Chapter 221 – First Generation Awakened (3)

“I’d like to take some vacation time.”

It was the first time he had requested a vacation since joining the Hanul Guild.

“Hey now, if you take five days off, you’ll lose muscle mass.”

“I’ll do my basic training even on vacation.”

“You’re not getting dragged into some weird cult again, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m just planning to take In-su with me and get some rest.”

Kim In-ho even used his son as a shield. Hyunbin, not being a complete devil, readily approved the vacation.

The place he was going to, even using his son In-su as an excuse, was Jeju Island.

A muscular woman who called herself the prophet of the Hero Church.

She had advised him to go to a certain cafe on Jeju Island, telling him that the first-generation awakeners were there.

-The Hero will need allies who can properly watch his back from now on.

That’s what the prophet had said.

Contrary to her muscular physique, her eyes were impeccably clear.

A mix of fondness for Hyunbin, worry—a complex tangle of various emotions was reflected in them.

There was no guarantee he could trust her. Though he had observed her for a while, one could never truly know a person’s nature. Nevertheless, Kim In-ho boarded a plane to Jeju Island.

This time, at the place called the Hero Church, he had observed the existence known as Lee Hyunbin not as an acquaintance, but as a third party.

His achievements were overwhelming enough to earn someone’s worship. But for some reason, Kim In-ho felt a sense of unease.

Lee Hyunbin certainly seemed strong, as if no one could defeat him, as if no one could touch him. But strangely, he looked like he was walking a tightrope.

Like Lee Hyunbin, Kim In-ho was also quick on the uptake.

For some reason, Lee Hyunbin had seemed on edge lately.

His agitation was evident in his intensified training.

After his recent promotion from Team Leader to Director, Lee Hyunbin had more free time and spent many days acting alone.

Instead of enjoying a more relaxed life, he trained himself even more rigorously.

In a way, he could be seen as a model hunter. But it looked more like he was dissatisfied with himself, constantly whipping himself into shape.

Like someone who couldn’t bear it unless they were constantly getting stronger. Like someone with an obsession.

Kim In-ho found that puzzling.

The prophet claimed she was gathering followers for the Hero to prepare for the coming war of destruction. It was an absurd story. But the recent state of the world truly seemed to be heading towards an apocalypse.

Small countries had already been trampled by monsters, and there were still places in the world at war with them.

The turning point was clearly marked by the before and after of the largest-scale gate in history.

He didn’t know when something might happen in his own country.

Kim In-ho thought that even without the prophet’s request, making the first-generation awakeners his allies would be beneficial.

The first-generation awakeners were heroes, even to the hunters of today.

Many had dreamed of becoming hunters while watching their exploits.

After arriving on Jeju Island, Kim In-ho rented a car, entered the destination into his navigation, and arrived at Halla Cafe Kkotgaram.

The cafe, nestled in a forest park, looked quaint and atmospheric.

He had arrived with an excited heart, but unfortunately, there was no one inside the cafe.

It was a slow time for customers, so they might have stepped out for a bit.

Since he was the one who had shown up unannounced, it was only polite to wait.

How long had he waited?

He heard the sound of a vehicle.

Kim In-ho straightened his clothes. He felt a slight tremor at the thought of meeting the heroes he had only seen on TV in person.

Soon, a car stopped, and people got out.

A short, military-style haircut and a sturdy, muscular build. A scar on his right cheek.

‘Salvation Knight Gang Cheol.’

The man who had always saved people from the front lines. A figure once called the strongest of the first generation.

Even when Lee Hyunbin had hunted the dragon, there had been public opinion comparing him to Gang Cheol.

‘All-rounder Lee Hyun-a.’

An all-rounder like himself, but specialized in healing.

She had a pretty face but always wore a scowl, yet like Gang Cheol, she was a hero who had saved countless lives.

They were both really alive.

For some reason, Kim In-ho felt a surge of emotion. But there was another person besides the two.

‘Lieutenant Colonel Baek Hyun-joo?’

She had been promoted to Colonel a few days ago, but Kim In-ho didn’t know that. However, he knew the name Baek Hyun-joo well.

She was the hero who had first managed the first-generation awakener unit and prevented the first Gate disaster.

‘Why is Lieutenant Colonel Baek Hyun-joo here?’

For a moment, Kim In-ho realized he had been spacing out.

It was rude.

He bowed his head toward the first-generation heroes.

“Greetings, seniors. I’m Kim In-ho.”

“Aw, what? Not a customer. I was hoping for some sales for once.”

Lee Hyun-a’s face crumpled in disappointment.

Seeing this, Kim In-ho immediately replied.

“I did come for a drink!”

“Oh…?”

Lee Hyun-a let out a whistle.

“Guess I’d better get ready to open. Nice, nice.”

Lee Hyun-a went inside the cafe.

As she entered, the lights inside began to turn on one by one.

“Sit wherever you like.”

“Ah, yes…”

Kim In-ho sat at the nearest table.

He had come to the cafe on a whim, but he was at a loss as to what to say first.

Should he ask Gang Cheol and Lee Hyun-a why they were hiding in a place like this?

Or should he ask why they quit being hunters?

Or perhaps he should ask why Lieutenant Colonel Baek Hyun-joo was here.

As his mind raced, Gang Cheol and Lee Hyun-a appeared before him, wearing aprons.

“What’s your order?”

“Ah, the menu is…”

“Here you go.”

“Thank you…”

Kim In-ho looked at the menu. And then he saw the price of the coffee written on it.

‘Americano 50,000 won?’

It looked like an extra zero had been added, no matter how he looked at it. But seeing the other items, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

Caffe Mocha 75,000 won

Grain Latte 65,000 won

Hot/Iced Choco 64,000 won

Even for Jeju Island, which had briefly become like another world, the prices were astronomically high.

“Not ordering?”

“Ah, I’ll have an Americano…”

“Alright. Hey, Kkang. Go brew the coffee!”

“Yeah.”

Kim In-ho blinked.

A first-generation hero personally brewing his coffee. If that was an honor, then it was an honor.

“Ah, seriously. I told you not to do it like that!”

Lee Hyun-a’s sharp voice could be heard.

“Ugh! I showed you last time! You blockhead! You don’t know how to do anything but fight!”

The sound of a back being slapped echoed a few times.

And the sound of Gang Cheol letting out a low groan.

“What brings you here?”

While Kim In-ho was blankly waiting for his coffee, Baek Hyun-joo spoke to him first.

“Right, I should introduce myself first. I know you, you’re Hunter Kim In-ho from the Hanul Guild, right?”

“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Baek Hyun-joo.”

“Oh, you know me. But I’ve been promoted to Colonel.”

Her posture was as if carved with a knife. Her lips were smiling gently, but her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

“Congratulations.”

Baek Hyun-joo smiled at Kim In-ho’s response.

“So, what brings you here?”

Kim In-ho thought for a moment.

The reason Baek Hyun-joo was here. And the reason she was asking him this.

There was no need to overthink it.

“I came for the same reason.”

“The same?”

“Yes, the same.”

At Kim In-ho’s words, Baek Hyun-joo smiled faintly.

“I just came to see my friends. Didn’t you know? I go way back with them.”

“For someone famous for being a workaholic to come all the way to Jeju to see friends during the busiest time, that’s impressive.”

Baek Hyun-joo tilted her head at Kim In-ho’s words.

“They say the busier you are, the more you should take a detour. A chance to see old friends and clear my head?”

“I see. Since it was just a simple vacation, it seems I misunderstood.”

“Indeed.”

“So you came for a different reason than I did. My apologies. In that case, I’m relieved.”

Kim In-ho said, a slight smile gracing his lips.

“I came here to invite our seniors to join our guild.”

Seeing Kim In-ho speak so directly, Baek Hyun-joo’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m glad we don’t have to compete with each other.”

He answered with a smoothness that belied his age.

Although their personalities seemed completely different, he had a trace of resemblance to Lee Hyunbin.

This time, a genuine smile spread across Baek Hyun-joo’s face. Like master, like pupil.

“The Hanul Guild is being too greedy.”

Baek Hyun-joo continued.

“Hanul has plenty of talent already. Is there really a need to gather more people? One might think you’re planning a coup.”

*Hyunbin-hyung could probably pull off a coup all by himself.*

Kim In-ho wanted to say it, but he forced himself to swallow the words.

Inexperienced rookie hunters who didn’t know any better thought that the first-generation hunters didn’t know proper hunting methods and couldn’t utilize the system’s growth methods well.

However, while the first generation may have lacked research on hunting, their pure strength was the real deal.

That’s why many people coveted them.

“Gang Cheol and Hyun-a look good, don’t they?”

The sound of the two bickering in the kitchen could be heard.

They certainly seemed close.

“Those two went through a lot. They were hurt a lot, too. Just because they were strong, just because they had special powers, they were practically exploited by the state.”

“…”

“To be honest, I came here to scout them too. But I’ve been trying to persuade them for a while now, and they won’t budge. If I, their old comrade-in-arms, can’t do it, do you think a junior from a much later generation can?”

As Baek Hyun-joo said, Kim In-ho, though he had grown considerably, was a hunter who had just shed his rookie status.

Most importantly, he had no authority to scout for the Hanul Guild.

In contrast, Baek Hyun-joo had the backing of the military and was in the process of forming a new association.

In other words, she could promise them far more than Kim In-ho could. And yet, she was saying it was difficult.

“Here’s your order!”

Lee Hyun-a served the Americanos to the two of them.

Kim In-ho looked back and forth between his Americano and Baek Hyun-joo’s.

Baek Hyun-joo’s was a normal Americano. But Kim In-ho’s was emitting a somewhat ominous aura.

*Don’t drink it.*

Kim In-ho’s sharp intuition flared.

But another instinct also kicked in. From the kitchen counter, Gang Cheol was hiding and watching.

*I have to drink it.*

It would have been better if he just came out openly; hiding with that large frame made him seem even more terrifying.

*Gulp.*

Kim In-ho drank.

In that moment, he felt the illusion that the scenery around him was changing.

Coffee trees began to grow.

Blooming red coffee cherries. Hardy locals, harvesting them, broke into a sweat as they processed the beans.

Amidst the rich aroma, Kim In-ho saw a native give him a thumbs-up.

The beans, born from their labor, now exuded their flavor right here.

At that moment, the native’s thumb plunged downwards.

“Gack!”

The vile taste made Kim In-ho retch.

Seeing him in agony, Lee Hyun-a clutched her stomach and burst into laughter.

Gang Cheol just scratched the back of his head.

Kim In-ho now understood why this cafe had no customers.

“Here, drink this one. It was just a joke, a joke.”

“Urgh. I-I’m fine.”

“This is one I made, so it should be okay.”

“In that case…”

Kim In-ho cautiously glanced at Gang Cheol as he drank the coffee.

This one was definitely fine. No, it was actually quite good.

“Actually, I came here today to make an offer to you both.”

“Don’t.”

“Pardon?”

“The offer. We’re not accepting.”

Lee Hyun-a crossed her arms and smirked.

Baek Hyun-joo looked at Kim In-ho and smiled faintly, as if to say, *see?*

“More importantly, how did you know we were here? It doesn’t seem like it was Hyun-joo unni.”

Lee Hyun-a asked with a bright smile. She was definitely smiling, but it felt like there was a strange killing intent mixed in.

It was clear hostility.

“It will be a good offer.”

“What kind of offer could it be? I wish you could grant me three wishes like a genie.”

Lee Hyun-a said playfully, spinning around. Kim In-ho knew she wouldn’t take him seriously anyway.

“I will grant them.”

After the Hero Church incident, Kim In-ho had met the prophet and Seo-yeon.

He couldn’t understand why Seo-yeon was there. But her aura was very different from the Seo-yeon he usually saw.

-As promised, I will tell you about the Hero.

The prophet shared a memory with Kim In-ho.

An understanding faster than words seeped into his being.

-That was the Hero’s life.

A different Hyunbin from the one he had known until now.

-And that was his end.

And an ending that he could not accept existed.

At least for Kim In-ho, the Hero he knew was more than capable of such a thing.

“You’re looking for a Dimension Traversing Sorcerer, aren’t you?”

“…!”

Lee Hyun-a’s playful smile froze.

-The Hero will try to bear everything on his own.

He couldn’t accept that.

“Just once. Whether as mercenaries, or as heroes of the first generation.”

The model student who never did anything his master didn’t ask for, began his first act of deviation.

“All you have to do is fight with us.”