Returned With Horns

○

Baek Ganghyun, White Whale. The vice guild master of Blue Dragon Guild, one of the top 5 guilds in South Korea.

Although publicly it appears as if he leads the guild, Baek Ganghyun was strictly the vice guild master. The guild master was Kim Jaehan, his close friend and someone he had grown up with almost like a brother. As an A-rank hunter, he was less famous than White Whale from the same guild, but Jaehan wasn't one who particularly wanted to be famous, so he didn't mind much.

Of course, part of it was because he found it amusing when people were surprised to learn that he was the guild master of Blue Dragon. Ganghyun, knowing Jaehan's personality, did go around telling people who called him the guild master that he wasn't, but due to Ganghyun's naturally reticent nature and rare interactions with people, such attempts were hardly effective.

In the end, it meant that Baek Ganghyun was destined to live as the face of Blue Dragon Guild, regardless of his personality.

Of course, that didn't mean Ganghyun went out often. Ganghyun, who mostly stayed cooped up at home doing either workouts or gaming, only went out when conquering 'The Tower', the first gate, or when Jaehan called him.

Today, Ganghyun had to come out because Jaehan had dragged him out to have a team dinner after coming out to establish an attack plan before conquering the Tower.

"Expensive..."

"Man, beef usually costs this much. Why are you living so frugally when you have more money than you know what to do with?"

"You never know what might happen, right?"

"Geez, you're so frustrating."

As Ganghyun finished paying, he saw Jaehan and his colleagues chattering noisily.

Ganghyun quietly recalled the woman from earlier amidst the commotion. The long horns on her forehead and red eyes. Not only was she a rare beauty, but the sense of intimidation emanating from that small frame was peculiar.

Given her unusual appearance that was hard to see on Earth, she must be a returnee, but as far as Ganghyun knew, there was no such person among the returnees. A foreign returnee? No, her Korean was too good for that.

"What are you thinking about so hard?"

"No, nothing."

"Ah, don't tell me you're thinking about that woman from earlier? Oh, is it finally spring in Baek Ganghyun's life?"

"Oh, really? That woman was incredibly beautiful, though."

"I know, right? I've seen celebrities a few times, but she was prettier than most of them."

Seeing his colleagues chattering away, Ganghyun let out a small sigh and shook his head.

"It's not like that."

"Then what is it?"

"She seemed like a returnee, but not one I know of. I was just worried she might be a villain."

"She can't be a villain. She had a Hunter Association employee ID around her neck."

"Ah."

"What on earth were you looking at?"

Seeing Ganghyun's blank expression, Jaehan grinned slyly and poked his side. Realizing he had given Jaehan something to tease him about, Ganghyun shut his mouth. Jaehan then started poking his side even faster.

"St-stop teasing and let's get going. It's going to get dark at this rate."

"Alright. Let's go."

Seeing Jaehan chuckle and move away slightly, Ganghyun let out a sigh of relief. Then he got into the van following Jaehan and his colleagues.

○

"Well, hello everyone, it's nice to see you. This is Han Gwangsu of Gwangsu TV."

Han Gwangsu, one of South Korea's top internet broadcasters and an A-rank hunter, waved his hand as usual with his broadcast on. His face filled the camera, and the chat started flooding in.

[Your name is so tacky]
[For real]
[Gwang-ha]
[Gwangsu, start your broadcasts on time]
[Like if you're a Gwang-fan who was pissed off because he didn't come yesterday lol]
[Like (meaning Disgustingly Ugly)]

"Oh come on, guys. Why are you like this? I told you yesterday. The Hunter Association suddenly delayed sending an employee. And if you keep saying things about the name my parents gave me, I'll get hurt too."

[Why do those Hunter Association bastards keep meddling in other people's broadcasts?]
[For real, that civil servant bastard who came last time was so rude]
[Who cares?]
[It's not your name that's tacky, it's your channel name]
[For real lol]
[So how long are we waiting today?]

"Well, I'm not sure. Oh, guys. By the way, I heard a rumor that Blue Dragon Guild is challenging the Tower this time."

After the last broadcast, public opinion towards the Hunter Association had become extremely negative, so Gwangsu opened his mouth to subtly change the subject.

To be honest, it was understandable for public opinion to be bad, as even Gwangsu thought that day's broadcast was the worst. The Hunter Association employee came late, and when they finally arrived, they kept picking fights while being grumpy.

On top of that, they kept giving unsolicited advice on everything Gwangsu did, and even their tone was close to confrontational.

They were almost two hours late, so Gwangsu had to stall for two hours to maintain viewership, but because of that employee's behavior, the number of viewers had halved by the time the broadcast ended.

Of course, there wasn't much Gwangsu could do about it. Although viewers called them civil servants, the Hunter Association was strictly a private organization, so most complaints that could be made against civil servants were impossible.

[Is Blue Dragon going to the Tower again?]
[White Whale is just obsessed with the Tower]
[Did they spread honey on the Tower or something; why do they always go?]
[I heard it costs tens of billions of won each time they try to conquer the Tower, isn't that all coming from taxes?]
[No, Blue Dragon Guild pays for it out of their own pocket]
[Blue Dragon can afford that much.]

"That's right. They're one of the top 5 guilds in South Korea. It's safe to say they have that kind of wealth."

While bantering with the viewers like this, Gwangsu waited for the Hunter Association employee.

The agreed time was 2 o'clock. The current time was 1:55 PM. Would they come on time without being late? To be honest, Gwangsu wasn't even expecting it. It wasn't the first or second time that employees were late.

Of course, there was no one who was two hours late like last time, but being 10 to 20 minutes late was common. That's why Gwangsu tended not to announce the gate entry time to viewers.

As he was quietly checking the time, suddenly the chat started scrolling up quickly.

[Wow, what's that;]
[What is it? Cosplay?]
[She's so pretty]
[Damn, just grabbing those horns]
[Holy shit]
[This is crazy]

"What's going on, guys?"

"Are you Han Gwangsu?"

At that moment, Gwangsu unconsciously turned his head at the voice from behind.

And soon he could understand why the chat was going crazy.

Her jet-black hair fell like ebony, and blood-red eyes quietly stared at him. On top of that, the horns rising above her forehead, and a kimono that revealed her shoulders and upper chest. It was because a beauty that seemed to have come out of a manga was looking at him.

"Uh, who are you?"

"Here."

She took something out from her cleavage and handed it to him. Is it okay to take this? For a moment, Gwangsu thought that as he looked at the chat.

[Holy shiiiiiiit]
[Gwangsu you bastard]
[Damn, I want cleavage too]
[This is insane, fuck]

"...Manager."

Quietly calling for the manager at the obviously chaotic chat, the manager's message popped up.

[I'm working hard to delete comments, boss ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[What's with this firepower lol]
[Hehehe come here]
[Hehehe]
[(Censored emoticon)(Censored emoticon)(Censored emoticon)]
[Damn, just grabbing those horns]
[The chat is going crazy lol]

"Hey."

"Yes?"

The woman who woke up Gwangsu, who was losing his mind at the chat's firepower, looked at him with an annoyed face. Only then did Gwangsu realize what he looked like right now. Wasn't he just staring blankly without even checking after calling her out?

"I asked if you're Han Gwangsu."

"Ah, yes. That's right."

[Gwangsu, damn it, you made the noona angry]
[Can't you answer quickly?]
[For real]
[Gwangsu's discipline has slipped lately]
[Gwangsu, take good care of noona.]

Relieved by the now somewhat calmed chat, Gwangsu quietly checked the employee ID.

Hunter Association Returnee Department Employee. Chae Seohyun.

Returnee Department? Such a broadcast inspection comes from that place that's only full of rumors?

Honestly, he was a bit suspicious, but Gwangsu didn't show it outwardly. Even if it was an impersonation, it was extremely rare for Gwangsu, an A-rank hunter, to be in danger, and he could also create some broadcast content out of it.

"Then shouldn't you check if I'm really an employee?"

"Ah, it's fine to check from a distance. Yes, that's right. You're an employee."

"Right? Then let's get going quickly. Let's do this quickly so I can go home."

"Ah, yes."

[Gwangsu, turn the camera]
[Damn it, get your face out of the way]
[Show us noona]

"Oh, if I film the employee for too long, I'll get sanctioned."

[Coward lol]
[Useless guy]

Ignoring the criticism flying at him, Gwangsu quietly looked towards the woman.

She was talking with the employee managing the gate. It seems she's not an impersonator after all. Slightly relieved, Gwangsu followed her towards the gate.