Holy B-Class Life

#030

“Sigh…”

The hunters who had been sprawled out resting finally gathered around, clutching their dissection tools. Since it had come to this, Yoon Pa-ran let out a sigh and organized the situation.

“You rest. And those ten standing there too. We’ll have to keep doing this as we leave anyway.”

First, he weeded out those who looked like rookies, including the young-faced hunter.

He meant they would be more of a hindrance than help, and he had no intention of hiding it. Even so, the pointed-out hunters retreated with strange expressions.

They didn’t seem angry, but what was it?

Ignoring this, Yoon Pa-ran now pointed to a few people in the opposite direction.

It was three people whose equipment level was good enough to dissect the boss without damaging its hide.

“Haha. It’s paying off that I got new equipment recently.”

Among those selected was the bearded hunter who had been speaking to him familiarly.

Why are they all volunteering to help?

Though he didn’t understand, there was no need to refuse. The boss monster was large, so dissecting it would take time.

Plus, since this one was a higher species despite being C-rank, it could probably be sold for a good price.

“Come on. Let’s do this quickly and get out.”

The bearded hunter called out energetically, then looked at Yoon Pa-ran as if waiting for orders.

Scratching his cheek awkwardly, Yoon Pa-ran led them to the spot he had been eyeing.

“Well… Let’s start from here.”

Soon, the boss dissection began in a bustling atmosphere.

Though it was noisier than expected, it wasn’t bad.

❖ ❖ ❖

“Ah, so that’s why Jung-min, that brat, has been throwing tantrums since he was in diapers about wanting to become a hunter too, asking how to do it. But I never thought he’d really awaken. If there’s a Gate God or whatever, its eyes must be seriously crooked.”

The journey back to the entrance was quite noisy. It was fine to be completely relaxed now that all the monsters had disappeared.

Though the weight of the spoils each carried grew heavier, their steps were light.

“If there’s a god, it has discerning eyes, geez. Brother, stop with that story already.”

The hunters formed groups with those they were close to and chatted away. Yoon Pa-ran, who had somehow ended up between these three people, silently collected mana stones and such while listening.

The conversation between the three was quite interesting.

“What? God? You, you, you. You’ve been reading some cult propaganda again, haven’t you? Don’t they tell you to buy monster mana stone floor mats there? Those are all fake stones, you idiot. If you touch them carelessly, stone powder will rub off.”

“Ah, Uncle, it’s not like that!”

Kwak Jung-min, who had shouted angrily, suddenly glanced at Yoon Pa-ran.

Wondering why he was acting like that, Yoon Pa-ran met his gaze, and Jung-min hastily spilled out an excuse.

“I just couldn’t refuse when they handed out flyers as I was passing by, and since then my uncle’s been like this. I’m not in a cult.”

“Hmm.”

Why did you take the cult flyer all the way home?

Yoon Pa-ran, who had been responsible for his siblings’ school attendance for days because of those guys, took a slight step back from Kwak Jung-min.

Seeing this, his uncle Kwak Sang-wook laughed even louder.

They said their guild was quite old. Come to think of it, Yoon Pa-ran had vaguely heard of it before. The guild name was unusual, what was it…

“Really, it’s so annoying! Who names a guild like this? Fish cutlet, what the hell! Fish cutlet!”

“…”

Right, I remember now. Guild Fish Cutlet.

“If you don’t like it, start your own guild and name it yourself.”

Kwak Sang-wook sneered nonchalantly at his nephew’s complaint. Yoon Pa-ran privately thought the name was really strange.

Just then, the bald hunter Na Young-mo chimed in. The two seemed slightly excited, regardless of whether they were fighting or not.

“Ah, that’s right. Hunter Yoon Pa-ran. May I ask for some advice?”

Surprised by this unexpected request, Yoon Pa-ran frowned and asked back.

“Advice?”

He didn’t hide his expression that said, “Why me?” Yet Na Young-mo explained in a rather friendly tone.

“Taking Jung-min around made me realize my lack of skill this time. If you hadn’t helped that brat earlier, we could have been in big trouble.”

“Was that so?”

He didn’t remember. He had vaguely been aware that there was one sluggish person, but…

Especially when fighting the boss monster, he had only moved instinctively because of the boss’s sudden skills.

Anyway, there was something that had been bothering him, so it wasn’t difficult to say a word.

“When you two were grappling with the monster, your right side kept opening up.”

“Ah…”

When Yoon Pa-ran pointed at Na Young-mo with his chin, he made an expression as if he had realized something.

It was unexpected that he would understand so quickly.

“Why?”

“Well, I once stabbed the guild master when I was a rookie… I think I unconsciously stop extending my arm because I’m worried about that.”

Yoon Pa-ran frowned at this shocking confession.

Coincidentally, where he was standing now was also to Na Young-mo’s right.

“…”

After confirming this, Yoon Pa-ran subtly took another step away from him.

“That’s why I can’t be late with this bastard’s salary. Afraid he might stab me with a sword again.”

“Oh, come on.”

The atmosphere that was about to become solemn lightened up as Kwak Sang-wook cut in, chuckling.

Na Young-mo, who had been looking slightly gloomy, quickly blushed and looked at Kwak Sang-wook.

“What? You got a problem? Baldy?”

“Sigh… Uncle’s personality…”

“Damn it. How many times do I have to say it’s equipment curse!”

At the mention of a curse, Yoon Pa-ran alternately looked at Na Young-mo’s head and his breastplate.

Monster hide, bones, tendons. And the ore and plants found in resource-bearing gates. Usually, these are mixed to create basic equipment for hunters.

However, apart from this crafted equipment, hunters had separate main equipment. These were items dropped by monsters in finished form.

The better the item, the stronger the curse attached to it. Some even had unique cultural styles, as if they were objects from a fantasy world.

The most famous example was Dan Joo-hyuk’s greatsword.

“Don’t lie, you bastard. I know you’re just pretending it’s because of a curse when you were originally bald.”

“Argh!”

Kwak Sang-wook mercilessly mocked Na Young-mo. Yoon Pa-ran barely realized that he was deliberately doing this because of the earlier story.

His gaze suddenly met with Na Young-mo, who was fuming.

“It must be quite a good item?”

He asked straightforwardly about what he was curious about. Usually, it’s not right to show interest in others’ equipment, but since there was quite a rank difference, he thought it would be okay.

As expected, Na Young-mo willingly recited the specs of the equipment.

“Yes. It’s the best equipment I can get at my level. It increases both health and speed, but… sigh. There’s a curse that makes my hair like this.”

He might have wanted to emphasize the curse even more.

Yoon Pa-ran looked again at Na Young-mo’s smooth head. His face looked like he was in his early 30s, but the barrenness was extreme.

“Hmm. Even so, for your hair to be that…”

“Hunter Yoon Pa-ran. Are you doubting my curse now?”

He muttered deliberately with a bit of pity and playfulness. Beside him, Kwak Sang-wook burst out laughing, patting Kwak Jung-min’s back.

Just as Na Young-mo was about to try and recover his honor(?), Kwak Jung-min, who had been walking with his back hunched, made an unexpected comment.

“By the way, Hunter Yoon Pa-ran, you’re kinder than the rumors say?”

“…?”

Hadn’t he just insulted those lacking in abundance earlier?

Was he already suffering from injury aftereffects? Yoon Pa-ran looked at Kwak Jung-min with suspicious eyes.

“You’re mistaken. Trust the rumors more.”

“Hahaha.”

Why are they laughing when I’m serious?

Anyway, as they walked while chatting a lot, they soon reached the exit. The hunters had Yoon Pa-ran check the quantity of their loads before going outside one by one.

“Make sure to contact us.”

“We’ll see.”

The guild trio, who had been lingering until the end, disappeared outside after leaving these words full of lingering attachment.

After looking back once to confirm no one was left behind, Yoon Pa-ran also stepped outside.

“Ah, Hunter Yoon Pa-ran. Good work.”

A Gate Management Office official waiting outside greeted him.

While adjusting the load he was carrying, he reported briefly. It was still a bit awkward even after doing it several times.

“I came out last, and there were no specially discovered resources. There’s one unusual thing about the boss monster.”

“Thank you. The temporary headquarters is over there.”

There were no casualties, though it was a bit dangerous at the end. However, if the number of personnel remained this low in the future, it couldn’t be guaranteed.

While heading towards the temporary headquarters tent, Yoon Pa-ran rummaged through his pockets. He checked the messages that had come to his mobile phone while he was inside the gate.

Judging from the messages from his siblings saying they missed him, it seemed there was nothing unusual at the orphanage. After letting out a sigh of relief, Yoon Pa-ran also checked a few major news items.

Ever since the system message appeared, he had a strangely bad feeling. It felt like something was constantly pricking a corner of his mind.

He vaguely thought it might get better if he resolved this gate situation a bit. Even though that wouldn’t be a fundamental solution.

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, Dan Joo-hyuk has been quiet.

Suddenly remembering him, Yoon Pa-ran entered the message window with Dan Joo-hyuk.

What are you doing?

Gate

What are you doing?

Gate

What are you doing?

GT

What are you doing?

G

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

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What are you doing?