Chapter 442. Why the business......

The Hunter of the Other World Who Is Being Misunderstood

Chapter 442. Why the business......

Still, just because he was feeling dejected didn't mean that misfortune would fade away on its own.

"This is hopeless."

The blond-haired guild master pulled himself together. Rather than endlessly lamenting his situation, he decided to focus on finding a quick way out of this crisis. So Kim Giryeo picked up his phone once more—intending to use the device's online search system to figure out what was wrong with his guild.

"Let's see... I'm sure I saved the domain of the website Koreans use the most somewhere..."

It had been quite a while since he last went web surfing. But through this act, Kim Giryeo once again realized just how cornered he truly was.

[Free Board]

[Did you guys see the new hunter recruitment post today?]

The fourth S-rank hunter of South Korea has recently started appearing in the media again. And the reason this awakened individual announced their return wasn't something ordinary like license restoration—it was a sudden declaration that they would start running a guild.

"There's no law that says a civilian can't be a guild master, right?"

There was, of course, an uproar in the hunting industry. That was the polite way to put it. In other words, it could also be said that Kim Giryeo was getting plenty of hate online.

[Free Board]

[IBEST Whatever the reason is, he totally deserves the hate for being so indecisive in such a serious position, don't you think? KGR << That guy set a bad example—I heard there's been a rise in hunters quitting their jobs because of him. --- ][IBEST Hunter-Lovers Union spy, get lost back to your own community~~ If you wanna live however you want, at least take less money. Why are you always whining while enjoying all the perks??]

"Kim Giryeo, I'm sorry."

The conflict between mages and non-mages—such a confrontation was rare on his home planet, so from the alien's perspective, it was admittedly refreshing.

"It seems like people have started swearing at your name quite often."

Some online users tried to defend Kim Giryeo, arguing that it's a good thing for an S-rank Hunter to return to social activity, and that's it's better for the country to have even one more powerful asset... and so on.

[Those people talking about "S-rank Hunter returning to society"— are they out of their minds? Kim Giryeo didn't come back as a Hunter, he just reopened his company— there's nothing about hunting qualifications at all.]

[Besides, even foreign news reported that his health is still abnormal. Even if some sites are low-credibility media, seeing that the entire industry says the same thing, it's safe to consider it reliable information.]

However, using "national defense" as an excuse was out of the question for the time being.

"I retired after showing a lung tumor diagnosis. "To restore my license, I thought it would be quieter to speak directly to the director who knew the inside story."

As that comment on the internet said, he really hadn't returned as a hunter yet.

"My licensing issue could be resolved all at once by that director, but they're still away on an overseas trip. So, exactly when will that person be back in the country?"

A man with eyes as dark as a dead fish shifted slightly. Seated in the chair, he rolled his eyes to ease the strain on his visual organs. Next, he went through the motions of checking online public opinion again, but honestly, even spending more time on it wouldn't yield any worthwhile results.

[Posted by: y9k1107]

[Title: Kim Giryeo Returning to the Industry? And This Time Actually Recruiting Guild Members?]

[Content: Wow! A guild run directly by an S-rank Hunter—this is amazing!

I need to start preparing to join right away...

Ugh... S-rank guild... the interview...

But why do I suddenly have a headache?]

[Comment (8)]

[Hunter1: (Info) Apparently, the author of this post actually went to the Garion interview site a few years ago.]

[ Hunter2: "~~~~~~"]

[ Hunter3: "~~~~~~, wow... someone actually "survived" a hero-style interview, wow]

Posts like this were once again circulating on the most-viewed lists of various websites.

"Jeong Haseong..."

Apparently, because of the nightmare that a certain company named Garion had instilled in hunters, even the application rate for an innocent new guild was completely destroyed.

"Yeah. At least I've found one excuse for now."

Kim Giryeo tried to escape reality for three seconds. But even he knew deep down: if a small guild completely failed, at least 50% of the blame fell on him.

"Phew."

Kim Giryeo had once managed, with the help of a government official, to post a hunter recruitment advertisement. On the site for recruiting hunters, he had even listed his personal number as the contact for inquiries. Fortunately, no prank calls came through to his phone.

Hello? Is this the contact number for inquiries about Kim Giryeo's guild?

In fact, there were even two inquiries that seriously asked about joining the guild.

"It's two, no less."

However, despite the fact that the job posting clearly emphasized [# Low-rank Awakeners Welcome #], strangely, the only inquiries were from high-ranking hunters.

"Honestly, sending an A-rank to an F-rank hunting ground feels a bit..."

Kim Giryeo had given roughly the same answer to those who had called him.

Ah, excuse me, but it would be much better for an A-rank hunter to join another guild...

B-rank? Well, that would put you slightly outside the grade range I'm looking for, but...

To the first caller, he suggested, "Why not put your abilities to use somewhere bigger?" And to the second applicant, he gave an even more positive reply, implying, "With your skills, you could still barely handle soil exploration." In short, the guild master never belittled anyone's abilities.

"I never said they were lacking."

He had only been expressing admiration, marveling at how abundant their abilities were. Yet for some reason, every time such comments came up, netizens seemed to interpret his intentions the exact opposite way.

"This is unsettling."

Kim Giryeo briefly put down the phone he had been looking at.

[Real-time HOT] Review of a regular A-rank applying to the viral guild...:: Rejected at the entrance]

As evident from this post plastered on the site's front page, people were once again spreading the rumor that the S-rank hunter was only looking for the strongest.

"Why does everyone always take my words the opposite way?"

The post he had hurriedly put up on the job site was quickly edited to read [A-rank excluded]. He even called back the B-rank hunter who had contacted me once before and sincerely invited them to actually try working with him.

"Hmm."

The results weren't good. For a variety of reasons, the number of applicants for this guild had dwindled to zero.

"C-rank, D-rank, E-rank... back when I was just starting out, there seemed to be plenty of those middle Awakening."

Anyway, why is it that when I go looking myself, the ones I actually need are nowhere to be seen?

"Especially those C-rank ones are even more problematic. Just because they meet the minimum requirements for a meager company, they only prepare for Neo and Korean Magic Tower. They don't even show their faces at a guild like this."

Hunters can be really ruthless. With so many guilds in the world, they're almost terrifyingly merciless toward a fledgling company.

"Is this the labor shortage that South Korean self-employed people experience every day?"

Kim Giryeo had a lot on his mind. Yet no matter how he reacted, the netizens from that planet continued to firmly shape their own worldview.

[224th HOT Posts Collection]

[Title: Finally, a Testimony from an Insider Has Emerged!]

[Content: According to the building manager of that guild—that S-rank hunter is currently recruiting "raw" or unpolished awakeners. So apparently, they're openly welcoming lower-ranked ones, yep.

Even before, Jeong Haseong mentioned in an interview that he got a lot of sparring practice and learned a lot from him on the side.

Honestly, it doesn't make sense that Hunter Kim suddenly went crazy for money and is expanding a business... The main goal is probably to nurture newcomers in the industry, RIGHT? And I asked a friend who works at the Hunter Association about this, and they said it's possible that this is a project being run behind the scenes in coordination with the government.]

The person claiming to be the building manager... what even is that about? And why is this terrifying phrase "in coordination with the government" coming up... here?

[Guys, sorry for suddenly picking a fight, but why is everyone going so harsh when talking about that hunter in these posts? If you're going to badmouth a real person, shouldn't you at least just use the initials?]

[Useless worry -> Common sense says an S-rank awakened person wouldn't waste time hanging out on some fringe site like this, tsk tsk.]

The S-rank internet addict, who had been surfing the web, finally got up smoothly from their spot. Kim Giryeo, fully dressed in a suit and having stepped out since morning, was still standing alone in the rented area.

"Anyway, the situation isn't looking good."

[Ting!]

Come to think of it, that notification sound must be from the email app he installed on his phone.

"It's Jeong Haseong again...!"

Kim Giryeo stared at the sender summary on his phone screen and fell into expressionless despair.

[Jeong Haseong]

[Content: Awakened Mr. Kim! First of all, thank you for replying so quickly to my previous email.

But after hearing your response that you won't be accepting any high-ranking guild members, I think I finally understand what's going on.

This morning, when I checked the 9 a.m. news, the entire world seemed to be talking about your guild.

They were questioning whether a retired hunter can legally open a guild... and discussing all sorts of online reactions to the recruitment notice you posted on the site.

This morning at 9 a.m., I checked the news, and the whole world was talking about your guild, Hunter.

People were debating whether it's even legally possible for a retired hunter to open a guild as its representative... and all sorts of online reactions have exploded over the recruitment notice you posted on the site as well.

I'm really sorry for realizing it so late.

As expected, you're someone who always sees the forest, not just the trees.

I was wondering why you suddenly decided to revive that neglected corporation—but in the end, it was all to take control of public opinion, wasn't it?

I was truly moved.

Thanks to your clever way of drawing everyone's attention, my mother has finally been able to rest peacefully...]

The letter was overflowing with excessive praise—but the person receiving it couldn't feel happy about it at all.

"No, Haseong. I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to a few articles about your family, our guild ended up getting less hate."

He hadn't paid any attention to anything. And yet, when he came to his senses, his inbox was overflowing with a long letter of gratitude from the nation's hero.

"What a mess."

Mutter.

Kim Giryeo lightly pinched the bridge of his nose. Then, along with that familiar old habit, a thought crossed his mind.

"My thoughts are a mess... Maybe I should just go out and grab a bowl of gukbap first."

The guild recruitment had already gone down the drain anyway. It wasn't like he could afford to focus on just one thing during such a hectic time. After all, soil exploration using Earthling labor had never been this alien's top priority to begin with.

"Clearing the dungeon itself isn't really a problem. The only issue is that the more times I have to do it, the more of a hassle it becomes."

So Kim Giryeo decided to focus a bit more on golem creation first. After that, he spent a day watching various wildlife documentaries from Earth, and on his own, he pondered which golems to create, using the animals he observed as inspiration.

"Hmm."

During this process, Kim Giryeo even contacted Seonwoo Yeon directly. Around 6 p.m.—figuring that as a working professional she'd likely be in a better mood after finishing work—he called and clung to her, asking if she still had any thoughts of quitting her job.

Have you still not found any guild members?

I'm not exactly forcing you, but no matter how I think about it, there's just no one whose skills and character have both been proven.

However, Seonwoo Yeon remained firm in her decision. Whether it was because receiving a pension after a long career in public service was her life goal or for some other reason, she still refused the offer. As a result, Kim Giryeo had no choice but to continue his research alone, unable to find a solution.

"Could it be because I never knew when an application email might come in? Lately, I haven't been able to sleep deeply at all."

Then, one day, at a moment he could never have anticipated, a new hunter showed up at his workplace.

[New Mail (1)]

First, they meticulously filled out the job application and sent it. Moreover, they arrived exactly on time for the meeting—not a second late—so up to this point, everything was fine.

"-_-"

This happened roughly 24 hours after he realized the guild was failing. Kim Giryeo repeatedly glanced back and forth between the résumé on his phone and the person standing before him. He tilted his head and said,

"Um... You're too high of a rank to even be here."

Moreover, the hunter he was now meeting was especially problematic in terms of experience. The extraterrestrial intended to gather the overlooked, underqualified individuals in the industry to feed and support—but suddenly, someone with such a dazzling résumé showing up was... a bit awkward, to say the least.

"My rank is too high?"

For reference, the room that the alien had set up as a "interview space" contained nothing but two metal folding chairs. However, the earthling who soon opened their mouth seemed unconcerned with the surrounding decor, speaking indifferently.

"I've never heard any that in front of a guild operator before."

A massive scar running across the jaw and neck. Short black hair. And a voice, like Kim Giryeo's, clear but not entirely bright, among other things.

"Anyway, it's been a long time. Before we begin our discussion, I hope you've been well."

"Yes, yes."

Choi Jin. Rather than being introduced as someone's sibling, the hunter—famous for holding the title of Korea's top dragon slayer—soon revealed herself.