#036
Compared to the enormous gargoyle, nearly the size of a 3-story building, Choi Hanseo looked as small as an ant. However, their combat power was the exact opposite of their size difference. Choi Hanseo was casually deflecting attacks from giant hook-like claws several times his size with just the tip of his foot. Despite the wind pressure generated by the massive wings, only Choi Hanseo’s hair fluttered while his body remained perfectly stable in mid-air.
Choi Hanseo appeared completely at ease even amidst the relentless attacks. At one point, while watching him intently, Choi Hanseo turned his head and looked at Eunseok. Their eyes met. Eunseok almost shouted out when he saw a hook-like claw swinging towards Choi Hanseo. But it was good he held back, as Choi Hanseo easily blocked the attack with a casual wave of his hand without even looking.
What is this monster?
Facing the actual monster, the giant gargoyle, Eunseok muttered inwardly about Choi Hanseo.
Noticing Eunseok watching him, Choi Hanseo’s eyes narrowed slightly as if amused. And then, he began to move.
Boom-!
When Choi Hanseo struck the gargoyle’s head, it sounded like a giant sledgehammer smashing rock. The massive gargoyle’s body slammed into the ground. It was an unbelievable display of superhuman strength.
The gargoyle, pinned to the ground, rose and swung its claws at Choi Hanseo. Instead of blocking the claws, Choi Hanseo playfully flicked his fingers in the air. If not for the deafening sounds all around, a snapping sound would have been heard. At that exact moment, one of the gargoyle’s hands flying towards Choi Hanseo simply exploded.
Gwaaaaah-!!!
Despite no blood or flesh splattering as the stone hand exploded, the gargoyle let out a terrible scream as if in pain.
The giant gargoyle flapped its wings and took to the air. Choi Hanseo stood still and flicked his fingers again towards it. Simultaneously, with a pop sound, one of the gargoyle’s wings exploded.
Having lost one wing, the gargoyle crashed to the ground. When its massive body hit the floor, it felt like an earthquake shaking the ground beneath their feet. Choi Hanseo extended his right hand towards the gargoyle, moving it as if grasping its neck. The gargoyle was then lifted into the air, its head tilted back as if caught by an invisible leash.
The creature thrashed about, flapping its remaining wing. Its body twisted as if trying to break free from an invisible giant hand. Eunseok looked back and forth between the giant gargoyle struggling in mid-air with its neck seemingly caught, and Choi Hanseo standing firmly, making a gesture as if pulling a leash with one hand.
“Insane…”
Eunseok’s inner thoughts escaped his lips without him realizing.
How could this be human? How could a human do such things?
While the abilities of his team members steadily killing the incoming gargoyles were impressive, Choi Hanseo’s display was on a level that was hard to consider human.
Choi Hanseo, still gripping the giant gargoyle’s neck, glanced at Eunseok again. With his good eyesight, Eunseok could easily read Choi Hanseo’s lip movements.
‘Can you see?’
Choi Hanseo silently asked Eunseok, and while maintaining eye contact, tightened his hook-like grip. Finally, when his hand closed into a complete fist, the giant gargoyle’s neck was completely torn off.
Boom-!
The severed head of the giant gargoyle fell to the ground first with a thunderous noise. Then, the flailing body slowly collapsed. The creature’s massive body colliding with the ground created a strong gust of wind.
Eunseok clenched his fist as he watched Choi Hanseo standing firmly at the center of that wind. A surge of indescribable hot emotion welled up inside him. Eunseok tried to gauge what this emotion was, but he couldn’t quite identify it.
Suddenly breaking eye contact, Choi Hanseo walked into the remnants of the completely collapsed giant gargoyle. He bent down and picked up something. It was a red magic stone about the size of an adult’s fist. Choi Hanseo tossed it towards Eunseok.
The magic stone, flying in an arc, fell precisely towards Eunseok. He reflexively caught it. It had a substantial weight.
“Oh. This must be worth at least 5 billion? No, maybe 6 billion?”
Ji Taeuk, who was standing back-to-back with Eunseok, said excitedly upon seeing the magic stone Eunseok had caught.
Only then did Eunseok notice that the thunderous noises that had been filling the surroundings had disappeared. Looking around, he saw his team members stowing away their weapons. They had finished dealing with the swarm of gargoyles.
“Good work, everyone,” Han Cheolyong said, patting his dirty collar. And with that, the conquest of the A-grade gate came to an end.
***
Upon returning to the guild building, Eunseok immediately turned on the shower. All sorts of filthy liquids and debris washed off his body, flowing down the tiles and into the drain. It took three rounds of shampooing before his hair finally felt clean.
After finishing his shower, he went straight to the Guiding room where Moon Bora was waiting in front of the door.
“Come in, noona,” Eunseok said, swiping his employee card on the keypad and opening the door. Moon Bora, also freshly showered and smelling of shampoo, entered the Guiding room and plopped down in a chair.
“Are you feeling alright?” Moon Bora asked, examining Eunseok’s complexion as he sat down across from her.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Eunseok replied casually, extending his hand across the desk.
As they held hands and began Guiding, Moon Bora let out a soft, long sigh. Though she had acted nonchalant upon returning, it seemed she had been struggling inwardly.
In fact, the same was true for Eunseok. His body, overworked for over seven hours, was screaming in various places. Honestly, he was fortunate just to not be experiencing muscle spasms.
“I heard you really pulled your weight after we split into two teams?” Moon Bora asked, finally opening her eyes as her energy began to settle.
“It wasn’t that much,” Eunseok replied modestly.
“I heard you even joined the combat while maintaining area Guiding. That’s not something that can be done with ordinary mental strength. Not to mention ordinary physical strength or combat ability.”
Moon Bora spoke with an impressed expression. Given her straightforward personality, it seemed Eunseok truly hadn’t held the team back this time.
“So, how was it? The A-grade gate?”
“Well… Honestly, I thought it was over after we took down the bat and spider.”
When Eunseok answered honestly, Moon Bora laughed out loud.
“Yeah, usually it would end around there.”
“How does this gate compare to other A-grade gates in terms of difficulty?”
When Eunseok asked, Moon Bora thought for a moment before speaking.
“About average… maybe slightly below average? Putting aside the boss that the Guild Master took down, the other creatures weren’t particularly tricky to kill. We just had to keep moving forward and killing them. It wasn’t a difficult case.”
Moon Bora spoke candidly without holding back. Eunseok nodded slightly. Indeed, none of the team members had suffered major injuries, and the terrain itself wasn’t particularly challenging.
“Does the Guild Master always handle A-grade bosses and above?”
Eunseok asked, recalling Choi Hanseo’s unforgettable display. Despite it being an A-grade gate boss, Choi Hanseo had dealt with it far too easily. Honestly, it seemed like with his abilities, he could handle an A-grade gate alone without breaking a sweat.
“Not always,” Moon Bora immediately shook her head.
“The Guild Master doesn’t even enter most A-grade gates. The 1st squad is usually enough for A-grade. Sometimes he tags along like it’s a picnic when he wants to avoid work or make excuses to avoid appointments with annoying people.”
“I see…”
As Eunseok muttered softly, Moon Bora suddenly narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer.
“About the Guild Master. Don’t you think he was showing off for you today?”
Eunseok slightly furrowed his brow at Moon Bora’s words.
“Usually, he doesn’t even bother with opponents of that level. He only came along today as your protector. But the way he stepped forward to take down the boss so obviously… Instead of finishing it in one blow, he toyed with it before killing it… Wasn’t that all to show off to his audience?”
“…Why would the Guild Master need to impress me?”
“Oh, he has reasons. Don’t forget, Eunseok. No matter how inhuman he might seem, he’s still a hunter at his core. With a high-compatibility, matching-grade guide fluttering around right in front of him, how could he resist? He ends up showing off, it’s just how it is.”
Moon Bora said with a chuckle.
Eunseok couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of Moon Bora’s words. The idea of Choi Hanseo trying to impress him was unimaginable.
Seeing Eunseok’s disbelieving reaction, Moon Bora continued in a meaningful tone.
“Eunseok, be careful, okay? Don’t fall for his seduction attempts too easily.”
“That won’t happen,” Eunseok said firmly.
But throughout the Guiding session, Moon Bora repeatedly cautioned him to be careful.
