Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

Just a moment ago, Go Eul-ji was truly enjoying the eve of the concert. It was exhilarating to see BTA fans from all over the world gather, singing and dancing to the same songs, like a religious ritual. 

But as soon as the random dance play of BTA hit songs began, something started to irritate her. At first, she thought he was just another BTA fan, a fellow hunter like herself. But the way he was hiding his mana so carefully made her suspect him to be an assassin or even a terrorist.

'You're hiding your energy so well. It would be hard for anyone but the Guild Master or me to notice. Even Ms. Cho isn't like this. Is America just different? As expected of the Thousand Trillion Nation.'

In an era where hunter power outweighs defence spending, the United States, known as the Thousand Trillion Nation, still holds that nickname because it invests the most in the hunter sector. Although Go Eul-ji wasn't the sharpest, she knew enough about the American hunter world to be cautious of their hunters.

"Eulji, what's wrong? Why do you look like you need to go to the bathroom?"

"No, I just have something on my mind."

"Really? With the BTA event coming up?"

"Don't worry about me, just enjoy yourself, Nari. I'm just being sensitive."

"Sensitive? If anything, I'd expect insensitivity from you. Your nickname is Bear Girl, remember? You hibernate during class. You wouldn't even wake up if the teacher hit you."

"That's because I came back from a raid the day before."

"I know you stayed up until dawn for the BTA global music video launch."

No matter how much she tried to make excuses, Go Eul-ji couldn't fool Kim Nari, who was always on top of the BTA schedule. Even while talking to her friend, Go Eul-ji kept tracking the secret presence. Then, at some point, it completely disappeared. It was the same even when she expanded the detection area. It was nowhere to be found.

'He's a dangerous guy.'

The fact that he intentionally hid his presence meant he noticed she was watching him. This made it clear. He wasn't a BTA fan. If he were, he wouldn't be hiding like this. Why was he trying so hard to conceal himself? In Go Eul-ji's experience, hunters who don't want to be noticed are usually villains. Go Eul-ji became alert.

She recalled the hunters from Igajo, Japan, approaching the BTA agency after ignoring suspicious noises at the previous fan signing event. They had been targeting the Iron Will Guild, but it was unsettling to know such dangerous people were hanging around her favourite stars. If this guy caused trouble, the concert could get cancelled.

'I don't mind ruining the guild, but I can't let my oppas' performance be ruined.'

If Ju Se-ah had heard her resolution, Go Eulji would have been terrified. With that, she immediately went out to find the missing hunter.

"Nari, I'm going out for a bit."

"What? Where are you going all of a sudden?"

"Where... Why are you asking so bluntly? Read the room. The bathroom. I think I have a stomachache."

"I should've stopped you when you ate twenty hamburgers for breakfast. Bye."

"It might take a bit longer. Have fun by yourself."

***

Thomas could no longer ignore the presence encroaching on his space, suffocating him.

"Miss Catherine, I think I need to step aside for a moment."

"Step aside? But you said you couldn't go more than three steps away?"

"In this situation, it's safer for me to keep some distance."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm just taking some precautions, just in case."

Thomas cast two spells on Catherine.

One was a marking spell that could find the target no matter where they were, and the other was a defensive spell that prevented damage above a certain threshold. Though powerful magic often left him bedridden for days due to his chronic illness, he could withstand using several light magic spells at once. Of course, if he overused his magic, the side effects would kick in, but by using it wisely, he could apply it in a broader range of ways than most other mages.

"Well then, I hope you enjoy the event safely."

"Hey, are you okay? What do you mean by that?"

Thomas didn't answer. He left immediately, seeming to listen to Catherine's concerns, but his mind was focused elsewhere.

'I've walked out of the venue quickly, barely catching my breath. The mana flowing through my blood stopped, and my pulse gradually slowed. Eventually, it stopped completely. My heartbeat also died down.' Thomas was in a state similar to a corpse. If any hunter specializing in the age position had seen him, they would have thought he was a moving corpse. In reality, Thomas was using a magic called 'Revival Deadman.'

According to modern theories, this magic was classified as black magic. It was feared by ordinary people and avoided by hunters, as it involved resurrecting a corpse and using it as a servant for a certain period. The problem was that Thomas' magic was entirely different from the magic the hunters knew.

'If it becomes known that I'm using this, I'll be branded an apostle. I might even end up in jail.'

Magic that's only used on the dead-- using it on the living? And it breaks the rules of the skill? Maybe it would mean a trip to a research institute for me instead of prison. Aside from the original skills hunters learned on their own, none of them modified skills acquired from ruins or monsters. As of now, Thomas was the only one who had done so. A rare trait for a hunter was a tool of power, but that wasn't the case for Thomas.

'Rare isn't always good. Because I'm weak.'

But for the strong, rare traits mean strength. He didn't know what kind of trait it was, but even the person chasing him now seemed to have something that other hunters didn't have. How else could they track him so accurately, even after he'd used the Revival Deadman magic to erase all traces, including his life force? Unable to shake off the pursuit, Thomas tried to blend in with the crowd and headed for the subway.

'Ugh! My body feels heavy. Is it telekinesis? They're using their power on me from a distance. It's trying to keep me from going underground.'

Unable to bear the growing weight as he approached the subway, Thomas turned around. As soon as he gave up on the subway, the restraints on him were released. He had an idea why his opponent was using so much force.

'I wonder what they would do if I went to a large shopping mall.'

As expected, he felt a force pulling him toward the ground. 'They're trying to keep me from blending in with the crowds. They want me in a place with fewer people. They're pushing me in that direction.'

But why?

'If they can use this much power from a distance, they should be able to kill me without being discovered at any time. If they're not killing me and instead herding me like sheep, it's because they either want to deal with me secretly or...'

It means they want to check something.

Thomas considered his options. Should he try to make contact, taking advantage of the other person's mercy, or should he avoid them until the end?

Then, suddenly he thought to himself:

'Even if I died now, would it really be a shame?'

A half-hunter's life, a life-threatening disease, no relatives or friends. The only acquaintance he had was Dr. Marie, who had taken an interest in his rare disease and helped him. He had recently sent an email searching for clues about his incurable disease, but even though it had been marked as 'read,' there had been no reply. 

Thomas suddenly felt an urge to confront the pursuer. He entered a narrow alley between two buildings. The shadow that had been following him stretched long into the alley. Thomas stood with his back to the barbed wire fence and waited for his opponent.

The other person approached. It was a woman. She looked young enough to be in middle school by American standards, but considering she was Asian, she was probably in high school or college. She was at least a hand shorter than him.

Though she appeared gentle on the outside, Thomas knew that the chances of a high-ranking hunter having a good personality were slim. As expected, her abilities seemed to involve telekinesis...

"Enough of your calculations. I know I'm pretty, but it's rude to keep spying on me."

"Does this one just have bad eyesight instead of a bad personality?"

"Eyes? My eyes are fine. But I don't exactly live by others' rules so I can't say much about personality."

"No. I meant you should take a look in the mirror."

There was a brief moment of silence. It was so quiet that it almost felt eerie, as if only rats, not people, were passing through the alley.

"You think I'm ugly? Sorry, I'm not good at American humour."

"You took that as a joke? Your senses seem pretty dull. So, why are you following me?"

At this point, Thomas tried to steer the conversation toward the main issue. But the other person refused to get to the point.

"Oh no, this isn't how I intended to enter the US. Hey, do you want me to make your senses dull too?"

"Dull? How? I don't know what you mean by that."

"You get hit until you don't feel any pain anymore. As you keep getting hit, you get used to it and stop feeling anything."

"Stop feeling pain... wouldn't that mean you're dead?"

"Oh. You do a good job grasping the main point. Your senses are quite quick. You asked why I was following you, didn't I? I just discovered that reason."

"What is it?"

"To beat you up."

***

Kang Mu-hyuk visited the Hunters Casino, the largest casino in Las Vegas. He then converted all the million dollars he received from the World Hunters Federation into chips. Concerned, No Songrin asked cautiously.

"Shouldn't you use this for funding?"

"To fund what?"

"You said you need to expand your influence. If you want to meet a famous hunter, you have to eat and drink at expensive places and build relationships. I heard there are a lot of parties where celebrities gather in the US, and hunters often attend them. If you want to go, don't you need to buy nice clothes and things?"

"Do you think I am a social butterfly, Hunter No Songrin?"

shakes head

"Okay, then. That settles it. I don't have to go there."

"No, but I don't think it's right to use it for gambling."

"Pfft!"

When No Songrin spoke with concern, Jang Deuk-goo couldn't help but smile.

"Why are you laughing?"

"No, it's funny because you're saying he shouldn't gamble."

"What's wrong with telling people not to gamble?"

"For criminals in Ujungdo, gambling wouldn't even be considered serious enough to be a crime. Isn't it funny that someone from Ujungdo is trying another person to stop gambling? And on top of that, he's a puppet of Kim Myung-jun. He's someone who could stab you in the back at any moment, so it's just funny to see this whole loyal act."

"It's been a while since we drifted apart...You made quite a few jabs with what you just said."

"You used to be so quiet, but now you talk so much. Trying to brag that the Guild Leader has your back or what?"

"My back? Oh please. We're in the same team. We can't even talk now?"

"I'm still reserving judgment on you. I've never heard of anyone from Ujungdo reforming."@@novelbin@@

"I've always been a good guy."

"Half of the people I've caught and put in jail said the same. You know what the other half said?"

"That they were innocent?"

"You know pretty well. That's why you're a bad guy."

"What kind of absurd standard is that? Mr. Jang Deuk-goo, aren't you crossing the line? I'm in the same team as you. Is it okay to persecute a member of the same group like this? Please say something, Guild Leader..."

"The Guild Leader is already spinning the slot machine. How about that? It seems like you don't enjoy gambling. Should we have a more in-depth conversation?"

"Ahem, sometimes gambling is good for your mental health."

"Take care of your physical health too. Because I'm always watching you."