I was Kicked Out of the Hunter’s Guild

It had been about a month since I started working as an adjutant.

Now that the adaptation period was finally over, I decided it was time to officially accept a request and carry it out.

“Ooh… so you’re finally getting to work in earnest?”

“That’s right. I’ve finally figured out your actual fighting skills, so I chose a mission suitable for me to ease into.”

“Where is it? What kind of mission are we talking about?”

Kwonsoon asked eagerly, her voice full of anticipation, as she took the request data I handed her.

With a curious expression, she began examining the materials in detail.

On the other hand, after receiving the same data, Iare and Glass appeared cautious as they read through the contents.

“Huh… An Abyss extermination mission? In the mountains near the border area?”

“Nettoyage de la forêt… sounds a bit tedious for a B-class mission.”

“Yes, it is. Originally, this should have been handled by the guild. But it seems they’re preparing for a large-scale operation, and since things aren’t going smoothly, they passed some of the missions on to Black Hunters. I managed to get one of them.”

Currently, fierce battles between the Abyss and the Hunter Guild were ongoing in the border area.

Whenever a full-scale battle broke out, the Hunter Guild usually came out on top, or at least gained the upper hand.

However, no matter how often the hunters claimed victory, holding onto the occupied areas was only temporary.

Before long, the Abyss—summoned in large numbers from somewhere—would return to launch a counterattack.

When that happened, it was common for the hunters to retreat, losing the ground they had fought so hard to secure.

The speed at which territory was reclaimed by the Abyss far outpaced the hunters’ advances.

Although the Guild continued to push the frontlines bit by bit, both the hunters on the field and the upper echelons were growing increasingly frustrated and exhausted by the seemingly endless war of attrition.

Accordingly, the Hunter Guild and the upper echelons above it were planning a large-scale operation to destroy the Abyss’ base. To prepare for this, they were currently conserving as much strength as possible.

During this process, the Abyss exploited the slightly weakened defensive lines and attempted to push south.

Most of these attempts were repelled, but some Abyss units managed to break through the flanks and often hid in the mountains near the border.

The mission I brought this time was to eliminate one of these groups.

Although the terrain posed a few challenges, after analyzing the enemy’s overall strength, I concluded that it was a level we could handle without too much difficulty.

“Destroying the Abyss in the forest, huh? Since it’s a government-issued mission, the pay isn’t that great compared to the difficulty. Still, I think it’s suitable for a first mission.”

“Une entente.” (I agree.)

“Rather than forcing ourselves into a difficult mission from the start, I think this is a good approach—just as Aid decided.”

Iare and Glass both agreed with my decision.

Seeing them nod, I lightly nodded back and began addressing some additional points.

“Good. Then, we’ll proceed with the request as planned. The operation will begin in three days, so make sure you’re fully prepared by then.

Oh, and… just in case—equipment charging and ammunition replenishment—”

“Of course, that’s already taken care of. No need to check.”

“I’m starting to feel sorry for you now… What kind of world have you been living in, Adjutant?”

“I feel this every time, but the Hunter Guild of Corée (Korea) must be l’enfer (hell). You really don’t need to worry about that part.”

“Hahaha… Alright, I understand. I’ll trust you on that and won’t worry.”

Unintentionally, I wrapped up the briefing while receiving another round of sympathetic glances.

But, of course, this wasn’t the end of my work.

In fact, this was when the real work began.

Now that the request was confirmed, there could be no room for failure.

A perfect victory.

To achieve that—

I had to thoroughly analyze, plan, and prepare for everything from this moment on.

***

An airship soared through the northern skies.

Although its exterior looked rugged, its speed, stability, and durability were undeniable.

Inside the airship, 30 Black Hunters from Dreamers were on board.

–Clap!–

The sharp sound echoed as the Hunters inspected their weapons one last time before battle.

Among them was Iare, more thoroughly prepared than usual, carefully running her hand along her weapon.

Unlike her usual attire, Iare wore a tight-fitting black battle suit.

With a focused gaze, she examined the condition of her favored weapon:

Trapezo

A weapon shaped like a scythe.

Its blade, forged from a monomolecular cutter, was designed to sever an enemy’s throat instantly by discharging an electric shock.

To be honest, its performance was excessive even for an A-class Hunter. However, due to the nature of the Black Hunters, anyone could wield top-tier equipment as long as they had the money—so it wasn’t an issue.

And for someone with Iare’s true capabilities, it made even more sense.

As she inspected the weapon—her trusted companion, almost like an extension of herself—Iare silently reaffirmed her determination.

‘This is the first request from Jinhyun-nim.’

The moment she had been waiting for had finally arrived.

Without realizing it, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Iare’s lips.

Tension, anticipation, and excitement stirred in her heart.

Just then—

– “We are almost at our destination. Hunters, please prepare for battle.” –

A voice echoed through the airship.

At the announcement, Iare quickly composed herself. The fleeting emotions that had crossed her face vanished, replaced once more by her usual, characteristic calm.

“Everyone, prepare to descend.”

At her command, the Hunters gathered, ready to jump.

Before them stretched a dense forest, its thick canopy extending endlessly.

To one side, a long valley cut through the landscape, a river flowing quietly within it.

‘A mountain operation… I heard the briefing beforehand, but I doubt it’ll be easy.’

Unlike ruined cities or open plains, this terrain made it difficult to pinpoint the enemy’s location.

It wasn’t ideal for operating large forces either.

There was a reason why the Hunter Guild, despite being committed to holding the frontlines, had commissioned the Black Hunters for this mission.

The number of Abyss hiding here wasn’t particularly high, but the challenging topography made it difficult to wipe them out quickly.

It would be a drawn-out process.

With these facts in mind, Iare watched as the airship slowed.

Once they reached the predetermined drop point, she gave the order without hesitation.

“Descend!”

With that command, Iare and the Hunters began their descent to the surface.

At the same time, Jinhyun’s voice echoed in their earpieces, monitoring the situation from above.

– “First of all, Team 1, led by Iare-ssi, will survey the area immediately upon landing. Although the area’s safety has been confirmed in advance, stay alert and prepare for emergencies until all forces have landed.” –

“Yes, Adjutant.”

Responding firmly, Iare began scanning the ground the moment her feet touched down.

She searched for any traces of the Abyss.

Fortunately, no signs of the Abyss were found in the immediate vicinity.

Soon after, Hunters from other teams began landing around her, one after another.

Among them were Kwonsoon and Glass, both A-class Hunters, while the rest were B-class.

Once all the Hunters had safely gathered at the designated location—

– “Next, proceed according to schedule. Move to the location 2 kilometers north of your current position. Additionally, if the Abyss launch an attack along the way, I trust you will respond according to the plan.” –

“All right.”

Jinhyun’s orders were brief but perfectly understood by everyone present.

With that, the team began moving north at a steady pace.

Swiftly and cautiously—

Prepared at any moment to confront the Abyss lurking ahead.