* * *
Having awakened only recently and worked at a government agency for just two months, Kim Jinsoo still had the instincts of a rookie.
He failed to immediately connect the dots to the infamous villain leader who had caused global commotion just a year prior.
Given the enigmatic reputation of this individual, whose appearances were rare and rarely domestic, it wasn’t surprising that someone like Jinsoo wouldn’t recognize them.
“I’ll go.”
His train of thought was cut short by a calm voice.
Both Doyoung and Namsoo simultaneously turned around.
Standing there was Song Jihee, her gaze resolute.
For some reason, she was accompanied by Park Bora.
“Hunter Song Jihee.”
Doyoung’s tone was scolding as he looked at her. Song Jihee was supposed to be stationed outside as part of the reserve team in case they needed to summon additional hunters.
She wasn’t supposed to be here.
“President Choi told me to assist Secretary Na, saying you’d have a summoner on your side.”
“…Sigh.”
Another headache.
What exactly was she thinking, constantly stepping in like this?
All of them had previously worked with Antithesis, and now, with their identities exposed, how did she intend to clean up after herself?
It was only natural for Doyoung to let out a sigh.
“It’s fine, Secretary. President Choi said they’re trustworthy and skilled.”
Misinterpreting his reaction, Jihee tried to reassure him.
Instead of correcting her, Doyoung nodded.
Since Bora had come along, it was clear she had no intention of leaving.
And to be fair, her assistance would indeed be helpful right now.
“Then let’s assess the situation on the other side first…”
“There doesn’t seem to be any danger beyond the wall!”
Before Doyoung could finish speaking, Kim Jinsoo energetically reported.
It appeared that while everyone else was talking, Jinsoo had gone ahead to investigate beyond the obstacle.
Knowing Jinsoo’s background as a scout for government agencies, Doyoung recognized it as an instinctive move.
“Alright. Hunter Song Jihee, I’ll leave it to you.”
“Leave it to me!”
“I’ll assist with the ascent.”
Jihee smiled brightly at Doyoung’s offer.
There was no reason to refuse the telekinetic assistance he was offering.
“Alright! Up I go!”
As Doyoung’s amethyst eyes glimmered, Jihee’s body gently lifted into the air and floated toward the top of the debris.
“I’ve made it!”
Jihee suddenly shouted from her position atop the rubble, spotting a small robot’s light blinking to signal the location of the gap.
The little crimson light blinking amidst the dimness was so endearing that Jihee couldn’t help but smile.
“Be careful, Hunter Song Jihee.”
“Got it!”
Thanks to Doyoung’s careful maneuvering, Jihee landed safely atop the debris.
Her petite 153cm frame and slender build made it much easier for her to pass through the gap.
“Hunter Song Jihee, toss the item I gave you earlier over to that side. Anywhere near the gap is fine.”
Just as she was about to move, Park Bora called out.
“Understood!”
From Jihee’s pocket emerged a tiny seed, no bigger than a grain of rice.
Bora had handed it to her just before they entered the dungeon, saying it might prove surprisingly useful in emergencies.
“Huh?”
Jihee blinked in astonishment as something unexpected unfolded.
At first, it appeared like something was squirming.
In an instant, the seed expanded, growing longer and thicker until it became a vine as thick as a finger.
“What is that?”
Jinsoo, watching from below, was just as bewildered.
The vine, which resembled a creeping tendril, snaked through the gaps in the debris and eventually wrapped itself around the area.
“My ability allows me to manipulate plants. Specifically, I specialize in germinating seeds and sprouting vines.”
“Ah!”
As Bora explained, Jinsoo nodded, though his expression remained puzzled.
“I set this up in case Hunter Song Jihee gets pricked by something sharp or hurt by falling debris.”
At her explanation, Jihee, who had been admiring the vine, quickly thanked her before slipping through the gap.
The vine’s smooth, slightly elastic surface allowed her to move easily.
Once she reached the other side and landed on solid ground, Jihee called out.
“I’ve made it! I’ll summon the others now!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Doyoung and the others shimmered and vanished from sight, only to reappear beside Jihee moments later.
“Thank you, Hunter Song Jihee.”
“Oh, it’s nothing! Let’s move!”
With a nod, Doyoung resumed leading the way. Somewhere beyond, the deity awaited.
The inside of the laboratory was completely devastated.
It seemed like someone had intended to obliterate the entire structure, as not a single wall, pillar, or steel beam remained intact.
Amidst the precarious ruins, Bora threw seeds to create vine supports.
“I used to be mocked for having a useless ability… but someone once showed me how it could be used like this.”
Park Bora’s murmuring as she built a new retaining wall with Song Jihee reached Doyoung’s ears.
Though his brow twitched, he refrained from interrupting their conversation.
“What? With power this incredible? Who would say that? Ignorant people, I guess.”
“Well, I didn’t even think of this method, so I guess it’s similar.”
“Wait, a power to control plants? Were you, like, a florist or a farmer before?”
Kim Jinsoo suddenly interjected between their exchange.
He seemed more comfortable sticking with hunters of his own age group.
“I used to run a flower shop,” Park Bora said casually.
Doyoung stifled a laugh at her words.
A flower shop?
As far as he knew, she’d run a large-scale flower farming complex.
He remembered hearing about how a dungeon outbreak destroyed her workplace because the country’s hunters couldn’t subjugate it in time.
Devastated by the ruins of her livelihood, she had awakened.
“Of course! No wonder you seem so elegant and refined,” Jinsoo remarked.
“Haha…”
Not bad, Doyoung thought as he observed the dynamic between a hunter who had once served under his organization, one from a highly respected guild, and another from a government agency.
It dawned on him: the scene he had always envisioned was right there.
‘If I tell the Pantheon Lord, he’ll be thrilled.’
Both he and that person had wished for a world where no hunter faced discrimination, where everyone could freely demonstrate their abilities and receive proper compensation.
“But you said you learned this from your mentor. Were they also a plant expert?”
“No, not really. They were…”
Park Bora momentarily glanced at Doyoung. His stern look screamed, ‘Don’t let it show’.
She shrugged with feigned innocence.
“They were just… an extraordinary person. They knew a lot, had incredible abilities, and above all, gave the impression they could do absolutely anything.”
“Wow… I wish I had a mentor like that.”
“A mentor, huh? Haha!”
Jinsoo’s genuine admiration made Park Bora burst into hearty laughter.
Even so, the group diligently continued their exploration of the laboratory.
Namsoo focused on his clairvoyance, while Jinsoo dispatched robots to scout the area, ensuring their guild received recordings.
“Ugh, another blockage,” Jinsoo said, frustrated.
It was the fourth one they’d encountered.
“Doesn’t this feel deliberate?” Jinsoo asked with a frown.
Doyoung agreed.
“They reinforced the entrances with steel plates and blocked the hallways like this. It’s malicious.”
“It’s like they wanted to collapse the building and trap any survivors inside,” Song Jihee added, anger evident in her voice.
“Just wait until we catch them. They won’t get away with this!”
While everyone vented their frustration, Doyoung’s expression darkened.
‘They didn’t think these obstacles could trap powerful hunters.’
‘They’re mocking us.’
Their actions said as much—This is the price of challenging us.
One thing was certain: Doyoung wouldn’t let them get away with it.
“Let’s clear this out.”
Park Bora stabilized the debris to prevent a collapse, while Doyoung removed the largest pieces to create a path.
Namsoo and Jinsoo took the lead, scouting the opposite side before the group moved forward.
“Wait… Hold on. There’s something ahead!”
* * *
