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

Ju Se-ah was back. With Kamensky. Kang Mu-hyuk went to Hoeryong City, which was undergoing reconstruction, to welcome them. At the entrance to the collapsed Tumen River front, he saw the two coming in after the soldiers.

Kang Mu-hyuk went right up to the control line to greet them.

Ju Se-ah, who hadn't seen him in a long time, glanced at the person next to her. She seemed to gesture that from here on out, she was going to leave everything up to Kang Mu-hyuk.

Kang Mu-hyuk nodded and put out his hand for a handshake with Kamensky.

“My name is Kang Mu-hyuk, the Guild Leader of Iron Will.”

“Nikolai Kamensky.”

Kamensky grabbed Kang Mu-hyuk's outstretched hand.

'He's not a Hunter. But his eyes are unusual. It's like looking at a Hunter who’s out for a Gate raid.'

Kamensky had heard stories about Kang Mu-hyuk over and over again while crossing the Demonic Realm with Ju Se-ah, who had turned Igor back. According to her, Kang Mu-hyuk was not to be taken lightly even though he was not a Hunter.

Kamensky was hunting S-rankers because he was an S-rank Hunter himself, but this guy was an ordinary person who tried to hunt an S-rank.

In the process, he dragged in the Tyrant and treated him like a piece on a chessboard. No sane person could do that. At the very least, he had to be either crazy or a genius. Or maybe both.

Kamensky hoped it would be the former, because it was harder to deal with a smart, ambitious person than with a dumb, crazy person.

But what if he was a smart crazy guy?

'There were a few guys like that. They all had a bad ending. I hope he’s just crazy. Well, maybe I can find out if I talk to him.'

Kamensky was a veteran of both the Great War and the Minor War. He was good enough to operate without incident in Russia, where politics and weapons ran amok. He trained by hunting monsters in the frozen lands of Siberia, known as the Demonic Realm, and he used his power to mediate when a big fight broke out between guilds.

If there was anyone who disrupted the order, he’d even directly punish them. If it was an organization, he’d mobilize all available power to pressure them to prevent them from acting rashly.

Having been through all sorts of hardships, it was natural for him to know that Kang Mu-hyuk had not invited him to Korea simply to get to know him.

“We’ve already booked a hotel for you, Hunter Kamensky. We’ve also prepared a medical team. You should get treatment first and then get some rest.”

“Sure.”

Although he answered calmly on the outside, Kamensky was curious about Kang Mu-hyuk's plan. But, since his physical condition was in shambles, he decided to rest for a while before confronting him.

He got rid of his impatience and got treatment at the hospital that Kang Mu-hyuk had guided him to. Whether it was because he received treatment with equipment that introduced the latest mana therapy or because of his S-rank strength, he regained his vitality after just a few hours of treatment. Of course, he’d need about a month of rest before he could return to the field.

Afterwards, Kamensky unpacked his luggage at a hotel in Hoeryong City. All he had was the Grim Reaper's scythe, so he didn't have any clothes to change into right away, but thanks to Kang Mu-hyuk's preparations, he was able to avoid trouble.

“It’s a shabby place to host Russia’s best Hunter, but please understand that this place was a den of monsters until recently. When you feel better, we will move to a city in the rear and find good lodging.”

The hotel that Kang Mu-hyuk guided was a tourist hotel in Hoeryong City. It had been hastily renovated to be used as temporary accommodation for the Hunters guarding Hoeryong City.

That was why far from having a suite room, all the rooms only had a few square meters and a bed. Even the amenities were similar to those found in a typical suburban motel. Fortunately, the view was good since it was on the top floor. Although it was just a half-collapsed, desolate cityscape, the night view was decent.

“The best Hunter? I’m not even the best in Russia. Don’t worry too much about this old man. In the frozen plains, sleeping on a stone was the norm for me. This is like a palace to me.”

Kamensky was definitely different from other Hunters who pursued wealth and pleasure. Kang Mu-hyuk appreciated his easy going nature. 

Despite being able to indulge in luxury whenever he wanted, Kamensky had maintained his true nature as a Hunter for decades, serving as an example to all Hunters.

“Well, how about getting some rest and having dinner together tonight? I heard you like Korean food.”

“The only Korean food I’ve eaten is snacks or Korean ramen. But since you seem to have put some thought into it, I’ll happily look forward to dinner.”

***

Unlike other tourist hotels that are just hotels in name, the dinner was excellent. 

Kang Mu-hyuk had already organised the restaurant building, whose owner had not yet returned. He had spent a lot of money to hire a Korean cuisine chef from Seoul.

Normally, he would not go on a business trip just for a snobbish chef, but this time he came to Hoeryong City without hesitation now that his guest was a Russian S-rank. The status of an S-rank surpassed that of a national enemy, so it must have been an offer hard to refuse.

Kang Mu-hyuk had Ju Se-ah sit on his right and Kamensky on his left. They continued to talk about various things while eating. The topic of conversation was mostly about hunting monsters in the frozen land.

“So I went after the Yeti to catch it, but this guy is fast and good at hiding. But that Yeti who killed hundreds of people ran away without attacking? That’s when things got weird. I thought something was off and followed him. When I finally caught its tail, as expected, it wasn’t just any Yeti.”

“It was an Unknown.”

“That’s right. It was just as you said, Guild Leader Kang. The Yeti was a Yeti, but like a chameleon, it changed color to match its surroundings, and like a slime, it could change its shape in many ways.”

“Oh? Isn’t that the ‘Chameleon Yeti’?”

“Yes, that’s right, Guild Master Ju. How do you like that name? I gave it that name myself.”

“It’s a good name. I always had a hard time naming them because I came across so many unidentified monsters. Once, I even went to a naming center for help—to come up with a name for an unknown.”

“Hahaha! That’s hilarious! So did you name it then?”

“This is a secret, but I actually paid for three or four of those names. They’re still listed in the monster guide. Later, my conscience got the better of me, so I stopped and just left it to the guild.”

Ju Se-ah covered her mouth with her palm and whispered, while Kamensky laughed heartily and tapped the table in amusement.

Kang Mu-hyuk played along with them and Ju Se-ah followed along, the conversation flowed naturally, touching on a wide range of topics.

From amusing hunting anecdotes to unexpected mishaps, the discussion eventually turned to Gate-related information and raid strategies. Ju Se-ah even received an impromptu lecture on S-rank combat techniques.

The conversation stretched on, becoming lively and chaotic at times, but no one appeared bored. The reason was simple: all three shared a common obsession—they were all crazy obsessed with hunting monsters.

Just as people with shared hobbies quickly bonded, the three had plenty to talk about as they shared their passion for hunting monsters. The dinner, which began at 7 p.m., lasted until nearly midnight. The black sesame ice cream served for dessert had completely melted, and they barely touched the wine bottle.

It was Kamensky who finally broke the rhythm, sensing it was time to get to the heart of the matter.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Alright, the atmosphere is good. Before we get any closer with each other, let’s get down to business.”

“It’s okay if we get closer.”

“You’re putting me in a pinch here. I’m afraid of the cost I’ll have to pay if I get too close to you. So, why did you save me from the Tyrant? It seems to be related to killing Shimwol.”

Kang Mu-hyuk, who had been resting his chin on his hand while listening intently, straightened his posture.

“First, let me make it clear: your interference in the Demonic Realm was not part of my plan.”

The lively atmosphere from moments ago abruptly dissipated.

“I heard about that from Ju Se-ah on the way here. I’m sorry, but as a Russian citizen, I can’t just sit idly by while my country is in danger.”

“Patriotism, huh? That’s a nice way to frame it. If you want to paint it like that, then go ahead.”

“Oh, there’s no glossing over this. Let me ask you: why do you think I fought the Evil Demon on Namsan Island?”

“You’re mentioning Shimwol first.. Not closing the Gate.”

“You noticed that much? Hah, you’re an interesting fellow. Keep going.”

“It’s not complicated. Looking at your past actions, I could easily notice that this wasn’t something you did just because the country was in danger.”

“Oh? What part gave me away?”

“Blagoveshchensk.”

“Hmm.”

“The incident where a Gate worth $50 billion in resources was destroyed in China. Most Hunters focused on the Gate’s value, but what really caught attention was the clash between S-rank Hunters. And, of course, the Russian S-rank involved was none other than you—Hunter Kamensky.”

“What else?”

“Yaroslav Hunter Fair.”

“Hahaha. Not many people know about that. How did you manage to find that out?”

The Yaroslav Hunter Fair was an event held in Yaroslav, a mid-sized city northeast of Moscow. It served as a hub for showcasing advanced Hunter systems, such as Hunter equipment and Gate theories, in cities worldwide every two years.

“I understand that at the time, the leader of the anti-Hunter terrorist group ‘Mirage’ attacked the fair. The leader of Mirage was an S-rank, and you rushed from the frozen lands to fight them.”

Kang Mu-hyuk listed more incidents. All involved S-rank threats, and Kamensky was at the center of each one.

“My mistake was not expecting you to come running all the way from the frozen lands to the Demonic Realm. In fact, I didn’t even consider your existence in this equation. I didn’t realize you’d fly here just to go after China’s S-rank. Should I keep going?”

“No, that’s enough. What’s your point?”

“I acknowledge your dedication to protecting the frozen lands. Whatever your intentions, your efforts benefit humanity after all. However, recklessly seeking out and fighting strong opponents just to prove your strength isn’t a good look.”

“Not a good look? For whom?”

“For the people of Earth.”

“What?”

Kamensky froze for a moment, thinking Kang Mu-hyuk was joking. But when he saw Kang's serious expression, he realized this was no joke.

‘Is he lecturing me about not being reckless for humanity’s sake? This is coming from the man who eliminated the Shimwol? Does he have the right to say this to me?’

Kamensky was momentarily speechless, his expression tinged with disbelief. Kang Mu-hyuk, sensing his thoughts, calmly explained, “Shimwol deserved to die. She harmed people.”

“Are you saying I did too?”

“No. If that were the case, I would have let the Tyrant kill you.”

“And then, the witch would kill the Tyrant, who’d be worn out from fighting me. The peak of highway chain killing, wouldn’t you say?”

“Eliminating all three S-ranks at once would have thrown the world into chaos. That doesn’t mean I’m condoning your actions.”

“Condoning?”

“It was reckless for you to move so freely in the frozen lands. If the Tyrant had killed you, who would have taken responsibility for that region? The Hunters under you would have scattered, and the frozen lands would have expanded uncontrollably.”

The frozen lands posed a greater threat than even the Demonic Realm. Its extreme cold made it uninhabitable for humans and challenging for Hunters. Plus, the monsters that appeared there were unlike any others, and for decades, Kamensky had been the one keeping them at bay.

In that sense, Russia owed Kamensky a great deal. 

‘But I can’t let appearances fool me. Kamensky wasn’t motivated by duty or obligation. He thrived on the thrill of fighting powerful monsters—and in the same way, strong Hunters.’

Kang Mu-hyuk believed leaving such a dangerous individual unchecked wasn’t an option . But neither was eliminating him. Kamensky, for all his flaws, protected people and defeated monsters.

Kang Mu-hyuk had brought him here, hoping to guide him. He couldn’t control him, but perhaps he could act as a rudder, steering Kamensky toward more constructive paths.

“You need to understand how important your role is. If you leave the frozen lands, not only will that region face threats, but the balance of power in Russia will shift. Guilds will run amok. Just look at Darden. You’ve provoked someone who aims to dominate the Russian Hunter world. Doesn’t that clearly show you’re considering fighting with the Tyrant?”

“If you’ve analyzed me this thoroughly, there’s no point in denying it. Yes, I pressured Darden because I wanted a shot at the Tyrant. But you played a part in setting up this situation.”

Kang Mu-hyuk groaned.

“Vladivostok…”

“Exactly. You got it right away. You managed to win one over Darden there, putting his Tyrant Guild in a tight spot. One misstep, and he could’ve reverted to being a wanted fugitive. Then I’d have happily hunted him down. Of course, the Demonic Realm incident happened before that, so my plans changed. Anyway, fighting Shimwol made for a satisfying outing.”

Kang Mu-hyuk had a new realization.

Kamensky, despite being hailed as a Russian hero, was just like any other Hunter—a flawed individual with a singular obsession.

‘Unfortunately, this won’t be easy. I hoped he was a more responsible Hunter.’

Still, Kamensky wasn’t someone who picked fights with S-ranks for no reason. He fought only when there was a just cause: Blagoveshchensk, the Yaroslav Hunter Fair, the Demonic Realm incident, Igor…

Every case apart from that also had justification.

Kang Mu-hyuk decided he’d have to wrap up the conversation with some proposals. 

After all, he couldn’t reason with a Hunter’s fighting spirit, but perhaps offering tangible benefits could pave the way for future cooperation.

Just as he was gathering his thoughts, a commotion erupted outside.

Ju Se-ah, who had been silent throughout the discussion, turned toward the restaurant entrance. Moments later, someone burst through the door—it was Noh Song-rin, his face pale with shock.

“What’s going on?”

“The dragon… Khabarovsk…”

“Khabarovsk? Tell me in detail what you mean.”

At the mention of the Russian city, Kamensky leaned forward. Noh Song-rin took a deep breath and delivered the news.

“Khabarovsk has disappeared.”