"You've got talent, kid," Ma Dong-Wook said, clapping a heavy hand on Min-Jae's shoulder.
"Yeah, you'll definitely be a great addition for the Jeju Island raid in four days," Lim Tae-Gyu added with an approving nod.
Min-Jae didn't respond verbally, just gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. His attention was elsewhere—specifically on Hunter Sung Jin-Woo, who was moving subtly through the crowd. To anyone else, it looked like casual wandering, but Min-Jae could sense what was really happening.
*He's placing shadow soldiers on them. Smooth.*
One by one, Jin-Woo's shadows slipped into the darkness cast by each S-Rank hunter—Korean and Japanese alike. Surveillance. Intelligence gathering. Smart.
What was interesting was that Jin-Woo seemed to be deliberately avoiding Min-Jae. Their eyes met briefly across the arena, and Min-Jae saw the moment of calculation in the other man's expression before he moved on to the next target.
*He knows I'd sense it immediately,* Min-Jae realized with a slight smirk. *Good instincts.*
'Everyone says he's just an overpowered MC who farms experience and aura,' Min-Jae thought. 'But he's actually intelligent. There's a reason he's this strong—it's not just raw power, it's how he uses it.'
Then another thought struck him. *So what's my reason for being overpowered? Overshadowing Jin-Woo? Nah... it was for sacrificing my life for someone. Yeah, that's right. The system said so.*
---
While the other S-Rank hunters continued their post-match discussions, Min-Jae quietly slipped away from the group. He made his way across the arena toward where Chairman Go Gun-Hee and Sung Jin-Woo stood in conversation near the observation platform.
*I don't know how to approach him naturally,* Min-Jae thought as he walked. *He feels different in person than he did watching the anime. Maybe I should ask about his mother? No, wait—* He shook his head. *That would be way too suspicious. How would I even know about his mother's situation?*
Before he could formulate a proper conversation strategy, he'd already reached them. Both men noticed his approach.
"Hunter Min-Jae, that was impressive reaction time and speed you displayed," Chairman Go Gun-Hee said, acknowledging him first with a warm smile.
Min-Jae was momentarily caught off-guard by the direct compliment. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, it was nothing special," he said with an embarrassed smile.
"Actually, since you're both here, this saves me some time," the Chairman continued. "I was just about to ask Hunter Sung if he planned to join the Jeju Island raid. Now I can ask both of you at once."
Sung Jin-Woo's expression remained calm and neutral. "I won't be able to join the raid, Chairman."
Min-Jae's thoughts immediately started racing. 'He's not joining? But I thought he was focused on getting stronger. The Jeju Island raid would give him tons of new shadow soldiers—powerful ones too. There must be something I'm missing... probably related to whatever happened in the Demon Castle episodes I didn't watch, or maybe his mother's condition? What should I—'
"I see," the Chairman said, his surprise quickly masked by professionalism. He turned to Min-Jae. "And what about you, Hunter Min-Jae?"
Min-Jae pulled himself from his thoughts. "Well, I don't have much else going on, so I might as well join the raid team."
"Excellent," the Chairman said with an approving nod. "Good. Now, if you'll excuse me." The Chairman walked off toward the Japanese team.
Min-Jae and Sung Jin-Woo stood in brief silence. Neither spoke. Jin-Woo checked his phone once, then simply walked away without another word.
---
[Later - In Min-Jae's Car]
Min-Jae sat in the driver's seat, engine idling, staring at the dashboard without really seeing it.
'Why didn't he join?' The question kept circling in his mind. 'The raid would be perfect for someone like him—powerful enemies, potential shadow soldiers. So what's holding him back?'
He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, running through possibilities. His mother's health? Something related to the System? A conflict with another quest or mission?
'I'm missing too much information. If I'd just watched those next few episodes...'
Then he shook his head and put the car in gear.
"Who cares," he muttered to himself, pulling out of the parking lot. "He probably has his reasons—good ones, knowing him. But I'm joining anyway."
The car merged into traffic, heading back toward the city. Through the rearview mirror, the Hunter Association building grew smaller, but Min-Jae's thoughts were already ahead—to Jeju Island, to the ant-infested hellscape that had claimed so many lives.
Four days left