“B-But the guild leader also likes you, Mr. Rude. And I want to work with you too…”

“Most guilds in Korea would be thrilled to have me join. Why would the Temple be any different?”

“Still, there are definitely problems that can’t be solved alone…”

“I’m the strongest, so I can solve everything by myself!”

“Ah, but still… Even so…”

Kang Ihyeon lowered his eyes, unable to find more words. Nari opened her eyes drowsily. No, suddenly a surge of antipathy welled up.

“No, this is suspicious. Are you some kind of salesperson?”

“…What?! Me?!”

“Why were you in the dungeon at that time? I know everyone stays away during my hours.”

As mentioned earlier, Rude’s active hours are from 10 PM to 6 AM. Faithfully, without missing a day, for 6 years.

The S-rank World Ranking No. 1, King of Madness, who suddenly appeared 6 years ago. At first, many hunters tried to cooperate, but…

Nari recalled again. Her debut stage, which comes up first when searching for Rude on video sites, recording the most views for Korean hunter content.

* * *

“Rude, who updated the World Ranking after 14 years, disciplines hunters”

“Get lost. This dungeon is mine.”

Crack, Rude’s scissors blocked the dungeon entrance. Other hunters were seen hesitating. Rude exuded a menacing killing intent as he blocked the intruding hunters.

“Look, you might not know since you’re a newly registered hunter, but this area’s 5th grade gate is our guild’s responsibility.”

“Ha, really… Is the gate some kind of private property?”

Rude sneered. One of the hunters, seemingly a veteran, stepped forward.

“Haha, you must not know since it’s your first time entering a gate. Having assigned grades and areas is an unspoken rule for all guilds.”

“So?”

“We’re in charge of this area’s 5th grade. If we fail, it’s decided that other guilds will be deployed. If you’re a free hunter, you should contract with other guilds and join as a mercenary…”

“So what do you want me to do about it?”

“Pardon?”

Rude stabbed his golden half-scissors into the ground with a thud and looked at the hunters. His black eyes took in each hunter one by one. Finally, Rude opened his mouth.

“Unspoken rule? Don’t make me laugh. I can clear this in less than 20 minutes. You lot look pathetic.”

“…”

“So isn’t it more appropriate for me to handle this gate? What do you think?”

The inside of the gate suddenly fell silent. The veteran hunter spoke up again.

“…Alright. Then let’s make a temporary contract with our guild this time. We can do the paperwork later…”

“Are you hard of hearing? Or just slow to understand?”

Crack, Rude stabbed the black half-scissors he pulled from behind his back into the ground again. The half-scissors crossed in an X shape seemed to speak of unwavering rejection. Rude sighed and opened his mouth again.

“Get lost! I don’t need you!”

Rude’s shout. Several guild members who met his eyes collapsed to the ground in fear. It was a menacing atmosphere where no one dared to approach carelessly.

Rude pulled out his scissors one by one and turned to enter the gate. His final words echoed in the quiet gate.

“I don’t collaborate with weaklings.”

* * *

[The Lord of Chaos gives a thumbs up, saying it’s impressive no matter how many times he sees it.]

‘Shut up… It’s embarrassing to think about now…’

Since Rude himself extremely avoided collaboration and suppressed everything with force, at some point an unspoken promise was born in the hunter community of southern Gyeonggi Province not to touch the gates during the early morning hours.

Most guilds had adopted a 3-shift system, but… after Rude’s appearance, the night shift in southern Gyeonggi became a half-meaningless system.

‘That guy’s not new to being a hunter, right? He must have known my personality, so he definitely wouldn’t have intruded just like that.’

With some confidence, Nari glanced at Kang Ihyeon. Having lived a life of too many twists and turns, Nari considered the possibility that he might really want to assist Rude.

“Ah, no! I just… Well, since I realized Rude’s mental domination was addictive, I thought it would be okay if I was with him… That’s why I diligently followed him every evening…”

“Don’t lie. No one moves for such reasons. I know you definitely have some other shady purpose!”

“Ah, no… It’s just because I’m strong, you know? I thought maybe you’d collaborate…”

“Oh my. Look at this? Tell me honestly. Why did you come to that dungeon? Did the Temple send you to find my weakness?!”

“No, absolutely not! Definitely not!”

Kang Ihyeon, fidgeting with his fingers, glanced at Nari. He spoke in a dejected tone.

“Actually… I wanted to… skip mass a little…”

“…Huh?”

“Well, the priest has been feeling quite burdened by me in the evening. Lately, I had to go in the evening because of the shift times. Usually, I go at dawn… It was awkward…”

“…Just because of that?! Not to save people?!”

“W-Well, that’s true too! And I wanted to see you, Mr. Rude! But that reason was also… a little bit there…”

Kang Ihyeon, glancing at Nari who was gaping, spoke sheepishly.

“Don’t look at me like that. Do you know how hard it is to attend mass with an archangel as your constellation? I can see the priests getting nervous in real-time when they look at me!”

“That… That would be difficult…”

[The Lord of Chaos nods, saying it must feel like giving a presentation in front of an executive.]

‘True… If he were a new employee, he might at least try with some spirit.’

It seems he had his own hardships. Only after hearing such a mundane reason did Nari sigh in understanding. Kang Ihyeon spread his hands and spoke.

“But it’s true that I wanted to see you, Mr. Rude! Proposing to work together was my dream… Until now, whenever I entered a dungeon, you had already cleared it and left… I was lucky today.”

Feeling a sudden headache, Nari pressed her forehead. Just as she was about to open her mouth to say she’d had enough,

Zing-

The phone on the table rang. It was Nari’s phone. A name [Don’t Answer] was written largely. Nari’s expression crumpled.

Snatching the phone, Nari said with a frown,

“…I’ll answer this call and come back. Wait, then we’ll talk.”

* * *

“…I wonder who it was?”

[The constellation, Staff of Purification, looks worried.]

“I hope it wasn’t a serious call… I’m a bit worried about Mr. Rude.”

From what Ihyeon had gathered so far, Rude was quite defensive. He extremely rejected interactions with others and had a strong tendency to try to solve everything himself.

Just look at how he couldn’t sell high-grade items. Despite it being something that required the help of others, he chose to live alone. Ihyeon thought he might have a strong distrust of others.

‘But… Mr. Rude is a good person.’

The Rude that Ihyeon understood was fundamentally a kind person. Even though he was cursed by others, even though he couldn’t sell high-grade items, he was still clearing gates while hiding his true identity.

That was a labor that couldn’t be explained by money alone. It would have been more stable to give up being a hunter and get a job.

“…ful!”

For a moment, Ihyeon’s ears caught a suppressed shout from the room Rude had entered. He was probably speaking quietly, conscious of Ihyeon in the living room.

But to him, an S-rank hunter, it was clear. Kang Ihyeon’s eyes widened at the sound.

“I can’t give you any more. I’m struggling too, I don’t have money either!”

“…Are you kidding me? Dad’s not my family anymore. He left his daughter behind to meet that woman!”

“Aren’t you ashamed to borrow money from your daughter? How many times is this! I told you not to do things like cryptocurrency!”

“…Hang up, let’s talk face to face. Dad, please come to your senses. I’m really begging you.”

Bang, Rude burst out with reddened eyes. His expression was full of tears. At that moment, Kang Ihyeon recalled a story about illusionists he had seen on SNS before.

Rude’sDog @DogofLud 2h

Illusionists’ skills are inversely proportional to their personality. This is a fact.

Mental power originates from mental pain. If you’re escaping reality a lot there and then awaken, you become an illusionist. Rude probably had some incident in the past too. Otherwise, his skills can’t be explained…

Rude took out a coat from the hanger and put it on. As if trying not to show that he had cried, he turned around and pressed his sleeve against his eyes.

Before Kang Ihyeon could say anything, Rude turned around and said in a shaky voice.

“…Something urgent came up, so I’m leaving first. You go home too. Don’t say anything, absolutely. If even a bit of this leaks to the media, I’ll kill you first. And I’ll destroy the Temple too.”

“Mr. Rude, wait…”

Kang Ihyeon unconsciously stood up and moved towards Rude. As soon as his hand touched Rude’s arm, Rude roughly shook it off. His eyes, red from tears, were glaring at him.

But there was no hostility felt. It was like a cornered hedgehog raising all its quills. Rude panted and opened his mouth.

“…I’m Shin Binnari.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said I’m Shin Binnari. My mom is Kang Hana. My mom caused that incident 10 years ago with her trolling. My mom is the national troll!”

“…”

Kang Ihyeon closed his mouth. Words he couldn’t express swirled in his mind.

Shin Binnari. It was a name he knew too. The daughter of the old hero Kang Hana, still floating around various SNS with the infamous title of Earth’s strongest troller.

At that moment, Kang Ihyeon understood why Nari was acting as Rude.

Nari roughly put on her coat and spoke to Kang Ihyeon.

“But me in the Temple? Stop with the lousy jokes. I might join somewhere else, but I’ll never join the Temple. Never!”

“M-Mr. Rude…”

“I’m going to live alone forever. I won’t make the stupid mistake of jumping into impossible things like my mom did. If another gate above 2nd grade appears, I’ll leave the country immediately. So don’t ever make that kind of proposal to me again. You go home now too. I have to go because I have business.”

Thump thump, as Shin Binnari quickly approached the door while grabbing her white eco bag, Kang Ihyeon grabbed her arm. It was reflexive.

Nari looked at him with an enraged expression. Kang Ihyeon spoke in a calm voice.

“…Ms. Nari.”

“…What is it, hurry up and say what you have to say before you go.”

“I’m sorry. I have nothing more to say. But… I, I can help you when you need it. Not as Rude and Kang Ihyeon. But as Shin Binnari and Kang Ihyeon.”

“Shut that mouth.”

“Take this with you.”

Kang Ihyeon firmly placed a piece of paper in Nari’s hand. Nari unconsciously looked down. It was Kang Ihyeon’s personal business card. With his phone number on it.

Nari looked up, not knowing what to say. Kang Ihyeon smiled slightly.

“…There are things in this world that can’t be solved alone. Ms. Nari. If you ever feel that way, if you need my help, please. Please contact me.”

“…”

“I told you. I… I came to help you.”