I was Kicked Out of the Hunter’s Guild

Park Soyeon, a former B-class hunter, was now walking the path of a Black Hunter.

To be honest, she wasn’t entirely sure about Lee Jinhyun, the man who had joined them on the strong recommendation of Iare, an A-rank hunter.

Although she acknowledged the need for an adjutant, hiring someone like Lee Jin-hyun—who had spent four years working as an adjutant for the Hunter Guild—seemed like a reasonable decision.

However, aside from his background, it wasn’t easy to determine whether their new lieutenant was truly competent. She knew all too well that many people appeared impressive on the surface but were lacking in reality.

Having witnessed countless comrades perish after recklessly entrusting their lives to such individuals, Soyeon had developed a habit of holding onto her doubts until she was absolutely certain someone could be trusted.

This cautious habit wasn’t unique to her. Many other B-class Black Hunters shared the same mindset.

In fact, the primary reason many Black Hunters were discharged was tied to such issues.

In that regard, the upcoming mountain battle was a perfect opportunity for them.

Unlike other battles, which could be won through sheer power even with reckless tactics, combat across the forest’s complex terrain demanded meticulous planning and precise command.

In other words, this battlefield offered the perfect chance to assess the capabilities of their new lieutenant.

‘I’ll be watching you. To see whether you truly have skills worthy of trust.’

‘Let’s hear what you have to say. After all, there are rumors you got in through connections with Iare.’

With those thoughts in mind, Soyeon and the other B-class hunters attended their first mission briefing from Jinhyun.

And there… they heard something they hadn’t even imagined.

***

The hunters moved cautiously through the forest, following the operational plan. They still retained the sense of anticipation they had felt during the briefing.

At this moment, Jinhyun’s earlier instructions continued to echo in their minds.

‘It’s definitely better than giving vague orders, but…’

‘How should I put it… It feels different from what we expected.’

With those thoughts lingering, the hunters followed Iare’s lead.

Suddenly, Iare, who had been moving cautiously at the front, raised his hand.

“There are three Abyss ahead. All of them are wolf-types.”

“Alright, then—as planned…”

At those words, Kwonsoon stepped forward, a deep smile playing on her lips.

A group of B-class hunters followed closely behind her.

“There you are, puppies! This Joggs is here to deal with you, so come and have a chat with me!”

“Kreurreureung..!”

The Abyss growled in response to Kwonsoon’s taunt, immediately preparing for battle.

Despite being outnumbered, the Abyss showed no signs of retreat. In fact, their brute intelligence seemed to fuel their aggression.

“Kwaaang!”

With a ferocious roar, an Abyss Wolf lunged at the hunters, its sharp teeth bared.

Watching the oncoming attack, A-rank hunter Yu Kwonsoon reached for a weapon she didn’t normally use.

It was made of a special alloy, its design reminiscent of a baseball bat.

Gripping it tightly, she deftly dodged the Abyss’s strikes.

And then—

–Thwack!–

“Break it up!”

A dull thump echoed through the forest, followed by the Abyss’s sharp cry.

Following Kwonsoon’s lead, the surrounding B-class hunters drew their own weapons.

From bats similar to Kwonsoon’s to iron pipes—

What all these weapons had in common was that they were designed for beating, not killing.

“You guys, let’s get along today! Don’t just stand there—get to it!”

“Yes!”

Kwonsoon barked out orders with the air of a gang leader.

At her command, the hunters raised their weapons and began striking the Abyss in front of them, beating them down like dogs on a double-edged blade.

“Keeek!”

“Queueek!”

The Abyss, creatures so vicious it was hard to believe they threatened humanity, cried out in pain.

Even so, Kwonsoon and the others took care not to kill them. In particular, they avoided striking the legs—vital for movement—whenever possible.

And after a while…

“Kkeke! Kkeek!”

“Kong! Kung!”

The Abyss, seizing the brief pause in their beating, scrambled to flee into the forest.

Watching them retreat, relieved smiles slowly spread across the faces of Kwonsoon and the other B-class hunters.

“This is… surprisingly fun.”

“How should I put it? It feels like I have them wrapped around my finger.”

“The feeling in my hands is completely different from shooting a bullet or swinging a blade to take a life.”

To be honest, combat inevitably brought a certain level of stress. But this—this “work”—felt strangely therapeutic.

Watching them, Iare and Glass exchanged curious glances.

“Is that really fun? …Honestly, I kind of want to try it myself.”

“I think I heard somewhere that beating something—in a permitted situation—relieves stress.”

With those thoughts lingering, the hunters regrouped and resumed their advance.

On their way to the destination, they encountered several more Abyss.

Not just wolf-type Abyss, but also hog-types resembling wild boars, and various insect-type Abyss.

The variety increased, and so did their numbers.

However, no matter what kind of Abyss appeared, the hunters’ fighting style remained the same:

—To beat them so thoroughly that they wished for death—

—but never to kill them.

However, they made sure to avoid striking the legs and wings as much as possible, allowing the Abyss to escape quickly.

In this manner, dozens of Abyss were left half-dead, but not a single one was killed by the time the group reached their destination.

It was a place resembling a rocky hill—situated at the highest elevation within the vast forest. A rocky outcrop stood at the center, with a stream flowing through the surrounding valley.

“You’ve arrived at your destination. From this point on, we’ll proceed to the second stage of the operation,” Iare reported to Jinhyun.

Jinhyun immediately responded through a private communication line.

— “Understood. Begin preparations right away. And once again, please refrain from overextending yourselves. Although you’re occupying favorable terrain, it’s absolutely forbidden to recklessly charge into enemy lines out of excitement.” —

“Of course. I’ll keep that in mind, Adjutant.”

It was already the third time Jinhyun had given this warning during their journey.

Yet, every time she heard it, Iare couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Because within Jinhyun’s voice, she could sense something—an unmistakably genuine concern for her.

After ending the communication, Iare shifted her gaze back to the scene before her.

At this moment, the forest looked nothing short of peaceful.

However, Iare understood something immediately.

And not just her—any hunter here with even the slightest sensitivity would have noticed it right away.

An ominous aura.

It was faint at first but now surged with a clear, chilling intensity.

And then—

A scene unfolded before the hunters’ eyes, including Iare.

The trees in the distance began to sway.

The movement wasn’t random—it was as if something was steadily advancing, drawing closer and closer.

Faster. Stronger.

As if something enormous was approaching.

Watching the scene unfold, Iare slowly activated the scythe in her hand. In response, the other hunters, including Kwonsoon, drew their weapons as well.

This time, they weren’t wielding the blunt weapons meant for beating.

These were weapons designed solely for killing—guns, swords, and blades sharpened for lethal combat.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

The moment they were fully prepared for battle…

Finally, from within the forest, they began to emerge.

Hundreds of Abyss—lured by the scent of their own kind’s blood and driven into a frenzy by the excitement it caused—

poured out of the woods.