Owner of the S-Rank Dungeon Campsite - Chapter 42

“May I take a look around the campsite for a moment?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Originally, you’d need to rent a tent to stay at the campsite, but I figured a brief look around wouldn’t be a problem. Above all, they didn’t seem like ordinary guests.

Their sharp suits, straight postures with shoulders back, and keen eyes scanning the campsite were unusual.

They said they’d just look around briefly, but they rented tents, tried out 3-second sleeping bags, and even lay in the hammocks like a mother’s womb.

They even warmed themselves by the campfire. Rather than just looking around the campsite, their attitude seemed more like they were quickly experiencing and evaluating it.

“Master… What do you think those guests are?”

“I’m not sure. Let’s just keep an eye on them for now.”

The monsters and I watched them from a distance. One man seemed to have triggered a campsite quest, as he brought firewood from behind the tent and put it in the brazier.

After whispering among themselves for a while, the woman with short hair approached me again.

“Yu Bom. Could we have a quiet word?”

“Yes…? Well, sure…”

I led her to the rooftop next to the shop where I had talked with elder sister Ga Young. I had hurriedly bought and set up a wooden table from the shop.

Since I didn’t have proper drinks or coffee to offer guests yet, I brought out a glass of milk.

She tasted the milk as if appraising it, then spoke.

“First, it’s nice to meet you, Yu Bom. I’m Kang Han Na, HR Manager of the Cheongun Guild.”

Cheongun?!

I was surprised to hear that name.

Cheongun was currently the number one guild in South Korea. They had firmly held the top position for decades and were famous for valuing tradition, order among hunters, and discipline.

She handed me her business card. The simple cloud symbol was indeed the Cheongun Guild’s mark.

“We came after seeing Ma Jin Woo’s U-tube video. Since the system window wasn’t visible in the video, we wanted to verify the buff abilities in person. It seems the tent buff ability has increased compared to the video. Has there been any change to the campsite since then?”

“My rank went up, so the buff effect increased a bit.”

“Ah. So you were originally lower than D-rank.”

She seemed slightly disappointed.

My rank is written along with my name in the shelter information window. But the video taken by the Hwarang Guild member didn’t reveal the class and rank, so it seems they came to assess it directly.

“It falls far short of Cheongun Guild’s usual rank cut-off, but we’re considering recruitment. When did your rank go up? Do you think there’s potential for further growth here?”

“Wait a moment. I’m not interested in joining a guild…”

What’s with just considering, not even making an offer? I wasn’t thinking of joining in the first place.

“…Did you look at the business card properly? We’re Cheongun, the number one guild in South Korea. This isn’t a scam.”

“Yes, I saw it. I know.”

“Have you already contracted with Hwarang?”

“No.”

“Then why…”

She looked utterly perplexed. Normally, a D-rank hunter would be thrilled to receive a recruitment offer from Cheongun, but not me.

“First of all, I have no intention of working as a hunter, and I’m running this campsite for survival right now. The purpose of filming the video was partly for promotion, but also to let my acquaintances outside know about my situation.”

And I also remembered Hunter Ji Seok Hyeon’s words to consider Hwarang first if I ever thought about joining a guild.

“Yu Bom, you must not know much since you awakened recently, but this isn’t an opportunity to be lightly dismissed.”

Hunter Kang Han Na sighed deeply and continued.

“No large guild will take someone of your rank. We’re making this offer knowing that you’re restricted from moving out of this dungeon until you reach level 10. Think about it again. We don’t usually make repeat offers like this.”

As she said this, she looked at me as if I were pathetic and foolish. While she seemed to be speaking out of concern for me, it oddly made me feel bad.

‘And she says I absolutely can’t join a large guild?’

I had held back from speaking to avoid pitting the two guilds against each other, but suddenly felt defiant.

“I haven’t contracted with Hwarang, but I’ve actually already received a recruitment offer.”

Hunter Kang Han Na frowned slightly.

“Cheongun can offer better terms than Hwarang.”

“Hwarang said they’d guarantee the industry’s highest salary and generous support.”

“We can do that too.”

Then she finally presented her terms. Just a moment ago she was saying that merely receiving an offer from Cheongun was remarkable.

“Well… Even if Cheongun offers better terms, wouldn’t joining Hwarang be better in terms of growth potential for the guild?”

At my words, a clear crease formed between her brows.

I hadn’t originally intended to say this much. But Cheongun had first dismissed me based on my rank and talked about growth potential.

And I kept being reminded of my former company boss, which made my words harsher. It was a company where belittling me based on my years of experience or age was commonplace.

I was well-accustomed to this kind of speech.

While growth potential is important from a guild’s perspective, it was too stark a contrast with Hwarang, who evaluated based on ability.

I’d heard Cheongun was a bit vertical and had an old-fashioned culture, and I could feel it just from the attitude in our current conversation.

“…We’ll be leaving for today. It seems we’ve been rude.”

She stood up with coldly frozen eyes. From the start, she had seemed proud and had a strong sense of guild pride. She must have been offended.

Out of courtesy, I went down with her to see her off at the campsite entrance.

“Master. Other guests have arrived!”

But there were several people sitting on the log benches near the campfire. They had been talking with Teddy, but stood up abruptly when they saw me.

“Are you Yu Bom? We’re from the Geomseon Guild.”

“Geomseon?”

“I’m Cheon Ye Han, the guild master.”

Geomseon was the second-ranked guild in Korea.

My eyes met Hunter Kang Han Na’s. She had said I absolutely couldn’t join a large guild, but I’d already received business cards from three large guilds.

“Hello, I’m Min A Young from the Sins Guild.”

“Hohoho. I’m Black Star from the Nocturne Guild.”

“Owner! We’re here too. Hyeonmu Guild!”

“W-wait a moment!”

As soon as I received the Geomseon Guild Master’s business card, suddenly people who had been behind rushed up like a wave to introduce themselves.

While my view was blocked by being surrounded by them, Hunter Kang Han Na silently slipped out of the campsite.

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The impact of the video was tremendous. It seemed ridiculous that I had worried about having no guests not long ago, as there were already seven groups staying at the campsite.

With at least three people per group, that’s about 20 people. It wasn’t as much as during the Hwarang visit, but I was keeping busy.

“Owner, you handle a knife well. You’re just the talent Geomseon is looking for.”

“Please go away, it’s dangerous to hold a knife…”

I was preparing fish for grilling when Hunter Cheon Ye Han hovered around with corn and wooden chopsticks.

“How can Geomseon be afraid of knives? Swing the knife at me! I can dodge it all. Come on!”

He then held the chopsticks like swords in both hands, taking a combat stance.

“I’m busy, can’t you go play somewhere else…?”

“Don’t you believe me? That hurts my feelings. Don’t go easy on me just because we’ve become close. I can dodge it!”

When did we become close…? If we were really close, wouldn’t I not be speaking so politely?

He had only been staying at the campsite for about 3 days.

Words of rebuttal rose to the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them down, reminding myself that he was a campsite guest.

“Haa… Owner…”

“Eek! Why are you whispering in my ear again!”

But this time I felt a warm, moist breath on my ear. I turned around to find Hunter Black Star, the guild master of the Nocturne Guild famous for black magic.

“Geomseon is full of ignorant, insensitive fellows. Look at them, just stuffing their faces at a campsite. To properly enjoy camping, you should savor the atmosphere first.”

Saying that, the Nocturne Guild member sprinkled some unknown powder on the brazier where they were trying to grill fish. The flames that had been glowing red suddenly changed to rainbow colors.

It turned pink, then green, which was quite fascinating. I was momentarily captivated by the sight I’d never seen before, when Hunter Cheon Ye Han’s fierce chopsticks blocked my view.

“You mustn’t!”

Though they were just wooden chopsticks, a chilling sword energy emanated from them.

“W-what’s so dangerous!”

“If you keep looking at that, you’ll be brainwashed. It’s a magic tool made by an alchemist who deals in black magic!”

“Really?!”

I glared at Hunter Black Star.

“I had no intention of brainwashing. I just wanted to show you something beautiful… Huhu.”

Hunter Black Star moved away with his guild members, dragging his robe that covered down to his eyes. I had almost been brainwashed into signing a contract.

‘Ah… This is really driving me crazy.’

It was good that business was doing well. It was also good that I had explained to the guild representatives that I couldn’t join a guild, and they said they would just enjoy camping then.

Currently, Spring Campsite was filled with renowned guilds in the hunter world, including the Geomseon Guild famous for swordsmanship, the black magic guild Nocturne, the archer guild Sins, and the tanker guild Hyeonmu, all huddled together.

But isn’t it a problem that six out of seven guest groups were guild representatives?

‘It’s strange after all…’

Was the campsite’s location the issue?

From what I heard, the video hadn’t just done well, it had been a huge hit. It was strange that there were only guild representatives and not many regular hunter guests.

Could it be that people wanted to come, but the dungeon was too dangerous for anyone below a certain rank to reach the campsite?

If so, it would make sense that only such formidable people had come.

Moreover, the guild representatives had said they would just enjoy themselves, but they were desperately trying to recruit me into their guilds using all sorts of schemes. It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable as their intentions were clear to anyone.

‘Should I just tell all the guild representatives to leave now?’

But then only one regular guest group would remain…

‘That won’t work.’

Even a moment’s consideration showed it wouldn’t do. The next expedition period was far off, and there was no guarantee that guilds participating in the next expedition would stop by the campsite.

‘I have no choice for now. I can’t starve to death.’

When more regular guests come, I’ll use the excuse that long stays are no longer allowed and send away anyone who’s been here over a week.

I was grilling fish while repeatedly drawing the character for ‘patience’ in my mind when it happened.

[A guest has arrived at the campsite.]

“Ah! A guest!”

It had been a while since the guest arrival notification sounded. I rushed over, almost running in excitement.

Please be a regular guest…!