SYSTEM: Obtained a Skill Book as a reward for defeating the Gate Boss. You can find it in your inventory.>

The status window scrolled by quickly, but the most important thing wasn’t that I had leveled up.

[You got what you wanted.]

"Probably. I have to check."

[Skill Book: Advanced Potion Crafting]

-Advanced potions can be crafted. Ingredients can be found by acquiring recipe scrolls.

After I checked the Skill Book and got Arachne's poison pouch and a magic stone, Seol Myeonggeun hesitantly approached.

"I'm alive and I owe it to you. Thank you very much."

He and the crew bowed.

"It was nothing."

"By the way... what kind of skill was that?"

It was taboo to ask for the personal information of another hunter, but he must have been curious enough to forget that courtesy.

Seol Myeonggeun hadn’t believed in my strength until now. However, Seol-ah stepped in.

"Please stop it, Sergeant Seol."

"Ah... I'm sorry. It's just that I was too surprised."

But even Woo Seol-ah seemed curious.

"Byeong-gi Oppa is still amazing. You didn't seem to have that level of attack power before."

I had nothing to say about that part.

"Okay, let's go quickly! We have to take care of the people we rescued first."

"Oh! Sergeant Seol?"

"We have already taken action."

The crew started to busy themselves.

***

"So-eun Unnie! We're back."

"Good job. And thank you for your cooperation as well, Mr. Byeong-gi."

Seol-ah gave her the location of the rescued survivors and she immediately dispatched the corpse and rescue team. Seol Myeonggeun and his party were still inside the gate with the survivors.

The scene in which Woo Seol-ah's party rescued the survivors had been broadcasted before my regression, but now Yoo So-eun was in complete control of the stage.

However, even under that control, the spirit of journalism prevailed.

In the distance, a crew from a broadcasting station could be seen filming the gate. It looked like they were waiting to catch the survivors coming out.

This time, Seol-ah wouldn’t be the center of their attention but the special forces belonging to the Hunter Management Bureau.

‘…’

A familiar face caught my eye among the people from the broadcasting station.

[Is that her?]

'It's complicated.'

It was my ex-girlfriend, So Yujin, a reporter for Daily Korea, Korea's largest newspaper.

I thought I would be angry if I saw her again. But what was this complicated emotion?

[Do you have any regrets after going through that?]

'It's not regret. But, strangely, I'm not angry.'

[Are you going to get revenge?]

'As long as I don't get entangled with her again, I’m fine… Still, I don't want to see her doing well.'

[You're too soft.]

‘…’

After a while, Seol Myeonggeun and his party took the survivors out of the gate, and the scene was broadcast live under the direction of Yoo So-eun.

The newly created Special Forces made an official appearance.

Just like before my return, the Management Bureau announced the existence of a particular unit composed of awakened people.

Despite So-eun's request, I declined an interview, and Seol-ah also said she didn't want her face to be known.

In the end, we watched it from afar.

I did agree to meet the director of the Hunter Management Bureau at Yoo So-eun's request, however.

"What are you, really?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

After living with Yoo So-eun, she seemed to have learned the habit of asking random questions.

"Arachne was a tough opponent for me too."

"Do I need to explain? I just got skill."

"Psh~."

Seol-ah puffed out her cheeks.

"Don't act cute! It's disgusting."

"Hmph!"

Just then, Yoo So-eun approached us.

"Mr. Byeong-gi, you waited a while, didn't you?"

And a tall man stood behind her.

His name was Koh Tae-wook, and he was the director of the Hunter Management Bureau.

Although he was in his early 40s, he looked young enough to be in his early 30s.

This 195cm tall man whose whole body was bulging with muscles was a figure that would become quite famous in the future. Also, as an S-Rank hunter, his ranking was currently 8th.

Director Koh Tae-wook would continue to grow and eventually become the president of the Republic of Korea.

The world's first S-Rank hunter-turned-president.

'We have to bring this person to our side as well.'

[That's not a bad idea, but do you have a plan?]

'I have to create one now.'

Director Koh Tae-wook shook my hand.

"Hello. I'm Koh Tae-wook."

I wasn't short either, but standing before him made me feel like I was in the presence of a huge bear.

"Let's move to another place."

Following his lead, we went to a nearby cafe.

"Did you say you can craft advanced potions?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

Woo Seol-ah's eyes widened.

[Why did you bring this girl along?]

'Don't ask about what you don’t know.'

[It's because I'm bored.]

'Please be quiet for a moment.'

"Seol-ah, please be quiet."

Yoo So-eun restrained Woo Seol-ah as Director Koh Tae-wook continued.

"I heard your reason for not destroying the gate is because of that."

"Do I have to say it twice?"

Koh Tae-wook's face hardened slightly.

[Do you really need to be so harsh?]

'There is no reason for me to bow to him.'

I could negotiate a more advantageous position when producing the advanced potions if I didn’t appear weak.

"For the advanced potion, I will send you a sample first through Miss So-eun after I make it. The rest we can discuss later."

"If the potion's effect is proven, did you say you would like exclusive rights to sales and production?"

"I already told So-eun everything."

"Hmm... okay. And one more thing."

"I was expecting this. Are you going to ask me to join the Management Bureau?"

"Yes. What do you think? We will treat you as best as we can."

Their best treatment meant the salary of a civil servant. If I entered the Management Bureau, they would naturally take those exclusive rights to make advanced potions.

It would be a losing trade.

"I'm sorry, but I will decline. I have a lot to do."

"I heard it from Lieutenant Yoo, but you're really firm. And Miss Seol-ah?"

He moved the conversation over to Seol-ah.

"Have you made your decision?"

"Yes? I-I am..."

'As expected, they're trying to recruit her too.'

Judging by Woo Seol-ah's face, it appeared Yoo So-eun had talked to her about it in advance. However, on the way back after defeating Arachne, I had told Seol-ah about the guild I intended to create.

If she joined the Management Bureau, she would live a stable life, but be bound to the state.

Of course, there were going to be restrictions on her gate hunting.

It was because of that restriction that Woo Seol-ah had remained undecided.

"Seol-ah, you’re not being forced into a decision. You decide for yourself."

Woo Seol-ah started thinking hard at Yoo So-eun's comment.

[It seems that So-eun deliberately brought Seol-ah here for this. She noticed you were trying to recruit her.]

‘Seol-ah is living at So-eun’s house. She must have already talked to her about this... but I have something in mind.'

I couldn't miss out on recruiting the future S-Rank hunter right before me.

"I am thinking of creating a guild. I'm already preparing to recruit Seol-ah."

Director Koh Tae-wook's eyes shone.

"Guild establishment requires permission from the Management Bureau."

"You're not going to give me permission if I don't join you?"

"It's not like that.”

“Then I will send someone soon to discuss the establishment of the guild. And Seol-ah?"

"Yes, Oppa."

"If you join our guild, you will get 30% of all profits from these new potions. Your down payment and salary will be separate."

[Can you even offer that?]

'Money will come quickly. I just need to tie her up until then.'

Not only Seol-ah but Director Koh Tae-wook and Yoo So-eun were surprised by my generous proposal.

"It sounds like you're saying you'll never let us take her."

"Is Seol-ah an object? I just want her to make a good choice."

"Ahem. I'm sorry if I offended you, Miss Seol-ah."

Koh Tae-wook cleared his throat, recognizing his mistake.

Woo Seol-ah pondered for a while before she said.

"So-eun Unnie, I want to join Byeong-gi Oppa's guild."

It seemed the Management Bureau's constraints played a decisive role.

[I don't think that's the only reason.]

'If you're going to talk nonsense again, please keep it quiet.'

[Ahem. Even if I tell you the truth?]

"So... if it's your decision, then there's nothing we can do about it."

"If Seol-ah thinks so, then I have no intention of forcing you."

Director Koh Tae-wook and Yoo So-eun looked disappointed.

"I have no intention of making the Bureau my enemy. So..."

They turned their attention back to me as I spoke.

"I will cooperate as much as possible in the affairs of the Management Bureau from now on. And I will give you information about a Gate Detector."

Everyone's eyes widened.

"Did you say Gate Detector? Is that possible?"

If a gate detector were developed, it could protect citizens from the threat of monsters.

"This is all I can offer right now. I'd like to make a separate contract with the Bureau on these two items: the advanced potion and the Gate Detector."

"Hmm..."

It was a good offer. It was unlikely that he would reject it.

***

I left the cafe with Seol-ah after talking with Director Koh Tae-wook.

"Er… Miss Woo Seol-ah?”

A familiar voice called to Seol-ah.

"Yes? Who are you?"

"Hello. My name is So Yujin. I’m with the Daily Korea."

"..."

[As expected, things proceed to an obvious story.]

'I know, right. It's not time to meet her yet.'

Before my return, I met So Yujin after being recruited into the Phoenix Guild.

This time, it was because I was with Seol-ah that we met.

"Miss Seol-ah, can I interview you for a moment?"

"Oppa?"

"Do what you want. Call me when you're done."

"No, I don't want to give an interview."

"Then, let's go quickly."

I said that and hurried away with Seol-ah. I didn't want anything to do with my past.

"Can you believe them? But why does that man's back look familiar?"

Behind me, I heard So Yujin's grumbling and something that made me flinch.

***

"Did you find him?"

"I haven't found him yet."

Inside a dark room, two mysterious men wearing robes conversed in hushed tones.

"I heard he was exiled to this world. But why is that one so anxious about not being able to catch Wei Jicheon?"

"As far as I know, it's a simple grudge."

"Ha! The Immortals are no different from the mortals.”

"Mortals hold grudges over trivial things that we don't understand, to the point of madness. But I don't think there's much difference between Immortals and mortals.”

"Right."

"There is one thing I have to say about that."

"What is it?"

"Though we couldn't find Wei Jicheon, we seem to have found traces of him."

"Ho... Where did you find it?"

"In Gate 5,829,184, the one recently destroyed."

"Are you sure it's him?"

"I don't know why, but these are the mortals that were tied to the gate. At the time of discovery, they were said to have been bound by an energy resembling that demon’s spirit."

"Interesting."

"The Summoning Stone was broken, and the administrator intervened in a hurry to delay the creation of the portal and brought the mortals here."

"Hmm... Let's try to use those mortals."

"Alright."