Chapter Title: Martial Emperor Gu Hwisoo
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📰 Breaking News [One of the Three Emperors, the Ice Queen, has single-handedly cleared an S-Rank Gate that appeared in Canada. Her guild, Iceborn, did not participate...] [The great archmage 'Temu Litmanen,' who held one pillar of the Demon King's forces, is reportedly in critical condition. Due to this, Poland, which wielded global influence through Temu Litmanen's presence, is facing major concerns over a decline in national power...] [The U.S. mega-guild 'Clyden,' which has focused solely on conquering the Arctic Tower regardless of Gates, has successfully cleared the 13th floor—an uncharted territory. With this success, the U.S. has gained ownership of the 13th floor. In response, nations around the world have strongly asserted that America is trying to monopolize the Tower and have begun official checks.]
In an era where news updates incessantly every moment, the stories drawing the most attention today were undoubtedly those about Hunters—especially the 12 Apostles. And here, the world turned its eyes to yet another fresh piece of news.
📰 Breaking News [Breaking news. Yesterday, we reported on the monster that nearly annihilated Copenhagen in Denmark. Fortunately, Copenhagen has been completely freed from the monster's threat thanks to the exploits of Korea's pride, the Hunter Thunder Emperor. In response, the Danish government has issued an official statement expressing deep gratitude to the Korean government and the Thunder Emperor.] 📰 Headlines [The Thunder Emperor returns after abruptly announcing retirement two years ago.] [The world buzzes with the comeback of one of the Apostles. Will this reshuffle the balance of power among the world's top Hunter nations once more?] 💬 Comments — Anonymous Kraaaaaah! The Thunder Emperor is back!!! — Fanboy42 Insane! 'Official 12 Apostles'—I thought we'd never see him in Korea again! God God! — PatriotHunter Kyah! National pride surging! Let's go! — RealTalk Isn't this insane? Denmark mobilized their entire army and still couldn't stop it, but one Hunter goes in and wipes it out in a single blow. Is this for real? — Skeptic Dude, how are regular armies supposed to compete with Hunters these days? — MilitaryFan Hah, don't talk nonsense! A single company can still match a B-Rank Hunter, at least. — FactCheck That wasn't one company—it was Denmark's entire military force. — ApexPredator Well, he's one of only 12 top-tier Hunters in the entire world, so of course. — EnvyKing Anyway, jealous. How great must that life be? If only I could be an A-Rank Hunter. — Realist Reality check: Even if I died and reincarnated hundreds of times, I might barely scrape C-Rank. — Dreamer C-Rank would still be a huge win. — AgreeBot True that. — Wannabe Anyway, I wanna live like the Thunder Emperor. No worries, no nagging from mom or sis like me. — Moderator Is this a venting board?
"As expected of the Thunder Emperor! Excellent. Excellent! Haha!"
Hunter Association President Park Daehan grinned with immense satisfaction as he scrolled through the internet articles.
"Um... President."
Catching his eye, U Do-young—the impeccably suited secretary—spoke up cautiously.
Park Daehan looked up.
"Hm? What's up?"
"Is this really okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"He's a Legendary-grade Hunter, one of the 12 Apostles hailed as a hero of humanity. Using him like this feels a bit off to me..."
The president straightened his face at his secretary's words.
"Hey now. What are you saying? Using him? Do I look like the type to exploit a hero of humanity for my own gain? Besides, I didn't seek him out—he came to me proposing a deal. Turning him down would be the real discourtesy to a hero of humanity, wouldn't it?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"And besides, this is mutual aid."
"...Pardon?"
"We're scratching each other's itches and filling each other's needs. It's even steven, right? Of course it is! Haha!"
"..."
He's just being stubborn.
But Secretary U Do-young kept the thought to himself.
The president looked happier than he had in ages.
And he knew full well how much the man had suffered lately.
The worries etched on Park Daehan's face just days ago were now completely gone.
Sigh, whatever. It'll work out.
He shrugged it off, his gaze drifting out the window.
The sky was a brilliant blue.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
At the same time,
in a cafe somewhere in Seoul-Incheon.
The place, usually bustling with all sorts of folks coming and going, was lively as ever today.
Tap tap tap. Tap tap.
Amid the hustle, one man had claimed an entire table for himself. Hood pulled low over his hoodie, he hammered away at his laptop keyboard without pause.
His only other activity was occasionally sipping from the drink beside him.
"...Kinda looks like an aspiring novelist, right?"
One part-timer, eyeing the odd customer, whispered to her coworker.
"Hmm, maybe?"
"Nah, definitely. Our shop gets folks like that sometimes, and they're almost always writing novels or something."
"Then maybe he's not an aspiring one—could be a famous author?"
"Pfft, no way. If he were successful, he'd have his own studio. Look at him—hoodie pulled down like that screams total wannabe."
And with that, the part-timer launched into a sudden rant about the differences between real authors and wannabes.
Caught off-guard by the lecture, the other just nodded along vaguely, chiming in appropriately.
She wasn't that interested, but she got why he was so fixated—standing all day every day got monotonous beyond belief, fatigue aside. And on a gorgeous day like this, that boredom doubled.
The only entertainment was gossiping about cafe patrons, so pointless chats like this stretched on easily.
Though they'd be forgotten the moment new customers arrived.
That was when it happened.
Ding-a-ling!
"Welcome! This is Cafe Gunners."
"Welco—gasp!"
As the door opened, their mechanical greetings halted, eyes widening.
A burly white-haired old man.
But he didn't feel like "old"—more like a white lion.
A noble king concealing savage ferocity.
Following him was a middle-aged man exuding an ominous aura.
The chatting patrons gawked at the newcomers.
"Hey, hey, check that out."
"Huh? What?"
"That guy. That guy. Isn't that him?"
"...No way, insane!"
"Jackpot, jackpot, jackpot."
But the white-haired elder dismissed the reactions, scanning the cafe before spotting something and flashing a gentle smile.
Then he strolled casually to the counter.
They say people lose their words when shocked too hard.
"One iced Americano, please."
The part-timer at the counter stared blankly at his order.
"Hm?"
The old man tapped the counter lightly. Snapping to, she stammered a reply.
"Y-yes? Oh, y-yes yes yes! I-iced Americano! Yes, yes, got it!"
"Good. You work hard."
After paying, he beamed at her—a look like gazing at a lovely granddaughter just stepping into society.
Whoa... I might've used up all my luck this lifetime.
The part-timer felt faint.
From staff to customers, the fuss over this old man was only natural.
Impossible not to recognize Korea's most famous figure.
Martial Emperor Gu Hwisoo.
Korea's Rank 1 Hunter, world Rank 20-ish powerhouse, and guild master of the nation's strongest guild, Guardian Gate.
Why was he here?
Murmur murmur.
His unexpected appearance set the cafe—and SNS—ablaze.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 💬 SNS — Spotter Guys!!! Martial Emperor just showed up at an Incheon cafe! #ProofPic attached — Shocked Wait, the Martial Emperor? Jackpot! Jackpot! — TrueFan Plz drop coords! I'm a diehard Martial Emperor fan—seeing him IRL is my one wish!!
"Long time no see."
SNS abuzz or not, the Martial Emperor paid it no mind.
His focus was singular right now.
Tap tap tap. Tap. Tap tap tap.
The hoodie-clad man typing furiously at his laptop, ignoring him completely.
Sitting beside him as if it were the most natural spot, the Martial Emperor spoke.
"How have you been?"
Tae Ihyeon—still not glancing up from his keyboard even as the old man set his Americano on the table and sat—finally replied.
"You drink Americano too?"
"Heh heh, to keep up with the times, I must adapt."
"And yet you kept pushing ssanghwa-cha on me up till two years ago."
"It was just an old man's whim to share what he loves with a boy he cherishes like a grandson. Honestly, isn't it better than that rice rinse water you guzzle constantly?"
"..."
Only then did Tae Ihyeon look at the Martial Emperor with utter disbelief.
On his table— not the elder's order, but an untouched iced Americano (ice fully melted) and two nearly empty bottles of "Morning Sunlight."
"This is healthy stuff. Not rice water. You gonna get sued by the company?"
"Buying the company would be faster than me getting sued. By the way, isn't outside food banned here?"
"The kind owner gave permission."
In exchange for buying an iced Americano every two hours.
Thank goodness they were only 1,500 won each.
"And I'm busy right now. As you can see. Very."
It was blunt rejection enough to make most people slink away embarrassed.
But a smile only tugged at the Martial Emperor's lips. Tae Ihyeon was truly the only one who treated him this way.
Far from arrogant, it just made him seem like a grumpy, adorable grandson.
And one more thing.
The Martial Emperor was just as thick-skinned and my-pace as Tae Ihyeon.
Thud.
A strange resonance echoed, severing their space from the outside.
The Martial Emperor's doing.
"What brings you here?"
Ignoring Tae Ihyeon's attitude entirely, the Martial Emperor got to his point.