He’s agreeing so easily? Lud? The one rumored to be an illegitimate child of a conglomerate, living in different 5-star hotel suites every day?

Unaware of Lud’s real story of working as a convenience store clerk and selling low-grade items, the guild leader masked her joy.

“Then I’ll stamp it.”

Lud took out a stamp from his inventory. Su-jin’s expression became indescribable.

“Is… Is that the stamp?”

“Is this not okay? I don’t have a stamp at home.”

Hmm, Lud was earnestly pressing a beautifully carved stamp into the ink. It’s definitely a bright red root vegetable, a carrot, and quite hefty too.

Su-jin, not having expected him to bring a stamp made of a carrot, was thrown off and answered hesitantly. Lud was just too confident…

“No, it’s not that it’s not okay… but maybe a standard stamp would be better…? It might not stamp well… You can always stamp it again later.”

“It’s fine. It’s neatly carved.”

“Ah, okay. Then, just try stamping it here as a test!”

Becoming anxious, Su-jin handed over a piece of scrap paper, and Lud obligingly stamped it to check. Seeing the stamp’s imprint, Su-jin swallowed her breath.

‘It’s really well carved… What a waste of talent…’

Lud Im. A perfectly round circle like it was measured with a compass, with beautiful Gothic script. The size was perfect, comparable to any standard stamp on the market.

[The Lord of Chaos seems to think it’s funny that the guild leader is looking at you strangely.]

‘Quiet! I had no choice!’

He had no choice. The mock battle was scheduled right after the mail, and if he passed, he would immediately sign an employment contract, so he was told to bring a stamp.

But there was no stamp at home… The shops that made them were already closed, and ordering online would take 3 days, so he had to make a stamp within 10 hours…

[While others are busy preparing for mock battles during job hunting, our Nari was diligently carving a carrot stamp, says the Lord of Chaos, applauding!]

Potatoes, carrots, radishes… Destroying every hard vegetable at home to achieve this. It was even the ultimate technique of Nari’s greatest skill – extremely delicate psychic control.

‘I probably won’t be able to do this again.’

Lud, having stamped the contract, dusted off his hands and put the carrot back into his inventory.

“So, you’ll be working with Hunter Kang I-hyun once you join Holy War?”

“Holy War doesn’t assign partners specifically. If you and Mr. Kang I-hyun’s current partner agree, you can work together.”

“I see.”

Lud just looked down, lost in thought.
Su-jin pondered for a moment. Initially, she planned to inform Lud of their systematic training process at this point.

She wanted to impress upon Lud the greatness of Holy War, tell him that he was hired because she believed in his words about being influenced by I-hyun, and that she saw potential for growth in him based on the mock battle, like a principal giving a motivational speech.

‘But I feel like it’s unnecessary now.’

Indeed, the Lud she saw in person was different from the one she saw on the internet, as I-hyun had said. She had felt it since the interview, but now, having seen him in actual combat and face to face…

‘Why hasn’t someone like this ever evolved their trait before…’

Kang Su-jin shelved her question. She had planned to prepare new in-house training for Lud, but she quickly dismissed that thought.

This man will do well on his own. Excessive interference is toxic to someone like him.

So, she decided to simply express her gratitude.

“Your answers during the interview and your performance in the mock battle were impressive.”

“What? What, what…”

Fearing that Lud’s use of an avatar had been discovered, he looked at Su-jin with a slightly uneasy expression. Su-jin smiled faintly, seeing Lud’s face as if he had been caught doing something wrong.

“Hunter Kang I-hyun has often been criticized by his partner because of his personality. We tried to correct it on our side, but it was difficult. He always says it’s more efficient this way, so what’s the problem.”

“……Strong ones tend to boil others’ blood more, you know.”

With a look of weariness, Lud clicked his tongue. His attitude made Su-jin think that perhaps Lud had seen such people around him a lot. As Su-jin stared at him, Lud suddenly added.

“Well, I don’t need to worry about that.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

The media’s portrayal of him seemed greatly exaggerated. Su-jin realized he was a more ordinary and calm person in reality.

Just decently kind, decently selfish, decently approachable… And despite his cold appearance, his attitude towards I-hyun suggested he was a deeply caring person. Perhaps a bit harsh too.

He could have ignored I-hyun’s bad habit of not caring about his own injuries and rushing to save his teammates, but he pointed it out.

His comment about ‘boiling blood’ suggested he found it difficult to watch others demean themselves in their work. Perhaps he simply couldn’t stand to see others suffer.

Though she didn’t know his story, he seemed to have a deep sense of empathy.

“Lud, thank you once again for applying to Holy War.”

With that thought, Su-jin reached out her hand as if to shake hands. Lud gazed at her intently. Su-jin smiled at him.

“Everyone in Holy War is family. Now that you’re here, you’re part of our family.”

“I don’t believe in things like family affection.”

Su-jin laughed at Lud’s sharp remark. With the gentle charisma of a senior, Lud hesitated but then extended his hand. Su-jin grasped it firmly and said,

“Then let me put it differently. We will support you to the end, so you never regret choosing the profession of ‘hunter.’ Holy War is always on your side.”

Lud listened to her words and then looked down at their clasped hands. He was no longer alone. It wasn’t solo play anymore. Now he had Holy War behind him. ‘Together.’

“I look forward to the next year. Thank you.”

“……Me too.”