I was Kicked Out of the Hunter’s Guild

It is very difficult to change a person’s character.

Even when someone knows deep down that their character is flawed and needs to change, putting that realization into action is far from easy.

This is because humans, by nature, are creatures who dislike change and instinctively seek immediate convenience.

However, even for human beings who find change so difficult…

There is still a way for extreme transformation to occur.

An event powerful enough to shock the human spirit—

When a person experiences such an event, the personality, once as rigid as steel, begins to change. Like metal thrust into flames and melted, it reshapes itself.

The process is undoubtedly painful—excruciating, even. In severe cases, a person may not be able to withstand it, becoming mentally broken or, in the worst-case scenario, losing their life.

However, for those who endure such agonizing times and manage to refine their new selves…

They gain the transformation they had long desired.

Will they succeed in changing and go on to live a life different from before?

Or will they die within that process, like a butterfly unable to escape its cocoon?

The outcome lies entirely in the individual’s hands. No one can predict how it will end.

And… at this moment…

– Bang! 

In the middle of a bloody battlefield…

Like a worm floundering inside a cocoon, she remained lost.

she was still wandering, trapped in a web of anguish.

“… ”

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

Yujin’s urgent voice rang out from the side.

However, despite hearing it, she…

Na Jiseon, an S-rank hunter, simply stood there, staring ahead with a dazed expression. In her hand, she gripped her weapon—a black spear.

The Abyss charging straight at her—

Its appearance, reminiscent of a rhinoceros, radiated pure brute force. Yet, to put it bluntly, its power wasn’t even close to threatening Jiseon.

Although it was a mid-level Abyss with considerable strength, given Jiseon’s combat style and her superpowers, it was essentially just another bland enemy—nothing more than background noise for someone of her caliber.

And yet…

Despite that, Jiseon showed no sign of raising her weapon or using her abilities.

No—at this moment, she simply stood there, silently watching the Abyss barrel toward her.

Like a doll without purpose.

“Na Jiseon! What are you doing? Wake up!”

Right after shouting, Yujin hurriedly grabbed Na Jiseon and shook her.

At her colleague’s urgent voice, Jiseon finally managed to shift her attention—if only for a brief moment—to the situation unfolding before her eyes.

“…Huh?”

“Oh no! Snap out of it and focus on the mission! With your abilities, those guys are a one-shot kill!”

“Ah… Uh… Yeah… Okay… Uh…”

Jiseon barely managed to regain her senses at Yujin’s words and tightened her grip on her weapon.

Then, she lifted her black spear, aiming its tip at the Abyss charging toward her, as if she were pointing a gun.

And then—

– Pajijik!!! –

“Kueeaek!”

The next moment, a streak of electricity shot out from the tip of her spear. The instant it struck the Abyss, the creature exploded into pieces.

Just moments ago, it had been charging toward their formation with terrifying momentum—

Now, it was nothing more than a pile of mush.

However, despite the decisive victory, Yujin’s expression remained grim as she watched Jiseon.

…As I thought… This can’t go on like this…

***

Why… why did it end up like this?

As Isena watched the situation unfold before her, a burning sensation welled up in her stomach.

After Lee Jinhyun left, and Choi Han—the new adjutant—abruptly resigned after just one month of the reserve period, the cycle of replacements continued.

The adjutants who had stayed over the past few months kept changing every month, each departure justified by minor pretexts. Naturally, under such circumstances, the 28th Guild’s regular missions became virtually impossible to carry out.

Even when Isena barely managed to threaten an adjutant into participating, the best they could manage were only B-class missions.

In the end, unable to bear the miserable state of things, Isena forced the guild to take on an A-class mission this time.

However, that decision came back with what could only be described as the worst possible outcome.

The Hunters of the 28th Guild barely returned after completing the A-class mission.

It had been a mission that, until recently, would have been completed without major issues—almost like routine. But this time, the results were devastating.

Not a single hunter who participated in the operation escaped injury. Worse still, one A-class hunter was diagnosed with injuries severe enough to require six months of hospitalization—effectively a discharge.

With this, the 28th Guild received the worst report card in its history for an A-class mission.

For Isena, the guild master who had insisted on pushing through with the mission, it was a moment of harsh realization.

Unlike the first time, when basic weapon inspections had been neglected, this time, she had prepared as thoroughly as possible. Even though she had reservations, she followed the adjutant’s orders as closely as she could.

And yet

The result left nothing but wounds and hollow glory.

Once again, the name of the 28th Guild was dragged through the mud.

Fundamentally, the biggest problem is that the adjutants always try to escape responsibility by any means when they arrive at a new place. No matter what, I have to address this first.

With that thought, Isena began searching for a solution on her own.

However, even as she contemplated the issue, there was one fact she could never bring herself to admit—despite knowing deep down that it was the root cause of the current situation.

Adjutant Lee Jinhyun.

The downfall of the 28th Guild—once on a winning streak—had started right after Isena had driven him out.

And yet…

She simply couldn’t accept this.

Did things really fall apart just because that guy left? There’s no way that could be true. He didn’t seem that capable. His work was slow, and he always talked back whenever I said something. There’s no way the 28th Guild— the best hunter guild in Korea, the one I lead—could have become this pathetic because of him!

It didn’t matter what the realistic possibilities were.

What mattered most to Isena was that she could never be wrong.

Even if there was a problem, it couldn’t possibly be her fault. It had to be the fault of those around her—the incompetence of others and the unfavorable environment.

Just like it had always been throughout her life.

This is all because every so-called adjutant who comes here turns out to be useless. Since things have come to this, I’ll have to take the matter upstairs myself. If I have to, I’ll speak directly to my father…

***

In a dark, deep room…

In a forgotten place that hardly anyone visited anymore…

Na Jiseon, crouched on the floor, tears streaming down her face.

Piles of papers and notes were scattered throughout the room.

And among them—

The small things he had left behind.

These few remnants, the only traces of him…

Even though time had passed, they remained.

No—if anything, as time went on, the guilt weighing on her heart only became clearer, gnawing at her more intensely.

I… I was a fool… Just because he accepted my feelings casually… that didn’t mean I could treat him however I pleased… but… but I… someone like me…

She had never been able to control her emotions.

Even worse, despite knowing it was wrong, she had never sincerely tried to change.

Instead, she dismissed it as some uncontrollable flaw—an illness she couldn’t be bothered to fix.

But now, that complacency had come to an end.

She had let go of the first person she had ever truly cared for.

And now, that loss came crashing down on her—bringing unbearable pain and regret.

What should I do? At this rate… at this rate, I really can’t do anything…

Without oppa…

Without Jinhyun oppa… someone like me… is nothing…

Jiseon felt even more desperate as she recalled the pathetic battle that had taken place today.

She knew better than anyone that she was currently in a dangerously fragile state. Although Yujin’s quick actions had prevented a major accident at the last moment, that didn’t change the reality of her situation.

The wrongs she had committed against Jinhyun.

And the overwhelming guilt that gnawed at her because of it.

She felt it deep within her—if this wasn’t resolved, she would never be able to live a normal life again.

As Jiseon wallowed in deep despair and pain…

Her gaze fell upon something—a picture frame hanging on one side of Jinhyun’s room.

But it wasn’t a photograph inside the frame.

Instead, it contained a single message.

A simple line of text that read:

—When you’re frustrated, move first—

“… ”

For Jiseon, those words struck deep into her heart.

The moment she read them, something stirred within her.

It was faint—barely there—but for someone trapped in the suffocating darkness, it felt like a distant point of light breaking through.

That’s right.

Rather than staying like this… that would be much better.

Instead of wasting time struggling and suffering, I should just go to where Jinhyun oppa is.

And when I see him… I’ll bow my head and apologize.