“Yes. He told me not to think about coming back if I couldn’t recruit you, elder brother. He asked if I couldn’t help out just once as family. Really, I was speechless……”

He laughed as if he had heard something funny.

‘Their relationship must be quite bad indeed.’

The faint contempt reflected in it was a kind of emotion I was seeing for the first time since getting to know him.

“So it seems he was planning to threaten me if I refused recruitment this time too, but I’ve taken minimal precautions, so you don’t need to worry that much.”

“Yes, Hunter. Thank you.”

“Still, he’s not likely to give up easily, so we’ll have to be careful for a while. He might try to find Yu Bom’s weaknesses while he’s here.”

“Yes, I’ll be careful. I’ll keep that in mind, Hunter.”

I’ll have to stay sharp for a while. If I let my guard down even slightly, it felt like something big could happen.

“Take care, Hunter.”

“You take care too, Bom.”

Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon went out for investigation again from the next day. Now to find the whereabouts of the young native child as well as the reason why dungeon monsters were not respawning.

‘Surely it can’t be because of the campsite……?’

As I watched his retreating back, one corner of my heart felt uneasy. I don’t think it could possibly be because of the campsite, but what if…

If by any chance that were the case, I was already troubled about what I should do.

“It won’t be. Let’s not worry needlessly.”

I turned around, trying hard to calm my mind. It was foolish to worry about something that hadn’t even happened yet.

I returned to the center of the campsite and immediately started preparing breakfast. Today I was planning to make fragrant pot rice.

First, I found square-shaped stones and set up supports on both sides. I lit a fire inside and placed a large iron cauldron made of white steel on top.

‘Pot rice really tastes best when cooked in something like this rather than in a small earthenware pot.’

I put rice and water in a 1:1 ratio inside, and while the rice was cooking, I made the seasoning sauce. I chopped plenty of aromatic plant stems, mushrooms, garlic, and green onions, cooked them, and then added them to the rice when it was almost done.

Before long, a savory aroma wafted out gently.

“Mmm, it smells delicious.”

When I opened the lid, steam billowed out like clouds. The rice was cooked perfectly fluffy, and the fish placed on top glistened with the absorbed flavors and steam from the ingredients.

‘Hm, my mouth is watering. I should start calling people over.’

Pot rice tastes best when eaten right after it’s made. I turned around to quickly call Hunter Chae Dong Hwa and the campsite staff, but someone blocked my path.

“We’re sorry!”

“We were wrong!”

It was Hunter Kang Han Na and Reporter Jo Sung Hyun from Cheong Un.

The two of them bowed so low it looked like they would plant their heads on the ground. Their voices were so loud that they echoed throughout the campsite.

I took a step back, startled by their intensity. The guests whispered among themselves, wondering what was going on as they watched us.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden……”

“We were disrespectful before. Yu Bom! Please forgive us!”

“We were overzealous in our desire to get close to Yu Bom. Please forgive us! We’ll make sure it never happens again!”

By previous incidents, they must be referring to Cheong Un’s scouting offer and Reporter Jo Sung Hyun’s rude behavior when he came as a campsite guest.

Honestly, I didn’t expect to receive an apology like this so suddenly. I hadn’t even wished for it.

As I stood there bewildered by the unexpected situation, I saw Vice Guild Leader Ju Cheong Han in the distance. The two briefly glanced at the vice guild leader, checking his reaction.

“We’re sorry, Yu Bom!”

“We were wrong!”

“Okay. I understand, so please stop.”

“Does this mean you forgive us?”

“Yes. It’s in the past, and you won’t do it again, right?”

“Yes! Of course!”

“That’s right!”

It didn’t seem like they were apologizing of their own will, but I couldn’t press the issue when they said they were sorry. Besides, I wanted to avoid this burdensome situation altogether.

“Alright then, enjoy your stay. I’m a bit busy right now……”

“We’ll help with the work too!”

“What? Hey!”

Reporter Jo Sung Hyun grabbed the rice paddle I was holding. I tried to hold on firmly, but he managed to snatch it away.

“Give that back. There’s no need for you to help. Just relax and enjoy yourselves like the other guests.”

“It’ll be faster if we all prepare together!”

“No, it’s fine……”

“I’ll help set the tables! Where are the dishes?”

“You really don’t have to. The campsite monsters are helping, and other people—”

“They’re here, Manager!”

Other Cheong Un guild members, who had appeared at some point, shouted after finding dishes in the kitchen area.

“Bring them to the tables, enough for everyone!”

“Yes! Understood!”

When Hunter Kang Han Na gestured, they responded in voices full of energy as they moved the dishes. It seemed they had been waiting to move as soon as instructions were given.

‘What on earth is going on here……?’

I couldn’t understand why they suddenly wanted to help with the work. Moreover, the Cheong Un guild members would rush over whenever I tried to do anything, carrying luggage or cleaning tents without being asked, acting like campsite workers.

“What’s wrong with them? Did they take something?”

Seeing their behavior, Mo Gyeon frowned as if he had seen something unpleasant. Right now, they were even trying to help Teddy boil ramen.

“This won’t do. I’ll go talk to them.”

After being swept along in bewilderment for a while, I finally went to find Vice Guild Leader Ju Cheong Han. He was half-lying on a swing chair in the second-floor book cafe.

“Vice Guild Leader Ju Cheong Han.”

He took off his sunglasses upon hearing my voice. He frowned as if annoyed, but when he saw who it was, he immediately put on a sly smile.

“Oh my, the owner has come. The campsite is really peaceful and nice. It feels like all my accumulated stress is flying away!”

“Ah, yes. But—”

“The coffee taste is amazing too! I’m a man who can’t live without Americano, and how perfectly timed this is! The book cafe is a recent addition, right? It seems Cheong Un and Spring Campsite are destined for each other!”

“About those Cheong Un guild members……”

“Or should I say you and I are destined for each other, Yu Bom? Hahaha!”

“Vice Guild Leader! Please listen to me!!”

“Yes? Yes, Yu Bom. I’m listening. Go ahead.”

My voice raised as he kept interrupting me and saying only what he wanted to say. Only then did his chatty mouth finally close.

“The Cheong Un guild members keep trying to help with campsite work. Please tell them to stop.”

“People should help each other. Isn’t this the era of a global village moving with one heart and one mind?”

“……”

What outdated global village? It’s been a long time since I heard that term.

No, more than that, this person doesn’t seem to know the meaning of global village. Why is he bringing up global village here?

The somewhat off-topic word choice briefly threw me off, but I gathered my thoughts and continued speaking.

“They don’t want to help because they want to. They keep glancing at you. Didn’t you tell them to do this?”

“No, I didn’t. Cheong Un people are just naturally kind.”

“……?”

Did I just hear something wrong?

“I believe a spirit of service is essential to a hunter’s professional qualities. Perhaps because I hire people from that perspective, most Cheong Un guild members are inherently full of goodwill and consideration. Hahaha!”

“……”

“There’s no need to feel uncomfortable around strangers. Feel free to put them to work as much as you like.”

Hunter Ju Cheong Han said that and then smiled, pulling up the corners of his mouth as if very pleased with himself. It was all nonsense, so I didn’t even know where to start refuting.

For now, that self-satisfied expression was just too ridiculous and absurd……

“It’s true that they’re strangers and it’s uncomfortable. Just because you tell me not to think of it as difficult doesn’t make it not difficult, you know?”

“That will gradually—”

“I’d appreciate it if you understood that unwanted consideration is rude, no matter how well-intentioned. And service…… service, really. Vice Guild Leader, are you pitying me?”

“Huh? Bom. That’s not it.”

His expression immediately changed to one of bewilderment.

Even if he was a bit lacking and chose his words poorly, it was still rude to keep insisting when I said I didn’t want it.

Moreover, he was only ordering his subordinates while supervising from above. Why does he expect a spirit of service from the guild members while he’s just relaxing here?

“Oh, oh, you seem to have misunderstood. I just wanted to be of help……”

“I understand, so please tell the guild members to stop.”

“Yes, I understand. Hey, you lot! Stop it!”

He immediately shouted down at them.

“They can’t do anything properly anyway.”

He muttered as if to himself, but I heard it all. I’ve never seen someone so transparent before. His tactics were so shallow it almost made me laugh.

I heard the Cheong Un Guild Leader was about to hand over the guild to the vice guild leader soon, but to think the future guild leader was like this.

‘The future of our country’s hunter world looks bleak……’

I clicked my tongue inwardly as I left.

I went fishing alone with Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon after a long time. I came without Mo Gyeon and Hunter Chae Dong Hwa because I thought Vice Guild Leader Ju Cheong Han might ask to join if they came along.

For some reason, whenever we gathered, he acted like he was desperate to join in and play together. But when he joined, the atmosphere would turn hostile whether it was Mo Gyeon or Hunter Chae Dong Hwa, so lately I’ve been avoiding such situations altogether.

“He’s really a strange person. He keeps speaking informally, and why does he keep hitting me while talking? Is he looking down on me because I’m young? I really don’t like that person.”

“Haha. The elder brother has that side to him. I understand. It’s probably his way of trying to get close, but it’s a completely wrong approach. I hinted at him not to do that when we lived together before, but it seems he still hasn’t fixed it.”

When he mentioned living together, I suddenly came to my senses. They’re still family, so maybe I spoke too harshly.

He doesn’t seem to like his elder brother much either, so I subconsciously thought it was okay to say negative things. The things I’m saying now are points I’ve raised to his face before, so it’s not exactly gossip, but I suddenly felt self-conscious.

“I think I might have spoken too harshly. Well, there are plenty of people like that in society……”

Vice Guild Leader Ju Cheong Han had all the characteristics of those commonly called ‘kkondae’ (Korean term for old-fashioned, stubborn older people).

He kept repeating unfunny jokes and laughing by himself, speaking informally because the other person was younger, not knowing when to join in and when not to, making the atmosphere awkward, and his words and actions were completely inconsistent.

I know not all older people are like that, but I couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable and frowning at his behavior.

“Are you being considerate of me right now?”

Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon looked puzzled for a moment, then laughed out loud.

Hmm, maybe I didn’t make a mistake?

“By the way, Hunter. Why don’t you two get along?”